INSIDE » BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR CAT JIMMY BARTEL
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AFL GAME
JACK TRENGOVE On leadership, taking responsibility and his desire to succeed PAGE 60
PAGE 57
JARED BRENNAN
From ‘lazy’ y to role model
ROUND 21, 2011 AUGUST 12-14 $5 (INC. GST)
round 21, august 12-14 2011
features I’ve had h to come out com m ou me utt off u shell my m y she ell and the an nd d help p th he younger guys y oung ung ger guy g ys JARED JA ARED BR B BRENNAN RENNAN
57 JARED BRENNAN
Life with w Suns has changed his attitude at and his game. MICHAEL WHITING reports. MICH
60 JACK TRENGOVE TR
A yo young Demon stands tall at a club in the spotlight. CALLUM TWOMEY reports. CAL
r e regulars 4 7 25 53 70 74 76
Backchat The Bounce Matchday Dream Team Answer Man Kids’ Corner NAB AFL Rising Star
Fremantle’s Zac Clarke. Fre
78 Talking Point
Ted Hopkins says congested football is having an effect on the scoring power of teams.
IM 67 JIJIMMY BA B BARTEL
It’s business a as usual for the 200-game 200-g ga Geelong star. starr.
The Official Hotel Group Of The AFL
THIS WEEK’S COVER The Demons and Jack Trengove are putting on a brave face as they try to win back some respect. COVER PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM COVER PHOTO EDITOR: NATALIE BOCCASSINI
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Concern over lopsided games
» Collingwood coach Mick Too much white
Some of the clubs’ home jumpers look quite similar, but is it necessary for the away team to completely change its jumper to predominantly white, as some do. Clubs should make their away jumpers look more like their home ones, instead of just mainly white.
WHITEWASH: The
Adelaide Crows are one of several clubs who use predominantly white in their away jumpers.
HARRY HARVEY, SEAFORTH, NSW (14).
Editor’s response: The aim of
the ‘away’ jumper is to ensure there is minimal chance of a clash between colours. Using white in jumpers is generally one of the easiest ways to achieve this.
Saints be praised
After a bad start, St Kilda seems to be coming good at the right time of the year, although I’m not sure if it is good enough to knock off Collingwood or Geelong. I’m not old enough to have seen St Kilda win a premiership and I’m not a St Kilda supporter, but it would be great for football if the Saints could add a second cup to their trophy cabinet. TIM BORTEN, MONTEREY KEYS, QLD.
Right call by Roos
LISA CARTER, BRIGHTON, VIC.
Congratulations to North Melbourne for seeing fit to extend coach Brad Scott’s contract. Too often it seems clubs make hasty decisions when the results aren’t going the way they want. Most North
GENERAL MANAGER, COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS Darren Birch AFL CORPORATE BUSINESS MANAGER Richard Simkiss AFL RECORD MANAGING EDITOR Geoff Slattery
AFL RECORD
A true champion
Port Adelaide fans should be thankful for Chad Cornes’ contribution to the club and game in general. The club’s effort in his final game last week was horrible,
PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Lovett WRITERS Nick Bowen, James Dampney, George Farrugia, Katrina Gill, David Hocking, Ted Hopkins, Darren O’Shaughnessy, Peter Ryan, Nathan Schmook, Callum Twomey, Michael Whiting SUB-EDITORS Gary Hancock, Howard Kotton, Michael Stevens STATISTICIAN Cameron Sinclair
AFL RECORD EDITOR Peter Di Sisto
4
supporters can see what Scott is aiming to do with his young team, and the move this week by the club will allow him to continue with his plan.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Andrew Hutchison
visit aflrecord.com.au
but we’ll always remember what a champion Cornes was. BILL KNOWLES, NORTH ADELAIDE, SA.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The best letter each round nd will receive the 2011 AFL Record Season Guide. Email aflrecordeditor@ slatterymedia.com or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.
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Malthouse warned that fans might be turned off the game if there was an increase in the number of one-sided matches. The Magpies had just beaten Port Adelaide by 138 points. Hours before, Geelong defeated Gold Coast by 150 points. The previous week, the Cats beat Melbourne by 186 points. Already this season, we have seen nine matches decided by 100 or more points. (It happened four times last year and once in 2009). “As a purist, you like to see games of football that are relatively even,” Malthouse said. The AFL has acknowledged it expected an increase in lopsided results with the introduction of Gold Coast this season and Greater Western Sydney next year. Granted, the gulf between the supreme teams and some others appears to have grown, with the AFL reviewing matters including financial distributions to struggling clubs. Having an advantage in talent, fitness, experience, ttactics or finances is nothing new. But when these factors n a are coupled with today’s ‘micro-coaching’–which ‘m eemphasises minimising risk and uncertainty–outcomes a become predictable, and b llopsided matches more ccommon. PETER DI SISTO
PRINTED BY PMP Print ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO The Editor, AFL Record, Ground Floor, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Victoria, 3008. T: (03) 9627 2600 F: (03) 9627 2650 E: peterd@slatterymedia.com AFL RECORD, VOL. 100, ROUND 21, 2011 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211. ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109
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ADAM GOODES
The Sydney Swans superstar is in rare form.
10
COOL CROWS
How Adelaide beat the Brisbane heat.
12
I will resign, move on and play elsewhere
FINALS FORECAST
Etihad Stadium set to host a final as Victorian teams dominate.
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THE
Foes beware as Saints discover attacking flair NICK BOW EN
A
fter round eight, St Kilda had just one win and a draw from seven matches, and sat 15th on the ladder. Saints coach Ross Lyon had been reluctant to draw too many conclusions about his team’s slow start to the season previously, but he had seen enough by then to conclude the Saints had slipped since contesting the 2009 and 2010 Grand Finals. “The bottom line is we’re not the same team,” Lyon said at the time. It was hard to argue with him. The Saints were the No. 1 defensive team in 2009 and 2010—they conceded just 64.1 points a game in 2009—but in this season’s first eight rounds conceded 89.7 points a game. Their scoring had also ground to a trickle. Ranked fourth in 2009—when they averaged 99.9 points a game—and eighth in 2010, St Kilda’s average score of 76.6 points was better than just Gold Coast’s. However, the Saints have looked much more like their former selves since beating Melbourne by 20 points in round nine.
TEAM ROLE: Nick Dal Santo has stepped up at the clearances for the Saints in the absence of the injured Lenny Hayes.
The win kick-started a run of nine wins from 11 games, including six on end. St Kilda’s only losses in this time have come at the hands of the competition’s top two teams, Collingwood and Geelong. After the Saints’ 41-point victory over Fremantle last Friday night, Lyon gave an insight into how they have turned their season around. “We’re certainly playing a different brand, it’s up-tempo. We’re quite (a) high play-on (team),” he said.
Lyon’s assertion the Saints are playing on more and moving the ball more quickly is supported by statistics. In the first eight rounds, they were the 13th ranked team in uncontested possessions, but have since climbed to second. In the first 14 rounds, they were 11th in playing on after a mark (averaging 37.3 a game) but have since risen to second (43.9). The Saints’ new attacking style has lifted their average score by almost 16 points a game since round eight, to 90.5. They
have also averaged an additional three forward-50 entries a game. The day after beating the Dockers, Lyon told SEN radio the Saints’ clearance work at centre bounces had also improved dramatically in recent weeks. Clearance statistics support Lyon. Ranked 17th in clearance differentials after round eight— as they came to grips with Lenny Hayes’ absence with a seasonending knee injury—the Saints have since improved to 10th. Any discussion of St Kilda, however, AFL RECORD
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7
Brisbane Lions rookie Josh Dyson last week became the 12,000th player to appear at AFL/VFL level.
would not be complete without touching on defence. This was the cornerstone of its 2009-10 Grand Final years, when it led the competition for least points conceded. We saw the Saints’ defence spring a leak at the start of this year. However, since round eight, Lyon’s men have rediscovered their miserly ways, cutting the average score against them to 67.4 points, second only to Collingwood. Lyon is by no means saying the Saints are back to their 2009-10 best. After the Dockers win, he merely said they were starting to win some respect back. They will win even more respect if they put up a good performance against Collingwood this Friday night.
Former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos, who Lyon served under as an assistant coach before joining St Kilda in 2007, said the Saints’ six-goal-to-nil last quarter against Fremantle suggested they might be capable of mixing it with the Magpies. “It was probably the first time (this season) we’ve really seen St Kilda go to another level,” Roos said on Fox Sports’ On The Couch. “Their last quarter was a bit like the last two years where they just went bang and all of a sudden it was six goals in a row.” By late Friday night, we will have a much better idea of just how good St Kilda’s revamped 2011 model is. Rest assured, there will be some nervous teams in the finals if its form spike continues.
PEAK OF HIS POWERS
Total Average a game
Rounds 1-8
Rounds 9-20
536 76.6 (16th)
996 90.5 (7th)
628 89.71 (9th)
741 67.4 (2nd)
-13 (15th)
-4.2 (10th)
7 (17th)
-1 (10th)
-17 (13th)
+50.1 (2nd)
47 (16th) 54 (10th)
50.1 (9th) 46.9 (6th)
POINTS CONCEDED Total Average a game OTHER VITAL STATISTICS Contested possessions (differential) Clearances (differential) Uncontested possessions (differential) Inside 50s (ave) Inside 50s against (ave)
JA MES DA MPNEY
I
SAINTS IN 2011: A SEASON IN TWO PARTS POINTS SCORED
Ageless Swan still producing the goods
BRILLIANT: Adam Goodes has been in outstanding form over the past few weeks.
n the Sydney Swans’ past two games, Adam Goodes has reminded everyone of the sublime skills and unique abilities that have made him a two-time Brownlow medallist. Goodes has admitted he has struggled for consistency in 2011 but, against the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, showed that, even at 31, he still possesses the prodigious talent and blinding speed that has made him an AFL star. Against the Bulldogs at the SCG, Goodes had 34 possessions, the highest tally of his 13-year career. He took 10 marks, had 10 inside-50s, laid six tackles, had five clearances and kicked two goals in a stunning individual performance. Following a bye in round 19, Goodes was at it again at Etihad Stadium against the Bombers. Although his statistics were again impressive—he had 29 possessions, nine inside-50s, seven clearances, six marks and three goals— it was some moments of
brilliance that punctuated his best-on-ground display. Goodes could have capped a sensational evening when he took a mark inside 50 just seconds before the final siren, but his shot narrowly missed, leaving the Swans with a one-point defeat. He received the maximum 10 votes for the AFL Coaches’
When they’re not playing... PLAYER
8
Coach’s pet:
The person you would most like to meet:
Greatest non-football achievement:
Favourite TV show:
Luke Hodge Hawthorn
Shaun Burgoyne
Adam am Sandler ndler
Be Becoming a father
Two wo And A Half Men
Nat Fyfe Fremantle
Matthew Pavlich
Roger ger Federer derer
Gr Graduating high school
p Gear Top
Matthew Boyd Western Bulldogs
Ryan Griffen
Michael Jordan
Having a child
Met Your Mother How I M
Chris Knights Adelaide
Nathan van Berlo
Richard Branson
Starting my own business
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Entourage
Gold Coast players to travel to Arizona in the United States later this year for a pre-season camp.
