Eight AFL players top $1m

Gold Coast Suns skipper Gary Ablett is believed to be one of the AFL's $1 million men. Picture: Darren England. Source: The Courier-Mail

THE number of AFL players earning more than $1 million rocketed to a record eight last year.

The highest number of million-dollar-earners previously was two in 2008 and 2011.

AFL figures released yesterday revealed the dramatic rise in player salaries on the back of the league's expansion and record broadcast rights deal.

The AFL did not release the names of the eight players, although champion midfielder and Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett, Saints' skipper Nick Riewoldt and Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Scully are believed to be among the top earners.

One AFL player agent suggested heavily front-ended contracts could have propelled the GWS co-captains, Callan Ward and Phil Davis, into the top bracket.

Lance Franklin, Chris Judd, Matthew Pavlich and Adam Goodes were other players tipped to be among the leading earners.

Code-jumper Israel Folau, who quit GWS in November after just 13 games and one season in the AFL, was also reported to be one of the league's biggest earners last year.

But the AFL said only match payments and ASA agreements were included in the figures and not third-party arrangements.

The figures, which will be included in the AFL's 2012 annual report, also showed that 111 players earned more than $400,000 last year.

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Jurrah present during arrest

WAYWARD football star Liam Jurrah was part of a group in which one person was arrested following an incident at an Australia Day concert in Elder Park today.

South Australia Police tonight confirmed Jurrah had been present, but could give no other details.

There is no suggestion Jurrah was involved in any illegal behaviour.

Jurrah, 24, who faces aggravated assault charges in the Northern Territory in March, was charged with drink-driving 13 days ago

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Power caught with pants down

Port Adelaide veteran Kane Cornes, centre, with teammates during a pre-season beach session. Picture: Campbell Brodie Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

NO, this is not the latest commercial for the summer range of Bonds undies.

But Michael Clarke and Pat Rafter might be looking over their shoulders as company front men if yesterday's Port Adelaide session at Grange is any guide.

While most of the nation was packing Eskys and defrosting lamb legs for Australia Day celebrations, the Power were slugging it out during a morning beach recovery session.

Thirty-five players from the Power's senior and rookie lists wound down from another hard week on the track under new coach Ken Hinkley with a 15-minute run, stretch and 15-minute return run at Grange beach about 8am.

The group finished the session with a quick dip - a welcome but unplanned one, likely, considering the lack of board shorts on show.

Port Adelaide's Brad Ebert during a beach session at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie

Among the players getting into the Bondi spirit were Danny Butcher, far left, a former TAC Cup Morrish Medallist and younger brother of Port forward John.

Last year's WAFL best and fairest and fellow Port rookie Kane Mitchell, middle, and key midfielder Brad Ebert also channelled their inner David Hasselhoff.

The countdown to Port's and Adelaide's three-way NAB Cup clash with St Kilda, on February 17, hits three weeks today.

New Port Adelaide recruit Kane Mitchell during a pre-season training session at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie

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No Nic, no calamity for Eagles

READY: Ruckman Dean Cox says the Eagles are well-equipped to deal with the likely absence of Nic Naitanui at the start of the season. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper. Source: PerthNow

CHAMPION West Coast big man Dean Cox has assured fans the Eagles are well placed to cope without Nic Naitanui if his All-Australian ruck partner misses the start of the season because of injury.

Bookmakers have West Coast on the second line of betting for this year's flag, behind Hawthorn and ahead of reigning premier Sydney, but there is a view the Eagles' chances hinge on Naitanui's recovery.

While Naitanui has done little more than walk laps and complete handball drills after groin surgery, Cox has quietly powered through one of his strongest summers on the track.

Entering his 13th season in the AFL, Cox said he was capable of rucking for 100 minutes a game if Naitanui was not available early in the season.

But the 251-game veteran said he was so impressed with understudy Scott Lycett's improvement this summer that the team could continue with the unique 50-50 ruck sharing strategy that has been so effective with Naitanui in recent seasons.

Cox also said he would like to continue spending plenty of time forward after kicking a career best 28.14 last year.

"Even if it was me and Scotty, I think we'd continue to do the same thing," he said.

"The biggest thing I took out of my season last year was probably my work when I went up forward, and Nic as well, and we each had a lot of shots on goal."

Cox said the players were confident 20-year-old Lycett, who has played just three times in his first two seasons, was ready to step up.

"He's come on in leaps and bounds," he said.

"Just his soft hands, his control with the footy and his body positioning in ruck contests.

"I think he's getting a little bit more mature and starting to really understand how to position himself to try and control the stoppage.

"It's been really good to push each other all the way through the pre-season and try and learn from each other as well.

"I'd certainly love Nic to be fully fit and playing all the time. The player that he is and what he brings to the club is so important.

"But what you find out when players step up and fill the void is they really blossom and certainly if Nic isn't ready, Scotty will do that."

Rookie-listed ruckman/forward Callum Sinclair is also likely to receive opportunities during the NAB Cup, though Lycett is the frontrunner to partner Cox given his two years in the club's system.

Cox predicted the loss of Quinten Lynch, who was able to do some part-time ruck work, would mean the Eagles would have to select two genuine ruck options in every game.

None of West Coast's key position players have had experience as a relief ruckman, following Lynch's move to Collingwood as a free agent.

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Daisy not ready for contract talks

Collingwood's Dale Thomas is likely to miss the entire NAB Cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD star Dale Thomas says he has no desire to start talking about a new contract with the Magpies until he recovers from ankle surgery.

Thomas has not yet commenced running and will almost certainly miss all of the NAB Cup.

He will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, heightening fears that his contract negotiations could prove a distraction for Collingwood as Travis Cloke's contract saga did in 2012.

"At the minute I don't think they'd be too keen to talk contracts and I don't know if I would be either with a bung foot and obviously coming off not a great season," Thomas said yesterday.

"Hopefully it doesn't turn into some sort of circus like has happened at other clubs and a little bit last year with Trav Cloke.

"It's one of those things that'll play out, there's a lot of things that I have to do first before I would even start talking contracts with the Pies."

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Ziebell to miss start of NAB Cup

Jack Ziebell at North Melbourne training. Picture: Darren Tindale Source: Herald Sun

NORTH Melbourne vice-captain Jack Ziebell will miss the start of the NAB Cup after undergoing slight knee surgery earlier this month.

Track watchers at Simonds Stadium noticed the midfielder missed the first three match simulations sessions Geelong and North Melbourne have been undertaking.

The Kangaroos confirmed this week Ziebell had some knee soreness when he resumed training and it was decided to take the cautious approach and send him in for a clean-up.

He is almost certain to miss the Kangaroos' first NAB Cup games against Melbourne and Richmond on February 22, but the club hopes he can play a role later in the summer competition.

"Jack is tracking really well, two weeks after having a minor tidy up," North Melbourne head of medical services Steve Saunders said.

"He had some minor knee pain and we decided to be proactive and send him in for a tidy up which would allow him to be set up perfectly for the upcoming season.

"Jack will resume full training soon and we expect him to play, as planned, in the NAB Cup."

Ziebell, who turns 22 next month, played 17 matches last season, but had to sit out four weeks due to suspension after a much-publicised bump on Carlton's Aaron Joseph.

