AFL Record, Round 19, 2011

INSIDE IN NSIDE » Analysing Neil Craig’s legacy + Andrew Walker’s mark

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round 19, july 29-31, 2011

CONTENTS

68

features 9 NEIL CRAIG

The Crows coach was ahead of his time.

PETER RYAN reports.

INSIDE THE ROOS’ CAMP

58 TODD GOLDSTEIN

The AFL Record last week had access to all areas at North Melbourne’s Arden Street headquarters, including team meetings run by coach Brad Scott.

Basketball’s loss is football’s gain.

NICK BOWEN reports.

regulars 4 7 25 53 70 74 76

Backchat The Bounce Matchday Dream Team Answer Man Kids’ Corner NAB AFL Rising Star

Geelong’s Allen Christensen.

78 Talking Point

Ted Hopkins says it’s time to reward thee tacklers. tack ackler lers. ler s

THIS HIS WEEK’S COVER OVER Todd odd Goldstein is rising to the challenge hallenge as North orth Melbourne’s No. o. 1 ruckman.

COVER PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM NNINGHAM COVER PHOTO EDITOR: GINNY Y PIKE

57

65

In n his secon second stint as a a Docker, McPhee reaches a milestone. r m

Th clubs, two Three premierships and pree now 200 games. w

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Putting the club first The Suns’ time will come Last Saturday night at Metricon felt like a Collingwood home game, with a full house and the majority supporting the Magpies.

If it wasn’t for the modern grandstands and floodlighting, it could have been the late 1980s, the last time I felt like an away supporter at Carrara. But just like Brisbane did, one day the Gold Coast Suns will have their turn.

» Neil Craig’s decision this EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT:

Saint Stephen Milne was superb with eight goals last week.

TIM BORTEN, MONTEREY KEYS, QLD.

An inspiration to those less fortunate

Just days before his death, Allan Jeans was honoured with life membership of the charity he devoted much of his time to.

The legendary football figure never spoke about the work he did for Reclink Australia, which runs football leagues across the country for the homeless and those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

The charity, which also runs the famous Choir of Hard Knocks, was close to Jeans’ heart.

The inspiring St Kilda and Hawthorn premiership coach often delivered stirring addresses to football teams, which comprised solely of disadvantaged players.

Footage of one such speech taken from a Reclink Grand Final was shown at the MCG during his funeral service.

In a letter given to Jeans by Reclink founder Peter Cullen,

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

AFL RECORD

DAVID HASTIE, VIA EMAIL

Underrated star

Opposition fans love to give St Kilda’s Stephen Milne plenty of stick, but he continues to prove

PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Lovett WRITERS Robert Allen, Nick Bowen, Ben Collins, Paul Daffey, George Farrugia, Katrina Gill, Ted Hopkins, Michael Roberts, Peter Ryan, Nathan Schmook, Callum Twomey, Jennifer Witham SUB-EDITORS Gary Hancock, Howard Kotton, Michael Stevens STATISTICIAN Cameron Sinclair

AFL RECORD EDITOR Peter Di Sisto

4

Jeans was acknowledged as Reclink’s first life member and thanked for the inspiration he had given to those less fortunate.

“You have supported Reclink in every way you can and have also been a great patron of the Reclink organisation,” the letter said.

Cullen said the inspiration Jeans gave to the disadvantaged was immeasurable.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Andrew Hutchison

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what an extraordinary player he is. Well done ‘Milney’ on another superb effort last weekend against the Crows.

SHARON WATTS, ELTHAM, VIC.

Editor’s note: See story on Stephen Milne on page 8.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The best letter each round nd will receive the 2011 AFL Record Season Guide.

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week to resign as Adelaide coach after seven years in the job would not have surprised those who know him best.

Craig was a no-nonsense coach who always appeared to place the welfare of his players and the club above all else.

He wasn’t one for theatrics or pushing agendas, and it seemed he understood what a privilege it was to be in the role.

Craig is universally respected. His innovative approach to the business and the respectful and professional manner with which he treated people ensure he will long be recognised, not only by the Crows but also by the game more broadly (see story page 9).

Coaches set the agenda for so much of what happens inside and outside a club, their natural leadership skills, knowledge, instincts, charisma and capacity to unite people among the key reasons they rise to prominence.

But in the end, as much as any coach believes in his methods and systems and his team’s capacity to play well on a consistent basis, ccoaching eventually becomes all about wins and losses. a T That’s all that counts.

Craig made his selfless decision knowing he simply d wasn’t winning enough. That’s w tthe reality for all coaches.

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 19, 2011 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211.

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collingwood is all in

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

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ANDREW WALKER

The Blue who went sky-walking at the MCG.

14

FUN IN THE SUN

22

ROY CAZALY

It’s time. To continue

A first-hand experience of A legend’s career was would hurt the club a night at Metricon Stadium. born amid a crisis.

Neil Craig’s resignation, page 9

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Fitness gap between AFL and state leagues stretched by sub rule

and Levi Greenwood, that there was a “massive gulf” between playing in the VFL and the AFL. “Everyone who has come from the VFL this year has struggled initially to keep up with the pace and the demands of the game back in the AFL,” Mulkearns said.

“And there’s a little bit more concern when our great aerobic runners are the ones who are telling us there’s a difference, and we note the difference in them, subjectively and objectively.”

INTENSE: The training ng

ons load for Brisbane Lions players such as Mattt er Maguire is far greater ue than their state league counterparts.

T

NICK BOW EN

he gap between the fitness demands placed on players in the AFL and state leagues has never been bigger, according to two club fitness managers.

Brisbane Lions physical performance manager and former Adelaide player Brett Burton and North Melbourne sports science and conditioning director Peter Mulkearns say even their fittest players have struggled when they’ve made the step up from their respective state leagues to the AFL this season.

Burton said the Lions’ GPS data showed their reserves players were running similar distances in the NEAFL to those run by their senior players in the AFL, but they were doing so at a lower intensity.

“The game intensity is at a higher level for a longer period of time at the AFL compared to the NEAFL,” Burton said.

“We have AFL-standard players go back to the NEAFL after injury and they’re not able to produce the same results as they have at AFL level. There seems to be two reasons for that:

AFL players are bigger and better conditioned than VFL players PETER MULKEARNS

one, they aren’t physically ready to do that; and, two, the game’s played at a lower intensity.”

Burton said this had meant players returning from injury had generally needed more game time with the Lions’ reserves team before they were ready to cope with the move to the AFL. Conversely, Mulkearns said North’s GPS data had shown there was little difference between the distance and

intensity its players were running in the VFL and AFL. “But the huge difference is that players in the AFL have to withstand greater impacts and collisions because AFL players are bigger and better conditioned than VFL players,” Mulkearns said.

Mulkearns said North had also received feedback from its players, including some of its best runners such as Ryan Bastinac

Both Burton and Mulkearns have little doubt the introduction of the substitute rule this season has played a part in the growing gap between state leagues and the AFL. No state league has followed the AFL’s lead and introduced interchange benches of three players and a substitute. In the NEAFL, teams field five interchange players, while VFL teams have four and can include a fifth, or ‘23rd player’, from their aligned TAC Cup teams. As such, an AFL team effectively plays the majority of a match with two fewer interchange players.

To ensure the demands on its players in the VFL mirror those on AFL players as AFL RECORD

visit aflrecord.com.au

7

St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt suspended one week for a high bump on Adelaide’s Brad Symes, who suffered a fractured jaw.

closely as possible, Mulkearns said North liaises with its two VFL affiliates, North Ballarat and Werribee, to ensure its VFL players play more game time than their AFL teammates.

Both the Lions and North have also topped up the training loads of the players outside their senior teams.

Burton said the Lions reserves were typically put through extra running, bike or swimming sessions.

“The sub rule has put a greater emphasis on players’ aerobic capacities, so what underpins all of these conditioning sessions, whether they’re consistent efforts, fartlek or repeat speed work, is building a good aerobic capacity,” he said.

Mulkearns said the extra sessions North put its VFL players through included additional competitive work, which was designed to replicate the demands of a game as closely as possible.

But, ultimately, the growing gap between the AFL and state leagues meant clubs would have to be more patient with players returning from injury, Mulkearns said.

“We have full confidence in a player’s rehabilitation and their conditioning when they are cleared to get back into competitive work,” he said.

“But we’ve just got to accept it’s going to take them a little bit more time to get back from there.”

CRUMBERS CASH IN

Small in stature, big in impact C A L LU M T WOMEY

T

he value of a quick, clever and goal-smart small forward was underlined last weekend, not that it was ever in any doubt.

St Kilda’s Stephen Milne and Carlton’s Eddie Betts, in their own ways, both kicked eight goals to propel their teams to big wins over Adelaide and Essendon respectively.

Indeed, every small forward has his own way. It is a craft learned and developed at an early age, one tweaked through experience and one Betts, and Milne particularly, have mastered.

You only need to look at the range of goals in Milne’s performance to understand he is not a one-trick pony. A look at his record—473 goals from 229 games—ought to be evidence enough. (His average of 2.06 goals per game is better than Kevin Bartlett’s 1.93 and comparable to Peter Daicos’ 2.2.)

Milne kicked the opening two goals of the game against the Crows. One was from a trademark snap around his body, the next after a lead and mark. Three more came from

ST KILDA’S LEADING GOALKICKERS 898 (183 games, average of 4.9 goals a game)

Tony Lockett

(1983-94)

737 (195, 3.78)

Bill Mohr

(1929-41)

594 (321, 1.85)

Stewart Loewe

(1986-2002)

473 (229, 2.06)

Stephen Milne

(2001-)

463 (213, 2.17)

Nick Riewoldt

(2001-)

snap kicks off the inside of his right boot; he converted another mark into a goal, and later positioned his body so he would receive a free kick in a marking contest, following up with an accurate kick.

