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Billie keen to give 2012 the boot

Written By Unknown on Senin, 31 Desember 2012 | 23.27

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."


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Future bright after year of pain

John McCarthy's death in Las Vegas devastated his club Port Adelaide and the broader community. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

A YEAR that started so brightly for Port Adelaide ended disastrously.

A thrilling opening-round win against St Kilda was forgotten as the Power missed the finals for the fifth consecutive year, coach Matthew Primus lost his job, the president stepped down and popular midfielder John McCarthy tragically fell to his death from a Las Vegas hotel on an end-of-season players trip.

Rarely has an AFL club endured such emotion in one year.

GIANT LOSS

Saturday, August 4, Skoda Stadium.

Matthew Primus had planned to coach Port for a decade. He lasted only two seasons.

After walking on eggshells all season, Primus's job was made untenable after the Power became new club Greater Western Sydney's second victim.

The round 19, 34-point defeat was described by Primus as the "lowest point" in Port's 16-year AFL history and he was brought to tears at his post-match press conference.

While he vowed to fight for his job, Primus was sacked at an emergency board meeting the following day.

THE PRES DEPARTS

Monday, August 6, Alberton.

The president went down with the coach. In making Matthew Primus's axing official, a teary president Brett Duncanson announced he would resign at the end of the year.

On the same day, chief executive Keith Thomas revealed the club had undertaken a complete review of its operations, including its recruiting and fitness records.

Media personality David Koch was later appointed president, despite living in Sydney.

GRAY SKIES

Saturday, April 21, Etihad Stadium.

The writing was on the wall for Port the day excitement machine Robbie Gray crashed to the Etihad Stadium turf clutching his mangled right knee.

Gray's knee buckled in the final 30 seconds of the round-four clash against Collingwood after he landed awkwardly from a marking contest. He missed the rest of the season and the Power was robbed of one of its few gamebreakers.

TRAGEDY IN VEGAS

Sunday, September 9, Las Vegas.

Football was put into perspective when popular Power midfielder John McCarthy tragically died in a fall from a Las Vegas Hotel less than 24 hours after 10 Port players flew in for their end-of-season trip.

The man affectionately known as J-Mac who joined the Power from Collingwood at the end of 2011 had touched the hearts of everyone who had met him.

Port football manager Peter Rohde flew to Vegas to investigate McCarthy's death and brought his body home while the Power players were devastated at losing their good mate. The Power has introduced a series of measures to honour McCarthy next year.

SAINTS SURPRISE

Sunday, April 1, AAMI Stadium.

Round one was a rare shining light for Port. With Hamish Hartlett starring, the Power stunned finals-hardened St Kilda by four points to give its fans hope that it had turned the corner after a nightmare 2011 campaign.

Sadly, it was to win just four more games for the year.

COURAGE UNDER FIRE

Sunday, June 17, Etihad Stadium.

Key forward Jay Schulz nearly died when team-mate Justin Westhoff's right knee hit him with such force in a marking contest against the Western Bulldogs that he felt his insides being "torn to shreds".

Schulz ruptured his lumbar artery in the mid-air collision, was rushed to hospital after the game, spent a night in the intensive care unit at Melbourne's Epworth Hospital and lost two units of blood. He also damaged a kidney and for weeks carried a blood clot the size of a small football.

Amazingly, Schulz who earlier in the season nearly lost the sight in his right eye after being accidentally poked by Crow Michael Doughty returned to the field seven weeks later.

CAT BURGLARY

Sunday, July 15, Adelaide Airport.

In a blatant poaching attempt, Geelong was caught red-handed at Adelaide Airport trying to entice uncontracted Port star Travis Boak to the Cattery.

Coach Chris Scott, captain Joel Selwood and vice-captain Jimmy Bartel flew into town less than 24 hours after their clash against Collingwood for talks with midfielder Boak, who was also courted by North Melbourne.

The Cats copped plenty of flak for their brazen bid to steal Port's best player but they left empty-handed, with Boak eventually re-signing with the Power for two more years.

THE NEW MAN

Monday, October 8, Alberton.

Former Geelong and Gold Coast assistant Ken Hinkley was appointed as just the Power's fourth AFL coach.

Painted as the reluctant Port coach, Hinkley immediately declared he wasn't the last man standing but ``the right man standing".

On the same day, Alan Richardson was appointed as his senior assistant and Darren Burgess who had just quit English Premier League soccer giant Liverpool as fitness coach.

GONE FISHING

October/November.

Troy Chaplin and Danyle Pearce became Port's first free agent losses.

Chaplin signed for Richmond while Pearce, who was involved in a sledging incident with Bulldog Will Minson in round 12, joined Fremantle. First-round draft pick Ben Jacobs also walked out on the club to nominate for the draft.

The Power restocked by trading for Angus Monfries from Essendon, Jack Hombsch from GWS, Lewis Stevenson from West Coast and Campbell Heath from Sydney. Former Demon Liam Jurrah trained at Alberton for two weeks in the hope of reviving his career but was overlooked.

POWER FAILURE

Friday, December 7, Alberton.

Port's nightmare season went from bad to worse when its operating deficit was revealed as being a whopping $6.3 million before grants.

An The Advertiser investigation found the $4.1 million trading deficit the club initially reported did not include the AFL grant of $1 million for the transition to Adelaide Oval.

Then there was the previously unreported $1.2 million which is understood to have come from the AFL as the club struggled to pay bills.


 


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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


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What a big year in footy

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

Sydney co-captains Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh with the premiership cup. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

ON THE last day of 2012, relive the best, worst and weirdest moments of the year in footy - and vote for your favourites.

It was the year Greater Western Sydney joined the competition, Kurt Tippett redefined homesickness, Nick Malceski became a premiership hero and "chicken wing" entered the AFL vernacular.

In short, it's been a big year.

At the start of 2012 Brock McLean was a fringe player hoping to extend his AFL career.

By the end of it he had kicked a remarkable winning goal, got way too personal on Twitter and sparked a tanking investigation into his former club. Oh, and he did earn that new one-year contract.

Who would have seen all that coming? Then again, 12 months ago Brett Ratten was dreaming of being a premiership coach. Now he's an assistant at the club most thought would win the flag, but lost to a side many pundits didn't even think would make the top eight.

It seemed the news never stopped - can you believe it's been three months since a ball was kicked in anger (and less than that til next season begins)?

But with a brief pause to welcome the new year, let's catch our collective breath and take a look at what the hell just happened.