After spending time at high-altitude in Utah, the hard-working Roo returned to good form immediately and was one of the club's best players in its elimination final loss to West Coast.

North Melbourne will not be pushing Daniel Wells (achilles) and Leigh Adams (shoulder) early, with the club eager to have them right for the home-and-away season.

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Primus adds grunt to Suns' rucks

Gold Coast Suns ruck coach Matt Primus with senior coach Guy McKenna. Picture: David Clark. Source: The Courier-Mail

MATTHEW Primus has two key tasks at the Suns bring some mellow to the coaches box and mongrel to the football side.

For the Gold Coast AFL side to make ground in 2013, they need to improve their clearance work.

Primus' focus over summer has been injecting aggression into young ruckmen Zac Smith and Daniel Gorringe.

The fact that Primus was a senior coach at Port and an imposing ruckman in his playing days made him a key off-field signing for the Suns, to replace the cool head of assistant coach Ken Hinkley, who took Primus' old job at Alberton.

"He ticks all our boxes," coach Guy McKenna said. "To be competitive in the ruck you need an aggressive streak in you. Clearly Charlie Dixon is that way inclined, Zac and the other boys need to understand that.

"Part of that is being shown that and educated how. Matty, because that is the way he lived as a footballer, it should be easier for him to coach that."

Smith has acknowledged the impact Primus has already had.

"He's been unreal, he's helped me hopefully take it to that next level," he said.

"One of the things I need to work on is my aggression.ntsD He's hopefully going to give me some of thatnte."

The addition of Primus, and Malcolm Blight on a part-time basis, to the coaching ranks will also allow McKenna to continue to operate from the boundary line on game day.

The third-year coach believes his side would continue to benefit from the instant feedback he can provide from the dug-out.

"He (Primus) as been in the cut and thrust of it, he adds a lot of experience for us and to have him up there, you are certainly a lot more at ease,'' McKenna said.

"We still have two-thirds of our group who are first to third-year players, they still need a fair bit of coaching, so to have things taken care of upstairs allows me to do that from the sidelines."

Primus believes Smith and Gorringe have the makings of a first-class pairing and that questions over Smith's hardness are unwarranted.

"Zac's first year, most people were pretty impressed with how he went about his footy and he certainly hasn't lost that ability," he said.

"He might have had an average year last year but a lot of young players have ups and downs.

"He is aggressive by the way he jumps in and creates a contest, Charlie just has a bit more aggression when the ball hits the ground. They all have aggression in different waysntsD but I think they have a lot of talentnte."

Primus has enjoyed mixed fortunes as a player and coach. A two-time All-Australian and club captain at Port, he missed the 2004 premiership with a knee injury that ended his career prematurely.

His coaching career began well in 2010 when he won five games from seven after taking over as caretaker when premiership coach Mark Williams quit the post.

But 2011 and 2012 were a slog and he stood down with four matches to go last season after being told his contract would not be renewed. Primus said taking a back seat required adjustment but he is motivated by the enthusiasm at the Suns.

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Heartbreaking loss spurs on Mzungu

MOTIVATED: Fremantle's Tendai Mzungu at Victoria Quay. Picture: Will Russell Source: PerthNow

IT might be four months since Fremantle's heartbreaking semi-final loss to Adelaide, but it's a bitter memory that continues to drive the Dockers as they set themselves to make consecutive finals series for the first time.

Fremantle had appeared headed for the preliminary finals after charging to a 29-point lead in the second quarter before being overrun by the Crows.

The AAMI Stadium loss is acting as a significant spur and an inspiration, according to midfielder Tendai Mzungu.

"It still burns in our guts a little bit. We felt that we were right in the game and had an opportunity to play in a prelim," Mzungu said.

"You've got to acknowledge it. It did happen and we did lose. So it's something that I think drives us, knowing that we can improve and our best is good enough.

Unfortunately on the night it wasn't, and it's something we've dealt with at the moment, but at the time it felt like a bit of a missed opportunity."

Fremantle is yet to make the finals for two years in a row after reaching September in 2003, 2006, 2010 and last year, but the Dockers know a top-four finish is the only place from which a realistic premiership assault can be mounted.

"We can't rest on what we did last year," Mzungu said. "At the end of the day, we didn't really achieve anything. We didn't get what we wanted.

"This year we know that if we put in the hard work, we'll be really competitive. We'll all put in as much as we can and who knows where we can go?"

Mzungu fractured his left wrist in the finals defeat to Adelaide but the pain of elimination was so acute he didn't take much notice of the throbbing in his arm.

The injury was picked up by scans the following week, and while it limited his ability to do weights pre-Christmas, the noted runner has been able to stay on his feet and believes he's in career-best shape heading into his third AFL season.

The late-blooming 26-year-old forged a more permanent role in the midfield under Ross Lyon last season but is happy for his versatility to remain an advantage.

"I guess a strength of mine is to be able to play a few different roles, so anything that Ross puts to me I think I'll be able to handle," he said.

"I'm doing all the sessions and I feel a lot fitter and stronger than previously."

Mzungu said the squad was benefiting this summer having had a year to come to grips with Lyon's game style and methodology. He rejected the depiction of Lyon as a negative coach whose systems stifled players' creativity and attacking flair.

"Having 12 months with Ross and the style he's brought to the club, and being able to crack in day one of pre-season and implement the things that we've learnt in his first year, has been really beneficial and I think is something that will hold us in good stead for the year," Mzungu said.

"He really embraces the players, if you do the work he's 100 per cent supportive of you.

"With the game style, he loves scoring and moving the ball quickly and through the corridor, so there's certainly no negativity with the type of play.

"You defend really well and it's probably the best way to end up attacking."

Mzungu, the Dockers' best clubman last season, said the award was made more special because close mate Matt de Boer had won it for the two years previously.

"We're pretty tight. We kick around together and maybe a little bit of his influence rubbed off on me," he said.

"I was really humbled to win that award."

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Fledgling Crows stretch their wings

Adelaide Crows youngsters Sam Siggins, Brad Crouch and Rory Atkins. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE expects a number of its young guns to stake a claim for senior action this season after returning from a development camp that highlighted the maturity of its first and second-year players.

Luke Brown and Sam Kerridge are expected to push hard for regular berths after earning debuts in their rookie seasons last year, while Brad Crouch leads a host of untested players looking to make gains.

"Everyone wants to talk about Crouchy but there are a number of guys training well and any number of them could put their hands up and play a game here or there," Crows leadership development manager Paddy Steinfort said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if there was a second or a third- year (player) who pushed up to become a regular contributor," he said.

Adelaide took 13 of its first and second-year players on a development camp at the Gold Coast last weekend and Steinfort was impressed by the professional attitude of the young players.

"There was a bit more maturity shown from the group compared to last year, which was the thing that probably stood out," he said.

"That's a credit to the rest of the playing group ... our leaders and emerging leaders are as mature and professional as I've seen."

The Gold Coast trip - which differed from last year's development camp in that it focused more on education than physical activity - gave the players an insight on what it takes to succeed at the elite level.

They had sessions with world championship winning Northcliff Surf Lifesaving Club, London Olympics gold medal winning kayaker Tate Smith and Australian national team gymnastics coach John Curtin.

