AFL Record, Qualifying Final 2, 2010 by The Slattery Media Group

78 MAGPIE MENTOR:

Mick Malthouse becomes the second-longest serving coach in League history this weekend as he takes Collingwood into another ﬁnals series.

FINALS WEEK ONE SEPTEMBER 3-5, 2010 Features 78

Mick Malthouse

The Magpie coach continues his amazing run. 84

Bernie Quinlan

A champion ahead of his time. 92

The best of the season

Reﬂections of a memorable year.

Regulars 4

Backchat

Your say on the football world. 38

The Bounce

Views, news, interviews, facts, data, culture. 49

Matchday

Stats, previews, history and line-ups. 106

Moments of the decade

Finals heroes Nick Davis and Lance Franklin. 109

NAB AFL Rising Star

Daniel Hannebery wins the prestigious award.

Answer Man Kids’ Corner 122 Talking Point 116

120

Ted Hopkins says percentages favour Pies, Cats. THIS WEEK’S COVERS There are separate covers for all four ﬁnals to be played this weekend, featuring star players from each of the eight competing clubs.

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AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 3

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Football’s harsh realities

Tigers ready to roar

Anyone who was at Etihad Stadium last weekend for the Richmond-Port Adelaide match would have noted how passionate Tiger fans can be. It was an amazing experience that proved once again that Richmond is a sleeping giant. This year was one of the most enjoyable I have had in more than 30 years of watching the Tigers, despite us only winning six matches. After too many failed plans, finally it seems this great club is on its way again, with a coach we’ve embraced, a team of young and enthusiastic players who are getting better and stronger, and a stable off-field administration. What a relief we finally appear to be on the way back. FIONA MILLS, ROWVILLE, VIC.

No respect shown

Well done to Gold Coast for its signing of Port Adelaide’s Nathan Krakouer, one of the game’s most exciting young players. But I’d like to express how disappointed most Port supporters would be at the way Krakouer handled his departure from the club. Port invested some four years into Krakouer and for him to leave in the way he reportedly did leaves me a little disillusioned. We understand the days of “playing for the jumper” are long gone, but surely it’s not that hard to show people a little respect when you walk out the door? ROB PARSONS, HINDMARSH, SA.

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

ON THE MARCH: Despite a ﬁnal-round loss, Richmond fans are happy with the Tigers’ progress. Here, Robin Nahas celebrates a goal last weekend.

Eagles to take ﬂight

West Coast has been through highs and the lows. This year hasn’t been its best, but it had some shining lights with the coming of Scott Selwood, Brad Ebert and Josh Kennedy, a beautiful kick for goal and a strong mark. I expect a big future ahead for these baby Eagles. JOHN MUSTAFA, VIA EMAIL

PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Lovett WRITERS Nick Bowen, Ben Collins, Jim Main, Cameron Noakes, Peter Ryan, Callum Twomey SUB-EDITORS Gary Hancock, Howard Kotton STATISTICIAN Cameron Sinclair CREATIVE DIRECTOR Andrew Hutchison DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Sam Russell

4 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

HAVE YOUR SAY

The best letter each round will receive the Gary Ablett jnr Australian Football Training DVD. Email aﬂrecordeditor@ slatterymedia.com or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.

� In recent years, the game has become very good at sending off its heroes, and we saw a host of players respectfully farewelled last weekend. Even Geelong president Frank Costa (right) had a moment, when Cats fans at Skilled Stadium acknowledged the work he’d done to make the club a power again. Yes, we’re good at celebrating, but the business of football – the way it operates today, by design or simply because of circumstances – isn’t always about good times, happy endings or orchestrated goodbyes. Matthew Knights woke up last Sunday contemplating a full review of Essendon’s football operations. But before the day was done, he’d been sacked, with the Bombers searching for a new coach (see story page 39). In the past few years, we’ve watched on as Ben Cousins battled various off-field challenges. And this week, we learned of the battles confronting young Hawthorn player Travis Tuck (page 44). Providing a sound environment and appropriate support systems for those in the game – and those leaving it – remains an enormously complex task, one the AFL, its clubs and groups such as the players’ and coaches’ associations continue to address. Football is indeed partentertainment; but it must also deal with life’s realities. PETER DI SISTO

DESIGNERS Alison Wright, Daniel Frawley, PHOTO EDITORS Natalie Boccassini, Ginny Pike PRODUCTION MANAGER Troy Davis PRODUCTION COORDINATORS Stephen Lording, Emma Meagher DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Adele Morton COMMERCIAL MANAGER Alison Hurbert-Burns

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER – SPORT Shane Purss ACCOUNT MANAGER Kate Hardwick ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR Laura Mullins Advertising (03) 9627 2600 PHOTOGRAPHY Sean Garnsworthy, Michael Willson, Lachlan Cunningham AFL Photos, (03) 9627 2600 aﬂphotos.com.au

PRINTED BY THIS PMP Print WEEK’S COVER XXXXCORRESPONDENCE XXXXX ADDRESS TO TheXXXXXXXXXXXXX Editor, AFL Record, X Ground Floor, Go to aﬂphotos.com.au 140 Harbour Esplanade, to order prints3008. Docklands, Victoria, P: (03) 9627image. 2600 F: (03) 9627 2650 of this E: peterd@slatterymedia.com AFL RECORD, VOL. 99, FINALS WEEK 1, 2010 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211. ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109

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P A SN TS O H S D 22 N U RO

SHINING IN THE SUN:

Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli was at his dazzling best last Saturday.

Thrilling down to the ﬁnal act

lthough the eight finalists and the match-ups for the two qualifying finals were known before round 22 started, the last eight matches of the home and away season provided plenty. Among the highlights were farewells to some of the modern game’s great players and a long-serving club president, a thrilling finish between the Hawks and the Magpies, a pulsating comeback on Sunday by Richmond against Port

Adelaide that just fell short, and a free-flowing battle later that day between North Melbourne and Melbourne, which finished ninth and 12th respectively but are considered to be two teams on the rise. And as the Sunday games were being played, there was movement at Essendon, with the club confirming it had parted ways with coach Matthew Knights. The round’s biggest crowd was at the home of football on

Saturday. The MCG on a sunny afternoon in front of more than 76,000 people is a theatre, and a place where only a select few can shine. Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli has long shown he belongs on football’s biggest stage, and the genius was at his best against Collingwood, with two opportunistic goals and his usual collection of shimmies, ferocious tackles, turns and ‘one per-centers’ that make him one of the most exciting players in the game.

A groin injury late last summer delayed plans for Rioli to graduate from crumbing forward to elite midfielder, but he has gradually spent more time on the ball in the second half of the season as his fitness improved. A late-season two-match suspension has freshened him up for the finals and last Saturday’s efforts might have provided a taste of what’s to come. ASHLEY BROWNE AND PETER DI SISTO

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 7

HIGHS AND LOWS Adelaide v St Kilda AAMI Stadium � It was a case of what was, and what could have been, when Adelaide fans farewelled Andrew McLeod and Trent Hentschel last Saturday (as well as club captain Simon Goodwin and forward Brett Burton). McLeod retired as one of the all-time greats, with a list of achievements that would fill an honour board – dual premiership player and Norm Smith medallist, three-time best and fairest, five-time All-Australian, including as captain in 2007, twice placed in the Brownlow Medal, Jim Stynes medallist, Michael Tuck medallist, member of the Indigenous Team of the Century and Adelaide games record-holder (340). Little wonder his children, son Connor and daughter Madison, look so proud. Hentschel was not quite as fortunate and will be remembered as a player who was cut down before his prime. The talented forward made 71 appearances but suffered an horrific knee injury in late 2006 and missed the next two seasons with related injuries. MICHAEL LOVETT PHOTO: SLATTERY MEDIA GROUP/AFL PHOTOS

WHAT A START: Fremantle and Carlton got the round going at Subiaco Oval, with Marc Murphy handballing to a teammate despite the eﬀorts of Anthony Morabito, who would end the round as the NAB AFL Rising Star award nominee; young Docker Michael Walters celebrates a goal; Geelong players warm up for their game against West Coast at Skilled Stadium.

8 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

MIXED BAG: Nic Naitanui and his Eagles teammates worked hard but couldn’t stop the Cats; Hawthorn pair Clinton Young and

Lance Franklin were keys to the Hawks’ win over Collingwood; Magpie Dayne Beams had a chance to put his team back in front late in the last quarter but missed his shot at goal. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 9

NOT CLOSE ENOUGH Fremantle v Carlton Subiaco � The siren has sounded. Carlton has thrown everything at Fremantle, only to have fallen agonisingly short. The Blues are six points down, time is up, and Carlton’s Heath Scotland howls in despair. When that final bell rang at Subiaco Oval, Carlton knew it would be on the road again for the first week of the finals. Making the experience more painful was that the Blues got so close, despite trailing by 29 points at threequarter time. With half of Fremantle’s team rested the previous week, many thought the Dockers would finish the fastest. But Carlton stormed back into contention and, when Scotland booted the second goal of the final term, the game was alive. There were more goals, the crowd was stunned, but Carlton ran out of time. Sometimes, the game is cruel. CAMERON NOAKES PHOTO: WILL RUSSELL/AFL PHOTOS

UP FOR GRABS: Adelaide and St Kilda players rise for this contest at AAMI Stadium, with Crows including Rory Sloane, Brent Reilly, Matthew Jaensch and David Mackay celebrating a positive end to their season; Western Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa and Bomber Courteney Dempsey battle for the ball in their match at Etihad Stadium.

10 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

NOTHING LEFT IN THE TANK Richmond v Port Adelaide Etihad Stadium � When his 270th match was over, Ben Cousins stood in the middle of Etihad Stadium and told former teammate Matthew Richardson, now working for Channel Seven, he was exhausted. It had been a tough week for the 32-year-old, who played his 32 matches for Richmond wearing No. 32. His television documentary, Such Is Life, aired in the days before his last match. As headlines were being churned out and opinions thrust forward, Cousins was working to get his injured hamstring right for one last match. As we saw, his leg wasn’t right against Port Adelaide but he ran and created and drew his teammates to him, handballing unless he absolutely had to kick. By game’s end, he had given everything. In the rooms later, after captain Chris Newman and Trent Cotchin carried him oﬀ, Cousins told 3AW he “had fallen in love” with Richmond. PETER DI SISTO PHOTO: SEAN GARNSWORTHY/AFL PHOTOS

INTENSE: Matthew Knights coached the Bombers for the 67th time on Saturday night but was out the next day; Sydney Swans ruckman Mike Pyke and the Brisbane Lions’ Matthew Leuenberger aim to gain advantage at a stoppage, while Lion Cheynee Stiller waits for the tap-out; ﬁrst-gamer Sam Reid gets an after-game dousing from his Swans teammates. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 11

THANKS, JUNIOR Melbourne v North Melbourne MCG � It was a sad exit from football for Melbourne captain James McDonald. Just the previous week, when McDonald was preparing for his 250th game, the Demons told him he would be retiring at season’s end. Ever the team player, the utility known as ‘Junior’ accepted the decision and, in the final match of the year against North Melbourne, played his heart out, trying to lift his team over the line. The Demons lost by 10 points, but no blame could be attached to McDonald. As usual, he strained body and soul and the 33-year-old finished with 26 possessions, 11 of them contested. He also laid 12 tackles as one of his team’s best players. Little wonder Melbourne fans gave their No. 23 a farewell fit for a hero. JIM MAIN PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

ON THE MOVE: Port Adelaide midﬁelder David Rodan tries to evade Tiger Trent Cotchin while Dean Brogan and Kane Cornes look on;

Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt climbs over his Port opponent; popular North Melbourne veteran Corey Jones acknowledges the support of fans after his 157th and last match.

12 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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FINALS PREVIEW

2010

The power of leadership There is one certainty as the ﬁnals kick oﬀ this weekend – great leadership will inspire great deeds. ASHLEY BROW NE

f you want an illustration of the importance of leadership in modern football, look no further back than the 2002 Brisbane Lions-Collingwood Grand Final. Perhaps because it was low-scoring, perhaps because it was played in conditions more suitable to late June than the last Saturday in September, it is not spoken about in the same hushed tones as some of the great Grand

Finals of modern times. There were two great battles taking place that chilly afternoon, the battle for the ﬂag (played out on the scoreboard) and an individual battle between the respective captains (and one-time teammates), Michael Voss and Nathan Buckley. Which superstar could do more to get his team over the line? In the end, both were rewarded. Voss got to hoist

the premiership cup, while Buckley took home the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the ground. Small consolation? Absolutely, but nevertheless, the history books record the Collingwood skipper played one of the great Grand Finals, excelling on a day that demands great leadership. For the record, Voss received four votes in the Norm Smith Medal voting, including one best-on-ground nomination. Interestingly, Voss played an outstanding last 10 minutes, with some individual acts of brilliance that helped ensure the Lions would win, but in those

FINALS LEADERS: From top,

left-right, Nick Maxwell (Collingwood), Cameron Ling (Geelong), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs), Brett Kirk (Sydney Swans), Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) and Chris Judd (Carlton).

pre-text messaging days, the votes were cast mid-way through the ﬁnal quarter. Would Voss have won the medal had there been voting after the ﬁnal siren? Who knows? But there was little grumbling on the day because Buckley had nearly engineered one of the great Grand Final upsets. CON T IN U ED NE X T PAGE

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 17

FINALS SERIES 2010

There was a similar story in 2005, when the Sydney Swans beat West Coast. Losing captain Chris Judd collected the Norm Smith after a brilliant display in beating several opponents. Yet among those to earn votes from the judges was Sydney’s Brett Kirk, who threw himself into contest after contest in a low-scoring game marked by a huge number of stoppages. It was legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi who once said: “The strength of the group is the strength of the leaders.” Lombardi’s teams won a string of championships through the 1960s and, while he is remembered largely as a INSPIRATIONAL: Rival captains

Michael Voss and Nathan Buckley after the 2002 Grand Final. Both did everything in their power to get their respective sides over the line.

dictator, he did develop a culture of leadership among his players. Yes, they did it his way, but they were leaders all the same. The culture in our game used to be about one leader, the “eyes and ears of the coach” on the ground. Bob Davis wrote in Football The Australian Way (compulsory reading for any footy-obsessed young boy in the 1970s) that “the captain is the man who really instills the team spirit into each and every player. He shows them the meaning of the work by his own play”. From the time the game was invented through to the late 1960s, that was how it went. The ﬁrst sniff of a change came in 1971. Hawthorn trailed St Kilda by 20 points at three-quarter time in the Grand Final and looked gone.

WEEK ONE MATCH-UPS GEELONG V ST KILDA SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL 7.45PM, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, MCG THIS YEAR: St Kilda 1, Geelong 0 STORYLINE: The best two teams from 2009 meet again, with the Saints still burning after last year’s heartbreaking Grand Final loss. FREMANTLE V HAWTHORN SECOND ELIMINATION FINAL 3.20PM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, SUBIACO OVAL THIS YEAR: Fremantle 0, Hawthorn 1 STORYLINE: At home, the Dockers will back themselves to avenge a hefty loss to Hawthorn a fortnight ago. The Hawks fear nobody.

COLLINGWOOD V WESTERN BULLDOGS FIRST QUALIFYING FINAL 7.20PM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, MCG THIS YEAR: Collingwood 2, Western Bulldogs 0 STORYLINE: The Magpies have few chinks and are superbly coached. Although the Bulldogs are decimated by injury, don’t discount a Rodney Eade-inspired upset. SYDNEY SWANS V CARLTON FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL 2.40PM, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, ANZ STADIUM THIS YEAR: Sydney Swans 1, Carlton 0 STORYLINE: The Swans have deﬁed critics and are playing with purpose. Carlton was unlucky last week, but consecutive trips are likely to impact its capacity. ALL TIMES EST.

Even legendary Hawks coach Jo John Kennedy was heard telling hi his players that, if they were go going to go down, then to do so in “t “the Hawthorn way”. David Parkin was captain of the H Hawks that day and would have lik liked the courage to challenge hi his coach, but was beaten to the pu punch by the ﬁery Don Scott, w who reminded his teammates, in hi his inimitable fashion, that they co could still win the game. And they did, slamming on se seven goals in the ﬁnal quarter to be beat the Saints by seven points.

That day helped shape Parkin’s thinking on leadership. He arrived at Carlton as coach a decade later to find a strong player-driven culture. There was more than a touch of ‘work hard, play hard’ about the Blues at the time, but their ability to knuckle down in September could not be faulted and they won back-to-back flags in his first two years in charge (1981-82). Parkin would say later that “empowerment of players is a motivating force” and, in 1995, he decided to put that

THE FINAL EIGHT: Path to the 2010 Grand Final COLLINGWOOD

QF1

QUALIFYING FINAL 1

BULLDOGS

QF1 LOSER QF1

SYDNEY

SEMI-FINAL 1

ELIMINATION FINAL 1

WINNER EL1

CARLTON

WINNER QF1 PRELIMINARY FINAL 1

WINNER SF2

WINNER NER PF1 GRAND FINAL

FREMANTLE

WINNER EL2

ELIMINATION FINAL 2

SEMI-FINAL 2

HAWTHORN

LOSER QF2 GEELONG CATS

QF2

QUALIFYING FINAL 2

ST KILDA

QF2

18 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

WINNER SF1 PRELIMINARY FINAL 2

WINNER QF2

WINNER NER PF2

theory to the test. Following a shock semi-fi nal final loss to Geelong the year before at Waverley Park, Parkin turned management of his team over to the players. With stars including Stephen Kernahan, Greg Williams, Craig Bradley, Justin Madden and ‘salt-of-the-earth’ types such as Michael Sexton and Andrew McKay at his disposal, Parkin could well afford to sit back and hand over the reins. And the strategy worked a treat, with the Blues winning all but two games en route to an emphatic premiership win. Premiership teams through history have featured all types of leaders. Wayne Carey was very much a stand-alone leader when North Melbourne saluted in 1996 and 1999. There was nothing scientific about his leadership; he was his team’s best player, he performed

well in big games and the team at half-time of the 2008 Grand simply fell in behind him. Final by coach Alastair Clarkson It was the same with James after having just three first-half Hird in 2000, when he collected touches against the Cats. the premiership cup and the He responded strongly in the Norm Smith Medal following second half, but the star of the the Bombers’ thrashing day was the oft-described of Melbourne. ‘spiritual leader’ of the Hird, very Hawks, vice-captain The captain much of the Luke Hodge, who is the man who “do as I do” was tough, fearless school, led and prolific in really instills quietly, with the 28-point win the team spirit his Bombers over Geelong. into each and dominating And now to in 2000. They this year. The every player lost just one leaders of the eight BOB DAVIS IN FOOTBALL THE AUSTRALIAN WAY game for the year finalists vary, from and atoned for a the brilliant to the blueshock finals exit collar. But they all can win at the hands games themselves or, by their of Carlton the year before. deeds and their words, inspire Tom Harley was a skipper in others to do so. the Hird mould when Geelong And none of them would won in 2007 and 2009. look out of place holding up the Hawthorn skipper Sam premiership cup soon after 5pm Mitchell was reportedly savaged on September 25.

GRAND FINAL PRESENTERS NAMED

FINALS QUICK FACTS

The number of qualifying finals that have been played, along with 45 elimination finals. The first qualifying final was in 1972 between Richmond and Collingwood and the first elimination final was in 1900 between Melbourne and Essendon.

2,006,548 The number of fans since 2000 who have watched elimination ﬁnals and qualifying ﬁnals.

84,284 The biggest first week finals attendance since 2000 for the 2006 first elimination final between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.

198

Essendon’s 31.12 (198) against North Melbourne in the 2000 first qualifying final at the MCG is the highest score in a qualifying or elimination final.

125

The Bombers’ 125 point thrashing of the Kangaroos in the above match is the greatest winning margin.

West Coast’s 4.10 (34) against Sydney at ANZ Stadium in the 2004 second elimination ﬁnal is the lowest score. QUAL & ELIM HISTORY

� Hawthorn and Carlton premiership coach and Australian Football Hall of Fame member David Parkin (left) will present the Jock McHale Medal to the premiership coach, with 1992 Norm Smith medallist Peter Matera to present the Norm Smith Medal to the best player in this year’s Grand Final. Former Geelong full-forward Larry Donohue, who led the League goalkicking in 1976 with 105, will present the John Coleman Medal to Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt. Dual Geelong

premiership captain Tom Harley (right) is the AFL’s ﬁnals ambassador. The premiership cup will be presented to the winning team by a club great, with the presenters to be conﬁrmed once the Grand Final teams are known. Parkin coached Hawthorn to the 1978 premiership and led Carlton to victories in 1981-82 and 1995. Matera played 253 matches for West Coast and is a member of the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century.

P Adelaide 11 Brisbane 10 Carlton 18 Collingwood 20 Essendon 20 Fitzroy 5 Fremantle 2 Geelong 16 Hawthorn 19 Melbourne 12 Nth Melbourne 21 Port Adelaide 7 Richmond 7 St Kilda 11 S Melb/Sydney 14 West Coast 18 W Bulldogs 13

W 5 7 8 8 9 4 0 10 12 10 11 3 4 6 6 6 3

L 6 3 10 11 11 1 2 6 7 2 10 4 3 5 8 11 10

D 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

% 45 70 44 40 45 80 0 63 63 83 52 43 57 55 43 33 23

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 19

CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Steele

Sidebottom has exuded class, poise and skill beyond his years in his 32 games for Collingwood. 20 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

FINALS SERIES 2010

COLLINGWOOD

WESTERN BULLDOGS

P L AY E R F O C U S

Collingwood youngster Steele Sidebottom has made a habit of excelling in ﬁnals in his brief career. Magpie fans will be hoping it is a trend that continues over the next month. C A L LU M T WOMEY

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

espite his youth, the home and away season and Steele Sidebottom it’s something I definitely knows about noticed last year,” he said. finals. In 2009, “To be able to play the three his first year at finals last year gives me a little AFL level, the taste of what to expect this year Collingwood half-forward played and, hopefully, it makes me a in the Magpies’ three finals. bit better equipped for it this In one – the semi against time around.” Adelaide – the 19-year-old When the AFL Record met turned in a blinder, picking up Sidebottom earlier in the week 25 possessions. at Collingwood’s Westpac A year earlier, when Centre headquarters on a representing the Murray sunny late-winter day, he noted Bushrangers in the TAC Cup that, along with the excitement Grand Final, Sidebottom kicked building ahead of the club’s 10 goals in the Bushrangers’ first final, “the weather has premiership victory to ensure started to change as well”. his name would quickly become Indeed, he was right. Spring – well known, and not only for the or more specifically, September curiosity it causes. – was in the air and it Clearly, the big had not bypassed stage of finals To be able to Sidebottom, football does not who grew play the three daunt the quietly up in the finals last year spoken Magpie. northern Collingwood Victorian gives me a little picked Sidebottom town of taste of what to at No. 11 in the Congupna. expect this year 2008 NAB AFL Despite STEELE SIDEBOTTOM Draft following that averaging 18 outstanding TAC Cup possessions a performance, and he game in 2010 and has proven the selection also drifting forward a masterstroke. to kick 17 goals, Sidebottom Sidebottom’s 32 games in marked himself harshly when black and white (11 last year evaluating his second season and 21 in 2010) have shown at AFL level. him to exude class, poise and “It’s been a bit up and skill beyond his years, and as down to be honest,” he said. “I the first qualifying final against started pretty slowly and then the Western Bulldogs awaits, he mid-season I started to hit a bit of knows the intensity will go up form, but then tailed off a bit. another notch. “The last couple of weeks have “They say that finals pressure been pretty good for me, so I’ve goes up a cog from what it is in been a little happier, and if I can

finish off the year strongly, it would be good.” Despite his range of tricks on the field – watch for the clever snap goals from both sides of his body and precise passing skills – Sidebottom keeps things simple off it. When pressed on what was letting him down through his leaner period, he laughed: “I wasn’t getting enough of the footy!” “It was that, and a mixture of my defensive pressure not being as good as it could be. When I’m not doing those things, my game tends to drop away a bit, so I’m focused on keeping up the tackling and hopefully getting a bit of the ball from that.” Sidebottom signed a two-year contract extension earlier this season and his development as a small forward pushing into the midfield cannot be understated when assessing Collingwood’s assault on the premiership this year. Sidebottom is smooth. He’s calm under pressure, makes smart decisions and keeps his feet. When the intensity lifts in finals, Sidebottom lifts with it. He excels under pressure. This finals campaign, Sidebottom will also benefit from a stronger fitness base. He admitted he struggled to finish games in 2009, and credits a rest in round 14 this season to keeping him in tune for the finals. “I couldn’t run out games last year, and although I have cramped at times this season, it’s never been to the same level as last year,” he said.