His eighth goal also came from a free kick, this time a tackle that led to Brent Reilly holding the e. ball. It was virtuoso Milne. eveloped The 31-year-old has developed coring ng multiple ways to create scoring w chances, and all were on show against Adelaide. d Once a St Kilda rookie (and tary list l before that a supplementary 999), player for Essendon in 1999), h Milne has made the mostt of his opportunities.

Against Adelaide, he had 11 kicks, 10 of them scoring shots. Although his ned kick k tricks—including a feigned ften or a goose-step—have often re’s confused opponents, there’s ne’s nothing subtle about Milne’s ha as objective: to kick goals. He has reliably delivered on thatt for almost a decade.

Betts’ performance was just as impressive, albeit different.

Six of his goals came directly from marks inside 50.

Another was his brilliant twisting and turning goal from the pocket, but it was his second goal of the night that probably best summed up the changing role of the small forward.

No longer can a player of Betts’ ilk and size—he stands 173cm

DEADLY: St Kilda’s Stephen Milne ran rings around Adelaide’s defence, kicking eight goals last week.

When they’re not p playing... y g PLAYER

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First job b held:

One thing you can’t eat:

Favourite TV show:

Whose autograph g p did you get as a kid?

Andrew Swallow ow North Melbourne rne

Paper boy oy

Raw beef

The West Wing

Peter Matera a

Alex Silvagni Fremantle

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Dismantling machines at Dad's work

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The Offi O ce (UK)

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S Stephen K Kernahan n

Geelong CEO Brian Cook agrees to a three-year contract extension.

high and weighs 78kg—simply be a crumbing forward close to goal.

Midway through the first term, Betts pushed up the ground and marked a scrappy kick out of the centre above his head outside 50.

He quickly retreated off the mark, and handballed backwards to Mitch Robinson, who sent the ball high and deep into Carlton’s goalsquare.

As the ball hung in the air, Betts raced back to be at the fall of the contest and received a handball from captain Chris Judd before snapping a goal from close range.

Milne and Betts (in his seventh AFL season with 137 games and 202 goals to his name), continue to add new skills to their repertoires.

The capacity to evolve is just one of the small forward’s tricks.

BEST EFFORT:

Eddie Betts also managed eight goals, a career-high.

NEIL CRAIG’S RESIGNATION

Craig was a coach with a vision

NO EXCUSES: Neil

Craig announces his resignation last Monday.

» Very few coaches are

remembered if they do not win a premiership. The late Len Smith is one, his influence on the game’s evolution so strong that he remains a revered figure.

Perhaps one day when the emotion dies down following his resignation, Neil Craig’s name will join that short list.

Craig brought an intellect to coaching that matched the hard-edged football background hard-edge he gai gained through 319 SANFL games. games s. He understood the played as he role traditions ttrad about reshaping his sett abo club cl lub iinto an elite learning environment. en nviro After many years as a Aft sports sp orts scientist at the South Au ustra Australian Sports Institute and an nd a stint coaching Norwood in the SANFL, Norw N he first made his name h the AFL as Adelaide’s iin th tness coach during its fitne fi ba ack-t back-to-back premierships 1997-98. in 19 997-9 Crows were professional Thee Cro every aspect of their in eve ry a prepa ratio preparation—from fitness decision-making to tactics to dec cisio to recovery. recover While football was en nter entering the full-time professional profes ssion era, many clubs remained remai ned way behind what happening in elite sport. was ha app Adelaide Adela ide was w not one of them.

Craig was ahead of the wave.

He w was an assistant coach four taking over as for fou ur years, ye seniorr coach coa midway through 2004, one of just 18 coaches to take on o an AFL senior coaching role without witho having played in w the co ompe competition.

He w was a perfect fit as AFL coaching coach ing evolved into an activity that re equi required a person who was total the tot tal package. p Craig how a coach Cra aig showed sh neede d to be a commonsense needed decision-maker assessing decisio on-m

Craig knew it was ‘time’ » Neil Craig resigned as

Adelaide coach last Monday afternoon after 166 matches (92 wins) in seven seasons.

“It’s time. To continue would hurt the club, given the negativity and distraction that my own role has become. We have clearly under-performed this year and, as senior coach, I take the responsibility for that,” the 55-year-old Craig said.

We underperformed ... I take the responsibility for that NEIL CRAIG

information from a range of sources: assistant coaches, psychologists, sports scientists, conditioners and medical staff, and then communicating not just to players but media, sponsors, management and board, and supporters.

His defensive strategy to employ a midfield press saw the Crows restrict their opposition to just 1517 points in 2005. Since 1970 (when the competition was extended to 22 rounds) only once—St Kilda in 2009—has

Craig replaced Gary Ayres late in the 2004 season and led the Crows to the minor premiership in 2005, with two preliminary final finishes and three other finals appearances.

Adelaide appointed premiership captain Mark Bickley (an assistant under Craig) as caretaker coach for the rest of the season. a club restricted its opposition so effectively.

Most of all, Craig had a clear philosophy on what he was aiming to do with his team. At their best, the Crows worked as one, with an ability to act cohesively in an organised and methodical manner.

That clarity extended to his communications outside the inner sanctum: respectful, informative and professional.

And, when the end came, he brought such clarity to the decision HE made in relation to HIS future.

Gracious enough to see that his responsibilities extended beyond Adelaide Football Club, Craig added so much to our understanding of coaching and the game.

Let’s hope his involvement continues. If not, football has benefited from his contribution.

PETER RYAN

AFL RECORD

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9

Essendon defender Tayte Pears expected to miss two weeks with a hairline fracture of his leg.

CARLTON STAR TAKES A SCREAMER

Ride of his life for sky Walker

GREAT MARK

» The overwhelming

CALLUM TWOMEY EY

10

AFL RECORD

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PHOTOS: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

feeling after Andrew Walker’s mark over Essendon’s Jake Carlisle last weekend was one of astonishment.

One-on-one with Carlisle, the Carlton forward sprung from the ground and almost leapfrogged the 198cm Bombers defender.

With his knees sitting on Carlisle’s shoulders, Walker hung in the air before safely hauling in one of the most spectacular marks ever seen.

“I got a perfect sit,” Walker told Channel Ten after the game.

“I think that’s the best I’ve taken.

I loved it—it was good.”

“It’s the best feeling you can have on the MCG. It’s a great feeling,” he told 3AW the day after the grab.

So good was the mark that not only did it have Essendon fans applauding, it even made the highlights reel on Hawaiian television. (A visiting Australian saw the report, which, interestingly, marvelled at the “rugby from Auckland”.) nd”.) houldn’t Walker’s effort shouldn’t have come as any surprise. urprise.

He has been attempting ting to take screamers since ce his debut, in round five of 2004.

Against West Coast st at nOptus Oval, the thenprecocious 17-year-old old flew high over a pack k but was unable to hold the he ball on his way down. n.

At the time, Walker er was in year 12 at Caulfield Grammar School (and a prettyy decent high jumper)..

His locker was next to mine. In between es classes, with his Blues #1 bag on top of the lockers, I mentioned d his marking attemptt was pretty close.

“I’ll hang on to onee eventually,” he said.

NE W

RELE AS E

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199428_NAU

The AFL congratulates Cadel Evans on winning the Tour de France and invites him to take part in Grand Final week activities.

of when its best players fired, like they have this season.

Andrew Embley, who had 31 possessions and kicked four goals in a best-on-ground performance, is the prime example, but Mark LeCras (23 and three), Shannon Hurn (31 disposals) and Josh Kennedy (four goals) were also superb, and have been key contributors this year.

NATH A N SCHMOOK “We proved that day that we did have a lot of talent within the efore West Coast’s group,” Rosa said. brilliant win over “It’s starting to show a bit Geelong in round 16, more this year, but games like the most significant that you definitely do remember. victory during the team’s rebuild “You think back to some of was its round 19 triumph over those games, just to get that the Western Bulldogs in 2009. self-belief This weekend, and realise the Eagles return that you can to face the Dogs at do it when Etihad Stadium, your back’s the scene of what up against was a rare but the wall.” morale-boosting The Eagles win two years have eight ago, but the wins from circumstances their past 10 could hardly be MATT ROSA games and more different. know West Coast is a victory over the Bulldogs rising and eyeing off a would further strengthen top-four finish, while the Dogs their top-four credentials. have been ruled out of finals *Midfielders Adam Selwood calculations by most, ending a run (150 games) and Matt Priddis of three consecutive preliminary (100) and defender Eric final appearances.

Mackenzie (50) are in line to play When the teams met in milestone games this weekend. this round two years ago, the Bulldogs were third, with es 13th. The underdogs’ underdogs the Eagles VICTORIOUS: Matt Priddis (left) and then-Eagle Brent Staker celebrate victory was something of a false the win over the Bulldogs in 2009. ut it proved a significant dawn, but he long term according to win in the er Matt Rosa. midfielder as really important,” “It was sa, who was among said Rosa, m’s best players that his team’s h 31 possessions. day with “We were going through a fair rough patch at that time and we had a lot of young guys in the team. We’d d a long run of also had way from home. losses away “It wass really nt for those important uys to win away young guys and get that belief.”

The win was also ant in that it significant hted the forgotten highlighted n West Coast’s list talent on wed the team and showed what it was capable

RECORDS TO FORGET

TRADING PLACES

High-flying Eagles no longer the underdogs

SHATTERED: The Crows after last

week’s record-breaking loss.