"Last year we took them out to the bush and left them for dead for a couple of days," Steinfort said.

"That was about resilience. This year they had a bit of trepidation heading up there because they thought it was going to be the same thing again, but this year it was more about looking at professionalism and developing good professional habits.

"A lot of these guys have come out of under-18s football where they're not really at the elite professional level. So we try and fast-track them into that.

"We've got a fair bit of research that shows us if we can develop their conscientiousness and these habits quicker than other clubs we're going to have a fair advantage."

WHO WENT TO THE CAMP

Rory Atkins, Brad Crouch, Nick Joyce, Sam Siggins, Luke Brown, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Sam Kerridge, Mitch Grigg, Rory Laird, Dylan Orval, Kyle Hartigan, Tim Klaosen and Jack Osborn.

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Playing the pain game

Back to work: Richmond Tigers player Daniel Jackson and Melbourne Vixens netballer Bianca Chatfield hit the pavement after the Christmas break. Source: Herald Sun

IN the age of the professional athlete, Richmond's Daniel Jackson and Melbourne Vixens' Bianca Chatfield compare a combined 25 pre-seasons at the coalface of their respective codes. Eliza Sewell reports.

Eliza Sewell: Now, you've both done a few pre-seasons, how many in fact?

Daniel Jackson: Ten.

Bianca Chatfield: I think this is my 15th.

ES: Oh, goodness.

DJ: That hurts.

BC: And I'm still going.

DJ: It hurts the mind more than the body.

BC: I often enjoy pre-season. During the season I get sick of being on court all the time and it all being just about netball. During pre-season you have a little bit of everything. It's kind of nice to mix it up.

ES: What's a story from a pre-season that sticks in your mind?

DJ: A few years ago they told us a training camp was going to be fairly relaxed, that we could bring tennis racquets and golf clubs. We met on Monday morning, I think at 5.30am, to start this camp, I think I even brought a book to read while I was away. We were standing in the gym waiting and these special operations group police officers walked in, starting ranting and raving. We all just looked at each other. We knew exactly what we were in for, four days of brutal activity. No sleep, no food.

ES: They fooled you.

BC: We went on one where we couldn't eat or sleep for 48 hours. Or they'd give you little bits of food, but you had to stay awake the whole time. I hated life. It made us stronger as a team, though, because we hated all the staff that were on it. As a team we were like, 'We're not going to let them beat us, we're not going to show that we care'.

ES: Sometimes do you think it's more mental training than physical?

DJ: It's certainly a combination.

BC: They're on par. We've done one where they took us down the Mornington Peninsula and we went to a day spa and did things like that. We thought that was heaven but we didn't do very well that year (laughing).

ES: So how much time do you get off after your season?

BC: We have to have eight weeks off, but I probably spent two, even only a week, doing nothing and the rest of it you start building up again. I also had (foot) surgery during that time.
 

ES: So you have a break, but you don't really.

DJ: It's getting harder and harder. I had eight weeks. But it's the same thing (as Bianca). We're given a full training program. I think we got 10 to 14 days of no training after the end of the season and then it's a five-day-a-week program. We've got apps that tell us what training we have to do, we've got GPS watches that measure all of our running. You just can't come back unfit any more.

BC: That's probably the biggest battle for our sports is that they tell you to go away and have a break, but you can't possibly. So mentally you don't get to fully escape.

ES: What do you dread the most about pre-season?

DJ: The long days. It's so hard to have a balanced life when at the end of a long training day you've got no energy to do anything else.

ES: So how long would your day generally be?

DJ: This morning I was at the club at 7.20am. I should have finished at 4pm, but they wrapped me up at 3pm. So it tends to be 7.30am-4pm. People will say, 'Oh that's not too hard, I work till 6.30pm'. But they go home and they've still got energy. We get home and we sit on the couch.

BC: For me, it is (that) you know once you come back in January, if you're successful in making the Aussie team as well, you won't finish until November. You've got to look after your body to make sure you get through all that way, but also it's the mental pressures of getting selected and then gearing yourself up to make the Aussie team. You're never really 100 per cent secure in your position, which you shouldn't be, either. But that's always the tough challenge.

Bianca Chatfield

Age: 30 Height: 189cm

Professional netballer - Vixens, Australia

ANZ Championship average wage: $21,000

Education: Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement) and Bachelor of Education

Other interests: Runs leadership consultancy Pivot Performance with teammate Sharelle McMahon, Australian Netball Players Association delegate

Pre-season workload: Monday-Saturday, Sunday off
3 weights, 3 on-court, 2-3 conditioning (running/bike/cardio), 1-2 rehab (pilates), 1 massage

Season starts: March 25 (14 games plus finals)

ES: What do you love about pre-season?

BC: You miss your teammates over Christmas, and really I just love getting back and hanging out with everybody.

DJ: That's a good point. I like the bonding, you spend so much time together, it's like being at school together. It's nearly a little bit sadistic, but I quite like the hard work.

ES: Is there an activity that you're really good at or that you like?

DJ: The guys would hate me to say it, but they already know it, I actually enjoy running. Everyone hates running, they just want to play footy. I don't mind a tough running session.

BC: Um ...

ES: You can say 'nothing'.

BC: Yeah, I don't really know what I love so much about it.

DJ: Massage?

BC: Yeah, the massage at the end of the day.

DJ: I kill the massage, I'm good at that.

ES: Of your teammates, who lags? Or is there someone who tries to avoid a certain activity?

DJ: Jake King cannot swim. If you threw him in the pool, he would drown. We would swim 50m before he's even finished 25m, probably 100m. He pretty much dog paddles.

BC: Karyn Howarth - this is her second year at the club, it's fair to say she hates the running sessions.

ES: And who powers through? Who irks you with their enthusiasm?

BC: Maddie Brown, she's good at everything, it kind of makes you sick. She swam the Pier to Pub, she's good at running, she's an all-round powerhouse.

DJ: It's probably Alex Rance. He's a good sprinter, he's now really good at endurance running, he's a good swimmer. He can't box, but otherwise he smashes everything.

ES: What's changed this pre-season?

BC: We've got a new coach (Simone McKinnis). She's right into being on court early and building in fitness and skills together. Normally we would be doing our running and fitness and build up to being on court, but we've been on court straight away.

DJ: Over the last few years it's become a lot more footy-orientated, which probably sounds obvious. A lot of the fitness is incorporated into drills. There's a lot more match play rather than just running the Tan. You still have to run the Tan, but just not as often.

BC: Who does it the quickest?

DJ: We've gone to Princes Park now, but I have the Tan record. I told you, I like running.

ES and BC: What do you do it in?

DJ: 12.36. I couldn't do that at the moment. Now we just do 2km time-trials at Princes Park.

ES: Why did they change?

DJ: The 3.8km (Tan distance) is unrealistic for our game now, we never really run for that distance (in a game). Even 2km is a little bit irrelevant, except that it's a good gauge of where guys are at.

BC: When I first started, we would do lots of long-distance running and it's just pointless. Our court is 30m long and we need to be powerful and quick.

DJ: What testing do you do?

BC: We've been doing the Vo2 max test on the treadmill.

DJ: I don't mind that.

