AFL Record, Round 10, 2010 by The Slattery Media Group

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AFL GAME

Cassisi Domenic

‘I ﬂy under the radar and that’s the way I like it’

Marc Murphy Blue on solid ground

Lukeer Pow on Black

Simon 0-gamer the 25 E 11 PAG

ROUND 10, 2010 MAY 28-30 $5 (INC. GST)

ROUND 10, MAY 28-30 2010

Features 57

Marc Murphy

Carlton’s young star is making his mark. THIS WEEK’S COVER Domenic Cassisi is ﬁnding his way in the challenging role as Port Adelaide captain but he is loving every moment.

Domenic Cassisi

A young leader happy in his role.

Moments of the decade

Hodge, Ball, Judd: cream of the 2001 draft crop.

Regulars

PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM

Backchat

Your say on the football world.

The Bounce

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

Matchday

Stats, history and line-ups.

Dream Team

Advice from Mr Fantasy, our Dream Team expert.

76 78

NAB AFL Rising Star Talking Point

Ted Hopkins on ‘Ugby’ football.

CHECK OUT THE A-TEAM COMPETITION

WELL BALANCED: Marc

Murphy is delivering the goods on the ﬁeld for the Blues and oﬀ it as he plans for life after football.

to WIN turn to

PAGE 16

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feedback

Your say on the world of football

EDITOR’S LETTER

Challenge for rule-makers

MIXED EMOTIONS: Adam Goodes won praise from a reader for his comments in last week’s AFL Record while another wonders whether the Magpies got ahead of themselves.

A lesson for all

Congratulations to Adam Goodes for his straight-forward and common sense stance on how indigenous players are sometimes categorised in the mainstream media. As a leader of his club and the indigenous community, his view should be a lesson for many working in the game. WALTER REID, ADELAIDE, SA.

Music is oﬀ key

I know football is now classed as ‘entertainment’, but do we really need loud music played just before the siren and during quarter breaks, as is the case at some grounds? MARY ROBERTS, RICHMOND, VIC.

Pies es are all talk k

What happened ned to th the he Pies last week? For days leading ding up to the game against Geelong, all we kept hearing about was how much they had improved and how they were ready to beat the Cats. Let’s face it, Collingwood is still a long way behind the greatest team of all. I can’t wait to play them again. PHIL, NEWTOWN, VIC.

Power struggle

Come on Port Adelaide, stop teasing your fans with inconsistent efforts. The last two weeks have been most disappointing. We appeared in control against the Blues before

PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Lovett WRITERS GENERAL MANAGER, MARKETING Nick Bowen, Ben Collins, Jim Main, Peter Ryan, Callum Twomey & COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS Paul Waldren SUB-EDITORS Gary Hancock, Howard Kotton AFL CORPORATE BUSINESS MANAGER STATISTICIAN Richard Simkiss Cameron Sinclair AFL RECORD CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Hutchison Geoﬀ Slattery DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR AFL RECORD EDITOR Sam Russell Peter Di Sisto

4 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

falling asleep and, last week against Melbourne, it took three quarters before we ﬁnally woke up and started playing. Give us four quarters, Port. JOHN SENIOR, BIRKENHEAD, SA.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Send us your feedback. The best letter each round willl receive a copy of the AFL Record Season Guide 2010. Email aﬂrecordeditor@slatterymedia. terymedia 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

AFL CLUB ACCOUNT MANAGER Anthony Palmer ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR Laura Mullins Advertising (03) 9627 2600 PHOTOGRAPHY Sean Garnsworthy, Michael Willson, Lachlan Cunningham AFL Photos (03) 9627 2600 aﬂphotos.com.au PRINTED BY PMP Print

� In his column this week, astute football observer Ted Hopkins has suggested it might be time for the AFL to take a close look at the laws relating to handball (see page 78). Hopkins’ specific concern is with the way the ball is sometimes be being released by hand in tight, congested b c ssituations. Many players have become profi h pr cient at disposing of the ball a sso quickly by hand h that iitt can appear they t have not complete n completed a proper handball. “The h “T tricks of the hand somet h sometimes resemble tthose perfo performed by a magician,” he argues. m Hopkins’ call is part of a Hopkins about the broader discussion b d is being played, way the game w g iincluding ncludin the emphasis on protecting territory or space protect p players on and positioning a po so-called defensive side tthe so of the ball, and the increasing o num n number of interchanges being made per game. Many have mad m argued these aspects need to arg a be addressed. There’s a danger in making sweeping rule m changes in response to short-term playing trends. Even this year, for example, teams are finding ways of beating the so-called defensive ‘traps’ that might have been in vogue a season or two ago. That’s the beauty of the game – it always evolves. And that’s what makes the job of the rule-makers even more challenging. PETER DI SISTO

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO TheTHIS Editor,WEEK’S AFL Record,COVER Ground Floor, XXXX XXXXX 140XXXXXXXXXXXXX Harbour Esplanade, X Docklands, Victoria, 3008. Go9627 to aﬂ photos.com.au P: (03) 2600 F: (03) 9627 2650 E: peterd@slatterymedia.com to order prints

of this image.

AFL RECORD, VOL. 99, ROUND 10, 2010 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211. ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109

DECK THE HALL

SNAP SHOT

Rd 9 North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium

� It is just before half-time and only minutes after emotions had spilled over in the Kangaroos-Bulldogs encounter. North full-back Scott Thompson had been niggling Bulldog spearhead Barry Hall from the opening bounce, but finally pushed Hall too far when he bumped him to the ground as he was tying his bootlaces. Enraged, Hall grabbed Thompson in a headlock, the pair falling to the ground as they grappled. Thompson’s teammates Nathan Grima and Scott McMahon rushed to his aid, but with tension still simmering, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade called for Hall to come off the ground. The Kangaroos were not about to give him a clear passage to the bench. First, Daniel Pratt bumped him and, here, Michael Firrito taunts him, the Bulldog maintaining his composure as he prepares to fend the Roo away. From that moment, tension in the game subsided, the Bulldogs cruising to a 70-point win. Just one report was upheld following the second-quarter confrontation, with Hall fined $3000 for misconduct after an early guilty plea (see story page 20). NICK BOWEN PHOTO: ANDREW WHITE/AFL PHOTOS

6 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

AFL RECORD visit aďŹ&#x201A;record.com.au 7

VIEWS NEWS FIRST PERSON FACTS DATA CULTURE

DEMON BELIEF:

Cale Morton says last Saturday’s win will help the young side in similar situations when the game is tight.

DOING IT TOUGH

As expectations rise, so too does Demons’ belief

NICK BOW EN

ean Bailey’s third season at the helm of Melbourne was always going to carry more expectation. After a combined seven wins in 2008 and 2009, the heat was on the coach and his young team to produce. Though the Demons had become more competitive NEWS TRACKER

under Bailey, this was no longer enough – it was time to start winning consistently. Which Melbourne has done, winning four games this season to sit ninth on the ladder, one game behind sixth-placed Carlton. But before last round, the Demons had been unable to win close games. In round two, they led Collingwood by

11 points at the 20-minute mark of the last quarter but lost by a point. And in round seven against the Western Bulldogs, they were nine points up with four minutes to play, only to lose by four points. But last week, the Demons took two important steps in their development. First, they won a close one. After leading Port Adelaide by 33 points at three-quarter time, the Dees withstood an eight-goal last-quarter onslaught by the Power, ﬁghting back after losing the lead twice, to win by a point.

Just as significantly, they did it at Darwin’s TIO Stadium. Good sides win on the road, and this was the Demons’ first win away from the MCG under Bailey and their first outside Victoria since round 14, 2006, when they beat the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. Third-year midfielder Cale Morton, who played his first game of the year after returning from a pre-season knee injury, says the win will be invaluable to his club’s belief this year and beyond. CON T IN U ED NE X T PAGE

Melbourne’s Brent Moloney to play this weekend after having his “forceful conduct” charge downgraded by the AFL Tribunal. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 9

the bounce

“It means so much to us as a young group to win close games of football because, when we’re in similar situations down the track, I know we’re going to be better off for it,” he says. “Before the game, we looked at our interstate record over the past 10 years – we’d only won 25 per cent of games on the road – and just alluded to the fact that now’s the time to start our own interstate record as a new batch of players.” Morton says it was encouraging ﬁrst and second-year players such as Jack Trengove (who, as third man up at a goalsquare ruck contest, rushed the winning behind), Neville Jetta (21 possessions and a goal) and Jamie Bennell (four goals) made such important contributions to the win. Morton says Bennell and Jetta – picks 35 and 51 respectively in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft – are evidence the Demons’ future will be built on more than just their recent top draft picks, such as himself (No. 4 in the 2007 Draft), Jack Watts (No. 1 in 2008) and Tom Scully and Trengove (Nos. 1 and 2 in 2009). “We’ve got a lot of high draft picks who everyone seems to talk about but it’s the depth of your squad that’s

Saints still waiting 1998 Saint Robert Harvey wins his second straight Brownlow Medal. Coach Stan Alves is replaced.

1997 Adelaide turns a 13-point half-time deﬁcit into a 31-point Grand Final victory.

NEWS TRACKER

important, and I think this is an area where we’ll be pretty strong,” he says. Similarly, the leadership of captain James McDonald and senior players Brad Green, Brent Moloney, Cameron Bruce and Aaron Davey remains invaluable, Morton says, and has helped fasttrack the development of the youngsters. After passing their latest test, Melbourne faces football’s biggest assignment this Saturday – reigning premier Geelong at Skilled Stadium where the Cats have not lost since round 21, 2007, and are shooting for their 20th consecutive victory at home. The Demons are preparing for the challenge by ‘arriving’ in Geelong the night before the game. Morton says staying together as a club, with physios and sports drinks on hand, as they are on interstate trips, will be the best preparation. Regardless, Morton and his teammates are looking forward to the contest. “We’re looking to climb up the ladder as fast as we can and there’s no better way to do that than playing the best side in the competition,” he says. “We’ve just got to be careful we don’t look at their stars in awe when we’re out there. We’ve got to believe we can take it up to them, that we can win the game.”

TRIBUTE MATCH

Inspired by Kokoda spirit NICK BOW EN

awthorn defender Brent Guerra is hoping this weekend’s Kokoda game against the Sydney Swans can It’s great at become an the two clubs ubs annual event. “It’s great the have put their eir two clubs have put hands up to o their hands up to help peoplee do something for Papua New Guinea rememberr and to help people about Kokoda da a remember about BRENT GUERRA A Kokoda,” he says. Guerra and his teammates will wear a ew anything knew commemorative camouﬂageabout itt really,” style guernsey during the match. a says. Guerra The match will honour the “Thee guide took Australian servicemen who ough where the us through served in the Kokoda Campaign battles were and we during World War II, and raise were walking just metres funds for The Kokoda Track rom bunkers where away from Foundation, which is dedicated diers had dug in. the soldiers to improving the lives of the “But my lasting memory descendants of the ‘fuzzy wuzzy opping at some of the is of stopping angels’ who famously helped llages along the way little villages our injured soldiers during eing all the kids. and seeing the campaign. en we got there, it “When

St Kilda and Adelaide played in the 1997 Grand Final. Many thought the Saints were on the cusp 1999 Tim Watson takes over as St Kilda coach.

1998 The Crows win backto-back premierships, defeating North Melbourne by 35 points. Andrew McLeod is the ﬁrst player to win successive Norm Smith Medals.

