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Swans were last team standing

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 29 Desember 2012 | 23.02

The Sydney Swans victorious after the AFL Grand Final 2012. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MOST Sydneysiders think the Harbour City is the centre of the universe.

In the AFL this year, they were largely right. For once.

The fledgling Great Western Sydney made their AFL premiership debut when they faced the Swans in a standalone fixture at Homebush's ANZ Stadium to launch the home-and-away season on March 24.

And it was the Swans who were the last team standing on September 29 when they triumphed over Hawthorn at the MCG to hand the Sydney-South Melbourne club its fifth VFL-AFL flag.

Midfielder Ryan O'Keefe won the Norm Smith Medal for best-on-ground while co-captain Adam Goodes added to the legendary "Bloods" culture by playing most of the match on one leg.

But every man in a red-and-white jumper had a heroic story to tell. That is just how Sydney roll.

The Giants took the wooden spoon with two wins for the year.

But the two Sydney teams did not stop being in the news.

GWS lost high-priced rugby league recruit Israel Folau, while Sydney somehow managed to find the salary cap space to afford a $3.5 million, four-year offer to Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett.

It left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast who - like everybody bar Sydney - thought Tippett was going home to Queensland.

Adelaide were also aggrieved and played hardball in trade negotiations. It all then unravelled in spectacular style.

The Crows, Adelaide CEO Steve Trigg, football manager Phil Harper, ex-football manager John Reid and Tippett fronted the AFL Commission on salary cap rorting and draft tampering charges relating to Tippett's last contract with the Crows that was negotiated in 2009.

Adelaide ultimately lost draft picks and were fined while Trigg and Harper were suspended. Tippett's manager Peter Blucher is under investigation by the AFL Players Association.

Sydney finally got their man in the pre-season draft but Tippett will not be available until the round 13 clash with Port Adelaide after being handed an 11-game ban.

Closer to home, the Lions made strides up the ladder with 10 wins after managing four victories in 2011. The round 10 thriller against West Coast and the round 21 win over Adelaide provided hope.

Gold Coast extended the contract of senior coach Guy McKenna before claiming premiership points but beefed up the role of football director Malcolm Blight. The Suns' first win did not come until round 16.


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

2012 countdown: Top 10 departures

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

Corey Enright consoles retiring Geelong veteran Matthew Scarlett after the loss to Fremantle - his final match. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

THE Kurt Tippett saga seemed to rip apart rainforests this off-season. But did million-dollar man Israel Folau's defection cause a bigger stir? Or what about Liam Jurrah?

As we count down the rest of the week we'll name the highlights, lowlights and simply strange moments of the year in footy in a countdown of top 10 countdowns.

We've well and truly kicked off the countdowns with the best 10 AFL games of 2012,the top 10 marks, the top 10 goals, the top 10 brain fades and the top 10 individual performances. Yesterday, it was the top 10 recruits of 2012.

Today the countdown continues with the top 10 departures of the year.

Did we get it right? Leave a comment below

10. BRENT PRISMALL (Essendon)

Well, sort of departed. The unlucky former Bomber and Cat went through clubs like Tiger Woods in the lead-up to the pre-season draft. First he stayed on at Windy Hill and was told by James Hird he'd be redrafted, then it was over to train at Alberton where he was reportedly offered a one-year deal, and finally Prismall decided "nah, let's stay in Victoria" and headed back home to train with the Dogs. But in a cruel twist, the Bulldogs signed Nick Lower and then handed their final position on their list to 28-year-old player welfare manager Brett Goodes. With Goodes' former job open and Prismall suddenly unemployed, the Whitten Oval powerbrokers had little hesitation opting for him over a Seek ad. What a whirlwind two months for Prismall, who is stranded on 61 AFL games. And in yet another twist the 26-year-old is expected to sign at Dogs affiliate Williamstown and play there, with Goodes, next season. This was a pretzel of a story.

Brent Prismall trains with the Bombers at Windy Hill. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun


9. JASON GRAM (St Kilda)

One of the more bizarre exits from the AFL system we've seen. Gram's career came to a sudden, public and dramatic end in October. The St Kilda line-breaker had his contract terminated after he was arrested and charged before being convicted and fined $5000 on six criminal charges. The 28-year-old played 152 games in red, white and black threads after crossing from the Brisbane Lions. His exit effectively allowed the Saints to sign Dylan Roberton at the death of delisted free agency. With football gone, fingers crossed Gram gets his life on track in 2013. Right now he's enjoying some sun in Thailand… a nice change of pace after 10 sweltering pre-seasons.

Jason Gram has been sacked by St Kilda. Source: Herald Sun


8. MATTHEW PRIMUS (Port Adelaide)

How unlucky is this bloke? Does his knee and misses playing in Port's inaugural flag in 2004 and sacked from the same club after just 47 games at the helm as senior coach. Not sure Primus is all for the AFL's expansion plans… of the 34 losses he coached the two against the baby clubs seemed to haunt him dearly. The Power was the first club to go down to the Suns last year, as serious pressure to retain his job mounted, before they became the first established club to go down at the hands of GWS this season. That was the death knell. So, what's next? If you can't beat them join them – Primus is the new midfield coach at the Suns.

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus during a Power training session. Picture: Matt Turner Source: The Advertiser


7. BRETT RATTEN (Carlton)

Much like Primus, Ratten's "coach killer" came against the AFL newbies. After a spirited fightback to crawl into top-eight contention, all the Blues had to do was travel north and eclipse the Suns to keep their season alive. They failed. Miserable. And a prickly Ratten presser after the match pointed to the fact he knew this season would be his last. Ratten decided to coach the final game of the year after being told he was axed and the Mick Malthouse lure materialised. Ratts is off to Glenferrie next year to aid the Hawks. It's been a quiet addition, but that could be one of the recruits of the year.


6. LIAM JURRAH (Melbourne)

Talk about a turbulent year. Jurrah battled an injury curse, was charged over an alleged machete attack, walked out on the Dees and was overlooked by Port Adelaide after a brief training stint at Alberton. Now, he's set to play under Port's eyes in the SANFL with the possibility of reigniting his AFL career in 2014. The mercurial forward was seemingly set for a promising stint at the Dees after being handed Russell Robertson's No. 24 jumper and thumping home 40 goals last year. He could get on the park just once this season – in a 101-point loss to premiers Sydney. Ouch.

Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons, SCG - Demons Liam Jurrah on a lead. Picture: Anthony Reginato Source: Herald Sun


5. ADRIAN ANDERSON (AFL)

The AFL lost one of its heavyweights when Adrian Anderson suddenly resigned this month. In his nine years as football operations manager, Anderson handled a lot of big issues he must have at times wanted to handball off. Check this list to see what he put up with. But, he left highly respected for his dealings both with the media and at AFL House after entering a faceless 31-year-old handpicked by Andrew Demetriou.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson. Source: Herald Sun


4. MATTHEW SCARLETT (Geelong)

Seriously, how good was this bloke? Three flags, a best-and-fairest and a mortgage on the full-back post in the All-Australian side. Eight times Scarlett made the team of the year, while after 284 games stopping the league's gorillas he is firmly entrenched among the greats. Scarlett will leave a massive hole in Chris Scott's defence and was hands-down the biggest star to depart the game after 2012. Six times this man collected at least 30 touches, showing his ability to kill sides on the rebound, while like many former Cats he's off to the Dogs in 2013 – as a part-time coach under Brendan McCartney.


3. BRENDON GODDARD (St Kilda)

Day one of free agency and one of St Kilda's marquee men packs up and shifts to Essendon for mega bucks. Bang. The BJ defection kick-started the new age of AFL. A No. 1 draft pick and Grand Final star walking was big, especially with talk Goddard could have captained the Saints if he had stayed. In fairness he wasn't coming off an outstanding season and the system did adequately reimburse St Kilda, with Goddard winning it the No. 13 draft pick, used to help secure exciting ruckman Tom Hickey.

Essendon recruit Brendon Goddard models the 9 jumper he will wear next year Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun



2. ISRAEL FOLAU (GWS Giants)

Gave up? Mercenary? Did his job? Lacked the ability? Everyone had their say when Izzy walked out on the Giants after just 13 games at the top level. He never kicked more than one goal, picked up more than five kicks in a game and averaged just 1.4 tackles a match, but, gee, his pay cheque would've been handsome. The biggest shock was when Folau snubbed the NRL, instead opting to play with the NSW Waratahs in 2013. Yep, that's three codes in four years for the one-time league great. And it didn't take long for comedians on social media to link him to Melbourne Heart, Sydney Sixers and synchronised swimming at the next Olympics following his defection.

Israel Folau has been visiting prisoners at Parklea prison. Source: Getty Images


1. KURT TIPPETT (Adelaide)

Oh boy. Where do you start? Nearly the preliminary final hero. Now the all-time greatest villain for Adelaide fans. The Crows lost draft picks, Tippett for nothing, huge fines and a spread of embarrassment unlikely to be topped. An uglier departure could not be scripted, and all because Adelaide was hell-bent on keeping the key forward at the end of 2009. But Tippett got to the Swans, will earn about $70,000 a game next season and walked away with his registration in hand and just an 11-game suspension to serve. Thank heavens that two-month saga is done and dusted.

Where to? Kurt Tippett has a big decision to make. Source: Herald Sun

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter @SamLandsberger


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Young Pie faces assault charges

Looking back on Port's year of pain

Collingwood rookie Marley Williams charged with assault following an alleged incident a night club in Western Australia. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

YOUNG Collingwood midfielder Marley Williams has been charged with assault in Western Australia.

Williams, 19, is set to appear in court at a later date following an alleged incident at a night club in Albany last night.

