AFL Record, First Preliminary Final, 2010

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FINALS WEEK THREE SEPTEMBER 17-18, 2010

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Features 28

Grand Final dynasties

Ranking the great premiership teams.

38

Albert Thurgood

Football’s first champion of champions.

79

Brownlow Medal 2010

An in-depth preview of Monday’s count.

RESPECTED: You don’t have to support Sydney to appreciate the career of retiring Swans captain Brett Kirk, who was carried off by teammates Adam Goodes (left) and Ryan O’Keefe, after the Swans were defeated in last Saturday’s first semi-final.

Regulars 4

Backchat

Your say on the football world.

15

The Bounce

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

49

Matchday

Stats, previews, history and line-ups.

Week two finals review 114 Moments of the decade 101

Ten years of drama, sadness and excitement.

Answer Man 120 Kids’ Corner 122 Talking Point 116

Ted Hopkins on football’s purest weekend.

THIS WEEK’S COVERS There are separate covers for the two preliminary finals to be played this weekend, featuring star players from each of the four competing clubs.

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AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 3

Your say on the world of football

feedback

EDITOR’S LETTER

Our first icon of the game � Every era of football has had its share of stars, the blue-chip players whose on-field deeds, broader impact on the game and charisma elevate them to a perceived level higher than most.

This week, as part of our ‘Recognising the Greats’ series published during the finals, Peter Ryan has written a fascinating piece on the life and times of Albert Thurgood, one of the game’s first great iconic figures, whose life ended tragically.

We know the name, but very little else about him. Thurgood, an inaugural member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame, was a star goalkicker in two states who dominated the game in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

Thurgood also played District cricket, was a gifted runner and, after football, was heavily involved in horse racing, as a bookmaker and owner.

As Ryan writes: “It’s only when you begin to explore the name in depth that the person comes to life, his career both brilliant and controversial, his life one of achievement and adventure well beyond that of a footballer.”

Tall poppy syndrome

It’s always interesting to follow how the mainstream media report on a club’s success over a long period of time.

Geelong has had a phenomenal run since 2007, yet there appears to be a wish among some writers and broadcasters for the Cats to fall away.

Perhaps it’s just the Australian tall poppy syndrome at work? Perhaps there’s an element of jealousy. Regardless of the motivation, it’s poor. Let’s celebrate objectively what a terrific club Geelong has been over the past four years.

MARIE WEST, PORT MELBOURNE, VIC.

Editor’s note: You might be exaggerating a little, for very few observers fall into this category. By and large, I think the coverage of Cats over the past few years has been fair and objective.

Johnson risk

As a passionate Bulldogs supporter for nearly 40 years, I was torn over the issue of whether Brad Johnson should continue playing, especially when he’s obviously under duress.

David Smorgon was right last week when he lauded Johnson for his contribution to the club, but we know the dangers of selecting injured players in finals.

BOB TAIT, BOX HILL SOUTH, VIC.

Leader all class

I had the privilege of being in the St Kilda rooms after its qualifying win over Geelong.

GENERAL MANAGER, COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS Darren Birch AFL CORPORATE BUSINESS MANAGER Richard Simkiss AFL RECORD MANAGING EDITOR Geoff Slattery AFL RECORD EDITOR Peter Di Sisto

DOMINANT ERA: One reader believes the media is not giving the Cats the credit they deserve.

Not surprisingly, the players were pumped.

Among many jubilant scenes, I noticed club presidenst Greg Westaway standing quietly to the side. Obviously chuffed, Westaway remained composed as he looked on with tremendous pride.

But he remained virtually invisible, preferring to let the players have their moment, instead of backslapping and the like. I thought his actions were full of class, and

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

I hope St Kilda can break its premiership drought.

� The Grand Final edition of the AFL Record will be available nationally from Monday, September 20. The 244-page souvenir magazine includes profiles of players and coaches from the Grand Final teams, a preview of the game, all the key statistics, a host of feature stories focusing on past Grand Final participants and a full review of the 2010 season.

S. MILNE, BRUNSWICK, VIC.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The best letter each round will receive the Gary Ablett jnr Australian Football Training DVD. Email aflrecordeditor@slatterymedia.com atterymedia com or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.

DESIGNERS Alison Wright, Daniel Frawley, PHOTO EDITORS Natalie Boccassini, Ginny Pike PRODUCTION MANAGER Troy Davis PRODUCTION COORDINATORS Stephen Lording, Emma Meagher DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Adele Morton COMMERCIAL MANAGER Alison Hurbert-Burns

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ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109

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FINA WEEKLS 2

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

W

ith the retirement of Brett Kirk, the Sydney Swans will have to find another heartbeat.

The 33-year-old played his final game last Saturday night in the Swans’ five-point semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. Kirk played 241 games in the red and white from 1999, the final 200 of them consecutively. More than any other Swan, Kirk embodied what became known as “the spirit of the Bloods”, a reincarnation of the club’s nickname from its golden era in the 1930s.

Kirk’s do-or-die spirit helped create a new era of success, culminating in the Swans’ 2005 premiership triumph – their first for 72 years. His work ethic, determination and leadership

won him the respect of friend and foe and, at the end, he lovingly clutched the guernsey he wore with such tremendous distinction as he was carried from the ground

by Adam Goodes and Ryan O’Keefe.

The Bulldogs’ win gave veteran captain Brad Johnson the chance to continue his own stellar career, with his team reaching the preliminary final for the third straight year, and the second straight against St Kilda.

The second week of the finals series opened with Geelong posting a comfortable win over Fremantle, also at the MCG. The Cats were too polished for the young Dockers, setting up another preliminary final against Collingwood.

JIM MAIN AND PETER DI SISTO

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 7

REINING IN A CHAMPION Second semi-final Geelong v Fremantle, MCG � In this day of heavy tags and multiple rotations, it is not often the paths of two champion players cross. But when the stakes are high, such as a cut-throat semi-final, even the champion players have to bring everything to the table.

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich did that last Friday night at the MCG, reminding everyone he is a player of the highest quality. His team was torn apart early by Geelong, but Pavlich tried his best to boot a game-high four goals in a substantial loss. He was also prepared to try what few have achieved – run down Gary Ablett – but the Geelong superstar kept his balance and fired out one of his 23 handballs for the game.

MICHAEL LOVETT PHOTO: GREG FORD/AFL PHOTOS

8 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

FIN WEEALS K2

AFL RECORD visit a record.com.au 9

JETTA A JUMP AHEAD First semi-final Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans, MCG � Lewis Jetta presented brilliantly for the Swans all year, starting in a NAB Cup match in Blacktown in February and right through to last week, under the bright lights of the MCG. At the 20-minute mark of the final quarter, he took on a pair of Bulldogs defenders – Brian Lake and Jarrod Harbrow – to take a superb mark. With his team 13 points down, Jetta coolly kicked the goal from 50m out to give the Swans a chance. It may have taken Jetta more than 20 attempts to kick his first AFL goal, but his composure under pressure against the Western Bulldogs suggests there will be many more to come in the red and white (see match report and Jetta story starting on page 103).

ASHLEY BROWNE PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

10 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

FIN WEEALS K2

AFL RECORD visit arecord.com.au 11

2010 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL WEEK FREE ACTIVITIES AT FEDERATION SQUARE

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22

BROWNLOW LIVE

KICKS FOR KIDS

SERIOUSLY TEN

BROADCAST

9am-noon: 1116 SEN’s Hungry for Sport with Kevin Bartlett broadcasting live Noon-4pm: 1116 SEN’s Harf Time with Daniel Harford broadcasting live 6-8pm: Crocmedia’s Sports Day with Wayne Schwass broadcasting live 7.30pm: Network Ten’s coverage of the Brownlow Blue Carpet, presented

by Toyota’s Hybrid Camry live on the big screen 8pm: Network Ten’s coverage of the 2010 Brownlow Medal count live on the big screen DAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

1-1.30pm: Brownlow Medal Footy Panel 2-3pm: Fashion Parade – See the latest Brownlow-inspired fashion before the big night

BROADCAST

9am-noon: 1116 SEN’s Hungry for Sport with Kevin Bartlett broadcasting live Noon-4pm: 1116 SEN’s Harf Time with Daniel Harford broadcasting live 1.15-2.15pm: The Drawn Grand Final with Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight on the main stage 6-8pm: Crocmedia’s Sports Day with Wayne Schwass broadcasting live DAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

10-11am: NAB AFL Auskick clinic in Birrarung Marr (pre-registration required) 11am-1pm: Camp Australia activities 2-3pm: NAB Ambassadors panel with 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star nominees

BROADCAST

9am-noon: 1116 SEN’s Hungry for Sport with Kevin Bartlett broadcasting live Noon-4pm: 1116 SEN’s Harf Time with Daniel Harford broadcasting live 6-8pm: Crocmedia’s Sports Day with Wayne Schwass broadcasting live DAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Join Video Hits host Fustina ‘Fuzzy’ Agolley with Thirsty Merc and The Potbelleez on the main stage, thanks to Network Ten 11.30am: Autograph session with The Potbelleez Noon: Live performances – Thirsty Merc and The Potbelleez

CORPORATE PARTNER ACTIVITIES FROM 10AM FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY VISIT AFL.COM.AU FOR DETAILS

WHO WILL BE THE HARDEST, FASTEST, MOST FORMIDABLE TEAM OF ALL?

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25

SPIRIT OF FOOTBALL

FOOTY ON PARADE

2010 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL LIVE

BROADCAST

9am-noon: 1116 SEN’s Hungry for Sport with Kevin Bartlett broadcasting live Noon-4pm: 1116 SEN’s Harf Time with Daniel Harford broadcasting live 4-7pm: 1116 SEN’s The Run Home with David Schwarz and Francis Leach broadcasting live 6-8pm: Crocmedia’s Sports Day with Wayne Schwass broadcasting live 7.30-8.30pm: Fox Sports AFL Teams broadcasting live DAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

12.30-1.30pm: BigPond live on the main stage, Premiership Cup on display

Noon: 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final Street Parade from the Victorian Arts Centre to the Old Treasury Building with the presentation of the Grand Final teams BROADCAST

6-9am: Channel 7’s Sunrise with Mel and Kochie broadcasting live 9am-noon: 1116 SEN’s Hungry for Sport with Kevin Bartlett broadcasting live 9am-1pm: Triple M’s Dangerous Dave broadcasting live 10am-noon: 774 ABC Melbourne broadcasting live Noon-1pm: Channel 7 News coverage of the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final Street Parade live on the big screen Noon-4pm: 3AW’s Afternoons with Denis Walter broadcasting live 4-7pm: Triple M’s Roy & HG broadcasting live 4-7pm: 1116 SEN’s Footy Fix with David Schwarz, Dr Turf and Matt Granland broadcasting live 6-8pm: Crocmedia’s Sports Day with Wayne Schwass broadcasting live 6.30-7.30pm: Fox Sports Before the Bounce broadcasting live Various Fox Sports News crosses throughout the day

2.30pm: 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final, MCG BROADCAST

7-9am: 1116 SEN’s AFL Auskick Show broadcasting live 11am-1pm: 1116 SEN’s Crunch Time broadcasting live 1.30-2pm: Channel 7’s coverage of the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final pre-match live on the big screen 2-6pm: Channel 7’s coverage of the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final live on the big screen DAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

10am onwards: Fun for the whole family, including footy activities, giveaways and live entertainment 6-8pm: Live bands on stage 8pm: Presentation of the winning 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final team on stage

CORPORATE PARTNER ACTIVITIES FROM 10AM FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY VISIT AFL.COM.AU FOR DETAILS

VIEWS NEWS FIRST PERSON FACTS DATA CULTURE

TALKING TACTICS: Sydney coach Paul Roos and his Western Bulldogs counterpart Rodney Eade caught up before last week’s semi-final. In the end, it was Roos’ last game in charge of the Swans.

END OF AN ERA

Typically, Roos bows out with great dignity

I

J IM M A IN

t was a typically humble gesture from a man renowned for his dignified approach. Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos stood well away from the spotlight of the television cameras as his team carried club co-captain Brett Kirk from the field after his final game.

Time was up for the 33-year-old Kirk after 241 games in the red and white and, although it also was Roos’ final game after more than eight seasons as the Swans’ coach, he again preferred the shadows.

The man who had coached the Swans in a club-record NEWS TRACKER

180 games wanted this to be Kirk’s moment.

Yet Roos’ gesture surprised no one, as he has never been a man for fanfare.

As a player and then coach, he went about his business with a minimum of fuss and ended his 28 years of direct involvement in club football with a truly enviable reputation. Has anyone ever had a bad word to say about Roos?

Yet Roos sometimes was scorned as a player and as a coach, eventually proving his critics wrong in both cases.

Roos started his playing career with Fitzroy as a skinny 18-year-old winger in 1982, but

developed into one of the finest centre half-backs of his era.

Along the way, there were snide suggestions he was a brilliant player only because he never picked up an opponent.

Roos’ critics misunderstood his role, as he invariably was able to win possessions on his own through his superb reading of the play. As a result, so often he drifted away from his direct opponent, having beaten him pointless in the judgment stakes.

Roos could have gone to Collingwood in 1991 and, after agreeing and receiving a signing fee, paid it back when he decided to stick with the Lions.

His original decision to cross to the Magpies cost him the Fitzroy captaincy he had held over the previous two seasons, but he regained it for the 1992-94 seasons, until his move

to the Swans in 1995. Roos was 31 when he joined Sydney and, although he appeared to struggle in his first games with the club, became the linchpin of its defence and was its best player in the 1996 Grand Final loss to North Melbourne.

It is part of football folklore that the Swan players and supporters championed his cause after he took over the coaching job from Rodney Eade late in the 2002 season and the rest, as they say, is history.

Roos rebuilt the Swans and guided them to the 2005 premiership, the club’s first since it was South Melbourne in 1933.

To old-time supporters, Roos will always be a hero for engineering this rare moment.

Yet a quick glance through the names of Sydney’s 22 CON T IN U ED NE X T PAGE

Essendon “unlikely” to appoint its new coach before the end of September, with a three-man panel reviewing applications.

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 15

the bounce

VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE

premiership players suggests the 2005 team was by no means one of the best flag-winners in football history.

Roos knew the Swans lacked the class of other teams, but he moulded the players into a tight, tough unit prepared to play the game their way, by stifling the opposition, especially at the stoppages.

It wasn’t pretty and, at the time, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou scoffed that the Swans could not win a premiership playing that style of football.

Roos proved him wrong in the Swans’ four-point defeat of West Coast, but the coach did not gloat or point the finger.

He simply allowed the Swans family to enjoy its success with dignity and grace.

“Here it is,” he told the faithful as he held the premiership cup aloft.

These three words sparked a flood of tears and Swans fans are crying again now that the man Kirk dubbed “the Messiah” has retired.

Few AFL coaches bow out of the game of their own volition, but Roos has bucked the trend after a premiership and seven finals series in eight completed seasons.

ROOS’ RECORD

202 Paul Roos

2002-10 116 WINS, 84 LOSSES, TWO DRAWS 152 RODNEY EADE

1996-2002

111 IAN STEWART

1976-77; 1979-81

90

97

CHARLIE E. PANNAM 1923-28 J. HERBIE MATTHEWS 1939; 1954-57 NORM SMITH 1969-72

NEWS TRACKER

KEEPING THE FAITH

St Kilda’s Jewish fans say a prayer for the Dogs

T

ASHLEY BROW NE

Most matches as South Melbourne/ Sydney Swans coach or acting coach

108

BEAMING BULLDOGS:

President David Smorgon, pictured with a delighted Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, is looking forward to Saturday night’s preliminary final after missing last season’s match to observe the Jewish New Year.

he nail-biting win by the Western Bulldogs over the Sydney Swans last Saturday night wasn’t just greeted with joy by Bulldogs supporters. A sizeable group of St Kilda fans were also delighted with the outcome.

Had the Swans won, the preliminary final would likely have been played on Saturday afternoon, which would have clashed with the most important and solemn Jewish holiday of the year, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

But the Bulldogs’ win pushed the match to Saturday night, which means several hundred Jewish St Kilda supporters will now be able to get to the MCG. But they’ll need to be organised.

The Day of Atonement pretty much involves nothing else apart from fasting (no food or drink of any type) and synagogue attendance, from sunset Friday through to an hour after sunset

on Saturday. The fasting and the “It’s just brilliant,” he said of prayer services finish at about this year’s timing.

6.50 on Saturday evening, which The Jewish high holydays leaves only 30 minutes for many often coincide with the AFL Jewish fans to get themselves finals and Western Bulldogs from synagogues around president David Smorgon chose Melbourne to the MCG. to miss last year’s preliminary Melbourne schoolteacher final in order to observe the Avi Cohen told the AFL Record Jewish New Year. he started planning to get He will also be making himself and his two sons a mad dash to the to the football as MCG on Saturday soon as the Saints We’ll use the evening, defeated Geelong although, as cab ride to break in the second he joked after qualifying final. the fast, get our the win over Cohen will footy gear on and the Swans, his deposit a bag ‘request’ to the be ready to make a with food, drink AFL to delay quick getaway and St Kilda the start of this ST KILDA FAN AVI COHEN scarves, beanies year’s preliminary and flags at the final by another 30 home of a friend minutes “just to be sure” near his synagogue just fell on deaf ears. before the start of Yom Kippur.

St Kilda’s famous 1966 He has booked a cab for premiership win fell on Yom a 7pm pick-up, and Kippur, with most Jewish hopes to make it to Saints supporters choosing to the MCG early in the respect the solemnity of the day first quarter. instead of attending the match.

“Parking would The story is told that one take too much time, rabbi interrupted his prayers so we’ll use the cab ride to announce the final score, to break the fast, get our followed by a request for footy gear on and be ready to the congregation to start make a quick getaway once we concentrating on the service get close to the ground.” a bit more closely.

Like many Orthodox (fully Jewish St Kilda player observant) Jews who support Ian Synman (pictured left) St Kilda, Cohen missed last was a member of the year’s preliminary final and the victorious St Kilda side Grand Final because of clashes oon. that afternoon. with the Jewish New Year and the Sabbath.

Collingwood midfielder Shane O’Bree to join Gold Coast as an assistant coach at the end of this year.

16 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

BROWNLOW MEDAL

Midfielders to be in thick of the action

M

MICH A EL LOV ET T

ore than 80 current-day players will walk into the Palladium at Melbourne’s Crown next Monday night as invited guests of the AFL to the 2010 Brownlow Medal count.

Ken Hinkley on 17 votes) and a And, in the immortal centre half-forward (St Kilda’s words of Hawthorn’s Robert Stewart Loewe on 16 votes).

DiPierdomenico, who shared the The nearest midfielder was 1986 medal with Sydney’s Greg Hawk Darren Jarman, who was Williams, most will be there for equal fifth on 14 votes, with “the free feed”. another key forward, North If recent medal counts are Melbourne champion any guide, you can Wayne Carey. run a line through You could yourself if you argue that In recent are a ruckman, Essendon’s play in a key years, the James Hird, position or who tied with Brownlow Medal don’t average Brisbane’s has become about 25 Michael Voss disposals a the midfielders’ in 1996, was a game. medal key forward but That means the the Bombers star main course – lamb virtually had a licence loin with green olive to roam where he liked. crust on spinach tomato Similarly, Sydney’s Adam risotto, garlic-infused vegetables Goodes, who was part of and thyme jus, washed down by the last Brownlow tie with a Wolf Blass Gold Label shiraz Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley – should keep you replenished and Adelaide’s Mark until AFL CEO Andrew uto in 2003, Ricciuto Demetriou reads out the final was regarded in votes at about 10.30pm. some quarters Of those 80-odd players, plus eight former winners who are automatically invited – Jason Akermanis, Simon Black, Adam Goodes, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins, Jimmy Bartel, Adam Cooney and Gary Ablett – about 70 have little or no chance of adding their name to the Brownlow Medal roll call.

In recent years, the Brownlow Medal has become the midfielders’ medal.

You have to go back to 1992 when Footscray ruckman Scott Wynd (20 votes) edged out Hawthorn spearhead Jason Dunstall (18) to find the last non-midfielder to win the medal. Interestingly, that year, the top four placings were filled by a ruckman (Wynd), a full-forward (Dunstall), a running defender (Geelong’s

PERFECT POSITION: The last non-midfielder to win the Brownlow Medal was Footscray ruckman Scott Wynd (middle) in 1992. James Hird (left) won in 1996, playing occasionally as a key forward but mostly on the ball while St Kilda’s Robert Harvey (right), who won in 1997 and 1998, was a genuine on-baller.

as a ruckman (he did average 12 hit-outs a game that year) but his ability to run and have an impact all over the ground rates him more as the archetypal ruck-rover. Certainly he wasn’t a ruckman in the Wynd mould.

More recently, Ablett (2009), Cooney (2008), Bartel (2007), Cousins (2005) and Judd (2004) were major ball-winners. Ablett averaged 34 disposals a game, Cooney 26, Bartel 27, Cousins 25 and Judd 22. When Goodes won for a second time in 2006, he averaged 20 disposals and seven marks, again as a running ruck-rover type.

Whether it’s coincidence or not, the Brownlow Medal’s reputation as a midfielders’ award has been enha enhanced since the introduction of the three-umpire system in 1994 1994, with every winner being in BALL-WINNER: Geelong

star Gary Ablett won the Brownlow Medal last year, averaging 34 disposals a game.

the thick of the action, no matter what arguments you put up for Hird in 1996 and Goodes in 2003 and 2006.

Greg Williams, by then with Carlton, won the medal in 1994 with 30 votes, the most since South Melbourne’s Herbie Matthews and Collingwood’s Des Fothergill polled 32 each in 1940 1 and neither was awarded a medal until 1989 when the League recognised players beaten under the old countback system.

In 1976 and 1977, the tallies of Essendon’s Graham Moss (49 votes in 1976) and South Melbourne’s Graham Teasdale (59 in 1977) were inflated, as both umpires voted.

Since 1994, the winner has averaged 25 votes, with Williams (30 in 1994), St Kilda’s Robert Harvey (32 in 1998), Judd (30 in 2004) and Ablett (30 in 2009) reaching or passing the 30-mark.

The lowest tally in that time was Cousins’ 20 votes in 2005.

On Monday night, Collingwood’s Dane Swan will head into the count a clear favourite.

He played every home and away game, averaged almost 32 disposals a game and he plays in the midfield.

He should be scribbling out an acceptance speech sometime over the weekend.

1 FOTHERGILL AND MATTHEWS COULD NOT BE SEPARATED AFTER A COUNTBACK IN 1940 SO EACH RECEIVED A REPLICA AND THE ORIGINAL WAS HELD AT LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS. Go to page 79 for a club-by-club Brownlow Medal preview.

➡

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 17

the bounce

VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Hawk Brown latest to join the Suns

O

ASHLEY BROW NE

ne of football’s worst-kept secrets was confirmed on Wednesday when Hawthorn defender Campbell Brown signed a three-year deal to join Gold Coast.

The 27-year-old joins Nathan Bock (Adelaide), Nathan Krakouer (Port Adelaide) and Michael Rischitelli (Brisbane Lions) as uncontracted players to join the AFL’s new club, with between two and four others expected to sign with the Suns in the next month.

Both the Crows and the Power were not officially informed of Bock and Krakouer’s departures until they had signed with Gold Coast, but this time around Brown got on the front foot, informing Hawthorn officials and his teammates of his intentions in the days before the official announcement was made.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett had only kind words for Brown, whom he described reat warrior” on what as a “great

has become his most prominent soapbox, the Hawthorn website.

“We will miss him. We wish him good luck and good fortune.

He has conducted himself with honour in how he has gone about his evaluation of the offers before him, the decision he has made, and his communication first with members of our club,” Kennett wrote.

“We do not in any way blame him after years of service for putting his fi nancial security first.”

Brown leaves Hawthorn as a premiership hero, adored by supporters for his ferocity towards the ball and his passion for the contest.

He played a key role in the 2008 Grand Final win over Geelong as a defensive-minded forward but, ironically, it was that piece of inspired coaching from Alastair Clarkson that planted the seeds for his departure.

Brown said at a media conference on Wednesday that he had spent the past two seasons floating between the backline and the forward line and that one of the attractions of joining the Suns was a desire to cement himself as a defender once more.

“I’ve had to play a number of different roles and, while’s it’s nice to be flexible, it’s also difficult to be chopping and changing every week and sometimes every quarter,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to re-establishing myself as a full-time backman once again.”

Truth be told, Brown’s departure is a win for both his old and new clubs. His hardness and experience will be a boon for the fledgling Suns, while it is debatable for how much longer he would have been in Hawthorn’s best 22.

His departure gives the Hawks salary cap room to chase a taller defender or more likely, a speedy, line-breaking midfielder they seemed to miss for much of the year.

GOAL AND MARK OF THE YEAR GO

Jurrah and Franklin gems take prizes PHOTOS: THE SLATTERY MEDIA GROUP/LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

� Demon Liam Jurrah’s soaring grab against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in round 21 was this week named the Hungry Jack’s AFL mark of the year.

Jurrah receives the Alex Jesaulenko Medal.

18 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au u

Hawk Lance Franklin’s running goal against Essendon in round 13 (the second of the two similar goals he booted that night) was judged the Panasonic AFL goal of the year.

Franklin, who received five goal of the year nominations this season, wins the Phil Manassa Medal. Both players receive Panasonic goods and a Caltex fuel voucher.

FINALS QUICK FACTS

117

The number of preliminary finals since the first in 1898 when Fitzroy kicked 2.10 to Collingwood’s 1.5 at Brunswick Street Oval.

1,328,232

The number of fans who have watched preliminary finals since 2000, with the highest attendance of 98,002 for the match between Collingwood and Geelong at the MCG in 2007.

174

Essendon’s 28.6 (174) against Collingwood at Waverley Park in 1984 is the highest score.

133

The Bombers 133-point thrashing of the Magpies in the above match is the greatest winning margin not only in a preliminary final but in any final.

11

Collingwood’s 1.5 (11) in the first preliminary final in 1898 against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street Oval is the lowest score.

56

The number of charges laid in preliminary finals, with 36 players found guilty for a combined 121 matches in suspensions. The heaviest penalty was 19 matches, given to Carlton’s Tommy Downs in 1929 for striking Richmond’s Don Harris.

PRELIM FINAL HISTORY Adelaide Brisbane Carlton Collingwood Essendon Fitzroy Fremantle Geelong Hawthorn Melbourne North Melb Port Adelaide Richmond St Kilda S Melb/Sydney University West Coast W Bulldogs

P 6 6 25 34 25 14 1 25 10 17 18 4 13 11 11 0 5 9

W 2 4 10 18 16 6 0 11 5 9 9 2 8 5 6 0 4 1

L 4 2 14 16 9 8 1 13 5 8 9 2 5 6 5 0 1 8

D 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

% 33 67 42 53 64 43 0 46 50 53 50 50 62 45 55 0 80 11

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VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE

MILESTONES FINALS WEEK 3

FROM THE ARCHIVES

AFL 200 club

With hands tied, Pies gambled on young ruckman

Jimmy Bartel Geelong

100 games Mark Blake Geelong Scott Pendlebury Collingwood

L

J IM M A IN

ast week, the AFL Record discussed some of the selection dilemmas facing the teams left in the finals race.