2000 Blight replaces Watson as Saints coach at end of the season. The club drafts Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke and signs Aaron Hamill and Fraser Gehrig.

1999 Both clubs miss the ﬁnals, with Malcolm Blight ending his Crows coaching tenure.

Sydney Swan Daniel Bradshaw to miss three matches after knee surgery.

10 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

rra walked the Guerra ast December, Track last as part of Hawthorn’s iennial visit to third biennial koda Track, and the Kokoda oved by the was moved ence. experience. “It was o learn great to about what ned in happened World War rdly II, I hardly

2001 Blight sacked after only 15 matches, 2003 replaced by Grant Sain Sa int nt Veteran Saint Thomas. Burke B urrk kee Nathan Bu day. d ayy ay. calls it a da

2001 Darren Jarman plays his last game in Adelaide’s elimination ﬁnal loss to Carlton.

2002 Adelaide takes a gamble by trading for Kangaroo Wayne Carey.

was like lik all their Christmases had com come at once and to have a run around aro and a kick with them was a g great experience.” Sydn Swan Ryan O’Keefe Sydney is also tthrilled to be part of Sunday Sunday’s Kokoda game, saying the Tra Track’s unique place in Au Australian history must never be forgotten. O’Keefe walked the Track in 2001 with a small group of Swans teammates, including B Brett Kirk and Leo Barry, and says the experience made rea him reassess his personal values. “Wal “Walking the Track is more a mental challenge than a physical one,” he says. p “It’s physically exhausting, of course – it’s always wet, you’re up and down hills, constantly up early in the morning and in bed early at night. “But when you think about what th the young diggers went through through, going to another country to defend our country and put putting up with those sort of conditions, cond with little or no experie experience and no resources, it makes you y really look at yourself and wh whether you need to change a few th things. “It’s vvery humbling.” KOKODA SPIRIT: Brent Guerra in the

commemorative guernsey the Hawks will wear this Sunday.

10 THINGS SIMON BLACK ON LUKE POWER � There are few players as respected in the competition as Brisbane Lions triple premiership star Luke Power. This weekend, he is due to play his 250th game. Co-captain in 2007-08 and an All-Australian in 2004, Power has four placings in the club best and fairest, and has not finished out of the top five for the past seven years. The 30-year-old is also a member of the AFL’s Laws of the Game committee. Midfield partner and premiership teammate Simon Black has played 264 games. He knows Power better then most. Both were selected in the same draft (1997), played in premierships together and have been a key duo around stoppages for years. The AFL Record asked Black to provide some insight into his close mate with the unusual nickname.

Luke loves his ham and beetroot rolls. He eats them every day and before matches.

He was a terrible driver when he ﬁrst got his licence in Brisbane to the point where his teammates would often refuse to get in the car when he was behind the wheel.

RESILIENT: Luke Power rarely y misses a game.

He loves his little hub in New Farm in Brisbane. He has been living in a unit there for the past 10 years and will probably stay there for another 10.

He went to Japan last year and loved it so much he wants to go back there again soon.

He is one of the most respectful people I have met and has very strong values. He is very resilient and professional with his footy. He hasn’t missed too many senior games over his career and has performed consistently at an elite level.

He has a bachelor of journalism degree, which took him almost 10 years to complete.

He is very cheeky. He is similar oﬀ the ﬁeld as he is on it, in that he loves to stir guys up.

He is right into English Premier League soccer. He speaks about it all the time and even gets involved in online fantasy competitions. He can barely contain his excitement about the upcoming soccer World Cup.

9 10

He loves a glass or two of red wine.

He has only nine-and-ahalf ﬁngers. He lost the tip of one in an accident involving a pool ﬁlter fan when he was younger. His nickname at the club is ‘Finger’. AS TOLD TO PETER RYAN

of a great era; few believed the Crows could win back-to-back flags. Here are a few key moments in both clubs’ histories since: 2004 The Saints win the pre-season cup and the first 10 home and away matches. They record their first finals win since 1997, reaching a preliminary final in Harvey’s 300th game. Gehrig wins the Coleman Medal.

2003 Adelaide wins the pre-season cup. Mark Bickley retires. Mark Ricciuto wins the Brownlow Medal, tying with Swan Adam Goodes and Magpie Nathan Buckley.

NEWS TRACKER

2006 St Kilda draws with Fremantle in Tasmania after umpires fail to hear ﬁnal siren, but loses the game days later after an AFL investigation. Thomas is sacked after the Saints lose to Melbourne in an elimination ﬁnal.

2004 After 13 rounds, Crows coach Gary Ayres stands down, with Neil Craig appointed caretaker. Carey suﬀers a neck injury and retires.

2005 Adelaide finishes on top of the ladder for the first time in its history, but is upset by St Kilda in the first qualifying final at AAMI Stadium. Both teams lose preliminary finals.

2007 Ross Lyon takes over as coach but Saints miss the ﬁnals for the ﬁrst time since 2003.

2006 Ben Hart becomes the ﬁrst Adelaide player to reach 300 games. Ricciuto also plays his 300th. The Crows lose to West Coast in a preliminary ﬁnal.

2008 St Kilda defeats Adelaide in the NAB Cup Grand Final. It loses a preliminary ﬁnal to Hawthorn in Harvey’s 383rd and last game.

2009 The Saints enjoy an unbeaten run of 19 wins but lose the Grand Final to Geelong.

2008 The Crows suﬀer elimination ﬁnal loss to Collingwood.

2009 Adelaide thrashes Essendon by 96 points in an elimination ﬁnal, but falls to the Magpies the following week.

Brisbane Lion Jed Adcock to miss an extended period after fracturing his foot against Adelaide last week. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 11

the bounce

DECISION-MAKING

When in doubt, follow the process

GETTING IT RIGHT: Field

PETER RYA N

n 4031 decisions made on scoring shots this season, only one has been wrong, according to the AFL umpiring department. That’s a good result by anyone’s standards: 99.98 per cent of decisions correct in nine rounds. Three scoring-related decisions were deemed incorrect in 2009. One mistake, however, happened in the Grand Final (a Tom Hawkins kick that hit the post was deemed a goal). That hurts. It’s one reason why contentious goal-umpiring decisions remain a topic of discussion among the game’s chattering classes. Most of the talk in 2010, however, has focused on the three instances when no umpire has been 100 per cent certain as to whether a score is a goal or behind. In each circumstance,

umpire Simon Meredith checks a decision with a goal umpire this year.

as per the rules, the lesser score has been awarded. In each case, the correct decision – a behind awarded – was made. That’s lucky. Inevitably the dice will fall the other way. No matter: the AFL’s process is being followed. Umpires boss Jeff Gieschen says the consultation process has served the game well since it was introduced for the 2003 season, and is one factor in making errors infrequent. The rule reads as follows: “If a goal umpire is unsure whether the ball crossed the goal or behind line, or is out of bounds; he or she shall seek the assistance of the

ﬁeld and boundary umpires. If the correct decision cannot be determined following consultation, the goal umpire shall give the lesser score.” In addition to that law, the ﬁeld or boundary umpire is also entitled to call for a consultation when he believes the wrong decision may be made, and he is 100 per cent certain he knows what happened. Before the consultation process was introduced, the goal umpire had been the sole judge of the score. The latest instance when the rule was needed was last weekend, when Port Adelaide’s Jay Schulz had a shot for goal against Melbourne and no one

W H E N T H E Y ’ R E N O T P L AY I N G Player

What dish would you serve up if you were on MasterChef?

Life motto?

n What’s on d?? your iPod?

Wh What is one thing people wo would be surprised to llearn about you? le lea

Hayden Ballantyne Fremantle

Garlic prawns on a fat steak

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

Entouragee and music

I had the choice to b be a jockey or play football

Daniel Rich Brisbane

Satay chicken w wraps

When the going g gets tough, the to ou tough ge g get going

I can’t ﬁnd it!

I hate pineapple

Alex Rance Richmond

S ambled bl d eggs Scrambled

If you’re not ﬁrst, you’re last

A bit of everything

he I have the IQ of a genius

Go hard o or go home

Anything and everything

sin toast for I eat raisin breakfast every day

Clint Bartram Melbourne

NEWS TRACKER

Something with seafood

Western Bulldogs to hold their inaugural Hall of Fame induction this weekend.

12 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

was sure whether it was a goal or behind. After a consultation took place and the field umpire established that no other umpire was 100 per cent certain as to which side of the post the ball had gone, the television audience heard the field umpire sum up the rule: “If no one’s sure, it’s got to be a point.” For most football supporters, the fact such a law applies has been a revelation. Even Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams expressed surprise in the post-match press conference when asked about the decision. “Is that the rule is it?” The application of the rule is managed according to strict protocols. “Personalities don’t come into it,” Gieschen says. “All we need to know from each umpire in the consultation process is, ‘Did you see it clearly and are you sure?’” When a goal umpire seeks assistance, the field or boundary umpires need to be 100 per cent sure the score is a goal for it to be awarded. If they are uncertain as well, then the goal umpire gives the lesser score. “As soon as we get someone who is 100 per cent certain, that is who we go with,” Gieschen says. However, if a field or boundary umpire initiates a consultation and two umpires are 100 per cent certain in their own minds as to what happened but one believes it is a goal and the other a behind, then the lesser score will be awarded. It’s an interesting process, one that inevitably will invite discussion. “It has certainly helped us,” Gieschen says. “In the early days, when there was doubt and we came up with a goal more often than not, we got that w wrong. The consultation process h has generally resulted in the correct score being given.” Without a foolproof alternative in place, it is all umpires have to fall back on. A process that helps umpires put their heads together to make the right call more often than not.

END OF AN ERA

STRONG BOND

but the pair have staged many memorable clashes. “We’ve had a few epic duels over the years,” says Sinclair, who now plays for Heidelberg in Melbourne’s Northern Football League. Among the best, he says, was the Dockers’ maiden victory over the Roos, by 17 points in round five, 1998. NICK BOW EN “The four years I had at the ess Sinclair’s 12-season Dockers, we never finished AFL career will above 12th. We got pumped always be linked most weeks which wasn’t a lot of closely to the North fun,” he says. Melbourne-Fremantle rivalry. “Going into that game From East Ringwood in against North, (coach) Gerard Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, (Neesham) had a distinct Sinclair played 50 games with game-plan. North was such a the Dockers from 1997-2000, long-kicking side back then with winning a 1998 AFL Rising Star the likes of Wayne Carey, so as nomination, before crossing to soon as they got the ball out of the Roos as part of the trade that the middle, we got numbers back sent Peter Bell back for a second quickly and were able to run the stint at Fremantle. ball out quickly. Player movement between “North was such a ferocious North Melbourne and Fremantle side at the time – one of the has been common since the premiership favourites – so to Dockers lured Peter Mann from beat them was a great win.” Arden Street ahead of their entry Other memorable games, into the AFL in 1995. Sinclair says, were North’s The Roos, though, one-point win in have had the better round 15, 2002, at of this inter-club Manuka (his first The four years migration. In game against I had at the addition to the Dockers), Sinclair – who Fremantle’s Dockers, we excelled for one-point win never finished North in 142 at the MCG in above 12th games from round 19, 2003 JESS SINCLAIR 2001-08, mostly (“Matthew Pavlich as a playmaker played one of the across half-back best last quarters I’ve – the Roos have snared ever seen”), and the Roos’ Bell (he was delisted by the four-point win in round 15, Dockers after playing two games 2007, on their way to clinching a in 1995), Winston Abraham, top-four spot. Matthew Burton, Leigh Brown But the 2002 game at and Gary Dhurrkay from Manuka was the most important Fremantle. (Dhurrkay was killed for Sinclair. in a car accident in 2005, five “That was the turning point in years after his last AFL match.) my career,” he says. Although the Dockers hit pay “I was always a wing/ dirt with Mann (captain from half-forward but in the first 1997-98 and 1995 best and half I reckon I had two fairest winner) and Bell (captain possessions and ‘Pago’ (coach from 2002-06 and a three-time Denis Pagan) told me at best and fairest winner), other half-time, ‘You’re playing for recruits from the Kangaroos, your spot, son.’ Sturt Anderson (nine games) “He then switched me to and Dylan Smith (10), had less half-back and it sort of clicked impact. The Roos hold a 12-5 for me and I was able to turn advantage in the clubs’ matches, it around.”