B

It was really important for those young guys to win away

12

AFL FL RECORD

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Crows slump to new lows » Adelaide finished with

two unwanted records in the aftermath of last week’s 103-point loss to St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

The Crows’ final score—3.6 (24)—was the club’s lowest since joining the AFL in 1991 and was the lowest score recorded at Etihad Stadium, which has hosted games since 2000.

It also ranked in the top-10 lowest scores of the past 20 years.

North Melbourne also managed just 3.6 against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in 2009, as did Carlton against St Kilda at Waverley Park in 1995 … interestingly, the Blues went on to win the flag that year.

Fremantle still has the dubious honour of the lowest score in the past 20 years, when it managed just 1.7 (13)— against Adelaide—at AAMI Stadium in 2009.

MICHAEL LOVETT

ADELAIDE’S LOWEST SCORES 1

3.6 (24)

2

4.7 (31)

v St Kilda, R18, 2011, Etihad Stadium v St Kilda, R7, 1991, Moorabbin

3

4.10 (34

v Footscray, R20, 1994, Whitten Oval

4

5.7 (37)

v Collingwood, R15, 1991, Victoria Park

5

5.8 (38)

v Geelong, R19, 1994, Kardinia Park

6

6.4 (40)

v Footscray, R21, 1991, Whitten Oval

LOWEST SCORES AT ETIHAD STADIUM 1

3.6 (24)

Adelaide v St Kilda, R18, 2011

2

3.10 (28)

St Kilda v Collingwood, R6, 2002

3

4.4 (28)

Fremantle v St Kilda, R4, 2009

4

5.6 (36)

Richmond St Kilda, R13, 2009

5

5.9 (39)

Essendon v St Kilda, R22, 2008

6

6.3 (39)

North Melb v St Kilda, R2, 2010

LOWEST SCORES 1991-2011 1

1.7 (13)

Fremantle v Adelaide, R15, 2009, AAMI Stadium

2

1.10 (16)

Carlton v Footscray, R11, 1991, Whitten Oval

3

2.8 (20)

Melbourne v West Coast, R1, 1991, Subiaco

4

3.4 (22)

Footscray v Brisbane, R16, 1996, Whitten Oval

5

3.5 (23)

West Coast v Footscray, R23, 1992, Whitten Oval

6

3.5 (23)

Essendon v West Coast, R4, 1999, Subiaco

What a great match HOSTPLUS is proud to be the Gold Coast SUNS’ Joint Foundation Partner. And we’re pleased to be supporting the Gold Coast both on the field and off. As the industry super fund for sport, it makes sense for us to support the GC SUNS. We’re also the industry super fund for

7

hospitality, tourism and recreation – three of the Gold Coast’s biggest industries and employers. That’s why we’re a great match for the GC SUNS. To join or find out more, visit hostplus.com.au or call 1300 HOSTPLUS (1300 467 875), 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday.

The information contained in this material is general information only and is not intended to contain any recommendations, statements of opinion or advice. It does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should obtain a copy of the HOSTPLUS Product Disclosure Statement and consider the information contained in the Statement before making any decision about whether to acquire an interest in HOSTPLUS. Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL No. 244392, RSEL No. L0000093, HOSTPLUS Superannuation Fund ABN 68 657 495 890, RSE No. R1000054.

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Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin banned one week for striking Eagles forward Josh Kennedy.

FOOTBALL’S NEW FRONTIER

RIGHT AT HOME

A refreshing mix of old and new

Suns, surf and footy: Shaw’s career takes shape

PETER RYA N

O

n the Gold Coast, a different football experience is being created. Such a late July diversion is welcome. While the sun pushes you in the back, a fresh mood hangs in the air.

Although it is a far cry from the glorious winter Saturdays under grey clouds at Victoria Park—where visitor Collingwood built its history— it is an evolution more than a revolution, a place catering for both a new and traditional football audience.

This is football where the crowd counts down the final 20 seconds before the umpire raises the ball in the air for the first bounce, and a short burst of the Suns’ theme song rings out every time the home team kicks a goal.

It is also where people mingle on the ground after the final siren having a kick, faces randomly shown on the scoreboard as they boot the footy around.

There are things that feel new, like attendants smiling and making everyone welcome and a home crowd that keeps cheering for its team until the last second, despite the margin rarely dropping below 10 goals. There are tweets on the scoreboard and a Gold Coast player interviewed for the crowd after the game.

Then there are recollections of previous loves. The size of the stadium gives the spectator a suburban footy feel and standing room in the open air is a reminder of what a great way it is to watch the game.

The crowd is able to walk around the ground unimpeded, a venue easy to get into, easy to get around and easy to access, whatever it is you are after.

Getting there is the only issue: you must park ‘n’ ride because parking options are not available to most.

Obviously, plenty of people think ahead. As the last quarter began, stretch limousines wound into the ground to park behind 14

AFL RECORD

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PETER RYA N

S

NIGHT OUT: Gold Coast fans, young and old, enjoyed the festival-type atmosphere at Metricon Stadium last week.

This is the Suns’ home ground and they are making it their own the goals at one end. This was an unusual sight for hardened footy fans from down south.

This is the Suns’ home ground and they are making it their own.

A mix of new ideas and footy traditions are the background to a team with a flavour of youth and daring. When Gold Coast gets the ball, they can move it quickly, often with flair.

For some reason, the mood of the visiting supporters was benign, perhaps the margin dulling the Pies fans’

renowned fanaticism. Wait until the Suns start winning more than their fair share before assessing whether such bonhomie will last.

And make no mistake, a winning teams is what the Suns are aiming to become. They’re not there yet. The defending premier, Collingwood, put the foot down early in the second quarter and extended the lead.

The result was expected, the atmosphere less so. Football has a new experience.

ettling into the Suns’ team and the Gold Coast lifestyle is 19-year-old Victorian Matt Shaw.

Not only is the keen surfer impressing on the field in a variety of run-with and midfield roles, Shaw has also landed work one day a week at the famous Burleigh Heads surfboard shapers, BASE surfboards.

Getting experience at a place responsible for shaping the boards of world champion surfers Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore is not a bad gig for a young man from Melbourne’s bayside suburbs.

Shaw enjoys surfing. When he arrived at the club—one of the class of 1992 recruited as a 17-year-old to play in the VFL in 2010—he could hardly believe his luck to be living within walking distance of the surf.

The temptation was too great and he found himself surfing every day. “‘Bluey’ (coach Guy McKenna) was telling me to just ease it back a bit because I was coming to training a bit tired,” Shaw said.

“Now I have a dedicated time limit so I take the watch out (with me) and do it once a week just to freshen up and have a play around.”

The adjustment he made on the coach’s advice indicates Shaw understands where he needs to direct his energy.

That desire to succeed as an AFL player was an attribute that impressed the Suns initially, the critical quality that went with his speed, versatility and good kicking skills.

Since joining the club, the young man has impressed the coaching staff with his willingness to learn.

And the good news is that his mature approach is paying off.

He took another step forward

Gold Coast youngsters Dion Presti Prestia sti tia a ti and nd Daniel Gorringe extend their con nd contracts until the end of 2013.

RETIREMENT

NICE BALANCE:

Matt Shaw is enjoying life on and off the field on the Gold Coast.

He still looks like a boy but he’s starting to play like a man GUY McKENNA

in his development last weekend against lli d h Collingwood—on ad day when the local swell was huge— showing his competitiveness in just his 10th AFL appearance.

After the game, McKenna spoke of Shaw’s improvement.

“He still looks like a boy but he’s starting to play like a man and I could not have said that in the first part of the season,” he said.

“I can now see flickers of effort and marking ability and his ability to tackle and drag a man down.

You can see him starting to do that on a more regular basis.”

Shaw says midfield coach Shane O’Bree has been riding him hard to focus on the small things such as blocks, smothers and shepherds— efforts that will improve his value to the team. h knows k h i plenty l f Shaw there is for him to learn in every game.

He noted the Magpies’ work rate, their discipline to play down the line and the way they worked as a team as the biggest

lessons for him. But he also felt in time the Suns would be able to match such quality teams.

“As we get bigger and stronger, we will get over sides like that,” he said.

Older heads know that is possible but not inevitable.

McKenna thought the team’s young players would have seen the mental challenge involved in doing the right things all the time.

That’s the lesson to take from top teams that play what McKenna likes to call “men’s football”.

Shaw has the balance right, on a surfboard and off, whether shaping a career or shaping a deck.

And at the Suns right now, both options are possible. In time, with care and effort and belief, the results will show.

Bomber bows to knee injury

» Essendon forward Mark Williams, a member err of Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership team, retired last Monday because of degenerative knee injury.

Williams, 28, played 111 games for Hawthorn from 2000-09 and four for the Bombers in 2010, kicking a total of 247 goals. He led the Hawks’ goalkicking in 2005-06.

“I am grateful for the career I have had at Essendon and Hawthorn and the opportunities football has given me,” Williams told essendonfc.com.au.

“I would have loved to have kept playing (but) my injuries have not allowed me to. The experiences I have had—including a premiership at Hawthorn— far outweigh that.”

CALLUM TWOMEY

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Former Bomber and Saint Andrew Lovett acquitted of rape charges; AFL says he is “entitled� to nominate for the draft.

NEW MAGPIE BOOK

Fascinating tale behind every ag

O

MICH A EL ROBERTS

ne of the best things about being a writer with an interest in football history is that it gives you a good excuse for living in the past.

And for much of the past 50 years, that’s where Collingwood supporters have often needed to be. Until last year, we’d seen just one premiership in that time—a poor return for a club that was the dominant on-ďŹ eld force in the competition’s ďŹ rst 60-odd years.

I grew up hearing and reading about that era of domination: the stories of the fabled four-in-a-row ags of 1927-30, the miracle of 1958, and the heroics of the Coventrys, the Colliers, Dick Lee and Jock McHale.

