AFL Record, Round 16, 2011

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE AGAZINE E OF THE AFL GAME

ROUND 16, 2011 JULY 8-10 $5 (INC. GST)

collingwood is all in

Your team, your shirt, your stories What kind of fan wears the Collingwood team shirt on his wedding day? The ulimate Pies fan does!

Congratulations to Chris McIntyre, winner of the adidas all access competiton.

round 16, july 8-10, 2011

features fea a

57

20 T TRENT McKENZIE TR The long-kicking lo ong youngster has been beeen a shining light in Gold Coa C Coast’s first season.

MICHAEL MICH AE WHITING reports.

I’ve always liked the contested style of footy, even as a kid growing up

58 ALAN ALA TOOVEY A

It’s been been a long journey for Collingwood’s Coll ling cult figure an and nd premiership hero.

PETER RYAN reports.

PET P

YOUNG BRISBANE LIONS MIDFIELDER JACK REDDEN

re g regulars 4 7 25 53 70 74 76

B Backchat Ba The Bounce Th T Matchday Ma M Dr D Dream Team An A Answer Man Kids’ Corner Kid K NA N NAB AFL Rising Star

Hawthorn’s Hawth hor Luke Breust.

78 T Talking Point Ta

12

Which player is afraid of snakes?

64

LINDSAY GILBEE

Fighting back to play his 200th game.

Pressure football has led the the game’s evolution in recent years, says Ted Hopkins.

THIS WEEK’S COVER From VFL reserves to a Magpies flag – the ups and downs of Alan Toovey’s career.

COVER PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM C

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Finding the right system

» Much of the discussion

Protect the ball players

Ted Hopkins’ article ‘Making the game safer our highest priority’ (AFL Record, July 1-3) presents forceful reasoning for action to be taken by the AFL to prevent bone-crushing pile-ups.

Hopkins’ personal experience shows that unacceptable aspects of the game such as brutality can be reduced, and even eliminated,, by proactive application of the rules and adherence to the spirit of the game. Similar action needss to be taken quickly to address the new dangers that have emerged for our players.

The AFL recently improved the situations involving interference to players attempting to mark the ball and players being tackled incorrectly. Already this has proven to be extremely beneficial and similar proactive action on reducing pile-ups will be similarly rewarded. The AFL should be proactive in eliminating this latest curse on our game.

We do not want our players being crunched and hurt. We do not want maul-type situations that are tolerated in other brands of football. We do want our courageous ball players to attack the ball on the ground and be provided with the protection that they deserve. We do want player safety to be our highest priority.

IAN WALLACE, WATERFORD WEST, QLD. MEMBER, AFL UMPIRES’ ASSOCIATION (RETIRED); PAST UMPIRES’ ADVISOR FOR QUEENSLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES.

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

4

AFL RECORD

THOUGHT-PROVOKING::

Ted Hopkins’ articlee o highlighted the need to make the game as safe as possible.

Clear up the congestion

The solution to the th elimination li i i of bone-crushing tackles is for umpires to protect the initial player with the ball by awarding an ‘in the back’ or ‘general interference’ free kick. The congestion created by repetitive ball-ups will be eliminated.

Players will be rewarded for being creative and getting the ball. Opposition players, by necessity, will have to guard their opponents down field. As a result, the current congestion will be minimised. Inevitably this will lead to a greater degree of flow-on football, which will add to the excitement and constantly changing spectacle of our game.

With less congestion, umpires will be freed up to concentrate on positioning themselves for the next passage of play.

LEN WILLIAMS, LANGWARRIN, VIC. VCFLU 1963-75

PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Lovett WRITERS Nick Bowen, Ben Collins, George Farrugia, Katrina Gill, Ted Hopkins, Adam McNicol, Peter Ryan, Ian Syson, Callum Twomey, Michael Whiting SUB-EDITORS Gary Hancock, Howard Kotton, Michael Stevens

Saints still alive

Credit ought to go to St Kilda coach Ross Lyon for maintaining a measured approach to his team’s slow start to the season.

The Saints appear to be back in with a chance to make the finals after a very poor start and the loss of playmaker Lenny Hayes.

With a slice of luck, St Kilda might see finals action, which would be some sort of a football miracle, all things considered.

LAUREN JONES, BRIGHTON, VIC.

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about football today is focused on game-plans, or particular styles or systems used by clubs.

After his team beat Hawthorn at the MCG last week, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the game was partly a test of the teams’ respective systems.

The Magpies won last year’s premiership playing a game partly characterised by the ferocious application of pressure, with emphasis on a ‘press’ formation designed to stifle the opposition.

Several teams have attempted to copy the Pies.

The Hawks, in contrast, have been successful using shorter, precise kicking. In many ways, the plan appears built to take advantage of the squad’s sharp kicking skills to set up risk-free movement into the forward 50.

“Each side has its own strengths … who’s to say (what’s) right, wrong or indifferent?” Malthouse said after the win.

The discussion, in many ways, is symbolic of the game’s rrapid (and ongoing) evolution, a point analyst Ted Hopkins makes this week (page 78). m “Many of the material aspects of the game in vogue a in 1990 are now scarcely rrecognisable,” he argues.

PETER DI SISTO

PRINTED BY PMP Print ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO The Editor, AFL Record, Ground Floor, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Victoria, 3008.

T: (03) 9627 2600 F: (03) 9627 2650 E: peterd@slatterymedia.com AFL RECORD, VOL. 100, ROUND 16, 2011 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211.

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DOGS DEFEND

Bulldogs’ new gameplan tightens the leash.

17

JAY SCHULZ

No joy for Port big man after career-best haul.

20

TRENT McKENZIE

The young Sun who can launch a long bomb.

The Bombers curbed the Cats’ most dangerous personnel

Bounce views

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How Essendon pulled off its major upset, p15

first person

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THE

Spate of speccies earn top marks for high flyers

there risk of injury, but when the ball hits the ground, the flying player is generally useless and the chances of conceding a free kick are high.

All three players leapt from their left leg, used their knees to balance on the back or shoulder of an opposition player, and grabbed the ball with hands outstretched.

GREAT GRAB:

Ricky Petterd’s big R mark against the B Bulldogs last week, as seen from two different angles.

PETER RYA N

E

The marks taken featured eerie similarities

PHOTO: GREG FORD (INSET) ANDREW WHITE/AFL PHOTOS

very long kick presents possibility, but very few end with a mark remembered through the ages.

So to have three such marks taken in six weeks at the one venue is remarkable.

What is more fascinating is that the marks taken by Demon Ricky Petterd, Eagle Nic Naitanui and Magpie Andrew Krakouer at Etihad Stadium – although works of beauty in their own right – featured eerie similarities.

It suggests that training and n repetition in the modern era can create close to the perfect skill, in rk. their cases, the perfect high mark.

The similarities will also make separating them in orderr to award the Hungry Jack’s mark of the year as difficult a task for the judges as those trying to separate the three horses that crossed the line locked together in the 1956 Hotham Handicap had. The decision 55 years ago was a triple dead heat.

Naitanui’s comment to the AFL Record last week that taking his mark “felt like a training drill” was a valuable insight into the finely drilled

routines that allow today’s players to perform as they do.

Jumping on marking bags, leaping with poise and landing with a semblance of balance is more the story these days. In previous eras,

what were often crazy leaps mastered in the schoolyard might have ended in glory, but sometimes ended in pain.

Although we still see examples, the misguided leap is not encouraged. Not only is

They followed the approved technique of pushing the knees forward, allowing the landing gear to unravel before hitting the ground. Each started perfectly, but the end was not so predictable.

Ain’t that life writ large?

Krakouer landed on both feet before falling backwards. He missed the shot at goal. Naitanui crash-landed on his stomach but kicked truly. Petterd just failed to stick the landing, falling forward with ball in hand.

All three hung on to the ball from start to finish, testament to their clean hands and balance in the air.

All rose high. Petterd used the shoulder of 196cm Western Bulldogs defender Tom Williams to elevate himself above the pack, stretching his arms sideways to mark.

Krakouer was kneeling on 196cm

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Prime Minster Julia Gillard conducts Australian citizenship ceremony for 40 people at Whitten Oval.

Adelaide defender Luke Thompson’s back when he took the ball in front of his eyes.

Naitanui – who recorded a running vertical leap of 102cm at the 2008 draft camp – rose above his 191cm teammate Jack Darling. What made his leap even more remarkable was that he nearly stumbled on the approach as Carlton’s Bret Thornton gave him a nudge from behind. Somehow, Naitanui gathered himself to take off and use his teammate as a stepladder.

Graham Johncock (against Krakouer), Thornton (Naitanui) and Lindsay Gilbee (Petterd) each followed the leaper in with a fist outstretched in vain.

None were attempting to mark themselves, the discipline of the modern defender on display.

Their futile efforts only added to the human drama each great mark represents.

And don’t be mistaken.

Pulling off the big mark is a sensation all footballers love.

Petterd told afl.com.au after the game he felt a rush of adrenalin as he took his grab.

And anyone who saw the reaction of Naitanui’s teammates on the bench after he took the grab, kicked the goal, then headed to the sidelines, will understand big marks move even the most difficult-to-impress watchers.

It is because there is something about watching unassisted flight that thrills. When it is combined with the timing required to mark a football, the emotional response from spectators is involuntary.

Bulldogs tighten the leash to restore order NICK BOW EN

8

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And don’t be mistaken. Pulling off the big mark is a sensatio sensation all footballers love FLYING EAGLE:

rk Nic Naitanui’s mark n against Carlton in round 14.

PIE IN THE SKY: Andrew

Krakouer’s grab against Adelaide in round 10.

Arms raised, mouths open, time taken for the brain to process what has just happened.

Take a look at the crowd behind the marks and you can see the instant response.

Suddenly, the mark of the year is a tight contest. Will it come down to emotion or analysis? Will technical prowess or marketing potential sway the judges? Will the state of the game matter?

Or will it just be a simple case of Naaaaaaaiitttttannui v KRAAAAAAKKOUUER v Pettttttttttttterd?

Who cares, really? Each was a moment to be savoured.

» In 2009, former North

Melbourne last Friday night, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said they had changed their kicking patterns in the past six or seven weeks.

“I think (now) we are bit more predictable to our teammates,” Eade said.

“In the past, we’ve always played with freedom and now we’re trying to curtail that to a degree, but we still want to be creative at the right times and it’s (about) getting that balance right.”

Eade said the change in the Bulldogs’ game-plan had been a response to the extended absences of defenders Ryan Hargrave and Brian Lake with injury.

The Bulldogs also lost creative defender Jarrod Harbrow to the Gold Coast at the end of last season.

“We were probably still trying to generate a lot of run and set up out of our back half but we didn’t have the skill to do that, or the run,” Eade said.

Defender Lindsay Gilbee told the AFL Record the club’s less-risky game style was also a response to the suffocating defensive pressure opposition teams apply via zones.