Roo-Docker rivalry was the making of Sinclair

NEWS TRACKER

A good time to bow out, says Crows skipper � The great Adelaide premiership empire of 1997-98 is officially on its last legs. With Crows captain Simon Goodwin confirming this week that 2010 will be his last season, only two players remain from that wonderful era for the club. Ironically, they are Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards, who have put aside personal issues to carry the young Adelaide side through a rebuilding period, together th Goodwin. Goodwin n. with While Whil hile lee McLeod M MccLe McL cL Leo eod od d iss expected eexxp peect pec cte ted ed d to play playy on pla on in in 2011, 20 201 2 011 111,, it it would wo wou woul uld ld d be no no ssur su surprise urp rpr pri ris ise see if if Edwards Edw Ed Edw wa war ard rds dss declared clared cl cla lar are red ed d tth this his too his to too o could ccou co ou uld ld d be be his h hiiss last stt sea se sseason. eas aso so on n. Goodwin, G Go oo ood odw dw win n, 33, 33 33,, has h ha ass played pla play p ayyed aye ed d 268 26 268 8 games mess for me mes ffo orr the tth hee Crows Crrow Cro C ow wss since ssinc sin nce cee his hiiss h 1997 97 debut, 97 de deb debu but utt,, w wiith with th h his h s career ca ccar are ree eer err highlights hlights h hli hlig ligh ght httss including hts inc in incl clu lud udi din ing ng g tth the hee clu cclub’s lub ub’ b’ss premierships eemierships em miers mie mier rsh sh hip hips ps iin n ’9 ’97 ’977 and an and d ’98, ’98 ’9 98 8,, ree re eee b be bes best est stt and an and d fairest fa ffai airreesstt awards awa aw ard rds dss three and d All-Australian A Allll-A -A Au usstr stra alia alia an n selection se sele lec ect cti tio ion on n on fiv fivee occasions, o occ cca ca cas asio sio on ons ns, s,, including iin inc ncl clu lud udi din ing ng g as as cently ce cen en ntl ntly tlyy as as 2009. 2 20 200 009 09 09. 9. recently “I made mad ma mad dee tth the hee decision de deccis isi sio ion on n with very clear th h vver ve ery ryy ccle lea ear arr thinking tthi th hin hink nk kin king ng g out o ou utt how ho how w I want wa w an ntt to to about be per perceived,” p pe erc rce cei eiv ive ved ed d,” ,”” he he said sai sa said d thiss week. weeeek w k. “ want “I wa w an ant ntt tto o be be membered m me em mber mb beere red ed d as as remembered someone meon me meo eone eo on nee who wh w ho o played pl pla play aye yed ed d highly hlyy cco hly competitive om omp mp mpe pet etit titi tiv ive vee otball otb ttba bal all lll tto o a high hig hiigh h gh h football standard andard an and nda dar ard rd d right rig righ ght htt to to the tth hee end, d not d, no n ot someone ssom so om meeo meo on nee who o cra cr ccrawled raw aw wle leed d to to tth the hee finishing ishing is ish sh hin hing ng g llin li line. ine ne. e. “Physically, “P Ph Phy hys ysi sic ica cal ally lly ly, y, my my body dy fee dy ffe feels eel elss g gr gre great rea eat at and, a an and nd, d, mentally, m meent men nta tal ally lly, lyy, I still tilll ha till h have avvee a re ave real ea al thirst tthi th hirrst rsst for ffo orr thee ccom co competitive om mp mpe pet eti tit itiv tive vee aspect as asp aspe peect pec ctt of of thee g ga gam game. am mee. me. ““However, “H Ho How owe wev eve ver er, r, iff I fas fa fastast sttforward ward w wa war ard rd d 112 2 months, mont mo mon nth hss, I can’t hs, ca can’ nt n’t arantee a ara an ant nte tee eee this th thiss will wiill wil w lll still stil ssttill illl guarantee be th the hee cas ca ccase. asse. ase e. I ha hav h have avvee al ave alw a always wa way ays yss wanted nted nt nte ted ed d to to finish ni n nis ish sh h my my career ccar ca are ree eer err while ilee I was il ile wa wass sst stil still till lll p pe per performing erf rfo for orm rm min ing ng g at a goo go good g ood od d level.” le llev eve vel el.” l.” . Goodwin G Go Goo oo od dw win in n will will wil ll b bee remembered membered me mem em mb beerred reed d as as one o on nee of of the tth hee

greats of the club, a player who ran all day and left nothing in the tank. He took over as captain from another club champion, Mark Ricciuto, after the 2003 Brownlow medallist retired at the end of the 2007 season. The time will come for a new player to emerge from Adelaide’s leadership group to take over as captain in 2011. Goodwin, Edwards and fellow veteran Brett Burton are all in that group while tthe he o other ther members members are me are Scott Scott Stevens, S Ste tev eve ven ens ns, s,, Nathan N Na Nat ath tha ha an n van vva an n Berlo, B Beerl Ber rlo lo, o,, Ben B Been n Rutten, R Ru Rut utt tte ten en, n,, Michael M Miich Mic cha hae ael el Doughty Do Doug ou ugh ght hty tyy and a an nd d Brad B Br Bra rad ad d Sym Sy S Symes. ym mees. mes s.. MICHAEL M IC CH HA AE EL LOVETT LOV LO VET TT T

Brisbane Lions appoint former AFLPA CEO Dr Rob Kerr as national talent manager. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 13

the bounce

PONDERINGS PETER RYAN

Secrets of leadership

� If you rushed to a whiteboard post-game and started scrawling a message of where an AFL captain’s responsibilities lay, the following may apply: The coach-captain relationship must be tight, open, honest and respectful. It is critical the link is strong, but the coach is likely to also have similar relationships with many senior players. The leadership group must trust the captain’s ability to communicate its views to the coach and report feedback from the coach. Inside that leadership group, however, the skipper is ﬁrst among equals. The group provides a forum for discussion, not dictatorship. It’s no insult to the captain if his view on any particular matter does not carry the day. It’s more important that everyone is happy to at least live with decisions made within that forum. The individual relationships that members of the leadership group have with other players will be determined to some extent by personality and age. Who is more likely to inﬂuence whom in what areas is a function of those characteristics, rather than

QUALITY: Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says he has two ﬁne leaders in Luke Hodge (left) and captain Sam Mitchell.

titles. It’s why leadership groups need a spread of personalities and ages.

Outside those important relationships, the captain is the public face of the playing group, representing the club to the board, the administration, sponsors, supporters and the public. This is akin to the responsibility a young executive of a modern company has. A club will guide the captain in these areas. On-ﬁeld performance underpins all of those functions.

In relation to on-field and off-field matters, every member of the leadership group has a responsibility to provide a united front to the rest of the playing group and the outside world. It’s not about supporting the captain. It’s about supporting each other.

That shorthand explanation is necessary after the recent debate as to whether Luke Hodge would make a better captain of Hawthorn than Sam Mitchell. Without knowing the ins and outs of relationships within the club, it is worth making a general point: as long as people accept their roles, understand their strengths and are not fussed about titles, then the leadership process will work regardless of who is captain. Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson’s response to the Mitchell-Hodge debate was perfect: the club felt fortunate to have two quality leaders. The more players capable of being captain the better. In the Hawks’ case, the board decided it was club policy that only one player be appointed captain, with Mitchell given the role. In a sense, what the honour of the title gives a player is the responsibility to be the face outsiders see and hear. Some individuals are better suited to – and suitable for – that part of the job than others. From my experience, that is a role Mitchell is very good at fulﬁlling. That he seems to have a g strong set of leaders surrounding him is a bonus for the club. Peter Ryan is the author of Side by Side: A Season with Collingwood, published by the Slattery Media Group.

J U D D P R OV E S A B L U E - C H I P I N V E S T M E N T

� Chris Judd passed his ﬁrst milestone with Carlton last week, clocking up his 50th game for the club. This weekend, Judd leads the Blues against his former team, West Coast. He was traded to Carlton at the end of 2007 for Josh Kennedy and two draft picks – No. 3 (used by the Eagles to select Chris Masten) and No. 20 (Tony Notte). Here’s a look at how the two clubs JOEL ATKINS have fared since. NEWS TRACKER

RECORDS SINCE THE JUDD TRADE Wins Draws Losses Winning % Carlton

51.8%

West Coast

28.8%

LADDER POSTIONS SINCE 2002 (Judd’s debut season)

JUDD AS A BLUE COMPARED TO AN EAGLE Wins

Draws Losses

Games

Average Disposals

With Carlton

25.8

With West Coast

134

WEST COAST WITH AND WITHOUT JUDD Winning % With Judd

62.6%

Without Judd

28.8%

Carlton

West Coast

2002

16th

8th

2003

15th

8th

2004

11th

8th

2005

16th

2nd

2006

16th

1st

2007

15th

5th

2008

11th

15th

2009

7th

11th

2010

6th

14th

(RD 9)

West Coast coach John Worsfold says Eagles will stick by out-of-form ruckman Nic Naitanui until at least the mid-season break.

14 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

the bounce

What did they say? It’s important to bank four points. All it is in round nine is we bank four points and we go to round 10 and try to bank another until you secure a top-eight position and then from there, if you are lucky enough to get that, you keep trying to bank four points. So it’s round nine, four points and we move on. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon on the importance of his team’s win over West Coast. QUO

TE OF THE S WEEK

What are wee now? Zero-nine – Geezus, that is depressing.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick after his team’s loss to Essendon.