Daniel Jackson

Age: 26 Height: 188cm

Professional footballer - Richmond

AFL average wage for senior player: $260,000

Education: Bachelor of Commerce

Other interests: AFL Players Association board member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia board member, Headspace ambassador, presenter for Step Back Think

Pre-season workload: Monday-Saturday, Sunday off
3 main football sessions,  4-5 weights, 3 skills, 4 running, 2-3 cross training (swim/bike/boxing), 2 yoga/pilates, 2-3 massage

Season starts: March 28 (22 games plus finals)

ES: What is it?

DJ: You're on a treadmill with a snorkel in your mouth and you run until you can't run any more. They keep speeding it up, and eventually when it's at a speed where you can't go any faster, they start raising the gradient until you're knackered.

ES: So how long would you last on that?

DJ: People who struggle, 10 minutes. I think the longest we had was 14 minutes.

BC: And they take your blood lactate every minute, they'll prick your finger and take the blood out.

ES: So you're animals?

BC: Yeah, you are. Sometimes you do feel like that. You get your skinfolds done, everyone's poking and prodding you.

DJ: That's the scary part, the skinfolds. We just had two weeks off and everyone tiptoes around the dietitian because we have measures we have to meet, and if you've been having too many non-green tea related drinks ...

BC: ... you're in the fat club.

DJ: Exactly.

ES: So how often do you get them checked?

BC: We're monthly.

DJ: About every fortnight.
 

ES: What is your personal motto for this season?

DJ: Train smart. When you're younger, you need to push the boundaries because that's the only way you're going to catch up to all the established players, just to do more, and if you get injured, you wear it. When you get older, it's more about getting yourself right to perform.

BC: I would definitely say train smart, too. But also just to love it. You don't know how much longer you can play for, and I just really want to take in every moment that I've still got playing.

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Swans can't stand still

Sydney coach John Longmire talks with recruit Kurt Tippett, co-captains Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh and Gary Rohan at Swans training. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

SYDNEY premiership coach John Longmire said his team must improve if it is to be in the mix again this September.

Longmire made it clear the Swans will not bask in the premiership afterglow and said the intense nature of the AFL competition demands the reigning premiers to lift their game.

"You have to be on edge," Longmire said.

"The competition demands if we don't improve on our preparation and performances then we will get passed really quickly. We have to improve. We have to have that mindset.

"Hawthorn, Adelaide won more games than us. You look at Collingwood. You look at teams that didn't make the eight because of injuries, teams like Essendon and Carlton. Freo are on the march ... you can keep rolling off a heap of teams, teams that if things go there way they will be competitive."

The Swans secured a brilliant and breathtaking 10-point Grand Final win over Hawthorn.

In the wake of that gutsy victory the players had again furiously thrown themselves into pre-season training.

"At this point the players seem to be pushing each other and wanting to improve and that is our challenge is to consistently maintain that," Longmire said.

Longmire said there had been no talk of the Swans having the manpower to win the premiership again, rather that it is sheer hard work and consistency that will give them a chance.

"We don't talk about (having the list to win another premiership), what we did last year and what we will do this year is talk about the work we need to do," Longmire said. "It is very simple. It's not about setting any lofty goals.

"We didn't do it last year and we won't do it this year. It's more about understanding that you have to work really hard week in, week out.

"If you don't do that you get beaten.

"We are trying to lay that foundation now to give us a springboard into the season."

Longmire said he has seen some improvement from the younger Swans and draftees.

"I was really pleased with how everyone turned up," Longmire said.

Premiership players Adam Goodes, Ted Richards, Nick Smith and Marty Mattner have all resumed on-field training with the squad following injury-interrupted starts to their pre-seasons.
 

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Costly distractions for the Crows

Josh Jenkins leads the way in a strong man challenge at Adelaide Crows training. Put him in the goal square as Taylor Walker's offsider this season, writes Chris McDermott. Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

MENTALLY tough or emotionally fragile?

That is the great unknown for the Crows heading into the 2013 season after a summer of unprecedented turmoil at West Lakes.

Get distracted ever so slightly and take your focus off the job at hand and a premiership campaign can get derailed very quickly.

Coach Brenton Sanderson will know well before the opening round whether he has a hard-edged contender at his disposal or a talented group of young men still several years from maturing.

The Crows' premiership window is open, but success - as Sydney has clearly shown - is not just about talent.

With Kurt Tippett gone, chief executive Steven Trigg banned for the next six months and strategist Dean Bailey's future uncertain, it would be easy for the players to take their eye off the ball and become consumed by off-field dilemmas.

The playing group must control matters on field and quite simply ignore the issues off the ground.

Dwelling on Tippett, Trigg or the future of Bailey will not win them a hard ball or score them a single goal but it could cost them a game through a lapse in concentration.

And in a season where the number of finals contenders has never been so great, any missed opportunity will prove costly.

Sanderson has several challenges with this team in the lead-up to its season opener against Essendon at AAMI Stadium on Friday March 22.

Balancing his forward line in the absence of Tippett is also a must while getting significant improvement out of his two contenders for the role, Shaun McKernan and Josh Jenkins, will be a priority.

Both have genuine claims on the position but both must also improve weaknesses in their game if they are to enjoy some personal success and the Crows are to match it with the competition's best.

After four years but just 17 games, it is almost now-or-never time for McKernan.

Dwelling on Tippett, Trigg or the future of Bailey will not win them a hard ball or score them a single goal

Excuses may be valid due to limited opportunities but those days are over and it is time to impose his intimidating physique on this game.

The 22-year-old must become a 30-plus-goal forward/ruckman by season's end or consider applying his craft at another establishment.

Although slightly older, Jenkins' time frame to fulfill expectations is not as short, but for his team's sake he must morph from cameo performer to a legitimate player.

Glimpses of a serious talent are evident but, like the man he could replace in Tippett, his time in the game hasn't been that long and some of the basic understandings are still a work in progress.

Reducing the thinking for Jenkins and allowing his unique athleticism and uncanny skills to determine his value looks the best solution, so a home in the goal square where the message is simple and the role uncomplicated looks the ideal recipe for the 199cm brute.

Taylor Walker needs a sidekick and an unpredictable 105kg monster like Jenkins could be the answer.

Veterans Ben Rutten and Graham Johncock present concerns of a different kind for Sanderson.

The ageing duo are keys to a stable Crows defence and will be looking for big years individually to be guaranteed contract extensions beyond 2013.

Fitness and flexibility are Rutten's issues, but that is the price he must pay for a physique that has made him the great player he is.

Johncock must re-earn the faith of the selection panel by presenting himself for the year ahead in career-best shape.

Fit and healthy, both are definite starters in the Crows' back six - but anything less could put careers in jeopardy.

Finding a collection of "impact players" to rotate through the substitute role is also a necessity.

It has been an area of weakness for the Crows since its inception and finding a few game changers to fill that position can only make them stronger.

Ricky Henderson jumps off the page as their best-equipped sub but his talents may be required in a full-time role.

Brodie Martin is another who has genuine X-factor in his game while Tom Lynch has claims but may not be explosive enough.

It all begins for the Crows in just 35 days with their first pre-season

hit-out against the Power and St Kilda. Winning will be no indication of the year ahead, but the way they go about their business will be.