NEW-LOOK ATTACK
Carlton’s goals dynamos a handy asset PETER RYA N
C
Association player of the year award for the second straight week and most likely three more Brownlow votes. “To see his speed, for (someone) who’s played as much footy as he has, to see him bursting through and opening up packs the way he’s been doing it is a real credit to him,” Swans coach John Longmire said. “I just hope he’s able to keep going for another few years and he certainly lights us up when he’s doing it.” Longmire should be appeased to a certain degree, as his seemingly ageless superstar recently signed a contract extension taking him through to the end of 2013. The match against Essendon was the 294th of Goodes’ career and either in this year’s finals series or early next season he will become just the second Swan to play 300 games. Next up would be Michael O’Loughlin’s club record 303 games, and if he can maintain his fitness, Andrew McLeod’s record of 340 AFL games for an indigenous player could also be in reach.
arlton’s dynamic goalkicking trio Andrew Walker, Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett provide the Blues with a unique forward set-up. Walker has kicked 48 goals this season. Along with Garlett (40) and Betts (38), they are oming the well on target to becoming 11th trio since 2000 to kick at least 40 each. 0 teams ms Since 2000, only 10 rs or more m have had three players sea ason. kick 40 goals each in a season. Of those 10, only one horn’ss Lance combination (Hawthorn’s ughea ad and Franklin, Jarryd Roughead d in a Mark Williams) has played ame season. seeason. premiership in the same re The Carlton trio are cal interesting in historical terms because there is nott ard an obvious tall forward r, at among them (Walker, sized d 190cm, is a medium-sized forward; a small tall,, so to speak). hree Generally, when three ore players kick 40 or more m, at goals in the one team, rs least one of the players ly will be a tall. The only recent line-up with a similar look was the th Bulldogs in 2008, with Brad Johnson (50 49) goals), Scott Welsh (49) and Jason Akermaniss hort (44) featuring in a short k the forward line that took al. team to a preliminaryy fina nal. he It is still possible the h kick k Carlton trio will each ent is 50 goals. Such an event ever. Only O extremely rare, however. me’s history h nine times in the game’s playeers has a team had three players s each kick 50 goals in one season. ions to o All nine combinations uded one o achieve the feat included ened most m tall forward. It happened en the the recently in 2000, when air Brisbane Lions’ trio Alasta Alastair niel Lynch (68 goals), Daniel
Bradshaw (56) and Luke Power (52) created havoc inside the Lions’ 50. Brisbane finished fifth that season, before going on to win the next three flags. It is probably self-explanatory that such 50-goal combinations happen in successful teams, but only once has such a combination achieved the feat in a premiership season. That was way back in 1926, when Melbourne’s Bob Johnson
It’s still possible the Carlton trio will each kick 50 goals
(a 191cm forward with 50 goals), Harry Moyes (170cm, 55) and Harry Davie (169cm, 50) were on fire. Davie did not play in the Grand Final, but Johnson and Moyes combined to kick nine of Melbourne’s 17 goals that day. Apart from the Carlton trio, the top teams all have strong goalkicking combinations. Collingwood already has seven players who have each kicked more than 20 goals this season, and is on track to at least match the nine players who kicked 20 or more in 2010 (with Leigh Brown on 19 and Dayne Beams and Luke Ball on 15 each). That is a great asset to take into finals. St Kilda has a dynamic duo in Stephen Milne (46) and Adam Schneider (21) with a handy centre half-forwar half-forward in Nick Riewoldt (26) as a target, while the Eagles’ trio of JJosh Kennedy (44), Mark Le Cras C (33) and Mark Nicoskii (29 (29) have the capacity to eac each kick more than 50 goals goals in i a season. Geelong g has five players who have kicked kicke more than k 20 goals thiss season, sea with James Podsia adly (42) and Podsiadly Steve Johnso on (3 Johnson (38) at the top of the list, wh hile the Hawks while have Lance Franklin Fran F way out in front with h 54, with the dangerous C Cyril Rioli (19) at his feet and a ha handy support act in Luke B Breu Breust (19). The Carlto on tr Carlton trio are learning to co omb well. On combine top of the goa goals they kick, they also o ta tackle and chase a as w well as anyone, their re ferr pressure a referred concern ffor a all defenders. At the mo moment, they are the b best small forward combina ation in the AFL combination and the b best performed in 2011. The fin nals will determine whether they t hold that mantle at sseas season’s end.
GOAL-SHARING:
Jeff Garlett (left) and Eddie Betts are on target to kick 50 goals each this season.
AFL L RECORD R EC RE COR CO OR O RD
vis vvi i it afl flrecord.com.au reco visit
9
Fremantle’s Adam McPhee accepts one-week suspension for striking St Kilda’s Sam Gilbert.
CHAMPION RETIRES
A night to forget, a career to cherish » Port Adelaide’s Chad
Cornes endured the club’s worst loss in its AFL history in his 238th and final game. “I didn’t want to be chaired off under those circumstances,” Cornes said. “It wasn’t the best way to finish ... I won’t remember that game. “I’ll remember the way our fans have always treated me, the support and respect they’ve given me.” Cornes will watch the remaining four games of the season from the sidelines, and hopes to take up a role at the club next season. “I’m not going away anywhere, so if the club wants me, I’ll be around.”
WARRIOR TO THE END:
KATRINA GILL
IDEAL PREPARATION
Ice vests give Crows mental edge over Lions K ATR INA GIL L
A
fter watching Adelaide players peel off their jumpers and swap them for ice vests as they passed through the interchange gates and undress en-masse at the quarter-time break at the Gabba last Sunday, Fox Sports commentator David King suggested the visitors had taken their approach to the warm conditions in Brisbane too far. It was a sunny day and the temperature hovered around 10
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Chad Cornes manages a smile even though Port was thrashed in his last game.
25, but while the Crows seemed decision to counter the heat. to be preparing for four Adelaide finished the quarters in the Sahara game full of energy, Desert, it was outscoring the Lions business as usual six goals to two in for the the final quarter to well-acclimatised run out a five-point Lions, who must’ve winner (see story wondered what all on Brisbane’s last the fuss was about. quarters on page 18). Despite It is losing impossible to defender Joel say whether Patfull to the Crows’ injury early in approach had a the first term, physical effect Brisbane was on the players, in control of but ruckman the match at Sam Jacobs three-quarter revealed it had time, leading a significant a wasteful psychological SAM JACOBS Adelaide by effect. 22 points. “We prepared However, really well up it wasn’t long before King in Brisbane in terms of getting conceded there might have ready for the heat,” Jacobs said. been something in the Crows’ “The little things like the ice
Little things like ice vests and hydration were crucial towards the end
vests and hydration I reckon were crucial towards the end of the game, because we ran it out really well. “We noticed the Brisbane players were getting a lot of rub-downs at three-quarter time, and I think the boys fed off that because we felt really good.” Mark Bickley, who kept his perfect record as caretaker coach intact, preferred to think the come-from-behind win was a product of his team’s renewed “belief”. “For me, that was the highlight. They never stopped believing,” he said. “When I asked them for an effort in the last quarter, I looked into their eyes and there was belief there. “We haven’t won a lot on the road this year, so there were a whole lot of challenges we faced. It was a fantastic win.”
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Goal umpire David Flegg officiates in his 335th match, an AFL record for goal umpires.
PREDICTIONS
MATHEMATICIAN AND IT CONSULTANT DARREN O’SHAUGHNESSY LOOKS AT THE CHANCES OF CLUBS IN THE FINALS RACE. IF IT...
1
v St Kilda Etihad Stadium, Friday night
2
v Adelaide AAMI Stadium, Sunday twilight
3
v Port Adelaide MCG, Saturday
4
v Fremantle Patersons Stadium, Saturday
5
v Melbourne Etihad Stadium, Sunday
6
v Collingwood Etihad Stadium, Friday night
7
v Richmond MCG, Sunday
8
v Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium, Saturday night
9
v Carlton Patersons Stadium, Saturday
POSITION AFTER ROUND 21
FINALS CHANCES
WINS
First
Would have to lose to either Brisbane or Fremantle, then Geelong, to miss out on the minor premiership.
LOSES
Second, but with a game in hand if Geelong wins; first if Geelong loses.
Round 24 against the Cats would decide the minor premiership.
WINS
Second if Collingwood wins; first if the Magpies lose.
The Cats have to hope the Magpies slip up somewhere, then beat them in round 24 to take the minor premiership.
LOSES
Second
Only Hawthorn can catch Geelong, even if the Cats lose all three matches.
WINS
Third
Ninety per cent chance of finishing third and avoiding Collingwood in first final.
LOSES
Down to fourth if Carlton wins; stays third if the Blues lose.
Fifty per cent chance of finishing third, opening the door for Eagles and Blues to get double chance.
WINS
Fourth if Hawthorn wins; third if the Hawks lose.
Even winning every match would not guarantee the double-chance.
LOSES
Fifth if West Coast wins; otherwise stays fourth.
Would have to rely on a top-four rival falling over; virtually certain to finish fifth.
WINS
Remains fifth if the Blues win; into fourth place if Blues lose.
Hard to see the Eagles finishing lower than fourth. Need the Hawks to lose twice in order to take third place and avoid Collingwood in the first final.
LOSES
Remains fifth.
West Coast would still be favourite to claim fourth, but needs Carlton to lose a match along the way.
WINS
Remains sixth.
Seventy-five per cent chance of a first week final in Melbourne.
LOSES
Drop to seventh if the Magpies’ and Swans’ winning margins add to more than seven goals.
The venue for St Kilda’s first final will likely be decided next week in Sydney. A heavy defeat by Collingwood followed by a loss to the Swans would land the Saints seventh, or even eighth.
WINS
Up to sixth if St Kilda loses, and its margin plus Sydney’s makes seven goals or more; otherwise stays seventh.
Will play finals unless they collapse from here. Next week’s match against St Kilda is likely to determine whether the Swans get to host a final.
LOSES
Drop out of the eight if Fremantle and Essendon both win; eighth if one wins; seventh if neither does.
Twenty per cent chance of missing the eight. Needs to win two of its last three to make sure of playing finals, but one win is probably enough.
WINS
Stays eighth unless Sydney loses, in which case Essendon moves to seventh.
Ninety per cent likelihood of playing finals.
LOSES
If Fremantle wins, Essendon drops to ninth this week; otherwise eighth.
Forty per cent likelihood of playing finals. Unless the Bombers can beat the Eagles in Perth next week, their fate is out of their hands.
WINS
Will take seventh if Sydney and Essendon both lose; moves to eighth if one does. Otherwise stays ninth.
50-50 to make the eight, even if it wins one more match. Next week’s match against North Melbourne is the most critical.
Ninth
Just a 10 per cent chance of making the eight.
LOSES
THE LONGSHOTS
» The Western Bulldogs
will have to win all four matches in a tricky draw, but if they do, they would be favourites to take eighth. Richmond bowed out of the race last week, but Adelaide’s mathematical chances are still alive if every other result goes the Crows’ way.