Police allege Williams was one of two men at the club who were allegedly involved in an argument around 1.30am (WST) this morning.

The other man, 29, was ejected from the venue and when Williams left, he saw the man outside.

Williams is then alleged to have punched the man who was taken to Albany Regional Hospital with a broken jaw.

Collingwood this afternoon confirmed charges had been laid in a statement.

"As this is a police matter the club will be making no further comment at this time," the statement read.


Williams was taken with pick No.35 in the 2011 rookie draft.

But he was promoted to the senior list after the Magpies lost enforcer Luke Ball to a season-ending knee injury.

Williams played six games in 2012 after making his debut against Adelaide in Round 9.
 


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Demons in hot water over MCG eviction

Former Melbourne player Jared Rivers (white t-shirt and sunglasses), who is now with Geelong, has to be restrained after being told to leave by security and the police. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE players evicted from the MCG on Boxing Day will answer to football chiefs when the Dees resume training next week.

Star defender James Frawley, gun forward Jeremy Howe - a cousin of Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade - and backman Lynden Dunn will be asked to explain themselves after a boozy day in the notoriously rowdy bay 13 with former teammates Ricky Petterd (Richmond) and Jared Rivers (Geelong).

The group - minus Petterd - were allegedly asked to leave the ground late on Wednesday afternoon after clashes with fellow patrons attracted the attention of security guards.

Melbourne yesterday confirmed the club would address the incident when the team returned from the Christmas break on January 2. Senior players will return on January 7.

Melbourne player James Frawley asked to leave Bay 13 by MCG security. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

A patron has contacted Richmond alleging Petterd used offensive language.

New Tiger Petterd, 24, is believed to have maintained he did nothing wrong, despite being photographed in a scuffle with another cricket fan.

Geelong defender Rivers, 28, had to separated from another patron as he was led up an aisle by security.

Melbourne player Jeremy Howe puts his shirt on after being told to leave Bay 13. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Officials from Richmond and Geelong would not comment yesterday.

A witness said the players were subjected to verbal abuse from other spectators after they were identified as AFL footballers.

Melbourne coach Mark Neeld is on an overseas holiday but has set high standards for the players in regard to their on and off-field behaviour.

Demons players Jeremy Howe, right, and Lynden Dunn, both in sunglasses, build a beer train in Bay 13 at the MCG. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

Frawley, 24, is a member of the Demons' leadership group, which could also have a major say in determining any player sanctions.

The incident extends a horror period for the club, with the future of several key officials hinging on the outcome of the league's tanking investigation.

AFL investigators have given the club evidence gathered from its five- month probe into allegations Dees officials set out to lose matches in 2009 to enhance their draft position.

The evidence is in the hands of the club's legal team, which is expected to vigorously defend the claims when it responds in mid-January. The AFL has said it expected to decide if any charges would be laid by the end of January.

Melbourne players were banned from drinking alcohol on their nine-day pre-season camp at Robertson Barracks in Darwin this month.

Dees fitness boss David Misson said the players had been given strict training programs to complete over the break.

"The sessions that they're going to be asked to do are going to be solid," Misson told the Melbourne website.

"The days in between the training sessions are their own, so it gives them a chance to relax with family.

"But the sessions are pretty structured, and they're going to have to send through feedback from those sessions, as well as reach some targets when they come back.

"We're going to know who's done it and who hasn't."


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Billie keen to give 2012 the boot

Billie Smedts finished the 2012 season playing 14 games for Geelong. Picture: Peter Ristevski Source: Geelong Advertiser

IN A strange sort of way Billie Smedts just wants 2012 to be over.

After missing the entire 2011 season because of injury, Smedts made his debut in Round 1 this year before experiencing so many things football has to offer.

He dealt with highs: the excitement of playing his first game, the thrill of playing a big part in Geelong's epic win over Hawthorn in Round 19 and the pride of seeing his mates win the VFL grand final.

But also plenty of lows: being dropped, missing a final through injury and, most significantly, intense pressure.

This time last year Smedts was all the rage at Simonds Stadium.

Players and coaches spoke of how he was training the house down, while the media had him pinned as the competition's next big thing.

And Smedts didn't know why.

He was 19 and he hadn't even made his debut.

"I actually took it pretty tough," Smedts said. "I wanted to put pressure on myself to perform, but I thought it was just a lot of extra pressure - I hadn't played a game yet and I already felt like I had big shoes to fill.

"I feel as though there was too much hype, definitely a little bit too much for my liking. All I wanted to do was play footy and I felt like my first game was already going to be big enough and I felt like in the back of my head, 'Oh, I've had this said, so I've got extra pressure on top of me'."

He insists he didn't read his own press.

"But other people told me about what was said and a lot of other people read it," he said.

"I knew it was there and I didn't handle it very well because it sat there in the back of my head. When I did walk out on to the park I was thinking that people were expecting things and probably expecting bigger things than what I was capable of doing.

"That stuff was written so I felt like I had to play for the media sort of, they were pumping me up, so I felt like I had to go out there and have 30 touches straightaway."

He sought, and received, the advice of senior teammates who had been through it all before, which helped.

"They've obviously gone through a lot of media written and said about them, so just to hear about what they'd gone through, either good reports or bad reports, I just spoke to them about how they dealt with that pressure. They were really good to talk to and they did help me out."

Whether he was dealing with it well or not, March came around quickly and Smedts was named to take on Fremantle in Round 1.

"It's a big road trip for us. We got over there and I was pretty nervous. My family flew over and I was excited but at the same time very scared," he said.

"I ran out there, the crowd was very loud. It was a disappointing loss and a tough initiation."

THE utility played seven of the Cats' first 10 games, moving in and out of the side a couple of times for team balance reasons, before the call came.

He was dropped.

"I took it pretty tough. I knew that I was struggling with a bit of form and I had no confidence going into games," he said.

"I remember Chris Scott coming up on my phone and I knew what was coming. I asked him what I needed to do to get back and he said, 'You play your best footy on confidence and so we just want to take you back to the VFL, hopefully you'll play well, get a kick and get some confidence back and we'll play you'.

"I went back to the VFL and worked on a few little areas of my game, got some confidence up and started playing some decent footy. I got my chance in the senior team again and in a different position as well (half-forward). I enjoyed my new role when I got put back in the seniors." 

GOOD times followed. He had a career-best 20 disposals on his return against Port Adelaide in Round 14, 17 against Gold Coast a week later and then, after playing a personal-best six straight senior games, was involved in the Cats' thrilling two-point win over the Hawks, in which Tom Hawkins kicked six goals.

"I handballed it to Tommy for his second-last one," Smedts said.

"It was incredible. It's everyone's dream to win a game after the siren, you're always in the backyard putting pressure on yourself to win the Grand Final after the siren. I've never been a part of something like that.

"For 'Hawk' to kick that goal after the siren, it was a pretty special night for everyone at the Geelong Football Club. It was massive.

"Me and 'Scarlo' were standing on the goal line and the ball got kicked over our heads. I jumped on Scarlo and he pretty much piggy backed me to 50m out where Hawk was and we all pretty much jumped on each other. It was a pretty good feeling."

But as Smedts was finding his feet and the Cats were seemingly on the verge of making an unlikely assault on a fourth flag in six years, there was to be one final twist in his roller-coaster season.

"I broke my finger into about a thousand pieces in the second-last round," he said.

"We originally thought it was just going to be the one week, so I went in to surgery and got plates and screws put in there, but it didn't get right for the next week (Round 23).

"Then I was actually going to come through the VFL the following week when we played Freo in the elimination final. On the Saturday night the boys were playing the Dockers and I was meant to play in the twos the next day in a final out at Casey.

"But as soon as we lost to Freo I got the call from the doc who said, 'You can't qualify for VFL finals now so your season's done'.

"It was really weird. I was sitting at home getting ready to play footy the next morning and then all of a sudden I get the call saying your season's over. I couldn't really get my head around it. One minute I'm sitting on the couch eating pasta and hydrating and then the next minute the season's over." 

AT LEAST it was for him. Most of his mates had played enough reserves games to qualify for the VFL finals and they went on to defeat Port Melbourne in the grand final to win the premiership.

"I was absolutely pumped for them. I wish I could have been a part of it, but the boys were rapt," Smedts said.

"We pushed back our end-of-year celebrations because we're one team, it's not as if we were going to go out and celebrate without them while they're still playing. Every week we were there for their finals and it was a bonus winning the granny, so we celebrated pretty hard." 

AT THE start of this year, Smedts set himself a goal of playing eight games.

"Any game after that was a bonus," he said.

He finished with 14.

Assessing his first proper season as an AFL player, Smedts described it as "up and down".

"I've experienced the highs and the lows even in my short career to date," he said. "It was an up-and-down year, but it's given me a bit of a taste of what it's going to be like along the way."

Smedts said he doesn't want to forget the lessons he learnt in 2012.

"But in a way I want to put (the year) behind me," he said. "I want to learn from what I did wrong and what I did right last year, so I will put it behind me. But I don't want to forget it totally. I want to take everything I can from this year and put it into next year.

"Next year's a different year and we'll see what happens when we get there."


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prismall to play VFL with the Dogs

Brent Prismall trained with the Dons, Port and Dogs without luck at the drafts. Now, he'll play at Williamstown. Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

IT'S finally official: Brent Prismall will use the Western Bulldogs' VFL affiliate as a platform to try to relaunch his AFL career.

The delisted Essendon midfielder visited Williamstown headquarters today to finalise his playing contract for 2013 and is set to start pre-season training in January.

Prismall, 26, trained at three clubs in the lead-up to the pre-season and rookie drafts but was overlooked by the Bombers, Dogs and Port Adelaide.

