AFL Record, Qaulifying Final 2, 2010

78 ."(1*& .&/503

.JDL .BMUIPVTF CFDPNFT UIF TFDPOE MPOHFTU TFSWJOH DPBDI JO -FBHVF IJTUPSZ UIJT XFFLFOE BT IF UBLFT $PMMJOHXPPE JOUP BOPUIFS l OBMT TFSJFT

'*/"-4 8&&, 0/& 4&15&.#&3 'FBUVSFT

.JDL .BMUIPVTF

5IF .BHQJF DPBDI DPOUJOVFT IJT BNB[JOH SVO

#FSOJF 2VJOMBO

" DIBNQJPO BIFBE PG IJT UJNF

5IF CFTU PG UIF TFBTPO

3Fm FDUJPOT PG B NFNPSBCMF ZFBS

3FHVMBST

#BDLDIBU

:PVS TBZ PO UIF GPPUCBMM XPSME

5IF #PVODF

7JFXT OFXT JOUFSWJFXT GBDUT EBUB DVMUVSF

.BUDIEBZ

4UBUT QSFWJFXT IJTUPSZ BOE MJOF VQT

.PNFOUT PG UIF EFDBEF

'JOBMT IFSPFT /JDL %BWJT BOE -BODF 'SBOLMJO

/"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS

%BOJFM )BOOFCFSZ XJOT UIF QSFTUJHJPVT BXBSE

"OTXFS .BO ,JET $PSOFS 5BMLJOH 1PJOU

5FE )PQLJOT TBZT QFSDFOUBHFT GBWPVS 1JFT $BUT 5)*4 8&&, 4 $07&34 5IFSF BSF TFQBSBUF DPWFST GPS BMM GPVS l OBMT UP CF QMBZFE UIJT XFFLFOE GFBUVSJOH TUBS QMBZFST GSPN FBDI PG UIF FJHIU DPNQFUJOH DMVCT

SMOOTHY MICRO

SUSPENSION BUGGY UP OR DOWN IN 5 SECONDS...

02 9417 4055 or email gary@underpar.com.au www.underpar.com.au *No 1 Selling Australian Golf Buggy Brand 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. As voted by the Australian Golf Trade.

Source: Sports Marketing Surveys Pty Ltd June 2010.

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

Your say on the world of football

GFFECBDL

&%*503 4 -&55&3

'PPUCBMM T IBSTI SFBMJUJFT

5JHFST SFBEZ UP SPBS

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. '*0/" .*--4 3087*--& 7*$

/P SFTQFDU TIPXO

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?

30# 1"340/4 )*/%."34) 4"

(&/&3"- ."/"(&3 $0..&3$*"- 01&3"5*0/4 %BSSFO #JSDI "'- $03103"5& #64*/&44 ."/"(&3 3JDIBSE 4JNLJTT "'- 3&$03% ."/"(*/( &%*503 (FPä 4MBUUFSZ "'- 3&$03% &%*503 1FUFS %J 4JTUP

0/ 5)& ."3$) %FTQJUF B l OBM SPVOE MPTT 3JDINPOE GBOT BSF IBQQZ XJUI UIF 5JHFST QSPHSFTT )FSF 3PCJO /BIBT DFMFCSBUFT B HPBM MBTU XFFLFOE

&BHMFT UP UBLF m JHIU

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. +0)/ .645"'" 7*" &."*-

130%6$5*0/ &%*503 .JDIBFM -PWFUU 83*5&34 /JDL #PXFO #FO $PMMJOT +JN .BJO $BNFSPO /PBLFT 1FUFS 3ZBO $BMMVN 5XPNFZ 46# &%*5034 (BSZ )BODPDL )PXBSE ,PUUPO 45"5*45*$*"/ $BNFSPO 4JODMBJS $3&"5*7& %*3&$503 "OESFX )VUDIJTPO %&165: "35 %*3&$503 4BN 3VTTFMM

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

)"7& :063 4":

5IF CFTU MFUUFS FBDI SPVOE XJMM SFDFJWF UIF (BSZ "CMFUU KOS "VTUSBMJBO 'PPUCBMM 5SBJOJOH %7% &NBJM Bm SFDPSEFEJUPS! TMBUUFSZNFEJB DPN PS XSJUF UP "'- 3FDPSE 4MBUUFSZ .FEJB (SPVQ )BSCPVS &TQMBOBEF %PDLMBOET 7*$

Ő *O SFDFOU ZFBST UIF HBNF IBT CFDPNF WFSZ HPPE BU TFOEJOH Pä JUT IFSPFT BOE XF TBX B IPTU PG QMBZFST SFTQFDUGVMMZ GBSFXFMMFE MBTU XFFLFOE &WFO (FFMPOH QSFTJEFOU 'SBOL $PTUB SJHIU IBE B NPNFOU XIFO $BUT GBOT BU 4LJMMFE 4UBEJVN BDLOPXMFEHFE UIF XPSL IF E EPOF UP NBLF UIF DMVC B QPXFS BHBJO :FT XF SF HPPE BU DFMFCSBUJOH CVU UIF CVTJOFTT PG GPPUCBMM n UIF XBZ JU PQFSBUFT UPEBZ CZ EFTJHO PS TJNQMZ CFDBVTF PG DJSDVNTUBODFT n JTO U BMXBZT BCPVU HPPE UJNFT IBQQZ FOEJOHT PS PSDIFTUSBUFE HPPECZFT .BUUIFX ,OJHIUT XPLF VQ MBTU 4VOEBZ DPOUFNQMBUJOH B GVMM SFWJFX PG &TTFOEPO T GPPUCBMM PQFSBUJPOT #VU CFGPSF UIF EBZ XBT EPOF IF E CFFO TBDLFE XJUI UIF #PNCFST TFBSDIJOH GPS B OFX DPBDI TFF TUPSZ QBHF *O UIF QBTU GFX ZFBST XF WF XBUDIFE PO BT #FO $PVTJOT CBUUMFE WBSJPVT Pä l FME DIBMMFOHFT "OE UIJT XFFL XF MFBSOFE PG UIF CBUUMFT DPOGSPOUJOH ZPVOH )BXUIPSO QMBZFS 5SBWJT 5VDL QBHF 1SPWJEJOH B TPVOE FOWJSPONFOU BOE BQQSPQSJBUF TVQQPSU TZTUFNT GPS UIPTF JO UIF HBNF n BOE UIPTF MFBWJOH JU n SFNBJOT BO FOPSNPVTMZ DPNQMFY UBTL POF UIF "'- JUT DMVCT BOE HSPVQT TVDI BT UIF QMBZFST BOE DPBDIFT BTTPDJBUJPOT DPOUJOVF UP BEESFTT 'PPUCBMM JT JOEFFE QBSU FOUFSUBJONFOU CVU JU NVTU BMTP EFBM XJUI MJGF T SFBMJUJFT PETER DI SISTO

%&4*(/&34 "MJTPO 8SJHIU %BOJFM 'SBXMFZ 1)050 &%*5034 /BUBMJF #PDDBTTJOJ (JOOZ 1JLF 130%6$5*0/ ."/"(&3 5SPZ %BWJT 130%6$5*0/ $003%*/"5034 4UFQIFO -PSEJOH &NNB .FBHIFS %*453*#65*0/ ."/"(&3 "EFMF .PSUPO $0..&3$*"- ."/"(&3 "MJTPO )VSCFSU #VSOT

/"5*0/"- 4"-&4 ."/"(&3 n 41035 4IBOF 1VSTT "$$06/5 ."/"(&3 ,BUF )BSEXJDL "%7&35*4*/( 4"-&4 $003%*/"503 -BVSB .VMMJOT "EWFSUJTJOH 1)050(3"1): 4FBO (BSOTXPSUIZ .JDIBFM 8JMMTPO -BDIMBO $VOOJOHIBN "'- 1IPUPT Bm QIPUPT DPN BV

13*/5&% #: 5)*4 8&&, 4 $07&3 1.1 1SJOU 9999 99999 "%%3&44 $033&410/%&/$& 50 5IF &EJUPS "'- 3FDPSE 9999999999999 9 (SPVOE 'MPPS (P UP Bm QIPUPT DPN BV )BSCPVS &TQMBOBEF UP PSEFS QSJOUT %PDLMBOET 7JDUPSJB 1 PG UIJT JNBHF ' & QFUFSE!TMBUUFSZNFEJB DPN "'- 3&$03% 70- '*/"-4 8&&, $PQZSJHIU "$/ /P *44/ 1SJOU 1PTU BQQSPWFE 11

AUSTRALIA’S #1 TELEVISION RETAILER

INTRODUCING... SHARP QUATTRON TECHNOLOGY Sharp’s new Quad Pixel technology delivers amazingly vivid and accurate colour reproduction as well as enhanced energy efficiency.

Conventional RGB Panel

4 COLOUR Red, Green, Blue

+ YELLOW

RGB Quad Pixel

Introducing Sharp’s Quattron technology; a break-through in the fundamental make-up of LCD...and it has taken the inventor of LCD TV to do it!

You have to see it, to see it.

RGBY 1. Improved Colour 2. Ultra-Low Power Consumption

Vivid yellow of the sunflower.

More real experience of the brass instrument

Accurate colour reproduction of the cyan sky and the emerald green ocean.

Sharp’s “one-of-a-kind” Quattron with yellow pixel added to conventional RGB panel, enables the brilliant expansion of colour reproduction and advanced energy-efficient TV system operation.

AVAILABLE IN 3 SCREEN SIZES Full High Definition LED LCD ‘Quattron’ Television.

‘Quattron’ four primary colours technology, Edge LED backlight, Fine Motion Advanced 100Hz, USB input, 5,000,000:1 contrast, 4x HDMI. Available in the following sizes:

40”/101cm 46”/116cm 52”/132cm

LC40LE820X LC46LE820X LC52LE820X

2299 $ 2899 $ 3999

$

FOR YOUR NEAREST STORE CALL

THE TELEVISION SPECIALIST www.harveynorman.com.au

Harvey Norman® stores are operated by independent franchisees.

Product offers end 08/09/10.

180151_NAU

1 " 4/ 54 0 ) 4 % / 6 30

4)*/*/( */ 5)& 46/

)BXUIPSO T $ZSJM 3JPMJ XBT BU IJT EB[[MJOH CFTU MBTU 4BUVSEBZ

5ISJMMJOH EPXO UP UIF l OBM BDU

"

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.

"4)-&: #308/& "/% 1&5&3 %* 4*450

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

)*()4 "/% -084 "EFMBJEF W 4U ,JMEB "".* 4UBEJVN Ő *U XBT B DBTF PG XIBU XBT BOE XIBU DPVME IBWF CFFO XIFO "EFMBJEF GBOT GBSFXFMMFE "OESFX .D-FPE BOE 5SFOU )FOUTDIFM MBTU 4BUVSEBZ BT XFMM BT DMVC DBQUBJO 4JNPO (PPEXJO BOE GPSXBSE #SFUU #VSUPO .D-FPE SFUJSFE BT POF PG UIF BMM UJNF HSFBUT XJUI B MJTU PG BDIJFWFNFOUT UIBU XPVME l MM BO IPOPVS CPBSE n EVBM QSFNJFSTIJQ QMBZFS BOE /PSN 4NJUI NFEBMMJTU UISFF UJNF CFTU BOE GBJSFTU l WF UJNF "MM "VTUSBMJBO JODMVEJOH BT DBQUBJO JO UXJDF QMBDFE JO UIF #SPXOMPX .FEBM +JN 4UZOFT NFEBMMJTU .JDIBFM 5VDL NFEBMMJTU NFNCFS PG UIF *OEJHFOPVT 5FBN PG UIF $FOUVSZ BOE "EFMBJEF HBNFT SFDPSE IPMEFS -JUUMF XPOEFS IJT DIJMESFO TPO $POOPS BOE EBVHIUFS .BEJTPO MPPL TP QSPVE )FOUTDIFM XBT OPU RVJUF BT GPSUVOBUF BOE XJMM CF SFNFNCFSFE BT B QMBZFS XIP XBT DVU EPXO CFGPSF IJT QSJNF 5IF UBMFOUFE GPSXBSE NBEF BQQFBSBODFT CVU TVä FSFE BO IPSSJl D LOFF JOKVSZ JO MBUF BOE NJTTFE UIF OFYU UXP TFBTPOT XJUI SFMBUFE JOKVSJFT .*$)"&- -07&55 1)050 4-"55&3: .&%*" (3061 "'- 1)0504

8)"5 " 45"35 'SFNBOUMF BOE $BSMUPO HPU UIF SPVOE HPJOH BU 4VCJBDP 0WBM XJUI .BSD .VSQIZ IBOECBMMJOH UP B UFBNNBUF EFTQJUF UIF Fä PSUT PG "OUIPOZ .PSBCJUP XIP XPVME FOE UIF SPVOE BT UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS BXBSE OPNJOFF ZPVOH %PDLFS .JDIBFM 8BMUFST DFMFCSBUFT B HPBM (FFMPOH QMBZFST XBSN VQ GPS UIFJS HBNF BHBJOTU 8FTU $PBTU BU 4LJMMFE 4UBEJVN

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

.*9&% #"( /JD /BJUBOVJ BOE IJT &BHMFT UFBNNBUFT XPSLFE IBSE CVU DPVMEO U TUPQ UIF $BUT )BXUIPSO QBJS $MJOUPO :PVOH BOE

-BODF 'SBOLMJO XFSF LFZT UP UIF )BXLT XJO PWFS $PMMJOHXPPE .BHQJF %BZOF #FBNT IBE B DIBODF UP QVU IJT UFBN CBDL JO GSPOU MBUF JO UIF MBTU RVBSUFS CVU NJTTFE IJT TIPU BU HPBM "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

/05 $-04& &/06() 'SFNBOUMF W $BSMUPO 4VCJBDP Ő 5IF TJSFO IBT TPVOEFE $BSMUPO IBT UISPXO FWFSZUIJOH BU 'SFNBOUMF POMZ UP IBWF GBMMFO BHPOJTJOHMZ TIPSU 5IF #MVFT BSF TJY QPJOUT EPXO UJNF JT VQ BOE $BSMUPO T )FBUI 4DPUMBOE IPXMT JO EFTQBJS 8IFO UIBU l OBM CFMM SBOH BU 4VCJBDP 0WBM $BSMUPO LOFX JU XPVME CF PO UIF SPBE BHBJO GPS UIF l STU XFFL PG UIF l OBMT .BLJOH UIF FYQFSJFODF NPSF QBJOGVM XBT UIBU UIF #MVFT HPU TP DMPTF EFTQJUF USBJMJOH CZ QPJOUT BU UISFF RVBSUFS UJNF 8JUI IBMG PG 'SFNBOUMF T UFBN SFTUFE UIF QSFWJPVT XFFL NBOZ UIPVHIU UIF %PDLFST XPVME l OJTI UIF GBTUFTU #VU $BSMUPO TUPSNFE CBDL JOUP DPOUFOUJPO BOE XIFO 4DPUMBOE CPPUFE UIF TFDPOE HPBM PG UIF l OBM UFSN UIF HBNF XBT BMJWF 5IFSF XFSF NPSF HPBMT UIF DSPXE XBT TUVOOFE CVU $BSMUPO SBO PVU PG UJNF 4PNFUJNFT UIF HBNF JT DSVFM $".&30/ /0",&4 1)050 8*-- 3644&-- "'- 1)0504

61 '03 (3"#4 "EFMBJEF BOE 4U ,JMEB QMBZFST SJTF GPS UIJT DPOUFTU BU "".* 4UBEJVN XJUI $SPXT JODMVEJOH 3PSZ 4MPBOF #SFOU 3FJMMZ .BUUIFX +BFOTDI BOE %BWJE .BDLBZ DFMFCSBUJOH B QPTJUJWF FOE UP UIFJS TFBTPO 8FTUFSO #VMMEPH %BOJFM (JBOTJSBDVTB BOE #PNCFS $PVSUFOFZ %FNQTFZ CBUUMF GPS UIF CBMM JO UIFJS NBUDI BU &UJIBE 4UBEJVN

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

/05)*/( -&'5 */ 5)& 5"/, 3JDINPOE W 1PSU "EFMBJEF &UJIBE 4UBEJVN Ő 8IFO IJT UI NBUDI XBT PWFS #FO $PVTJOT TUPPE JO UIF NJEEMF PG &UJIBE 4UBEJVN BOE UPME GPSNFS UFBNNBUF .BUUIFX 3JDIBSETPO OPX XPSLJOH GPS $IBOOFM 4FWFO IF XBT FYIBVTUFE *U IBE CFFO B UPVHI XFFL GPS UIF ZFBS PME XIP QMBZFE IJT NBUDIFT GPS 3JDINPOE XFBSJOH /P )JT UFMFWJTJPO EPDVNFOUBSZ 4VDI *T -JGF BJSFE JO UIF EBZT CFGPSF IJT MBTU NBUDI "T IFBEMJOFT XFSF CFJOH DIVSOFE PVU BOE PQJOJPOT UISVTU GPSXBSE $PVTJOT XBT XPSLJOH UP HFU IJT JOKVSFE IBNTUSJOH SJHIU GPS POF MBTU NBUDI "T XF TBX IJT MFH XBTO U SJHIU BHBJOTU 1PSU "EFMBJEF CVU IF SBO BOE DSFBUFE BOE ESFX IJT UFBNNBUFT UP IJN IBOECBMMJOH VOMFTT IF BCTPMVUFMZ IBE UP LJDL #Z HBNF T FOE IF IBE HJWFO FWFSZUIJOH *O UIF SPPNT MBUFS BGUFS DBQUBJO $ISJT /FXNBO BOE 5SFOU $PUDIJO DBSSJFE IJN Pä $PVTJOT UPME "8 IF hIBE GBMMFO JO MPWFv XJUI 3JDINPOE 1&5&3 %* 4*450 1)050 4&"/ ("3/48035): "'- 1)0504

*/5&/4& .BUUIFX ,OJHIUT DPBDIFE UIF #PNCFST GPS UIF UI UJNF PO 4BUVSEBZ OJHIU CVU XBT PVU UIF OFYU EBZ 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT SVDLNBO .JLF 1ZLF BOE UIF #SJTCBOF -JPOT .BUUIFX -FVFOCFSHFS BJN UP HBJO BEWBOUBHF BU B TUPQQBHF XIJMF -JPO $IFZOFF 4UJMMFS XBJUT GPS UIF UBQ PVU l STU HBNFS 4BN 3FJE HFUT BO BGUFS HBNF EPVTJOH GSPN IJT 4XBOT UFBNNBUFT "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

5)"/,4 +6/*03 .FMCPVSOF W /PSUI .FMCPVSOF .$( Ő *U XBT B TBE FYJU GSPN GPPUCBMM GPS .FMCPVSOF DBQUBJO +BNFT .D%POBME +VTU UIF QSFWJPVT XFFL XIFO .D%POBME XBT QSFQBSJOH GPS IJT UI HBNF UIF %FNPOT UPME IJN IF XPVME CF SFUJSJOH BU TFBTPO T FOE &WFS UIF UFBN QMBZFS UIF VUJMJUZ LOPXO BT A+VOJPS BDDFQUFE UIF EFDJTJPO BOE JO UIF l OBM NBUDI PG UIF ZFBS BHBJOTU /PSUI .FMCPVSOF QMBZFE IJT IFBSU PVU USZJOH UP MJGU IJT UFBN PWFS UIF MJOF 5IF %FNPOT MPTU CZ QPJOUT CVU OP CMBNF DPVME CF BUUBDIFE UP .D%POBME "T VTVBM IF TUSBJOFE CPEZ BOE TPVM BOE UIF ZFBS PME l OJTIFE XJUI QPTTFTTJPOT PG UIFN DPOUFTUFE )F BMTP MBJE UBDLMFT BT POF PG IJT UFBN T CFTU QMBZFST -JUUMF XPOEFS .FMCPVSOF GBOT HBWF UIFJS /P B GBSFXFMM l U GPS B IFSP +*. ."*/ 1)050 -"$)-"/ $6//*/()". "'- 1)0504

0/ 5)& .07& 1PSU "EFMBJEF NJEl FMEFS %BWJE 3PEBO USJFT UP FWBEF 5JHFS 5SFOU $PUDIJO XIJMF %FBO #SPHBO BOE ,BOF $PSOFT MPPL PO

$PMFNBO NFEBMMJTU +BDL 3JFXPMEU DMJNCT PWFS IJT 1PSU PQQPOFOU QPQVMBS /PSUI .FMCPVSOF WFUFSBO $PSFZ +POFT BDLOPXMFEHFT UIF TVQQPSU PG GBOT BGUFS IJT UI BOE MBTU NBUDI

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

*Standard SMS charges apply. Terms of use at www.ideasforgood.com.au/legacy

ANGUS

THE THIRD WITH TOMATO CHILLI RELISH

LIMITED

TIME ONLY

Available after 10.30am at participating restaurants.

eative strategy to store™ 1 1400 @phdcreative.net hdcreative.net , 168 Willoughby Road, Nest, NSW 2065 Australia

Job#: 10818 Job: Angus Burger Item: Angus Beef AUS logo Key#: 10818 Date: 06.05.09

A/Manager:

Colours:

Trim size: XXXmm(h) x XXXmm(w) Scale:

C

M

Y

K

Pantone 186c

creative strategy to store™ In-house approval

leader:

McDONALD’S® VICTORIA. PROUD SPONSOR OF THE COLLINGWOOD FOOTBALL CLUB

FA F/Artist:

Designer:

Note:

1:1

'*/"-4 PREVIEW

5IF QPXFS PG MFBEFSTIJQ 5IFSF JT POF DFSUBJOUZ BT UIF l OBMT LJDL Pä UIJT XFFLFOE n HSFBU MFBEFSTIJQ XJMM JOTQJSF HSFBU EFFET 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

'*/"-4 -&"%&34 'SPN UPQ

MFGU SJHIU /JDL .BYXFMM $PMMJOHXPPE $BNFSPO -JOH (FFMPOH /JDL 3JFXPMEU 4U ,JMEB #SBE +PIOTPO 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT #SFUU ,JSL 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT .BUUIFX 1BWMJDI 'SFNBOUMF 4BN .JUDIFMM )BXUIPSO BOE $ISJT +VEE $BSMUPO

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

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

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 */41*3"5*0/"- 3JWBM DBQUBJOT

.JDIBFM 7PTT BOE /BUIBO #VDLMFZ BGUFS UIF (SBOE 'JOBM #PUI EJE FWFSZUIJOH JO UIFJS QPXFS UP HFU UIFJS SFTQFDUJWF TJEFT PWFS UIF MJOF

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.

