THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AFL GAME
ROUND 18, 2011 JULY 22-24 24 $5 (INC. GST) ST)
Coles partners with AFL Schools Program COME ON AUSTRALIA!
Get registered, get collecting and get Australian kids active
AFL RECORD PROMOTION
J
ust months after delivering more than $7 million of sporting equipment to more than 7600 schools across Australia, Coles has partnered with the AFL to enhance their presence in primary and secondary schools. The school system continues to be an integral element in providing opportunities for all students (girls and boys) wanting to participate in Australian Football. The AFL is also committed to providing the Australian education system (teachers and students) with exciting and engaging curriculum resources that bring our great Indigenous game into the classroom and is thrilled to have Coles on board. The biggest program of its kind in Australia, Coles Sports for Schools encourages customers to collect vouchers when they shop at Coles. Local schools can then exchange vouchers for free sports equipment, with one voucher earned for every $10 spent at Coles Supermarkets and Coles Online.* Speaking at the national launch of Sports for Schools in Melbourne, Coles Managing Director Ian McLeod said: “Byy providing much needed sports p
equipment and through our partnership with the AFL, Coles Sports for Schools will help ensure that our young people have the opportunity to play sport for fun, to keep active and for those that can, to go on to greater sporting achievements.” AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou welcomed
the new partnership with Coles. “A core objective of the AFL is to grow junior participation through our school programs and to continue to provide exciting resources for the class room,” he said. “We’re delighted to partner with Coles on the AFL Schools program, which aims to involve more children in our sport and to encourage and educate them about the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.” The continued growth in Australian Football participation has occurred due to an array of initiatives, programs and resources. In 2010, 256,475 students participated in primary (177,905) and secondary (78,570) school competitions and programs greater than six weeks in duration. More than 1.1 million students were involved in AFL competitions, programs and clinics of less than six weeks’ duration.
The continually evolving and expanding Coles AFL Schools program includes the following: » Inter and intra-school
primary and secondary school competitions
» Carnivals and knockout competitions
» Promotional clinics and visits
involving AFL players and AFL development staff
» Student competitions
such as Dream Team and footy tipping
» Curriculum resources » AFL Learning
Management System
» AFL Student Quiz » AFL School
Ambassador Program
» Teacher professional
development programs
» AFL Schools Grant
Scheme – subsidies for schools to purchase goal posts/padding p p g and jjumpers. p
*Collect a voucher for every $10 spent in Coles Supermarkets or Coles Online between 11th August and 18th October 2011. Also available at Bi-Lo and Pick’n Pay stores but excludes Coles Express and Coles Insurance purchases as well as gift cards, liquor, tobacco and tobacco related product purchases.
round roun n d 18, july 22-24, 2011
features 59 Shane Mumford Players are From a raw Geelong rookie to the Sydney feeling a bit Swans’ No. 1 big man. more fatigued JAMES DAMPNEY reports. this season « 66 Fatigue factor is open to than most The 2011 AFL Record Short Story Competition As the season wears
SHORT STORY COMPETITION
all football enthusiasts. We’re looking for the ultimate on, players are battling short story on the 2022 AFL World Rules. Entries must be increased workloads. PETER RYAN reports. previously unpublished and no longer than 2000 words. The winning entry will be published re in the 2011 Toyota regulars BROUGHT TO YOU BY VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Trent AFL Grand Final Record. SAM MITCHELL
80 McKenzie
THE SHORT STORY COMPETITION
Another Rising HAS TWO Star for the Suns. » 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 in 2018, to celebrate LUKE Australia the 160th anniversary of the McPHARLIN birth of the game. Life is a balancing act for thefirst AFL World Rules was The Fremantle defender. 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.
60
1ST 2ND 3RD
4 STORY Backchat THE MUST INCLUDE THE ELEMENTS: 7 FOLLOWING The Bounce
How the game became 277 Matchday 2 international. 55 Dream Team 5 5 Australian The team is drawn from 74 4leagues, Answer Man the AFL. all including The took off 7 6 game 76 Collectables internationally from 2013 with 78 7 8 Kids’ Corner huge crowds across the globe. 82 Point 8 2 Talking Writers can concentrate on one Ted Te ed Hopkins pays tribute to Zone, describing the impact of Allan A lla Jeans, an innovator who the the could co oulgame moveon with thelocal times.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. THIS TH HISLaws WEEK’S The of COVER The Game The Th he AFL A and Coles announced a are the same, but new ne ewbroadly partnership this week involving innovations can be included the th he AFL’s A schools program. AFL RECORD PROMOTION in the text. COVER CO OVER PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON Preliminary events COVER CO OVER PHOTO EDITOR: GINNY PIKEmust 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
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Competition entry closes midnight, August 7 For entry and terms and conditions visit aflrecord.com.au/shortstory
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Spreading the recruiting net
» Many of the players who Stick together, Roos
As a North Melbourne member and supporter for many years, the performance against Collingwood was very diffi cult to stomach. But I am sick and tired of reading negative criticism from fellow supporters. You don’t just give up when things get a little sour! What happened to ‘through thick and thin’, ‘good and bad’? OK, so we have had some issues of late, but there are lots of positives that are happening around the club. We need to get behind the boys and show them support. Let’s not drop our heads.
SAINTS BE PRAISED:
St Kilda fans are praying that 2011 will be their year.
43-year premiership drought was rising. Unfortunately, the Saints marched out again, having lost the Grand Final. They had smelt An end to the suffering? victory, only to have fate rip it I was born into a strong St Kilda from the grasp of the players and pedigree and have been a faithful St Kilda faithful across the nation. supporter of the mighty Saints We had to collect ourselves since my first breath. My great-grandfather relocated and prepare for 2010. There was a draw in the Grand Final. from Maryborough to St Kilda The prospect of losing the more than 100 years ago. It is replay made many fans ponder he who claims responsibility if the toll of battle was worth for the heated family discussions the physical, emotional and (about the team) and psychological turmoil. long-running heartbreak derived The loss left behind a legacy from following St Kilda. of tortured souls, longing for In the past two seasons, we relief that can only be achieved have dealt with the possibility of by winning that cup. The St Kilda premiership victory only to leave faithful has not forgotten, but has deflated with the disheartening moved along in 2011 with that blast of the final siren. glimmer of hope, praying that In 2009, the smell of success this year will be different. was brewing in the air, and the GEORGIA McCORMICK (17), BALLARAT, VIC. prospect of breaking that BALINA WALTKE, O’SULLIVAN BEACH, SA.
GENERAL MANAGER, COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS Darren Birch AFL CORPORATE BUSINESS MANAGER Richard Simkiss AFL RECORD MANAGING EDITOR Geoff Slattery
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AFL RECORD EDITOR Peter Di Sisto
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Editor’s note: North Melbourne
has shown a remarkable ability to rebound from defeats of 100 points or more in recent years. From 2000, they have not lost the match after a 100-point loss, winning after each of the six three-fi gure thrashings in this period. The next best record in this time was a 50 per cent rebound rate, shared by Adelaide, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne and Port Adelaide. The Sydney Swans not did suff er a 100-point loss in this period.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The best letter each round nd will receive the 2011 AFL Record Season Guide. Email aflrecordeditor@ slatterymedia.com or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.
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will dominate the game in the next 10-15 years were on show in the recently completed NAB AFL Under-18 and Under-16 carnivals played across the country. And post-Grand Final, when attention turns to the annual draft, many of us will be reeling off the names of star juniors we have likely only read or heard about. We know recruiting has come a long way in recent years, with potential draftees now the subject of rigorous physical and psychological testing. But the AFL Record was intrigued by comments made by Adelaide coach Neil Craig when asked on Melbourne radio about the Crows’ mature-age recruit Ian Callinan (see story page 72). “We’ve all had an opportunity to look at him. Through our wisdom–our socalled wisdom–we’ve all said no,” Craig said. “If we weren’t so pedantic in what we look for, there’s no question Callinan could have played four or five years ago.” Granted, clubs have been taking a left-field approach to recruiting in recent years, including looking at athletes in from other sports. fr But Craig’s comments were a subtle reminder that w ssometimes it pays to look beyond the surface. b PETER DI SISTO P
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 18, 2011 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211. ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109
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BARRY HALL
Curtain to come down on a great career.
15
DANNY STANLEY
Making the most of his second chance.
17
ALLAN JEANS
The football community farewells a legend.
He’s one of the best kicks I’ve seen come through our program Dandenong Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats on Shane Savage, p22
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Form slump: A time for tough love or keeping the faith? NICK BOWEN
N
orth Melbourne coach Brad Scott has backed Lindsay Thomas through some tough times this season. Although Thomas’ defensive pressure has been solid most of the year, the small forward has had a highly publicised horror run in front of goal. From rounds two-six, he kicked 14 consecutive behinds. And, in round 16 against Collingwood, he missed a goal from 15m out almost directly in front. Thomas had played every game until then, returning 17.29 and failing to score with another 10 shots. But after North’s demoralising loss to the Magpies, Scott decided enough was enough, dropping Thomas back to the VFL last round. Announcing the decision, Scott said: “We’ve got to the point now where we’re actually hurting Lindsay more by sending him out there to play and he’s also not helping the team.” Obviously, Scott is not the only coach who has had to deal with a player’s form slump in 2011. His twin brother and
CHIN UP : North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey consoles Lindsay Thomas after the Roos’ round 15 loss to St Kilda.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has twice dropped 2009 premiership key forward Tom Hawkins, and Adelaide coach Neil Craig omitted half-forward Chris Knights after round 14. Essendon coach James Hird admitted he came close to dropping ruckman/forward Patrick Ryder after a string of
quiet games that culminated in a poor performance against Hawthorn in round 14. But Hird decided Ryder was better served trying to fi nd form in the AFL, rather than the VFL. “Paddy’s probably lucky to stay in the team, but we want to develop him as a player and we think this is the best way to do it,”
Hird said ahead of his team’s round 15 clash with Geelong. Hird’s faith was vindicated when Ryder was one of the Bombers’ best in a thrilling four-point win over the Cats. Similarly, Brad Scott stuck with midfielder Jack Ziebell when his form and fi tness were criticised earlier this AFL RECORD
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Former Hawthorn and Port Adelaide recruiter Chris Pelchen joins St Kilda as head of football.
season, most notably by former Another former Richmond Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos. coach, Danny Frawley, said as Like Ryder, Ziebell has since much as a coach tried to cater repaid his coach’s faith, the to an individual’s sensibilities, 20-year-old’s form steadily he had to be consistent in his improving since round eight and selection policy. culminating in his 41-possession “As a coach, you’ve got to be game against the Western super-consistent because players Bulldogs last Sunday. are smart and they’ll know if So how does a coach best help one guy is getting a free ride,” a player to arrest a form slump? Frawley said. Former Western Bulldogs and “For the mechanics of the Richmond coach Terry Wallace team, you’ve got to be clear told the AFL Record a coach had where you set the lines, so they to know the player concerned can see a player has been picked and identify for a certain how their reason.” form struggle Frawley had affected said it was on them mentally. this basis he “The match had dropped committee and champion coach always spearhead want to show Matthew their support Richardson to a player in to the VFL the hope he can in 2004 EX-RICHMOND COACH DANNY FRAWLEY work through after he had his problems,” remonstrated Wallace said. with teammates over their poor “But sometimes the player delivery to him. is too mentally shot to be able “It was a situation where an to do that. In that situation, it’s individual was threatening to actually better for everyone for override the team mechanics,” him to be dropped. he said. “I’ve had those conversations “There were only so many with players where it’s almost times a player of Matthew’s a relief to them when that stature could say that he’d happens. Rather than having to done the wrong thing in the keep clawing away to hold on to inner sanctum. So that night their spot, they can let that go was the straw that broke the and focus on what they have to camel’s back, but Matthew do to get themselves back into took his medicine and we the team.” moved on.”