“We’re not taking as many risks as we used to,” Gilbee said. “Because as soon as you turn the ball over these

Melbourne and Carlton coach Denis Pagan described the Western Bulldogs’ game style as “organised chaos”.

Pagan was attempting to capture the Bulldogs’ frantic style of play at the time, in which they ran and moved the ball on quickly at every opportunity.

It was a game style Pagan told the AFL Record he loved and one that was effective enough to take the Bulldogs to preliminary finals in 2008-10.

But, lately, the Bulldogs have sought to restore some order and predictability to their play.

After their 64-point win against

Bomber Andrew Welsh expected to miss three weeks with a hamstring injury.

ST KILDA’S DOGGED WIN

Saints’ defence is still ‘the best’ NICK BOW EN

S

t Kilda established itself as the stingiest defensive team in the AFL in its Grand Final seasons of 2009 and 2010.

As the Saints have slipped down the ladder this season, teams have started to score more heavily against them.

After round 15, they were ranked seventh for average points conceded in a game.

It was a bit of a struggle, but I’m really proud of our players’ efforts ROSS LYON

However, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said after his team’s nine-point loss to St Kilda last Sunday that he still thought it was “probably the best defensive unit in the competition”.

days, it just ends up as a goal to the opposition.

“We used to play a kamikaze style and, if an option is on, we’ll still take it but (we’re) more of a defending side these days.”

Gilbee said the Bulldogs’ revamped playing style was also a reflection of a wider trend across the competition, in which most teams’ major tactical focus was on emulating Collingwood’s team defence.

“Teams are so focused on the forward press and defence now, because once you’ve got it into the forward line, you can lock it in, which makes it so hard for the opposition to score.”

in n against the The Saints’ win reemarkable, Kangaroos was remarkable, usse it did not score principally because mittage kicked a after David Armitage -m minute mark of behind at the 21-minute r. Stephen Milne the third quarter. ’s last goal at the kicked the team’s k of o that term.

13-minute mark reeless last quarter St Kilda’s scoreless was the first by a winning side since the Sydneyy Swans defeated ou und 20, 2004.

Melbourne in round ag ge kicked When Armitage S that behind, thee Saints led fteer North cut by 26 points. After 9 points by the margin to 19 im me, St Kilda three-quarter time, asst term, despite held on in the last nsiide 50s. conceding 16 inside th he Saints’ Admittedly, the asier by task was made ea easier accy in front of North’s inaccuracy 1..4 and two goal – it kicked 1.4 n the full. out-of-bounds on d the t Roos had But Scott said hin ng they had thrown everything at St Kilda in thee final term, na able to but had been unable feence. penetrate its defence. ming at “We were coming w them but that’s why th he last they’ve been in the na als, three Grand Finals, o good because they’re sso d they t defensively and held up again.” tch h, Lyon After the match, he end, said simply: “In th the ruggle, it was a bit of a st struggle, ro oud of our but I’m really proud players’ efforts.””

LONG WAIT: Stephen Milne

kicked St Kilda’s last goal.

FEWER RISKS: Bulldogs coach

Rodney Eade has implemented a more conservative game-plan.

BACK-TO-BACK TRIPS

C Cats Ca in it for ffo the long haul llo MICH A EL LOV ET T M

G

eelong will undertake an unusual road trip in a bid to return to the winners’ list in th he n the next two rounds. The Cats head h headed to Perth on Thursday to ttake on West Coast at Patersons Stad S Stadium on Friday night. But, iinste instead of returning to Victoria tthis weekend, Geelong has cchos chosen to fly across the country to Quee Q Queensland for its round 17 clash with the Lions on Sunday week. w Af After Friday night’s game, th he C the Cats will fly to Brisbane on S atu Saturday and then catch a bus to th he G the Gold Coast, where they will sp pen a week preparing for the spend g ame against the Lions. game

It was a chance (for him) to get away from the daily grind CHRIS SCOTT ON SENDING JOEL SELWOOD TO PERTH SEVERAL DAYS EARLIER

Ge Geelong will train at Sou Southport for several days but players will also have a ccoup couple of free days to relax in th h warmer weather. the An extended squad of players will make the trip but those not required for the Lions game will return home earlier. About 15-20 coaching and support staff will also be on hand to oversee the week-long preparation.

For the first leg of their trip, the Cats sent Joel Corey and Travis Varcoe, who both missed last week’s loss to Essendon with minor injuries, to Perth a week early. Joel Selwood, who has one game to serve of his four-match suspension, also travelled to Perth earlier and will be available for the round 17 clash at the Gabba.

“He’s worked really hard to this point, so it’s an opportunity to send him to Perth,” Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

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9

Demon Brent Moloney reprimanded by Match Review Panel for high bump on Bulldog Ryan Griffen.

“Two of his brothers (Eagles Adam and Scott) live in Perth and the Eagles had the bye. It was a chance (for him) to get away from the daily grind and take a mental break.”

The Cats are the sixth Victorian/South Australian club to make the PerthBrisbane haul in successive weeks, with Adelaide making the trip twice.

In the past decade, the Brisbane Lions made two back-to-back trips to Perth and Melbourne – in 2001 and 2005 – and won all four games.

They defeated Fremantle at Subiaco in round 21 of 2001, and backed it up by defeating the Cats the following week at Skilled Stadium.

In 2005, the Lions again defeated the Dockers at Subiaco (round 11) and in round 12 came to Melbourne, where they downed Carlton at Docklands.

In 1995, Brisbane played back-to-back games against the Dockers and Eagles in Perth (rounds nine and 10) and lost both. The club stayed in Perth after the round-nine game.

LONG HAULS MELBOURNE/ADELAIDE-PERTHBRISBANE/GOLD COAST 1989 R21-22: Carlton v West

Coast at Subiaco in round 21, then v Brisbane Bears at Carrara in round 22.

Result: 0-2

1992 R8-9: Western Bulldogs v West Coast at Subiaco, then v Brisbane Bears at the Gabba.

Result: 1-1 1995 R11-12: North Melbourne v Fremantle at Subiaco, then v Brisbane Bears at the Gabba.

Result: 2-0 2000 R4-5: Adelaide v West Coast

at the WACA, then v Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

Result: 0-2

2005 R18-19: Hawthorn v West

Coast at Subiaco, then v Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

Result: 0-2 2006 R3-4: Adelaide v Melbourne

at Metricon Stadium, then v Fremantle at Subiaco.

Result: 2-0

MELBOURNE-BRISBANE-PERTH 1994 R17-18: Richmond v

How far the Cats travel Departing city Destination Kms Melbourne

Perth

2730

Perth

Brisbane

3614

Brisbane

Melbourne

1360

TOTAL KMS

HECTIC SCHEDULE: Geelong star Jimmy Bartel will face Eagles such as Chris Masten before heading to Brisbane the following day.

7704

Brisbane Bears at the Gabba, then v West Coast at Subiaco.

Result: 1-1

2006 R12-13: Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, then v West Coast.

Result: 2-0

KEEPING THE SCOREBOARD TICKING

Franklin the strongest link in the chain

» Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge accumulated a career-high 40 disposals last week against Collingwood, but tellingly had only three score involvements.

Champion Data, the AFL’s official statistics provider, defines score involvements as the number of times a player has a disposal in a scoring chain. If a player has five disposals in one scoring chain, only one score involvement is recorded.

10

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Player

Matches

Score involvements 140

1

Lance Franklin (Haw)

12

2

Matthew Pavlich (Frem)

14

124

3

Marc Murphy (Carl)

14

120

4

Chris Judd (Carl)

14

117

5

Dustin Martin (Rich)

14

117

6

Brent Harvey (N Melb)

14

116

7

Dane Swan (Coll)

12

114

8

Steve Johnson (Geel)

13

114

9

Daniel Wells (N Melb)

14

111

10

Brett Deledio (Rich)

14

111

Hodge won 31 of his 40 disposals in the defensive half.

Although the Magpies would have been content with him winning most of his possession in defence, coach Mick Malthouse admitted he was concerned his

team had allowed the Hawks skipper so much of the ball, suggesting they had failed in their quest to man him.

Interestingly, the leading player in the competition for score involvements is

Hodge’s teammate Lance Franklin, who has 140 in 12 games, at an average of almost 12 a game.

Franklin’s total includes his own 84 scoring shots (43 goals, 41 behinds) in which he has been the last act of a scoring chain.

Midfielders and goalkicking half-forwards make up the majority of the top-10 for score involvements this year, but it is the effort of Richmond’s Brett Deledio which is perhaps most notable.

Deledio has kicked only six goals and eight behinds this season, but has had 111 score involvements, proving his worth as a creative and attacking player off half-back.

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Port Adelaide midfielder Hamish Hartlett to have season-ending reconstructive shoulder surgery in the next few weeks.

STATS TELL THE STORY

Tardy Tigers seek quick remedy to slow starts

I

C A L LU LUM M T WOMEY O

f Richmond is to assert itself as a genuine finals contender – and a team on its way to premiership contention – it must quickly address one its most glaring problems: its shocking record in first quarters.

In 14 games this season, Richmond has ‘won’ only one first term (against Essendon Essen in round nine, when it lled by one point.) Th The Tigerss also ‘drew’ ‘drew one first quarte quarter, agai inst Frema against Fremantle in n round se seven.

Overal Overall, the Tigers ha have a differe differential

of -215 points in first quarters this year. On average, they have been 15.4 points (or almost three goals) down at every quarter-time break.

Against Carlton last week, the Tigers trailed by 22 points at the first change, with the Blues, starting with a sharp goal by Mitch Robinson 28 seconds into the game, kicking five majors for the term to Richmond’s one.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick, in his typically frank way, summed things up perfectly after the game.

“It would be nice to get off to a good start,” he said.

“Carlton started hotter.

Granted, after their

FRUSTRATED: Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has been

disappointed with his side’s slow starts in 2011.

Round/opponent Round /opponen

Richmond’s first quarter

performance last week (losing to West Coast), they were always going to do that. We just couldn’t rectify the scoreboard at any change.”

For a young team – the average age last weekend was 22 years and 312 days compared to Carlton’s 24 years and 216 days – starting a game off the pace on a consistent basis can only spell trouble.

The lingering impact of poor starts is obvious in Richmond’s total points scored for and against this season.

The Tigers have kicked 213 points fewer than they have allowed, almost exactly the same as their overall differential in first terms.

This shows Richmond, on average, marginally outscores its opposition after quarter-time.

