AFL Record Round 20, 2009 by The Slattery Media Group

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AFL GAME

Mitch Clark Flying high after setback

ROUND 20, 2009 AUGUST 14-16 $4 (INC. GST)

Adam Goodes

Quick run to 250

Green Round

AFL and Federal Government tackling climate change

Effective disposals never go to waste Just as it’s important to make every disposal on the footy field count, you can do the same off the field by disposing of your recyclables in the correct bin. Do your bit in the fight against climate change and help the Navy Blues Go Green. 9,6 9LV\ $)/5 [ VWULS DG LQGG AR20 p01 Cover.indd 1

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72 SLICK SWAN: Adam Goodes

will become the secondfastest player in League history to play 250 games when he reaches the milestone this weekend.

ROUND 20, AUGUST 14-16, 2009 F E AT U R E S

Mitch Clark

The big Lion blossoms in 2009.

Ross Lyon

Planning a pathway to the top job.

Adam Goodes

From ‘lazy’ to genuine champion. REGULARS

Backchat

Have your say about the football world.

The Bounce

Views, news, ﬁrst person, facts, data, culture.

Matchday

Stats, history and line-ups.

Dream Team

Advice from Mr Fantasy, our Dream Team expert.

78 82 84 86

Answer Man Testing your knowledge NAB AFL Rising Star Talking Point

AFL players caring in the community. THIS WEEK’S COVER Mitch Clark, Brisbane Lions’ high-ﬂyer. Go to slatterymedia. com/images to order prints of this image.

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feedback

backchat HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE F FOOTBALL WORLD OOTBALL W WO OR ORL RL LD

Was he in or out? I noticed in last week’s Fremantle-Port Adelaide match that Dean Brogan had a free kick and started outside the boundary within range of goal. He ran off the line, while outside the boundary line, to make the angle more appealing. Is this not out of bounds? I wonder whether you could pose this question to the AFL. GEORGE, KROWERA, VIC.

AFL umpires’ manager Jeﬀ Gieschen provided this response: What Brogan did was perfectly OK. Outside the boundary line the player must bring ball the back into play moving in the one direction (which Brogan did). If he moves forward, stops, and then changes direction, that will be called play on. Outside the boundary, players must move in the one direction when bringing the ball into play.

Mighty Mick

Worth the wait

It’s amazing given the list of champions who have worn the red and white over the Swans’ proud history that Michael O’Loughlin is their ﬁrst player to reach 300 games. But if anyone deserves the accolade, it’s Mick. He’s been a true champion – electrifying on the ground, humble off it.

It’s been a long eight years but ﬁnally – barring an unforseen disaster – I can look forward to seeing the mighty Blues run out in the ﬁnals again. I just wanted to acknowledge the great job Brett Ratten has done turning the club around. Good work, ‘Ratts’.

JOHN, CREMORNE, NSW.

AFL CHIEF BROADCASTING & COMMERCIAL OFFICER Gillon McLachlan AFL CONSUMER PRODUCTS MANAGER Scott Munn AFL RECORD MANAGING EDITOR Geoﬀ Slattery AFL RECORD EDITOR Peter Di Sisto

ROSS, DEER PARK, VIC.

PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Lovett WRITERS Nick Bowen, Ben Collins, Jim Main, Peter Ryan, Callum Twomey, Andrew Wallace SUB-EDITORS Gary Hancock, Howard Kotton STATISTICIAN Cameron Sinclair CREATIVE DIRECTOR Andrew Hutchison DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Sam Russell

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your feedback on n the Record and matters relating to the game, the clubs and the players. The best letter each round will receive a copyy of the AFL Record Season n Guide 2009. Email aﬂrecordeditor@ slatterymedia.com or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.

DESIGNERS Jarrod Witcombe, Alison Wright PHOTO EDITORS Melanie Tanusetiawan, Bridget Allen PRODUCTION MANAGER Troy Davis PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Stephen Lording DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Adele Morton COMMERCIAL MANAGER Alison Hurbert-Burns

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Nathan Hill AFL CLUB ACCOUNT MANAGER Anthony Palmer ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR Deanne Horkings Advertising (03) 9627 2600 PHOTOGRAPHY Sean Garnsworthy, Michael Willson, Lachlan Cunningham AFL Photos (03) 9627 2600 aﬂphotos.com.au

EDITOR’S LET TER

Taking a final bow In line with increased professionalism across all areas of the industry, AFL clubs have in recent years become much better in the way they handle retirements, especially when those exiting players have been loyal servants over a long period. This is the time of the season when players are making decisions about their future – or having decisions made for them. In many cases, clubs are prepared to recognise retirees who haven’t been playing regularly by picking them for one last game. Players get to savour elite-level football one more time; fans have their chance to farewell them. This is the case with Tiger Joel Bowden this weekend. Hawk Stuart Dew has been philosophical about whether he plays one last game. But these can be challenging exercises, especially for clubs still fighting for a finals spot. Coaches train themselves not to make emotional choices – their decisions are based on what’s best for the team, and what gives the team the best chance to win. This ought to be considered when selections (or non-selections) are debated publicly. This weekend’s games are part of the AFL’s Green Round (see pages 26-27), with the AFL Record again printed on eco-friendly recycled paper, as it has been for the past several seasons. PETER DI SISTO

PRINTED BY PMP Print ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO The Editor, AFL Record, Ground Floor, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Victoria, 3008. P: (03) 9627 2600 F: (03) 9627 2650 E: peterd@slatterymedia.com AFL RECORD, VOL. 98, ROUND 20, 2009 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211. ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109

4 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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the bounce VIEWS NEWS FIRST PERSON FACTS DATA CULTURE

UNDER DURESS:

PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

St Kilda applies consistent pressure as Steven King (left) and Andrew McQualter showed last week chasing down Hawk Travis Tuck.

AG A I N S T T H E O D D S

Saints show you can’t beat the system St Kilda deﬁed history and logic to prove that conforming to a winning system is more critical than personnel. BEN COL LINS

ow is it that a team can be without seven front-line players (including its top six players) and beat an opponent that just a week earlier had been regarded as a premiership threat – and do it so easily, at a relatively foreign venue? Even allowing for the fact St Kilda entered last week’s Launceston clash against reigning premier Hawthorn two games clear on top of the AFL ladder as one of just three teams in League history to have

a record of 18-0, and also taking into account the Hawks were without nine premiership players, this was some kind of effort. The Saints were minus their captain and best player (Nick Riewoldt), most in-form player (Leigh Montagna), best hard-ball winner (Lenny Hayes), most elusive player (Nick Dal Santo), best kick (Brendon Goddard), best defender (Sam Fisher) and most annoying stopper (Steven Baker). Star defender Sam Gilbert was also sidelined for the second successive game.

It is doubtful any team in the history of the game has taken the field after suffering such significant ‘outs’, let alone won the game. (So significant were they, that betting was twice suspended in the lead-up to the match.) Recent history – and logic – suggested the Saints would face an uphill task. Back in round 15, their main challenger, Geelong, left out six sore A-graders (Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett, Steve Johnson, Cameron Ling, Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie) against the Brisbane Lions at the

Gabba and lost by 43 points. The Saints’ lost stars with 1080 games’ experience, 596 career goals, seven club best and fairests, nine other top-three placings in the club award, seven All-Australian selections, a 2009 average of 24 disposals (missing just one game between them) and an average age of 27 years. Their replacements – returning pair Michael Gardiner and Zac Dawson, along with Luke Ball, Jarryn Geary, David Armitage, Colm Begley and debutant Jack Steven – had a CON T IN U ED NE X T PAGE

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VIEWS > NEWS > FIRST PERSON > FACTS > DATA > CULTURE

combined tally of 388 games, 174 goals, a 2009 average of 15 disposals and an average age of 23 years, and significantly fewer honours. As if the task wasn’t tough enough against a Hawthorn team fighting for a finals spot, St Kilda’s biggest available name, Justin Koschitzke, misfired, managing just five kicks and one behind. Perhaps the best person to judge was the man it affected most – Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson. His pre-match testimony was telling. “It’s their systems and the manner they play with each other more so than the personnel that makes them such a topquality side,” Clarkson said. His words proved prophetic. The Saints adequately replaced the irreplaceable, conjuring 24 scoring shots while restricting the Hawks to just seven goals on their way to a 25-point win.

It’s their systems and the manner they play with each other more so than the personnel that makes them a top-quality side ALASTAIR CLARKSON

Post-match, Clarkson observed, perhaps prophetically again: “They will travel deep into September and probably win it (the premiership) because their system is outstanding.” The concept of teams following set-in-stone systems, with all individual components seemingly interchangeable, is not new in world sport. A classic example is the NFL team, the New England Patriots, who are prepared to lose players via free agency because of their steadfast belief that they will remain competitive regardless of how their list looks on paper. When players leave or injuries strike, they simply bring in others who conform to their system and embrace their winning culture. Much like the ‘Bloods’ culture St Kilda coach Ross Lyon was part of as an assistant coach with the Sydney Swans. NEWS TRACKER

MILES TONE

Brown making most of third chance A NDR EW WA L L ACE

L LET’S SHAKE ON IT: Bulldogs president David Smorgon congratulates coach Rodney Eade on his two-year contract extension, announced earlier this week.

C O AC H I N G

Eade rewarded with two more years NICK BOW EN

aving transformed the Western Bulldogs into a top-four side over the past five years, Rodney Eade will be given a further two years to deliver the club’s first premiership since its sole flag in 1954. The Bulldogs announced this week that Eade, who took over from Peter Rohde as senior coach in 2005, had been re-signed for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. When Eade joined the Bulldogs, the club had endured two horror seasons, winning a combined eight games as they collected the wooden spoon in 2003 and finished 14th in 2004. But Eade soon sparked a revival in the Dogs’ fortunes, introducing an exciting brand of hard-running, attacking football that took them to the finals in 2006 – for the first time since 2000 – a preliminary final last year, and fourth spot on the ladder after 19 rounds this season.

Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon said Eade’s contract extension reflected the club’s confidence in his coaching ability and plans for the club’s list. “Rodney recently presented us with his ‘Pyramid for Success’ and we believe we have a great structure in place to complement his skills to help the club on its mission to deliver long-term sustainability and onfield success,” Smorgon said. Eade said he was pleased to get the chance to work with the Bulldogs’ exciting list for another two years. “We have an enthusiastic and developing group of players and we are very confident that the club is moving in the right direction,” he said. “Our goal remains long-term success for the club, both on and off the field.” The success Eade ultimately craves is a Bulldogs premiership. Last year, he told football magazine 4Quarters how much that would mean to him. “I’d certainly trade one of the flags I won playing (four with Hawthorn) to win one here,” Eade said. “Winning one here is going to mean that much more than it would coaching another team that had won one in the past 10 or 15 years.”

ast October, Leigh Brown feared his AFL playing days were over. Delisted by North Melbourne after 181 games with Fremantle and the Kangaroos, Brown, then 26, was confronted with ﬁnding a new club in an environment increasingly dominated by youngsters. Fortunately, he had an ally in his corner. Former North Melbourne CEO Geoff Walsh, now chief of football at Collingwood, believed the big man’s versatility could be an asset for the Magpies and arranged a meeting between Brown and Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse and recruiting manager Derek Hine. The result was a no-guarantee trial at the Magpies while most of the playing group were involved in a high-altitude training camp in Arizona in the United States. “There were about 10 other guys trying to get another crack at it, and I trained with them for about three weeks before the Collingwood boys came back just before the draft,” Brown said. “I busted everything I had trying to get back on a list.” The NAB AFL Draft on November 29 was critical for Brown. Not knowing whether the Magpies were going to select him, he parked himself in front of his computer to watch the draft unfold. “I was just like every other hopeful kid across the country, sitting there and praying for my name to pop up,” he said. “Then my computer dropped out just when the last round started, but eventually I saw my name come up on the screen and I was just so grateful to be on a list again.”

Matt Finnis appointed interim CEO of the AFLPA after Brendon Gale’s resignation.

8 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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To be honest, I haven’t played many ﬁnals, and that’s the reason you keep going – to pursue your dream of winning a premiership LEIGH BROWN

After a torturous summer campaign to improve his fitness, Brown slotted into the Collingwood side in round two and has played every game since, filling roles up forward, as a pinch-hitting ruckman and down back in recent weeks. Set to bring up game No. 200 this weekend against Richmond, the former Heyfield junior from Victoria’s Gippsland region feels his adaptability is the reason for his longevity. “It’s something that has probably helped and hindered me across the journey,” Brown said. “But this year I’ve played a lot more throughout a particular match in just one position, rather than a lot of different positions in one quarter or a half. I think that’s when I play my best footy.” Now, with the in-form Magpies pushing for a top-four berth, Brown has the chance to achieve the ultimate, a goal that seemed a million miles away in the dark days of 2008. “To be honest, I haven’t played many finals, and that’s the reason you keep going – to pursue your dream of winning a premiership,” he said. “At Collingwood, we know the fantastic opportunities that lie ahead if we continue to play good footy as a team.”