Here's Warwick Green's wrap-up of an AFL season that was, in a word, irresistible.

Relive the best games of the season HERE, plus our top 10 marks and the best goals of the season.

We've also ranked the best individual performances of the year just gone.

There were plenty of lowlights too - HERE are the biggest brain fades of 2012.

From the Hawks v Swans to Maric v Walker mullet-off and Mick McGuire's running war with Mick Malthouse, HERE are the biggest footy rivalries of the year.

There were plenty of shock departures from the AFL scene in 2012. Click HERE for our top 10.

Who were the best recruits of the season? Click HERE for our verdict.

And the biggest surprises of the year in footy are all HERE.

You can relive Sydney's remarkable triumph with our interactive storyboard HERE.

And after all that you should get a perfect score in our bumper 2012 footy quiz.

The SuperFooty crew wish all our readers a very happy and safe new year. We'll see you back here in 2013 for another huge year in footy. The first game of the 2013 premiership season is just 81 days away...
 


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Lake out to prove critics wrong

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson with star recruit Brian Lake. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

TWO-time All Australian defender Brian Lake says he walked out on Western Bulldogs and joined Hawthorn in a bid to prove his critics wrong.

The 30-year-old - an All Australian in 2009 and 2010 - couldn't see himself playing a big role in the future of the Bulldogs.

After enduring a horrible 2011 season which was dogged by hip, knee and shoulder problems that many thought would end his Bulldogs career, Lake managed 20 games in 2012.

He finished 10th in the club's best-and-fairest but, with youth the cornerstone of Brendan McCartney's rebuild, Lake took a risk and made the move to the Grand Finalists.

"For me, it (leaving the Bulldogs) is to prove a lot of people wrong, they had written me off saying my body was shot and my knee was horrendous," Lake told his new club's website.

"After that terrible year (in 2011), I guess your value to other sides decreases but also to get back to the football I played previous to the injury was a major factor (in leaving) as well.

"(McCartney) was keen for me to stay (after 2011) and he saw a future for me at the club," Lake said.

Western Bulldogs training. Brian Lake leaves training. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

"(But) things have changed now with the way that club is heading, with the youth and the restructure of the backline.

"I saw Hawthorn as a perfect fit, at my age now, I don't know how much time I would have had at the Bulldogs to move on and hunt down that elusive flag that everyone dreams of having."

Lake watched the thrilling 2012 Grand Final between his new club and Sydney Swans knowing that it was possible that he'd been playing for the Hawks in 2013.

"It was a little bit weird, I did focus a little bit more on Hawthorn than on Sydney and the game," he said.
 


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Rocca the mask avenger

Former Collingwood player turned NFL punter Saverio Rocca has played his part in helping the Washington Redskins make the playoffs.

Washington Redskins punter Sav Rocca stops Dallas Cowboys' punt returner Dwayne Harris in his tracks. Source: AP

SAV Rocca would have the AFL's match review panel working overtime if he tried this touchdown-saving tackle in his former career.

Rocca today helped his Washington Redskins claim the final NFC playoff spot with a 28-18 win against the Dallas Cowboys.

With minutes to go victory was in the bag, but that didn't dim the competitive instincts of one of Aussie rules' most successful exports.

After sending a punt 43 yards late in the fourth quarter, Rocca watched as Cowboys punt returner Dwayne Harris stepped past his Redskins teammates and headed for the end zone.

Rocca brushed his opponent aside and launched himself at the charging Harris - employing a tactic he never got to try in 257 AFL games with Collingwood and North Melbourne.

Not content with simply pushing Harris out of bounds, Rocca grabbed the facemask of the Cowboy's helmet and slung him to the turf.

WATCH ROCCA'S TACKLE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The tackle cost the Redskins a 15-yard penalty - and Rocca might face a fine on top of that - but his coaches wouldn't have been complaining.

The Aussie finished the match with four punts at an average of 25.8 yards.


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Sun shines bright for Bock

Gold Coast Suns defender Nathan Bock participates in a light pool session with his teammates. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

GOLD Coast vice-captain Nathan Bock has opened up about his year from hell, after waving 2012 away with a sense of relief.

Plenty of people welcomed in the new year with a sense of excitement last night but none more than Bock, who declared 2012 the toughest year he's had in footy.

It started with a two-week suspension stemming from a betting scandal the year before but the worst was yet to come as a broken leg and the jailing of his mother, Michelle Joy Bock, for drug trafficking, wrecked his season on and off the field.

The 29-year-old was candid about his year from hell, conceding the off-field issues with his mother took their toll.

"I'm happy to put this year in the back of the mind and concentrate on 2013,'' Bock said. "It was obviously pretty draining and it was frustrating at the start of the season to miss those two games because of the suspension.


"Then I felt like it took me a few weeks to get into form and the game I really felt the best was the one against Fremantle when I ended up breaking my leg.

"Then obviously the stuff with mum had been dragging on for a little while as well and the year was mentally quite challenging and physically very challenging.

"It was probably the toughest year I've had in footy.''

The former Crows defender is looking on the bright side though and believes his leg injury may even help extend his AFL career.

"That's one thought Bluey (Guy McKenna) has and it would be nice to play for as long as I possibly could,'' Bock said.

"I suppose you've got to look at all the positives and (the time I spent out) most of last season potentially could be put on the end of my career.

"I'll be 30 (this) year and most guys say if you can play until you are 32 or 33 then that is a great result.''

And the early signs in Bock's comeback are positive.

The veteran is a month ahead of schedule in his rehab and even began running last month.

"Initially I hadn't planned to start running until about Christmas but I've been running for about four or five weeks now,'' Bock said.

"Initially it just started with a five-minute jog on the AlterG treadmill, which takes a percentage of your body weight away when you run.

"I was building up on that for a few weeks and then just recently I had a couple of runs outside.

"But it's only been a few strides and it's still only a very slow jog.''

With his progress in mind, Bock is hopeful of joining the Suns' main training group by mid-February.

And the versatile tall still holds hope of striding out on to  Metricon Stadium in the Suns' season opener against St Kilda on March 30.

"I saw the surgeon just before Christmas and he was happy with the progress we're making,'' Bock added.

"I would like to think Round 1 is a realistic possibility but we will just have to play it by ear.

"You have a bit of a time frame to when you are back training at full intensity with injuries like an ACL.

"But this injury is a lot different and it just depends on how it feels and how it is progressing.''