Opposition’s first quarter

+/-

Final result

1

Carlton Car rlton

3.0 (18)

2.8 (20)

L2

Loss

2

St Kilda K

2.4 (16)

4.6 (30)

L14

Draw

3

Hawthorn Haw wthorn

1.3 (9)

7.1 (43)

L34

Loss

4

Collingwood Col llingwood

2.2 (14)

8.6 (54)

L40

Loss

5

North Norrth Melbourne Melbou

1.3 (9)

5.1 (31)

L22

Win

6

Brisbane Lions Bris sbane Lion

4.3 (27)

5.3 (33)

L6

Win

7

Fremantle Fremantle

3.2 (20)

2.8 (20)

=

Win

8

Western Wes stern Bulldogs Bulld

1.4 (10)

7.2 (44)

L34

Loss

9

Essendon Ess sendon

2.3 (15)

2.2 (14)

W1

Win

Port 10 0 Por rt Adelaide

1.2 (8)

1.4 (10)

L2

Loss

12 Sydney Syd dney

2.3 (15)

3.8 (26)

L11

Loss

Brisbane Lions 13 Bri sbane Lion

2.5 (17)

4.2 (26)

L9

Win

Melbourne 14 4 Me lbourne

3.5 (23)

7.1 (43)

L20

Loss

15 Carlton Carrlton

1.4 (10)

5.2 (32)

TOTAL

L22

Loss

-215

Loss

When they’re not playing...

PLAYER

The person you would most like to meet:

What scares you most:

First job:

Favourite movie:

Luke Breust Hawthorn

Roger Federer

Snakes

Delivering pamphlets

Shooter

Corey Enright Geelong

an n Michael Jordan

H He Heights

Butcher

Idiot Box

Marc Murphy Carlton

Will Ferrell

Heights H He

Worked at the back of a butcher shop

Rocky IV

Michael Barlow Fremantle

Lance Armstrong

Noises when you are in bed

Stacking fridges at Ducat’s in Shepparton

Con Air

12

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“Blood Oath.”

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Do it now on Facebook. And by making an oath you’ll also help your local footy club win cash rewards. facebook.com/mybloodoath

Sydney Swans mourning the passing of former club CEO Don Roach.

HEALING HANDS

700 games later, Doc is still going strong A DA M McNICOL

N

ot many people managed to outlast Kevin Sheedy at Essendon, but the club’s chief medical officer, Dr Bruce Reid, is one of them.

A fixture at Windy Hill for more than three decades, the affable doctor was lured to Essendon by Sheedy not long after the former Richmond star took over as Bombers coach.

Reid, who played three games for Hawthorn in the 1960s, had struck up a friendship with Sheedy while working as a medical officer with the Tigers.

Although Sheedy is now based in Sydney coaching the Greater Western Sydney Giants, Reid

IN GOOD HANDS: Bruce Reid with Young

Bomber Travis Colyer at the MCG last Saturday night.

remains one of the Bombers’ most popular and valuable employees. Last weekend, Reid achieved a remarkable milestone when he oversaw his 700th Essendon match.

How did the club know this?

Well, since his home and away debut as a medical officer with the Bombers in round one of 1982 (Essendon beat Footscray by 109 points at Windy Hill), the man known around the club as ‘Doc’ has not missed a match.

“I’ve just been lucky,” Reid told the AFL Record. “I’ve only missed seven days of work and they were all in the off-season.

Because I treat so many people, I’m probably immune to all the flu and stuff, but don’t mozz me on that. I did have a back spasm one time and we just happened to have a bye that weekend.”

For much of Reid’s time at Essendon, he worked alongside fellow medical officer Ian ‘Rubber’ Reynolds, who was also coaxed across from Richmond by Sheedy.

Reynolds retired at the end of the 2009 season after working as a club doctor at 665 games. Both he and Reid were honoured for their services to the game when they were jointly awarded the prestigious Jack Titus award by the AFL Commission in 2010.

Reid and Reynolds arrived at Essendon in November of 1981 and the first major drama they were

I’ve only missed seven days of work and they were in the off-season DR BRUCE REID

called upon to deal with was Neale Daniher’s second serious knee injury.

A brilliantly skilled half-back, Daniher was Essendon’s best player when he went down the first time on the eve of the 1981 finals series.

He had a reconstruction, but tore his ACL again while training for his comeback game seven months later.

“Neale was really unlucky because he ended up doing his other knee later on and also dislocating his shoulder,” Reid said.

“He was as tough and courageous as any player; he just didn’t have a body that could withstand the game.”

Reid’s job has changed markedly since he first walked into the rooms at Windy Hill. use to work in my medical “II used practice all day and get to the club in ttime for training at about 4 4.30pm,” Reid explained.

“Back then, th the boys had jobs – theyy w were plumbers and builde ers and the like. builders “Th he b “The big change was when they w we went to daytime training around d 1993. Nowadays, my privatee p practice work has to fit around d my job at the footy club.”

Thee w way injuries are treated has changed ch han dramatically as well.

“Th he knee arthroscope wasn’t “The really heard he of until Peter Daicos had it do done in the early ’80s and was ab ble to come back in three able weeks s,” Reid recalled. weeks,” “Pr rio to that, they’d take “Prior the whole w cartilage out of the pla ay player’s knee, put the leg in pl la plaster, and they’d miss nine mo m months.

And they’d get art a arthritis down the track.”

Reid regards the facial frra fractures suffered by James Hir in 2002 and Matthew H Hird Llo oy ruptured spleen in Lloyd’s 1 thee 1996 preliminary final at S the SCG as the most serious inju uri he has attended to. injuries “W Wh happened to ‘Lloydy’ “What pr was p pretty frightening because w in intensive care for 10 he was i Sydney,” Reid said. “He days in

had a litre-and-a-half of blood in his tummy.

“There was also Steve Clark, who, in about ’87, got cleaned up front-on at Windy Hill and was paralysed for 25 seconds. It took us 10 minutes to get him off the ground and then we took him straight to Austin Hospital. He only had spinal shock in the end and he was fine, but it was very scary at the time.”

In 2002, Reid helped save the life of former Essendon runner and long-serving club employee Colin Hooper, who suffered a heart attack just before a game.

“We had to get the MICA paramedics in to get him going again,” he said.

“Instead of dying, like he would’ve if he’d been down the beach, he had no damage. He was actually sitting up in his hospital ward, with a stent in his heart, by half-time.

“That was fairly exciting and rewarding. He’s still around the club, and fighting fit, at the age of 74.”

When Reid started his career as Essendon’s medical officer, Hird was only eight. That he is now the club’s senior coach puts Reid’s contribution into perspective. Along the way, he and Hird have developed an almost father-son relationship.

“The blokes who have a bad run of injuries, you probably get closer to them than anyone,” Reid said. “You just do a journey with them. ‘Hirdy’ trusts me, so that helps.”

Last Saturday night, after the Bombers had enjoyed an upset four-point victory over the previously unbeaten Geelong, Reid celebrated his 700th game by enjoying a couple of glasses of red wine back at Hird’s house.

“I don’t live far from Hirdy’s place,” Reid said. “He’s in Toorak and I’m in Hawthorn – in the pauper’s street. I often drop him off on the way home.

“It’s usually pretty hard to sleep after night games, so that’s when we’ll go back to his place.

He’s a great friend.”

Hawthorn defender Jordan Lisle sidelined indefinitely after surgery on fractured cheekbone.

Cats caught napping by Bombers’ precision planning » Essendon’s four-point win

over Geelong last weekend was a result of meticulous preparation, balanced team selection, perfect execution of plans and – perhaps the most crucial but fluid aspect of them all – increased output from a group of players who had been down on form.

The four components sparked the biggest upset of the season, a victory that broke the Bombers’ five-game losing streak and ended Geelong’s unbeaten run of 13 wins.

Specifically, the Bombers curbed the Cats’ most dangerous personnel and starved them of possession. Defender Harry Taylor was dragged as deep into his defensive 50 as possible, which limited his uncontested marking, and Andrew Welsh’s role as a defensive forward on Matthew Scarlett was crucial.

Welsh had eight possessions and kicked two goals before injuring his hamstring in the second quarter, but made Scarlett accountable.

In a broader sense, Essendon refused to give up possession like it had in stages of its past five games.

Geelong’s time in possession was at its lowest rate of the season – 37 per cent – compared to its season average of 44 per cent – and that was reflected in the raw numbers, with the Cats having only 298 disposals. It was the fewest for Geelong since round 20 of 2006.

The Cats’ uncontested-possession count of 149 was also their lowest since the dramatic 2005 semi-final against the Sydney Swans. They had 112 fewer uncontested possessions than the Bombers, the biggest differential on record.

Essendon’s plans were built on some of the intelligence from Geelong’s dual premiership coach Mark Thompson and assistant coach Brendan McCartney, who left the Cats at the end of last season to join the Bombers.

However, perhaps the most important aspect of the win was selecting the right team to pull off the victory.

Although Essendon had three forced changes after losing to Hawthorn in round 14 – Jobe Watson (hamstring), David Myers (hamstring) and Sam Lonergan (knee) – it also dropped ruckman Tom Bellchambers in favour of more run.

All of the inclusions (Travis Colyer, Stewart Crameri, Kyle Hardingham and Kyle Reimers) added necessary pace.

As much as correct selection, clever tactics and the use of inside information paid off, some other factors might also have lifted the Bombers across the line.

Patrick Ryder played his best game of the season and Michael Hurley’s move to defence made the Essendon forward line more unpredictable.

Jake Melksham brilliantly filled Watson’s absence in the midfield with 29 touches, seven tackles and a goal, and first-year pair Dyson Heppell and Michael Hibberd played the best games of their respective careers.

TEAM EFFORT:

Angus Monfries played his part in the Bombers’ unpredictable forward line.

CALLUM TWOMEY

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Collingwood forward Chris Dawes expected to be out four-to-six weekss after surgery on a broken knuckle.

CRAVING TEAM SUCCESS

Hollow feeling as Schulz’s haul goes unrewarded K ATR INA GIL L

J

ay Schulz did his best to snare Port Adelaide a rare win this season with his seven-goal haul against the Brisbane Lions last weekend.

It was the second time in 12 months Schulz had kicked seven, but both times the Power lost.

Late in the third quarter, Schulz shaped as the hero as Port Adelaide looked set for its ďŹ rst away win this year.

The former Richmond utility had slotted four goals for the term to equal his career-best tally of seven, with the Power out to a 20-point lead.

However, instead of hitting the jackpot as the best player on the ground in a much-needed win, Schulz’s swag was reduced to a

consolation prize as the Power coughed up the lead and slumped to a disappointing 11-point loss.

Schulz’s haul (the highest of the round) ranks behind only West Coast forward Josh Kennedy’s 10 in round nine and Essendon’s Kyle Reimers’ eight in round six as the best goalkicking efforts this season. “It was disappointing we couldn’t cap Jay’s game off with a win,â€? coach Matthew Primus said after the game. “It was a terriďŹ c performance from him to keep us in the game.

All year he’s stood up for us in games and he was certainly spent at the end.�

Schulz had 10 shots at goal for a career-best return of 7.3, but was downcast in the rooms after the game. “It’s hard to be happy when you’ve lost so many games this season,� Schulz said. “It’s always nice to play well yourself, but it’s a team sport.�

Schulz experienced similar mixed emotions in round 13 last season, when he kicked 7.1 in Port Adelaide’s 36-point loss to North Melbourne.

The 26-year-old, who signed a contract extension this week, has

kicked multiple goals in mes for the 14 of his 25 games ng the club since leaving d of 2009.