“Having the rest, though, has kept me pretty fresh, and it’s probably the best I’ve felt so I’m confident of getting through the finals.” Sidebottom, whose assigned mentor at the club is former Saint Luke Ball, said he initially found moving to the city tough, but has grown to enjoy the lifestyle. “At the start, it was a bit difficult moving away from home, but it’s only two hours away, so I got back every two or three weeks and had it nowhere near as hard as the other guys drafted from interstate,” he said. “Now that I’ve been at the club for a couple of years, I don’t mind it at all.” Collingwood’s large supporter base means Sidebottom, in his short career, has already become accustomed to huge crowds. This week will be no different. And as the short and stocky Magpie in the No. 22 jumper runs on to the MCG, you sense he won’t be treating the game any differently either. It’s simply a chance to perform well in a final – again. FACT FILE

Steele Sidebottom

Born: January 2, 1991 Recruited from: Congupna/Murray U18 Debut: Round 7, 2009 v St Kilda Height: 180cm Weight: 81kg Games: 32 Goals: 20

FINALS SERIES 2010

GEELONG CATS Vs ST KIDLA

P L AY E R F O C U S

Josh Hunt had a sense of helplessness as he watched the epic 2009 Grand Final from the coach’s box, but after recovering from a knee injury, the tough defender can’t wait to get back into ﬁnals action. MICH A EL LOV ET T

22 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

first by milking as much time as in the opening qualifying final he could before he was waved on at the MCG, for Hunt it’s a relief by the umpire, and then kicking to be back playing at the most it as far as he could in the wet, important time of the year. drizzly conditions. “There is a sense of Hunt had a ‘sliding door’ excitement, not just for me but moment right then. Had the everyone is up and about. The man with the booming left foot sun is shining and it’s a great been fit, the job of kicking in time of the year. I can’t wait would more than likely have to get back out there been his. again,” he said. “I thought about For the past that as ‘Dasher’ fortnight, the The sun is (Milburn) was Cats and the shining and it’s a about to kick it Saints have great time of the in, but he did known they year. I can’t wait everything right. will be facing You just boot it as each other in to get back out far as you can to this final and there again a contest and hope Hunt has had JOSH HUNT there is a ball-up an extra week up or we can bash it his sleeve to plan, forward,” Hunt said. courtesy of a one-match “You’d be unlucky if ban handed out by the AFL they took a quick mark and got Match Review Panel after the it back inside but, because of the round 21 game against Carlton. conditions then, you never know. He sat out the Cats’ win You want to hold on to the footy over West Coast in the final for as long as you can in that home and away round, but it situation.” was far from a physical rest. “I History shows Milburn’s kick obviously didn’t play but, on sailed out to the members’ flank the Friday before that game, where Harry Taylor took the our conditioning manager contested mark of his life, tucked Paul Haines gave me match the ball under his arm and ran simulation so I virtually had to the clock down for more precious play a match. You can’t flirt with seconds. A few moments later, your form and it was important I the Cats were premiers and their did something like that.” St Kilda opponents crestfallen, It also meant Hunt had an having put up such a brave fight. extra week to study his likely While it’s fitting that the two opponent this week – St Kilda Grand Final combatants return goalsneak Stephen Milne. The to kick off the 2010 finals series pair has enjoyed some great

duels and while Hunt has held his own, he concedes there have been times when the Saint has given him the slip. “That is the beauty of ‘Milney’,” Hunt said. “He is one of those guys who you’ve got to expect the unexpected. He can do a predictable thing one minute so you relax and think to yourself ‘he’s not going to go there’, and then he ends up going there, getting the ball and he hurts you. “You have got to be on your toes for the whole four quarters. It doesn’t take him long to bob up, and get his tail up and kick a few goals.” Hunt’s reconstructed knee has stood up well to the rigors of a long season – he had played all 21 games before being suspended – and he will be pivoting and twisting on it again this week as he chases the Saint in the No. 44 jumper. FACT FILE

Josh Hunt

Born: March 14, 1982 Recruited from: Mildura Imperials/Bendigo U/18 Debut: Round 8, 2001 v Fremantle Height: 185cm Weight: 100kg Games: 143 Goals: 17 Player honours: premiership side 2007; pre-season premiership sides 2006, 2009. Brownlow Medal: career votes 5

PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

or the best part of last year’s epic Grand Final, Geelong defender Josh Hunt forgot about his own misfortune and became absorbed in the battle that was unfolding. It helped that Hunt had one of the best seats in the house – the Geelong coach’s box – as the Cats and St Kilda played out a game for the ages. But it also gave him a stark reminder that in tight, unrelenting situations such as the dramatic last quarter of the 2009 Grand Final, football can become a game of centimetres, no matter what level you play. “It was pretty hectic. You almost feel helpless because it just comes down to the guys on the ground,” said Hunt, who had missed the entire season after seriously injuring his knee in the NAB Cup Grand Final. “There was half a sigh of relief when ‘Chappy’ (Paul Chapman) kicked that goal, but we knew it could turn around pretty quickly. No one was thinking we were home and hosed then.” As the minutes and seconds frantically ticked by, it came down to a six-point differential when Geelong full-back Matthew Scarlett had to push back and concede a behind in the ﬁnal minute. That left veteran defender Darren Milburn the task of getting the ball back into play,

FIT AND FIRING: Josh Hunt’s reconstructed knee has stood up well in his 21 games this season and he will be a key to the Cats’ hopes for back-to-back ﬂags.

COMMITTED: James Gwilt’s

impressive form this season is the result of hard work and a good attitude.

FINALS SERIES 2010

ST KILDA

GEELONG CATS

P L AY E R F O C U S

Being overlooked for the Saints’ ﬁnals campaign last season was just the motivation for James Gwilt to produce career-best form in 2010 as a creative rebound defender. NICK BOW EN

PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

n a qualifying final five years ago, James Gwilt became an unlikely star for St Kilda. Up against minor premier Adelaide on its home turf, the Saints pulled off one of their most memorable wins, upsetting the highly fancied Crows by eight points. Veteran St Kilda midfielder Robert Harvey was best on ground by the length of the Western Highway, but Gwilt, in his second AFL game, also stood out. Having just turned 19, Gwilt showed remarkable composure for a youngster in a final – in front of an AAMI Stadium crowd hell-bent on willing the Crows over the line – racking up 18 possessions and kicking two of the Saints’ 10 goals for the match. That night, Gwilt looked a ready-made AFL player. Perhaps even a future star when you considered where he had come from. Just a year before, he had been playing for Noble Park in the Eastern Football League, unable to get a game in the TAC Cup, Victoria’s elite under-age competition, from where nearly all of that state’s young draftees are plucked. This Friday night, Gwilt will again take the field in a qualifying final, this time against Geelong. But this time he will do so as an established member of a strong St Kilda line-up that is well placed to avenge last year’s Grand Final loss to the Cats. And, after playing all 22 games this year, it will be no surprise

if he plays a key part in another stirring Saints win. However, Gwilt’s journey since 2005 has had its share of potholes. Two weeks after helping St Kilda ground the Crows, he came back to earth, managing just two possessions in the 2005 preliminary final, as the Saints capitulated in the last quarter against the Sydney Swans to lose by 31 points. The following season, 2006, he was injured early and managed just two senior games late in the year, and in 2007, he managed just eight games. In 2008, Gwilt looked to have finally established himself as a senior player when he played 13 of St Kilda’s last 15 games, including its three finals. He followed up by playing in the first 11 games last year but was dropped for round 12 and played just four more games for the year, missing the Saints’ finals campaign, despite being listed as an emergency for the Grand Final. It is shattering for any fringe player to miss a final, let alone a Grand Final, but Gwilt found extra motivation from his

FACT FILE

James Gwilt

Born: August 11, 1986 Recruited from: Noble Park Debut: Round 22, 2005 v Brisbane Height: 188cm Weight: 93kg Games: 63 Goals: 19 Brownlow Medal: career votes 1

misfortune last September, Talk to Gwilt and he is every which he told the AFL Record bit the modern footballer. had been the foundation for his He preaches processes, the impressive 2010 season. basics, not looking any further “I would love to have played ahead than the next game, in last year’s finals but it wasn’t and the virtues of hard work for me to decide, it was for and a good attitude. ‘Rossy’ (coach Ross But in some ways, Lyon) and the he is a throwback coaches, and I to an earlier era. That motivated respected their He works as decision,” an apprentice me to train harder Gwilt says. electrician and to get a lot “But that whenever he fitter and a motivated me can find the during the offtime, while lot stronger JAMES GWILT season break and he excelled at the pre-season to both cricket and train harder and to football as a boy get a lot fitter and a and, unlike many who lot stronger. choose one over the other in “I think I was able to do that their early teens, played both and it has really put me ahead sports until he was drafted. An all-rounder, he played of previous years and I’m a lot district (now premier) cricket better for it. with South Melbourne as an “Getting a regular game this 18-year-old. year has given me confidence, But these days, Gwilt’s focus too, but it all starts with my is solely on football and – now preparation and effort at the home and away season is training each week. It sounds over – finals. basic but I take the confidence I Despite the Saints’ year of get there into games.” off-field distractions and form Gwilt’s growing confidence fluctuations, he is confident has been reflected in his output about their prospects. this season. “I think we’re pretty well Having returned to defence placed. We had a bit of a after playing primarily as a lull about a month ago but defensive half-forward in 2008 we’ve improved since then and 2009, he has ably manned and hopefully we can keep a mix of small and medium improving,” he says. forwards, while launching “For us, it’s about getting numerous counter-attacks with back to the basics week by his precise kicking. week, focusing on the areas The defensive rebound Gwilt we can improve and making gives the Saints is reflected sure we don’t lapse in effort in this year’s statistics – he or concentration at any stage. is equal-third at the club for If we can get all of that right, rebound 50s and is averaging we’ll be OK.” 19.1 possessions a game.

FINALS SERIES 2010

WESTERN BULLDOGS Vs COLLINGWOOD

P L AY E R F O C U S

Having had to work harder than most to make it to the elite level, Liam Picken’s powers of positive thinking are his greatest asset. ASHLEY BROW NE

t has been a topsy-turvy hurting because he can’t get out season for the Western there and do what he’d like to, Bulldogs, from the highs but he’s very positive around the of the NAB Cup Grand group and it rubs off on us all.” Final win to the On Adam Cooney’s premature triple-whammy lows end to the season: “It’s obviously of the Jason Akermanis saga, a blow, but there are 20 guys late-season thrashings and some back at Williamstown (the Dogs’ unfortunate injuries. VFL team) who are really eager It has reached the stage where to step up and have a crack. He’s Bulldogs fans have been afraid just one guy and obviously for to read the papers or flick on the Ryan Griffen, Daniel Cross and radio. Where will the next piece Matty Boyd, it gives them the of bad news come from? opportunity to have a bigger Thank heavens then for Liam workload. Guys will step up and Picken. Throw at Picken the there are guys ready to come in various crises to have embroiled and have an impact.” the Bulldogs over the past few On playing Collingwood this weeks and he plays them with a week, having already lost twice deft, straight bat that would to the Magpies this year: make any Australian “It all seems a opener proud. long time ago. Spend just a few They’ve been We know minutes talking in great form people are writing to the Bulldogs obviously, defender and you but our team us off, but we don’t are impressed has changed pay any attention by this sense of a bit as well. to that calm. Picken is OK We’ve had a LIAM PICKEN and the Western few young guys Bulldogs will be, too. coming in, so we’ll On the shoulder be younger and faster injury to defender Dale when we play them. With Morris, who will miss the rest of guys like Easton Wood, Jarrad the season: “Yeah, he’s played Grant and Liam Jones, we should nearly every game for the last be able to take them.” five years, but there are guys like On being cleared following Ryan Hargrave who’s a tall, quick a striking charge against defender, so obviously he’ll step Geelong’s Joel Selwood: “People up and it’s also an opportunity might think I’m lucky, but I’ve for a guy like Tommy Williams never been suspended in my as well. We can cover the loss career. I just went to tackle him of Dale – it’s a big loss – but it’s a and caught him high. I was just great opportunity for someone to trying to get the ball, which is make a name for themselves in why I was never really worried.” the finals.” No wonder Picken is fast On Brad Johnson’s injury: becoming a fan favourite at the “‘Johnno’ is a great leader. When Whitten Oval. You have to like a he’s injured, he’s personally guy who worked hard in 26 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

country footy and then the VFL for four years before finally getting a look in at AFL level. And rather than feel embittered at having to wait so long for his chance, he speaks passionately about what it means to play in the AFL, and for the Bulldogs. A “privilege” he says of both opportunities. Picken, 23, grabbed his opportunity for a senior berth with both hands last season and has continued to impress this year. Coach Rodney Eade has freed him up just a little bit, so his role this year can vary, from playing anywhere in the back-half to being a lockdown midfielder. He has performed them all this year, and well. “It’s been a little up and down because I injured my ankle in round four against Hawthorn and missed about five weeks of footy,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying it since I’ve been back because the season has been a great challenge.” Picken looks past the prognostications of doom and gloom that have surrounded the Bulldogs since the injuries and the form slump kicked in. “The leadership group has been very good,” he said. “On Mondays, they’ve been picking up the group, getting everyone back on the bike. “There are a lot of positive guys who get everyone up. Guys like Matty Boyd are very strong and good motivators for the side. “Everyone is up and about and looking forward to the finals. We know people are writing us off, but we don’t pay any attention to that.

“We just worry about the things we can control and getting back to playing the way we want to and need to.” And there will be no shortage of motivation, given the Dogs have lost in the preliminary final the past two years. “Obviously, it’s a missed opportunity every time you play in the finals and don’t win the premiership, so our goal entering this year’s finals is to try and improve on that,” he said. Matches against Collingwood also hold special significance for Picken, whose father Billy, was a champion defender for the Magpies in 212 games from 1974-83 and 1986. Billy Picken makes the seven-hour round trip from Hamilton in Victoria’s west every week to watch Liam play, so Liam is pretty sure he knows which team his father will be supporting on the weekend. “I’m sure he will be barracking for the Bulldogs. I know he played for Collingwood, but blood is thicker than water,” he said.

FACT FILE

Liam Picken

Born: August 1, 1986 Recruited from: Hamilton/ North Ballarat U18/ Williamstown Debut: Round 2, 2009 v North Melbourne Height: 183cm Weight: 83kg Games: 40 Goals: 15

DETERMINED DOG: After successive preliminary final defeats, tagger Liam Picken is confident the Bulldogs can improve on that this finals series. AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 27

MAKING IT COUNT: Fremantle

captain Matthew Pavlich is the greatest player in the club’s relatively short history, but this weekend’s match will be only his ﬁfth ﬁnal.

28 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

FINALS SERIES 2010

FREMANTLE Vs HAWTHORN P L AY E R F O C U S

Matthew Pavlich has achieved more than most in a brilliant career, on and oﬀ the ﬁeld. But there is no secret to his success, just a strict observance of doing the basics well. PETER RYA N

PHOTO: SEAN GARNSWORTHY/AFL PHOTOS

lot has been written about Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich. That happens when you win five best and fairest awards, lead your club’s goalkicking on half a dozen occasions and are named All-Australian six times before you turn 30. But in the personal sphere, his profile can be contained to a couple of paragraphs. He has a bachelor of science (exercise and health science) and looks likely to engage in postgraduate studies before next season starts. He loves to travel overseas and is getting married to long-time girlfriend, physiotherapist Lauren O’Shannassy, at the end of the year. In partnership with teammate Paul Hasleby and a couple of other businessmen, he owns Fremantle’s Seaview Hotel. Don’t think he has it all though: he can be as big a dreamer as the rest of us. He owned the tail hair of two handy horses (as a member of a syndicate that part-owned New Kid In Town and Cefalu). Both were set for Melbourne Cups but just failed to make it to November’s first Tuesday. But that personal detail is irrelevant to what is about to happen in football terms. This weekend – for just the fifth time – Pavlich has the chance to demonstrate his class in finals. For that we should stop and watch and hope he can play a sixth and a seventh and an eighth in quick succession. Pavlich is a champion, one with that admirable mixture of perspective and drive. Despite the game’s importance, his preparation for this week’s elimination final will be the same as ever. Well, not

completely. His parents Steve undersold – except by those who and Jan are lobbing in town, play against him. along with his sister Jessica, and His opponents, above all, are staying at his place. recognise his brilliance, but “I’m very happy for my parents revering him as a football and sister to stay with us. follower is sometimes like I haven’t seen them for a loving Jimmy Webb as a while so it will be nice musician. You need to to catch up,” he said. be a purist. While having Pavlich Half our list is the parents crash performs the new as of two in the lead-up basics very, years ago, which to a final would very, very well. seem for many His 70m goal gives us a great the equivalent in round three, opportunity to of having the five minutes forge ahead oldies pull up before half-time MATTHEW PAVLICH a chair midway at Subiaco against through a dream Geelong, will not win first date with goal of the year, but it supermodel Heidi Klum, serves as a perfect example. Pavlich takes everything in his The champ bounded from big stride. the centre bounce and kicked He even scheduled an the ball long and straight from AFLPA board meeting and AFL inside the centre square, like a Laws of the Game committee professional fisherman might meeting in between training cast a surf rod from the beach. during the week. Both nice Rather than astound, the distractions, he said. kick merely provided “Maybe when you first start, confirmation: this guy can play you think there is a magic football better than most. formula to things and certainly Now, Pavlich will lead a routine is the security blanket of Fremantle team that exploded professional sportspeople really,” at the start of the season with Pavlich said. six wins from the first seven “There is no magic formula. games, its pressure on the I don’t necessarily believe in opposition ball-carrier fierce superstitions about particular and consistent. The team is things being done meaning full of exciting youngsters, you’re going to play well. developing under Pavlich. “After so long involved in The Dockers have risen the competition and in from 14th in 2008 and 2009 to professional sport, it’s about playing a home final. “It’s been a habit. It’s about doing things big two years,” Pavlich said. consistently in your training “From a senior player’s and in your mental application.” perspective, there has been a bit That’s why his message of moulding and shaping and to teammates who haven’t making sure our culture and our played finals will be simple: do brand is placed upon them (the the basics very well. “I know young players) very quickly. it’s a boring answer, but it’s “Half our list is new as of two appropriate come finals,” he said. years ago, which gives us a great That manner might explain opportunity to forge ahead and why Pavlich’s brilliance is often ensure their talents and natural

attributes are put alongside what we value.” It begs the question. What does Pavlich value most? His answer provides an insight to the mindset of a champion. “Integrity. Immense discipline. I think being very honest and transparent in the way you go about things. And being very driven, and motivated to look at new challenges and new thrilling opportunities is something I’ve always pursued,” he said. “I’ve never been comfortable with standing still. I’ve always wanted to try to challenge myself and put myself in situations where I can learn and further develop.” If Fremantle wins this week, Pavlich will lead his Dockers into the club’s ﬁrst ﬁnal at the MCG. Now that is an exciting prospect.

FACT FILE

Matthew Pavlich

Born: December 31, 1981 Recruited from: Woodville-West Torrens Debut: Round 5, 2000 v Melb Height: 192cm Weight: 100kg 29 Games: 234 Goals: 461 Player honours: best and fairest 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; 2nd best and fairest 2003, 2009; 3rd best and fairest 2004; All-Australian 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; International Rules Series 2002, 2003; leading goalkicker 2001 (equal), 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009; AFL Rising Star nominee 2000; captain since 2007 Brownlow Medal: career votes 89 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 29

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FINALS SERIES 2010

HAWTHORN

FREMANTLE

P L AY E R F O C U S

Brad Sewell fears no one in the Hawks’ quest for a second ﬂag in three seasons. C A MERON NOA K ES

CONFIDENT: Premiership midﬁelder

Brad Sewell believes Hawthorn can match it with the top-four sides.

ou get the feeling that if any team was going to destroy the belief that a flag can’t be won fro om outside the top four from under tthe he current system, it will be Hawthorn. Haw wth Ha H The Hawks have already drawn w with St Kilda this year, beaten th the Bulldogs by three points in i round 14, defeated Colling gw Collingwood also by three points las llast week and played famous sly tight games against famously Geelon g (going down by two Geelong and nin ne points). nine Ha But H Hawthorn has a case of split sp personality. s Afterr starting the year with a bang by b crunching Melbourne, it seeme ed to lose its way. It seemed droppe d six games in a row dropped before re rreviving its season with a thrillin ng win against Richmond. thrilling fieelder Brad Sewell says: Midfi “We’ve got go a pretty good record againstt most m clubs, I think. Barring g what w happened last year, we thin nk we’re competitive think againstt a all sides.

Barring what happened last year, we think we’re competitive against all sides BRAD SEWELL

“Against all of these (top-four) sides, we always have great matches; they’re always very, very close, they’re always very tense and both sides need to be doing everything right on the day to take a win.” As to what happened to Hawthorn in 2009, and why 2010 appeared to be travelling down a similar path, Sewell is uncertain – but he acknowledged there had been a change. “There obviously has been a shift but there is nothing that I can put my finger on,” he said. “There is nothing that I can specifically say that this is different, this has changed, this is the reason that this is happening. I can’t put my finger on it. “They are really hard to identify these things, but there is AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 31

FINALS SERIES 2010

HAWTHORN Vs FREMANTLE a really good feeling among the boys at the moment and there has been for the majority of the season.” He said when questions were being asked about the on-field leaders amid media scrutiny of its poor results, the group’s mood remained unchanged. Indeed, this was the time their season turned around. “It certainly wasn’t unsettling within the playing group. When a team is not going well, the media is going to assume there are reasons for that and they will not necessarily point the finger, but they will start drawing their own conclusions. “But that’s something the playing group and the club don’t really listen to.” Sewell missed the first four games of the year with a collarbone injury, but he returned to be an integral component in the Hawks’ mid-season renaissance. However, he was dropped for a game against the Lions in Tasmania, only to earn a late recall and blitz with a 39-possession effort, his best for the season. While the players and coaches had at times been publicly berated by club president Jeff Kennett for the Hawks’ patchy form, Sewell said it was intangibles that had helped the club rediscover its mojo and propel it to the finals. “The players are generally excited to be involved this time of year. We obviously weren’t last year, which was very disappointing, so it is a good feeling,” Sewell said. “There is certainly a bit more energy, and obviously there is a lot more hype externally, but the important thing is to ensure we stick to what we know and stick to how we’ve done things in the past. “We certainly think we are good enough to keep winning each week but, having said that, you do have to keep winning each week.”