Then the ags dried up, save for the brief oasis of 1990. But I reta retained that fascination with the club lub’ss eearlier successes. club’s Glenn McFarlan McFarlane and I looked in n depth at the 1 192730 year rs in our 2005 book b years The Ma achine, and ca Machine, came to realisee there was a unique story behind eve every prem miership. premiership.

So o, when the th Pies So, triu umphed in 2010, it triumphed see emed lik seemed like the perfect tim me to explore ex time the sstories tories b behind each of the club’s 16 o succ successes, from the cclub club-shaping VFA win in 1896 to the w

Collingwood knows only one way to win its premierships ... side by side extraordinary achievements of last year.

And that led to a long summer producing The Mightiest Magpies.

What soon became apparent is there is much more to a premiership than what happens on Grand Final day.

Everyone remembers the Grand Final, but the story of the season as a whole—what the club and the players have to go through to get there—is gradually forgotten. And that’s a pity, because the stories—both individually and collectively— are remarkable.

There are the game-plans that revolutionised football in 1902 and 2010, the come-from-the-clouds ďŹ nish that rescued a seemingly lost season

in 1910, the club’s desperate desire to validate the pre-season sacking of its captain in 1927, the gloriously improbable quest to protect the club’s most cherished record in 1958 and the mad-dog determination to end a 32-year drought in 1990.

There are individual tales too, of good fortune and wretched luck, of careers made and careers ruined, of unlikely heroes and long-forgotten cameos.

Although each premiership journey is unique, it is notable how many of them were built on team spirit, loyalty, commitment, discipline and selessness.

It is the kind of approach that Mick Malthouse calls “teammanshipâ€?. It was as evident in the club’s ďŹ rst ag in 1896 as it was last year.

And it is almost certain it will be there again for the club’s next ag, whenever that might be. Because one thing that’s become clear from writing this book is that Collingwood knows only one way to win its premierships—and that is ‘side by side’.

THE MIGHTIEST MAGPIES, BY MICHAEL ROBERTS, WITH GLENN McFARLANE. PENGUIN BOOKS ($49.95 RRP).

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17

Demon Aaron Davey a chance to return after almost two months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

FINAL ROUND

Friday night lights for Pies-Cats blockbuster

C

A DA M McNICOL

ollingwood and Geelong will meet in the last Friday night game of the home and away season, the AFL confirmed this week when it finalised details for round 24.

Although the Magpies are four points clear of the Cats and have a game in hand, the blockbuster clash could become a battle for top spot on the ladder if Mick Malthouse’s men stumble in the lead-up to the finals.

The AFL said both clubs “are likely to finish in the top two positions on the ladder and deserving of the maximum preparation and fixture options leading into the opening week of the finals”.

18

AFL RECORD

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Five games will be played on the Saturday. Top-eight teams Hawthorn and Fremantle will both take to the field on the Saturday afternoon, enabling them to be back home later that day.

Carlton and St Kilda will do battle at the MCG on the Saturday night in what shapes as a crucial clash.

Melbourne, 11th on the ladder, is the only team that will travel on the final day of the home and away season (Sunday, September 4).

The Demons take on Port Adelaide in the first AFL match to be played at the Adelaide Oval.

“The trip to Adelaide (is) the shortest possible flight of all teams scheduled to travel in round 24,” the AFL said in a statement.

“Playing in the earlier of the two matches ensures that Melbourne will be home as early as possible on Sunday evening should (it) be competing in the finals the week after.”

The schedule for week one of the finals will be announced on the evening of Sunday, September 4.

ROUND 24 FIXTURE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Collingwood v Geelong, MCG, 7.40pm (Channel Seven)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Gold Coast v Hawthorn, Metricon Stadium, 1.10pm (Fox Sports) Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm (Network Ten) Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions, SCG, 4.10pm (Fox Sports) West Coast v Adelaide, Patersons Stadium, 5.10pm (Fox Sports) Carlton v St Kilda, MCG, 7.10pm (Network Ten)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 2.40pm (Channel Seven) Richmond v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm (Fox Sports) ALL TIMES LOCAL. FINALS PRELUDE:

Top sides Geelong and Collingwood will kick off round 24.

South Australian Aust businessman Kevin Osborn appointed to Port Adelaide’s board of directors. s.

In footy and business, Jones a master of enterprise PAU L DA FFEY

W

hen Warren ‘Wow’ Jones joined Carlton in 1977 at the age of 23, he had no education and no particular prospects for his working life.

There was also the impediment that training demands meant it was difficult to sink his teeth into a job.

One of his jobs at that time was driving a delivery truck for a brewery.

On one occasion, he drove the truck for 10 hours and then raced out to Waverley Park to play in a night series match.

Jones knew then that there had to be a better way.

Around this time, a company called VFL Insurance was set up. The idea was that one player from each VFL club would be trained to sell insurance products. Carlton nominated Jones as its representative.

Jones was given the opportunity to move into a white-collar career—and the flexibility to work around training times. “I got my first taste in the industry,” he says.

It was a taste that has led him on a wonderful working

journey in the finance industry in Australia and overseas.

Jones missed out on the 1981 premiership team but was a vital member of the 1979 and 1982 flag-winning sides, having n worked over Richmond ruckman Mark Lee in the latter.

David Parkin, coach of the 1981-82 premierships, used to telll players they needed to make the most of their time as “the book fills and closes very quickly”.

Jones has taken that adage with him through his post-football life.

Last March, Jones returned to Melbourne to attend Carlton’s reunion of its 1981-82 premiership teams which was held as part of the club’s Hall of Fame night at the Crown Entertainment Complex.

At 202cm and 123kg (playing weight 115kg), he was in similar nick to his days at Princes Park.

Jones says premiership reunions are special to him.

But when it came to talking about work, he discovered he was one of the crowd. It didn’t surprise him that several former teammates had gone on to become successful businessmen.

Of the lessons he learned in football, he adheres to the need to improve your skills as the game changes, adapt and work hard.

He also worked out that nothing happens by accident.

After finishing his playing career in 1985, aged 31, Jones gained his commercial helicopter licence with a view to buying a helicopter and flying sightseers around tourist attractions up north.

Before he went up north, however, he was offered a management position at Colonial where he spent the next 10 years.

Along the way he gained a master’s degree in enterprise and innovation from Swinburne University.

MAKING IT BIG: Warren

Jones in action in the 1980s and (inset) working for MLC.

Football has made me what I am today WARREN JONES

He was subsequently recruited to head up a funds management business in Sydney.

Through all these developments, Jones nurtured a dream to live and work overseas, so eventually he left Sydney and set himself up in London.

During a visit to Hamburg in Germany, he saw a business opportunity based on a great Aussie staple, the meat pie.

He started a gourmet pie factory and distributed the pies to the many English and Irish pubs in Germany as well as shops that sold all manner of things to English expats.

After nearly three years, homesickness drove him home to Manly. This time he set up a consulting business in which

Get personal this Father’s Day

h helped boutique he fund managers with strategies for product development, marketing and a distribution.

More recently, the many changes in the finance industry brought on by the global financial crisis led him towards financial planning. He then moved into real estate.

Early this year, the 57-year-old returned to a salaried position, in this case with MLC, a subsidiary of NAB. He’s the business growth manager, responsible for recruiting advisors to several licensed dealerships in financial planning.

His greatest community involvement in Manly, where he still lives, has been with the Manly Life Saving Club. He was club captain until early this year.

“Football has made me what I am today,” Jones says. “I have been very fortunate to be given the opportunity to play this great game at the highest level and learn lessons I will continue to carry for the rest of my life.”

And just to clear up a mystery that has always surrounded Jones, he has no ‘W’ tattooed on his backside. It is an urban myth.

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AFL RECORD

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OSKAN11/42 OSKAN11/42

Fremantle’s Nathan Fyfe extends contract until the end of the 2014 season.

For some time after the game’s scheduled start, Melbourne players were the only ones on the field as St Kilda players debated whether they would forfeit.

When they did eventually play, Melbourne handed them a 38-point thrashing.

At the end of the match, ROBERT A L LEN captain Harry Lever had to t was a matchbe physically restrained up of David by his teammates from and Goliath confronting some of the proportions. jeering spectators.

Roy Cazaly was 18 With the club and about to play refusing to back down his first game for on the pass issue, the St Kilda. His Carlton players met after training opponent was Fred ‘Pompey’ the following Tuesday and Elliott, a dual premiership reaffirmed their position. captain who had recently Eighteen players told the played his 200th VFL game. club they would be unavailable It was July 29, 1911. for any more matches during Cazaly’s first VFL game the season. After confirming came in the midst of a players’ with each player that this was strike, in a season characterised their intent, the committee told by on-field inconsistency and them to return their uniforms off-field instability. and any other club property in After a win against Geelong their possession. in the first round, St Kilda had It was against this backdrop suffered nine consecutive losses of intransigence and instability before its second win, against that Cazaly and eight others lowly University, in round 11. were called up for their first As the losses mounted, VFL game that Saturday. reports circulated of growing Cazaly, who had been playing dissatisfaction and dissension district football, recalled the between suddenness of players and his selection administrators. more than two The situation decades later: reached a crisis “I was a raw point before colt from the the round 14 paddock. It was match against naturally my big Melbourne, opportunity and when the I wanted to committee make good.”

ROY CAZALY withdrew the When the dressingroom teams ran on to passes previously issued to Princes Park, only six of St Kilda’s players’ relatives and past players. regular players were present and The move incensed the players. only three of these had played One newspaper compared the more than 10 VFL games. charged atmosphere at St Kilda By contrast, 13 of Carlton’s that week to a political crisis. team had played more than 10

SAINTS ON STRIKE

Cazaly’s career born amid crisis

I

I was a colt from the paddock ... it was my big opportunity

22

AFL RECORD

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games, and 10 of these had played more than 50. The total game differential between the sides was a massive 998: 1166-168.