The Western Bulldogs took a punt when they chose 19-year-old Andrew Hooper to make his debut (see story below).

Forty-five years ago, Collingwood had little choice when selecting 18-year-old ruckman Len Thompson for his League debut in the 1965 preliminary final against Essendon. Its other three ruckmen – Ray Gabelich, Terry Waters and Trevor Steer – were all injured.

Gabelich had strained a hamstring late in the home and away season and Waters and Steer were injured in the second semi-final against St Kilda. Waters damaged ankle ligaments and Steer badly bruised his back.

To make matters worse, Gabelich sprained an ankle in a training session in the lead-up to the preliminary final and had to be taken to the Alfred Hospital for x-rays. There was no bone damage, but the big ruckman was immediately ruled out.

50 games Sharrod Wellingham Collingwood The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.

BIG-TIME DEBUT: Collingwood star

Len Thompson played his first game in a final in 1965.

When Waters and Steer failed fitness tests, the Magpies selectors called up Thompson after a string of impressive performances in the reserves.

The Herald noted: “Thompson has not played a senior game yet, but he has been shaping consistently with the reserves … but will Collingwood take the plunge?”

It did, with Thompson the only recognised ruckman in the Collingwood line-up, although the 195cm Paul Wadham was named in the back pocket to give the newcomer support.

Thompson was one of few good Magpie players and was named in the best, along with

Thompson has not played a senior game yet, but he has been shaping consistently with the reserves THE HERALD

Laurie Hill, Des Tuddenham, Kevin Rose and Mick Bone.

The Bombers thrashed the injury-depleted Collingwood by 55 points and went on to defeat the Saints by 35 points in the Grand Final the following week.

The Magpies were naturally deflated, but at least had found a future champion in Thompson, who went on to win the 1972 Brownlow Medal.

He played 268 games for Collingwood from 1965-78, 20 with South Melbourne in 1979

and 13 with Fitzroy in 1980, for a total of 301.

The 1965 preliminary final was infamous for an incident in which Essendon forward John Somerville was knocked unconscious behind play in the first quarter.

No one appeared to see the incident in which Somerville collapsed to the ground near Collingwood’s Duncan Wright and the Herald reported: “Forty yards (about 36m) behind play, Somerville suddenly dropped unconscious to the ground. The only other player near him was Wright. Play was held up for a minute but Somerville showed no signs of regaining consciousness.”

Somerville was carried from the ground on a stretcher and missed the Grand Final and the Bombers’ premiership. However, he had played in Essendon’s 1962 premiership team.

HOOPER JOINS EXCLUSIVE CLUB � Western Bulldogs small forward Andrew Hooper last weekend became the 33rd player – and the first since North Melbourne’s Paul Spargo in 1985 – to make his debut in a final.

The 19-year-old played his junior football in Golden Point in Ballarat before progressing to TAC Cup club North Ballarat Rebels.

He had impressed late in the season playing mainly as a forward for the Bulldogs’ VFL team Williamstown.

NEWS TRACKER

Manny Lynch appointed the Brisbane Lions’ welfare development manager.

20 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

In an interview with The Age after Hooper’s surprise selection, coach Rodney Eade said the Dogs were looking for “a bit of an injection of what he brings”, primarily pace, enthusiasm and an aggressive attack on the ball and his opponents.

Although Hooper was relatively quiet against the Sydney Swans in the first semi-final, he kicked a vital goal late in the second quarter to spark the Dogs.

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DRUG POLICY

Doctors affirm ‘strong support’ for drugs code The AFL Medical Officers’ Association believes no changes should be made to the AFL’s illicit drugs policy.

Here is an edited version of a letter sent to the AFL by AFLMOA executive officer Dr Hugh Seward.

W

e do not believe the players or the AFL would benefit from any change to the code, despite some criticism following the case of Travis Tuck as the first player to be penalised under the code.

We have been concerned by the lack of understanding and knowledge of several people speaking against the code. We are also concerned the general public is confused about this being a separate and distinct code to the performanceenhancing World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) drug-testing code that the AFL continues to comply with.

The AFL is one of few sporting codes in the world that supports an illicit drugs code. It is a world leader in its attempt to demonstrate social responsibility and enable AFL players to be healthy role models in the fight against illicit drugs.

These drugs do not relate to sport performance but have become part of the social landscape. It is hoped that through such an example, drug abuse in the community may be diminished.

22 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

The AFL Players’ Association supports this belief that AFL players should set an example in society by not using commonly available drugs.

It is aware drug use can carry physical and mental consequences and those users may need more than a deterrent, they may need help.

As we have seen with Travis Tuck, sometimes drug abuse is a consequence of a mental illness such as depression.

By agreeing to participate in this ground-breaking code, the AFLPA determined that the player using illicit drugs is likely to need help and education.

Alcohol and drug experts say this approach is far more appropriate than punishment in the first instance. So this policy is principally about the welfare of the player.

The AFLMOA has strongly supported the AFL’s code for all these reasons. This approach follows a medical model where an offending player is assessed and advised on the risks of illicit drug use.

They are educated and counselled and, if necessary, receive treatment for mental health issues. The club doctor is advised of any positive illicit drug test and is part of the treatment group, which may include drug experts and counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists, and addiction specialists.

If a player offends twice, he is deemed to have a potentially more serious problem. The common public perception is he must have been stupid to try drugs again. But often the situation is more complex than that, and the player needs more intense support, counselling and possibly other treatment. But at both these stages, the model we follow is a welfare model.

Some clubs have stated they have a right to know. If they could guarantee that the club’s approach would be entirely welfare-orientated, that could be workable.

But coaches, CEOs and presidents are not drug experts, trained counsellors or skilled medical personnel.

Of course, senior club personnel are concerned about their players’ health and welfare.

This cannot be denied.

Unfortunately, they cannot guarantee that any aspects of information surrounding a first or second positive drug test will be retained within a circle of well-meaning club personnel.

Clubs leak like sieves and it would be highly likely that such information could reach other people and be detrimental to a player’s future. Club doctors, however, are bound to adhere to patient confidentiality. They can only release private and personal information with the permission of a patient/player.

Club doctors are also trained in dealing with complex health issues. They have a broad understanding of the medical complexity surrounding illicit drug use and, importantly, have strong personal relationships with the players. Not only do they understand the confidentiality aspects of these often complex issues, they are trained to assist the players, liaise with expert specialists, prescribe medication and generally perform an advocacy role for the player.

They can also discuss with the player the potential benefits of assistance from other chosen club personnel such as the welfare officer, or encourage and assist them working with their families for support.

The player can choose to broaden their network. He can choose to tell his coach. He may elect to discuss his health issues such as depression with his teammates, or an assistant coach. This is his choice.

While the aims of the policy are to set a strong example of social leadership, combined with a welfare approach for the players, it must eventually have a punitive consequence for a repeat offender.

This is why after two positive tests the player suffers a major punishment if he offends a third time.

The AFL doctors strongly support this code. For five years, despite the statements of some critics, it has served the AFL players and society well. We encourage the AFL to continue the current policy.

DR HUGH SEWA R D, A FLMOA E X ECU TI V E OFFICER

KEY POINTS OF THE AFL’S ILLICIT DRUGS POLICY

Provides strong society leadership by making illicit drugs the focus of a testing program, which few other sports have done. »

The code uses a welfare or medical model, which medical experts recommend as a far more effective method of dealing with drug use.

»

The welfare model has the benefit of detecting and treating underlying mental illnesses, which may have led to the drug use.

»

The code protects both the player’s privacy and potential detrimental effects on their career unless the player fails to adhere to the code.

»

The code provides high level of expertise in many medical disciplines to counsel, assist and treat the player.

»

The club doctor is the bestplaced person within the club to deal confidentially with the complexity of issues that may be related to a positive test.

»

The code is strongly supported by the AFLMOA.

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Four’N Twenty All-Australian Team 2010 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Top four dominate selections The final four teams left in the premiership race provided the bulk of selections in the 2010 Four’n Twenty AllAustralian team. But there was also room for seven first-timers, while 10 players retained their place from last season.

RUCKS

Aaron Sandilands

Brian Lake

(Fremantle)

(Western Bulldogs)

James F Frawley

Dane Swan (Collingwood)

Brendon Goddard (St Kilda)

T

NEWS TRACKER

(Geelong ng Cats))

Harry Taylor (Geelong Cats)

Harry O’Brien (Collingwood)

CENTRES

Gary Ablett (Geelong Cats, vice-captain)

Leigh Montagna

Joel Selwood

(St Kilda)

(Geelong Cats)

Luke Hodge

(Hawthorn, captain)

Alan Didak

HALF-FORWARDS HALF-FORWAR

(Collingwood) ngwood)

Paul Chapman (Geelong Cats)

Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)

INTERCHANGE Mark Jamar

Barry Hall

FORWARDS

(Western Bulldogs)

Mark LeCras (West Coast)

(Melbourne)

Steve Johnson (Geelong Cats)

Chris Judd (Carlton)

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)

world by storm this year with his Coleman Medal-winning 78-goal haul for Richmond.

Clear in the minds of the selectors this year was the need to reward players for their seasons first before finding a place for them in the team.

The same could be said of Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin, who was named the All-Australian centre half-forward, two years

Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)

after his 113-goal season won him the full-forward position.

Franklin didn’t spend a heap of time at centre half-forward this season and, if he wasn’t playing out of the goalsquare, was often pushing up into the midfield and even across half-back.

But with less flash this year (save for those unbelievable and almost identical goals against Essendon) and a lot

Chris Tarrant advises Fremantle he is returning to Melbourne and won’t seek a new contract.

24 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Corey Enright

HALF-BACKS

ASHLEY BROW NE

he one constant of the 2010 AFL season – that Collingwood, St Kilda, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs were the four best teams in the competition – was reflected in the composition of the Four’n Twenty All-Australian team.

Fourteen of the 22 players announced last Monday at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre were from those four clubs.

The six Geelong players selected were Gary Ablett, Paul Chapman, Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, Steve Johnson and Harry Taylor, while the four from Collingwood, which meets the Cats in the first preliminary final on Friday night, were Dane Swan, Alan Didak, Harry O’Brien and Scott Pendlebury.

The St Kilda-Western Bulldogs clash on Saturday night will also feature Saints pair Leigh Montagna and Brendon Goddard and Bulldogs bookends Barry Hall and Brian Lake who were all named in the team.

Hall was picked for the fourth time; he was in the team in 2004-06 while playing for the Sydney Swans.

But Hall wasn’t named full-forward. The selectors gave the spearhead’s ‘role’ to Richmond youngster Jack Riewoldt, who took the football

BACKS

(Melbourne) (Melbo

more team-oriented play, Franklin got the nod for what he would offer this team if it was to play an actual game.

Franklin’s teammate and Hawks vice-captain Luke Hodge won selection for the third time and was named captain, the fourth time a player who does not lead his club was named skipper of the All-Australian team. The others

TEAM OF CHAMPIONS: The 2010 All-Australian team (from left) Gary Ablett, Paul Chapman, Barry Hall, Luke Hodge, Brian Lake, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor,

Leigh Montagna, James Frawley, Brendon Goddard, Mark Jamar, Dane Swan, Lance Franklin, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Riewoldt, Mark LeCras, Steve Johnson, Harry O’Brien, Chris Judd, Alan Didak and Corey Enright. Aaron Sandilands was an apology. Below, Geelong stars Gary Ablett (below) and Paul Chapman enjoy a laugh with Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge, who was named captain of the side.

were Greg Williams (1994), Gary Ablett snr (1995) and Andrew McLeod (2007). “It’s a huge honour just to get in the side but to be captain ...

I’m chuffed,� said Hodge, adding he didn’t believe it was the sort of team that would need much of a gee-up before a match.

Altogether, 10 All-Australians from last season – Ablett, Enright, Chapman, Goddard, Carlton’s Chris Judd, Lake, Montagna, Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands, Selwood and Swan – retained their spots, while another ďŹ ve had previously been selected.

Enright and Sandilands both were picked for the third straight year, while Ablett, named vice-captain, was chosen for the fourth consecutive season.

Judd has been named an All-Australian on ďŹ ve occasions.

“I didn’t expect this but it’s deďŹ nitely a big honour,â€? Ablett said. “I don’t talk too much (on the ďŹ eld). I try to get out and show my leadership skills on the ďŹ eld.â€?

Two of the newcomers were from the vastly improved Melbourne. James Frawley’s ascent to elite defender status was conďŹ rmed with his selection in the back pocket, while Mark Jamar was named on the bench as the second ruckman.

The long overdue selection in the eyes of many was that of West Coast’s Mark LeCras in the forward pocket. Last season, he booted 58 goals from 21 games and was considered unlucky to have missed selection.

Sixty-three goals from 21 games this year commanded a spot and, in particular, his

outstanding 12-goal haul against Essendon at Etihad Stadium in round 16, all but guaranteed him a position.

LeCras, Frawley, Jamar and Riewoldt are the only players from non-ďŹ nalists to win selection.

It’s a huge honour just to get in the side but to be captain ... I’m chued LUKE HODGE

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AFL RECORD visit arecord.com.au 25

the bounce

VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE

UNDERSTANDING:

Robert DiPierdomenico says his recent visit to indigenous communities in Central Australia was a humbling experience.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CENTRALIAN ADVOCATE

Learning a powerful lesson Robert DiPierdomenico has experienced the highs and lows of football in more than three decades of involvement – fi ve premierships with Hawthorn, a Brownlow Medal, a life-threatening injury, induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and AFL Life Membership. But earlier this year, DiPierdomenico dealt with one of the “low points” of his life. He believes the experience has opened his eyes. Here, he explains what happened and what he learned in the aftermath.

ROBERT DIPIER DOMENICO

I

always go and visit clubs and take the juniors for training.

It’s a private thing I do in my own time, separate from my AFL commitments.

After training there’s usually a function to finish off the night where I’m the guest speaker. It’s a good night for the clubs and a chance to raise some money.

So I was at the Hahndorf club in South Australia doing my normal spiel. Generally, you’ve already gotten to know some of the players at training so you can have a bit of fun with them at the function.

It’s usually a light-hearted, good-natured part of the visit – typical footy club NEWS TRACKER

stuff – and everyone really enjoys themselves.

We were talking about Team GWS and what a great opportunity the AFL had to expand into an area of Australia with people from so many different cultural backgrounds.

I’d made the point that western Sydney was bigger than Adelaide.

The show was not long after the Hall of Fame function, when Gavin Wanganeen had been inducted, so I made the comment about what a wonderful player Gavin was, and that the game was so lucky to have players from so many backgrounds.

And in the spirit of the evening, I made a light-hearted comment about my ethnic heritage and

Gavin’s background, suggesting we both had come a long way in the game considering our cultural differences.

I said Gavin “was not bad for an ‘Abo’.” I stopped right there and thought, ‘I’ve never used that word before’. I apologised to everyone and continued.

At the end of the night, a guy came up and thanked me for a great night. But he also told me he was offended by what I had said.

I told him I’d known Gavin for a long time and then said, ‘I’m sure you’ll get over it’. Later, I thought about what I had just said, and knew I hadn’t handled the situation very well.

Two weeks later, when Mal Brown was in the news and there

was a racial issue in rugby league, I got a phone call from David Matthews (the AFL’s market development general manager).

He asked me what happened at Hahndorf, specifically whether I’d made a racist comment about Gavin. I explained the context but agreed what I had said was inappropriate.

Even though I wasn’t representing the AFL and was on my own time, I understood the seriousness of the situation.

I hung up the phone and felt sick. I felt sick about the terrible thing I’d said about Gavin. And I felt sick about letting people down, people who’ve given me a great opportunity.

Assistants Robert Harvey, Matthew Lappin and Brett Montgomery leave Carlton, with Harvey taking an assistant role at St Kilda.

26 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

To be called more about After further a racist made indigenous discussions with Australians David, the AFL’s me feel sick, and their community embarrassed and culture, a engagement ashamed seven-week manager Jason ROBERT DIPIERDOMENICO program that Mifsud and AFL saw me travel to CEO Andrew communities across Demetriou, it was the country, meeting clear the AFL had no with people in their homes and option but to suspend me, and at community centres, schools to do so publicly. Jason was very and heath care facilities. clear. He said: “The comments were hurtful and upsetting was really sad. I had let down to a lot of people. You need to a lot of people. To be called understand that.” a racist made me feel sick, I had people defending embarrassed and ashamed. me but I knew I wasn’t the Once you’ve been branded a victim here. What I’d done racist, it really hurts, especially was unacceptable and I felt when you’ve been fighting ashamed. I spoke to my family against it your whole life. and explained what happened.

Basically, what I was asked to I phoned Gavin twice. do was travel to various parts of Someone had told him what I’d the country and see first-hand said. He was surprised, because how my comments can affect he said he knew what sort of people. Once I started, I realised person I was and he was aware one thing immediately: I’m the of the work I’d done with people luckiest man in the world. of all cultures and all ages I was confronted by elders, around Australia. by young people, by people who It was a terrible time for deal with racism day in, day out. the game and for me personally I sat down with them and we as I was so ashamed. And, simply had conversations. I went most importantly, it was a to places like Redfern, Halls Gap, terrible time for Gavin and Alice Springs and Darwin. my close friend Michael Long.

It was simply remarkable Gavin told me he didn’t accept learning about other people, what I said, but he said he knew hearing elders talk about where I wasn’t a racist. He told me they came from and how they what I said couldn’t be swept continued their people’s culture. under the carpet.

I learned about work done The press conference I faced every day to help people. I was one of the low points of learned about the mentoring that my life, but I resolved at that goes on. I was ignorant about the point to do everything I could to type of work needed in some of remedy my error of judgment, these remote communities. my total lack of thought.

I saw some of the conditions The AFL invited me to take people live in, without the part in a “journey” to learn

I

things we take for granted. I was ashamed about what I saw in this great country. But some of the things I saw and learned were amazing. The whole experience really humbled me.

I also learned about my own culture and the importance of family. I think I had taken that for granted a little bit.

There is no doubt I was ignorant about some of the things around me. I’m disappointed about that but, at the same time, I’m glad I had the chance to learn and understand.

The people I met at the various communities I went to all made me feel very welcome. But they all made me realise that someone like me making stupid comments can take people back years. That was such a powerful lesson.

I went to schools and told kids, ‘I made a mistake. It’s unacceptable’.

What changed for me? Where do I start? I know that respect and understanding is never to be treated flippantly. I know that a person’s record can be blasted apart with one slip of the tongue. I understand that no matter what one’s inner thoughts might be, what is expressed publicly will always represent a part of you. I know I have made a big mistake, and I know I have hurt a lot of people.

I have apologised many times: now I must act positively to ensure others who may open their mouths without thought will pause, and think and speak with respect. No matter when, where, or to whom.

AS TOLD TO PETER DI SISTO

THE BUILD-UP

A full week of footy fun � Fans of all ages can enjoy a host of activities during AFL Grand Final week at Melbourne’s Federation Square, on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets, opposite Flinders Street railway station.

Activities include a footythemed fashion parade, live coverage of the Brownlow Medal, broadcasts of Triple M, 774 ABC, 3AW and SEN radio and Fox Sports and Channel Seven television programs, appearances by Network Ten personalities, live performances by Thirsty Merc and The Potbelleez, NAB AFL Auskick clinics, autograph sessions with AFL players and musicians and experts taking part in panel discussions.

The annual Toyota AFL Grand Final parade starts at noon on Friday at the Victorian Arts Centre on St Kilda Road, finishing at the Old Treasury Building with the presentation of the competing teams.

On Grand Final day, activities at Federation Square start at 10am, with Channel Seven’s coverage of the match shown on a big screen.

Enjoy live music from 6-8pm, before the arrival of the 2010 premiership team just after 8pm. For the latest updates on Grand Final week activities at Federation Square, go to afl.com.au.

,7¶6 )227< :,7+287 7+( 58/(6 For a no holds barred view on everything footy, join Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell, 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday.

Sports Today - only on 3AW 693.

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 27

DOMINANT DEMONS: Melbourne captain

John Beckwith and Ron Barassi (wearing an Essendon jumper) hold the 1959 premiership cup. Carrying the pair are (from left) Ian Ridley, Brian Dixon, Ian Thorogood, Peter Brenchley, Geoff Case, Clyde Laidlaw and Dennis Jones.

DYNASTY BUILDERS 28 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Geelong is aiming to reach its fourth consecutive Grand Final this weekend.

Should the Cats get there and win a third premiership in four years, they would rightly be considered a magniďŹ cent modern dynasty, comparable with some of the other premiership dynasties in AFL/VFL history. How does Geelong stack up against the best teams from yesteryear? Which dominant club was the best?

The AFL Record ranks the greatest of all time. C A MERON NOA K ES

AFL RECORD visit aďŹ&#x201A;record.com.au 29

DYNASTY BUILDERS

HOW WE JUDGED: While

THREE IN A ROW: Syd Coventry is chaired off by trainers and support staff after the 1929 Grand Final victory against Richmond. Len Murphy is at the rear.

consecutive Grand Final appearances were given considerable weight, ultimately premierships and longevity were looked upon most favourably.

Innovation was also considered, as was the legacy, and how the team responded when its dynasty was threatened. After identifying which teams had created a true dynasty, we then ranked their significance.

1

Melbourne 1954-1964

�

Enter the Red Fox 7 consecutive GFs, 3 consecutive premierships, 6 premierships from 8 Grand Finals in 11 years – 1955, ’56, ’57, ’59, ’60, ‘64 THE ARCHITECTS Norm Smith, Ron Barassi, Brian Dixon, John Beckwith, Hassa Mann

was one of the first to create sophisticated game-plans.

Laidlaw, for example, was not a goalkicking key forward. He used to play up the ground to create space and occasionally ive-time premiership take dangerous centre half-backs coach Frank ‘Checker’ out of the game.

Hughes once said of This type of thinking was the player Norm Smith: ahead of its time and it allowed “The things that fellow did space for Melbourne’s smaller amazed me. He was different forwards and midfielders to from the others. He made a team kick goals. work around him; others made In the 1957 premiership, the team work for them.”

Ron Barassi kicked five goals And Smith, the coach, was once and Ian Ridley kicked four from described by former the half-forward flank. player Clyde Laidlaw In the 1959 Grand as a “drill-sergeant”.

Final, Barassi Young players “His coaching kicked four. was army-style, When Smith were never made which many took the reins at to feel secure of us were Melbourne, he about their spot in familiar with,” lifted the team Laidlaw said from bottom to the side. This kept in Ben Collins’ fifth in a year. them hungry book The Red Fox. Although the “We respected Demons dipped authority.” again in 1953, in ’54 Smith had a special they were in the Grand aura about him which, in part, Final and in ’55 they had a cup was created by his aloofness. and were about to start the Laidlaw said young players felt greatest roll in any club’s history. intimidated and were never It is in the game’s folklore made to feel secure about their that Collingwood prevented spot in the side. This, Laidlaw Melbourne from winning four believed, kept them hungry. consecutive flags in 1958 but, It was not, however, just in testament to how great the strict rules that made Smith Demons were, they responded and his Melbourne team from that loss to win the next brilliant; it was how Smith two premierships and, in 1964, thought about football. He again saluted.

F

30 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

2

Collingwood 1925-1930

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The machine age 6 consecutive GFs, 4 consecutive premierships – 1927, ’28, ‘29, ‘30 THE ARCHITECTS Jock McHale, Gordon Coventry, Syd Coventry, Albert Collier, Harry Collier

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ollingwood was stunned by its sudden fall from grace in 1923. It had lost the Grand Final in 1922 but it missed the finals the next year.

It need not have feared.

Under super coach Jock McHale, its rebuilding was swift. Underpinning the rapid reconstruction were the Coventry brothers, Syd and Gordon, and Albert Collier.

While Gordon’s goalkicking prowess is legendary, he was originally a reluctant footballer at this level.

Syd, on the other hand, the older brother who arrived at the

club two years after Gordon, was born to lead. Albert Collier was also symbolic of the new-look Magpies; outrageously hard and legitimately feared by the opposition.

McHale had also improved his craft as a coach by the mid-1920s. The important cornerstone of McHale’s thinking was that no individual was bigger than the team and all players received the same pay.

The players respected this.

McHale also developed one of the earliest models of a gameplan. Syd was instructed to play a kick behind the play and use his penetrating kick to drive the ball (to borrow vernacular from modern times) inside 50.

It was a good concept, for once the ball was in Collingwood’s forward line, brother Gordon would usually score.

McHale also indulged in conniving tactics to gain advantage. He would often send spies into the opposition change-rooms before a match to glean information.

It is believed that in the 1929 Grand Final against Richmond, a spy discovered the Tigers’ plan to go after Syd at the start of the game.

It was reported back to McHale and he quickly decided Collingwood would get in first. Three Richmond players were floored before the game started.

3

Hawthorn 1983-1991

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Yabby’s iron men 7 consecutive GFs, 8 GFs in 9 years, 5 premierships – 1983, ‘86, ‘88, ‘89, ‘91 THE ARCHITECTS Allan Jeans, Alan Joyce, Dermott Brereton, Michael Tuck, Robert DiPierdomenico, Jason Dunstall, Gary Ayres

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hey mixed flamboyance with brawn and there was no greater example of what Hawthorn was in the 1980s than glamour forward Dermott Brereton.

He was symbolic of the era: tough and ostentatious, with lime green boots and a blond mullet.

Brereton was the antithesis of his coach Allan Jeans. Jeans would say: “Good players don’t need gimmicks.” Brereton was equipped with many.

But Jeans demanded toughness. “No one has ever died on me yet, son,” he would say.

“Go harder, it won’t kill you.”

And indeed, that sort of talk resonated with Brereton. And it resonated with all his colleagues.

This Hawthorn team was incredibly tough and resilient, and would play through pain without thinking.

The 1989 premiership is often discussed for it was a thrilling contest and is the most obvious example of what Jeans’ players were prepared to put themselves through to achieve success.

Robert DiPierdomenico played with a punctured lung, Gary Ayres had torn his hamstring, Michael Tuck had split the webbing in his hand and was limping, Darrin Pritchard had a badly corked thigh, John Kennedy and Jamie Morrissey could barely walk, and, of course, Brereton played out the game with cracked ribs and a 1cm tear to his kidney.

The team was rich with talent and included two Brownlow medallists, John Platten and DiPierdomenico, and a champion goalkicker, Jason Dunstall.

Jeans, with his homespun philosophies, was one of the

greatest coaches in the history of the game.

“They’re like sausages,” Jeans said about football teams.

“You can boil them, grill them or curry them, but ultimately they’re still sausages.” Bloody tough ones, in Hawthorn’s case.

DEFYING THE PAIN: Hawks Andrew Collins (left) and Gary Ayres hold the 1989 premiership cup above the head of teammate Greg Dear after their six-point win over Geelong in a bruising encounter.