Last week he signed at the Dogs as their full-time player-welfare, a role vacated by Brett Goodes after he beat Prismall to the final place on Brendan McCartney's list.

"He still sees himself as someone who can get picked up in the future, so it was important for him to come into a good environment," Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon told SuperFooty today.

"Obviously it's a good fit with the role at the Western Bulldogs. But it's funny, when we first sat down with Brent he indicated he was looking to play for Williamstown regardless of what happened.

"He's going to be a very good player at VFL level and who knows, in 12 months you'd like to think the door is still open for him, especially with more mature-age players getting picked up."

Prismall played under McCartney at Geelong and Essendon during his 61-game AFL career.

Prismall lives in the western suburbs and came through the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.

He has battled knee and hamstring injuries throughout his career and was restricted to eight AFL matches this season, but last year Essendon coach James Hird backed him to recover.

"There's a lot of football left in Brent Prismall," Hird said after Prismall's knee setback last year.

He joins delisted Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood as bumper signings at Williamstown, with both hopeful their AFL days are not over.


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Consider yourself an AFL quizmaster?

How many votes did Essendon skipper Jobe Watson poll to win the 2012 Brownlow Medal? Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

THINK you know your footy? Take our AFL super quiz to find out just how closely you were paying attention in 2012.

QUESTIONS

1. Which team won the 2012 NAB Cup?

2. Which midfielder won the Michael Tuck Medal for best player in the final?

3. Which two clubs faced off in the first match of the season in a stand-alone fixture a week before the other teams?

4. Which Carlton player won goal of the year for a boundary-line run against Richmond in Round 1?

5. Tom Hawkins kicked a famous match-winning goal against Hawthorn after the final siren in Round 19. How many goals did Hawkins kick that night?

6. Which former Melbourne player, now at Carlton, lifted the lid on Demons' tanking claims in an interview on Fox Footy's On the Couch?

7. Which two teams played in the only draw of the 2012 season?

8. Who won the 2012 Coleman Medal?

9. After the finals two other players finished the year with more goals than the Coleman medallist. Who were they?

10. How many votes did Jobe Watson poll to win the 2012 Brownlow Medal?


11. Which two players finished tied for second four votes behind?

12. Which St Kilda veteran polled his first Brownlow votes in his 210th game, a win against Gold Coast?

13. Which two teams did Greater Western Sydney defeat in its first season?

14. How many goals did Lance Franklin kick in Hawthorn's 115-point win against North Melbourne in Hobart?

15. Which Essendon player had the ball in his hands 70m from goal when the siren sounded against Sydney, denying the Bombers a miracle comeback win?

16. Which Melbourne high-flyer won Mark of the Year for a huge grab over Sydney's Heath Grundy at the SCG?

17. Melbourne won its first game for the season in Round 10, defeating which team by six points?

18. Which club forfeited a NAB Cup match when chartered planes couldn't land in the Victorian country town Wangaratta due to bad weather?

19. Karmichael Hunt kicked a goal after the siren to defeat which team in Cairns?

20. Fellow NRL convert Israel Folau struggled for the Giants, kicking how many goals in his 13 matches?


21. Essendon scraped home with a two-point win against North Melbourne after which big Roo missed a shot after the siren from 35m?

22. Chris Judd was suspended for four matches for his "chicken wing" tackle on which North Melbourne forward?

23. Which Collingwood player kicked the winning goal - decided by video review - in the Pies' one-point win against Essendon on Anzac Day?

24. Geelong coach Chris Scott branded the fans of which club the worst in the AFL after some abused Cats doctors and concussed forward Tom Hawkins?

25. Port Adelaide's Alipate Carlisle tweeted this after Geelong full-back Matthew Scarlett punched which Fremantle pest: "Matty Scarlett just done (sic) what a lot of other footballers would love to do #brilliant''?

26. The Western Bulldogs suspended Will Minson for a week after offensive comments towards which Port Adelaide player?

27. Minson was rubbed out for a week by the match review panel for stomping on the leg of which Sydney midfielder?

28. Which St Kilda player was fined $3000 for a homophobic comment to Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien?

29. Who won the Rising Star Award?

30. Which highly-rated GWS midfielder was ineligible because of a one-match suspension for a high bump on Lion Jed Adcock?


31. Sharrod Wellingham was banned for three matches for a high bump that broke the jaw of which Carlton player?

32. Who served as Port Adelaide's caretaker coach after the sacking of Matthew Primus?

33. Who will take over from Kevin Sheedy as GWS coach at the end of this season?

34. Of the six new AFL coaches in 2012, who finished with the most wins? (not including Kevin Sheedy)

35. Who had the fewest?

36. Which Essendon forward was the first AFL player to be charged with staging?

37. James Polkinghorne kicked a 60m torpedo in the dying seconds to steal victory for which club in June?

38. How many bounces did Sydney's Lewis Jetta take on his 100m sprint to kick a stunning goal in the preliminary final against Collingwood?

39. Which Richmond player was sacked after sleeping in and missing training in July?

40. Who was named in the ruck in the All-Australian team?


41. Gary Ablett equalled the record for disposals in a game against Collingwood in Round 10. How many touches did he have?

42. Days after coach Matthew Primus was sacked, Port Adelaide's president resigned in a teary press conference. What is his name?

43. Which TV personality took over as the Power president?

44. Which Hawthorn player, who played just six matches in 2012, kicked the opening goal of the 2012 Grand Final?

45. Which Swan kicked the final goal of the game with 90 seconds on the clock?

46. What was Sydney's winning margin?

47. Which player was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for best afield?

48. Which club will Angus Monfries play for next season?

49. What job did Adrian Anderson resign from in December?

50. Which AFL coach punched a hole in the wall of the MCG coaches box in July?

 ANSWERS

1. Adelaide

2. Bernie Vince

3. Sydney and GWS

4. Chris Yarran

5. Six

6. Brock McLean

7. Richmond and Port Adelaide (Round 23)

8. Jack Riewoldt

9. Lance Franklin and Matthew Pavlich

10. 30

11. Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell

12. Jason Blake

13. Gold Coast and Port Adelaide

14. Thirteen

15. Courtenay Dempsey

16. Jeremy Howe

17. Essendon

18. Essendon

19. Richmond

20. Two

21. Hamish McIntosh

22. Leigh Adams

23. Jarryd Blair

24. West Coast

25. Hayden Ballantyne

26. Danyle Pearce

27. Kieren Jack

28. Stephen Milne

29. Daniel Talia

30. Toby Greene

31. Kade Simpson

32. Garry Hocking

33. Leon Cameron

34. Brenton Sanderson (one more than Nathan Buckley)

35. Mark Neeld (one fewer than Brendan McCartney)

36. Leroy Jetta

37. Brisbane

38. Three

39. Daniel Connors

40. Nic Naitanui

41. 53

42. Brett Duncanson

43. David Koch

44. Xavier Ellis

45. Nick Malceski

46. 10 points

47. Ryan O'Keefe

48. Port Adelaide

49. AFL football operations manager

50. Alastair Clarkson


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Big O aims to hit the high notes

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 22 Desember 2012 | 23.02

New Richmond recruits Sam Lonergan, Orren Stephenson and Ricky Petterd. Picture: David Smith Source: Herald Sun

MATURE-aged rookie Orren Stephenson is confident there is still plenty of room for his game to grow after being thrown a lifeline by Richmond.

The 30-year-old recruit felt he made some big gains in his 12 months as an AFL player, but feared his chances of extending his league fairytale beyond one season were thin.

Stephenson played eight games for Geelong this year, before being de-listed by the Cats after the arrival of former Kangaroos ruckman Hamish McIntosh in the trade period.

Stephenson was given another chance after being rookie-listed by the Tigers and is convinced he will be a better player next year.

"I am just stoked to get another opportunity to play AFL footy, or the chance to be on the AFL program for another year," Stephenson said.

"I certainly felt the gains that I made in this 12 months just gone were pretty big, so I think there is still plenty of opportunity for me to grow as well.

"I think the biggest thing was that I am aware that I am more than capable of playing AFL footy.

"I know after one pre-season and now another full pre-season I am going to be a lot better again."

Stephenson was one of the feelgood stories of the 2011 national draft when he was taken by the Cats at No.78 after playing in three consecutive VFL flags with North Ballarat.

He made his AFL debut in Round 1 against Fremantle and finished the year with another VFL flag, this time with the Cats - his fourth.

But two months in "limbo" after his departure from Geelong, Stephenson had started planning for the prospect that his short taste of AFL could be over.

"I had started to open the doors back up into my work side of things," the father of three admitted.

"But I was a firm believer that if an opportunity arose I would take it on and it did."

Stephenson was one of three "recycled" players rookie-listed by the Tigers, along with ex-Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan and delisted Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd.

"It's exciting times, another opportunity for the three of us," he said.

NORTH Melbourne has taken a two-year punt on an American college basketballer Eric Wallace.

The 24-year-old has been signed as an international rookie list player.


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Taste of big time for Suns teen

Tredrea backs double act at Port

Jack Martin is looking forward to clashing with the competition's best a year early. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

GOLD Coast recruit Jack Martin is set to be unleashed in the NAB Cup after the 17-year-old was granted permission to play in the pre-season competition a year before he can make his AFL debut.

Teammate Jaeger O'Meara was cleared to play in last season's NAB Cup under the same circumstance.

Martin, who is ineligible to play AFL next season due to his age, said he was looking forward to clashing with the competition's best a year early.

"I would love to get in and get an early taste of AFL footy and it would be great if I get picked," Martin said.

"I will have to have a chat to Jaeger and see how he found it."