WINS NEEDED TO MAKE THE EIGHT
» 44 points (11 wins) is
emerging as the critical number needed to play finals, but it is far from certain; 46 points is a virtual lock, with the only danger for teams such as Melbourne being kept out by a poor percentage.
FOUR MELBOURNE FINALS?
» The computer is
predicting Victorian sides to fill first, second, fifth and sixth, which would mean a final at Etihad Stadium—likely St Kilda at its home ground against Sydney Swans. Using 500,000 simulations, the odds of there being any finals outside Melbourne in the first week are roughly 50-50.
PREDICTED FINAL LADDER 1 Collingwood 2 Geelong 3 Hawthorn
10
BYE
11
v West Coast Eagles Etihad Stadium, Sunday
Drops to 11th if Melbourne wins; stays 10th if West Coast wins.
Faces finals rivals Fremantle and St Kilda after the bye, and must win both to have a realistic chance of making it.
WINS
Up to 10th.
Cannot discount the Demons’ chances: wins in their last three matches versus 14th, 16th and 17th would likely put them into an elimination final.
LOSES
Stays 11th.
Mathematical chances only.
THESE PREDICTIONS WILL FEATURE IN THE AFL RECORD FOR THE REST OF THE HOME AND AWAY SEASON. 12
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4 West Coast (Up 1) 5 Carlton (Down 1) 6 St Kilda 7 Sydney Swans 8 Essendon
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Terms and conditions apply. See participating outlets for details. Cash or credit card sales only. Monthly competitions closes and is drawn at Margo’s at 10am on 31/08/11, 30/09/11, 31/10/11, 30/11/11, 04/01/12, 01/02/12, 01/03/12, 02/04/12, 1/05,12 and 31/05/12. Winner will be notified by telephone and mail with details published in the Herald Sun on 05/09/11, 08/10/11, 09/11/11, 09/12/11, 13/01/12, 10/02/12, 09/03/12, 09/04/12, 09/05/12, 08/06/12. East2West, Margo’s, Shò Noodle Bar, Tia To, Riverside Café & Restaurant are on the main gaming floor, patrons must be over 18 years. Crown practises responsible service of alcohol. Private box provided by Top Shelf Management. #Limit of one per person and per ticket. Total number available 1,000 for the 2011 season. Offer valid while stocks last. After any round 21 AFL game, show your AFL match tickets at Sports Bar at Crown to redeem a free inflatable Sherrin mini-football. *
Adelaide forward Taylor Walker indicates he plans to sign a new contract with the club.
CAST IN NEW ROLE
West Coast honours greats Switch » Premiership coaches Mick Malthouse and John Worsfold were among eight inaugural inductees to West Coast’s Hall of Fame named last week as part of the club’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Others recognised were Glen Jakovich, Dean Kemp, Chris Lewis, Peter Matera, Guy McKenna and former head trainer Bill Sutherland. Former captain Ben Cousins made his formal return to the club at the gala event at Burswood Entertainment Complex, with a handful of current Eagles—including captain Darren Glass, Dean Cox and Adam Selwood—among the 950 guests. Worsfold is regarded as West Coast’s most significant figure after captaining the club to the 1992 and 1994 premierships and leading the Eagles to the pinnacle again in 2006 as coach. Now in his 10th season as coach, Worsfold was a member of West Coast’s inaugural squad. He played 209 games before retiring at the end of 1998. The uncompromising defender won the club champion award as a midfielder in 1988, his second season, and was appointed captain in the middle of the 1990 finals series as a 22-year-old. Worsfold said it was part of his nature to move on to the next challenge “probably too quickly”, but he acknowledged his career at West Coast had been full of great moments. “It’s about achieving something together,” he said. “We had dreams and a vision of where it may end up.” Malthouse is West Coast’s longest serving coach, having led the club 243 times from 1990-99. He took the Eagles to
14
AFL RECORD
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the finals in each of his 10 seasons, finishing with an outstanding winning record of 64 per cent. Jakovich, a dominant centre half-back, played a club record 276 games and won the club champion award four times. He was All-Australian in 1994 and 1995 and is the only player who can claim to consistently have held the edge over champion North Melbourne centre half-forward Wayne Carey. Kemp played 243 games and won the club champion award and Norm Smith Medal. Many, including inaugural captain Ross Glendinning, regard him as the club’s greatest player. Matera, who won the Norm Smith Medal in 1992 after a five-goal performance, was named All-Australian five times in his 253-game career. Lewis, club champion in 1990, played 215 games and was the second indigenous player after St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar to reach 200 League games. McKenna, now coach of Gold Coast, played 267 games and won the club champion award twice, 10 years apart. He was an All-Australian four times. Sutherland didn’t miss a game during his 21 years at the club and was made a life member in 1996. He said being named in the club’s Hall of Fame was the greatest thing that had happened to him. The selection committee is made up of premiership player Michael Brennan, Sandover medallist and long-time club servant Ian Miller, former chairman Murray McHenry, CEO Trevor Nisbett and Gary Stocks, an award-winning sports reporter who has been the club’s communications manager for NATHAN SCHMOOK 11 years.
forward reignites Eagle’s passion NATH A N SCHMOOK
W
hen Mark Nicoski was recruited to West Coast as a rookie in 2003, he loved watching the game, but his passion for it disappeared completely in the middle of his career. While battling shoulder, ankle, back and toe injuries— and consequently missing the chance to play in West Coast’s 2006 premiership—picking apart the game on television was no longer a high priority. In fact, Nicoski hated it. This season, however, he is enjoying watching football again, particularly Carlton and its small forwards. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but he is also enjoying a remarkable transformation from defender to half-forward, underlining his resurgence as a player with six goals against Richmond last weekend. He is a footballer who has capitalised on the strategic shifts in the game, moving with the times and gaining a second chance. Having played a key role in West Coast’s rapid climb up the ladder this year, it is fair to say he has taken that chance with both hands. stantly ntly “Football’s constantly lesss you changing and, unless ve and a become innovative oing adapt to what’s going wo on’t on, you probably won’t last much longer in thee earrsystem,” the 27-yearold er said this week after ul. his career-best haul. “There are a lott of AFL players who don’t enjoy the strategic side of the game and
would rather get the ball and kick it, and (believe) that’s how it should be kept. “But from year to year, we see change in terms of style, so unless you keep up with it, I don’t think you can survive.” Nicoski, who played his 100th game against the Blues in round 14, has been a revelation in the forward line this season, kicking 29 goals in 18 games. Given the hurdles he has faced, it has been a re-birth almost as unexpected as that of his team’s, which is pushing for a top-four berth after collecting last year’s wooden spoon. Nicoski’s horror injury run began in 2006 when his premiership hopes were dashed by a season-ending ankle injury in round 14. When he returned in 2007, a season ruined by shoulder and toe injuries, he wasn’t the same player. A dashing half-back when he started, Nicoski lost pace and agility and, when his 2009 season was ended by a back injury, his career was at the crossroads. It was then that assistant coach Peter Sumich identified the left-footer as a potential forward option, sparking a transformation that Nicoski said was the result of a lot of hard work. “He (Sumich) loves having a left-footer in the side, especially up forward,” Nicoski said. “He feels that offers a different dimension to the forward line and that was probably a little part of the move. “There are still bits and pieces ‘Suma’ picks at that we’re still trying to get right. So it hasn’t happened overnight, it’s taken a couple of pre-seasons. It requires q o hard “It a lot of work and a lot off h hard om days running and so some the ball isn’t g goi going to fall your way. “But once yyo you come to peace with wi that, w then the th he rest takes care o of itself.” REVELATION:
Mark Nicoski has flown under the radar, kicking 29 goals in 18 games this year.
Carlton’s Andrew Walker and Kade Simpson extend their contracts with the club. BIG THRILL: Students from Xavier Wurrumiyanga School enjoyed their visit to the MCG this week.
JOURNEY TO REMEMBER
Indigenous students rewarded with trip to the ‘G DAV ID HOCK ING
F
orty indigenous students from the Xavier Wurrumiyanga School on Bathurst Island, 70km north of Darwin, will attend this week’s St Kilda-Collingwood match at Etihad Stadium as part of a week-long trip to Melbourne. “The main purpose of the trip was to expose kids to life away from the island,” said Simon Mullumby, one of the teachers in charge of the trip. Melbourne was an obvious choice, as many of the kids are familiar with past and current AFL players from the area. “They (students) know all there is to
know about football and the MCG. They’re almost born with a football in their hands. They love to play it and be part of it,” Mullamby said. The selection criteria for the trip was simple: regular attendance at school, goodwill and showing respect for others— basically the ability to “get along”, as Mullumby termed it.
They know all there is to know about football and the MCG TEACHER SIMON MULLUMBY
Back home, the students are used to temperatures around 30 degrees, so there was an element of culture shock when they arrived in Melbourne. “The cold knocked the kids around a bit. Normally they don’t wear shoes, only a pair of shorts and a light shirt,” Mullumby said. St Vincent de Paul charity— and some local families— donated bags of gear for the students to rug up in. Funding for the trip—about $60,000—came from the Tiwi Islands Shire Council and local businesses and individuals on the island. And, with the 12-minute flights between Bathurst Island and Darwin costing $16,000 alone, every little bit helped. The group enjoyed tenpin bowling and rock-climbing, visited Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Museum and were on the set of the Marngrook Footy Show, the television program featuring Tiwi Islander and ex-Cat and Crow Ronnie Burns.
WIN – THE ULTIMATE
FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE! Go to 3aw.com.au/footy and put yourself in the draw for great weekly prizes and a chance to win the Ultimate 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final Experience. Each week, be listening to the 3AW footy broadcast and if you hear your name and call back before the end of the match, you’re a winner.* Visit 3aw.com.au/footy and register today.
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Gold Coast defender Campbell Brown to miss rest of season with a fractured pelvis.
NEW TRAINING FACILITY
BOMBERS’ BASE: An artist’s impression
of Essendon’s new training facility.
Bombers call on fans for new home base
This is the time for Essendon to take the next step to stay ahead CLUB CHAIRMAN DAVID EVANS
C A L LU M T WOMEY
E
ssendon is hoping supporters will fund $5 million of its proposed move to a new home near Melbourne Airport. The club ofďŹ cially launched its â€˜ďŹ‚ight plan’ to the new home base on Wednesday, and identiďŹ ed a substantial investment from Bombers fans as key to the project. The estimated cost to secure the new home base—which the club hopes to be the best, biggest and most exible training centre in the AFL—is $30 million. The Federal Government, AFL and AFL Victoria have already committed to contribute $10 million. The Victorian Government is expected to add a further
$6 million to the facility, leaving Essendon to contribute $14 million. The club has already pledged to invest $9 million, but will call on supporters to secure the remaining cash. “A project of this size is a long-term investment and collectively the club will invest $14-15 million into its success,� Essendon chairman David Evans said. “We need our members to play an active role in arguably the most tangible way possible—a contribution towards our groundbreaking project.�
Last December, Essendon announced its plans to move away from Windy Hill and develop the training facility at Melbourne Airport, in a partnership with the Australian Paralympic Committee. The 100,000sqm facility will include two AFL-sized ovals— the size of Etihad Stadium and the MCG—an indoor training area, large aquatic and gymnasium spaces and a 1km running circuit. Essendon’s administration will also be based at the facility. Last month, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou visited Essendon’s
Windy Hill headquarters and described the club’s facilities as the poorest in the competition. Evans said the move was crucial to the club’s future. “This is the time for Essendon to take the next step to stay ahead of its competitors,� he said. “With free agency and 18 teams imminent, the new facility at Melbourne Airport will enable us to attract and retain the best players, coaches and administrators.� Construction at the precinct is scheduled to begin in November, with the Bombers expected to start training at the facility by early 2013.