4 Essendon 1941-1951 �

The days of King Richard

6 consecutive GFs, 9 GFs in 11 years (plus 1948 replay), 4 premierships – 1942, ‘46, ‘49, ‘50 THE ARCHITECTS Dick Reynolds, Bill Hutchison, Wally Buttsworth

W BOMBERS’ ROYALTY: Essendon

players loved their captain-coach Dick ‘King Richard’ Reynolds not just because he was a brilliant footballer but also because of his humility.

ith superstar Dick Reynolds the playing coach, Essendon emerged as one of the great forces the game has seen.

Its era of dominance is marked down slightly for it did not win more than two premierships in a row, however, after winning back-to-back flags in 1949 and 1950, it just missed its chance of a three-peat, going down to Geelong by 11 points.

Many believe if the Dons’ brilliant full-forward John Coleman had played (he missed

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 31

DYNASTY BUILDERS

because of suspension), they would have won.

Essendon had also drawn the 1948 Grand Final after kicking an incredibly profligate 7.27 (it lost the replay to Melbourne), and lost the 1947 Grand Final to Carlton by one point after leading for the entire match.

In essence, this team was agonisingly close to six in a row.

‘King Richard’ was already a superstar after winning three Brownlow Medals in the 1930s.

When coach Jack Baggott resigned mid-1939 due to a dispute with selectors about training methods, Reynolds, then 25, took over.

The Bombers had not played finals since 1926 but, under Reynolds, charged to third in 1940 and played in the Grand Final in 1941.

Reynolds connected with his teammates because he was legitimately interested in them; he cared about them.

And his players loved him, not just because he was a brilliant footballer, but because of his humility.

He was also a calming presence. His message to his players was to be modest in victory and gracious in defeat.

5 Carlton 1904-1910 �

Pioneers of professionalism 5 consecutive GFs, 6 GFs in seven seasons, 3 consecutive premierships – 1906, ’07, ‘08 THE ARCHITECTS Jack Worrall, Fred ‘Pompey’ Elliott, Rod McGregor

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t took Jack Worrall just three years to scrape Carlton from the bottom steps of the ladder and into a Grand Final. He was appointed in 1902 and, in 1904, Carlton played in a Grand Final.

He is the first person to be considered a full-time coach and enforced a controversial and professional approach to training that included no tolerance to alcohol. It was 32 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

6 Brisbane 2001-2004 �

The Lion wakes snarling 4 consecutive GFs, 3 consecutive premierships – 2001, ’02, ’03 THE ARCHITECTS Leigh Matthews, Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis, Simon Black, Jonathan Brown, Alastair Lynch

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“

LION LEGACY:

Skipper Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis lead the Brisbane Lions out against Essendon for the 2001 Grand Final. After being victorious in this match, the Lions played in the next three Grand Finals, winning two more premierships.

radical for its time. In 1906, Carlton won the first of three consecutive Grand Finals, the first club to achieve a three-peat.

However, the players grew tired of Worrall’s demands and were upset they had not seen an increase to their wages, despite the club’s success and a turnaround in its financial fortunes.

Three players refused to take the field for the start of the 1909 season and eventually players refused to train, forcing Worrall to resign at the end of July. h Such was the strength of the team, however, that Carlton still made the Grand Final and missed out on making it a fourth consecutive flag by two points.

Captain and popular player Fred ‘Pompey’ Elliott (who had embraced Worrall’s professional approach but was

a softer touch) took over from Worrall in mid-1909 and steered Carlton to consecutive Grand Finals, however, the Blues narrowly failed in both.

SHARP-SHOOTER: Carlton forward Vin Gardiner, a member of the 1908 premiership team, was renowned for his accurate place kicking.

f it bleeds, we can kill it,” Leigh Matthews said, quoting a line from the film Predator.

Then he added: “And we reckon Essendon can bleed.”

And with those words, a dynasty was born.

At the start of the new millennium, many believed the Bombers would rule for many a year after its 2000 team dropped one game for the season before rampaging into the spring to grab the title. The Dons were prematurely dubbed “the team of the century”.

But the Lions usurped Essendon in round 10 of 2001. This was the Predator game and ignited a 15-game winning streak that catapulted them into the Grand Final, winning the merged club’s first premiership.

Matthews moulded his players in his own image and, with skipper Michael Voss at his disposal, he had found a clone.

Like Matthews, Voss was an extraordinarily talented footballer but his willingness to hurl himself into the contest and his desire to win made him an exemplary leader.

Like Matthews, none of the Lions took a backward step and, when some teams attempted to take them on, they relished the game’s physical nature.

Alastair Lynch, Jonathan Brown, the Scott brothers (Chris and Brad), Mal Michael, Voss, Martin Pike, Clark Keating … they all liked the contest to be willing.

But the jewels of the team were the ‘fab four’, Voss, Simon Black, Jason Akermanis and Nigel Lappin.

All but Lappin won Brownlow Medals, all of them had exquisite

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DYNASTY BUILDERS

talents and they were all vastly differently players.

The forward line with Lynch and Brown was a feared place for opposition defenders. They were big, strong, fearless and incredibly talented, and charged into packs and bowled over defenders like skittles.

7 Richmond 1967-1974 � Long bombs to Royce

5 GFs in 8 years, 3 consecutive GFs, 4 premierships – 1967, ‘69, ‘73, ‘74 THE ARCHITECTS Tom Hafey, Royce Hart, Francis Bourke, Kevin Bartlett, Kevin Sheedy

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he debate about whether Hafey’s Heroes should be considered as one of the greatest dynasties was rigorous but, under the criteria, this magnificent Richmond team stood up and roared louder than the rest in more ways than one.

Simply, the Tigers kept putting cups in the cabinet and the fourth premiership was the key to ranking this team so favourably.

It was quite an era.

Richmnond spent most of it wrestling (in more ways than one) with Carlton for dominance, but eventually owned it, adding to its two cups at the end of the 1960s with a magnificent double strike in 1973 and 1974.

Richmond was a feared team and it was damned if it was going to let the Blues spoil its time at the top.

The Tigers lost the 1972 Grand Final when Alex Jesaulenko was

34 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

TRIUMPHANT TIGERS:

Injured star Barry Richardson, coach Tom Hafey and champion rover Kevin Bartlett celebrate Richmond’s 1973 Grand Final win over Carlton.

let off the leash and kicked seven goals in a shootout (a game they presumed they would win after defeating Carlton in the replay of the second semi-final by 41 points).

But the Tigers bounced back with extreme ferocity the following year.

Richmond had become driven by its hatred of the Blues. It was also prepared to put anyone else in their place who dared to take them on (as Essendon discovered in the ‘War at Windy Hill’).

In the 1973 Grand Final, Tiger Neil Balme made sure his large presence was felt by the Carlton opponents, and John Nicholls was crunched by Laurie Fowler.

When the teams met in round Fitness was Hafey’s weapon. four of the home-and-away In 1969, Richmond became season in 1974, again emotions just the third team to win a boiled over. Royce Hart and premiership from fourth, Francis Bourke were but they started the game reported in another as rank outsiders Richmond win. against Carlton.

Finally, the When they Tigers had trailed at Richmond forced their three-quarter had become great rival to time, few gave driven by submit and later the Tigers they went on to any hope its hatred of win their fourth for the Blues the Blues premiership since had enjoyed they first rose a week off. But to prominence Richmond finished in 1967. the game full of running, Hafey’s men were tough but, booting four goals to nil to more importantly, they were fit. collect the silverware.

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DYNASTY BUILDERS

Collingwood 1935-39

The best of the rest

�

In chronological order

Collingwood 1915-1922 4 CONSECUTIVE GFs, 6 GFs IN 8 SEASONS, 2 PREMIERSHIPS – 1917, ‘19

THE ARCHITECTS: Jock McHale, Dick Lee. Glamour forward Dick Lee is shaded in Collingwood’s history by Gordon Coventry but Lee was incredible, topping the goalkicking on 10 occasions (still a record), including four consecutive years from 1914 to 1917 and again in 1919 and 1921. Lee was famous for his aerial skills and incredible accuracy in front of goal, using a place kick or a punt kick.

Richmond 1927-1934 4 CONSECUTIVE GFS, 7 GFs IN 8 YEARS, 2 PREMIERSHIPS – 1932, ‘34

THE ARCHITECTS: Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes, Alan Geddes, Percy Bentley, Jack Titus, Doug Strang, Jack Dyer (made debut in 1931), Jack Baggott.

The emergence of Richmond as a superpower at the end of the 1920s is often overlooked.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, they ran head on into the Machine Team and South Melbourne’s ‘Foreign Legion’.

It was an incredible era at Tigerland which saw the emergence of two of the club’s greatest names, Jack ‘Skinny’ Titus and Jack Dyer.

5 CONSECUTIVE GFs, 2 CONSECUTIVE PREMIERSHIPS – 1935, ‘36

THE ARCHITECTS: Jock McHale, Phonse Kyne, Ron Todd, Jack Regan, Marcus Whelan, Des Fothergill.

Collingwood re-emerged as a force again with new names such Phonse Kyne, Marcus Whelan and Jack Regan in the team. Gordon Coventry’s remarkable longevity allowed him to play in the 1935 premiership. When Coventry retired at the end of 1937, Ron Todd was his ready replacement and became the competition’s new glamour forward.

Des Fothergill forced his way into the side and, by 20, had won three best and fairests and a Brownlow.

Melbourne – 1939-1941 3 CONSECUTIVE PREMIERSHIPS

THE ARCHITECTS: Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes, Alan La Fontaine, Percy Beames, Jack Mueller, Ron Baggott, Norm Smith.

Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes controversially left Richmond to coach Melbourne after finally getting his flag at Tigerland in 1932. On his arrival at Melbourne, he changed the club’s name from the Fuchsias to the Demons and sacked 13 players. Hughes’ extraordinary game-plan, that revolved around key forwards Norm Smith and Ron Baggott, was in many ways revolutionary.

Carlton 1968-1973 5 GFs IN 6 YEARS, 3 CONSECUTIVE GFs, 3 PREMIERSHIPS – 1968, ’70, ’72

THE ARCHITECTS: Ron Barassi, Alex Jesaulenko, John Nicholls.

The 1970 Grand Final was the making of Barassi as a coach with his famous instructions to handball that allowed Carlton to steal the premiership against Collingwood after trailing by 44

points. But Barassi continually demonstrated through this time that he had extraordinary coaching ability, guiding Carlton from outside the finals to second on the ladder in 1967.

North Melbourne 1974-1978 5 CONSECUTIVE GFs (PLUS 1977 REPLAY), 2 PREMIERSHIPS – 1975, ’77

THE ARCHITECTS: Ron Barassi, Keith Greig, Malcolm Blight, Wayne Schimmelbusch, David Dench.

North Melbourne used changes to the recruiting rules, particularly the 10-year rule and interstate recruiting rules, to assemble a magnificent team. Of course, they had already lured Barassi out of retirement as coach in 1972 and he guided the team to its first flag in its history in 1975.

North Melbourne 1996-1999 3 GFs IN 4 YEARS, 2 CONSECUTIVE GFs, 2 PREMIERSHIPS – 1996, ’99

THE ARCHITECTS: Denis Pagan, Wayne Carey, Anthony Stevens, Glenn Archer, Corey McKernan.

North Melbourne was the team of the 1990s and probably should have won more premierships. Wayne Carey was the team’s inspirational skipper and was considered by many to be the greatest centre half-forward of all time.

Carey had many talents but possessed rare courage – his ability to run with the flight of the ball and mark in front of an oncoming pack was a special.

Geelong 2007-?

Carlton 1979-1982 3 GFs IN FOUR YEARS, 2 CONSECUTIVE PREMIERSHIPS, 3 PREMIERSHIPS IN 4 YEARS – 1979, ’81, ’82

THE ARCHITECTS: David Parkin (Alex Jesaulenko 979), Bruce coaching in 1979), Doull, Jimmyy Buckley, Mark ke Fitzpatrick, Maclure, Mike mes.

Wayne Harmes. nting 1980 A disappointing finals seriess is the only thing that marks this wn. Carlton team down. or four years ran hot for keted three and pocketed ships. With premierships. ed ‘Mosquito the famed Fleet’, itt had stating a devastating ld midfield group but, equally rtant to important eam was the team agnificent its magnifi nce, led by Bruce defence, ull and complemented by Doull Wayne Harmes and, later, Ken Hunter.

THE STORY SO FAR: 3 CONSECUTIVE GFs, 2 PREMIERSHIPS – 2007, ’09

THE ARCHITECTS: Mark Thompson, Tom Harley, Gary Ablett, Paul Chapman, Jimmy Bartel, Matthew Scarlett.

Where this journey will end is anyone’s anyone s guess. g As the Cats have proven this year, they are not about to fade away. Geelong has set the biggest winning margin in a Grand Final, claimed the most consecutive wins at Kardinia Park, and set the record for the most away wins.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT BUYING 2010 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL TICKETS Supporters should be aware it is now illegal for a 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final ticket to be sold for a premium on its own or as part of a package deal unless the seller is authorised in writing by the AFL. This follows the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final being declared an event under the ticketing provisions (Part 9) of the Major Sporting Events Act 2009 that came into operation in June 2009 to provide fairer access for supporters to major events and more transparent ticketing arrangements.

Breaches of the Act can mean entry to the event being denied to the ticket holder and fines per ticket in excess of $7,000 for a person or $35,000 for a company - with multiple offences carrying fines up to 10 times these amounts.

Each AFL club must detail its ticket distribution arrangements on its website. If unsure whether a ticket seller is authorised, please contact 36 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

the AFL on 03 9643 1999 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final tickets are subject to the following condition of sale: Condition: This ticket is sold or distributed on the condition that it not be resold or offered for resale at a premium or be used for advertising, promotions, competitions or other commercial purposes without the AFL’s prior written authorisation. Any breach of these conditions allows your ticket to be cancelled and for a Declared Event may be an indictable offence under the Major Sporting Events Act 2009.

I thank the AFL for their cooperation with the Victorian Government to ensure their 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final Ticketing Scheme has transparent ticket distribution practices and deters scalping.

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R E C O G N I S I N G T H E G R E AT O N E S

Albert THURGOOD

THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS Albert Thurgood was Australian Football’s first icon. A man whose influence and reputation extended far beyond the football field, he was named Champion of the Colony three times and was regarded as the greatest player of the late 1890s and 1900s, excelling in two states as a brilliant goalkicker before controversy and tragedy struck. PETER RYA N

E

ven when Albert Thurgood was inducted as an inaugural member into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, he remained a mystery to most fans.

He was an Essendon (Victorian Football Association) and Fremantle (West Australian Football Association) champion – before the Victorian Football League was formed in 1897.

He was renowned for his goalkicking exploits in two states and for his long kicking – his longest recorded kick was about 107 yards (97.8m) on June 22, 1899.

Named in Essendon’s Hall of Fame and Team of the Century in 1997, he was ranked No. 9 in Essendon’s list of its 25 greatest players released in 2002.

Although he played only 46 games in the VFL, he dominated for six years in the VFA and the WAFA before the VFL started, and was named Champion of the Colony in 1893-94. During that span (1892-97), he led the competition goalkicking every season and played in five premierships in six seasons.

38 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

He was universally recognised as the best player in the country, having also played for Essendon in a match in Adelaide.

Inevitably, because of the era in which he played, the modern perception of a great such as Thurgood has been confined to short descriptions of his characteristics and exploits. It’s only when you begin to explore the name in depth that the person comes to life, his career both brilliant and controversial, his life one of achievement and adventure well beyond that of a footballer.

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hurgood’s father, the London-born John Joseph Thurgood, is likely to have arrived in Melbourne with his younger brother, James, in 1865 on the Norfolk ship from Plymouth. The voyage took 140 days.

John was the son of William, a builder, and Ann Thurgood from Middlesex, London.

John married another British immigrant, the London-born Amelia Buckland, in 1869 and they lived in Errol Street, Hotham (later known as North Melbourne).

On January 11, 1874, Albert Thurgood was born in Hotham.

John passed away at home in 1881 aged 41 when Albert was just seven, the young boy joining the funeral parade along dirt roads to Melbourne Cemetery on September 17, 1881.

His mother remarried Wiltshire John Machen, the ceremony held at the All Saints Church in Hobart in February of 1884, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the youngster.

Although the marriage was in Hobart, the family was to remain in Melbourne.

Soon enough, Albert was enrolled in Crowther Grammar School (which later became Brighton Grammar).

The cursive pencil writing naming him on the enrolment form is the first public record of Albert since his birth. It outlines name No. 59, Albert John Thurgood, formerly of Connewarra State School, enrolled in 1884.

It is an unremarkable entry, bar the difficult-to-read remarks inserted decades later: “Champion goalkicker Victoria 1892, 1893. Died 1927”.

To regard the notation as an abridged version of his life is rather an understatement.

Albert Thurgood would prove to be an extraordinarily gifted sportsperson, athletic, good at cricket and somehow perfectly built for this new game of Australian Football that had existed for less than 20 years when he was born.

There is little record of his achievements at high school, except his prize – the Headmaster’s Cup – won in 1890 for athletic endeavours.

Thurgood was bound to play in the VFA, choosing Essendon because friends played there.

Although St Kilda named the local boy in its team in 1891, he was not persuaded to play.

Instead he started with the red and black at the East Melbourne Ground on the corner of Wellington and Jolimont streets, now filled with modern houses.

Times were tough. The building boom had ended and Victoria was about to enter its first depression.

As is so often the case in tough times, a sportsperson would do much to lift community spirits.

ALBERT THURGOOD

ATHLETIC PRODIGY: Albert

Thurgood was an imposing figure as a young man, gifted in several sports and ideally suited to Australian Football.

Thurgood’s brilliance at this now-burgeoning game would become a necessary distraction to those who travelled to the game by foot or horseback or train or, possibly, cable trams running from the city to Richmond.

The long-kicking goalkicker made a remarkable impact. In his debut season, he became the first player to kick more then 50 goals, his 56 coming as an 18-year-old.

He followed up with 63 goals in both 1893 and 1894, playing in all three VFA flags for Essendon from 1892-94 and was named Champion of the Colony in 1893-94.

In 1894-95, he was also playing cricket with North Melbourne.

In an era when performing in multiple sports was the norm, he also won the 1894 Australian Open shot-put title.

However, the depression was harsh on everyone and it did not miss sporting champions.

In 1895, the independent 20-year-old decided to move to Western Australia, seeking work, or gold. In Fremantle, he also resumed his football career.

He made an immediate impression. Captaining Fremantle

on debut, he was described as his playing performance; “admirably proportioned”. In his once again, Thurgood’s team first game, he kicked six of his was premier. team’s 10 goals.

He was now famous nationally A report in the West Australian and was just 21. (Before leaving newspaper stated: “His for the west, he had played for representation as a goalkicker, Essendon against South Adelaide wide as the continent, was at the Adelaide Oval in 1894.) certainly a revelation to He played in five premierships the untravelled portion of in five seasons, following up the community.” in 1896 with a premiership for In July, 1895, Fremantle and 57 goals.

Thurgood kicked This was 14 of 22 goals dominance never His life for Fremantle before seen in against West Australian (was) one of Perth. Such was Football and achievement and his dominance his tally of adventure well that day, the goals could beyond that of scoreboard easily equate to operator multiple bags of a footballer registered 100 goals in the his 11th goal modern era. before he had Fitzroy’s Jimmy even kicked the ball, its Grace was the only player to placement on the ground a come close in goalkicking terms, signal that the best place kick in but even Grace could not reach 50 the country was about to launch. in a season from 1890-95.

He was a larrikin, too.

In the summer months, he Challenged to a goalkicking played for North Fremantle contest on July 4, 1895, he took Cricket Club, once representing on F. Cooper from the Imperials a combined Fremantle team (he club and lost in front of a large made 123 in one innings in 1896) crowd after starting odds-on. against George Giffen’s victorious The sideshow did not affect Australian XI in April, 1897.

Opening the batting that day, he made one before Tom McKibbin (five Tests) bowled him. He also ran in professional footraces for a quid, winning five pounds in the quarter-mile handicap foot race, running 55 seconds for the 440 yards (about 402m).

Football historian Cec Mullen once claimed Thurgood could run 100 yards in 11 seconds, but it was over 440 yards that he had few peers.

Playing for Fremantle again, he scored 27 goals in the 1897 season but, for the first time in his senior career, was not part of the premiership team.

He kicked all of Fremantle’s six goals in the decider against West Perth to no avail. West Perth won by two goals.

It’s difficult to imagine the life this famous sportsman was leading but, even in these pre-federation times, his name was synonymous with the game.

When his cousin Jimmy Thurgood made his debut with Essendon in the VFL in May, 1897, he was described as “a relative of their famous goalkicker of other years”. The name was one to carry. (Albert is thought to be the great uncle of Josh Thurgood, who played 13 games for Hawthorn from 2005-07 and now plays for Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL).

Although Albert decided to return to Melbourne in 1898, he was not allowed to play in the VFL because of inter-colonial registration rules.

Pushing 15 stone (95kg) and 6’ 2” (183cm), he was well proportioned when he arrived at the Oddfellows Hotel (now the Norfolk Hotel) at South Terrace in Fremantle in June, 1898, to be farewelled by Fremantle Football Club, and recognised as the greatest player the state had seen.

An enlarged photo of teammates and office bearers was his parting gift.

His Essendon captain in the early 1890s, Alick Dick, claimed Thurgood returned from the west heavier than before he left.

His life was about to become serious, as he was to marry Canadian-born Ida Thomas on April 26, 1899, at a church on the corner of Park Crescent and Arthur Street, in Melbourne’s inner northern suburb of Fairfield.

Living in Gillies Street, Fairfield, and now sporting a broad moustache, Thurgood was to play only one game in 1899.

AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 39

ALBERT THURGOOD

The Argus heralded his return to Victorian football at the age of 25 with the headline: THURGOOD’S REAPPEARANCE. “There was jubilation in the Essendon camp when it was known that Thurgood, the erstwhile champion, would once again lend aid to the Red and Black; and when the big fellow came out he received a tremendous ovation.”

In an era that is so removed, the image appears so familiar.

Even the language – “the big fellow” – is part and parcel of our footy language.

The two-storey brick grandstand that dominated the East Melbourne ground was presumably full, the roar loud.

This round-six match against Melbourne at the East Melbourne ground was Thurgood’s first game in the VFL, formed in 1897 after Essendon, Melbourne, Geelong, St Kilda, Collingwood, Fitzroy, South Melbourne and Carlton broke away from the VFA. The next time he would be seen on a football ground was in May, 1900, against Collingwood, a game played on a Wednesday as the country, gripped with national excitement surrounding a decisive British victory in the Boer War (Relief of Mafeking), declared a public holiday.

He kicked six goals, his best performance in his 46 VFL games. For whatever reason, Thurgood was hardly committed.

It was at that point his career was again kick-started, as he played nine consecutive games culminating in an exciting preliminary final loss to Melbourne.

Despite all the hyperbole that surrounds him, Thurgood showed he was a mortal that day.

He marked in range with nine minutes remaining and missed his shot for goal.

With a minute to go, he again had a chance to win the game, but pushed the shot wide.

40 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

He defied a northerly wind to kick three of Essendon’s six goals as it took the premiership

SUPER BOOT: Thurgood was renowned for his goalkicking exploits and

long kicking in two states, with the place kick his preferred option when shooting for goal.

Melbourne won by two points after Essendon kicked 1.7 in the last quarter, including a disputed behind that many at the ground celebrated as a goal.

The detail of Thurgood’s life was hazy at this time, but after Essendon lost three of its first four games in 1901, he returned.

His presence from round five had an immediate impact, with Essendon winning four of its next five, its only loss by one point to Collingwood.

Thurgood was playing at his very best when his mother, Amelia Mary Machen, passed away – in Champion Street, Brighton – on June 23, 1901, aged just 47 Thurgood did not play again until round 15, in the middle of August. He kicked five goals on his return. In the next four rounds, his legend would be

cemented as he kicked 19 of the team’s 45 goals as it stormed to a premiership.

Reviewing the semi-final against Fitzroy, an extract from The Argus pointed to his impact: “Thurgood marked quite 60 yards out from goal.

Some laughed as he put the ball down, and many wondered. The devoted band of admirers who have always stuck to Essendon, however, knew Thurgood, and remembered his skill of former years. There was a hush as he kicked, and then a roar, as high between the posts the ball soared, and Essendon had wiped out Fitzroy’s advantage, and had a lead of two points themselves.”

This man was no myth. Even the doubters can be heard in the crowd. He performed under pressure. Thurgood kicked five of the team’s six goals as Essendon

defeated Fitzroy by one point to move into the Grand Final.

In the Grand Final the next week against Collingwood – played in front of 30,000 people at the Lakeside Oval in South Melbourne – he defied a northerly wind to kick three of Essendon’s six goals as it took the premiership.

His performance to overcome his grief and unleash his brilliance was recognised when he was named Champion of the Colony for the third time, the first in a new federation, despite playing just 10 games.

He was also named Essendon’s best and fairest, the first time an award had been presented.

Thurgood’s wife was pregnant in 1902 as they prepared to move into a new house at 44 Park Crescent in Fairfield – named Ontario – in 1903.

The family was well established by now, his wife’s sister, Agnes, having married Horace Mackennal, the Commonwealth Works Director.

Mackennal helped design the house at 44 Park Crescent. (The house, no doubt a mansion in its time, was to become a special accommodation home, named Grandel). The sisters (and their respective husbands) would live across the road from each other.

Sadly, neither of Thurgood’s parents was alive to see his first-born, Marjorie, come into the world in 1902 as Thurgood turned 28.

The Melbourne in which he now lived was quite different from the dusty one he’d been born into and so too was Thurgood’s standing. The son of a builder who had ended up at Brighton Grammar had lifted himself to hero status within the town through unparalleled deeds on the sporting field, and the merchant (he owned a stock and station agent business) with offices at 561 Flinders Lane was about to move into a beautiful new house with wife and baby.

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ALBERT THURGOOD

However, 1902 proved a tumultuous year on the footy field. Essendon again reached the Grand Final with Thurgood leading its goalkicking with 32.

In June, he had to write an affidavit declaring his innocence when St Kilda, still smarting from losing Thurgood and a host of locals to Essendon, charged him with striking. The Essendon committee backed him and the charge was dismissed.

Worse was to come when his performance in the Grand Final was questioned, some officials suggesting he may have “laid down”. The doubts were possibly given oxygen because Thurgood was wildly offline during the game. He was later emphatically cleared of any wrongdoing.

He did not play for three years and attempted to obtain a clearance to Collingwood. A rift had opened up between the player and an official over the events of 1902.

The bad blood lingered so he wrote an open letter to Essendon members that appeared in The Argus in 1906, along with a statutory declaration showing he had been investigated and COMPLETELY EXONERATED. The letter also said he had offered himself for selection in every game of 1903 but was denied the opportunity to play and suggested an official was out to get him, as “personal animosity must be the cause of me receiving this, the greatest insult that could be offered to any man”.

The president of the club, W.K. Hughes, refuted Thurgood’s allegations, regarding his non-selection, in the paper the next day. The outrage was such that in June, 1906, an advertisement appeared in The Argus which read: “Members who are desirous of Mr A. J.

FACT FILE

Albert Thurgood

BOMBING OUT: Thurgood is caught out of position as Collingwood’s Alf Dummett marks in the 1902 Grand Final. The Bombers star kicked one of his team’s three goals, but they lost by 33 points to the Magpies.