Matthew (Richardson) took his medicine and we moved on
HANGING UP THE BOOTS
Retiring Hall a Bulldog at heart JENNIFER WITHAM
W
estern Bulldogs forward Barry Hall will retire at the end of the season, conceding his body is “screaming out” for a break. The 34-year-old made the announcement last Tuesday at Whitten Oval. Hall said he was “really content” with the decision, which he made a month ago, and admitted he had recently felt sore as late as the Thursday after games. He also said he didn’t want to sign another contract and then struggle to perform. Although he played in a premiership with the Sydney Swans, he said he would consider himself a Bulldog when he looked back on his career. “The Bulldogs gave me a chance when no one else would,” he said. “They put a bit of faith in me that I could change my ways and do good for this football club. My form’s OK going out of the game, and that’s the way I wanted it to be.”
Hall came to the Bulldogs for the 2010 season on a two-year contract after retiring from his second club, the Sydney Swans. He left the Swans after his relationship with the club soured following another on-fi eld indiscretion in 2009.
When they’re not playing... PLAYER
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If you weren’t a footballer, what would you like to be?
One thing you can’t eat:
What domestic chore do you refuse to do?
Tayte Pears Essendon
A surferRock melonVacuumCarl Barron
Kieran Harper North Melbourne
A golfer traveling the world
FishClean the toiletGlenn McGrath
Jarrod Harbrow Gold Coast
Camping and fishing g tour guidee
Mushrooms/tofu h/tf
Joel Selwood Geelong
A firemanCarrotClean the toiletBilly Brownless
AFL RECORD
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Make the bed
Favourite Australian stralian personality:
th
Ernie Dingo
St Kilda defender James Gwilt out for the season with a serious knee injury.
CONTENTED: Barry Hall will bow out a happy man
at the end of the season, having resurrected his career at the Bulldogs after starting at St Kilda and winning a premiership with the Sydney Swans.
After being suspended for seven matches for striking West Coast’s Brent Staker in round four of 2008, Hall lost his temper wing again in round 13 the following year and was sanctioned for en. striking Adelaide’s Ben Rutten. He stepped away from thee and Swans but kept himself fi t, and gs. was recruited by the Bulldogs. ion Hall announced his decision ldogs to retire days before the Bulldogs clash with Sydney at the SCGG he this weekend, which he said he had planned to do. the He spent eight years with the es. Swans and played 162 games. dney “I certainly did a lot in Sydney e,” and I owe the fans a goodbye,” he said. Hall started his career at St Kilda in 1996. He played 88 he games for the Saints before he crossed to Sydney for the 2002 season. rship The Swans’ 2005 premiership hile broke a 72-year drought, while the pre-season premiership eir for the Dogs in 2010 was their ny first piece of silverware of any lso description since 1970. He also played in a Grand Final for
The Bulldogs g gave me a chance when no one else would BARRY HALL
FITTING FAREWELL: Hall is
looking forward to saying goodbye to his former fans at the Swans in this weekend’s clash with Sydney at the SCG.
St Kilda, in 1997, its first since 1971. Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, whose relationship with Hall started when he coached him at the Swans, said the Dogs had gained more out of Hall than they expected. Eade said it had been important for Hall to end his career on a better note than how it ended at the Swans. “He didn’t want to be remembered as that sort of person, and I knew he wasn’t that sort of person,” he said. “He’s very old-school and he wanted to earn his respect here. He just didn’t walk into the place expecting people were going to respect him straight away. “He wanted to earn it, and he’s worked hard for that, and I think he earned it very quickly.” Bulldogs CEO Simon Garlick admitted there had been “a tinge of sadness” that came with the announcement, and said Hall had confirmed his status as one of the game’s modern greats during his time at Whitten Oval. “From the moment we had our first discussion with Barry just over two years ago, we had no doubts whatsoever around the validity of us recruiting him,” he said. “He’s not only been a great player and a great leader, but, from our perspective, what’s really stood stood out out is is he’s he’s aa great great football club person.” Hall refused refused to torule ruleout outaa career in boxin butsaid saidhe he boxinggbut would spend the fifirst few months of his retirement retirement on the road promoting his book, due to be released released next month.
BARRY ONE OF A KIND
» When Barry Hall kicked his 100th career goal for the Bulldogs at the 26-minute mark of the fi rst quarter last week, he had achieved a unique milestone. Hall became the first player in the game’s history to kick 100 goals or more for three AFL clubs—144 with St Kilda, 467 with the Sydney Swans and now 104 with the Bulldogs). The other player who came closest to achieving the feat was Scott Cummings, who kicked 83 goals for Essendon, 102 for Port Adelaide and 158 for West Coast. Only four players other than Hall have kicked more than 400 goals and played with three clubs. Richard Osborne kicked 411 for Fitzroy, 98 for the Bulldogs and 26 for Collingwood; Paul Hudson kicked 264 for Hawthorn and 214 for the Bulldogs, but only one for Richmond; Keith Forbes booted 415 for Essendon in the 1930s, before kicking 50 in two seasons with North Melbourne and 10 in four games with Fitzroy, and Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton kicked 427 goals in his 189 games with the Hawks befo be bef fore ore ree sspending sp spe spen peen pen before a season with the thee Swans th Sw S Swans wa wan ans nss (seven goals) and one Collingwood (30). onee with on w th wit hC Co That Tha Th Tha att puts pu put put Hall’s eff ort in ntto o some sso ome o om mee context. c into It’s not easy easy ea eas syy to tto o slot sslot slo ot into a diff erent system, system sy sys yst ste tem em m, yet m, yyet yeet he has shown he hass the ha th the he discipline d dissc disc has and durability durab d du dur ura rab ab bility bil bilit b lity ity tyy to t excel in diff diff fferent ffer ere ereent en ntt environments. een His goals-a-game average Hiss goa goals g go oal als is is 2.52 2 2.5 52 2 (1.64 (1.6 (1 (1.6 .64 64 in 88 games with 2.88 in 162 with wit h the the he Saints, Sa Sa matches match m ma mat atc tch ch hes he h ess fo ffor o the Swans and 3.15 with the 3.15 3.1 155 inn 33 33 games g Bulldogs). Bulldo B Bu Bul ulld lld ldo do ogs). o og ogs gs) s). ).. He has kicked 50 goals go oa oal als lss in in 22 in 2 22 2 fi nals, averaging 2.27 2 277 a fi nal. 2. 2.2 na nal n all Hall Halllll has Ha Hal h ha ass kicked 104 goals afte af aft ter err turning ttu turnin urrnin urn nin 33, one of only after five players ve pl play layers la aye yer yers ers (Gordon Coventry, Gary Gary Ga Gar ryy Ablett Able A Ab Abl ble le snr, Bernie Quin Q Qu Qui uin in nlan nl nla lan an n aand Kevin Bartlett) Quinlan in in the the he top tto o 20 goalkickers of of all alll time tim tti im to have kicked mo m orree than t more 100 after that that th hatt birthday. ha bi b PETER RYAN AFL AF A FL FL RECORD RE R EC COR CO O D
visi afl record.com.au visit
9
Melbourne is planning to play more matches in Darwin from 2013.
FEARLESS FOLLY
Fortune does not always favour the brave NICK BOWEN
A
re some players too courageous for their own good? That’s the question many were asking after round 17 was punctuated by several breathtaking acts of courage. Most notably, Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown ran back with the fl ight of the ball and flew for a mark as teammate Mitch Clark and Geelong defenders Harry Taylor and Corey Enright bore down on him. As Brown flew, Clark’s elbow collected him, causing several small facial fractures and knocking him unconscious. It was his second facial fracture for the year, the first coming in round one when he was accidentally kneed in the face by Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin. After Brown’s latest injury, opinion was divided as to whether he had been courageous to fly for the mark or foolhardy. His coach Michael Voss praised Brown’s attack on the
While the Cats were away, it was business as usual » Geelong returned from its long interstate haul with a 50-50 result split and grateful for the assistance of the club that took away its best player at the end of 2010. The Cats embarked on a marathon journey to Perth in round 16, where they lost to West Coast, followed by a trip across the country to play the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba last week. 10
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COURAGEOUS ACTS: LeviGreenwood COURAGEOUSACTS: Levi Greenwood
puts his body on the line (left) and the aftermath of the Jonathan Brown collision (above).
football and said he would never Despite colliding with ask him to change his game. Morris, Greenwood almost But former Essendon captain marked the ball and, unlike Matthew Lloyd told SEN radio Brown, emerged unscathed. Brown’s actions were more Greenwood relived the “stupid” than courageous. moment with the AFL Record By running headlong into this week, saying he had seen an oncoming pack, Lloyd said Morris running at the ball and Brown not only knew instantly put himself at he needed to risk of injury make a contest. but teammate “You just Clark also. put your head Later that down and go day, North for it. Normally Melbourne the harder you midfielder Levi go in, the easier Greenwood you come out showed similar the other side,” disregard for he said. LEVI GREENWOOD his wellbeing, “If you don’t when midway go, it will be through the seen and you first quarter against the Western don’t want your teammates Bulldogs, he ran back with the looking at you and going, flight of a high kick into the path ‘Did he pull out there?’ of teammate Leigh Adams and “It’s just a no-brainer for me Bulldogs defender Dale Morris. and sets a good example as well
The harder you go in, the easier you come out the other side
They stayed on the Gold Coast in the week leading up to the victory over the Lions and, according to football manager Neil Balme, it was “business as usual”. “We trained and prepared as we would normally, it’s just that we were in a diff erent place,” Balme said. Geelong flew to Queensland the morning after its game against the Eagles and trained at several grounds and facilities on the Gold Coast. The Cats thanked the Gold Coast Suns—the team that took
superstar Gary Ablett from their clutches—for their assistance. “The Suns were really helpful,” Balme said. “They gave us their ground to train on and off ered us their gym facilities but we felt it probably wasn’t quite right using their gym, so we used the gym at the Titans (the locall NRL team).” The Cats also trained at Southport Football Club and Balme said the entire l lbeit operation was a success, albeit a logistical challenge.
for the younger blokes of what’s expected of them.” Greenwood said he had been conscious heading into last week’s game that North’s established players had to set the tone early in the match after their record 117-point loss to Collingwood the previous week. Although his game was built around uncompromising attacks on the ball, Greenwood said there were situations when he and his team were better off if he curbed his instincts. “If Drew Petrie is coming out of the goalsquare and he’s one on one with his opponent, you don’t need to go and jump in front of them. You just get front and square to get the crumbs,” Greenwood said. “And if there’s a pack or a group of players contesting the ball and you think it’s going to spill down anyway, you’re probably best to stay down too.”
“A lot of planning went into it, but the weather was outstanding and the players were able to relax in the sunshine on their non-training days,” he he sa said. MICHAEL MICH HA LOVETT
LAPPING LA AP UP THE SUN:
Cameron Cam me Ling h helps key forw wa James forward P Podsiadly celebrra one of celebrate his eeig eight goals l week. last
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North Melbourne’s Ben Speight to miss the rest of the year after suff ering a shoulder injury.
MOMENTUM SWINGS
Making the most of football’s ebbs and flows
NO LEAD IS SAFE: Adelaide kicked the first five goals of the game but had no answer to the Bombers’ surge of nine goals to one in the second half.