AT LAST: Leigh Brown will complete

a long road to 200 games.

NEWS TRACKER

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GAME-PLAN

Blues building midﬁeld depth C A L LU M T WOMEY

t the start of the season, in his role as a columnist for the Herald Sun, Essendon great James Hird wrote an article extolling the virtues of Carlton’s ‘Fab Four’ midfielders. Hird said the quartet of Chris Judd, Marc Murphy, Nick Stevens and Bryce Gibbs had the potential to dominate the competition in the same way the Brisbane Lions’ on-ballers did in their premiership years of 2001-03. The beauty of the powerhouse Lions group, however, was its depth. Brisbane’s ‘Fab Four’ of Michael Voss, Nigel Lappin, Jason Akermanis and Simon Black received significant support from a host of others including Luke Power, Craig McRae, Shaun Hart and Marcus Ashcroft. Following Carlton’s surprise 35-point win over Geelong last weekend, it is clear the Blues are quickly building depth in their midfield beyond the four identified by Hird. The emergence of tagger Aaron Joseph has added a defensive aspect to the group, complementing the attacking strength of Kade Simpson, Heath Scotland

TAMING THE CATS: Marc Murphy breaks free.

and Ryan Houlihan. Andrew Carrazzo offers another ballwinning option, and the return of Andrew Walker brings an exciting spark. Murphy said that having an even effort from the midfield group has helped Carlton against the strongest sides in the competition. “Last year, we probably just left it up to ‘Juddy’ to get the hard ball but we’ve all tried to take our turns this year to win first possession and get it out of the clearances. In the same way we’ve been taking our turns running forward and trying to kick goals, so it’s been good,” said Murphy, who has pushed forward to kick 25 goals this season. “We’ve been really working hard at spreading from stoppages and I suppose that shows with midfielders kicking goals.” Against Geelong’s strong midfield, Gibbs, Judd, Houlihan, Scotland, Simpson, Murphy, Carrazzo and Stevens all had 22 or more possessions, resulting in Carlton dominating the corridor and at stoppages. Usually these are areas where the Cats dominate, but Murphy, 22, said the Blues knew they had to beat Geelong at its own game if they were to win. “We wanted to take them on. We knew if we played slow, chip-up-the-line footy we would never go well against Geelong,” he said. “We tried to take them on at their own game with run and handball and linking up through the midfield and that’s what we did.” With wins against Geelong, Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions (twice), the Blues have shown they can match it with the best. With a growing number of quality midfielders, it is understandable how they have done it.

AWAY F R O M T H E G A M E

Best of the stars’ picks Many people judge the modern footballer by his athleticism, or his kicking skills. The AFL Record searched through every player profile submitted this year to find another way of assessing the contemporary footballer. Here are the most common answers to some of the mainly popular-culture questions asked of the players. Surprisingly, boxer Muhammad Ali – a regular in the ‘Four people you would invite to dinner’ category – did not make the final four. CALLUM TWOMEY

Favourite movie The Shawshank Redemption

‘Can’t miss’ TV show Two and a Half Men Most famous person he’s met Shane Warne

Favourite meal al before a gamee Pasta

What does hee like to collect lectt Money

Four people le he would invite to dinner Jennifer Hawkins wkinss Lance Armstrong rong g Michael Jordan an Jessica Alba

AFL strikes deal with ESPN for the network to provide “multi-platform” coverage of AFL games in North America.

12/8/09 5:32:28 PM

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North supports Zaidee cause

RUCK STOCKS

Roos strike gold with their talls

North Melbourne players wore rainbow-coloured laces on their boots last weekend to raise awareness of the Rainbow Foundation, founded several years ago in memory of seven-year-old Zaidee Turner. Zaidee died after suﬀering a burst blood vessel in her brain, with her organs and tissues donated to help children waiting for transplants. The Roos hope their eﬀorts will encourage more families to consider organ and tissue donation.

NICK BOW EN

CATS IN A CORNER: The strain of last week’s game and the pain of a rare defeat shows on the faces of (from left) Cameron Ling, Tom Harley and Jimmy Bartel.

S TAT I S T I C S

Numbers don’t add up for Cats MICH A EL LOV ET T

eelong’s gradual decline over the past few weeks has been supported by quarter-by-quarter statistics that show the team in a tailspin. In the ﬁrst 14 rounds, the Cats won 39 of their 56 quarters (nearly 70 per cent). They lost just 15 quarters in that time and drew two. However, since the round 14 match against St Kilda (which both teams entered unbeaten), Geelong has won just seven of its 20 quarters, or just 35 per cent. Those ﬁve games include losses to the Brisbane Lions (round 15) and Carlton (round 19) and narrow escapes against Hawthorn (by one point in round 17) and Adelaide (by two points in round 18). Even in their 46-point win over Melbourne in round 16, the Cats were outscored by the Demons in two of the four quarters. During its unbeaten run leading into round 14, Geelong had three games where it won all four quarters and another three where it had a 3-1 advantage. Amazingly, the Cats outscored St Kilda in three of the four quarters in round 14, losing by a goal after Saints big NEWS TRACKER

man Michael Gardiner marked and goaled in the ﬁnal minute. Of course, they have run into injury setbacks since that game. Steve Johnson was a late withdrawal for the St Kilda match with a hip complaint and missed four games, while key defenders Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor have missed the past two games. Paul Chapman, the six-goal hero of the round 18 win over the Crows, missed last Friday’s game with a hamstring complaint and is expected to be absent again this week. James Kelly has also been sidelined with a hamstring injury since round 14. However, ruckman Brad Ottens, who injured his knee in round two against Richmond, has played the past two games in the VFL and is close to a senior recall.

CATS’ QUARTERS IN 2009 Rds 1-14 15-19

Won 39 7

Lost Drawn 15 2 13

–

In 22 home and away rounds in 2008, Geelong won 65 of its 88 quarters. Hawthorn was next best with 56. This year, St Kilda has won 53 of its 76 quarters. After round 19 last year, St Kilda and Collingwood were eighth and seventh respectively on the AFL ladder. This year after round 19, the Saints are on top and the Magpies are third.

t the start of the season, North Melbourne’s group of talls appeared the greatest strength of its developing list. In Hamish McIntosh (203cm), David Hale (201cm), Todd Goldstein (201cm) and Drew Petrie (197cm), the Roos had four players who could play in the ruck, while Hale and Petrie were also ﬂexible enough for key positions. And in Lachie Hansen (197cm), they had a young player with the potential to play key position in defence and attack. While 2009 has been disappointing for the Roos, the continued development of their talls has been encouraging. After a disappointing 2008, McIntosh, 24, has rebounded with a career-best year as the club’s No. 1 ruckman, Petrie, 26, has continued to plug holes in defence, attack, the ruck and on the wing, and Hansen, 21 on August 17, has continued his steady development, initially in defence and, in the second half of the season, up forward. Admittedly, Hale, 25, has struggled as a key forward after an impressive transition into that role last year, but this has been offset by the impressive development of Goldstein. After getting a taste of AFL football with three games in his second season, 2008, the 21-year-old former basketballer has developed at a rapid rate in his 10 games this year. A good tap ruckman, Goldstein has improved his around-the-ground play, showing he is a strong mark and capable of drifting forward and kicking a goal. His game last weekend against Melbourne was his

best for the club. With 16 disposals, 25 hit-outs, seven marks and five goals, he was one of the best on the ground. Goldstein said increased confidence had been crucial to his improved form. “‘Crock’ (coach Darren Crocker) has shown a lot of confidence in me and I’m getting used to the pace of AFL,” he said. “Previously, I was trying to find my feet, but the last couple of weeks, I’ve felt confident that I deserve to be there and am really starting to pull my weight.” IMPROVER:

Todd Goldstein had his best game for the Roos last week.

Dustin Fletcher has moved to third on Essendon’s games list after his 308th match last weekend.

10 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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SCORE EXTRA POINTS TODAY. GIVE YOUR MUM A CALL.

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COMMUNITY

Eagles doing it for the kids NICK BOW EN

BACK TO THE DEN:

Brendon Gale will return to Richmond as the club’s CEO.

APPOINTMENT

Gale returns to Tigerland Brendon Gale was an old-style ruckman/forward and a Richmond fan favourite. Often in his 244 matches for the Tigers from 1990-2001, Gale would save the team with a towering mark across half-back, the efforts of the man with flowing locks rewarded with a rousing chorus of ‘Benny’ from the fanatics camped at the Punt Road end of the MCG. Gale, a Richmond life member, was this week announced as the club’s CEO. He will take over from Steven Wright at the end of the season after Wright’s decision to leave because of health and personal reasons. Wright was in the role for five years and will continue working for the club as a consultant on the $20 million Punt Road redevelopment project.

NEWS TRACKER

In his tenure, Wright delivered “significant profits”, increased membership to record levels, established a secondary training base in Melbourne’s north and broadened the club’s community presence. Gale, 41, has built a solid reputation in the past five years as CEO of the AFL Players’ Association, his broad-minded, intelligent and humane approach to representing the League’s 700 players impressing industry observers. He returns to Punt Road with the club stable and building off the field, but with a critical decision about its new coach still to be made. “I know this club pretty well. I think the expectations that our supporters, our community, the Richmond family have of the club are very, very high, and so they should be,” he said. PETER DI SISTO

he West Coast Eagles will honour one of their bravest young supporters at this Saturday’s home game against North Melbourne while, in another community initiative, star big man Quinten Lynch recently visited the Pilbara as part of the club’s commitment to encourage the region’s children to excel at school and lead healthy lifestyles. Passionate Eagles fan Kaiden Blaszko, 11, of Albany, will run on to Subiaco Oval as the team’s mascot, completing a remarkable recovery from a stroke in April. Kaiden’s troubles began with a seemingly innocuous headache one lunchtime, but soon afterwards he could not move the entire right side of his body. A CT scan revealed Kaiden had suffered a bleed in his brain and he was put in an induced coma and rushed by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital in Perth.

With surgery too risky, Kaiden deﬁed the odds, awaking the next day alert and having regained partial movement in his right side. He was transferred to the Princess Margaret Hospital and has since made an almost complete recovery, a loss of peripheral vision in one eye the only legacy of his stroke. One of Kaiden’s frequent visitors during the months of hospital visits and rehabilitation was Eagle Brent Staker. Several weeks ago, Staker surprised Kaiden with the good news he would be the Eagles’ mascot. “It’s been my greatest dream to be able to run out through the banner and on to Subiaco Oval. My brothers are going to be so jealous,” Kaiden said. Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation handclappers will be sold at the match for $5, with all proceeds going to help sick and injured children. Meanwhile, last month, Lynch spent a day in Port Hedland with former Eagles premiership player Peter Matera, now at the Swan CON T IN U ED ON PAGE 14

HIGH FIVE: Kaiden

Blaszko celebrates his recovery with Eagle Brent Staker.

Essendon has signed 16-year-old David Meli from Papua New Guinea as an international rookie.

12 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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We’ve kicked a few goals over the years JELD-WEN is the name behind the St Kilda Football Club. And we’re also the name behind iconic brands like Stegbar and Corinthian – leaders in door, window and showerscreen manufacture, supply and installation. Great club, great brands. jeld-wen.com.au

M A J O R PA R T N E R

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Districts Football Club, as part of the Kicking Goals program. The program is a joint venture between the Eagles, Swan Districts and BHP Billiton Iron Ore, that works with children in the Pilbara region in northern Western Australia to improve their life skills, school attendance, academic results, health and wellbeing. Role models such as Lynch conduct coaching clinics during regular visits to the region, while staying in touch with the program’s children at other times by videoconference sessions, telephone and email. In his most recent visit last month, Lynch conducted a skills session with Hedland Senior High School students, who then ran similar sessions with primary school students from Port Hedland, Baler, Cassia, South Hedland and St Cecilia. Lynch said it was satisfying to work with children in these communities and see their development. “The high school students are taught skills that will set them up for life, such as teamwork, goal setting and leadership, as well as the importance of staying ﬁt and healthy through a great sport such as football,” Lynch said. “These skills and the improved attitudes of the students breathe life into these communities. “As a player, it’s also rewarding to see how excited the children are to be part of this program and the sense of pride they get when they achieve their goals – in football and at school.”