BACK IN TUNE: The Hawks have regained their voice and are approaching the ﬁnals full of conﬁdence, with stars Luke Hodge (left) and Sewell leading the way.

There is certainly a bit more energy, and obviously there is a lot more hype externally

And the Hawks have the track record for that. In 2008, they stormed into the spring and ﬂattened all before them to claim the ‘unwinnable’ Grand Final against Geelong, a team that had lost only once in the home-and-away season. And Sewell starred. They say players make their name in ﬁnals. That is debatable, but if the assertion is correct, then Sewell’s credentials are impeccable.

In the three finals, he was outstanding and named in the best few in each of them. His 12-possession third term in the Grand Final was a highlight. In many ways, it was the making of Sewell, now 26 and with 122 games under his belt. Last year, he again led the club for tackles and hard-ball gets and averaged nearly 26 touches a game. But if you think Sewell is going to dwell on that finals experience and use it to inflate his capabilities as he enters the team’s 2010 campaign, think again. “I certainly haven’t reflected too much since then about that period of time,” he said. “We had a number of players who were super-consistent for that last month in 2008 and obviously you have to have a

huge group of senior players contributing week in, week out to achieve what we did.” And one thing is sure – the big four clubs will be aware of this and will be aware Hawthorn has been there and done it. FACT FILE

Brad Sewell

Born: February 2, 1984 Recruited from: Newlyn/North Ballarat U18 Debut: Round 3, 2004 v Port Adelaide Height: 181cm Weight: 86kg Games: 122 Goals: 17 Player honours: premiership side 2008; best & fairest 2007; 3rd best & fairest 2006. Brownlow Medal: career votes 38

QUICK LEARNER: Three years

ago, Canadian Mike Pyke’s only knowledge of Australian Football was of a game with “big punch-ups”. This weekend, the Swans ruckman takes the field in his first AFL final.

FACT FILE

Mike Pyke

Born: March 24, 1984 Recruited from: Canada Debut: Round 6, 2009 v Richmond Height: 201cm Weight: 105kg Games: 24 Goals: 3

FINALS SERIES 2010

SYDNEY SWANS Vs CARLTON

P L AY E R F O C U S

Mike Pyke is living proof of his great belief that anything is possible. J IM M A IN

he pleasant Canadian twang belies the fact Mike Pyke is an AFL player fast growing in stature. Although most commentators still add “the Canadian” whenever they refer to the developing Sydney Swans ruckman during play, reference to him is becoming more frequent with every game. Pyke racked up 14 possessions, took ﬁve marks (two of them contested) and won 20 hit-outs in the round 21 match against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG. Not bad for a former rugby player whose only knowledge of Australian Football three years ago was of a game with “big punch-ups”. The 26-year-old Pyke, from Vancouver, British Columbia, added: “Canadians know about Australian Football, but think of it more in terms of being a game with no rules”. Pyke, a Canadian rugby union representative, started playing Australian Football almost by accident and on the initiative of his closest friend, Matthew Woodland, a Canadian living in Melbourne. “He made tapes of me and sent them to the Swans, mainly because they had a

good reputation of developing his improvement to ruck coach foreign players like (Ireland’s) Steve Taubert, a former Swan. Tadhg Kennelly. “He is an exceptional coach,” “Tadhg and I share the same Pyke said. “But he is more than manager, Michael Quinlan, a coach, as he also is a friend. and the Swans took it from He praises me when I do well, there, showing me videos and but he also is tough on me seeing how I would go when I need it. I cannot athletically and in thank him enough development.” for the work he The 201cm, has put into my I don’t feel 105kg Pyke was development.” handicapped by placed on the Pyke might Swans’ rookie have looked lost my background list before the in parts of his and don’t fret if I start of the early matches, make a mistake 2009 season but he now feels MIKE PYKE and impressed more comfortable. quickly, making As he put it: “I don’t his senior debut in feel handicapped by my round six against background and I don’t fret Richmond at the SCG. if I make a mistake because all More importantly, he played players make mistakes.” eight games last year, learning Pyke, who recently signed a with every outing, just as he has two-year contract extension with this season, and taking the No. 2 the club, even feels comfortable ruck role behind Shane Mumford, with rules he knew nothing after Mark Seaby broke an ankle about only a couple of years ago, early in the season. with one important rider. Pyke has even been the Swans’ “They always seem to be first-choice ruckman in several changing the rules,” he said. games, twice when Mumford “Both the players and the umpires was suspended and again last can be confused. I have sympathy week when the man Swan fans with the umpires because they know as ‘The Big Mummy’ are always doing their best and missed with a knee injury. we must play to the whistle. It’s as Pyke, despite his natural simple as that.” modesty, is delighted with his Pyke, on the verge of his fi rst progress, but credits much of finals series, has heard

all about how different the action in September is, and said it will be “pretty exciting” stepping up to a new level. This week’s final will be AFL match No. 25 for Pyke. “As an athlete, you get used to increased pressure and you just have to adopt the right mental attitude. I am looking forward to this week, as it will be a big game for us,” he said. “I probably haven’t realised emotions involved until now, but it was possible to feel the excitement mounting over the past couple of weeks. It was different last year because we weren’t in the race towards the end of the season.” Pyke certainly has had one attitude drummed into him about predicting what will happen in the September action. “I am not looking too far ahead,” he said, while adding it was a North American attitude to believe “anything can happen”. The Swans share their red and white with Canada and Pyke predicted a few Canadian flags would be waved in the crowd when he makes his finals debut. “The funny thing is that when the club showed me videos of games even before I had played my first game, I spotted a Canadian flag or two in the crowd. “I’ve seen a few while playing but this hasn’t surprised me, as there are quite a few Canadians in Australia. Canadians are very much like Australians. We have similar attitudes and can live in each other’s country and feel comfortable.”

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AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 35

GLAD HE STAYED: Jordan Russell struggled to adjust in his early seasons in the AFL and even requested a trade back to South Australia. However, this season he has been the Blues’ most consistent defender and is desperate to atone for last season’s ﬁnals disappointment.

FACT FILE

Jordan Russell

Born: November 6,1986 Recruited from: West Adelaide Debut: Round 15, 2005 v St Kilda Height: 188cm Weight: 86kg Games: 92 Goals: 15 Player honours: pre-season premiership side 2007

FINALS SERIES 2010

CARLTON Vs SYDNEY SWANS

P L AY E R F O C U S

PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

After a slow start to his career, Jordan Russell has found his niche in the Blues’ defence. HOWA R D KOT TON

n most successful careers, there is a turning point, maybe a defining moment. For Carlton defender Jordan Russell, his turning point came just over a month before his defining moment. Russell had been demoted to the VFL to play with the Northern Bullants in the middle of last season and was staying in Geelong overnight in preparation for a game at Skilled Stadium the following day. “I had a real good look at myself and said, ‘This is not where I want to be’. That was the crossroads for me,” he said. “From then on, I just went for it and it all fell into place.” The defining moment happened at the MCG a few weeks later against Geelong. Back in the senior team, Russell provided run and carry from defence as he shut down the Cats’ most dangerous forward Steve Johnson. With every possession, he grew in confidence as the Blues went on to victory, their first against Geelong since round two of 2004. Russell moved from Adelaide to join the Blues at the end of the 2004 season and admitted he found it a tough adjustment. As well as carrying the burden of being a first-round draft selection (ninth overall), he wears the No. 2 jumper, carried

with distinction by several aspirations of joining the Blues’ Carlton greats including leadership group next season. premiership captain-coach John Russell’s form this season has Nicholls and dual Brownlow mirrored that of the team – off medallist Greg Williams. to a solid start, a flat spot in the “It was a bit of a struggle just middle and a strong finish in the coming into the system,” he lead-up in the finals. said. “It got in my head He has been Carlton’s a little bit.” most consistent When Russell leading the Last year was defender, arrived at Blues in rebound heart-breaking. Carlton, the 50s (87) and short Blues had not kicks (151) and That’s what played being second in is driving most finals in the marks (130) in of the boys previous 22 games. The three seasons. Blues have such this year Worse was to JORDAN RUSSELL faith in Russell follow in his that he is often the first two years, preferred player to kick with consecutive wooden in after a behind. The pressure spoons, in 2005-06. to make sure he takes the right Like most young players, option is enormous, and he Russell was inconsistent, in admits he is not always spot-on, games and between them. He but is comfortable with the role. would play a good quarter or “It’s one (kick-in) a game two, but was unable to put a full that I miss out of 10-12,” he game together. said. “It’s nerve-racking, At the end of 2006, Russell especially when the other boys believed it might be in his best don’t move for me.” interest to return home to South For several reasons, Carlton Australia. He had expected to supporters have taken a while be traded to Port Adelaide, but to warm to Russell as he was relieved when the deal was struggled to secure a regular not done and he re-signed with spot. While not oblivious to the Blues. the fans’ taunts from over the “Come trade week, I was gone, fence, the South Australian has but I’m very glad I stayed,” he said. developed a thick skin. Now that he has established “I used to get frustrated himself as an integral part of myself in the first four years, the Carlton defence, Russell so I can only imagine how fans has more goals in mind. He has would feel,” said Russell, who

,7¶6 )227< :,7+287 7+( 58/(6 For a no holds barred view on everything footy, join Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell, 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday. Sports Today - only on 3AW 693.

has just signed a new two-year deal tying him to the Blues until the end of 2012. “But you can’t listen to them and have your own self-belief. That’s one of my best traits. I’m able to get through a few taunts walking along the boundary line.” In this interview, Russell’s bubbly personality is apparent. He is not cocky or arrogant, just a confident young man at ease with himself. His sense of humour shines through in his weekly video segment on the Carlton website known as ‘Rusty’s Round-Up’ when he takes the opportunity to interview teammates and celebrities, including prominent Blues supporters Andy Lee and his girlfriend, model Megan Gale. A television role may beckon in the future. “I’m more of a larrikin/ joker type. I love to stuff around and have a bit of fun,” he said. But the smile quickly disappears when last year’s elimination final defeat against the Brisbane Lions is raised. The narrow loss burns deeply for Russell and his teammates and they are determined to turn it around this year. “Last year was heart-breaking and I haven’t forgotten about that. That’s what is driving most of the boys this year,” Russell said. “For the group to win one final would be a good step and fingers crossed from there.”

VIEWS NEWS FIRST PERSON FACTS DATA CULTURE

NO DAMAGE:

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, pictured here as players prepare for the start of a quarter, said his aim last week was to return to Melbourne with a “ﬁt and healthy” team.

Is it ideal? I don’t know. Is it poor? No. Is it panic stations? Absolutely not MICK MALTHOUSE

LACKING MOTIVATION

their collective minds. This regardless of the results. time it has trailed at the first Upsets is, indeed, typical. Trapped in a dogfight with change at Skilled Stadium since It is also why we often Adelaide, St Kilda coach Ross round 21, 2008. common see ladder leaders stumble Lyon admitted self-preservation That game was against North near the end of the home and eventually became the key. Melbourne and, yes, it too was at as finalists away season. Last year, we saw “There wasn’t much point the season’s end when the Cats undefeated St Kilda lose stretching the envelope as far as it had top spot stitched up. look to self- the its first games of the year in could go because we needed to go After Collingwood posted its round 20 and 21. home fit and healthy and I think first loss since the end of May last preservation In 2007, top team Geelong lost we achieved that,” Lyon said. weekend, coach Mick Malthouse C A MERON NOA K ES

f you thought you noticed something atypical about the football last weekend, you are kind of right and you are kind of wrong. We typically live in the moment during a season and ride the bumps from week to week, at times forgetting this is a campaign. However, in the past two weeks with ﬁnals looming, the campaign has become more pronounced and, like horses preparing for a Melbourne Cup, we’ve seen teams riding into the spring with bigger prizes on NEWS TRACKER

its round 21 clash against Port Adelaide at Skilled Stadium. In 2006, ladder-leaders West Coast and Adelaide both lost their round 21 clashes and, in 2005, ladder-leader West Coast dropped its round 21 and 22 clashes, surrendering the minor premiership. The list goes on and many will recall the famous Essendon team of 2000 – that had demolished everyone in its path – also losing its ﬁrst game of the season in round 21 against the Bulldogs. Like many of the teams mentioned, last weekend the top four had little to play for as their positions were secure

For those who observed the game, they may have got the impression there was a lack of intensity, however, St Kilda still had its usual number of tackles and won its quota of contested possessions. The difference, though, was in “tempo”. “Certainly at three-quarter time, we wanted to take the tempo off the game and try not to lose anybody,” Lyon said. Geelong also had little to play for and, as a result, found it surprisingly difﬁcult to shrug off cellar-dweller West Coast. The reigning premier was behind at quarter-time, the ﬁrst

said: “We’re not going to be the ﬁrst or the last side to head the ladder and lose the last game. It’s a regular thing, unfortunately. “When I say regular, I can recall it as a player to start with and I know it happened in one of the premierships at West Coast. Is it ideal? I don’t know. Is it poor? No. Is it panic stations? Absolutely not.” In contrast, with a home ﬁnal on the line, a positive result for Fremantle was crucial and hence 11 players who missed the previous round were brought into the team. Records on the amount hanges to a side from of changes

Richmond’s Jake King accepts one-match ban for striking Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoﬀ last weekend. kend.

38 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

the previous week are sketchy but it is thought 11 is the most in an AFL/VFL season, eclipsing St Kilda’s eight changes last year for its round 20 clash against Essendon (like Fremantle, that followed a game against Hawthorn in Tasmania). With the ﬁnals about to kick off, one thing is certain, team changes over the next month won’t be as drastic and there will be no queries on intensity.

KNIGHTS DEPARTS

Demands on coaches have never been greater PETER RYA N

ew seem sure who should coach Essendon next. Fewer still seem sure what multiple attributes are required of the famous club’s next appointment. Now that Essendon has made one tough decision in parting ways with Matthew Knights, its next decision won’t be any easier. The senior coach today – as AFL Record managing editor Geoff Slattery wrote on Footy Lite recently – is not only there for his football smarts, but also to represent the club’s brand,

to be its face. The coach is not only responsible for building a list and developing the assets (talent) on that list to win, but he represents the club in all its inside and outside dealings: as CEO of the football department, through to “managing” the board and administration, to corporate supporters and the rank and file fans. For some, this may seem merely a new description of a role that is more than 100 years old. However, this would be to misunderstand the runaway demands of the task in the modern environment. The job is allconsuming; forever demanding. This shift has occurred at pace since the mid-to-late1990s, and it is quickening at electrifying speed. The first step in the process is for club – and candidate – to define what is required of the total job. Although it’s a given that any candidate must have a total grip on the modern game and all its tactical nuances, there are many other factors to consider. The coach’s role is to develop and develop and develop. Teams, players, people, a club, an ethos, a supporter base all need to grow under his command. He must come armed with humour, pathos, toughness, patience and enough emotional intelligence to apply any or all of those attributes at the right time, and in the right places.

the bounce

Wisdom is therefore crucial. Importantly, the external Knowing what to say, when to message needs to coincide with say it and how to deliver the (or influence) the perception message is essential. of where the club is at, and The coach needs to connect where it is heading. Otherwise, and re-connect in a tough, situations can quickly become unforgiving environment. difficult to manage, even with Players, football the best of intentions. departments, The coach will recruiters, boards, need to be capable The coach supporters, of delivering the coaches, right words in won’t be right volunteers and the correct all the time, administration tone to relay so he needs need to believe the message some luck the club is in – and to do it good hands, so instantly. That and support his words, his is a tough gig but, manner, his week after week, brand, even senior coaches get it how he looks and presents right more often than not. himself, need to be believable Good presidents and CEOs and respected. need to be consistent with their The coach reinforces this messages too. It’s the least a in every forum: whether coach can expect. during a team meeting or at a Importantly, this can only press conference, whether he happen if everyone understands intervenes or lets others drive what they are moving towards the game-plan. and where they are coming from. The players will be harsh critics Significantly, this was the or loyal subjects or a mixture of message delivered by Essendon both. As will the fans. As will chairman David Evans when the media. Winning helps, of announcing the end of Knights’ course. But losing is inevitable, three-year reign: not enough so perceptions matter. progress had been made. The coach won’t be right The coach must be able to all the time, so he needs some understand his assistants’ roles luck and support and he needs and their needs too. It’s glib to that to exist in the right places say he must manage, because the too. The captain, the football role is beyond that. manager, the president are He must delegate while critical allies. No coach can supervising, becoming a function without complete distant hand with fingerprints support from those key people. on everything. And, believe me, after watching closely during a year at Collingwood, making the relentless demands placed on assistants appear attractive and worthwhile is a trick in itself. That’s why an opportunity to be an assistant – before taking on the senior job – is important, not just because of what you learn on the job, but for what it tells you about yourself. A prospective coach needs to know, not think, he can be a senior coach. There are many candidates. There is more than one right fit. Watching it unfold will be fascinating.

DEPARTED: Essendon made the tough

call to part company with coach Matthew Knights just one day after the home and away season ﬁnished. Knights still had two years to run on his contract.

NEWS TRACKER

SANFL and South Australian Cricket Association sign “letters of intent” committing to move AFL games to the Adelaide Oval. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 39

the bounce

Selection is a great honour because of the quality of those you have competed against

ALL-AUSTRALIAN SQUAD

New-look squad as 17 newcomers nominated

REWARDED: Kangaroo Brady Rawlings and Demon Mark Jamar (below right) were recognised by the All-Australian selectors for the ﬁrst time, with the ﬁnal team to be announced on September 13.

ANDREW DEMETRIOU

Not previously selected.

WESTERN BULLDOGS MATTHEW BOYD

Previously selected 2009.

ADAM COONEY

Previously selected 2008.

BARRY HALL

Previously selected 2004, 2005 and 2006.

BRIAN LAKE

Previously selected 2009. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE PUBLIC CAN PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE FOUR’N TWENTY AFL ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM FUNCTION. GO TO AFL.COM.AU/ EVENTOFFICE TO BOOK. SUPPORTERS CAN ALSO TAKE PART IN A COMPETITION TO PICK THE ALL-AUSTRALIAN AUSTRALIAN TEAM OF TH HE PAST DECADE. THE GO TO O AFL.COM.AU/ ALLAU USTRALIAN N FOR ALLAUSTRALIAN DETA ILS. DETAILS.

ESSENDON DUSTIN FLETCHER

MELBOURNE JAMES FRAWLEY

JOBE WATSON

BRAD GREEN

FREMANTLE DAVID MUNDY

MARK JAMAR

Previously selected 2000 and 2007. Not previously selected.

Not previously selected.

BRADY RAWLINGS

GEELONG GARY ABLETT

ANDREW SWALLOW

Previously selected 2008 and 2009.

Previously selected 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Previously selected 2008 and 2009.

Previously selected 2009.

COREY ENRIGHT

Previously selected 2004, 2006, 2008 captain and 2009.

STEVE JOHNSON

COLLINGWOOD ALAN DIDAK

JAMES KELLY

Previously selected 2007 and 2008. Not previously selected.

HARRY TAYLOR

Not previously selected.

JOEL SELWOOD

HARRY O’BRIEN

Previously selected 2009.

Not previously selected.

SCOTT PENDLEBURY

HAWTHORN LANCE FRANKLIN

DANE SWAN

LUKE HODGE

Not previously selected.

Previously selected 2008.

Previously selected 2009.

NEWS TRACKER

Not previously selected.

AARON SANDILANDS

Previously selected 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

CARLTON CHRIS JUDD

DARREN JOLLY

Not previously selected.

NORTH MELBOURNE BRENT HARVEY

PAUL CHAPMAN

Not previously selected.

MATTHEW PAVLICH

THE SQUAD MEMBERS ARE:

Previously selected 2006.

Previously selected 2005 and 2008.

Previously selected 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2008. Not previously selected.

MILESTONES FINALS WEEK 1

Not previously selected.

AFL 200 club

RICHMOND BRETT DELEDIO

Ryan Hargrave Western Bulldogs

Not previously selected.

JACK RIEWOLDT

Not previously selected.

ST KILDA NICK DAL SANTO Previously selected 2005 and 2009.

BRENDON GODDARD

Previously selected 2009.

200 games Cameron Mooney Geelong

150 games Steve Johnson Geelong

LENNY HAYES

Previously selected 2003, 2005 and 2009.

LEIGH MONTAGNA

Previously selected 2009.

SYDNEY SWANS ADAM GOODES

Previously selected 2003, 2006 and 2009.

North Melbourne delists Josh Smith, Warren Benjamin, Alan Obst and Conor Meredith.

40 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

SHANE MUMFORD

Not previously selected.

WEST COAST MARK LECRAS

40-man squad featuring “the best players of the season” was released this week ahead of the announcement of this year’s Four’N Twenty AFL All-Australian team on September 13, with Geelong having a squad-high seven players. Seventeen players have been nominated for the first time. Unlike previous seasons, selectors were not asked to nominate players in an area of the field. The final 22 (to be announced at a function in Melbourne) will, however, be a “best-fit” team picked as if it was playing a match. “All-Australian selection is a great honour because of the quality of those players you have competed against, to win your spot, and the selectors nominated the 40 best players of the year to highlight the outstanding players who are in contention,” AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said. All-Australian selectors Gerard Healy and Robert Walls announced they were retiring from the panel. Others on the panel are Demetriou (chairman), Adrian Anderson, Kevin Bartlett, James Hird, Glen Jakovich and Mark Ricciuto.

NICK MALCESKI Not previously selected.

100 games Brad Fisher Carlton

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

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the bounce

Time to ponder for the rest The non-ﬁnalists have plenty of work to do before pre-season training starts. ASHLEY BROW NE A ND PETER DI SISTO 9th

NORTH MELBOURNE

ADELAIDE 11th

(11-11)

� The Roos were statistically the best team out of the top eight, but first-year coach Brad Scott conceded they were still off the pace and had plenty of improvement in them. North struggled against the best teams this year, but showed enough to suggest it could be a consistently competitive team in the short-to-medium term with quality young players gradually becoming more at ease at the highest level. Drew Petrie (feet), Jack Ziebell (broken leg), Liam Anthony (shoulder), Ed Lower (collarbone) and Ben Ross (osteitis pubis) missed large chunks of playing time and should bolster the team when fit.

PORT ADELAIDE

(10-12)

� The club’s most pressing issue is confirming its new coach, with a decision expected in weeks. Caretaker Matthew Primus won five of seven matches, and appears to have wide support. Players were interviewed and had medical tests earlier this week, with Travis Boak (adductor release) expected to be ready for full training by December. Brett Ebert (LARS knee surgery) is on track to start running in November, with Hamish Hartlett (quad) also slated to start training in November. Others including Cameron Hitchcock, Daniel Stewart and Steven Salopek (all with shoulder concerns) will be on modified programs. Paul Stewart (hip) and Jacob Surjan (knee) require ongoing assessment.

THEDMGROUP HOST6029

� The Crows will be vastly younger next season with several veterans retired – and are aiming to be much healthier, coach Neil Craig said. Adelaide had a rash of injuries pre-season and during the year, with football staff looking at whether the pre-season regime needed to be modified. Several players including Ivan Maric (hip), Brodie Martin (hip), Ricky Henderson (hip) and Chris Schmidt (knee) were booked for operations. Craig said he was pleased with the club’s promising finish. “We’re still going to be a very young side next year, but hopefully we’ve given our supporters some hope.”

(7-15)

ESSENDON (7-15)

12th

� Eight wins represented a great season by the Demons, who were in finals contention until round 20. It has been a slog in recent times for the Demons, but the future generally looks bright, not just because of the abundance of young talent at the club but, thanks to the brilliant off-field leadership of president Jim Stynes, the club’s $5 million debt has been eradicated within two years. The Demons are still fine-tuning their post-season surgeries, but have already indicated “lots of shoulder work”, understandable with so many growing bodies on their list. Melbourne, which plays the Brisbane Lions in an exhibition match in Shanghai on October 17, might need to spend the summer hosing down expectations for 2011.