16 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

specifically made for the trip. “We can do with that clock,” boasted Footscray secretary C.G. Carlton. “It will add a finishing touch to our committee room.” Essendon also claimed a grandfather clock was one of the last remaining items its committee room required, with space made available in a corner. Nearly every senior Bombers R HET T BA RT LET T player made the trip. Only Dick Reynolds, Bruce Anderson n Friday night, and Colin Crawford were Essendon and the unavailable because of their Western Bulldogs Victorian commitments. will play for the Three promising juniors were traditional weekly prize in an selected as their replacements: AFL match: four points. J. Stoddart, Allan McHardy (who Curiously, in 1935, went on to play one senior game) Footscray and the Bombers and William Kinnear (whose played an exhibition game in nephew, Colin, coached the Hamilton in Victoria’s Western Sydney Swans in 1989). Keith District during the week of Forbes was named captain. interstate matches. Played on the muddy The game was Melville Oval, peculiar in Footscray kicked that the winning five goals in team would We can do with succession not receive that clock. It will in the first any points, quarter and add a finishing but rather Essendon be presented touch to our never gained with a committee room the lead. The grandfather FOOTSCRAY SECRETARY Bulldogs won clock from C.G. CARLTON by 18 points. For Hamilton the victors, Football Club. Billy Leahy kicked The Bulldogs three goals, with Tom were captained by coach Crouch and Cliff Macrae Syd Coventry snr, who each kicking two. was making a rare on-field More than 300 pounds were appearance. He had crossed taken in gate receipts on the day. from Collingwood that year, on And, as promised, Footscray was the agreement he was to be the presented with the grandfather non-playing coach. clock after the game. In preparation for their drive As a footnote, the two teams to Hamilton, players and officials met again the following week, were issued with caps and ties AN UNUSUAL TROPHY

Dogs’ timing just right in battle of the clock

in round 15, this time for premiership points. Essendon gained revenge, winning by 33 points in front of about 11,000 people at Windy Hill. Before that match, Bombers vice-president Wally Crichton congratulated the Bulldogs on winning the clock, and presented Essendon secretary Frank Reid with a fuelbox to store ﬁrewood, as a mark of thanks for his management of the trip to Hamilton.

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the bounce

COACHING

Forget Ablett, Thompson decides his future too MICH A EL LOV ET T

ver the past few weeks, Geelong coach Mark Thompson has generally been ﬁelding one line of questioning each time he has fronted the media. What is the latest with Gary Ablett? Is he staying at Skilled Stadium or will the riches of the Gold Coast tempt him to move north? But earlier this If I am not week, Thompson motivated and was prodded by the not committed, and not On The Couch panel committed, well, I don’t know. on Fox Sports to well, I clear the question You have to be don’t know. of his own future, fully committed You have beyond the end to be fully to this job of 2011, when his committed to contract expires. this job. It’s a lot of His ﬁrst response work,” he said. was a short “pretty much” It’s an unusual call in a that he didn’t see himself business that eats and spits coaching Geelong after out coaches on a regular basis, 2011, his 12th season at but the man who has guided Skilled Stadium. Geelong to victory in 72 of its “I’m still motivated now … past 84 matches, including two (but) if I am not motivated

COACHING CALL:

Mark Thompson has a big decision to make on his own future at the end of 2011.

premierships, is not sure what he will do after next season. It’s not the ﬁrst time Thompson has hinted 2011 might be his ﬁnal year and, during his On The Couch interview, he nominated his assistant Brenton Sanderson as a senior coach in waiting. “I think (fellow assistants) Nigel Lappin, (Blake) Caracella, those sort of blokes (are coaching material). But ‘Sando’ is the one for me who really stands up,” Thompson said.

“I let him coach the four games in the pre-season and he does the opposition now.” In the middle of the 2009 season, Thompson and his management agreed to a twoyear extension – the ﬁfth time he has had his contract extended since joining the Cats in 2000. Should he agree to continue beyond 2011, Thompson will move past club legend Reg Hickey’s record of 304 games for a Geelong coach (Thompson sits on 244).

There’s a fresh new team in the AFL You won’t believe the big names lining up for 3AW in 2010. New recruits Brian Taylor, Tim Lane and Richo will join cult hero Dennis Cometti, Robert Walls and ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews. And there are even more names on our team sheet. Like Tony Shaw, Mike Sheahan and footy’s First Lady, Caroline Wilson, just to name a few. With a fresh new team like this, in 2010 Melbourne’s own 3AW is football.

Home team v visitors tonight

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 19

the bounce

COMPETITORS: Dermott Brereton and

CLOSE CHECKERS

Roo up with the best of the ‘pests’

Billy Duckworth were great rivals throughout the 1980s.

Hall deserved free kick: Gieschen

NICK BOW EN

orth Melbourne full-back Scott Thompson has quickly become one of those players who can stir up opposition fans – and his opponents. Despite regularly conceding height and weight to opponents, Thompson is not afraid to niggle players such as Geelong’s Cameron Mooney and Western Bulldog Barry Hall to the point of distraction. Watching him bump Hall over as he tried to his tie his shoelaces last week (see accompanying story), got the AFL Record thinking about some of the biggest ‘nigglers’ from the past. In our list below, we have concentrated on defenders rather than taggers, and also found room for one eccentric forward.

Michael Gayfer Collingwood’s full-back of the late 1980s-early 1990s was so close-checking he was known as ‘the human blanket’. Fixated on never losing contact with his opponent, it was a common sight to see Gayfer’s forearm across his opponent’s chest as they stood and watched the action 150m away at the other end of the ground.

Craig Kelly After starting his career as a forward, Gayfer’s 1990 premiership teammate eventually settled in defence, where he got under the skin – literally – of opponents such as Hawk Jason Dunstall and Cat Gary Ablett snr by repeatedly pinching them.

NEWS TRACKER

Steve Kretiuk The former Western Bulldogs defender always made life tough for opposition forwards but sealed his reputation as a niggler when he played on Essendon spearhead Matthew Lloyd in round 14, 2002. With Lloyd returning after nine weeks out with a ﬁnger injury, Kretiuk decided to test the Bomber’s ﬁtness, repeatedly trying to hit his injured hand.

Billy Duckworth Essendon’s 1984 Norm Smith medallist was a central ﬁgure in his team’s ﬁery encounters with Hawthorn in the 1980s, most memorably driving Hawthorn’s Dermott Brereton to kiss him at Waverley Park in round 18, 1988. Years later, Brereton explained the safest place to be around Duckworth was up close, with the kiss a spur-of-the-moment attempt to shock the Bomber.

Stewart Loewe The former St Kilda big man may seem

out of place on this list, but he deserves a mention for trying a new way to put an opposition forward off his game – shaking a goalpost in round three, 1988, while a North Melbourne player was preparing to take a shot at goal. Loewe was the ﬁrst player to be charged with this offence for 64 years and was ﬁned $1000.

Mark Jackson Former Melbourne, St Kilda and Geelong full-forward Mark Jackson – who seemed to be powered by the Energiser batteries he later spruiked – regularly infuriated defenders in the 1980s with his over-the-top goal celebrations and zany antics. His best performance came in round 22, 1981, playing for Melbourne against Hawthorn. Told by Hawk full-back Kelvin Moore he wouldn’t be a full-forward as long as his backside pointed to the ground, Jackson took matters into his own hands, pointing it towards the sky as he performed a handstand in front of Moore. Jackson kicked two goals that day.

Port Adelaide suspends forward Daniel Motlop for breaking curfew in Darwin last weekend.

20 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

� Western Bulldogs forward Barry Hall should have received a free kick when bumped by North Melbourne defender Scott Thompson while tying his shoelaces, and up to another two free kicks that weren’t paid, AFL umpires’ manager Jeff Gieschen said. Thompson’s bump on Hall (below) at Etihad Stadium last Saturday sparked a wrestle between them and several other players, with Hall fined $3000 for misconduct by the Match Review Panel for placing Thompson in a headlock. Gieschen said last Saturday’s umpires had been aware there was potential for “argy bargy” between Hall and Thompson but were busy following the play at the time of the infringements against the Bulldog. “Had our umpire seen this prohibitive contact to Barry Hall, he should have paid free kicks,” Gieschen told afl.com.au. “Unfortunately at the exact time Barry got knocked over when he was doing his shoelaces, our umpire was working at a stoppage and watching what was happening there.” Gieschen stressed while it was important for umpires to recognise the potential for behind-the-play niggle, they had to see clear infringements before paying free kicks. “The last thing we want is the umpiring team to get spooked or to start jumping at shadows,” he said. Gieschen this week contacted Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade and North Melbourne coach Brad Scott to clarify the AFL’s prohibitive contact laws.

THEME SONGS

Club songs have been an integral part of Australian Football since its inception

Something borrowed, something new ROBERT A L LEN

few weeks ago, the AFL Record featured a tribute to Jack Malcomson, the man who wrote the Tigers’ famous theme song. Club songs have been an integral part of Australian Football since its inception. As early as the 1870s, W. Geddes Taylor wrote and dedicated a ‘football polka’ to the Victorian and South Australian football associations, and George Newman similarly dedicated On the Leather! to “all players of the manly game of football”. The popularity of football songs crossed class divides: following the English public school tradition, private school teams had their own football songs, and music hall concerts often featured topical songs about the code. Instead of having just one team song, it was common for football clubs to have several. These were sung with gusto at club dinners and smoke nights,

the bounce

SEE THE BOMBERS FLY UP: To the tune of Sunnyside Up, Essendon players belt out their theme song after a recent victory.

and teams would take their own songbooks on end-of-season tours to relieve the tedium of travel and entertain their hosts. In the period before and after Federation, songwriters sought to link the rise of a local football code with an emerging nationalism. In 1908, the Queensland Football League proposed the stirring Song of Football to the Victorian Football League. This was its second verse: Its founders were Australian, born Beneath the gum-tree’s shade; They gave the nation a new creation, And in every town it’s played The chorus exalted: We play the game that bears our name,

Coo-ee! – Coo-ee! – Coo-ee! Music companies soon realised the commercial potential of taking football songs to wider audiences. In 1932, Allans released Our Football Girl, a fox trot which included alternate lyrics about Australian Football, rugby league and rugby union. Other football tunes remained parochial in content: the Song of the Blues (1935) by Laurie Melrose, for example, had 27 verses about Carlton players and officials of the day, while his similar effort for St Kilda (Give ’Em a Cheer Saints) featured 24. Eventually, all VFL clubs settled on one song to unite and define them. Collingwood was probably the first to do so,

as early as 1906, and others followed suit. Many clubs, including Brisbane, Geelong, Fremantle, Melbourne, Adelaide and Collingwood, found inspiration from national anthems, opera, music hall or marching songs. In most cases, they simply borrowed original music and penned new lyrics but, in 1961, South Melbourne formally sought and received permission from Notre Dame University in the United States to adapt the school’s famous Victory March tune. St Kilda was one of the last of the original clubs to change its anthem, when Oh When the Saints replaced the old I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside ditty around 1966. Of the current AFL clubs, only Port Adelaide and West Coast commissioned entirely new music and lyrics. The Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast teams have yet to decide how they will select their anthems.

,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 21

the bounce

VALE

AFL Life Membership

Cooke was a Tiger of old

(300 total games) Simon Goodwin Adelaide Darren Milburn Geelong

R HET T BA RT LET T

llan Cooke, a Richmond stalwart whose contribution to the club spanned five decades, died on May 12, aged 80. Cooke was the son of Edward Cooke, who played for North Melbourne in 1929-30 and 1932. His ties to Richmond were established by his local greengrocer, Collingwood and South Melbourne player Charlie Pannam jnr, whose brother Alby was Tigers coach from 1953-55. “Alby wants you to come down and have a run with the Tigers,” Cooke recalled Pannam jnr telling him one morning during Cooke’s daily paper round. A marvellous partnership had started. Cooke won the under-19s best and fairest as a ruckman in his first year and later won the reserves best and fairest. He played 116 senior matches from 1949-58, and still holds the club record for the most games wearing No. 7. In just his fifth senior game, Cooke played in Jack Dyer’s farewell match (against Geelong in round 19, 1949). “They were kicking it backwards to him (Dyer) to get him some goals,” Cooke said in one of his final interviews,

250 games Luke Power Brisbane Lions

AFL 200 Club Scott Jeﬀery Umpire

200 games Craig Bolton Sydney Swans LOYAL: Former Richmond player and chairman of selectors Allan Cooke (right)

with Tigers coach Francis Bourke during the early 1980s.