GOLD COA S T

AFL clariﬁes draft rules A NDR EW WA L L ACE

FOND FAREWELL: Stuart Dew has succumbed to injury but the Hawthorn and Port Adelaide premiership player left his mark at both clubs.

with injury and form were clear messages to him. “I thought it RETIREMENT was the right time for myself and the club to call it a day,” said Dew, who turns 30 on August 18. “I went into the mid-season break not happy with the impact I’d had for the ﬁrst half of the year. “I think the club is at the stage PETER DI SISTO where you can’t carry someone n an interview with the AFL that can’t give 100 per cent. Record earlier this Every time I tried season just that, I seemed to PORT HERO: before his break down.” Dew in the 2004 200th match, Dew has played Grand Final. Stuart Dew 206 games (180 for spoke openly and Port before retiring honestly about why and making a he made a comeback, comeback with the the focus on his weight Hawks last year), with and what connections he two premierships to his would have with the game name (2004 with Port when he eventually retired, and last year, when probably after 2010. he sparked the Hawks As he showed in that with some brilliant solo interview, Dew has always efforts). After last year’s presented as a logical, Grand Final, Dew considered individual and predicted his best this week he announced he football was still to would ﬁnish at the end of come. Sadly, it wasn’t this season, saying battles the case.

Dew succumbs to injury

ith the introduction of the Gold Coast team in 2011, the AFL this week clariﬁed the draft concessions approved for the new club: 1. 2009 NAB AFL Draft – capacity to sign up to 12 17-year-olds born between January 1 and April 30 in 1992. 2. 2010 NAB AFL Draft – ﬁrst pick in each round, and picks 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 in round one.

3. 2009 NAB AFL Rookie Draft – selections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. 4. 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft – alternating Queensland priority selections with the Brisbane Lions, with Gold Coast having ﬁrst selection. 5. Zoned access to up to ﬁve Queensland players before each of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 NAB AFL Drafts. Access to up to three Northern Territory players before the 2010 NAB AFL Draft. 6. 2010 post-season – capacity to pre-list 10 players who had previously nominated for the AFL Draft, or were previously listed with an AFL club. Can also sign up to 16 uncontracted players.

14 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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PREMIER COMBINATION: The 1966 St Kilda premiership team, plus other members of the playing group that year. Back row (L-R): Ray Cross, Kevin Roberts, Kevin

Billing, Ross Oakley, Verdun Howell, Bob Murray, Bryan Mynott, Allan Davis, Ian Cooper, Brian Sierakowski, Carl Ditterich, Ian Synman, Barry Breen, Alan Morrow, Kevin Neale. Front row (L-R): John Bingley, Rodger Head, Jim Read, Darrel Baldock, Allan Jeans, Ross Smith, Jeﬀ Moran, Ian Rowland.

REUNION

The ‘66 Saints are still heroes BRUCE E VA

here were omens everywhere for St Kilda in Launceston last weekend. With the bulk of the Saints’ 1966 premiership team descending on the picturesque city for a reunion, the ghosts of 43 years ago popped up in all sorts of ways. From Carl Ditterich drawing a pair of sixes in his ﬁrst hand of blackjack at the casino on the Friday night before the match, to St Kilda’s winning score of 10.14 (74) on Saturday afternoon against the Hawks NEWS TRACKER

being identical to its tally in the 1966 Grand Final, the past and the present were never too far apart. Even the fact Hawthorn was St Kilda’s opponent last weekend had certain symmetry to it, given it was the Hawks who the Saints had to beat in the final round of 1966 just to make the finals. This time, in the wake of Geelong’s loss to Carlton the night before, victory was to confirm St Kilda would finish the home and away season on top of the ladder for only the third time in its history. On the other two occasions – 1965 and 1997 – St Kilda has gone on to lose the Grand Final, but those who did get the job done firmly believe their wait to be joined as premiership players by another red, white and black vintage is nearing an end. But last weekend – from the moment the Saints legends

touched down in Devonport on Friday afternoon, to be greeted by their premiership captain Darrel Baldock and former teammate Graeme ‘Gypsy’ Lee before boarding a bus to Launceston – it was all about catching up and reminiscing. The hard-luck stories from St Kilda’s golden year were as much a part of the reunion as the men who saw off Collingwood by a point in an epic Grand Final. You couldn’t get the smile off Kevin ‘Noofa’ Roberts’ face. Roberts missed the big one with a broken collarbone, as did Ross Oakley, whose knee injury in the second semi-ﬁnal ensured that would be his ﬁnal League game. Oakley was one of the ‘stayers’ on both nights of the celebrations. Not surprisingly, the aura of Ditterich (who missed the Grand Final because of suspension) was evident.

Of course, the larrikins, led by Jimmy Read, were in ﬁne form; the imposing ﬁgure of Allan Davis was never far from the action, and Barry Breen still looked as if he could slot in at centre half-forward with few problems. Star centre half-back Ian Synman is still linked to the club – his son-in-law Anthony Moore is the Saints’ commercial operations manager. He summed up the weekend best when he said: “It has made us all feel like heroes again.” This writer would like to change one word of that quote – from ‘again’ to ‘still’. Regardless of what unfolds over the next six weeks, and in the years to come, these players will remain heroes. Always have been, always will be. Bruce Eva is a producer for the Sports Today radio program on 3AW.

Melbourne’s Cale Morton has signed a two-year contract extension with the club.

16 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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C H A N G E S AT S Y D N E Y C AT S C E L E B R AT E

Roos to leave

PHOTO: GEELONG FOOTBALL CLUB

A night of laughs, tears and tales MICH A EL LOV ET T

y the time they drew stumps in the early hours of Sunday morning, Geelong ofﬁcials were left in doubt about the signiﬁcance of the club’s 150-year celebration last Saturday. President Frank Costa described it as the biggest function the club has held and “the best the city has staged”. More than 1400 people attended the event in a purpose-built marquee on the city’s waterfront. It was a night of laughs and tears, and was marked by a heartfelt message from coach Mark Thompson to the playing group not to waste the chance to secure the club’s second premiership in three years. For Costa, the highlight was the presentation of medals to living members of the 1951, ’52 and ’63 premiership teams. “Premiership medals weren’t presented until 1977, so there was a feeling of disappointment for these players that they had

THREE OF A KIND: Geelong’s living premiership captains – Tom Harley (2007),

Fred Flanagan (1951, ‘52) and Fred Wooller (1963) – at last week’s dinner.

To see the look on their faces as they received them from members of the current playing group brought a tear to the eye GEELONG PRESIDENT FRANK COSTA

missed a cherished memento of what they had achieved,” Costa said. “To see the look on their faces as they received them from members of the current playing group brought a tear to the eye.” Former stars Doug Wade and John ‘Sam’ Newman recounted tales of a hairdressing supply business they ran in the 1960s, including the time Wade took the wrong briefcase to an important interstate meeting. “Doug packed two briefcases,

one with our business presentation, the other with an apple in it,” Newman said. “We got to the meeting and Doug opened the case containing the apple. People wonder why the business struggled.” Garry Sidebottom and then-coach Billy Goggin tried to unravel the mystery of Sidebottom missing the bus en route to the 1981 preliminary ﬁnal at Waverley Park. “Garry stills says the club was to blame but Billy was adamant it wasn’t his fault,” Costa said. Costa backed Thompson’s message after a 35-point loss to Carlton last Friday. “We have a few players out but Mark is concerned about our form and we need to turn things around in the next few weeks,” he said.

With “succession” the latest buzz word, the Sydney Swans have announced that coach Paul Roos (right) will step down at the end of 2010. John Longmire (below), the former North Melbourne player and long-time Roos assistant, will take over, having accepted an initial two-year offer. The Swans also announced that football manager Andrew Ireland, a former Collingwood player and Brisbane Bears/Lions CEO, would succeed Myles Baron-Hay as CEO, effective September 14. The coaching announcement followed Collingwood’s decision to initiate a succession plan, with Nathan Buckley to take over from Mick Malthouse at the end of 2011. Longmire, 38, played 200 games with North Melbourne from 1988-99 and joined the Swans as an assistant in 2002. He had been scheduled to interview for the North Melbourne coaching job before Wednesday’s announcement. Roos, 46, indicated his desire to stay involved with the club beyond 2010, probably in talent identification and player development roles. JIM MAIN

KNOW EVERY GAME PLAN.

HEAR IT LIKE YOU’RE IN IT. 3AW is football. Get the complete run-down on Sports Today with Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell from 6pm Monday to Thursday on 3AW 693.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 17

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L AT E B L O O M E R SOLUTION

Wood rising to the challenge

Could Tippett solve Crows’ ruck issues? SH A NE McNA L LY

ne of Adelaide’s perceived weaknesses was exposed last week by promising Collingwood back-up ruckman Cameron Wood, prompting discussion that young forward Kurt Tippett may have to move into the ruck if the Crows are to be a genuine September threat. For all of Adelaide’s highly rated efforts and the credibility it has earned as a professional, hard-to-beat team, its ruck situation is seen as a potential stumbling block. The inexperienced Wood, 22, had a night out against the Crows, giving the likes of Dane Swan and Alan Didak a head-start at the all-important stoppages. Tippett presented well at full-forward but managed only one goal. A possible move into the ruck for the 201cm Queenslander,

CROW CONUNDRUM: Kurt Tippett could be a back-up option in the ruck although some Adelaide fans believe his talents would be missed at full-forward.

also 22, is constantly debated among Adelaide supporters and the South Australian media. It’s the classic ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ scenario, but many believe it is necessary to give the Crows’ midﬁelders ﬁrst use of the ball – even if it means restructuring the forward line. Adelaide football operations manager John Reid said Tippett remains a back-up ruck option and there are no plans to move the spearhead away from the goalsquare on a permanent basis. “He had a couple of small

stints (in the ruck) on the weekend,” he said. “The other ruckmen are holding up OK, even though we got beaten in the last quarter (against Collingwood). “(Ivan) Maric and (James) Sellar are going well and we’ve got (Jonathon) Grifﬁn in the wings (playing with Central District in the SANFL) to come back. “Kurt is always an option to go in the ruck but the ideal scenario is to keep him as a forward and use him sparingly as a ruckman when the situation calls for it.”

Little more than a week ago, the general consensus was that Collingwood would struggle to be a genuine contender without a fit and firing Josh Fraser in the ruck. That theory was blown away last Saturday night when developing big man Cameron Wood (pictured) played the best of his 21 games for the Magpies since crossing from the Brisbane Lions. With a career-best 24 disposals, a team-high 11 contested possessions, eight marks and two goals, the 22-year-old beanpole was the most dominant ruckman on the field in the Pies’ stirring 21-point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. The Magpies have been heavily criticised for giving up a first-round selection – No. 14 – for Wood at the end of 2007. But, as coach Mick Malthouse said post-match: “He’s growing into the position as we thought he would. He is a first-round pick player. When he fills out his body, he’s going to be a tremendous talent because he can mark, he can kick, he can get the ball on the ground.” BEN COLLINS

KICK EVERY GOAL.

HEAR IT LIKE YOU’RE IN IT. 3AW is football. Listen to four quarters of all-star commentary with Rex Hunt, Dennis Cometti, Tony Leonard and Shane Healy at 3AW 693.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 19

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VIEWS > NEWS > FIRST PERSON > FACTS > DATA > CULTURE PERSPEC TIVE

Hodge beats lions

RETIREMENT

Bowden to leave with head held high A NDR EW WA L L ACE

he past week was a hectic one in the life of Richmond veteran Joel Bowden. With the announcement that this weekend’s game against Collingwood would be his last at AFL level, the 31-year-old fulfilled the standard flood of media commitments, on top of dealing with the resignation of AFL Players’ Association CEO Brendon Gale in his role as president of the AFLPA. Following his AFL farewell on Saturday afternoon, Bowden will attend a testimonial dinner in his honour at the MCG. “It’s definitely been a busy time, but certainly also an opportunity for me to further my understanding of the way the business works, which is something I enjoy,” Bowden said. “It’s interesting – I was technically Brendon’s boss as president of the Players’ Association, and now he’s moving to a position where he’ll be my boss as Richmond CEO.” Bowden, a dual best and fairest and All-Australian, remains coy about his future pursuits, but is thrilled to have been able to finish on 265 games in 14 seasons at Punt Road. “I certainly have enjoyed my time at Richmond. It’s been a tremendous honour to play AFL footy and I’ve had a great many challenges in my career – I started at half-back, went to half-forward, played a bit on the wing, in the middle, ended up as an undersized centre half-back, and in the last couple of years have played a rebounding half-back role. “It’s hard to stay in one position for a decade unless you’re an out-and-out champion like Robert Harvey, Nathan NEWS TRACKER

TIGER STALWART:

Joel Bowden will retire after this week’s match, ending a 265-game career over 14 seasons.