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Refreshed Sandi eyes long career

TALL TIMBER: Fremantle's ruck unit consists of Craig Moller, Zac Clarke, Aaron Sandilands, Jonathon Griffin and Jack Hannath. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

FREMANTLE might be preparing for life after its dominant ruck giant, but Aaron Sandilands isn't going anywhere just yet.

Sandilands, 30 last month, recorded a personal best in a 3km time-trial this week to prove there's plenty of life yet in his 211cm frame.

The triple All-Australian hopes to continue his career beyond 2014 when his current contract expires.

"I'm contracted for the next two years and I'm feeling really good at the moment," he said.

"If the body keeps holding up, there's no reason why that would be the end of it."

Ahead of his 11th season in the AFL, Sandilands has been buoyed by his strong summer on the track and was "pretty happy" with his time-trial record.

"I've just been able to do a fair bit of work over the break and my running volumes are up, so there's no reason why I wouldn't have been able to put a good time in," he said.

"It's always good to be around the mark and running well, but there's nothing like match fitness. So there's an exciting month coming up and then games aren't that far around the corner."

Sandilands has missed 19 games over the past two seasons due to turf-toe problems, but is confident his size-18 feet won't give him further trouble.

"I've done all the rehab work on the feet, so I'm feeling really confident that they can hold up and get through a full season," he said.

"It's been disappointing to miss so much footy over the last two years. When you haven't been out there you really do miss it and realise how much you do love the game, so I'm really excited for the season to start."

The Dockers now boast the competition's biggest ruck brigade following the addition of Jack Hannath through the pre-season draft and Craig Moller to the rookie list.

The new pair join accomplished back-up big man Jon Griffin, who turns 27 tomorrow, and emerging 22-year-old Zac Clarke.

Sandilands says having a big group of ruckmen gives the club great depth and believes no matter how the game evolves tactically, ruckmen will always be crucial.

"Ruckmen play a hugely important role in the game. If you can get on top and get first use of the ball to your midfield it's a good advantage," he said.

"We're all at various stages of our careers, but it's great now that we've got five there.

"All these guys are good sizes and can step in and fill the role if need be when given the opportunity.

"We've got Jack who can come in and play straight away and we've got young Craig, who's going to be a longer-term prospect.

"But he's got a lot of talent and I'm really looking forward to working with him closely."

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LARS looms as Morabito lifeline

COMEBACK: Anthony Morabito is set to turn to LARS surgery to continue his AFL career. Picture: FOX SPORTS Source: Supplied

ANTHONY Morabito will attempt an AFL comeback from his third serious knee injury and has already spoken to LARS surgery pioneers Nick Malceski and Luke Webster about the merits of the controversial procedure.

While medical opinion will ultimately inform Morabito's surgery decision, the 21-year-old could make a stunning return to football in the middle of this season if he was to successfully have surgery using a synthetic ligament.

Morabito, who has laid low with family and friends since Wednesday's training incident, is understood to have no thoughts of retirement and is eagerly examining the range of treatment options available to him.

He will meet with his manager Colin Young and Fremantle staff on Thursday or Friday to discuss his future.

Sydney Grand Final hero Malceski became the first AFL player to have LARS surgery in 2008 and despite needing a repeat procedure in 2011 is a big supporter of it.

Former Docker Webster opted for LARS surgery when he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament for the third time in 2008.

It is the same situation Morabito is now in, although he is five years younger.

Webster has advised Morabito to strongly consider undergoing LARS surgery and believes the rapid recovery time could give him a huge injection of confidence.

The former East Perth and State captain returned to the WAFL just 91 days after his LARS operation, his fourth knee reconstruction overall.

"When they explain to you the way it all works and how potentially you could come back quicker, it does feel a bit surreal and a bit of a miracle," Webster said.

"But once you get up and going, you can actually understand the process behind it.

"I said to him you've just got to think about whether you want to get back and play this year, or you can miss another 10-12 months and still be right and ready to go."

Webster did not add to his 33 AFL games following his LARS surgery, but said the knee cartilage issues he suffered had nothing to do with his ACL or the LARS surgery.

"I played the next two years at WAFL level and I played almost every game in '09 and played every game in 2010," he said. "I know it's a lesser standard, but it still held up playing senior footy."

LARS surgery is viewed with suspicion in some quarters, partly because little is known about its long-term effects.

Five years after his operation, Webster said he was active and pain free.

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Dogs tip a new-year resurgence

Western Bulldogs star Adam Cooney has enjoyed a strong pre-season. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun

WESTERN Bulldogs intend to rise up the ladder quicker than expected under second-year coach Brendan McCartney.

The Dogs suffered an horrendous injury run sidelining some of their biggest stars last year, resulting in only five wins - their least since 2004.

But the return of four key senior players, including inspirational broken leg victim Dale Morris, has fuelled hope of a resurgence beyond 2013.

Morris is targeting a Round 1 return after a full year out, along with key backman Tom Williams (shoulder), onballer Daniel Cross (shoulder) and reinvigorated midfielder Adam Cooney (knee).

Cooney, 27, is believed to be enjoying his most productive pre-season since his 2008 Brownlow Medal year, while powerhouse No.5 draft pick Jake Stringer is also on track for an early debut after an impressive summer campaign.

The Dogs are rated $13 outsiders with TAB to play finals this season, ahead of only Gold Coast ($26) and Greater Western Sydney ($51).

But Dogs chief executive Simon Garlick said the club had high hopes of a swift resurgence after investing heavily at the draft table.

"We've seen so many examples of these things where it can turn around quicker than what people might have anticipated otherwise," Garlick said.

"We have got some pretty exciting kids, but throw into that some potential recruits in the likes of Cooney, Morris - and we missed Cross for a period of time last year - and Williams as well.

"So considering all that, we think there is a fair bit to be excited about.

"We are not going to think that it will take 'x' amount of years (to regenerate)."

The Dogs will launch their season with four of their first five games at home ground Etihad Stadium, but have a tough draw overall, playing GWS and Gold Coast only once each, despite a bottom-four finish last year.

Morris has continued to improve over the pre-season after scrapping comeback plans last year when a stress fracture developed in his recovering leg.

 The 30-year-old is not expected to play a major role in the NAB Cup but could press for selection soon after.

"Everything's tracking as you would hope it to be and he's doing as much training as the (fitness) guys want him to do at this stage of the year," Garlick said.

"So it's all geared up for him playing in Round 1. There hasn't been a setback or anything like that."s

"He makes a pretty significant difference for us, having him back there. He's a beauty and he plays on talls and smalls."

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Buoyant Blues

Carlton forward Eddie Betts will get plenty of help in 2013 from Blues big-man brigade. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Carlton forward Andrew Walker puts his balance to the test during yesterday's conditioning session at St Kilda beach. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON is racing towards the season with a fully-fit big man division as it strives to the ease burden on its speedy small forwards this year.

Avoiding the bold top-four declarations which dogged the club though an injury hit 2012, a "super-positive'' approach from new coach Mick Malthouse has re-energised the Blues, after a dramatic end to last season.

The wide-ranging change has included moves to release Chris Judd and Bryce Gibbs from official leadership positions, to help them play with more freedom in midfield positions next season.