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Hudson key to Pies' plan

Recruit Ben Hudson at Collingwood training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell says the Pies are close to a premiership. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Nick Maxwell runs laps during Collingwood pre-season training at Gosch's Paddock. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD captain Nick Maxwell says Ben Hudson's recruitment emphasises the importance of fellow ruckman Darren Jolly to the club's premiership chances.

Maxwell said the off-season influx of senior players - Hudson, Quinten Lynch, Clinton Young and Jordan Russell - indicated the Pies thought they were close to a flag.

He said Hudson could be the most important recruit of the lot as support for 31-year-old Jolly.

"Obviously, Jols has been outstanding for us since he came to the club, but we've got to be careful about how we manage his loads and how much we ask him to do because he's done a lot of ruckwork, the majority of it by himself, since he's come to the club," Maxwell said.

"We've got to make sure we manage him and so Huddo is a good back-up for us and also a good guy to have teach our younger players.

"Quinten Lynch will do some ruckwork, but then guys like Jarrod Witts, who we expect big things from this year, is going to hopefully step up and keep developing.

"With him and young Brodie Grundy, we think that those guys are going to work well with Huddo in the VFL and he'll really help them to develop."

When clubs top up with experience, public opinion often suggests the club thinks it is close to fielding a premiership team. Maxwell said that was a fair assessment of the Pies.

"Absolutely, we definitely think we're close," he said.

"We finished fourth last year and we didn't play very well all year.

"We lost ... guys to long-term injuries during the year and those guys can't be replaced. Luke Ball, Brent Macaffer, Andrew Krakouer, Ben Johnson and Lachie Keeffe, all those guys are going to come in and basically be like new recruits for us."

Maxwell said he was confident Lynch, Young and Russell could make an impact.

"We wanted to bring in guys who could fulfil a need for us as a club," he said.

"Quinten can play forward and do a bit of ruckwork, but we also know he's a different player to what Trav (Cloke) is, so he's a different fellow to have down there. Clinton Young we rated very highly."


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Nowhere to hide for Woods

Dale Thomas and Tyson Goldsack box at Gosch's Paddock. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun

IF THE handful of Collingwood players who did not make the training trip to Utah thought they could escape a fortnight of hard work, they were mistaken.

Nick Maxwell and Alan Didak stayed home for the birth of their children; Alan Toovey was recovering from a wrist injury; and Dale Thomas and Tyson Goldsack were on the way back from ankle surgery.

The quintet were joined by four players selected in the rookie draft.

"There's almost one coach to every player so there's nowhere to hide for anyone ... it's been a pretty good training block," Maxwell said.

He said it hadn't been tough to stay disciplined at training.

"If you're working amongst 40 guys it's easier to hide," the 29-year-old said.

"But the way we've been working has been good and from all the reports coming back they've been really happy with how the boys were training in Utah as well." 


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2012 countdown: Top 10 performances

Written By Unknown on Senin, 24 Desember 2012 | 23.27

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

Hawthorn star Lance Franklin snaps around the body for goal number 13 against North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

LANCE Franklin had a field day against North Melbourne but was Dane Swan's effort on Anzac Day 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.

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

Today the countdown continues with the top 10 individual performances of the year.

Did we get it right? Leave a comment below

10. Scott Thompson v Greater Western Sydney
The North Melbourne intercept king had a day out when the Kangaroos were made to work to counter a plucky GWS outfit. Thompson amassed 39 disposals (192 SuperCoach points), almost unheard-of numbers for a key backman, in the 28-point victory at Skoda Stadium. The Kangaroos' most prolific stopper also clunked 13 marks.

9. Trent Cotchin v Western Bulldogs
Brett Deledio tweeted post-match he had a front seat at the Cotchin Show after the No.9 put on a clinic with 35 touches, three goals and an amazing 17 score involvements. He also picked up 170 SuperCoach points. It would be the start of a withering four-game run of 30-plus possession games which propelled the silky-skilled midfielder to equal second in the Brownlow Medal with 26 votes.


8. Marc Murphy v Essendon
The Carlton star had a frustrating season and he took it out on arch-rival Essendon in Round 21. Murphy had the ball on a string, collecting 37 disposals while kicking two goals as the Blues romped home by 96 points. He also laid six tackles. Murphy capped off his superb performance with a goal after the siren to give the Blues a handy percentage boost.

7. Dean Cox/Nic Naitanui v Geelong
Orren Stephenson is still waking up in cold sweats after confronting the Eagles duo on a Friday night in Perth. When Cox and Nic Nat combine for 41 disposals and 13 marks it makes it difficult to trump West Coast. Add 77 hitouts and five goals and it's an almost impossible task. The vaunted ruck pair dominated the Cats when the two sides met in Round 20, the Eagles outlasting their rivals by five points. Cox was brilliant, kicking three goals while picking up 23 disposals and eight marks. The veteran added five clearances and four inside-50s to his stats sheet. The pair also combined for 343 SuperCoach points.

6. Jack Riewoldt v St Kilda
The Riewoldts combined for 11 of the 34 goals scored when Richmond held out St Kilda in a Round 10 shootout at Etihad Stadium. Jack claimed family bragging rights, helping the Tigers to a seven-point victory with eight goals in his 100th match. The flighty forward also clunked nine marks along the way. It would be Jack's biggest haul of the season en route to his second Coleman Medal with 65 majors – three clear of Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin


5. Gary Ablett v North Melbourne
Little Gazza single-handedly kept his young Gold Coast Suns within striking distance of North when the two sides met at Metricon Stadium in Round 12. Ablett put on a masterful display including 42 disposals and four goals – none more impressive than a 45m left-foot snap from the boundary line during the second quarter. Ablett's haul included 10 clearances, five rebound-50s and four inside-50s. It was the best of Ablett's 2012 highlights reel; two weeks earlier he equalled the VFL-AFL record for possessions in a game with 53 touches against Collingwood.  4. Dayne Beams v Sydney
It was party time on Smith St when Pictures mark II, Dayne Beams, slotted his third goal to ice Collingwood's eight-point win against Sydney at ANZ Stadium. The heavily tattooed star midfielder starred in the absence of namesake Dane Swan, who was serving the first of a two-week club-imposed suspension for breaking player rules. Beams helped himself to 34 disposals including 11 clearances and five tackles. He finished with 170 SuperCoach points.
3. Dean Cox v North Melbourne
Cox was the difference between West Coast winning or losing to the Roos at Blundstone Arena in Hobart. Cox booted three goals including the sealer to ice the Eagles come-from-behind two-point victory in Round 15. The 204cm ruckman also clunked marks at both ends of the ground to stymie the Kangaroos at every turn. Cox finished with 21 disposals, 15 marks and 24 hitouts - and a lazy 215 SuperCoach points.