I certainly have enjoyed my time at Richmond. It’s been a tremendous honour to play AFL footy and I’ve had a great many challenges JOEL BOWDEN Buckley or Shane Crawford; I had to change positions and I’m very proud of the way I’ve conducted myself in that.” The son of Richmond premiership player Michael Bowden grew up with five football-obsessed brothers in Alice Springs, and suspected that the sheer distance from the AFL heartland would deny him the opportunity to reach the elite level. He rates his finest achievement in the game as his AFL debut as an 18-year-old against Hawthorn in 1996, and also retains fond memories of the Tigers’ 2001 season, where he made a major contribution to the success-starved club reaching a preliminary final.

And considering he used to man the scoreboard at the Alice Springs football ground with younger brother Patrick, handballing and having a kickto-kick at every opportunity, Bowden also notes the two seasons spent with his sibling at Tigerland from 2006-07 were special. A committed family man with wife Katie, daughter Alice (3) and son Charles (1), Bowden relished the challenge of playing on the AFL’s best, despite conceding height and weight. “When you come up against a Jonathan Brown or Nick Riewoldt and can do a job on them as well as rebounding and getting some of the ball yourself, that goes a long way to having a positive inﬂuence on the team,” Bowden said. “I’m very proud to have been able to play 14 years at the level and to be able to say I was a good player – I was able to at times beat my opponent and, if I had deﬁciencies, I went away and worked on them and did something about it.”

Following an injury rehabilitation program can be mind numbing. Injured Hawthorn forward Tim Boyle (pictured), ruled out for the year early in the season with a knee injury, has kept himself busy, writing a regular column for the club’s website, playing guitar and penning his own songs. In an analysis of leadership styles for his website column, the 25-year-old Boyle, a professional writing student, cited Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, Achilles, the Trojan War hero of Greek mythology and the main character of Homer’s epic poem the Iliad, Hector of Troy, the Trojan prince of Greek mythology, and the Jedi order from the Star Wars series. His views on Hawks vice-captain Luke Hodge are intriguing: “I’ve often wondered whether Luke Hodge was born in the wrong century. Don’t get me wrong. Luke is a kind man and a loving father but I can’t help but think how many arguments would have been settled under his sword in some bygone era. “I’ve been fortunate enough to share a sporting field with Luke since we were kids and I have an analogy I use when people ask me about him. I tell them: if Luke Hodge was in a cage fight with a lion and I was forced to lay my life on a bet, I wouldn’t feel comfortable betting on the lion. Such is the stubborn fierceness of the man that at times it seems he could stop logic if he made up his mind to.” PETER DI SISTO

We’re not sure what grade his piece might have received if submitted as part of his course, but we gave him full marks. Go to hawthornfc.com.au to read the full article.

Supporters pledge more than $725,000 to the Demons’ Debt Demolition program.

20 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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TRIBUTE

A true pro to the end BEN COL LINS

opular Triple M football commentator Mike â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Madgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; McLean was laid to rest on Tuesday after losing his battle with cancer at the age of 41. Despite his terminal illness, McLean continued to call AFL matches until round 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his last match being between Hawthorn (the team he supported) and the Brisbane Lions. He is survived by his wife Angela. Triple M colleague and former St Kilda star and Richmond coach Danny Frawley shared his memories of McLean: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Madge was a great caller and an even better bloke, which was shown by the hordes of people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including many football identities and people from rival media outlets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who attended his funeral. You could barely move in the church. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sandringham Zebras were Madgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst love, then

SADLY MISSED: Mike â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Madgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; McLean

was a passionate football man.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Madgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was a great caller and an even better bloke, which was shown by the hordes of people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including many football identities DANNY FRAWLEY Hawthorn, but you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know he barracked for the Hawks when he called â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he was a totally impartial and a thorough professional.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was good for me when I joined the Triple M commentary team (in 2005). He told me to just be myself because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what he did. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes people who work in the media get a bit of a head-wobble about themselves, but not Madge. He was a genuine, straight-down-theline guy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He had a lot of humour too, and was good at winding people up. He was like that right to the end. For a while there, you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have known he was sick because he was as upbeat as he always was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was a great team man who could work with the big names like Brian (Taylor) and Garry (Lyon) and also help along novices like me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was respected for his views on the game because he always had his ďŹ nger on the pulse. If you wanted to know about anything that was going on in football, you only had to ask Madge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We called him â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mr Saturday Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; because that was his domain. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strange not hearing his voice on Triple M on a Saturday night. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be sadly missed.â&#x20AC;?

MILES TONES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ROUND 20

250 games Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans)

200 games Leigh Brown (Collingwood) Josh Carr (Port Adelaide) Scott Welsh (Western Bulldogs)

200 club games Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs)

100 games Matt Maguire (St Kilda) Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)

50 games Dean Polo (Richmond) The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.

Warm up before the game at Waterfront City, Docklands with a huge range of FREE footy activities & kids competitions. Grab a tasty meal deal along the waterfront or a great bargain at Harbour Town Shopping Centre. FOOTY ON THE WATERFRONT CALENDAR SATURDAY, AUG 22 (2.10pm) SATURDAY, AUG 29 (4.10pm)

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Carlton v Melbourne

Carlton v Adelaide

Activities between 11am - 2pm

Activities between 1pm - 4pm

SUNDAY, AUG 23 (1.10pm)

SUNDAY, AUG 30 (4.40pm)

St Kilda v North Melbourne

Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

Activities between 10am - 1pm

Activities between 1.30pm - 4.30pm

PRIZES TO BE WON!

VISIT WATERFRONTCITY.COM.AU FOR MORE DETAILS 22 AFL RECORD visit aďŹ&#x201A;record.com.au

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A N A LY S I S

THE GODFATHER OF STATS

Ted Hopkins

Founder of Champion Data and Carlton premiership player

Discovery of the slow Can you run faster yet go nowhere? It’s a question that’s come to puzzle The Godfather. While there is a constant buzz about footy’s ever-increasing speed, The Godfather is fascinated by how many facets of football are going backwards. No doubt there are aspects of the game caught on the fast track. Interchanges have jumped from a team average of 46 a game in 2006 to 90 this season, with Collingwood’s 102 a game popping the unthinkable 100-barrier. Equally frantic is the escalation in the number of handballs. The game average of 264 in 2006 has rocketed to 355 in 2009. There has also been a signiﬁcant rise in tackles from 98 a game in 2006 to 124 this season.

ROTATIONS: Interchanges per game

have almost doubled since 2006.

But the game is going backwards in other respects. First, the ball is in play less. The combined average for ballups and throw-ins in 2006 was 47 a game, but it is up to 61 in 2009. Similarly, secondary stoppages comprised 15 per cent of all stoppages in 2006, but this ﬁgure is up to 25 per cent this season. This is a likely a contributing

cause of the most fundamental feature of Australian Football going backwards – scoring. The current average of 181 points a game is the second lowest in 40 years. The number of times the ball is launched into attack is also diminishing. From the time records of forward-50 entries were ﬁrst kept in 1996, the average number of inside 50s a game never looked like dipping below 100 until this season, when it has hit 98. Ironically, given the increase in running speed and emphasis on short kicking in today’s game, it is surprising the average number of kicks a game has also gone backwards, from 415 in 2006 to 394 in 2009. Indeed, if we look at metres gained in combined kicks and handballs, the distance travelled towards goal has gone backwards from a team average of 5924 metres a game in 2006 to 5652 metres this season.

This is despite an increase in the average disposals a game from 679 in 2006 to 749 in 2009. The Godfather thinks this is because the current caper involves going around in circles more than ever.

Team average for metres gained a game* Year 2009 2008 2007 2006

Metres gained 5652 5747 5947 5924

Disposals per game 749 710 689 679

*Metres gained are measured from the spot where a player gains possession and where the resulting team possession chain ends.

24 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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visit: afl.com.au

HLG_0132 - FWO - FOOTYRECORD_PR-1 1

31/07/2009 1:21:08 PM

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AFL and

Government in climate change strategy The AFL’s Green Round coincides with a new ‘climate friendly’ partnership with the Australian Government.

he AFL this week announced a partnership with the Australian Government aimed at making Australian Football more “climate friendly”. The partnership and this weekend’s Green Round of matches were launched at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, Minister for Climate Change and Water Penny Wong, Minister for Sport Kate Ellis and Carlton captain Chris Judd. The partnership is based on a long-term strategy that will incorporate activities including: ■ The introduction of a new program to support local

clubs to take action on climate change, and to reduce their greenhouse emissions. ■ An interactive climate change awareness program for families and children involved in junior football programs. ■ A targeted carbon pollution reduction program across the AFL industry. Demetriou said the Australian Football industry was committed to reducing its impact on the environment and welcomed the opportunity to work with the Government’s Department of Climate Change. “Like every organisation, the AFL needs to better understand and reduce our environmental footprint and this partnership with the Australian Government will ensure future generations

GOING GREEN: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announces the new partnership this

week, watched by Kate Ellis, Andrew Demetriou, Chris Judd and Penny Wong.

can continue to participate in grassroots football by working together to save our grounds,” he said. “We will collaborate with our AFL clubs and junior football clubs to develop a long-term position in response to the environmental challenges that we all face.”

There are simple things football fans can do to be a part of the climate change solution, even while playing or watching their favourite game AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER KEVIN RUDD

GREEN AMBASSADORS

DANIEL JACKSON, Richmond Jackson believes even the smallest gesture can go a long way to limiting the impact of climate change. “I’m studying at the moment, so instead of driving I catch public transport and do some reading on the way. We also travel to diﬀerent training venues and functions, so we encourage car-pooling. “And in summer, I either walk to training or ride my bike, like a lot of the players do. “Football clubs can make a

significant difference, and we’re doing what we can.” Richmond is involved a number of daily practices aimed at reducing the impact of climate change. It switched to water-efficient showerheads to reduce hot water and power use. It has also established a recycling campaign and places a strong emphasis on saving power by switching off computers, lights and appliances when not in use. The redevelopment of Punt Road Oval will give the club an opportunity to be an AFL leader in green initiatives.

BRAD SEWELL, Hawthorn Sewell believes “being green is the new black” and welcomed the Green Round initiative as a way of “raising awareness of environmental issues among supporters”. “I believe a big part of this is looking at how we can live sustainably for the beneﬁt of our country, families, community and children,” he said. “Each one of us is responsible for playing a part in sustainable living and I believe it’s about how we can best reduce, reuse

and recycle as part of everyday life. I’m certainly no expert, but I try to play my part and make a difference in the following ways: ■ Using energy efficient light bulbs in my house. ■ Switching off lights, TVs, and power points when not in use. ■ Car-pooling with teammates to games and the airport. ■ Having a water tank at home. ■ Filling up the washing machine completely before doing a load. ■ Not leaving water running when brushing teeth or shaving. ■ Recycling and using a compost bin.”

26 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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Prime Minister Rudd said the partnership centred on what families could do. “Australians want to do their bit to tackle climate change, and this partnership will help AFL fans and footy clubs achieve that. “There are simple things that football fans can do to be a part of the climate change solution, even while watching or playing

their favourite game,’’ he said. In addition to incorporating sustainability program initiatives, the AFL will also raise awareness of climate change this weekend during Green Round, with the support of Toyota and Origin. “The AFL is fortunate to have major partner Toyota, a leader in sustainable manufacturing and innovative technology, and Origin, through its Green for Footy program, helping drive awareness of the climate change issue,” Demetriou said. In 2007 and 2008, the AFL and participating clubs purchased offsets for 63,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions generated from AFL House and energy used at games. Demetriou said Green Round provided the AFL with an opportunity to encourage fans to make small changes to the way they get to the football and consume resources generally with some tangible suggestions around saving energy, sustainable modes of transport and recycling waste. “It can be as simple as turning the lights off before leaving home, catching public transport or car pooling to go to the game and putting your rubbish in the recycling bin.” He said the AFL had also worked with Cricket Australia to develop an artiﬁcial turf suitable for drought-affected community football grounds as another long-term response to the issue of climate change.