14th

� Essendon will be putting this season behind it as quickly as possible. Seven wins and 14th place on the ladder is about as bad as it has been for about 40 years at Windy Hill, with the decision made last Sunday to replace coach Matthew Knights, even with two years remaining on his contract. The Bombers ended the season with a threadbare side, a raft of players sent away early for repair and recuperation, including Tayte Pears, Mark Williams, Scott Gumbleton, Andrew Welsh and Alwyn Davey. The Bombers showed they could play a fast, attacking brand of footy, but the new coach will likely focus on injecting resilience and grunt, traits we’ve been used to from Essendon for so long, but which went missing in 2010.

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42 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

13th

� For the first time in several years, skipper Jonathan Brown won’t be undergoing surgery of some description at the end of the season. Brendan Fevola is recovering from groin surgery, but list management appears to be the main concern, with Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan out of contract and Josh Drummond’s future also unclear. It will be a truncated off-season for the Lions, who play Melbourne in an exhibition in China next month, but there remains plenty of time for coach Michael Voss to determine how Brisbane could win its first four games then just three for the rest of the season.

MELBOURNE

(8-13-1)

10th

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

BRISBANE LIONS

(9-13)

RICHMOND

(6-16)

15th � Coach Damien Hardwick shouldn’t have too much trouble mustering enthusiasm for pre-season training after a six-win season that breathed life into Punt Road. With a Coleman medallist in Jack Riewoldt, an emerging midfield featuring Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin and an increasingly capable backline, Hardwick has put the building blocks in place that suggest a finals berth is not beyond the Tigers in the next couple of seasons. Richard Tambling, Nathan Foley, Luke McGuane, Ben Griffiths and Mitch Farmer are among those who will return for summer training after season-ending surgery in August.

WEST COAST EAGLES (4-18)

16th

� Coach John Worsfold (left) believes his club has hit rock bottom and is well-placed to start a move up the ladder. He remains an optimist in the face of the club’s ﬁrst wooden-spoon season, but argues getting games into young players will help their progress. “This was always going to be our toughest year and we’ve got through it. As much as it’s not nice (ﬁnishing last), we’re prepared for next year,” he said after last week’s loss to Geelong. Captain Darren Glass (abdomen), Mark Nicoski (shoulder) and Daniel Kerr (hamstring) are among a group who will be monitored before being given the all-clear to start full training.

What a great match

the bounce

AFL TRIBUNAL

DREAM TEAM

A dream year for Swan

Travis Tuck suspension

MR FA N TASY

adly, another Dream Team season is done and dusted. I managed to claim one premiership from my three Dream Team private leagues, leaving a bittersweet taste in my mouth as we enter the off-season. If you were creating a Dream Levi Team prototype Greenwood and capable of Andrew Swallow massive scores each are examples of week, you’d why North fans do no harm are itching for by basing the model on 2011 to begin Collinwgood’s Dane Swan. For the second season running, this year’s Brownlow Medal favourite was the leading Dream Team ROO WATCH: Andrew Swallow scorer, finishing with 2708 is a must for Dream Team players in 2011. points at an average of 123.09. And there’s nothing to suggest WATCH THOSE YOUNG LADS THE FIRST AFL PLAYER we shouldn’t expect more of the FROM ARDEN STREET TO SCORE 200 DREAM same next season. TEAM POINTS IN A MATCH � Levi Greenwood (139 points in We should also give a round round 22) and Andrew Swallow � Bulldogs defender Brian Lake of applause to Peter’s TAGers – (five 100-plus scores in the last came agonisingly close in round this year’s leading Dream Team seven rounds) are examples of why nine against North Melbourne, scorer, tallying 48,326 points for North fans are itching for 2011 to scoring 192 points – the highest the season. begin. Don’t leave these guys out Dream Team score recorded. What will 2011 hold? What of your Dream Team calculations Disposal counts are increasing should we expect? Here are five next season. across the board, so expect Lake things to look out for when for and a few other ball-magnets to Dream Team returns in 2011: WELCOME ABOARD, GOLD COAST SUNS � How will a 17-team competition – and the byes slated for the fixture – impact on how you choose players? Expect a revamped Dream Team competition in 2011. Rumours are already circulating about an increase to the number of trades available next season.

44 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

THE CURSE OF THE FADING DREAM TEAM STAR � This year, former fantasy staples such as Port Adelaide’s Chad Cornes and Western Bulldogs champ Brad Johnson were well below their point-scoring best. Watch for more of the same from the next wave of players entering the twilight of their careers.

push for 200 in 2011.

MORE DREAM TEAM EXPOSURE DURING AFL BROADCASTS � Many radio and television commentators have taken to updating Dream Team scores during calls, adding to the growing obsession with the pursuit.

� The AFL Tribunal suspended Hawthorn player Travis Tuck for 12 matches after he recorded a third failed test under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy. Retired County Court Judge John Hassett chaired the Tribunal hearing. He said there were “exceptional and compelling circumstances” that impacted on the Tribunal’s orders, which will allow Tuck to resume training with Hawthorn after serving eight weeks of the suspension. Before the hearing, held in-camera because of “sensitive medical evidence” presented by Tuck’s treating clinician and drug counselor, Tuck admitted to a breach of the illicit drugs policy following an incident in which he was found unconscious by police and transported to hospital. “The player for some time has had serious medical conditions (clinical depression) that he has been subjected to treatment. That treatment has been eﬀective over the last 10 months, but that there was a lapse from his treatment regime associated with some personal pressures,” Hassett said. “The health and welfare of Travis Tuck is our primary concern and not only do the orders provide Travis with the opportunity to continue his football, but they also provide that the treatment which he has been receiving and responding well to, will and must continue,” AFL football operations general manager Adrian Anderson said.

SECURE YOUR TICKET TO THE 2010 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL

PACKAGES FROM $1,275PP

OSAFL10/08.

To book or for more information call (03) 9320 2419 email chris.speldewinde@kangaroos.com.au or visit kangaroos.com.au/grandﬁnal

the bounce

LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL

Big ‘Spida’ begins a new journey

Sydney coup

HOOKED: Peter Everitt

is enjoying the spoils of his travels.

Another Mitchell for the Swans

A LE X PAU L L

onsidering he played for three AFL clubs in two states and is now running around at state level in a third, it is fitting Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt is the face of a television travel show. Everitt’s AFL career, which spanned 16 years and 291 games, came to an end in 2008, but he was inspired to start The Great Australian Doorstep through his love of camping and caravanning. According to Everitt, some of people’s best memories stem from family caravan trips. Australia, with New Zealand “I looked around and there on the top of his list. weren’t any real family-oriented “My wife Sheree’s a kiwi travel shows, but my main and we’d love to head aim is to bring those over there, but I memories into think we’ll do television by I looked one more series showing the best around Australia way to camp around and there before we make and caravan weren’t any real any decisions,” with kids in family-oriented he said. the most costDespite his travel shows effective way PETER EVERITT busy filming and see some schedule, Everitt great places as still finds time to pull well,” Everitt said. on the boots, saddling up The new series this season for Queensland club starts this weekend on 7Two Labrador, which boasts other and sees Everitt and his family former AFL players in Brisbane travel around Australia armed Lions premiership players Tim with camping gear and a Notting and Aaron Shattock caravan, meeting new people and former Lion, Saint and Tiger and experiencing places they Trent Knobel. had never been to. “I’ve really enjoyed being able With the popularity of to go back and play that one year the show increasing, Everitt of local footy,” he said. wants to expand outside

He admitted he didn’t know what to expect from the competition, but has been pleasantly surprised. “I always thought the WAFL and the SANFL were probably the stand-out competitions underneath the AFL, but the quality of the QAFL has picked up a lot,” he said. With younger brother Andrejs performing consistently for the Western Bulldogs, Everitt was happy to share his experiences. “I try and keep his conﬁdence up, but when he played in the ruck against Port recently, I gave him a ring and talked through some things.” Everitt said he was enjoying the life beyond the AFL. “Between still being able to go to the footy, do a radio show and camp and caravan around Australia, you couldn’t ask for anything more,” he said.

� Highly regarded West Australian prospect Tom Mitchell, has agreed to join the Sydney Swans under the father-son rule. The Swans will pick him at the 2011 NAB AFL Draft. The 17-year-old is the son of Barry Mitchell (right), who played 170 matches for the Swans from 1984-92, won the best and fairest in 1991, was a dual All-Australian and is a club life member. Mitchell is a skilful midfielder who plays at colts level for WAFL club Claremont. He toured South Africa with the AIS-AFL Academy squad this year. He spent a week with the Swans during pre-season training. “I felt very welcome when I visited and met the players and coaches. I’ve made this decision because I believe the Swans will be the right club to help me develop my game,” he said. Swans coach Paul Roos said Mitchell “is a prolific ball winner and a fantastic young man”. “Tom will fit in well with the group of fresh, talented players who have come to the club recently, and we believe he will be part of a team that can take the club to a successful future.’’

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT BUYING 2010 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL TICKETS Supporters should be aware it is now illegal for a 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final ticket to be sold for a premium on its own or as part of a package deal unless the seller is authorised in writing by the AFL. This follows the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final being declared an event under the ticketing provisions (Part 9) of the Major Sporting Events Act 2009 that came into operation in June 2009 to provide fairer access for supporters to major events and more transparent ticketing arrangements. Breaches of the Act can mean entry to the event being denied to the ticket holder and fines per ticket in excess of $7,000 for a person or $35,000 for a company - with multiple offences carrying fines up to 10 times these amounts. Each AFL club must detail its ticket distribution arrangements on its website. If unsure whether a ticket seller is authorised, please contact 46 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

the AFL on 03 9643 1999 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final tickets are subject to the following condition of sale: Condition: This ticket is sold or distributed on the condition that it not be resold or offered for resale at a premium or be used for advertising, promotions, competitions or other commercial purposes without the AFL’s prior written authorisation. Any breach of these conditions allows your ticket to be cancelled and for a Declared Event may be an indictable offence under the Major Sporting Events Act 2009. I thank the AFL for their cooperation with the Victorian Government to ensure their 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final Ticketing Scheme has transparent ticket distribution practices and deters scalping. James Merlino MP Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs

THAT

E M

You’re on a balanced diet of football and, well, more football. You’re tossing and turning at night, ‘could this be the year?’ Your breathing changes gear at the bounce of the ball. Yep, it must be September. So get on a train, tram or bus and get to the game. Make sure you have a valid public transport ticket on you. To plan your footy journey visit metlinkmelbourne.com.au or call 131 638.

MLK1127_FR_AFL

IT ’ S

matchday FINALS WEEK 1, 2010

YOUR ULTIMATE GAME GUIDE INCLUDING STATISTICS, FACTS

CLUB NEWS

CENTRAL FIGURE: Carlton will rely heavily

on skipper Chris Judd as the Blues take on the Swans at ANZ Stadium.

OVERVIEW

Blues hold ﬁnals edge

AFL TIPSTERS

Peter Di Sisto

But they are yet to win at ANZ Stadium in their two clashes with the Swans. Geelong Cats v St Kilda

Fremantle v Hawthorn

Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

Sydney Swans v Carlton

2000 season, the Cats hold a 13-7 advantage over the Saints. Two of those victories have been ﬁnals at the MCG – the 2008 qualifying ﬁnal and last year’s Grand Final. However, St Kilda took the points in the most recent encounter at the MCG, winning by 24 points in round 13 this year.

clash for the second time in three weeks. The Dockers lost by 116 points to the Hawks in round 21 at Aurora Stadium, but made 11 changes to that side last week and defeated Carlton. Overall, the Hawks lead 6-4 in head-to-head clashes with Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.

won three of their past four clashes with the Bulldogs, including both games at Etihad Stadium this year. At the MCG, Collingwood leads the Bulldogs 12-7 and this will be their fifth finals meeting at the venue. The Magpies lead 3-1, their only loss being the 2006 elimination final, by 41 points.

Blues meet at ANZ Stadium for the first time since 2003, when Sydney triumphed by 74 points. The finals record between the two clubs is fairly even, with Carlton leading 5-4. They have not met in a final since the 1986 qualifying final at the MCG, when the Blues won by 16 points.

» Since the start of the

» These two sides

» The Magpies have

To get involved in this weekend’s matches on Twitter, simply follow the #tags to the right and join in the conversation!

» The Swans and the

Geelong Cats v St Kilda Fremantle v Hawthorn Collingwood v W Bulldogs Sydney Swans v Carlton

#aflcatssaints #aflfreohawks #aflpiesdogs #afl swansblues

AFL Record

TOTAL 107

St Kilda Hawthorn Collingwood Sydney Swans

1 point 10 points 25 points 17 points

Gerard Whateley

ABC Grandstand TOTAL 109

Geelong Cats Hawthorn Collingwood Sydney Swans

20 points 8 points 32 points 25 points

Brian Taylor 3AW

Geelong Cats Hawthorn Collingwood Sydney Swans

TOTAL 112

25 points 12 points 30 points 18 points

Andrew Demetriou AFL CEO

Geelong Cats Hawthorn Collingwood Sydney Swans

TOTAL 105

15 points 5 points 19 points 17 points

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 49

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AFL – ROUND 22 Fremantle 3.4 8.6 11.11 13.15 (93) Carlton 4.2 6.2 7.6 13.9 (87) Best: Fremantle – Hill, Sandilands, Pavlich, Johnson, Mundy, Ibbotson, McPhee. Carlton – Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson, Grigg, Garlett, Judd. Goals: Fremantle – Hill 2, Mayne 2, Pavlich 2, Walters 2, Johnson 2, Ballantyne, de Boer, Morabito. Carlton – Garlett 3, Henderson 2, Simpson 2, Waite 2, Betts, Ellard, Murphy, Scotland. Umpires: S. McBurney, R. Chamberlain, S. Ryan. Crowd: 39,376 at Subiaco Oval.

Western Bulldogs 6.2 11.4 15.5 17.5 (107) Essendon 2.4 6.4 9.6 11.12 (78) Best: Western Bulldogs – Grant, Cross, Murphy, Boyd, Harbrow, Giansiracusa, Ward. Essendon – Jetta, Howlett, Myers, Hocking, Hille. Goals: Western Bulldogs – Grant 6, Hall 4, Eagleton 3, Giansiracusa 2, Moles 2. Essendon – Colyer 2, Hocking 2, Ryder 2, Hille, Howlett, Marigliani, Prismall, Slattery. Umpires: J. Schmitt, J. Armstrong, J. Mollison. Crowd: 26,776 at Etihad Stadium.

Geelong 1.7 5.8 10.14 16.16 (112) West Coast 2.2 5.4 6.5 10.8 (68) Best: Geelong – Ablett, Kelly, Milburn, Chapman, Mackie, Ling, Scarlett, Corey. West Coast – Hams, Waters, Rosa, Wilson, Shuey. Goals: Geelong – Ablett 4, Mooney 3, Johnson 3, Hawkins 2, Ling 2, Varcoe, Ottens. West Coast – Wilson 3, Hams 2, Shuey, LeCras, Masten, Stevens, Kennedy. Umpires: L. Farmer, S. Stewart, T. Pannell. Crowd: 24,099 at Skilled Stadium.

Sydney 4.1 6.4 11.9 16.10 (106) Brisbane Lions 3.2 6.5 11.9 10.8 (68) Best: Sydney – Jack, Malceski, Mattner, Kirk, McVeigh, O’Keefe. Brisbane Lions – Staker, Brennan, Rockliff, Leuenberger, McGrath. Goals: Sydney – Dennis-Lane 3, Jack 3, J. Bolton, Jetta, Kennedy, Malceski, McVeigh, Meredith, O’Keefe, Shaw, Reid, Goodes. Brisbane Lions – Brennan 2, Banfield, Proud, Power, Adcock, Collier, Polkinghorne, Staker, Hanley. Umpires: C. Donlon, M. Stevic, S. Jeffery. Crowd: 24,789 at the Gabba.

Hawthorn 1.1 3.5 9.7 15.8 (98) Collingwood 1.5 4.10 10.12 13.17 (95) Best: Hawthorn – Franklin, Mitchell, Sewell, Rioli, Ellis, Young. Collingwood – Swan, Beams, Pendlebury, Jolly, Shaw, Wellingham. Goals: Hawthorn – Franklin 6, Rioli 2, Peterson, Ellis, Lewis, Whitecross, Roughead, Hooper, Young. Collingwood – Blair 2, Jolly 2, Davis 2, Beams, Sidebottom, Cloke, Ball, Shaw, Dawes, Swan. Umpires: M. Vozzo, B. Rosebury, M. Nicholls. Crowd: 76,218 at the MCG.

Port Adelaide 2.6 12.8 14.11 18.14 (122) Richmond 2.6 3.9 9.13 16.16 (112) Best: Port Adelaide – Boak, Brogan, D. Stewart, K. Cornes, Rodan, Logan. Richmond – Deledio, Morton, Martin, King, Tuck, White, Cotchin. Goals: Port Adelaide – D. Stewart 4, Boak 3, Logan 2, P. Stewart 2, Gray 2, J. Westhoﬀ, Brogan, Cassisi, Rodan, Davenport. Richmond – Morton 3, King 3, White 2, Post 2, Cotchin 2, Riewoldt 2, Nahas, Collins. Umpires: D. Margetts, R. Findlay, C. Bowen. Crowd: 37,674 at Etihad Stadium.

Adelaide 2.3 3.4 6.9 9.11 (65) St Kilda 2.2 3.3 5.5 5.7 (37) Best: Adelaide – Thompson, Douglas, Reilly, Doughty, Martin, Walker, Rutten, Davis. St Kilda – Hayes, Dal Santo, Goddard, Montagna, Blake, Gram, Armitage. Goals: Adelaide – Walker 3, Tippett 2, Porplyzia, Douglas, Sloane, Jaensch. St Kilda – Dal Santo, Gardiner, Dempster, Koschitzke, Geary. Umpires: H. Kennedy, S. Meredith, S. McInerney. Crowd: 38,121 at AAMI Stadium.

North Melbourne 5.4 10.7 12.8 17.11 (113) Melbourne 3.3 8.7 12.10 15.13 (103) Best: North Melbourne – Greenwood, Rawlings, Harvey, Swallow, Thompson, Wells, Firrito. Melbourne – Jurrah, Scully, Green, Frawley, Bruce, Morton, Sylvia. Goals: North Melbourne – Jones 3, Harvey 3, Swallow 2, Campbell 2, Wright 2, Warren, Goldstein, Greenwood, MacMillan, Edwards. Melbourne – Jurrah 5, Green 5, Dunn 3, Bate, Morton. Umpires: S. McLaren, H. Ryan, T. Keating. Crowd: 31,064 at the MCG.

VFL – FINALS

A F L S E A S O N S TAT S Kicks

Dane Swan Leigh Montagna Paul Chapman Matthew Boyd Bryce Gibbs Corey Enright

Marks

Brian Lake Sam Gilbert Adam Goodes Sam Fisher Jason Blake Brad Green

Handballs

Brady Rawlings Daniel Cross Jobe Watson Gary Ablett Joel Selwood Matt Priddis

Handballs received Brady Rawlings Paul Chapman Leigh Montagna Dane Swan Gary Ablett Joel Selwood

Tackles

Andrew Swallow Domenic Cassisi Lenny Hayes Kieren Jack Luke Ball Jude Bolton

Inside 50s

Leigh Montagna Adam Goodes Danyle Pearce Ryan Griﬀen Dane Swan Paul Chapman

Collingwood St Kilda Geelong Western Bulldogs Carlton Geelong

418 378 362 346 331 329

Western Bulldogs St Kilda Sydney Swans St Kilda St Kilda Melbourne

218 179 163 158 157 153

North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Essendon Geelong Geelong West Coast Eagles

387 375 363 359 351 336

North Melbourne Geelong St Kilda Collingwood Geelong Geelong

326 315 309 285 274 266

North Melbourne Port Adelaide St Kilda Sydney Swans Collingwood Sydney Swans

183 176 135 133 133 133

St Kilda Sydney Swans Port Adelaide Western Bulldogs Collingwood Geelong

112 110 109 109 108 108

76 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

CLASS FACTOR: Brent Harvey helped North Melbourne ﬁnish the season on a high with three goals last week.

Rebounded from 50

Paul Duﬃeld Nick Malceski James Frawley Brent Guerra Brett Deledio Brian Lake

Hard-ball gets

Domenic Cassisi Matthew Boyd Gary Ablett Jobe Watson Chris Judd Matt Priddis

Loose-ball gets Dane Swan Jobe Watson Gary Ablett Marc Murphy Kieren Jack Alan Didak

Frees for

Andrew Swallow Joel Selwood Daniel Cross Dean Brogan Mark Jamar Luke Hodge

Frees against

Dean Brogan Mark Jamar Darren Jolly Domenic Cassisi Michael Osborne Luke Hodge

Hit-outs

Aaron Sandilands Mark Jamar Dean Cox Shane Mumford Darren Jolly Dean Brogan

Fremantle Sydney Swans Melbourne Hawthorn Richmond Western Bulldogs

122 104 102 101 93 93

Port Adelaide Western Bulldogs Geelong Essendon Carlton West Coast Eagles

143 137 135 132 128 128

Collingwood Essendon Geelong Carlton Sydney Swans Collingwood

98 72 71 70 70 70

North Melbourne Geelong Western Bulldogs Port Adelaide Melbourne Hawthorn

52 48 45 45 45 43

Port Adelaide Melbourne Collingwood Port Adelaide Hawthorn Hawthorn

46 44 44 39 38 37

Fremantle Melbourne West Coast Eagles Sydney Swans Collingwood Port Adelaide

686 643 502 490 480 475

QUALIFYING FINAL Williamstown 6.1 8.6 14.12 19.15 (129) Port Melbourne 0.3 2.7 6.8 10.11 (71) BEST: Williamstown – Davies, Hooper, Minson, Callan, Jolley, Faulks. Port Melbourne – R. McMahon, Bentick, Valenti, Pleming, Fanning, Johnston. GOALS: Williamstown – Hooper 4, Little 3, Stack 3, Rose 3, Hill 2, Panos 2, Davies, Higgins. Port Melbourne – Galea 2, R. McMahon 2, McGrath, Pinwill, Sinclair, Bonaddio, Bentick, Valenti. ELIMINATION FINAL Northern Bullants 5.5 7.7 11.13 15.18 (108) Collingwood 0.2 4.4 4.5 8.9 (57) BEST: Northern Bullants – Thornton, McCorkell, Johnson, Hadley, Browne, Jacobs. Collingwood – Anthony, Medhurst, Sundberg, Liston, Lockyer, Cook. GOALS: Northern Bullants – Jacobs 3, Fisher 3, Johnson 2, Hadley, Morgan, Browne, S. Austin, Thornton, Casboult, Arrowsmith. Collingwood – Medhurst 3, Lockyer, Corrie, Reed, Cook, McNamara. ELIMINATION FINAL Box Hill Hawks 5.10 11.13 15.15 20.16 (136) Bendigo Bombers 5.1 5.2 8.7 10.11 (71) BEST: Box Hill Hawks – S. Gibson, J. Hoegel, Lisle, Savage, Fagan, Kayler-Thomson. Bendigo Bombers – Quinn, James, Bellchambers, Shinners, Neagle, Liddle. GOALS: Box Hill Hawks – J. Hoegel 5, Lisle 4, S. Gibson 2, Kayler-Thomson 2, Morton, Muston, Jackson, Suckling, Fagan, Breust, Savage. Bendigo Bombers – Bellchambers 3, Still 2, Liddle, Bock, Stroobants, Shinners, Atkinson. QUALIFYING FINAL North Ballarat 1.4 8.4 14.8 18.8 (116) Casey Scorpions 1.4 4.4 8.6 13.6 (84) BEST: North Ballarat – Clifton, Peters, Feery, Sharkey, Richardson, Couch. Casey Scorpions – Warnock, McNamara, Healey, Fieldsend, Miller, Cheney. GOALS: North Ballarat – J. Smith 3, Hale 2, I. Smith 2, Norris 2, Dinnell 2, Micallef, Tyler, Driscoll, Urquhart, Feery, Richardson, White. Casey Scorpions – Miller 4, McNamara 2, Fieldsend 2, Hughes 2, McGough, Bennell, Mohr.