8&&, 0/& ."5$) 614 (&&-0/( 7 45 ,*-%" 4&$0/% 26"-*':*/( '*/"- 1. '3*%": 4&15&.#&3 .$( 5)*4 :&"3 4U ,JMEB (FFMPOH 4503:-*/& 5IF CFTU UXP UFBNT GSPN NFFU BHBJO XJUI UIF 4BJOUT TUJMM CVSOJOH BGUFS MBTU ZFBS T IFBSUCSFBLJOH (SBOE 'JOBM MPTT '3&."/5-& 7 )"85)03/ 4&$0/% &-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"- 1. 4"563%": 4&15&.#&3 46#*"$0 07"5)*4 :&"3 'SFNBOUMF )BXUIPSO 4503:-*/& "U IPNF UIF %PDLFST XJMM CBDL UIFNTFMWFT UP BWFOHF B IFGUZ MPTT UP )BXUIPSO B GPSUOJHIU BHP 5IF )BXLT GFBS OPCPEZ

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.

$0--*/(800% 7 8&45&3/ #6--%0(4 '*345 26"-*':*/( '*/"- 1. 4"563%": 4&15&.#&3 .$( 5)*4 :&"3 $PMMJOHXPPE 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT 4503:-*/& 5IF .BHQJFT IBWF GFX DIJOLT BOE BSF TVQFSCMZ DPBDIFE "MUIPVHI UIF #VMMEPHT BSF EFDJNBUFE CZ JOKVSZ EPO U EJTDPVOU B 3PEOFZ &BEF JOTQJSFE VQTFU 4:%/&: 48"/4 7 $"3-50/ '*345 &-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"- 1. 46/%": 4&15&.#&3 "/; 45"%*6.

5)*4 :&"3 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT $BSMUPO 4503:-*/& 5IF 4XBOT IBWF EFl FE DSJUJDT BOE BSF QMBZJOH XJUI QVSQPTF $BSMUPO XBT VOMVDLZ MBTU XFFL CVU DPOTFDVUJWF USJQT BSF MJLFMZ UP JNQBDU JUT DBQBDJUZ "-- 5*.&4 &45

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

5)& '*/"- &*()5 1BUI UP UIF (SBOE 'JOBM $0--*/(800%

2'

26"-*':*/( '*/"-

#6--%0(4

2' -04&3 2'

4:%/&:

4&.* '*/"-

&-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"-

8*//&3 &-

$"3-50/

8*//&3 2' 13&-*.*/"3: '*/"-

8*//&3 4'

8*//&3 1' /&3 1' (3"/% '*/"-

'3&."/5-&

8*//&3 &-

&-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"-

4&.* '*/"-

)"85)03/

-04&3 2' (&&-0/( $"54

2'

26"-*':*/( '*/"-

45 ,*-%"

2'

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

8*//&3 4' 13&-*.*/"3: '*/"-

8*//&3 2'

8*//&3 1' /&3 1'

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 5IF DBQUBJO much of the Luke Hodge, who JT UIF NBO XIP “do as I do” was tough, fearless school, led and prolific in SFBMMZ JOTUJMMT quietly, with the 28-point win UIF UFBN TQJSJU his Bombers over Geelong.

JOUP FBDI BOE dominating And now to in 2000. They this year. The FWFSZ QMBZFS lost just one leaders of the eight #0# %"7*4 */ '005#"-- 5)& "6453"-*"/ 8": 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.

(3"/% '*/"- 13&4&/5&34 /".&%

'*/"-4 26*$, '"$54

5IF OVNCFS PG RVBMJGZJOH l OBMT UIBU IBWF CFFO QMBZFE BMPOH XJUI FMJNJOBUJPO l OBMT 5IF l STU RVBMJGZJOH l OBM XBT JO CFUXFFO 3JDINPOE BOE $PMMJOHXPPE BOE UIF l STU FMJNJOBUJPO l OBM XBT JO CFUXFFO .FMCPVSOF BOE &TTFOEPO

5IF OVNCFS PG GBOT TJODF XIP IBWF XBUDIFE FMJNJOBUJPO l OBMT BOE RVBMJGZJOH l OBMT

5IF CJHHFTU l STU XFFL l OBMT BUUFOEBODF TJODF GPS UIF l STU FMJNJOBUJPO l OBM CFUXFFO $PMMJOHXPPE BOE UIF 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT BU UIF .$(

&TTFOEPO T BHBJOTU /PSUI .FMCPVSOF JO UIF l STU RVBMJGZJOH l OBM BU UIF .$( JT UIF IJHIFTU TDPSF JO B RVBMJGZJOH PS FMJNJOBUJPO l OBM

5IF #PNCFST QPJOU UISBTIJOH PG UIF ,BOHBSPPT JO UIF BCPWF NBUDI JT UIF HSFBUFTU XJOOJOH NBSHJO

8FTU $PBTU T BHBJOTU 4ZEOFZ BU "/; 4UBEJVN JO UIF TFDPOE FMJNJOBUJPO l OBM JT UIF MPXFTU TDPSF 26"- &-*. )*4503:

Ő )BXUIPSO BOE $BSMUPO QSFNJFSTIJQ DPBDI BOE "VTUSBMJBO 'PPUCBMM )BMM PG 'BNF NFNCFS %BWJE 1BSLJO MFGU XJMM QSFTFOU UIF +PDL .D)BMF .FEBM UP UIF QSFNJFSTIJQ DPBDI XJUI /PSN 4NJUI NFEBMMJTU 1FUFS .BUFSB UP QSFTFOU UIF /PSN 4NJUI .FEBM UP UIF CFTU QMBZFS JO UIJT ZFBS T (SBOE 'JOBM 'PSNFS (FFMPOH GVMM GPSXBSE -BSSZ %POPIVF XIP MFE UIF -FBHVF HPBMLJDLJOH JO XJUI XJMM QSFTFOU UIF +PIO $PMFNBO .FEBM UP 3JDINPOE T +BDL 3JFXPMEU %VBM (FFMPOH

QSFNJFSTIJQ DBQUBJO 5PN )BSMFZ SJHIU JT UIF "'- T l OBMT BNCBTTBEPS 5IF QSFNJFSTIJQ DVQ XJMM CF QSFTFOUFE UP UIF XJOOJOH UFBN CZ B DMVC HSFBU XJUI UIF QSFTFOUFST UP CF DPOl SNFE PODF UIF (SBOE 'JOBM UFBNT BSF LOPXO 1BSLJO DPBDIFE )BXUIPSO UP UIF QSFNJFSTIJQ BOE MFE $BSMUPO UP WJDUPSJFT JO BOE .BUFSB QMBZFE NBUDIFT GPS 8FTU $PBTU BOE JT B NFNCFS PG UIF "'- *OEJHFOPVT 5FBN PG UIF $FOUVSZ

1 "EFMBJEF

#SJTCBOF

$BSMUPO

$PMMJOHXPPE &TTFOEPO

'JU[SPZ

'SFNBOUMF

(FFMPOH

)BXUIPSO

.FMCPVSOF

/UI .FMCPVSOF 1PSU "EFMBJEF 3JDINPOE

4U ,JMEB

4 .FMC 4ZEOFZ 8FTU $PBTU

8 #VMMEPHT

8

-

%

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

$&/53& 0' "55&/5*0/ 4UFFMF

4JEFCPUUPN IBT FYVEFE DMBTT QPJTF BOE TLJMM CFZPOE IJT ZFBST JO IJT HBNFT GPS $PMMJOHXPPE "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

COLLINGWOOD

7T

WESTERN BULLDOGS

1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

$PMMJOHXPPE ZPVOHTUFS 4UFFMF 4JEFCPUUPN IBT NBEF B IBCJU PG FYDFMMJOH JO l OBMT JO IJT CSJFG DBSFFS .BHQJF GBOT XJMM CF IPQJOH JU JT B USFOE UIBU DPOUJOVFT PWFS UIF OFYU NPOUI C A L LU M T WOMEY

1)050 .*$)"&- 8*--40/ "'- 1)0504

%

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 5P CF BCMF UP Sidebottom, football does not who grew QMBZ UIF UISFF daunt the quietly up in the l OBMT MBTU ZFBS spoken Magpie. northern Collingwood Victorian HJWFT NF B MJUUMF picked Sidebottom town of UBTUF PG XIBU UP at No. 11 in the Congupna.

FYQFDU UIJT ZFBS 2008 NAB AFL Despite 45&&-& 4*%&#0550.

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. '"$5 '*-&

4UFFMF 4JEFCPUUPN

#PSO +BOVBSZ 3FDSVJUFE GSPN $POHVQOB .VSSBZ 6 %FCVU 3PVOE W 4U ,JMEB )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH (BNFT (PBMT

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

GEELONG CATS 7T ST KIDLA

1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

+PTI )VOU IBE B TFOTF PG IFMQMFTTOFTT BT IF XBUDIFE UIF FQJD (SBOE 'JOBM GSPN UIF DPBDI T CPY CVU BGUFS SFDPWFSJOH GSPN B LOFF JOKVSZ UIF UPVHI EFGFOEFS DBO U XBJU UP HFU CBDL JOUP l OBMT BDUJPO MICH A EL LOV ET T

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

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 5IF TVO JT (Milburn) was TIJOJOH BOE JU T B Cats and the about to kick it Saints have HSFBU UJNF PG UIF in, but he did known they ZFBS * DBO U XBJU everything right. will be facing You just boot it as each other in UP HFU CBDL PVU far as you can to this final and UIFSF BHBJO a contest and hope Hunt has had +04) )6/5 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. '"$5 '*-&

+PTI )VOU

#PSO .BSDI 3FDSVJUFE GSPN .JMEVSB *NQFSJBMT #FOEJHP 6 %FCVU 3PVOE W 'SFNBOUMF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH (BNFT (PBMT 1MBZFS IPOPVST QSFNJFSTIJQ TJEF QSF TFBTPO QSFNJFSTIJQ TJEFT #SPXOMPX .FEBM DBSFFS WPUFT

1)050 -"$)-"/ $6//*/()". "'- 1)0504

'

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,

'*5 "/% '*3*/( +PTI )VOU T SFDPOTUSVDUFE LOFF IBT TUPPE VQ XFMM JO IJT HBNFT UIJT TFBTPO BOE IF XJMM CF B LFZ UP UIF $BUT IPQFT GPS CBDL UP CBDL m BHT

$0..*55&% +BNFT (XJMU T

JNQSFTTJWF GPSN UIJT TFBTPO JT UIF SFTVMU PG IBSE XPSL BOE B HPPE BUUJUVEF

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

ST KILDA

7T

GEELONG CATS

1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

#FJOH PWFSMPPLFE GPS UIF 4BJOUT l OBMT DBNQBJHO MBTU TFBTPO XBT KVTU UIF NPUJWBUJPO GPS +BNFT (XJMU UP QSPEVDF DBSFFS CFTU GPSN JO BT B DSFBUJWF SFCPVOE EFGFOEFS NICK BOW EN

1)050 -"$)-"/ $6//*/()". "'- 1)0504

*

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

'"$5 '*-&

+BNFT (XJMU

#PSO "VHVTU 3FDSVJUFE GSPN /PCMF 1BSL %FCVU 3PVOE W #SJTCBOF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH (BNFT (PBMT #SPXOMPX .FEBM DBSFFS WPUFT

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.

5IBU NPUJWBUFE respected their He works as decision,” NF UP USBJO IBSEFS an apprentice Gwilt says. electrician BOE UP HFU B MPU “But that whenever he l UUFS BOE B motivated me can find the during the offtime, while MPU TUSPOHFS +".&4 (8*-5 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.

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

WESTERN BULLDOGS 7T COLLINGWOOD

1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

)BWJOH IBE UP XPSL IBSEFS UIBO NPTU UP NBLF JU UP UIF FMJUF MFWFM -JBN 1JDLFO T QPXFST PG QPTJUJWF UIJOLJOH BSF IJT HSFBUFTU BTTFU 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 8F LOPX minutes talking in great form QFPQMF BSF XSJUJOH obviously, to the Bulldogs defender and you VT Pä CVU XF EPO U but our team are impressed has changed QBZ BOZ BUUFOUJPO by this sense of a bit as well.

UP UIBU calm. Picken is OK We’ve had a -*". 1*$,&/ 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 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

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.

'"$5 '*-&

-JBN 1JDLFO

#PSO "VHVTU 3FDSVJUFE GSPN )BNJMUPO /PSUI #BMMBSBU 6 8JMMJBNTUPXO %FCVU 3PVOE W /PSUI .FMCPVSOF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH (BNFT (PBMT

%&5&3.*/&% %0( "GUFS TVDDFTTJWF QSFMJNJOBSZ l OBM EFGFBUT UBHHFS -JBN 1JDLFO JT DPOl EFOU UIF #VMMEPHT DBO JNQSPWF PO UIBU UIJT l OBMT TFSJFT "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

.",*/( *5 $06/5 'SFNBOUMF

DBQUBJO .BUUIFX 1BWMJDI JT UIF HSFBUFTU QMBZFS JO UIF DMVC T SFMBUJWFMZ TIPSU IJTUPSZ CVU UIJT XFFLFOE T NBUDI XJMM CF POMZ IJT l GUI l OBM

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

FREMANTLE 7T HAWTHORN 1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

.BUUIFX 1BWMJDI IBT BDIJFWFE NPSF UIBO NPTU JO B CSJMMJBOU DBSFFS PO BOE Pä UIF l FME #VU UIFSF JT OP TFDSFU UP IJT TVDDFTT KVTU B TUSJDU PCTFSWBODF PG EPJOH UIF CBTJDT XFMM PETER RYA N

1)050 4&"/ ("3/48035): "'- 1)0504

"

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 )BMG PVS MJTU JT the parents crash performs the OFX BT PG UXP in the lead-up basics very, ZFBST BHP XIJDI to a final would very, very well. seem for many His 70m goal HJWFT VT B HSFBU the equivalent in round three, PQQPSUVOJUZ UP of having the five minutes GPSHF BIFBE oldies pull up before half-time ."55)&8 1"7-*$) 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.

'"$5 '*-&

.BUUIFX 1BWMJDI

#PSO %FDFNCFS 3FDSVJUFE GSPN 8PPEWJMMF 8FTU 5PSSFOT %FCVU 3PVOE W .FMC )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH

(BNFT (PBMT 1MBZFS IPOPVST CFTU BOE GBJSFTU OE CFTU BOE GBJSFTU SE CFTU BOE GBJSFTU "MM "VTUSBMJBO

*OUFSOBUJPOBM 3VMFT 4FSJFT MFBEJOH HPBMLJDLFS FRVBM "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS OPNJOFF DBQUBJO TJODF #SPXOMPX .FEBM DBSFFS WPUFT "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

TIME TO GET SERIOUS BLOWERS FROM $349 BG 56

Blower

Makes leaves leave With unrivalled power, fast acceleration and low weight, using the new BG 56 leaf blower to clean around your home will be something to look forward to.

MS 170 MINIBOSS® - $349 Ideal for around the home when pruning and preparing firewood.

Offer applies to MS 170, MS 180 and MS 180 C. Offer ends 30/9/10 or while stocks last.

UÊÊÓÇ°ÓVV]Ê{°Ó }]ÊÓÎäÊ É ÀÊ >ÝÊ> ÀÊ Ã«ii`]ÊÇÎäÊ ÎÉ ÀÊ >ÝÊ> ÀÊyÊ Ü

349

$

FS 38Ê Ê iÊ/À iÀ

Bantam weight 7 Ì ÊÌ ÃÊ } ÌÜi } ÌÊ iÊ ÌÀ iÀÊÞ ÕÊV> ÊµÕ V ÞÊ ÌÀ ÊÞ ÕÀÊvi ViÊ iÊ> `Ê >À Õ `Ê LÃÌ>V iÃ°Ê UÊä°ÈxÊ 7Êi } iÊ« ÜiÀÊÊ UÊÓÇ°ÓÊVVÊi } iÊV>«>V ÌÞ UÊ{°£Ê }Ê`ÀÞÊÜi } ÌÊ UÊ ÕÌ ÕÌ®ÊVÕÌÌ }Ê i>`Ê

Catch a great deal on selected Line Trimmers before they disappear.

$ 2 19

Offer applies to FS 38, FS 45 R, FS 45 C, FS 55 RC, FC 55C, FS 85 R and FS 85. Offer ends 31/10/10 or while stocks last.

HS 45Ê Ê i`}iÊ/À iÀ UÊä°ÇxÊ 7Êi } iÊ« ÜiÀ UÊ{°ÈÊ }Ê`ÀÞÊÜi } ÌÊ UÊÊÓÇ°ÓÊVVÊi } iÊV>«>V ÌÞ UÊÊ{xäÊ ÊVÕÌÌiÀÊ L>ÀÊ i }Ì

5 SERIOUS REASONS TO BUY FROM A STIHL SPECIALIST: 1

SERIOUSLY TRIMMED PRICES

Offer applies to HS 45 (450mm), HS 45 (600mm), HS 81 T and HS 81 R. Offer begins 1/09/10 and ends 31/10/10 or while stocks last.

2

3

4

629

$

Also available HS 45 (600mm) – $709

5

Expert advice from qualified specialists Lifetime support and servicing Fully assembled and tested tools Protective gear and safety advice Your 1st service free

call 13 11 97 for your nearest dealer www.stihl.com.au

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

HAWTHORN

7T

FREMANTLE

1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

#SBE 4FXFMM GFBST OP POF JO UIF )BXLT RVFTU GPS B TFDPOE m BH JO UISFF TFBTPOT C A MERON NOA K ES

:

$0/'*%&/5 1SFNJFSTIJQ NJEl FMEFS

#SBE 4FXFMM CFMJFWFT )BXUIPSO DBO NBUDI JU XJUI UIF UPQ GPVS TJEFT

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.

#BSSJOH XIBU IBQQFOFE MBTU ZFBS XF UIJOL XF SF DPNQFUJUJWF BHBJOTU BMM TJEFT #3"% 4&8&--

“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 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

HAWTHORN 7T 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.”

#"$, */ 56/& 5IF )BXLT IBWF SFHBJOFE UIFJS WPJDF BOE BSF BQQSPBDIJOH UIF l OBMT GVMM PG DPOl EFODF XJUI TUBST -VLF )PEHF MFGU BOE 4FXFMM MFBEJOH UIF XBZ

5IFSF JT DFSUBJOMZ B CJU NPSF FOFSHZ BOE PCWJPVTMZ UIFSF JT B MPU NPSF IZQF FYUFSOBMMZ

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. '"$5 '*-&

#SBE 4FXFMM

#PSO 'FCSVBSZ 3FDSVJUFE GSPN /FXMZO /PSUI #BMMBSBU 6 %FCVU 3PVOE W 1PSU "EFMBJEF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH (BNFT (PBMT 1MBZFS IPOPVST QSFNJFSTIJQ TJEF CFTU GBJSFTU SE CFTU GBJSFTU #SPXOMPX .FEBM DBSFFS WPUFT

26*$, -&"3/&3 5ISFF ZFBST

BHP $BOBEJBO .JLF 1ZLF T POMZ LOPXMFEHF PG "VTUSBMJBO 'PPUCBMM XBT PG B HBNF XJUI hCJH QVODI VQTv 5IJT XFFLFOE UIF 4XBOT SVDLNBO UBLFT UIF l FME JO IJT l STU "'- l OBM

'"$5 '*-&

.JLF 1ZLF

#PSO .BSDI 3FDSVJUFE GSPN $BOBEB %FCVU 3PVOE W 3JDINPOE )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH (BNFT (PBMT

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

SYDNEY SWANS 7T CARLTON

1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

.JLF 1ZLF JT MJWJOH QSPPG PG IJT HSFBU CFMJFG UIBU BOZUIJOH JT QPTTJCMF J IM M A IN

5

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 * EPO U GFFM 105kg Pyke was development.”

IBOEJDBQQFE CZ placed on the Pyke might Swans’ rookie have looked lost NZ CBDLHSPVOE list before the in parts of his BOE EPO U GSFU JG * start of the early matches, NBLF B NJTUBLF 2009 season but he now feels .*,& 1:,& 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.”

7KH EHVW LQ WKH EXVLQHVV %ULDQ 7D\ORU DQG 'HQQLV &RPHWWL ,W·V QR ZRQGHU WKH\·UH 0HOERXUQH·V IDYRXULWH IRRWEDOO EURDGFDVWLQJ FRPELQDWLRQ $V LQGLYLGXDOV WKH\·UH RXWVWDQGLQJ ,Q FRPELQDWLRQ VLPSO\ EUHDWKWDNLQJ $QG \RX·OO KHDU WKHP ERWK RQ

Melbourne’s own 3AW.

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

(-"% )& 45":&% +PSEBO 3VTTFMM TUSVHHMFE UP BEKVTU JO IJT FBSMZ TFBTPOT JO UIF "'- BOE FWFO SFRVFTUFE B USBEF CBDL UP 4PVUI "VTUSBMJB )PXFWFS UIJT TFBTPO IF IBT CFFO UIF #MVFT NPTU DPOTJTUFOU EFGFOEFS BOE JT EFTQFSBUF UP BUPOF GPS MBTU TFBTPO T l OBMT EJTBQQPJOUNFOU

'"$5 '*-&

+PSEBO 3VTTFMM

#PSO /PWFNCFS 3FDSVJUFE GSPN 8FTU "EFMBJEF %FCVU 3PVOE W 4U ,JMEB )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH (BNFT (PBMT 1MBZFS IPOPVST QSF TFBTPO QSFNJFSTIJQ TJEF

'*/"-4 4&3*&4

CARLTON 7T SYDNEY SWANS

*

1 - ": & 3 ' 0 $ 6 4

1)050 -"$)-"/ $6//*/()". "'- 1)0504

"GUFS B TMPX TUBSU UP IJT DBSFFS +PSEBO 3VTTFMM IBT GPVOE IJT OJDIF JO UIF #MVFT EFGFODF 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 -BTU ZFBS XBT defender, arrived at Blues in rebound IFBSU CSFBLJOH Carlton, the 50s (87) and short Blues had not kicks (151) and 5IBU T XIBU played being second in JT ESJWJOH NPTU finals in the marks (130) in PG UIF CPZT previous 22 games. The three seasons.

Blues have such UIJT ZFBS Worse was to +03%"/ 3644&-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.”

7*&84 /&84 '*345 1&340/ '"$54 %"5" $6-563&

/0 %"."(&

4U ,JMEB DPBDI 3PTT -ZPO QJDUVSFE IFSF BT QMBZFST QSFQBSF GPS UIF TUBSU PG B RVBSUFS TBJE IJT BJN MBTU XFFL XBT UP SFUVSO UP .FMCPVSOF XJUI B hl U BOE IFBMUIZv UFBN

*T JU JEFBM * EPO U LOPX *T JU QPPS /P *T JU QBOJD TUBUJPOT "CTPMVUFMZ OPU .*$, ."-5)064&

-"$,*/( .05*7"5*0/

their collective minds. This regardless of the results. time it has trailed at the first 6QTFUT 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.

DPNNPO 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 BT l OBMJTUT 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.

MPPL UP TFMG 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 QSFTFSWBUJPO 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 /&84 53"$,&3

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

3JDINPOE T +BLF ,JOH BDDFQUT POF NBUDI CBO GPS TUSJLJOH 1PSU "EFMBJEF T +VTUJO 8FTUIPä MBTU XFFLFOE LFOE

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

7*&84 ] /&84 ] '*345 1&340/ ] '"$54 ] %"5" ] $6-563& UIF CPVODF

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.