PETER RYAN
I
t began on the Friday night last week when Adelaide kicked the first five goals of the game against Essendon and it was still happening late last Sunday afternoon as the Western Bulldogs strung together five unanswered goals in the third quarter against North Melbourne. Last week’s round was one of ebbs and flows and momentum shifts. On 12 occasions, a team hit enough of a purple patch to kick five goals or more in succession without the opposition kicking a goal. Such sequences have happened on 133 occasions this season, an average of 7.8 times a round. In round 11, one team in every game had such a sequence. Not surprisingly, all eight teams won. Being unable to interrupt such sequences is never a good sign. The conventional wisdom has always been that great teams have players who can stand up when the tide is turning against the group and manufacture a goal to halt the charge. If you don’t have players who can do that, then you won’t win big games. However, in five games last weekend, both sides had patches where they kicked fi ve or more unanswered goals, charging at opponents that had established a lead. You can imagine 10 match reviews at the start of last week beginning with the words: “Do you want the good or the bad news?” Perhaps the game is changing and conventional wisdom might no longer apply. Now, no lead seems safe. No team immune. Geelong coach Chris Scott said he remains nervous even if the Cats are 40 points up at
12
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three-quarter time. Anyone who has watched the game in recent years can understand why. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said the week before that the game now demands you have to take your opportunities. He’s not wrong. The theories put forward by AFL coaches last weekend showed the variety of reasons why such bursts of unanswered goals happen. The most obvious yet least common reason was the six-goal wind that sprung up in Cairns. Richmond kicked six goals (fi ve unanswered) in the fi rst quarter. Gold Coast kicked six in the second. That’s a football tradition we can understand. What is less easy to explain is when two teams playing under a roof, as St Kilda and West Coast were last Saturday night, go on unbroken scoring runs.
Saints coach Ross Lyon said it was impossible to dominate good opposition for four quarters. Eagles coach John Worsfold said that early on, his team could not get its hands on the ball. A few changes and all of a sudden, the game shifted. The change was signifi cant. After the Saints kicked the game’s fi rst seven goals, the Eagles kicked eight of the next nine (including an unbroken run of five). The use of the forward press can have an impact. Winning the ball out of the centre can lead to dominance on the scoreboard, as numbers push forward until a score is achieved. Fremantle looked to have the game won with six successive goals in the third quarter before the Sydney Swans stormed home with five unanswered goals in the last.
Collectively, teams can surge like middle distance runners
The Swans began to win the ball out of the centre and lock it in. They did it five times. In the wet, it was a matter of how much time would expire before each goal was kicked. Different defensive and midfield combinations are happening all the time, while the match-ups change as defenders mix and match. Get the combination wrong or suffer a couple of key injuries as the Crows (and the Dockers) did, and the game can quickly turn against a team. Perhaps we need to change our thinking. Tempo football once referred to a team’s ability to slow the game down and halt such charges. Now the phrase is probably more appropriate in relation to a team’s intensity. Collectively, teams can surge like middle distance runners, maintaining running power for a certain period of time. When those surges happen, goalscoring opportunities need to be taken. Kick straight, in other words. It’s a fast game. No lead is safe. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang and the game can change in an instant.
Richmond players Dylan Grimes, Reece Conca and Brad Helbig agree to new contracts.
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Up there, Cazaly’s: New venue strikes the right note TOM MINEAR
H
istory was made last Saturday at Cazaly’s Stadium. It was unconventional, understated, but nonetheless memorable. The AFL’s inaugural home and away fixture in Cairns pitted Richmond against Gold Coast, at a fledgling ground named in honour of Australian Football legend Roy Cazaly. Fittingly, Mike Brady was on hand—and he had his guitar. His performance was symbolic of the afternoon to come; the capacity crowd of 10,832 sang along in the chorus and cheered each goal, but not everyone was sure about the bits in between. The unfamiliarity of this idyllic new frontier was tempered with authentic moments of football tradition. Indeed, shouts of “Get your Record!” echoed around the stadium before the opening bounce. Jarrod Harbrow and Jack Riewoldt were pictured on a specially designed cover, in between towering palm trees and a sandy beach. It was a warm homecoming for Harbrow, the Gold Coast defender. He played his junior football at Cazaly’s, a fact not lost on the crowd, which fondly applauded each of his darting runs. Riewoldt popped through an early goal—one of Richmond’s six in the opening term—but he had a quiet afternoon and was blanketed by Nathan Bock. “He’s too Hollywood”, declared one punter. It might have been a Richmond home game, courtesy of a lucrative three-match deal signed last year, but the locals’ allegiances certainly lay with their coastal neighbours.
14
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NEW EXPERIENCE: More than 10,000 fans enjoyed the fi rst AFL home and away game at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns last Saturday.
When the Suns fi nally managed a goal, late in the fi rst quarter, the crowd’s relief was palpable. Their wild cheers were quickly dampened by a glimpse of the scoreboard: 5.6 to 1.1. In the second term, however, Gold Coast took advantage of the wind and kicked their way back into the match. Fans grew in both voice and confidence, sensing a famous upset in their fi rst taste of the AFL. Cries of “Ball!” resonated loudly each time a Tiger found himself even remotely in trouble. “Prior opportunity” and “correct disposal” were foreign concepts, it seemed. Although not everyone had come to grips with the rules, the Suns’ bald-headed skipper attracted attention from all corners of the stadium. The crowd buzzed whenever Gary Ablett went near the ball, clearly relishing the chance to see this modern-day great in action.
A father made a point of constantly tapping his young son on the shoulder: “That’s Gary! There’s the little champion! Look at him go!” The atmosphere levelled out during a ho-hum third quarter, as the Tigers struggled to pierce Gold Coast’s defence in the searing late-afternoon sun. Fans took the chance to reapply their sunscreen and refresh themselves— beers for the men, mango cordial for the kids. Only the football purists remained engaged in the slow-moving tactical battle that had developed. As the game ticked into the final term, an air of expectation returned. The Suns were kicking with the wind and had all the momentum; the Tigers were merely trying not to lose. It was Ablett who broke the deadlock, with a clever step into space and a hurried snap. All eyes followed the ball as it floated towards goal, almost
Shouts of ‘Get your Record!’ echoed around the stadium
in slow motion. It eventually drifted through and the crowd erupted, rejoicing the moment of Ablett magic they had been avidly anticipating. Suddenly, the Suns were on a roll, and they charged past their more-fancied rivals with another four goals. The final siren came quickly, and Gold Coast’s theme song rang out in victory for just the third time. Their newfound supporters quickly picked up the tune. By next season, they will probably know all the lyrics, too. When the Suns eventually headed to their rooms, hundreds of fans streamed on to the ground, like supporters did in days gone by. Kids with Sherrins were everywhere, providing reassurance to those who wondered whether the AFL had a place in the heart of tropical north Queensland. Children practised their drop punts and flew for marks; one could not help but wonder whether the next Harbrow, Ablett or Cazaly was among them.
Brisbane Lions Daniel Rich, Matthew Leuenberger, Pat Karnezis, Jared Polec and Ryan Harwood sign contract extensions.
SECOND CHANCE
Stanley’s self-belief rewarded
DELIGHTED: ED D: Danny Stanley Stanley is is enjoying hiss second second chance chanceatatAFL AFL h th he Gold levet with the GoldCoast Coast Suns. Suns.
MICHAEL WHITING
D
anny Stanley said being delisted by Collingwood at the end of 2009 was a kick in the guts. He had spent four seasons with the Magpies but had played just five AFL matches. He was 21 and without an AFL club to call home, but his self-confi dence never wavered. The man they call ‘Bull’ put his head down and worked hard. Since Gold Coast picked him in the 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, he has not looked back. Last week, he played one of his best games for the Suns, kicking three goals in the second quarter against Richmond to help guide the fledgling club to its third win. “I always believed I could play at the highest level,” Stanley said.
orttunately at “Unfortunately at wo ood that wasn’t Collingwood wasn’t ut I knew I was to be, but nou ugh.” good enough.” eyy came to the Stanley oasst at the start start Gold Coast ea ason and and of last season n the VFL. played in witth Jared Jared Along with a and Brennann and Ha arbrow, Jarrod Harbrow, o only he is onee of un ns to to three Suns ayeed have played am me for for every game (15). the clubb (15). S is At 23,, Stanley is reed a senior senior considered wh ho will be player who eacch week picked each when fit. meember “I remember ntt coach) (assistant Hin nkley Kenny Hinkley
comi ing up to me coming at thee start start of last year and te telling me I had h a unique u oppor rtunit and that opportunity Im might have h to play a nothe year of another VFL but V bu in a year it’d be all worth it,” St Stanley rrecall recalled. “I ccertainly d didn’t see it (last yyear) aas a step year) back because be back I w p wasn’t playing AFL anyyway. anyway. “ lo “I’m loving bein ng up here and being having the the chance having playy. I ca to play. can’t be thankfu ulenough eno thankful to the giving me the g club for giving opportunittyand and opportunity ce.” second chanc chance.” sp time Stanley has spent miidfield, eld but in the midfi ha as been bee a terrifi c lately has presen nce in Gold presence Coastt’s forward forw half. Coast’s was no n surprise It w la ast weekend wee last to s him trading see g assists a goal with go mate his good
and fellow former Magpie Sam Iles. Iles spent two years at Collingwood, playing seven matches. The pair was picked in the same draft. “We were pretty close when we were at Collingwood,” Stanley said. “Coming up here with one of my mates made the move a lot easier. It helps having someone you’re pretty close with when going to a club where you don’t really know anyone.” Stanley said there were no hard feelings towards the Magpies or extra motivation ahead of this weekend’s match against them at Metricon Stadium. “They’re the best team in the competition so it should be good,” he said. “With the young kids we’ve drafted and the uncontracted players we’ve got, we’ve got a pretty unique group and a great opportunity going forward to have a pretty deadly team in two years’ time. “That’s exciting and I’m keen to be part of that.”
WIN – THE ULTIMATE
FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE! Go to 3aw.com.au/footy and put yourself in the draw for great weekly prizes and a chance to win the Ultimate 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final Experience. Each week, be listening to the 3AW footy broadcast and if you hear your name and call back before the end of the match, you’re a winner.* Visit 3aw.com.au/footy and register today.
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A ROUSING FAREWELL GOODBYE TO A LEGEND:
A guard of honour farewelled Allan Jeans at the MCG on Wednesday.
I
t was clear from the opening remarks that the funeral service for Allan Jeans was not to be a sombre occasion. As mourners moved into place in the members’ dining room at the MCG, the Victoria Police band struck up some rousing tunes. The celebrant, Ted Worthington, described what
was to come as a “thanksgiving and a celebrationâ€?. The congregation was there to thank a signiďŹ cant ďŹ gure in football, policing, mentoring, and family for a life that gave so much to so many. Thanks and celebrations go together so well, and so easily, when the storytellers of that life are so capable at their tasks.
They were led out Jeans’s son, Peter Jeans, who described his father’s greatest achievement as his family, followed by long-time family friend, Robert Williamson, premiership players Ross Smith (St Kilda) and John Kennedy jnr (Hawthorn), Cameron Schwab, secretary of Richmond in 1992, Jeans’s one year at Tigerland, and former chief commissioner Mick
Miller, Jeans’s “bossâ€? during his time with VicPol. Peter Jeans’s ďŹ nal words came to summarise what followed, providing his personal twist to a headline in the Herald Sun last week (Great Coach, Good Man): “He was a good coach, a great man, an extraordinary father.â€? GEOFF SLATTERY TED HOPKINS ON JEANS PAGE 82
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17
AFL to consider introducing its own player agent service.
father played 102 games for the club to just make the 100-game qualification for father-son selection. Division Two also featured two invitational teams—the South Pacific and the World XVIII—and both acquitted themselves well. They fought out a thrilling final-round match at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney last week, with the World XVIII winning by eight points. Adam Saad, from West Coburg, was named the World XVIII’s Most Valuable Player and has been likened to a young Jarrod Harbrow.
UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Speedster shines as SA claims title MICHAEL LOVETT
S
outh Australia won back-to-back Division One titles and Queensland took out the Division Two title at this year’s NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. The South Australians won all three round-robin games to clinch the win. South Australian midfi elder James Aish, the son of ex-Norwood player Andrew and the nephew of former SANFL star Michael, won the Kevin Sheehan Medal for the best player in Division One. “James is a bit like Michael – a will-of-the-wisp player who gets through traffi c. He kicked an important long goal in the final game against Western Australia,” Sheehan, the AFL’s national talent manager, said.
18
AFL RECORD
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CROWING: South Australia won the AFL NAB Under-16 Championships for the second successive year. The team went through the carnival undefeated.
NAB AFL UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aish averaged 25 disposals a game and, according to Sheehan, had “three terrifi c games”. Luke McDonald, the son of former North Melbourne big man and current Roos chief of football Donald McDonald, was named Most Valuable Player for Vic Metro. The classy left-footer will be eligible for the Roos under the father-son rule.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS South Australia: James Aish Western Australia: Dom Sheed Vic Metro: Luke McDonald Vic Country: James Tsitas Tasmania: Thor Boscott Queensland: Isaac Conway Northern Territory: David Richardson NSW/ACT:Lloyd Perris World XVIII: Adam Saad South Pacific: Brendan Beno
Queensland was the dominant team in Division Two, with key forward Jordon Bourke named the Alan McLean medallist as best player in that division. The 191cm forward kicked 18 goals and took 31 marks in four games. Bourke is the son of former Geelong captain Damian Bourke and will be eligible for the Cats under the father-son rule. His
Melbourne’s Austin Wonaeamirri returns to the club after a leave of absence.
SUCCESS: Greg Madigan
has made a decent fi st of his working life after a 66-game career at Hawthorn and Fremantle.
He knew swhen to take his chances PAUL DAFFEY
M
ost footballers know life presents opportunities. In Greg Madigan’s case, it was the chance to play in Hawthorn’s 1989 premiership team in just his sixth game of League football. Madigan, now 41, also contends he was blessed by his move to Fremantle for the Dockers’ inaugural season, in 1995. In this case, it was an opportunity to work, as much as one to continue playing footy. In 1995, AFL players still worked. Madigan was keen on a job in sales so he asked about opportunities at Swan Brewery, one of the club’s sponsors. Swan, a subsidiary of Lion Nathan, thanked him for his interest but knocked him back because it believed a footballer’s training regimen was not conducive to business. Madigan asked again at the end of the 1995 season, and was put on part-time. Soon it was full-time. AFL players’ lives were transformed in the mid-1990s as the game moved towards full-time professionalism. Although almost everyone had
20
AFL RECORD
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a job when Madigan joined “I’m happy and proud of the Fremantle, by the time of his last things I did. I was happy with season, in 1997, he was one of the opportunity.” only two who continued to work. He played one more season The other was Jason Norrish, after his AFL career, helping who was in real estate. WAFL club East Fremantle to the “I never saw football as 1998 premiership. being a final answer to my life,” Soon afterwards, he returned Madigan says. to Melbourne and settled into a As a rangy half-back, Madigan working life. played 40 Even now, games for more than a Hawthorn from decade later, 1989-94. Madigan After the sounds 1994 season, bemused when he was set to go he admits that to Richmond workplace until Ben promotions just Allan, a former seemed to fall GREG MADIGAN Hawthorn his way. teammate, “The roles stepped in. just opened Allan persuaded Fremantle up,” he says. “A lot of it’s been coach Gerard Neesham and his good luck and timing.” staff to draft Madigan. But to meet him is to “I picked up the dog and encounter a man with rare the girlfriend and went across,” people skills. he says. Madigan is so open and Madigan has no regrets about unaffected, you can only be put his AFL career, which ended in at ease. Even when it is your task 1997 after 66 matches. to ask him questions, you end
I never saw football as being a final answer to my life
up telling him your own story because the conversation seems safe in his hands. When pressed on his ability to get along with people, he says it’s just a reflection of his upbringing. You can imagine him imparting those values to his three infant daughters. “You’re told to say hello to your uncles, your aunties, anyone who comes into the house,” Madigan says. “It’s just the way we were brought up.” Madigan progressed through the ranks at the company to become the Victorian and Tasmanian manager. Recently, he was offered another promotion, to national sales manager for national and international craft brands. Essentially, he co-ordinates his staff to sell a wide range of beer brands, both the popular and boutique variety. It is a job he enjoys. “You’re given the freedom to be the best you can be,” he says.
“Will you swear to look after your mates when driving?” “Blood Oath.”
How’d you feel if your driving were to either kill or injure a mate? Make this Blood Oath to look after your mates when you’re behind the wheel: “I swear I will always put my mates’ safety first when driving.” Do it now on Facebook. And by making an oath you’ll also help your local footy club win cash rewards. facebook.com/mybloodoath
The 2012 AFL Grand Final set to be played on September 29.
MEMBERSHIP RECORD
» More than 650,000 fans
signed as members of AFL clubs this season, the highest figure in competition history. Aided by record membership increases for 10 clubs and the addition of a 17th club, the AFL’s fi nal combined membership figure at the June 30 deadline was 650,373—up from 614,251 last year. “On behalf of the AFL, I wish to thank those supporters who continue to make the commitment to join an AFL club,” AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said. “Their passion for our game is the lifeblood of our sport across the country.” Club membership has increased every year since 2001, with the only drop since 1990 coming in 2000, when the season started early to avoid a clash with the Sydney Olympics. On the back of its drought-breaking 2010 premiership, Collingwood recorded a massive increase of nearly 20 per cent, taking its total to 71,271—the highest of any club in history. Port Adelaide recorded the second-largest increase of 12 per cent, due to its merger with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL, while Richmond and Melbourne also recorded double-digit growth. On top of the record membership figure, Demetriou said the AFL was also heading towards a record total attendance for the season. “Membership and match-day attendances are the AFL’s most important indicators of the game’s health,” Demetriou said. “The clubs and players deserve credit for the standard of the game on the field and also for the many hours invested in connecting with supporters.” Seven clubs— Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Richmond and West Coast— now boast membership bases of more than 40,000. MARK MACGUGAN
22
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SPECULATIVE PICK
Savage repaying Hawks’ faith MARK MACGUGAN
G
raeme Yeats recalled a “dirty, rotten day” at Warrawee Park, Oakleigh, in Melbourne’s south-east, in 2008. In a tight, hard-fought TAC Cup contest, the Yeats-coached Dandenong Stingrays squeezed past the Oakleigh Chargers by seven points. More than the result, the performance of one young prospect, a skinny 17-year-old named Shane Savage, sticks in the coach’s memory. “He was a standout player that day,” Yeats said. “He stood up in traffi c, kicked the ball really well when most struggled to execute in the wet conditions, and he ran up and down the ground.” It is a description that would have Hawthorn fans nodding their heads. Now in his third year with the Hawks, the 20-year-old Savage has been impressive this season, playing in 14 of the 15 matches and averaging more than 18 disposals. That precise ball use by foot Yeats highlighted has been evident this year. In a team that features a number of elite-level kicks, Savage ranks sixth at the club in disposal efficiency. He has kicked 16 goals and only four behinds. “My kicking is something I’ve always practised a lot,” Savage told the AFL Record. But Yeats thinks there’s more to it than simple repetition. “He’s one of the best kicks I’ve seen come through our program,” the Stingrays coach said. “Technically, he was up to speed when he was 16 or 17, and it pays to get the technique right at an early age. “It’s much harder to come into the AFL system without a good technique and have to improve it to the standard required.”
He’s one of the best kicks I’ve seen come through our program DANDENONG STINGRAYS COACH GRAEME YEATS
Add an explosive burst of pace, clean hands and a willingness to learn, and Savage was on a fast track to a professional career from an early age. He was first elevated into the Stingrays’ TAC Cup team as a 16-year-old, alongside two other talented juniors his age: Tom Scully (now at Melbourne) and Ryan Bastinac (North Melbourne). Scully and Bastinac had come up via Narre Warren, a fi erce rival of Savage’s junior club Noble Park. All three quickly flourished among the bigger bodies around them. “As a rule, we don’t really play 16-year-olds, but we decided to
throw them in there, and the three of them were terrific,” Yeats said. “They were all really skinny and scrawny, but they were brave and smart footballers who could get in the right spots.” But the trio was split when— without any of the fanfare that accompanied Scully and Bastinac’s early selections a year later—Hawthorn chose Savage at No. 75 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. Despite his under-developed frame, the Hawks had seen enough in the New Zealand-born 17-year-old to make a speculative pick.
AFL says a timekeeping error added 52 seconds to the third quarter of the Adelaide-Essendon match last week.
PROGRESS: After an inauspicious
start to his AFL career, Shane Savage has developed into a regular in the Hawks’ line-up.
“I wasn’t really expecting to get drafted that year, especially by Hawthorn, which I’d hardly heard from,” Savage said. “I was on the couch at home listening to the draft on the radio, and it was getting towards the end and I’d pretty much decided my name wasn’t going to get called out. “At that point, I was expecting to play another year in the TAC Cup, so when my name was called, it was a bonus.” While his two Stingrays mates pressed their claims at junior level for an extra season, Savage began his Hawthorn apprenticeship at the club’s VFL affiliate, the Box Hill Hawks. Or at least, he tried to. “In my first week at Hawthorn training, I went to punch the ball, trying to impress with this big spoil, and my shoulder popped out,” Savage recalled. “I thought, ‘Gee, what a great start to my career’.
“I was skinny, I didn’t have the greatest fitness, and I had to have a shoulder reconstruction, which kept me out for six months. It was pretty frustrating and a bit depressing at times.” Hawthorn assistant coach Brendon Bolton, who took charge at Box Hill in the same year Savage arrived, explained the story of a young player who had come a long way in his twoand-a-half years in the system. “‘Sav’ has gone from a fairly introverted kid to someone who’s a lot more mentally strong and mature, and knows himself as a player,” Bolton said. “He’s a really receptive learner. He understands there are still areas he can improve in, but he always always goes into a game strengths at at the the front frontof of with hiss strengths nd, which are takinggthe his mind, n and using usin ng his his kicking.” kicking.” game on ng impressed impresssedenough enoughto to Having he Hawthorn Hawth hornline-up line-upfor for make the threegames gam mesof of the last three speent 2009, Savage spent ire 2010 the entire pushing for f for season pushing opportu unity. anotherr opportunity. He was an ency eightt times, emergency uld not squeeze squ ueeze but could ach Alasta air into coach Alastair on’s best 22. 2 22. Clarkson’s ing into 2011, 2 Sava ge set Leading Savage what might mig ghthave have seemed seemed himselff what ime an ambitious am mbitious target: target: at the time ames. to play 10 AFL ga games. as a disappointing disap ppointingseason season “It was for me last year, year,”” he said. “I d a plateau u in the VFL and reached could never quitee get into the ide. (AFL) side. coaches were w telling were tellingme meII “The coaches d to take the th he game game on on aa bit bit needed nd have more m self-belief. self-belief. more and belieff now now that that II can can I’ve got the belief te at that level.” l level.” compete
FACT T FILE FILE
Savage’s next step, according to his former coach Yeats, is to make the progression from outside runner to inside midfi elder. “He’s brave enough to be a genuine centre square midfield type player who can extract the ball and then use it,” Yeats said. Bolton agreed, but said there was no rush to get there. “At the moment, Sav is playing his outside role really well,” Hawthorn’s midfield coach said. “With time at the level, he’ll add to that, and I just think that’ll be a natural progression.” With his original personal goal for 2011 achieved, plus a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in the bag for his game against St Kilda in round eight, Savage said he was focused focused on on helping helping the Hawks progress through the fi nals. “With the the personnel we’ve got and our game-plan, I definitely think we can go all the way,” he he said.