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the chance to line up against hardened AFL players 12 months early would prove invaluable for Martin.

"It will give him a chance to see how he feels and goes against AFL company and then he has the whole year to go back and play in the NEAFL," Ashcroft said.

"It is the perfect model because we are not putting high expectations on Jack to play senior footy for the whole year."

With his light frame in mind, Ashcroft warned Martin was no certainty for the Suns' NAB Cup opener against Hawthorn and Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on February 23.

But Ashcroft said fans could expect to see the excitement machine used through the midfield if he did get the nod to play in February.

"I think we would play him where he is most comfortable," Ashcroft said.


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18-month ban for VFL drugs player

Casey Scorpions player Wade Lees attempts to break away from his opponent. Picture: Stuart Mlligan Source: Herald Sun

AN AFL aspirant has been banned from all sport for 18 months for importing performance-enhancing drugs.

VFL star Wade Lees yesterday said he would not abandon his AFL dream despite being slugged with the ban by AFL Victoria.

Lees, 24, read his sanction in an email at Casey Scorpions training on Wednesday night - more than two years after he bought the fat-burning product online from the US.

Australian Customs intercepted the product, which contained traces of a banned steroid, and informed the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Lees was then charged with "attempted use of a prohibited substance violation" and banned by AFL Victoria after Round 7 this season.

ASADA argued for a two-year ban at the AFL Victoria tribunal and would not respond yesterday when asked if it would consider appealing for a maximum 24-month penalty.


The authority told the Herald Sun it could not comment due to possible appeals.

AFL Victoria declined to comment until "all parties have exhausted their rights to appeal".

Lees told his VFL drugs tribunal hearing he did not know the product contained banned substances.

He told the Herald Sun yesterday that ASADA had argued that ignorance was no excuse.

Lees, who nominated for last year's draft after hitting career-best form as a tagger, was left depressed and out of pocket about $13,000 in legal and therapy fees and taking days off work.

"If I ever had to cheat the game I wouldn't bother playing sport. My aspirations are to play AFL and if I was to take performance-enhancing drugs and play good football I'm more than likely to get tested, so why would you take the risk?" he told the Herald Sun yesterday.

Lees said he bought the product from overseas to save costs, with the aim to lower his skinfolds to better compete with AFL midfielders in the VFL.

He said the VFL's drug education program was sub-standard.

"If the education was up to scratch all these incidents, like mine and Travis Casserly and Matt Clark wouldn't happen," he said.

Lees is eligible to return in 2014, with the seven months he was forced to serve this year counting towards the ban. He finished seventh in Casey's best-and-fairest from just five games this year.

Casserly is currently serving a two-year ban , while ASADA this year appealed Clark's nine-month sanction, wanting it boosted to two years.


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Ox: Don't kill the Dees

David Schwarz, who played 173 games with the Demons, fears a heavy sanction could pose a serious threat to the club's future.Picture: Fiona Hamilton Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE great David Schwarz hopes any penalty that might flow from the league's tanking investigation will not "cripple" the club.

The AFL is today expected to serve the Demons with evidence gained from its five-month probe into their list management in 2009.

While Melbourne could be hit with heavy fines or loss of draft picks, there is mounting belief the AFL would prefer to penalise individuals, rather than the club, if it is found guilty of deliberately losing games under former coach Dean Bailey.

Melbourne has pledged to vigorously defend any charges and has suggested it would be willing to take the fight to the Supreme Court.

The AFL has interviewed and re-interviewed a host of former and current officials who were at the club in 2009.

President Don McLardy said yesterday he had not seen the interview transcripts that are expected to be presented to Bailey, chief executive Cameron Schwab and former football operations manager Chris Connolly.

"There is still no comment on the investigation," McLardy told the Herald Sun. "We are pleased to see progress and are letting it take its course."

Schwarz, who played 173 games with the Dees, fears a heavy sanction could pose a serious threat to the club's future.

"I, like anyone, hope it goes away, but something might come of it," Schwarz said.

"Whatever it is, you just hope it doesn't hurt or cripple the club. That said, if individuals have done the wrong thing, then they have got to be held accountable."

If the AFL does lay charges, it is likely to happen late next month, in order to give the Demons time to respond to the evidence and prepare their defence.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has warned any person found guilty of manipulating the result of a match would "never work in football again".

Connolly is at the centre of the storm after it was reported he reminded football officials about the importance of losing matches to improve the club's draft position.

But Robert Shaw, who was Fremantle's football operations manager when Connolly coached the Dockers, said Connolly could not have been "solely responsible".

"My gut feeling is the focus on Chris is concerning," Shaw said. "These types of suggestions and allegations could not purely be the work of Chris Connolly."

Shaw said Connolly's work helping raise money for the Demons and the Dockers helped save the two clubs.

"I always found him to be a person of integrity and strong football character," he said.

"The work he did when he first went to Fremantle, I reckon he saved the two clubs.

"His appetite for work and to get out and raise sponsorship singlehandedly at Fremantle, and knock on doors himself, all that sort of stuff is unfairly forgotten in the mist that is tanking allegations.

"He always had the best interests of his football club at heart."

TANKING TIMELINE

JULY, 2012

CARLTON midfielder and former Demon Brock McLean re-ignites the tanking debate when he reveals in an interview on Fox Footy's On the Couch a major reason he wanted to leave Melbourne was because of its strategy of deliberately losing games.

"You can't create a good culture by going out and experimenting and trying to get draft picks and losing games of football,'' McLean said.

"It goes against everything you're trying to do.''


THE AFL launches a fresh tanking investigation, headed by its integrity officer Brett Clothier, following McLean's explosive TV interview.

AUGUST, 2012

McLEAN is called to AFL headquarters to face integrity chief Brett Clothier over his explosive claims the Demons tanked in 2008-2009.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou promises severe punishment for any side found guilty of tanking, encouraging anyone with knowledge of tanking to come forward.

"We shouldn't sweep it under the carpet,'' Demetriou said.

"If they've got information that can prove, that's supportive of the fact that a club lost a game on purpose to achieve a particular outcome that is a serious allegation and I would encourage them to come forward.

"Any issue that involves integrity of the code, any issue, is something we should thump on the head.

"That's my strong position.''

MELBOURNE president Don McLardy launches a passionate defence of the club's integrity in the wake of the AFL's tanking investigation.

"I want to make it very clear that we will defend our club's integrity in the strongest fashion,'' McLardy said.

"For anyone to suggest that our players did not give their all every time they ran on to the field is not acceptable to us.''

AFL intensifies its tanking investigation, interviewing former coaches and key football figures, including former senior coach Dean Bailey.

OCTOBER, 2012

THE AFL uncovers details of a meeting, addressed by former football boss Chris Connolly, of the Demons' football department in which the need to play for draft picks was reinforced.

A SECOND member of Melbourne's 2009 wooden-spoon winning team claims then coach Dean Bailey was under fierce pressure to lose matches deliberately.


"It was disgusting what was going on and you felt for 'Bails' because everyone knew he was under the pump to lose,'' said the player, who the Herald Sun agreed not to name.

"Players had meetings and asked him what was going on but there was nothing he could do.''

NOVEMBER, 2012

A THIRD Melbourne player reveals coach Dean Bailey called a player meeting to signal a sudden change in tactics midway through the 2009 season.

A FORMER Melbourne sponsor reveals a Melbourne Football Club official boasted openly about tanking at a meeting of big sponsors.

"It was an off the cuff remark regarding the No.1 draft pick,'' the company representative said.

"He said words to the effect of, `We made sure that happened'.''

DECEMBER, 2012

THE AFL has asked Melbourne to respond to evidence that could lead to the club being charged with tanking for draft picks in 2009. The league said its five-month investigation was complete and a report of evidence would be provided to all relevant parties.

PERSONS OF INTEREST

Chris Connolly, Dees football manager

Cameron Schwab, Melbourne CEO

Brock McLean, Melbourne player in 2009

Dean Bailey, Melbourne coach in 2009

James McDonald, former Demons skipper

Scott West,  ex-Melbourne assistant coach

Barry Prendergast, former Demons recruiting manager

Josh Mahoney, then assistant coach, now football manager

WHAT THE RULES SAY

"A person, being a player, coach or assistant coach, must at all times perform on their merits and must not induce, or encourage, any player, coach or assistant coach not to perform on their merits in any match - or in relation to any aspect of the match, for any reason whatsoever.'' - AFL Regulations 19(A5)


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We'll always be the Dockers

Matthew Pavlich celebrates a goal. Freo says it won't be changing its name from the Dockers. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

FREMANTLE president Steve Harris has promised the club will continue to be known as the Fremantle Dockers despite announcing it is shifting its training base to Cockburn.

In conjunction with the City of Cockburn, the Dockers will build a $107 million training base on a 26,000-square metre greenfields site in Success. They hope to move there in 2016 or 2017.

"It's only two years ago that we successfully completed lengthy negotiations with Levi Strauss to have the legal right to call ourselves the Fremantle Dockers, and we have absolutely no intention of changing our name from the Fremantle Dockers either now or in the future," Harris said.

''We are and will always be known as the Fremantle Dockers."

The City of Cockburn will fund most of the project, with contributions from the Dockers, the AFL and the state and federal governments also expected.


The club has spent this year weighing up whether to redevelop its current base at Fremantle Oval or create a new base in Success, at a site known as Cockburn Central West.

In the face of a backlash from some members over abandoning their traditional home, the Dockers said it would take a compelling case to move.

The move has been seen as a fait accompli for months and club's board formally resolved this week that compelling case had been sustained.

"Given our club's traditional and historical links to Fremantle Oval, there is no question about the significance of the decision to locate our core operations away from Fremantle Oval, and this was carefully considered throughout the decision-making process," Harris said.