Green Round activities Fans are being encouraged to ‘Make Green Their Second Team’ by adopting energysaving measures at home, using sustainable modes of transport and recycling waste. The centre circles at each AFL ground will be replaced by the three-arrow recycling logo. Umpires will wear green uniforms and goal umpires will use green ﬂags. At the HawthornAdelaide match, function dining rooms will incorporate a ‘Green Menu’, with all food sourced within a 160km radius of the venue. A bike parking service is available for fans attending the Richmond-Collingwood and Melbourne-Fremantle matches. Integrated ticketing and transport programs are in place for the West CoastNorth Melbourne, Sydney Swans-Geelong and Brisbane Lions-Western Bulldogs matches, with new recycling bins being introduced at the Gabba. At ANZ Stadium, ‘green’ power will be used with energy-saving measures to be promoted. At the Port Adelaide-Carlton match, representatives of the Trees for Life group are giving away seedling packs (and accepting a gold coin donation), with a Toyota Prius demonstration also being held.

M E S S AG E

CHRIS JUDD, Carlton captain “The issue of climate change affects us all, and in ways we may not have considered. The game we all know and love is being severely impacted by climate change and, sadly, it is grassroots football that is copping the worst of it. In many parts of the country, our community footy grounds are suffering. Many are subject to closures as they’ve become simply too dangerous to play on. That has caused seasons to be delayed, shortened and even cancelled – at a time when the last thing some embattled communities need is to lose their footy. In other parts of the country, floods have made playing any sport impossible. And the Victorian bushfires continue to leave their mark. The footy community, from grassroots through to the AFL, the clubs, corporate partners and the stadia, are banding together and calling in the experts to come up with solutions to save our game and ensure its healthy future. We can all make a difference It’s time to get a game-plan and put it into action.” • To watch a video of Prime Minister Rudd and Chris Judd discussing climate change issues - the “Juddster and Ruddster” interview - go to pm.gov.au

COMBINED EFFORT

RYAN O’KEEFE, Sydney Swans O’Keefe believes we all have a responsibility to “look after the environment and to make sure it is a good place for generations after us”. “We need to treat the environment with respect and leave it as we found it.” O’Keefe does his part by: ■ Riding his bike. Generally I walk to all things close to home and avoid using my car where possible.” ■ Composting and recycling at home – “very strictly”.

■ Having a rainwater tank installed at my house and considering solar power. The Sydney Swans and recycling group Closed Loop have been working together on a range of initiatives that make minimal impact. These include: ■ Players riding their bikes to and from training. ■ Recycling packaging. ■ Using green-friendly light globes and light sensors in oﬃces and change rooms. ■ Reducing water consumption by installing ﬁve-star toilets and taking showers in four minutes or less.

OTHER CLUB AMBASSADORS ADELAIDE: Nick Gill BRISBANE LIONS: Jason Roe CARLTON: Chris Judd, Brett Thornton, Eddie Betts, Sean Grigg and Brad Fisher COLLINGWOOD: Shane Wakelin ESSENDON: Andrew Welsh FREMANTLE: Luke McPharlin GEELONG CATS: Joel Corey MELBOURNE: Brad Green NORTH MELBOURNE: Matthew Campbell PORT ADELAIDE: Chad Cornes ST KILDA: Jason Blake WEST COAST EAGLES: Brent Staker WESTERN BULLDOGS: Dale Morris Visit aﬂ.com.au/green for more information.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 27

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MITCH CLARK

puts nightmare behind him A life-threatening illness almost ended Mitch Clark’s career before it began, but four seasons on, the Brisbane ruckman is in All-Australian form and leading the Lions’ push for a return to ﬁnals action. NICK BOW EN

he week leading up to the 2005 NAB AFL Draft was the scariest time in Mitch Clark’s life but it was not his uncertain football future that terrified him. The week, itself, started innocently enough. After completing his final day of work at a Just Spectacles outlet in Perth, where the then 18-year-old had worked for a year in between finishing school and the draft, his workmates took him to a pub across the road for a few farewell drinks. After three or four beers, Clark headed home, but once there, he started to feel unwell. His mother, Deborah, suspecting he had simply had one drink too many, put him to bed. But Clark did not get much sleep; he was up much of the night vomiting. The next morning he felt better so he left with some

AR20 p61-64 Mitch Clark.indd 61

mates on a pre-arranged trip to Bunbury (175km south of Perth) to unwind before facing what shaped as the biggest week of his life. Halfway through the threehour drive he noticed a rash on his feet. He took a photo of it with his mobile phone and sent it to his mother to get her opinion. His fears were temporarily allayed when she said it was most likely a heat rash caused by his illness the night before. But he soon felt progressively worse. His joints swelled and ached, his back hurt and the rash on his feet spread to his hips. His eyes were sensitive to light and he started to vomit again. Later that night, his joints were so swollen he couldn’t even walk a short distance to a local Bunbury restaurant for dinner. By the next morning, Clark knew he had to get to hospital. When his mates got him to the emergency department

12/8/09 3:58:32 PM

of the Bunbury Hospital, he was immediately diagnosed as suffering the serious bacterial illness meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease can cause bacterial meningitis or widespread blood infections (sepsis) and is fatal in about 10 per cent of cases. Sufferers can also lose limbs, become deaf, have nervous system complications and suffer strokes. The seriousness of Clark’s condition meant he had to be transferred by ambulance to Fremantle Hospital. That’s when Clark really started to get scared. “I remember when I hopped into the ambulance, the ‘ambo’ said to me, ‘We don’t know what’s going to happen, we’ll just hopefully get you up there safely and they can treat you’,” Clark says. “When I got there, my parents and little brother (Tyson, then 15) came to see me and, when Tyson saw the state I was in, he fainted straight away. “It was full on. I don’t know if I could have lost my legs. They didn’t really talk to me much in the hospital about what was going on – they would have been speaking to my parents

because I was still 18 – but it was deﬁnitely the scariest few days of my life.” Clark remained in hospital for the next four days and was only released the day before the draft. As traumatising as his week had been, his football future had still been at the back of his mind. Having heard that “a lot of clubs” were concerned about his health, Clark was understandably relieved when the Brisbane Lions called out his name with the No. 9 pick. Still, it took him some time to return to full health. When Clark arrived at Brisbane in late 2005, the club held him back from pre-season training until after Christmas. He also suspects the after-effects of his bout of meningococcal left him unusually sore after training and games in his ﬁrst AFL season. Fast-forward, though, to Clark’s fourth season and his pre-draft nightmare seems a distant memory. Thrust into the Lions’ No. 1 ruck position after incumbents Matthew Leuenberger and Jamie Charman went down with long-term injuries in rounds three and four respectively,

It was full on. I don’t know if I could have lost my legs ... but it was deﬁnitely the scariest few days of my life MITCH CLARK

Clark has been a revelation. His form has been so consistently good, some commentators are tipping he will be named in this year’s All-Australian team. Last weekend, he was again one of the Lions’ best in their draw with Essendon. Drafted as a key-position player, Clark gave a glimpse of his ability in the ruck last season in 12 successive games from round seven. His good form forced Leuenberger out of the side as he assumed the No. 2 ruck mantle behind Charman. This year, though, Clark has taken his game to another level. At 200cm and 99kg, he has the leap to match most ruckmen at bounces and throw-ins, while his mobility, endurance and strong marking mean he is like an extra midﬁelder around the ground. His impact is borne out in

his statistics this year. Of the League’s starting ruckmen, he has taken the most marks (108), is second to North Melbourne’s Hamish McIntosh for disposals (304, at an average of 16 a game), second to Essendon’s Paddy Ryder for tackles (73) and fourth for hit-outs (416). Speaking to the AFL Record at the Parkview Hotel, on the fringe of Melbourne’s CBD, Clark is as laidback in personality as his attire: black hoodie, tracky dacks and white thongs. It’s a Friday evening and Clark has just come from a team meeting ahead of the Lions’ match the following night. Sitting in the ground-floor lounge area, you can see up to the restaurant on the first floor where many of Clark’s teammates have already started dinner. As we talk, assistant coach Chris Johnson and defender Jason Roe jokingly taunt Clark as they make their way to the restaurant. It’s the type of banter that’s typical in a footy side. It’s mateship disguised as ridicule, and being on the receiving end shows you are one of the boys. Clark takes the goading in the

62 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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12/8/09 3:58:52 PM

FAC T F I L E LEAPING LION: Just like this spectacular mark against

Essendon last week, Mitch Clark has risen to great heights after being thrown into the ruck this season.

right spirit and laughingly tells them where to go. Clark can afford to laugh. After an injury plagued start to his career, when he played only 22 games in his ﬁrst three seasons, he has played every game this year. “I feel a big part of the team now,” Clark says. “Playing in the ruck always gives you second chances at the ball and one of my focuses has been on my second efforts and competing around the ball. I think if you can do that as a ruckman, you’re pretty valuable”. Given his relative lack of experience in the ruck – he had played there as a junior but not at senior level until last year – Clark has made the transition seamlessly. Facing a junior opponent from across the centre circle is a far cry from eyeballing West Coast’s Dean Cox, but Clark is not daunted by playing against the game’s best ruckmen. “I think the experience I got last year helped me a lot this season,” Clark says. “I enjoy the challenge each week of going up against the opposition’s No. 1 ruckman and I enjoy trying to prepare as well as I can to try and match them.”

is most challenging opponents are predictable – Cox (“a massive runner”) and Dean Brogan (“a very, very tough opponent; very physical”) – though Clark stresses he has yet to play on Fremantle’s 211cm Aaron Sandilands. Positive and upbeat, Clark speaks often about enjoying a challenge. It’s a good thing, too. He’s already had more than his share of them in his short career. In his ﬁrst two seasons, when he wasn’t injured, he played predominantly at full-forward, most memorably kicking ﬁve goals against Collingwood in round nine, 2007, to earn a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination. But he faced an almost insurmountable task to nail down a regular spot with Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw already forming one of the most potent power forward duos in the League. Still, Clark sees only positives from that period. “Coming into the forward line with those guys was great. I learned so much off ‘Braddy’ and ‘Browny’,” Clark says. Even after his impressive form in the ruck last year, this

pre-season Clark was tried at centre half-back, as a third tall forward and even tagged Richmond’s Matthew Richardson – renowned for his endurance – on a wing. There are no guarantees, either, he’ll stay in the ruck when Leuenberger and Charman return to full fitness. Either way, Clark will be up for the challenge. “Next year is a different year and, whether I play in the ruck, down back or up forward, I’ll have to wait and see,” Clark says. Versatility has long been part of Clark the sportsman. As a junior, he was such an outstanding volleyballer he was offered a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra (see breakout next page). He was also a promising basketballer. But football was always Clark’s first love, with his father, Dean, the biggest influence on his career. “Dad was always there buying me boots, taking me to training, watching my games, coaching me – everything,” Clark says. Clark is now a doting father, himself, he and his

MITCH CLARK Born: October 19, 1987 Recruited from: East Fremantle Debut: Round 1, 2006 Height: 200cm Weight: 99kg Games: 41 Goals: 24 Player honours: NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2007

partner, Steph, the proud parents of Sienna, one. “She keeps me on my toes,” Clark says. “I’m not too bad changing nappies, I don’t mind getting in there and getting involved.” Another new life experience beckons Clark this September – playing in the finals. The Lions are fifth on the ladder with 11 wins and one draw and seem assured of making the finals for the first time since 2004. But Clark is taking nothing for granted until the position in the final eight is beyond doubt. Still, he is excited by the Lions’ mix of premiership players such as Brown, Simon Black, Luke Power and Bradshaw, emerging mid-tier players including Jared Brennan, Daniel Merrett, Michael Rischitelli and Josh Drummond, and talented AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 63

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12/8/09 3:59:15 PM

youngsters such as Daniel Rich and James Polkinghorne. “It’s really important for us that our middle-tier guys and, to a lesser extent, the younger guys step up to help guys like Browny, ‘Blacky’ and Luke,” Clark says. “That’s the only way we’re going to be able to drive our footy club to where we want to go.”

SEPTEMBER CALLING:

With the Lions sitting ﬁfth on the ladder, Mitch Clark hopes to taste ﬁnals action this season.

At the moment, I’m loving the club and playing footy here. I’m Brisbane Lions through and through MITCH CLARK

Obviously, like the other 15 clubs, the Lions are driving to establish their next premiership era and, fortunately for supporters, Clark wants to be a key part of that. Despite speculation at the end of 2007 he was considering a return to Western Australia, Clark is adamant he wants to be a long-term Lion. “At the end of my ﬁrst two years I hadn’t achieved what I’d come over to do and that was to play footy,” Clark says. “That was due to injury. “There were tough times over here, of course, but it never crossed my mind to head home. “At the moment, I’m loving the club and playing footy here. I’m Brisbane Lions through and through.”