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Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy rules out drafting former Blue and Lion Brendan Fevola.
KILLER LAST QUARTERS
FRUSTRATED:
Michael Voss says fitness is not a reason for the Lions’ fadeouts.
Fadeouts costly as Lions look for answers
T
SEE PAGE 67
100 GAMES
former Crow, has the figures to back it up. “Our aerobic fitness test is a 3km time trial and we did that over the pre-season,” Burton said. “We had significant gains. We got an average improvement of 43 seconds across the group from last year to this year. We do an anaerobic capacity test and got significant improvements (and) skinfolds have improved as well. “All our fitness parameters suggest they’re in a lot better physical shape than they have been over the last couple of years.” Burton said the club’s GPS data during games also showed the Lions were working at a higher intensity. Some of the fourth-quarter reversals—against Geelong and St Kilda most notably— were against opponents with superior talent. Voss and Burton both have theories on the slides and believe the issues can be rectified. “The profile of our squad is very young and it takes four
or five years to develop your physical capabilities to play the game at the elite level,” Burton said. “There’s no doubt a large number of our squad is still building that capability. They’re not at the peak of their physical parameters at the moment. “We’ve got some improvements to be made in a number of areas and that starts in the off-season and the pre-season, so the guys are excited about that. “We’ve certainly got a group that likes to push the limits and they soak up any knowledge and any work you give them.” Voss said there was also a mental element to go with the physical side. “It’s ‘Do you want to be able to grind it out and can you think your way through it when the game’s on the line?’ he said. “Results haven’t gone our way so you can get a little desperate and perhaps go away from what we were doing in the first place. “We’ve just got to keep our heads through the last quarter.”
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200 GAMES
Jimmy Bartel Geelong
MICH A EL W HITING
he following does not make for good reading if you are a Brisbane Lions fan. Last Sunday’s five-point defeat by Adelaide was the latest in a long list of fourth-quarter fadeouts that has the club puzzled. The Lions led Adelaide by 22 points mid-way through the final term at the Gabba, only to watch the Crows kick the last four goals of the match and steal victory. It was the fourth time this season Brisbane has led an opponent during the last quarter only to lose. Throw in the round seven loss to Gold Coast, when scores were level with just minutes remaining, and it is starting to look like a horror story. In round 13 against Richmond and round 14 against Fremantle, the Lions trailed by less than a goal at different stages of the fourth quarter and were mauled (by 29 and 23 points respectively) on both occasions. Along with Melbourne, the Lions have won the fewest final quarters (five) this year. So what is going wrong? Coach Michael Voss was emphatic after the Adelaide loss that it wasn’t a fitness issue. “They’re absolutely fit enough,” he said. “All our results say they’re fit enough, so it’s got nothing to do with that.” Physical performance manager Brett Burton, the
MILESTONES ROUND 21
Jay Schulz Port Adelaide Hamish McIntosh North Melbourne Stefan Grun Umpire
50 GAMES
Greg Broughton Fremantle David Zaharakis Essendon Jeff Garlett Carlton
300 GOALS AT A VENUE
Stephen Milne St Kilda Needs one goal to become the all-time leading goalkicker at Etihad Stadium. The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.
Tom Harley AFL Premiership Captain
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Leigh Matthews agrees to advise Adelaide on its coaching selection process.
KEVIN BARTLETT’S STORY
The year I quit the Tigers
MAGPIE DREAMING: This photo was
taken on the eve of the 1980 finals series. It was the closest Kevin Bartlett got to becoming a Magpie.
In an excerpt from his new book, Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett explains how close he came to leaving Tigerland.
I
n 1977, I won the best and fairest for the fifth and final time. By doing so, I equalled the record of the great Jack Dyer. And I also finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal. We finished fourth that year, losing to North Melbourne in the first semi-final. The next year, the team finished seventh and missed the finals, which resulted in coach Barry Richardson getting sacked and Tony Jewell taking over. I was appointed captain in 1979 and all should have been well. Yet the gloss was taken off the appointment during the season when I discovered that, after 14 years, I was no longer in favour to be chosen rover. By the middle of the season, when I picked up the newspaper, I was seeing my name listed on the half-forward flank. And there was no subterfuge back in 1979; the way the teams were picked in the paper was the way they lined up. It wasn’t until I was named as half-forward flank in the paper for the round 11 clash against Essendon at Waverley that I discovered I was no longer roving for Richmond. Back then, the biggest sports journalist in Melbourne was Rob Astbury. He was a television reporter and the news-breaker in
20
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SHOCK HEADLINE: Bartlett’s
displeasure with the Tigers became public.
football. And as I was walking to that game through the carpark, he said to me, “I’m told that this is your last game for the Richmond Football Club”. I was staggered because no one had ever said that, and here I was, the captain of the club. I had no doubt Rob would not have said anything like that without good sources to back it up.
So I found myself taking those comments into the game and they certainly helped motivate me to play well. I kicked four goals that afternoon and was named in the best. And, to this day, I am pretty certain if I had played poorly against the Bombers that day, then I more than likely would have been told that my career was finished. I believe the club had made up its mind and had decided I was finished as a footballer. Their plan was to leave me on the half-forward flank, let me become disillusioned, not get a kick, and then say goodbye to me. This is why I always hold a special place for Waverley Park, because it actually saved my career. I played the rest of the season at half-forward with reasonable success, but after the last game, I decided to resign as captain
because I genuinely felt the club had lost confidence in me as a player. The club had tried to create a set of circumstances that would lead to me not playing well and leave me no alternative but to retire. I informed the club of my decision shortly after the end of the season. I remember saying, “I am resigning as captain and as a player because I believe there are people at this club who are conspiring against me and therefore, to halt any of the problem whatsoever, I will resign, move on and play elsewhere because I feel I can play for another three years.” I think that approach surprised them, because I don’t think they anticipated that sort of thinking and I don’t think they wanted me to move to another
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott (to end of 2013) and captain Brent Harvey (2012) extend their contracts.
club. It wouldn’t have been a good look for Richmond to have the club’s games record-holder, a four-time premiership player and five-time best and fairest suddenly bobbing up to play for another club. During this time of uncertainty, there was no shortage of suitors. My old teammate Ian Stewart wanted me to come to South Melbourne where he was coach, while Barry Davis was coaching Essendon and wanted me to come to Windy Hill. At Collingwood, I met with Tom Hafey, then the Magpies’ coach, and his long-time assistant Ron Richards, but Tommy was a bit torn about it all. He said, “I don’t think I could handle taking you away from Richmond.” I weighed up all the offers. I saw Essendon as a club that could give me the opportunities I wanted and met with Dons committeeman Alan McGillivray. I liked what I heard and signed a letter of agreement that I would play for the Bombers. I told Tommy the news, but he thought it was the wrong thing to do. So he swayed me to
initiate a truce with the Tigers through Michael Green, my great friend and solicitor. Even though I did sign the letter of agreement with Essendon, deep down, if I were to leave Richmond, I would have gone only to Collingwood with Tom Hafey. But when Tommy told me he felt uncomfortable about the potential move, I had to have a rethink. As part of the negotiations, the club offered me back the captaincy. But I rejected that because I didn’t think at that stage Richmond particularly cared who was captain. Plus, I never wanted anyone to think that I came back just so I could retain the captaincy. In the end, it was the counsel of my close friend Tom Hafey that swayed me back to Tigerland. He was right when he told me, “It would be fantastic for you to finish your career at the one club.” KB: A LIFE IN FOOTBALL (SLATTERY MEDIA GROUP, $65 RRP) CAN BE ORDERED VIA FOOTYBOOKCLUB.COM
More records fall in blowouts » Several scoring records
at both ends of the spectrum were set last weekend. Geelong backed up its record-breaking 186-point win over Melbourne in round 19 with a 150-point victory over the Gold Coast at Skilled Stadium last Saturday. It was the first time in history a team has won two games in a row by 150 points or more. In six games at Skilled Stadium in 2011, Geelong’s average winning margin is 99 points. Last Saturday night, Collingwood’s thumping 138-point win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium set more records, but none the Power will look back on fondly. Port Adelaide’s final score of 3.3 (21) was its lowest in history. Its previous lowest was 3.12 (30) against Richmond in round 10 last season.
The losing margin was also the club’s greatest, passing the 119-point defeat against Geelong in the 2007 Grand Final, and its half-time and three-quarter time scores—1.2 (8) and 2.2 (14)—were also new lows. The Magpies also set a new mark, with the final margin the highest by any visiting team at AAMI Stadium. It was Collingwood’s first win by more than 20 goals since round four of 1979, when it defeated St Kilda by 178 points.
Port Adelaide’s three lowest AFL scores 3.3 (21) v Collingwood, Rd 20, 2011 at AAMI Stadium 3.12 (30) v Richmond, Rd 10, 2010 at AAMI Stadium 5.6 (36) v St Kilda, Rd 5, 2009 at AAMI Stadium CALLUM TWOMEY
AFL RECORD
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21
Eleni Glouftsis becomes first female field umpire in 100-year history of the South Australian Amateur Football League.
Defending champs to kick off Cup » The fourth AFL International Cup starts this weekend, with defending champion Papua New Guinea playing newcomer Tonga in the opening match at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney. Eighteen teams are competing in the men’s tournament, including the three other teams making their Cup debuts, France, Timor-Leste and Fiji. For the first time, the Cup will feature a women’s division, with teams representing Australia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Ireland and the United States. Matches will also be played at various community venues in Sydney and at ANZ Stadium (before the Sydney Swans-St Kilda match), before participants travel to Melbourne to complete the carnival at Royal Park in Carlton. The final will be played as a curtain-raiser to the HawthornWestern Bulldogs game at the MCG on Saturday, August 27. Go to ic11.com.au for the full fixture and other details.
AUSTRALIA
CANADA
CHINA
DENMARK
FIJI
FRANCE
GREAT BRITAIN
INDIA
IRELAND
JAPAN
Pick the best W IN! and win NAURU
NEW ZEALAND
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SOUTH AFRICA
SWEDEN
TIMOR-LESTE
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International Cup best guernsey competition, ittion, with prizes including tickets to selected AFL matches and a Sherrin football signed by Cup ambassador and former Sydney Swans co-captain Brett Kirk. Go to ic11. c c11. com.au for details. s s.
Hawks Brad Sewell (left) and Isaac Smith with the special bootlaces they will wear this week.