While a more defensive game plan is being integrated, it is the encouraging signs from Carlton's key forward targets - many who were sidelined for large periods last year - which has fuelled confidence at Visy Park.

Big men Jarrad Waite, Matthew Kreuzer, Levi Casboult, Luke Mitchell, Shaun Hampson and Sam Rowe are all expected to be available for early-season selection, providing Blues coaches with a welcome problem they rarely confronted last year.

Forwards coach John Barker said the club was intent on providing more aerial support in the forward-50m next season.

"We've ban far too reliant on Eddie (Betts) and Jeff (Garlett) and 'Walks' (Andrew Walker) to kick goals and reliant on 'Waitey' (Jarrad Waite) to stand up as a tall forward,'' Barker said.

" We could not get consistently healthy talls last year, so having these guys fit and available is going to be critical for us.

"The good thing is all of them who had some small and big issues last year, they are all ready to go.

"Mick philosophically is really keen to make sure we are fit and healthy at this stage of the year and we are.''

Waite, in particular, has been a stand-out over summer after a lingering back problem last year, but Barker said he should not have to be the main focal point.

"He's a pro in everything he does, Waitey, but he's another one we can't keep relying on to be our only tall target,'' he said.

"We need other guys to stand up and give themselves every opportunity with a healthy pre-season.

"It's great to have guys like Sammy Rowe up and about after his illness (cancer). Levi Casboult is training really well.''

Young backman Andrew McInnes is the only player ruled out for a large chunk of the year after undergoing a knee reconstruction.

Prime midfielder Marc Murphy had minor knee surgery pre-Christmas but is expected to be fit for Round 1.

He was on hand as the Blues completed a two-hour conditioning session at St Kilda beach yesterday, including cycling, stand-up paddle-boarding and some ball-work.

Barker lauded the impact Malthouse has had at the Blues, with 664 games coaching experience.

He is 49 short of Jock McHale's 713-game all-time record.

Malthouse's ability to continue coaching was questioned after his departure from Collingwood in 2011 but Barker said the 28-year coaching veteran's transition to Carlton had been seamless.

"To use one of Mick's lines, it's easy to be negative, but Mick is a super-positive coach,'' he said.

"He's obviously very keen to delegate, so Rob Wiley helps run training and training has been very sharp and really upbeat.

"Mick's slotted in very quickly, he's a very personable guy and the atmosphere is very encouraging and positive.

"The boys are working hard and Mick is working through his game plan week-by-week and the boys are slowly chipping away and getting their teeth into that.''

Malthouse, 59, used a boundary-line centric game style to guide the Pies to the 2010 flag, but Barker said the Blues aimed to be versatile with their ball-movement this year.

"The thing Mick continually talks to the boys about is playing the game in front of you,'' he said.

"Sometimes it will mean taking the boundary and sometimes that will mean changing angles and taking the corridor.

"He has by no means ruled out quick, direct play - that's fairly clear.''

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Bolter in line to lead Blues

Andrew Carrazzo is one of the leading candidates to captain the Blues if Chris Judd steps down. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON midfielder Andrew Carrazzo could cause a boilover in the Carlton captaincy race, with the hard-running midfielder firming as the Blues next on-field leader.

Superstar midfielder Marc Murphy was considered the early favourite to replace Chris Judd, but Carrazzo's standing among his peers has continued to soar this pre-season.

Carrazzo, 29, became a father to triplets late last season and if he can show he can juggle fatherhood with the official leadership duties in the NAB Cup next month the job could be his.

The Blues hope the leadership change will help ease some of the burden on Judd, 29, after five years in the top job.

Forwards coach John Barker said Judd would continue to play a lead role on-field and flagged more time in attack for the champion onballer.

"Juddy is the type of guy who will be a leader no matter whether he is a leader by name or not, because he is just a leader by nature," Barker said.

"What it will do is release some shackles for him and it will allow him to play with a bit more freedom than what he perhaps has over the past couple of years, which is great for him.

"I'd love to have him spend a bit more time in the forward line.

"I've been chipping away at it with him and he's been receiving my advances pretty positively."

The Blues are set to decide on their new captain after the NAB Cup, with Murphy and fellow midfielder Kade Simpson in the running.

Barker said the Blues had excellent options.

"Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson and Marc Murphy are all outstanding candidates for the club," he said. "As we sit, that decision is still up in the air, but I tell you what, she's going to be a tough decision trying to decide who leads the club."

The Blues have put a tumultuous year behind them, with coach Mick Malthouse helping renew confidence after they missed finals in 2012.

Barker said the club did not want to predict where it should finish this season.

"This year is going to be one of the most hotly contested years in football," he said.

"You want to be there at the pointy end of the season, but I don't think there is any point putting out (expected) positions in the top eight.

"Hopefully, we can get there (finals) and we are looking forward to seeing how a fit and healthy list under Mick Malthouse operates this year."

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Cats turn up the heat

Looking back on Port's year of pain

Jimmy Bartel back training at Simonds Stadium. Picture: Peter Ristevski Source: HWT Image Library

GEELONG blew out its festive cobwebs in sweltering conditions at Simonds Stadium yesterday.

As the mercury climbed over 30C by mid-morning, the players sweated their way through a light skills session.

Star midfielder Jimmy Bartel completed some short run-throughs and handballing drills as he recovers from a foot injury.

Daniel Menzel, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after straining it before Christmas, arrived on crutches.

Billie Smedts showed no signs of a nagging hip injury, while ruck recruit Hamish McIntosh was a notable absentee.

Assistant coach Blake Caracella said McIntosh would be ready for Round 1.

"Hamish was a bit sore early on, but before Christmas he was starting to run around and join in training," Caracella said.

"The first NAB Cup game is only six or seven weeks away. There is a program we have set out and we need to complete the modules inside that (to be ready)."

Caracella said Geelong had tweaked its game plan to "stay ahead of the curve" in 2013.

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Brian Cook off to school

Brian Cook is going back to school. Picture: Blair Hamish Source: Herald Sun

ONE of the AFL's top club administrators, Geelong chief executive Brian Cook, is going back to school.

Cook will do a six-week advanced management course at Harvard University in Boston early this season.

The Cats have given him their blessing to further his studies after he turned down a lucrative offer to join North Melbourne late last year.

Geelong president Colin Carter said the trip was intended partly to help refresh Cook after turning the Cats into a powerhouse.

Geelong chief executive Brian Cook is involved in his seventh grand final with the Cats Picture: Glenn Ferguson/Geelong Advertiser Source: No Source

"It's a six-week course for very senior executives and the idea is that, considering he has been in the role for 14 years, it is a good time to go away and reflect on the work he has done and get away from the place," Carter said.
"I know he is looking forward to it and we think he will find it quite a refreshing experience.

"There will be 50 to 100 really top-class people from all sorts of walks of life, from business and various industries, and they will all contribute to each other."

It is expected Cook will be overseas throughout April, with senior Geelong staff members to share his role in his absence.

The Cats remain confident they can continue an extraordinary run with a seventh consecutive finals appearance.

They have missed September action only once in the past nine years and accelerated a transition by blooding 10 players at senior level last season.