100 games

published in Richmond F.C.: A Century of League Football. “He was all bandaged up like a broken-down racehorse.” But it was as chairman of selectors for 17 years that Cooke left his mark on the club. He oversaw all ﬁve Tigers premierships in that span, working hand-in-hand with coaches Tom Hafey, Barry Richardson, Tony Jewell, Francis Bourke and Mike Patterson. Along with secretary Alan Schwab, he organised the famous Bill Barrot-Ian Stewart trade with St Kilda in 1970, signing off on the deal late one evening at the Junction Hotel.

Steven Dodd Fremantle Brock McLean Carlton Brent Moloney Melbourne

Cooke’s endearing qualities lay in the trust he built with all players at the club. “I had a ﬁrm belief I would never make a judgment on a player, unless I saw him play,” he said. “I never missed one seconds game. I was there every Saturday morning at 9am and then saw the ﬁrsts.” In a tribute published in the Herald Sun, Hafey lauded Cooke for his “honesty, loyalty, integrity and understanding”, calling him “a real smart team man”. Cooke was inducted into Richmond’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

RAMS TOO GOOD FOR NT AS UNDER-18 TITLES KICK OFF � The NAB AFL Under-18 Championships started last weekend, with NSW/ACT and Tasmania winning the two games played at Sydney’s Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday. NSW/ACT kicked oﬀ its campaign with a 41-point victory over the Northern Territory, while Tasmania opened its account with a seven-point win over Queensland. Under the watchful eye of Greater Western Sydney coach

NEWS TRACKER

Kevin Sheedy, the NSW/ACT Rams started proceedings and were led by a best-on-ground 43-possession game by midﬁelder Anthony Miles (pictured). Miles won plenty of contested possessions and also moved forward to kick three goals. His dominant display in the middle of the ground was almost matched up forward by key forward Josh Bruce, who kicked ﬁve goals for NSW/ACT.

Steven May was the standout for the Northern Territory, kicking four of his side’s eight goals and proving dangerous throughout the game. Tasmania’s victory was a much tighter contest than the opening match, with scores level at half-time. Queensland took a two-point lead into the ﬁnal term, but it was Tasmania which

50 games Dylan Addison Western Bulldogs Scott Harding Port Adelaide Josh Hill Western Bulldogs James Frawley Melbourne The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.

FOR UPDATES GO TO AFL.COM.AU/U18S TWITTER: @AFL OR #NABAFLU18S

finished stronger, breaking away and booting 3.6 to 2.3 in the final quarter. Tall forward Ben Brown was the dominant player in the low-scoring game, kicking five goals, while Papua New Guinean David Meli, who has an international scholarship with Essendon, was promising for Queensland with 28 disposals. See scoreboard on page 51. CALLUM TWOMEY

Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos questions his team’s recent “eﬀorts”, claiming his players need to be more committed.

22 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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On solid

GROUND Marc Murphy is a Blue-eyed boy with the Carlton faithful, a budding champion on the ﬁeld and one of the club’s mostt marketable commodities oﬀ it. HOWA R D KOT TON

arc rc Murphy has been ha b en attractin ttracting attracting more than his share hi ha e of attention ttention this eason – not only on the field season ut off ff it a as w wel ll. but well. Along with skipper Chris udd and his great mate, fellow Judd o. 1 draft pick Bryce Gibbs, h No. he as become one of the public has aces of o Carlton. Carl on faces On the Blues’ website, the io’s pictures are displayed trio’s rominently – with body-lengt prominently body-length hots of Murphy and Gibbs Gibb shots unning down the home page. page running occasionall Murphy also writes occasionally n the website, detailing hi on his acctiviti ivi iess and observat bs rv tions on when activities observations he Blues go on the road the road. This year, Murphy has been oping with more attention on coping he field as opposition clubs try the o limit his effectiveness. In the to wo sseasons ea asons ons b before fo e Judd J dd arrive arrived two att Carlton (2006-07), the youn young midfielder had a tough initiation nto the AFL, carrying a heavy heav into urden in a struggling side. burden These days, he attracts as much ttention from the opposition oppositio attention ass Judd, which he sees as a

has compliment. He believes he has mproved the way he deals with h improved attention the close attention. “I’m not getting a heap of it, b t I’ve I’v been OK the last llasst few w but something weeks,” he says. “It’s something ’ve got to keep working on, just just I’ve coaches talking to (assistant coaches) Harves’ (Robert Harvey) and an ‘Harves’ t Mark Riley about trying to play my role in the side. abou “It’s not all about get the touches I get. It’s probably t’s a learning It’s something (close process. It’s tagging) I’ll have probabl probably to deal with somethin something (close tagging) the rest of ’ll have to deal dea I’ll my career re with for the rest MARC MURPHY career. of my career.” Bret Coach Brett Ratten, who had clo e to deal with plenty of close opposition attention from the oppositio career caree for much of his 255-game career n with the Blues, has been focus focusing explo on helping Murphy exploit team m. taggers for the good of the team. d “It can be positioning aroun around stoppages that can assist the a o assist as ist him in team and also gettin breaking that tag and getting n some space,” Ratten says. “Eve “Even AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 57

MARC MURPHY older players such as Judd are “They are a credit to working on ways to beat the tag.” themselves in the way they Murphy has also become perform and handle themselves. accustomed to making big They are the future of our footy decisions, in football and in life. club,” Ratten says. At 22, he has already made more Durability has been a than most young men his age. hallmark of Murphy’s career. Almost five years ago, he In his debut season, he hee last nine matches matche had the choice between joining missed the ving ng surgery on a the Brisbane Lions under the after having njured against the father-son rule – his father John shoulder injured no was a five-time best and fairest Lions at thee Gabba. He has not ame since, despite despit winner at Fitzroy – or staying in missed a game upted pted build-up to this th Melbourne. His loyalty to family an interrupted th surgery on a hip and friends proved too strong season with oblem lem in January. and Carlton picked problem “I was w s a bit bi b t sore so s re him with the No. 1 pre-Christmas, bu but selection in the They (Murphy, I tried t ed to t do o all al the t e 2005 NAB preventt AFL Draft. Gibbs and Kreuzer)) rehab to preve going to surgery, surgery Murphy are a credit to but got sor soree has already themselves. They again,” he says. say made a “After four or or five decision about are the future of games, ames, I sta starrted ted his life after started our club o get a bit of that tha football. He is to BRETT RATTEN ba back ck doing a building match fitness back nd att the t e moment moment I’m m construction and ng OK.” course in South running Melbourne, which he says Last week’s defeat to thee he takes his mind off football. Hawks was a setback for th the er a series of fine The course has been organised Blues after ances in the previ ious through the AFL Players’ performances previous es, including victories victo ories Association and takes up to five games, elaide and Port Adelaide Ad delaide four hours of his time after over Adelaide training on Monday nights. – both at AAMI Stadium – vincing wins over last “It’s tough getting there and convincing and finalists Geel long after training all day. But it’s year’s grand Geelong ilda. something that I’m interested and St Kilda. hy says the Blues believe b in,” he says. Murphy Murphy comes from a they can match it with the des in the competition. competittion. strong football pedigree. His better sides layed good footy grandfather Leo, father of John, “We played d one against played 132 games for Hawthorn in round nd and nearly from 1930-40, so talent runs Richmond deep in the family. got over the top of the In the rooms after most Brisbanee Lions at the games, Murphy and his father Gabba, which I thought od effort,” can usually be seen in deep was a good conversation. The midfielder he says. “In that me (against says his father’s support on third game n), we went match-days is invaluable and Essendon), d slow and much appreciated. wide and ed into their “He mainly comes in every just played ince then, week to make sure I’m all right,” hands. Since atched it pretty Murphy says. “He’s pretty happy we’ve matched h all the good sides.” sides.” that I’m here (at Carlton). well with forcced “He’s pretty opinionated. These performances forced tics – who had expected exp pected He played a fair bit of footy, many critics witho out so he’s always going to have the Bluess to struggle without b something to say. It’s good to Brendan Fevola kicking a bag have someone outside the club of goals – to stand up and ce. you can bounce ideas off.” take notice. Murphy is not in the They have constructed a t Blues’ leadership group, forward line consisting of three malls (Eddie Betts s, but is regarded as a future speedy smalls Betts, rran and Jeff Garle ett), leader, along with Gibbs and Chris Yarran Garlett), th taller players su uch Matthew Kreuzer. along with such 58 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

as Setanta O’hAilpin and Jarrad Waite, who are as comfortable flying for marks as they are competing at ground level. Murphy and his fellow midfielders have acknowledged their responsibility to make a greater scoreboard impac impact, particularly since the departur departure of Fevola at the end of last season. season urphy kicked 31 3 Murphy goals in 23 games in 2009 and has an ha contributed c ntribu ed 10 in nine this season season. m de that a focus a “I made few ew years ago, trying to be a damaging midfielder and kick goals. I’m trying to kick a goal a game and help out the forwards,” he says. “That’s the focus of a lot ot of the ‘mids’ in our side. We want to get dangerous and get forward, and no not just ust leave it up to two tw o three or hree b blokes ok s tto kick all the goals.” FAMILY DYNASTY:

Marc Murphy is the son of ﬁve-time Fitzroy best and fairest John Murphy and the grandson of former Hawthorn star Leo Murphy.

BY THE NUMBER S

277

Murphy’s career tackle tally. Having averaged 2.5 in his ﬁrst two seasons, Murphy has averaged four a game since the start of 2009.

25.6

Murphy’s average possession tally in 2009, eight more each game than his breakout year of 2002.

121

ON THE RIGHT TRACK: Despite last week’s setback, Murphy believes Carlton can match it with the best teams in the competition, such as grand ﬁnalist St Kilda, which it trounced by 61 points in round seven.

Murphy sported a new look last Sunday with a ‘buzz cut’ hairstyle, but it was a tough day at the office for the gifted midfielder. With injuries to several players including Simon White, Chris Johnson and Chris Yarran restricting the Blues’ rotations, Murphy was forced to play 87 per cent of game-time, about five per cent more than he normally does. Instead of being given a break of between three or four minutes on the bench, Murphy had to swap between half-forward and on-ball. “The way the game is going, it’s so quick and you need to freshen up and get that run back in the legs, so you still run out the last quarter,” he says. “I think that really hurt us (against the Hawks). We didn’t have those rotations.” Murphy says the Blues did the best they could under the difficult circumstances.

FACT FILE

MARC MURPHY

Born: July 19, 1987 Recruited from: Beverley Hills, Oakleigh U18 Debut: Round 1, 2006 v Melb Height: 180cm Weight: 80kg Games: 89 Goals: 73 Player honours: 2nd best and fairest 2008, 2009; pre-season premiership side 2007; International Rules Series 2008 Brownlow Medal: Career votes 28

“You’ve got four blokes who can’t go on. You’ve got to try to keep as much gas in the legs,” he says. “You’ve got to try to rotate as much as you can to the half-forward and wing.” When the AFL Record caught up with Murphy, he had completed his post-game warm-down exercises and was devouring a serve of pasta in

a plastic container. He already had turned his attention to this weekend and the clash with West Coast and former teammate Josh Kennedy. Kennedy was picked in the same draft as Murphy (at No. 4) and the pair formed a close relationship before the key forward was traded to West Coast as part of the deal to secure Judd. Murphy is happy to see his former teammate doing well with his new club – Kennedy has kicked 25 goals in nine games and trails the AFL’s leading goalkicker, Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich, by seven – although he does not wish him too much success at Etihad Stadium this weekend. “Joshy’s a pretty important player to the Eagles,” Murphy says. “It will be good to play against the big guy. It’s good to see someone you played with go well.”