Hawks, Power to lace up in honour of Zaidee
22
» Fans can vote in the
HELPING HAND:
RAISING AWARENESS
n Saturday at the MCG, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide will be playing for four points—and the inaugural Zaidee Trophy. The joint initiative between Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and the two clubs aims to raise awareness and promote the importance of organ and tissue donations. Allan and Kim Turner established the foundation after their seven-year-old daughter
PEACE TEAM
Zaidee died from a burst blood vessel in her brain in 2004. Zaidee’s donation improved the lives of seven Australians; sadly, it was the only one of its
ki kind in Victoria th that year. As recently a as last year, the n national figure for o organ donations w was 309. About 1700 Australians are awaiting organ transplants at any one time. Hawks midfielder Brad Sewell—a foundation ambassador and board direc director—played a key role in ensuring his club was involved in the match. “I’m very fortunate to be in a position where I can help draw attention
to these kind of things,” Sewell said. This fact wasn’t lost on his teammates, either. “The boys are only too happy to promote such a cause and raise awareness of the foundation. And the club has also been terrific in supporting these types of community issues,” he said. To demonstrate their support, players from both teams will wear rainbowcoloured bootlaces this weekend, with goal umpires waving rainbow-coloured flags. The footballs used in the match will feature a rainbow lace and the winning team will receive a trophy commemorating the game. It is hoped the match becomes an annual event that will encourage supporters and the wider community to find out more about organ and tissue donation. For more information, go to zaidee.org.
organ & tissue donor awareness
Domenic Cassisi Port Adelaide
Brad Sewell Hawthorn (Zaidee’s Ambassador)
THE ZAIDEE TROPHY Our daughter Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner - aged 7 years and 22 days died suddenly on 2nd December 2004 from a burst blood vessel in her brain called a Cerebral Aneurism. Zaidee donated her organs and tissues of seven others at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, as were her wishes at the time. to
“Everyday is a good day to talk about organ and tissue donation.”
$
2
AIR AP
We ask all Auskick children to wear Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces ... 135,000 pairs of laces were placed in Auskick back packs in 2011. Wear the Rainbow Shoelaces in your football boots to support Zaidee’s national message about organ and tissue donation. Embracia are this years sponsor of your Auskick laces. www.embracia.com.au
Laces are sold for just $2 a pair at selected retail outlets or online at: www.zaidee.org For more information call: Allan Turner 0412 985 211
www.zaidee.org
st e b y r e v e h t experience r e f f o o t s a h the afl The excitement, the drama, the MCG packed to the brim with 100,000 screaming fans – it’s an unforgettable experience. And while there’s still a lot of football to be played between now and Grand Final day, you can guarantee your spot right now.
Only the AFL Event Office can help you tailor unforgettable packages to the 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final including access to exclusive AFL functions and entertainment, travel and accommodation and of course, your ticket to the best match of the year.
Don’t miss out, book today at afl.com.au/eventoffice or call 1300 235 235 YOUR OFFICIAL GRAND FINAL DESTINATION Authorised AFL On-Seller OSAFL 11/25
JARED
BRENNAN Adding substance
to style
Jared Brennan has alwayss been known for his freakish sh talents, but the switch to thee Gold Go old Coast Suns has provided a n new ew w lease of life for the formerr L Lion, ion n, who has thrived on the extra xttra responsibility in a young team. teeam.
NEW APPROACH:
Former Lion Jared Brennan’s move to Gold Coast has produced a change of mindset and attitude for the 27-year-old.
MICH A EL W HITING
I
t seems just about everyone yo yone one ha has as an opinion on Jared Brennan. een nnan. nnan. nan a Since that Easter Thursday da day ay gam game me at the Gabba in 2003 when hen he hen he made his debut for the B Bris Bri Brisbane risban sba ban b ane Lions against Collingwood ood d in in front of almost 37,000 fans and nd a hug h huge ug ge national television audience, Brennan Brenn Bren B Brenna ree nan has divided opinion. On that night, he played at both b th en eends nd n nds ds d of the ground, kicked a 55m goal and d ran around carrying the footyy in one hand like it was a tennis ball. His efforts impressed thosee watching. watchin ng. He was a breath of fresh air, freakishly reakishlly talented, and a player AFL fans ns could genuinely get excited about. Over the next few seasons, Brennan n frustrated as many observers as he excited. Many thought he should ould uld havee taken over the competition but ut was too lazy. Others were just happy to watch the ‘hangers’ and freak goals that almost became routine. He spent eight seasons at the Lions, moving from a shy teenager too scared
AFL RECORD
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jared brennan to say anything in team meetings to the consistent midfielder and confident person who left at the end of the 2010 season. However, the 60km drive south down the Pacific Motorway to the Gold Coast this season has been more than a change of lifestyle for Brennan. It has come with a change in mindset and attitude. He is 27—not exactly old—but he is one of the old guys now with a raft of teenagers at the Suns, playing music he has never heard of and talking a language he barely understands. But Brennan is loving it. “When I walk into the gym and they’re playing different music, I feel like I’m 21 again,” he said. “They play a different style of music; it’s a different atmosphere, different vibe. Sometimes I’m the odd one out in conversations. I’m married with kids, but other than that, it’s great to feel young again even if I’m not.” Although Brennan feels a few years younger when he walks around Gold Coast’s Carrara headquarters, his role on and off the field is anything but that of a rookie. When he was drafted by the Lions with the No. 3 pick in the 2002 draft, Brennan was a quietly spoken young man from Darwin who preferred to run around and kick a footy than be tied down to team meetings and structured training routines. As one of eight uncontracted players picked by the Suns in the off-season, his role has changed, and along with it came responsibility. He is embracing the leadership role off the field, and continuing to develop a harder edge to his game on it. “I didn’t talk much at Brisbane. We had a lot of guys who would speak up and I was in the middle tier that sat and listened to everything,” he said. “I came into an era in which the younger guys didn’t talk much. It was mainly the older guys and you had to do your apprenticeship and learn from the older guys. “Coming into this group with the younger guys, they’re told to speak up more and have more input. 58
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“For me, it’s been good because I’ve had to come out of my shell and help the younger guys, which I probably wouldn’t have done if I stayed at Brisbane. And I think it’s helped my footy. “I definitely just went with the flow. I’m still laidback and easygoing here, but with a few tweaks.” Brennan is certainly easygoing. We did the interview for this story after a Suns recovery session at Broadbeach’s Kurrawa Beach on a brilliant Gold Coast winter’s afternoon.
While the majority of the team did the obligatory 10-minute dip in the Pacific Ocean after their recovery jog and stretch, Brennan lapped up the perfect conditions for another 10 minutes before jogging out of the surf. He is one month into growing a beard he said he would keep until the end of the season—the longest unshaven stint in his life—and looking as relaxed and content as you could be towards the end of a hectic season. The husband to Sharai and father of Leila and
Emma said he was enjoying passing on his experience from the Lions to the crop of his young teammates. “It’s a tough, brutal industry. Something I learned at the Lions is if you don’t do the little things right, you don’t get the end result,” he said. “The guys who I really looked up to, like Simon Black, Jonathan Brown and Luke Power, although they were the best players, they were also the best trainers and did the little things.
RESPONSIBILITY: In support of
skipper Gary Ablett, Brennan has embraced his leadership role with the young Suns squad.
B
efore he was drafted, Against Richmond in Brennan said he had Cairns in round 17, he had never lifted a weight or a nightmare first quarter, done a fitness session conceding a 50m penalty for and thought playing in the a goal and several turnovers, AFL was all about doing the but a chase-down tackle and spectacular things. resulting free kick earned him It didn’t wash with the a goal and a passage back into Lions and he was in and the match. out of the team in his first He kicked two final-quarter few seasons. goals to seal victory and turn Brennan played every around what looked like being position, from key forward a dirty day. (kicking seven goals against It was a nice snapshot in the Collingwood at the MCG in evolution of Brennan’s game, 2007), key defender to rover, although he doesn’t expect to and he even had plenty of time in change people’s perceptions the ruck in 2009 when regulars of him only as a high-flying, Jamie Charman and Matthew freakish talent. Leuenberger were out with “It’s probably too far gone long-term injuries. now. I’ll always be known for Brennan credits former coach what I do. Even though I work Leigh Matthews with developing hard on the other stuff, I think the tougher side of the game he it’s ingrained in people’s minds continues to foster now. that that’s what I’m known for,” “Leigh certainly drilled it into he said. me,” he said.“When I first got “I pride myself on tackling to Brisbane, I thought taking a and my chasing, the hard things, hanger or kicking a freaky goal but I think I’ll always be known would be enough to get me in the for the other stuff. I think it just team the next week, but as time comes with the territory. wore on, it didn’t. “I’ll keep trying but it’ll come “I have to work at those on the back of some hard work.” other things, like blocks and As we stood and chatted on chase-downs, and the freaky the boardwalk outside Kurrawa goals and the big marks are just Surf Club, Brennan showed the icing,” he said. genuine honesty, respect “I’ve started to get a consistent and thoughtfulness, and was base over generous with the last three his time. years. You The want your bad conversation games to be at inevitably a level you’re moved to comfortable Saturday with. In my first night’s QClash three or four and, more years when I importantly, had a bad game Brennan’s role I had almost no in the first JARED BRENNAN contribution, Queensland whereas now derby in May, if I have a when he won bad one, I like to think I still the Marcus Ashcroft Medal as contribute in some way.” best afield. There’s no doubt Brennan Despite being labelled a does just that. By the end of “mercenary” by Black in the his 119 games in Brisbane, build-up to the game, Brennan he was undoubtedly one of kept quiet and said he didn’t the most consistent Lions, want to disrespect anyone from notwithstanding the variety of the Lions. roles he was asked to play. After the game—and an This year at the Suns has historic Gold Coast victory—the been the same. Interestingly, reserved Sun said the feeling more than half of Brennan’s was overwhelming. near 20 disposals a game are “Without doubt, there was contested. He also averages five some satisfaction. After the tackles a match. siren, shaking some of the
I’ve had to come out of my shell and help the younger guys
“I’ve tried to bring what they taught me at the Lions and instil it in the young guys here. “The easy part is getting on the field on the weekend. The hard part is doing the little things when you don’t want to. “When you’re sore, you don’t want to do extra touch work or lift a little heavier in the gym. The tough bit is to actually go and do it.” It is a fascinating insight from someone who freely admitted the “lazy” tag he wore early in his career was justified.
PROUD: Brennan was the inaugural
Marcus Ashcroft Medal winner.