Hawthorn v North Melbourne. Aurora Stadium, Launceston. Lance Franklin kicks his 11th goal. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun


2. Lance Franklin v North Melbourne
The Roos were on the receiving end again - also in Tassie - when Buddy ran riot in Hawthorn's 115-point demolition in Round 10. The raking left-footer outscored the Kangaroos 13.4 to 9.5 in the Round 10 rout at Aurora Stadium in Launceston. The Hawks piled on 27 majors to hammer the Shinboners into submission. The superstar feasted on Kangaroos defenders Scott Thompson, Nathan Grime and Luke Delaney, booting six first-half goals including three in three minutes during the second quarter. But Franklin saved his best for last, with goal No.12 coming from deep in the left forward pocket while, No.13 was a dropped mark, snap around the body with only seconds left on the clock. It was the highest SuperCoach score of the year (236), but in terms of the stage, stakes and influence on the result, we've got him just behind...
1. Dane Swan v Essendon
Talk of Swan carrying a few extra kilograms was quickly shelved when the Brownlow medallist ran amok in Collingwood's thrilling one-point win on Anzac Day. Swan collected a staggering 42 disposals – 20 contested – and kicked three goals in the MCG blockbuster. Swan capped off a brilliant day by rubbing his stomach – mocking those who called him overweight – after kicking his third goal late in the third quarter. The Anzac medallist finished with 13 clearances and six tackles. Swan obviously likes playing the Bombers - he picked up another 42 touches when the two sides met in Round 23.

TOMORROW:

Follow Gilbert Gardiner on Twitter @gilbert0408


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Roos find new CEO

Carl Dilena (second from left) is North Melbourne's new CEO. Source: Herald Sun

NORTH Melbourne's 199-day search for a new chief executive is finally over.

The Roos today announced they had hired with Carl Dilena, with the former North player set to start in February.

North Melbourne narrowly missed on poaching Geelong boss Brian Cook and was linked to Adrian Anderson after his sudden departure from the AFL this month.

Dilena, 45, was a former senior partner at KPMG and is on North Melbourne's board.

"We were looking for someone with great leadership skills, senior management experience, a comprehensive understanding of the football industry and someone who also appreciates the unique culture of our club," Roos president James Brayshaw said.

"Carl has been a senior partner with one of the world's biggest professional services firms, played football at the highest level, has been a member of our Board for the past five years and has chaired the club's finance and audit committee.


"He comes to us with an impressive skill-set and we couldn't be happier to announce his appointment."

Dilena played 33 games with the Roos and Fitzroy between 1989-92.

The Roos have been searching for a new chief executive since Eugene Arocca resigned in June.

Cameron Vale, the Roos chief financial officer, has been serving as interim chief executive but was told last month he would not be handed the permanent position.


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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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Footy - simply irresistible

Catch me if you can: Sydney's Nick Malceski runs up the field after kicking the winning goal in the Grand Final. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

FOOTBALL writer Warwick Green charts a vintage year in the AFL will be remembered mostly as a year of consolidation for the league.

YEAR TO REMEMBER
GOLD Coast skipper Gary Ablett reinforced his status as the league's premier footballer, while Essendon skipper Jobe Watson had his own ripping season recognised on Brownlow night.

Others to have memorable years included Swan Ryan O'Keefe, who had a career highlight when handed a Norm Smith as well as a premiership medal, and veteran Saint Jason Blake, who finally cracked it for a Brownlow vote in his 210th AFL game.

But 2012 will be remembered as the year two footballers came of age.

Richmond star Trent Cotchin, long-touted as the next gun midfielder, arrived at that destination. The silky game-breaker won the AFL coaches award, was equal-second in the Brownlow and was Tigers club champion.

Down at Geelong, Tom Hawkins looked like his performance in the 2011 Grand Final was the catalyst for taking his game to another level. This season he has emerged as one of the best power forwards in the AFL, taking games by the scruff of the neck and performing under pressure.

He finished with more marks inside 50 than any other player and was second to Travis Cloke in contested marks. He won the Cats best-and-fairest and at 24 may look back on 2012 as the year he joined the elite bracket.

Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin had a difficult year on and off the field. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun


YEAR TO FORGET

THE season was a shocker for players such as Luke Ball, Mark LeCras, Gary Rohan and Robbie Gray, who all missed a great chunk of games because of injury.

Then there were those whose form tapered. Brent Moloney went from winning Melbourne's best-and-fairest and polling 19 Brownlow votes last year to struggling to get a senior game and being traded to Brisbane.

Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin stalled in his development, was panned for his off-field behaviour, and had a club-imposed suspension for missing training.

But the standout in this category would have to be Carlton star Chris Judd. His output and influence was not at the stellar standards of previous seasons, and he played in just seven wins, the fewest of any season in his 11-year AFL career.

Judd was also heavily criticised and suspended for a month after his controversial "chicken-wing" tackle on North Melbourne's Leigh Adams in Round 16.

Since the Grand Final, he has had the AFL pull the plug on his third-party sponsorship deal with Visy, and has stepped away from the Blues captaincy.

GOOD WORK
IT was largely a year of consolidation for the AFL after a hectic 2011 in which the league introduced Gold Coast, negotiated a new broadcast rights deal, renewed its contract with major sponsor Toyota and finalised the collective bargaining agreement with the players.

No doubt 2012 will be remembered as the year Greater Western Sydney joined the competition. That process was handled relatively smoothly and successfully.

The Giants were at pains to state they should not be judged by the scoreboard alone, which is just as well, although the team did manage two wins and impressed with a hard-at-it brand of football.

Giants players train at team's new home ground of Skoda Stadium in Sydney. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: Herald Sun


The quest for off-field success and credibility looms as a tougher task, though.

In October, the AFL Commission did well to resist pressure to further alter the interchange bench rules. The laws of the game committee recommended capping rotations at 80, but the AFL took a cautious approach, opting to have a look at an interchange cap in the NAB Cup only.

It suggests the AFL is consulting more with coaches and players, who were largely opposed to the cap.

One decision the AFL undeniably got right was its choice of acts for the Grand Final entertainment.