Tigers at the end ly got “Jay’s certainly ck a lot of the ability (to kick ate Hamish goals),â€? teammate When he kicks kick ks Hartlett said. “When e’s pretty ha ard a couple early, he’s hard to stop.â€? Âť Port Adelaide ide CEO Ma Mark ark ned on Julyy 1 Haysman resigned ree years in the after almost three cted to stayy until role. He is expected the end of the month. tay in the job b until “I wanted to stay rt Adelaide had h I was certain Port tainty that would w the ďŹ nancial certainty erm successs off ensure its long-term s the ďŹ eld and on,â€?â€? Haysman said. igned the Haysman resigned FL announced announcced day after the AFL 2 million a three-year $12 ance package packag ge ďŹ nancial assistance de the the for Port Adelaide s.

Adelaide Crows.

MIXED FEELINGS: Jay Schulz did his

bit last week with seven goals but the Power still lost.

It’s hard ard to o be happy y when you’ve ou’ve lost l so many es thiss season games JAY SCHULZ SCH HULZ

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MELBOURNE’S OWN AFL RECORD

visit arecord.com.au

17

North Melbourne to hold extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday, August 9, to amend club’s constitution.

SPREADING THE WORD

130 years on, Roos to renew Tassie links I A N SYSON

I

t’s possible to imagine many conversations in the pubs, clubs and homes of Hobart in which the question is asked: “What has North Melbourne ever done for us?” Some might say, “Well, nothing really.”

History suggests otherwise.

For a start, North Melbourne (then known as Hotham Football Club) was the first Victorian team to visit Tasmania, playing games in Launceston and Hobart, on July 2 and 5, 1881, some 130 years ago.

The Hobart game was a major event for the southern community. More than 1500 spectators turned out to what the Mercury described as “one of the most exciting games that has ever been played in Tasmania”.

18

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The combined Southern team requesting a game. Although overcame a spirited Hotham, this caused some excitement and by three goals to two. anticipation, the Hobart club’s Despite their victory, the committee decided it could not locals knew they had faced “under present circumstances, a superior foe. The Mercury respond favourably to the offer reported it was “pleasing of the Hotham club to pay a visit to see that our footballers are to this colony”. not too proud to take a lesson Football across Tasmania in play from a visiting team”. was in such disarray that Immediate footballing local humiliation could be the improvements were noted, only possible outcome from a especially in relation to ‘little contest between Hotham and marking’, “the smartness of the a Hobart team.

Victorians in this respect being Hobart football had been copied by the local men”. in a slumber in the mid-1870s When Hotham and was still revisited in 1887, awakening. the Launceston The Examiner Mercury reminded readers lamented: that the “visit of “The the Hotham team resuscitation about six years of football ago marked the this winter beginning of a … ought to new era in football have rendered in this colony”. a favourable THE HOBART MERCURY Generally, that reply possible, first visit was but the credited with spreading Victorian peculiar relation of the clubs will, Rules throughout Tasmania. no doubt, interfere.

Earlier, in May of 1879, “Such an attention, however, Hotham had written to from Victoria will demonstrate Hobart’s City Football Club the necessity for the formation of

Our footballers are not too proud to take a lesson from the visiting team

an association (and) uniformity of rules.”

Hobart football in early 1879 had no set code of play. Some clubs played Victorian Rules, others preferred a form of rugby, one chose soccer and there were also local codes.

Moreover, tremendous infighting existed between clubs based on colonial political loyalties. Some footballers were holding out for the mooted visit of an English football team, whereas others were advocates of the Victorian game.

The Hotham letter brought home the realisation that intercolonial football relations were most likely to be established with Victoria and, this being the case, Victorian Rules needed to be adopted by the local association.

In the absence of visiting British teams, those pushing for the British codes had no argument.

By the end of the 1879 season, Victorian Rules (with some modifications) was established as the dominant football code in Hobart. Hotham’s letter was a vital moment in that process.

As we have seen, two years later, the locals beat the

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Port Adelaide defender Alipate Carlile to miss five weeks with a hip injury.

Victorians at their own game, thereby confirming footy as the primary winter game in Tasmania.

So in relation to the “What has North Melbourne done for us?” question, Hobart could answer: “Nothing, apart from (a) helping create the foundations of the game in Tasmania; (b) being the first Victorian team to visit Hobart; (c) improving the standard of play in the colony; and (d) helping establish footy as the Tasmanian winter game.

North Melbourne kept up its connection with Tasmania throughout the following century, returning a number of times, especially immediately before and after World War II. Other clubs might have visited more often and with more recent impact, but North can forever claim it was the first.

DR IAN SYSON IS A SENIOR LECTURER IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND LITERARY STUDIES AT VICTORIA UNIVERSITY. HE IS WRITING A CULTURAL HISTORY OF FOOTBALL IN AUSTRALIA.

YOUNG SUN WITH SKILLS

Long bombs have ‘wow’ factor MICH A EL W HITING

G

old Coast’s human cannon went bang not once, but twice against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium last weekend.

Exciting Suns teenager Trent McKenzie continued to enhance his reputation as one of the best kicks in the game, launching two superb goals from well outside 50m to add to a growing

20

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BOOMING KICK: Trent

McKenzie’s long kicking is a feature of his game.

catalogue of ‘wow’ goals. It’s no fluke either. McKenzie said he worked hard at perfecting his leftfoot bombs that had peppered a number of grounds around the League this season.

“I work on it a fair bit at training with a few of the boys,” he told afl.com.au. “We have a few contests kicking them from outside 50, so that gives me a lot of practice.”

McKenzie kicked a 55m goal in the first QClash against

the Brisbane Lions in round seven, but really rose to prominence with a goal from about five metres inside the centre square the following week against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

What’s even more amazing about McKenzie’s kicking is the fact he usually kicks off one or two steps – his goal against the Crows was off one.

In a training drill posted on the Gold Coast website, McKenzie was challenged to

see just how far he could kick.

After kicking drop punts from 50m and 60m, the wingman stepped back to 70m and unloaded with a torpedo that split the sticks. It’s not just his long bombs that are catching the eye though, with the former Western Jet developing all aspects of his game.

After being rested in round 14 against the Western Bulldogs, the 19-year-old returned against Fremantle with a

Brisbane Lions fined $21,630 for breaching AFL player rules in 2010.

bang, collecting a career-high 24 disposals and laying seven tackles in the 52-point loss.

“It was one of my better games, that’s for sure. I was pretty happy with it. I was pretty much the same as the team – I started all right but I ran out of legs a little bit at the end,” McKenzie said.

“I really felt like my body needed a bit of a rest (the previous week) because I was struggling to maintain the right intensity, but I’m feeling fresh and it’s good to be back in.

“I’m just really hoping I can achieve that consistent (level of) footy for the rest of the season.”

Like the rest of the Suns, McKenzie has plenty of good leaders around him, especially skipper Gary Ablett.

I work on it (kicking) a fair bit at training TRENT McKENZIE

Ablett has been in rare form in the past month, averaging 35 disposals and two goals, and it has not gone unnoticed by the quietly spoken McKenzie, who lives with teammates Brandon Matera and David Swallow.

“He just works so hard every week. He’s a great teacher. He leads by example and shows us how it’s done,” he said.

“On the other side, he uses his voice to teach us how to run and do different things, so he’s really good for us.

“When you make a mistake, he comes up to you and tells you what you’ve done wrong and what to do next time.

He’s helped a lot of us.”

UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Vic Metro, Tassie closing in on titles

EYE-CATCHERS: Taylor Adams was one of Vic Country’s best with 20 possessions while Lachie Neale (inset) worked hard to gather 18 disposals for South Australia.

C A L LUM T WOMEY, BEN GU THR IE A ND JASON PHEL A N

V

ic Metro was on the verge of winning the Division One title at the 2011 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships heading into the final round of the carnival this week. Tasmania was best placed to win the Division Two crown.

Metro, unbeaten in its first four games of the championships, was set to take on Vic Country on Wednesday at Etihad Stadium in a game that was likely to have decided the winner.

Vic Country and South Australia were also chances to take out the title heading into the final round if results fell their way, but a Vic Metro win over its Country rival would have secured the championships’ major prize.

Vic Metro defeated South Australia by 26 points at Skilled Stadium last weekend, with Jonathon Patton firming as the likely No. 1 pick at the 2011 NAB AFL Draft after kicking five goals.

The imposing 197cm forward took eight marks, including five contested, in a best-on-ground display.

South Australia’s cause was not helped with the early loss of skipper Chad Wingard.

The prolific ball-winner left the field dazed after a heavy bump just before quarter-time and did not return.

Nick Amato (20 disposals) and Lachie Neale (18) worked hard in Wingard’s absence and were listed among South Australia’s best.

Vic Country gave itself an outside chance to claim the Division One title after its dominant 49-point win against Western Australia.

Midfielder Taylor Adams was one of Country’s best with 20 hard-earned possessions (nine contested) and six tackles.

A th to t impress i Another was Sam Docherty, who repelled solidly from defence with 21 possessions and five rebound 50s. It was Docherty’s first game of the carnival, but the occasion did not appear to bother him as he displayed great composure.

Small forward Clay Smith kicked two goals to go with his 21 possessions, while highly rated 17-year-old Lachlan

MILESTONES ROUND 16

200 GAMES

Lindsay Gilbee Western Bulldogs

AFL 200 CLUB

Michael Gardiner St Kilda

The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.

100 GAMES

Hamish McIntosh North Melbourne

50 GAMES MES

100 CLUB C GAMES

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Br Brent Moloney Melbourne M AFL A FL RECORD

reco visit aflrecord.com.au

21

Next round’s Carlton-Collingwood match at the MCG deemed close to a sellout.

Whitfield showed his class with three goals and 17 possessions.

For Western Australia, Haiden Schlothe worked hard through the middle with 17 possessions and Shane Nelson was prolific with 35 possessions.

In the back half, Riley Hutchinson was creative and provided plenty of overlap.

Country booted three goals to Western Australia’s nil in the last quarter, as it put its stamp on a clinical team performance.

Classy West Australians Jaeger O’Meara and Stephen Coniglio were quelled and unable to have their usual influence.

A standout performance from Tasmanian forward Brody Mihocek helped his team to a solid 33-point victory over the Northern Territory. The victory put Tasmania in prime position to claim the Division Two title.

Mihocek, who hails from Burnie, collected 17 possessions (10 contested) to go with five inside-50s.

The 18-year-old looks a likely prospect; he can win contested ball and has a strong aerial capacity.

He also has an Essendon connection, his father Jack playing 13 games for the club in the 1970s.

Kelvin Williams was unyielding in the back half for the Territory, exhibiting strong defensive skills and an ability to repel forward movements. He had 16 possessions and four rebound 50s.

NSW/ACT thumped Queensland by 54 points in their Division Two showdown at Visy Park.

The Rams led from start to finish and opened up a 30-point lead at half-time before almost doubling the margin at the end of the game.