FACT FILE
3
Jared Brennan
Born: July 28, 1984 Recruited from: Southern Districts (NT)/ Brisbane Lions Debut: Round 4, 2003 v Collingwood Height: 195cm Weight: 96kg Games: 137 Goals: 85 Player honours: International Rules Series 2008, NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2003 Brownlow Medal: Career votes 27
Lions boys’ hands, I got really emotional. I almost started tearing up because I was shaking some of my best mates’ hands,” he said. “It was very tough to shake their hands and it was very emotional for me and I tried to keep myself in check, but that’s footy and that’s the way it is. “I’d just played against guys I’d been best mates with for six, seven, eight years. It was tough to do that, but that was the final goodbye. Before that game, I still felt I had little ties to the club, but after that game, that was probably the final straw.” Now well and truly a Sun, Brennan couldn’t be happier playing with what he describes as an incredibly humble group of young men. He might have given advice to them on plenty of things this season, but there’s one thing Brennan will never change. “I love every kind of music, but the techno gets to me a bit. They love their ‘doof doof’ music. I can only listen to so much techno; it all sounds the same to me.” AFL RECORD
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59
JACK TRENGOVE
AN OLD HEAD ON
YOUNG SHOULDERS Jack Trengove and Melbourne have been in the news for all the wrong reasons this season but, at just 19, the Demon midfielder has taken it all in his stride. C A L LU M T WOMEY
PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS
J
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ack Trengove is sitting on a compact, plush red chair and leaning on a small, round white table. He is wearing his full Melbourne playing uniform— jokingly dubbed his ‘superhero costume’ by the Demons media advisor on-hand earlier—and he is reassuringly composed. He is also answering all the tough questions about ex-coach Dean Bailey, Melbourne’s future, and the turmoil that had engulfed the club only a week earlier when Bailey was sacked. It is impressive. He is impressive. Trengove was alerted to Bailey’s axing when a teammate phoned him on Sunday night, and told him to turn on Fox Sports news. He says the players “definitely” feel guilty about Bailey’s immediate exit following Melbourne’s demoralising 186-point loss to Geelong in round 19. “Obviously it was pretty disappointing for Dean, but the board decided he wasn’t the man to keep going,” Trengove said.
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“As players, we have to take most of the responsibility because he can only say so much. It’s all about what we do out on the field and it wasn’t good enough against Geelong, and the last few weeks.” Melbourne has made some changes in Bailey’s absence. It has been forced to. Player development manager Todd Viney is coaching for the rest of the season, and he has moved to simplify the game-plan. Club champion and media commentator Garry Lyon was last week appointed in a short-term role to liaise between the players, board and president Jim Stynes. CEO Cameron Schwab has also signed a one-year contract extension. Though Melbourne’s season has been plagued by inconsistency, it starts this weekend 11th on the ladder and, remarkably, remains a finals chance. Not all is lost for 2011. Not all is lost beyond this year, either. “We’re still a finals chance, which sounds pretty ridiculous after everything that’s happened.
Everyone’s thinking it’s disaster time at Melbourne, but we’re still in contention,” he said. “That’s our main goal at the moment—just to try and win as many games from the last four to try and get that opportunity to play finals footy.” Nothing about Trengove is rehearsed. It might be refined— he has learned the art of being the interviewee—but he does not deliver regurgitated cliché after cliché. Trengove knows what he is talking about. He has learned plenty since being drafted by the Demons with pick No. 2 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft. Then, as an 18-year-old originally from South Australian country town Naracoorte, he didn’t quite understand how seriously Melbourne Football Club took its history and heritage. It is why, in some ways, the appointment of Lyon has Trengove genuinely excited. “Obviously he’s a great and a legend of the club and he feels strongly about making sure we’re going in the right direction
As players, we have to take most of the responsibility JACK TRENGOVE ON THE SACKING OF COACH DEAN BAILEY
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jack trengove
HIGH POINT: A highlight of
Melbourne and Trengove’s season was this mark over Essendon’s Ben Howlett when the Demons defeated the Bombers in round 11.
that he put his hand up and wanted to help out,” he said. “His role is to get the players’ voice across to the board to make sure everything’s sweet there, and he’ll also help in selecting the new coach. “I’ve had a few chats with him and he’s really rea ally looking loo out for the best of the t players pla and club, so it’s going g to be exciting to see what he can n bring bring.” The firstt thing that struck Trengov me about T Trengove when wa as how strong and we met was b solid his body is. He has misse a beat in barelyy missed r two seasons in his first Melb bourne midfield, and Melbourne’s ap ppears to be the type he appears layer the t club can of pl player build the team around in build future thee future. Combin with healthy C Combined dosses of a doses aggression and am mbition, Trengove is not ambition, jusst a star of the future— just alrea one. he is already rou one last year In round wh hen he made his debut when ag gainst Hawthorn, H against he rem membe feeling like remembers w being bei “nailed” he was everyy time he was posssession in possession. h no space or time to He had ba all—us use the ball—usually two of his strengths— —and was w shocked at strengths—and the speed off the ga game. fin t year with But he fi nished the under his hi belt, a NAB 18 games under no AFL Rising Star nomination and c feeling a lott more comfortable that d to be out o there against he deserved playyers in the country. “As the best players o you learn each game goes on,
I’ve always enjoyed tackling, but you have to control it TRENGOVE ON HIS SUSPENSION EARLIER THIS YEAR
more and feel like you belong a bit more,” he said. He has taken that momentum into this season. In 15 games, Trengove has averaged 20 possessions, five marks and five tackles. In the past two weeks, in heavy losses to Carlton and the Cats, when Melbourne’s efforts have been questioned, Trengove has laid 10 tackles in each game. No other Demon reached double figures. But it was a tackle on Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield in round seven that saw Trengove hit with a controversial three-week suspension. Having pinned Dangerfield, Trengove lowered his knees and slung him to the ground. Dangerfield was concussed when his head hit the MCG turf. The Match Review Panel considered the incident rough conduct, and the Tribunal upheld the three-week ban despite overwhelming public support for leniency. Now, he admits, when he goes to tackle, he thinks about what might happen if he gets it wrong. “It’s something that I have had to have a bit of a look at because I don’t want to be spending too many games on the sidelines when you can be playing,” he said.
“I have thought about it a bit but, in the end, it does come naturally and you just do everything to try and dispossess your opponent of the ball and that’s what I was trying to do and still try to do to this day. “I’ve always enjoyed tackling and I always will, but you have to control it, sometimes.” Sport and competition were central to Trengove’s youth. He was a talented cricketer who had also represented South Australia in basketball, athletics (high jump and 1500m) and cross-country. One of his older sisters, Jess, is an excellent long-distance runner and his other sister Abbie has rowed for South Australia. But Trengove’s rise only really started to gain momentum when he moved to Adelaide’s eastern suburbs with parents, Colin and Deb, in 2007, and he found himself on SANFL club Sturt’s radar. By 2008, he was a bottom-age player in South Australia’s under-18 squad (he didn’t play as he was touring England with his school cricket team), and by 2009, was captain of the team. He had an excellent carnival, won All-Australian honours and was named South Australia’s most valuable player. It was a moment playing for Sturt’s senior side in the
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preliminary final, however, which rocketed Trengove’s name into the spotlight. Late in the final term, with Sturt leading by five points, a long kick sailed toward’s Glenelg’s goal when Trengove, then 17, floated in front of a pack to take a match-saving mark. Having started the game with the potential to be a first-round draft pick, he ended it with 29 possessions and the tag as the ‘next big thing’ out of Adelaide. “It was great how it turned out but it was a very interesting time of my life,” he recalled. “I just popped out of nowhere.” People who have known Trengove and watched him play for years knew he could handle the attention. They consider his natural leadership one of his outstanding qualities.
it, but he did. He has also spoken to the South Australian team the past two years when it has been in Melbourne for the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. “They’re at a difficult time when they could get drafted but might not, so the main thing I always say is that they just listen to their coaches,” Trengove said. Trengove is one of a number of young and talented players at Melbourne. Tom Scully (drafted with pick No. 1 before Trengove), Jack Watts and James Frawley are the nucleus, while Jordan Gysberts, Jordie McKenzie and Luke Tapscott (a school friend of Trengove from Adelaide) have all shown promise this season. It is Trengove’s ability to stand up in the big moments of games, however, which has perhaps
JACK TRENGOVE ON…
His marking ability …
» “Some things just come naturally and I don’t mind going and
having a jump for a big mark every now and again. You try and develop every skill, but it’s one of those weird ones. Sometimes you need to stay down, but more often than not I have a crack.”
Moving to Melbourne …
» “It was a pretty difficult process, but coming over with Luke
Tapscott made everything a lot easier. I’m really loving the city and the lifestyle now. One of the most difficult things about leaving Adelaide was leaving family and mates back home, but I keep in close contact with them.”
A career in journalism …
» “I started my journalism course at Monash University this
semester. It’s something I’m growing more accustomed to and it’s an enjoyable part of the game. It could potentially be a career after footy but we’ll see how it pans out.”
INSPIRATIONAL:
To be the best, you have to beat the best, so you watch them
Jim Stynes is, according to Trengove, “the most amazing human being”.
TRENGOVE ON COMPETING AGAINST HIS FELLOW 2009 DRAFTEES
He is likeable, funny and modest, and teammates are drawn to him. When he speaks, they listen. It shouldn’t be long before the club formally recognises his leadership skills. It has always been the case. On-lookers remember Trengove’s efforts at a pre-draft state screening session in 2009 in South Australia. Although he was a certainty to be drafted, Trengove did not attend the draft camp in Canberra because he was playing in the SANFL Grand Final. Instead, he attended the Adelaide tests a week later, where draft hopefuls who weren’t invited to the national camp could show their wares. In the beep test, where players have to run up and back a 20m course with incremental increases between ‘beeps’ signalling when they must run, Trengove ran a brilliant time. But it was his encouragement of other runners that stood out. As others tired, Trengove was yelling at them to keep going and to bust through the pain barrier. In several cases, his words helped lift players for at least a couple more beeps. Trengove didn’t have to do 64
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elevated him above his peers. Be it a strong mark, important clearance or timely goal, he wants to be that player. “Some days you know when a game is at that point, but sometimes it’s hard to pick up,” he said. “If the game is in the balance or something needs to change, you try to be the person to do it as best as possible and sometimes you can.” It is a challenge he enjoys. In fact, plenty about playing footy excites him. Last week, when Lyon addressed the players for the first time in his new role, he told them to start enjoying playing footy again. It is something Trengove does not need to be reminded of. “Sometimes you’ve really got to pinch yourself and think ‘Wow, I’m actually doing this’. Sometimes you go through the motions and don’t really respect where you are. I love coming to work every day,” he said with a grin. He’s got motivation, too. Seeing Richmond’s Dustin Martin (drafted with pick No. 3 behind Scully and Trengove), and Fremantle’s Nathan Fyfe (pick 20 in the same draft) excel this season has stuck in his head.
And the influence of Jim Stynes …
» “It (his illness) puts life into perspective. He’s probably the most
amazing human being I’ve ever met. The lengths he goes to just to make sure he survives the next day are unbelievable. As players, we take that on board and try to take some of the things he uses as motivation in our own lives.”
“I’m a pretty competitive person and I want to be the best. To be the best, you have to beat the best, so you watch them and learn from them as well. “But seeing them perform drives me even harder because I don’t want to see a guy who was picked one spot behind me outdoing me. I’d be feeling bad for the Melbourne supporters if they were thinking ‘If only we could have had him’,” he said of the dynamic Tigers midfielder. On that note, we finish the interview and leave the office of Demons development manager Ian Flack, which we had
occupied for almost half an hour. Through a couple of doors and underground passages, then the AAMI Park gymnasium, we end up walking out on to Swan Street in Richmond to have photos to accompany the story. Trengove laughs when asked if he feels a little embarrassed walking down the busy road at peak hour on a Monday afternoon in his full playing kit. Of course he does. But he understands it is part of the gig. Publicity, promotion, professionalism and performance. It’s a lot to ask of a 19-year-old. But Trengove seems up to the task.