"In addition to the club's operating costs at Cockburn Central West being less when compared to redeveloping at Fremantle Oval, the Cockburn Central West option allows for our club to have access to a bigger indoor training facility, bigger and better aquatic facilities and provides for access to a second oval.

"It is a green field site, so there is likely to be less planning uncertainty and there will be no facility transition costs or interruption to club operations as there would be under the Fremantle Oval master plan options.

"Operating costs at the Cockburn Central West site will also be lower because we are sharing the City of Cockburn's sporting and aquatic facilities with the community. This is also a great result for the community."

Harris said the new facility presented an outstanding opportunity for the Dockers to gain an advantage over their rivals.

"When the club opened its current training and administration facility at Fremantle Oval in November 2000, the facilities were regarded as one of the better club facilities in the AFL," he said.

"However, given the advances in the past decade nationally and internationally in technology and sports science, and an increase in the competitive landscape of the AFL, the club's current facilities are now well behind the AFL benchmark.

"In addition to the Cockburn Central West site allowing for the development of a world-class training and administration facility not seen previously in Australia, the site, which is within the greater Fremantle region, provides greater prospects for future expansion, community engagement and supporter interaction."


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Meet the new, improved Karmichael

Gold Coast Suns player Karmichael Hunt is the slimmest he's been in three AFL pre-seasons. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

SPECIAL K has become Shrinking K.

Gold Coast Suns midfielder and code-hopper Karmichael Hunt is the lightest he has ever been in his well-travelled professional football career, with the 26-year-old tipping the scales at 87kg this week.

When he played rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia he was 93kg.During his stint in French rugby Biarritz in 2009/2010, he nudged the 100kg mark.

But the trademark treetrunk legs are now gone, with Hunt halfway through his third AFL pre-season training program.

A leaner Hunt no longer looks like a rugby league player built to withstand multiple front-on high-speed collisions.

He appears every bit like an AFL on-baller who is required to cover vast distances over four quarters.

Gold Coast strength and conditioning coach Chris Gaviglio said Hunt's significant body shape transformation was a result of his single-minded determination.

"Karmichael needed to make those changes to survive and succeed in the AFL," Gaviglio said.

"He is a highly-driven athlete and he has been prepared to do what it takes to meet the demands of the sport. That is what has underpinned his success across all three codes.

"He is an inherently gifted athlete and he has really bought into our strength and conditioning program as well as working closely with our dietician Benita Lalor.

"You could tell he was cooked by the end of his first season but he would have run out last season if not for a shoulder injury. His legs were willing and able to go the full distance."

After an understandably indifferent first season in 2011, Hunt had a break-out year in 2012 with a shift from defence to the midfield.

The high point was his match-winning goal after the siren against Richmond in Cairns to hand the Suns their first victory of the season, but his on-ball work throughout the year also caught the eye.

He also produced a number of bone-rattling bumps on opponents to become a genuine enforcer.Gaviglio said Hunt would still pack a punch in 2013 despite shedding the weight.

"He is stronger than ever. He is bench pressing 145kg, which is more than what he was doing at the Broncos," he said.

Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said Hunt's leaner appearance was inevitable.

"Karmichael has been training well and is in great shape at the moment but you can't not lose weight given the amount of running he has had to do," the triple premiership player said

"Especially in his new role in the midfield, he has covered a lot of kilometres.

"He has had a season in the VFL and two seasons in the AFL so it was only a matter of time before his body shape became more suited to the demands of our game."

The Suns had their last pre-Christmas training session yesterday  and will resume on January 7.


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Bone shaved from Cat's hips

James Kelly battled a hip injury during the 2012 season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

GEELONG midfielder James Kelly has revealed he had bone shaved from his thighs during post-season surgery after a pain-stricken 2012 season.

Kelly yesterday declared himself on track to play in Geelong's NAB Cup campaign after a successful recovery from an arthroscope on both hips.

The operation involved having bone shaved off both femurs.

The 28-year-old has been on a modified program this pre-season and will return to full training early in the new year, confident his hip troubles are behind him.

"I will be training more heavily over the coming days and it's all going pretty good," Kelly said.

"I'll be back to full training on January 1.

"It's clearing up really well."

Despite having a strong season, in which he was Geelong's leading tackler and still picked up 470 touches, Kelly revealed he had a weekly struggle with hip pain.

But he is confident of a pain-free season next year in a major boost to Geelong's top-four ambitions.

"The hips were more painful during the year than they are now. I'm relying on the physios a lot and they're helping out but I've still been able to do a fair bit of training recently," he said.

"I've been going through the rehabilitation program well and everything is going as planned.

"I'll be 100 per cent ready to go come next season."

Pic gallery: Cats roam the highlands

Geelong assistant coach Dale Amos last week said Kelly and Jimmy Bartel (foot) were making strong progress in their recoveries from post-season operations.

"They've been conditioned, they're doing their weights, they're just being nursed back into the football side," Amos said.

"I would be surprised if they didn't play (NAB Cup). The plan is for them to be ready for Round 1, so you'd imagine they'd play (NAB Cup) at some stage.

"They've been doing their running inside and their conditioning inside and now they're starting to do the work outside, so I think after Christmas we expect to see them a bit more.

"They'll be integrated back in after Christmas. I'm not totally sure when they'll be totally unrestricted, but they're well and truly on track and they should be right amongst it by the time we get back after Christmas.

"We've been patient with them. You want to progress those guys as quickly as you can without pushing them too much."


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2012 countdown: Top 10 goals

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 15 Desember 2012 | 23.02

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

Sydney speedster Lewis Jetta celebrates his incredible goal in the Swans' preliminary final win against Collingwood. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON speedster Chris Yarran won the official goal of the year, but an even quicker Swan might have gone one better.

Over the next 10 days we'll name the highlights, lowlights and simply strange moments of the year in footy in a countdown of top 10 countdowns (still with us?).

We kicked off the series on Monday with the best 10 AFL games of 2012, and followed that with the top 10 marks yesterday.

Today the countdown continues with the top 10 goals of the year.

Did we get it right? Vote in our poll and leave a comment below

10. James Polkinghorne v West Coast

Torpedo punts that sail through the middle are great to watch any time, and even better when your side is less than a goal down with about 30 seconds to play. That's when Polkinghorne pulled this one out of the bag from inside the centre square against the Eagles in June, pulling off one of the upsets of the season.

James Polkinghorne celebrates his match-winning goal against the Eagles. Picture: Darren England Source: Herald Sun


9. Ahmed Saad v Geelong
This might have been the moment Matthew Scarlett decided 'stuff this, I'm going to leave this to the younger blokes'. Isolated against the Geelong champ in St Kilda's forward 50, Saad gathered the loose ball, turned Scarlett inside-out and burnt him off before snapping truly from the boundary line.

Ahmed Saad kicks a goal ahead of Matthew Scarlett. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun


8. Luke Breust v Collingwood
Third-man up specialist Jordan Lewis tapped a ball-up towards the boundary line where Breust gathered, spun onto his left and bounced through the goal from next to the behind post. Don't you love it when a plan comes together? It was the third of Breust's five for the day in the Hawks' big win.

Luke Breust celebrates a snapped goal with Jordan Lewis and Cyril Rioli. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun


7. Jonathon Griffin v Richmond
An almost identical effort to Breust, with a few extra points for degree of difficulty due to heavy rain and the fact 201cm ruckmen aren't meant to do this kind of thing.

6. Lindsay Thomas v Carlton

The man who couldn't kick a goal from the goalsquare last year picked up a bouncing ball on the boundary line about 55m out and somehow wobbled through a bouncing reverse torpedo. Unfortunately for Lindsay, this game is remembered for another incident when the Carlton captain had a sudden taste for chicken wings. 5. Hayden Ballantyne v West Coast
He's an annoying little man but Ballantyne can play. He was front and centre when Matthew Pavlich spilled a mark in the western derby, pouncing on the ball then shrugging a Will Schofield tackle, dodging Sam Butler then leaving Shannon Hurn sitting on his backside wondering which way the Dockers pest went before slotting the goal on the run. You can imagine the celebration. 4. Lewis Jetta v Western Bulldogs
Hard to believe this guy couldn't buy a goal in his first season. Jetta ran on to a loose ball at half-back, puts on the afterburners and slots the goal from 45m near the boundary after two bounces. We didn't know it at the time, but it was just a teaser of what was to come.

Lewis Jetta in action during the Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs AFL game at the SCG in Sydney. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph


3. Chris Yarran v Richmond
Yarran won goal of the year for his Round 1 effort against the Tigers. He took Chris Judd's handball on the wing and shrugged off Ivan Maric then stepped around Steve Morris and goaled from the forward pocket. If only Dustin Martin had chased a little harder ...

Carlton's Yarran snaps a wonder goal from near the boundary line against Richmond. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun


And we won't ruin the party by asking if Yarran took the ball over the boundary line during his explosive run.

Chris Yarran runs along the boundary line on the way to kicking goal of the year against Richmond. Source: Herald Sun


2. Rory Sloane v GWS
The Sloane Ranger lived up to his namesake with his solo effort against the Giants. Gathering at half-back, Sloane sprinted up the wing, taking three bounces before sending an absolute mongrel finger-breaker inside forward 50. He made up for that mistake with his follow-up, grabbing the ball off the boot of Taylor Walker and snapping truly on his left. Although Bernie Vince evidently thought he should have handballed.