NSW/ACT jumped out to a handy 16-point buffer at quarter-time, with Jack Lynch

Buntine has balance right

» Vic Country and Dandenong

HONOURED:

Matthew Buntine says he was delighted to win the AIS-AFL Academy’s Ben Mitchell Medal.

The 18-year-old (Brody Mihocek) looks a likely prospect kicking a terrific set-shot goal on the quarter-time siren to buoy his team.

The Rams dominated proceedings in the second quarter with its firepower in the forward line.

David Coward led the way in the midfield with 18 possessions, James Breust was a vital cog up forward with 16 possessions and one goal and Sam Milne played a valuable run-with role on Jackson Allen.

Harry Cunningham, who is a chance to be picked by Greater Western Sydney as a zone selection player, displayed line-breaking run in winning 19 possessions and having six inside-50s. Queensland’s Adam Oxley played well as a lead-up forward, with 14 possessions and five inside 50s.

SEE PAGE 49 FOR AN UPDATE ON THE FINAL DIVISION ONE MATCHES PLAYED IN MELBOURNE ON WEDNESDAY, WITH SCORES ON PAGES 51-52.

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22

AFL RECORD

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Stingrays midfielder Matthew Buntine (left) is this year’s winner of the AIS-AFL Academy’s Ben Mitchell Medal.

“It’s surreal to be honest,” Buntine said on receiving the award, which is named after former AIS-AFL Academy graduate Ben Mitchell, who was killed in a car accident in 2002.

The 30 members of the Academy squad vote for the award. Personal qualities such as courage, determination, passion, confidence and discipline form part of the criteria for the award, which Buntine received at the Academy’s break-up lunch at Etihad Stadium last Monday.

“To be in the company of the likes of Jack Grimes and Jack Ziebell, who also won this award, is pretty special,” he said.

Buntine, 17, has been slowed by shin splints this year, but has worked hard to be part of Vic Country’s NAB AFL Under-18 Championships campaign.

He was due to play for Country against Vic Metro on Wednesday afternoon in the under-18s carnival.

Buntine took part in several camps with the Academy squad, including the European tour in April. He balanced that with his Stingrays commitments and school schedule, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The balance can be hard to maintain, but you do it because you love football,” he said.

“It’s such a big year and we’re only halfway through it. There’s still a long way to go and you have to enjoy yourself. It’s the one year that really counts in many ways, but you’ve got to enjoy it.”

JASON PHELAN

West Coast defenders Eric Mackenzie and Will Schofield extend their contracts until end of 2013 season.

2011 INTERNATIONAL CUP

Cup is bringing cultures together

FACE OF THE CUP:

Brett Kirk is the International Cup ambassador.

» Eighteen nations – Canada,

China, Denmark, East Timor, Fiji, France, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Japan, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peace Team (comprising of both Israeli and Palestinian players), Sweden, South Africa, Tonga and the United States – will compete in the fourth Australian Football International Cup from August 12-27.

East Timor, Fiji, France and Tonga are playing in the carnival for the first time, with matches to be played in Sydney and Melbourne.

The tournament will also feature women’s teams for the first time, with Canada, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, the

United States and a combined multicultural and indigenous team taking part.

Two matches will be played as curtain-raisers to AFL

games (Sunday, August 20 at ANZ Stadium and the Grand Final on Saturday, August 27, at the MCG).

Both matches will feature a ‘Parade of Nations’ ceremony

with competing teams introduced at half-time of the AFL match.

The AFL’s international development manager Tony Woods said the International Cup was indicative of the code’s growth and a reflection of its diversity.

“There will be up to 1000 players and officials taking part in the carnival,” he said.

“We look forward to welcoming the nations, watching them compete and experience the role Australian Football plays in bringing cultures together.”

Expatriate Australians are ineligible to play in the International Cup. Teams are comprised solely of amateurs who must be nationals of the country they represent.

Previous International Cup winners are Ireland (2002), New Zealand (2005) and Papua New Guinea (2008).

Former Sydney Swans captain and premiership player Brett Kirk is the International Cup ambassador.

AFL RECORD

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23

essendon is all in Your team, your shirt, your stories We searched for the ultimate Bombers fan and we found you.

Congratulations to Curtis McGlone, winner of the adidas all access competiton

Do you think you’re the most passionate Essendon fan?

Tell us why and you could win the ultimate all access pass to the Essendon Football Club.

To enter go to www.adidasallaccess.com/essendon

JACK REDDEN

APPETITE FOR THE CONTEST

A

Brisbane Lions youngster Jack Redden is making his mark on the competition. MICH A EL W HITING

lthough this season has largely been a struggle for the Brisbane Lions, there are positives that have emerged.

Coach Michael Voss has been clear about his plan to promote and develop youngsters, and he is getting dividends from third-year midfielder Jack Redden.

The 20-year-old, drafted 25th overall in 2008 from Glenelg in South Australia, has been among the Lions’ best in the past five weeks, playing the most impressive form of his short career.

In last Sunday’s 11-point win over Port Adelaide at the Gabba, Redden was again at the forefront, in and under packs and doing the hard work not always recognised.

He had 21 disposals – seven in the last quarter – and a staggering 13 tackles.

His neat pass to captain Jonathan Brown late in the third quarter resulted in a goal that turned the tide after Brisbane trailed by 20 points.

Despite the Lions losing their previous four matches by an average of 45 points, Redden has been super-consistent, averaging 26 disposals (10 contested), seven marks and seven tackles since round 11.

He is quietly spoken and not one to talk expansively about his own game, but agreed his form had been consistent.

“I haven’t changed the way I’ve been going about it,” he said.

“There are a lot of things I need to look at to improve my game and I’ve been focusing on those.

“I’ve just been giving 100 per cent effort each week and playing my role for the team; just having a crack and putting my head over the ball.”

Since making his debut in a win over Geelong in round 15, 2009, Redden has quietly put together an unbroken string of 46 matches.

One of his strengths is winning contested possession, and he is second in the competition for tackles with (108) – one behind Jude Bolton. That shouldn’t come as a surprise

when you consider who his boyhood idol was.

Although he grew up in South Australia supporting Adelaide, Redden was a huge fan of Western Bulldogs great Scott West. And now, he’s benefiting from the tutelage of Lions teammate and Brownlow medallist Simon Black. It’s easy to see how influential that pair has been on the youngster.

“I’ve always liked the contested style of footy, even as a kid growing up,” Redden said.

“Scotty West was

in and under and put his head over the ball a lot. And ‘Blacky’ sets the benchmark, so it’s good to work with him and see how he goes about it.

“I’ve been here three years now and he’s been around for 10-plus years, so he knows everything in that area and p is a quality player, so it’s good h to feed off him.

“I want to add a few strings to my bow tthough, by getting more uncon uncontested possessions with run an and spread, which I think I can do.”

Redden ssaid if the Lions could string four quarters of t good footy together, they had a huge chance to finish w the season well.

“We know where we’re wron and what to going wrong address,” he said.

“It’s very frustrating at espec times, especially when a wit game is within reach and we let it slip wit with 20 minutes or 40 minutes of (bad) football.

We’re defin nitely capable.

“For a you young side, we have to keep the spirits up and keep working on our weaknesses.

“Hopeful “Hopefully, we start developing the team for years down the tr track and have some more succes success.”

FACT FILE

SHINING LIGHT: Jack Redden has

been a real positive in a tough season for the Brisbane Lions.

30

Jack Re Redden

Born: December Dec 9, 1990 Recruited from: Glenelg Debut: Ro Round 15, 2009 v Geelong Height: 1189cm Weight: 76kg Games: 4 46 Goals: 20 Player ho honours: NAB AFL Star nominee 2010 Rising Sta history: Draft hist 2008 NAB AFL Draft 2nd round sel selection (Brisbane No. 25 overall Lions) No

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From VFL reserves to premiership hero, it has been a long journey for Alan Toovey. But the underrated and unflappable defender has proven time and again he is a man for the moment. PETER RYA N here is no point being overly dramatic around Alan Toovey.

Underpinning any conversation with the Collingwood defender is his laid-back sense of humour, and keen sense of the ridiculous. Add to that a rare ability to enhance a story with a mere shrug of the shoulders, or a slight raise of the eyebrows, and you have a player unaffected by the hoopla that surrounds the AFL, and particularly Collingwood.

Perhaps it is part of the make-up of those raised on a sheep and crop farm in Frankland, a small town in Western Australia. Perhaps it is just him, the man who evolved as he attended boarding school in Perth in his teenage years.

Whatever the reason, it is a handy asset for a key figure in the competition’s form team.

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Take this line that arises when we are discussing the horrifying collision he had with the knee of Geelong’s Tom Hawkins in round eight. He reflects on the moment he was carted from the ground wearing a neck brace for starters.

“I was thinking, like when you see (the late motorcycle daredevil) Evel Knievel and those sorts of guys when they get a big caning and crash, they give the big thumbs up to the crowd.

That was one of those moments,” he said.

We are guessing his parents Martin and Judy were not similarly bemused while listening to the incident described on radio as they drove towards Perth.

Nor his girlfriend, Jade, or sister, Jenna, as they headed from the grandstand to the rooms more than a little stressed.

And not just those with a direct connection: all who saw the incident were fearful for his safety.

Thankfully, everyone could smile afterwards when the diagnosis was ‘only’ a bruised lung and the recuperation required ‘just’ a couple of days in hospital.

Toovey is a hard nut, but he is no nut. Had he not been called back by Heath Shaw to take on the pack, he said he would have assessed the situation before charging in. For all that, he is relaxed about the position he found himself in.

“You can run back like that into a contest and get hit 10 times and you would get away with it seven or eight times,” he said.

Still, he was lucky, and his bravery was made very public.

When he saw the ball go over his head, he thought he might be a chance to cut it off. He knew teammate Ben Reid and Hawkins

were coming from the goalsquare, but when he heard Shaw calling him in to take the mark, he figured he had time to complete the mark before they arrived.

Sometimes in such instances, Toovey said, the ball is high enough to allow the player to judge whether he is going to make it or not and then have a peek at what is coming. In this case, however, he couldn’t take his eye off the ball, as he knew he wouldn’t make it if he did.

At the last second, with about 30cm separating him from Hawkins’ knee, Toovey saw what was coming and knew he was going to get hit.

He hit the ground before managing to get to his hands and knees. He suspected he was merely winded. “I thought, ‘I got out of that pretty sweet’,” he said.

He waited for his breath to come back but, when his

MAGPIE CALLING: Alan Toovey hams it up for the cameras. In the past few seasons, Collingwood fans have started calling his name when he gets the ball – see page 62 for his take on it.

PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

first effort to breathe had him bringing up blood he had one thought. “I was like ‘Ah, that is not good’. I knew I was struggling but I felt my face and neck and everything else was fine.”

Jade and Jenna went with him to nearby Epworth Hospital in an ambulance and became less stressed as the damage was assessed. His mum was relieved when she heard that all was not as bad as it seemed.