It is hard to imagine a more uneven match-up: Cazaly the “raw colt” versus the wily Elliott, who had played more VFL games than the entire St Kilda team.

Despite the mismatch—or perhaps because of it—Elliott took kindly to Cazaly. When Cazaly responded to Elliott’s vigourous checking in the ruck by lashing out at him, Elliott praised his spirit but cautioned him against attracting the umpire’s attention.

The result was never in doubt, with the Blues winning 18.21 (129) to 2.3 (15).

The Argus listed Cazaly as one of St Kilda’s better players and noted he “gave every indication of developing into something good for St Kilda. His high marking and ruck work were very promising”.

Cazaly had shown enough promise to retain his place in the side, but many of his teammates were not so fortunate; six did not play another VFL game.

St Kilda’s final match of the season was at home to Collingwood. The off-field conflicts had been papered over, at least temporarily.

Several senior players had been recalled—no doubt feeling a sense of vindication—but it was another lopsided affair, with Collingwood winning easily.

St Kilda’s disastrous year ended with just two wins. The club had used 62 players, a record number for any team in the first 100 years of the competition.

St Kilda’s long suffering fans could scarcely have guessed that, within two years, their team would be playing in their first Grand Final, and Cazaly would be well on his way to becoming the legendary player we remember today.

MILESTONES ROUND 19

200 GAMES

Ryan Houlihan Carlton Adam McPhee Fremantle Darren Jolly Collingwood

AFL 200 CLUB

Luke Ball Collingwood Michael Gardiner St Kilda

150 GAMES

Adam Selwood West Coast Ted Richards Sydney Swans Michael Osborne Hawthorn

100 GAMES

Ricky Dyson Essendon Hamish McIntosh N Melbourne Matt Priddis West Coast Daniel Jackson Richmond

50 GAMES

Kyle Reimers Essendon Jack Redden Brisbane Lions Eric Mackenzie West Coast The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.

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ADAM McPHEE

Life left in Docker yet

DETERMINED:

Adam McPhee’s ability to harass and force turnovers has helped him have an impact in the Fremantle forward line since returning from injury.

He has battled form and injury worries, but on the eve of his 200th game, Fremantle’s Adam McPhee says his return west has been for the best. NATH A N SCHMOOK

O

n all the evidence available halfway through last season, Adam McPhee’s move to Fremantle at the end of 2009 appeared ill-fated for both player and club.

The All-Australian defender had left Essendon after 142 games and headed home with aspirations to prove himself as a midfielder under his main football mentor, Mark Harvey.

But eight rounds into his second stint with the Dockers (he played 25 games with the club in 2001-02), McPhee was in a serious football rut.

The club had effectively secured him for free in the 2010 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft, but even that seemed too high a price to pay for Fremantle supporters, as he quickly became the club’s whipping boy.

It is a credit to McPhee, who is due to play his 200th AFL game against Hawthorn this weekend, that he was able to push through the testing period and become a valued member of the team.

“It was a really interesting time in my career,” the 28-year-old recalled this week.

“I had so many things outside of football that were a distraction, as well as injuries.

“I was probably dealing with the most distractions I’ve ever had.

“I could understand the fans’ expectations of me were high, but I think, to be honest, it was the amount of pressure I was putting on myself.

“This year, when I’ve played myy best ven’t football, I haven’t d about really worried e.” anything else.”

McPhee’s h a series resurrection began wit with agging jobss last of midfield tagging otably against agaiinst stars year, most notably Lenny Hayess and Chriss Judd s and, by the end of the season, ng a signifi ficant he was playing cant orward line e, lifting role in the forward line, in the finals. week knee injury in njury A seven-week 2 interrupted McPhee’s 2011 season, but the way thee game is d this year appears a being played ough utility, y, with to suit the tough

I think my knowledge of the game is at its highest ADAM McPHEE

d force his ability to harass and H turnovers enough for Harvey to weeeks ago rush him back three weeks ans. to face thee Sydney Swa Swans. k I’ve been able ablle to adapt “I think chang ges and I every yearr to the changes think my knowledge off the game ghest,” he said d. “I still is at its highest,” said. h think I’ve been able to have an p forward.” impact up ay through a th hree-year Halfway three-year contract with the club, McPhee ad no doubt th he move said he had the

west had been good for his career after becoming “stale” towards the end of his seven years at Essendon.

Importantly, he said, Fremantle was assessing him on potential, not what he had done in the past.

“When you’re at an organisation for so long, they expect the same things, you deliver the same things and sometimes you don’t actually improve,” he said.

“When you go to a new club with new teammates and new coaches, they look at you as a whole rather than just narrowing you down to one position or one role you can play.

“I saw that when I originally left Fremantle and became an Essendon footballer and the same thing happened when I came back,” he said.

“I was looked at differently when I got here.”

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57

TODD GOLDSTEIN RUCKMAN RELISHES A CHALLENGE Todd Goldstein gave up basketball for football and has blossomed since assuming the No. 1 role for the Kangaroos. NICK BOW EN

PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

T

odd Goldstein describes himself as a quiet person, who enjoys relaxing and tries not to take things too seriously. But he is also a driven individual. Someone who embraces a challenge.

Someone who is constantly seeking to improve, both as a footballer and a person.

At the start of this season, Goldstein knew he would have to carry North Melbourne’s ruck division for most of the year, with the Kangaroos’ No. 1 ruckman, Hamish McIntosh, ruled out indefinitely after two achilles tendon surgeries.

At the time, Goldstein had played 37 games in four 58

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seasons, nearly all as a support ruckman to McIntosh.

The AFL Record spoke to him on the eve of the season when he was eyeing match-ups with West Coast’s Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, Collingwood’s Darren Jolly and Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands in North’s first three games.

Goldstein was fully aware Cox, Sandilands and Jolly had long been three of the AFL’s best ruckmen and that Naitanui was one of its most freakish talents, but he welcomed the challenge each presented.

“It’s a good opportunity and hopefully I can keep the spot warm until ‘H’ (McIntosh) is back and we can work together again,” Goldstein said at the time.

Goldstein has done much more than keep McIntosh’s seat warm. After a bout of gastro forced him to miss North’s opening game against the Eagles, Goldstein, 23, has since stamped himself as one

of the best young ruckmen in the competition.

Despite occasional ankle niggles, he has consistently been among North’s best players, shouldering the vast majority of the team’s ruck work, with occasional relief from Drew Petrie and Cameron Pedersen.

After round 18, Goldstein led the competition in hit-outs. In an example of just how much he has improved this season, he has had 586 hit-outs in 16 games in 2011—36.6 a game—which is more than he had in his 37 previous games (575).

He has also averaged nearly 14 disposals a game and is ranked fourth at North in total contested possessions (139, at an average of 8.7 a game) and, remarkably for a ruckman, is fourth in tackles (70).

Although Daniel Wells, captain Brent Harvey and Petrie are enjoying outstanding seasons, if Goldstein maintains his form, don’t be surprised if he seriously

challenges them in North’s orth’s best and fairest count.

And, although Cox would uld seem to have the No. 1 ruck position in the 2011 All-Australian team sewn ewn up, Sandilands’ injury plagued season meanss Goldstein would be among mong the leading contenderss if a second ruckman is chosen. osen. sen e The AFL Record caught ught up with Goldstein again ain in last s week. When we met outside outsid utside de North’s gym at its Aegis gis P gis Park ak headquarters, Goldstein eein in was wa a armed with two slicess off extrae ta thick raisin toast, explaining laining he had to fit in a snack k before training that afternoon. on.

We then made our way upstairs to a meeting g room, where we spoke for half an hour. In that setting, Goldstein was quietly-spoken, but at ease talking about everything verything from football, basketball, tball, parenthood to—yes— — raisin toast. “Sometimes mes I

You can either step up and help out the team or you can be a passenger TODD GOLDSTEIN

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59

TODD GOLDSTEIN could eat a whole packet of the stuff,” he said.

Goldstein was adamant his remarkable improvement this year was not an overnight occurrence, but the result of nearly five years’ hard work with North’s coaching and fitness staff.

He also said the birth of his and partner Kirsty’s first child, daughter Olivia, in November last year—she was born on the day the rest of the team flew back from the club’s high-altitude training camp in Utah—had brought him not only an equal mix of joy and chaos, but also added maturity and perspective.

But Goldstein acknowledged McIntosh’s absence this season had undoubtedly fast-tracked his development.

“It’s given me that responsibility I haven’t had before,” Goldstein said.

“Hamish has been our premier ruckman and was almost All-Australian a couple of years ago. He’s also been someone who’s been great to learn from.

I watched how he carried himself when he was virtually the lone ruckman, with Drew Petrie giving him a chop out.

“But being given that responsibility, you can either step up and help out the team or you can be a passenger. I’m glad I’ve been able to help out kick a 60m pass that pin-pointed and play my role.”

Daniel Wells on the goal line—the But although Goldstein is midfielder could also have let it go satisfied with his development through for a goal. this season, he is aware he We also subsequently asked still has plenty of room for former North recruiting improvement. There is an manager Neville Stibbard understated intensity about him whether he and his then-offsider when he talks about it.

Bryce Lewis had any concerns It is also about obvious he sets Goldstein’s himself high kicking standards. before they When we selected him asked about the with pick area of his game No. 37 in the he most needed 2006 NAB to improve, he AFL Draft. did not hesitate to When FORMER NORTH RECRUITER NEVILLE STIBBARD nominate Stibbard and his kicking.

Lewis first “Really?” we watched asked. Two or three times.