Admittedly, the league was coming from a low base after Meatloaf's diabolical performance last year, but the decision to engage proven Australian acts Paul Kelly (pre-match) and Temper Trap (halftime) made sense.

The concept of sending the musicians and players back on to the MCG turf after the match for a free "Premiership Party" looked an innovation with merit and worth repeating.

NOT SO GOOD
THE drawn-out investigation into Melbourne Football Club began in July after former Demon Brock McLean reignited the issue on Fox Footy's On The Couch. McLean suggested "you would have to be blind Freddy" not to realise that winning was a low priority for the Demons back in 2009.

For the best part of a decade the AFL had steadfastly maintained that tanking did not exist, despite a wide-held belief that clubs near the foot of the ladder each August engaged in a race to the wooden spoon.

Nevertheless at the start of the year the league decided to scrap the contentious priority pick system that many considered the main incentive to under-achieve.

Having weathered years of carping, it seemed extraordinary that in the very season it changed the system the AFL would choose to poke at an old wound by asking its integrity department to examine how Melbourne performed three years ago.

Five months later and there is still no resolution.

The suspicion is the AFL may have painted itself into a corner. Can it definitively prove Melbourne instructed players or coaches not to win? And if so, is it time to broaden the investigation?

You suspect the only way the AFL can extract itself is to say it thoroughly scrutinised the Demons and found no damning evidence. Then hope that football can put the word "tanking" behind it and never speak its name again.

Tom Hawkins celebrates with his teammates after kicking the winning goal after the siren to continue Hawthorn's run of outs against the Cats. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun


THE MOMENT

AS always, a season of elite Australian football produces numerous spectacular goals and marks.

Consider these goals: Collingwood snatching a one-point win on Anzac Day after a late Jarryd Blair toe-poke; Tom Hawkins extending Geelong's winning streak against Hawthorn with a composed 55m effort on the siren; Brock McLean's long-range ping to give Carlton a late-season win against Richmond; and, Chris Yarran's running goal in the opening round against Richmond.

Then there was the added drama of league convert Karmichael Hunt marking a brilliant Brandon Matera pass with three seconds to play and coolly slotting home the post-siren shot to secure Gold Coast's first win of the season, against the Tigers.

When it came to exciting marks, Jeremy Howe's brilliant hanger against Sydney was the finest of about half a dozen the Demon pulled in this year.

For individual brilliance, it's also hard to go past Lance Franklin's 13.4 performance against North Melbourne in Launceston.

But the most significant moments of the season are usually found in the most significant match, the Grand Final, and two stand out from Sydney's triumph over Hawthorn.

The moment that set the tone for the day was a courageous act by Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery in the first term.

Hannebery found himself under a floating kick and, as he explained after the match, "I heard the call: 'You've got to go Hanners' and I went".

He hung on to the mark despite simultaneously being crunched by Hawk ruckman David Hale, who is 22kg heavier and 20cm taller.

The defining image of the premiership decider, however, came in the final minute.

Defender Nick Malceski had already snapped a ripper from the boundary in the opening quarter.

With 45 seconds remaining in the match and four points the difference Malceski was on the end of a short handball from Hannebery, and instinctively hooked a high left-foot snap from 30m.

It sailed through, prompting TV commentator Dennis Cometti to immediately declare: "Sydney are premiers!"

The sight of the bearded defender wheeling away at full pace and leaping into the arms of Ted Richards, where he was swamped by teammates, will endure for years to come.

PROJECT 2013
UNQUESTIONABLY, the AFL's highest priority will be to further consolidate its expanded competition.

The league has invested $220 million in its two new clubs to underwrite them for six years. The objective will be to emerge from that period with 18 profitable football clubs.

Equally, those clubs need to field teams that are at the very least competitive.

This year, there were 15 games in which the result was by 95 points or more, and six of those games did not involve the Giants or Suns. If that trend was to continue, there would be worries that the league had spread itself too thin.

Sisters Prue and Phoebe McCormack, of Bellerive, take their Kangaroos mascot to North Melbourne's first AFL game in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones Source: The Mercury


The AFL will also closely watch what happens with North Melbourne in Tasmania - the Roos tried unsuccessfully for a seven-games-a-year deal in Hobart before settling on two home games - and the first overseas game for premiership points, when St Kilda hosts Sydney in New Zealand on Anzac Day.

But that's all big-picture, long-term stuff.

In the coming months, some pressing issues need resolving.

Clubs, players and administrators will be represented at a forum next month to discuss the illicit drugs policy. Some industry insiders believe the system needs to be tweaked to improve players' off-field behaviour.

The AFL is to be praised for being prepared to open up the conversation rather than close its ears to the possibility of an improved approach.

Also, expect there to be concerns raised during the season about whether the match review panel and the video score review system need fine tuning.


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Nowhere to hide for GWS players

Spare a thought for Greater Western Sydney players before you dig into your slice of Christmas pudding this year. You might be able to rest up on the couch afterwards, but not the Giants who each have a detailed training schedule they must adhere to irrespective of where they happen to be in Australia. Source: Herald Sun

THE GWS Giants have taken Big Brother to a new level. Gone are the days when a Christmas break meant a real holiday for elite footballers.

Gone are the days when players could slacken off from training on holidays and get away with it. There is no hiding it any more.

Giants players will be wearing state-of-the-art GPS watches at all times when they train during their two-week Christmas break with every detail of their training recorded into a program that can be seen by coaches and teammates.

Heart rate, speed, distance, terrain and weather are measured by the Garmin GPS watches that are now all but standard in the AFL.

"This year I was travelling around the world. I was in Delhi and I was watching what our players were doing in training," GWS head of performance John Quinn said.

"I could send them an email saying, 'How come you haven't done this?' It's keeping them honest.

"I guess what we've been able to do with the Giants is make that world a bit smaller. Even when the players go away, to keep track of them and keep them motivated to keep working.

"We have a system where everybody is held accountable."

So before you tuck into your Christmas Day feast, spare a thought for the Giants with no way of getting out of training on their holiday.

They each have a detailed personal exercise routine and they are expected to follow it.

Long distance running, sprints, weights and football skills. Memberships at Fitness First gyms across the country have been organised for them. There are no excuses.

Just because most of the players are still teenagers doesn't mean they are allowed to act like it.

The coaching staff see them as professional footballers and professionalism is demanded.

Equally important as the accountability is being able to monitor the players' training loads.