Thurgood’s inclusion in the a semi-final. Thurgood hurt his team are requested to SIGN ankle early in that semi-final and PETITIONS which will be at his unbelievable career was over. the gates of the East Melbourne In 1907, his second daughter ground at 2 o’clock today Gwen was born and he was well (Saturday). Roll up and see settled in Park Street, as horse justice done.” (And we thought racing began to take his interest. supporter outcry this year at Again, he was in the limelight.

Essendon was unusual!)

In 1912, Thurgood registered Thurgood had employed as a bookmaker in the a personal trainer to ‘Paddock’ reserve at keep him in shape Flemington. The The son of so, when Essendon Paddock was struggled with the premium a builder who injury, he, betting ring, had ended up at along with Fred with about Brighton Grammar Hiskens, who 120 licensed had also not bookmakers had lifted himself played since the fielding and to hero status 1902 Grand Final, crowds of returned to the 100,000 people team in July, 1906. not uncommon.

It must have Often bookmakers been an extraordinarily difficult graduated from the ‘Flat’ or time for Thurgood, given the the ‘Hill’ before making it to circumstances surrounding the Paddock but, perhaps as a his absence. reflection of Thurgood’s status, Essendon won four matches he went straight to the top. immediately after his return Being a big man with a big then lost the next six, including reputation makes it easy to

MASTER THE SPORT BUSINESS, study ONLINE

Born: January 11, 1874 Recruited from: Brighton Grammar APS VFL debut: Round 6, 1899 v Melbourne Height: 183cm Weight: 76kg Games: 48 (Fremantle), 46 (Essendon)* Goals: 128 (Fremantle), 89 (Essendon)* Player honours: Essendon best and fairest 1901; Essendon leading goalkicker 1900, 1902; leading goalkicker medallist 1900; Essendon premiership team 1901; WAFA leading goalkicker 1895, 1896, 1897; Essendon Team of the Century; Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee. *GAMES AND GOALS RECORDS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM 1895 ONWARDS

imagine Thurgood being the centre of attention in the ring on major race days.

He also owned racehorses including Chai, which won the Cantala Stakes on a wet Derby Day in 1919, and Amazonia, who won a Bagot Handicap and was third in the 1921 Melbourne Cup behind Sister Olive and the John Wren-owned The Rover.

He was close to winning Australia’s greatest race – a 200-guinea bid at the 1917 Sydney yearling sales for the eventual 1920 Cup winner Poitrel was entertained, then knocked back.

Thurgood had a life many Melburnians would envy even now. At the racetrack most Saturdays, he was earning a reputation as a plucky punter, while his passion for golf – he was a member at the Yarra Yarra club and a long driver of the ball – was growing.

Around this time, his family’s future became entwined with the United States as his daughter Marjorie met American Paul

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ALBERT THURGOOD

Caster and they married in 1923. By October, 1924, Albert had become a grandfather when Marjorie had a daughter she named Gwenyth, after her younger sister.

It was after a trip to America in 1922 that Thurgood was elected to the committee of the well-known Melbourne establishment for sportsmen and gamblers – the Victoria Club – an office he held until October, 1926.

He made one last comeback to the field in September, 1924, when he organised an old-time footballer’s match to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s Metropolitan Hospital Fund.

By then he was an influential, respected man in Melbourne, his huge frame still towering over others his age. His status remained undiminished in the football-mad Melbourne as he entered his 50s. In September, 1926, an article was written in The Argus by R.W. Wilmot, which summed up where Thurgood sat in the annals of football history.

“While hundreds of players have at one time or another been hailed as ‘champions’, it is generally conceded that the honour of the best Australian Rules player should be awarded to George Coulthard (Carlton), A.J. Thurgood (Essendon) or F. McGinis (Melbourne) and, if a vote were taken, the name of A.J. Thurgood would be accorded the title of ‘Champion of Champions’.”

A GOOD CAUSE: On September 2, 1924, The Argus reported that Thurgood and other “old-time footballers of note” met

with Melbourne Lord Mayor (W. Brunton) to arrange for an “old players” match in aid of the Lord Mayor’s hospital fund.

Standing, from left are: R. W. E. Wilmot (Essendon), E. Orohan (Collingwood), C. M. Hickey (Fitzroy, secretary of the Australian Football Council), H. Howson (South Melbourne), A. B. Sloan (Fitzroy), J. Sharp (Collingwood president), W. Mender (Essendon) and A. Williams (Footscray). Sitting, from left are: George Bell (Carlton), G. Robertson (Carlton), H. C. A. Harrison (Melbourne, ‘father’ of the Australian game), councillor W. Brunton, A. J. Thurgood (Essendon), J. Baragwanath (South Melbourne) and councillor Kent Hughes (Essendon).

Eight months after Wilmot’s article was published, Thurgood made the fateful decision to take the family mushrooming.

He’d spent Saturday at Aspendale races and the Sunday dawned fine as he rose in the brick villa at 18 Dandenong Road, St Kilda, the new family home.

Tragedy struck as the eightcylinder Cadillac coach he was driving in an easterly direction along Toorak Road was struck by a single-seater car – from the soon-to-be-defunct Paige motor company – travelling south down Kooyong Road. Thurgood suffered massive head injuries and died 90 minutes later at the Alfred Hospital in Prahran, at 3.35pm on Sunday, May 8, 1927.

His wife Ida, daughter Gwen and friend ‘Nell’ Kennedy

were injured in the accident but survived. The driver of the other car, Kenneth Shields, was charged with manslaughter but later acquitted.

The Argus ran a headline on page 13 the following day: SENSATIONAL ACCIDENT, MOTORIST KILLED. A subhead declared: FAMOUS FOOTBALLER ‘GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME’.

The story led with the sentence: “The news of the death of Albert Thurgood, perhaps the greatest footballer of all time, will come as a shock to the community.”

The Sporting Globe’s headline was more direct: ‘Albert Thurgood Killed, Australia’s Greatest Footballer’. Melbourne had lost its first football icon.

Ida lived until January of 1950, while Gwen married a gentleman she met on a trip to America following the accident.

Not long after his death, many of Thurgood’s belongings, left in storage, were destroyed by fire.

Gwen’s daughter still lives in Melbourne. She remains in contact with Essendon, well aware and proud of Thurgood’s achievements but choosing to remain anonymous, having never met her grandfather.

Her brother lives in America, his children adorning their walls at home with information about their famous grandfather’s feats in another world.

And an Australian sporting icon lies buried in the Brighton Cemetery.

REFERENCES: THE ARGUS, THE SPORTING GLOBE, THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHY ONLINE, FOOTBALL LIFE, A GAME OF OUR OWN, THE ORIGINS OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL (GEOFFREY BLAINEY) 1990, A CENTURY OF WINNERS: THE SAGA OF 121 MELBOURNE CUPS, BILL AHERN NOTES: THE CLAIM THURGOOD KICKED A BALL 107 YARDS IS CONTAINED IN MANY SECONDARY SOURCES, HOWEVER, MANY HISTORIANS REMAIN SCEPTICAL. ALTHOUGH THURGOOD WAS WITHOUT QUESTION AN EXTRAORDINARILY LONG KICK IN HIS TIME, ACTUAL DISTANCES REMAIN UNCERTAIN. JOHN AND JAMES THURGOOD ARE NAMED IN THE PASSENGER LIST OF THE NORFOLK. JOHN IS LISTED AS BEING 24, WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE HIM 41 WHEN HE DIED. HE HAD A BROTHER JAMES, HOWEVER, THIS IS THE ONLY VERIFICATION OF THIS CLAIM THAT THEY TRAVELLED ON THIS SHIP. JIMMY THURGOOD, ALBERT’S COUSIN, MAY HAVE HAD THE BLOODLINES, BUT NOT THE TALENT. HE PLAYED ONLY THREE GAMES FOR ESSENDON, ALL IN 1897. YARRA YARRA WAS OPENED ON THE YARRA RIVER AT EAGLEMONT, LATER MOVING TO ROSANNA (1911), THEN TO ITS CURRENT HOME IN BENTLEIGH, IN 1927. PHOTOS COURTESY GREGOR M CCASKIE, ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB. THANKS ALSO TO ANDREW BIGGIN FROM BRIGHTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND VRC CONSULTANT ANDREW LEMON.

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AFL RECORD PROMOTION

THE BEST DEFENDERS

H

ere are proles of the tall and medium defenders chosen to attend this year’s NAB AFL Draft Combine (formerly the NAB AFL Draft Camp), to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from September 28-October 1.

The aspiring draftees will undergo a host of tests measuring their football skills, athleticism and attitude. Players invited to the combine are eligible to be drafted in November, with this year’s NAB AFL Draft to be held on the Gold Coast, on Thursday, November 18.

The proles are accompanied by comments from AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan, with the remaining players invited to the combine to feature in the Grand Final edition of the AFL Record.

FOLLOW ALL THE AC TION

� In the lead-up to this year’s NAB AFL Draft Combine and the NAB AFL Draft, make sure you follow all the latest news on a.com.au, with updates on delistings and trades.

The website will review every club (with a prole of each player), analysing what went right, what went wrong and what each needs to do.

There will be live chats with the website’s resident club experts, providing you the chance to ask the ‘hard’ questions.

There is also a ‘Rate Your List’ application (rateyourlist.a.com.au/), which allows you to make the call on who should be delisted or traded while also seeing what other supporters think.

And keep reading a.com.au for in-depth analysis of the NAB AFL Draft Combine and proles of players eligible to be selected at this year’s NAB AFL Draft.

AO>CQ @LJ?FKB

46 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

ALEX JOHNSON CLUB: Oakleigh Chargers AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 193cm WEIGHT: 82kg KS: “Tall defender/forward with an outstanding work rate and competitive edge.

Provides excellent defensive pressure when playing forward. Represented Vic Metro at the Under-18 Championship this year.”

RYAN LESTER

BRIGHT PROSPECT:

SA youngster Seb Tape has impressed with his athleticism and competitive edge.

TALL DEFENDERS CAMERON DELANEY CLUB: Geelong Falcons AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 192cm WEIGHT: 82kg KS: “Composed tall defender who reads the ball well coming into defence and makes good decisions. Rangy type with good closing speed and was a Vic Country representative at the 2010 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.”

PAT McCARTHY CLUB: Glenelg AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 194 WEIGHT: 84kg KS: “Athletic tall defender who can also go forward. Neat disposer of the ball and provides good rebound from defence.

Won All-Australian under-18 honours this year after averaging 17 disposals at 70 per cent efciency.”

DAVID KRUSE CLUB: Wanderers AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 190cm WEIGHT: 74kg KS: “Dashing tall defender with terric run and carry from the back 50.

Can play tall or small or push into the mideld giving his team exibility. From the Tiwi Islands, he impressed for the Northern Territory in the Under-18 Championships this year.”

CLUB: Oakleigh Chargers AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 190cm WEIGHT: 83kg KS: “Tall defender who can play a medium role as well as forward.

Attacks the ball aggressively and is strong overhead. He was a Vic Metro representative this year, averaging 16 disposals and four marks.”

CAMERON O’SHEA CLUB: Eastern Ranges AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 191cm WEIGHT: 86kg KS: “Tall defender with strong work ethic and the ability to win the contested ball. A disciplined and determined player who represented Vic Metro in the Under-18 Championships this year, averaging 16 disposals.”

MAX OTTEN CLUB: Oakleigh Chargers AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 193cm WEIGHT: 86kg KS: “Left-footed tall defender who reads the game well and makes good decisions with the ball. Provides good run from defence and played for Vic Metro in the Under-18 Championships.”

MATTHEW WATSON CLUB: Calder Cannons AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 195cm WEIGHT: 98kg KS: “Left-footed tall defender with a penetrating kick and strong in the air. Composed with the ball in his hands and had a consistent Under-18 Championships, winning All-Australian honours after averaging 19 disposals and ve marks.”

JORDAN TRELOAR CLUB: Northern Knights AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 192cm WEIGHT: 83kg KS: “Well-balanced tall defender/ forward who is agile and strong overhead. Averaged six marks and 16 disposals in TAC Cup games this year.”

AO>CQ @LJ?FKB

ANGUS LITHERLAND CLUB: Claremont AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 192cm WEIGHT: 84kg KS: “Tall defender with excellent closing speed and spoiling ability. Shows ability to rebound from defence and represented WA in the Under-18 Championships inn 2010.”

2010 ”

JUSTIN MONACO CLUB: East Fremantle AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 191cm WEIGHT: 86kg KS: “Tall defender who reads thee game well and provides good runn from defence. Provides excellentt defensive pressure on talls and n the t mediums and represented WA in earr.”

Under-18 Championships this year.”

TOM GORDON CLUB: Oakleigh Chargers AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 195cm WEIGHT: 90kg KS: “Defender/forward who is very strong overhead and has a long left-foot kick. Was very dangerous around goal in the TAC Cup and represented Vic Metro in the Under-18 Championships as a defender.”

SEB TAPE CLUB: Glenelg AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 191cm WEIGHT: 85kg KS: “Athletic tall defender with excellent closing speed and a competitive edge.

Left-footer who is good one-on-one and below his knees. Captained SA in the Under-18 Championships this year.”

MEDIUM DEFENDERS JAKE BATCHELOR CLUB: Dandenong Stingrays AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 187cm WEIGHT: 82cm KS: “Left-footed medium defender who is strong overhead and a neat disposer of the ball. Provides good run and can lock down on opponents.”

BEN CASLEY CLUB: Western Jets AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 189cm WEIGHT: 86kg KS: “Medium defender/forward who takes good contested marks and has excellent game sense. Provides run from defence or can be a lead-up forward.”

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AFL RECORD PROMOTION

ALEX BROWNE CLUB: Oakleigh Chargers AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 188cm WEIGHT: 86kg KS: “Aggressive medium defender who reads the play well and uses the ball effectively by hand and foot. Can push into the mideld and win the ball. Vic Metro Under-18 representative in 2010, playing three matches and averaging 15 disposals at 71 per cent efciency.”

CAMERON GUTHRIE CLUB: Calder Cannons AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 186cm WEIGHT: 79kg KS: “Versatile medium defender who can play a lock-down role and win contested ball. Consistent player who has clean hands and makes good decisions. Was a Vic Metro Under-18 representative in 2010, averaging 13 disposals at 84 per cent efciency.”

DYSON HEPPELL CLUB: Gippsland Power AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 187cm WEIGHT: 79kg KS: “Skilful left-footed medium defender with penetrating kick, strength overhead and clean hands. Was outstanding for Vic Country in the Under-18 Championships, winning MVP and All-Australian honours after averaging 20 disposals at 75 per cent efciency and four tackles. Won the Morrish Medal.”

BEN JACOBS CLUB: Sandringham Dragons AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 186cm WEIGHT: 82kg KS: “Left-footed medium defender who can play mideld or forward. Powerful type who kicks long and takes an excellent overhead mark. Finds the ball and was outstanding at the Under-18 Championships, winning All-Australian honours after averaging 29 disposals at 69 per cent efciency.”

ANDREW McINNES CLUB: Dandenong Stingrays AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 189cm WEIGHT: 83kg KS: “Disciplined medium defender who provides good rebound. Competitive and can play on talls or smalls. Was a Vic Country Under-18 representative in 2010, averaging 11 disposals at 91 per cent efciency in his three matches.”

JAMIE CRIPPS CLUB: East Fremantle AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 182cm WEIGHT: 78kg KS: “Has excellent speed and takes the game on. Uses the ball well by foot and is sound defensively. Was an Under-18 representative for WA, averaging 14 disposals at 69 per cent efciency.”

BLAYNE WILSON CLUB: Peel Thunder AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 188cm WEIGHT: 86kg KS: “Strong-marking medium defender who reads the game well across half-back and uses the ball effectively. Earned All-Australian honours in 2009 and was consistent for WA at Under-18 level this year, averaging 18 disposals at 78 per cent efciency and ve marks.”

NATHAN BATLEY CLUB: Woodville West Torrens AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 185cm WEIGHT: 74kg KS: “Speedy medium defender who can break the lines. Shows good vision and decision-making and is very competitive.

Was a South Australian Under-18s representative in 2010.”

BRODIE SMITH CLUB: Woodville West Torrens AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 189cm WEIGHT: 80kg KS: “Medium defender/midelder with a terric speed/endurance combination.

Powerful player who bursts from stoppages and wins plenty of the footy.

Starred in the Under-18 Championships with All-Australian honours after averaging 22 disposals, ve clearances and six inside 50s.”

JOEL WILKINSON CLUB: Broadbeach AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 184cm WEIGHT: 80kg KS: “Dashing medium defender with only two years in the game, coming from an athletics background to captain Queensland in this year’s Under-18 Championships. His work rate and pressure are very good.”

CAMERON RICHARDSON CLUB: North Ballarat Roosters AGE: 22 HEIGHT: 189cm WEIGHT: 84kg KS: “Hard-running medium defender who makes good decisions. A dual best and fairest winner in the Ballarat League in 2006 and 2008.”

BILLIE SMEDTS CLUB: Geelong Falcons AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 188cm WEIGHT: 78kg KS: “Composed medium ngg defender/forward who is strong overhead and competitive.

Extremely agile player who takes kees trry the game on. Was a Vic Country Under-18 representative in 2010, playing three matches after returning from injury.”

A N A M A Z I N G T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

� Although Geneva suffers from spina bida, a birth defect that causes damage to the spine and spinal cord, she is one of the most passionate and enthusiastic participants of the Port Douglas Crocs NAB AFL Auskick centre each Thursday.

From Kowanyama, a small indigenous community in far north Queensland, Geneva found it difcult to do most things in life, let alone participate in sports without the necessary medical assistance she has required during her early years of development and will continue to need into the future.

Two years ago, she moved in with friends in Mossman and, together with a team of dedicated specialist doctors and physios, they started working on building her strength and mobility so she could one day participate in the game she loves.

“Geneva’s transformation from a shy little girl into the bright bubbly active person we see before us today is truly something to behold,” Port Douglas NAB AFL Auskick centre president David Evans said.

“I remember the rst time Geneva came to Auskick.

She was incredibly shy and lacked condence.

“Through her participation in NAB AFL Auskick, not only does she now have the physical skills required for football, she’s also learned how to communicate with people on different levels and work within a team environment, which are all essential life skills she’ll need as she develops into an adult.”

Selected as a nominee for the NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year Award, Geneva will realise a dream when she travels to Melbourne in Grand Final week to march in the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade, play on the MCG at half-time of the Grand Final and present medals to the 2010 premiership players.

In addition to the Grand Final experience of a lifetime, Geneva is also in the running to win $5000 in a NAB Smart Junior Saver Account, plus personal footy mentoring from Geelong’s Joel Selwood in 2011.

Geneva’s opportunity to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime Grand Final experience came to life through NAB’s Auskicker of the Year competition, which rewards Auskick participants across the country for their teamwork and dedication.

Mentor Ray Rex said the Port Douglas Auskick Centre has always supported Geneva’s love of football and her nomination for the 2010 NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year Award was a true reection of the encouragement and ongoing support they provide.

“Everyone at the Port Douglas Auskick Centre has been very welcoming and accepting of Geneva from the moment she arrived.

“She’s very honoured to receive her award and can’t wait to visit Melbourne for the Grand Final. The skills Geneva learns at Auskick really complements what she does at school and what has been implemented at home. It’s been a real team effort,” Rex said.

“Geneva is supremely proud of her indigenous heritage and it was auspicious that her round 15 nomination coincided with NAIDOC week. She has a huge heart, a natural zest for life and a smile which endears her to all.

“To witness what Geneva can now do today, you wouldn’t believe this was possible had you seen her when I rst met her two years ago.

“It is a remarkable transformation of a child who deed the odds, which speaks volumes of her fortitude and spirit and the love and dedication of all the wonderful people involved in the NAB AFL Auskick program who have helped encourage and inspire Geneva.”

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AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 47

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matchday FINALS WEEK 3, 2010

YOUR ULTIMATE GAME GUIDE INCLUDING STATISTICS, FACTS

CLUB NEWS

READY FOR A DOGFIGHT: After four consecutive losses against St Kilda, including last season’s preliminary final, midfield star Ryan Griffen will be desperate for the Bulldogs to break the Saints’ shackles and advance to their first Grand Final since 1961.

OVERVIEW

Top four fight it out again

AFL TIPSTERS

Saints hold the edge recently, but Bulldogs are out for revenge after last year’s narrow defeat.

Collingwood v Geelong Cats

St Kilda v Western Bulldogs

built a winning record over the Magpies, claiming victory in nine of the 15 contests, including seven of 11 at the MCG. This will be their third preliminary final in the same period, with the Cats taking both – by five points in 2007 and 73 points last season.

However, Collingwood has scored two massive wins over the Cats in recent seasons. In round eight, 2006, the Magpies ran all over the Cats to win by 102 points and in round nine, 2008, the margin was 86 points in the Pies’ favour. The sides are split 1-1 at the MCG in 2010, with the Cats winning by 36 points in round nine and the Magpies scoring by 22 points in round 19.

They have met eight times in preliminary finals with Collingwood holding a 5-3 advantage.

the Bulldogs by an average of 20 points. However, the past two matches – the 2009 preliminary final and round six this year – have been St Kilda wins, by only seven and three points respectively. The Saints have had the edge over the Bulldogs since the start of 2000, holding an 11-6 advantage with one draw, in round 18, 2007. This will be only their fifth meeting at the MCG. The first, a semi-final in 1961, drew 86,411 fans as the Bulldogs won by nine points. They also clashed in round 12, 2004, with the Bulldogs again victorious, this time by 23 points. However, the Saints have won the past two contests – by 18 points in round 14, 2005, and seven points in last year’s preliminary final.

» Since the start of the 2000 season, the Cats have

» The Saints have won their past four games against

Peter Di Sisto AFL Record

Collingwood St Kilda

6 points 27 points

TOTALS: SEASON 111

FINALS 4

Gerard Whateley ABC Grandstand

Geelong Cats St Kilda

2 points 36 points

TOTALS: SEASON 113

FINALS 4

Brian Taylor 3AW

Collingwood St Kilda

11 points 22 points

TOTALS: SEASON 115

FINALS 3

Andrew Demetriou AFL CEO

FOLLOW US ON TM

To get involved in this weekend’s AFL preliminary finals on Twitter, follow the #tags below and join in the conversation, with selected tweets appearing on the big screen.

Collingwood v Geelong Cats #aflpiescats St Kilda v W Bulldogs #afl saintsdogs

Collingwood St Kilda TOTALS: SEASON 108

8 points 21 points FINALS 3

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 49

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AFL – FINALS WEEK 2 SECOND SEMI-FINAL Geelong 8.1 10.7 14.13 20.15 (135) Fremantle 1.1 4.2 7.6 10.6 (66) Best: Geelong – Bartel, Selwood, Ablett, Kelly, Chapman, Ling, Johnson, Scarlett. Fremantle – Mundy, Duffield, Johnson, Pavlich, Walters.

Goals: Geelong – Stokes 3, Johnson 3, Podsiadly 3, Wojcinski 2, Selwood, Byrnes, Mooney, Ling, Varcoe, Ottens, Hawkins, Chapman, Bartel. Fremantle – Pavlich 4, Walters 3, Duffield, Fyfe, Mayne.

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, M. Vozzo, S. McBurney.

Crowd: 45,056 at the MCG. FIRST SEMI-FINAL Western Bulldogs 3.4 5.6 8.9 11.11 (77) Sydney 3.4 8.4 8.9 10.12 (72) Best: Western Bulldogs – Griffen, Cross, Boyd, Hudson, Hall, Murphy. Sydney – Goodes, Kennelly, Kennedy, Jack, Malceski, McVeigh.

Goals: Western Bulldogs – Hall 4, Giansiracusa 3, Hooper, Addison, Grant, Murphy. Sydney – Bradshaw 3, Goodes 2, Shaw 2, McGlynn, J. Bolton, Jetta.

Umpires: B. Rosebury, S. Ryan, M. Stevic Crowd: 39,596 at the MCG.

LIFE IN OLD DOG YET:

Brad Johnson slides into a mark in last week’s semi-final win over the Swans.

OFF AND RUNNING:

Geelong champion Gary Ablett burns off Dockers youngster Michael Walters in the second semi-final last week.

A F L S E A S O N S TAT S KICKS

Dane Swan Paul Chapman Leigh Montagna Matthew Boyd Paul Duffield Corey Enright Ryan Griffen Bryce Gibbs

MARKS

Brian Lake Sam Gilbert Adam Goodes Sam Fisher Jason Blake Heath Grundy Brendon Goddard Travis Cloke

HANDBALLS

Daniel Cross Gary Ablett Brady Rawlings Joel Selwood Jobe Watson Matt Priddis Kane Cornes Scott Pendlebury

Collingwood Geelong St Kilda Western Bulldogs Fremantle Geelong Western Bulldogs Carlton

449 401 390 377 356 351 344 342

Western Bulldogs St Kilda Sydney Swans St Kilda St Kilda Sydney Swans St Kilda Collingwood

231 182 177 165 160 158 156 155

Western Bulldogs Geelong North Melbourne Geelong Essendon West Coast Eagles Port Adelaide Collingwood

409 394 387 378 363 336 335 322

HANDBALLS RECEIVED Paul Chapman Brady Rawlings Leigh Montagna Dane Swan Gary Ablett Joel Selwood Corey Enright Ryan Griffen

Geelong North Melbourne St Kilda Collingwood Geelong Geelong Geelong Western Bulldogs

76 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

346 326 318 298 297 290 279 274

TACKLES

Andrew Swallow Domenic Cassisi Kieren Jack Lenny Hayes Luke Ball Jude Bolton Matt Priddis James Kelly

INSIDE 50s

Ryan Griffen Adam Goodes Paul Chapman Leigh Montagna Gary Ablett Dane Swan Chris Judd Danyle Pearce

North Melbourne Port Adelaide Sydney Swans St Kilda Collingwood Sydney Swans West Coast Eagles Geelong

183 176 147 144 144 138 130 129

Western Bulldogs Sydney Swans Geelong St Kilda Geelong Collingwood Carlton Port Adelaide

122 118 117 113 113 112 110 109

REBOUNDED FROM 50 Paul Duffield Nick Malceski Brent Guerra Brian Lake James Frawley Heath Shaw Sam Gilbert Brett Deledio

HARD-BALL GETS Gary Ablett Matthew Boyd Domenic Cassisi Chris Judd Jobe Watson Ben Hudson Josh Kennedy Daniel Cross

Fremantle Sydney Swans Hawthorn Western Bulldogs Melbourne Collingwood St Kilda Richmond

140 116 106 103 102 95 94 93

Geelong Western Bulldogs Port Adelaide Carlton Essendon Western Bulldogs Sydney Swans Western Bulldogs

150 148 143 136 132 132 129 128

LOOSE-BALL GETS Dane Swan Gary Ablett Scott Pendlebury Marc Murphy Kieren Jack Dale Thomas Jobe Watson Alan Didak

FREES FOR

Andrew Swallow Joel Selwood Daniel Cross Luke Hodge Dean Brogan Mark Jamar Marc Murphy Jude Bolton

FREES AGAINST Dean Brogan Mark Jamar Darren Jolly Michael Osborne Domenic Cassisi Luke Hodge Stephen Milne Lance Franklin

HIT-OUTS

Aaron Sandilands Mark Jamar Shane Mumford Dean Cox Darren Jolly Dean Brogan Matthew Leuenberger Brent Renouf

Collingwood Geelong Collingwood Carlton Sydney Swans Collingwood Essendon Collingwood

108 77 75 75 74 74 72 72

North Melbourne Geelong Western Bulldogs Hawthorn Port Adelaide Melbourne Carlton Sydney Swans

52 51 49 46 45 45 42 42

Port Adelaide Melbourne Collingwood Hawthorn Port Adelaide Hawthorn St Kilda Hawthorn

46 44 44 41 39 38 38 36

Fremantle Melbourne Sydney Swans West Coast Eagles Collingwood Port Adelaide Brisbane Lions Hawthorn

732 643 535 502 494 475 461 426

TH

THE HIGH-DEFINITION SPECIALIST WA F L – F I N A L S PRELIMINARY FINAL Swan Districts 2.3 8.7 11.9 15.11 (101) East Perth 5.2 5.6 7.8 9.9 (63) BEST: Swan Dists – Simpson, Krakouer, Riggio, Spencer, Roberts, Spaanderman. East Perth – Webster, Wulff, Sweet, Clarke.