Volleyball hopes spiked If Mitch Clark’s love of Australian Football wasn’t so strong, he could be playing for the Australian volleyball team instead of starring forr the t Lions in the ruck rru each week. A sports-mad kid k growing up in Perth, P Clark ﬁtted f football, volleyball and a basketball into in a busy sp por sporting schedule. Elder Eld brothers Dean, E 30, 30 and Ry Ryan, 28, were

both excellent volleyballers and Clark followed in their footsteps, representing Rossmoyne Senior High School – a school noted for its strong volleyball teams – every year at the national championships. With his height, Clark played as his team’s main hitter. For those who only watch volleyball at the Olympics every four years, Clark was stationed near the net, while his teammates would set the ball up for him to spike it for a point. His performances caught the eyes of volleyball scouts and, when he was 15, the coach of the Australian

volleyball team off ered him a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. As fl attered as he was, Clark says his decision to turn the off er down was an easy one. “Mum wasn’t too keen on me moving to Canberra and I wanted to stay with my friends and just continue at the same school,” he says. “Volleyball was probably more of a fun thing for me. I’ve always loved footy and as far as I can remember I was always telling people that I wanted to be an AFL footballer. “I look back now and am thankful I chose footy.”

COURAGE, INITIATIVE AND TEAMWORK ON AND OFF THE FIELD. Voting is now open in the 2009 AFL Army Award. Get online at afl.com.au or SMS ‘Courage’ to 13 19 01 and pick the play of the round and you could have the chance to win an awesome Army experience for you and a mate.

Authorised under VIC Permit number 09/1090, NSW LTPS/09/2684, ACT TP09/1133, SA T09/690. Entries close 7/9/09. See afl.com.au for full terms and conditions. AFL Authorisation Code: GFAFL09/29

64 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au MDFA2794_80x179.indd 1

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Courage, initiative and teamwork are values the AFL and the Army proudly share. Get involved and help recognise the player you think best embodies these values in the 2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

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COACHES ON COACHING – PART 6

the top job Transition to

All-conquering St Kilda coach Ross Lyon was fully prepared for a senior coaching role after serving an 11-year apprenticeship as an assistant. In the sixth part of the AFL Record’s Coaches on Coaching series, the Saints mentor discusses the transition from assistant to senior coach.

erving as an assistant coach was crucial in preparing me to step up to senior coaching, but the importance of such an apprenticeship will differ depending on the individual. Much depends on how focused you are on becoming a coach when you get towards the end of your playing career. My desire to go down this path was not high and, in some ways, I fell into coaching when a part-time assistant’s role came up under my former Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears coach Robert Walls at Richmond in 1996. Injury had forced me to retire from the Bears at the end of 1995 and I was probably one

of the ﬁrst players straight out of the game to be appointed an assistant – I remember Walls wanted the perspective of a recently retired player on his coaching panel. But I think now players see a career path in coaching and assistant coaching. The money has grown and the opportunities are great and players are starting to prepare themselves before they retire by doing level one, two and three coaching courses. The full-time nature of the football club environment today means players are constantly interacting with coaches and line coaches and have a strong handle on what coaching involves, whereas when I started, it was a transition period for coaching

and full-time football – a lot of the standard coaching structures and meetings have evolved in the past 10 years. Clearly someone like Michael Voss has shown the modernday player can go straight into senior coaching, but I think, if you do an apprenticeship as an assistant, it helps prepare you more fully. It’s also a question of what gaps there are in your knowledge, recognising those gaps and surrounding yourself with the right people to help you bridge them. When I joined Richmond, it opened a coaching path for me and, once I was on it, I had a desire to improve and get better at it. I’m the ﬁrst to admit I was very green. I knew my football, but my ability to teach and work with players, and to plan and prepare, were areas I needed to grow in. I didn’t embark on the role at

the Tigers with any clear view of becoming a senior coach, nor did I feel an insatiable urge to become a senior coach for much of my time as an assistant. I just felt I had so many areas to experience and learn, and that was what I focused on. I worked primarily with Richmond’s defence under Walls from 1996-97 and went full-time under Jeff Gieschen from 1998-99, when I again worked mainly with the defence. I moved to Carlton in 2000 when David Parkin offered me the opportunity to coach its VFL side, which I did for three years, in addition to assisting in the AFL coach’s box on match-days. In 2003, when Denis Pagan took over as coach and Carlton became affiliated with the Northern Bullants in the VFL, I worked as an assistant, focusing on zones, kick-ins and working with specific players. AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 67

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COACHES ON COACHING – PART 6

Recognise the gaps in you r experience and surround yourself wit h the right people to help you bridge them. 2 Understand the role the media plays, the importance of it and being able to give them good content. 3 You are the biggest inﬂuence on your players, team and footba ll department, so carry yourself accord ingly. 4 Believe in your game-plan and stick with it; by chopping and changing you can lose your players’ con ﬁdence. 5 Not everyone is equal in playing ability but everyone on your list has the right to be treated fairly. 6 Ensure your assistants are on the same page as you, so they und erstan you want and can get it don d what e.

LEARNING PHASE: Lyon was primarily responsible for Sydney’s midﬁelders

and their work at stoppages during his tenure as an assistant with the Swans.

Coaching Carlton’s VFL side in my own right was critical for my development. Watching games unfold on game-day, identifying problems and finding solutions, I got challenged consistently with different situations that were thrown up. When you are the coach, you also learn to connect with your players and I enjoyed that. When I stopped coaching in the VFL, I really missed it. That’s when I thought I really liked coaching a team. From 2004-06, I worked at the Sydney Swans under Paul Roos, focusing on the midfield, with a strong bent on midfield stoppages. When the opportunity came up to interview with St Kilda at the end of ’06, I was starting to feel I needed a new challenge beyond assistant coaching. For the first time, I felt the urge to put my own imprint on a club. But as much as you learn as an assistant coach, when you start as

a senior coach, you ﬁnd more and more areas you have to grow in. I think the major adjustment I had to make at St Kilda has been well documented. I walked into a club with a fair bit of expectation. I thought I was prepared for the media scrutiny but, when it comes, the intensity of it can surprise you.

In terms of delegation, I like to put people in roles and give them strong guidelines and let them go ROSS LYON

As senior coach, you need to prepare and plan for media interaction more than you think initially. For me, it was about understanding the role the media plays, the importance of it and being able to give them good content. As senior coach, you have

ou are also got to realise you the biggest inﬂuence on your senior players, your team and your football department, so you have got to carry yourself accordingly at all times. As an assistant, you have a set role and may work closely with 10-12 players, but as a senior coach, you have got to be across every player on your list and all of your staff. There’s a lot more man management and I think in this area I got a lot of things right. Did I do it perfectly? No. But you can plan and read all the leadership and coaching books you want, but until you are placed in those day-to-day situations and the losses are mounting, it’s hard to prepare yourself fully. The task of assembling your team of assistant coaches is an intense period. You want to create a complementary team; you can’t have all the same types of people. Fundamentally, when I

interviewed people, I was looking for great character, a strong work ethic and football knowledge. And now we’ve got a great team at the Saints – Stephen Silvagni, Tony Elshaug, Leigh Tudor and development coaches Andy Lovell and Danny Sexton. In terms of delegation, I like to put people in roles and give them strong guidelines and let them go. But you have got to stay close enough to people to keep them accountable and ensure you know what is going on. With your coaching team, it’s about getting your assistants on the same page as yourself. The art is ensuring they understand what you want and can get it done. If this doesn’t happen, you have got a problem. With my team, it took a little bit of time for them to understand what I wanted. But now I’m so conﬁdent in them that I think

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COACHES ON COACHING – PART 6

ON SHOW: Lyon understands the senior coach is the biggest inﬂuence on a club’s players.

I could miss a month or two and the way we’d go about our training and preparation would be the same, regardless. As a senior coach, the game-plan you bring to the club is obviously one of the key planks of what you stand for. Ultimately, you have got to sell it and its principles – you are essentially saying to the club and players, ‘Follow this and you will be successful’. You only have a limited window of opportunity to deliver on this for the playing group to believe in your plan and run with it. I think the great coaches have got strong game-plans and beliefs that have stood the test of time. They have shown they can bring wins through the door and their players believe in, and support, them.

It is ridiculous to think our nine rookies are equal to our established senior group, but they will all be treated just as fairly ROSS LYON

I think a coach that chops and changes every week and doesn’t have a strong belief in his game-plan can lose the conﬁdence of his players, and affect their ability to play instinctively. It takes time to build good relationships with your players when you start as senior coach. Relationships are about trust so, to build trust, you must show integrity and consistency in everything you do. You have to understand that not everyone is equal in playing ability but everyone has the right to be treated fairly – that is my overriding philosophy.

It is ridiculous to think our nine rookies are equal to our established senior group, but they will all be treated just as fairly. Match-day coaching is another area that requires adjustment. As an assistant, you are more likely to throw up lots of different ideas. It is a case of all care, no responsibility. As much as you felt the pressure to make the right call as an assistant, you didn’t have to make the ﬁnal decision, so you didn’t feel the responsibility you do as senior coach. Ultimately, the senior coach makes the ﬁnal call and, whatever

decision is made, the result is going to rest on his shoulders. Senior coaching also requires you to be across areas such as ﬁtness and conditioning, list management and recruiting. Here, it’s about getting the right people in, being across what they do, but empowering them to do their job. As much as I monitor the performance of my staff, I’m always striving to improve my own performance and seek constant feedback from mentors. I work with a sports clinical psychologist once a week. He observes me in the coach’s box and my meetings and gives me weekly feedback. There are a couple of ex-AFL coaches I might catch up with monthly or bi-monthly for a cup of tea and a talk. I’ve also got friends I can catch up with and they help keep things in perspective, reminding me where I am from and emphasising the value of family and friends, which is good. I feel privileged to be in my role. I feel privileged to be coaching St Kilda. But my team and I work very, very hard to provide a great environment our players want to be part of and where they can express their talent, improve and enjoy winning games of AFL footy. If we can do that, we are a long way towards being a good club. AS TOLD TO NICK BOWEN

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As as it gets A week after his cousin became the ﬁrst Swan to play 300 AFL/VFL games, another of Sydney’s favourite sons, Adam Goodes, will create his own slice of history. The dual Brownlow medallist and premiership star will become the second-fastest player to reach the 250-game milestone. JIM MAIN

or a footballer noted for his exquisite timing, it is surprising Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes miscalculated his 250th AFL game by a week. He dearly would have loved to reach the milestone last week against Richmond, when close friend Michael O’Loughlin became the ﬁrst Swan to play 300 games – mates together in one big milestone game. Well, that was the loose idea in 2007 when O’Loughlin, in his 261st game, broke the club record held by John Rantall (260 matches from 1963-72 and 1976-79) and, in the same

game against Fremantle at the SCG, Goodes played his 200th match. Considering the vagaries of football and, in particular, injuries, it’s intriguing they almost got the ‘plan’ to work. O’Loughlin seriously injured his right ankle against Carlton at Docklands in round 16 last year and, after missing the start of this season following extensive surgery, ‘mistimed’ his return by that one week. The Swans play Geelong at ANZ Stadium this weekend, and supporters will be hoping Goodes’ teammates give him the same extraordinary level of commitment they gave O’Loughlin in last week’s demolition of the Tigers. “It would be fantastic to defeat the Cats,” Goodes said. “But not for me. We have to

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win because we still have some hope of making the ﬁnals. That’s what’s important – not me.” The 29-year-old will be the second-fastest player to reach 250 games, behind North Melbourne’s Wayne Schimmelbusch, by just 27 days. Goodes’ milestone has taken just 10 years and 140 days. Yet Goodes was almost overlooked at the 1997 National Draft, despite kicking six goals and being rated best on ground for North Ballarat in that season’s TAC Cup Grand Final. The Swans swooped for the 17-year-old with a bargain basement selection (No. 43) and, surprisingly, were the only ones to show any real interest in the multi-talented youngster. “I broke my hand on the back of a teammate’s head when playing for Vic Country against Vic Metro and missed 10 weeks of football. I was a bit of an unknown and, besides, I was very lazy and inconsistent, Goodes explained. “I had a brief chat with Mick Malthouse (then West Coast coach) at a draft camp, but no club gave me any indication it would draft me. Then, when the Swans nominated me, it was a bit of a shock. “I was doing an English exam that day, so didn’t have much time to think about what was going to happen, except that I was happy to have been nominated. “I just wanted a chance but, if it hadn’t come, I always knew I would have had another chance the following year. “Swans coach Rodney Eade gave me a call the next day to welcome me to the club and I was ecstatic when ‘Mickey O’ (O’Loughlin) then rang and said ‘I’m your cousin and can’t wait to see you up here’.” (O’Loughlin and Goodes are distant cousins, but had never met.) Goodes joined the Swans for the 1998 season at a time when they had a large group of indigenous players, including O’Loughlin, Robbie Ahmat, Troy Cook and Fred Campbell, and immediately felt at home. Now, with O’Loughlin’s retirement at season’s end, Goodes will be the only indigeneous player remaining – unless he gets his wish at this

IN FULL FLIGHT: When he plays his 250th game this week, Adam Goodes will become the second-fastest player to reach that milestone.