,/*()54 %&1"354

%FNBOET PO DPBDIFT IBWF OFWFS CFFO HSFBUFS 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.

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 5IF DPBDI supporters, of delivering the coaches, right words in XPO U CF SJHIU volunteers and the correct BMM UIF UJNF administration tone to relay TP IF OFFET need to believe the message TPNF MVDL the club is in – and to do it good hands, so instantly. That BOE TVQQPSU 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.

%&1"35&% &TTFOEPO NBEF UIF UPVHI

DBMM UP QBSU DPNQBOZ XJUI DPBDI .BUUIFX ,OJHIUT KVTU POF EBZ BGUFS UIF IPNF BOE BXBZ TFBTPO l OJTIFE ,OJHIUT TUJMM IBE UXP ZFBST UP SVO PO IJT DPOUSBDU

/&84 53"$,&3

4"/'- BOE 4PVUI "VTUSBMJBO $SJDLFU "TTPDJBUJPO TJHO hMFUUFST PG JOUFOUv DPNNJUUJOH UP NPWF "'- HBNFT UP UIF "EFMBJEF 0WBM "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

UIF CPVODF 7*&84 ] /&84 ] '*345 1&340/ ] '"$54 ] %"5" ] $6-563& "-- "6453"-*"/ 426"%

/FX MPPL TRVBE BT OFXDPNFST OPNJOBUFE

3&8"3%&% ,BOHBSPP #SBEZ 3BXMJOHT BOE %FNPO .BSL +BNBS CFMPX SJHIU XFSF SFDPHOJTFE CZ UIF "MM "VTUSBMJBO TFMFDUPST GPS UIF l STU UJNF XJUI UIF l OBM UFBN UP CF BOOPVODFE PO 4FQUFNCFS

4FMFDUJPO JT B HSFBU IPOPVS CFDBVTF PG UIF RVBMJUZ PG UIPTF ZPV IBWF DPNQFUFE BHBJOTU "/%3&8 %&.&53*06

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

8&45&3/ #6--%0(4 ."55)&8 #0:%

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

"%". $00/&:

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

#"33: )"--

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

#3*"/ -",&

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE '03 5)& '*345 5*.& 5)& 16#-*$ $"/ 163$)"4& 5*$,&54 50 5)& '063 / 58&/5: "'- "-- "6453"-*"/ 5&". '6/$5*0/ (0 50 "'- $0. "6 &7&/50''*$& 50 #00, 4611035&34 $"/ "-40 5",& 1"35 */ " $0.1&5*5*0/ 50 1*$, 5)& "-- "6453"-*"/ 5&".

"6453"-*"/ 5&".

"-- "6453"-*"/ 5&".

0' 5) )& 1"45 %&$"%& 0' 5)& 1"45 %&$"%& (0 50 0 "'- $0. "6 (0 50 "'- $0. "6 "--"6 6453"-*"/ '03 / "--"6453"-*"/ '03 %&5" *-4 %&5"*-4

&44&/%0/ %645*/ '-&5$)&3

.&-#063/& +".&4 '3"8-&:

+0#& 8"540/

#3"% (3&&/

'3&."/5-& %"7*% .6/%:

."3, +"."3

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE /PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

#3"%: 3"8-*/(4

(&&-0/( ("3: "#-&55

"/%3&8 48"--08

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

$03&: &/3*()5

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE DBQUBJO BOE

45&7& +0)/40/

$0--*/(800% "-"/ %*%",

+".&4 ,&--:

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE /PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

)"33: 5":-03

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

+0&- 4&-800%

)"33: 0 #3*&/

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

4$055 1&/%-&#63:

)"85)03/ -"/$& '3"/,-*/

%"/& 48"/

-6,& )0%(&

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

/&84 53"$,&3

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

""30/ 4"/%*-"/%4

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

$"3-50/ $)3*4 +6%%

%"33&/ +0--:

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

/035) .&-#063/& #3&/5 )"37&:

1"6- $)"1."/

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

."55)&8 1"7-*$)

5)& 426"% .&.#&34 "3&

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE /PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

.*-&450/&4 '*/"-4 8&&,

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

"'- DMVC

3*$).0/% #3&55 %&-&%*0

3ZBO )BSHSBWF 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

+"$, 3*&80-%5

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

45 ,*-%" /*$, %"- 4"/50

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

#3&/%0/ (0%%"3%

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

HBNFT $BNFSPO .PPOFZ (FFMPOH

HBNFT 4UFWF +PIOTPO (FFMPOH

-&//: )":&4

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

-&*() .0/5"(/"

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

4:%/&: 48"/4 "%". (00%&4

1SFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE BOE

/PSUI .FMCPVSOF EFMJTUT +PTI 4NJUI 8BSSFO #FOKBNJO "MBO 0CTU BOE $POPS .FSFEJUI

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

4)"/& .6.'03%

/PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

8&45 $0"45 ."3, -&$3"4

"

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.

/*$, ."-$&4,* /PU QSFWJPVTMZ TFMFDUFE

HBNFT #SBE 'JTIFS $BSMUPO

5IF MJTU JODMVEFT UIPTF OPU OFDFTTBSJMZ TFMFDUFE CVU PO UIF WFSHF PG NJMFTUPOFT

IT’S AMAZING HOW MUCH SWEAT YOU LOSE WHEN YOU EXERCISE As you exercise or train, you lose electrolytes and fluid through sweat and you burn carbohydrates.

As a result, your muscles start to tire, making your pace slower.

The combination of fluid, electrolytes and carbohydrates in ‘Powerade’ Isotonic is scientifically formulated to help you perform at your peak for longer – helping you to achieve your goal – whatever that is.

TO WATCH THE SWEAT SESSIONS AND TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH FLUID YOU NEED TO STAY HYDRATED,

DOWNLOAD THE ‘POWERADE’ ISOTONIC HYDRATION CALCULATOR AT

POWE POW OW RA00 OW A00 46/AF A00 46/A AFL/R FL/R/F L/R/F /F

.COM.AU

© 2009 The Coca-Cola Company. ‘POWERADE’ and ‘THE POWER TO REACH YOUR GOAL’ are trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company.

UIF CPVODF 7*&84 ] /&84 ] '*345 1&340/ ] '"$54 ] %"5" ] $6-563&

5JNF UP QPOEFS GPS UIF SFTU 5IF OPO l OBMJTUT IBWF QMFOUZ PG XPSL UP EP CFGPSF QSF TFBTPO USBJOJOH TUBSUT ASHLEY BROW NE A ND PETER DI SISTO UI

/035) .&-#063/&

"%&-"*%& UI

Ő 5IF 3PPT XFSF TUBUJTUJDBMMZ UIF CFTU UFBN PVU PG UIF UPQ FJHIU CVU l STU ZFBS DPBDI #SBE 4DPUU DPODFEFE UIFZ XFSF TUJMM Pä UIF QBDF BOE IBE QMFOUZ PG JNQSPWFNFOU JO UIFN /PSUI TUSVHHMFE BHBJOTU UIF CFTU UFBNT UIJT ZFBS CVU TIPXFE FOPVHI UP TVHHFTU JU DPVME CF B DPOTJTUFOUMZ DPNQFUJUJWF UFBN JO UIF TIPSU UP NFEJVN UFSN XJUI RVBMJUZ ZPVOH QMBZFST HSBEVBMMZ CFDPNJOH NPSF BU FBTF BU UIF IJHIFTU MFWFM %SFX 1FUSJF GFFU +BDL ;JFCFMM CSPLFO MFH -JBN "OUIPOZ TIPVMEFS &E -PXFS DPMMBSCPOF BOE #FO 3PTT PTUFJUJT QVCJT NJTTFE MBSHF DIVOLT PG QMBZJOH UJNF BOE TIPVME CPMTUFS UIF UFBN XIFO l U

1035 "%&-"*%&

Ő 5IF DMVC T NPTU QSFTTJOH JTTVF JT DPOl SNJOH JUT OFX DPBDI XJUI B EFDJTJPO FYQFDUFE JO XFFLT $BSFUBLFS .BUUIFX 1SJNVT XPO l WF PG TFWFO NBUDIFT BOE BQQFBST UP IBWF XJEF TVQQPSU 1MBZFST XFSF JOUFSWJFXFE BOE IBE NFEJDBM UFTUT FBSMJFS UIJT XFFL XJUI 5SBWJT #PBL BEEVDUPS SFMFBTF FYQFDUFE UP CF SFBEZ GPS GVMM USBJOJOH CZ %FDFNCFS #SFUU &CFSU -"34 LOFF TVSHFSZ JT PO USBDL UP TUBSU SVOOJOH JO /PWFNCFS XJUI )BNJTI )BSUMFUU RVBE BMTP TMBUFE UP TUBSU USBJOJOH JO /PWFNCFS 0UIFST JODMVEJOH $BNFSPO )JUDIDPDL %BOJFM 4UFXBSU BOE 4UFWFO 4BMPQFL BMM XJUI TIPVMEFS DPODFSOT XJMM CF PO NPEJl FE QSPHSBNT 1BVM 4UFXBSU IJQ BOE +BDPC 4VSKBO LOFF SFRVJSF POHPJOH BTTFTTNFOU

THEDMGROUP HOST6029

Ő 5IF $SPXT XJMM CF WBTUMZ ZPVOHFS OFYU TFBTPO XJUI TFWFSBM WFUFSBOT SFUJSFE n BOE BSF BJNJOH UP CF NVDI IFBMUIJFS DPBDI /FJM $SBJH TBJE "EFMBJEF IBE B SBTI PG JOKVSJFT QSF TFBTPO BOE EVSJOH UIF ZFBS XJUI GPPUCBMM TUBä MPPLJOH BU XIFUIFS UIF QSF TFBTPO SFHJNF OFFEFE UP CF NPEJl FE 4FWFSBM QMBZFST JODMVEJOH *WBO .BSJD IJQ #SPEJF .BSUJO IJQ 3JDLZ )FOEFSTPO IJQ BOE $ISJT 4DINJEU LOFF XFSF CPPLFE GPS PQFSBUJPOT $SBJH TBJE IF XBT QMFBTFE XJUI UIF DMVC T QSPNJTJOH l OJTI h8F SF TUJMM HPJOH UP CF B WFSZ ZPVOH TJEF OFYU ZFBS CVU IPQFGVMMZ XF WF HJWFO PVS TVQQPSUFST TPNF IPQF v

&44&/%0/

UI

Ő &JHIU XJOT SFQSFTFOUFE B HSFBU TFBTPO CZ UIF %FNPOT XIP XFSF JO l OBMT DPOUFOUJPO VOUJM SPVOE *U IBT CFFO B TMPH JO SFDFOU UJNFT GPS UIF %FNPOT CVU UIF GVUVSF HFOFSBMMZ MPPLT CSJHIU OPU KVTU CFDBVTF PG UIF BCVOEBODF PG ZPVOH UBMFOU BU UIF DMVC CVU UIBOLT UP UIF CSJMMJBOU Pä l FME MFBEFSTIJQ PG QSFTJEFOU +JN 4UZOFT UIF DMVC T NJMMJPO EFCU IBT CFFO FSBEJDBUFE XJUIJO UXP ZFBST 5IF %FNPOT BSF TUJMM l OF UVOJOH UIFJS QPTU TFBTPO TVSHFSJFT CVU IBWF BMSFBEZ JOEJDBUFE hMPUT PG TIPVMEFS XPSLv VOEFSTUBOEBCMF XJUI TP NBOZ HSPXJOH CPEJFT PO UIFJS MJTU .FMCPVSOF XIJDI QMBZT UIF #SJTCBOF -JPOT JO BO FYIJCJUJPO NBUDI JO 4IBOHIBJ PO 0DUPCFS NJHIU OFFE UP TQFOE UIF TVNNFS IPTJOH EPXO FYQFDUBUJPOT GPS

UI

Ő &TTFOEPO XJMM CF QVUUJOH UIJT TFBTPO CFIJOE JU BT RVJDLMZ BT QPTTJCMF 4FWFO XJOT BOE UI QMBDF PO UIF MBEEFS JT BCPVU BT CBE BT JU IBT CFFO GPS BCPVU ZFBST BU 8JOEZ )JMM XJUI UIF EFDJTJPO NBEF MBTU 4VOEBZ UP SFQMBDF DPBDI .BUUIFX ,OJHIUT FWFO XJUI UXP ZFBST SFNBJOJOH PO IJT DPOUSBDU 5IF #PNCFST FOEFE UIF TFBTPO XJUI B UISFBECBSF TJEF B SBGU PG QMBZFST TFOU BXBZ FBSMZ GPS SFQBJS BOE SFDVQFSBUJPO JODMVEJOH 5BZUF 1FBST .BSL 8JMMJBNT 4DPUU (VNCMFUPO "OESFX 8FMTI BOE "MXZO %BWFZ 5IF #PNCFST TIPXFE UIFZ DPVME QMBZ B GBTU BUUBDLJOH CSBOE PG GPPUZ CVU UIF OFX DPBDI XJMM MJLFMZ GPDVT PO JOKFDUJOH SFTJMJFODF BOE HSVOU USBJUT XF WF CFFO VTFE UP GSPN &TTFOEPO GPS TP MPOH CVU XIJDI XFOU NJTTJOH JO

! $ ( " # ( ( % + ( $ && ( ! * * & % " ! ' )

% (( ! +

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

UI

Ő 'PS UIF l STU UJNF JO TFWFSBM ZFBST TLJQQFS +POBUIBO #SPXO XPO U CF VOEFSHPJOH TVSHFSZ PG TPNF EFTDSJQUJPO BU UIF FOE PG UIF TFBTPO #SFOEBO 'FWPMB JT SFDPWFSJOH GSPN HSPJO TVSHFSZ CVU MJTU NBOBHFNFOU BQQFBST UP CF UIF NBJO DPODFSO XJUI .JDIBFM 3JTDIJUFMMJ BOE +BSFE #SFOOBO PVU PG DPOUSBDU BOE +PTI %SVNNPOE T GVUVSF BMTP VODMFBS *U XJMM CF B USVODBUFE Pä TFBTPO GPS UIF -JPOT XIP QMBZ .FMCPVSOF JO BO FYIJCJUJPO JO $IJOB OFYU NPOUI CVU UIFSF SFNBJOT QMFOUZ PG UJNF GPS DPBDI .JDIBFM 7PTT UP EFUFSNJOF IPX #SJTCBOF DPVME XJO JUT l STU GPVS HBNFT UIFO KVTU UISFF GPS UIF SFTU PG UIF TFBTPO

.&-#063/&

UI

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.

#3*4#"/& -*0/4

3*$).0/%

UI Ő $PBDI %BNJFO )BSEXJDL TIPVMEO U IBWF UPP NVDI USPVCMF NVTUFSJOH FOUIVTJBTN GPS QSF TFBTPO USBJOJOH BGUFS B TJY XJO TFBTPO UIBU CSFBUIFE MJGF JOUP 1VOU 3PBE 8JUI B $PMFNBO NFEBMMJTU JO +BDL 3JFXPMEU BO FNFSHJOH NJEl FME GFBUVSJOH 5SFOU $PUDIJO BOE %VTUJO .BSUJO BOE BO JODSFBTJOHMZ DBQBCMF CBDLMJOF )BSEXJDL IBT QVU UIF CVJMEJOH CMPDLT JO QMBDF UIBU TVHHFTU B l OBMT CFSUI JT OPU CFZPOE UIF 5JHFST JO UIF OFYU DPVQMF PG TFBTPOT 3JDIBSE 5BNCMJOH /BUIBO 'PMFZ -VLF .D(VBOF #FO (SJå UIT BOE .JUDI 'BSNFS BSF BNPOH UIPTF XIP XJMM SFUVSO GPS TVNNFS USBJOJOH BGUFS TFBTPO FOEJOH TVSHFSZ JO "VHVTU

8&45 $0"45 &"(-&4

UI

Ő $PBDI +PIO 8PSTGPME MFGU CFMJFWFT IJT DMVC IBT IJU SPDL CPUUPN BOE JT XFMM QMBDFE UP TUBSU B NPWF VQ UIF MBEEFS )F SFNBJOT BO PQUJNJTU JO UIF GBDF PG UIF DMVC T l STU XPPEFO TQPPO TFBTPO CVU BSHVFT HFUUJOH HBNFT JOUP ZPVOH QMBZFST XJMM IFMQ UIFJS QSPHSFTT h5IJT XBT BMXBZT HPJOH UP CF PVS UPVHIFTU ZFBS BOE XF WF HPU UISPVHI JU "T NVDI BT JU T OPU OJDF l OJTIJOH MBTU XF SF QSFQBSFE GPS OFYU ZFBS v IF TBJE BGUFS MBTU XFFL T MPTT UP (FFMPOH $BQUBJO %BSSFO (MBTT BCEPNFO .BSL /JDPTLJ TIPVMEFS BOE %BOJFM ,FSS IBNTUSJOH BSF BNPOH B HSPVQ XIP XJMM CF NPOJUPSFE CFGPSF CFJOH HJWFO UIF BMM DMFBS UP TUBSU GVMM USBJOJOH

;OL *VJH *VSH *VTWHU` ¸*VJH *VSH¹ [OL *VU[V\Y )V[[SL HUK ¸6WLU /HWWPULZZ¹ HYL YLNPZ[LYLK [YHKL THYRZ VM ;OL *VJH *VSH *VTWHU` *6*6

UIF CPVODF 7*&84 ] /&84 ] '*345 1&340/ ] '"$54 ] %"5" ] $6-563& "'- 53*#6/"-

%3&". 5&".

" ESFBN ZFBS GPS 4XBO

5SBWJT 5VDL TVTQFOTJPO

MR FA N TASY

4

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 -FWJ Team prototype (SFFOXPPE BOE capable of "OESFX 4XBMMPX massive scores each BSF FYBNQMFT PG week, you’d XIZ /PSUI GBOT do no harm BSF JUDIJOH GPS by basing the model on UP CFHJO Collinwgood’s Dane Swan.

For the second season running, this year’s Brownlow Medal favourite was the leading Dream Team 300 8"5$) "OESFX 4XBMMPX scorer, finishing with 2708 JT B NVTU GPS %SFBN 5FBN QMBZFST JO points at an average of 123.09.

And there’s nothing to suggest 8"5$) 5)04& :06/( -"%4 5)& '*345 "'- 1-":&3 we shouldn’t expect more of the '30. "3%&/ 453&&5 50 4$03& %3&". same next season.

5&". 10*/54 */ " ."5$) Ő -FWJ (SFFOXPPE QPJOUT JO We should also give a round SPVOE BOE "OESFX 4XBMMPX Ő #VMMEPHT EFGFOEFS #SJBO -BLF of applause to Peter’s TAGers – l WF QMVT TDPSFT JO UIF MBTU DBNF BHPOJTJOHMZ DMPTF JO SPVOE this year’s leading Dream Team TFWFO SPVOET BSF FYBNQMFT PG XIZ OJOF BHBJOTU /PSUI .FMCPVSOF scorer, tallying 48,326 points for /PSUI GBOT BSF JUDIJOH GPS UP TDPSJOH QPJOUT n UIF IJHIFTU the season.

CFHJO %PO U MFBWF UIFTF HVZT PVU %SFBN 5FBN TDPSF SFDPSEFE What will 2011 hold? What PG ZPVS %SFBN 5FBN DBMDVMBUJPOT %JTQPTBM DPVOUT BSF JODSFBTJOH should we expect? Here are five OFYU TFBTPO BDSPTT UIF CPBSE TP FYQFDU -BLF things to look out for when for BOE B GFX PUIFS CBMM NBHOFUT UP Dream Team returns in 2011: 8&-$0.& "#0"3% (0-% $0"45 46/4 Ő )PX XJMM B UFBN DPNQFUJUJPO n BOE UIF CZFT TMBUFE GPS UIF l YUVSF n JNQBDU PO IPX ZPV DIPPTF QMBZFST &YQFDU B SFWBNQFE %SFBN 5FBN DPNQFUJUJPO JO 3VNPVST BSF BMSFBEZ DJSDVMBUJOH BCPVU BO JODSFBTF UP UIF OVNCFS PG USBEFT BWBJMBCMF OFYU TFBTPO

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

5)& $634& 0' 5)& '"%*/( %3&". 5&". 45"3 Ő 5IJT ZFBS GPSNFS GBOUBTZ TUBQMFT TVDI BT 1PSU "EFMBJEF T $IBE $PSOFT BOE 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT DIBNQ #SBE +PIOTPO XFSF XFMM CFMPX UIFJS QPJOU TDPSJOH CFTU 8BUDI GPS NPSF PG UIF TBNF GSPN UIF OFYU XBWF PG QMBZFST FOUFSJOH UIF UXJMJHIU PG UIFJS DBSFFST

QVTI GPS JO

.03& %3&". 5&". &910463& %63*/( "'- #30"%$"454 Ő .BOZ SBEJP BOE UFMFWJTJPO DPNNFOUBUPST IBWF UBLFO UP VQEBUJOH %SFBN 5FBN TDPSFT EVSJOH DBMMT BEEJOH UP UIF HSPXJOH PCTFTTJPO XJUI UIF QVSTVJU

Ő 5IF "'- 5SJCVOBM TVTQFOEFE )BXUIPSO QMBZFS 5SBWJT 5VDL GPS NBUDIFT BGUFS IF SFDPSEFE B UIJSE GBJMFE UFTU VOEFS UIF "'- T JMMJDJU ESVHT QPMJDZ 3FUJSFE $PVOUZ $PVSU +VEHF +PIO )BTTFUU DIBJSFE UIF 5SJCVOBM IFBSJOH )F TBJE UIFSF XFSF hFYDFQUJPOBM BOE DPNQFMMJOH DJSDVNTUBODFTv UIBU JNQBDUFE PO UIF 5SJCVOBM T PSEFST XIJDI XJMM BMMPX 5VDL UP SFTVNF USBJOJOH XJUI )BXUIPSO BGUFS TFSWJOH FJHIU XFFLT PG UIF TVTQFOTJPO #FGPSF UIF IFBSJOH IFME JO DBNFSB CFDBVTF PG hTFOTJUJWF NFEJDBM FWJEFODFv QSFTFOUFE CZ 5VDL T USFBUJOH DMJOJDJBO BOE ESVH DPVOTFMPS 5VDL BENJUUFE UP B CSFBDI PG UIF JMMJDJU ESVHT QPMJDZ GPMMPXJOH BO JODJEFOU JO XIJDI IF XBT GPVOE VODPOTDJPVT CZ QPMJDF BOE USBOTQPSUFE UP IPTQJUBM h5IF QMBZFS GPS TPNF UJNF IBT IBE TFSJPVT NFEJDBM DPOEJUJPOT DMJOJDBM EFQSFTTJPO UIBU IF IBT CFFO TVCKFDUFE UP USFBUNFOU 5IBU USFBUNFOU IBT CFFO Fä FDUJWF PWFS UIF MBTU NPOUIT CVU UIBU UIFSF XBT B MBQTF GSPN IJT USFBUNFOU SFHJNF BTTPDJBUFE XJUI TPNF QFSTPOBM QSFTTVSFT v )BTTFUU TBJE h5IF IFBMUI BOE XFMGBSF PG 5SBWJT 5VDL JT PVS QSJNBSZ DPODFSO BOE OPU POMZ EP UIF PSEFST QSPWJEF 5SBWJT XJUI UIF PQQPSUVOJUZ UP DPOUJOVF IJT GPPUCBMM CVU UIFZ BMTP QSPWJEF UIBU UIF USFBUNFOU XIJDI IF IBT CFFO SFDFJWJOH BOE SFTQPOEJOH XFMM UP XJMM BOE NVTU DPOUJOVF v "'- GPPUCBMM PQFSBUJPOT HFOFSBM NBOBHFS "ESJBO "OEFSTPO TBJE

1'%20' 3/20 +%,' / *' /3/ $ $(- )0$.& (+.$-

PACKAGES FROM $1,275PP

OSAFL10/08.