THE HIGH-DEFINITION SPECIALIST

WA F L – R O U N D 2 3

SANFL – ROUND 22

TAC C U P – F I N A L S

West 2.2 6.4 9.9 12.10 (82) South 1.2 1.5 4.7 5.13 (43) BEST: West – Caruso, Caire, Ferguson, Willits, Rowe, Ezard, Hill. South – Liddle, O’Keefe, Murphy, Crate, Horne. GOALS: West – Bennett 3, N. Caruso 2, Davies, Ezard, Rowe, Caire, F. Caruso, Hartlett, Hill. South – Rolfe 2, Warren, Liddle, O’Keefe.

ELIMINATION FINAL Sandringham Dragons 6.2 11.7 17.10 19.13 (127) Bendigo Pioneers 3.1 5.2 6.4 9.5 (59) BEST: Sandringham Dragons – Reilly, James, Darrou, Slonim, Jacobs, Dermott. Bendigo Pioneers – Dole, Anderson, Saliba, McIvor, Gordon, Wines. GOALS: Sandringham Dragons – Reilly 4, Jacobs 3, Farmer 3, Fallon 2, Russo 2, Lyons 2, Sketcher, Boland, Pinot. Bendigo Pioneers – Dole 2, Stringer 2, Gordon, Eagle, Ellis, Jenkins, Kelly.

Glenelg 2.1 2.4 8.8 15.11 (101) Norwood 2.1 6.1 10.2 11.5 (71) BEST: Glenelg – Kirk, Carr, Cranston, B. Kane, Tenace, Mules, Allen, Mills. Norwood – Lower, Hughes, Gallagher, Puopolo, Trotter, McGuinness, Georgiou. GOALS: Glenelg – T. Grima 3, A. Grima 2, Kirkby 2, B. Kane, Bode, Tenace, Carr, Mills, Murphy, C. Kane, Allen. Norwood – Davis 4, Lower 3, Terlich 2, Grigg, Dawe.

QUALIFYING FINAL Dandenong Stingrays 5.3 9.4 14.9 18.14 (122) Oakleigh Chargers 3.0 5.2 8.4 9.4 (58) BEST: Dandenong Stingrays – Elton, Lynch, Curren, Parker, Amalﬁ, Heddles. Oakleigh Chargers – D. Harris, Batsanis, Tomlinson, Gaﬀ, Mascitti, Crocker. GOALS: Dandenong Stingrays – Buchan 3, Lynch 3, Hallahan 3, Parker 2, Siposs 2, Elton 2, Curren, Greeley, Tagg. Oakleigh Chargers – Cust 2, Johnson, Crocker, Batsanis, Mascitti, Murphy, Tyson, Michie.

Sturt 3.3 9.6 11.9 12.14 (86) Central 1.3 3.5 7.10 10.11 (71) BEST: Sturt – Giles, Gum, Vassal, McLeay, Cubillo, Herring, Nelson. Central – Callinan, Thomas, Boyd, Lawry, Spurr. GOALS: Sturt – Herring 3, Giles 2, Vassal 2, Rischbieth 2, Gum 2, Johncock. Central – Callinan 3, Boyd 2, Schell, Thomas, Hardy, Spurr, Havelberg.

QUALIFYING FINAL Geelong Falcons 3.2 6.3 14.5 17.7 (109) Northern Knights 1.4 5.8 8.8 9.10 (64) BEST: Geelong – Smith, T. Davis, Taylor, Sodomaco, Lever, Baker. Northern Knights – Totevski, Marcon, Maric, Veal, Barden, Lincoln. GOALS: Geelong – Baker 5, Smith 4, MacLeod 4, Walker 2, Fisher, Semmens. Northern Knights – Barden 3, Maric 2, Totevski 2, Veal, Treloar.

North 2.2 7.2 11.4 15.6 (96) Eagles 3.4 6.5 9.8 11.11 (77) BEST: North – Wright, Ackland, Allan, Archard, Ryswyk, Armstrong. Eagles – Polec, Cicolella, Rimington, Treeby, McKenzie. GOALS: North – D. Motlop 4, Ryswyk 3, Younie 2, Alleway, Gill, Ackland, Stribling, White, Whyman. Eagles – Cicolella 2, Polec 2, Rimington, Goldsworthy, Grocke, Day, Miles, Parry, Treeby.

ELIMINATION FINAL North Ballarat Rebels 6.5 15.8 23.9 28.10 (178) Murray Bushrangers 3.6 3.8 6.11 11.12 (78) BEST: North Ballarat Rebels – Pomorin, Mabon, Hill, Barber, O’Brien, T. McDonald. Murray Bushrangers – Miles, Wheeler, Allen, Ceglar, Whiley, Pollard. GOALS: North Ballarat Rebels – Hill 8, Cameron 5, Cook 3, T. McDonald 3, Mabon 3, Pomorin 2, Dobson 2, Darmody, George. Murray Bushrangers – Klemke 3, Miles 2, Ogden, Stewart, Johns, Ceglar, Allen, Elliott. ELIMINATION FINAL Gippsland Power 3.1 8.4 13.9 20.14 (134) Western Jets 4.1 5.3 7.5 8.9 (57) BEST: Gippsland – Heppell, Staley, Lamb, Lindsay, Butcher, Ross. Western Jets – Mead, Smith, Hoskin-Elliott, McPherson, Cooke, Taylor. GOALS: Gippsland – Northe 3, MacDonald 3, Heppell 3, Lamb 3, Pendlebury 2, Deery 2, Tynan, Smith, Wyatt, Staley. Western Jets – Taylor 2, Cooke 2, Mead, Hoskin-Elliott, Del Papa, Jawad. ELIMINATION FINAL Calder Cannons 8.0 11.3 18.10 25.12 (162) Eastern Ranges 4.1 7.2 8.2 9.7 (61) BEST: Calder Cannons – Guthrie, Watson, Williams, Wallis, Schroder, Sullivan. Eastern Ranges – Young, Patton, Volta, O’Shea, Harvey, Bussey. GOALS: Calder Cannons – Watson 5, Schroder 4, Guthrie 4, Wallis 3, Wright 2, Sullivan 2, Meli 2, Keﬀord, Prestia, Sheridan. Eastern Ranges – Patton 4, Phelps 2, Bussey, Young, O’Shea.

FUTURE STAR:

Cameron Guthrie was best on ground in Calder’s win last week.

TAC Cup ladder P W L

For Agst %

Pts

1 Dandenong Stingrays 16 13 3

1835 1036

177.12

2 Northern Knights

16 13 3

1810 1094

165.45

3 Geelong Falcons

16 13 3

1517 998

152.00

4 Oakleigh Chargers

16 12 4

1707 1333

128.06

5 Sandringham Dragons 16 11 5

1260 1041

121.04

6 Gippsland Power

1411

1019

138.47

7 Calder Cannons

1315 1283

102.49

8 Murray Bushrangers

1436 1576

91.12

9 North Ballarat Rebels 16

6 10

1449 1456

99.52

10 Eastern Ranges

5 11

1222 1567

77.98

11 Western Jets

3 13

1129 1616

69.86

12 GW Sydney

2 14

1096 2070

52.95

13 Bendigo Pioneers

1 15

1000 1952

51.23

FOR YOUR NEAREST STORE CALL

EXPERIENCE:

Daniel Motlop booted four goals for North Adelaide.

AFL QUEENSLAND – FINALS

Swan Districts 8.4 10.10 16.15 22.25 (157) Peel Thunder 3.1 5.3 5.5 7.5 (47) BEST: Swan Districts – Krakouer, Hanson, Notte, Geappin, Roberts, Twomey. Peel Thunder – Holmes, Filo, Butcher, Piggott, O’Brien. GOALS: Swan Districts – Hansen 5, Geapin 4, Simpson 3, Notte 3, Twomey 2, Krakouer, Wolfendon, Spencer, Jetta, Parry. Peel Thunder – Filo 2, McLeod, Bennell, Ware, Piggott, Padwick. East Perth 3.6 4.12 8.20 12.23 (95) Claremont 1.5 7.7 9.10 11.13 (79) BEST: East Perth – Wulﬀ, Hancock, Lee, Stirling. Claremont – Richardson, Schammer, Silvagni. GOALS: East Perth – McKinley 4, Seal 2, Clarke 2, Wulﬀ, Prior, Oakley-Nicholls, Swan. Claremont – Richardson 4, Rowe, Brabazon, Ruck, Stevenson, Schammer, Swift, Wilkes. West Perth 4.3 7.7 9.13 16.16 (112) Perth 3.2 6.3 9.3 14.3 (87) BEST: West Perth – Hunt, R. Bewick, Lynch, S. Bewick, Saylor. Perth – Young, Mzungu, Moody, White, Smith, Bollenhagen. GOALS: West Perth – Saylor 4, Chambers 2, Lynch 2, LeCras, Bradley, Guadagnin, Keunen, R. Bewick, Pearce, Salecic, Tindall. Perth – Bollenhagen 4, Moody 3, Mzungu, Ugle, White, Thornton, Smith, McLeod, Edwards. Subiaco 8.1 12.1 23.2 33.9 (207) South Fremantle 6.5 9.10 16.15 21.18 (144) BEST: Subiaco – Webb, Crowley, Broadhurst, Cossom, Reid, Rumble. South Fremantle – McGrath, Head, Delmenico, Bairstow, Hunt, Mugambwa. GOALS: Subiaco – Crowley 7, Broadhurst 4, Read 4, Rumble 4, Cossom 3, Keevers 3, Campbell 3, Pickett 3, Kerr, Alliston. South Fremantle – Head 4, Kersten 3, Bairstow 3, Motlop 3, Winter 2, Mugumbwa, Murphy, Collica, Guglielmana, McGrath, White.

AFL CANBERR A – ROUND 18 Belconnen 4.5 8.7 12.10 15.15 (105) Sydney Swans 3.0 5.3 6.4 11.7 (73) BEST: Belconnen – Campbell, McAlister, Curtis, Love, York, Sheather. Sydney Swans – Heath, McNeil, O’Dwyer, Farrell, Currie. GOALS: Belconnen – Posch 3, Sheather 2, Love 2, Jordan 2, York, Coate, Underwood, Talsma, Bennett, Douglas. Sydney Swans – Heath 3, Sumner 2, Gorman, Currie, O’Dwyer, Gilchrist, Bradshaw, McNeil.

ELIMINATION FINAL Mt Gravatt 2.6 6.8 10.9 16.13 (109) NT Thunder 2.3 4.5 7.9 11.12 (78) BEST: Mt Gravatt – Evans, Hamill, Page, Steven, Pirkia, Harley. NT Thunder – Kossack, Goodes, Ewing, Tyrrell, Skinner, Ilett. GOALS: Mt Gravatt – Furfaro 2, Smith 2, Page 2, Pirika, Reid, Jamieson, Hamill, Pratt, Morrison, White, Savage, Steven, Schultz. NT Thunder – Ewing 6, Skinner 3, Motlop, Ilett.

Queanbeyan 2.3 5.5 12.8 17.10 (112) Tuggeranong 4.3 8.5 9.9 12.16 (88) BEST: Queanbeyan – Conroy, Quade, Dickinson, Hollis, Thompson, Armstrong. Tuggeranong – Chapman, Cleaver, Ashcroft, Lovett, Nolen, Kickett. GOALS: Queanbeyan – Armstrong 6, Franchi 3, Kavanagh 2, Longmore 2, Liddle, Conroy, Briedis, Cook. Tuggeranong – Pocock 3, Johnson 2, Rice 2, Irvine, Smith, Kickett, Lawder, Greenwell.

Morningside 4.1 12.6 13.10 18.13 (121) Southport 2.4 4.6 5.10 11.12 (78) BEST: Morningside – Hickey, Bell, Rogers, Kinch, Mugavin, Price. Southport – Payne, Putt, Devine, Bourke, Daniel, Pfeiﬀer. GOALS: Morningside – Mugavin 3, Lucy 2, Abey 2, Holman 2, Kinch 2, Thomlinson 2, Shelton, Brown, Delbridge, Upton, Faure. Southport – Hughes 2, Putt 2, Pettersson, Wise, Fowler, MacLaren, Daniel, Payne, Screech.

Eastlake 1.3 6.8 9.9 10.12 (72) Ainslie 3.5 3.6 8.10 9.13 (67) BEST: Eastlake – Maiden, Wilson, Bruce, Haddrill, Gibson, Bowen. Ainslie – Fleming, Argall, Stone, Crook, Love, Hughes. GOALS: Eastlake – Roulstone 2, Haddrill, Taylforth, Cummins, McMahon, Dean, Bruce, Gibson, Gumley. Ainslie – Paine 3, Hughes 2, Baxter 2, Stone 2.

AFL SYDNEY – FINALS

A F L TA S M A N I A – F I N A L S

ELIMINATION FINAL Pennant Hills 3.3 8.4 11.5 12.8 (80) North Shore 2.5 4.9 6.14 8.15 (63) BEST: Pennant Hills – Ferguson, Fraunfelter, Low, Smith, Trestrail, Brawn. North Shore – Holmes, Hughes, Lord, Brain, Strudwick, Murphy. GOALS: Pennant Hills – Brawn 5, Bills 2, Potter 2, Parker, Aitken, Ferguson. North Shore – Murphy 3, Hughes 3, Attwood, Casey.

QUALIFYING FINALS Launceston 6.3 9.4 13.6 20.9 (129) Devonport 1.4 7.6 8.11 9.16 (70) BEST: Launceston – Groenewegen, O’Keefe, Woolley, Sinclair, Finch, Harris. Devonport – Reynolds, Colbeck, Hess, McDonald, Smith, Byard. GOALS: Launceston – Finch 6, Sinclair 3, Stephens 3, Edwards, French, Lonergan, Harris, Groenewegen, Boyce, Bristow, McCabe. Devonport – Colbeck 4, Smith 2, McDonald, Crowden, Rundle.

Western Suburbs 6.3 7.7 14.10 15.11 (101) East Coast Eagles 3.3 6.3 7.4 10.10 (70) BEST: Western Suburbs – Minichiello, Linsen, Lily, Cresswell, Lambert. E. Kassem. East Coast Eagles – Fitton, Physick, J. Vlatko, Dimery, Charleston, Beardsley. GOALS: Western Suburbs – Bray 3, Linsen 3, Cresswell 2, Withers 2, Watkins 2, E. Kassem 2, Cochrane. East Coast Eagles – Jamie Vlatko 3, Charleston 2, Goodey, Jon Vlatko, Bowles, Beardsley, Costello.

North Hobart 4.4 8.7 14.11 21.12 (138) Glenorchy 2.1 4.7 5.11 11.14 (80) BEST: North Hobart – de Gooyer, Veitch, Williams, Fisher, Creese, Unsworth. Glenorchy – Bowden, Joseph, Arnold, Barwick, Web, Garvey. GOALS: North Hobart – Hall 3, Muir 3, Allison 3, Brown 3, de Gooyer 2, Williams 2, Darley, Salter, Cunliﬀe, Fisher, Wilson. Glenorchy – Bowden 4, Bowring 2, Glenn 2, Potter, Sweeney, Webb.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 77

ENJOYING THE RIDE: Even in his

27th season as a senior coach, Mick Malthouse has not lost his enthusiasm for the game.

78 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE

INSIDE MIND THE

OF A

MASTER

DECISIONS

E XPECTATIONS

COACH M I C K M A LT H O U S E

Twenty-seven consecutive seasons in football’s toughest profession has not dulled Mick Malthouse’s enthusiasm for the game. His mind remains razorsharp, his competitive instinct as keen as it has ever been as he moves into second place on the all-time list of games coached this weekend. PETER RYA N

ew can imagine how exhausting coaching is. Every week, a battle begins, a new opponent on the horizon. Every Monday, one decision follows another. The same group of players you stood in front of on the weekend are going to hear your voice again. What message do you impart? How do you deliver it? The stomach churns even if you have been through the experience a thousand times before. What happens if you get it wrong? And how would you know anyway. Would the alternative have proved better, or worse? Some individuals will be happy with you; many won’t. You are there to lead, so out of your ofﬁce you must come, setting the tone, creating the right energy. Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse knows all those emotions and expectations. Somehow, through a mixture of brilliance and wisdom and hard work and a competitive instinct, he has ﬂourished in some of Australian sport’s most demanding

HONEST Y

roles – coaching Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood – to become an icon of the game. This weekend, he becomes the second-longest serving coach in League history with 636 games, 78 behind Jock McHale, who coached Collingwood 714 times. That’s 27 consecutive winters with a weekly knot in the stomach. Records are one thing, but you don’t get a true measure of Malthouse’s inﬂuence and legacy until you speak to those who played under him, coached alongside him, or did both. Andrew Purser played with Footscray in Malthouse’s ﬁrst game as coach, in the opening round of 1984. Purser won the best and fairest that year, his second at League level. His admiration for Malthouse, who was just 31 when he began coaching at the Bulldogs, is undiminished. “When you were feeling a bit wimpy and he asked you for a bit of an effort, well he’d been there and done that. He was

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 79

MICK MALTHOUSE

very good to me I must admit,” Purser, 51, said. “I played for him because he couldn’t ask for any more than he gave himself.” Murray Rance is one of five men to have played under Malthouse at two clubs. The West Australian started his career at Footscray in 1986 before crossing to the Eagles in 1988. His career was finished after Malthouse’s first year at West Coast in 1990. Rance said Malthouse was an astute coach at the Bulldogs who brought an accountable style of football to the west. “There was no rocket science to it,” Rance said. “It was about doing exercises. I remember doing shadow work and it wasn’t about whacking and belting each other, but being accountable when you didn’t have the ball. “He would blow the whistle and measure how far away you were from your opponent when you didn’t have control of the ball.” Rance finished his career on 97 games. Malthouse acknowledged recently he looked back on Rance not reaching 100 games with some regret. Rance, however, pointed to Malthouse’s ability to make the decision to end his career as a positive. “I was getting near the end of my tether and he had to make some tough decisions. That was one of the things I really respected about him: he was not afraid of making the tough decisions.” Glen Jakovich, who won two premierships and three of his four best and fairests with Malthouse as coach, said honesty had always been a Malthouse strength. Less obvious were the virtues he brought to the Eagles. “He was really fond of the Footscray people who had soup or pie nights and he tried to instil that (type of feeling) into our club because we were only a four-year-old club,” Jakovich said. “We did not have a lot of that culture, tradition and energy. I reckon he was the cornerstone of a lot of the tradition the club has today.” That experience of playing under and coaching alongside Malthouse is part of what Guy McKenna will bring to the AFL’s newest club, the Gold Coast Suns. “You throw a puzzle at him,” McKenna said, “and within minutes he has worked it out. People can say he’s defensive and 80 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

RESPECTED: Malthouse has built the trust of his players at three clubs – Footscray, West Coast and now with Collingwood.

a lot of things 42, made a about him, but commitment he just has a very to both David and sharp mind.” the-then 16-year-old’s That sharp mind is mother Margaret that one of the reasons people he would not only coach such as David Buttifant, Wirrpanda, but also play a Collingwood’s strength and father-ﬁgure role. He delivered conditioning manager, ﬁnd him on the promise. so invigorating to work with. “Mick is able to understand Although always challenging you as more than just a and testing and searching, footballer,” said Wirrpanda, who Malthouse knows exactly credited the Malthouse family, when to switch on and when particularly Mick’s wife Nanette, to refresh the brain and body. for providing the coach (and It’s probably the secret to his players) with stability as they success. He can plough through forged football careers. many issues quickly and, once What Wirrpanda observed the job is done, he can switch shaped his approach to life his mood completely. and football. “If there “He’s a mentor is anyone who to many and he’s can leave their really good fun to personal life and You throw work with. I’m private life at a puzzle at not sure many the front door, him and within people know it is Malthouse,” that; he’s very Wirrpanda said. minutes he has personable,” “The other worked it out Buttifant said. thing Mick GUY McKENNA He could have taught me as added responsible. a young bloke It’s a feature is that you should of coaching often always leave your heartache underestimated but and pain and whatever it is one Malthouse has never you are going through behind. shied away from. You never take it home, you When the Eagles were always leave it at the door, so interested in young Victorian to speak, and that’s how to be star David Wirrpanda in the a strong family man. They are mid-1990s, Malthouse, then life values.”

That capacity to keep his life in compartments is one of Malthouse’s strengths, although the strength of character required should not be underestimated. It is not surprising Malthouse respects people who don’t change when the pressure is at its most fierce, but it does not mean he is inflexible. Malthouse’s willingness to change his approach to coaching as the game has changed is one of the reasons cited for his durability. Coaching is no longer a one-man business. It requires a sophisticated management approach. Players face different pressures and multiple influences. The industry is a huge beast and the senior coach is at the centre of it. Buttifant said that during Malthouse’s 11 seasons at the Magpies, the coach had “been able to create a collaborative environment aiming to become premiers.” Put simply, he surrounds himself with people he trusts and lets them do their job. James Clement, who won two best and fairests and played in two Grand Finals under Malthouse, said he watched Malthouse evolve as a coach as the game style and the type of young person coming into the club changed. “He managed to change himself quite considerably, from someone who was more controlling to being able to delegate a lot more,” Clement said. Clement’s career prospered under Malthouse. His recollection of Malthouse’s influence in relation to football is a unique insight into what has made him a respected coach. “Right from the start, he made the game appear very, very simple,” he said. “He took an interesting approach with me to really emphasise my strengths and hide my weaknesses, whereas most coaches really emphasise improving your weaknesses. “He said, ‘We’re going to harness your strengths, we’re going to take them through the roof and then play you in a position where we can hide your weaknesses’. He then gave you a very basic

MICK MALTHOUSE

THE JOURNEY: Mick Malthouse started with Footscray (top left) in 1984 before heading to West Coast in 1990 where he coached the Eagles to their first flag (bottom left). He joined Collingwood in 2000 and had the Magpies in the 2002 and 2003 Grand Finals (here he consoles Paul Licuria after the 2002 defeat). His senior role with Collingwood will finish at the end of 2011 when assistant Nathan Buckley (below with Malthouse) takes over.

outline on what he wanted from you and, if you delivered, he was going to be happy.” Happy is not a word usually associated with Malthouse’s public persona. It’s a pity because the positive nature of his approach and outlook is sometimes hidden from the wider football public. His experience and judgment means he is worth listening to. His ability to laugh at himself when surrounded by players and football people has allowed him to keep a perspective as football becomes more and more intense. Purser said it had been a Malthouse characteristic from day one. “He could put it on you and really be critical after the game but, within an hour or two, he would be on to the next thing,” Purser said. “He would have his cheeky grin (back) and someone would have a joke.” Clement said that eventually discussions between him and 82 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

Malthouse around football in his career, the first since matters were minimal. “He 1994. But the worries would was able to get us to a situation still be there. where we understood each Malthouse knows his other intimately (so) verbal decisions impact people’s lives, communication around so that knot in the stomach football got to the point continues to churn. No where we only spoke coach can please if things needed to everybody but It’s pretty be clarified. they can earn rare you get “There respect. someone who was no point Clement reinforcing said the way coaches for so long information if Malthouse and still has teams we understood cared for his playing for him exactly where players was JAMES CLEMENT we stood and I genuine and they understood the responded to his role and exactly authenticity. “He really what was needed from me. does treat them as his boys. It’s That is another area where pretty rare you get someone who he is fantastic. He tends not coaches for so long and still has to micromanage if things are teams playing for him. It’s just running smoothly.” an innate ability that is hard to This year, things appear to be produce,” Clement said. running smoothly as he takes a That innate ability, said team into a finals series as the Buttifant, had influenced many minor premier for the third time people: “He’s helped so many

people in life; he’s got very good perspective. “I think he has genuinely helped people to become better people and that is a real skill.” Regardless of what happens during the ﬁnals, Malthouse’s place among the greats is assured. He is still at the top of the game’s most demanding profession after 27 years. Wirrpanda spoke for many who have played under Malthouse when he said: “The most important thing is that footy does not last forever. You get what you can out of it and you get as much as what you put into it. “At the same time, it’s what you walk away with and how people perceive you as a person rather than as a footy player. That is the most important thing to me and there are probably not many people in the game who have got a stronger character than Michael Malthouse – and everyone knows that.”