The Giants' sports science team will speak to every player two or three times over the next two weeks to give them feedback on how they are meeting their targets, saying they had to tell players to stop training too hard during their end-of-season breaks.

"We have to tell them, 'Don't get carried away', because they do," Quinn said.

"They're professional athletes, but at the end of the day they are also people and they've got to have balance in their life.

"We've pushed them as hard as we could possibly push them and now we get two weeks where the intensity comes off and then we build it up again when they get back.

"We're only about 90 days away from our first game so it's not that far to go and we've got to get them ready for it.

"They've certainly all lifted to a new level and I think they're more settled in Sydney. So yes, I am excited about what we're doing and I can see that we're only going to be going forward."


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Catch 22: Footy Christmas

Tony Shaw meets a Santa seemingly dressed by Collingwood fans. Source: Herald Sun

IT'S THE ONE time of year when even the AFL and the footy clubs are happy to put the feet up and let cricket take the spotlight.

It's the time of year when football slips out of the media and is replaced by a Test cricketer sitting on Santa's knee asking for Boxing Day Test win. Or a touring English cricketer celebrating the festive season by donning a fancy dress outfit. Or a veteran Aussie batsman cuddling his daughter as he hands her a present from under the Christmas tree.

But fear not, for all you footy tragics who get withdrawal symptoms at this time of year, we've delved into the vault and collated 22 photographs with a Christmas-football theme.

Have yourselves a very footy Christmas.

Click HERE to see the gallery.

If you have any names you think should be there, post a suggestion to twitter.com/wgreenheraldsun


 


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2012 countdown: Top 10 rivalries

Geelong players mob Tom Hawkins after the power forward steered the Cats to victory against Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

GEELONG and Hawthorn played out two classics but was the feud between former Collingwood allies Eddie McGuire and Mick Malthouse the biggest rivalry of the season?

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.

We kicked off the series last week 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.

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

Did we get it right? Leave a comment below

10. Mullet Wars: Maric v Walker
What started as a bit of fun between ex-teammates quickly turned into one of the most talked about do's in the game. The Mullet Wars, featuring Tiger Ivan Maric and Crow Taylor Walker dominated the headlines, the former claiming line honours with his more rugged, wild man mullet. Big Ivan also fired a shot across Walker's bow during the season, claiming the Crow forward had spent a bit of time "grooming" his look. Maric said his mullet was a long-term proposition. "It hasn't crossed my mind to cut it off…my plan is long term," he told SEN in May.


9. Tom Scully v Melbourne
Melbourne fans did little to hide their disappointment when Demon defector Tom Scully suited up for the first time against his old side as a GWS Giant. Scully was welcomed back onto the hallowed MCG turf with fans holding up money bags and "$cully" and "Juda$" emblazoned banners for the Round 13 clash. But the No.1 draft pick handled himself with aplomb, helping himself to 19 disposals including five tackles in the Giants 78-point loss.

8. Alastair Clarkson v MCG coaches box wall

Frustration got the better of Clarkson when he slammed an open hand through a wall in an MCG coaches box after Hawthorn leaked a late goal to nemesis Collingwood in Round 17. Clarkson was responding to an error which Magpie Chris Tarrant seized upon to cut the margin to 16 points at the first break. The premiership coach put his hand through the wall, leaving a chunk of plaster missing and a gaping hole in his wake. Channel 7 cameras captured Clarkson's wild moment of madness but Mick Malthouse defended the action, saying only those in the caper understood the frustration some player errors caused. Clarkson agreed to fork out the cost of repairs.

FoxSports Source: Fox Sports

FoxSports Source: Fox Sports


7. Clarkson v junior football umpire
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson copped a reality check in July when he was banned for four weeks after verbally abusing a junior football umpire. The ban stemmed from an incident in which it was alleged Clarkson, who was acting as the runner for his son's U9 team, told a 19-year-old umpire's adviser to "F--- off" when the official told him to stop coaching players on the ground. Clarkson accepted full responsibility and said he had been left humiliated and disappointed by his actions at the South Metro Junior Football League game. "I got myself involved in a situation, with my profile and experience from the game, that I should have known better," he said at the time. "I should have pulled myself out of that situation or handled myself better in that situation." Clarkson will miss the first four games of his son's 2013 SMJFL season.

6. Mick Malthouse v Brett Ratten
Brett Ratten was confident of keeping his job. Mick Malthouse was happy being a media commentator. That was until Carlton did the unthinkable and lost to Gold Coast. The Suns pounced on the Blues, kicking the first six goals of the match, to set up a memorable 12-point victory at Metricon Stadium in Round 22. The shock loss sparked Blues chiefs into a round-table at the Malthouse residence. Days later, Ratten oozed class during his Visy Park swansong, thanking the club for the opportunities it had given him as a player and coach. Two weeks later and Malthouse was endorsed as Blues coach at an at-times fiery press conference. Malthouse remained adamant his first met with the Blues hierarchy after the loss to the Suns, despite speculation the takeover had been on the cards for some time. "There are going to be those naysayers saying that (the first meeting) happened before (last Monday)," he told the media scrum. "I have no doubt there are doubts about that."


5. Hawthorn v Sydney
Hawthorn drew first blood. But Sydney landed the knock out blow as the Swans went on to secure a fourth flag. Ryan O'Keefe starred in both games (Round 22 and Grand Final) with a combined total of 58 disposals, 27 tackles and five goals. Lance Franklin (seven goals in two games) and ball magnet Josh Kennedy (61 possessions, three goals) also made the most of their opportunities. Hawthorn leads the head-to-head ledger 6-4 over the past 10 matches.
4. The Weapon v Essendon player's hamstrings
The Weapon was the talk of Windy Hill during 2012 when the bulk of Essendon's list was cut down by soft-tissue injuries. The Bombers struggled to field their best side for much of the season, with Michael Hurley, Nathan Lovett-Murray and David Zaharakis among the worst affected by hamstring and quadriceps strains. The Bombers had more than 25 soft-tissue injuries for the season, Hurley tweaking his hamstring on three separate occasions.  Despite the apparent crisis, Essendon stuck by its man - the Weapon – writing off the injuries to heavy pre-season workload aimed at preparing the young Bombers for a tilt at the flag.

3. Travis Cloke v Collingwood
It was one of the longest contract negotiations in AFL history. But Collingwood got its man when power forward Travis Cloke inked a new four-year deal worth an estimated $4m. The negotiations coincided with Cloke's dramatic form slump and caused coach Nathan Buckley to accuse the forward of damaging his and the club's "brand". Cloke was sought after by as many as six clubs including Fremantle, Adelaide and Carlton.