" ! #

UIF CPVODF 7*&84 ] /&84 ] '*345 1&340/ ] '"$54 ] %"5" ] $6-563& -*'& "'5&3 '005#"--

#JH A4QJEB CFHJOT B OFX KPVSOFZ

4ZEOFZ DPVQ

)00,&% 1FUFS &WFSJUU

JT FOKPZJOH UIF TQPJMT PG IJT USBWFMT

"OPUIFS .JUDIFMM GPS UIF 4XBOT

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 * MPPLFE one more series showing the best way to camp BSPVOE BOE UIFSF around Australia before we make and caravan XFSFO U BOZ SFBM any decisions,” with kids in GBNJMZ PSJFOUFE he said. the most costDespite his USBWFM TIPXT effective way 1&5&3 &7&3*55 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

( , - +- +,-(#% ",.- ". (+' !

-, ,- &* ' +$ &(+ * -(#)%-

1--,.0"./ /%,1)! " 3 ." &0 &/ +,3 &))"$ ) #,. ,5,0 . +! &+ ) 0& ("0 0, " /,)! #,. -."*&1* ,+ &0/ ,3+ ,. / - .0 ,# - ( $" !" ) 1+)"// 0%" /"))". &/ 10%,.&/"! &+ 3.&0&+$ 5 0%" %&/ #,)),3/ 0%" ,5,0 . +! &+ ) "&+$ !" ) ."! + "2"+0 1+!". 0%" 0& ("0&+$ -.,2&/&,+/ .0 ,# 0%" ',. -,.0&+$ 2"+0/ 0 0% 0 *" &+0, ,-". 0&,+ &+ 1+" 0, -.,2&!" # &.". "// #,. /1--,.0"./ 0, * ',. "2"+0/ +! *,." 0. +/- ."+0 0& ("0&+$ .. +$"*"+0/ ." %"/ ,# 0%" 0 + *" + "+0.5 0, 0%" "2"+0 "&+$ !"+&"! 0, 0%" 0& ("0 %,)!". +! 6 +"/ -". 0& ("0 &+ "4 "// ,# #,. -"./,+ ,. #,. ,*- +5 3&0% *1)0&-)" , "+ "/ ..5&+$ 6 +"/ 1- 0, 0&*"/ 0%"/" *,1+0/ % )1 *1/0 !"0 &) &0/ 0& ("0 !&/0.& 10&,+ .. +$"*"+0/ ,+ &0/ 3" /&0" # 1+/1." 3%"0%". 0& ("0 /"))". &/ 10%,.&/"! -)" /" ,+0 0 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

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.

Ő )JHIMZ SFHBSEFE 8FTU "VTUSBMJBO QSPTQFDU 5PN .JUDIFMM IBT BHSFFE UP KPJO UIF 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT VOEFS UIF GBUIFS TPO SVMF 5IF 4XBOT XJMM QJDL IJN BU UIF /"# "'- %SBGU 5IF ZFBS PME JT UIF TPO PG #BSSZ .JUDIFMM SJHIU XIP QMBZFE NBUDIFT GPS UIF 4XBOT GSPN XPO UIF CFTU BOE GBJSFTU JO XBT B EVBM "MM "VTUSBMJBO BOE JT B DMVC MJGF NFNCFS .JUDIFMM JT B TLJMGVM NJEl FMEFS XIP QMBZT BU DPMUT MFWFM GPS 8"'- DMVC $MBSFNPOU )F UPVSFE 4PVUI "GSJDB XJUI UIF "*4 "'- "DBEFNZ TRVBE UIJT ZFBS )F TQFOU B XFFL XJUI UIF 4XBOT EVSJOH QSF TFBTPO USBJOJOH h* GFMU WFSZ XFMDPNF XIFO * WJTJUFE BOE NFU UIF QMBZFST BOE DPBDIFT * WF NBEF UIJT EFDJTJPO CFDBVTF * CFMJFWF UIF 4XBOT XJMM CF UIF SJHIU DMVC UP IFMQ NF EFWFMPQ NZ HBNF v IF TBJE 4XBOT DPBDI 1BVM 3PPT TBJE .JUDIFMM hJT B QSPMJl D CBMM XJOOFS BOE B GBOUBTUJD ZPVOH NBOv h5PN XJMM l U JO XFMM XJUI UIF HSPVQ PG GSFTI UBMFOUFE QMBZFST XIP IBWF DPNF UP UIF DMVC SFDFOUMZ BOE XF CFMJFWF IF XJMM CF QBSU PG B UFBN UIBU DBO UBLF UIF DMVC UP B TVDDFTTGVM GVUVSF

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

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

NBUDIEBZ '*/"-4 8&&,

:063 6-5*."5& (".& (6*%& */$-6%*/( 45"5*45*$4 '"$54 $-6# /&84

$&/53"- '*(63& $BSMUPO XJMM SFMZ IFBWJMZ

PO TLJQQFS $ISJT +VEE BT UIF #MVFT UBLF PO UIF 4XBOT BU "/; 4UBEJVN

07&37*&8

#MVFT IPME l OBMT FEHF

" ' - 5 * 1 4 5 & 3 4

1FUFS %J 4JTUP

#VU UIFZ BSF ZFU UP XJO BU "/; 4UBEJVN JO UIFJS UXP DMBTIFT XJUI UIF 4XBOT (FFMPOH $BUT W 4U ,JMEB

'SFNBOUMF W )BXUIPSO

$PMMJOHXPPE W 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT

4ZEOFZ 4XBOT W $BSMUPO

TFBTPO UIF $BUT IPME B BEWBOUBHF PWFS UIF 4BJOUT 5XP PG UIPTF WJDUPSJFT IBWF CFFO l OBMT BU UIF .$( n UIF RVBMJGZJOH l OBM BOE MBTU ZFBS T (SBOE 'JOBM )PXFWFS 4U ,JMEB UPPL UIF QPJOUT JO UIF NPTU SFDFOU FODPVOUFS BU UIF .$( XJOOJOH CZ QPJOUT JO SPVOE UIJT ZFBS

DMBTI GPS UIF TFDPOE UJNF JO UISFF XFFLT 5IF %PDLFST MPTU CZ QPJOUT UP UIF )BXLT JO SPVOE BU "VSPSB 4UBEJVN CVU NBEF DIBOHFT UP UIBU TJEF MBTU XFFL BOE EFGFBUFE $BSMUPO 0WFSBMM UIF )BXLT MFBE JO IFBE UP IFBE DMBTIFT XJUI 'SFNBOUMF BU 4VCJBDP 0WBM

XPO UISFF PG UIFJS QBTU GPVS DMBTIFT XJUI UIF #VMMEPHT JODMVEJOH CPUI HBNFT BU &UJIBE 4UBEJVN UIJT ZFBS "U UIF .$( $PMMJOHXPPE MFBET UIF #VMMEPHT BOE UIJT XJMM CF UIFJS l GUI l OBMT NFFUJOH BU UIF WFOVF 5IF .BHQJFT MFBE UIFJS POMZ MPTT CFJOH UIF FMJNJOBUJPO l OBM CZ QPJOUT

#MVFT NFFU BU "/; 4UBEJVN GPS UIF l STU UJNF TJODF XIFO 4ZEOFZ USJVNQIFE CZ QPJOUT 5IF l OBMT SFDPSE CFUXFFO UIF UXP DMVCT JT GBJSMZ FWFO XJUI $BSMUPO MFBEJOH 5IFZ IBWF OPU NFU JO B l OBM TJODF UIF RVBMJGZJOH l OBM BU UIF .$( XIFO UIF #MVFT XPO CZ QPJOUT

w 4JODF UIF TUBSU PG UIF

w 5IFTF UXP TJEFT

'0--08 64 0/ TM

w 5IF .BHQJFT IBWF

5P HFU JOWPMWFE JO UIJT XFFLFOE T NBUDIFT PO 5XJUUFS TJNQMZ GPMMPX UIF UBHT UP UIF SJHIU BOE KPJO JO UIF DPOWFSTBUJPO

w 5IF 4XBOT BOE UIF

(FFMPOH $BUT W 4U ,JMEB 'SFNBOUMF W )BXUIPSO $PMMJOHXPPE W 8 #VMMEPHT 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT W $BSMUPO

Bm DBUTTBJOUT Bm GSFPIBXLT Bm QJFTEPHT Bm TXBOTCMVFT

"'- 3FDPSE

505"-

4U ,JMEB )BXUIPSO $PMMJOHXPPE 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

QPJOU QPJOUT QPJOUT QPJOUT

(FSBSE 8IBUFMFZ

"#$ (SBOETUBOE 505"-

(FFMPOH $BUT )BXUIPSO $PMMJOHXPPE 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

QPJOUT QPJOUT QPJOUT QPJOUT

#SJBO 5BZMPS "8

(FFMPOH $BUT )BXUIPSO $PMMJOHXPPE 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

505"-

QPJOUT QPJOUT QPJOUT QPJOUT

"OESFX %FNFUSJPV "'- $&0

(FFMPOH $BUT )BXUIPSO $PMMJOHXPPE 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

505"-

QPJOUT QPJOUT QPJOUT QPJOUT

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

ALL NEW

FINALS QUIZ

GO TO TEAMCOACH.COM.AU TO PLAY

AVAILABLE AT & NEWSAGENTS!

TH

OBUJPOBMTDPSFCPBSE

" ' - n 3 0 6 / % 'SFNBOUMF

$BSMUPO

#FTU 'SFNBOUMF n )JMM 4BOEJMBOET 1BWMJDI +PIOTPO .VOEZ *CCPUTPO .D1IFF $BSMUPO n .VSQIZ (JCCT 4JNQTPO (SJHH (BSMFUU +VEE (PBMT 'SFNBOUMF n )JMM .BZOF 1BWMJDI 8BMUFST +PIOTPO #BMMBOUZOF EF #PFS .PSBCJUP $BSMUPO n (BSMFUU )FOEFSTPO 4JNQTPO 8BJUF #FUUT &MMBSE .VSQIZ 4DPUMBOE 6NQJSFT 4 .D#VSOFZ 3 $IBNCFSMBJO 4 3ZBO $SPXE BU 4VCJBDP 0WBM

8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT

&TTFOEPO

#FTU 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT n (SBOU $SPTT .VSQIZ #PZE )BSCSPX (JBOTJSBDVTB 8BSE &TTFOEPO n +FUUB )PXMFUU .ZFST )PDLJOH )JMMF (PBMT 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT n (SBOU )BMM &BHMFUPO (JBOTJSBDVTB .PMFT &TTFOEPO n $PMZFS )PDLJOH 3ZEFS )JMMF )PXMFUU .BSJHMJBOJ 1SJTNBMM 4MBUUFSZ 6NQJSFT + 4DINJUU + "SNTUSPOH + .PMMJTPO $SPXE BU &UJIBE 4UBEJVN

(FFMPOH

8FTU $PBTU

#FTU (FFMPOH n "CMFUU ,FMMZ .JMCVSO $IBQNBO .BDLJF -JOH 4DBSMFUU $PSFZ 8FTU $PBTU n )BNT 8BUFST 3PTB 8JMTPO 4IVFZ (PBMT (FFMPOH n "CMFUU .PPOFZ +PIOTPO )BXLJOT -JOH 7BSDPF 0UUFOT 8FTU $PBTU n 8JMTPO )BNT 4IVFZ -F$SBT .BTUFO 4UFWFOT ,FOOFEZ 6NQJSFT - 'BSNFS 4 4UFXBSU 5 1BOOFMM $SPXE BU 4LJMMFE 4UBEJVN

4ZEOFZ

#SJTCBOF -JPOT

#FTU 4ZEOFZ n +BDL .BMDFTLJ .BUUOFS ,JSL .D7FJHI 0 ,FFGF #SJTCBOF -JPOT n 4UBLFS #SFOOBO 3PDLMJä -FVFOCFSHFS .D(SBUI (PBMT 4ZEOFZ n %FOOJT -BOF +BDL + #PMUPO +FUUB ,FOOFEZ .BMDFTLJ .D7FJHI .FSFEJUI 0 ,FFGF 4IBX 3FJE (PPEFT #SJTCBOF -JPOT n #SFOOBO #BOl FME 1SPVE 1PXFS "EDPDL $PMMJFS 1PMLJOHIPSOF 4UBLFS )BOMFZ 6NQJSFT $ %POMPO . 4UFWJD 4 +Fä FSZ $SPXE BU UIF (BCCB

)BXUIPSO

$PMMJOHXPPE

#FTU )BXUIPSO n 'SBOLMJO .JUDIFMM 4FXFMM 3JPMJ &MMJT :PVOH $PMMJOHXPPE n 4XBO #FBNT 1FOEMFCVSZ +PMMZ 4IBX 8FMMJOHIBN (PBMT )BXUIPSO n 'SBOLMJO 3JPMJ 1FUFSTPO &MMJT -FXJT 8IJUFDSPTT 3PVHIFBE )PPQFS :PVOH $PMMJOHXPPE n #MBJS +PMMZ %BWJT #FBNT 4JEFCPUUPN $MPLF #BMM 4IBX %BXFT 4XBO 6NQJSFT . 7P[[P # 3PTFCVSZ . /JDIPMMT $SPXE BU UIF .$(

1PSU "EFMBJEF

3JDINPOE

#FTU 1PSU "EFMBJEF n #PBL #SPHBO % 4UFXBSU , $PSOFT 3PEBO -PHBO 3JDINPOE n %FMFEJP .PSUPO .BSUJO ,JOH 5VDL 8IJUF $PUDIJO (PBMT 1PSU "EFMBJEF n % 4UFXBSU #PBL -PHBO 1 4UFXBSU (SBZ + 8FTUIPä #SPHBO $BTTJTJ 3PEBO %BWFOQPSU 3JDINPOE n .PSUPO ,JOH 8IJUF 1PTU $PUDIJO 3JFXPMEU /BIBT $PMMJOT 6NQJSFT % .BSHFUUT 3 'JOEMBZ $ #PXFO $SPXE BU &UJIBE 4UBEJVN

"EFMBJEF

4U ,JMEB

#FTU "EFMBJEF n 5IPNQTPO %PVHMBT 3FJMMZ %PVHIUZ .BSUJO 8BMLFS 3VUUFO %BWJT 4U ,JMEB n )BZFT %BM 4BOUP (PEEBSE .POUBHOB #MBLF (SBN "SNJUBHF (PBMT "EFMBJEF n 8BMLFS 5JQQFUU 1PSQMZ[JB %PVHMBT 4MPBOF +BFOTDI 4U ,JMEB n %BM 4BOUP (BSEJOFS %FNQTUFS ,PTDIJU[LF (FBSZ 6NQJSFT ) ,FOOFEZ 4 .FSFEJUI 4 .D*OFSOFZ $SPXE BU "".* 4UBEJVN

/PSUI .FMCPVSOF

.FMCPVSOF

#FTU /PSUI .FMCPVSOF n (SFFOXPPE 3BXMJOHT )BSWFZ 4XBMMPX 5IPNQTPO 8FMMT 'JSSJUP .FMCPVSOF n +VSSBI 4DVMMZ (SFFO 'SBXMFZ #SVDF .PSUPO 4ZMWJB (PBMT /PSUI .FMCPVSOF n +POFT )BSWFZ 4XBMMPX $BNQCFMM 8SJHIU 8BSSFO (PMETUFJO (SFFOXPPE .BD.JMMBO &EXBSET .FMCPVSOF n +VSSBI (SFFO %VOO #BUF .PSUPO 6NQJSFT 4 .D-BSFO ) 3ZBO 5 ,FBUJOH $SPXE BU UIF .$(

7 ' - n ' * / " - 4

" ' - 4 & " 4 0 / 4 5"5 4 ,JDLT

%BOF 4XBO -FJHI .POUBHOB 1BVM $IBQNBO .BUUIFX #PZE #SZDF (JCCT $PSFZ &OSJHIU

.BSLT

#SJBO -BLF 4BN (JMCFSU "EBN (PPEFT 4BN 'JTIFS +BTPO #MBLF #SBE (SFFO

)BOECBMMT

#SBEZ 3BXMJOHT %BOJFM $SPTT +PCF 8BUTPO (BSZ "CMFUU +PFM 4FMXPPE .BUU 1SJEEJT

)BOECBMMT SFDFJWFE #SBEZ 3BXMJOHT 1BVM $IBQNBO -FJHI .POUBHOB %BOF 4XBO (BSZ "CMFUU +PFM 4FMXPPE

5BDLMFT

"OESFX 4XBMMPX %PNFOJD $BTTJTJ -FOOZ )BZFT ,JFSFO +BDL -VLF #BMM +VEF #PMUPO

*OTJEF T

-FJHI .POUBHOB "EBN (PPEFT %BOZMF 1FBSDF 3ZBO (SJä FO %BOF 4XBO 1BVM $IBQNBO

$PMMJOHXPPE 4U ,JMEB (FFMPOH 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT $BSMUPO (FFMPOH

8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT 4U ,JMEB 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT 4U ,JMEB 4U ,JMEB .FMCPVSOF

/PSUI .FMCPVSOF 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT &TTFOEPO (FFMPOH (FFMPOH 8FTU $PBTU &BHMFT

/PSUI .FMCPVSOF (FFMPOH 4U ,JMEB $PMMJOHXPPE (FFMPOH (FFMPOH

/PSUI .FMCPVSOF 1PSU "EFMBJEF 4U ,JMEB 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT $PMMJOHXPPE 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

4U ,JMEB 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT 1PSU "EFMBJEF 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT $PMMJOHXPPE (FFMPOH

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

$-"44 '"$503 #SFOU )BSWFZ IFMQFE /PSUI .FMCPVSOF l OJTI UIF TFBTPO PO B IJHI XJUI UISFF HPBMT MBTU XFFL

3FCPVOEFE GSPN 1BVM %Vå FME /JDL .BMDFTLJ +BNFT 'SBXMFZ #SFOU (VFSSB #SFUU %FMFEJP #SJBO -BLF

)BSE CBMM HFUT

%PNFOJD $BTTJTJ .BUUIFX #PZE (BSZ "CMFUU +PCF 8BUTPO $ISJT +VEE .BUU 1SJEEJT

-PPTF CBMM HFUT %BOF 4XBO +PCF 8BUTPO (BSZ "CMFUU .BSD .VSQIZ ,JFSFO +BDL "MBO %JEBL

'SFFT GPS

"OESFX 4XBMMPX +PFM 4FMXPPE %BOJFM $SPTT %FBO #SPHBO .BSL +BNBS -VLF )PEHF

'SFFT BHBJOTU

%FBO #SPHBO .BSL +BNBS %BSSFO +PMMZ %PNFOJD $BTTJTJ .JDIBFM 0TCPSOF -VLF )PEHF

)JU PVUT

"BSPO 4BOEJMBOET .BSL +BNBS %FBO $PY 4IBOF .VNGPSE %BSSFO +PMMZ %FBO #SPHBO

'SFNBOUMF 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT .FMCPVSOF )BXUIPSO 3JDINPOE 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT

1PSU "EFMBJEF 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT (FFMPOH &TTFOEPO $BSMUPO 8FTU $PBTU &BHMFT

$PMMJOHXPPE &TTFOEPO (FFMPOH $BSMUPO 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT $PMMJOHXPPE

/PSUI .FMCPVSOF (FFMPOH 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT 1PSU "EFMBJEF .FMCPVSOF )BXUIPSO

1PSU "EFMBJEF .FMCPVSOF $PMMJOHXPPE 1PSU "EFMBJEF )BXUIPSO )BXUIPSO

'SFNBOUMF .FMCPVSOF 8FTU $PBTU &BHMFT 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT $PMMJOHXPPE 1PSU "EFMBJEF

26"-*':*/( '*/"8JMMJBNTUPXO

1PSU .FMCPVSOF

#&45 8JMMJBNTUPXO n %BWJFT )PPQFS .JOTPO $BMMBO +PMMFZ 'BVMLT 1PSU .FMCPVSOF n 3 .D.BIPO #FOUJDL 7BMFOUJ 1MFNJOH 'BOOJOH +PIOTUPO (0"-4 8JMMJBNTUPXO n )PPQFS -JUUMF 4UBDL 3PTF )JMM 1BOPT %BWJFT )JHHJOT 1PSU .FMCPVSOF n (BMFB 3 .D.BIPO .D(SBUI 1JOXJMM 4JODMBJS #POBEEJP #FOUJDL 7BMFOUJ &-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"/PSUIFSO #VMMBOUT

$PMMJOHXPPE

#&45 /PSUIFSO #VMMBOUT n 5IPSOUPO .D$PSLFMM +PIOTPO )BEMFZ #SPXOF +BDPCT $PMMJOHXPPE n "OUIPOZ .FEIVSTU 4VOECFSH -JTUPO -PDLZFS $PPL (0"-4 /PSUIFSO #VMMBOUT n +BDPCT 'JTIFS +PIOTPO )BEMFZ .PSHBO #SPXOF 4 "VTUJO 5IPSOUPO $BTCPVMU "SSPXTNJUI $PMMJOHXPPE n .FEIVSTU -PDLZFS $PSSJF 3FFE $PPL .D/BNBSB &-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"#PY )JMM )BXLT

#FOEJHP #PNCFST

#&45 #PY )JMM )BXLT n 4 (JCTPO + )PFHFM -JTMF 4BWBHF 'BHBO ,BZMFS 5IPNTPO #FOEJHP #PNCFST n 2VJOO +BNFT #FMMDIBNCFST 4IJOOFST /FBHMF -JEEMF (0"-4 #PY )JMM )BXLT n + )PFHFM -JTMF 4 (JCTPO ,BZMFS 5IPNTPO .PSUPO .VTUPO +BDLTPO 4VDLMJOH 'BHBO #SFVTU 4BWBHF #FOEJHP #PNCFST n #FMMDIBNCFST 4UJMM -JEEMF #PDL 4USPPCBOUT 4IJOOFST "ULJOTPO 26"-*':*/( '*/"/PSUI #BMMBSBU