MILESTONES ROUND 18
200 GAMES
Darren Jolly Collingwood Ryan Houlihan Carlton Graham Johncock Adelaide
AFL 200 CLUB
Matthew Boyd Western Bulldogs Michael Gardiner St Kilda Luke McPharlin Fremantle SEE PAGE 60
150 GAMES
Brent Reilly Adelaide Dale Morris Western Bulldogs Kade Simpson Carlton
100 GAMES
Hamish McIntosh North Melbourne
21
50 GAMES
Shane ne Savag Savage ge
Born: n: January 5, 5, 1991 1991 Recruited uited from: from m: Noble le Park/D Park/Dandenong a andenong U18 U18 Debut: ut: Round 20, 20, 2009 2009 elaide v Adelaide ht: 185cm m Weight: 80kg Height: es: 17 Goals: Goals: 16 Games: er honour rs: NAB AFL Player honours: Rising nominee 2011 g Star no m minee 2011
Nathan Krakouer Gold Coast Will Schofield West Coast Robin Nahas Richmond The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.
AFL RECORD RECO ORD
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23
Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast confi rmed as venue for second International Rules Series match, on November 4.
AFL SANCTIONS
Magpies hit over betting breaches MARK MACGUGAN
C
ollingwood defender Heath Shaw will miss the rest of the home and away season after being suspended by the AFL for betting on football. Magpies captain Nick Maxwell was fi ned for disclosing information. The AFL said Shaw had been banned for 14 matches, six of which have been suspended, for a series of breaches, including betting on Maxwell to kick the first goal in the team’s round nine match against Adelaide. He was also fined $20,000. Maxwell, normally a defender, started the match against the Crows in the forward line. He was fined $5000 (with a further $5000 suspended) for recklessly disclosing inside information. “All AFL players, coaches, umpires and offi cials can be in no doubt that betting on the AFL is prohibited and they can not disclose inside information when it could be used for betting purposes. Serious sanctions will continue to apply,” the AFL’s general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson said. The AFL said Shaw and Maxwell’s “honesty” and “contrition” were taken into account when handing out the penalties. Shaw said he had been at a local betting agency with a friend the day before the match, betting on horse racing. His friend, having learned from Shaw that Maxwell would be playing in the forward line,
PENALISED: H PENALISED Heath th Shaw Sh (left) (l ft)anddNick Ni k Maxwell faced the media last week while Adrian Anderson (above) gave details of the AFL’s sanctions.
decided to wager $10 on Maxwell was implicated the backman to kick the fi rst in the AFL’s investigation after goal against the Crows, and it was discovered his family asked Shaw if he “wanted members had also backed him some as well”. to kick the first goal, acting on Shaw agreed and gave $10 to information Maxwell had his friend, who placed the bet. passed on. He said he was discovered “In round nine, the same as after being picked up on CCTV I have for every match of my cameras in the venue. AFL career, after I found out “At the time, it was something my role and who I’d be playing minor, a little bet, and I thought on, I spoke to family members,” nothing would come of it,” Maxwell said. Shaw said. “I had no “Looking idea until back, obviously yesterday it was a that they’d stupid thing used that to do. I didn’t information think of the to bet; they’d consequences never done at the time if I it before. was caught.” “I take full Shaw said responsibility he still had for that. The HEATH SHAW hopes of being rules state involved in that any Collingwood’s information finals campaign. you give out, you have to back “These next (seven) weeks are that up and say it’s not to be used just about doing everything right for gambling purposes. and getting myself into the best “I never said that … so that’s position so that when it comes why I find myself here. It’s not around, I can put my hand up for (my family’s) fault, because I’d selection and say, ‘I’m ready to never explained that situation to go’,” Shaw said. them, so I take responsibility.”
I didn’t think of the consequences at the time if I was caught
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Maxwell did not feel his penalty was too harsh. “It’s pretty important that the AFL made a strong stance on this,” he said. “It’s a really good lesson to players that no matter who you share information with, even family members, everyone needs to understand what the rules and regulations are.” Last year, Port Adelaide assistant coach (now senior coach) Matthew Primus received a two-game ban for placing a $20 multi-bet that included a 2009 NAB Cup match between Geelong and Carlton. A goal umpire, two interchange stewards and a timekeeper were all suspended at the same time as Primus for separate infringements, while part-time Richmond runner Justin Quill was suspended by his club for six weeks later in the same season. In 2007, four players— Adelaide’s Simon Goodwin, Melbourne’s Daniel Ward, the Sydney Swans’ Kieren Jack and North Melbourne’s David Hale—were fined for betting on matches during the previous season.
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SHANE MUMFORD
Ruckman’s stop-start season Big Sydney Swans ruckman tackles his problems head-on.
JAMES DAMPNEY
S
FOCUSED: After injury and suspension problems, Swans ruckman Shane Mumford is determined to have a big finish to the season.
spend time altering his tackling battles veteran Western Bulldogs technique, but it is already ruckman Ben Hudson at the SCG. paying off. Both players stand 199cm, “I’ve had to change the way I with the Swans ruckman two tackle and I’ve actually pulled out kilograms heavier at 108kg, halfway through tackles,” he said. and both have a similar physical “I’ve let blokes approach to go rather than ruckwork. hang on to them But, far the whole way to from shying the ground. It’s just away from not worth the risk. the battle, “My first game Mumford back the umpire knows he actually said can put to me, ‘You did the Swans well to let him go well on there’. It’s a their way split-second thing, towards SHANE MUMFORD but it’s always in a crucial the back of my victory if mind now. It’s something I won’t he can perform at his best. be forgetting anytime soon.” “Definitely, especially at Mumford expects to have his the SCG. If we can get good, hands full this weekend when he solid centre clearances, you’re
I’ve had to change the way I tackle and I’ve actually pulled out halfway through tackles
getting it deep inside your forward 50,” he said. “If I can give our midfi elders first use, it’s going to get us a long way towards winning the game.” Swans coach John Longmire also knows his No. 1 ruckman is keen to re-discover his best form. “He’s still getting back into the form and fitness he wants and he’s got a challenge against Hudson,” Longmire said. “He’s really keen to have a good game.” Mumford’s life has changed significantly since moving from Geelong to Sydney’s eastern suburbs, but he has handled it well. “I love it up here,” he said.“I’ll be happy if I’m up here for life. “Hopefully footy lasts another 10 years – that’d be nice. But I’ll play up here as l ong as I can.” AFL RECORD
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59
PHOTO:MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS
ydney Swans ruckman Shane Mumford is the fi rst to admit he’s had a frustrating season. After an outstanding fi rst year in Sydney, when he finished runner-up in the Swans’ best and fairest to Kieren Jack, plenty was expected of him heading into 2011. The former Geelong ruckman started the year well, but was troubled by a knee injury that eventually sidelined him for three games, from rounds 10-12. Upon his return, Mumford was suspended for a sling tackle, resulting in another two weeks watching from the stands. The stop-start nature of the season has made it diffi cult for Mumford to consistently produce his best football, but he is now focused on a strong end to the year. “I’ve been up and down a fair bit and I guess that comes with being in and out of the side with injury and suspension,” said Mumford, who has played 32 matches for the Swans after 21 with the Cats. “You just start to find your form again and then I’m back out. “I started really well, but then died off a little bit before having the few weeks off with the injury. “But my ruck work was reasonably solid last week (he had 52 hit-outs against Fremantle), so hopefully this week if I can do the same and find more of the ball around the ground, I’ll be happy.” Mumford’s suspension for a rough conduct charge on Carlton’s David Ellard followed a two-week ban last season for a similar tackle on ex-teammate Gary Ablett. It meant the 25-year-old had to
Football’s a fairly transient career and you’re never sure when it’s going to fi nish
60
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LUKE McPHARLIN
FINDING THE RIGHT
HARMONY Luke McPharlin has always strived to balance his AFL career with a varied and interesting life outside the game. At the peak of his powers as one of the game’s most infl uential key defenders, he appears to have found the perfect balance. NATHAN SCHMOOK
L
istening to Luke McPharlin enthusiastically describe the many things on his plate in 2011, it is easy to wonder where exactly football fits in for the Fremantle key defender. Enjoying career-best form in the backline and routinely dispatching some of the competition’s premier power forwards, McPharlin appears a player who, like many, is consumed by the game. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. First and foremost, there is the 29-year-old’s family—wife Amelia and baby daughter Willow. Then comes the pharmacy degree he is completing at Perth’s Curtin University, earning him the nickname ‘Woosh’ among teammates, in reference to West Coast coach and pharmacist John Worsfold. He finds time to hone his guitar skills with Perth bands and will be releasing a CD around the end of the season, collaborating with local rockers Stellas Kitchen. And his commitment to the Baha’i faith has seen him become involved in various community projects over the years, including a trip to African country Lesotho to visit a school being built by the Baha’i community to enable free education. Sitting in the boardroom at Fremantle Oval, dressed casually in thongs, jeans and a black v-neck T-shirt, the question remains, where does football fi t in for the 183-game veteran? “Obviously, football’s a big part of it, and a very signifi cant part of my life, but I’ve always felt it’s important to keep other areas
going,” says McPharlin, who is staking a claim for his fi rst All-Australian nomination. “Football’s a fairly transient career and you’re never sure when it’s going to finish, so to have something to fall back on or even to take your mind off football at times is important. “It’s always been a pretty strong philosophy I’ve had on life and that is to keep everything balanced and in proportion.” McPharlin is by no means the only footballer living a dynamic life away from the game but, interestingly, he attributes his longevity as a player to his pursuits off the field. Recruited by Hawthorn with pick No. 10 in the 1999 National Draft, McPharlin was soon struck down by osteitis pubis and, with only 12 senior games under his belt, headed home at the end of 2001 to join Fremantle. There were obvious positives to returning home, having grown up in Attadale in Perth’s inner south, and the idea of playing in front of friends and family excited McPharlin. But as things turned out, the move coincided with his toughest 12 months in football as he dealt with an extreme case of osteitis pubis. McPharlin credits Jeff Boyle, the Fremantle doctor who has been with the club since its inception, for rebuilding his body to the point where it could stand up to the demands of the AFL. Still, without off-fi eld distractions, McPharlin says the pressure of the game might have got to him a lot sooner.
BALANCING ACT: Luke McPharlin combines football with studies, fatherhood, his love of music and his
commitment to his faith, which includes assisting communities in Africa.
PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS
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LUKE MCPHARLIN
“At that point in time, I had no idea whether I was going to make it in a sense and I hadn’t really proved myself,” he says. “I couldn’t get my body right. I imagine that those periods would have been harder if I didn’t have something to take my mind off it.” Music has been a major release valve for McPharlin, who is one of four siblings grounded in at least one musical instrument. He started with piano, but it is an instrument he didn’t enjoy, quickly moving to guitar when he was 10 (around the same time he gave away hockey and took up football). “I’ve been playing guitar ever since and have played in various bands over the years,” he says. “I started acoustic and then went electric, pretty heavy for a while. I’ve mellowed out over the years, so it’s always been a pretty big passion of mine.” McPharlin’s talents with the guitar saw him win a 2005 talent competition on The Footy Show, and it has also led to one of the more surprising links at Fremantle—a close friendship with rugged forward Kepler Bradley. The odd couple have combined to write a series of humorous songs they perform in front of the team, with funny man Bradley providing the lyrics and McPharlin the musical direction. “We’re pretty much total opposites when it comes to everything else,” Bradley explains, “but I like singing in the shower and he’s a bit of a musical magician. “We made a couple of songs about pre-season and those types of things and, when the time’s right, we sing in front of the boys. I think they enjoy it.” Music aside, Bradley is full of praise for McPharlin, who he says is one of his closer mates at the club. “There’s nothing Woosh isn’t good at,” he says. “He’s very smart, he knows everything about music and he’s obviously very good at playing the guitar and singing. “He’s got a lot going, but it’s not slowing down his footy. You
ON FIRE: McPharlin is having a superb season, regularly taking on and beating the best, such as St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt.
do training drills on him and he never lets you get a kick, and the way he thinks about the game is second to none. He’s having a terrific year.” A feature of McPharlin’s season has been his ability to control the Fremantle backline in the air, beating his opponents more often than not in one-on-one contests and dropping off to help his teammates when necessary. He had played more minutes than any Fremantle player this season up until he suffered a minor groin injury against the Brisbane Lions in round 14, and backline coach Todd Curley says it is his reliability that makes him such an asset. Indeed, it is hard to recall any form slump of note for McPharlin, particularly since he has become a close-to-permanent defender. “It’s great to have a key defender who you know most weeks is going to, at worst, balance out 50-50 in the battle,”
Curley says. “In Luke’s case, he’s certainly won more than he’s halved. “Whoever the most dangerous forward is, he’s gone to him and that’s a credit to him. It makes our job as coaches a little bit easier.” McPharlin, who once chopped and changed between key posts at either end of the ground, is enjoying his time as a permanent defender and says the past two years—aside from a seven-week knee injury last season—have seen him play the most consistent football of his career. “It’s good to be settled in a defensive post and playing with guys like Antoni Grover, who I’ve played a fair bit of football with,” he says. “I’ve played a variety of roles over the years and been used as a swingman a fair bit and as a permanent forward. “It’s easier to get your head around the job you need to do each week knowing exactly where you’re going to play.”