Bernie

QUINLAN A CHAMPION

AHEAD OF HIS TIME R E C O G N I S I N G T H E G R E AT O N E S

There is no denying the impact Bernie Quinlan had on the game in the 1970s and ’80s. A fan favourite, ‘Superboot’ was the prototype of the modern superstar, a player so talented he was capable of winning a Brownlow Medal as a ruck-rover and finishing an illustrious 366-game career as a two-time century-kicking full-forward. But his story, the first of a series on past greats to run during the finals, reveals a man with perspective who knows there are more important things in life than football. PETER RYA N

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

ernie Quinlan looks to be in ripping health. The 59-year-old’s brown forearms look like they belong to a woodchopper, his three weight sessions a week keeping his body sharp. The achilles problems that gave him hell during the latter part of his extraordinary football career have gone quiet, although he rarely runs nowadays. He’s stopped the regular 7am tennis matches at Burwood in Melbourne’s east played before work. He no longer regularly rides his bike from Black Rock to Mt Eliza in the city’s south (a trip he started with a few mates to maintain ﬁtness that became a Melbourne institution known as ‘The Hell Ride’). His need for a competitive outlet is now met through a regular round of golf at The National Golf Club with good

84 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

mates Robert Flower, the former Melbourne champion who Quinlan began knocking about with in 1978 when they toured Ireland together, and Flower’s younger brother Tom, who played 26 matches for the Demons from 1977-79. Quinlan works in Fitzroy in Melbourne’s inner north at Club Warehouse Sports Medical Supplies, in the same job he took when his coaching career ended in 1995 after just 19 games, a period he now describes in self-deprecating fashion as “that very successful stint”. The job keeps him connected to sport, particularly football, as he sells medical equipment to clubs of all levels across the country. He rarely attends AFL games, although he still knows what is happening. He puts it best when he says of his connection to the game that deﬁned his public image: “I am not avid about it these days.”

AFL RECORD visit aﬂ record.com.au 85

BERNIE QUINLAN

(He was) silky smooth, a Rolls Royce, as good as a small man as he was as a big man

IN SYNCHRONY: Great mates Bernie Quinlan

(left) and Barry Round soar over South Melbourne’s David Young at the Lake Oval in the mid-’70s. Both hailed from Gippsland, began their careers together at Footscray in 1969, and shared the Brownlow Medal in 1981 at their second clubs (inset).

MELBOURNE CHAMPION ROBERT FLOWER ON QUINLAN

The fact Quinlan, still with the Chevy Chase fringe and famous nickname – ‘Superboot’ – doesn’t have a high public profile now suits him fine. Yet people still love him. Quinlan was that sort of player. Sydney Swans coach and former teammate Paul Roos described him earlier this season as one of the two greatest players he’s seen. Occasionally, as Quinlan wanders from his office to get lunch nearby, someone will yell Superboot in his direction. Whenever he hears the call, his face develops an amiable grin. That ongoing fascination with this past great is the reason I’m here, curious to find out more about a fans’ favourite. The figures say one thing: he sits 10th on the all-time goalkickers’ list with 817 goals in 366 matches, one of only two in that group to also win a Brownlow Medal (1981). He was Coleman medallist twice (1983-84), kicking 116 and 105 goals in those seasons, the medals and the tons coming after he’d turned 30. But his style said another. He was one of those rarities etter – a player who became better as he aged. When asked for his recollections of Quinlan the footballer, Flower describes him as “silky smooth, a Rolls Royce, as good as a small man as he was as a big man”. He kicked the ball a long way, high and handsomely and accurately. His shorts were squeezed on, his jumper just a millimetre too short. He had the moustache and the nickname and finished his career just before the national competition started. He is a retro icon, a hero to football-loving baby boomers and members of Generation X. And, from all reports, he’s a terrific bloke to boot. Happy to oblige the Record’s interest, he fixes his sleepy eyes upon me and adjusts his face into 86 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

a wry, tired smile and talks. At one point, the grin disappears and the eyes look down. That’s when the subject turns to the younger of Quinlan’s two daughters, Alana, who died in 2001, aged just 19. Alana passed away just ﬁve weeks after ovarian cancer was discovered, the illness roaring through her like a raging

ﬁre. Tanya, Quinlan’s eldest daughter, is a policewoman. “It’s part of my history and part of my life,” Quinlan says of Alana’s passing. “It’s not something you talk about every day but it’s not something I’m going to brush under the carpet. Her memory is very important. “Football takes a solid back seat after something like that.”

uinlan grew up in Traralgon in Victoria’s east. His father Frank had done his apprenticeship as a ﬁtter and turner at Collingwood Tech and played reserves football with Fitzroy, at Brunswick Street Oval near where he was raised. Once Frank got his ticket, he took his trade up to the Australian Paper Mills in

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BERNIE QUINLAN

Maryvale and started playing football with Traralgon. He was captain in 1940 when the war intervened and the football club postponed operations. In 1944, footy started again and Frank resumed his pastime, this time as Traralgon captain and coach. In between times, he crossed paths with Mary (Molly) Fitzgerald while she was visiting relatives who owned Ryans Hotel in the town. Soon enough, they were married and starting a family. The first-born was a girl, Maureen, and seven years later, on July 21, 1951, Bernie arrived. “I didn’t have anyone to knock around with that much. I was like an only child,” Quinlan says. “I always had a fascination with footy and cricket. I loved both sports right from the word go.” He attended St Michael’s Traralgon under the Brigidine Sisters, then St Paul’s College run by Marist Brothers. Not far into secondary school, his prodigious kicking came under notice when he won a half-time kicking competition in Traralgon with a massive torpedo punt. For reasons he can’t remember, he did not make it to the next stage in Morwell so he failed to progress. He credits his kicking prowess to that great influence, genes. “You pick the right father, I think,” he says, when asked how he became so good at the skill. “Some of the old trainers at Fitzroy had seen him (Frank) kick and said he was a fantastic kick. I don’t think I had to work too hard for it. It just came naturally.” By 16, Quinlan was already a big name in Latrobe Valley football and loving his basketball. Joe Ryan, a Footscray stalwart turned recruiter, invited Quinlan and a few other talented youngsters (including Terry Simpson, father of Carlton’s Kade) to watch the 1968 Carlton-Essendon Grand Final. Quinlan was just 17 and keen to play League football, but was not yet convinced he was ready to head to Melbourne. Ted Whitten and Jack Collins (then club president) kept chipping away. In June of 1969, Quinlan was a guest when Melbourne played the Bulldogs at the MCG. Collins was in his ear, suggesting Quinlan was good 88 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

REFLECTIVE: Quinlan’s perspective on

life changed in 2001 after the passing of his 19-year-old daughter Alana with ovarian cancer. “Her memory is very important to me. Football takes a solid back seat after something like that,” he said.

enough to be out there playing runner-up to Barry Round as alongside most of the blokes he recruit of the year. was watching. Quinlan kept On reﬂection, it was not saying he was thinking about it, the best introduction he so eventually the Bulldogs’ duo could have had. came up with an inducement: six “It probably came a little games in the seniors, guaranteed. bit easy early because they Quinlan thought, ‘Why not?’ promised me six games,” he Two weeks later, he made says. “It wasn’t as if I had to his debut for Footscray work hard to get into against Fitzroy at the the team. It Western Oval. By probably wasn’t quarter-time he a good lesson in It probably had three goals, life. It might came a little bit a total of four by have been game’s end. better to have easy early ... it Then he to work your probably wasn’t a took off back backside off to good lesson to Traralgon in get into in life a navy blue FJ the team.” BERNIE QUINLAN Holden he bought Quinlan off a mate. began the 1970s “It was a pretty good boarding with lifestyle, the country living,” teammates in Melbourne. he says. “So it was a pretty big There was not much guidance wrench leaving the town to join for young players and he Footscray. I didn’t even know enjoyed life, not concentrating where Footscray was.” on football as much as he That was his ritual for the could have. rest of the season, back and He achieved plenty without forth between Melbourne and having to give the game his Traralgon, the windscreen full attention, winning the wipers just giving him enough club goalkicking in 1971, vision on wet days as he crawled representing Victoria at up the highway. centre half-back and ﬁnishing He was an 18-year-old with third in the best and fairest in one foot in the country and 1973, 1975 and 1977. another in the big time. Although there was always After just nine matches, he speculation about whether received the club’s ‘most he would remain at Footscray versatile player’ award and was (an offer to join SANFL club

Woodville in 1974 the most high profile), he kept returning to the Western Oval. However, in 1978, after 241 goals in 177 games, his stint with the Bulldogs ended. Aged 26, he transferred to Fitzroy. He was considered a good player who had not realised his talent. On the eve of his 150th game in 1976, Mike Sheahan wrote a piece for The Age in which Quinlan conceded he’d been inconsistent and admitted that when success came in 1971 (48 goals in 21 games and 10 Brownlow votes) he became complacent. Sheahan wrote he was “probably the most maligned top class player in football”. However, Quinlan made sure he wasn’t merely changing jumpers – the penny had dropped. “People mature. All of a sudden you get to 27 and you haven’t achieved much,” he said. “You think, ‘I haven’t got that much time left in football. I better knuckle down and work a bit harder’.” In 1979, as the ’Roys finished fourth, he polled 12 Brownlow votes and kicked 48 goals. He played like Adam Goodes or Matthew Pavlich play now. The team trained hard and he had the benefit of a structured weights program for the first time in his career. He was knuckling down. During the 1981 pre-season, former Footscray teammate and ex-Warragul player Barry Round and Quinlan headed off for family holidays in Queensland. They trained hard together, running along the beach each morning from Surfers Paradise to Southport, doing a series of exercises and then returning. Round, who was then at South Melbourne, was a distance runner, whereas Quinlan was more of a sprinter. He excelled in 100-, 200- and 400-metre runs and even indulged in professional sprinting in the early 1970s. Such qualities are most sought-after in the modern player; back then, those characteristics made Quinlan explosive, strong, quick and durable. He was ahead of his time.

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BERNIE QUINLAN N

He entered the season eason fit and under a new coach,, Robert Walls, n the ball and who put Quinlan on rward line. changing in the forward In those days, when a ard, defenders player went forward, didn’t adjust. The resting an claims, was midfielder, Quinlan able to match up on the fourth bsequently, best defender. Subsequently, king 73 goals he dominated, kicking for the season as Fitzroy lost the first semi-finall by one point to Collingwood. h h d On Brownlow night, he and Round were rewarded. They each polled 22 votes to become the first players to share the award on the night. Round’s comment that evening puts the change the game’s seen in three decades since into context: “We ran along the beach together for two weeks and really got our fitness up,” he said. Then Quinlan’s body began to play up. His right achilles required surgery at the end of 1981 and, in 1982, after playing centre half-forward for most of the season, his left achilles started giving him trouble. He was 31 and Fitzroy was shaping as a team destined for success. Recruits Gary Pert, Paul Roos and Richard Osborne had just played their first seasons. Quinlan had the ankle operated on but it remained sore throughout the pre-season. He played in a Sun All-Stars game against defending premier Carlton at VFL Park and stayed on, even though the ankle was playing up, because he was having too much fun (and interchange was less of an option then). He then trained on a rock-hard Brunswick Street Oval, which did not help. Eventually, the coaching staff realised his body would only survive if he played at full-forward. When Quinlan kicked 10 goals against St Kilda in round six to bring his season’s tally to 29, it was clear the move would work. In round 13, Fitzroy took top spot from North Melbourne when it defeated the Roos by an unbelievable 150 points. By round 21, Quinlan brought up the ton with a booming kick at the Junction Oval against Collingwood. “It was pretty euphoric I suppose, kicking 100 goals,” Quinlan says. “You’re up in the clouds kicking 100.” Fitzroy finished third and faced Hawthorn in the 90 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

“It’s not something you get over. Things that might have been important to you once are of very little importance to you after something like that. Your priorities in life are certainly very different.” Football has remained a thread throughout his life. The Brisbane Lions’ mascot bears the name Bernie Vegas, a tongue-in-cheek tribute he suspects former Brisbane Lion Alex Ishchenko might have been behind when he worked in licensing for the AFL. Many of Quinlan’s friends come from the game and his warmth around people seems bigger than his football gifts. It was pretty On the long euphoric I weekend in June, he headed back to suppose, kicking Traralgon as part 100 goals. You’re of a reunion of the up in the clouds club’s 1960, 1980, He was 1990 and 2000 kicking 100 BERNIE QUINLAN 35 and had premiership teams, spent half his stayed the weekend and life playing at the caught up with old friends. highest level, the FJ trips Traralgon president Martin in the late ’60s a distant memory. Cameron says Quinlan helps whenever and wherever he can. Quinlan moved into “He’s just fantastic,” Cameron commentary for Channel says. It’s more than 40 years Seven, before taking the bait since Quinlan last played there. to coach Fitzroy in 1995. The esteem in which he is held Many of the Lions’ great has not changed. players had gone. The club had But time has ﬂown. In his 60th won just two of the last 17 games year, Quinlan remains a football in 1994, and then lost Paul Roos when he joined Osborne, Pert and icon with a nickname that spurs memories still capable of Alastair Lynch in the departure lounge. Fitzroy won just two of 19 bringing a smile to even the weariest of faces. matches under Quinlan. “It was very tough. Very tough,” Quinlan says. He had FACT FILE entered the year with high Bernie Quinlan hopes, but soon had a wake-up Born: July 21, 1951 call. When the decision was Recruited from: Traralgon made to sack him after a loss to the Sydney Swans, Quinlan Debut: Round 12, 1969 was relieved. v Fitzroy “You live and learn. It was an Height: 193cm Weight: 97kg experience and I had a crack at it.” Games: 366 (Footscray 177, He can chuckle now about Fitzroy 189) Goals: 817 some of the comments made (Footscray 239, Fitzroy 576) at the time, but admits the Player honours: Brownlow experience soured him for a Medal 1981 (equal); Coleman while. However, he retained Medal 1983, 1984; Footscray perspective about it all. leading goalkicker 1971; When his daughter Alana died Fitzroy leading goalkicker on September 5 of 2001, nothing 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985; else mattered much. All-Australian 1983, 1984; Quinlan could not believe Fitzroy Team of the Century; how quickly the cancer took Australian Football Hall of hold and hoped with all his Fame (inducted 1996). might that a magic cure might Coach: Fitzroy 1995 (19 stop the illness in its tracks. games: 2 wins, 17 losses) “It’s a huge shock and it knocks you around unbelievably, but Brownlow Medal: you just have to get on with it career votes 129 and do the best you can,” he says. LIONHEART: After

nine seasons with Footscray, Quinlan switched to Fitzroy in 1978 and went on to produce the best football of his career.

qualifying final, nearly pulling off a remarkable victory having come from 21 points down at the start of the last quarter to lose by three. Quinlan kicked eight, with five of his goals coming in the last quarter. Only a hotly debated free kick and goal to Hawthorn’s Richard Loveridge denied Fitzroy victory. The Lions lost to Essendon the next week, while Hawthorn easily defeated North Melbourne (a team the Roys had beaten twice that season) to go through to the Grand Final, where they thrashed a tired Essendon. “We had a pretty good team in those days, but never quite got to the ultimate,” Quinlan says. The next season began badly, with Fitzroy losing eight of the first nine games. The Roys charged home in the final 13 games and Quinlan kicked 69 goals in that span. He booted three goals in the first quarter of the round 22 game against St Kilda (playing on Danny Frawley) to bring up his second century in succession. “I often tell ‘Spud’ (Frawley) he ruined it for most spectators that year, as they were all up the other end thinking I would reach the 100 in the second quarter. I got the three goals (to bring up the ton) in the first quarter.” Two years later – after being runner-up in the best and fairest in 1985 – he played the last of his 366 games, in the 1986 preliminary final, a loss to Hawthorn by 56 points.

THE RUNNING MACHINE DANE SWAN � Collingwood’s Dane Swan is the Brownlow Medal favourite after another superb year. The 26-year-old Magpie led all players for kicks (418) and loose-ball gets (98), was fourth in handballs received (285) and equal-fifth for inside 50s (108). Swan isn’t a classic runner, but he covers the ground efficiently and finds another gear when others are dropping off.

92 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

THE

BEST BEST OF THE

2010 Fans have been treated to an exhilarating season of football, whetting the appetite for a bumper ﬁnals series. ASHLEY BROW NE looks back at some of the great games, marks, goals and other superb eﬀorts.

glance at the top four at the end of this season would suggest that not much has changed in 12 months. As was the case in 2009, Collingwood, Geelong, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs each enter the ﬁnals with a double chance, and are best-placed to win through to the Grand Final. But they only got there after a marathon home and away season, replete with the various plot twists that kept us all intrigued for the past ﬁve months. The talk at the start of the season was Brendan Fevola at his new club, but the headlines at the end belonged to Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt, who started the season as Nick’s lesser-known younger cousin and ended it with 78 goals and the John Coleman Medal. The bookies were quoting 1000-1 on that at the start of the year. And what of Nick, whose hamstring became the most

discussed body part in football since Peter Hudson’s knee? The St Kilda captain shredded it almost off the bone against Collingwood in round three and it was thought he might be out for the season. But he was back by round 15 and, by round 20, he was booting seven goals against North Melbourne, just as he did the week before the injury. It was a year of contrasting fortunes in the west. West Coast crashed to its first wooden spoon, just four years after winning the flag, while the Dockers looked premiership material for a time before injuries hit. To their credit, they comfortably settled into fifth place and secured a home final. There were the a raft of farewells, with Jason Akermanis, Ben Cousins, Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards, Paul Hasleby and James McDonald heading the list.

St Kilda’s Brendon Goddard thought he took the ‘Mark of the Year’ in round 21 at Etihad Stadium, only to be trumped, it would seem, a day later by Melbourne’s Liam Jurrah. But Buddy Franklin’s tale was even better. He kicked what surely looked to be ‘Goal of the Year’ against Essendon in round 13 at the MCG, only to boot a remarkably similar (probably even better) one ﬁve minutes later. Not surprisingly, teammate Cyril Rioli might have outdone him later in the year. With the Pies surging, the Cats purring and the Saints and the Dogs staying in the hunt, the fans kept on coming to the footy. This year’s aggregate home and away attendance of 6,495,824 was the second-highest on record behind the 2008 total. On the following pages, we take a look at some of the best performances of the home and away season.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 93

BEST MATCHES

COLLINGWOOD V MELBOURNE ROUNDS 2 AND 12, MCG � Coming off a thrashing in round one, the Demons were given no chance to knock off the Pies. But Melbourne played brilliantly in what was a pulsating afternoon at the MCG. Forward Ricky Petterd dropped a mark in the goalsquare an instant before the siren, which would have set up the winning goal. Instead, Collingwood held on to win by one point. The encore on the Queen’s Birthday Monday was just as good, ending in the year’s first draw.

94 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

HAWTHORN V GEELONG

BRISBANE LIONS V COLLINGWOOD

ROUNDS 2 AND 15, MCG � It’s always tough, tight and brilliant when these two play and their two meetings this year were no exception. On Easter Monday, the Cats wore the Hawks down in the second half to win by nine points. The round 15 clash was a classic, with the Cats hanging on to win by one point after a Clinton Young shot on the run faded and just missed with seconds to go.

ROUND 10, GABBA � The Lions were heading for their seventh straight loss when they trailed the Magpies by 15 points at half-time. But it was Luke Power’s 250th game and the Lions champ starred as the home side clawed back to win by eight points. Power had 35 touches as Brisbane temporarily revived its season.

2010 SNAPSHOT

176

matches played, with two draws

24.18 (162) Highest score, by Collingwood v Essendon, round 20, MCG

116

Greatest winning margin, by Hawthorn v Fremantle, round 21, Aurora Stadium

Longest winning streak, by Collingwood, rounds 13-21

90,070

Biggest crowd, Collingwood v Essendon, round ﬁve, MCG

Most wins, by Collingwood and Geelong

65 4616 16

Most quarters ‘won’, by Geelong

Total goals scored.

Most last quarters ‘won’, by the Sydney Swans

42 12

Most players used, by Richmond

Most ﬁrst-year players used, by Richmond

WESTERN BULLDOGS V ST KILDA

FREMANTLE V GEELONG

ROUND 6, ETIHAD STADIUM � Touted by some as a Grand Final preview, the Bulldogs kept St Kilda (without skipper Nick Riewoldt) to just four goals until the start of time-on in the ﬁnal quarter. But quick goals by Stephen Milne, David Armitage and Sam Fisher put the Saints in front. The 7.7 (49) to 6.10 (46) scoreline in a match under the roof created plenty of discussion – critics pointing to the coaches’ negative tactics – but it was an enthralling clash all the same.

ROUND 3, SUBIACO � This was proof positive the Dockers were on the way. Trailing the defending premier by 14 points at the final change, the Dockers kicked six goals to three in a barnstorming final quarter to win by seven points, with captain Matthew Pavlich booting five goals. This was a season-defining win for Fremantle.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 95

JACK RIEWOLDT

BEST EFFORTS BY FORWARDS

RICHMOND Round 12, MCG � The 30,000-plus crowd of mainly Tigers fans let out a guttural tu ural roar that sounded more like onee made by 90,000 people when Jack Riewoldt ew woldt slotted through his 10th goal off the t afternoon against West Coast. Itt was the most kicked by a Richmond player p since Matthew Richardson in 2004 00 04 (10 against the Bulldogs in round eight ig ght at the MCG) and hailed the arrival of o a new messiah at Punt Road for success-starved fans.

NICK RIEWOLDT ST KILDA Rounds 2 and 20, Etihad Stadium adium � It hasn’t been the best year ea ar for St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt, olldt, sidelined for 11 games because au use of a badly injured hamstring requiring q quiring surgery. But he feasted twice c on ce North Melbourne, kicking seven seeven against the Roos at Etihad Stadium in round two and again in the return clash in round 20. He took 15 marks in an imperious display the ﬁrst time around, leaving many observers r rvers believing he was headed forr his best season.