Goldstein play for Trinity We had watched Goldstein Grammar School in Melbourne’s closely this season and, as far inner east, he was more focused as we could tell, his kicking on a promising basketball was one of his strengths. career. (Later that year, he Two days later, in the final was selected in the under-19 quarter of the win against the Australian squad for the Albert Brisbane Lions, we watched him Schweitzer Tournament, the

It was as though he’d been kicking the ball for years

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FACT FILE SOFT HANDS:

Todd Goldstein guides a perfect hit-out to Andrew Swallow last week against the Lions.

most prestigious under-age tournament outside the FIBA Under-19 World Championship.)

Goldstein had been turning up to Trinity football training for only about a year at the time.

He had been playing school football since year seven, but only because he was required to play a winter sport.

But Stibbard, now Greater Western Sydney’s recruiting coordinator, told the Record he and Lewis didn’t see any problems with Goldstein’s kicking.

“We thought his approach, the way he held the footy and the way he kicked it, looked quite natural. It was as though he’d been kicking the ball for years,” Stibbard said.

Still, Goldstein is adamant his kicking requires constant work.

“It’s something that has still got a long way to go to get to the level where I want it,” Goldstein said.

“It’s something I always need to keep working on because it doesn’t quite come naturally.

Because of my basketball

22

Todd Goldstein

Born: July 1, 1988 Recruited from: Trinity Grammar/Oakleigh U18 Debut: Round 15, 2008 v Port Adelaide Height: 201cm Weight: 102kg Games: 53 Goals: 31 Brownlow Medal: career votes 2 Draft history: 2006 NAB AFL Draft 3rd round selection (North Melb) No. 37 overall.

background, I haven’t really done that much kicking growing up and, if I drop off with my work on it, my kicking can really drop off as well.”

Another area Goldstein said had not come naturally to him on the football field was aggression.

But, again, it is something he is working on, with the aid of North ruck coach Alex Ishchenko.

For anyone looking to add aggression to their game, Ishchenko is your man. The former West Coast, Brisbane Bears and North ruckman’s playing style was robust, and Goldstein said they had been focusing heavily on improving his follow-up efforts after ruck contests.

Playing in the ruck means you have to deal with a wide variety of opponents, ranging from the human skyscraper Sandilands (211cm)—Goldstein is 201cm—to the freakishly athletic Naitanui (201cm).

But it is a sign of Goldstein’s growing confidence that he no longer focuses too intently on his coming opponents.

“You obviously know what they like to do, but I worry a lot more about what I’m doing and the positions I’m getting myself into,” he said.

“Because even though there are very different ruckmen, you can bring a lot of similar techniques against them all.

“One of the things I’ve learned from (North coach) Brad (Scott) is to get myself right first and then have an understanding of what the opposition is going to do.

Because if I carry out what I need to do, it shouldn’t matter too much what my opponent does.”

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TODD GOLDSTEIN WORK IN PROGRESS:

Goldstein says he wants to improve his kicking, even though many believe he is a competent kick.

Goldstein’s appetite for a challenge, and his ability to rise to one, is not a new thing.

He said part of the reason behind his decision to pursue a career in football over basketball was because he had achieved his goals in the indoor sport— representing Victoria and winning the national championships—and he had also travelled to the United States with a junior side.

“I probably thought it was time for the next chapter,” he said.

“I enjoyed footy and loved my time at the Oakleigh Chargers and it definitely helped winning the (TAC Cup) premiership down there.

“Trinity played a big part in me starting to enjoy my footy, too. In the end, I was just enjoying my footy a lot more.”

Goldstein is now a key player in an emerging North midfield that is fast proving the club’s on-ball division consists of more than just Harvey and Wells.

Andrew Swallow has established himself as an integral part of this unit over the past two seasons, and Jack Ziebell, Leigh Adams, Levi Greenwood and Ryan Bastinac are fast becoming midfield mainstays too. Fellow youngsters, including Ben Cunnington, Ben Speight and Shaun Atley, have also shown encouraging signs this season.

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You know you’re going to get first hands on the ball with Toddy RYAN BASTINAC

With McIntosh sidelined for virtually all of the 2011 pre-season, Goldstein got to work almost exclusively with North’s midfielders during stoppage drills and match practice. He said that time helped him build a better understanding with the teammates who work at his feet.

This has been reflected in Goldstein’s ability to find his midfielders with hit-outs this season. According to Champion Data’s statistics before round 18, he was ranked second in the competition for average hit-outs to advantage (9.3 a game, behind Melbourne’s Mark Jamar) and fifth of the AFL’s top 20 ruckman for percentage hit-outs to advantage, with 25.6 per cent of his taps going to a teammate’s advantage.

After North’s win against the Lions, Bastinac told the Record roving to Goldstein was “unbelievable”.

“You know you’re going to get first hands on the ball with Toddy in the ruck,” Bastinac said. “He’s in All-Australian form, I reckon.”

Typically, Goldstein refuses to let himself get carried away by talk of All-Australian selection or the progression of North’s midfield.

“We’re still a pr pretty retty young group so we’ve st till got a long still way to go. But thee more you play together the moree you understand each other’s little characteristics and habits,” he said. sa aid.

Goldstein’s 2011 fform has created one problem for o North, though, N with Scott recently w con nceding it is now conceding uncle ear whether unclear i still room for there is McIntosh h in the team.

Although North Norrth played both ruckmen whenever w they were availa able last season, available Scott acknowled dged last week acknowledged only West Coastt and Carlton had been able to o consistently play two ruckme en since the ruckmen introduction of tthe substitute rule in 2011.

Now that McIn ntosh has played McIntosh four matches in the t VFL and is approaching fulll fitness, Scott says North faces a tou ugh call soon. tough But Goldstein n has no doubt he and McIntosh ca an pick up where can they left off last year.

“I’ve got no reason to think we can’t make it work,” he said.

“I thought we worked pretty well last year and we were probably still learning how to play with each other, so we can still improve.

“I think we can both go forward and have a bit of an impact there as well. It definitely helps having another string to your bow.”

Outside of football, Goldstein likes to challenge himself, too. However, he is realistic enough to know when he has got enough on his plate.

So, although he was keen to start preparing himself for life after football by starting a degree in journalism or teaching, he wisely anticipated football and learning more about parenthood would punctuate his 2011 with more than enough challenges.

In 2012, Goldstein says he will be ready to start those studies.

But, for now, Goldstein is focused on helping North finish its 2011 season strongly. In particular, he is hoping that playing finals is one of the next challenges he faces.

“I haven’t even played a final yet and that is one thing I want to change,” he said. “If not this year, then definitely next.”

Basketball’s loss was football’s gain

» Former North Melbourne

recruiting manager Neville Stibbard was convinced Todd Goldstein had what it took to make it in the AFL soon after watching him play for the first time.

Stibbard told the AFL Record he was attracted to that Trinity Grammar game in Bulleen in 2006 as much for the complimentary afternoon tea as the football, but said he and fellow North recruiting officer Bryce Lewis were instantly impressed watching Goldstein in action.

“His ability to palm the ball and his ability to move through traffic was transferred from the basketball court,” Stibbard said. Despite his basketball background, Stibbard said Goldstein’s kicking appeared natural (see main story). In fact, Stibbard had just one concern – Goldstein was overweight.

Although other recruiters might have been put off by Goldstein’s “terrible” 12.5 beep test at a state draft screening session later that year, Stibbard and Lewis thought it was a reflection of his poor conditioning rather than a poor aerobic capacity.

“Bryce and I followed him very, very closely every week after we first saw him and we were quite confident he could be a player if we got him fit,” Stibbard said.

Stibbard and Lewis had originally planned to select Goldstein with North’s last pick in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft or as a rookie.

But when pick 37 came around, they decided he was too good to risk losing.

We’ll never know whether another club would have snatched Goldstein from North’s grasp if it had not pounced so soon. But we do know Stibbard and Lewis’ assessment of him has proved to be spot on.

NICK BOWEN

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DARREN JOLLY

E N O T E H T G SETTIN Dual premiership big man Darren Jolly has always thrived on the thrill of the contest in the ruck.

J ENNIFER W ITH A M

F

rom the first first time he pulled on a pair of footy boots as an eight-year-old, Darren Jolly wante ed wanted to be a ruckman.

He was only slightly bigger than his teammates in those early years—it wasn’t until he hit his teens he started to tower over the other kids—but he got picked to play in the ruck all the same and loved every minute of it.

NATURAL: Darren Jolly says he was a born ruckman.

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

“I’v I v just always been a “I’ve ruckm ruckman,” Jolly said. “I’ve never really played forward, or even really learned to play there.

“I’v “I’ve always just enjoyed playi playing footy in the ruck and k kicking goals when I get a chance.”

Jol Jolly’s football career started in Le Lexton, a tiny town 160km north north-west of Melbourne, where his pa parents still live.

He played for the local side, becau because “there wasn’t much else to do in Lexton”, and because he had ttried tennis and didn’t like it, an and had no love for basketball despi despite his natural advantage.

At the time, the Lexton Tiger Tigers had under-16s, reserves and ssenior teams. Once Jolly turne turned 15, he would play for the unde under-16s and then back up later in the day against grown men in the seniors.

It w was a physically demanding appre apprenticeship, but it only served to int intensify his love of the role.

“I rreally enjoy being the first one tto start the game, having that o opportunity to set the tone,” Jolly said.

“I’m the type of ruckman who just j enjoys contact. I love to—a to—and it sounds stupid—crash into someone and really be the agg aggressor and try to assert my myself that way. “ “Playing seniors helped me progress because playing agai men, and getting against whac whacked around the ears, got me prett seasoned.” pretty Th Throughout his 11-year c AFL career, which started in 2001 after he accepted a rookie spot a at Melbourne, Jolly has t change his tactics to had to suit tthe game.