$BTFZ 4DPSQJPOT

#&45 /PSUI #BMMBSBU n $MJGUPO 1FUFST 'FFSZ 4IBSLFZ 3JDIBSETPO $PVDI $BTFZ 4DPSQJPOT n 8BSOPDL .D/BNBSB )FBMFZ 'JFMETFOE .JMMFS $IFOFZ (0"-4 /PSUI #BMMBSBU n + 4NJUI )BMF * 4NJUI /PSSJT %JOOFMM .JDBMMFG 5ZMFS %SJTDPMM 6SRVIBSU 'FFSZ 3JDIBSETPO 8IJUF $BTFZ 4DPSQJPOT n .JMMFS .D/BNBSB 'JFMETFOE )VHIFT .D(PVHI #FOOFMM .PIS

TH

THE HIGH-DEFINITION SPECIALIST 8FTU

4PVUI

#&45 8FTU n $BSVTP $BJSF 'FSHVTPO 8JMMJUT 3PXF &[BSE )JMM 4PVUI n -JEEMF 0 ,FFGF .VSQIZ $SBUF )PSOF (0"-4 8FTU n #FOOFUU / $BSVTP %BWJFT &[BSE 3PXF $BJSF ' $BSVTP )BSUMFUU )JMM 4PVUI n 3PMGF 8BSSFO -JEEMF 0 ,FFGF

&-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"4BOESJOHIBN %SBHPOT

#FOEJHP 1JPOFFST

#&45 4BOESJOHIBN %SBHPOT n 3FJMMZ +BNFT %BSSPV 4MPOJN +BDPCT %FSNPUU #FOEJHP 1JPOFFST n %PMF "OEFSTPO 4BMJCB .D*WPS (PSEPO 8JOFT (0"-4 4BOESJOHIBN %SBHPOT n 3FJMMZ +BDPCT 'BSNFS 'BMMPO 3VTTP -ZPOT 4LFUDIFS #PMBOE 1JOPU #FOEJHP 1JPOFFST n %PMF 4USJOHFS (PSEPO &BHMF &MMJT +FOLJOT ,FMMZ

(MFOFMH

/PSXPPE

#&45 (MFOFMH n ,JSL $BSS $SBOTUPO # ,BOF 5FOBDF .VMFT "MMFO .JMMT /PSXPPE n -PXFS )VHIFT (BMMBHIFS 1VPQPMP 5SPUUFS .D(VJOOFTT (FPSHJPV (0"-4 (MFOFMH n 5 (SJNB " (SJNB ,JSLCZ # ,BOF #PEF 5FOBDF $BSS .JMMT .VSQIZ $ ,BOF "MMFO /PSXPPE n %BWJT -PXFS 5FSMJDI (SJHH %BXF

26"-*':*/( '*/"%BOEFOPOH 4UJOHSBZT

0BLMFJHI $IBSHFST

#&45 %BOEFOPOH 4UJOHSBZT n &MUPO -ZODI $VSSFO 1BSLFS "NBMl )FEEMFT 0BLMFJHI $IBSHFST n % )BSSJT #BUTBOJT 5PNMJOTPO (Bä .BTDJUUJ $SPDLFS (0"-4 %BOEFOPOH 4UJOHSBZT n #VDIBO -ZODI )BMMBIBO 1BSLFS 4JQPTT &MUPO $VSSFO (SFFMFZ 5BHH 0BLMFJHI $IBSHFST n $VTU +PIOTPO $SPDLFS #BUTBOJT .BTDJUUJ .VSQIZ 5ZTPO .JDIJF

4UVSU

$FOUSBM

#&45 4UVSU n (JMFT (VN 7BTTBM .D-FBZ $VCJMMP )FSSJOH /FMTPO $FOUSBM n $BMMJOBO 5IPNBT #PZE -BXSZ 4QVSS (0"-4 4UVSU n )FSSJOH (JMFT 7BTTBM 3JTDICJFUI (VN +PIODPDL $FOUSBM n $BMMJOBO #PZE 4DIFMM 5IPNBT )BSEZ 4QVSS )BWFMCFSH

26"-*':*/( '*/"(FFMPOH 'BMDPOT

/PSUIFSO ,OJHIUT

#&45 (FFMPOH n 4NJUI 5 %BWJT 5BZMPS 4PEPNBDP -FWFS #BLFS /PSUIFSO ,OJHIUT n 5PUFWTLJ .BSDPO .BSJD 7FBM #BSEFO -JODPMO (0"-4 (FFMPOH n #BLFS 4NJUI .BD-FPE 8BMLFS 'JTIFS 4FNNFOT /PSUIFSO ,OJHIUT n #BSEFO .BSJD 5PUFWTLJ 7FBM 5SFMPBS

/PSUI

&BHMFT

#&45 /PSUI n 8SJHIU "DLMBOE "MMBO "SDIBSE 3ZTXZL "SNTUSPOH &BHMFT n 1PMFD $JDPMFMMB 3JNJOHUPO 5SFFCZ .D,FO[JF (0"-4 /PSUI n % .PUMPQ 3ZTXZL :PVOJF "MMFXBZ (JMM "DLMBOE 4USJCMJOH 8IJUF 8IZNBO &BHMFT n $JDPMFMMB 1PMFD 3JNJOHUPO (PMETXPSUIZ (SPDLF %BZ .JMFT 1BSSZ 5SFFCZ

&-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"/PSUI #BMMBSBU 3FCFMT

.VSSBZ #VTISBOHFST

#&45 /PSUI #BMMBSBU 3FCFMT n 1PNPSJO .BCPO )JMM #BSCFS 0 #SJFO 5 .D%POBME .VSSBZ #VTISBOHFST n .JMFT 8IFFMFS "MMFO $FHMBS 8IJMFZ 1PMMBSE (0"-4 /PSUI #BMMBSBU 3FCFMT n )JMM $BNFSPO $PPL 5 .D%POBME .BCPO 1PNPSJO %PCTPO %BSNPEZ (FPSHF .VSSBZ #VTISBOHFST n ,MFNLF .JMFT 0HEFO 4UFXBSU +PIOT $FHMBS "MMFO &MMJPUU &-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"(JQQTMBOE 1PXFS

8FTUFSO +FUT

#&45 (JQQTMBOE n )FQQFMM 4UBMFZ -BNC -JOETBZ #VUDIFS 3PTT 8FTUFSO +FUT n .FBE 4NJUI )PTLJO &MMJPUU .D1IFSTPO $PPLF 5BZMPS (0"-4 (JQQTMBOE n /PSUIF .BD%POBME )FQQFMM -BNC 1FOEMFCVSZ %FFSZ 5ZOBO 4NJUI 8ZBUU 4UBMFZ 8FTUFSO +FUT n 5BZMPS $PPLF .FBE )PTLJO &MMJPUU %FM 1BQB +BXBE &-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"$BMEFS $BOOPOT

&BTUFSO 3BOHFT

#&45 $BMEFS $BOOPOT n (VUISJF 8BUTPO 8JMMJBNT 8BMMJT 4DISPEFS 4VMMJWBO &BTUFSO 3BOHFT n :PVOH 1BUUPO 7PMUB 0 4IFB )BSWFZ #VTTFZ (0"-4 $BMEFS $BOOPOT n 8BUTPO 4DISPEFS (VUISJF 8BMMJT 8SJHIU 4VMMJWBO .FMJ ,Fä PSE 1SFTUJB 4IFSJEBO &BTUFSO 3BOHFT n 1BUUPO 1IFMQT #VTTFZ :PVOH 0 4IFB

'6563& 45"3 $BNFSPO (VUISJF XBT CFTU PO HSPVOE JO $BMEFS T XJO MBTU XFFL

5"$ $VQ MBEEFS

1 8 - % 'PS "HTU

%BOEFOPOH 4UJOHSBZT

1UT

/PSUIFSO ,OJHIUT

(FFMPOH 'BMDPOT

0BLMFJHI $IBSHFST

4BOESJOHIBN %SBHPOT

(JQQTMBOE 1PXFS

$BMEFS $BOOPOT

.VSSBZ #VTISBOHFST

/PSUI #BMMBSBU 3FCFMT

&BTUFSO 3BOHFT

8FTUFSO +FUT

(8 4ZEOFZ

#FOEJHP 1JPOFFST

8" ' - n 3 0 6 / %

4 " / ' - n 3 0 6 / %

5"$ $ 6 1 n ' * / " - 4

FOR YOUR NEAREST STORE CALL

&91&3*&/$& %BOJFM .PUMPQ CPPUFE GPVS HPBMT GPS /PSUI "EFMBJEF

" ' - 2 6 & & / 4 - " / % n ' * / " - 4

4XBO %JTUSJDUT

1FFM 5IVOEFS

#&45 4XBO %JTUSJDUT n ,SBLPVFS )BOTPO /PUUF (FBQQJO 3PCFSUT 5XPNFZ 1FFM 5IVOEFS n )PMNFT 'JMP #VUDIFS 1JHHPUU 0 #SJFO (0"-4 4XBO %JTUSJDUT n )BOTFO (FBQJO 4JNQTPO /PUUF 5XPNFZ ,SBLPVFS 8PMGFOEPO 4QFODFS +FUUB 1BSSZ 1FFM 5IVOEFS n 'JMP .D-FPE #FOOFMM 8BSF 1JHHPUU 1BEXJDL &BTU 1FSUI

$MBSFNPOU

#&45 &BTU 1FSUI n 8VMä )BODPDL -FF 4UJSMJOH $MBSFNPOU n 3JDIBSETPO 4DIBNNFS 4JMWBHOJ (0"-4 &BTU 1FSUI n .D,JOMFZ 4FBM $MBSLF 8VMä 1SJPS 0BLMFZ /JDIPMMT 4XBO $MBSFNPOU n 3JDIBSETPO 3PXF #SBCB[PO 3VDL 4UFWFOTPO 4DIBNNFS 4XJGU 8JMLFT 8FTU 1FSUI

1FSUI

#&45 8FTU 1FSUI n )VOU 3 #FXJDL -ZODI 4 #FXJDL 4BZMPS 1FSUI n :PVOH .[VOHV .PPEZ 8IJUF 4NJUI #PMMFOIBHFO (0"-4 8FTU 1FSUI n 4BZMPS $IBNCFST -ZODI -F$SBT #SBEMFZ (VBEBHOJO ,FVOFO 3 #FXJDL 1FBSDF 4BMFDJD 5JOEBMM 1FSUI n #PMMFOIBHFO .PPEZ .[VOHV 6HMF 8IJUF 5IPSOUPO 4NJUI .D-FPE &EXBSET 4VCJBDP

4PVUI 'SFNBOUMF

#&45 4VCJBDP n 8FCC $SPXMFZ #SPBEIVSTU $PTTPN 3FJE 3VNCMF 4PVUI 'SFNBOUMF n .D(SBUI )FBE %FMNFOJDP #BJSTUPX )VOU .VHBNCXB (0"-4 4VCJBDP n $SPXMFZ #SPBEIVSTU 3FBE 3VNCMF $PTTPN ,FFWFST $BNQCFMM 1JDLFUU ,FSS "MMJTUPO 4PVUI 'SFNBOUMF n )FBE ,FSTUFO #BJSTUPX .PUMPQ 8JOUFS .VHVNCXB .VSQIZ $PMMJDB (VHMJFMNBOB .D(SBUI 8IJUF

" ' - $ " / # & 3 3 " n 3 0 6 / % #FMDPOOFO

4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

#&45 #FMDPOOFO n $BNQCFMM .D"MJTUFS $VSUJT -PWF :PSL 4IFBUIFS 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT n )FBUI .D/FJM 0 %XZFS 'BSSFMM $VSSJF (0"-4 #FMDPOOFO n 1PTDI 4IFBUIFS -PWF +PSEBO :PSL $PBUF 6OEFSXPPE 5BMTNB #FOOFUU %PVHMBT 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT n )FBUI 4VNOFS (PSNBO $VSSJF 0 %XZFS (JMDISJTU #SBETIBX .D/FJM

&-*.*/"5*0/ '*/".U (SBWBUU

/5 5IVOEFS

#&45 .U (SBWBUU n &WBOT )BNJMM 1BHF 4UFWFO 1JSLJB )BSMFZ /5 5IVOEFS n ,PTTBDL (PPEFT &XJOH 5ZSSFMM 4LJOOFS *MFUU (0"-4 .U (SBWBUU n 'VSGBSP 4NJUI 1BHF 1JSJLB 3FJE +BNJFTPO )BNJMM 1SBUU .PSSJTPO 8IJUF 4BWBHF 4UFWFO 4DIVMU[ /5 5IVOEFS n &XJOH 4LJOOFS .PUMPQ *MFUU

2VFBOCFZBO

5VHHFSBOPOH

#&45 2VFBOCFZBO n $POSPZ 2VBEF %JDLJOTPO )PMMJT 5IPNQTPO "SNTUSPOH 5VHHFSBOPOH n $IBQNBO $MFBWFS "TIDSPGU -PWFUU /PMFO ,JDLFUU (0"-4 2VFBOCFZBO n "SNTUSPOH 'SBODIJ ,BWBOBHI -POHNPSF -JEEMF $POSPZ #SJFEJT $PPL 5VHHFSBOPOH n 1PDPDL +PIOTPO 3JDF *SWJOF 4NJUI ,JDLFUU -BXEFS (SFFOXFMM

.PSOJOHTJEF

4PVUIQPSU

#&45 .PSOJOHTJEF n )JDLFZ #FMM 3PHFST ,JODI .VHBWJO 1SJDF 4PVUIQPSU n 1BZOF 1VUU %FWJOF #PVSLF %BOJFM 1GFJä FS (0"-4 .PSOJOHTJEF n .VHBWJO -VDZ "CFZ )PMNBO ,JODI 5IPNMJOTPO 4IFMUPO #SPXO %FMCSJEHF 6QUPO 'BVSF 4PVUIQPSU n )VHIFT 1VUU 1FUUFSTTPO 8JTF 'PXMFS .BD-BSFO %BOJFM 1BZOF 4DSFFDI

&BTUMBLF

"JOTMJF

#&45 &BTUMBLF n .BJEFO 8JMTPO #SVDF )BEESJMM (JCTPO #PXFO "JOTMJF n 'MFNJOH "SHBMM 4UPOF $SPPL -PWF )VHIFT (0"-4 &BTUMBLF n 3PVMTUPOF )BEESJMM 5BZMGPSUI $VNNJOT .D.BIPO %FBO #SVDF (JCTPO (VNMFZ "JOTMJF n 1BJOF )VHIFT #BYUFS 4UPOF

"'- 4:%/& : n '*/"-4

" ' - 5" 4 . " / * " n ' * / " - 4

&-*.*/"5*0/ '*/"1FOOBOU )JMMT

/PSUI 4IPSF

#&45 1FOOBOU )JMMT n 'FSHVTPO 'SBVOGFMUFS -PX 4NJUI 5SFTUSBJM #SBXO /PSUI 4IPSF n )PMNFT )VHIFT -PSE #SBJO 4USVEXJDL .VSQIZ (0"-4 1FOOBOU )JMMT n #SBXO #JMMT 1PUUFS 1BSLFS "JULFO 'FSHVTPO /PSUI 4IPSF n .VSQIZ )VHIFT "UUXPPE $BTFZ

26"-*':*/( '*/"-4 -BVODFTUPO

%FWPOQPSU

#&45 -BVODFTUPO n (SPFOFXFHFO 0 ,FFGF 8PPMMFZ 4JODMBJS 'JODI )BSSJT %FWPOQPSU n 3FZOPMET $PMCFDL )FTT .D%POBME 4NJUI #ZBSE (0"-4 -BVODFTUPO n 'JODI 4JODMBJS 4UFQIFOT &EXBSET 'SFODI -POFSHBO )BSSJT (SPFOFXFHFO #PZDF #SJTUPX .D$BCF %FWPOQPSU n $PMCFDL 4NJUI .D%POBME $SPXEFO 3VOEMF

8FTUFSO 4VCVSCT

&BTU $PBTU &BHMFT

#&45 8FTUFSO 4VCVSCT n .JOJDIJFMMP -JOTFO -JMZ $SFTTXFMM -BNCFSU & ,BTTFN &BTU $PBTU &BHMFT n 'JUUPO 1IZTJDL + 7MBULP %JNFSZ $IBSMFTUPO #FBSETMFZ (0"-4 8FTUFSO 4VCVSCT n #SBZ -JOTFO $SFTTXFMM 8JUIFST 8BULJOT & ,BTTFN $PDISBOF &BTU $PBTU &BHMFT n +BNJF 7MBULP $IBSMFTUPO (PPEFZ +PO 7MBULP #PXMFT #FBSETMFZ $PTUFMMP

/PSUI )PCBSU

(MFOPSDIZ

#&45 /PSUI )PCBSU n EF (PPZFS 7FJUDI 8JMMJBNT 'JTIFS $SFFTF 6OTXPSUI (MFOPSDIZ n #PXEFO +PTFQI "SOPME #BSXJDL 8FC (BSWFZ (0"-4 /PSUI )PCBSU n )BMM .VJS "MMJTPO #SPXO EF (PPZFS 8JMMJBNT %BSMFZ 4BMUFS $VOMJä F 'JTIFS 8JMTPO (MFOPSDIZ n #PXEFO #PXSJOH (MFOO 1PUUFS 4XFFOFZ 8FCC

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

&/+0:*/( 5)& 3*%& &WFO JO IJT

UI TFBTPO BT B TFOJPS DPBDI .JDL .BMUIPVTF IBT OPU MPTU IJT FOUIVTJBTN GPS UIF HBNF

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

3&410/4*#-& "$$06/5"#-&

*/4*%& .*/% 5)&

0' "

."45&3

%&$*4*0/4

& 91&$5"5*0/4

$0"$) . * $ , . " -5 ) 0 6 4 &

5XFOUZ TFWFO DPOTFDVUJWF TFBTPOT JO GPPUCBMM T UPVHIFTU QSPGFTTJPO IBT OPU EVMMFE .JDL .BMUIPVTF T FOUIVTJBTN GPS UIF HBNF )JT NJOE SFNBJOT SB[PS TIBSQ IJT DPNQFUJUJWF JOTUJODU BT LFFO BT JU IBT FWFS CFFO BT IF NPWFT JOUP TFDPOE QMBDF PO UIF BMM UJNF MJTU PG HBNFT DPBDIFE UIJT XFFLFOE 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

)0/&45 :

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

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

.*$, ."-5)064&

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 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

3&41&$5&% .BMUIPVTF IBT CVJMU UIF USVTU PG IJT QMBZFST BU UISFF DMVCT n 'PPUTDSBZ 8FTU $PBTU BOE OPX XJUI $PMMJOHXPPE

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 :PV UISPX work with. I’m private life at B QV[[MF BU not sure many the front door, IJN BOE XJUIJO people know it is Malthouse,” that; he’s very Wirrpanda said.

NJOVUFT IF IBT personable,” “The other XPSLFE JU PVU Buttifant said. thing Mick (6: .D,&//" 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

.*$, ."-5)064&

5)& +063/&: .JDL .BMUIPVTF TUBSUFE XJUI 'PPUTDSBZ UPQ MFGU JO CFGPSF IFBEJOH UP 8FTU $PBTU JO XIFSF IF DPBDIFE UIF &BHMFT UP UIFJS l STU m BH CPUUPN MFGU )F KPJOFE $PMMJOHXPPE JO BOE IBE UIF .BHQJFT JO UIF BOE (SBOE 'JOBMT IFSF IF DPOTPMFT 1BVM -JDVSJB BGUFS UIF EFGFBU )JT TFOJPS SPMF XJUI $PMMJOHXPPE XJMM l OJTI BU UIF FOE PG XIFO BTTJTUBOU /BUIBO #VDLMFZ CFMPX XJUI .BMUIPVTF UBLFT PWFS

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 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

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 *U T QSFUUZ be clarified. they can earn SBSF ZPV HFU “There respect.

TPNFPOF XIP was no point Clement reinforcing DPBDIFT GPS TP MPOH said the way information if Malthouse BOE TUJMM IBT UFBNT cared we understood for his QMBZJOH GPS IJN exactly where players was +".&4 $-&.&/5 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

" $)".1*0/

")&"% 0' )*4 5*.& 3 & $ 0 ( / * 4 * / ( 5 ) & ( 3 & "5 0 / & 4

5IFSF JT OP EFOZJOH UIF JNQBDU #FSOJF 2VJOMBO IBE PO UIF HBNF JO UIF T BOE T " GBO GBWPVSJUF A4VQFSCPPU XBT UIF QSPUPUZQF PG UIF NPEFSO TVQFSTUBS B QMBZFS TP UBMFOUFE IF XBT DBQBCMF PG XJOOJOH B #SPXOMPX .FEBM BT B SVDL SPWFS BOE l OJTIJOH BO JMMVTUSJPVT HBNF DBSFFS BT B UXP UJNF DFOUVSZ LJDLJOH GVMM GPSXBSE #VU IJT TUPSZ UIF l STU PG B TFSJFT PO QBTU HSFBUT UP SVO EVSJOH UIF l OBMT SFWFBMT B NBO XJUI QFSTQFDUJWF XIP LOPXT UIFSF BSF NPSF JNQPSUBOU UIJOHT JO MJGF UIBO GPPUCBMM PETER RYA N

#

1)050 .*$)"&- 8*--40/ "'- 1)0504

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

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

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.”

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

#&3/*& 26*/-"/

)F XBT TJMLZ TNPPUI B 3PMMT 3PZDF BT HPPE BT B TNBMM NBO BT IF XBT BT B CJH NBO

*/ 4:/$)30/: (SFBU NBUFT #FSOJF 2VJOMBO

MFGU BOE #BSSZ 3PVOE TPBS PWFS 4PVUI .FMCPVSOF T %BWJE :PVOH BU UIF -BLF 0WBM JO UIF NJE T #PUI IBJMFE GSPN (JQQTMBOE CFHBO UIFJS DBSFFST UPHFUIFS BU 'PPUTDSBZ JO BOE TIBSFE UIF #SPXOMPX .FEBM JO BU UIFJS TFDPOE DMVCT JOTFU

.&-#063/& $)".1*0/ 30#&35 '-08&3 0/ 26*/-"/

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 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

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.”

2

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

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

Prevention is better than cure so protect yourself against injury with the Elastoplast Sport range of sports medicine products. Exclusively used by The Australian Institute of Sport and many other elite sports clubs across Australia and New Zealand. s 2IGID 3TRAPPING 4APES s %LASTIC !DHESIVE "ANDAGES

s -OUTHGUARDS s (OT #OLD 0ACKS

&OR ALL YOUR 3PORTS -EDICINE NEEDS Available from pharmacy, sports medicine WHOLESALERS AND SUPERMARKETS

Visit iTunes for your FREE Download

Beiersdorf Australia Ltd. 4 Khartoum Road, North Ryde NSW 2113 Customer Service: 1800 269 933 toll free

www.elastoplastsport.com Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare practitioner. ® = Reg. TM. Beiersdorf AG.