Shaw was apologetic in his inimitable, larrikin style.

“He said, ‘I didn’t call you back head-first’,” Toovey said. “He was good about it. He came to see me in hospital.”

Although all the Collingwood defenders are fearless, their actions are based on trust. The tight-knit group sometimes uses dark humour to steel each other for battle.

But to define Toovey as merely courageous would be a limiting description. The truth is, Toovey’s performances deserve more attention than they often get.

Toovey is quick. In the one-on-one contest, there are few better. He can shut down an opponent and break open a game with his dash. He has the capacity to perform in big games and in big moments, too.

He never loses his head off the ground and rarely loses his feet when performing on it. When Collingwood came back to win 60

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CRUNCHED: Alan Toovey took the full force of this collision with Tom Hawkins’ knee in round eight, which saw him taken to hospital with a bruised lung.

the 2010 Grand Final replay Champion Data rated Toovey among the top three players on the ground for exerting pressure.

His ability to keep his feet is explained simply. “If the ball is on the ground, then I can use my speed, so I don’t want to be lying on the ground because then I can’t run,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s something you practise and get good at.

Balance would be a part of it, and core strength.”

Adding balance to the capacity to perform in big games makes for a great double.

Toovey said when the pressure is on and the game is tight, he is just playing, a footballer in the moment, acting instinctively.

“That’s why finals are so much better to play,” he said.

Toovey has played in seven finals, won four and been involved in that classic 2010 draw. His overall win-loss record is handy too, 79 games for 57 wins. He was one of six Magpies to play every game in the premiership season.

His teammates and coaches trust and respect him. He is predictable and plays within the structure. He said he has no choice to be anything else.

“That’s why I’m in the team and, if I don’t do that, I won’t be.”

He knows well what it is like to be out of the team; and because he took the rookie path, his talent is often sold short.

Contrary to popular perception, he was a standout junior footballer, part of the 2003-04 AIS-AFL Academy intake and an All-Australian after the 2004 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

He was overlooked at the 2004 draft, his abilityy to perform rtail iled d late in that season curtailed ly when he unknowingly ith played four games with bacck. stress fractures in hiss back. nted but In 2005, disappointed udyiing realistic, he began studying exercise science at thee n University of Western ng Australia while playing for Claremont in the WAFL, picking up a part-time job in a he bottle shop to keep the r. wolves from the door.

Either training or work filled his nights d and the nagging need he to study the rest of the spare time.

Under former Tigerr nd now now and Docker player and ent coach Fremantle development Ashley Prescott, he madee eam in Claremont’s senior team mer 2005, replacing former arren n Melbourne player Darren

ALAN TOOVEY

Born: March 23, 1987 Recruited from: Claremont Debut: Round 3, 2007 v Richmond Height: 189cm Weight: 89kg Games: 79 Goals: 8 Player honours: premiership side 2010 Draft history: 2006 Rookie Draft selection (Collingwood) No. 2;; 2006 rookie elevation (Collingwood).

(Collingwood) (Co Collingwood).

Co o

DEPENDABLE:

Toovey has been a regular in defence for the Pies over the past few seasons.

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Kowal late in the season when the ex-Demon hurt his knee.

Claremont played in that year’s Grand Final but lost.

Toovey thought he was some chance to be drafted and had performed well in speed and beep tests at the draft camp, but again the draft passed without his name being read out.

Half an hour after the draft had finished, Collingwood recruiter Derek Hine rang and offered Toovey the chance to train with the Magpies, with a spot on the rookie list up for grabs. Toovey thought, ‘Why not?’ At worst, it would mean three weeks inside an AFL club.

Once he claimed that spot on the 2006 rookie list, drafted No.2 in the rookie draft behind Carlton’s Ryan Jackson, he resolved to work hard to grab a place on the list. Such is his way.

Collingwood’s development coach at the time, Alan Richardson, told him he needed to improve his kicking. If he couldn’t, he wouldn’t get a game.

But Richardson (now at Carlton) also told Toovey he had plenty of strengths, so if he maintained those positives while improving in that one area, he could make the grade.

When asked whether he did anything out of the ordinary to lift himself, Toovey stopped to think. “Not really. I just trained more,” he said, concentrating on kicking skills.

Three extra sessions a week devoted to kicking were the bare minimum. Occasionally, he would find himself at the club late, with darkness closing in.

He’d think to himself he was a long way from getting a game.

Because of the 12-10 rule in place that encouraged teams to play VFL-listed players, he often found himself playing VFL reserves for Collingwood’s then affiliate Williamstown, kicking off the dew at a cold, windy Point Gellibrand Oval, regardless of form.

Toovey would occasionally think in those moments it would be nice to be home. But he never became despondent recognising the opportunity he had was too good to waste.

Sharing a house in Williamstown with then Magpie Shannon Cox and Sam Iles (now with Gold Coast) was fun. For a 62

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» When Alan Toovey first

heard the crowd call “Tooooov” that accompanies his every possession – a soothing, meditative sound that envelopes the ground – he thought they were either recognising Bulldog Adam Cooney or booing him.

He was relieved when Dale Thomas told him after the game the chant was happening when he got the ball.

Toovey said hearing it had a practical effect, too.

“Sometimes, it’s handy if you’re running for the ball and you’re not sure if you’re the closest to it or if there’s someone else coming,” he said. “When they start cheering early, you think, ‘I’m definitely going to get this one then’.”

(Last week against Hawthorn there was also the BROOOOOO sound, whenever this week’s NAB AFL Rising Star, Luke Breust took possession.)

WELL BALANCED: Toovey has the rare ability to keep his feet.

while, Toovey was the only one with a car and he remembers often stopping to check a map on the way home from wherever they had been, his mates asleep as he worked out the best route.

That winter of working and waiting was soon pushed back in the memory, when he was elevated to the senior list for the 2007 season.

He made his AFL debut in round three, kicking three goals against the Tigers in a Magpie win.

He logged 17 games in two seasons, amazingly playing his final game in 2008 with a broken foot. While he hadn’t made a spot his own, he had the trust of the back six who knew Toovey was a man they could depend upon. This was important to those trying to elevate Collingwood from a topfour team to a premiership team.

Being named in the team for the opening round of 2009

was another big achievement.

Toovey was picking up the pace of the ever-changing game quickly, and as the season progressed, he began to be given more important roles in bigger games.

His hard work was starting to pay off and he was using his time better, too. He decided to work even harder on his kicking at training with variations.

“Increasing the difficulty of it I guess, and making it more game-like,” he said.

As the game demanded defenders play on multiple opponents, switching and swapping as required, Toovey was able to excel. His unflappable nature stands him in good stead in that environment. He has missed two games since round one, 2009.

“In the first two years of my career, we’d always get separate match-ups and you’d go through

it with the coach, looking at different tapes of one or two opponents, but now we do it together because any one of the six could play on any opponent,” he said.

“You always have different guys you focus on, but you can’t focus to a point where, if that doesn’t happen, you don’t know what’s going on. It’s about being prepared for every little outcome and then focusing on what you think might happen. But don’t rely on it happening.”

The admiration for him as a player has never flagged at Collingwood, and now, after that big hit, the broader knowledge of him as a person is just as high through the football world. He transferred his studies to Melbourne and hopes to finish his degree next year. And his continued good form suggests he is not resting on his laurels.

“Getting a premiership is what everyone aims for and what you dream about, but as soon as we started again this year, everyone said we have to get better, otherwise we won’t be able to do that again.”

®™ ™ THE E AF AFL L LOGO LOGO OGO AN ND COMP COMP OMPETI ETING ETI N TEAM NG TEA EAM LOGO LOGO OGOS, GOS, EMB EMBLEM EM LEMS LEM S AND AND ND NAM NAMES ES ON N THI H S PROD HI PROD RO UCT AR ARE E ALL ALL TRADE TRA DE M MAR A ARKS KS S OF F AND A US USED ED UN UND N ER LIC L ENC LI EN N E FROM FROM M TH HE OWNE OWNE NER NE R THE EA AUS USTRA TRALIA L N FOO LI LIA OOT O O BAL BALL LEAG EAGUE UE.

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LINDSAY MILESTONE

I’ll be richer for the experience of playing for this footy club LINDSAY GILBEE

Western Bulldogs veteran Lindsay Gilbee has shown great strength of character throughout a trying 2011 season – for himself and his team. On the eve of his 200th game, he says the Dogs’ future remains bright. NICK BOW EN PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

I

f nothing else, clubs that go through trying seasons – especially unexpected ones – can learn a lot about their players. Often they will find out who can stand up when things get tough and who is better suited to smoother seas.

The Western Bulldogs’ start to this season was extremely trying. After reaching the preliminary final in the past three seasons, they sat 13th on the ladder after 12 rounds.

But during this period, they would have learned – if they didn’t already know – that

Lindsay Gilbee is someone who can treat adversity as an opportunity, rather than something to be feared.

After the Bulldogs were humiliated by 123 points by West Coast in round nine, Gilbee was dropped for the first time since 2004.

He won a reprieve after teammates Ryan Hargrave and Brodie Moles were late withdrawals from the team that took on Hawthorn the following week. But after an indifferent game against the Hawks, Gilbee was sent back to the Bulldogs’

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65

lindsay gilbee affiliate club Williamstown to regain form in the VFL. For a player who had been a fixture in the Bulldogs’ side since establishing himself as one of the competition’s most damaging rebounding defenders in a breakout 2005 season, it must have been tough to take.

But Gilbee did not allow himself to wallow in self-pity.

Those close to the Bulldogs told the AFL Record he was a constant presence at the club at that time, doing extra training in a bid to turn his season around.

But Gilbee’s mindset at that time revealed even more about his character. Although not happy to be demoted, he accepted his form alone was to blame. He also saw playing in the VFL as an opportunity, not only to regain touch, but also to play alongside some of the club’s youngsters.

“I was probably low on confidence and probably deserved not to have my spot in the side,” Gilbee said. “‘Rocket’ (coach Rodney Eade) just wanted me to go back and work on the defensive side of my game and some other little things I wasn’t doing as well as I had in years gone by.

“Obviously, the VFL is not where you ideally want to play, but I think you’ve got to go back there and embrace it, and try to play good footy to get back into the (AFL team).

“It was also a great chance to go back and play with some younger guys. It’s different when you don’t have your own reserves side. I look at guys like Ayce Cordy, who I haven’t played a game with yet and this is his third year on the list. So I really enjoyed playing with some of the younger guys like him.”

Gilbee’s positive approach was rewarded when he was recalled to the Bulldogs side after just two games in the VFL. His return in round 13 also coincided with a vast improvement in the Dogs’ form; they have won their past three games, climbing from 13th on the ladder to 11th, just half a game outside the eight.

Gilbee’s own form since he returned has been solid. He has averaged 19 possessions and has disposed of them with his trademark accuracy – his disposal efficiency has been better than 80 per cent.