GOALS: Swan Dists – Simpson 5, Hanson 5, Spaanderman, Colreavy, Spencer, Geappin, Hinkley. East Perth – McKinlay 3, Prior 2, Seal, Pickering, Sweet, Dobson.

A F L TA S M A N I A – F I N A L S PRELIMINARY FINAL Devonport 3.2 6.7 9.11 11.14 (80) Launceston 3.1 5.4 7.9 9.11 (65) BEST: Devonport – Mott, Heazlewood, Reynolds, McCrossen, Hess, Williams. Launceston – Green, Harris, Finch, Campbell, Sheppard, McCabe.

GOALS: Devonport – Reynolds 3, Mott 2, McDonald 2, Symmons, Clements, Colbeck, Hardy. Launceston – Finch 5, Stephens 2, Sinclair, French.

SANFL – FINALS QUALIFYING FINAL Norwood 2.4 6.7 8.10 12.11 (83) Glenelg 0.0 1.2 3.5 5.8 (39) BEST: Norwood – Lower, Gallagher, Georgiou, Zorzi, Phillips, Puopolo, Shenton. Glenelg – Allen, Cranston, Ruwoldt, Kirk.

GOALS: Norwood – Shenton 3, Phillips 2, Donohue, Trotter, Lower, Rowe, Dawe, Fuller, Gorringe. Glenelg – T. Grima, B. Kane, Allen, Murphy, Lally.

ELIMINATION FINAL Eagles 3.1 9.3 12.7 17.14 (116) Sturt 2.3 3.6 4.10 6.10 (46) BEST: Eagles – Powell, Grocke, Cicolella, Parry, Lewis, Treeby, Jarrad, Grieger. Sturt – Gum, Hassan, Jaensch, Nelson, Sheedy.

GOALS: Eagles – Grocke 5, Welsh 3, Hentschel 3, Smith, Allmond, Lewis, Jarrad, Powell, Rimington. Sturt – Hassan, Chambers, McIntyre, Cubillo, Jaensch, Johncock.

AFL CANBERR A – FINALS AFL QUEENSLAND – FINALS PRELIMINARY FINAL Morningside 1.5 3.7 8.13 8.17 (65) Southport 1.1 4.3 5.3 9.4 (58) BEST: Morningside – Rogers, Shelton, Nash, Faure, Holman, Price.

Southport – Daniel, Payne, Niklaus, Lynch, Devine, Pfeiffer.

GOALS: Morningside – Mugavin 2, Brown, Lucy, Clarke, Bonney, Rootsey, Holman. Southport – Hughes 2, Devine, Scalzo, Putt, MacLaren, Merrett, Pettersson, Pfeiffer.

PRELIMINARY FINAL Eastlake 2.2 8.4 10.7 13.11 (89) Sydney Swans 5.3 6.5 8.5 10.8 (68) BEST: Eastlake – McMahon, Van Meurs, McMahon, Bruce, Bowen, Gordon. Sydney Swans – Currie, Reid, Thornton, McNeil, Heath, Price.

GOALS: Eastlake – Bruce 2, Roulstone 2, Taylforth 2, McMahon 2, Dean 2, Clarke, McGrath, Gibson. Sydney Swans – Emery 2, McNeil 2, Trevillian, Sumner, Gordon, Veszpremi, Oram, Thornton.

FOR YOUR NEAREST STORE CALL

VFL – FINALS PRELIMINARY FINALS Northern Bullants 1.5 4.5 10.7 16.8 (104) Williamstown 3.1 5.5 6.7 11.12 (78) BEST: Northern Bullants – Iacobucci, Thornton, McCorkell, Browne, Jacobs, Gale. Williamstown – Faulks, Rampe, Davies, Jolley, Hill, Markovic.

GOALS: Northern Bullants – Arrowsmith 3, Fisher 2, Kerr 2, Casboult 2, Saad 2, McCorkell, Anderson, Tuohy, Johnson, Ellard.

Williamstown – Everitt 3, Rose 2, Roughead 2, Davies, Little, Stack, Brett Johnson.

North Ballarat 3.4 8.8 12.15 16.18 (114) Box Hill Hawks 2.8 3.11 3.15 6.17 (53) BEST: North Ballarat – Hale, Clifton, C. Jones, White, Sewell, Tyler. Box Hill Hawks – Milne, Muston, Lisle, Schoenmakers, Shiels, Suckling.

GOALS: North Ballarat – Hale 4, Peters 2, Driscoll 2, I. Smith, Sewell, Tyler, J. Smith, Feery, C. Jones, Richardson, Clifton. Box Hill Hawks – Lisle, J. Hoegel, Kenna, Pedersen, Lowden, Savage.

AFL SYDNEY – FINALS PRELIMINARY FINAL East Coast Eagles 4.3 9.5 12.9 16.10 (106) Western Suburbs 0.3 2.8 4.11 6.15 (51) BEST: East Coast Eagles – Charleston, Costello, Beardsley, O’Connor, Bilkey, Dimery. Western Suburbs – M. Linsen, Lilly, Hudson, M. Kassem, D. Linsen, Withers.

GOALS: East Coast Eagles – P. Vlatko 2, Charleston 2, Chapman 2, Dugmore 2, Rogers 2, Bowles, Bilkey, O’Connor, Pearson, Goodey, Spiteri. Western Suburbs – Mithers 3, Eurell, McGuirk, Lees.

TAC C U P – F I N A L S PRELIMINARY FINALS Calder Cannons 2.2 4.6 9.9 13.13 (91) Dandenong Stingrays 4.3 7.5 8.7 9.10 (64) BEST: Calder Cannons – Prestia, Guthrie, Sullivan, Sheridan, Ellis, Williams. Dandenong Stingrays – Elton, Shiel, Amalfi, Treloar, Gent, Lynch.

GOALS: Calder Cannons – Schroder 3, Kefford 2, Sullivan 2, Prestia 2, Mitchell, Meli, Guthrie, Williams. Dandenong Stingrays – Parker 2, Curren, Lynch, Elton, Buntine, Hallahan, Tagg, Treloar.

DOMINANT: The Calder

Cannons are gunning for back-to-back flags after the 2009 team was triumphant.

Gippsland Power 2.5 4.8 8.13 14.20 (104) Oakleigh Chargers 4.4 8.6 10.8 14.9 (93) BEST: Gippsland Power – Heppell, Lamb, Northe, Wyatt, Deery, Ross. Oakleigh Chargers – Cassidy, Johnson, Gordon, Crocker, Gaff, Harris.

GOALS: Gippsland Power – Wyatt 2, MacDonald 2, Northe 2, Deery 2, Hoghton, Bugg, Smith, Salton, Heppell, Lamb. Oakleigh Chargers – Johnson 4, Gordon 2, Crocker, Batsanis, Gaff, Tomlinson, Karnezis, Tyson, Schneider, Michie.

Cannons and Power both surging � Calder Cannons, aiming for an extraordinary sixth premiership in 10 years, will need to end Gippsland Power’s remarkable late-season surge to win the TAC Cup Grand Final.

The Cannons and Power are meeting for the first time in the TAC Cup Grand Final, to be played this Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

Calder and Gippsland sat seventh and eighth respectively after round 12 and each moved up one position by the end of the home and away season.

The Cannons, with the infusion of their private school players, are riding a five-game winning streak as they’ve cut a swathe through opposition clubs in the finals.

After demolishing Eastern by 101 points, Calder dispatched of Geelong by 25 points, but it was its 27-point victory against favourites Dandenong Stingrays that underlined its latest flag bid.

Dandenong held a 17-point half-time lead and were seemingly in control, but the Cannons responded to coach Marty Allison with a 9.7 to 2.5 second half.

Gippsland’s march to the Grand Final has been equally impressive. The Power have won their past eight matches, but it’s their character and self-belief that has most impressed coach Damian Carroll.

Against both the Northern Knights and Oakleigh Chargers, Gippsland faced deficits at three-quarter time. The Power surged with dominant last quarters, collectively outscoring their rivals 11.10 to 4.3.

It’s the first time Gippsland has reached the Grand Final since it won the flag in 2005, which was one of only two times in the past 10 seasons Calder has not made the Grand Final.

Calder has seemingly made a Grand Final booking every year since Rob Hyde guided the club to its first premiership in 2001. The Cannons won in 2003-04, 2007 and last year.

Gippsland beat Calder in their only meeting during the season. It’s little use as a form reference as the Cannons were without Tom Liberatore, Dion Prestia, Mitch Wallis, Matthew Watson and Tom Sullivan.

Power captain Dyson Heppell, an All-Australian, Vic Country MVP and joint Morrish Medallist, is Gippsland’s playmaker.

He has been in spectacular form during the finals, and so too has been vice-captain Tim Northe and Jed Lamb.

Gippsland must shut down the midfield dominance of the Cannons. Liberatore, Wallis and Prestia are quality players whose work in the middle sets up the team.

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 77

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2010 BROWNLOW MEDAL

THE WINNER OF

THE 2010 CHARLES

BROWNLOW MEDAL

I S D E S T I N E D TO BE REMEMBERED

AS HIS NAME IS ETCHED IN HISTORY

R

ecent history suggests the 2010 Brownlow Medal winner will come from a top-four club. If that’s the case, Collingwood’s Dane Swan or Geelong’s Gary Ablett better have their speeches prepared by the time they walk into Palladium at Crown in Melbourne on Monday night.

Swan is the clear favourite, having taken his running game to another level this season, while Ablett has already made one acceptance speech and has hardly put a foot wrong in 2010 after his runaway win in 2009.

Other contenders from top-four sides include St Kilda’s Brendon Goddard and Swan’s teammate Scott Pendlebury while Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge, whose team finished in the top eight, is also a popular fancy.

Ablett and Jimmy Bartel (2007) won in premiership years for the Cats, Adam Cooney won in 2008 when the Western Bulldogs finished third and Ben Cousins (West Coast, 2005) and Adam Goodes (Sydney, 2006) won in Grand Final years for their clubs.

Once again, the football world will be tuned in to Network Ten on Monday for another tense and exciting count.

2010 brownlow medal

ADELAIDE KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

SCOTT THOMPSON Thompson has an excellent record in the Brownlow Medal in recent seasons and looks to be Adelaide’s best chance of claiming its second win. He averaged 25 disposals a game in his 21 appearances and led the Crows in kicks (276) and handballs (261).

Thompson’s hard attack at the ball enabled him to finish second for Adelaide in tackles (100), hard-ball gets (85) and loose-ball gets (49). He rarely wastes a possession and his clean finishing was sure to be noticed again. In 2007, Thompson polled 18 votes to finish in the top 10, followed by a 15-vote effort in 2008 and 11 votes in 2009. His overall record of 63 votes in 176 games stacks up with some of the best players in the AFL. Thompson finished the season strongly with 37 disposals against St Kilda in round 22.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Simon Goodwin Goodwin bowed out of football in such strong form that it was mooted he should reconsider his decision to retire. Providing run and drive from half-back, Goodwin was brilliant before missing the last six games because of injury.

2010 Home & Away Stats 16 games, 2 goals, 185 kicks, 81 marks, 217 handballs, 58 tackles, 48 inside 50s, 32 rebound 50s, 56 hard-ball gets, 41 loose-ball gets Career 275 games, 162 goals, 68 Brownlow votes

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 21 games, 12 goals, 276 kicks, 84 marks, 261 handballs, 100 tackles, 81 inside 50s, 38 rebound 50s, 85 hard-ball gets, 49 loose-ball gets CAREER 176 games, 121 goals, 63 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

Patrick Dangerfield Does not get as much of the ball as others, but has an impact. Has been a consistent goalkicker and is capable of winning his own ball. May catch the attention of the umpires.

2010 Home & Away Stats 19 games, 26 goals, 140 kicks, 52 marks, 158 handballs, 57 tackles, 56 inside 50s, 89 hard-ball gets, 36 loose-ball gets Career 42 games, 48 goals, 0 Brownlow votes

OUTSIDER

Kurt Tippett Tippett announced himself to the competition last year and, after a slow start, has kicked some big bags of goals this season. Booted six against Essendon and five against Brisbane Lions, both Adelaide wins.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 46 goals, 141 kicks, 84 marks, 59 handballs, 39 tackles, 57 hard-ball gets Career 65 games, 118 goals, 7 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNER

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009

Simon Goodwin (captain), Richard Douglas, Brent Reilly, Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson

Mark Ricciuto (2003 tied)

Bernie Vince 13

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

None

INELIGIBLE

Michael Doughty, Graham Johncock

80 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

CREATIVE: Brent Reilly was prominent again for the Crows, playing every game.

Expert guide

� Adelaide’s poor start to the season and intermittent form will cost it on Brownlow night, with no player at the club a genuine chance to take home the medal. The Crows will also see off the second highest vote-getter in their history after the retiring Andrew McLeod bid farewell at the end of the season. With 141 votes, McLeod sits only five votes behind his former teammate Mark Ricciuto out of all Crows. Ricciuto became Adelaide’s first and only Brownlow medallist in 2003 when he tied with Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley and the Swans’ Adam Goodes. Bernie Vince proved himself as an eye-catching player last year and may repeat his efforts again this year, while Simon Goodwin and Kurt Tippett may also be among the highest-polling Crows. Although only in his breakout season in Adelaide’s midfield, Richard Douglas has performed consistently, as has Brent Reilly, who did not miss a game.

Join the Brownlow Medal conversation on Twitter – use the hashtag #Brownlow

BRISBANE LIONS KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

SIMON BLACK The 2002 Brownlow medallist has an outstanding record in Brownlow counts. As well as his win eight years ago, he has had two runner-up finishes, in 2007 (equal) and 2008, and an equal-fourth placing last year.

Not always prominent in the voting for media awards, Black has not had a problem attracting the umpires’ attention and, despite missing four games, should do so again this year. As effective as ever at stoppages, Black averaged more than 25 possessions a game this season.

He also had more than 30 disposals in four games but, unfortunately, only one of those games was won by the Lions.

With the umpires typically favouring winning sides when voting, Black is likely to lose votes to the opposition in those games. He will also lose votes to his skipper Jonathan Brown early. But, as unlikely as a 2010 Brownlow win seems, Black can never be discounted.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 18 games, 6 goals, 222 kicks, 74 marks, 238 handballs, 69 tackles, 64 inside 50s, 83 hard-ball gets, 41 loose-ball gets CAREER 274 games, 159 goals, 161 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

Jonathan Brown

Michael Rischitelli

Will poll strongly in the first four rounds, when he kicked 19 goals, but a groin injury restricted him after that.

Continued to have an impact, however, and finished the season strongly with nine goals in his final two games.

Rischitelli has been in career-best form this year, averaging 24 possessions for the Lions in a difficult season. Not a prolific vote-winner in the past but has been outstanding this year.

2010 Home & Away Stats 16 games, 53 goals, 168 kicks, 125 marks, 73 handballs, 14 tackles Career 200 games, 476 goals, 91 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 7 goals, 278 kicks, 126 marks, 252 handballs, 97 tackles, 85 inside 50s, 42 rebound 50s, 74 hard-ball gets, 69 loose-ball gets Career 111 games, 47 goals, 4 Brownlow votes

OUTSIDER

Luke Power Again one of the Lions’ most prolific midfielders in 2010.

Remarkably consistent and had more than 30 possessions in four games, when he will be a strong chance to poll.

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 9 goals, 269 kicks, 84 marks, 212 handballs, 79 tackles, s, 63 inside 50s, 45 rebound 50s, 60 hard-ball gets, 67 loose-ball gets ets Career 262 games, 207 goals, 74 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

Jonathan Brown (captain), Simon Black (past winner), Michael Rischitelli, Luke Power, Brent Staker, Matthew Leuenberger

Michael Voss (1996 tied) Jason Akermanis (2001) Simon Black (2002)

INELIGIBLE

Jared Brennan, Mitch Clark, Ashley McGrath, Matt Maguire

LEADING VOTE-GETTERS IN 2009

Jonathan Brown, Simon Black 19

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

None HANDY RECRUIT: Former Eagle

Brent Staker impressed with his versatility for the Lions.

Expert guide

� The Brisbane Lions enjoyed a golden run in the Brownlow Medal in the late 1990s-early 2000s. Current senior coach Michael Voss won the Lions’ first Brownlow as a 21-year-old in 1996, while the club dominated the medal count during its 2001-03 premiership era, winning in 2001 (Jason Akermanis) and 2002 (Simon Black). While the Lions’ on-field fortunes have dipped since that remarkable run, Black has continued to ensure they have never been far from the winner’s circle. In the past three years, he has had consecutive runner-up finishes, in 2007 and 2008, and last year he finished equal fourth. Black has been typically prolific in 2010 and should poll well again. Other Lions who should feature prominently on the club’s leader board at this year’s count include skipper Jonathan Brown, midfielder Michael Rischitelli and veteran midfielder Luke Power. However, the Lions’ poor season – they won only seven games – is likely to mean votes will be hard to come by for their players.

2010 brownlow medal

CARLTON KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

CHRIS JUDD Judd is a proven vote-winner, having won the medal in 2004 while with the West Coast Eagles. The champion midfielder finished second to Gary Ablett last year and was third to Adam Goodes in 2006. Judd missed the first three games of the season because of a suspension incurred during last year’s finals series and returned to the Blues’ line-up in round four with a 30-disposal performance in the eight-goal victory over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. He was a model of consistency again and played a pivotal role in most Carlton victories, finishing the season strongly. Judd may even poll in some of the Blues’ losses when he was their standout player. He led the Blues in tackles (101) and contested possessions (231). Judd has won the past two best and fairest awards at Carlton and should figure prominently again this year.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 19 games, 14 goals, 274 kicks, 58 marks, 236 handballs, 101 tackles, 100 inside 50s, 39 rebound 50s, 128 hard-ball gets, 64 loose-ball gets CAREER 198 games, 179 goals, 132 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Marc Murphy

Kade Simpson

Heath Scotland

Murphy missed only one match this season and had a big impact in several Carlton wins. He led the Blues in handballs (274), was second in tackles (93) and third in disposals (539).

Has enjoyed his most consistent season since joining Carlton in 2003. He had fewer than 20 possessions in only three games, being the Blues’ leading mark-taker (138) and second in kicks (318).

Scotland returned to his best form in 2010, gathering at least 20 possessions in every game. The hard-running midfielder was second for the Blues in disposals (544) and third in marks (127).

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 18 goals, 265 kicks, 87 marks, 274 handballs, 93 tackles, 94 inside 50s, 32 rebound 50s, 91 hard-ball gets, 70 loose-ball gets Career 102 games, 82 goals, 28 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 17 goals, 318 kicks, 138 marks, 204 handballs, 91 tackles, 87 inside 50s, 34 rebound 50s, 59 hard-ball gets, 54 loose-ball gets Career 133 games, 79 goals, 10 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 10 goals, 279 kicks, 127 marks, 265 handballs, 66 tackles, 87 inside 50s, 62 rebound 50s, 79 hard-ball gets, 52 loose-ball getss Career 199 games, 67 goals, 37 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009 0 09

Chris Judd (captain, past winner), Kade Simpson, Jordan Russell, Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy

Bert Deacon (1947) John James (1961) Gordon Collis (1964) Greg Williams (1994)

Chris Judd 22

INELIGIBLE

Jarrad Waite, Andrew Walker

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Chris Judd

SMOOTH MOVER: Bryce Gibbs will

earn votes, especially for a standout game against West Coast.

82 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Expert guide

� Chris Judd is expected to lead the way for the Blues again, despite missing three games at the start of the season. Marc Murphy has enjoyed another fine season and has shown in the past two seasons that he grabs the attention of the umpires, polling 15 votes in 2009. Kade Simpson has won many admirers with his courage and creative play in the midfield, while veteran Heath Scotland rediscovered his best form. Bryce Gibbs also polled 15 votes in last year’s medal and should pick up a few, particularly in the round 10 game against West Coast when he had a career-high 45 possessions.

Others who should poll well are talented small forwards Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett and running defender Jordan Russell. Carlton has had four Brownlow medallists – Bert Deacon (1947), John James (1961), Gordon Collis (1964) and Greg Williams (1994).

Last year, Carlton polled 78 votes, with Judd, runner-up to Gary Ablett, polling 22.

Join the Brownlow Medal conversation on Twitter – use the hashtag #Brownlow

COLLINGWOOD KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

DANE SWAN It was during the 2007 Brownlow count that Swan sprang into the public consciousness by polling 20 votes to finish equal sixth. Swan was one of the favourites for the medal last season, yet polled only 12 votes to match his 2008 tally. Many forget, however, that Collingwood lost five of its first eight games so he was behind the eight-ball from the start.

This season, he has continued his good form as Collingwood has won 17 (and drawn one) of its 22 matches and he has led the competition in disposals.

Damaging inside the packs and in space, Swan uses his fitness and capacity to gut-run to great effect. Underestimated is his genius to keep the ball in his control under pressure and his overhead marking. Underneath the umpires’ feet at all times, his laconic approach hides his fierce competitive nature. A great chance to take the AFLPA MVP-Brownlow double.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Alan Didak With a penchant for the miraculous, he has been brilliant again at times this season. With a capacity to earn the three votes, a high finish would not surprise for the highly talented left-footer.

2010 Home & Away Stats 20 games, 35 goals, 300 kicks, 84 marks, 204 handballs, 57 tackles, 96 inside 50s, 68 hard-ball gets, 70 loose-ball gets Career 179 games, 252 goals, 22 Brownlow votes

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 22 games, 18 goals, 418 kicks, 124 marks, 283 handballs, 99 tackles, 108 inside 50s, 52 rebound 50s, 99 hard-ball gets, 98 loose-ball gets CAREER 148 games, 98 goals, 55 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

Scott Pendlebury After a slow start, he was unstoppable in the second half of the season, his superior work rate allowing him to accumulate the ball at will. Led Pies’ votes in 2009.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 13 goals, 284 kicks, 101 marks, 305 handballs, 119 tackles, 77 inside 50s, 27 rebound 50s, 102 hard-ball gets, 68 loose-ball gets Career 99 games, 58 goals, 21 Brownlow votes

OUTSIDER

Dale Thomas Thomas combined brilliance with predictability in an outstanding year. Many times his performances were the difference between a win and a loss for Collingwood and he should poll well.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 14 goals, 309 kicks, 126 marks, 207 handballs, 75 tackles, 81 inside 50s, 54 rebound 50s, 51 hard-ball gets, 67 loose-ball gets Career 108 games, 83 goals, 4 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Nick Maxwell (captain), Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Alan Didak, Harry O’Brien, Dale Thomas

Syd Coventry (1927) Albert Collier (1929) Harry Collier (1930 tied) Marcus Whelan (1939) Des Fothergill (1940 tied) Len Thompson (1972) Peter Moore (1979) Nathan Buckley (2003 tied)

Alan Didak, Harry O’Brien, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan

INELIGIBLE

Chris Dawes, Travis Cloke, Leigh Brown

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009

Scott Pendlebury 13 EYE-CATCHING: Harry O’Brien

has been a dasher in defence for the Magpies.

Expert guide

� Collingwood’s outstanding season, in which it won 17 games by an average of 45 points, means it will gain plenty of votes. The only question is whether those votes will be spread widely or confined alongside the names of a few of the stand-out performers: Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Alan Didak and Dale Thomas. With great seasons also coming from Harry O’Brien, Heath Shaw, Darren Jolly, Dayne Beams and Luke Ball, there will be a battle among teammates for votes every week. Swan has been Collingwood’s best vote-winner in two of the past three seasons (Pendlebury was in 2009, and Paul Medhurst was equal best with Swan in 2008).

Collingwood’s most recent Brownlow medallist was in 2003 when Nathan Buckley tied for the honour with Mark Ricciuto and Adam Goodes.

He is one of eight Magpie players – Peter Moore (1979), Len Thompson (1972), Des Fothergill (1940, tied), Marcus Whelan (1939), Harry Collier (1930, tied), Albert Collier (1929) and Syd Coventry (1927) are the others – to win the medal wearing a Collingwood C ollin ol ngwo jjumper. p

2010 brownlow medal

ESSENDON KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

JOBE WATSON In his first season as Essendon captain, Watson seemingly played a lone hand in the Bombers’ midfield and the statistics tend to back up the theory. Watson led the competition for contested possessions and ranked 10th in the AFL for disposals before missing the final game of the season with a shoulder injury.

The powerful midfielder also led Essendon in tackles before being ruled out of the round 22 match against the Western Bulldogs. The 25-year-old might not have been as dominant as he was throughout his 2009 season, when he won Essendon’s best and fairest and polled 10 Brownlow votes, but he was just as consistent, having eight games in which he picked up 30 possessions or more. Watson’s standout game came in his side’s round 17 win over North Melbourne when he collected 38 disposals and kicked two goals.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Angus Monfries Despite missing five games, Monfries is a pivotal member of Essendon’s set-up and led the club’s goalkicking. His four-goal performance against St Kilda in round 18 was sure to catch the umpires’ attention. Works hard in attack.

2010 Home & Away Stats 17 games, 24 goals, 134 kicks, 71 marks, 130 handballs, 46 tackles Career 110 games, 116 goals, 8 Brownlow votes

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 21 games, 10 goals, 209 kicks, 77 marks, 363 handballs, 91 tackles, 49 inside 50s, 33 rebound 50s, 132 hard-ball gets, 72 loose-ball gets CAREER 115 games, 44 goals, 20 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

Jason Winderlich At his best, Winderlich plays some irresistible football and this was on show at times throughout the year. His pace, run and skills were evident against Hawthorn on both times the sides met.

2010 Home & Away Stats 19 games, 2 goals, 186 kicks, 99 marks, 232 handballs, 92 tackles, 54 inside 50s, 68 hard-ball gets Career 94 games, 40 goals, 10 Brownlow votes

OUTSIDER

Brent Stanton Put behind the ball at the back-end of the season in a bid ished to find form, Stanton finished ged the season having averaged nearly 24 possessions a game ing and was Essendon’s leading kick-getter.