2. Hawthorn v Geelong
As far as rivalries go, it doesn't get any bigger than Hawthorn and Geelong. The Hawks have lost nine on-the-trot to the Cats since their shock win in the 2008 Grand Final. Big Cat Tom Hawkins was the difference in 2012. The power forward slotted six against the Hawks in Round 19, including one after the siren for a thrilling two-point victory. Tomahawk was again prominent in Round 2, kicking three goals as the Cats went on to record another two-point win despite trailing the Hawks going into the final change. James Podsiadly stood tall with five goals, while skipper Joel Selwood almost knocked himself out crashing into Hawk Brendan Whitecross' legs late in the game. Kennett's Curse, hoodoo, call it what you like… watch out when these two renew pleasantries in Round 1, 2013.

1. Malthouse v McGuire
Hard to see Mick Malthouse getting a Christmas card from Eddie McGuire after a series of 2012 tongue-lashings between the former Collingwood allies. Malthouse re-ignited the feud after the Magpies Round 3 loss, claiming the players weren't responding to Nathan Buckley's style. McGuire hit back, urging Malthouse to "move on" and "give Bucks a go". The pair also butted heads during the Travis Cloke saga and Brett Ratten's departure from Carlton.

Follow Gilbert Gardiner on Twitter @gilbert0408


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Guy urges Suns to maintain rage

Written By Unknown on Senin, 17 Desember 2012 | 23.27

Ahead of the pack? Gold Coast players Matthew Warnock and Jared Brennan take part in a training drill. Picture: Richard Gosling Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

ALL Gold Coast players may want for Christmas is a break from a gruelling pre-season schedule, but coach Guy McKenna doesn't want his Suns taking things too easily.

McKenna believes his squad is "about two weeks" ahead of many of their AFL rivals going into the Christmas break after an intense pre-season aimed at improving his young team's ability to contest physically during matches.

That's why Suns captain Gary Ablett is going to inform his teammates not to be too merry over the next fortnight and threaten to relinquish their hard-earned advantage.

McKenna said the two-time premiership winner will address players before they break up at the end of the week to emphasise the importance of not taking things too easily away from the scrutiny of the club's coaches.

"Our scouts say a lot of the other clubs have been a bit cautious, possibly gentle even, leading into Christmas," McKenna said.

"Gary Ablett's going to talk the group at some stage and over that break it might be a mental break if you like but it's not going to be a physical one.

"If we are one or two weeks ahead of some of the other teams, let's stay ahead of them."

McKenna said he's feeling no extra pressure following the club's public statement that they want to win a premiership by the end of the 2015 campaign.

He says the statement by chairman John Witheriff is not out of line with his own ambitions and if the club isn't moving forward McKenna will be the one held accountable.

"I think we were 0-8 and I got re-signed," he said.

"I'm pretty much a logical person and understand the game well enough that if we're 0-8 come the next contract re-negotiation, I don't think I'd be here.

"The boys understand the job's on and they're certainly relishing the challenge."


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Little Libba fit and firing

Tom Liberatore is letting his legs do the talking during the Western Bulldogs' pre-season training. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

WAYWARD Bulldog Liberatore is using the training track to win back his teammates' respect and trust, club veteran Daniel Giansiracusa says.

Liberatore was found drunk and carrying an ecstasy tablet in King St in August, and while he avoided criminal charges, he received a four-match club-imposed suspension, was temporarily banished from the club and was ordered to get a job.

Until that point, Liberatore had been one of the Bulldogs' shining lights in a disappointing season, averaging 20 disposals and finishing seventh in the club's best and fairest award, despite missing games as a result of the suspension.

Giansiracusa said the son of Bulldogs Brownlow Medal winner Tony Liberatore had returned to pre-season fit and firing, and was starting to repair the damage done that night.

"Obviously it was a bit of a wake-up call for him," Giansiracusa said.

"He went through some pretty tough times in that four-week period and then over the break, but he's back, he's training really well and he's fitted back into the group fantastically well.

"He's seems really committed to sort of getting the respect back of the group. He's a great player and he's going to come through it well."


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Onballers take Lion's share of heat

Lions champ Simon Black is no certainty to line up in the season opening clash after undergoing knee surgery. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss says he is pleased his incumbent midfielders are feeling the heat on two fronts.

With injured veteran Simon Black no certainty to be available for round 1 of the AFL premiership season, Voss's onballers are rising to face the challenges of the sweltering pre-Christmas weather and competition for their positions.

Daniel Rich, Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden and Andrew Raines have been making the most of their final training sessions at Coorparoo ahead of a two-week Christmas break.

Despite the humidity, the players charged into one another during opposed drills, a pleasing sign for Voss who had been hoping his players would respond to the injection of former Demon Brent Moloney.

"That was the intended plan," Voss said.

"We've got a list that has to challenge for their spot.

"It puts a rocket under them and what you notice is they're really propelling each other."

Voss said third-year player Claye Beams was another midfielder who was heaping more pressure on the established ball winners with an intense pre-season.

Raines and Moloney are the most experienced onballers on the training track after Black had surgery last week on his knee.

Initial predictions were for Black to make a training comeback by the end of January and a cameo appearance during the NAB Cup. But Voss said the former skipper could be in a race against time and his ageing body to be ready by the round 1 game on March 31, away to Western Bulldogs.

"The surgery doesn't change his actual timeline. But obviously we would like more time for him to feel good about his pre-season," Voss said.

The coach is confident that dealing with Black's knee now will enable the team to see more of the three-time club champion next season.


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Goddard's leading role at Bomberland

Mover and shaker: Essendon recruit Brendon Goddard has be chosen to join the eight-man leadership group at Windy Hill. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

STAR Essendon recruit Brendon Goddard has wasted no time stamping his authority on his new club and will today be elevated to the leadership group.

And in a pointer to the future, 20-year-old Dyson Heppell will also be named as one of the club's new leaders.

Goddard, Heppell and Jason Winderlich will join this year's leaders Jobe Watson, Heath Hocking, Brent Stanton, David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley in the eight-man group.

The only player to drop out of the 2012 rotation is the retired Mark McVeigh.

Goddard made the controversial switch from St Kilda to Essendon in October before heading to Colorado with a small band of fellow midfielders for a training camp last month.

Players took a leadership vote a fortnight ago and were told of the results late last week.