In 2008, Murphy was ﬁfth in inside 50s in the competition with 121, having had 82 in 2007. He had 102 last year.

19 The number of goal assists Murphy had in each of the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

71.15 Murphy’s disposal efﬁciency rating this season.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 59

IN CONTROL: Domenic Cassisi assisi is le in his feeling more comfortable ptain. role as Port Adelaide captain.

It really challenged me, having to get used to how the group goes about its preparation

I S I S S A C C r I e N d E a M e DO key l

s i h g n i d n ﬁ

w Lo

Domenic Cassisi’s appointment as Port Adelaide captain raised eyebrows last season, his own included. But, after a self-confessed shaky start, 18 months on the decision has proved a wise one, with the hard-working midﬁelder thriving in the role. C A LLU M T WOMEY

hree rounds into 2009 and Domenic Cassisi was struggling. By his own admission, despite having won a reasonable amount of the ball, his performances for Port Adelaide hadn’t been “too great”. The team had won a couple of games, but Cassisi, who had surprisingly, and somewhat controversially, been named club captain two months earlier, felt something wasn’t quite right. The captaincy, with all its responsibilities, was weighing heavily on the midfielder and he didn’t know what to do to turn things around. He needed advice. “It really challenged me, having to get used to how the group goes about its preparation and thinking about what you’re going to say to the players before the game, before the bounce and at the breaks,” Cassisi said this week, reflecting on his first 18 or so months in the role.

“I found that tough, having to remove myself from my own game and be able to think for the group as a whole. “In the first three weeks, I was trying hard to find that balance – probably too hard – and I had a really good chat with ‘Choco’ (Power coach Mark Williams). He just sat me down and said, ‘Look, mate, you’re doing a good job, just play footy and do what you’ve always done’. That really settled me down. “From that moment on, I felt more comfortable. He simplified it for me and from there I was able to build on my own form.” Cassisi is not usually someone who needs to be told to settle. Generally, he is unassuming and controlled. This is his 10th season in the AFL system (Port selected him with pick 50 in the 2000 draft), but he remains one of the game’s lowest-profile captains, notwithstanding his consistent and reliable form, ability to adapt

to changes in the game and his development as a leader. Cassisi grew up in Western Australia, playing alongside Daniel Kerr at East Fremantle before both were drafted. He admitted to being anxious when Port Adelaide read out his name on draft day. Granted, he was now on an AFL list and had been given an opportunity, but it meant that, at 18, he was about to embark on a huge lifestyle change at the competition’s newest club. “It was quite daunting,” he said. “I was relieved to get my name read out, but it was a really nervous time because I knew it was going to be a pretty substantial change in my life and I was going to be leaving a close family. “But as soon as I got to Adelaide and forged a few friendships, I started to feel a bit more comfortable.” Cassisi spent his ﬁrst two years (2000 and 2001) playing for West Adelaide in the SANFL, AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 61

DOMENIC CASSISI before making his debut in front of family and friends against Fremantle in round 14, 2002. In and out of the side as a tagger in 2003, Cassisi had a strong pre-season leading up to the 2004 season and set himself to play in round one. He did that, and played every game thereafter, including three finals. At just 22, he was a member of the Power’s maiden AFL Grand Final triumph over the Brisbane Lions. In a midfield featuring some of the AFL’s best, including Byron Pickett, Shaun and Peter Burgoyne and Gavin Wanganeen, the strong-bodied and hard-edged Cassisi added a different element, the coaches using him mainly in run-with roles against the opposition’s best players. It was clear from early on, however, that Cassisi was more than merely a tagger. He was clean with his skills on both sides and had an inherent ability to win the ball on merit. “I was pretty lucky to come into such a good side, because I came in without a lot of pressure on me,” he said. “I was expected to go out and do my bit when I was on and, as long as I did my job, I felt I was going to hold my spot. “As the year went on, I assumed more and more responsibility and it was such an unbelievable year. “Winning is just so enjoyable and the relief was huge after we made it to the Grand Final. “We had a good week leading up to the game and then delivered on the day. It was an amazing experience.” Having tasted success early in his career, Cassisi thought it would quickly come around again. He believed Port would go back-to-back in 2005, and probably play finals for many years to come. He reckoned it was the start of “something special”. In hindsight, it was actually the end of a strong era that included several preliminary final appearances. But as senior players began to retire and

QUICK CASSISI FACT

62 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

FACT FILE

Domenic Cassisi

Born: September 22, 1982 Recruited from: East Fremantle Debut: Round 14, 2002 v Frem Height: 184cm Weight: 84kg Games: 158 Goals: 65 Player honours: 2nd best and fairest 2008; 3rd best and fairest 2005; premiership side 2004; pre-season premiership side 2002; captain since 2009

IN THE GENES: Cassisi inherited

his strong work ethic from his Italian heritage.

the club fell down the ladder, Cassisi’s stocks as a player – and leader – started to rise. In 2005, Cassisi played every game, and collected more possessions than he did in the premiership season. He was prominent again in 2006, despite injury concerns. It was the 2007 season, however, that marked Cassisi’s transformation from defensive midﬁelder to an attacking option. He collected a career-high 529 possessions and again played every game. Durability is indeed one of his strengths. It was not a coincidence that Cassisi’s excellent form coincided with Port Adelaide’s incredible run to the 2007 Grand Final (which it lost to Geelong by a record 119 points). “That year, I still tagged about three or four times, but other than that, the coaches had a bit more conﬁdence in me and I

were dumped from it at the start of the 2007 season, with Cassisi told he needed to get better at voicing his opinion. Throughout the Power’s stunning 2007 season, Cassisi worked on this aspect and (with Cornes), was reinstated to the group in 2008. It says a lot of Cassisi that he was able to take the criticism on board and improve a perceived flaw. This As long mental resolve, as you’re Cassisi said, is a working hard at product of his something, you background, his family can get rewarded having always for it somewhere had a bit more worked hard. along the line confidence in “My DOMENIC CASSISI myself around grandparents on the stoppages to try both sides came to and get my own ball Australia from Italy with and have the ability to feed it basically nothing, and it was out,” Cassisi said. their work ethic that got them “It was just a natural through and that has flowed on progression, having played to me,” Cassisi said. on the game’s best players, The strong work ethic didn’t to eventually have a more skip a generation, either. important role. His father runs an industrial “We went into 2007 with not cleaning business specialising a lot of expectation because we in removing graffiti, while his had such a young list and we mother, a former care nurse, started off the year quite well. works in a business run by “We had a lot of younger Cassisi’s older brother. players coming through, “As long as you’re including Travis Boak, working hard at something, Robbie Gray and Troy Chaplin you can get rewarded for it and, for that age group, we somewhere along the line. It’s did really, really well, but a pretty simple approach, but I obviously the Grand Final was think it stems from the family very disappointing.” and it does go back a fair way,” Cassisi had been made a the 27-year-old said. member of the leadership group In recent times, Cassisi has in 2006, but he and Chad Cornes needed that mental strength.

Growing up in WA, Cassisi was a keen West Coast Eagles supporter and his hero was Peter Matera.

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DOMENIC CASSISI When Warren Tredrea resigned as captain at the end of 2008, Port searched high and low for its next skipper. Every player was asked to name their preferred leader, each coach expressed his opinion, and other key people at the club were asked to nominate their preference in a bid to get the right person for the job. The obvious candidates, Chad Cornes and Shaun Burgoyne, Tredrea’s vice-captains in 2008, were overlooked, and Cassisi, relatively unknown outside South Australia, was appointed captain. It sparked surprise from many quarters, not least from inside the club. Strangely, on the day it was announced, Williams publicly said he thought Burgoyne should have been given the honour. Stating it was probably the natural progression for a vice-captain to lead the team, seventh in the best and fairest, Cassisi said he understood the was in the top-five for handballs, point his coach was making. hard-ball gets and loose-ball “Those comments only gets, and led the club in tackles. surfaced on the day I was told I His strength as a tackler was captain and, having not read – Cassisi’s 161 tackles were the newspapers before an bettered by only Sydney Swan early-morning pre-season Brett Kirk (170) – was proof session, I hadn’t heard about of his ability to move with them,” Cassisi said. the times. “But then Choco called As tackling and pressure skills me over and told me I had became increasingly important the job. It was a conversation in 2009, Cassisi was I’ll never forget, smart and made and he explained those aspects Like others, what he meant with of his game if you had told the comments imperatives. about Shaun. Speaking me 10 years ago “A lot of to the AFL I’d be captain I people would Record last would have said have thought the week from you were kidding same thing as Darwin before yourself he did, that Port Adelaide’s DOMENIC CASSISI one of the two one-point loss vice-captains would to Melbourne, get the job, but the club Cassisi made it went through a really thorough clear he has a firm grasp on what process to make sure the he has done and what he wants decision was the right one. to do next in his football life, and “Like others, if you had told away from it. me 10 years ago I’d be captain He has competed a diploma I would have said you were in marketing, and is soon to kidding yourself. finish a course that will see him “From the start, however, become a qualified mortgage my relationship with Choco broker. From there, a diploma in has been fine. Having that financial planning beckons. conversation, I never had any For now, though, Cassisi reason to doubt myself.” is focused on Port Adelaide. Cassisi displayed that He’s had success, and he’s self-belief last year when, under intent on having it again and arduous conditions on and off sharing it with the next group the field, he shone. He finished of Power youngsters. 64 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

BREAKING THE LINES: Cassisi’s hard running has been a feature of his play for almost a decade.

Though they are coming off the disappointment of successive losses, the Power still sits in eighth position with five wins. They can control their destiny. Dean Laidley and Garry Hocking have brought much to the club as assistant coaches but, as shown in the past two weeks, there is still much to do. Cassisi’s involvement in Port’s next generation cannot be downplayed, but he credits much of his own success to being settled off-field. He’s married – having wed long-time partner Maiya in January – and loves nothing more than going out with friends and enjoying a meal and drink at Adelaide’s wineries. A happy home makes for a happy footballer. “Footy’s become a lot more demanding,” he said. “There’s so much required in terms of doing the right thing by the media and by the club and it’s so easy to make a front-page headline. “I think the way footy is heading, if you don’t have a consistent off-field life, you’ll struggle on the ground.” It would appear no danger for Cassisi, though. The Port Adelaide captain, the face of his club, has everything in order. Footy, the future and family are going well. That said, Cassisi continues to fly under the radar. “And that’s the way I like it.”

Celebrating a proud history � Port Adelaide is the youngest club in the AFL competition but this weekend, the Power and the Port Adelaide Magpies celebrate 140 years in the game at SANFL and AFL level. Both clubs will commemorate the milestone by wearing guernseys featuring a 140-year logo. There will also be a parade of past players, with all premiership ﬂags on display. “It’s vital to celebrate our history and we wouldn’t be in the competition if it wasn’t for the Port Adelaide Magpies,” Cassisi said. “They’ve been so successful and won a lot of premierships (36) along the way and I’m excited to see all the legends of the club back. “I think it’s going to be great for the young group to experience.”