A downside to McPharlin’s permanent move back—for supporters anyway—is the absence of the high-flying marks that had become a feature of his game, most memorably in 2005 when he took the mark of the year with a soaring grab against West Coast. It is an aspect of the game he loves, and it hasn’t been removed completely from his repertoire, as shown by a textbook ‘speccy’ against the Brisbane Lions in round 14. It’s tougher though. “You’re coached to spoil more, but at the same time, if an opportunity arises, I’ll certainly continue to go for my marks,” he says. “I’ve always enjoyed going for high marks and have done since I was 10. The important thing is to hang on to them. “If you drop them, then the coaches are pretty unhappy with you, but if you hold on to them, it’s a big bonus and can lift the team. You tread a fine line.”
Luke McPharlin’s first job was fl ipping hamburgers in a deli in Fremantle. He describes his perfect
QUICK McPHARLIN FACTS day off as a round of early-morning golf, followed by a massage, breakfast and an afternoon sleep. 62
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Travis is combining a successful football career with study to be a social worker – and he’s doing it all in regional Victoria. To learn more about living, working and investing in regional Victoria phone 13 22 15 or visit www.provincialvictoria.vic.org.au
LUKE MCPHARLIN
It’s McPharlin’s ability to stop his opponents marking, however, that’s most valuable to Fremantle, and all those spoken to for this article are quick to refer to his performance against Hawthorn star Lance Franklin in last year’s elimination final at Patersons Stadium to highlight his value. In his most signifi cant performance for the club, McPharlin kept Franklin to 13 possessions, six marks and two goals, with Fremantle eventually winning just its second fi nal by 30 points. Football manager Chris Bond returned to Fremantle at the end of 2007 with an appreciation for McPharlin’s talent, and his standing in Bond’s eyes has only grown since—particularly after that final against the Hawks. “Even though ‘Buddy’ (Franklin) is a champion, we rate Luke very highly as well and, going into that game, we were always very confi dent Luke would be able to do a job for us,” Bond says. “He plays on the best players in the competition week-in, week-out, and we also understand they’re going to have their good days as well. But I think the way Luke goes about it is a real credit to him. “I’ve got no doubt that a lot of other teams put time and effort into Luke and his form this year would suggest that.” McPharlin’s talent and competitiveness is matched by uncompromising discipline and a commitment to playing the game fairly that has earned him respect across the country. Indeed, McPharlin can’t remember crossing the line and intentionally straying from the rules or playing outside the spirit of the game. To do so, he says, would be contradictory to his beliefs. (His clean record saw
RESPECTED: McPharlin has
built a reputation as one of the most disciplined and committed players in the AFL.
him get off with a reprimand for involved with the community,” a rough conduct charge against he says. the Sydney Swans last week.) “The foundation of the faith McPharlin, his brother is unity and obviously that’s a Hamish and younger twin fairly important principle in the sisters Sarah and Julia were world. I like the focus it has on raised following the Baha’i faith, this principle. which has five million followers “It is about improving yourself worldwide. as an individual, but also “Dad became contributing to Baha’i when the community he was at in a form of university and service. I like met Mum and that balance she became between selfBaha’i as well. improvement They raised and also living all four of us in the world and members of participating the Baha’i in service DOCKERS FOOTBALL MANAGER CHRIS BOND community,” projects or McPharlin activities, and in explains. some way helping the community “Once I got to an age to progress.” where I could start making This balance of selfmy own decisions, I felt improvement and helping everything about the Baha’i others may have been evident in faith really rang true with me McPharlin’s football life and I wanted to continue to be with his decision in 2010 to
I think the way Luke goes about it is a real credit to him
elicious PERi-PERi Chicken Nando’s d is much easier to swallow.
64
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FACT FILE
18
Luke McPharlin
Born: December 1, 1981 Recruited from: East Fremantle/Hawthorn Debut: Round 5, 2000, Hawthorn v Port Adelaide Height: 193cm Weight: 91kg Games: 183 Goals: 113 Player honours: 3rd best and fairest 2007, 2008; All-Australian nominee 2008. Brownlow Medal: career votes 13.
step down from Fremantle’s leadership group following the birth of his daughter. With home life settled, he returned to the leadership group this season and says it is a tremendous honour to be considered a leader to the Dockers’ young players. Discussing some of the youngsters on Fremantle’s list, including Anthony Morabito, Matt de Boer and Jay van Berlo, who are all completing tertiary studies, we are drawn back to the subject of life outside of football and finding the right balance. It has clearly helped McPharlin’s football. But, has it ever given outsiders the impression he isn’t buying into the ultra-competitive nature of football entirely? “I look to a lot of good players around the country, and even our captain Matthew Pavlich— he’s got more going on outside of football than anyone, and it certainly hasn’t affected his football,” McPharlin says. “To have other elements of my life to focus on and fall back on has benefited my football. I think some of the better players around the country have fi gured this out.”
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Players are feeling a bit more fatigued this season than most SAM MITCHELL
HAVING AN IMPACT:The new substitute
rule has had dierent implications for star players (from left) Matthew Boyd, Matt Priddis and Dane Swan.
ON THE FIELD
FATIGUE BECOMES
A FACTOR It appears the new substitution rule is having its desired effect with players spending more time on the ground. As the season progresses, some are starting to feel the pinch.
F
PETER RYAN
our weeks ago, after Hawthorn’s win against Essendon, Hawks skipper Luke Hodge did a post-match interview with Triple M radio. Hawthorn director and commentator Jason Dunstall asked Hodge: “As a player, are you noticing the difference with three on the bench and the sub rule from a fatigue perspective?”
Hodge chuckled, then responded with honesty. “I was cramping during the third quarter. That’s a big yes, mate,” he said. “I’ve never been this fatigued (at) this time throughout the season. The bye is in two weeks (and) I’ll be looking forward to it. “Speaking to a lot of the boys and blokes from other teams, you can really feel how fatigued they are even, as I said, (if) it’s only three-quarters of the way through the season.” It was round 14. Hodge had just spent 86.3 per cent of the game on the ground. In his 10th season, with 185 games’ experience behind him, with a bye (round six) already under his belt and with a personality not prone to exaggeration or complaint, the 27-year-old was admitting to the world he had never felt as tired at that stage of the season as he did at that point. Surely such a comment would create headlines? When the weekend discussion came and went without his comments receiving much attention, afl.com.au began to ask around to see if other players shared Hodge’s views. Carlton’s 30-year-old veteran Heath Scotland said he felt OK when asked at a press conference following the Blues’ loss to West Coast. No different from any other year really, was his response. “The enjoyment around the club has been up, (which) makes training more enjoyable and makes you feel better,” he said. Early the next week, Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell
admitted he was starting to get a bit tired. He said players were fortunate to have two byes during 2011, giving them a chance to freshen the body and mind, a chance that might not exist in 2012. “For the teams fighting it out to win every single game, I think that fatigue is going to be a signifi cant part of the season,” Mitchell said. He then expressed surprise that his body felt as it did. “I think the sub rule has had a bigger impact on player fatigue than perhaps was anticipated.” He wondered whether four on the bench rotating plus one sub would be a better system than three plus one, the current rule. “I guess the powers that be will decide that in time,” he said. “But certainly, players across the League are feeling a bit more fatigued this season than most.” The Hawks had their second bye last weekend. Hodge has averaged 83.4 per cent game time for the season, up on his 82.8 per cent in 2010. He has been interchanged 7.6 times a game, as opposed to 7.8 a game in 2010. It might not sound like much, but players will tell you each minute on the ground is wearing on both mind and body. Mitchell has averaged 90 per cent of game time in 14 games, up from 87.6 the season before. Both Mitchell and Hodge are
players whose bodies take plenty of heat in close. Perhaps the Hawks’ fatigue was an anomaly. Hawthorn has been one of the clubs hardest hit by injury in 2011 and was forced to use the sub before it wanted to on several occasions early in the season. Then along came Collingwood star Dane Swan, who admitted he had been on the ‘more tired than ever’ list too until he was able to recuperate in Arizona in the United States in early June. Swan told afl.com.au reporter Jennifer Witham he did not come into 2011 thinking he would need a break, but eventually his workload caught up with him. He suspected the sub rule had been a signifi cant factor in him needing to miss a game for the first time since his run of 122 consecutive matches MATT PRIDDIS from round 13, 2006. Some would argue the fact Swan played 100 games in four years before 2011 (including 26 in 2010) meant a break was inevitable, sub rule or no sub rule. There is a likelihood that accumulated fatigue did play a part, however, what is indisputable is that he is getting less rest during games this season. “I don’t know exactly, but I think it’s about six, seven or eight per cent more I’m staying on the ground,” he said.