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JIMMY BARTEL
200 GAMES
I
The 200-game milestone is just another game for the Geelong superstar. MICH A EL LOV ET T
f he had his way, It’s certainly been a long premiership hero, journey from the 2001 draft Brownlow medallist and when Geelong recruiting dual All-Australian Jimmy manager Stephen Wells and Bartel would rank the then second-year coach Mark prospect of his 200th match Thompson put their faith in the in the extreme low-key category. 17-year-old from Bell Park in Ba Bartel, who reaches the Geelong’s northern suburbs. miles milestone in this round, is aware Back then he was a of the historical importance well-credentialled kid, who of the occasion, but forget the caught the eye with local TAC bells and whistles that normally Cup club the Geelong Falcons and accom accompany a 200th game. It’s had captained Vic Country at the busin as usual. business AFL Under-18 Championships, He will head to AAMI gaining All-Australian selection Stad Stadium, in hostile Adelaide in 2000 and 2001. terri territory, to bring up his He was also a talented cricketer, 200t game and in some 200th making the Victorian under-17 ways that suits the softlyways, team as a batsman, before spok superstar. spoken deciding to t “I think it will be stick with prett low key,” he pretty football. t week. “I said this “That have organised haven’t was the last anyth anything special.” time I played Br Breaking cricket at bann banners and a serious bein chaired being competitive off th the ground is level,” Bartel JIMMY BARTEL ON HAVING HIS NAME ADDED TO B not Bartel’s idea said. “I still THE 200-GAME HONOUR BOARD AT GEELONG re of recognition. play the odd Putti his head Putting game here over the ball, setting or there with mates, and I like up te teammates and being a the social side of it.” hard hard-working cog in a wellHe played in the Falcons’ 2000 oiled Geelong machine is premiership team and the thrill more to his liking. of running around the MCG in Bu he recognises that But the curtain-raiser before the g 200 games is some achievement Essendon-Melbourne AFL h is honoured to be the and he Grand Final was another 30th Geelong player to trigger point in his decision. achie that milestone. achieve “Even though Essendon “T “There is an honour board at won easily, it gave me a taste c the club with all the names up of what I wanted to do,” Bartel there and I feel very humble to said. Little did he realise he jo be joining them,” Bartel said. would be back at the MCG
I feel very humble to be joining them
SELECT GROUP: Jimmy Bartel is the 30th
Geelong player to reach 200 games.
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JIMMY BARTEL on Grand Final day seven years later, helping to pilot the Cats to a drought-breaking premiership. By the end of 2001, his desire to reach AFL level was close to being fulfilled. He attended the 2001 draft camp, having been there the previous year, even though he was was not eligible to be drafted. “I spoke to a handful of clubs, but I didn’t really speak to Geelong until I was back in Geelong and Mark Thompson and Stephen Wells came around for an informal chat,” he said. “I’m not sure what they made of me because I wasn’t the greatest tester (at the draft camp), but Stephen said if I was still around for one of their picks, they would take me. They called me out (at No. 8) and that was a huge weight off my shoulders.” Next came the difficult period for any draft pick, whether they are No. 8 or No. 88. Bartel, then 184cm and 81kg (he’s now 187cm and 88kg), recalls “being in awe” during his first pre-season. “I remember watching Geelong play the previous season and Steven King kicked four goals in a quarter in one game and there I was doing kicking drills with him,” Bartel said. “I was that nervous I didn’t know whether to call him ‘Steven’ or ‘Kingy’.” The pre-season soon started to fall into place and it helped Bartel that a fellow draftee with a much bigger profile was alongside him. Gary Ablett jnr
FACT FILE
3
Jimmy Bartel
Born: December 4, 1983 Recruited from: Bell Park/Geelong U18 Debut: Round 1, 2002 v Essendon Height: 187cm Weight: 88kg Games: 199 Goals: 128 Player honours: Brownlow Medal 2007; 2nd best and fairest 2006, 2007; 3rd best and fairest 2008, 2009; All-Australian 2007, 2008; premiership sides 2007, 2009; pre-season premiership sides 2006, 2009 Brownlow Medal: career votes 88
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I’m pretty confident I will be at Geelong for a few more years yet BARTEL ON HIS LONG-TERM FUTURE
was going through his paces for the first time at Skilled Stadium, having been picked as a fatherson selection in the same draft. “I guess all eyes were on ‘Gaz’, but he was very good. We bounced off each other and we had a few other young guys there as well to help us along,” he said. With Geelong having some carryover suspensions from the 2000 season, Thompson decided to blood some of his young draftees in the first game of 2002. The Cats were up against an Essendon team still snarling from its loss to the Brisbane Lions in the 2001 Grand Final. Bartel, Ablett and close mate David Johnson all made their debuts, while future stars Paul Chapman (making his 14th appearance), Corey Enright (18th), Joel Corey (20th) and Cameron Ling (24th) still had their ‘L’ plates on. The Bombers cruised home by 50 points, but for the Cats and Bartel it was the start of a memorable era. After gathering 13 touches in his first game, Bartel collected 28 disposals and three Brownlow Medal votes in his fifth game, against Fremantle at home, and a star had been born. Or so we thought. “Later in the season I was getting a bit tired so I went back to the VFL which was good because we won the (VFL) premiership that year,” he said. But after being sent back to the VFL in round three in 2004, Bartel was starting to become concerned. “I remember talking to (VFL coach) Ron Watt and he gave me some great advice about control the things I can control, and everything will take care of itself. It sounds simple, but it worked and I took some hard lessons along the way,” Bartel said. “As a team, it was the same. We didn’t shy away from the setback in finals that year when Sydney beat us at the SCG, if anything, it gave us more resolve.” The well-documented post-season review of 2006 was the spark the club needed in
2007, a year that defined the Cats and their popular No. 3. “I set myself a few goals, obviously not to win a Brownlow, but after a couple of pre-seasons I was starting to mature and I felt more comfortable with my position in the team. Then to get ultimate success (a premiership) makes it all worthwhile,” he said. Bartel had a season to remember: a premiership medal (it was the Cats’ first flag in 44 years), a Brownlow Medal and All-Australian selection. Geelong cruised through to the 2008 Grand Final, but this time the opposition was far from over-awed. Hawthorn had been sneaking under the radar and the inaccurate Cats paid dearly, despite being short-price favourites. Twelve months later, the Cats were again back on Grand Final day and Bartel was to play a key role after St Kilda star Lenny Hayes ran riot in the opening term. “I remember the coaches coming out at quarter-time and asking, ‘Who the hell is on Lenny?’ I was in the forward line so I guess I was safe, but they turned to me and said, ‘You’ve got him for the rest of the game.’ So I pretty much followed Lenny for the next couple of hours.” After Hayes had racked up 11 disposals in the opening term, Bartel held him to 13 for the next three quarters in a role that was just as crucial as Harry Taylor’s effort on Nick Riewoldt. Two years on, the Cats are still very much in the hunt, even without their best player (Ablett, now at Gold Coast) and the defection of Thompson to Essendon as an assistant coach. “They wanted to close the doors on the place, didn’t they?” Bartel stated, ever so politely, when asked about the pair. With Bartel reaching 200 games and the litter of young Cats circa 2002 at the absolute peak of their powers, Geelong is well placed for another premiership assault.
In defence of a Demon
» There is a compassionate
side to Jimmy Bartel to go with the hard-nosed approach he takes each time he sets foot on the field. It surfaced again a fortnight ago when Geelong handed Melbourne a 186-point thrashing at Skilled Stadium. As the ball was being returned to the centre after another Geelong goal, Bartel turned to young Demon Jack Watts and offered him a consoling pat. “I didn’t know anyone noticed that,” Bartel said. “I just gave him a pat on the back. I didn’t say anything but people should realise what a quality bloke Jack is. “He’s going to be a gun, but he’s one of the unfortunate ones where people are impatient and think he should be dominating the game at 18 years … it’s a bit the same with us and Tom Hawkins. “People need to cut him (Watts) a bit of slack, let him play the game and stop comparing him to everyone else. Let him be Jack Watts and you’ll have a champion.” FUTURE STAR:
Jimmy Bartel is a fan of Jack Watts.
The good news is there could be more for Bartel, despite being out of contract at the end of 2011. “We’re just sorting it all out,” Bartel said. “There is no rush, but I’m pretty confident I will be at Geelong for a few more years yet.”
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has given St Kilda almost 200 games of service, but is yet to poll a vote from the umpires.
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» Collingwood’s Nick
Saint the leader of footy’s unsung heroes
Which current players have played the most games without recording a Brownlow vote? RICKY DENNIS, MURRUMBEENA, VIC.
CH: When AFL lists were
finalised before the start of this season, a total of 547 players had played at least one game. Of them, 242 had failed to poll a Brownlow Medal vote. Before round one, St Kilda’s Jason Blake, with 187
career matches, was the most experienced of the ‘voteless’ players. He was followed by Ben Hudson (Adelaide/Western Bulldogs) with 126 games, Paul Bevan (Sydney Swans) 122, Robert Campbell (Hawthorn/ Melbourne) 116, Rick Ladson (Hawthorn) 115 and Will Minson (Western Bulldogs) 106. Ken Montgomery, who played 167 games for North Melbourne between 1971 and 1983, remains the most experienced player to finish a career with no votes.
GENUINE SENIOR FOOTBALLERS » Four players who were born on August 12 all lived to be at least 90 years of age. George Cornelius played 16 matches for South Melbourne in 1898 and one for Carlton in 1901. Charlie Ross represented the Blues 41 times between 1900 and 1904. Frank
Ballantyne played four games for Fitzroy in 1916. Ansell Clarke was an excellent performer in 171 matches for Carlton (1929-37) and St Kilda (1938-40). He was the Blues’ best and fairest award winner in 1936 and also coached the Saints.
Do you have knowledge of any players who are close to 90 or older, or who reached such an age before passing? Contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col.hutchinson@afl.com.au. 70
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Maxwell may be going through a form slump at the moment but, according to those who know, he is worth his place purely on the basis of his outstanding on-field leadership. And it may be that he was named to lead. Nick is short for Nicholas, chola which derives from m two Greek words: nike meaning “victory” and laos meaning “people”. Nicholas therefore can mean “victory of the people”, quite appropriate for the captain of a club which has always seen itself as the people’s club. Maxwell is a habitation name—people named Maxwell are ultimately named after a Scottish village, Mackeswell (“Maccus’s stream”). But, going further into the name, Maccus eventually derives from the Latin magnus, meaning “great”. A name containing the elements “victory”, “people” and “great” can’t be bad for a captain. Only two other Maxwells have played League football: Len (three games for Hawthorn in 1927) and Bill (two for Melbourne in 1909). 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 aboutt all your your footyy memorabilia. MEDAL MAN: An AFL centenary banner signed by Lions champion Michael Voss the year he won the Brownlow could fetch $400.