Rory Sloane goals against GWS. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser


1. Lewis Jetta v Collingwood
Ineligible for Goal of the Year because it came in a final, but that doesn't bother us. We'll also conveniently overlook the fact Jetta should have been pinged for running too far given he bounced the ball only three times while covering about 90m. But, like a Warwick Capper hanger that technically involves a hand on the shoulder, it was just too good to take off him. And he was moving too fast for anyone to notice anyway. Jetta left scorched turf behind him after he took off from the back of the ANZ Stadium centre square and ran all the way to the goal-line. Kudos to Magpie defender Nathan Brown, who chased Jetta the whole way knowing he was no hope of catching him - and earned himself a cameo in one of footy's great highlight reels.

Sydney's Lewis Jetta burns off his Collingwood opponents to kick an amazing running goal last weekend. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

Lewis Jetta at top speed on the way to one of the great finals goals against Collingwood. Source: Getty Images

Sydney's Lewis Jetta celebrates goal against Collingwood in the first preliminary final at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

Fox Sports: Vote for the biggest AFL moment of 212 here

TOMORROW: TOP 10 BRAIN FADES OF 2012

Follow Al Paton on Twitter: @al_superfooty


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Power the perfect fit for Darren

Fitness coach Darren Burgess, centre, leads Port Adelaide players through their paces. Picture: Campbell Brodie Source: The Advertiser

Fitness coach Darren Burgess, right, leads the Port Adelaide squad in the scorching heat at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie. Source: The Advertiser

THERE'S no point in dancing around the obvious question as you sit down with Port Adelaide's returning fitness coach Darren Burgess at the club's Alberton headquarters.

Why would somebody turn his back on English Premier League club Liverpool, one of the world's biggest sport franchises, to return to Australian football with Port Adelaide?

That is no slight on Port, which is struggling financially, but Australian football is a domestic code and doesn't rate anywhere near the EPL.

An example: In Burgess's time at Liverpool, the club spent $10.4 million on a teenager who had never played a game at the highest level.

That is more than the salary cap for Port Adelaide.

Burgess, whose resume also includes time with the Socceroos during a World Cup campaign, has fielded the questions of his career move before and could not be more comfortable with his choice.

He was not sacked by Liverpool, where it was reasonably assumed he was on bigger coin than at Alberton.

Much of it had to do with his children - Harry, 23 months, and Millie, seven months - and the lifestyle choice can be appreciated.

They were both born over there, but Burgess didn't want them to miss out on growing up in Australia.

"We had a great life over there but it comes a time when you say  ...  to come back to Port Adelaide was too good an opportunity.

"It was all really amicable but I've done it," Burgess said.

"Nothing to me could ever beat going to the World Cup with the Socceroos, being a patriotic Australian soccer fan, but this is a new challenge. Maybe the biggest challenge I've ever had.

"But there's no doubt the climate plays into it. People underestimate that. Australian soccer players who go over to play in Europe - people don't appreciate how hard it actually is.

"Very few Australians have got to that real top echelon and in the north of England  ...  we had five days over 25C in my two and a half years there.

"So you have to make decisions for your family, the kids growing up here.

"I'm proud they were born in Liverpool because it's a great city and they'll always know where they came from but I want them to grow up as Aussies in the sun.

The timing was right and the opportunity to come back was too good to refuse, really

"I'm an Aussie so this is my home. I've been away travelling for the best part of seven years.

"First with the national team and then obviously spending two and a half years with Liverpool.

"And the opportunity to come back to Adelaide was only going to happen this year. The timing was right from that point of view and the opportunity to come back to Port was too good to refuse, really."

There was also a sense of obligation when he first started fielding phone calls from chief executive Keith Thomas.

Burgess left the club in a hasty, but amicable, fashion when his talent was recognised from the outside and he felt he owed the club.

Taking his profession and ambitions aside, he is also a Port man.

"The timing was right and the opportunity to come back was too good to refuse, really," Burgess said.

"It's my team. It's who I go for and it's where I started, more or less, full-time (fitness) work.

"The project that Keith sold to me was a good one, my family and I loved Adelaide. We obviously lived here previously.

"There's no doubt working in the (English) Premier League was my dream, that's why I started studying.

"And then, working for a club like Liverpool, takes it to another level because it's such a big club.

"But you have to understand that over there you play so many games that your ability to really get your teeth into a pre-season, to really periodise loads and get your hands dirty is limited because they play so many games.

"You do a hell of a lot of travelling and, with two young kids, it takes it's toll.

Does the fact that Burgess turned his back on Liverpool and the EPL, one of the biggest games on the planet, mean he has also turned his back on ambition?

Burgess argues to the contrary, saying there is no bigger challenge than what is before him today.

"It depends on how you define it," Burgess said.

"If your ambition is to work in an environment where players and the atmosphere are more glamorous and more worldly recognised - yep, stepped away from that.

"If you want to work in an environment where the work itself is more rewarding, I would say that I've stepped up by coming back to Port. It depends on how you define it.

"And in my work with the Socceroos, the three years I was there, I'd say I'd spent six months travelling and seeing every major soccer team on the planet.

"I went through five different NFL clubs, probably eight or nine NBA clubs, four or five US colleges, South American soccer clubs  ...  I got to see all of that.

"And if I got to choose anywhere to work, from a professional point of view, it would be in Australia, in the AFL. That's what motivates me. To be able to see a team grow.

"And other than the two expansion teams, this is the best team to go to for that sort of project.

"And there's a sense of owing something, because I left the club. There's no hiding from that (even though it was) in a good moment. So in a sense, I want to come back and finish that off."


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Nod to Neil Craig for shaping Crows

Former Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig is getting credit from new fintess coach Nick Poulos for developing the current squad's work ethic. Picture: Chris Mangan. Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE'S new fitness coach Nick Poulos has credited Neil Craig and the previous regime for instilling a sound work ethic into the Crows squad.

With Brenton Sanderson, who still outdoes some of the players by lifting heavier weights in the gym, Poulos has set out to add a new level of punch to the squad.

But he spoke highly of the culture of the Crows, cultured both by Craig and his successor, Stephen Schwerdt, who is now working with the Gold Coast Suns.

Poulos and Schwerdt still compare notes, speak over the phone from time to time, and as much as Poulos is looking for another spark, he is quick to recognise the good work of those before him.

"He was fantastic," Poulos said of Schwerdt. "And we had a really good (fitness) team."

A point of difference: where Craig and his mentor, former national cycling coach Charlie Walsh, were big on endurance and training on stationary bikes, Poulos and Sanderson are looking for a more explosive edge.

But Poulos could not have spoken more highly of the work ethic that Craig and Schwerdt had instilled, and the culture which had been built up from their endeavours.

"This group of players is extraordinarily hard-working and I think that foundation was laid by my predecessor and previous coaches," Poulos said.

"The regime under Neil Craig is something you still have to respect.

"The players, the way they presented themselves when I first arrived at this club - it was just astounding. It was just the attitude they showed.

"They asked the right questions but still, as a playing group, they were prepared to work their a ...  s off.

"They were definitely a good running group but their strength and power needed a lot of work.

"I needed to strip it right back to basics and build from the bottom up.

"Technique is another one. To me, they are still developing."


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Watters issues challenge to Saints

St Kilda coach Scott Watters, left, and captain Nick Riewoldt watch a Denver Broncos training session in Englewood, Colorado. Picture: Dustin Bradford. Source: Getty Images

Lenny Hayes, centre, is working just as hard as every other player at St Kilda pre-season training. Picture: Chris Eastman Source: Herald Sun

LENNY Hayes turns 33 on January 14, is fresh from heart surgery, and is St Kilda's best and fairest player, the Trevor Barker medallist.

Hayes could be forgiven for coasting through what might yet be his final AFL pre-season.

Skip the odd training session, duck out early, and sidestep some of those tiresome meetings and leadership responsibilities.

But not at St Kilda, and not on coach Scott Watters' watch.

Twelve months into his tenure at St Kilda, Watters has issued every player "the challenge".

Watters, speaking on the final day of the club's Colorado training camp, says Hayes must - and will - give more.

As will every player on the Saints list.

"I watched him at a training session today and marvelled at his ability - his one-touch football, the balls coming at him at full pace and the half-volleys. His ball use (is) as exquisite as it normally is," Watters says.

"I don't see any reason why he shouldn't have another strong year like last year.

"The only difference is that last year we eased Lenny back into it, and had him in a mentoring role from a leadership point of view. But the challenge is going back to Lenny this year to put his hand up for the leadership group.

"It is not a discussion I have had with Lenny directly yet, but all our players need to be challenged regardless of age.

"I want Lenny to step up again.

"There are times to step into the leadership group and have a direct impact. One of our themes of the year is looking for the challenge, and just not wanting to accept any sort of mediocrity or complacency.

"So I am challenging all players, if they are 200-gamers or (first-year forward) Tom Lee, to find another level and challenge themselves individually."

If Twitter is a 140character summation, then wrap a bow around those words by Watters, because they encapsulate what St Kilda's new season is all about.

The Saints might have won 12 games last season - and lost five by 13 points or fewer - but you can hear the urgency in Watters' voice.

He might be a man in a hurry, but you get the feeling supporters wouldn't have it any other way.

Those who worried about the prospects of anyone stepping into the vacuum created by Ross Lyon's abrupt departure would have quickly had their fears allayed.

Watters is on his way to transforming a playing list seen to be headed for a cliff, has made minor but successful changes to the team's style of play, and recently took a strong stance on the loss of Brendon Goddard.

Saints' fans are already sold on him, and you can quickly see why.

It is not a discussion I have had with Lenny directly yet, but all our players need to be challenged regardless of age.

Nowhere at St Kilda can you find even a hint the club is resting on its laurels after three Grand Final appearances since 2008.

"There is not a player at the moment who isn't trying to push their own personal boundaries," Watters says.