It was the first time in 32 years a reigning premier played that many debutants.

Carter, who oversaw the introduction of the priority draft pick as an AFL commissioner in 1993, said the Cats wanted to buck the trend of top clubs "bottoming out".

"AFL equalisation, which I was originally a part of, was designed to force us down the ladder, and based on that we should be going gracefully down the bottom - but we don't intend to do that," he said.

Carter said the performance of the team's youngsters in making the elimination final last year was a positive sign the Cats would remain a force.

The club has also bolstered its list by welcoming former Gold Coast onballer Josh Caddy, 20, and two mature-age players, ex-North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh and defender Jared Rivers from Melbourne.

New Geelong recruit Josh Caddy. Picture: Mike Dugdale Source: Herald Sun

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Converts are not such a tall order

Looking back on Port's year of pain

New Crows recruits who were former basketballers - Jack Osborn and Tim Klaosen Picture: Sarah Reed Source: HWT Image Library

THE Crows aren't about to stake out local basketball games every weekend but list manager David Noble knows there's plenty of potential to find more footballers crashing the boards.

Tim Klaosen and Jack Osborn's signings as three-year non-registered rookies last month made it five basketball converts on Adelaide's list in 2013.

Forward Ricky Henderson was shooting hoops in Victoria when he was drafted in 2009, Ben Dowdell was a former college basketballer signed under the AFL's alternative talent rule last year and Josh Jenkins played NBL before lobbing in the AFL.

Noble said there were tell-tale signs as to whether a good basketballer might make it on the football field.

"We went to watch Tim (Klaosen) play basketball,'' Noble said. ``You look for things like can he turn defence into offence? How does he release the ball? Is he a good decision-maker? Is he aggressive?

"Then you need to make an assessment on their mechanics. Where they can improve, what areas to target and how long until we get them there.''

Klaosen admits his kicking needs plenty of work but Noble said there were many positives. ``What caught our eye was his athleticism and his agility at ground level.

"And as you get further into it you understand what these guys are like. You get a feeling of how hard they're willing to work and are they going to give it everything they've got''

Osborn was just as impressive in his trial for the Crows after four years of basketball in the US.

"His speed was good for a big guy,'' Noble said.

"He'd played (football) longer than Tim had and we watched him with (ruck coach) Matt Clark and how he marked the ball at the highest point.

"It was a normal marking style.''

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From the basket to Crows' rookies

New Crows recruits who were former basketballers - Jack Osborn and Tim Klaosen. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: HWT Image Library

He is standing in the Crows shed with recruiter Hamish Ogilvie and list manager David Noble and being told to kick the football.

But he is a basketballer, not a footballer. He has barely held a football for nine years, let alone tried to kick one.

And this is no half-time heroes session in the backyard with mates.

He is trying to convince Adelaide officials he should be on an AFL list.

It is SANFL grand final day and outside nearly 30,000 people are making their way to AAMI Stadium.

Inside the shed, there are only three people as Klaosen takes a deep breath and lets rip. He is sure it did not auger well when the pair had called him in for a chat.

"At the end they said, 'we've had basketballers out before and said no straight away','' Klaosen recalls of their October 7 meeting.

"But they said, 'we've seen enough in you to invite you back' and I was shocked.''

That bought Klaosen four days until his next examination to practice kicking the footy with his brother.

Again, he passed the test.

Then came the sprint and agility testing, followed by another kicking session under pressure at Lockleys Oval and he was signed.

That is how a Sturt basketballer who had not played football since under-14s even then he lasted only four games before rolling his ankle and giving it away became an Adelaide Crow.

Even his closest mates were stunned.

"They make a bit of fun but they've been good about it,'' Klaosen said. "They say things like 'let's go and play cricket for Australia'.

"Some of my basketball teammates didn't even know it was happening so they were really taken aback.''

Along with Hobart basketballer Jack Osborn, the pair has joined Adelaide as three-year non-registered rookies for the 2013 season.

Osborn at least had a semi-serious football background before spending the past four years playing college basketball in the US.

He played juniors with Kingborough and North Hobart right up until leaving for America, but is yet to play a game of senior football.

The 205cm giant returned to Australia this year but when his NBL deal with the doomed Gold Coast Blaze fell through, his manager Paul Bell raised the possibility of returning to football and opened talks with the Crows.

In late October, Osborn flew from Hobart to Adelaide for an interview and a beep test at Crows headquarters.

Also being interviewed that day was Werribee's Kyle Hartigan, who was subsequently taken by the club in the rookie draft.

"I think it went well that day,'' Osborn said.

"The best thing I knew they liked was that I can jump high and tap the ball.

"My biggest fear was that I would not be fit enough.''

But he has improved rapidly, going from 1360m in his first five-minute run to almost 1500m in a few weeks.

He has also shed 7kg in the past fortnight to tip the scales at 107kg.

Bell, a state league basketball coach, was also the reason Klaosen found himself standing in the Crows shed in October. They had five weeks of pre-season training before finally enjoying the festive season break.

Together, they have done up to three sessions a day of everything from running and weights to yoga, wrestling and even gymnastics to turn themselves into footballers.

"I didn't think we'd be doing gymnastics,'' Klaosen said of his new regime.

According to Klaosen, his footy knowledge is up to speed and his hands are good, but his kick still needs work and, as a right-footer, the rookie is yet to even try kicking with his left foot.

"The development coaches have told me to get the right foot correct first,'' he said.

"I've got to work on kicking accurately over 20-30m that flat, low ball.

"Mine are a bit floaty.''

He rated Scott Thompson and Andy Otten as the best kicks he had seen so far.

At 196cm and 88kg, Klaosen knows he has to put on size but hopes to develop into a tall defender.

His long-term goal is to play an SANFL league game somewhere in the second half of next season.

Klaosen has enjoyed the physical side of training so far but knows the contact work will come soon enough.

"I'll let you know how I'm going in a couple of months,'' he said.

Osborn admitted he was still getting his head around the fact that he had gone from "might give footy a try'' to an AFL list in six weeks.

"It has blown my mind,'' he said.

"I've gone to Centrals in the mini-draft and I'm really excited about going out there and getting involved.

"I've just got to keep working hard and show the coaches and players I belong.

"All my mates have been supportive but they think I'm really lucky as well.

"But a lot don't know how hard I'm working.''

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AFL crowds top most of the world

AFL crowds are fourth-best in the world. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: HWT Image Library

THE AFL was the fourth-best attended professional sporting league on the planet in 2012, beating out the Major League Baseball and Spain's La Liga.

An average 32,748 fans attended AFL matches, which actually represented a decline from the 36,428 the code attracted in 2011.

The decrease resulted in the AFL dropping from third in 2011 to fourth in the rankings behind the English Premier League, which attracted an average 34,602 fans per game in the 2011-12 season.

The National Football League took out top spot with an average 67,591 spectators per game, up from 67,394 a year earlier.

Germany's Bundesliga surprisingly came in second with 45,116 average fans per game in 2011-12 - the highest average ever for that league - up from 42,673 during the prior season.

The National Hockey League - which is in danger of having no season in 2012-13 due to a labor dispute - attracts the largest crowds of the indoor sports, with an attendance of 17,455 in 2011-12.