#&3/*& 26*/-"/

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 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

3&'-&$5*7& 2VJOMBO T QFSTQFDUJWF PO

MJGF DIBOHFE JO BGUFS UIF QBTTJOH PG IJT ZFBS PME EBVHIUFS "MBOB XJUI PWBSJBO DBODFS h)FS NFNPSZ JT WFSZ JNQPSUBOU UP NF 'PPUCBMM UBLFT B TPMJE CBDL TFBU BGUFS TPNFUIJOH MJLF UIBU v IF TBJE

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 *U QSPCBCMZ had three goals, life. It might DBNF B MJUUMF CJU a total of four by have been game’s end. better to have FBTZ FBSMZ JU Then he QSPCBCMZ XBTO U B to work your took off back backside off to HPPE MFTTPO to Traralgon in get into JO MJGF a navy blue FJ the team.” #&3/*& 26*/-"/ 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.

WIN

1 OF 4

TOYOTA AURIONS IN SEPTEMBER *

#&3/*& 26*/-"/ /

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 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

“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. *U XBT QSFUUZ On the long FVQIPSJD * weekend in June, he headed back to TVQQPTF LJDLJOH Traralgon as part HPBMT :PV SF of a reunion of the VQ JO UIF DMPVET club’s 1960, 1980, He was 1990 and 2000 LJDLJOH #&3/*& 26*/-"/ 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 '"$5 '*-& entered the year with high #FSOJF 2VJOMBO hopes, but soon had a wake-up #PSO +VMZ call. When the decision was 3FDSVJUFE GSPN 5SBSBMHPO made to sack him after a loss to the Sydney Swans, Quinlan %FCVU 3PVOE was relieved.

W 'JU[SPZ “You live and learn. It was an )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH experience and I had a crack at it.”

(BNFT 'PPUTDSBZ He can chuckle now about 'JU[SPZ (PBMT some of the comments made 'PPUTDSBZ 'JU[SPZ at the time, but admits the 1MBZFS IPOPVST #SPXOMPX experience soured him for a .FEBM FRVBM $PMFNBO while. However, he retained .FEBM 'PPUTDSBZ perspective about it all.

MFBEJOH HPBMLJDLFS When his daughter Alana died 'JU[SPZ MFBEJOH HPBMLJDLFS on September 5 of 2001, nothing

else mattered much.

"MM "VTUSBMJBO Quinlan could not believe 'JU[SPZ 5FBN PG UIF $FOUVSZ how quickly the cancer took "VTUSBMJBO 'PPUCBMM )BMM PG hold and hoped with all his 'BNF JOEVDUFE might that a magic cure might $PBDI 'JU[SPZ stop the illness in its tracks.

HBNFT XJOT MPTTFT “It’s a huge shock and it knocks you around unbelievably, but #SPXOMPX .FEBM you just have to get on with it DBSFFS WPUFT and do the best you can,” he says.

-*0/)&"35 "GUFS

OJOF TFBTPOT XJUI 'PPUTDSBZ 2VJOMBO TXJUDIFE UP 'JU[SPZ JO BOE XFOU PO UP QSPEVDF UIF CFTU GPPUCBMM PG IJT DBSFFS

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.

5)& 36//*/( ."$)*/& %"/& 48"/ Ő $PMMJOHXPPE T %BOF 4XBO JT UIF #SPXOMPX .FEBM GBWPVSJUF BGUFS BOPUIFS TVQFSC ZFBS 5IF ZFBS PME .BHQJF MFE BMM QMBZFST GPS LJDLT BOE MPPTF CBMM HFUT XBT GPVSUI JO IBOECBMMT SFDFJWFE BOE FRVBM l GUI GPS JOTJEF T 4XBO JTO U B DMBTTJD SVOOFS CVU IF DPWFST UIF HSPVOE Få DJFOUMZ BOE l OET BOPUIFS HFBS XIFO PUIFST BSF ESPQQJOH Pä

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

5)&

#&45 #&45 0' 5)&

2010 'BOT IBWF CFFO USFBUFE UP BO FYIJMBSBUJOH TFBTPO PG GPPUCBMM XIFUUJOH UIF BQQFUJUF GPS B CVNQFS l OBMT TFSJFT ASHLEY BROW NE MPPLT CBDL BU TPNF PG UIF HSFBU HBNFT NBSLT HPBMT BOE PUIFS TVQFSC Fä PSUT

"

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.

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

#&45 ."5$)&4

$0--*/(800% 7 .&-#063/& 306/%4 "/% .$( Ő $PNJOH Pä B UISBTIJOH JO SPVOE POF UIF %FNPOT XFSF HJWFO OP DIBODF UP LOPDL Pä UIF 1JFT #VU .FMCPVSOF QMBZFE CSJMMJBOUMZ JO XIBU XBT B QVMTBUJOH BGUFSOPPO BU UIF .$( 'PSXBSE 3JDLZ 1FUUFSE ESPQQFE B NBSL JO UIF HPBMTRVBSF BO JOTUBOU CFGPSF UIF TJSFO XIJDI XPVME IBWF TFU VQ UIF XJOOJOH HPBM *OTUFBE $PMMJOHXPPE IFME PO UP XJO CZ POF QPJOU 5IF FODPSF PO UIF 2VFFO T #JSUIEBZ .POEBZ XBT KVTU BT HPPE FOEJOH JO UIF ZFBS T l STU ESBX

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

)"85)03/ 7 (&&-0/(

#3*4#"/& -*0/4 7 $0--*/(800%

306/%4 "/% .$( Ő *U T BMXBZT UPVHI UJHIU BOE CSJMMJBOU XIFO UIFTF UXP QMBZ BOE UIFJS UXP NFFUJOHT UIJT ZFBS XFSF OP FYDFQUJPO 0O &BTUFS .POEBZ UIF $BUT XPSF UIF )BXLT EPXO JO UIF TFDPOE IBMG UP XJO CZ OJOF QPJOUT 5IF SPVOE DMBTI XBT B DMBTTJD XJUI UIF $BUT IBOHJOH PO UP XJO CZ POF QPJOU BGUFS B $MJOUPO :PVOH TIPU PO UIF SVO GBEFE BOE KVTU NJTTFE XJUI TFDPOET UP HP

306/% ("##" Ő 5IF -JPOT XFSF IFBEJOH GPS UIFJS TFWFOUI TUSBJHIU MPTT XIFO UIFZ USBJMFE UIF .BHQJFT CZ QPJOUT BU IBMG UJNF #VU JU XBT -VLF 1PXFS T UI HBNF BOE UIF -JPOT DIBNQ TUBSSFE BT UIF IPNF TJEF DMBXFE CBDL UP XJO CZ FJHIU QPJOUT 1PXFS IBE UPVDIFT BT #SJTCBOF UFNQPSBSJMZ SFWJWFE JUT TFBTPO

4/"14)05

NBUDIFT QMBZFE XJUI UXP ESBXT

)JHIFTU TDPSF CZ $PMMJOHXPPE W &TTFOEPO SPVOE .$(

(SFBUFTU XJOOJOH NBSHJO CZ )BXUIPSO W 'SFNBOUMF SPVOE "VSPSB 4UBEJVN

-POHFTU XJOOJOH TUSFBL CZ $PMMJOHXPPE SPVOET

#JHHFTU DSPXE $PMMJOHXPPE W &TTFOEPO SPVOE l WF .$(

.PTU XJOT CZ $PMMJOHXPPE BOE (FFMPOH

.PTU RVBSUFST AXPO CZ (FFMPOH

5PUBM HPBMT TDPSFE

.PTU MBTU RVBSUFST AXPO CZ UIF 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

.PTU QMBZFST VTFE CZ 3JDINPOE

.PTU l STU ZFBS QMBZFST VTFE CZ 3JDINPOE

8&45&3/ #6--%0(4 7 45 ,*-%"

'3&."/5-& 7 (&&-0/(

306/% &5*)"% 45"%*6. Ő 5PVUFE CZ TPNF BT B (SBOE 'JOBM QSFWJFX UIF #VMMEPHT LFQU 4U ,JMEB XJUIPVU TLJQQFS /JDL 3JFXPMEU UP KVTU GPVS HPBMT VOUJM UIF TUBSU PG UJNF PO JO UIF l OBM RVBSUFS #VU RVJDL HPBMT CZ 4UFQIFO .JMOF %BWJE "SNJUBHF BOE 4BN 'JTIFS QVU UIF 4BJOUT JO GSPOU 5IF UP TDPSFMJOF JO B NBUDI VOEFS UIF SPPG DSFBUFE QMFOUZ PG EJTDVTTJPO n DSJUJDT QPJOUJOH UP UIF DPBDIFT OFHBUJWF UBDUJDT n CVU JU XBT BO FOUISBMMJOH DMBTI BMM UIF TBNF

306/% 46#*"$0 Ő 5IJT XBT QSPPG QPTJUJWF UIF %PDLFST XFSF PO UIF XBZ 5SBJMJOH UIF EFGFOEJOH QSFNJFS CZ QPJOUT BU UIF l OBM DIBOHF UIF %PDLFST LJDLFE TJY HPBMT UP UISFF JO B CBSOTUPSNJOH l OBM RVBSUFS UP XJO CZ TFWFO QPJOUT XJUI DBQUBJO .BUUIFX 1BWMJDI CPPUJOH l WF HPBMT 5IJT XBT B TFBTPO EFl OJOH XJO GPS 'SFNBOUMF

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

+"$, 3*&80-%5

#&45 &''0354 #: '038"3%4

3*$).0/% 3PVOE .$( Ő 5IF QMVT DSPXE PG NBJOMZ 5JHFST GBOT MFU PVU B HVUUVSBM UV VSBM SPBS UIBU TPVOEFE NPSF MJLF POF NBEF F NBEF CZ QFPQMF XIFO +BDL 3JFXPMEU FX XPMEU TMPUUFE UISPVHI IJT UI HPBM PG UIF G UUIF BGUFSOPPO BHBJOTU 8FTU $PBTU *U XBT U XBT UIF NPTU LJDLFE CZ B 3JDINPOE QMBZFS Q QMBZFS TJODF .BUUIFX 3JDIBSETPO JO

BHBJOTU UIF #VMMEPHT JO SPVOE FJHIU BU JH HIU BU UIF .$( BOE IBJMFE UIF BSSJWBM PG B P PG B OFX NFTTJBI BU 1VOU 3PBE GPS TVDDFTT TUBSWFE GBOT

/*$, 3*&80-%5 45 ,*-%" 3PVOET BOE &UJIBE 4UBEJVN BEJVN Ő *U IBTO U CFFO UIF CFTU ZFBS GPS FB BS GPS 4U ,JMEB TLJQQFS /JDL 3JFXPMEU PMMEU TJEFMJOFE GPS HBNFT CFDBVTF PG B BV VTF PG B CBEMZ JOKVSFE IBNTUSJOH SFRVJSJOH R RVJSJOH TVSHFSZ #VU IF GFBTUFE UXJDF PO D DF PO /PSUI .FMCPVSOF LJDLJOH TFWFO TFFWFO BHBJOTU UIF 3PPT BU &UJIBE 4UBEJVN JO SPVOE UXP BOE BHBJO JO UIF SFUVSO DMBTI JO SPVOE )F UPPL NBSLT JO BO JNQFSJPVT EJTQMBZ UIF l STU UJNF BSPVOE MFBWJOH NBOZ PCTFSWFST S SWFST CFMJFWJOH IF XBT IFBEFE GPS IJT SS IJT CFTU TFBTPO

-*/%4": 5)0."4 4 /035) .&-#063/& 3PVOE &UJIBE 4UBEJVN Ő 5IF ,BOHBSPPT XFSF TDIFEVMFE UP EV VMFE UP QMBZ POMZ POF 'SJEBZ OJHIU HBNF UIJT TFBTPO TP XIFO UIFJS UVSO DBNF UP TIJOF VOEFS UIF TQPUMJHIU -JOETBZ 5IPNBT FOTVSFE UIFZ NBEF UIF NPTU UI IF NPTU PG JU XJUI B EB[[MJOH TFWFO HPBM IBVM PB BM IBVM BHBJOTU $BSMUPO 5IF #MVFT PXO USJP X XO USJP PG TNBMM GPSXBSET n &EEJF #FUUT UUUT +Fä (BSMFUU BOE $ISJT :BSSBO n IBWF BMM BWWF BMM FOKPZFE l OF TFBTPOT CVU PO UIJT UI IJT QBSUJDVMBS OJHIU JU XBT UIF 5IPNBT IPNBT TIPX BT UIF 4PVUI "VTUSBMJBO O TUFFSFE IJT TJEF UP B TVSQSJTF XJO X XJO XJO

."3, -F$3"4 8&45 $0"45 3PVOE &UJIBE 4UBEJVN Ő .BOZ GFMU -F$SBT TIPVME IBWF NBEF MBTU ZFBS T "MM "VTUSBMJBO UFBN BT B TNBMM GPSXBSE )JT Fä PSU UIJT OJHIU DPOl SNFE IJT UBMFOU -F$SBT UPSNFOUJOH UIF #PNCFST XJUI HPBMT UIF UIJSE NPTU CZ BOZ &BHMF JO IJTUPSZ )F HPU UIFN PO UIF MFBE PO UIF SVO GSPN TUSBJHIU JO GSPOU BOE BVEBDJPVTMZ GSPN DSB[Z BOHMFT

+0/"5)"/ #308/ /

5)& -&"%*/( (0"-,*$,&34

+"$, 3*&80-%5 #"33: )"-- ."3, -F$3"4 -"/$& '3"/,-*/ 45&7& +0)/40/ #3"% (3&&/ ."55)&8 1"7-*$) +0/"5)"/ #308/ +"33:% 306()&"% 45&1)&/ .*-/&

(0"-4 3JDINPOE

8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT 8FTU $PBTU &BHMFT )BXUIPSO

(FFMPOH $BUT

.FMCPVSOF

'SFNBOUMF

#SJTCBOF -JPOT

)BXUIPSO

4U ,JMEB

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

#&)*/%4

#3*4#"/& -*0/4 3PVOE (BCCB Ő 8JUI LJDLT NBSLT BOE E TFWFO HPBMT GSPN #SPXO BHBJOTU OTU $BSMUPO IVHF UIJOHT XFSF QSFEJDUFE PG UIF -JPOT JO QBSUJDVMBSMZ XJUI IJHI QSPl MF F SFDSVJU #SFOEBO 'FWPMB BMTP QSPXMJOH UIF GPSXBSE MJOF -JUUMF UMF EJE XF LOPX XIBU XBT UP DPNF F CVU PO UIJT OJHIU #SPXO XBT OJHI PO VOTUPQQBCMF JO GSPOU PG B TFMM PVU GSFO[JFE DSPXE BU U UIF (BCCB IJHIMJHIUJOH XIZ IF JT IF JTT SFHBSEFE BT UIF QSFNJFS QPXFS FS GPSXBSE PG UIF MBTU EFDBEF

! 7//'2*5 )7// %$&. /()6 ($41(' // 7564$/,$1 5(/(&6,21 ,1 $1' 6+,5 5($521 +( &216,17(' 62 4( 94,6( 6+( +29 62 3/$; )7// %$&. &2$&+,1* 0$17$/ *$,156 246+ (/%2741( ,1 4271' 1,1( $.( (1-2;(' 21( 2) 6+( <1(56 *$0(5 %; $ )7// %$&. 4$&.,1* 73 .,&.5 $1' 5,: +$1'%$//5 $1' 6$.,1* 0$4.5 ,5 (>246 9$5 9246+ 4($0 "($0 32,165 $ <*74( 71+($4' 2) )24 $ .(; '()(1'(4 $.( $/52 3256(' 4($0 "($0 5&24(5 2) $*$,156 $96+241 ,1 4271' $4/621 4271' $1' !;'1(; !9$15 4271' (,*+6 /0256 71%($6$%/( ,1 6+( $,4 $1' ,1&4($5,1*/; 4(/,$%/( %; +$1' 24 )226 $6 *4271' /(8(/ $.( +$5 (0(4*(' $5 $ .(; 9($321 )24 7//'2*5 &2$&+ 2'1(; $'( 9+2 2)6(1 6+4295 +,0 )249$4' ,) +( %(/,(8(5 6+(4( ,5 $ 0$6&+ 73 )24 +,0 62 (:3/2,6 1 $ 56$6,56,&$/ %$5,5 6+( )274 %(56 '()(15,8( (>2465 2) 6+( ;($4 $// %(/21*(' 62 $.( "+( <)6+ 9$5 %; '(/$,'( 5 %(/29 9+2 (1-2;(' 627&+(5 622. (,*+6 0$4.5 $1' %226(' 21( *2$/ )24 4($0 "($0 32,165 $*$,156 4(0$16/( ,1 4271'

available now at JB Hi Fi

or order it online at:

www.wannabeachampion.com.au

8,5,6 $=4(&24' &20 $7

! #+(1 ;27 4( &0 6$// ;27 5+27/' %( $%/( 62 %2$56 520( 2) 6+( %(56 56$6,56,&$/ (>2465 )24 $ 5($521 %; $1; 47&.0$1 1' 52 ,6 9$5 )24 /()6 "+( 4(0$16/( *,$16 (1-2;(' $ 5($521 +,*+ +,6 2765 ,1 +,5 6($0 5 57434,5( 1,1( 32,16 9,1 28(4 $4/621 $6 6,+$' !6$',70 ,1 4271' ( +$' $*$,156 2//,1*922' ,1 4271' (,*+6 $1' $*$,156 %26+ ,&+021' ,1 4271' <8( $1' !6 ,/'$ ,1 4271' )274 62 %( 6+( 34(0,(4 %,* 0$1 ,1 6+( &203(6,6,21 $1' $ .(; 9($321 )24 6+( 2&.(45 ,1 6+(,4 57434,5( 4,5( )420 $/52 4$1 62 <1$/,56 ,1 6+(4 126$%/( (>2465 )420 6+( 5 %,* 0(1 ,1&/7'(' !;'1(; 5 %(/29 +,6 2765 $*$,156 55(1'21 $6 6+( ! ,1 4271' $1' 246 '(/$,'( 5 9,6+ $/52 $*$,156 55(1'21 ,1 4271' 5(8(1 $6 6,+$' !6$',70

At Holiday Inn we believe you’re at your best when you can truly be yourself.

That’s why we are the official hotel group of the AFL. Come and share our passion at Holiday Inn on Flinders Melbourne ideally located within walking distance of Etihad Stadium and only short trip to the MCG. Or for a convenient stop-over stay at Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport.

Stay Fanatical with

STAY FANATICAL. 8,5,6 $=4(&24' &20 $7

25% off accommodation.

Terms and conditions apply.

Visit holidayinn.com/aflclub or call 1300 666 704 to get started.

STAY YOU.

TM

holidayinn.com

The Official Hotel Group Of The AFL

PROTON DRIVE AWAY DEALS DRIVE AWAY – NO MORE TO PAY

SEDANS, HATCHES & UTES, CONTACT A DEALER TODAY 1300 795 698

0 9 9 11

$

OM FR

DRIVE AWAY

S16 G MANUAL 4 DOOR SEDAN

3 DOOR HATCH

12990

SATRIA NEO G

SAVVY

5 DOOR HATCH

MISS UNIVERSE AUSTRALIA

$

FROM FRO

DRIVE AW AWAY

13990 3 YEARS

FINANCE

$

FROM

AVAILABLE

DRIVE AWAY

1

WARRANTY

24 HOUR

1

> Reverse Sensors > Dual Airbags

For more info call

FROM FRO

DRIVE AWAY

> Air Conditioning > Power Steering > 570kg Payload

1300 795 698

G

14990

$

5 DOOR HATCH

DRIVE AWAY

2 DOOR UTE

FROM FRO

JUMBUCK GLi

4D DOOR SEDAN

PERSONA PERS SO G

14990

$

ROAD ASSIST

> Dual Airbags > Lotus Ride & Handling

> Alloy Wheels > Dual Airbags > Reverse Sensors

15990

$

FROM FRO

DRIVE AWAY

> Air Conditioning > Power Steering > Dual Airbags

www.proton.com.au

*All offers available at Participating Proton dealers and while stocks last on new Proton vehicles ordered and delivered before 30 September 2010. *Price is for S16 G Manual, Satria Neo G Manual, Persona G Manual, Jumbuck GLi, Savvy Manual and Gen.2 G Manual for private buyers. Metallic Paint $490 extra. Proton reserves the right to change or extend these offers. Refer to www.proton.com.au for further details. 1) 3 years 100,000km warranty & 12 months roadside assist on Savvy, Jumbuck & G spec vehicles, 3 years unlimited km warranty and 3 years roadside assistance on all GX & GXR vehicles. Excludes 2010 build stock on variants where pre 2010 build is available.