2010 Home & Away Stats 20 games, 13 goals, 285 kicks, ks, 122 marks, 192 handballs, 81 tackles, ckles, 64 inside 50s, 61 rebound 50s, 0s, 48 hard-ball gets, 47 loose-ball ll gets Career 141 games, 88 goals,, 31 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

Jobe Watson (captain), Angus Monfries, Heath Hocking, Jason Winderlich, Mark McVeigh INELIGIBLE

Dick Reynolds (1934, 1937, 1938) Bill Hutchison (1952 tied, 1953) Graham Moss (1976) Gavin Wanganeen (1993) James Hird (1996 tied)

Courtenay Dempsey, Andrew Welsh, Dustin Fletcher, Cale Hooker, Leroy Jetta, David Hille

None

84 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

LEADING VOTE-GETTERS IN 2009

Jobe Watson, Jason Winderlich 13

DURABLE: Defender Heath Hocking

was the only Bomber to play every game this season.

Expert guide

� Essendon had two Brownlow medallists in the space of four years in the 1990s – Gavin Wanganeen in 1993 and James Hird in 1996 – but has not had a serious contender since. In total, five Bombers have won the Brownlow, including multiple winners Dick Reynolds (three times) and Bill Hutchison (twice). Their best chance of breaking the drought in 2010 lies with Jobe Watson, although it would not surprise if champion defender Dustin Fletcher also polled well.

Unfortunately for the veteran full-back, he is ineligible for the award after being suspended twice during the season. That Essendon’s season was hindered by injuries to key players means few will poll too highly, with Heath Hocking the only Bomber to have played every game of the season.

Speedster Jason Winderlich may poll votes, while David Hille, despite being ineligible, had several dominant performances across the season, sseaso easo , including ea clud c ud ng cl g in tthee wins wn nss over o ov ove ver err S Stt K Kil Kild Kilda Kilda da a in in rro rou round ou un und nd d eight eig e ght gh ht and an a nd nd 18.

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2010 brownlow medal

FREMANTLE KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

AARON SANDILANDS Sandilands has been a consistent rather than a huge vote-winner in the past few seasons, polling 10 votes in 2008 and 2009. But this season was his best. He was dominant and, importantly, part of a team that won eight of its first 10 games. He has missed three games, but his marking and goal averages were better than recent seasons, and his handball and kick averages were similar.

It is not only Sandilands’ height that makes him stand out. He is superb at stoppages, has become a good contested mark and is agile around the ground. If he wasn’t giving his midfield first use of the ball, he was getting it himself, his competitiveness and positioning meaning the Dockers could control the game, forcing the opposition to be reactive rather than proactive. An All-Australian since 2008, he won the best and fairest in 2009 and was sure to come under notice.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Matthew Pavlich In superb form early in the year, the Fremantle skipper has not polled fewer than 10 votes in the past five seasons. Pavlich is a champion who will poll well again.

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 54 goals, 246 kicks, 96 marks, 154 handballs, 69 tackles, 80 inside 50s, 87 hard-ball gets, 34 loose-ball gets Career 236 games, 468 goals, 89 Brownlow votes

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 19 games, 12 goals, 113 kicks, 83 marks, 208 handballs, 33 tackles, 45 inside 50s, 116 hard-ball gets, 686 hit-outs CAREER 156 games, 60 goals, 30 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Michael Barlow

Stephen Hill

A broken leg cruelly ended his fairytale debut season at round 13, but such was his form it was impossible to leave him off the list of chances. Won’t win the medal but could lead well into the count.

A brilliant start to the year means the exciting youngster is likely to poll votes. Although teammates ore such as David Mundy are more consistent, Hill will attract the umpires’ attention.

2010 Home & Away Stats 13 games, 15 goals, 150 kicks, 66 marks, 212 handballs, 66 tackles, 46 inside 50s, 70 hard-ball gets Career 13 games, 15 goals, 0 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 18 goals, 184 kicks, 53 marks, 180 handballs, 59 tackles, es, 87 inside 50s, 54 hard-ball gets, s, 59 loose-ball gets Career 45 games, 28 goals, 4 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

Matthew Pavlich (captain), Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Greg Broughton, Stephen Hill, Michael Barlow

None 2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Aaron Sandilands

LEADING VOTE-GETTERS IN 2009

Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands 10

INELIGIBLE

None

CONSISTENT: Greg Broughton has

again been a reliable performer in the Dockers’ defence.

86 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Expert guide

� Fremantle had a strong start to the season before injuries started to have an effect. It has two of the game’s elite players in Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich and a host of exciting youngsters, including Michael Barlow, Hayden Ballantyne, Nathan Fyfe, Stephen Hill and Anthony Morabito. However, the club is yet to throw forward a Brownlow medallist. The best placing achieved by a Docker was in 2003 when Peter Bell finished in the top nine players, his 19 votes placing him only three votes away from the three winners that year. That tally of 19 is the most a Docker has polled in the one season, although Pavlich has averaged 12 votes a year in the past five seasons, never polling fewer than 10. Barlow is the interesting player in this year’s count. Before he broke his leg in round 13, he was one of the favourites for the award. It was an amazing performance for a rookie player in his first year. Will he attract the umpires’ attention early when he was still anonymous sstt lll a relatively elat ela el att ely elyy a o on nyymous ous u name nam na nam mee in in the th thee game? ga gam g am mee?? me?

Join the Brownlow Medal conversation on Twitter – use the hashtag #Brownlow

GEELONG CATS KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

GARY ABLETT It would not surprise if the Geelong champion joined some of the game’s greats and won back-to-back medals.

Last year, Ablett went into the count a clear favourite and won by a comfortable eight-vote margin. This year, the pressure is not as intense but he is among the leading contenders and will go close to giving the Cats their third medal in four years (teammate Jimmy Bartel won in 2007). In the past three seasons, Ablett has polled 30 votes (2009), 22 (2008) and 20 (2007) and he should be well up on the leader board again. This year, Ablett has added an attacking side to his repertoire, booting a career-high 44 goals in his 21 games. With an average of 31 disposals a game, the Cats maestro is always doing something with the ball when it is in his capable hands. He is sure to be in with a big show.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 21 games, 44 goals, 300 kicks, 97 marks, 359 handballs, 88 tackles, 101 inside 50s, 135 hard-ball gets, 71 loose-ball gets CAREER 191 games, 262 goals, 86 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Joel Selwood

Jimmy Bartel

James Kelly

In most other teams, Selwood would be the No. 1 fancy but such is the depth of talent at Geelong.

Nevertheless, the 20-year-old star has had a fine year and will be in the finish.

The 2007 medallist has had another outstanding season, averaging 25 disposals in 21 games. His courage and ball-winning ability, together with his aerial skills, are sure to be noticed.

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 8 goals, 253 kicks, 100 marks, 351 handballs, 108 tackles, 98 inside 50s, 38 rebound 50s, 103 hard-ball gets, 48 loose-ball gets Career 93 games, 33 goals, 37 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 12 goals, 293 kicks, 118 marks, 241 handballs, 97 tackles, 72 inside 50s, 75 hard-ball gets, 56 loose-ball gets Career 180 games, 109 goals, 79 Brownlow votes

Freed up from defensive duties, Kelly slotted back into the midfield in 2010 and became an important member of the Cats’ on-ball contingent. Averaged 24 disposals a game and hardly wasted a possession.

2010 Home & Away Stats 20 games, 7 goals, 226 kicks, 82 marks, 262 handballs, 115 tackles, 40 rebound 50s, 98 hard-ball gets, 45 loose-ball gets Career 169 games, 70 goals, 16 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

Cameron Ling (captain), Gary Ablett (past winner), Jimmy Bartel (past winner), Harry Taylor, James Kelly, Joel Selwood INELIGIBLE

Matthew Scarlett, Cameron Mooney, Corey Enright,

Steve Johnson, Paul Chapman, James Podsiadly, Josh Hunt PAST WINNERS

Edward ‘Carji’ Greeves (1924) Bernie Smith (1951) Alistair Lord (1962) Paul Couch (1989) Jimmy Bartel (2007) Gary Ablett (2009)

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Gary Ablett, Paul Chapman, Corey Enright, Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009

Gary Ablett 30 (winner) CLASSY: James Kelly hardly wasted

a possession for the Cats.

Expert guide

� The Cats have dominated the Brownlow Medal count recently and there is nothing to suggest 2010 will be any different. Gary Ablett is their best chance but don’t dismiss rising young champion Joel Selwood, who polled 16 votes in 2009, just his third season in the AFL. Paul Chapman had a big start to the year and did not go under 20 disposals in his 21 games.

Much-improved defender Harry Taylor is a chance to build on his solitary career vote in 2009, but fellow backmen Matthew Scarlett and Corey Enright are ineligible. Geelong produced the first Brownlow medallist – Edward ‘Carji’ Greeves in 1924 – but the Cats had to wait some time for the next winner, back pocket Bernie Smith in 1951. Classy centreman Alistair Lord won in 1962 and another pivot in Paul Couch took out the 1989 medal. There was then another long break to recent winners Bartel and Ablett.

2010 brownlow medal

HAWTHORN KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

LUKE HODGE Hodge has been Hawthorn’s heartbeat in 2010, his leadership superb, especially through his hard-ball possession ability. Not only did he have more hard-ball gets (105) over the home and away season than any other Hawk, but he had the most kicks (324) and laid the most tackles (119). Hodge generally was doing his best work in the thick of packs, but his willingness to run and push himself to contests marked him as his side’s most competitive player, either in defence or in the midfield.

Hodge copped several heavy knocks during the season and missed the final round match against Collingwood because of a knee injury, but was in Hawthorn’s best players in almost every match he played.

Umpires noticed him as he was paid more free kicks (43) than any other Hawthorn player. He is sure to poll a high number of votes.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 21 games, 15 goals, 324 kicks, 85 marks, 207 handballs, 119 tackles, 96 inside 50s, 57 rebound 50s, 105 hard-ball gets, 41 loose-ball gets CAREER 173 games, 116 goals, 53 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Sam Mitchell

Jordan Lewis

Grant Birchall

One of the best ball-winners from centre bounces and other stoppages, Mitchell has had another splendid season and led the Hawks for loose-ball gets (57) and was second only to Luke Hodge for kicks (267).

Yet another Hawthorn “in and under” star, Lewis was extremely competitive and took more marks (127) than any other Hawthorn player. Always good in the clinches.

Birchall is regarded as one of Hawthorn’s unsung heroes, but his ability to win plenty of the ball would have caught the umpires’ attention. Took 114 marks, second at Hawthorn behind Jordan Lewis.

2010 Home & Away Stats 18 games, 5 goals, 267 kicks, 68 marks, 223 handballs, 89 tackles, 63 inside 50s, 38 rebound 50s, 81 hard-ball gets, 57 loose-ball gets Career 174 games, 34 goals, 83 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 15 goals, 258 kicks, 127 marks, 223 handballs, 58 tackles, 81 inside 50s, 32 rebound 50s, 81 hard-ball gets, 54 loose-ball gets Career 125 games, 51 goals, 21 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 5 goals, 231 kicks, 114 4 marks, 181 handballs, 58 tackles, es, 50 rebound 50s, 52 hard-ball gets, 39 loose-ball gets Career 105 games, 12 goals, 2 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

Sam Mitchell (captain), Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne, Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead

Col Austen (1949 tied) Robert DiPierdomenico (1986 tied) John Platten (1987 tied) Shane Crawford (1999)

INELIGIBLE

Michael Osborne, Liam Shiels, Lance Franklin, Chance Bateman, Campbell Brown, Cyril Rioli, Brent Guerra 88 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Luke Hodge (capt.), Lance Franklin

LEADING VOTE-GETTERS IN 2009

Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell 13

SKILFUL: Shaun Burgoyne added

a touch of class to the Hawthorn midfield this season.

Expert guide

� Hawthorn has produced just four Brownlow Medal winners – Col Austen (1949), Robert DiPierdomenico (1986), John Platten (1987) and Shane Crawford (1999) and, apart from Crawford, there have been few Hawks in the top 10 in the past decade.

Crawford was equal third in 2002 and 2003 and only Sam Mitchell (fifth in 2007) and the ineligible Lance Franklin (sixth in 2008) have gone close in the past few seasons. This probably suggests the Hawks are more even than most sides and this might tell against their four main chances this year as Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis and Birchall fill similar roles as tough, relentless midfielders or defenders.

They probably will win votes at the expense of each other, meaning Hawthorn might have to settle for one of them finishing somewhere in the top five.

Join the Brownlow Medal conversation on Twitter – use the hashtag #Brownlow

MELBOURNE KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

BRAD GREEN The decision to play Green as a more permanent forward this season has paid handsome dividends for player and club.

The classy left-footer was given a licence to roam inside the attacking 50 and he enjoyed one of his most consistent years for the Demons. After kicking only 12 goals in an injury-interrupted 2009, Green played every game in 2010 and booted a career-best 55 goals. He led and marked strongly and gave the Demons a genuine target, something they have lacked since the retirement of David Neitz and Russell Robertson in the past few seasons. His standout game was a five-goal, 27-disposal effort against Essendon in round 15 and he booted five against the Sydney Swans in round 17. Even though he has polled just 16 votes in a career that started back in 2000, Green looks to be the best chance for Melbourne.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 22 games, 55 goals, 295 kicks, 153 marks, 129 handballs, 58 tackles, 70 inside 50s CAREER 220 games, 294 goals, 16 Brownlow votes

KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Aaron Davey

Colin Sylvia

James Frawley

The silky-smooth midfielder was Melbourne’s leading vote-getter last year with six and his numbers are about the same again this season, despite playing two fewer games.

Had a slow start to the season because of injury but was dynamic in several games, including his performance against the Brisbane Lions in round 18 (31 disposals, two goals).

Took on some of the best forwards in the competition and rarely had his colours lowered. Had career-best numbers in most statistical areas and could poll his first Brownlow Medal vote.

2010 Home & Away Stats 20 games, 8 goals, 289 kicks, 45 marks, 98 handballs, 75 tackles, 52 inside 50s, 53 rebound 50s Career 139 games, 147 goals, 10 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 15 games, 16 goals, 213 kicks, 82 marks, 122 handballs, 61 tackles, 87 inside 50s, 63 hard-ball gets, Career 102 games, 80 goals, 5 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 1 goal, 234 kicks, 123 marks, 157 handballs, 49 tackles, 102 rebound 50s, 53 hard-ball gets, 41 loose-ball gets Career 61 games, 2 goals, 0 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

James McDonald (captain), James Frawley, Brad Green, Aaron Davey, Mark Jamar

Ivor Warne-Smith (1926, 1928) Don Cordner (1946) Brian Wilson (1982) Peter Moore (1984) Jim Stynes (1991) Shane Woewodin (2000)

James Frawley, Mark Jamar

INELIGIBLE

James McDonald, Brent Moloney, Kyle Cheney

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009

Aaron Davey 6

BIG IMPROVER: Mark Jamar’s

career-best form was rewarded with All-Australian selection.

Expert guide

� An improved season in the win-loss column means the Demons will poll more than last year’s combined effort of 31 (just one more than winner Gary Ablett’s final tally). It has been an even spread with a mix of youth and experience likely to catch the umpires’ eyes. Rookies Tom Scully and Jack Trengove could win a few votes in their first season, but it is more likely experienced players such as Brad Green, Aaron Davey, Colin Sylvia, Cameron Bruce and Brent Moloney as well as much-improved ruckman Mark Jamar will lead the Demons’ charge. Don’t be surprised if players such as Scully and Trengove are figuring prominently on Brownlow night in a few years, while Jack Watts is another youngster who will improve with more opportunities. The Demons are chasing their eighth Brownlow Medal victory – six players have won, including Ivor Warne-Smith who saluted in 1926 and 1928 – but a medal this year could be beyond one of the AFL’s foundation clubs.

2010 brownlow medal

NORTH MELBOURNE KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

BRENT HARVEY In his 15th AFL season, Brent Harvey continued to be the Kangaroo most likely to catch the umpires’ eyes. Having lost none of his pace, Harvey again dazzled with his run and ability to bamboozle opponents with a deft baulk or blind turn. The Roos skipper kicked 25 goals and averaged more than 24 possessions. Importantly, he had a string of outstanding performances that are likely to be rewarded with three votes, particularly round three against West Coast (44 possessions), round eight against Adelaide (24 possessions and three goals), round 11 against the Brisbane Lions (30 and one), round 13 against Port Adelaide (32 and two), round 19 against Fremantle (34 and three) and round 22 against Melbourne (30 and three). Harvey has a history of polling well – his best finish was equal second in 2007 – but may be hurt by the fact the Roos did not have a dominant season.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Andrew Swallow The hard-working inside midfielder has taken his game to another level this season after his breakthrough 2009 year.

Does his best work under the umpires’ noses.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 16 goals, 206 kicks, 68 marks, 261 handballs, 183 tackles, 61 inside 50s, 43 rebound 50s, 113 hard-ball gets, 42 loose-ball gets Career 84 games, 45 goals, 7 Brownlow votes

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 22 games, 25 goals, 313 kicks, 92 marks, 234 handballs, 63 tackles, 102 inside 50s, 55 hard-ball gets, 63 loose-ball gets CAREER 301 games, 344 goals, 134 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Daniel Wells

Brady Rawlings

Overcame the groin problems that plagued him in 2009 to remind the football world that he remains one of the game’s most classy and damaging midfielders. Starred in several North wins.

The Kangaroo veteran has not traditionally polled well in the Brownlow but since moving to defence he has become a prolific ball-winner. Averaged more than 28 possessions this year and could surprise.

2010 Home & Away Stats 19 games, 15 goals, 246 kicks, 90 marks, 150 handballs, 43 tackles, 73 inside 50s, 32 rebound 50s, 51 loose-ball gets Career 149 games, 85 goals, 25 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 1 goals, 236 kicks, 126 marks, 387 handballs, 48 tackles,, 78 rebound 50s, 50 hard-ball gets, s, 66 loose-ball gets Career 223 games, 60 goals, 13 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009

Brent Harvey (captain), Andrew Swallow, Daniel Wells, Nathan Grima, Hamish McIntosh

Noel Teasdale (1965 tied) Keith Greig (1973, 1974) Malcolm Blight (1978) Ross Glendinning (1983)

Brent Harvey 9

INELIGIBLE

Michael Firrito

90 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

None

SOLID: Hamish McIntosh was an or impressive performer in the ruck for the Kangaroos.

Expert guide

� The Kangaroos have not produced a Brownlow medallist since Ross Glendinning in 1983. This 27-year drought is the second longest in the club’s history, with Noel Teasdale winning the Roos’ first Brownlow in 1965 – he was awarded it retrospectively after tying with St Kilda’s Ian Stewart – 40 years after North entered the League in 1925. The Roos enjoyed a golden run in the 1970s, winning the medal three times, with Keith Greig going back-to-back in 1973 and 1974, and Malcolm Blight saluting in 1978. Corey McKernan was desperately unlucky not to join them in 1996, when he tied with that year’s joint winners, Brisbane Lions’ Michael Voss and Essendon’s James Hird, but was ineligible because of suspension – he was the first player to be denied the medal in such circumstances. The Roos’ best finish since has been Brent Harvey’s tie for second in 2007 and the North skipper again looks his side’s best bet this year. However, Daniel Wells, Andrew Swallow, Brady Rawlings, Hamish McIntosh and debutant Ryan Bastinac Bast Ba Bas sti tin na nac acc should sh sho ou oul uld ld d also also als a op poll po oll lll well. we wel well ll.

Join the Brownlow Medal conversation on Twitter – use the hashtag #Brownlow

PORT ADELAIDE KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

KANE CORNES Port Adelaide is yet to have a player win a Brownlow despite three years of dominance when it finished on top of the ladder and claimed the 2004 premiership. The best-placed Port player in a Brownlow count is Josh Francou in 2002 (runner-up to Simon Black), and Chad Cornes finished third in 2004. Kane Cornes’ best result was 13 votes in 2007. While that may seem modest, his disposal count is not and again this year he has not missed a game and averaged more than 27 disposals. It is a fi ne individual performance in a team that has underperformed and if anyone deserves to sneak a vote or two in a losing side, it is the indefatigable Cornes.

From the opening bounce of the season, Cornes was switched on, racking up a whopping 39 disposals in round one and never looking back.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Domenic Cassisi Cassisi’s leadership qualities are unquestionable and this year he has let his actions do the talking, leading his teammates by a huge margin in the total tackle count.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 5 goals, 207 kicks, 57 marks, 261 handballs, 176 tackles, 44 inside 50s, 31 rebound 50s, 143 hard-ball gets, 61 loose-ball gets Career 171 games, 67 goals, 11 Brownlow votes

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 22 games, 4 goals, 271 kicks, 103 marks, 335 handballs, 103 tackles, 45 inside 50s, 56 rebound 50s, 115 hard-ball gets, 56 loose-ball gets CAREER 206 games, 80 goals, 40 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Danyle Pearce

Travis Boak

This year, there have been regular reminders of Pearce’s class and the reason he was the 2006 NAB AFL Rising Star winner. He relentlessly drove his team into attack and led the club for kicks.

Boak may be a “roughie” this year, but with silky skills and a hard edge, don’t bee surprised if one day he goes into a count as the red-hot favourite.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 12 goals, 301 kicks, 45 marks, 139 handballs, 83 tackles, 109 inside 50s, 32 rebound 50s, 55 hard-ball gets, 62 loose-ball gets Career 115 games, 67 goals, 26 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 20 games, 13 goals, 247 kicks, 70 marks, 207 handballs, 121 tackles,, 94 inside 50s, 107 hard-ball gets, 69 loose-ball gets Career 69 games, 33 goals, 7 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

Domenic Cassisi (captain), Travis Boak, Kane Cornes, Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce

None 2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

LEADING VOTE-GETTERS IN 2009

David Rodan, Warren Tredrea 7

None

INELIGIBLE

Jason Davenport, Jay Schulz, Chad Cornes, Daniel Motlop

SPEEDSTER: 2006 NAB AFL Rising

Star Danyle Pearce produced flashes of brilliance in 2010.

Expert guide

� In Port Adelaide’s short time in the AFL, it is yet to have a player win the Brownlow Medal. For many, Warren Tredrea’s miss in 2004 was confirmation the odds were weighted too heavily against key forwards.

Tredrea had enjoyed a stunning season and the centre half-forward kicked 81 goals to help guide Port to the top of the ladder for the third consecutive year.

But it wasn’t just the goals that were eye-catching about Tredrea; he led the club for inside 50s, hard-ball gets and marks. Tredrea did it all. He had been the clear favourite for many weeks before the medal count, with punters, opponents and commentators expecting him to win. But that night he managed only 15 votes, while Chad Cornes collected the lion’s share of Port’s votes to finish third as West Coast’s Chris Judd scored a runaway win. Port’s best performer in the Brownlow has been Josh Francou. Francou placed equal third in 2001 and in 2002 the midfielder ran second to Brisbane Lions star Simon Black.

2010 brownlow medal

RICHMOND KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

JACK RIEWOLDT While forwards often struggle to grab the umpires’ attention, Riewoldt has the attributes to poll well – he’s a strong mark and capable of performing the spectacular. He polled only three votes last year, but can be expected to win many more this season. The exciting forward won the Coleman Medal with 78 goals and had a purple patch in the middle of the season, highlighted by a 10-goal haul against West Coast in round 12. He also had six-goal bags against St Kilda (round 11) and Essendon (round nine), five-goal hauls in the Tigers’ successive victories against the Sydney Swans (round 14) and Fremantle (round 15) and finished the season strongly with a seven-goal bag against St Kilda in round 21. He took the most marks at the club (123) and was second in the AFL in contested marks with 54. He was also equal fifth in tackles for Richmond with 68.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 22 games, 78 goals, 219 kicks, 123 marks, 37 handballs, 68 tackles, 39 hard-ball gets CAREER 68 games, 135 goals, 4 Brownlow votes

KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Brett Deledio

Chris Newman

Shane Edwards

Deledio provided plenty of drive off half-back with the occasional run in the midfield, picking up more than 20 possessions in all but two games. He led the Tigers in disposals (556).

Skipper who was inspirational in several Richmond wins late in the season, particularly in rounds 14-15 against Sydney and Fremantle.

Had the second most kicks for the Tigers this season (301).

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 2 goals, 302 kicks, 115 marks, 254 handballs, 54 tackles, 76 inside 50s, 93 rebound 50s, 54 hard-ball gets, 65 loose-ball gets Career 128 games, 90 goals, 20 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 5 goals, 301 kicks, 101 marks, 109 handballs, 68 tackles, 52 inside 50s, 79 rebound 50s, 34 hard-ball gets, 40 loose-ball gets Career 175 games, 25 goals, 13 Brownlow votes

Edwards made big strides this season, playing his role as a defensive midfielder to perfection. He also showed attacking flair as a wingman, displaying an ability to pull off spectacular feats on occasions.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 7 goals, 218 kicks, 61 marks, 196 handballs, 76 tackles, 54 inside 50s, 39 rebound 50s, 72 hard-ball gets, 63 loose-ball gets Career 69 games, 35 goals, 1 Brownlow vote

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009

Chris Newman (captain), Ben Cousins (past winner), Jack Riewoldt, Brett Deledio, Shane Tuck, Shane Edwards

Stan Judkins (1930 tied) Bill Morris (1948) Roy Wright (1952 tied, 1954) Ian Stewart (1971)

Matthew Richardson 6

INELIGIBLE

Dustin Martin, Dean Polo, Daniel Jackson, Mitch Farmer, Trent Cotchin 92 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Jack Riewoldt

COMMITTED: Shane Tuck was again

a willing worker in the midfield for the Tigers.

Expert guide

� Richmond won half a game more under new coach Damien Hardwick than in 2009, when the Tigers polled only 41 votes, so they should do better than in the past few seasons.

Jack Riewoldt made a major contribution to Richmond’s mid-season revival, playing a key role in several victories and his spectacular style should have caught the eye of the umpires. Brett Deledio won a lot of the football and used the ball well in his role as an attacking defender. Skipper Chris Newman, midfielder Shane Tuck and tagger Shane Edwards were also solid, consistent contributors.

Dustin Martin and Daniel Jackson, who are ineligible, should poll in a few games, as should retiring champion Ben Cousins, a proven vote-getter who won the medal in 2005.

The Tigers have produced four Brownlow medallists – Stan Judkins (1930 tied), Bill Morris (1948), Roy Wright (1952 tied, 1954) and Ian Stewart (1971). In 2008, Matthew Richardson came close when he finished equal third on 22 votes, two behind the winner, Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney.

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Champion West Tigers and Kiwi rugby star Benji Marshall

2010 brownlow medal

ST KILDA KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

BRENDON GODDARD Goddard is the quintessential modern footballer. He can play anywhere and do anything.