It finished just ahead of the National Basketball Association (17,274).

Two sports that have seen increases in average attendance year-on-year are Major League Baseball and the Canadian Football League.

MLB came in fifth with an average attendance of 30,895, up from 30,366 a year earlier. The CFL sits seventh with an average of 27,882, compared to 27,192 previously.

Sixth place went to Spain's La Liga, with an average attendance of 28,462, down from 29,128 the year before.

The report came from Sportingintelligence.com.

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Parkin mentors the comeback kid

David Parkin has helped mentor Anthony Morabito in his comeback.  Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

PREMIERSHIP coach David Parkin has emerged as an unlikely mentor in Anthony Morabito's remarkable comeback from two knee reconstructions.

Fremantle's forgotten No.4 draft pick has not played AFL since a sparkling debut in 2010, after twice tearing his left ACL ligament.Parkin has helped guide the 21-year-old through the emotional despair of two years on the sidelines.

The four-time Carlton and Hawthorn premiership coach praised Morabito's mental fortitude as the 191cm midfielder prepares to return to the Dockers line-up for the NAB Cup and potentially Round 1.

>> SUPERCOACH WATCH: Morabito is a $115,900 midfielder

"I tremble every time I hear his name because you don't want to find out that he has had another setback," Parkin said.

"I'm just hoping and praying he has a half-reasonable chance to prepare himself properly and continue what was an outstanding first year of league football."

In a horror run, the young Docker ruptured the ligament in the 2011 pre-season and then again during a training mishap last July.

Parkin, who has beaten prostate cancer, said Morabito had overcome some dark periods in his rehabilitation.

"I've kept in touch with him and he has had some miserable psychological downs, as you would expect of a kid of his age," Parkin said.

"To be between 18-22 years old and suffer what he did, emotionally you have to deal with that, and it gets you down, to the point where you may not recover physically, let alone emotionally.

"But he's been supported by (assistant coach) Simon Lloyd, who is probably just about the best young man I've dealt with in football, and had wonderful support from the club and his family."

With superstar captain Matthew Pavlich under a fitness cloud after back surgery, Morabito's power-packed game style is looming as a major boost to the Dockers' midfield and forward set-ups.

Priced at $115,900, the man likened to Swans game-breaker Adam Goodes is also looming as a bargain SuperCoach prospect.

The devastating ball-carrier averaged 13 possessions in 23 games in his first season and twice laid nine tackles in games against Geelong and Richmond."He has a big heart, fantastic endurance capacity, he has a strong body and to maintain the form he did through 23 games in his first season is almost unheard of," Parkin said.

"So we know the kid brings the total package."

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Skipper on hold as Glass wavers

CAPTAIN IN WAITING: Beau Waters is seen as the next West Coast skipper should Darren Glass stand aside. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

WEST Coast will delay making a decision on its captain for 2013 until at least next month, and could begin the NAB Cup without having appointed a skipper for the new season.

Darren Glass has led the side for the past five seasons, after taking over following the bombshell resignation of Chris Judd in 2007.

Glass, 31, enjoyed a stellar campaign to win his fourth All-Australian guernsey last year and was named captain of the All-Australian team in one of the greatest individual honours of his career.

The key defender is showing no signs of slowing down as he powers through his 14th AFL pre-season; however, has indicated he is open to handing over the captaincy to a younger player before he retires.

Fearless defender Beau Waters was installed as sole vice-captain two years ago and has been groomed to take over as skipper.

But question marks remain over Waters' durability after another injury setback last month.

The 26-year-old South Australian has recovered from a serious foot injury, suffered in the elimination final mauling of North Melbourne four months ago, but needed hip surgery before Christmas and is in a race against time to be ready for the new season.

Waters, named All-Australian after an excellent season last year, has played just 113 of a possible 164 matches for the Eagles since making his debut in 2004 because of a cursed run with injury.

West Coast football operations manager Neale Daniher said Waters' injury troubles would not count against his chances of becoming captain.

"We know he won't necessarily always play every home-and-away game, but we're confident he'll play the majority of them and play them very well," Daniher said.

"Beau is very professional in his preparation.

"He plays the game as hard as anyone in the league, and his injuries are well documented, but we were rapt with the way he played last year.

"He played a lot of games of football last year and we're  confident he'll be ready to go in Round 1."

Youngster Scott Selwood, whose leadership ability is highly regarded, is the wildcard for the captaincy.

Selwood is only 22, the same age as John Worsfold when he became captain and has been in the leadership group for the past two seasons. He took his game to a new level last year to win the club champion award.

Following the Eagles' semi-final exit to Collingwood at the MCG last September, coach John Worsfold said Glass could play a valuable leadership role, even if he was not the skipper.

"He's an outstanding leader and outstanding captain," Worsfold said.

"If he wasn't actually named captain, it wouldn't mean that his leadership would drop away.

"He would still offer fantastic leadership around our club and possibly in an even stronger role supporting a developing captain."

The Eagles have only had dual captains once in their history.

Veteran Dean Kemp and rising star Ben Cousins shared the job under Ken Judge in 2001.

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Bookies write off Crows' hopes

Kurt Tippett leaving Adelaide will cost the Crows, the bookies say. Source: Herald Sun

KURT Tippett walked out of West Lakes and took Adelaide's premiership hopes with him, according to bookies who have turned their backs on the Crows.

Despite going within a kick of making this year's AFL grand final, Adelaide is at best fourth in the line of betting for the 2013 flag with four online agencies.

TAB lists the Crows sixth favourite behind Geelong and even Carlton which missed the top-eight altogether this season. Adelaide's cross-town rival, the Power is considered a $101 premiership longshot and is fifth favourite to win the wooden spoon at $16 behind Gold Coast, GWS, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.

But this year's runner-up, Hawthorn, is the undisputed favourite to avenge its grand-final loss to Sydney and claim a second flag for coach Alastair Clarkson.

The underrated Swans continue to fly under the radar at $7.50 with Sportsbet.com.au to go back-to-back.

Collingwood and West Coast are the only other sides considered a remote chance of toppling the Hawks.

At the opposite end, Gold Coast is a $1.36 favourite for the wooden spoon with fellow expansion club GWS at $4.50.

The Power is fifth favourite to finish bottom at $16. However, in some good news for the Suns, their captain Gary Ablett is one of three players alongside Trent Cotchin and Jobe Watson who share Brownlow Medal favouritism.

The Crows feature prominently in other markets, with full forward Taylor Walker second favourite for the Coleman Medal behind Lance Franklin and youngster Brad Crouch third favourite for the Rising Star Award.

With the new year arriving, Sportsbet.com.au has released its forecast for everything sport in 2013.

Adelaide United might sit second on the A-League ladder but is considered third favourite to win the 2013 grand final behind equal fancies Melbourne Victory and Central Coast.

Midfielder Dario Vidosic, who was called into the Socdhceroos squad this month, is third favourite for the Johnny Warren Medal with Italian superstar Alessandro del Piero considered the man to beat.

The Aussies are a $3.25 long shot to regain The Ashes from England mid-year, while Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador is expected to be the man to beat in next year's Tour de France.

And with the summer of tennis beginning, men's world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is favdhourite to win the Australian Open in January from Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

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