I am very, very proud of where I come from. I come from a culture that is 40,000 or more years old and has seen enormous changes ADAM GOODES

year’s NAB AFL Draft. “I’ve told the club that if they don’t get another indigenous player, then I’m off,” he joked. “I also keep telling them about my brother Brett at North Ballarat. How good would that be?” Goodes and O’Loughlin are more than teammates and distant cousins; they are extremely close and Goodes is godfather to O’Loughlin’s

three-year-old daughter Taya. And, like O’Loughlin, Goodes is extraordinarily proud of his Aboriginal heritage. Although father Graham is non-indigenous (with English, Scottish and Irish as parts of his background), Goodes regards himself as “100 per cent Aboriginal” through his mother Mae Sansbury’s heritage. “I am very, very proud of where I come

from,” he said. “I come from a culture that is 40,000 or more years old and has seen enormous changes, especially over the past 200 years.” Goodes was deeply honoured in 2005 when named at centre half-back in the Indigenous Team of the Century, especially as O’Loughlin was named at full-forward. “It just blew my head,” Goodes said. “To be recognised with all the truly great indigenous players like Graham Farmer, Gavin Wanganeen, Michael Long and so many others was an honour difﬁcult to get my head

74 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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around. I still can’t believe it.” Although Goodes’ other honours include Brownlow Medals in 2003 and 2006, a 2005 premiership medallion, club best and fairest awards in 2003 and 2006, the Rising Star Award in 1999 and AllAustralian selection in 2003 and 2006, he had a slow introduction to football at the elite level. He spent his first season with the Swans in the reserves, struggling to find the fitness level and the consistency to break into the senior line-up. “I had some good games, but I also played poor ones,” he admitted. “At one stage (assistant coach) Damien Drum came up to me and said: ‘‘‘Goodesy’, one day you’re in the penthouse and the next day you’re in the outhouse. You’ve got to find the middle ground.’” Goodes broke through in 1999 and has missed just four games since, filling a variety of roles – ruck, all key positions, wing and ruck-rover. He seemed destined to be one of the great mobile ruckmen of the modern era, using his height (194cm) in combination with his great aerobic capacity, athleticism and leap. He recalled that he was thrust into the ruck when Greg Stafford and Stefan Carey were sidelined through injury. His ruck play might have been a revelation, but he injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee at

Goodes, Swans are a real match The Adam Goodes-Sydney Swans relationship is all about mutual love and respect. Swans chairman Richard Colless believes Goodes is one of the club’s greatest assets, as player and person. “You see what he does on the field, but he is just as effective off-field,“ Colless said. “He not only is a wonderful ambassador for the club, but also for the indigenous community. “Everyone respects Adam as a tremendous human being and we are mighty proud that he represents the Swans. “You only had to see him at our recent Hall of Fame dinner.

Goodesy, one day you’re in the penthouse and the next day you’re in the outhouse. You’ve got to ﬁnd the middle ground DAMIEN DRUM

the opening bounce of a game against West Coast in 2004 and, for the only time in his career, had a “no possessions” game. Goodes defied the odds to play again the next week, but his ruck days were over as the Swans regarded him as too precious a commodity to risk at centre bounces. He evolved into the personification of the ideal modern footballer, used wherever the team needs him. He is currently playing at centre half-forward as the Swans seek to restructure the team for the post-Barry Hall era. “We had a great combination with Mickey and Barry up forward, but we now have to find a new synergy close to goal,” Goodes said. “I played at centre half-forward against Richmond, with young Jesse White at full-forward and, hopefully, we can build a good understanding for the foreseeable future. “I suppose playing at centre half-forward is good for me because I love trying to run an opponent around, to compete and to work hard for the team. But, for Fans swarmed around him and he was just so accommodating with his time and requests. “The fans love him, and we love him. He is part of what this club is all about.” Goodes is just as fulsome in his praise of the Swans. “I love this club,” he said unashamedly. “I think this is reflected in the contracts I have signed. I had a five-year contract and then signed a five-year extension. It has been a fantastic relationship and I hope I can give the club more years of service. “I had no idea when I put my name up for the 1997 draft that I would end up in Sydney but I now can look back and think that I was blessed. It has been wonderful playing for the Swans.”

me, it is all about doing the best I can wherever I am asked to play and I don’t have aspirations of playing in the one position. “If I can do well for the team in whatever role I am asked to ﬁll, that’s good enough for me.” Goodes is fully aware the Swans are in a rebuilding process, but is adamant the club will not slide right to the bottom. “I am conﬁdent the club will bounce back, probably sooner than most people anticipate,” he said. “We have a lot of good young players and, just as importantly, we have a very strong culture. “A lot has been said and out the Bloods culture, culture written about but it is veryy real and we want in ngrained. We want to keep it ingrained. n a very high level to maintain commitm ment because it is all of commitment about want and desire. If you c have these commodities, the folllow.” rest will follow.” a Goodes aims to be around Sw wans are back in when the Swans premierrship race, but is the premiership g too far ahead, not not looking even to the possibility of one breakin ng O’Loughlin’s club day breaking recorrd. games record. l “I would love to play 300 games club,,” Goodes said. “But it for the club,” im mmediate concern. If it is not my immediate mes, and it would be a comes, it com comes, nour. fantastic ho honour. alise I am 50 games “But I rea realise th hat means at least away and that sea asons, plus a few two full seasons, Who knows what can games. Who t time?” happen in that If Goodess does reach that h could reasonably milestone, he o on and break the expect to go record, but he prefers to think nd O’Loughlin, about he an and indigenous cousins and mates, ra are and honoured sharing a rare b history. place in club Goodees puts it, it is not all As Goodes ball. “We are family,” about footb football. stressed d. he stressed.

FAC T F I L E

Adam Goodes Born: January 8, 1980 Recruited from: Horsham/North Ballarat U18 Debut: Round 1, 1999 Height: 194cm Weight: 96kg Games: 249 Goals: 259 Player honours: Brownlow Medal 2003 (equal), 2006; best and fairest 2003, 2006; All-Australian 2003, 2006. International Rules Series 2001; AFL Rising Star 1999; premiership side 2005. Brownlow r n w Medal: M a 107 0 career a e votes v t s

DURABLE: Adam Goodes has missed just four games in his AFL career.

JIM MAIN

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AFL history guru Col Hutchinson answers your queries.

who celebrated his 98th birthday last February. He notched a goal with each of his ﬁrst six kicks for Carlton in round six, 1935. Later, he switched to Fitzroy and was a member of its 1944 premiership team. We know that a minimum of four players failed to earn a kick on debut but eventually kicked a goal with the ﬁrst one of their career.

Beginner’s luck How many players have kicked a goal with their ﬁrst kick at AFL level? JACK QUARTERMAIN, SURREY HILLS, VIC C

CH: We can never be sure

that we have an accurate total. Newspaper accounts of n matches have not always given such details for players scoring goals in their first appearances.. At this stage, we know of at least 186 instances dating back as far as 1911. Four of the players registered a goal with the only kick of their careers. Twenty-four others are known to have goaled with their first two disposals by foot, including Callum Wilson (West Coast) in round 18. At least six have scored majors with their first three kicks and two with their first four. The most outstanding effort was by Clen Denning,

SIX STRAIGHT: Carlton star Clen S

D Denning kicked goals with each o of his ﬁrst six kicks in League fo football in 1935.

W WRITE TO ANSWER MAN The Slattery Media Group T 1140 Harbour Esplanade Docklands, 3008 or email D michaell@slatterymedia.com m

P L AY E R I N F O R M AT I O N S E A R C H

Are you a descendant of Patrick Joseph O’Grady or Joseph Michael Bray? It is believed O’Grady was born in Ireland and played originally with Carlisle Imperials before joining St Kilda as a back pocket/ full-back in 1893. He played until the end of 1897, the ﬁrst year of the VFL. Sadly, he died on May

28, 1899, aged about 26. Bray was recruited to Melbourne from Howe Crescent Wesleys in 1908 and played three matches as a half-back ﬂ anker. He passed away on July 22, 1955, aged about 67.

Should you have any information regarding either player, including their dates of birth, heights and weights, contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col.hutchinson@aﬂ .com.au.

NAME GAME

Leaders in name Some players by their very names should be in leadership groups. Richmond’s Tyrone Vickery (pictured) was mentioned recently – Vickery is closely connected with the word “vice” as in “vice-captain”. One step up the ladder from Vickery are teammate Jay Schulz, Geelong’s David Wojcinski and Port Adelaide’s Danny Meyer. Their surnames are derived from or connected with words meaning “headman” or “chief”. Schulz is based on a German status word, which originally denoted a man responsible for collecting dues and paying them to the lord of the manor. Wojcinski is a habitation name based on the Polish name/word Wojcik, itself connected with the early German Vogt, a village headman/ representative. The surname of former Hawk Noel Voigt is a variation of this word. Meyer, from the Latin maior (greater, superior), was the job title of a magistrate or administrative oﬃcial in the Middle Ages. KEVAN CARROLL

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COLLECTABLES WITH RICK MILNE

Saints on ﬁre A weekly look at collectables, memorabilia and all footy things stored in boxes and garages.

I have a St Kilda ashtray ay from the Saints’ premiership p season of 1966. It is about 600mm 0mm high and I was wondering iff it is rare and/or has any value. TERESA, VIA EMAIL

RM: I have never seen one of

these and it is a great collector item, especially as St Kilda memorabilia is the ﬂavour of the month. I value it at $500. I have a copy of the Football Record for the he ourne 1954 Footscray-Melbourne Grand Final. The Bulldogs dogs defeated the Demons for their only ﬂag, so I thought ought this copy might have greater value than other her Football Records. GARRY, VIA EMAIL

RM: This is one of the

ball more collectable Football 0s Records from the 1950s and, in top condition, would be worth $400. I valuee your copy at $250. I have two match-worn n and signed football guernseys seys and uations. would appreciate valuations. The ﬁrst is Phil Carman’s an’s No. 31 when he was playing for Melbourne and the other is Cat Darren Milburn’s lburn’s No. 39 from 2008, complete mplete

with the 2007 AFL premiership logo. Both come with certiﬁcate of authenticity and the Milburn one also has an A-tag number. ‘BURKEY’, VIA EMAIL

RM: Carman was a high-proﬁle

player, so his guernsey is worth $800, while I value Milburn’s at $600. A friend just bought a 2009 Port Adelaide guernsey signed by all squad players for $120. What would it fetch on the open market, say on eBay?

RICK’S RARITY

Boundary umpires are seldom in the spotlight, so this 1947 photograph is a rare item. I wonder what happened to Messrs Deery, Lee, Stone, Hardiman and their fellow boundary umpires. This photograph is a slice of football history and is worth at least $250.

BRENDAN, VIA EMAIL

RM: Your friend bought himself

a bargain. Although signed guernseys are fairly common, I value this one at $450. SMOKING SAINTS:

This 1966 premiership ashtray is a collector’s item.

CONTACT RICK MILNE mrpp@iprimus.com.au or drop him a line: 5 Cooraminta St, Brunswick, Vic, 3056 or call (03) 9387 4131. One query per reader.