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BACK IN FAVOUR:

Like his side, Lindsay Gilbee has rediscovered his form in the past few weeks.

Gilbee spoke with the AFL Although the loss to the Eagles Record d at Whitten Oval on was “a kick in the backside”, Monday ahead of his 200th game Gilbee said it highlighted areas this weekend, against Carlton at the Bulldogs had to improve in Etihad Stadium on Sunday. quickly if they wanted to salvage He had just finished signing something from their season. autographs for a pack of “I think in the weeks after young Bulldogs that, we’ve supporters at the improved as a club’s ‘train with side,” he said. the team day’.

“A lot of We spoke in home truths the Bulldogs’ got told indoor training after the centre as a Eagles game, group of Gilbee’s which we teammates lifted thoroughly weights in the deserved, LINDSAY GILBEE ON BEING DROPPED TO THE VFL adjacent gym. and we Minutes later, had a few the same players light-heartedly punishing sessions to rectify taunted Gilbee as he took those issues. part in a photo shoot for this “Obviously, you don’t want to story. He smiled his way lose by 20 goals, but it was not all through their banter. gloom and doom because some Although Gilbee has good came out of it as well.” maintained a positive outlook Gilbee agreed with Eade’s throughout a trying season, it assessment that the 64-point seems both he and the Bulldogs win over Melbourne last Friday have an extra spring in their night was the Bulldogs’ best steps after the past three rounds. performance for 2011, saying

It was also a great chance to go back and play with some younger guys

it was the first time they had won all of thei their six key performance indic indicators.

Gilbee said a key factor in the Bulldogs’ retu return to form has been their shrinking injury list, with the return to fitness and form of Adam Cooney, Barry H Hall and Shaun Higgins, who w has been “rejuvenated” by a move into defence, particularly particular important.

B Gilbee said the Bulldogs’ start to 2011 had not bee been helped by the fact many players pl had carried injuries thr through last year’s finals campa campaign, which had disrupted their subsequent pre-seasons. g “We had 10-15 guys out of our starting 22 in llast year’s finals who needed surgery at the end of the season,” seas said Gilbee, who had a post-season p shoulder operation operation.

“This probably said s a bit about what the cclub was all about. If it had b been any other time, Bri Brian Lake probably wou wouldn’t have thos finals. played in those (C And ‘Coons’ (Cooney), ‘Murph’ (Robe (Robert Murphy), S Ryan Griffen, Shaun Higgins and Dale M Morris were boat all in the same boat.

“And these days, if you don’t have a full pre pre-season behind you, it puts yyou behind eight ball a little bit. Just the eight-ball look at the way (West Coast’s) Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox have returned to form this year after having good pre-seasons.”

When we spoke, Gilbee was just four days away from an even bigger milestone than his 200th game – his 30th birthday, which was on Friday.

Although Gilbee said the prospect of turning 30 had made him appreciate just how long he had been in the AFL – 12 seasons – he had been rejuvenated this year by his occasional forays into the Bulldogs’ forward line.

There, he has played both as a goalsneak – he kicked six goals against Richmond in round eight – and as a defensive forward.

Gilbee said being entrusted with this variety of roles had been the most exciting part of his 2011 season.

“I’ve played most of my junior footy as a forward, but it’s kind of strange when you come into League footy. If you’re a forward

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lindsay gilbee

BALANCING ACT: Lindsay Gilbee

says he has enjoyed playing forward and back this season.

It’s certainly been a bit of a long road and had some bumps LINDSAY GILBEE

Gilbee said reaching his 200th game was a special achievement, especially since teammates and fellow 1999 draftees Murphy and Daniel Giansiracusa had reached the milestone earlier this season.

He was happy to reflect on his journey to the milestone.

“It’s certainly been a bit of a long road and had some bumps,” he said. “Probably the hardest time was when my old man (Lawrie) passed away (in July 2009).

“But I’ve had some great times as well. Playing with guys like ‘Gia’ (Giansiracusa), Murph, Ryan Griffen, ‘Higgo’ (Shaun Higgins), Brad Johnson and Scott West, I can’t speak highly enough of such players.

“Rohan Smith has had probably the biggest influence on

my career, living with him and learning from him. Certainly, I’ll be richer for the experience of playing for this footy club.”

But Gilbee’s focus soon moved from the past to the future. When we started to ask him whether the Bulldogs’ current playing group

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

you usually end up playing as a back and if you’re a back you usually end up playing as a forward,” he said.

“So, I’ve enjoyed the chance to play forward this year. If anything, you’re a little bit more relaxed on the forward line. But I’m guessing not as much these days as in the past, because when the ball comes in, if you’re not trying to kick a goal, you’ve got to try to keep the ball in with manic forward defensive pressure.”

FACT FILE

9

Lindsay Gilbee

Born: July 8, 1981 Recruited from: Coldstream/Eastern U18 Debut: Round 3, 2001 v Collingwood Height: 180cm Weight: 82kg Games: 199 Goals: 117 Player honours: 3rd best and fairest 2005; All-Australian 2006; International Rules Series 2005, 2006; pre-season premiership side 2010 Brownlow Medal: career votes 14

had missed its chance of a premiership after reaching three preliminary finals in a row, Gilbee responded before we had finished the question.

“No, there’s no doubt at all in my mind our premiership window is not shutting,” he said with conviction.

“I’m more excited with where the footy club’s at this year than the last few years, even though we haven’t won as many games.

“We have some kids who would probably be playing in some other sides that aren’t in ours. So our depth is great, the attitude around the club is great, our work ethic is great and the mood is still up around the place, even though we haven’t had the start to the season we wanted.

“I’m extremely confident about the next few years.”

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Our AFL history guru answers your y queries. q

col hutchinson h NAME GAME

Head start » The SSydney Swans’ Josh

NUMBERS GAME: Bulldog Tony Liberatore (above) wore No. 60 early in his career, while Gold Coast’s Nathan Ablett sports No. 55.

Magpie was a real ‘high’ flyer What is the highest number ever worn in the AFL/VFL by a player in the seniors?

C. HARRIS, VIA EMAIL

CH: The highest number worn

by a player at AFL level dates back 26 years, when Collingwood’s Andrew Witts wore No. 65. Witts played only seven matches for the

Magpies from rounds 15-21 in the 1985 season. Eight other players, including Bulldog Tony Liberatore, have worn No. 60 for part or all of their senior careers.

Of the players listed in 2011, Nathan Ablett (Gold Coast) has been allocated the highest number (55) but he is yet to appear at AFL level for the Suns.

GENUINE SENIOR FOOTBALLERS » Roy Leaper was born on July 9, 1906, and was educated at St Kilda Park State School.

He played 16 matches for the Saints during a three-season career, which began in 1926, and lived to celebrate his 96th birthday. Leo Rush, one of five

brothers to play at League level, was born on July 10, 1890.

He played his early football with Collingwood District before representing Melbourne six times in 1911 and Richmond twice the following season. He lived to the age of 93.

Do you have knowledge of any players who are close to 90 or older, or who reached such an age before passing on?

Contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or send an email to col.hutchinson@afl .com.au 70

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Kenned is the grandson of Kennedy legendary coach John Kennedy legenda snr who famously said, in encouraging his players, that encoura the neck don’t hits above ab coun count. Of course, head inj injuries have always been a concern in football; some players in the past have resorted to wearing helmets and there are rules in place th to protect the hee head. However, head err, it may be that, as a Kennedy, John a Kenne n was spe speaking position from a p of personal perso advanta advantage.

Kennedy is Kenn of Irish origin; itt d is an anglicised form of the personal name Ó Cinnédigh which derives from the Gaelic céann meaning “head” and éidigh meaning “armoured”. The literal meaning of Kennedy, then, is “helmet-head”. It may have been both a term of admiration and of derision.

John Kennedy snr was a four-time best and fairest in 164 matches for the club from 1950-59. He coached Hawthorn to its first flag (1961) and premierships in 1971 and 1976. John jnr played 241 matches for the Hawks, featuring in four premierships. KEVAN CARROLL WRITE TO ANSWER MAN The Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, 3008 or email michaell@slatterymedia.com

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rick milne

I have the actual ‘Big V’ guernsey (No. 16 ) worn by Essendon’s Barry Davis in the Interstate ANFC carnival held in Adelaide in June, 1969, plus a photocopy of the carnival Record. The jumper is in pristine condition and was given to me by John Turnbull, who played for Swan Districts and represented Western Australia. In one of the games against Victoria, Turnbull swapped guernseys with Davis, which was the tradition at the time. Can you provide an evaluation ?

DAVID, VIA EMAIL

RM: David, you have quite a find

here! These seldom turn up and, when they do, there’s plenty of collector interest. I should think not less than $2000. If the carnival Record is a photocopy, it won’t have any value to speak of.

An original sells for $75.

I’m an unabashed Michael Rischitelli fan. I was devastated when he left the Lions, but thrilled when he joined my new favourite team the Gold Coast Suns. I have a photo with him in his Lions outfit and now I have one with him in his Suns jumper.

They’re probably not worth much, but are they worth anything?

PENNY McMAHON, QLD.

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AFL RECORD

RM: To you they are Penny,

and that’s all that matters.

As a Lion fan, I, too, was very disappointed when Michael moved down the road. The Lions miss him badly, and he’s played very well with the young Suns.

Get your photos framed and hang them up for all to see.

I am a Demons fan. My favourite player is Jordan Gysberts. He signed my football jumper. Will it be worth some money some day?

NATHAN PARRY (AGE 8)

visit aflrecord.com.au

RM: Nathan, I think your favourite player has the potential to be a superstar.

He is playing very exciting football at the moment.

The problem is that your jumper will occasionally have to go in the washing machine.

So, unless you never wear it and keep it locked away in a drawer, it won’t be worth a lot.

My tip is to wear it with pride, and don’t worry about the money value.

PRIZED GUERNSEY: A big V jumper

worn at the 1969 carnival by Essendon and North Melbourne champion Barry Davis, pictured left as a Bomber and above, far right in the back row of a Victorian line-up, could be worth as much as $2000.

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

One query per reader.

BRAINS

answers at bottom of page

Find the 5 DIFFERENCES between the 2 cards

Can you guess this AFL Unscramble Battery Girl to discover the AFL player’s name! Player’s NICKNAME?

____

____ ______

B&F

game card

are equal 1st (with Essendon) in AFL/VFL history for 4 Carlton most Premierships won. How many have they won?

NEW!

B. 14

C. 16

D. 18

Silver CODE cards and enter codes to play

Answers: 1. Footy lowered, arm extended, missing bandage on leg, added spandex on legs, “PIESMAG” instead of “MAGPIES” 2. Gary Ablett 3. Esky 4. C 16

A. 12

TV N O N AS SEE

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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

FIVE TO FIND

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: White V on Power player Matt Thomas’ jumper straightened out; tape on Lion Sam Sheldon’s right wrist removed; Sheldon’s mouthguard changed to green; shadow on ‘Bupa’ on football removed; Power mascot added into the background.