"We have spoken about how it is easy to become conditioned to acceptable levels of performance.

"The media have their viewpoint on us individually and as a team. All of it is irrelevant.

"It is about them individually challenging themselves daily and as a team, and choosing their own destiny rather than listening to others."

Intentions are one thing, but turning strong words into performances invariably comes down to talent, and that is where the excitement kicks in for the club's football department.

The Saints moved on or lost nine players in the off-season - high-profile midfielder Goddard, the troubled Jason Gram, first-round pick Jason Cripps, and Dean Polo, Brett Peake, Raph Clarke, Sam Crocker, Daniel Archer, and Nicholas Winmar.

In their place came Gold Coast ruckman Tom Hickey, former Fremantle defender Dylan Roberton, WAFL key forward Tom Lee and five young national draft selections.

Goddard will take some replacing but the changes give Watters huge flexibility with his structure.

Now the forward line options include talls Nick Riewoldt, Lee, Rhys Stanley, Justin Koschitzke, Arryn Siposs, Beau Wilkes and, potentially, Sam Gilbert, as well as ground-level terriers Terry Milera, Ahmed Saad, Stephen Milne, and Adam Schneider.

St Kilda couldn't secure West Coast defender Mitch Brown but James Gwilt, 2012 revelation Sean Dempster, Sam Fisher, Tom Simpkin, Jason Blake, Gilbert and Roberton are tall defensive options.

Hickey, Ben McEvoy and, potentially, Koschitzke round out the ruck department, with the midfield strength a given.

"Our list is definitely progressing," Watters says.

"When we look at where we were 12 months ago there were some considerable vulnerabilities and it hadn't been developed for a while.

"So it's a work in progress, but with the players we have brought in we feel there is a starting point for a real foundation which complements our senior players."

You can't digest that statement without considering its relevance to Lyon's list building, but St Kilda wouldn't have revamped its recruiting department and list management if it didn't have issues.

Across every line, there is competition for a spot.

Bottom line: St Kilda won't be falling back on Raph Clarke and his ilk if injuries hit this year.

"The players look at the maths and they look around and they look at the list, and there wouldn't be too many players on our list who would feel comfortable about being in the Round 1 side," Watters says.

"Maybe it hasn't been that tight for a number of years, but it's getting tight."

The chief victim of that selection squeeze might be Koschitzke.

Hickey, McEvoy and Stanley will likely ruck ahead of him and, while Watters isn't so pessimistic about the 30-year-old, he makes no promises.

"Kosi is no different to any player on the list. I am not one that selects on emotion. Players effectively select themselves. Those who are physically prepared and absolutely exhaust every avenue over summer are the ones who show good pre-season form, and they ultimately find their way into the Round 1 side," he says..

"I make no apologies for the competition. It's the game we are in, and it's been a brutally tough and competitive pre-season so far and it will remain that way."

Goddard has three top-four best-and-fairest results (and a ninth) in the past four seasons, yet no one at the club is curled up in a corner struggling to cope with his absence.

This week, Goddard again failed to fully explain his decision to leave, but given the messy circumstances of Luke Ball's departure under Lyon, why did Watters push the money angle?

"I didn't choose to focus on that specific angle. I gave a direct answer to a direct question. I have a lot of time and respect for Brendon. We had, and continue to have, a terrific relationship," Watters says.

"Ultimately, people can speculate on the reasons for (him) wanting to leave and I will leave it to them to speculate. We made what we thought was a really strong offer to Brendon and he made a choice." 

The coach won't be wasting time on players who have left, preferring to focus on how his club climbs the ladder.

Watters believes in the club culture, which starts at the top.

It is hard to envisage Riewoldt not being reappointed captain next month.

The Riewoldt of 2011 was grumpy and sullen, battling knee issues and controversy after controversy.

Just married to partner Catherine Heard, Riewoldt enjoyed a better 2012, kicking 47 goals, and seemed to be in a good place mentally.

"We have had some brief discussions but nothing massive yet," Watters says of the captaincy issue.

"We will cross that bridge in January, but what I thought was a real bonus for the club last year was the way Nick led.

"I don't think it was given as much credence as it (deserved). He really got outside of himself, and had a really positive influence on a number of players.

"His understanding of the captaincy showed a really strong progression."


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Roos cop horror draw

Ryan Bastinac leaves Patterson's Stadium after the Kangaroos were knocked out of the 2012 finals by West Coast. Picture: Justin Benson-cooper Source: The Sunday Times

AFTER climbing peaks in Utah, North Melbourne faces another uphill battle after being ranked with the toughest draw in the AFL.

Champion Data has ranked the difficulty of every club's 2013 draw, with the Kangaroos sitting on top ahead of Grand Finalists Hawthorn, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.

Every club's ranking has been reached by totalling the 2012 premiership points from each of their 22 opponents - with five opponents doubling up.

After receiving the fourth easiest draw last year, the Kangaroos' difficulty climbed after being drawn to "double-up" against three top-four sides - Hawthorn, Adelaide and Collingwood. The Roos will also face Geelong twice.

Their combined opposition reached a total of 1036 points, marginally ahead of the Hawks (1028), the Magpies (1004) and Bulldogs (998). Compounding this, the Kangaroos, along with West Coast, have eight six-day breaks - more than any other side.

See the full fixture ladder below

At the other end of the scale, Melbourne has been ranked with the easiest draw. The Demons had a combined opposition total of 912 points, the lowest tally of any club.

Gold Coast (17th) and Brisbane (16th) ranked just above the Demons with the ease of their draw.

Adelaide has also been identified as a big winner with its 2013 draw - for the second year running.

The Crows, who are ranked with the 15th toughest draw, don't play any of their fellow top-four teams twice, but have two meetings against Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs.

EASY STREET

Adelaide has been blessed for the second season. The Crows don't face any other top-four team twice, but they get to play Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs twice.

Premier Sydney plays Hawthorn and Collingwood twice, but doubles up on Greater Western Sydney and the mid-range Saints.

To avoid blowouts, seven of the eight finalists don't play GWS or Gold Coast twice during the year.

Carlton and Richmond each play one just finalist twice - the only sides drawn that way without finishing in the bottom four last season.

See the full 2013 fixture here

SIX-DAY BREAKS

Geelong faces a tough opening month, playing Hawthorn, Carlton and Sydney away in the first four rounds, with three consecutive six-day breaks in this time. The Cats don't play at Simonds Stadium until Round 10 because of the ground redevelopment.

North Melbourne and West Coast have eight six-day breaks - more than any other side.

HOW YOUR SIDE RANKS

(draw ranked from toughest to easiest based on total 2012 premiership points by 2013 opponents)

1 North Melbourne (1036)
2 Hawthorn (1028)
3 Collingwood (1004)
5 West Coast (988)
6 Geelong (982)
7 Sydney (976)
8 Fremantle (970)
9 Carlton (968)
10 Essendon (966)
= 11 Port Adelaide (962)
= 11 Richmond (962)
= 11 St Kilda (962)
14 GWS (942)
15 Adelaide (938)
16 Brisbane Lions (916)
17 Gold Coast (914)
18 (Melbourne)


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Players to speak on drugs

Eagle Adam Selwood marks in attack. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: The Sunday Times

WEST Coast players' delegate Adam Selwood says players are determined to have their say at next month's AFL drugs summit.

As debate swirls around the league's contentious illicit drugs policy, the AFL Players Association discussed the issue at its annual directors and delegates conference on Friday.

Selwood said players discussed the importance of their views being well represented at the summit.

"We are pretty keen and eager to make sure we have players in attendance to make sure that our voice is heard, that they understand the situation of players and everything else that goes along with it," he said.

"With the clubs, if there is an issue out there, we want to help it. And also, we're concerned with the players' wellbeing while they're in the game, but also post their career as well.

"If there are changes (to the policy), we want to be as proactive as we possibly can and we want to get as many guys in this summit to express their views."

Selwood said he was comfortable with the AFL's illicit drugs policy as it stands, but the players remained open to finding ways to improve the system.

"We are all in agreeance that the policy is set up for the right reasons and that's (to) try and help people who may have issues or that may have had an event that happened with an illicit drug," Selwood said.

"The numbers are extremely low ... Can we make the policy better?

"Obviously it has come to light in the last few months that maybe changes can be made."


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Young gun bonds as Dees feel heat

Aaron Davey shows youngster Dominic Barry the ropes on an Abrams tank at Robertson's Barracks in Darwin. Picture: Justin Sanson Source: Northern Territory News

ALICE Springs' speedster Dominic Barry feels a sense of belonging at Melbourne after completing a gruelling training venture in the Top End yesterday.

The 18-year-old joined the Demons in a pre-draft trade with Greater Western Sydney and was thrust into a nine-day camp designed to build physical and mental strength.

The squad completed a 35km trek through Kakadu National Park a week after a first training session was cut short because of sapping heat and humidity on the hottest December day in Darwin for 36 years.

Barry said there was a noticeable difference within the playing group when they left the Territory yesterday.

"It was good to bond with all the boys, because on these sort of trips there is nowhere to hide," he said.

"Alice Springs is as far (north) as I go, so I'm one of the boys that are unfamiliar with this weather and I'm in the same position as the other guys.

"Everyone is told to get out of their comfort zones on these trips, so I think everyone contributed in a way to help the team. On the walk, there were a few younger boys lifting the older ones up, and that's what it's all about."

Pic gallery: Dees' Top End commando course

Fellow Territorian Aaron Davey, 29, said the midfielder had taken his AFL journey in his stride.

"It's always good to have more indigenous boys at the club, obviously with Aussie (Wonaeamirri) and Liam (Jurrah) gone," he said. "Dom has fitted in well and gotten on with all the boys."