4050-AFL-2-0810

#&45 (0"-4 "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

-"/$& '3"/,-*/ )"85)03/ 3PVOE .$( Ő " GFX NJOVUFT BGUFS CVSOJOH Pä .BSL .D7FJHI XJUI UISFF CPVODFT BMPOH UIF OPSUIFSO TUBOE m BOL GPS POF PG UIF HPBMT PG UIF TFBTPO 'SBOLMJO SFQFBUFE UIF USJDL 5IF TFDPOE UJNF UIF CBMM XFOU UISPVHI PO UIF GVMM BOE JU XBT $BMF )PPLFS XIP XBT MFGU m PVOEFSJOH JO 'SBOLMJO T XBLF *O B UJHIU HBNF n BOE HJWFO UIF DPOUFYU PG )BXUIPSO T XPCCMZ TFBTPO n JU XBT B QJFDF PG TIFFS CSJMMJBODF

%"/*&#3"%4)"8 4:%/&: 48"/4 3PVOE 4$( Ő 0ME UJNFST KVNQFE GPS KPZ XIFO GSPN B TFU TIPU PVUTJEF PO UIF CPVOEBSZ MJOF #SBETIBX TIBQFE UP LJDL B ACBSSFM B UPSQFEP QVOU BGUFS UIF UISFF RVBSUFS UJNF TJSFO )JT LJDL TBJMFE UISPVHI MJLF UIFZ PGUFO EJE VOUJM DPBDIFT EFDSFFE UIBU ESPQ QVOUT XFSF UIF POMZ LJDLT BMMPXFE "EEJOH UP UIF TFOTF PG UIFBUSF XBT UIF NBUDI VQ #SBETIBX XBT QMBZJOH BHBJOTU IJT GPSNFS DMVC UIF #SJTCBOF -JPOT XIP IF MFGU BDSJNPOJPVTMZ BU UIF FOE PG MBTU TFBTPO

45&1)&/ .*-/&

#3&/%"/ '&70-"

$:3*3*0-*

45 ,*-%" 3PVOE "".* 4UBEJVN Ő 0O B DPME XFU OJHIU BHBJOTU 1PSU "EFMBJEF .JMOF SFBDIFE GPS UIF CBMM JO UIF GPSXBSE QPDLFU CVU JU XBT PVU PG IJT HSBTQ TP JO UIF TBNF BDUJPO IF JOTUFBE UBQQFE JU PO UP IJT GPPU BOE TUFFSFE JU UISPVHI GSPN B SJEJDVMPVT BOHMF

#3*4#"/& -*0/4 3PVOE "".* 4UBEJVN Ő *U XBTO U B HSFBU EFCVU TFBTPO VQ OPSUI GPS UIF GPSNFS #MVF CVU IF EJE DPOUSJCVUF TPNF XPOEFSGVM HPBMT OPOF CFUUFS UIBO UIF POF BHBJOTU UIF $SPXT XIFO TJUUJOH PO IJT CPUUPN JO UIF HPBMTRVBSF CZ B QBJS PG "EFMBJEF EFGFOEFST IF HBUIFSFE UIF CBMM TMBNNFE JU PO IJT CPPU BOE TXVOH JU UISPVHI

)"85)03/ 3PVOE "VSPSB 4UBEJVN Ő 8F SF OPU TVSF IF XPVME IBWF USJFE UIJT TBZ BU UIF .$( JO B l OBM CVU BHBJOTU UIF EFQMFUFE %PDLFST JO B HBNF UIF )BXLT DPOUSPMMFE 3JPMJ TXVOH BU B MPPTF CBMM XJUI IJT MFGU GPPU N GSPN HPBM NBEF QFSGFDU DPOUBDU BOE CPVODFE JU UISPVHI GPS B HPBM +VTU BT TQFDUBDVMBS XBT B TJNJMBS HPBM CZ .FMCPVSOF T -ZOEFO %VOO MBTU XFFLFOE

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

-*". +633") .&-#063/& 3PVOE "".* 4UBEJVN Ő *U JT IBSE UP UIJOL PG B CFUUFS HSBC UBLFO UIJT ZFBS UIBO UIF POF TOBSFE CZ UIF BUIMFUJD .FMCPVSOF GPSXBSE BHBJOTU 1PSU "EFMBJEF XIJDI DBNF KVTU IPVST BGUFS #SFOEPO (PEEBSE T IBOHFS +VSSBI HPU UIF SVO UJNFE IJT MFBQ QMBOUFE IJT MFH PO 1PSU T /JDL 4BMUFS BOE LFQU PO DMJNCJOH "O BTUPOJTIJOH NBSL n POF UIBU NJHIU CF IBSE UP UPQ UIJT ZFBS

+&44& 8)*5& 4:%/&: 48"/4 3PVOE &UJIBE 4UBEJVN Ő 5IF 4XBOT MFE /PSUI CZ l WF QPJOUT JO B UJHIU DMBTI BU &UJIBE 4UBEJVN XIFO 8IJUF DMJNCFE PO UPQ PG ,BOHBSPPT EFGFOEFS -BDIJF )BOTFO MBUF JO UIF UIJSE RVBSUFS 5IFSF XFSF OP IBOET JOWPMWFE n PUIFS UIBO UIF NBSL n XJUI UIF UBMM 4ZEOFZ GPSXBSE HFUUJOH B DMBTTJD SJEF 8IJUF IBT CFFO JODPOTJTUFOU CVU IJT QPUFOUJBM JT VONJTUBLBCMF

$"31&5&340/ )"85)03/ 3PVOE .$( Ő 5IF GSFBLJTI UBMFOUT PG -BODF 'SBOLMJO BOE $ZSJM 3JPMJ BSF XFMM LOPXO CVU OFJUIFS IBT UBLFO B NBSL UIJT ZFBS MJLF UIF POF 1FUFSTPO EJE UIF BUIMFUJD )BXL VTJOH IJT QPXFSGVM WFSUJDBM MFBQ UP DPNF GSPN UIF TJEF BOE UBLF B IVHF QBDL NBSL JO UIF HPBMTRVBSF JO UIF l OBM RVBSUFS PG )BXUIPSO T OBJM CJUJOH XJO PWFS UIF 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

+"$, 3*&80-%5 3*$).0/% 3PVOE &UJIBE 4UBEJVN Ő 5IF FNFSHJOH 5JHFS TUBS MPPNT BT B .BSL PG UIF :FBS DPOUFOEFS GPS ZFBST UP DPNF "HBJOTU UIF 4BJOUT IF MFBQU IJHI PO UIF DJUZ XJOH HPU B CPPTU GSPN 4BN (JMCFSU BOE QMVDLFE B CJH NBSL *U XBTO U B QBDL NBSL TJNQMZ B HSFBU DPNCJOBUJPO PG GPPUZ TNBSUT BOE BUIMFUJDJTN

#&45 ."3,4

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

#3&/%0/ (0%%"3% 45 ,*-%" 3PVOE &UJIBE 4UBEJVN Ő &BSMZ JO UIF TFDPOE RVBSUFS (PEEBSE IJU UIF QBDL BU TQFFE HPU UIF SJEF BOE IBVMFE JO B NPOTUSPVT HSBC PO UIF DJUZ TJEF XJOH UIBU IBE 4BJOUT GBOT JO SBQUVSFT n BOE 3JDINPOE TVQQPSUFST UIJOLJOH +BDL 3JFXPMEU T NBSL JO UIF DPSSFTQPOEJOH DMBTI FBSMJFS JO UIF TFBTPO XBT OP MPOHFS UIF MFBEJOH DPOUFOEFS GPS .BSL PG UIF :FBS 8JUIJO IPVST UIF IPQFT PG CPUI NJHIU IBWF CFFO EBTIFE CZ -JBN +VSSBI

#&45 $0"$)*/( 1&3'03."/$&4 %&"/ #"*-&: .&-#063/& 3PVOE .$( Ő 5IF %FNPOT IBE NBOBHFE KVTU POF HPBM JO UIF l STU IBMG PG BO FNCBSSBTTJOH SPVOE POF MPTT UP )BXUIPSO #VU BGUFS B XFFL PG RVFTUJPOT BCPVU XIFUIFS IF XBT UIF SJHIU NBO GPS UIF KPC #BJMFZ T %FNPOT DBNF BHPOJTJOHMZ DMPTF UP B NFNPSBCMF VQTFU PG $PMMJOHXPPE XIJDI XBT GSFTI Pä BO FBTZ XJO PWFS m BH GBWPVSJUFT UIF 8FTUFSO #VMMEPHT

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

%".*&/ )"3%8*$,

1"63004

3*$).0/% 3PVOE "".* 4UBEJVN Ő 8JOMFTT BGUFS OJOF NBUDIFT BOE GBDJOH 1PSU "EFMBJEF PO JUT PXO NVE IFBQ MJUFSBMMZ BT JU QPVSFE JO UIF IPVST CFGPSF BOE EVSJOH UIF NBUDI )BSEXJDL MFGU IJT NFO JO OP EPVCU UIBU JG UIFZ IJU UIF CBMM BOE PQQPTJUJPO CPEJFT KVTU UIBU CJU IBSEFS 1PSU XPVME XJMU "OE IF XBT SJHIU 5IF 5JHFST SFTUSJDUFE UIF 1PXFS UP UISFF HPBMT BOE XPO CZ QPJOUT "OE GPS BO FODPSF )BSEXJDL MFE UIF NPTU SBVDPVT WFSTJPO PG 8F SF GSPN 5JHFSMBOE XF IBWF IFBSE

4:%/&: 48"/4 Ő 4ISFXE USBEJOH BOE ESBGUJOH GSFTIFOFE VQ UIF 4XBOT GPS POF MBTU BTTBVMU PO UIF l OBMT CFGPSF 3PPT IBOET UIF DPBDIJOH IFBETFU UP +PIO -POHNJSF 5IBU UIF 4XBOT BSF QMBZJOH B IPNF l OBM UIJT XFFLFOE JT B USJCVUF UP 3PPT BOE IJT BCJMJUZ UP IPME IJT TJEF UPHFUIFS EFTQJUF B SBGU PG JOKVSJFT UP IJT CFTU EFGFOEFS $SBJH #PMUPO CFTU GPSXBSE %BOJFM #SBETIBX BOE OPNJOBM /P SVDLNBO .BSL 4FBCZ 5IF QSFNJFSTIJQ ZFBS BTJEF UIJT NJHIU CF IJT CFTU ZFBS PG DPBDIJOH

3044 -:0/

"-"45"*3 $-"3,40/

45 ,*-%" Ő 5IF 4BJOUT DPBDI DPVME IBWF CFFO FYDVTFE GPS UISPXJOH IJT IBOET VQ BOE EFDMBSJOH UIF TFBTPO B XSJUF Pä BGUFS IJT DBQUBJO BOE CFTU QMBZFS /JDL 3JFXPMEU TISFEEFE IJT IBNTUSJOH BHBJOTU $PMMJOHXPPE JO SPVOE UISFF #VU XJUI KVTU B GFX UXFBLT UP IJT TUSVDUVSFT -ZPO FOTVSFE UIF 4BJOUT SFNBJOFE TVQFS DPNQFUJUJWF UISPVHIPVU 3JFXPMEU T HBNF BCTFODF 5IF 4BJOUT OFWFS ESPQQFE PVU PG UIF UPQ GPVS "OE XJUI UIF TVQFSTUBS CBDL 4U ,JMEB JT CVJMEJOH UPXBSET BOPUIFS m BH BTTBVMU

)"85)03/ Ő "U )BXUIPSO XBT FOUJUMFE UP GFFM JUT TFBTPO XBT TIPU /P UFBN IBE NBEF UIF l OBMT BGUFS TVDI B QPPS TUBSU CVU $MBSLTPO CPMEMZ WFOUVSFE XIFSF IF IBEO U CFGPSF JODSFBTJOH SPUBUJPOT GSPN BCPVU UP B HBNF BOE JOTUJUVUJOH B UXFBLFE HBNF QMBO 5IF )BXLT XPO TFWFO TUSBJHIU NJE TFBTPO BOE BGUFS B NJOJ TMVNQ XJUI POMZ B ESBX GSPN SPVOET $MBSLTPO SJHIUFE UIF TIJQ BHBJO BOE TUFFSFE UIF )BXLT JOUP UIF IJTUPSZ CPPLT BOE UIF l OBMT

4* 4,-- /0, 1 .20 & * . .20 1*&

& - / 8 6 ' / 8 < ? $ $

& - /*0 . &-, *) '& *0 /0, 1 /.01, + -*+* )

6 > >8 ; 8 <

* '

+ & - -*+* ) + "

* &+* *-*(1,.

Team Team

( Team

Team ' * ) * Team ) , * Team * Team ! & % * Team " ( * , # ) $#

+8= 87< 9 < 8 8 < : < 8 7 5 > < ? < 8 < 8 7 = 8< < >8< < < < < < < 8< 6 < < 5 << < < 8 ! (*"&, "& $- + "% + ' ,! +)- % #"& /'- ,! ! & "& ,! , % '&$/ $ $ '* $$ $ "0 %%. %% $ + # (+ # -& '* ,, $ " , '* "*,! /+ +-(('*, *+ !*"+,% + ,

1 =8 > <8 ' 32 1 1 3 *+'& $"+ 3*"&,+ "& $- "& ,! & - / 8 6 - 5: 0 6 < & - / 8 6 (+ < 68 / 8 < ' ,' >>> 8-.3* ; < 5

it’s a lot of fun!!

*& 4& 1. .0)*0% >>> 8-.3* ; < 5 " !

! *

JOHNKEEN.COM.AU ILS 10153

.PNFOUT P PG UUIF

2000-09 09 9

8IFO OFFEFE UXP GPSXBSET QSPEVDFE 4XBO /JDL %BWJT BOE )BXL -BODF 'SBOLMJO BSF QBSU PG GPPUCBMM GPMLMPSF BGUFS DPNJOH VQ XJUI NJSBDVMPVT NBUDI XJOOJOH l OBMT HPBMT ASHLEY BROW NE

“

5

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 %BWJT OPU 2000-09 period. as soon as POMZ LJDLFE POF Davis not the ball was PG UIF HSFBU l OBMT only kicked bounced one of the back in the HPBMT CVU BMTP great finals middle, amid QMBZFE POF PG UIF goals, but also pandemonium HSFBU l OBMT played one of and hysteria the great finals at the SCG. RVBSUFST 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 final second term of their elimination quarter. But with Barry Hall final at Docklands.

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

*/ 5)& /*$, 0' 5*.&

"O FDTUBUJD /JDL %BWJT BGUFS IJT MBTU HBTQ HPBM BHBJOTU (FFMPOH JO UIF TFDPOE TFNJ l OBM TFOU UIF 4$( JOUP B GSFO[Z

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 163& +0:

5FBNNBUF .JDIBFM 0 -PVHIMJO K KPJOT %BWJT JO DFMFCSBUJOH UIF DFMFCSBUJOH UIF 4XBOT SFNBSLBCMF DPNF GSPN CFIJOE XJO PWFS UIF $BUT

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

5 ) & " ' 5 & 3 . "5 )

Ő 5IF DPOUSBTUJOH GPSUVOFT PG CPUI UFBNT JO UIF BGUFSNBUI PG UIFJS l HIUJOH XJOT DPVME OPU IBWF CFFO HSFBUFS 5IF 4XBOT DBQJUBMJTFE PO UIFJS HPPE GPSUVOF SPMMJOH 4U ,JMEB JO UIF 4U MEB UI QSFMJNJOBSZ l QSFMJN QSF MJNJOB JOBSZ SZZ l l OBM BU UIF .$( BOE UIFO BU UIF .$( B B PVUMBTUJOH 8FTU $PBTU JO PVUMBTUJOH 8 8 BO FQJD (SBOE 'JOBM GPS BO FQJD (SBO OE UIFJS l STU m BH JO ZFBST B 5IF )BXLT DBNF 5IF )BXL LT DSBTIJOH CBDL UP FBSUI DSBTIJOH C CB UIF GPMMPXJOH XFFL UIF GPMM UI G MMPX

UVSOJOH JO B m UVSOJO BU BOE MJTUMFTT BO OE EJTQMBZ JO EJ E MPTJOH UP M /PSUI .FMCPVSOF CZ QPJOUT %BWJT l % OJTIFE VQ XJUI 4ZEOFZ JO VQ XJUI 4ZEO

BGUFS B HBNF BGUFS B H DBSFFS JODM JODMVEJOH V BU $PMMJOHXPPE BU $PMMJOHXP PP 'SBOLMJO XPO UIF 'SBOLMJO X X $PMFNBO .FEBM BOE $PMFNBO .FFE QMBZFE JO )BXUIPSO T QMBZFE JO )B BX QSFNJFSTIJQ UFBN UIF QSFNJFSTIJQ Q U GPMMPXJOH ZFBS BOE JT OPX GPMMPXJOH ZFFB DPOTJEFSFE POF PG UIF DPOTJEFSFE P TVQFSTUBST PG UIF "'- TVQFSTUBST P PG

/&7&3 */ %06#5

)BXL TVQFSTUBS -BODF 'SBOLMJO DPPMMZ TMPUT UIF N HPBM UIBU FOEFE "EFMBJEF T l OBMT DBNQBJHO JO UIF FMJNJOBUJPO l OBM

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.

"4)-&: #308/& *4 5)& &%*503 &%*503 "6 0' #"$,1"(&-&"% $0. "6

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

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

1*$, 0' 5)& :06/( $301

%BOJFM )BOOFCFSZ JT DPOHSBUVMBUFE CZ IJT QBSFOUT .BUUIFX BOE (FSBMEJOF BGUFS XJOOJOH UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS BXBSE 1)050 -"$)-"/ $6//*/()". "'- 1)0504

)BOOFCFSZ TIJOFT UIF

#3*()5&45 $POTJTUFODZ BOE IBSE XPSL IBT QBJE Pä GPS ZPVOH 4XBO %BOJFM )BOOFCFSZ XJOOFS PG UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS BXBSE C A L LU M T WOMEY

8

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 *U IBTO U SFBMMZ Last year I felt I was TVOL JO CFDBVTF Wednesday in off the pace and Melbourne, hadn’t got used B MPU PG NZ GPDVT about five to the structures JT HPJOH PO UP UIJT months after as much, but 4VOEBZ CVU JU T B that match after the first few and with an games I thought HSFBU IPOPVS elimination that if I could keep %"/*&- )"//&#&3: 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

/"# "'- 3*4*/( 45"3 705&4 1-":&3

705&4

505"-

%BOJFM )BOOFCFSZ 4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

5PN 4DVMMZ .FMCPVSOF

5PN 3PDLMJä #SJTCBOF -JPOT

+BDL 5SFOHPWF .FMCPVSOF

3ZBO #BTUJOBD /PSUI .FMCPVSOF

+Fä (BSMFUU $BSMUPO

/BUIBO 'ZGF 'SFNBOUMF

.JDIBFM )VSMFZ &TTFOEPO

/JD /BJUBOVJ 8FTU $PBTU &BHMFT

#FO 3FJE $PMMJOHXPPE

#FO 4USBUUPO )BXUIPSO

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.

) 0 / 0 6 3 3 0 - -

/BUIBO #VDLMFZ #SJT $ISJT 4DPUU #SJT /JDL )PMMBOE )BX #FO $PVTJOT 8$& .JDIBFM 8JMTPO 1" #ZSPO 1JDLFUU /.

"EBN (PPEFT 4ZE 1BVM )BTMFCZ 'SFN +VTUJO ,PTDIJU[LF 4U , /JDL 3JFXPMEU 4U , 4BN .JUDIFMM )BX +BSFE 3JWFST .FMC #SFUU %FMFEJP 3JDI %BOZMF 1FBSDF 1" +PFM 4FMXPPE (FFM 3IZT 1BMNFS 'SFN %BOJFM 3JDI # %BOJFM )BOOFCFSZ 4ZE "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

#"$,:"3% )&30&4x

3JTJOH UP UIF UPQ 5IF NPTU FYDJUJOH BOE UBMFOUFE ZPVOHTUFST JO UIF MBOE IBWF CFFO SFDPHOJTFE JO UIF MJTU PG OPNJOBUJPOT GPS UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS BOE FBDI IBE B TUPSZ UP UFMM C A L LU M T WOMEY

306/% $)3*4 :"33"/

h* XBT SFBMMZ OFSWPVT CFGPSF UIF HBNF CVU PODF * HPU NZ l STU UPVDI * SFBMJTFE * CFMPOHFE PVU UIFSF v

3:"/ #"45*/"$

w /035) .&-#063/&

%0# +VOF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 3PXWJMMF %BOEFOPOH 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h*U XBT BMXBZT B HPBM UP QMBZ BT FBSMZ BT * DPVME CVU * LOFX JG * HPU ESBGUFE UIF XPSL EJEO U TUPQ UIFO v

w $"3-50/

%0# %FDFNCFS )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT .JEWBMF 4XBO %JTUSJDUT HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT

306/%

306/% %"/*&- )"//&#&3:

w 4:%/&: 48"/4

%0# 'FCSVBSZ )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT ,FX 3PWFST 9BWJFS $PMMFHF 0BLMFJHI 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* UIPVHIU * EJE 0, CVU * DFSUBJOMZ XBTO U FYQFDUJOH B 3JTJOH 4UBS v

306/% +"$, 53&/(07&

w .&-#063/&

%0# 4FQUFNCFS )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT ,ZCZCPMJUF 4UVSU HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* IBE OFWFS UIPVHIU WFSZ NVDI BCPVU JU CVU UIF QSFQBSBUJPO UIBU HPFT JOUP FWFSZ XFFL SFBMMZ TVSQSJTFE NF v

306/% /*$ /"*5"/6*

w 8&45 $0"45 &"(-&4

%0# .BZ )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT .JEWBMF 4XBO %JTUSJDUT HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h8IFO * TUVä VQ B UBQ PVU * QVU UIF POVT PO NZTFMG UP DMFBO JU VQ *U HFUT NF BOHSZ XIFO * EPO U QMBDF UIF IJU PVU JO UIF SJHIU TQPU BOE * QVU UIF CMBNF PO NZTFMG TP * IBWF UP HP BOE NPQ JU VQ v

306/% 50%% #"/'*&-%

w #3*4#"/& -*0/4

%0# +VOF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 6QQFS 4XBO 4XBO %JTUSJDUT HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h.Z QBDF JT POF PG NZ TUSFOHUIT BOE OPU FWFSZPOF IBT SFBM QBDF TP * USZ BOE VTF JU BT NVDI BT * DBO v

5

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

306/% /"5)"/ ':'&

w '3&."/5-&

%0# 4FQUFNCFS )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT "RVJOBT $MBSFNPOU HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT

306/% 50. 4$6--:

w .&-#063/&

%0# .BZ )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT /BSSF 8BSSFO )BJMFZCVSZ $PMMFHF %BOEFOPOH 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* XBTO U UPP XPSSJFE BCPVU IBWJOH B ACSFBL PVU HBNF BT TVDI * IBWF KVTU XBOUFE UP QMBZ NZ SPMF #VU UP IBWF B QSFUUZ HPPE HBNF QFSTPOBMMZ JT BMXBZT HPPE v

306/% +",& .&-,4)".

w &44&/%0/

%0# "VHVTU )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 0BL 1BSL 1&(4 $BMEFS 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h&YQFSJFODJOH UIF IJHIT BOE MPXT PG GPPUZ IBT CFFO SFBMMZ WBMVBCMF GPS NF TP GBS v

306/% +03%"/ (:4#&354

w .&-#063/&

h5IF MFWFM PG JOUFOTJUZ BOE QSPGFTTJPOBMJTN SFRVJSFE BU USBJOJOH BOE HBNFT IBT CFFO XIBU * UIPVHIU JU XPVME CF MJLF BOE Pä UIF HSPVOE TFUUMJOH JOUP UIF DMVC XBTO U B DIBMMFOHF BU BMM v

306/% %645*/ ."35*/

w 3*$).0/%

%0# +VOF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT $BTUMFNBJOF #FOEJHP 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* IBWFO U SFBMMZ QMBZFE B HSFBU HBNF ZFU * UIJOL * WF KVTU CFFO QMBZJOH 0, * XBOU UP TUBSU IBWJOH B GFX CFUUFS POFT TPPO v PO O

%0# +VOF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT :BSSB 7BMMFZ (SBNNBS &BTUFSO 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h:PV IBWF B XIPMF EJä FSFOU QFSTQFDUJWF PO UIF l FME BT EJTUJODU GSPN XBUDIJOH PO UIF TJEFMJOFT BOE ZPV TFF BMM UIF MJUUMF UIJOHT UIF HPPE QMBZFST EP UP HFU UIF CBMM v

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

306/% 50. 30$,-*''

306/% +"$, 3&%%&/

w #3*4#"/& -*0/4

306/% #&/ 3&*%

w $0--*/(800%

%0# "QSJM )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 8BOHBSBUUB 3PWFST .VSSBZ 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* FOKPZ UIF GBDU UIBU FWFSZ XFFL * WF HPU B DIBMMFOHF JO USZJOH UP TUPQ TPNFPOF v

w #3*4#"/& -*0/4

%0# 'FCSVBSZ )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT #FOBMMB .VSSBZ 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h*U T HPPE UP HFU LOPDLFE EPXO B GFX UJNFT BOE IBWF TPNF TFUCBDLT CFDBVTF JU NBLFT ZPV TUSPOHFS v

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’

306/% #&/ 453"550/

w )"85)03/

%0# .BSDI )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT .BSHBSFU 3JWFS &BTU 1FSUI HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h-BTU ZFBS * IBE B GFX DIBMMFOHFT QMBZJOH PO TPNF CJH OBNFT BU &BTU 1FSUI TP * EPO U NJOE UIF DIBMMFOHF * MJLF QMBZJOH PO UIF CJH OBNFT v

%0# %FDFNCFS )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 4BDSFE )FBSU $PMMFHF (MFOFMH HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* SFDLPO UIF DSPQ PG ZPVOH HVZT DPNJOH UISPVHI BU UIF -JPOT BSF TIPXJOH SFBMMZ HPPE TJHOT GPS UIF DMVC v

306/% 1)*- %"7*4

w "%&-"*%&

%0# "VHVTU )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 4U 1FUFST $PMMFHF /PSUI "EFMBJEF HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* DBNF UP UIF DMVC BT B GPSXBSE TP USZ UP QMBZ JO EFGFODF BT JG * N B GPSXBSE UIJOLJOH BCPVU XIBU UIFZ SF HPJOH UP EP BOE USZ UP QSFEJDU UIFJS NPWFNFOUT v

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.