I have really enjoyed it (the sub rule) ... it’s a real survival of the fittest
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on the field “It’s a bit different because you come off and you’re only off for 20 (or) 30 seconds, then you have to go straight back on again so you’re not getting that rest.” Players aren’t complaining, just being honest. The time for complaint has well and truly passed. In fact, a diversity of views exist, underlining the difficulty facing decision-makers when time comes to assess the rule. Consider the view of Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis, who was very positive about the rule. “I have really enjoyed it. It means guys are playing an extra 10 or 15 minutes and it’s a real survival of the fi ttest. You have to grind it out and it’s great for the fans, too,” he said. Of course, what’s great for the fans is subjective. Conventional wisdom (without the due diligence that can only come after a complete season and debrief) is that the sub rule has led to a more attractive game, with the return of long kicking and contested marking a result of the rule change. The causal relationship between the variables is contested, however, by those closest observers of the game, with assistant coaches suggesting the need to break through zones and forward presses are the real reasons long kicking and contested marking have returned in 2011, not the sub rule. As the season moved beyond the half-way point, Priddis believed players have become fitter and the effect late in the game is less obvious now. “In second halves earlier in the year, the tempo of the game dropped away a little bit, but I think fitness levels have gone up and teams are starting to maintain it (intensity) for four quarters now,” he said. Western Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd still thinks he is affected late in games. He explained a fortnight ago that periods between rotations have been longer, with players looking at 12-14-minute stints on the ground, rather than the eight or nine minutes in previous years. “It might not sound like a lot but, over the course of the game, it definitely takes its toll and, by the last quarter, you are certainly feeling the effects of it,” he said. 68
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I agree with their rationale in trying to open up the game CHRIS SCOTT
“I don’t know whether that is because I am getting older or the substitute rule is taking effect.” Boyd averaged 88 per cent time on the ground until round 16 (88.6 per cent in 2010). But he averaged 107.6 minutes a game on the ground, compared to 107.4 last year. He also has come on and off the ground more often: 6.7 times a game in 2011 compared to 5.8 in 2010, but clearly he has spent less time on the bench. as longer longer oge It might be as simplee as ue,aapoint point quarters causing fatigue, n Dunstall Du unstall not lost on Hodge when ons to t his to his asked him what solutions ilab ble. tiredness might be available. dge. “Anything,” said Hodge. orfifive “Shorter quarters, fourror w II was w was on the bench. With how qu uarter, feeling during the thirddquarter, otheer sub.” sub.” I would have loved another the The AFL brought in the ang ge three-and-one interchange acchieve system in an attempt tooachieve w the th he three outcomes: to slow the game down to reduce the redu uce number of injuries; to reduce balll;and and congestion around the ball; er. to make the game fairer. seensible The AFL has taken aasensible ch to to o the the ‘wait and see’ approach ring gthe the rule’s impact, weathering arly occasional – particularly early-season – protest.. 6, Geelong G Geelong Leading into round 16, ded daa coach Chris Scott provided ked dhow how balanced view when asked g:“The “T The his players were feeling: Law wsof of game is harder but the Laws werevery very the Game committee were tryingto to clear in that they were trying fatiigued make the players more fatigued biithard hard and I think that is a littleebit for the players to take. roun ndand and “The players turn around to make m make say, ‘So you are trying to an ndyou you the game harder for uss and ed’ but b but want us to be more tired’ forthe t the that is their rationale for iththe the sub rule and I agree with open nup up rationale in trying to open the game,” Scott said. moree “If the players are more et more m more fatigued, we should get
continuous footy. The downside is players are fi nding it a little bit harder at this stage of the season. Our guys have not made a big issue of it. “I think the lawmakers will say, ‘If that is the case, then the rule is working’.” But the terms of reference of any such analysis will need to be wide, because the rule’s implications seem seemwider widerthan than first envisaged. envisage d. Because ecauseegaeas game has has the game become 21 on 21 instead of 22 on 22, an equation equation familiar toany anyworkplace workplacenow now familiar to applies to the football fifield: completing as much work with with the same intensit withless less intensityywith resources equals equals more more work work for for individuals, andlogic logicwould would individuals, and suggest, a higher risk risk of burnout. EXTRA WORKLOAD:
Luke Hodge is spending more time on the field and is being interchanged less in 2011.
Dictating when a player comes off is more diffi cult than ever before; with reduced numbers on the bench, the workload is not as manageable as it once was. With only three players available on the bench, the likelihood of a player fi nding a suitable player to replace him is reduced, particularly if two midfielders or two defenders or two forwards are aretrying tryingto tocome come off at the same time. time.
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on the field Clubs such as the Sydney Swans are finding the defenders and forwards and rucks are bearing more workload under the sub rule than in previous seasons in order to enable midfielders to maintain their workload at manageable rates. This sharing of the load has occurred without much recognition. The Bulldogs’ Bulldogs’ Lindsay LindsayGilbee Gilbee (a veteran of 201 matches) recently told the AFL Record Record there had been been times timesthis this year he had returned to the
ground with a sore hamstring, something he would have been unlikely to do in other years. Earlier this season, the AFL website documented the impact of the sub rule on the workload of AFL coaching staff. Coaches are spending longer on selection and the pressure is greater in the coach’s box on game-day. Conditioners are in new territor y, having havi to make sure territory, players recover recove week-to-week and ensuring ensuringthose who play fewer minute minutes because they are subbed on or off get enough work into them each week. a All players agree the emphasis on recovery ha has gone to another level this this season. seaso Even with that being the cas e Boyd said he was case, taking longer to come back to square one aft after a game. n “It has definitely had an reco impact on recovery times,” he i said. “In prev previous years, I’d get to I’ be on the mend. day two and I’d becomi day three “It’s becoming sometime day four where and sometimes fe you are still feeling it a bit and probably easin probably easing into training a bit more in tho those days, whereas ye in previous years, I’d have got to and been right to train day three and ses and do full sessions.” On Game D Day on Channel for Seven a fortnight ago, Richmon midfi elder Trent Richmond Cotchin reaffi rmed that view, ssaying a view, he needed at MORE TIME: Trent Cotchin
says he needs an extra day to recover during the week.
least an extra day through the week to feel right to return to full training. Boyd said by game-day he was fine, but he has been missing out on some work earlier in the week. The impact that has on the player’s development and touch is hard to measure. It may also mean he loses condition as the season continued. Does this suggest a drop-off in skills as the year progresses? Or will the higher exertion required to maintain skills have a significant impact later? Of course, the effect of accumulated tiredness may well be hidden in medical rooms and across physio tables. Clubs in commanding positions on the ladder are likely to rest players with sore spots as a precaution. Although this process has been happening for a while now, with clubs more conscious of using their depth (and ladder position and draw) to advantage, the sub rule appears to have made the need more pressing. Swan said Collingwood and Geelong might look to resting players if they tied up a top-four spot with weeks remaining. He predicted midfi elders and power forwards who did a lot of running would probably miss at least one game a year in the future. This season, 111 players have played every game. By season’s end in 2010, 66 had played every game while 76 achieved that feat in 2009, so no massive drop-off
is apparent yet (even allowing for one extra team in 2011). Whether resting players is a positive for the game is open to interpretation and, it must be said, the sub rule is not the sole reason such is happening. The trend has been developing for a few years. (Alastair Lynch rarely travelled to Perth in his fi nal years with the Brisbane Lions, and Nathan Buckley and James Hird had rests through their final seasons.) This makes safer than ever Jim Stynes’ consecutive games record (244), Michael Tuck’s total games record (426), and Robert Harvey’s record 32 Brownlow Medal votes (excluding 1976-77 anomalies) in a season, as well as clubs’ games records. The need to rest players because of fatigue also has massive implications for list managers. Does a club use one of its draft selections to choose a mature-aged player who can become a role player? Moving into the team as the understudy to give the superstars a rest might provide opportunities but it also lessens – marginally – the opportunities to see the stars at work. Of course, the alternative to resting players periodically might be shortened careers. Nobody wants that to happen. ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM AFL.COM.AU WRITERS; STATISTICS FROM CHAMPION DATA.
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IAN CALLINAN
A Crow who almost fell through the cracks
N
After years of rejection, Ian Callinan has arrived as an AFL player at the age of 28.
eil Craig has the ability to speak and make sense. He doesn’t bother with clichés or theatrics. ite having forwardwardDespite ideas,and andscientifi sciientific thinkinggideas, es embedded in in nhis his practices wh hen he he footballl ideologies, when otball,the theAdelaide Adelaide talks football, rings things thingsback ba ackto to coach brings a simplee level. hy the AFL Reco ord was It’s why Record ted by ccomments fascinated byCraig’s Craig’scomments bourne radio station sttation3AW 3AW on Melbourne ek when asked asked about about last week forward Ian IanCallinan. Callinan. Crows forward g’s response wa as Craig’s was ic, and noteworthy. notewo orthy. emphatic, no ovator and and Craig, as a leader, in innovator oach, thought thought Callinan Callinan senior coach, most single-handedly single-han ndedly was almost matic of a problem probleem in the the emblematic phy of recruiti n ng. philosophy recruiting. agee, he’s “He’s 28 years of age, umber of knock-backs, knock k-backs, had a number and he’ss been to quite a few bs, so so we’ve we’ve all alllhad hadan an AFL clubs, unityto tolook lookat athim. him. opportunity wisdom––our our Throughh our wisdom ed wisdom wisdom––we’ve wee’veall all so-called said no,”” Craig said. personal opinion opinio onisisthat thatifif “My personal en’t so pedantic pedanticc in in what what we weren’t k for in AFL footballers, foo tballers, t we look m mind my mind there’s no question in my Callinancould could dhave have that Iann Callinan fouror orfifive played AFL football four go. years ago. gedy is too strong stron ng a word, “Tragedy sonally, as a senior sen nior coach, coach, but personally, uite embarrassed. embarrass ed. e He He I feel quite th he should have been in the tem aa long long AFL system o.” time ago.” 2cm and At 172cm has 74kgs, Callinan has is career spent his igeonholed being pigeonholed tballer of of aa as a footballer us generation. previous
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As a hopeful draftee, he tried out at Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond and North Melbourne, before winning the 2005 J.J. Liston Trophy playing for Tasmania Tasmania in inthe theVFL VFL and, d then h l last last season, season, winning the Jack Jac k Oatey Medal as best on ground in the SANFL Grand Grand Final playing playing for for Central District.
Finally, Adelaide picked him with selection 64 in last year’s rookie draft. He’s smart, can fi nd the ball and has an excellent goal-sense, but surelythe criticshave have surely—the critics idh’bbl won’t be able to said—he th e best bestat at match it with the AFL level. level. Craig, however, dismissed the notion that Callinan had to compensate for his lack
CALLUM TWOMEY
of size with another outstanding quality in his game. “The initial reaction is that you look at his size and just say that he’s going to be too small, and he’s hes not not super super quick,” hidsaid. he “He’s quick enough, in in my opinion, to play AFL ffootball, oot o but the media say un leessa guy unless that size is super qui ck kand an has quick something special special about abouthim, then he’s not going to make ma it.” m Even this year, year, Callinan Callina has been forced to wait. wait. He Hee starred s in the NAB Cup, then tore ttor his bicep before finally nally making ma aki his debut in round 14 against aga a Geelong, when he wass close cl to Adelaide’s best player player with wi 21 w touches and a goal goal in in his histeam’s h 52-point 52-point loss. loss. He gathered 17 pos 17 disp disposals the following week against a ga ain the Sydney Sydney Swans Swansbefore beforesstr straining his hamstring. Although Callinan was wa his w subject, Craig’s messa gewas g message broader than merel hisown h merelyy his player. It was also simple. simp ple Let us not be swayed or in inflflu uenced only by athletic siti athleticdispo disposition or physical capabiliti ess. capabilities. Performance, and desire, desiire Performance, and should still be weight eed weighted heavily when draftin g. drafting. “All I can say to any player, pl that if you’re playing playing at att aa reasonable level and you yo ou have an absolute passion to make abso ma ake it, you keep p going,” Craig said. said d. “B Because one thing that tth AFL “Because club bs are looking for forare arreplayers clubs who o have a great mental menttal attitude to wanting w b eestthey to be the best poss sibly can at the elite elit elevel.” l possibly PERSEVERANCE: Ian Callinan has made the most of his belated entry into AFL ranks, impressing with the Crows.
“A MUS T R E A D” K E V IN S H EEDY
NEW BOOK COMING SOON
THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF A FOOTY LEGEND, TOLD IN STORIES, PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA VISIT FOOTYBOOKCLUB.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Our AFL history guru answers your queries.
col hutchinson NAME GAME
Worth his salt » Port Adelaide’s Nick Salter
EYES FOCUSED: Geelong’s Steven King and Carlton’s Matthew Allan jostle for position in the round 20 match at Skilled Stadium, then known as Kardinia Park, in 1997.
No blues for Cats When was the last time Carlton played Geelong at Skilled Stadium?
DAVID ERSKINE, PAKENHAM, VIC.
CH: The most recent occasion
the Blues played the Cats in Geelong was in round 20, 1997. The home team won by 28 points. The only current player who participated in that match was Darren Milburn. Of all the teams in the competition,
only Carlton and Collingwood have won the majority of their matches at Skilled Stadium. The Blues have a success rate of 55 per cent, winning 23 of 42 games. The Magpies have won 22 of their 41 encounters, a success rate of 54 per cent. Collingwood has not played at the venue since round 15, 1999, when Milburn and David Wojcinski were in the Cats’ line-up and Chris Tarrant played for the Magpies.