E X TENDED P L AY T I M E The AFL Playground outside the MCG will continue to operate for the rest of the season due to popular demand.

The playground, the coolest fan zone for kids looking to test their footy skills and warm up before watching the footy, attracted more than 14,000 kids and families in the first nine

rounds of the season.

Located below Gate 6, the playground features activities of all types for kids, with club mascots also in attendance.

It is open 90 minutes before the start of thee match until the end of the half-time break.

Visit afl.com.au/ playground for more information.

FREE ENTRY Scrambled Sc S crra am mb blleed Footballer: Fo F oot otb ba all ller er: Cryptic Cr C ryyp pti tiicc Footballers: Fo F oo ottb ba alllleerrss:: BI B IG MOUTH: MO M OU UT TH H:: BIG

74 AFL L RECORD R EC RECO RE CO COR ORD OR RD visit viis vvis isit it afl afl flrec record.com.au rree ord.com.au

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Making an impact Hawthorn youngster Luke Breust has graduated from a ‘super-sub’ su to a fully fledged forward. LU K E HOL MESBY

D

ubbing him a ‘football pioneer’ might be a bit over the top, but Hawk Luke Breust is certainly one of the game’s first ‘super-subs’.

Breust was a substitute for the first five games of his AFL career, coming on at different stages of games but seemingly almost always having an impact.

He said the Hawthorn match committee never intended to develop him as a specialist substitute, but circumstances saw him don the green vest for five consecutive weeks.

“In a couple of those I played a lot of the game and, in others, I only played a quarter or a half.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve played nearly a full game,” Breust said.

Breust quickly learned that preparation for life as a substitute required a different approach to the one normally taken. By the end of his five-week tenure, he had perfected his routine.

“You put your warm-up back a little bit to make sure you’re not hyped up right at the start of the game when you know you’re not going to be playing,” he said.

“The main thing is to try and be in the game as much as you can, watch what things are working for (the team), talk to the players as they come off and make sure you’re up and running for five or six minutes.

“Then at the breaks, you have a kick and try to stay focused.

When you come on, you can have that impact.”

Breust has not had to wear the green vest the past three

HAPPY HAWK: After five consecutive weeks as the substitute, Luke Breust has made the most of his opportunity as a small forward.

2011 NAB AFL RISING STAR NOMINEES Round 1 Dyson Heppell (ESS) Round 2 Luke Shuey (WCE) Round 3 Mitch Duncan (GEEL) Round 4 Jasper Pittard (PA) Round 5 Brandon Matera (GCS) Round 6 Jack Darling (WCE) Round 7 Zac Smith (GCS) Round 8 Shane Savage (HAW) Round 9 Reece Conca (RICH) Round 10 Jack Steven (STK) Round 11 Jordan Gysberts (MEL) Round 12 Sam Reid (SYD) Round 13 Daniel Menzel (GEEL) Round 14 David Swallow (GCS) Round 15 Luke Breust (HAW)

weeks and his form has been impressive. He kicked two goals and had 15 disposals in Hawthorn’s 41-point loss to Collingwood to earn the round 15 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

Although the game was all but decided by half-time, Breust said there were encouraging signs to come from it.

“Our systems let us down in the first half. We went one-on-one in the second half and that worked well for us,” he said.

“We’ll get a few numbers back, including (Cyril) Rioli, (Jordan) Lewis and (Brad) Sewell. If we can remain injury-free for the rest of the season, we will have a strong side going into the finals.”

Breust is just one of a batch of young Hawks to have vastly

improved this year. Shane Savage, Liam Shiels and Matt Suckling have also hit their stride and Breust said he had identified his spot in the team and was determined to hold on to it.

“I think that small forward/ half-forward role is what I’ll play and I seem to be doing all right at that at the moment. I’m happy with that role,” he said.

Breust credited Hawthorn forward coach Leon Cameron with helping him take his game to the next level and said he could see why Cameron was so well regarded in the industry.

“You’ve got to look at his playing career (256 games with the Western Bulldogs and Richmond from 1990-2003 and

THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

1

Breust is from Temora, just outside of Wagga Wagga. He was named as Temora’s Young Citizen of the Year in 2009.

2

He shares a house with teammates Max Bailey, Jordan Williams, Sam Grimley and Jack Mahony.

3

He grew up playing rugby league but turned his focus to Australian Football at age 15.

a best and fairest award with the Dogs). He had a pretty good career and he’s taken that into his coaching,” he said.

“There are signs there he could be a senior coach.”

Each week throughout the home and away season, a panel of judges will select the nominee for the 2011 NAB AFL Rising Star. At the completion of the season, one outstanding player will be chosen as the 2011 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

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Applying data laterally to analyse and understand the modern game.

Pressure the new key in football evolution

T

he ‘Footy Revolution’ series recently published in News Limited newspapers looked at aspects of the game since 1990, with a focus on some of the extraordinary developments since.

Statistical data now available helps tell a good story about what changes have occurred on the field.

Three distinct styles of play have evolved during this period; I would refer to those styles as ‘modern’, ‘contemporary’ and ‘present’, with the latter a combination of controlled ball use and mayhem.

In 1990, the modern game’s characteristics were more or less the same as those instituted by coaching legends Ron Barassi, John Kennedy, Tom Hafey and Allan Jeans and replicated by the likes of Kevin Sheedy, David Parkin, Denis Pagan, Malcolm Blight, Leigh Matthews and Mick Malthouse.

That year, the only trusted competition-wide statistics were the basics provided by APB Sports headed by statistics pioneer Ray Young. Kicks averaged 425 a game, marks 141, handballs 226 and tackles 50. Matches featured a kick-to-handball ratio of almost two to one (1.9:1).

At the start of the 1996 season, Champion Data started providing qualitative as well as quantitative stats.

North Melbourne, under Pagan, won its third premiership

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AFL RECORD

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GAME OF CHESS: Mark Williams, pictured with Kane Cornes after the 2004 Grand

Final, led the way with radical game-plans.

and a statistical profile had emerged that captured how the modern style was played.

For example, there was an average of 172 long kicks a game, 123 short kicks, 28 contested marks, 64 hard-ball gets and 114 loose-ball gets.

Tackles averaged 63 and the kick-to-handball ratio was 1.8:1.

Three years later, when Pagan coached the Roos to the 1999 flag, the stats showed little had changed since 1990.

There were 411 kicks a game, marks had marginally increased to 161 a match and handballs (225) were nearly the same, as were tackles (53). The kick-to-handball ratio was still a relatively high 1.8:1.

The 2000 season marked the start of the new millennium and also provided a champagne showcase of footy, featuring an unprecedented 32 goals a game and a Sheedy-inspired Essendon premiership.

The footy fabric still looked modern, but it featured a more upbeat tempo.Subtle seismic

trends leading towards the next phase of footy – the contemporary era – started to appear that year. From 2001-04, the transition was in full swing.

The playing style used by Matthews to land the Brisbane Lions their first premiership in 2001 was hardly detectable when the Lions won their third straight flag in 2003 and lost the 2004 Grand Final to Port Adelaide.

During this period, Essendon was in decline and Port Adelaide was ascending.

Although the Lions had progressively become more possession-orientated in 2003-04 (compared to the emphasis they had placed on gaining territory when modern footy was still in vogue), it was Port Adelaide’s Mark Williams who led the way in orchestrating a chess-like system based on short ball delivery by foot and hand.

Stalwarts such as Parkin declared Williams could not win a flag with his contemporary game-plan, but the Power proved

the doubters wrong when they overwhelmed the Lions in 2004.

Williams was the first of a new generation of coaches determined to use radical game-plans to achieve success.

Paul Roos (Sydney Swans in 2005), John Worsfold (West Coast, 2006), Mark Thompson (Geelong, 2007 and 2009) and Alastair Clarkson (Hawthorn, 2008) followed him.

By 2008, their collective influences had left an unmistakable stamp. Interchanges had skyrocketed to 160 a game (the average was 54 in 2003 when Champion Data first collected this stat) and there were 108 tackles, 310 handballs and 206 marks.

(Collingwood’s Malthouse has been a leader in high usage of the bench.)

The number of kicks had dropped to 400 a game. There were 20 contested marks, 78 looseball gets and the kick-to-handball ratio has dropped to 1.3:1, or about 32 per cent.

Notably, the present game has seen significant increases in interchange and tackle numbers – 232 and 136 a game respectively.

Today, attempting to control disposals in the context of mayhem is the signature style being played (or at least being tried).

The distinctive characteristic of this style – what I also call ‘pressure footy’ – is ultracongestion, with teams searching for trigger points to effect fast, match-winning ball releases that lead to scoring opportunities.

In summary, many of the material aspects of the game in vogue in 1990 are now scarcely recognisable.

TED HOPKINS IS A CARLTON PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND FOUNDER OF CHAMPION DATA. HIS BOOK THE STATS REVOLUTION (SLATTERY MEDIA GROUP) WAS RELEASED RECENTLY AND IS AVAILABLE VIA FOOTYBOOKCLUB.COM

SHORT STORY COMPETITION BROUGHT TO YOU BY VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

The 2011 AFL Record Short Story Competition is open to all football enthusiasts. We’re looking for the ultimate short story on the 2022 AFL World Rules. Entries must be previously unpublished and no longer than 2000 words.

The winning entry will be published in the 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final Record.

THE SHORT STORY COMPETITION HAS TWO GOALS: 1. To promote fine short story fiction

about Australian Football.

2. To fantasise about the future of Australian Football.

THE TOPIC

AFL 2022: the game has gone international, with professional teams playing in Zones across Asia, Europe, America, South America, the Pacific and Australia.

Every four years, the world unites to play for the AFL World Rules.

This is the story of the 2022 World Rules – the second since the inaugural event held in Australia in 2018, to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of the game.

The first AFL World Rules was won by a team from Japan, beating Australia by two points (15.10.100 to 14.14.98) before 101,200 people at the MCG. The event is held from October 15 to November 20.

1ST 2ND 3RD

THE STORY MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:

How the game became international.

The Australian team is drawn from all leagues, including the AFL. The game took off internationally from 2013 with huge crowds across the globe.

Writers can concentrate on one Zone, describing the impact of the game on the local culture and how it has overtaken soccer as the “world game”.

The story can take the reader anywhere – from a team perspective, from an individual perspective, preparing for the series, the final ... Let your imagination run wild.

The Laws of The Game are broadly the same, but innovations can be included in the text.

Preliminary events must be held internationally.

Total word count must not exceed 2000 words, but must not be less than 1000 words.

2 V AUSTRALIA RETURN INTERNATIONAL PREMIUM ECONOMY FLIGHTS TO LOS ANGELES 2 PACIFIC BLUE RETURN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY FLIGHTS TO FIJI 2 VIRGIN AUSTRALIA RETURN DOMESTIC ECONOMY FLIGHTS

WIN !

Competition entry closes midnight, August 7 For entry and terms and conditions visit aflrecord.com.au/shortstory

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