306/%

306/% 306/%

+"$,40/ 53&/(07&

+"33"% (3"/5

w 8&45&3/ #6--%0(4

%0# +VMZ )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 'SBOLTUPO #PNCFST %BOEFOPOH 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* TBU EPXO NJE TFBTPO XJUI UIF DPBDIFT BOE KVTU CBTJDBMMZ TQPLF BCPVU OPU UBLJOH UIF TFBTPO GPS HSBOUFE v

"/5)0/: .03"#*50

w 1035 "%&-"*%&

306/% .*$)"&- )63-&:

w &44&/%0/

%0# +VOF )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT .BDMFPE /PSUIFSO 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h:PV TFU ZPVSTFMG IJHI TUBOEBSET BOE JG PUIFS QFPQMF TFU UIFN BT XFMM UIFO UIF MFBTU ZPV DBO EP JT USZ UP MJWF VQ UP UIFN v

306/% +&'' ("3-&55

w $"3-50/

%0# "VHVTU )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT .JEWBMF 4XBO %JTUSJDUT HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT h* UIPVHIU JU NJHIU UBLF B DPVQMF PG ZFBST UP HFU PO UP UIF TFOJPS MJTU CVU * UPPL NZ DIBODF XIFO JU DBNF BOE * WF HJWFO JU FWFSZUIJOH * DPVME v

w '3&."/5-&

%0# /PWFNCFS )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT 4USBUINPSF 1&(4 $BMEFS 6 HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT

%0# 0DUPCFS )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT )BSWFZ +'$ 1FFM 5IVOEFS HBNFT (PBMT ,JDLT .BSLT )BOECBMMT

h1MBZJOH JO B QPTJUJPO MJLF UIF SVDL XIFSF ZPV WF HPU UP CF QSFUUZ CJH BOE TUSPOH IBT NFBOU JU T CFFO UPVHI UP UBLF DPOUSPM CVU JU T CFFO HPPE GPS NF v

h*U T CFFO B SFBMMZ HPPE ZFBS * EJEO U LOPX IPX NBOZ HBNFT * E QMBZ CVU BT UIF ZFBS XFOU PO * WF GPVOE NZ GFFU BOE GFMU MJLF * CFMPOH BU "'- MFWFM v

306/% 4". 83*()5

w /035) .&-#063/&

%0# +VMZ )FJHIU DN 8FJHIU LH +VOJPS DMVCT ,BUBNBUJUF .VSSBZ 6 HBNFT (PBMT (PBMT

,JDLT .BSLT LT

)BOECBMMT h*U T CFFO QSFUUZ UPVHI XJUI UZ UP Z UPVHI Z UP VHI XJUI VHI VHI XJUI XJUI XJU U IPNFTJDLOFTT CVU UIF DMVC IBT C U UI CV U U F DM F DM F D DMVC DMVC I VC I IBT IBT B CFFO SFBMMZ TVQQPSUJWF BOE * N VQQ QQ QPSUJ PSU SSUJ U WF B WF OE * N OE * E * N FOKPZJOH NZTFMG v FMG MGG v

UJNFPO /"# "'- 3*4*/( 45"3

" MJDFODF UP SVO

:PVOH %PDLFS "OUIPOZ .PSBCJUP IBT DBVHIU PO RVJDLMZ JO IJT EFCVU TFBTPO BOE JT BU IJT CFTU XIFO UBLJOH UIF PQQPTJUJPO PO PO RVJDLMZ JO IJT EFCVU TFB FB BTTP PO BOE JT B CALLUM TWOMEY

8

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.”

"T UIF ZFBS Morabito’s enjoyment XFOU PO * WF was evident last week GPVOE NZ GFFU against Carlton, as the BOE GFMU MJLF 19-year-old played one * CFMPOH BU of the best games of his debut season, collecting "'- MFWFM 18 possessions, kicking "/5)0/: .03"#*50 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

/"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS /PNJOFFT 3PVOE n $ISJT :BSSBO $BSM 3PVOE n %BOJFM )BOOFCFSZ 4ZE 3PVOE n 3ZBO #BTUJOBD /.

3PVOE n /JD /BJUBOVJ 8$& 3PVOE n +BDL 5SFOHPWF .FMC 3PVOE n 5PEE #BOl FME #SJT 3PVOE n 5PN 4DVMMZ .FMC 3PVOE n +BLF .FMLTIBN &TT 3PVOE n /BUIBO 'ZGF 'SFN 3PVOE n %VTUJO .BSUJO 3JDI #3*()5 13041&$5

"OUIPOZ .PSBCJUP IBT RVJDLMZ BEBQUFE UP UIF EFNBOET PG "'- MFWFM GPPUCBMM BOE JT MPPLJOH GPSXBSE UP UIF l OBMT

3PVOE n +PSEBO (ZTCFSUT .FMC 3PVOE n #FO 3FJE $PMM 3PVOE n 5PN 3PDLMJä #3PVOE n #FO 4USBUUPO )BX 3PVOE n +BDL 3FEEFO #3PVOE n 1IJM %BWJT "EFM 3PVOE n +BSSBE (SBOU 8# 3PVOE n .JDIBFM )VSMFZ &TT

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.”

3PVOE n +Fä (BSMFUU $BSM 3PVOE n +BDLTPO 5SFOHPWF 1" 3PVOE n 4BN 8SJHIU /.

3PVOE n "OUIPOZ .PSBCJUP 1"

5)3&& 5)*/(4 :06 .*()5 /05 ,/08

PSBCJUP HSFX VQ PO B .

EBJSZ GBSN JO )BSWFZ JO 8FTUFSO "VTUSBMJB T TPVUI XFTU

)F SFQSFTFOUFE UIF TUBUF BT B KVOJPS JO CBTLFUCBMM

)JT l STU KPC XBT CPUUMJOH XJOF

&BDI XFFL UISPVHIPVU UIF IPNF BOE BXBZ TFBTPO B QBOFM PG KVEHFT XJMM TFMFDU UIF OPNJOFF GPS UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS "U UIF DPNQMFUJPO PG UIF TFBTPO POF PVUTUBOEJOH QMBZFS XJMM CF DIPTFO BT UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS XJOOFS )F XJMM SFDFJWF BO JOWFTUNFOU GPMJP B EFEJDBUFE QFSTPOBM CBOLFS B l OBODJBM QMBOOFS BOE UIF 3PO &WBOT .FEBM BMM DPVSUFTZ PG UIF /"# 5IF /"# 3JTJOH 4UBS BXBSE JT UIF l OBM TUBHF PG UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBST 1SPHSBN XIJDI TVQQPSUT HSBTTSPPUT QMBZFST BOE GPPUCBMM DPNNVOJUJFT BOE IFMQT ZPVOH "VTUSBMJBOT GVMl M UIFJS ESFBN PG QMBZJOH JO UIF "'- "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

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

UJNFPO 0VS "'- IJTUPSZ HVSV BOTXFST ZPVS RVFSJFT

/ " . & ( " . &

'SPN BMM BOHMFT

8IJDI QMBZFST IBWF QMBZFE JO UIF NPTU l OBMT NBUDIFT 3 %&//*4 .6336.#&&/" 7*$

$) 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).

83*5& 50 "/48&3 ."/ 5IF 4MBUUFSZ .FEJB (SPVQ )BSCPVS &TQMBOBEF %PDLMBOET PS FNBJM NJDIBFMM!TMBUUFSZNFEJB DPN

413*/( $)".1*0/4 $BSMUPO T

#SVDF %PVMM QMBZFE JO l OBMT BOE GPVS QSFNJFSTIJQT XIJMF UISFF UJNF #SJTCBOF QSFNJFSTIJQ TUBS 4JNPO #MBDL BCPWF MFGU JT POF PG POMZ UXP DVSSFOU QMBZFST UP IBWF GFBUVSFE JO BU MFBTU l OBMT

"'- NZTUFSZ NFO &EXBSE (PSEPO #SFXJT Ő #PSO BU #FEMJOHUPO &OHMBOE PO 0DUPCFS #SFXJT KPJOFE $BSMUPO GSPN .Bä SB JO (JQQTMBOE BT B DN LH SVDLNBO EFGFOEFS 'SPN VOUJM IF CPPUFE HPBMT JO TFOJPS BQQFBSBODFT JODMVEJOH UXP l OBMT XFBSJOH HVFSOTFZ /P -BUFS IF NPWFE UP 2VFFOTMBOE

*G ZPV IBWF BOZ JOGPSNBUJPO SFHBSEJOH UIF BCPWF .ZTUFSZ .FO JODMVEJOH EBUF PG EFBUI DPOUBDU $PM )VUDIJOTPO PO PS DPM IVUDIJOTPO!Bm DPN BV

!

8BMUFS 'SFEFSJDL 7JDUPS 4ZLFT Ő 4ZLFT XBT CPSO PO .BZ BOE QMBZFE IJT FBSMZ GPPUCBMM XJUI 'JU[SPZ #BQUJTUT BT B NJE l FMEFS SPWFS "GUFS QMBZJOH GPVS HBNFT XJUI $PMMJOHXPPE JO IF USBOTGFSSFE UP 7'" DMVC 3JDINPOE #FUXFFO BOE IF LJDLFE HPBMT JO NBUDIFT GPS .FMCPVSOF *U JT MJLFMZ IF EJFE JO 2VFFOTMBOE

Ő &TTFOEPO T +BZ /FBHMF TIPVME CF B OBUVSBM GPSXBSE QPDLFU CPPUJOH HPBMT GSPN BMM BOHMFT n BU MFBTU JG XF HP CZ IJT OBNF /FBHMF JT B WBSJBUJPO PG BOPUIFS TVSOBNF /BOHMF BOE /BOHMF EFSJWFT GSPN BO JODPSSFDU EJWJEJOH PG UIF PME EFTDSJQUJWF TVSOBNF BUUFO BOHMF NFBOJOH hBU UIF DPSOFSv 4P TPNFPOF NBZ IBWF CFFO h.BUUIFX BUUFO BOHMFv n UIBU JT h.BUUIFX XIP MJWFT JO B DPSOFS PG MBOE v h"OHMFv DPNFT FWFOUVBMMZ GSPN UIF -BUJO BOHVMVT NFBOJOH hDPSOFSv PS hBOHMFv 0UIFS DVSSFOU PS GPSNFS "'- OBNFT GPSNFE JO UIJT XBZ JODMVEF /BTI BUUFO BTI n hOFBS UIF BTI USFFv BOE /BMEFS BUUFO BMEFS n hOFBS UIF BMEFS USFFv +BZ /FBHMF BOE IJT GBUIFS GPSNFS &TTFOEPO BOE 4XBOT TUBS .FSW BSF UIF POMZ /FBHMFT UP IBWF QMBZFE -FBHVF GPPUCBMM BOE UIFSF JT POF JOTUBODF PG /BHMF BOPUIFS QPTTJCMF WBSJBUJPO 5IFSF IBWF CFFO FJHIU /BTIFT UIF NPTU OPUBCMF CFJOH 4XBOT DIBNQJPO BOE 5FTU DSJDLFUFS -BVSJF BOE UXP /BMEFST JODMVEJOH )BXUIPSO QSFNJFSTIJQ QMBZFS 3PO ,&7"/ $"330--

##(*)$ . 0.%*,) *((&)$0**" 1")#1 0 )-

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

##(*)$ . 0.%*,) *((&)$0**" 1")#1 0 )-

##(*)$ . 0.%*,) *((&)$0**" 1")#1 0 )-

##(*)$ . 0.%*,) *((&)$0**" ,(.*)

##(*)$ . 0.%*,) *((&)$0**" 1")#1 0 )-

. &(" 0.%*,) *((&)$0**" ,(.*)

%&- 0##' -+#!& ( $/#-. ++# , )!# 1

YOUR OFFICIAL GRAND FINAL DESTINATION

BE THERE WHEN YOUR TEAM MAKES HISTORY There is nothing to rival the thrill of being at the ‘G to watch your team win the premiership. The passion and power of the crowd, the moments that live on for decades, and the biggest pay-oī of them all – victory, right in front of you.

exclusive AFL functions and entertainment, accommodation, travel and, of course, the best tickets to the biggest match of the year.

You can now guarantee your spot for that one day in September at the AFL Event Office. Only the AFL Event Office can tailor

So when your team make it to the big one in September, make sure you ’re there cheering them on. Don ’t miss a second of the acƟon; book your place today to ensure you ’re part of the 2010 Toyota AFL

unforgettable Grand Final package experiences like no other –

Grand Final spectacular.

OSAFL10/31

Book at aŇ.com.au/eventoĸce or call 1300 235 235

Rick Milne

UJNFPO $0--&$5"#-&4

3PPT IPQ JOUFSTUBUF

" XFFLMZ MPPL BU DPMMFDUBCMFT NFNPSBCJMJB BOE BMM GPPUZ UIJOHT TUPSFE JO CPYFT BOE HBSBHFT FE JO CPYFT BO

3 * $ , 4 3 " 3 * 5 :

* IBWF B /PSUI .FMCPVSOF VSOF $FOUFOBSZ QSF TFBTPO UPVS O UPVS QSPHSBN GFBUVSJOH ,BOHBSPP BOHBSPP QMBZFST JODMVEJOH +PIO %VHEBMF O %VHEBMF -BVSJF %XZFS BOE 4BN ,FLPWJDI N ,FLPWJDI 5IF 3PPT XFOU UP 4PVUI "VTUSBMJB I "VTUSBMJB BOE 8FTUFSO "VTUSBMJB BOE QMBZFE BOE QMBZFE E NBUDIFT BHBJOTU 8FTU 5PSSFOT BOE 5PSSFOT BOE E 8FTU 1FSUI BOE FWFO IBE B EBZ USJQ BE B EBZ USJQ UP 3PUUOFTU *TMBOE "OZ WBMVF WBMVF

'-:*/( ,"/("3004

5IJT QSPHSBN GPS /PSUI .FMCPVSOF T QSF TFBTPO UPVS PG "EFMBJEF BOE 1FSUI JT WBMVFE BU

+*. 26*(-&: "4$05 7"-& 7*$ $

3. Programs like this do not

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

* BN DPMMFDUJOH CBEHFT GFBUVSJOH BUVSJOH UIF 8FTU $PBTU QSFNJFSTIJQ JFSTIJQ TJEF BOE * BN NJTTJOH UIPTF F PG $ISJT +VEE %SFX #BOl FME ME 3PIBO +POFT BOE 4UFWFO "SNTUSPOH $BO BOZPOF IFMQ Q NF * DBO CF DPOUBDUFE UISPVHI VHI NZ EBVHIUFS T FNBJM BEESFTT n T n UBOZB IU!PQUVTOFU DPN BV

Ő $PMMJOHXPPE JT XFMM QPTJUJPOFE JO JUT CJE UP XJO Q UIJT ZFBS T QSFNJFSTIJQ UI BOE IFSF JT B m BTICBDL BO UP UIF TFBTPO CFGPSF UIF UP .BHQJFT XPO UIF m BH .B 5IF QBEEFE QIPUP EPFT OPU 5I JEFOUJGZ UIF QMBZFST CVU JEF UIFSF BSF QMFOUZ PG TUBST UIF F

JJODMVEJOH %FT )FBMFZ ODMM -PV BOE 3PO 3JDIBSET BOE BOE E #PC 3PTF (PSEPO )PDLJOH (PSE S /FJM .BOO BOE DPBDI 1IPOTF ,ZOF BOE D BOE ED 5IJT SBSF QIPUP JT XPSUI 5IJT J SBSF QIPUP JT XPSU SBSF QIPUP JT XPSUI B P J X U BCPVU BCPVU P U

,": #0:-& #&7&3-&: 8"

3. I hope someone out there re

can help you.

*O NZ EBVHIUFS HPU POF PG UIF TQFDJBMMZ QSPEVDFE GPPUCBMMT GPS UIBU ZFBS T (SBOE 'JOBM 4IF TJODF IBT IBE BMM (FFMPOH QMBZFST BOE DPBDI .BSL 5IPNQTPO TJHO JU XJUI UIF TBNF QFO 5IF DMVC TBZT JU JT UIF POMZ POF XJUI BMM UIF QMBZFST TJHOBUVSFT BOE OPU NBOZ PG UIF CBMMT XFSF QSPEVDFE *U JT JO NJOU DPOEJUJPO BOE BMM UIF BVUPHSBQIT BSF DMFBS BOE MFHJCMF "OZ JEFB PG WBMVF 30(&3 1)*114 7*" &."*-

"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

3. 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.

* IBWF B .FMCPVSOF HVFSOTFZ GSPN UIF DMVC T UI BOOJWFSTBSZ EJOOFS *U IBT CFFO TJHOFE CZ

TJY PG .FMCPVSOF T SOF T HSFBUFTU QMBZFST n %BWJE /FJU[ ZFST n %BWJE / /FJU[ +JN 4UZOFT (BSSZ -ZPO (BSSZ -ZPO A)BTTB A) )BTTB )BTTB .BOO 3PCFSU 'MPXFS BOE 3PO #BSBTTJ * BN OPU JOUFSFTUFE JO TFMMJOH JU CVU XPVME BQQSFDJBUF B WBMVBUJPO 4*.0/ $0--*/4 7*" &."*-

3. 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.

$0/5"$5 3*$, .*-/& NSQQ!JQSJNVT DPN BV PS ESPQ IJN B MJOF $PPSBNJOUB 4U #SVOTXJDL 7JD PS DBMM 0OF RVFSZ QFS SFBEFS

UJNFPO ,*%4 $03/&3

*7& ' 50 '*/%

Sudoku

Ő 4PMWF UIJT QV[[MF CZ l MMJOH JO UIF FNQUZ TRVBSFT XJUI UIF OJOF MFUUFST PG UIF QMBZFS T OBNF :PV NVTU NBLF TVSF ZPV VTF FBDI MFUUFS POMZ PODF JO FBDI SPX DPMVNO PS TNBMM CPY PG OJOF TRVBSFT %P OPU HVFTT BT UIFSF JT POMZ POF DPSSFDU TPMVUJPO

J. VAN BERLO FREMANTLE

" #

+

+

-

/

3

"

"

/

0

" 7 3

IF XJOOFS PG UIF /"# "'- 3JTJOH 4UBS BXBSE 5 IFO XFSF UIF FMJNJOBUJPO BOE RVBMJGZJOH l OBMT OBMT 8 l STU QMBZFE

8IJDI ,BOHBSPP QMBZFE IJT l OBM "'- HBNF

#

MBTU XFFLFOE

/ + #

l STU XFFL PG UIF MBTU ZFBS T l OBMT TFSJFT

XJOT XIJDI NFEBM

"

3 +

/

&

0 &

7

0 &

8IJDI UISFF QMBZFST FBDI LJDLFE l WF HPBMT JO UIF 8 IJDI UFBN XPO UIJT ZFBS T ANJOPS QSFNJFSTIJQ Q

0 7

7

3

5

26*$, 26&45*0/4

-

& 5)*4 8&&, 4 "/48&34 4105 5)& %*''&3&/$& #BMM DIBOHFE UP SFE TFBHVMMT BEEFE $BSMUPO QMBZFS +Fä (BSMFUU T CPPU DIBOHFE UP B XPSL CPPU MPHP SFNPWFE GSPN (BSMFUU T SJHIU CPPU QBSU PG XIJUF BODIPS PO .BUUIFX 1BWMJDI T KVNQFS JO CBDLHSPVOE OBSSPXFE 26*$, 26&45*0/4 +BTPO 1PSQMZ[JB "EFMBJEF %BOJFM #SBETIBX #SJTCBOF -JPOT BOE /JDL 3JFXPMEU 4U ,JMEB $PMMJOHXPPE 3PO &WBOT .FEBM $PSFZ +POFT #*( #*( # *( ( .0 .065 .

0 06 ) #*( .065) 4$3".#-&% '005#"--&3 4$3" 4$ 4 $ $3" 3" ". .#-& #-& -& &% '0 % 05#"--&3 #" -& -&3 &3 & 3 $3:15*$ '005#"--&34 $3:1 $ 3:1 :1 5 5*$ 5*$ *$ $ '0 '005 ' 00 00 05 5#"--&34 -&

"'"'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm '- 3&$ $0 $0 03 3% % WWJT WJJTTJU JU Bm Bm SFDPSE DPN BV SFDPSE SFD SF FFDD P PSE PS SSE E DPN D N B BV V

UJNFPO -"45 -*/& Applying data laterally

#BTFE PO QFSDFOUBHFT JU MPPLT MJLF UIF $BUT PS 1JFT

5

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. "'- 3&$03% WJTJU Bm SFDPSE DPN BV

/6.#&34 (".&

(FFMPOH T #SBE 0UUFOT BOE $PMMJOHXPPE T %BSSFO +PMMZ BSF MJLFMZ UP MPDL IPSOT JO UIF (SBOE 'JOBM JG IJTUPSZ JT BOZ HVJEF

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.

5IF QFSDFOUBHF appears to be Based on GPSNVMB DPOl SNT around 115. number of wins, IPX HPPE B UFBN JT The table Collingwood BU EFGFOEJOH BU POF (above right) has a 56 per looks at cent chance FOE BOE BUUBDLJOH the past 50 of winning the BU UIF PUIFS 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

3"/,*/(4 #: 1&3$&/5"(& "/% ."5$) 10*/54 0' 5)& )& -"45 13&.*&34 3"/,*/( #: 1&3$&/5"(&

(' 8*/4

TU

OE

SE

UI

UI

UI UI

3"/,*/( #: ."5$) 10*/54

(' 8*/4

TU

OE

SE

UI

UI

501 &*()5 ."5$) 10*/54

$PMMJOHXPPE

(FFMPOH $BUT

4U ,JMEB

8 #VMMEPHT

4ZEOFZ 4XBOT

'SFNBOUMF

)BXUIPSO

$BSMUPO

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.

5&% )01,*/4 *4 " $"3-50/ 13&.*&34)*1 1-":&3 "/% '06/%&3 0' $)".1*0/ %"5" )*4 $633&/5 130+&$5 *4 5&%41035 " )*() 1&3'03."/$& %"5" "/"-:4*4 "/% $0/46-5*/( 4&37*$& 5&%14035 $0. "6

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.

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.