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Relive the game over a meal in the Docklands. After the final siren, head into the Docklands and relive every kick, tackle and goal over a meal or a beer. With so many great pubs, bars and restaurants, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the perfect place to talk footy. And next week, why not kick off with a drink or bite to eat in the Docklands before the game? For ideas on where to go, visit thatsmelbourne.com.au

COM0050/D

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KNOWLEDGE AC R O S S

DOWN

Whoever kicks the matchwinning goal (4)

Rodney .... rocketed the Swans to the top in 1996 (4)

4 6 9

John Newman’s nickname (3)

3 4

Over the line without a bounce (2, 3, 4)

5 6 7 8 14 17

St Kilda ruckman (7, 8)

Former Essendon captain Ken ...... (6) Important ﬁnal task for all football scribes (4)

10 Scott ....., Bombers’ Mr Versatile (5) 11 Often an important assist for 13 across (4)

12 13 15 16 20

Carlton’s number 25 (6) Slang for a big, high mark (6) Richmond old-timer ‘Skinny’ ..... (5) A superb skill, never noted in stats (5, 4) 1976, 1983 Hawk premiership defender David .........; nicknamed ‘Rubber’ (9)

21 When players collide (5) 23 West Coast nickname (6) 26 Nickname for the man who dominated in the Cat, Swan, Blue engine-room (6)

28 29 30 31

Also called the axe (4)

Essendon champ, who made Hawthorn’s Team of the Century (6) Hi, ho Silvio ........ (8) Given name of football’s tallest player (5) Given name of Collingwood president (5) Nickname of 4 down (4) A common length for a playing contract (5, 4)

18 Old-timer, Bob .... had a stand at Victoria Park named after him (4)

19 22 24 25 27

A player in space (5, 3) Melbourne’s nickname (6) Bulldog’s number 21 calls himself ... (3) Former Pie, Matthew ....., came from SA (5) Often given out by coaches in private (collq.) (4)

“The big ... ﬂy” (3) Former Tiger Phil (4) Peter Patrick Pius Paul ..., played for ‘Roos, Demons, Bombers (6)

32 Abbreviation for men named as 19th and 20th (3)

33 Former Hawk midﬁelder, Nick .... (4)

’ K ID S ER N R CO

A-MAZE-ING! cial Green Round footy... Help Chad Cornes ﬁnd the spe H

THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS

Scrambled footballer Wan girls

Cryptic footballers 1. Dreadful snub including a Docker. 2. First girl followed by another at West Coast. 3. Archer’s requirement: study Tiger. 4. Ian Cover upset – not in for Geelong player. 5. Filmgoer beheaded, butchered at Fremantle. 6. Saint: “I am Tongan? Not I! Crazy!”

8. Terrible wind follows baby noise at Adelaide.

SCRAMBLED FOOTBALLER: Rawlings CRYPTIC FOOTBALLERS: 1. Suban 2. Glass 3. Bowden 4. Varcoe 5. Gilmore 6. Montagna 7. Chaplin 8. Goodwin 9. Tambling 10. Slattery

7. Bloke takes on Cat – almost – at Port Adelaide.

9. Tiger walking slowly after tea, as broadcast. 10. Bomber – latter found in outskirts of Sydney.

WATCH BEFORE THE GAME SATURDAY NIGHTS ON TEN

beforethegame.com.au LADDER ANDY DAVE LEHMO SAM MICK STRAUCHANIE

109 108 101 102 95 47

TIPSTERS

MICK Adelaide Richmond West Coast Eagles Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Melbourne Carlton St Kilda

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LEHMO Hawthorn Collingwood West Coast Eagles Brisbane Lions Geelong Cats Fremantle Port Adelaide St Kilda

DAVE Hawthorn Collingwood West Coast Eagles Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Melbourne Carlton St Kilda

STRAUCHANIE Adelaide Richmond North Melbourne Brisbane Lions Sydney Swans Fremantle Port Adelaide Essendon

SAM Adelaide Collingwood West Coast Eagles Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Melbourne Port Adelaide St Kilda

ANDY Hawthorn Collingwood West Coast Eagles Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Melbourne Carlton St Kilda

is week special guest appearance by

CAMPBELL BROWN

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12/8/09 3:53:42 PM

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NAB AFL RISING STAR

Eagle ﬂying at last Injury-free West Coast youngster Mitch Brown is making up for lost time. SH A NE BU T LER

hen the final siren sounded in the West Coast Eagles’ tenacious five-point win over the Western Bulldogs last week, Mitch Brown was on the ground desperately fighting to ensure the ball was not poached or spilt anywhere near the Bulldogs’ goal. Brown, the No. 16 selection in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, had 22 possessions and took seven marks for the game, contributing to the win with his composure in defence and earning the round 19 nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star award. Such recognition was a pre-season goal for the 20-year-old from Ballarat, who has overcome a knee injury that kept him out for the entire 2008 season. By year’s end, he will most likely achieve his other main goal – 20 games in 2009. “I’m just really enjoying my football at the moment, because I’m actually getting to play injury-free,” Brown said. “Not playing a single game of football last year was no fun at all.” The ACL injury was a blow to Brown’s immediate ambitions, yet it also allowed him to develop certain aspects of his game. Specifically, he made sure his fitness was up to AFL standard for the start of pre-season. “Once I was right to jog, I’d go on long runs – sometimes for one-and-a-half hours non-stop,” he said. “I just wanted to have a massive base to take back for the pre-season.”

FAMILY AFFAIR:

West Coast’s Mitch Brown joined Magpie brother Nathan as the third set of twins to be nominated for the Rising Star award.

NAB AFL Rising Star nominees Round 1 – Daniel Rich (BL) Round 2 – David Zaharakis (Ess) Round 3 – Patrick Dangerﬁeld (Adel) Round 4 – Jaxson Barham (Coll) Round 5 – Garry Moss (Haw) Round 6 – Stephen Hill (Frem) Round 7 – Jack Ziebell (NM) Round 8 – Jarryn Geary (StK) Round 9 – Andy Otten (Adel) Round 10 – Taylor Walker (Adel) Round 11 – Brad Dick (Coll) Round 12 – Aaron Joseph (Carl) Round 13 – Tayte Pears (Ess) Round 14 – Jack Grimes (Melb) Round 15 – Liam Jurrah (Melb) Round 16 – Chris Masten (WCE) Round 17 – Dayne Beams (Coll) Round 18 – Callan Ward (WB)

I’m really enjoying my football at the moment, getting to play injury-free. Not playing a single game of football last year was no fun at all His fitness has been a key to establishing himself in the side. At 194cm and 95kg, Brown can play key positions either forward or back, and his run and carry style has helped him find a niche in defence. He has played all but one game this year and is hoping to be a major part of a West Coast revival in the coming years. “It’s all about peaks and troughs and we’ve been in a bit of a downturn,” he said. “But I’m confident and excited about the crop of young players we have.”

Brown’s twin Nathan, drafted the same year and now a defender with Collingwood, received a NAB AFL Rising Star Award nomination in 2008, making the Browns the third set of twins to receive a nomination (after Brad and Chris Scott and Adam and Troy Selwood). While it’s been good to match his brother in that regard, Brown admits there is still work to be done. “I still haven’t caught him on games played yet, so he’s still got that on me.”

Round 19 – Mitch Brown (WCE)

FA S T FAC T S

Has an interest in animals and would like to incorporate that into his life outside footy.

2 Is housemates with

fellow Eagle Tim Houlihan and admits cooking meals is proving a challenge.

3 Tries to visit his mum

and dad in Ballarat whenever he can, sometimes even staying on an extra day after games in Victoria.

Each week throughout the home and away season, a panel of judges will select the nominee for the 2009 NAB AFL Rising Star. At the completion of the season, one outstanding player will be chosen as the 2009 NAB AFL Rising Star winner. He will receive an investment folio, a dedicated personal banker, a financial planner and the Ron Evans Medal, all courtesy of the NAB. The NAB Rising Star award is the final stage of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.

84 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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TALKING POINT

Making a diﬀerence AFL clubs are not only about winning. Kicking in for a good cause is also high on their agenda.

hen it comes to promoting club sponsors, Eddie McGuire would have to be the best in the business. True to form, when the Collingwood president appeared on The Footy Show recently, he didn’t miss the opportunity to gain some free mileage. McGuire strode on to the set holding aloft a doona with a sponsor’s name (Jason) emblazoned across it. It’s easy to imagine many viewers rolling their eyes and audibly sighing as they witnessed another example of McGuire shamelessly hijacking the program for the benefit of his beloved Magpies. But once McGuire explained himself, the cynics couldn’t reasonably oppose his approach in this instance. His intent was better than honourable. McGuire announced the third annual ‘Jason Bring A Blanket Day’, urging fans to donate blankets to the homeless. The brainchild of Collingwood’s cheersquad cult figure Jeff ‘Joffa’ Corfe, the campaign warms more bodies – and hearts – each year. About 1000 blankets were donated in its first year (2007) after minimal promotion, and it has gone from strength to strength. About 8000 blankets were collected last year and, as the Magpies announced last week, almost 19,000 this year. It shows how football can mobilise the community and make a difference; a tangible difference. More than ever before, clubs realise the importance of embracing the community that embraces them, and they do a lot more good for society than most of us could ever imagine. If we listed everything clubs do outside their football charter,

PITCHING IN: Harry O’Brien,

Collkingwood’s ambassador for the ‘Jason Bring A Blanket Day’ appeal, with the Salvation Army’s commanding oﬃcer for Melbourne, Major Brendan Nottle.

there would be enough to ﬁll a full edition of the AFL Record. The diversity is astounding; the depth of sincerity quite moving. One of the keys to exerting a sustainable inﬂuence is captivating the most impressionable minds, and AFL players have always been highly visible at schools – at both primary and secondary levels. Where once they simply took students through skill drills on the school oval, they now spend increasing time in the classroom being role models, promoting healthy lifestyles (ie. the virtues of exercise and diet, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol), respect, teamwork and goal-setting, and improving leadership skills

It might involve taking schoolkids on a tour of the club or mentoring a teenage boy suﬀering bullying at school of youth around the country. Essendon even took literacy into its own hands by producing a kids’ footy book, Pencil O’Reilly (written by Jim Howes and published by the Slattery Media Group). The combined causes of clubs include those relating to people with disabilities, multicultural issues (the Western Bulldogs have hosted welcoming ceremonies for new migrants

BEN COL LINS

at their Elite Learning Centre), the indigenous, children in need, water safety, road safety, gambling, depression, cancer, visiting the sick and injured, depression, empowering girls/women, and preserving the environment. North Melbourne will even allocate a third of its new Learning and Life Centre for community use. The Roos are not alone in their generosity. Adelaide public relations manager Jill Moss says players are involved in various activities outside ofﬁcial club programs. “It might involve taking schoolkids on a tour of the club, singing ‘happy birthday’ to a member celebrating her 100th birthday at a club training session, or privately mentoring a teenage boy suffering bullying at school,” Moss says. “Any club will tell you the requests are wide and varied and we do all we can to meet each one.” Moss cites the example of one of the Crows’ bravest young fans, 10-year-old Rhys Hines, who has made remarkable progress after battling a brain tumour. The determined youngster won a Children of Courage award, but was away on holiday when the presentation ceremony was held at Adelaide’s Government House. The Crows were asked if a club representative could present the award to Rhys at his school. Coach Neil Craig thought better of it, and before training at AAMI Stadium on Thursday – Rhys’ birthday – Craig and captain Simon Goodwin made the presentation in front of the entire team, with Rhys’ parents David and Jo and younger brothers Jason and Jack watching on. Well now, isn’t that something?

86 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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prius.com.au

YOU’RE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO KNOWS WHEN TO SAVE ENERGY.

You’ve stopped at the traffic lights. Hear that? Hear what? Can’t hear anything. That’s because Prius’ petrol engine is switched off. You’re not moving, so there’s no point leaving the engine running. Right? You save fuel this way. And, more importantly, reduce needless emissions. Behind it all is Hybrid Synergy Drive. Put simply, it’s our take on an electric motor combined with a petrol engine. Our first hybrid was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show back in 1977. Year after year, refinement after refinement, and the first generation Prius finally rolls off the line in 1997, and we all (including Mother Nature) breathe a sigh of relief. Cut to today and the All New Third Generation Prius now boasts the lowest emissions of any car on the road (89g/km)#† , not to mention the reduced pollution from the production line. You see, the plant where it’s constructed in Tsutsumi, Japan is covered in solar panels, producing half the energy needed to power the entire building. While even the walls are coated in photocatalytic paint that breaks down even more pollutants. Astonishing? Well, how about the fact that the Prius was designed in a wind tunnel to reduce its drag coefficient, has a button that assists you in parking* it, and has a solar roof^ that helps cool the cabin when left in the sun? No wonder Mother Nature drives one. If this is sounding more and more like the kind of car you could see yourself in, perhaps you should check out prius.com.au or contact your nearest Toyota Dealer and try the All New Third Generation Prius for yourself?

PERHAPS YOU’RE A PRIUS PERSON?

Tested to ADR81/02 (Combined cycle). Actual fuel consumption and emissions may vary depending on driving conditions/style, vehicle conditions and options/accessories. † Source: Green Vehicle Guide (July 2009).*Only available with optional Prius Navigation Pack and standard on i-Tech™ model. ^i-Tech™ model only. i-Tech™ model shown.