After a magnificent season last year, Goddard has elevated himself into the top echelon in 2010. His long kicking, marking, decision-making, ability to accumulate possessions and capacity to move forward to kick goals makes him the ultimate modern midfielder. To highlight Goddard’s importance, the 25-year-old sits in the top five at his club for kicks, long kicks, short kicks, marks, contested marks, handballs, handballs received, inside 50s, rebound 50s, and loose-ball gets. He has also kicked 20 goals. In averaging 29 possessions in 21 games, Goddard’s influence in St Kilda again reaching the top four can’t be understated.

As consistent as he is brilliant, Goddard should feature at the top end of the count.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Leigh Montagna Only two players in the competition – Dane Swan and Gary Ablett – had more disposals than the speedy Saint.

Montagna’s total of 653 touches is a career best.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 17 goals, 378 kicks, 103 marks, 275 handballs, 102 tackles, 112 inside 50s, 36 rebound 50s, 97 hard-ball gets, 67 loose-ball gets Career 145 games, 87 goals, 36 Brownlow votes

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 21 games, 20 goals, 306 kicks, 150 marks, 303 handballs, 73 tackles, 84 inside 50s, 56 rebound 50s, 75 hard-ball gets, 57 loose-ball gets CAREER 159 games, 76 goals, 29 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Lenny Hayes

Nick Dal Santo

The champion midfielder continues his consistent form. Hayes should poll in several games, including his match-winning performance against West Coast in round nine.

Dal Santo’s smooth moves have always caught the d d, attention of the umpires and, ag ged with the Saint having averaged 01 10, 26 possessions a game in 2010, a ain. he is likely to draw votes again.

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 7 goals, 285 kicks, 84 marks, 295 handballs, 135 tackles, 73 inside 50s, 37 rebound 50s, 87 hard-ball gets, 56 loose-ball gets Career 236 games, 79 goals, 84 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 15 goals, 309 kicks, 911 marks, 239 handballs, 90 tackles, lees, 72 inside 50s, 57 rebound 50s, 98 8 hard-ball gets, 42 loose-ball gets etts Career 190 games, 103 goals, 81 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Nick Riewoldt (captain), Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo, Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna

Colin Watson (1925) Brian Gleeson (1957) Neil Roberts (1958) Verdun Howell (1959 tied) Ian Stewart (1965, 1966) Ross Smith (1967) Tony Lockett (1987 tied) Robert Harvey (1997, 1998)

Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna

INELIGIBLE

Justin Koschitzke, Steven Baker, Sam Gilbert

94 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009 09 9

Lenny Hayes 20 SILKY SKILLS: Midfielder Nick

Dal Santo has averaged 26 possessions a game this season.

Expert guide

� With a wealth of ball-winners and midfielders who possess skills by foot and hand, St Kilda could add to its impressive Brownlow Medal history in 2010. With players such as Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo likely to share most of the Saints’ votes, it’s probable one will challenge for the main prize.

If one of the quartet breaks through for the win, they would become the ninth St Kilda player to achieve the feat and it would be the 11th year the club has produced a Brownlow winner (Robert Harvey and Ian Stewart both won it twice). Alongside Harvey and Stewart, other St Kilda Brownlow medallists include Tony Lockett, Ross Smith, Verdun Howell, Neil Roberts, Brian Gleeson and Colin Watson. In 2010, with proven vote-getters Nick Riewoldt and Jason Gram missing significant chunks of the season, the door is open for the midfielders to claim the thee vvo th votes. ote tes ess.

Join the Brownlow Medal conversation on Twitter – use the hashtag #Brownlow

SYDNEY SWANS KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

ADAM GOODES With two Brownlow Medals already (2003 and 2006), Goodes is likely to finish in the top bracket again this year.

Goodes invariably polls well and, despite an inconsistent season last year, still collected 17 votes to finish equal sixth with St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo. Goodes has been inconsistent again this year but, after a moderate first half of the season, returned to his brilliant best as the Swans charged to a finals berth. He was almost unstoppable in several games over the second half of the season, but whether he can poll more than 16-18 votes is doubtful. Goodes started the season at centre half-forward, but found his best form after being switched back to a midfield role with stints up forward.

With Shane Mumford ineligible because of suspension, Goodes is the Swans’ only realistic chance.

Took more marks (163) than any other Swan in 2010.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 22 games, 41 goals, 294 kicks, 163 marks, 138 handballs, 54 tackles, 110 inside 50s, 70 hard-ball gets, 41 loose-ball gets CAREER 276 games, 311 goals, 124 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

� The Swans have a superb record in Brownlow Medal counts, taking home football’s most prestigious individual award 14 times, with Bob Skilton (three) and Adam Goodes (two) multiple winners. The Swans always seem to have a player feature in the top five, but only Goodes is likely to feature near the top this time.

Although Goodes was brilliant in many games, the Swans had few standout performers and relied far more on team efforts. The Swans were also savaged by long-term injuries to Mark Seaby, Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Daniel Bradshaw and this meant a more even spread as they defied the odds to make the finals. Apart from Goodes, only Jude Bolton has been a regular vote-winner.

OUTSIDER

Ryan O’Keefe

Nick Malceski

Heath Grundy

The Swan utility was in brilliant form in the first half of the season, but then struggled in several games because of a groin injury. Will pick up early votes.

One of the best running defenders in the competition, Malceski had several outstanding games and finished the season with more kicks (313) than any other Swan.

Although not spectacular, Grundy was almost impassable at centre half-back in many games and was rarely beaten. He had several 30-possession games in the second half of the season.

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 7 goals, 313 kicks, 117 marks, 182 handballs, 55 tackles, 72 inside 50s, 104 rebound 50s, 52 loose-ball gets Career 92 games, 42 goals, 9 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 0 goals, 269 kicks, 149 marks, 179 handballs, 39 tackles,, 69 rebound 50s, 50 loose-ball gets ets Career 70 games, 18 goals, 1 Brownlow vote

2010 Home & Away Stats 21 games, 16 goals, 258 kicks, 91 marks, 194 handballs, 86 tackles, 71 inside 50s, 33 rebound 50s, 78 hard-ball gets, 46 loose-ball gets Career 209 games, 208 goals, 40 Brownlow votes

Expert guide

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

Brett Kirk (captain), Adam Goodes (past winner), Heath Grundy, Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O’Keefe, Nick Malceski

Herbie Matthews (1940 tied), Ron Clegg (1949 tied), Fred Goldsmith (1955), Bob Skilton (1959 tied, 1963, 1968), Peter Bedford (1970), Graham Teasdale (1977), Barry Round (1981 tied), Greg Williams (1986 tied), Gerard Healy (1988) Paul Kelly (1995), Adam Goodes (2003 tied, 2006)

None

INELIGIBLE

Jude Bolton, Shane Mumford, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Kieren Jack

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN N 2009 2

Adam Goodes 17

DYNAMIC: Jarrad McVeigh enjoyed

another consistent season in the midfield for the Swans.

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 95

2010 brownlow medal

WEST COAST EAGLES KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

MARK LeCRAS Without doubt the standout West Coast player of the year, LeCras shone like a beacon in front of goal for the Eagles.

He finished the season with 63 goals to finish third in the Coleman Medal behind Jack Riewoldt and Barry Hall and earn All-Australian selection for the first time. It was a superb performance, given he played in a side that managed only four wins for the season and collected the club’s first wooden spoon. LeCras was also on the cusp of All-Australian selection in 2009 when he booted 58 goals in 21 appearances. The highlight of LeCras’ season was a 12-goal haul against Essendon in round 16, setting a record for the most goals in a game at Etihad Stadium. That breathtaking effort should have secured him votes, and he also had three other bags of five goals and another three games in which he kicked four goals.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 21 games, 63 goals, 213 kicks, 97 marks, 73 handballs, 36 tackles, 56 inside 50s CAREER 78 games, 187 goals, 12 Brownlow votes

KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Matt Priddis

Dean Cox

Brad Ebert

Enjoyed another consistent year on the ball and has developed into a top-flight player in the past four seasons.

Led the Eagles in handballs, tackles and hard-ball gets.

Perhaps not his finest year as he struggled with a groin injury, but willed himself over the line on several occasions and is regarded as one of the premier ruckmen in the competition.

Completed a solid third season, his numbers went up significantly (by more than four disposals a game) and hee o was one of only four Eagles to appear in all 22 games.

2010 Home & Away Stats 19 games, 4 goals, 152 kicks, 36 marks, 336 handballs, 130 tackles, 54 inside 50s, 128 hard-ball gets, 56 loose-ball gets Career 83 games, 23 goals, 21 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 10 goals, 178 kicks, 91 marks, 194 handballs, 37 tackles, 86 hard-ball gets, 35 loose-ball gets, 502 hit-outs Career 202 games, 100 goals, 36 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 8 goals, 267 kicks, 103 marks, 154 handballs, 90 tackles,, 67 inside 50s, 38 rebound 50s, 50 hard-ball gets, 56 loose-ball getss Career 54 games, 19 goals, 0 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

LEADING VOTE-GETTER IN 2009

Darren Glass (captain), Matt Priddis, Mark LeCras, Adam Selwood, Dean Cox

Chris Judd (2004) Ben Cousins (2005)

Mark LeCras 9

INELIGIBLE

Mark LeCras

Shannon Hurn, Andrew Embley, Eric Mackenzie, Ashton Hams, Koby Stevens

96 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS

DEPENDABLE: Adam Selwood was his usual reliable self for the Eagles this season.

Expert guide

� It is unlikely bookmakers around the country will be knocked over in the rush to back a West Coast player in this year’s Brownlow. It was a dismal year for a side that won the premiership in 2006 and produced back-to-back Brownlow medallists in Chris Judd (2004) and Ben Cousins (2005). With Daniel Kerr restricted to only four games with a torn hamstring, the Eagles lacked the polish in the middle of the ground to attract the attention of the umpires. Mark LeCras was outstanding in attack and he received good support for most of the season from key forward Josh Kennedy, who could poll the odd vote. The Eagles defeated Essendon convincingly twice during the season so there could be some team joy on both occasions – LeCras should win votes for his 12-goal haul at Etihad Stadium in round 16.

Last year, 14 players polled votes when West Coast won seven games but with three ffewer ew losses, it will be slim pickings p pic pick ck kin ng gss in in 2010.

20 201 2 010 10.

0.

2010 brownlow medal

WESTERN BULLDOGS KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEST BET

ADAM COONEY No one stands out more for the Western Bulldogs than Cooney in full fl ight. His acceleration out of stoppages and his exquisite skills are the reason he polled so well in 2008 to win the Brownlow Medal ahead of more fancied rivals.

That year, he had 30 or more touches on four occasions, a feat he has matched this season, but he has also been more consistent, averaging more than 27 disposals.

Cooney may not get the numbers of some of the shortpriced favourites, but his use of the ball is what makes him eye-catching. Don’t be misled by a disappointing Brownlow Medal count last season. In 2009, he started the year under an injury cloud. This year, he missed two games and most of round 21 when he tore his hamstring. He should be thereabouts at the pointy end, but those absences could hurt.

KEEP AN EYE ON

2010 HOME & AWAY STATS 20 games, 9 goals, 263 kicks, 79 marks, 252 handballs, 60 tackles, 83 inside 50s, 35 rebound 50s, 84 hard-ball gets, 63 loose-ball gets CAREER 155 games, 136 goals, 55 Brownlow votes KEEP AN EYE ON

OUTSIDER

Matthew Boyd

Daniel Cross

Brian Lake

Last season, Boyd became an elite footballer, earning All-Australian honours. He has enhanced his status this year and on more than 10 occasions in 2010 has had 30-plus possessions.

Cross is so consistent and works so hard throughout a game that he is impossible to miss. Like Boyd, he accumulates possessions at will and averaged about 27 this season.

It is rare for full-backs to win a Brownlow, but it cks to find so is rare for full-backs nd kick goals, much football and as Lake does. He could be the rownlow since first to win the Brownlow n 1955.

Fred Goldsmith in

2010 Home & Away Stats 20 games, 8 goals, 346 kicks, 98 marks, 269 handballs, 94 tackles, 87 inside 50s, 42 rebound 50s, 137 hard-ball gets, 61 loose-ball gets Career 162 games, 57 goals, 32 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away Stats 22 games, 2 goals, 214 kicks, 121 marks, 375 handballs, 114 tackles, 47 inside 50s, 30 rebound 50s, 117 hard-ball gets, 57 loose-ball gets Career 157 games, 26 goals, 36 Brownlow votes

2010 Home & Away y Stats 22 games, 10 goals,, 316 kicks, 218 marks, 162 handballs, lls, 55 tackles, 93 rebound 50s, 57 hard-ball gets, 50 loose-ball gets Career 171 games, 25 goals, 11 Brownlow votes

QUICK INFO WHO’S INVITED

PAST WINNERS

2010 ALL-AUSTRALIANS LIANS

Brad Johnson (captain), Jason Akermanis (past winner), Adam Cooney (past winner), Ryan Griffen, Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd, Brian Lake

Allan Hopkins (1930 tied), Norm Ware (1941), Peter Box (1956), John Schultz (1960), Gary Dempsey (1975), Kelvin Templeton (1980), Brad Hardie (1985), Tony Liberatore (1990), Scott Wynd (1992), Adam Cooney (2008)

Barry Hall, Brian Lake ake

INELIGIBLE

Jarrad Grant, Liam Picken

98 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

LEADING VOTE-GETTER TTER IN 2009

Matthew Boyd 14

IRREPRESSIBLE: Brian Lake was

again in superb form in defence for the Bulldogs.

Expert guide

� The Western Bulldogs may be short on silverware but with 10 Brownlow winners the club is rich in medal history.

The original explanation for this was that players from struggling clubs were a better chance to win the medal.

That perception started to change in the mid-1980s, but what did not alter was the polling capacity of the Dogs’ stars. Brad Hardie is one of the few defenders to win the Brownlow, saluting in 1985, a year the Dogs finished second at the end of the home and away season. In 1992, again when the Dogs placed second, ruckman Scott Wynd saluted, and in 1997, when the Dogs finished third, Chris Grant topped the votes but was ineligible. Scott West was also desperately unlucky not to win a Brownlow, finishing third in 1998, second in 2000, fifth in 2004, fourth in 2005 and second again in 2006.

West is the seventh best vote-winner vvote vo ottee winner win nn ner in in B Brownlow row ro wnlow Medal M Me Med eda dal all hi his hist h history; sto tor ory ry; y; the th thee Bulldogs’ Bull Bu B ulld lld do dog ogs gs’ s Gary 11975 19 9775 975 5 winner, wi win winn nn neer, r, G Ga Gar ary ryy Dempsey De Dem Dem mp mps pssey psey eyy ((who (w wh who ho oa also al als lso so op played pllay play aye yed ed d for fo forr North N No Nor ort rth th h Melbourne), M Me Mel elb lbo bo ou our urn rne ne) e), ), iss th tthe hee m me med medal’s eda dal al’s l’ss greatest g gr gre rea eat ate tes est stt vote-winner. vvot vo otee-w ote-w win inn nne ner er. r.

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CAUGHT: Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel

stops Fremantle’s Stephen Hill from breaking away last Friday night. The Cats were always in control, asserting their authority early. On Saturday, Western Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson, here taking possession in front of Sydney Swans defender Nick Smith, helped his team to a win and gets to play at least one more match.

FINALS REVIEW WEEK TWO

A painful lesson

T

he first 10 minutes of last Friday’s Geelong-Fremantle second semi-final was always going to be critical, particularly for a young Fremantle team experiencing finals football at the MCG for the first time.

If the Dockers could withstand the white-hot pressure of a chastened and finals-hardened Geelong, could they spring the unthinkable? Sadly, they weren’t up to the task.

Mind you, just about every other team in the competition

has been on the receiving end of a hiding from Geelong in recent years so there was no real shame but, when Greg Broughton was brought down by a fearsome tackle in his own backline less than five minutes into the game, it started to become apparent the Dockers were in for a long night.

The margin was seven goals at quarter-time; as a contest, it was all over.

For the rest of the night, the Cats were in cruise control and eventually won by 69 points.

Geelong had its eyes on a

bigger prize, while the Dockers were learning a painful lesson, but one that will surely hold them in good stead down the road.

Saturday night’s first semi-final was always going to end in tears. It would either be the last game for Swans skipper Brett Kirk and his coach Paul Roos, or the farewell match for Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson.

And, for much of the night, it looked like Johnson would be gracing an AFL arena for the last time, as his side fell five goals behind in the second

term. But two late goals just before half-time and three to start the third term gave the Dogs a fighting chance.

Johnson played his bit but it was the move of Robert Murphy to the forward line and some better work around the clearances that did the trick for the Bulldogs, who ground their way to a five-point win, setting up another preliminary final against St Kilda and sending Kirk and Roos into dignified and wellearned retirements.

ASHLEY BROWNE

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 101

XXXXXXX: XXXXXX XXXXX

THE LAST HURRAH: Retiring Swans Brett

Kirk and Paul Roos face off for the final time against Bulldogs Brad Johnson and Rodney Eade. There would be only one winner and, sadly for Kirk and Roos, their careers with the Swans ended while Johnson survived for another week.

But it was a close shave for the come-from-behind Bulldogs, with Swans spearhead Daniel Bradshaw kicking an early goal (bottom) before Bulldogs ruckman Ben Hudson, marking strongly over teammate Daniel Cross (centre), stepped up in the ruck and the dangerous Daniel Giansiracusa, being tackled strongly

by Sydney’s Rhyce Shaw (top), kicked three second-half goals to catapult the Dogs into their third consecutive preliminary final.

102 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

FIRST SEMI-FINAL Western Bulldogs 11.11 (77) d Sydney Swans 10.12 (72)

Sad exit for Swans as Dogs regain bite The Bulldogs produced a brilliant come-from-behind win to keep their premiership hopes alive. ASHLEY BROW NE

L

ast Saturday night’s first semi-final won’t go down in the annals of football history as one of the great games.

But, if you like your footy with a dash of drama, theatre and emotion – and with a result that was in doubt until the final few seconds – then the Western Bulldogs-Sydney Swans clash is one you might want to revisit some time during the dog days of summer, when the footy itch returns.

There was a fair bit going on at the MCG. For a long while, there was the possibility of the Bulldogs blowing their double chance with back-to-back defeats, and having to bid It was tight a sad farewell to club legend Brad Johnson. throughout and For the Swans, who the desperation looked so impressive befitted the ‘noin the first half, as tomorrow’ stakes they had for the last month of the home of a knockout and season and the semi-final first week of the finals, it was the hope of staving off the farewells to a pair of their favourite sons – coach Paul Roos and skipper Brett Kirk – for one more week.

The first term was dead even, but the Swans looked the better team in the second. They rebounded brilliantly from half-back, spreading far and wide, with Rhyce Shaw and Kieren Jack leading the charge.

Shaw was deadly in the first half, perhaps inspired by the possibility of a Grand Final against his former club Collingwood (and brother Heath).

Five straight goals in the first 18 minutes of the second quarter enabled Sydney’s lead to blow out to 30 points. It looked dire

for the Bulldogs, before coach Rodney Eade made the move that swung the game in his team’s favour.

Barry Hall was doing well from limited opportunities and had kicked two of his team’s three goals in the first 50 minutes of play.

But the Dogs needed a lead-up forward and, after Ben McGlynn’s ridiculously easy goal at the 17-minute mark put the Swans five goals clear, Eade switched Robert Murphy from half-back to half-forward with one key requirement – he had to present.

It’s Murphy’s ability to carry out a specific role that makes him one of the most valuable – and beloved – players at the Western Bulldogs.

Almost immediately he started commanding the ball and the Dogs looked better going forward, with goals inside the last two minutes to Hall and debutant Andrew Hooper reducing the margin to 16 points at half-time. The Dogs had some belief, the Swans some doubts.

Now the question marks were over the Swans. Ruckman Shane Mumford injured his ‘good’ leg, which helped the Dogs even up the stoppage contests, and then there was the fatigue factor. Could the Swans, with one less day of preparation, hold on?

The answer would be ‘no’.

Now that he is a retired coach, Paul Roos is unlikely to be in a hurry to flick a replay of this one into his DVD player but if he did, he’ll rue the third term.

Daniel Bradshaw missed three set shots, two of them sitters, while Daniel Hannebery and Josh Kennedy blotted the copybooks AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 103

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FINALS SERIES 2010

on their otherwise excellent seasons, by also missing seemingly easy shots.

The Swans booted five behinds for the term while the Dogs kicked 3.3 to level the scores at three-quarter time.

Jarrad Grant and Daniel Giansiracusa rebounded from forgettable first halves to each slot majors, while Barry Hall booted his fourth.

With Murphy presenting beautifully and the Bulldogs winning the clearances, it all started to click for the Dogs and the confidence, so obviously missing for the past five weeks, started to return.

Within a minute of the start of the final term, Giansiracusa waltzed into goal to put the Bulldogs in front for the first time since the first term and they were never headed.

It was tight throughout and the desperation befitted the ‘no-tomorrow’ stakes of a knockout semi-final. But the Bulldogs had been here twice before, against Sydney in 2008 and the Brisbane Lions last season.

When the season is on the line, something stirs within the Bulldogs and they find a way to win. It was their leaders who lifted when it mattered.

Giansiracusa snared a couple of goals, Ryan Griffen and Daniel Cross won important touches and Matthew Boyd was terrific – no surprises there – when the heat was on.

But you can’t imagine the Bulldogs spotting St Kilda a five-goal lead and being able to find their way back into the game.

The much-vaunted leadership team at the Whitten Oval will need to move into gear more quickly than it did last weekend.

It was a sad end for the Swans, who were probably one more goal away in the second term from winning it.

Still, fifth place is a great finish for a team supposed to be rebuilding. The Grand Final years aside (2005-06), it is doubtful Roos has coached any better.

Shrewd trading and clever drafting prevented the Swans from bottoming out, but it is probably a good thing new coach John Longmire was a noted sharp-shooter as a full-forward for North Melbourne.

His first order of business might be to fix what went awry in front of goals in the third quarter when the game was on the line.

104 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

BRAVE BULLDOG: Ben Hudson always provides a solid contest, as he does in this encounter with Swans ruckman Mike Pyke.

IN FOCUS

Sensing hope, Hudson helped the Dogs’ cause � Slumped against the wall of “But we got to half-time and the MCG dressing rooms last we thought we had a sniff. We Saturday night, Western believed we could run over Bulldogs ruckman Ben the top of them.”

Hudson wore a look With 21 hit-outs I’d be lying of satisfaction as apiece, Hudson he contemplated broke even with if I said the a finals Sydney big boys didn’t lie campaign that man Shane awake thinking of will continue Mumford, for at least who by the the chances they another week. second half missed last year It wasn’t was nursing BEN HUDSON looking that way two sore knees late in the second and was wearing quarter of the padding on one leg semi-final against Sydney, with that wouldn’t have looked out of his team five goals down and place on an American footballer. not, in Hudson’s words, “getting “He’s a big boy and they our hands on the footy”. probably had the better of us But some clever positional in the midfield and, there’s no changes and a bit more secret when you’re playing desperation gave the Bulldogs Sydney you have to win the spark they needed as they the contested ball and the grafted out a five-point win clearances, otherwise you’re no that sends them into another chance,” Hudson said. preliminary final against St Kilda.

That the Dogs did after “We were pretty average,” the long break. They won said Hudson of the majority of the first five clearances of the the first half, before two late third quarter and were soon goals that gave the side a hope. on level pegging.

And from there, they ground out the win, one of the few times this year they came from well down to get over the line.

“We’ve come back a few times but not gotten there, so to come back from five goals down, when we just weren’t getting our hands on it in the second quarter, was great,” Hudson said. “We gutsed it out.”

So now it’s St Kilda again, in a repeat of last year’s preliminary final, which the Saints won by seven points, but which just about everyone associated with the Bulldogs still rues as a missed opportunity.

“I’d be lying if I said the boys didn’t lie awake thinking of the chances they missed last year,” Hudson said. “It’s not often in life you get a second chance, so we’re just going to give it a crack and see what happens.

“They stole it from us, but hopefully we have learned from that. We don’t want to wake up in the morning, read the paper and see we’d lost another close final.”

ASHLEY BROWNE

BACK WITH BITE: Jarrad Grant

and Daniel Giansiracusa celebrate a goal during the Bulldogsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; second-half comeback against the Swans last week.

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FINALS SERIES 2010

W H AT T H E C OAC H E S S A I D

SIZZLING SWAN: Lewis Jetta

uses his pace to gather the ball in front of Western Bulldogs full-back Brian Lake.

Rodney Eade

WESTERN BULLDOGS The last three or four weeks have been poor and we have been challenged publicly about our effort, which is fair enough. We showed a lot of spirit and courage and I think it shows what the group is about and what the club is about.

To be down by five goals against Sydney, a side that has been in good form, and still get back and win showed a lot of resilience. After the first final we did some things differently during the week and didn’t even look at the Collingwood game, instead we just spoke about playing our way and taking the game on.

IN FOCUS

Young Swan speedster proves his value � If, as most pundits claim, finals matches are a test of a player’s character, then the Sydney Swans’ Lewis Jetta graduated with honours.

Jetta, in his debut AFL season, was invaluable in his first two finals, against Carlton in the second elimination final and against the Western Bulldogs in last week’s first semi-final.

Playing just his 20th game, Jetta won only 16 possessions against the Bulldogs, but ran the lines superbly and his blistering pace continually threatened the opposition defence.

He also showed great courage, especially in taking a mark under pressure 40m from goal in the desperate final quarter.

106 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

The 21-year-old, who had scored 19 consecutive behinds before slotting his first AFL goal (a running gem against Hawthorn at the SCG in round 19), knew the result could hinge on his kick as the Swans trailed by 13 points with just five minutes to play.

Jetta seemed to take an eternity to line up the goals, but his shot split the middle to give Sydney renewed hope, even though it eventually went down by five points.

Jetta’s solid finals performances give the Swans great heart for the future.

Sydney went into the 2010 season with a host of new players and showed much more zip than it had in the previous few seasons.

Jetta’s solid finals performances give the Swans great heart for the future

Although the Swans had been tagged as one of the slowest teams in the competition, Jetta, former Hawthorn midfielder Ben McGlynn and the vastly improved Kieren Jack have helped change that perception.

Jetta, the human rocket from WAFL club Swan Districts, showed in his two finals that he should be a key player for the Swans over the next few seasons.

JIM MAIN

Paul Roos SYDNEY SWANS

I thought they looked to have a little more run in their legs and in the end that’s probably what got them back in the game, and then over the line. We didn’t capitalise on our scoring chances in the third quarter and that makes a huge diff erence in a game when you lose by five points. At the end of last year we felt we needed to make some changes and we were pretty aggressive in getting some good players into the club. The short-to-medium-term future of the club is really positive. We’ve significantly improved this year, which is one of the goals that we set ourselves.

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FINALS PRESSURE: There were no

easy possessions for Fremantle last week as the Cats flexed their renowned finals muscle for an easy win. In the main picture, Dockers star Matthew Pavlich cops the close attention of big-game performer Jimmy Bartel; left from top, this time it’s Paul Chapman putting the heat on the Fremantle skipper; the Dockers break through the banner; Brad Ottens outmarks Michael Johnson; and Anthony Morabito attempts to break free of the Cats’ clutches.