He had to tone down some of his natural tendencies to reduc the free kicks, and— reduce t rest of the competition’s like the big m men—get used to the

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65

DARREN JOLLY introduction of the centre circle in 2004.

He said the circle, which was brought in to reduce the number of body clashes and protect ruckmen from impact knee injuries, changed the way he faced a centre bounce.

“It (ruck work) became more tactical. Before the circle came in, I’d get a 10m run-up and just try and run as hard as I could into someone and see if I could hit the ball,” he said.

“It helps me now I’m getting older and I’m losing a bit of jump. You’ve still got to come up with different ways to combat the guys who can jump higher than you.

“I’ve learned there’s a bit of cat and mouse in there. It’s not just a matter of ‘there’s the ball, go and get it’ anymore.”

This weekend, Jolly is in line to play his 200th AFL game, when Collingwood, his third AFL club, plays Essendon.

The milestone, something he’s “quite proud of”, comes after he played 48 games for Melbourne from 2001-04 and 118 for Sydney—including the 2005 premiership—from 2005-09.

He left the Demons because he felt he was ranked behind Jeff White and Troy Simmonds, and then departed the Swans because he and wife Deanne wanted to return to Melbourne. After their second child Lily was born, Deanne developed post-natal depression while living in the city that had never felt like home to either of them.

Jolly requested a trade.

He sat down with manager Paul Connors and listed the clubs that needed an experienced ruckman.

The Magpies had such a need and they were keen. Jolly was enthused at the idea of contributing to a team on the

ONCE A SWAN:

Jolly had a stellar career for Sydney, playing in the Swans’ 2005 premiership.

cusp of something big and the deal was done quickly.

Since returning home, Deanne has thrived, with her parents and sister in close proximity to their Surrey Hills home in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, while their oldest daughter Scarlett will start school next year.

Things are good in Jolly’s world. Off the field, his family keeps him grounded. And on the ground, he continues to play a key role. He has played in four Grand Finals and is a dual premiership player, making a major contribution to the Magpies’ premiership last season.

“It was amazing. I knew coming here the opportunities were massive given the list and how well they were playing. It’s been a good ride,” he said.

Jolly turns 30 in November, which has him thinking about

elicious PERi-PERi Chicken Nando’s d is much easier to swallow.

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life after football. He isn’t sure he wants to remain in the game, but plans to “do all the coaching courses anyway, just in case”.

A career in property development seems more likely right now. He’s keen on the television renovating show The Block, and is studying for a certificate in building and construction, as well as a short course in drafting to go with the kitchen-making apprenticeship he was deep into before football beckoned.

Still, the transition into development, with Deanne handling interiors, might be a few years away yet.

“I’m contracted for another two years after this one, and then I’d love to have another one or two after, but the only thing I can control is how I play. The rest I’ll leave up to the guys here.”

FROM ROOKIE TO STAR

» Darren Jolly will become

just the 11th former rookie to reach 200 games. It is an achievement he is proud of.

Having missed out on being drafted from the North Ballarat Rebels in 1999, Jolly was playing in the VFL when he was offered a spot on Melbourne’s rookie list. Without that chance, he said his desire to play at the elite level would never have eventuated.

Some in the industry are pushing for rookie lists to be abolished, but Jolly doesn’t agree.

“There’s still a place for rookies because clubs find players who may have potential but are perhaps too risky to put on the main list in case they don’t make it,” he said. “(Having a rookie list) is a good opportunity to get a player down to a club and see what their attitude is like.

Then, if clubs like what they see, they can put them on the list.”

When Jolly started his career in 2001, he was on a base salary of $12,500.

Today, rookies are paid $35,360 (plus match payments), but are likely to receive a significant pay rise as part of the new collective bargaining agreement being negotiated between the AFL and the AFL Players’ Association.

“It’s hard to live off that sort of money,” he said.

“I’m all for rookies being looked after.”

PHOTO SPECIAL

INSIDE NORTH MELBOURNE

All in a week’s work for Roos PHOTOS: L ACHL A N CU NNINGH A M | TE X T: PETER DI SISTO

» Preparing for a game of

football involves strategic planning, some necessary pain, and a bit of old fashioned elbow grease, among other things.

Slattery Media Group (AFL Photos) photographer Lachlan Cunningham spent a full week with North Melbourne leading up to (and after) its match against the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium last weekend.

“I was impressed with how coach Brad Scott went about his work, asking questions of the players and putting a lot back on to them,” he said.

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The Roos gave him access to all areas, including the icing room (main photo) where Liam Anthony (left) and rookie Marcus White iced-down after Thursday training; a match committee meeting, where coach Scott and (from left clockwise) Brett Allison, Darren Crocker, Cameron Joyce, John Lamont, Jon Haines, Donald McDonald and Shane Watson planned for the weekend; and the equipment room, where bootstudder Lance Nickson did some handy work.

On match-day, Cunningham was allowed into the players’

locker area at Etihad, where captain Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Brady Rawlings shared a joke. Later, during the first quarter, he snapped Petrie on the phone to one his coaches. And the day after the win, he joined Anthony, Cruize Garlett and the rest of the team for a recovery session in the icy waters at St Kilda beach.

Go to afl.com.au to see more of Cunningham’s photos from his week with the Kangaroos.

I was impressed with how coach Brad Scott went about his work, asking questions of the players and putting a lot back on to them

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Our AFL history guru answers your queries.

NAME GAME

TONS OF FUN: Daniel

Giansiracusa (right) enjoys the work of Barry Hall, the only player to kick 100 goals at three clubs.

Popular choice » Paul Puopolo (‘Poppy’

Haul of fame

Barry Hall has become the first player in history to score at least 100 career goals for each of three clubs. Have any other players come close to achieving the same thing.

B. CROTHERS, MILDURA, VIC.

CH: Just three players have

booted at least 50 goals for three different clubs. Brent Crosswell kicked 92 for Carlton between 1968 and 1975. He then kicked 108 for North Melbourne before transferring to Melbourne in 1980. His tally with

the Demons was 57 in three years. Many of his career matches were played away from the forward line. A nephew of Hawthorn great Peter Hudson, Simon Minton-Connell (50 for Carlton from 1989-91, 169 for the Sydney Swans from 1992-94 and 53 for Western Bulldogs from 1997-98) and Scott Cummings (83 for Essendon from 1994-96, 102 for Port Adelaide from 199798 and 151 for West Coast from 1999-2001) were also significant contributors.

GENUINE SENIOR FOOTBALLERS » Two clever half-forward flankers are about to celebrate their 90th birthdays. Archie Baxter (born August 4, 1921) was recruited by South Melbourne from Edithvale in 1941. He played 23 matches and kicked 25 goals in a career which ended in 1946.

Dairy farmer Noel Doherty

(born August 5, 1921) played his early football with Dookie Agricultural College before scoring three goals in eight matches for Richmond between 1943 and 1945. Archie (army) and Noel (navy) sacrificed their football careers to serve their nation during World War II.

Do you know of other senior players who are close to 90 or older, or who reached such an age before passing? Should you have such information, contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col. hutchinson@afl.com.au.

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now but ‘Pup’ in his native South Australia) has become something of a cult figure in his short career at Hawthorn.

His given name is certainly appropriate for the 173cm defender. Paul derives from the Latin parvulus meaning “very small”. And his version of the origin of his family name, if correct, is also appropriate: Paul claims it is a variation of the Italian popolo meaning th h “people”. With his rugged, no-nonsensee approach, Puopolo has become veryy popular— a people’s favourite— with Hawthorn supporters. However, scholars are not completely sure of the name’s origin.

Their best guess is that it is related to pupo, Italian for “child”/”baby” from the Sicilian pupu, “puppet”/”doll”.

Again, this may be appropriate in that, these days, many see players as just puppets under the control of the coach.

Puopolo may be the ideal player, at least for the modern coach.

KEVAN CARROLL

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

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rick milne

Ask the expert about all your footy memorabilia.

We have about 20 scrapbooks with news cuttings of the mighty Saints. They date from 1990-2010. They are not for sale, but do they have any value?

RICK’S RARITY

» In 1909, the Standard

DEANNE GRIFFITHS, VIA EMAIL

RM: Not a fortune, Deanne.

Scrapbooks were all the rage from the 1970s to the 1990s. There don’t seem to be so many from the 2000s, but maybe $10-$20 each would see it out. If some of the older ones have real photos of players stuck in, the albums are worth substantially more.

Just wondering how much you would pay for a 1980 Richmond bottle of port from the premiership year?

ROD TAYLOR, VIA EMAIL

RM: Commemorative ports

aren’t huge sellers, Rod. The main reason is that there are simply too many out there and, of course, you need a liquor licence to sell anyway. I know the one you describe. It usually sells for about $50.

I have some Essendon cards from around 1953-54, most taken at Windy Hill, featuring Coleman, Clarke, Sewell, Mitchell, Gallagher, Towner, Leek, Bigelow, Gill, Hutchison, Burgess and Jack Jones. They have red and black

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time on

TRUE BOOT: A caricature of

Fitzroy champion John Murphy would sell for $25.

edging on the top and bottom.

Are they worth anything?

RAY SMITH, VIA EMAIL

RM: Ray, these were issued by

Coles and cost the equivalent of two cents each. Today, they sell for about $15-20 each if in excellent condition, with a premium price for John Coleman.

After reading an article in the AFL Record, I thought I would write and ask about some footy caricature cards I have. They are of John Murphy (Fitzroy), Craig McKellar (Richmond), Len Thompson (Collingwood), Greg

Wells (Melbourne) and Garry Hardeman (Melbourne). They are all still in their plastic packets, have Kellogg’s on them and the name Rogers appears on them all.