I have a 1996 AFL centenary banner (the ones you see hanging off street lights) which is signed by Michael Voss (that is the year he was joint winner of the Brownlow Medal). Wondering what that might be worth as it is a rare piece. I am keen to sell it. ROD TAYLOR, VIA EMAIL
RM: Hello Rod. It pains me to
say this, being a long-time Lions supporter, but the Brisbane Lions are among the least collectable of all footy clubs. I bought a few of these banners in recent years for $200 each. Yours has history, which helps. I still think you would be pushing to get more than $400 for it, especially given Voss’s (and the team’s) disastrous run this year.
I have an old unframed Fremantle away guernsey, signed by Greg Broughton, Michael Barlow, Alex Silvagni, Nathan Fyfe, Garrick Ibbotson and Kepler Bradley. How much would it be valued at unframed and framed? LACHIE TWEEDIE, VIA EMAIL
RM: Lachie, signed footy jumpers
don’t go for huge prices, but it does help having Nathan Fyfe’s signature. I reckon he is on his way to stardom. I would say $400 unframed. Just add the cost of framing for your second price.
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I was at a Sunday market recently and saw two mirrors with images of very early Hawthorn and Carlton teams. They were priced at $75 each. I was tempted, but didn’t buy. Did I make a mistake? DES LAIDLAW, VIA EMAIL
RM: No, you did the right thing, Des. These timber-backed mirrors were made in the 1980s and are worth maybe $25 each. They are always in immaculate condition, as you would expect. It is amazing how many people swear they have had them for 50 or 60 years. I have commemorative Sherrin footballs of Collingwood’s past two premierships. I understand
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the 2010 ball probably hasn’t gone up all that much from a Im buying price of $170,, but I’m interested to hear your our valuation of the 1990 ball, which ich I bought 0. on mail order for $90. ANTHONY, VIA EMAIL
RM: Anthony, you picked icked the llingwood right footy team. Collingwood le of all is the most collectable AFL sides. I would sayy $400 or 2010. plus for 1990, $200 for CONTACT RICK MILNE mrpp@iprimus.com.au or drop op him swick a line: 5 Cooraminta St, Brunswick, Vic, 3056 or call (03) 9387 4131. One query per reader.
RICK’S RARITY
» In 1925, three of today’s AFL
clubs joined the VFL. They were Hawthorn, Footscray (now Western Bulldogs) and North Melbourne. This 1920 North Melbourne membership card shows the club was playing in the Victorian Football Association against such teams as Hawthorn, Footscray, Essendon (which had teams in the VFA and VFL at the same time) Northcote, Brunswick and Brighton, among others. Very rare, as few would have been issued in those value this se days, I’d val one highly.
BRAINS
answers at bottom of page
Find the 5 DIFFERENCES between the 2 cards
Can you guess this AFL Unscramble Clay Violins to discover the AFL player’s name! Player’s NICKNAME?
_____ ______
Syd Coventry was the first Magpie to win a Brownlow, winning the 1927 award. How many times have Collingwood won the Brownlow Medal? A. 4 times
NEW!
B. 8 times
C. 12 times
B&F
game card
D. 18 times
Silver CODE cards and enter codes to play
Answers: 1. Haircut, picture tilted, missing black armband, missing logo on footy, “Lions” instead of “Tigers” 2. Colin Sylvia 3. Avatar 4. 8 times (B)
4
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TV N O N AS SEE
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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
FIVE TO FIND
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Vertical stripes on Farren Ray’s jumper changed to horizontal; bandana on young fan (at left) removed; noughts and crosses added to Saints’ flag in background; stripes added to sleeve of supporter’s jumper (middle left); sleeve on fan in the crowd (middle) changed from blue to red.
E X TE NDE D P L AY T I M E
FREE ENTRY
The AFL Playground outside the MCG will continue to operate for the rest of the season due to popular demand. The playground, the coolest fan zone for kids looking to test their footy skills and warm up before watching the footy, attracted more than 14,000 kids and families in the first nine rounds of the season.
Located below Gate 6, the playground features activities of all types for kids, with club mascots also in attendance. It is open 90 minutes before the start of the match until the end of the half-time break. (An AFL Playground is also operating at Metricon Stadium.) Visit afl.com.au/ playground for more information.
Scrambled Sc S crra am mb blleed Footballer: Fo F oot otb ba all ller er: Cryptic Cr C ryyp pti tiicc Footballers: Fo F oo ottb ba alllleerrss:: BI B IG MOUTH: MO M OU UT TH H:: BIG 74 AFL L RECORD R EC RECO RE CO COR ORD OR RD visit viis vvis isit it afl afl flrec record.com.au rree ord.com.au
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Zac Clarke is the latest basketball convert vert to make mak ke an a impact in the t AFL.
I
t is no longer surprising how many AFL draftees have a basketball history. The phrase ‘basketball background’ seems to appear in draftees’ biographies almost as often as ‘hard-running midfielder’ or ‘strong-marking key forward’. Fremantle’s Zac Clarke is the latest emerging star to step off the court and on to the footy field and admits he is still learning the game after coming to it relatively late. “I did Auskick when I was a little tacker then focused on basketball most of the way through my childhood,” Clarke said. “I only picked it up again when I was 15, just playing in the local junior footy team. I played a year or two then I went to Oakleigh under-18s. “I never took it overly seriously. It was just a bit of fun. Even in that year at Oakleigh, I was working full-time and saw it as something I enjoyed doing on the weekend.” Clarke says there were plenty of parallels between the two sports, which might explain the trend of basketballers taking up footy. “There have been a few coming through recently. I think there’s a lot of in-close work with quick reflexes and fast hand-eye co-ordination,” he said. “I think (those skills are) pretty easily transferable.” His football career has gone from strength to strength. And last week he was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star award. This is Clarke’s third year with Fremantle and by far his
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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) Round 14 David Swallow (GCS) Round 15 Luke Breust (Haw) Round 16 Jake Batchelor (Rich) IN FULL FLIGHT:
Zac Clarke is enjoying the most productive season of his short AFL career.
I never took it overly seriously. It was just a bit of fun ZAC CLARKE’S EARLY FOOTBALL MEMORIES
most productive. After playing just eight games in his first two seasons, he has appeared in nine this year. His increased game-time has come partially because of his development and also because of Fremantle’s circumstances,
specifically the toe injury sustained by Aaron Sandilands. Clarke said the All-Australian ruckman has been one of his closest mentors. “It’s a big loss not having him out there but, at the same time, it’s been a good opportunity for me to improve my game and play some regular football. It has been helpful,” he said. “We’ve got (former North Melbourne and Fremantle player Matthew) ‘Spider’ Burton here as well and he’s been really good. He’s probably our main ruck coach. While Aaron’s been out, Spider’s always up for giving me a few tips or going through tapes.”
Round 17 Trent McKenzie (GCS) Round 18 Allen Christensen (Geel) Round 19 Andrew Gaff (WCE) Round 20 Zac Clarke (Frem)
THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW
1
Clarke is the third rising star nomination this season from TAC Cup team Oakleigh Chargers. West Coast pair Luke Shuey and Andrew Gaff are the others.
2
He briefly lived with Aaron Sandilands’ parents when he first moved to Western Australia.
3
He is one of four AFL players with the name Zac or Zach: Zach Tuohy (Carlton), Zac Smith (Gold Coast) and Zac Dawson (St Kilda) are the others.
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.
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Applying data laterally to analyse and understand the modern game.
Gridlocks leading to goal decline
T
hroughout the history of Australian Football, whenever the game became bogged down in extended periods of congested play and low scoring, officials have intervened with rule changes designed to free it up. The founders were keen to foster a homegrown spectacle expressing the spirit of an emerging nation. The will for experimentation and innovation was high and the number of rule changes from 1859 onwards is a fascinating study. The Victorian Football League was formed in 1897 and, by various accounts, still resembled its rugby origins: slow-moving, brutal and low-scoring. During the first five years of VFL competition, an average of 11 goals a game were scored. At the start of 1904, for the first time, boundary umpires were appointed to VFL matches. Previously, a central umpire was required to adjudicate boundary decisions and return the ball into play. Initially, boundary umpires punched the ball back into play. In 1910, they turned their backs on play and started throwing the ball over their heads. The impact was immediate. In 1904, the average goals a game jumped to 15 and, by 1929, an average 19 a game was being scored. In 1930, another rule change appears to have triggered a boost in scoring. The man-holding rule was amended, with players not permitted to drop the ball when 78
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LOCKED IN: Congested packs like this have led to an increased number of ball-ups in the past few seasons.
tackled. A handball or kick had to be attempted. Average goals that year soared to 23 a game and hovered around that level until 1968. In 1969, the League introduced a rule giving a free kick against players kicking the ball out of bounds on the full. It was designed to reduce negative defensive play. From 1969-2008, an average of 28 goals were scored a game, varying from 27-31. Now, it seems, we are seeing the start of a scoring drought. Since the start of 2009, scoring has dropped to an average of 26 goals a game. This diminished scoring rate is further compounded by games now taking longer to be played. A recent Herald Sun story showed the average length of games was now 124 minutes, some seven minutes longer than they were in 2006. A likely cause for lower scoring and extra game-time is
the increase in dense groups of players fighting for the ball. The game today has two distinct speeds: one characterised by dynamic, turbocharged ball movement, the other by passages of congested play often resulting in gridlock and secondary stoppages. From 2006-08, the number of combined ball-ups and throw-ins averaged 49 a game. The average since the start of 2009 has increased significantly, to 63 a game. Notably, there are other by-products resulting from the congestion. How umpires can unravel masses of writhing bodies aiming to ‘kill’ the ball, avoid getting pinged or ping an opponent is anyone’s guess. Players are now drilled by coaches in the art of dribbles, offloads, tunneling, and ball releases. In this context, how can umpires be expected to
adjudicate consistently on what is or isn’t a legitimate disposal? The rule still says a disposal can only be from an attempted kick of the ball or strike by the clenched fist of one hand while the ball is held in the other. Quaint, true and difficult to judge in some of today’s footy. Another consequence is the ever-widening gap between compelling turbocharged-style footy and inconclusive ‘junk’ plays. For example, the 2009 Grand Final between Geelong and St Kilda featured 130 hard-ball gets. However, because of the intense pressure and player density around the ball, further research found that just over 25 per cent of them resulted in no team advantage, errors and secondary stoppages. It is also possible periods of congested play are impacting on recent blowouts. How so? Last week, Geelong thumped Gold Coast by 150 points. The Suns are ranked seventh in the competition for hard-ball gets and the Cats ninth. This stat highlights the Suns are capable of winning high-pressure possession. However, it also indicates they are not completing the job. The value of a contested possession is variable and not always a positive, unless it can be put to good effect. The strong teams are getting better at negotiating heavy traffic, while the strugglers are falling further behind at this caper. Winning contested footy is only half the battle. Doing something with the ball is the other.
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
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