LINDSAY THOMAS S NORTH MELBOURNE Round 12, Etihad Stadium � The Kangaroos were scheduled du uled to play only one Friday night game this season, so when their turn came to shine under the spotlight, Lindsay Thomas ensured they made th the he most of it with a dazzling seven-goal oa al haul against Carlton. The Blues’ own w trio wn of small forwards – Eddie Betts, ttts, Jeﬀ Garlett and Chris Yarran – have avve all enjoyed ﬁne seasons but, on this th his particular night, it was the Thomas homas show, as the South Australian n steered his side to a surprise win w . win.

MARK LeCRAS WEST COAST Round 16, Etihad Stadium � Many felt LeCras should have made last year’s All-Australian team as a small forward. His eﬀort this night conﬁrmed his talent, LeCras tormenting the Bombers with 12 goals, the third-most by any Eagle in history. He got them on the lead, on the run, from straight in front and, audaciously, from crazy angles.

JONATHAN BROWN N

THE LEADING GOALKICKERS 1. JACK RIEWOLDT 2. BARRY HALL 3. MARK LeCRAS 4. LANCE FRANKLIN 5. STEVE JOHNSON 6. BRAD GREEN 7. MATTHEW PAVLICH 8. JONATHAN BROWN 9. JARRYD ROUGHEAD 10. STEPHEN MILNE

Richmond Western Bulldogs West Coast Eagles Hawthorn Geelong Cats Melbourne Fremantle Brisbane Lions Hawthorn St Kilda

96 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

GOALS

BEHINDS

78 73 63 62 57 55 54 53 49 48

39 31 24 42 32 27 33 24 43 27

66.67 70.19 72.41 59.62 64.04 67.07 62.07 68.83 53.26 64.00

BRISBANE LIONS Round 2, Gabba � With 19 kicks, 12 marks and d seven goals from Brown against nst Carlton, huge things were predicted of the Lions in 2010,, particularly with high-proﬁlee recruit Brendan Fevola also prowling the forward line. Little tle did we know what was to comee but, on this night, Brown was nigh on unstoppable in front of a sell-out frenzied crowd att the Gabba, highlighting why he iss regarded as the premier power er forward of the last decade.

ʶ Bulldogs full-back Brian Lake (left) earned AllAustralian selection in 2009 and this season he continued to re-write the how-to-playfull-back coaching manual. Against North Melbourne in round nine, Lake enjoyed one of the finest games by a full-back, racking up 35 kicks and six handballs and taking 22 marks. His effort was worth 192 dream Team points, a figure unheard of for a key defender. Lake also posted dream Team scores of 137 (against Hawthorn in round 14), 115 (carlton, round 15) and 110 (Sydney Swans, round eight). Almost unbeatable in the air and increasingly reliable by hand or foot at ground level, Lake has emerged as a key weapon for Bulldogs coach Rodney eade, who often throws him forward if he believes there is a match-up for him to exploit. on a statistical basis, the four best defensive efforts of the year all belonged to Lake. The fifth was by Adelaide’s Graham Johncock (below), who enjoyed 26 touches, took eight marks and booted one goal (for 115 dream Team points) against Fremantle in round 11.

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AFL RecoRd visit aflrecord.com.au 97

BEST EFFORTS BY RUCKMEN

ʶ When you’re 211cm tall, you should be able to boast some of the best statistical efforts for a season by any ruckman. And so it was for Aaron Sandilands (left). The Fremantle giant enjoyed a season-high 49 hit-outs in his team’s surprise nine-point win over carlton at etihad Stadium in round 13. He had 43 against collingwood in round eight and 42 against both Richmond in round five and St Kilda in round four to be the premier big man in the competition and a key weapon for the dockers in their surprise rise, from also-ran to finalist in 2010. other notable efforts from the AFL’s big men included Sydney’s Shane Mumford (below, 46 hitouts against essendon at the ScG in round 11) and Port Adelaide’s Dean Brogan, with 44, also against essendon, in round seven at etihad Stadium.

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BEST GOALS 100 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

LANCE FRANKLIN HAWTHORN Round 13, MCG � A few minutes after burning off Mark McVeigh with three bounces along the northern stand flank for one of the goals of the season, Franklin repeated the trick. The second time the ball went through on the full and it was Cale Hooker who was left floundering in Franklin’s wake. In a tight game – and given the context of Hawthorn’s wobbly season – it was a piece of sheer brilliance.

DANIEL BRADSHAW SYDNEY SWANS Round 6, SCG � Old-timers jumped for joy when, from a set shot outside 50 on the boundary line, Bradshaw shaped to kick a ‘barrel’, a torpedo punt, after the three-quarter time siren. His kick sailed through, like they often did until coaches decreed that drop punts were the only kicks allowed. Adding to the sense of theatre was the match-up; Bradshaw was playing against his former club the Brisbane Lions, who he left acrimoniously at the end of last season.

STEPHEN MILNE

BRENDAN FEVOLA

CYRIL RIOLI

ST KILDA Round 5, AAMI Stadium � On a cold, wet night against Port Adelaide, Milne reached for the ball in the forward pocket, but it was out of his grasp so, in the same action, he instead tapped it on to his foot and steered it through from a ridiculous angle.

BRISBANE LIONS Round 9, AAMI Stadium � It wasn’t a great debut season up north for the former Blue, but he did contribute some wonderful goals, none better than the one against the Crows, when, sitting on his bottom in the goalsquare by a pair of Adelaide defenders, he gathered the ball, slammed it on his boot and swung it through.

HAWTHORN Round 21, Aurora Stadium � We’re not sure he would have tried this say, at the MCG in a ﬁnal, but against the depleted Dockers in a game the Hawks controlled, Rioli swung at a loose ball with his left foot 15m from goal, made perfect contact and bounced it through for a goal. Just as spectacular was a similar goal by Melbourne’s Lynden Dunn last weekend.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 101

LIAM JURRAH MELBOURNE Round 21, AAMI Stadium � It is hard to think of a better grab taken this year than the one snared by the athletic Melbourne forward against Port Adelaide, which came just 24 hours after Brendon Goddard’s hanger. Jurrah got the run, timed his leap, planted his leg on Port’s Nick Salter and kept on climbing. An astonishing mark – one that might be hard to top this year.

JESSE WHITE SYDNEY SWANS Round 4, Etihad Stadium � The Swans led North by ﬁve points in a tight clash at Etihad Stadium when White climbed on top of Kangaroos defender Lachie Hansen late in the third quarter. There were no hands involved – other than the mark – with the tall Sydney forward getting a classic ride. White has been inconsistent, but his potential is unmistakable.

CARL PETERSON HAWTHORN Round 10, MCG � The freakish talents of Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli are well known, but neither has taken a mark this year like the one Peterson did, the athletic Hawk using his powerful vertical leap to come from the side and take a huge pack mark in the goalsquare in the ﬁnal quarter of Hawthorn’s nail-biting win over the Sydney Swans.

JACK RIEWOLDT RICHMOND Round 11, Etihad Stadium � The emerging Tiger star looms as a Mark of the Year contender for years to come. Against the Saints, he leapt high on the city wing, got a boost from Sam Gilbert, and plucked a big mark. It wasn’t a pack mark, simply a great combination of footy smarts and athleticism.

BEST MARKS

102 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

BRENDON GODDARD ST KILDA Round 21, Etihad Stadium � Early in the second quarter, Goddard hit the pack at speed, got the ride and hauled in a monstrous grab on the city-side wing that had Saints fans in raptures – and Richmond supporters thinking Jack Riewoldt’s mark in the corresponding clash earlier in the season was no longer the leading contender for Mark of the Year. Within 24 hours, the hopes of both might have been dashed by Liam Jurrah.

BEST COACHING PERFORMANCES DEAN BAILEY MELBOURNE Round 2, MCG � The Demons had managed just one goal in the first half of an embarrassing round one loss to Hawthorn. But after a week of questions about whether he was the right man for the job, Bailey’s Demons came agonisingly close to a memorable upset of Collingwood, which was fresh off an easy win over flag favourites the Western Bulldogs.

104 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

DAMIEN HARDWICK

PAUL ROOS

RICHMOND Round 10, AAMI Stadium � Winless after nine matches and facing Port Adelaide on its own mud heap (literally, as it poured in the hours before and during the match), Hardwick left his men in no doubt that if they hit the ball and opposition bodies just that bit harder, Port would wilt. And he was right. The Tigers restricted the Power to three goals and won by 47 points. And for an encore, Hardwick led the most raucous version of We’re from Tigerland we have heard.

SYDNEY SWANS � Shrewd trading and drafting freshened up the Swans for one last assault on the ﬁnals before Roos hands the coaching headset to John Longmire. That the Swans are playing a home ﬁnal this weekend is a tribute to Roos and his ability to hold his side together despite a raft of injuries, to his best defender (Craig Bolton), best forward (Daniel Bradshaw) and nominal No. 2 ruckman (Mark Seaby). The premiership year aside, this might be his best year of coaching.

ROSS LYON

ALASTAIR CLARKSON

ST KILDA � The Saints coach could have been excused for throwing his hands up and declaring the season a write-oﬀ after his captain and best player Nick Riewoldt shredded his hamstring against Collingwood in round three. But with just a few tweaks to his structures, Lyon ensured the Saints remained super-competitive throughout Riewoldt’s 11-game absence. The Saints never dropped out of the top four. And, with the superstar back, St Kilda is building towards another ﬂag assault.

HAWTHORN � At 1-6, Hawthorn was entitled to feel its season was shot. No team had made the ﬁnals after such a poor start, but Clarkson boldly ventured where he hadn’t before, increasing rotations from about 80 to 150 a game, and instituting a tweaked game-plan. The Hawks won seven straight mid-season and, after a mini-slump with only a draw from rounds 17-19, Clarkson righted the ship again and steered the Hawks into the history books and the ﬁnals.

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Moments of the

2000-09 09 9

When needed, two forwards produced Swan Nick Davis and Hawk Lance Franklin are part of football folklore after coming up with miraculous match-winning ﬁnals goals. ASHLEY BROW NE

“

he Swans need a goal. Nick Davis … Nick Davis … I don’t believe it! I see it, but I don’t believe it!” – Anthony Hudson, on Channel Ten’s coverage of the Sydney Swans-Geelong semi-ﬁnal in 2005

well held, Davis emerged as his team’s only viable avenue to goal. And with each of his first three goals in the final term, Sydney’s self-belief grew and the 39,079 fans jammed into the SCG could sense they be might be witnessing one of the great last quarters. The Cats controlled the final “You can’t wear No. 23 at few moments of play and might Hawthorn and not be a showman. have killed the game for good Don Scott, Dermott Brereton and had Steve Johnson been able to Lance Franklin. He might be the run the ball out of bounds in the best of the lot.” forward pocket. – Tim Lane, on Channel But Luke Ablett was more Ten’s broadcast of the desperate and punched the ball Hawthorn-Adelaide further along the boundary, elimination final in 2007 where the Swans, through sheer will, worked it from Sydney Swan Nick Davis and one forward pocket to the Hawk Lance Franklin stepped other and, finally, a ball-up up with two of the most was called. celebrated September goals Sydney ruckman Darren of the past decade. Jolly tapped the ball to Davis, When the state of the who juggled it, slammed it on to game and time left on the his left boot and wobbled it clock are considered, it through for a goal. is hard to find any The siren better from the went almost Davis not 2000-09 period. as soon as only kicked one Davis not the ball was of the great finals only kicked bounced one of the back in the goals, but also great finals middle, amid played one of the goals, but also pandemonium great finals played one of and hysteria the great finals at the SCG. quarters quarters. Davis was the Sydney had hero, more than kicked just three making up for his goals until three-quarter time error in allowing Johnson of the 2005 second semi-final that early goal. against Geelong at the SCG. It emerged later that after Facing a 17-point deficit, the Johnson’s goal, Brett Kirk had Swans were on the verge of reminded Davis of the error of exiting the finals with two his ways and told him he owed straight losses (having dropped the team something. He repaid the qualifying final to West them in spades. Coast in Perth the previous Two years later, it was week by four points). Franklin’s turn. Again, Sydney fell four goals things looked grim for the behind when Geelong’s Hawks who, in their first final David Johnson, Davis’s direct for six years, trailed Adelaide opponent, slipped forward to by as much as six goals in the kick a goal early in the fi nal second term of their elimination quarter. But with Barry Hall final at Docklands.

106 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

IN THE NICK OF TIME:

An ecstatic Nick Davis after his last-gasp goal against Geelong in the 2005 second semi-ﬁnal sent the SCG into a frenzy.

But once they started to gain control of the clearances midway through the second term, the Hawks looked the better team. And there was a match-up they were keen to take advantage of – emerging superstar Franklin against the shorter, slighter and slower Kris Massie. Franklin dragged the Hawks back into the contest in the second term and kept them in it PURE JOY:

Teammate Michael O’Loughlin j joins Davis in celebrating the Swans’ remarkable come-from-behind win over the Cats.

until the end. But when Jason Torney bagged a lovely goal against the run of play late in the ﬁnal quarter, Hawthorn had to ﬁnd one more goal to win. Cue Franklin. With 30 seconds to play, Robert Campbell had the ball on centre wing and short-passed it to Rick Ladson. With Hawks fans urging him to hurry-up and kick long to the top of the goalsquare, Ladson waited

T H E A F T E R M AT H

� The contrasting fortunes of both teams in the aftermath of their fighting wins could not have been greater. The Swans capitalised on their good fortune, rolling St Kilda lda in tthe h preliminary prelim pre limina inary ryy final at the MCG and a then outlasting West W Coast in an epic Grand Gran nd Final for their first flag a in 72 years. The Hawks Hawk ks came crashing b ba back to earth the th following ffoll llow week, turning turnin in a flat and an nd listless display di d in losing l to North Melbourne by 33 points. Davis D finished up with Sydney Sydn in 2008, after a 168-game 168-g career (incl (including u 71 at Collingwood). Collingwo oo Franklin won w the Coleman Medal Meed and played in Hawthorn’s Ha aw premiership p team t the following year yeea and is now considered o one of the superstars of o the AFL.

NEVER IN DOUBT:

Hawk superstar Lance Franklin coolly slots the 50m goal that ended Adelaide’s ﬁnals campaign in the 2007 elimination ﬁnal.

and waited, then waited some more until the lead came from Franklin. And he found him. Fifty metres from goal and on the ‘wrong’ side for a left-footer, Franklin calmly slotted the goal which, from the reverse angle on the Channel Ten broadcast, never looked like missing from the time it left his boot. Like with Davis two years prior, there was

ng else. barely time for anything as captured The television cameras the jubilation in the Hawthorn coach’s box, while at the same eil Craig time, Crows coach Neil g his papers was calmly collecting and preparing for thee long, he lonely walk back to the Adelaide rooms. ASHLEY BROWNE IS THE EDITOR AU OF BACKPAGELEAD.COM.AU

OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF TAPES AND BANDAGES TO THE AUSTRALIAN 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 107

PICK OF THE YOUNG CROP:

Daniel Hannebery is congratulated by his parents Matthew and Geraldine after winning the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star award. PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

Hannebery shines the

BRIGHTEST Consistency and hard work has paid oﬀ for young Swan Daniel Hannebery, winner of the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star award. C A L LU M T WOMEY

hen Daniel “There are so many good, Hannebery came young players throughout the into the Sydney competition. It hasn’t really sunk Swans line-up for in because a lot of my focus is the round-two clash against going on to this Sunday, but it’s a Adelaide, few would have great honour,” Hannebery said. thought the performance would Hannebery’s success in 2010 set the tone for the rest of was a result of his consistency his season. and work rate. In 11 games, he Hannebery picked up 23 gathered more than 20 touches, disposals and was later named and, with the ball in his hand, his the round’s NAB confidence and AFL Rising Star class stood out. nominee. “At the end of last It hasn’t really Last year I felt I was sunk in because Wednesday in off the pace and Melbourne, hadn’t got used a lot of my focus about five to the structures is going on to this months after as much, but Sunday, but it’s a that match after the first few and with an games I thought great honour elimination that if I could keep DANIEL HANNEBERY final on Sunday up my attitude and against Carlton application, I would in sight, Hannebery hold my spot in the team. accepted the Ron Evans Medal as “I started to feel a lot more the winner of the 2010 NAB AFL comfortable after getting Rising Star award. more of the footy.” It has been a big year for the However, his rise as a 19-year-old. In 19 matches, contender for the award Hannebery collected 398 probably gained momentum possessions at an average of 21 a after his brilliant performance game, and played an integral role against Hawthorn at the MCG in the Swans’ excellent season. in round 10. After accepting the medal, Hannebery’s 25-possession Hannebery said it was an honour and three-goal performance to win the award. almost helped the Swans get

NAB AFL RISING STAR VOTES PLAYER

VOTES

TOTAL

Daniel Hannebery Sydney Swans

5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Tom Scully Melbourne

4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3,

Tom Rockliﬀ Brisbane Lions

4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1,

Jack Trengove Melbourne

3, 2, 2, 2, 2

Ryan Bastinac North Melbourne

3, 2, 1

Jeﬀ Garlett Carlton

3, 2

Nathan Fyfe Fremantle

1, 1, 1

Michael Hurley Essendon

Nic Naitanui West Coast Eagles

1, 1

Ben Reid Collingwood

Ben Stratton Hawthorn

over the line, and it also stamped him as a future star. His dominant 38-possession game in the round-20 win over Fremantle was the high-point of his season. “At the start I was a bit awestruck walking in and seeing some of the guys, but everyone is so down-to-earth. The people at the Swans make you feel like you belong,” said Hannebery, who played seven games last year in his debut season at AFL level. The son of former Footscray player Matthew and nephew of Mark, who played for Collingwood, Hannebery is the second Swan to win the award, after Adam Goodes in 1999.

HONOUR ROLL

1993 Nathan Buckley (Bris) 1994 Chris Scott (Bris) 1995 Nick Holland (Haw) 1996 Ben Cousins (WCE) 1997 Michael Wilson (PA) 1998 Byron Pickett (NM) 1999 Adam Goodes (Syd) 2000 Paul Hasleby (Frem) 2001 Justin Koschitzke (St K) 2002 Nick Riewoldt (St K) 2003 Sam Mitchell (Haw) 2004 Jared Rivers (Melb) 2005 Brett Deledio (Rich) 2006 Danyle Pearce (PA) 2007 Joel Selwood (Geel) 2008 Rhys Palmer (Frem) 2009 Daniel Rich (BL) 2010 Daniel Hannebery (Syd) AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 109

BACKYARD HEROES…

Rising to the top The most exciting and talented youngsters in the land have been recognised in the list of nominations for the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star, and each had a story to tell. C A L LU M T WOMEY

ROUND 1 CHRIS YARRAN

“I was really nervous before the game, but once I got my ﬁrst touch, I realised I belonged out there.”

RYAN BASTINAC

» NORTH MELBOURNE

DOB: June 22, 1991 Height: 184cm Weight: 76kg Junior clubs: Rowville/ Dandenong U18 2010 games: 22 Goals: 7 Kicks: 193 Marks: 54 Handballs: 220 “It was always a goal to play as early as I could, but I knew if I got drafted, the work didn’t stop then.”

» CARLTON

DOB: December 19, 1990 Height: 180cm Weight: 84kg Junior clubs: Midvale/Swan Districts 2010 games: 16 Goals: 19 Kicks: 121 Marks: 56 Handballs: 66

ROUND 3

ROUND 2 DANIEL HANNEBERY

» SYDNEY SWANS

DOB: February 24, 1991 Height: 181cm Weight: 82kg Junior clubs: Kew Rovers/ Xavier College/Oakleigh U18 2010 games: 19 Goals: 9 Kicks: 187 Marks: 90 Handballs: 211 “I thought I did OK, but I certainly wasn’t expecting a Rising Star.”

ROUND 5 JACK TRENGOVE

» MELBOURNE

DOB: September 2, 1991 Height: 185cm Weight: 85kg Junior clubs: Kybybolite/Sturt 2010 games: 18 Goals: 8 Kicks: 156 Marks: 63 Handballs: 187 “I had never thought very much about it, but the preparation that goes into every week really surprised me.”

ROUND 4 NIC NAITANUI

» WEST COAST EAGLES

DOB: May 4, 1990 Height: 201cm Weight: 101kg Junior clubs: Midvale/Swan Districts 2010 games: 22 Goals: 9 Kicks: 94 Marks: 31 Handballs: 163 “When I stuﬀ up a tap-out, I put the onus on myself to clean it up. It gets me angry when I don’t place the hit-out in the right spot, and I put the blame on myself so I have to go and mop it up.”

ROUND 6 TODD BANFIELD

» BRISBANE LIONS

DOB: June 28, 1990 Height: 183cm Weight: 83kg Junior clubs: Upper Swan/Swan Districts 2010 games: 22 Goals: 27 Kicks: 146 Marks: 68 Handballs: 77 “My pace is one of my strengths, and not everyone has real pace so I try and use it as much as I can.”

he cross-section of NAB AFL Rising Star nominees this season is extraordinary. Though it shouldn’t surprise, young players from all backgrounds, locations and interests are, with their families, junior clubs and their communities, drawn together by Australian Football and, speciﬁcally, the NAB AFL Rising Star award. It started in round one with Carlton’s Chris Yarran – a West

Australian playing at one of Melbourne’s biggest clubs – and continued throughout the year. In this role, I was lucky enough to speak to all NAB AFL Rising Star nominees this season. A week after Yarran’s nomination, I got off the phone to the Sydney Swans’ Daniel Hannebery and told a Swans-supporting work colleague that the former Xavier College student didn’t mind talking. Only later did I ﬁnd out

his nickname at the club is ‘Chit Chat’. On the back of his game-changing performance for West Coast in round four against Essendon, Nic Naitanui’s honesty was refreshing. The No. 2 draft pick from 2008 is tall, athletic and easily indentiﬁable. He admitted the attention he received – and seeing himself plastered over the front, back and middle pages of newspapers – had been “really weird”.

Then there were the Melbourne boys – Jack Trengove, Jordan Gysberts and Tom Scully. Scully’s 39-possession game (and phenomenal 18-possession ﬁnal quarter) against the Western Bulldogs in round seven was probably the standout performance of any NAB AFL Rising Star nominee all season. To Scully, though, it was simply a “pretty good game”. “I wasn’t too worried about having a ‘break-out’ game as

ROUND 9 NATHAN FYFE

» FREMANTLE

DOB: September 18, 1991 Height: 186cm Weight: 74kg Junior clubs: Aquinas/Claremont 2010 games: 16 Goals: 13 Kicks: 146 Marks: 66 Handballs: 104

ROUND 7 TOM SCULLY

» MELBOURNE

DOB: May 15, 1991 Height: 182cm Weight: 77kg Junior clubs: Narre Warren/ Haileybury College/ Dandenong U18 2010 games: 21 Goals: 5 Kicks: 197 Marks: 80 Handballs: 255 “I wasn’t too worried about having a ‘break-out’ game as such, I have just wanted to play my role. But to have a pretty good game personally is always good.”

ROUND 8 JAKE MELKSHAM

» ESSENDON

DOB: August 29, 1991 Height: 185cm Weight: 74kg Junior clubs: Oak Park/ PEGS/Calder U18 2010 games: 14 Goals: 6 Kicks: 120 Marks: 43 Handballs: 88 “Experiencing the highs and lows of footy has been really valuable for me so far.”

ROUND 11 JORDAN GYSBERTS

“The level of intensity and professionalism required at training and games has been what I thought it would be like and, oﬀ the ground, settling into the club wasn’t a challenge at all.”