TRICIA FORD, VIA EMAIL

RM: These usually retail at

about $25 each. Rogers is the caricaturist and is, in my opinion, the best of them all.

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.

Cigarette Co. of Melbourne issued a card set of 60 WAFL players, which were only available in Western Australia. Among those players were the wonderfully named Bendigo Vernon and J. Tyson. Tyson was one of four brothers who played for the Railways FC. Other teams included Boulder City, Warriors, Mines Rovers and Midland Junction, as well as East and West Perth, Perth, East, North and South Fremantle and Subiaco.

Extremely rare, these cards sell for at least $500 0 each in A-1 condition.

BRAINS

answers at bottom of page

Find the 5 DIFFERENCES between the 2 cards

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

______

______ ____

The Bulldogs defeated Melbourne to win their only AFL Premiership. What season was this in?

A. 1940

NEW!

B. 1954

C. 1985

B&F

game card

D. 2001

Silver CODE cards and enter codes to play

Answers: 1. Hawthorn & Hawks switch positions, different mouth, right arm higher up, missing “Tasmania” logo, missing signage on wall behind 2. Daniel Kerr 3. Spider 4. 1954 (B)

4

TV N O N AS SEE

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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

FIVE TO FIND

»

This week’s Spot the Difference is dedicated to Collingwood’s T B Reid, who according to teammate Leigh Brown in the Ben He H Herald Sun, likes to solve this puzzle before a game.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: ‘Sherrin’ removed from the ball; stops removed from Ben Reid’s left boot; colour of Jarrad McVeigh’s mouthguard changed; logo removed from Harry O’Brien’s shorts; tattoo added to Ben Reid’s leg.

E X T E N D E D P L AY FREE ENTRY

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

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

TI M E

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.

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Geelong’s slow and steady ady approach with young speedster sp peedster is paying off.

A

s interest in the NAB AFL Draft intensifies each year, there is more pressure on draftees to make an instant impact.

But Geelong midfielder Allen Christensen said he benefited enormously by spending his first season with the Cats’ VFL team.

Christensen finished fourth in the team’s best and fairest last year, before making his AFL debut against Fremantle in round two this season.

He said he was happy he served his apprenticeship at VFL level. “It definitely helped me in terms of development and learning the way Geelong plays in the VFL,” Christensen said.

“I had all the older boys looking out for me and most of us younger boys are starting to develop AFL bodies. By the time we came into the senior side, we knew how to play that system.”

Christensen is the round 18 nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star, joining Mitch Duncan (round three) and Daniel Menzel (13) as Geelong nominees.

It is a remarkable achievement for a club that has been one of the strongest in the AFL for the past five years.

“We’re a pretty close group of young players and we’re pretty excited about the future,” Christensen said.

“We’re really focused on making an impact right now.

We knew in the pre-season we would have a clean slate and we could go out and really try to impress ‘Scotty’ (first-year coach Chris Scott).

“Every one of us had a really good pre-season. We all got

LUK E HOLMESBY

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 (St K) Round 11 Jordan Gysberts (Melb) Round 12 Sam Reid (Syd) Round 13 Daniel Menzel (Geel)

APPRENTICESHIP:

Round 14 David Swallow (GCS)

Allen Christensen is grateful he had a full season in the VFL to prepare him for football at the AFL level.

He (Kelly) is probably one who really looks out for me ALLEN CHRISTENSEN

stronger and fitter and I think that has shown by the way that all the ’09 (draftees) have played. It’s going along really nicely.”

Christensen is a genuine local, having played junior football for Lara and the Geelong Falcons TAC Cup team.

“I was very lucky I got through to pick 40 and got to stay home. I can’t take that for granted but I’m probably one of

Round 15 Luke Breust (Haw) Round 16 Jake Batchelor (Rich) Round 17 Trent McKenzie (GCS) Round 18 Allen Christensen (Geel)

the lucky ones. A lot of people have to move away,” he said.

He said he has been absorbing as much information as possible from Geelong’s star-studded midfield, with James Kelly taking particular interest in Christensen’s progress. “‘Kel’ gives me heaps of advice about where I’m positioning myself and how to go about playing defensively. He is probably one who really looks out for me,” he said.

That support extended to a mini-campaign by Kelly and other Geelong players on Twitter to get Christensen a Rising Star nomination.

He said that support did not go unnoticed. “I guess one of the main things you want as a young bloke is to get the respect of the older players,” he said.

THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

1

Christensen is the nephew of former Geelong players Martin and Damien Christensen.

2

He lives with teammates Josh Cowan and Ryan Bathie.

3

He had the highest skinfold tests of any participant at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft Camp, before trimming down to boost his draft chances.

“It was good to see that and, if I’m playing the way they want me to play and they think I deserve something like that, then it’s more about what they are saying than getting the actual nomination.”

Each week throughout the home and away season, a panel of judges will select the nominee for the 2011 NAB AFL Rising Star. At the completion of the season, one outstanding player will be chosen as the 2011 NAB AFL Rising Star winner. He will receive an investment folio, a dedicated personal banker, a financial planner and the Ron Evans Medal, all courtesy of the NAB. The NAB Rising Star award is the final stage of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.

76

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Applying data laterally to analyse and understand erstan nd the modern game.

Time to reward the tacklers

T

he All-Australian team from last year could have looked quite different if selectors had given higher priority to tackle counts.

There were two standout players who didn’t make the cut in 2010, but would qualify as walk-up starts before any other on-ball star: St Kilda’s Lenny Hayes (who ranked 12th for disposals and fifth for tackles) and West Coast’s Matthew Priddis (19th and sixth).

Only three selected players came close to that pair in these dual counts. Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge (28th for disposals and 18th for tackles), Carlton’s Chris Judd (14th and 28th) and Leigh Montagna (fifth and 48th).

No other All-Australians for 2010 ranked among the top 50 tacklers in the competition.

Evidence a player is fighting hard to win the ball (disposals) and also get it back from the opposition (tackles) is coveted by coaches. Hayes and Priddis ought to be bottled. Likewise, goalkickers who also chase.

For defenders, effective tackling is a prerequisite, as are disposals that clear the danger area.

The extraordinary explosion in tackle numbers in the past few years, coupled with the prominence being given to that phase of the game by commentators, has made me consider whether All-Australian selectors ought to give more consideration to the game’s best tacklers when picking the season’s best team, or at least have a look at some of the game’s best defensive midfielders.

78

AFL RECORD

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GOT HIM:

Cat James Kelly is one of many midfielders adept at switching between defensive and offensive roles.

Yes, the selectors should continue to focus on the proactive stars of the game, but I would like to see a spot reserved for the best defensive midfielder.

It is an essential role in today’s footy and there are some brilliant candidates who excel switching between defensive and offensive roles.

This season, my nominations would include the likes of Jack Redden (Brisbane Lions), Scott Selwood (West Coast), Jude Bolton (Sydney Swans), Luke Ball (Collingwood) and James Kelly (Geelong).

However, before rushing ahead and making judgments, it’s important to recognise the degree of difficulty, subjectivity and cost involved in the ‘calling’ of tackling stats.

The definition of what constitutes an effective,

attempted or missed tackle is highly contentious.

A proper forum discussion of what constitutes a tackle and how it is best called is overdue.

Until 1999, the initial benchmarks for calling tackles were provided by stats trailblazers Ray Young (APB Sports) and Gundars Mantinieks (Pro-Stats).

Young’s teams called stats at games; Mantinieks’ system reviewed vision of matches, with its stats produced mainly for clubs’ purposes.

The tackle repertoire Young introduced was limited to those that obviously had an effective impact on the ball carrier’s intention. His ‘keep it simple’ approach acknowledged the degree of difficulty there is

Hayes and Priddis ought to be bottled.

Likewise, goalkickers who chase

calling tackle stats live and was designed to mitigate controversy surrounding highly subjective categories such as “deflections” or “corrals”.

When Champion Data was first appointed the AFL official statistics provider in 1998, it sub-contracted APB Sports to call some of the stats for media use, including tackles.

The following year, Champion Data provided all the stats categories and the status quo definition of the tackle has ostensibly continued, albeit with ongoing refinements.

Even this general-purpose definition indicates the extraordinary changes that have occurred during the past few years in how the game is played.

In 1999 and 2000, the combined average tackles a game was 57; by 2005, the average increased to 88. The average now has skyrocketed to 137 a game.

According to current numbers, the Brisbane Lions and West Coast are the best teams at making tackles stick, while the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide fluff the most.

Irrespective of definition or methodology, an even more daunting challenge has emerged for statisticians.

Nowadays, extensive passages of play involve scrimmages and bone-crunching pile-ups.

One of the new trendy terms in footy is tackling intensity (or lack of it). But how do you measure it effectively when play around a stoppage can look like worms in a can?

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

SHORT STORY COMPETITION BROUGHT TO YOU BY VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

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

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

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

about Australian Football.

2. To fantasise about the future of Australian Football.

THE TOPIC

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

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

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

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

1ST 2ND 3RD

THE STORY MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:

How the game became international.

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

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

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

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

Preliminary events must be held internationally.

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

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

WIN !

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

the official airline of the AFL

After 50 years, it’s still about guts and determination

The game may have changed, but the qualities of a champion remain the same... power, strength and ultimate reliability. The new Toyota FJ Cruiser is the modern day off-roader inspired by the legendary LandCruiser FJ40.

toyota.com.au

With all the guts and determination of a 200kW 4.0L V6 engine and a reinforced steel chassis, the FJ Cruiser can tackle almost anything. Chase one down at your local Toyota dealer today.