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Moments of the

2000-09

Everyone a winner in super draft

Hawthorn copped a severe backlash when it traded a favourite son to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft. History has shown it was an astute decision. ASHLEY BROWNE

awthorn didn’t sell the farm to secure the No. 1 selection at the 2001 National Draft, but it came close enough. Despite a narrow loss to Essendon in a preliminary final in 2001, the Hawks wanted to be at the head of the queue when it came to the draft, and in a move that sparked extraordinary scenes among the Hawks faithful, popular defender Trent Croad was traded to Fremantle in order to secure the first pick. (Young prospect Luke McPharlin also went to the Dockers as part of the deal.) Groups of Hawthorn fans were outraged, to the stage club officials were made to address a protest gathering at Glenferrie Oval to explain why the key position player – who almost won the preliminary final for the Hawks that year – was being moved on. On the outside, it seemed an unusual move, but it was well known inside the football industry that there were three standout candidates to be the No. 1 pick and that Hawthorn,

as well as St Kilda and West Coast (which had the second and third picks respectively) would secure a likely star. The young men at the centre of attention were all midﬁelders from Victoria: Colac’s Luke Hodge, Caulﬁeld Grammar’s Chris Judd and Xavier College’s Luke Ball. All three were outstanding TAC Cup players, particularly Hodge,, who Geelong Falcons manager Michael Turner said at the time was the best player to have comee through the club. Nevertheless, there were questions surrounding each that Hawthorn’s recruiting manager John Turnbull had to consider. Hodge had groin issues and Judd had had surgery on both shoulders (and to this day heavily straps them before every game), while Ball, a mad Hawthorn supporter with family ties to Hawks premiership players John Kennedy jnr and Peter Russo, had only just completed Year 11 and would not be entering the AFL system full-time until 2003. After weighty consideration, the Hawks chose Hodge. Ball

FUTURE STARS: Luke Ball (left), Luke Hodge (top) and Chris Judd when they were drafted in 2001. Hodge (right) was taken by Hawthorn as the No. 1 selection and has become an elite AFL player.

went to St Kilda and Judd was selected by West Coast. “It was very hard to split Judd, Ball and Hodge, but ‘Hodgey’ was the one,” Turnbull told Alpha magazine in an interview earlier this year. “He was a naturally gifted, hard footballer who had on-ﬁeld and off-ﬁeld leadership qualities from an early age. Even when he was 15 playing in a TAC Cup Grand Final, he was telling blokes where to go and what to do within play.

“The other issue is his kicking is elite. He kicks it with depth and with control, he can weight the ball, and he uses the footy.” Hawthorn has never regretted the decision to draft Hodge. Tough, skilful and oozing leadership qualities, the 2008 Norm Smith medallist has already delivered the Hawks all they could hope from a No. 1 pick. But ‘Hodge v Judd’ is still an often-debated question. Judd was a star from his ﬁrst game, a 19-possession effort

THE CLASS OF 2001 LUKE HODGE (HAWTHORN)

LUKE BALL (COLLINGWOOD)

CHRIS JUDD (CARLTON)

PLAYER HONOURS: best and fairest 2005; 2nd best and fairest 2006; 3rd best and fairest 2007, 2008; Norm Smith Medal 2008; All-Australian 2005, 2008; International Rules Series 2005; NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2002; premiership side 2008.

PLAYER HONOURS: St Kilda best and fairest 2005 (equal); St Kilda 2nd best and fairest 2004; All-Australian 2005; International Rules Series 2004; NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2003; St Kilda pre-season premiership side 2004, 2008; St Kilda captain 2006, co-captain 2007.

BROWNLOW MEDAL: 2009 votes 7; career votes 53.

BROWNLOW MEDAL: 2009 votes 1; career votes 31.

PLAYER HONOURS: Brownlow Medal 2004; 2nd Brownlow Medal 2009; 3rd Brownlow Medal 2006; West Coast best and fairest 2004, 2006; Carlton best and fairest 2008, 2009; West Coast 2nd best and fairest 2003, 2005; West Coast 3rd best and fairest 2002; Norm Smith Medal 2005; All-Australian 2004, 2006, 2008 (captain), 2009; International Rules Series 2002; AFLPA MVP 2006; NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2002; West Coast premiership side 2006; West Coast captain 2006-07; Carlton captain since 2008.

DRAFT HISTORY: 2001 National AFL Draft priority selection (Hawthorn) No. 1 overall traded by Fremantle for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin.

DRAFT HISTORY: 2001 National AFL Draft priority selection (St Kilda) No. 2 overall; 2009 NAB AFL Draft 2nd round selection (Collingwood) No. 30 overall.

DRAFT HISTORY: 2001 National AFL Draft priority selection (West Coast) No. 3 overall; 2007 NAB AFL Draft traded by West Coast for Josh Kennedy, No. 3 (Chris Masten) and No. 20 (Tony Notte).

68 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

BROWNLOW MEDAL: 2009 votes 22; career votes 132.

against Collingwood ngwood at the MCG 002. In fac fact, in round two,, 2002. old that that the week the story is told Jud dd received before, when Judd best-on-ground an award for best-on-ground ast Perth P playing for East in e, one on ne olda WAFL game, a timer turned to another ke a good and said, “Take ause look at him, beca because ing him you won’t be seei seeing around here any more.” as Judd’s J So good was n tha at debut season that he ﬁnished third in Westt Coast’s best and fairest and was lay selected to play for Australia in ona al the International Rules Series. ming g But his coming ed in n of age occurred nex xt round 12 the next ny year on a sunny afternoon at the b Gabba, when he booted m the th he centre ﬁve goals from slau ughtered the as the Eagles slaughtered ns, th he reigning Brisbane Lions, the p premiers, by 69 points. It was a evissed game and nationally televised nic. By this time, Judd put on a clin clinic.

Ball had slotted seamlessly into rap the midfield of a rapidly improving St Kilda Kilda,, while b Hodge was good, but ba attling not great for the battling g many Hawthorn, leading wks to believe the Haw Hawks wron ng. had got it wrong. It was a th hat sentiment that t lingered for the asons, next few sea seasons, n the as Judd won M Brownlow Medal in 2004, the Norm Smith Medall in ptained 2005 and cap captained t the Eagles to the premiership iin s 2006. At the same time, Ball wass a key midfielder for a Saints team thatt was g finals. regularly playing 200 07 It was only in 2007 ma ade the when the Hawks made sttarted finals that Hodge started dues. getting his dues. w By then, Ball was battling a groin g injury, which w

It was very hard to split Judd, Ball and Hodge, but ‘Hodgey’ was the one FORMER HAWTHORN RECRUITING MANAGER JOHN TURNBULL

changed the thinking of many in terms of ranking to Judd, Hodge and then Ball. And in 2010, it is probably the same. Judd is the standard by which all subsequent No. 1 draft selections are judged, even though he was picked at No. 3. Now at Carlton after his publicised move at the end of 2007, Judd is playing the same brilliant running footy that marked his best at West Coast. Ball also has changed clubs and his hardness and leadership have helped elevate Collingwood to elite status, while Hodge’s body of work (which includes a best and fairest award and three other top-three ﬁnishes) now has him considered, perhaps belatedly, among the best half-dozen players in the competition. ASHLEY BROWNE IS EDITOR OF BACKPAGELEAD.COM.AU

A F T E R M AT H

� Discussion about the 2001 draft often overlooks the other champions who found their way into the AFL that day. Gary Ablett was selected by Geelong with the 40th pick under the father-son rule. Better than Judd and Hodge? Many believe so. Other gems in that year’s draft were Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel (pick No. 8), James Kelly (17) and Steve Johnson (24), Adelaide’s Brent Reilly (12), St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo (13) and Leigh Montagna (37), Hawthorn’s Campbell Brown (32) and Sam Mitchell (36) and Collingwood’s Paul Medhurst (56 by Fremantle) and Dane Swan (58). (Hawthorn, incidentally, received pick 36 as part of the Croad trade to Fremantle.) Many football fans would say there has never been a better draft class.

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AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 69

Col Hutchinson

timeon Our AFL history guru answers your queries.

NAME GAME

I was wondering if you could conﬁrm the record for most goals scored in a game by brothers.

Gift from above

EDMOND D’ALBERT, BUNDABERG, QLD

CH: There have been three

cases of at least 15 goals being scored by a set of brothers in a match. Remarkably, all of them involve Collingwood’s champion siblings of the 1920s and ’30s, Gordon and Syd Coventry. In round 13, 1929, at Victoria Park, full-forward Gordon notched 16 and ruckman Syd contributed two of the Magpies’ 22 majors against Hawthorn, which could manage a team total of only seven. In a spectacular start to the match, Gordon booted eight in the ﬁ rst quarter. In round 12, 1930, the pair played against Fitzroy at the same venue. Although Syd did not register a score, Gordon caused the goal umpires to wave both ﬂags 17 times. Gordon also demoralised Essendon at Collingwood in round 11, 1933, by kicking 15. His brother played well but did not contribute to the goal tally.

WRITE TO ANSWER MAN The Slattery Media Group 140 Harbour Esplanade Docklands, 3008 or email michaell@slatterymedia.com

70 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

GOAL SPREE: Magpie stars Gordon (left) and Syd Coventry combined for 18 goals in round 13, 1929.

AFL mystery men Leonard Vincent Phillips � Phillips was born on August 10, 1890, and played his early football with suburban club Melbourne City. After ﬁve matches with St Kilda in 1914, he transferred to Brighton mid-season. He moved to West Perth where he played from 1915-17 but was enticed to join Essendon, where he made four appearances in 1918.

Tommy L. Smith � Originally from St Albans in outer Melbourne, Smith was a tall man for his era (189cm). He made his debut for Essendon as a 22-year-old in the opening round of 1936. After playing 10 games for the Bombers, he transferred to Footscray a year later, where he played in two more matches.

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.

� Some players may think they are God’s gift to football, and players named Matthew might have a case. Matthew, derived from the Hebrew Mattathiah meaning “gift of Jehovah”, was introduced into England in the 11th century in the Norman French form Matthieu. On AFL lists, it is the most popular of the evangelist names with 24 entries. Luke (Lukas) and Mark (Marcus/Marc), both with 14 entries, are holding their own, but John has almost disappeared (only ﬁve entries). The patronymic (“son of ...”) form Matthews is well represented as a surname over the years on AFL/VFL lists, the most notable examples being the great Herbie Matthews and the even greater Leigh Matthews. A Germanic form of the patronymic is Matthiessen; in a shortened form it was borne by former Crow premiership player James Thiessen. A pet form of Matthew which became a surname is Massey – Melbourne’s full-back in its 1964 premiership side was Bernie Massey. KEVAN CARROLL

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COLLECTABLES

A week of footy

Rick Milne

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

RICK’S RARITY

I have a boxful of Footy Week magazines and was wondering if they are sellable.

A MUST FOR FANS:

Footy Week magazine became the ﬁrst publication in the 1960s to print player statistics for each game.