GENUINE SENIOR FOOTBALLERS » The birthdays of three players who lived to an advanced age can be acknowledged this week. Bob Weatherill (born July 20, 1897) played 72 matches for Richmond, including the winning 1920-21 Grand Finals and died just short of his 95th birthday. Jim Toohey (born July 23, 1886) was a member of
Fitzroy’s 1913 premiership team and participated in 78 matches until retiring at the end of the 1920 season. He lived until the age of 93. Harry Selover (born July 24, 1898) played three games for Melbourne in 1919 but became one of just a handful of senior football identities to reach 100 years of age. He died in 2001, aged 102.
Do you have knowledge of any players who are close to 90 or older, or who reached such an age before passing? Contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col.hutchinson@afl.com.au. 74
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is the only player of that not uncommon surname to have played League football. The name Salter could have two possible origins. It could derive from the Old French saltere meaning a psalter, a harp-like instrument popular in the Middle Ages. The name would refer to someone who played this instrument. Given en ed that Nick is based on a Greek word meaning “victory”, Nick Salter would be the ideal person to lead the musical celebrations after a Port Adelaide premiership. Salter could also derive from the Old English sealt meaning salt, and the name would indicate an ancestor who mined or sold salt, a valuable medieval preservative commodity in pre-refrigeration days. Sealt itself derives from the Latin sal. Roman soldiers were paid money to buy salt, such payment being called a salarium—our word “salary”, the capped version of which forms one of the twin towers of equalising the competition. KEVAN CARROLL
WRITE TO ANSWER MAN The Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, 3008 or email michaell@slatterymedia.com
UnderArmourAust
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Ask the expert about all your footy memorabilia. orabilia. I have game-worn jumpers of both Simon and Justin Madden when they were with the Bombers. Value please?
» This early postcard of the
19 Collingwood team is 1905 doubly collectable. First, it do shows the mighty Magpies— sh 18 players, a mascot, umpire an and 16 assorted trainers, co committeemen and others. Note the straw boaters. But N th the reverse of the card is just as impressive. T. Abbott was looking to be elected to the lo general committee for season ge 1906 and issued this card: “Who 19 again solicits your interest” ag (translation: (tr ion:“Vote Votefor forme”). me ).AA true tr rue rarity. Not less than $500. $50 0.
RM: Gus, you’ve picked a couple
of winners here. The Madden brothers were undoubted superstars, both tasting double Grand Final success—although Justin’s was at Carlton. Having the two is a bonus—$3500 each.
PETER ALLIS, CLAYTON, VIC.
RM: During the 1980s and 1990s,
quite a few AFL/VFL magazines came and went. This was one. Not too many seem to have survived. Maybe $15-$20 each.
I have three framed and autographed posters of the Lions’ famous ‘three-in-a-row’ 2001-02-03 premierships. Have they increased in value since I bought them? SIMON GASKELL, CHERMSIDE, QLD.
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rick milne RICK’S RARITY
GUS, VIA EMAIL
I have numerous AFL magazines dating back to the early 1990s. Among them are a few copies of one from 1993 called simply Football Australia. The editor was Andrew Maher from an address in Mount Waverley. Each issue had a pull-out centrefold of such players as Gavin Wanganeen. Are they worth anything?
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EXCELLENT VALUE: A readerh reader has hasjjumpers jumpers umpers
mon Madden. worn by Justin (above) and Simon Madden.
RM: As a Lion from way back,
I say this with a heavy heart: No. Although Fitzroy memorabilia sells well, for some reason, Brisbane Lions collectables don’t have the same clout. I hope you don’t want to sell them, but if you do, money-back would be a good result.
RICK’S TIP: I’ve recently received a 32-page book titled South Australian Football Cards by Robert Laidlaw and Andrew Bennett. It lists no fewer than
35 sets of cards going back to 1890. I am happy to recommendd it. Priced at $7, you can buy it through Adelaide’s pre-eminent footy collectables shop At the Toss of a Coin—phone 08) 8373 0170. 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
Unscramble Shell Hen Tip to Can you guess this AFL discover the AFL player’s name! Player’s NICKNAME?
_______ ____
The Geelong Cats have played in 17 Grand Finals. How many Premierships have they won? A. 4 B. 6 C. 8 D. 10
NEW!
Silver CODE cards and enter codes to play
Answers: 1. “Dave” Swan, no tatoos on arm, white stripe missing in middle of guernsey, “Aussie” logo missing, position footy moved next to Magpies on side 2. Stephen Hill 3. Russian 4. C 8
4
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TV N O N AS SEE
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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
FIVE TO FIND
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Dirt removed from Adam Cooney’s left leg; bandage changed on Leigh Adams’ shoulder; red hoop added to Cooney’s sock; Nike swoosh on Adams’ boot changed to red; Mission logo on Cooney’s jumper changed to incorporate a warning sign.
EXTENDED PLAYTIME
FREE ENTRY
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 the match until the end of the half-time break. (An AFL Playground is also operating at Metricon Stadium.) Visit afl.com.au/ playground for more information.
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 78 AFL L RECORD RE R RECO EC CO COR OR ORD RD visit vis vvi is isit itafl afl a fl flrec record.com.au re ord.com.au re
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Trent McKenzie has been anointed the thebes best st kkick ick in intthe game. LUKE HOLMESBY
T
he youthful energy of the AFL’s 17th club has been one of the competition’s highlights this season. David Swallow’s movement in heavy traffi c, Liam Patrick’s uncanny goal sense and Zac Smith’s athleticism are all great advertisements for Gold Coast, but none quite demand the awe of seeing a perfectly executed Trent McKenzie drop punt. McKenzie’s kicking has been widely praised across the football community and some experts have already dubbed him the best kick in the game. The 19-year-old is well aware his disposal by foot is his most valuable asset, but he is determined to improve all aspects of his game. “I suppose it has come naturally. It was one of my strengths in my junior career. I had to work on it as well – a lot of practice goes into my kicking,” McKenzie said. “I’m still working on my aerobic capacity, just running out games. I’m improving my fi tness every week.” McKenzie earned the NAB AFL Rising Star award nomination for his efforts in the Suns’ win over Richmond last Saturday. He had 21 disposals and is the fourth Gold Coast player nominated, after Brandon Matera (round five), Smith (seven) and David Swallow (14). McKenzie said he was happy with his performance, but never expected it would be enough to get him nominated.
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) NEW SUPERBOOT:
Trent McKenzie’s kicking is his most valuable asset and has earned high praise.
“It wasn’t my best game but it wasn’t my worst. I’m just happy with the win,” he said. “It’s been good to get the opportunity and to play 14 games of AFL is great. I’m happy where I am at the moment.” McKenzie might have felt the need to play catch-up, as Matera and Swallow are not just teammates, but also shared a house until Swallow moved out two weeks ago. “I think I’ve adjusted pretty well. I’ve been living with Brandon and Dave and we all get along really well. It’s a lot easier (to be surrounded by football mates) when you’re missing friends and family back home,” he said. The three arrived at the club in 2010 – McKenzie and Matera
were among Gold Coast’s initial batch of 17-year-olds while Swallow loomed as the No. 1 draft pick at the 2010 draft. “I had that extra year to get settled in and enjoy the sun up here in the winter, which is good,” he said. “I don’t mind getting to the beach every now and then. I go there three or four times a week anyway for recovery. I’m not much of a surfer, though.” Last Saturday’s win was the Suns’ third of the season and elevated them above Port Adelaide on the ladder. McKenzie said the club was determined to avoid finishing last. “That’d be very nice. If we can win a few more games, hopefully we can keep off the bottom of the
Round 16 Jake Batchelor (RICH) Round 17 Trent McKenzie (GCS)
THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW
1
McKenzie was recruited as one of Gold Coast’s initial batch of 17-year-olds at the end of 2009.
2
He has missed just one game this season – the round-14 loss to the Western Bulldogs.
3
He competed for Gold Coast in the 2009 AFL Grand Final sprint, finishing second to St Kilda’s Rhys Stanley.
ladder and not win the wooden spoon,” he said. “We came into the season wanting to win a few more games than we have at the moment. But I didn’t really know what to expect.”
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 fulfi l their dream of playing in the AFL.
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Applying data laterally to analyse and understand the modern game.
Jeans an innovator who moved with the times
L
egendary coach Allan ‘Yabby’ Jeans, who died last week, had an extraordinary influence on the game. Jeans was revered for his sense of decency, openness, homeliness and wisdom. Above all, it was his good character and good citizenship that received the most attention. However, I venture, none of these traits would have endured and spread without two other essential factors. The evolution of footy has benefited from a vast gallery of mostly forgotten contributors sharing similar values and attributes to those of Jeans and, like him, they seldom clamored for attention. But Jeans was different on two counts. Aside from wearing a ‘good cop’ uniform, he had proven results garnered over more than two decades. But he was also willing to take a walk on the wild side. He had the spirit and mindset of an innovator, and was surprisingly out on the edge, thinking and responding accordingly. Although the fundamentals always remained the same, he knew change was afoot and action a must. Without innovation and adaptation to change, Jeans understood there would be little success. Hence, it was no accident he won premierships more than 20 years apart, his first (with St Kilda) in 1966 at a time when the game was 82
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LATERAL THINKER:
During his time at Hawthorn, Allan Jeans’ stats team became the competition trendsetters.
entirely suburban, and his fourth (with Hawthorn) in 1989, when the game was emerging on a national stage. Jeans stood the test of time, and it is impossible to do that without having a foot in both camps– conservative and radical. He often cited two of his main (early) coaching influences: firebrand orator Alan Killigrew and the footy philosopher Len Smith. Wow! That’s like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones paying tribute to the 1950s and ’60s blues and rock legends from the deep south of the United States. In addition to the famed motivational oratory blasts, Jeans acknowledged he learned the strategic use of offensive handball from Killigrew.
While at North Melbourne (1963-66), Killigrew was also regarded as the first VFL coach to introduce a sophisticated stats team and system for coaching purposes. During Jeans’ time at Hawthorn (1981-87 and 1989-90), his stats teams became the competition trendsetters. From a data analyst’s perspective, Jeans was the first of the coaching legends to apply data laterally, in a big way, to its greatest effect. His utterances on the importance of tackles still reverberate in today’s commentaries on the game. Technically, he was not a statistician or scientist in the mould of today’s coaching crop. Nor did he have the benefit of computers or the internet.
It was no accident he won premierships more than 20 years apart
Rather, he had a team of dedicated stats scribers who presented him with reports at half-time, after games and during the week. He knew the numbers contained messages he could spin to the players as part of his story-telling genius. Often he implored: RATE ABOVE 42 TACKLES AND YOU WILL WIN THE GAME . It didn’t matter whether it was true or not. The players understood it. Being below 42 was akin to complacency. Above it indicated to players they were “expending energy to get the ball back from the opposition”. Rather than hide his club stats from outside prying eyes, Jeans obligingly referred to them in his post-match interviews with journalists. The famous three phases of play he often referred to – ‘we have the ball’, ‘they have it’, or ‘it’s in dispute’ – he attributed to the early teachings of Smith. As an innovator, Jeans looked back and forward. He embraced Smith’s thinking for his own purposes and, with resources and talent, he gave the theories a practical foundation that delivered success. Today, all the best advances in stats collection and analysis of how footy is played is focused on what Jeans said: “To be a competent player, you must still win the ball under pressure, select the right option and execute it correctly, and apply constant pressure when you haven’t got the ball.” For the all the game’s changes, nothing’s really changed. 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 the2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final Record. THE SHORT STORY COMPETITION HAS TWO GOALS: 1. To promote fine short story fi ction
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 Pacifi c 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 fi nal ... 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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