» MELBOURNE

ROUND 10 DUSTIN MARTIN

» RICHMOND

DOB: June 26, 1991 Height: 187cm Weight: 86kg Junior clubs: Castlemaine/ Bendigo U18 2010 games: 21 Goals: 11 Kicks: 210 Marks: 50 Handballs: 215 “I haven’t really played a great game yet. I think I’ve just been playing OK. I want to start having a few better ones soon.” on n..

DOB: June 11, 1991 Height: 190cm Weight: 84kg Junior clubs: Yarra Valley Grammar/Eastern U18 2010 games: 3 Goals: 0 Kicks: 25 Marks: 14 Handballs: 38 “You have a whole diﬀerent perspective on the ﬁeld as distinct from watching on the sidelines, and you see all the little things the good players do to get the ball.”

such,” Scully said at the time. “I just wanted to play my role. But to have a pretty good game personally is always good. It’s all a learning experience.” Something that struck me not only about Scully but most of the nominees was their ability deﬂect praise and instead credit their teammates and coaches.

Be it a fear of getting ahead of themselves or simply a genuine attempt to pass on credit, most of the nominees were keen to point to the efforts of others. When Richmond’s Dustin Martin won the nomination for his 21-disposal effort against Port Adelaide, he said he wanted to get better. A lot better.

“Hopefully I might be able to play a few more better games,” he said. “I haven’t really played a great game yet, I think I’ve just been playing OK, so I want to start having a few better ones soon.” In the following month, Martin was a catalyst as the Tigers displayed impressive

ROUND 13 TOM ROCKLIFF

ROUND 15 JACK REDDEN

» BRISBANE LIONS

ROUND 12 BEN REID

» COLLINGWOOD

DOB: April 29, 1989 Height: 195cm Weight: 99kg Junior clubs: Wangaratta Rovers/Murray U18 2010 games: 17 Goals: 0 Kicks: 152 Marks: 92 Handballs: 89 “I enjoy the fact that every week I’ve got a challenge in trying to stop someone.”

» BRISBANE LIONS

DOB: February 22, 1990 Height: 184cm Weight: 83kg Junior clubs: Benalla/ Murray U18 2010 games: 19 Goals: 4 Kicks: 220 Marks: 103 Handballs: 214 “It’s good to get knocked down a few times and have some setbacks because it makes you stronger.”

winning form. In the next five games, of which Richmond won four, Martin averaged 22 touches and finished the stint being tagged by the opposition. He definitely played “a few more better games”. The beauty of the NAB AFL Rising Star award is that it vindicates supporters’

ROUND 14 BEN STRATTON

» HAWTHORN

DOB: March 1, 1989 Height: 189cm Weight: 82kg Junior clubs: Margaret River/East Perth 2010 games: 20 Goals: 1 Kicks: 174 Marks: 103 Handballs: 104 “Last year, I had a few challenges playing on some big names at East Perth so I don’t mind the challenge. I like playing on the big names.”

DOB: December 9, 1990 Height: 189cm Weight: 82kg Junior clubs: Sacred Heart College/Glenelg 2010 games: 22 Goals: 4 Kicks: 191 Marks: 114 Handballs: 194 “I reckon the crop of young guys coming through at the Lions are showing really good signs for the club.”

ROUND 16 PHIL DAVIS

» ADELAIDE

DOB: August 30, 1990 Height: 195cm Weight: 90kg Junior clubs: St Peters College/North Adelaide 2010 games: 15 Goals: 1 Kicks: 100 Marks: 70 Handballs: 89 “I came to the club as a forward so try to play in defence as if I’m a forward, thinking about what they’re going to do and try to predict their movements.”

belief that their teams’ young prospects are actually going to become stars. In trying times, it also offers hope. The Brisbane Lions had a disappointing year but, along with Melbourne, had the equal-most NAB AFL Rising Star nominations. Lions Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden and Todd Banﬁeld already look likely to

share midﬁeld duties in years to come, but I was surprised to learn that not only are Rockliff and Redden housemates, they live in the same housing complex as Banﬁeld. Talk about a carpool. The NAB AFL Rising Star also rewards persistence. Collingwood’s Ben Reid, the oldest nominee of the season, was drafted as a 17-year-old by

the Magpies but had to wait until he was 21 before he cemented a spot in Collingwood’s defence, while Adelaide’s Phil Davis was named emergency eight times last year without breaking through for his AFL debut. Jarrad Grant, as well, fought off injuries to become an exciting forward for the Bulldogs this year after two years on their list.

The NAB AFL Rising Star doesn’t discriminate, either. In the last part of the season, talls (Essendon’s Michael Hurley and Port Adelaide’s Jackson Trengove), smalls (Blue Jeff Garlett) and those in-between (Kangaroo Sam Wright and Docker Anthony Morabito) were all rewarded for their ﬁne efforts.

ROUND 22

ROUND 20 ROUND 17

JACKSON TRENGOVE

JARRAD GRANT

» WESTERN BULLDOGS

DOB: July 6, 1989 Height: 192cm Weight: 81kg Junior clubs: Frankston Bombers/Dandenong U18 2010 games: 17 Goals: 27 Kicks: 136 Marks: 98 Handballs: 107 “I sat down mid-season with the coaches and just basically spoke about not taking the season for granted.”

ANTHONY MORABITO

» PORT ADELAIDE

ROUND 18 MICHAEL HURLEY

» ESSENDON

DOB: June 1, 1990 Height: 193cm Weight: 89kg Junior clubs: Macleod/ Northern U18 2010 games: 19 Goals: 12 Kicks: 176 Marks: 98 Handballs: 132 “You set yourself high standards, and if other people set them as well, then the least you can do is try to live up to them.”

ROUND 19 JEFF GARLETT

» CARLTON

DOB: August 3, 1989 Height: 180cm Weight: 74kg Junior clubs: Midvale/Swan Districts 2010 games: 19 Goals: 37 Kicks: 160 Marks: 71 Handballs: 69 “I thought it might take a couple of years to get on to the senior list, but I took my chance when it came and I’ve given it everything I could.”

» FREMANTLE

DOB: November 2, 1990 Height: 197cm Weight: 98kg Junior clubs: Strathmore/ PEGS/Calder U18 2010 games: 19 Goals: 3 Kicks: 84 Marks: 55 Handballs: 132

DOB: October 29, 1991 Height: 191cm Weight: 95kg Junior clubs: Harvey JFC/ Peel Thunder 2010 games: 21 Goals: 12 Kicks: 163 Marks: 57 Handballs: 112

“Playing in a position like the ruck where you’ve got to be pretty big and strong has meant it’s been tough to take control, but it’s been good for me.”

“It’s been a really good year. I didn’t know how many games I’d play, but as the year went on, I’ve found my feet and felt like I belong at AFL level.”

ROUND 21 SAM WRIGHT

» NORTH MELBOURNE

DOB: July 15, 1990 Height: 188cm Weight: 82kg Junior clubs: Katamatite/ Murray U18 2010 games: 20 0 Goals: 23 2 Kicks: 151 Marks: ks: 90 Handballs: 96 “It’s been pretty tyy tough tough with with wit t homesickness, but b t the bu th t e club cl club has has a been really supportive upp pp porti ort rrti t ve and and d I’m I’m enjoying myself.” elf. lff ”

timeon

NAB AFL RISING STAR

A licence to run

Young Docker Anthony Morabito has caught on quickly in his debut season sea ea asso on and is at a his best when taking the opposition on. CALLUM TWOMEY

hen Anthony Morabito joined Fremantle as a top-10 selection in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, the West Australian youngster wasn’t sure what to expect of life as an AFL player. With a home and away season under his belt and a finals series beckoning, Morabito has certainly adapted. “When you come into an AFL club, you think you’re going to train, do some weights and then be out of there. But as you find out pretty quickly, there’s not really a day off,” Morabito said. “Between recovery sessions, massages, meetings and training, it’s usually full days and the time we spend at the club was a big surprise to me. Now I’ve fully adjusted, it’s just like having a job that you actually enjoy.” As the year Morabito’s enjoyment went on, I’ve was evident last week found my feet against Carlton, as the and felt like 19-year-old played one I belong at of the best games of his debut season, collecting AFL level 18 possessions, kicking ANTHONY MORABITO a pretty big one goal and earning the role in the win, round 22 NAB AFL Rising which highlighted Star nomination. the importance of a rest.” “It’s been a really good year. Morabito’s pace, athleticism I didn’t know how many games and foot skills have been on I’d play, but as the year went on, show throughout 2010, and I’ve found my feet and felt like he has been one of many I belong at AFL level, which is young Dockers to take the club probably the most important forward, averaging 13 disposals thing,” he said. in his 21 games. As one of a number of Dockers He said coach Mark Harvey controversially rested the gives his team licence – “to a previous week against Hawthorn, degree” – to play a natural, Morabito said the team’s win over free-flowing game. the Blues justified the players “We know our best brand having the week off. of footy comes when our “The rest came at the right running players are taking on time,” he said. “I felt a lot fresher the opposition, and players coming into the game, and all like Stephen Hill, Hayden the players who were rested had Ballantyne and myself are able

2010 NAB AFL Rising Star Nominees Round 1 – Chris Yarran (Carl) Round 2 – Daniel Hannebery (Syd) Round 3 – Ryan Bastinac (NM) Round 4 – Nic Naitanui (WCE) Round 5 – Jack Trengove (Melb) Round 6 – Todd Banﬁeld (Bris) Round 7 – Tom Scully (Melb) Round 8 – Jake Melksham (Ess) Round 9 – Nathan Fyfe (Frem) Round 10 – Dustin Martin (Rich) BRIGHT PROSPECT:

Anthony Morabito has quickly adapted to the demands of AFL-level football and is looking forward to the ﬁnals.

Round 11 – Jordan Gysberts (Melb) Round 12 – Ben Reid (Coll) Round 13 – Tom Rockliﬀ (BL) Round 14 – Ben Stratton (Haw) Round 15 – Jack Redden (BL) Round 16 – Phil Davis (Adel) Round 17 – Jarrad Grant (WB) Round 18 – Michael Hurley (Ess)

to put the after-burners on,” said Morabito, who grew up a West Coast supporter. In between preparing for the club’s ﬁrst ﬁnals appearance since 2006, Morabito (and a group of his teammates) is studying commerce part-time at the University of Western Australia. “It’s been tough to go to class sometimes, especially when we’ve travelled interstate for games, but it’s been something I’ve enjoyed in that it helps being away from football,” Morabito said. “Going to uni for a day makes me feel like I haven’t been at the club for a while and makes me refreshed and keen to get back as soon as possible.”

Round 19 – Jeﬀ Garlett (Carl) Round 20 – Jackson Trengove (PA) Round 21 – Sam Wright (NM) Round 22 – Anthony Morabito (PA)

THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW 1

Morabito grew up on a dairy farm in Harvey, in Western Australia’s south-west.

2 He represented the state as a junior in basketball.

3 His ﬁrst job was bottling wine.

Each week throughout the home and away season, a panel of judges will select the nominee for the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star. At the completion of the season, one outstanding player will be chosen as the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star winner. He will receive an investment folio, a dedicated personal banker, a financial planner and the Ron Evans Medal, all courtesy of the NAB. The NAB Rising Star award is the final stage of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL. 114 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

The AFL, Australia’s pride. Sixteen teams, Twenty two a side.. They’ll take thee fieldd, From m where they caame. To be Premiier And make their name. And from the lounge Or stands we’ll cheer. A nation’s voice, The world will hear. The AFL, The nation’s test. Make sure when you see it,, It’s on the best.

Neo Plasma. Blacker blacks mean brighter colours. Whatever your team, whatever its colours, you can be sure they’ll stand out on a Panasonic Neo Plasma TV. Its blacker blacks mean brighter colours. And its 600Hz Sub-field Drive gives you crystal clear, full high def resolution without the blur, no matter how explosive the action gets.

Col Hutchinson

timeon Our AFL history guru answers your queries.

NAME GAME

From all angles

Which players have played in the most ﬁnals matches? R. DENNIS, MURRUMBEENA, VIC.

CH: A total of 103 men have

played in 20 or more finals matches. All but 10 of them played in a Grand Final. Hawthorn’s Michael Tuck is the record-holder with 39 finals and seven premierships. Star Magpie full-forward Gordon Coventry played 31 finals, including five winning Grand Finals. Leigh Matthews (four premierships for Hawthorn), Bruce Doull (four for Carlton) and Wayne Schimmelbusch (two for North Melbourne) all finished their playing careers with 29 finals appearances. Among the players who are likely to play on in 2011, just two have played in at least 20 finals – Dustin Fletcher (22 for Essendon) and Simon Black (20 for Brisbane).

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

SPRING CHAMPIONS: Carlton’s

Bruce Doull played in 29 ﬁnals and four premierships, while three-time Brisbane premiership star Simon Black (above left) is one of only two current players to have featured in at least 20 ﬁnals.

AFL mystery men Edward Gordon Brewis � Born at Bedlington, England, on October 13, 1901, Brewis joined Carlton from Maﬀra in Gippsland as a 179cm, 79kg ruckman/defender. From 1925 until 1928, he booted 12 goals in 60 senior appearances, including two ﬁnals, wearing guernsey No. 20. Later, he moved to Queensland.

Walter Frederick Victor Sykes � Sykes was born on May 2, 1881, and played his early football with Fitzroy Baptists as a mid-ﬁelder/rover. After playing four games with Collingwood in 1904, he transferred to VFA club Richmond. Between 1907 and 1912, he kicked 17 goals in 41 matches for Melbourne. It is likely he died in Queensland.

If you have any information regarding the above Mystery Men, including date of death, contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col.hutchinson@aﬂ .com.au.

� Essendon’s Jay Neagle should be a natural forward pocket, booting goals from all angles – at least if we go by his name. Neagle is a variation of another surname, Nangle; and Nangle derives from an incorrect dividing of the old descriptive surname atten angle, meaning “at the corner”. So someone may have been “Matthew atten angle” – that is, “Matthew who lives in a corner of land.” “Angle” comes eventually from the Latin angulus, meaning “corner” or “angle”. Other current or former AFL names formed in this way include Nash (atten ash – “near the ash tree”) and Nalder (atten alder – “near the alder tree”). Jay Neagle and his father, former Essendon and Swans star Merv, are the only Neagles to have played League football, and there is one instance of Nagle, another possible variation. There have been eight Nashes (the most notable being Swans champion and Test cricketer Laurie) and two Nalders, including 1961 Hawthorn premiership player Ron. KEVAN CARROLL

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TIPSTERS

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Geelong Cats Hawthorn Collingwood Sydney Swans

Geelong Cats Hawthorn Collingwood Carlton

Geelong Cats Hawthorn Collingwood Sydney Swans

St Kilda Hawthorn Collingwood Carlton

116 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

This week, special guest appearance by JIMMY BARTEL

YOUR OFFICIAL GRAND FINAL DESTINATION

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Rick Milne

COLLECTABLES

Roos hop interstate

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

RICK’S RARITY

I have a North Melbourne urne 1969 Centenary pre-season n tour program featuring Kangaroo angaroo players including John n Dugdale, Laurie Dwyer and Sam m Kekovich. The Roos went to South h Australia and Western Australia and played d matches against West Torrens and d West Perth, and even had ad a day tri trip p to Rottnest Island. Any value?

FLYING KANGAROOS:

This program for North Melbourne’s pre-season tour of Adelaide and Perth is valued at $150.

JIM QUIGLEY, ASCOT VALE, VIC. C.

RM: Programs like this do not

turn up very often and I have never seen one of these.. It’s worth at least $150.

I am collecting badges featuring aturing the 2006 West Coast premiership iership side and I am missing thosee of Chris Judd, Drew Banﬁeld, ld, Rohan Jones and Steven Armstrong. Can anyone help p me? I can be contacted through ugh my daughter’s email addresss – tanya1ht@optusnet.com.au.

� Collingwood is well positioned in its bid to win p this year’s premiership th and here is a ﬂashback an to the season before the Magpies won the 1953 ﬂag. Ma The padded photo does not Th identify the players, but ide there the e are plenty of stars, iincluding ncll Des Healey, Lou and d Ron Richards, Bob Rose, Gordon Gord r Hocking, Neil Mann and d coach c Phonse Kyne. This i rare a photo o is i w worth wort t about o t $400. $ 0

KAY BOYLE, BEVERLEY, WA.

RM: I hope someone out there re

can help you.

In 2007 my daughter got one of the specially produced footballs for that year’s Grand Final. She since has had all 22 Geelong players and coach Mark Thompson sign it with the same pen. The club says it is the only one with all the players’ signatures and not many of the balls were produced. It is in mint condition and all the autographs are clear and legible. Any idea of value? ROGER PHIPPS, VIA EMAIL

118 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

RM: As I keep saying, footballs

go ﬂat and the signatures fade over time. However, your item is better than most given that the signatures are on a specially produced football. It should be worth $500-1000, but remember, there are thousands of signed footballs doing the rounds and few sell well.

I have a Melbourne guernsey from the club’s 150th anniversary dinner. It has been signed by

six of Melbourne’s rne’s greatest players yers – David Neitz, N Jim Stynes, Garry Lyon, ‘H ‘Hassa’ Hassa Hassa’ Mann, Robert Flower and Ron Barassi. I am not interested in selling it, but would appreciate a valuation. SIMON COLLINS, VIA EMAIL

RM: Your guernsey was released

in 2008 and should have a square 150th anniversary logo on the front. You might be looking at up to $750.

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

timeon

KIDS’ CORNER

IVE F TO FIND

Sudoku

� Solve this puzzle by ﬁlling in the empty squares with the nine letters of the player’s name. You must make sure you use each letter only once in each row, column or small box of nine squares. Do not guess, as there is only one correct solution.

J. VAN BERLO FREMANTLE

A B

L J

L R

A V R

3 The winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star award 4 When were the elimination and qualifying ﬁnals

ﬁrst played?

5 Which Kangaroo played his ﬁnal AFL game

last weekend?

N J B

ﬁrst week of the last year’s ﬁnals series?

wins which medal?

R J

O E

1 Which three players each kicked ﬁve goals in the 2 Which team won this year’s ‘minor’ premiership? p?

O V

QUICK QUESTIONS

E THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Ball changed to red; seagulls added; Carlton player Jeﬀ Garlett’s boot changed to a work boot; logo removed from Garlett’s right boot; part of white anchor on Matthew Pavlich’s jumper in background narrowed. 5 QUICK QUESTIONS: 1. Jason Porplyzia (Adelaide), Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane Lions) and Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda); 2. Collingwood; 3. Ron Evans Medal; 4. 1972; 5. Corey Jones. B IG G MOUTH: MOUT M MO O OU H: BIG SCRAMBLED SCRA SC S C CRA RA AM MBLE BLE LE L ED FO FOOTBALLER: OTBALLER BA LE LER ER E R: CRYPTIC CRYP C RYP YP T TIC IC C FOOTBALLERS: FOOT F FO OO OO OT TBALLERS: LE

120 20 AFL FL RECORD REC CO CO OR RD visit viissit vvis it aﬂ aﬂrecord.com.au rec re record eecc o ord or rrd d.com c m.a au

timeon

LAST LINE

Applying data laterally

Based on percentages, it looks like the Cats or Pies

hose who decided to align the playing of the finals series with the first month of spring were truly inspired. The scheduling is a marketing triumph. The air is full of expectancy. This weekend, the best teams emerging from the winter months of home and away football have the chance to proceed to a Grand Final, and a premiership cup. There is a lot of romance attached to football in spring. I’m lucky enough to be familiar with the fairytale angle. But in my role as a statistics analyst, I’m more inclined to look at what the evidence says about the question on everyone’s lips: who will win this year’s premiership? Romance will undoubtedly play its part, as it always does. However, in my view, the greatest appeal of finals is witnessing the progression of teams during the home and away season culminating in a quality contest at this time of the year. Practice and form in the lead-up matters. A measure of how much quality work it takes during the home and away season to win a Grand Final is building a healthy ladder percentage (calculated by dividing total points scored by total points conceded and then multiplying by 100). Why I like percentage as a measure of a team’s premiership chances is simple really. The formula confirms how good a team is at defending at one end and attacking at the other. Notwithstanding the possibility of a miracle, it is proven that quality form at both ends of the ground invariably counts most. Since the formation of the AFL in 1990, the team with the lowest ladder percentage to win a premiership was North Melbourne, with 115.7 per cent, in 1999. 122 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

NUMBERS GAME:

Geelong’s Brad Ottens and Collingwood’s Darren Jolly are likely to lock horns in the Grand Final if history is any guide.

The Sydney Swans won Of this year’s finalists, in 2005 with 116.39 per cent Hawthorn, Fremantle, the and Essendon in 1993 with Sydney Swans and Carlton all 119.1 per cent. have percentages well below The other 17 premiership the target range needed to win teams from 1990-2009 had a a premiership. percentage of at least 120, For them, their 2010 and many tracked well above campaigns are likely to be all that range. about gaining valuable finals In summary, the absolute experience for next season. lowest ladder percentage Collingwood and threshold for Geelong easily had the winning a highest percentage premiership marks. The (percentage) appears to be Based on formula confirms around 115. number of wins, how good a team is The table Collingwood at defending at one (above right) has a 56 per looks at cent chance end and attacking the past 50 of winning the at the other premierships, premiership and specifically the Geelong a 22 per links between finishing cent chance. with a high percentage and Based on winning the flag. percentage, Geelong has a Only one team, Geelong in slightly higher chance 1963, has won a premiership (40 per cent) to Collingwood’s when ranked fifth in percentage 38 per cent chance. St Kilda has at the end of the home and away a 12 per cent chance based on season. And the only team that match points and 14 per cent has won from fifth on the ladder on percentage, with the (on points) is Adelaide, in 1998. Western Bulldogs having an

RANKINGS BY PERCENTAGE AND MATCH POINTS OF THE HE LAST 50 PREMIERS RANKING BY PERCENTAGE

GF WINS

1st

38%

2nd

40%

3rd

12%

4th

5th

6th-8th

RANKING BY MATCH POINTS

GF WINS

1st

56%

2nd

22%

3rd

14%

4th

5th

2010 TOP EIGHT MATCH POINTS

Collingwood

141.68

Geelong Cats

147.94

St Kilda

121.62

W Bulldogs

125.37

Sydney Swans

108.27

Fremantle

103.88

Hawthorn

110.67

Carlton

108.07

8 per cent chance based on match points and 6 per cent based on percentage. There is a 2 per cent chance of a bolter striking from outside the main contenders – a team for the romantics, if you will. Perhaps Hawthorn can do it, or Paul Roos in his last year as Sydney coach? But, because of the trust I have in the percentage and match points system, I have serious doubts. TED HOPKINS IS A CARLTON PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND FOUNDER OF CHAMPION DATA. HIS CURRENT PROJECT IS TEDSPORT, A HIGH PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS AND CONSULTING SERVICE, TEDPSORT.COM.AU.

We got Lance Franklin to hang up his boots≥

Artist: David Williams, Gilimbaa

Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and other Indigenous stars from across the AFL have donated their boots to be painted by Australian Indigenous artists. Buddy’s boots are part of an exhibition to celebrate the depth and talent of Indigenous players in the AFL today. To find out more, visit afl.com.au/qantasboots The Qantas Boots and Dreams Exhibition. AFL House, Melbourne, 2 – 20 September. Qantas. Proud supporter of dreams.

aurionv6.com.au

Since launch, Toyota Aurion has been voted Australia’s best large car more often than any other in its class. With intelligent performance, 200kW of refined V6 power, all wrapped in a sleekly styled package, Aurion sets a new category benchmark which it defends year in year out. Don’t take our word for it, take theirs.

GOLD STAR CARS

Sportivo ZR6 model shown. Awards relate to various other Aurion models.