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108 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

SECOND SEMI-FINAL Geelong Cats 20.15 (135) d Fremantle 10.6 (66)

Cats bare their claws on battered Dockers Stung by their performance in the qualifying final, Geelong made light work of Fremantle at the MCG. MICH A EL LOV ET T

F

rom the time Geelong coach Mark Thompson finished spitting his fair share of Friday night chips a fortnight ago, you could have predicted the Cats’ response last week in a few short words.

Firstly, Geelong would not be as slow out of the blocks as they were in the Fremantle qualifying final loss to looked like a St Kilda and, secondly, Joel Selwood would lightweight have an immediate challenger taking impact on the game. on a heavyweight Sadly for champion Mark Harvey’s inexperienced Fremantle, that was the double scenario as Geelong made a flying start to last Friday’s second semi-final, with Selwood wriggling free from Adam McPhee to boot the opening goal.

The statement the Cats made in those opening few minutes quickly extinguished any thought of an upset Dockers victory and gave those such as Selwood, who had been down the week before, the confidence to take the game on.

And take it on Geelong did.

The Cats kicked the first five goals as Fremantle looked like a lightweight challenger taking on a heavyweight champion.

With a seven-goal lead at quarter-time, Geelong turned the rest of proceedings into little more than a scratch match.

The start by the Cats was emphatic and said something about their response to their indifferent first half against the Saints. Selwood had 13 touches by half-time compared

with just four the week before, Gary Ablett did not have a Clinton Jones-like clamp on him and Brad Ottens kept pace after his opponent Michael Gardiner had run off him and kicked the opening goal of the qualifying final.

Geelong’s structure also looked much better with James Podsiadly back as a focal point after completing a two-game suspension, and Tom Lonergan gave Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor greater support in defence.

It allowed Tom Hawkins to play as back-up to Ottens after the Cats made the call to leave out Mark Blake. You wonder how the big No. 24 is going to break back into the side.

Admittedly, Ottens and Hawkins found Fremantle’s man-mountain Aaron Sandilands at his weakest, the All-Australian clearly restricted by a knee injury he suffered in the previous week’s elimination final against Hawthorn.

Without their No. 1 ruckman giving them first use of the ball, the Dockers’ midfield was never going to match their Geelong counterparts who moved the ball at breakneck speed.

It was the give-and-go ball movement Cats fans are used to seeing from Ablett and Selwood and it created so much havoc that Fremantle was simply chasing tails all night.

Ablett saw off a combination of Ryan Crowley and youngster Stephen Hill, while Selwood was determined he was not going to become another notch on McPhee’s belt.

AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 109

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FINALS SERIES 2010

Jimmy Bartel, one Cat who could hold his head high after the Saints’ loss, showed why he is such a big-time performer in September, amassing 35 disposals, including 26 after half-time.

James Kelly (31 touches) and Paul Chapman (31) joined in the party, giving the brave Fremantle fans who had made the long trip plenty to ponder on the return journey.

Not that the Dockers were disgraced but the difference in class and experience was evident almost from the start.

The Cats have virtually owned the MCG at finals time in recent years; the Dockers were playing their first final there and it was their first trip to the ’G in 2010.

They came into the game missing key players Chris Tarrant and Hayden Ballantyne, they had Sandilands at less than 100 per cent fitness and brought back Des Headland for his first game since round four, a move that backfired.

David Mundy finished off an impressive season with a quality four-quarter performance, Matthew Pavlich showed his class on occasions and Michael Walters looked a lively type in attack.

Painful as it must have been, it was invaluable experience for the club’s next generation – Dylan Roberton, Nathan Fyfe, Anthony Morabito, Nick Suban and Hill. They received a reality check but it shouldn’t scar them for life.

After quarter-time, the Cats eased themselves to the line, making sure any risk of injury was kept to a minimum and those with Match Review Panel points hanging over their heads carefully made their way from one contest to the next.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Geelong’s win was the blistering turn of foot shown by veteran defender David Wojcinski and half-forward Travis Varcoe.

Wojcinski simply backed himself to out-run any opponent and his electrifying speed made a mockery of any suggestions the Cats were slowing down. Varcoe similarly ran and created and his transition from bit-part player to quality forward is just about complete.

Again, the Cats had an even spread of goalkickers with 13 and they took no harm from the previous week’s setback.

110 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN:

Dashing defender David Wojcinski leaves Matt de Boer in his wake.

Wojcinski destroyed the Dockers with his explosive pace and exciting runs, carrying the ball more than any other Cat last week.

IN FOCUS

Wojcinski covered the ground, and quickly � It’s an age-old expression but Early in the second term, the need for speed in September Wojcinski produced a long, is paramount. If you haven’t got snaking run that set up a goal to someone who can break the lines James Podsiadly, leaving young and pierce defensive zones, then Docker Nathan Fyfe almost you’re in trouble. breathless trying to catch him.

There was no finer example It was reminiscent of Essendon than last Friday night’s second pair Cale Hooker and Mark semi-final at the MCG when McVeigh who, in separate Geelong speedsters instances, chased David Wojcinski and Hawthorn star Travis Varcoe left Lance Franklin Wojcinski their Fremantle around the took the Dockers opponents in MCG boundary on with withering their wake. line in round Wojcinski, in 13 to no avail. bursts that had particular, took According them powerless to the Dockers on to figures stop him with withering from Champion bursts that had Data, Wojcinski them powerless to carried the ball stop him. more than any other Late in the first quarter, he Geelong player last Friday. He found space and, after a couple ran 586m, while teammates of bounces, drilled a long goal Paul Chapman and Jimmy on the run that just cleared Bartel managed 546m and the hands of Cameron Mooney, 466m respectively. who had been infringed by his However, Wojcinski, who opponent. The umpire called started on the interchange advantage and the Cats had their bench, played only 74 per cent seventh goal of the quarter. of the game, whereas Chapman

(85) and Bartel (86) were on the ground longer.

In all, Geelong gained 6796m for the match, compared to Fremantle’s 5334m, and the disparity in those figures was reflected on the scoreboard.

Importantly, Wojcinski was up and running as soon as he hit the ground and his pace, compared to underdone Docker Des Headland, was a complete contrast.

Although there are many “what ifs” in this game, Geelong fans must still scratch their heads and wonder why Wojcinski was left out of the 2008 Grand Final against Hawthorn. He possesses the one asset the Cats lacked then – speed – and the warm and dry conditions would have been perfect for him.

He can get it wrong occasionally and he was caught taking one bounce too many late in last year’s Grand Final, but he’s taken on and beaten the opposition more times than not.

MICHAEL LOVETT

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W H AT T H E C OAC H E S S A I D

FULL OF PROMISE: Youngster

Nathan Fyfe won many of admirers for his classy display against the Cats last week and will benefit greatly from his first taste of finals football this season.

Mark Thompson GEELONG CATS

That was exactly the way we wanted to start. That is the way you should start.

You should be excited about playing finals (and) you should have an intensity about you.

I thought we played some brilliant footy, it was the best we have used the footy for a long time, so there are many aspects of the game we are very, very happy with. There were bits and pieces of play I wasn’t happy with, but generally the night went as planned. There is no percentage in finals, all we needed to do was win and we did that practising a few things we have not done for a while to get us ready for next week.

IN FOCUS

Impressive youngster has plenty to learn � Despite giving away height and weight, 18-year-old Nathan Fyfe (he turns 19 on Saturday) demonstrated during the finals series why he is a player to watch as Fremantle attempts to build on its excellent performance in 2010.

Fyfe kicked one goal, picked up 18 possessions, including 10 contested, and ran his heart out against Geelong in last week’s semi-final.

Occasionally, he was caught out of position when without the ball and chased tail, but he was not alone doing that.

His crumbing goal early in the third quarter was smart – he pounced on the crumb from a marking attempt, weaved through a pack and snapped the ball around his body.

Despite the loss against the Cats, the finals experience lays a good foundation for Fyfe to build on.

He is a smart user of the ball, has clean hands and jumps well.

He is built like a young Andrew 112 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Mackie or Hawk Xavier pace of the game to be a Ellis and appears valuable contributor to have their in the final three Fyfe kicked same ability to matches of one goal, picked find the right the season. up 18 possessions, position at From stoppages Claremont, he including 10 to win had impressed contested, and possession. observers ran his Coach Mark at the NAB Harvey told his AFL Under-18 heart out players after Championships in the game that 2009, kicking four goals the lessons learned in the two against Vic Metro. finals needed to be put to good But it was his performance use in the next few years if the in last year’s WAFL Colts Grand club was to improve.

Final, when he kicked six goals Fyfe would have been all ears, against Peel Thunder that saw as his work ethic and application his rating jump. have impressed all at the club.

He didn’t let anyone down, Fyfe played 18 games in the 150th player to make his 2010, making his debut in debut with the Dockers being round five after being selected nominated for the NAB AFL at No. 20 in the 2009 NAB AFL Rising Star award after his National Draft. performance against the Sydney He missed round 15 and was Swans in round nine. rested in round 21.

Last Friday night, his season After a hesitant start against came to an end, but he certainly Carlton in round 22, he found won many admirers along his feet and adjusted to the the way.

PETER RYAN

Mark Harvey FREMANTLE

We fell short tonight and we’re pretty battered and bruised. That could be reflective (of), not just tonight, but the season. I thought we fought hard all night, but we were outclassed.

Geelong always has that four or five players extra when the game is in the balance or they need to put a space in the game, they can hurt you so quickly.

And that’s where we’ve got to get to. In time when they get bigger and stronger, we might be able to see that.

But whenever we looked like getting back into the game, we found ourselves being held up with our ball movement and turning the ball over in areas of the ground you shouldn’t.

Moments of the

2000-09

A decade to remember There was no shortage of drama, excitement, controversy and sadness as the AFL continued to flourish in the 2000s.

ASHLEY BROW NE

THE DEATH OF JACK DYER

Two late-season Saturday afternoon matches were being played on August 23, 2003, when word started seeping out that football legend ‘Captain Blood’ Jack Dyer had passed away.

Dyer was a beloved figure in the game. He was generally considered the greatest Tiger of all, playing 312 games for Richmond from 1931-49. He played in two premierships and won the best and fairest (later named in his honour) six times.

TERRY WALLACE QUITS But an entire generation of THE BULLDOGS football fans knew Dyer as a Terry Wallace pulled the pin on media superstar. Together with his 148-game coaching career Lou Richards and Bob Davis, he with the Western Bulldogs days hosted League Teams for nearly before the final game of the 20 years on Channel 2002 season.

Seven and was He expressed a staple of the wish to be the Sunday An entire allowed to coach television generation of the match, against institution Collingwood at football fans World of the MCG, but Sport. knew Dyer as when rumours He also a media emerged he had worked superstar been negotiating alongside Ian to become coach Major for 20 of Sydney, the years as a football commentator on radio 3KZ, where his colourful MAKING A STAND: Hawthorn and style and occasional Essendon players clash in the “line malapropism (“arms like in the sand game” in 2004. giant testicles”) earned him a huge following.

CRAIG BRADLEY RETIRES

In keeping with the way he went about his footy, Carlton champion Craig Bradley quietly announced his retirement late in 2002 after a fantastic 375-game career with the Blues that started in 1986.

Add 98 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL before joining the Blues, plus State of Origin games for South Australia and two International Rules Series games for Australia, and you have 501 games – the most by any senior footballer in Australia.

114 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

PASSING OF A LEGEND: One of the game’s great characters, ‘Captain Blood’ Jack Dyer (left) passed away in 2003. The former Tiger great and media star was aged 89.

players requested he fi nish immediately, with the club agreeing to the request.

So, not only was Wallace denied a farewell game, Sydney’s strong fi nish to the year prompted the Swans to give the job on a permanent basis to interim coach Paul Roos, who had taken over from Rodney Eade. Wallace was out of coaching for two seasons, returning at the end of 2004 to coach Richmond.

The Tigers failed to make the finals in his time in charge and he left Punt Road mid-way through 2009.

WOMEN IN FOOTBALL

The role of women in football grew enormously in the 2000s.

Sam Mostyn and Linda Dessau were appointed to the AFL Commission, long-time AFL ground operations manager Jill Lindsay became the first female life member of the League, Kelli Underwood of Network Ten and the ABC became the first woman to broadcast an AFL match and Chelsea Roffey became one of the AFL’s leading goal umpires.

The AFL also introduced a women’s themed round and the number of women playing football also increased significantly through the decade.

THE DEATH OF CLINTON GRYBAS

The football community was rocked by the sudden death in 2008 of football commentator Clinton Grybas, at age 33.

Grybas was one of the rising stars of the Australian sports media and was the frontman for AFL coverage on Fox Sports and 3AW. Before that, he was the face of the now-defunct Fox Footy channel.

TONY LOCKETT MAKES A COMEBACK

Full-forward Tony Lockett left football at the end of 1999 as the game’s greatest goalkicker.

But the Saint-turned-Swan surprised everyone by making

MAKING HEADLINES: Hawthorn’s rising superstar Lance Franklin (far

left) brought up his 100th goal of the season in round 22, 2008; The role of women in football advanced markedly during the 2000s, off the field and on, with Chelsea Roffey (left) becoming one of the AFL’s leading goal umpires; Below left, the game’s greatest goalkicker Tony Lockett made a short-lived comeback for the Swans in 2002.

a comeback in 2002, at age 36.

His return didn’t last long.

Lockett suited up for just three games with the Swans, booting three goals, before retiring again.

In 2006, he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

THE LINE IN THE SAND GAME

Tired of years of beatings from rival Essendon, both on the scoreboard and in the clinches, Hawthorn took matters into its

own hands in the third o quart of its round 11 quarter M MCG clash against the Bo omb Bombers in 2004, sparking a all i brawl reminiscent an all-in t of those between the clubs dur during the 1980s.

T term received The pro prominence after comments all allegedly made by former Ha Hawthorn player Dermott Br Brereton, then a director of the club, who urged so some players at half-time to “draw a line in the sand” a and to take a physical st stand.

As a result of the b brawling, 18 players were rreported on a record 26 charges. Five players – four Hawks and one Bomber – were suspended for a total of 16 matches, with fines totalling $70,700.

FRANKLIN v FEVOLA

The race for the 2008 Coleman Medal was the most exciting for many years, and came down to the Carlton-Hawthorn clash at Docklands. Lance Franklin entered the game on 98 goals

for the season, while Brendan Fevola started on 92.

Franklin booted two in the first quarter to bring up his century and ended with four for the match. But the drama, as always, belonged to Fevola who, after a dismal first half, booted seven goals after half-time, falling just short of the century and finishing three behind Franklin. Fevola’s 99 goals were a career high.

JAMES HIRD AND SCOTT McLAREN

Essendon skipper James Hird was a panelist on The Footy Show in early 2004 when he launched an astonishing attack on the standard of umpiring in the AFL. Hird singled out Scott McLaren, saying: “... at the moment there’s a feeling at Essendon that he’s not doing the right thing by us.”

The comments caused a furore, with Hird having to apologise to McLaren, who said he was “surprised and disappointed” by the remarks.

The sequel was played out the following Saturday night, when Hird had one of the great

games of his career, a 34-touch, three-goal performance against West Coast at Docklands, which included the match-winner, a brilliant snap from deep in the forward pocket with only moments left in the match.

So overcome was Hird with emotion that as soon as the ball went through, he went and hugged a young Essendon fan sitting just behind the fence.

AFL INTRODUCES ILLICIT DRUGS POLICY

In 2005, the AFL became the first major top-flight sporting competition in the world to introduce voluntary testing for illicit drugs.

The three-strike policy, agreed to by the League and the AFL Players’ Association, outlines that a player’s name will not be disclosed publicly until he tests positive on three occasions.

Before then, only the player, the testing agency and his club doctor are made aware of test results.

For the first five years of the policy, the percentage of players who failed illicit drugs tests decreased, from 4.03 per cent in 2005 to 0.89 per cent in 2009.

Although the policy had its critics, it was well received by medical and drug-treatment specialists.

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AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 115

Col Hutchinson

timeon Our AFL history guru answers your queries.

NAME GAME

In name and deed

H Have two t teams t played l d each h other th in the last round of the home and away season, then gone on to play each other in the first week of the finals at the same venue?

JASON HIBBS, WARRAGUL, VIC

CH: There have been four such

cases. In 1962, Melbourne beat Carlton by 35 points at the MCG in the last home and away match. A week later, the Blues improved their form to win a first semi-final thriller by two points. Twenty-one years later, Essendon defeated Carlton by 51 points in round 22 at Waverley Park and won again the next week, by 33 points in the elimination final. At the MCG in 1990, Melbourne outplayed Hawthorn in the final round and the elimination final by 12 and nine points respectively.

The most recent example occurred in 2001, when Richmond defeated Essendon at the MCG by 24 points. A week later, in a qualifying final, the Bombers reversed the result by a staggering 70 points.

WRITE TO ANSWER MAN The Slattery Media Group 140 Harbour Esplanade Docklands, 3008 or email michaell@slatterymedia.com

116 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE: What a

difference a week makes. Tigers Clinton King and Wayne Campbell were all smiles in round 22, 2001, but a week later, it was the Bombers’ James Hird, Adam Ramanauskas and Matthew Lloyd who were celebrating.

AFL mystery men John Robert McLeod � Born on August 8, 1907, McLeod joined St Kilda from Bairnsdale as a robust 185cm, 88kg half-forward flanker.

He wore guernsey No. 33 in the first two matches of 1933, against Hawthorn at the Junction Oval and Essendon at Windy Hill.

John Alexander Wilkinson � Wilkinson was born at Point Nepean on August 16, 1914, and played his early football with South Yarra and Melbourne seconds before making one senior appearance on the bench for St Kilda in round eight, 1935, wearing No. 38. He was a big man for his era, being 189cm and 88kg.

Should you have any further information regarding the above mystery men, including their date of death, contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col.hutchinson@afl .com.au.

� The surname of Brendon Goddard should please St Kilda supporters and his teammates.

Goddard is of Norman origin and derives from the given name Godhard.

This, in turn, is based on the Germanic elements gōd, meaning “good” (or possibly god/got meaning “god”) and hard meaning “brave”, “strong”. Players who are both good and strong are always welcome and Goddard certainly lives up to his surname. We have met the element hard in other names suitable for players; for example, Ellard (noble and brave); and Harding (son of a strong man). The motto of the Goddard family is cervus non servus – “a stag, not a slave”; that is, a free spirit, not someone tied down; or, perhaps, one to be tagged, not to tag. Despite it being a reasonably common name, Goddard has appeared only one other time in League ranks: Bill Goddard played 48 games with South Melbourne, St Kilda and Carlton, from 1907-11.

KEVAN CARROLL

timeon

Rick Milne

COLLECTABLES

A glorious Cats era

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

RICK’S RARITY

I have a copy of the book Geelong Football Club – Four Glorious Years, covering the 1950-53 seasons. It was a great Geelong era as the Cats won the 1951-52 flags under the coaching of Reg Hickey and the captaincy of Fred Flanagan. Value?

� As I have mentioned in one of my replies this week, editions of the 1966 St Kilda-Collingwood Grand Final Football Record sell well. This one, however, is a special copy. The owner’s father was friendly with one of the St Kilda players and, not only was invited into the rooms just after the game, but had his Record signed by every premiership player and coach Allan Jeans. It is worth at least $2000, but possibly much m more. r

L. DONALD, SALE, VIC.

RM: This is a good item as

the book contains wonderful photos of the two Geelong premiership teams. It is worth $400 if in top condition.

I recently bought a souvenir edition of the Footscray Advertiser produced after the Bulldogs defeated Melbourne in the 1954 Grand Final. I paid $300 and was wondering whether this was too much.

STEVEN RICHARDS, VIA EMAIL

RM: No, you got a bargain as the

real value is closer to $1000 if the poster is in good condition.

While helping a relative clear up a house, we came across two pieces of football memorabilia. The first is a copy of a 1990 Football Record featuring Collingwood’s Darren Millane in one of his last matches and the other is a 1990 Sunday Sun Magpies premiership poster featuring coach Leigh Matthews and captain Tony Shaw.

Should we keep these items or toss them out?

‘TARZAN READY’, VIA EMAIL

RM: The Football Record is worth

just $5, but the premiership poster is worth $50.

LET ME AT ‘EM: Geelong skipper Fred Flanagan charges through the banner. The Cats were coached to consecutive premierships by Reg Hickey (inset).

I went to the 1966 Grand Final between St Kilda and Collingwood and have two copies of the Football Record for this one-point win by the Saints. Both are in very good condition, although one is slightly better than the other. Value?

BARBARA BLAIR, VIA EMAIL

RM: This is similar to my

Rick’s Rarity this week and editions for this Grand Final sell for up to $300.

I have a 1918 South Melbourne annual report in excellent condition and would appreciate a valuation.

LAURIE ARCH, VIA EMAIL

RM: South Melbourne

defeated Collingwood in a thriller by five points in the 1918 Grand Final, so your item has special appeal. It is worth at least $750, but probably $1000.

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.

WATCH BEFORE THE GAME SATURDAY NIGHTS ON TEN

beforethegame.com.au

L ADDER SAM LEHMO FITZY ANDY DAVE MICK

112 112 111 111 109 96

TIPSTERS

FITZY

MICK

SAM

DAVE

LEHMO

ANDY

Geelong Cats St Kilda

Geelong Cats St Kilda

Geelong Cats St Kilda

Collingwood St Kilda

Geelong Cats St Kilda

Collingwood St Kilda

118 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

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KIDS’ CORNER

IVE F TO FIND

Sudoku

� Solve this puzzle by filling in the empty squares with the nine letters of the player’s name. You must make sure you use each letter only once in each row, column or small box of nine squares. Do not guess, as there is only one correct solution.

TOM HARLEY

FORMER GEELONG CAPTAIN

H E

M

M

T

R

Y

L

A

M H

Y

T E

O

L R

E

4 When was the last year a non-Victorian

A

team reached a preliminary final?

5 Including this weekend, the Bulldogs have played

L H

T

week’s Geelong-Fremantle match?

Y

H H

3 Who was the leading goalkicker in last

H L

M

Swans co-captain Brett Kirk play before re he retired last weekend?

Four’n Twenty AFL All-Australian team?

T L

y 1 How many matches in a row did Sydney

2 Who was named captain of this year’s

T

A

A O

O

5

QUICK QUESTIONS

E

A

in how many preliminary finals in a row?

THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS 5 QUICK QUESTIONS: 1. 200; 2. Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge; 3. Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich (four); 4. 2007 (Port Adelaide); 5. Three.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: The stripe on Brad Ottens’ guernsey missing; white panel on Paul Duffield’s guernsey changed to pink; Fremantle player in background removed; ball changed to red; Duffield’s undershorts removed.

B MOUTH: BIG MOUT TH: H: SCRAMBLED SCRA S CR C RA R AMBLED F FO FOOTBALLER: OTB OTBA TB TBA T BA BALLER L : CRYPTIC CR CRYP CRY C RYP RY Y T TIIC TIC IC FOOTBALLERS: OT

120 20 AFL FL RECORD REC CO CO OR RD visit viissit vvis it afl aflrecord.com.au rec re record eecc o ord or rrd d.com c m.a au

timeon

LAST LINE

Applying data laterally

For football purists, you can’t beat a preliminary final

P

reliminary final weekend is my favourite part of the football season. It usually offers two crackerjack games featuring the four best teams, desperate for a berth in the Grand Final.

There’s usually drama and tension in these games, as the teams understand what’s at stake. Analysing the preliminary finals makes me think of how horse racing fans might view the Mackinnon Stakes as a lead-in to the Melbourne Cup. The Melbourne Cup is a great race and a very big event. People from all walks of life, across the nation and increasingly from overseas, are interested in it.

Our Grand Final has grown in a similar fashion, with a broader range of people attending the game itself, as opposed to the narrower, club-centric crowd that usually goes to the footy.

That’s a trend with big events around the world. So be it.

But preliminary finals are completely different. Purists love them, for this is a corporate-free weekend, pitting club versus club and fan versus fan.

Football people can easily recall the great theatre of recent preliminary finals. Just last season, for example, two teams with long premiership droughts, St Kilda and the Bulldogs, pounded one another relentlessly during the final quarter of their match.

The Dogs battered the Saints’ grim defence, peppering shots at goal with little return.

Eventually they fell, a desperate toe-poke goal by St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt providing the final piece of drama. What can we expect when they meet again on Saturday night?

In 2007, Geelong finished on top of the ladder after the home and away season, three wins clear of its nearest rival 122 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

GRAND FINAL BOUND:

St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt celebrates a goal during the dramatic preliminary final battle with the Western Bulldogs last season.

Port Adelaide, with a handsome percentage 152.76.

The Cats had not won a premiership since 1963, and had lost five Grand Finals since that win. An awful lot was at stake for them; they were nervous times.

Facing Collingwood in the preliminary final, Geelong nearly blew its chance, just managing to fall over the line in a tense, drama-packed match.

Their meeting on Friday night has purists salivating.

The 2006 preliminary finals represent an important

heart-stopping win over the Saints setting up the club’s first AFL Grand Final appearance.

For three consecutive years (2002-04), the Power had finished minor premiers but had failed to capitalise on their position in 2002-03. Sceptics had started referring to Port as a habitual ‘choker’ with a flawed game-plan.

The club’s narrow home preliminary win and its dominant Grand Final victory against the Brisbane Lions (who were seeking a recordequalling four There’s usually consecutive drama and tension flags) ended the in these games, discussion. as the teams Among understand what’s the most dramatic at stake preliminary finals of recent times was the 1999 affair between Carlton and Essendon. Finishing minor premiers, the Bombers appeared on their way to the flag until the Blues – specifically Anthony Koutoufides – gave them a rude awakening.

The last moments of that preliminary final produced one of the most dramatic passages of play in modern football, with Fraser Brown’s desperate tackle landmark in AFL history. It was of Dean Wallis preventing what the first time the final four teams appeared a likely match-winning (Sydney Swans, Fremantle, West Bomber score.

Coast and Adelaide) were from As we’ve seen this year, outside Victoria, a definitive especially with the high tackle statement about the game’s numbers, tackling has become ‘national’ appeal. critical and I’m certain it will Wins by the Swans and the feature heavily in this weekend’s Eagles that year set up a repeat finals, matches to be enjoyed of the previous season’s Grand equally by parochial fans and Final, when Sydney beat West football purists.

Coast by four points.

TED HOPKINS IS A CARLTON PREMIERSHIP The 2004 preliminary final PLAYER AND FOUNDER OF CHAMPION DATA. between Port Adelaide and HIS CURRENT PROJECT IS TEDSPORT, A St Kilda at AAMI Stadium HIGH PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS AND CONSULTING SERVICE, TEDSPORT.COM.AU. was significant for Port, its

We got Lance Franklin to hang up his boots≥

Artist: David Williams, Gilimbaa

Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and other Indigenous stars from across the AFL have donated their boots to be painted by Australian Indigenous artists. Buddy’s boots are part of an exhibition to celebrate the depth and talent of Indigenous players in the AFL today.

To find out more, visit afl.com.au/qantasboots The Qantas Boots and Dreams Exhibition. AFL House, Melbourne, 2 – 20 September.

Qantas. Proud supporter of dreams.

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