LENA KALCIC, VIA EMAIL

RM: These small magazines

were popular in the 1960s. They were the ﬁrst to give complete statistics – kicks, handballs, marks, etc – for every player in every game. They sell for about $8 each

I have a leather-bound limited edition of The Point Of It All, the history of the St Kilda Football Club, written by Russell Holmesby and signed by Allan Jeans, Brian Gleeson, Ian Stewart, Ross Smith, Neil Roberts, Verdun Howell and Tony Lockett. This edition was limited to 250 copies and I bought it from the Saints in 1992. Value? SHANON FREEMAN, VIA EMAIL

RM: This is a great read, with

top photographs. You also have signatures of six Bownlow Medal winners. St Kilda items are among the most collectable of all AFL clubs and Stewart’s signature is notoriously difﬁcult to get. The book is worth more than $1000.

I have a South Melbourne guernsey signed at a Five Decades of the Brownlow

dinner by Swan winners Fred Goldsmith, Bob Skilton, Peter Bedford, Gerard Healy and Paul Kelly. It is framed and I would appreciate a valuation. JAN HAYES, VIA EMAIL

RM: You have a good item

here, Jan. South Melbourne memorabilia is collected by a large and ever-growing group of Swan fans and your guernsey is worth at least $1500.

I am an avid fan of recently retired West Coast star Adam

Hunter and have one of his match-worn guernseys from late in his career. However, I’m now chasing one from earlier in his career. I was wondering if you know anyone who has one for sale. I am hoping to ﬁnd one from the Eagles’ Grand Final seasons of 2005-06, but to get an even earlier one would be fantastic. STEVE MASTERS, VIA EMAIL

RM: I hope you have some

luck and if any reader can help, contact me so I can pass on details to Steve.

� Although the Brisbane Bears defeated North Melbourne by 33 points in their inaugural match in 1987, it was largely downhill for the Bears over the following decade. This plaque commemorates that ﬁrst game. Led by two South Australians, with Mark Mickan as captain and Mark vice-captain, Willia Wil Williams lliams ms a m as vvic vice-c vice e-capt -captain aptain p ain, i thee Bears a scored o d 19.23 19.23 (137) 7 to N North’s North t s 15.14 . ((104). 4 T This limited-edition m d d o plaque p q is i worth r up to t $500. $ 0

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

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72 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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timeon

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.

QUICK QUESTIONS

er? 1 Who is St Kilda’s all-time leading goalkicker?

J. HAWKSLEY BRISBANE LIONS

H A

K E

W A

K J

W J

S A

S L

H W

W K

don n? 2 Who has played the most games for Essendon?

4 Where was Brisbane Lions rookie

Sean Yoshiura born?

oo od 5 How many Grand Finals has Collingwood played in?

A J

3 Who was Fremantle’s ﬁrst captain?

THIS WEEK’S EK’S ANSWERS SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Red vest changed to green; Cameron Mooney’s tattoo removed; Darren Milburn’s hair colour changed; 17 changed to 27 on back of guernsey; bottom stripe on Jimmy Bartel’s guernsey removed. 5 QUICK QUESTIONS: Tony Lockett (898); 2. Simon Madden (378) 3. Ben Allan 4. Japan 5. 40. B IG G MOUTH: MOU MOUT M MO O H: BIG SCRAMBLED SCRA SC S CRA AM MBLE BLE LE L ED FO FOOTBALLER: OTBA BALLER ER: ER CRYPTIC CRYP C RYP YPTIC TIIC T C FOOTBALLERS: FOOT FO F OO OO OT TBALLERS: LE

74 AFL RECORD RE R EC CO COR OR O RD visit RD viis vvis isit it aﬂ aﬂrecord.com.au record..co om m.a .a au

timeon

NAB AFL RISING STAR

Follow thy neighbour Fremantle youngster Nathan Fyfe had ad three role models to follow in his path to the AFL. CALLUM TWOMEY

hen he was a young boy growing up in country Western Australia, Nathan Fyfe lived next to the Mortons. Fyfe wanted to play in the AFL and realised when AFL clubs drafted Mitch, Jarryd and Cale Morton that he too could make the top level, no matter how far away he was from the big league. “They were my neighbours and (the brothers’ dad) Noel Morton actually coached me as well,” the 18-year-old Docker said. “To see them grow up, go away to boarding school, then state football and then get drafted into the AFL, it made the dream I had a bit more realistic. “I lost contact with the Morton boys when they moved away but, hopefully, I will be able to meet up with them on the footy field in years to come.” After only five games at AFL level, Fyfe has shown enough to suggest he will get plenty of chances to come up against his former neighbours. The players, Fyfe’s courage, coaches and skill and temperament support staff at the at the top level Draft, Fyfe club have been so have been was a product welcoming evident, and that of WAFL club NATHAN FYFE was certainly the Claremont’s case at the SCG last Colts team. He weekend, when kicked eight goals he contributed 23 in a match against East possessions and seven tackles Fremantle and six in the Grand to Fremantle’s 37-point win final win over Peel Thunder over the Sydney Swans. last year. He was rewarded with the He said it had been a challenge round nine NAB AFL Rising matching up against more Star nomination. Selected at mature bodies in the AFL, No. 20 in the 2010 NAB AFL having played at only junior level

2010 NAB AFL Rising Star Nominees

BIG TIME BECKONS: After growing up next door to the Morton family, Fremantle youngster Nathan Fyfe is making a name for himself.

Round 1 – Chris Yarran (Carl) Round 2 – Daniel Hannebery (Syd) Round 3 – Ryan Bastinac (NM) Round 4 – Nic Naitanui (WCE) Round 5 - Jack Trengove (Melb) Round 6 - Todd Banﬁeld (Bris) Round 7 - Tom Scully (Melb) Round 8 - Jake Melksham (Ess) Round 9 - Nathan Fyfe (Frem)

THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW 1

Fyfe has his heavy rigid truck licence.

2 He loves surﬁng

the beaches of Western Australia.

3 He spent last

year working full-time as a welder.

in Western Australia. “I was a late developer and just enjoying playing at Colts level but, by the end of the season, I was itching to have a crack at the senior bodies in AFL football just to see where I stood,” he said. “But in saying that, I don’t think it’s really held me back too much coming into this season.” Fyfe made his debut against Richmond in round ﬁve as the Dockers’ 150th player since they joined the AFL in 1995. He said,

in many ways, life as a full-time footballer had not surprised him. “Most of the stuff I expected. The level of intensity and professionalism required at training and games has been what I thought it would be like and, off the ground, it has been the same,” Fyfe said. “The players, coaches and support staff at the club have been so welcoming, so settling into the club really wasn’t a challenge at all.”

Each week throughout the home and away season, a panel of judges will select the nominee for the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star. At the completion of the season, one outstanding player will be chosen as the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star winner. He will receive an investment folio, a dedicated personal banker, a financial planner and the Ron Evans Medal, all courtesy of the NAB. The NAB Rising Star award is the final stage of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.

76 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

timeon

LAST LINE

Applying data laterally

It’s time for a footy makeover

don’t fancy seeing too much ‘Ugby’ footy, a style of play that looks more like a combination of rugby and ugly. Its features include all-in mauling scrimmages with, at times, nearly all players positioned on the defensive side of the ball, too much backward ball movement, more handpasses than kicks, gang tackling, slam tackles, violent hit-ups and regular injuries. To boot, Ugby footy generally produces low-scoring affairs. Among my most unfavoured Ugby play is when a player fairly nabbed in a tackle releases or hand flicks the ball and gets away with it. It’s getting so that ball releases and flicks might warrant official statistic status, on a par with hard-ball gets! Yelling “ball” is great fun and umpires should have the chance to spread the arms and blow the whistle more often. It does say in the rulebook if a player is tackled and has prior opportunity, there are only two ways of legitimately disposing of the ball – via a kick or by holding the ball in one hand and propelling it with the fist of the other. I suspect a major cause of the growth in Ugby footy is the frantic activity happening on the interchange benches; extraordinarily, there are now an average of 203 changes a game. The rotation of fresh legs gives players more energy to surround the footy or sprint the total length of the ground just to fill a hole in the zone. I can think of only two other codes that feature unrestricted interchanges – ice hockey and polo, neither of which I am that interested in. 78 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

The AFL competition is careering towards a precipice of handballs outnumbering kicks in games. Last season, Hawthorn finished the season with the same number of handballs as kicks; both Geelong and Adelaide had more handballs than kicks. If in any coming round or season, handballs exceed kicks overall, then it is time, I believe, to reflect strongly on the direction of the game. Is it now a hybrid handball and kicking caper, or is it still footy? There is good precedent for erring in favour of kicking. Before 1925 in the Victorian Football I like footy to League, hand flicking be entertaining, ALL TIED UP: Scrimmages like this one to dispose of the ball innovative, between Carlton and Hawthorn last had become rampant. week don’t make for great viewing. That year, the laws bursting with flair of the game were and grit, and all Rather, I prefer the greatest sport such amended to require within the spirit of game of all to include lots of as footy a player to punch the the game good kicks, overhead marking, is to limit ball with the hand and loose-ball and hard-ball the injury rate not just strike it. gets, creative and legitimate and, particularly, In the mid-1960s, handpasses, player-on-player horrendous injury. a form of flick pass became match-ups, intriguing ruck and Footy and rugby injury rates vogue (Fitzroy in 1965 and rover duels, hard and fair tackling overall are not dissimilar, but 1966 was the main instigator). and brisk goal scoring. I expect I rugby is more prone to dreadful The VFL administration acted am not alone in these matters. head and spinal injuries as a to stamp it out by amending the I like footy to be entertaining, result of the extreme level of law, which still stands today. innovative, bursting with flair impact and brutal tackles. It says the ball must be held in and grit, and all within the spirit Elite rugby players spend a one hand and propelled with of the game. lifetime conditioning themselves the fist of the other. It is the role of officialdom to be to coping with dangerous The picture I have of footy is the custodian of the core values tackles. AFL players do not have predominately a kicking game, and attributes of the game. Make the same preparation, yet the along with marvellous use of footy better footy is the motto. ferocity and variety of tackling the hands so different from any The main instrument has increased significantly. other football code. for doing so is the laws of the Recent AFL research has Watching endless scrimmages, game – and their interpretation. detected an increase in more ball releases and ball flicks can Over time, the AFL has done serious injury types, and the AFL be challenging. The tricks of the this well. Increasingly, greater is weighing up whether excessive hand sometimes resemble those evidence-based research is being interchanges are a contributing performed by a magician. adopted for this purpose. factor. If so, there is no argument. It might be time to again In a similar vein, instead of Limit interchange rotations to review the laws governing use merely arguing tradition or foster safer footy, and perhaps of the hands. aesthetics, I wish to declare increase the number of possible TED HOPKINS IS A CARLTON PREMIERSHIP statistical benchmarks justifying substitutes if that is a requirement PLAYER AND FOUNDER OF CHAMPION DATA. a war on Ugby footy. of coaches, players and the public. HIS CURRENT PROJECT IS TEDSPORT, A HIGH PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS AND The foremost responsibility Next in the Ugby firing line is CONSULTING SERVICE. for administering a conflict the kick-to-handball ratio.

Ashley McGrath is hanging up his boots≥

Artist: Riki Salam, Gilimbaa

From Club Rookie of the Year to the Indigenous All-Stars team – Ashley McGrath is one of the best going around the ground. To celebrate his achievements his boots have been painted by an Australian Indigenous artist and hung up as part of the Qantas Boots and Dreams exhibition. See the full exhibit and check tour details at afl.com.au/qantasboots During Round 9 we kicked in $50 for every goal scored. $10,150 will be donated to Indigenous AFL legend Michael Long’s, ‘The Long Walk Trust’. Qantas. Proud supporter of dreams.

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