GEELONG recruit Josh Caddy did his best to make an immediate impact on his new captain Joel Selwood by breaking the skipper's nose at their Falls Creek training camp on Friday.


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Suns gun recruit moves like Jaeger

RISING STAR: New AFL sensation Jaeger O'Meara cools off at the end of training at Kurrawa beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: PerthNow

HE'S got the rock-star name and the game to match.

Recruiters call him the next Chris Judd and say he can virtually play anywhere and do anything.

And 103 days before the WA teenager makes a likely Round 1 debut for Gold Coast against St Kilda, he's already been installed as the favourite for next year's NAB Rising Star Award.

The excitement has been building around Jaeger O'Meara since he kicked four goals in a classy WAFL debut for Perth in August 2011.

For a youngster surrounded by hype, he either does a brilliant impersonation of someone who hasn't been affected or he's not affected one bit.

With fate sending him to the Gold Coast a year earlier than draft age via the 17-year-old mini-draft, O'Meara could hardly be better prepared for his debut season.


He's spent the past 12 months getting his body and mind ready for his AFL entrance in the relative anonymity of Queensland, something O'Meara sees as a blessing.

"I like to stay pretty low-key, so it definitely suits me being on the Gold Coast. It's a lot more relaxed," he said.

"They say time flies when you're having fun, so I'm definitely having a lot of fun.''

The "next Judd" tag has been thrown at O'Meara in enough interviews for an answer to be virtually rehearsed.

"It's definitely very humbling, but I'm yet to play an AFL game," he said.

"I think those comparisons are slightly premature.''

Rising Star expectations are similarly batted away.

"It's not in my thoughts too much; I'm not much of a punter myself," he said.

What is in O'Meara's thoughts, though, is football. The Dongara product says he loves the game and has done ever since his dad put a footy in his hands at the age of five.

O'Meara's 2012 campaign for the Suns' reserves was interrupted by groin and hernia problems, but last season was always about preparing for the big time.

"They told me they don't really like to call it OP (osteitis pubis) anymore, but they term it as chronic groin pain," he said.

"I think it comes down to probably getting into the gym and heavy weights with a bit of a weak core, so I've been doing a lot of work on my core.

"I struggled with it for a little while and I just needed to get it done. I haven't felt any pain in my groin since surgery, so I'm pretty confident in it.

"That's something I've had to learn along the way. I've learnt a lot about my body in the time that I've been in rehab, so even though it was a negative, I probably looked at it as a bit of a positive as well."

Having used his time at the club to add another 7kg of muscle to his already strong 184cm frame, O'Meara is ready to go in every sense.

"I'd be happy to play anywhere, but my favourite position would be in the midfield," he said.

"I like to be in the thick of things and if there's a spot for me there then I'll be taking it with both hands.

"I feel as though I can play inside mid or outside mid, depending on where the coaches like to play me."

O'Meara, who will turn 19 on the day the Suns begin their NAB Cup campaign against Brisbane and Hawthorn, was allowed a taste of senior football during the last pre-season competition before being barred from playing in the season proper.

He didn't look out of place, but is confident he'll be far better prepared 12 months on.

"They say NAB Cup is probably AFL at about 60 per cent," O'Meara said.

"It was still pretty fast for me. It was definitely a step up from WAFL footy and I'm sure that once I do eventually get a game in the home-and-away season then it's going to be another step up."

O'Meara prefers to talk about the team rather than himself and it's clear he appreciates the timing of his entry.

With what were designed to be Gold Coast's two most difficult seasons out of the way, the Suns' lofty goals were recently outlined by chairman John Witheriff, who's targeted a premiership within three years.

"We need to improve as a team and I think this time of year is all about working hard and smashing yourself," O'Meara said.

"We've still got a few gains we need to achieve and we're going the right way about it at the moment. Hopefully by Round 1 we'll be fit and firing to go.

"The boys are coming into their third years now, so they know what AFL footy's all about and they've definitely shown that they can compete against the big clubs.

"Hopefully we can take that into this year and we can keep going with that for the next few years and maybe even win a premiership."

While O'Meara has been compared to Judd, it's another Brownlow medallist - Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett - who he's more likely to model his game on.

"He can do everything and I'd love to maybe one day become half the player he is because obviously he's a bit of a freak," O'Meara said.

"I've got a lot to learn but I'll pick his brain as much as I can. He's obviously one of the best players in the AFL, if not the best.

"I think he's probably the ultimate package. His willingness to execute skills at AFL pace at training is something that I've taken from him.

"He leads by example and he also tells boys how they can do things better and how they can improve."


23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boost for Eagles as Shuey signs on

STAYING ON: West Coast's Luke Shuey has re-signed with the club for two seasons. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast midfielder Luke Shuey has resisted the temptation to return home to Victoria, re-signing with the Eagles for two more years.

The gun midfielder was hot on the radar of several Melbourne-based clubs looking to lure home one of the competition's premier young ball-winners.

But it is understood the 22-year-old agreed to a contract worth about $500,000 a season, making the 52-gamer one of the AFL's top-paid players for his age.

Shuey, who finished second to Essendon's Dyson Heppell in last year's Rising Star award, made the commitment with one year remaining on his current deal.

It ties the classy right-footer to West Coast until the end of 2015, in a major coup for a club intent on making a genuine tilt at next year's premiership.

Shuey's manager, Nick Gieschen from Elite Sports Properties, would not comment yesterday, but is believed to have signed off on the new contract last week.


West Coast officials have lauded Shuey for his character after overcoming a nightmare injury run and the tragic death of his sister Mel shortly after he was drafted with pick No.18 in 2008.

From Oakleigh, Shuey has since become one of the club's key midfield pillars, finishing fifth in the Eagles' best-and-fairest award after his stunning 2011 season.

He backed it up in 2012 averaging 23 touches and a goal over 21 games.

Shuey was a priority signing for West Coast after the departure of fellow young midfielders Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs) and Tom Swift (retired) at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Champion Data has ranked West Coast's draw fifth-toughest in the AFL next season. The Dockers' draw is rated eighth-hardest.

After climbing peaks in Utah, North Melbourne faces another uphill battle after being ranked with the toughest draw.

Champion Data has ranked the difficulty of every club's 2013 draw, with the Kangaroos sitting ahead of grand finalist Hawthorn, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.

Every club's ranking has been reached by totalling the 2012 premiership points from each of their 22 opponents  with five opponents doubling up.

-with Rebecca Williams


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Trigg fights to regain trust

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 01 Desember 2012 | 23.02

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg says he offered his resignation to the club but they declined it.

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg will be banned from attending AFL matches, training and functions for six months from January 1. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

ADELAIDE chief executive Steven Trigg has conceded it could take years for him to regain the trust of the public after the Crows' board yesterday unanimously decided he was they wanted him to return after he's served his suspension.

There is also ground to make up with his employer, the club's board.

Trigg, exhausted after six weeks of the Kurt Tippett salary cap breach and draft tampering scandal, said he understood why people called the club hypocritical by keeping him after summarily sacking senior recruiter Matthew Rendell for his controversial comments earlier this year.

He has spent weeks debating with himself whether his position remained tenable with the club

"I can understand people being somewhat polarised by these things," Trigg said. "I think it will be on performance.

"Unfortunately, it's going to take a little while for me in the new year to get back to that."

Trigg's immediate fire from the public aside, it will take time to win back trust from the board members. Many of them -- including chairman Rob Chapman -- were kept in the dark for years over the handling of the Kurt Tippett 2009 contract and side deals that plunged the Crows into trouble with the AFL.

"It has to be that there has to be a little chip in that level of trust," Trigg said. "And I need to earn that back.

"So look, their actions in supporting me and Phil (Harper, football operations manager) tell a story.

"But there's certainly some accountability and a bit of trust that needs to be rebuilt, no question."

Disgraced Crows CEO keeps his job

Trigg has accepted his reputation has taken a hit, along with that of the club.

But said his decision to be talked into staying was not for individual reasons.

"It'd be trite to suggest that you're not thinking about yourself at some stage through the exercise, but I've genuinely tried to take the position at all time that if it is best for the club at any stage for me to back away then that's what'll happen.

"And that's happened with the full board and with (chairman) Rob (Chapman) separately.

"If it was best for the brand of the club, the operation of the club, the future of the club ... I'd have no hesitation."

Trigg was aware of the obvious attacks that will follow the announcement.

Matt (Rendell) had lost the support (of the board). Fortunately for me in this situation I've got support.

Would he have kept his job if he had made the same blues in the corporate world, be it in banking, mining of finance?

"I think it depends on what sector you're in," Trigg said. "This hasn't broken a corporation law; it hasn't broken a civil law.

"It's been a breach of the rules and I take full and complete responsibility for it.

"It is different to the corporate world. But no corporation's law broken, no common law broken doesn't mean I feel any better about it. But it's different."

Tippett blames Crows for 11-game ban

Trigg understands the obvious comparison to the Rendell case, in which the senior recruiter was sacked over sensitive comments regarding the recruiting of indigenous kids even though he immediately sought to explain he had never meant to be insensitive or in any way racist.

The similarity between Rendell's mistake and Trigg's was that Trigg had maintained the confidence of the board.

"I do -- I understand completely," Trigg said. "If I was sitting out there, I would ask the same question.

"But I think there is a perception that it was a me-decision and a knee-jerk decision (to sack Rendell).

"What I want people to understand that when you're talking about senior recruiting positions and CEO roles, they're board appointments. They're not my appointments.

"So in that one, it was a board decision and unfortunately Matt had lost the support. Fortunately for me in this situation I've got support.

"That's the essence of it."


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