Heppell said he had no hesitation in nominating Goddard.

"I hold him in high regard as a leader, even though he's been here only a couple of months," Heppell said.

"He's stepped in as if he's been here for 10 years.

"Obviously he's a fantastic player and clearly a good leader as well, so he'll be great for the group."

Heppell's leadership elevation continues what has been a staggering first two years in the AFL system.

The 2010 No.8 draft pick stormed to the Rising Star award last year and had just as good a season in 2012, playing 20 games. Heppell vowed his new leadership tag would not change the way he played.

"Hirdy (coach James Hird) certainly mentioned that throughout last year, just to not add any extra pressure on myself," he said.

"I think I'll just take my footy the same way as I have been and just really enjoy it.

"(Being a leader) is about being able to have more say amongst the group, I guess, and not being afraid to voice my opinion.

"I'm pretty excited, it's great. It was a bit unexpected, but certainly a massive honour."

Heppell said that it was important for him to act as a conduit between the club's younger and older players.

"It was me only a couple of years ago, so I know what it's all about," he said.

"It's important for me to be able to assist them in any way I can because I know exactly what they're going through. That's something I'll be taking pretty seriously."

Heppell said it would be an honour to captain the club one day, if given the chance.

"It's something you dream about as a kid. It'd be unbelievable, but it's a long way down the track, I reckon, if that is ever going to happen," he said.

SQUADRON LEADERS
Jobe Watson (c)
Heath Hocking
Brent Stanton
David Zaharakis
Michael Hurley
Brendon Goddard
Dyson Heppell
Jason Winderlich
 


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Tredrea backs double act at Port

Travis Boak, here tackling Luke Ball, and Brad Ebert could make a good captaincy combination at Port Adelaide. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

CLUB great Warren Tredrea says Port Adelaide should consider breaking with tradition and appoint dual captains for the first time.

With veteran skipper Dom Cassisi set to be replaced by a younger leader as the Power starts a new era under first-time coach Ken Hinkley, Tredrea said that with no standout replacement, the club should consider introducing the dual leadership model that has been so successful in Sydney.

The Swans, notably, have successfully employed joint skippers since 2006, with Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh leading them to this year's premiership.

Tredrea suggested that midfielders Travis Boak, 24, and Brad Ebert, 22, would make a good captaincy combination.

"I just think for where Port is at, having dual captains would make a lot of sense," Tredrea said.

"The dual model has worked unbelievably well in Sydney for many years and it's certainly something Port should give a lot of thought to.

"There's a lot of pressure on captains in this town in particular so if Port can share the responsibility among two players I think it would be a good, positive step ..."

Hinkley who has put the captaincy vacancy sign up at Alberton is understood to be open to the idea of appointing joint skippers.

Cassisi is highly respected for the work he has done as captain in the past four years but he has failed to lead the club to higher than 10th.

Hinkley said he was not expecting to make a call on the Power captaincy until February or March, after he has seen how the players performed and led at training and in pre-season games. The playing group will also have a say on leadership.

Football operations manager Peter Rohde said that appointing more than one captain would come up for discussion but that it had its drawbacks.

"We haven't got into those discussions yet because at the moment Dom is our captain and we want to see how the pre-season pans out," he said.

"But the first thing that comes to mind when you're talking about dual captains is who wears the No.1 (guernsey)? The tradition at this club is that the captain always wears No.1, so that will also come into our thinking.''

Port has had four captains since entering the AFL in 1997 Gavin Wanganeen (1997-2000), Matthew Primus (2001-05), Tredrea (2006-08) and Cassisi (2009-12).
 


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Tony Charlton passes away

Sports broadcaster Tony Charlton launches Fox Footy 2012 in this reflective video on AFL broadcasting

Tony Charlton, Channel Seven's first football commentator, has passed away. Picture: Lucy Swinstead. Source: Herald Sun

BROADCASTER Tony Charlton has been remembered as one of the best in the business - a man listened to and loved by thousands, but also someone always ready to lend an ear.

Football legends paid tribute to Charlton, whose voice became synonymous with the game.

He died early yesterday after a battle with bowel cancer. He was 83.

Veteran coach Kevin Sheedy said Charlton, an AFL Hall of Fame inductee, was a fantastic contributor.

"He was a marvellous communicator with all the fans," Sheedy said. "He was a master of the English language in many ways. People loved listening to him."

Fellow broadcaster and Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett said Charlton was one of the most liked men in the business.

"He was a person who always gave advice and tried to help with positive feedback," Bartlett said.

2011 AFL Hall Of Fame inductees James Hird, Mark Ricciuto, Nathan Buckley, Michael Voss and Tony Charlton. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

"He was a generous performer and that's what made him such a well-liked person. He seemed to be a person who always had an ear, who listened and watched and always gave generously in feedback."

AFL legend Ron Barassi said he and Charlton had shared a mutual respect.

"We are missing a wonderful person today," he said.

"It was not just what he said but it was how he said it, with his distinctive and unusual voice ... not one that grated, but one you wanted to hear."

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Charlton's contribution on radio and the early years of football on TV had helped build the game's popularity.

"(He) mixed both superb oratory and commentary skills with an ability to break news and tell the stories of our game," Demetriou said.

"Even nearly 50 years after his legendary interview with a just sacked (Melbourne coach) Norm Smith ... it remains compelling viewing."

MCC president Paul Sheahan described Charlton as selfless.

"His concern was always for others," he said.

"MCC members will fondly remember Tony for his class and commanding presence behind the microphone ... as one of the finest function hosts in the country."

Former premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett said Charlton had "a wonderful sense of humour and had a voice that resonated with the community".

Tony Charlton sat down with Mike Sheahan to discuss his life in sport in one of the great Open Mike interviews of 2012. Re-live some of the highlights.

Other highlights from his career include:

* For 30 years, MC in each Capital City of the Caltex Sports Star of the Year series. Many of these occasions were televised.

* 1988-2008 (incl) MC of the Prime Minister's Olympic Dinner.

* Presenter in Melbourne for over 25 years, of the Dawn Service and Anzac Requiem each Anzac Day.

* 7 Network commentator for the VP Day 50th anniversary coverage and presenter at the Shrine of the VE Day 50th anniversary ceremony and the VP Ecumenical Service.

* 2005 – member of the inaugural Government of Victoria Spirit of Anzac Prize tour (the Western Front).

* 2008 – Chairman, Organising Committee of the World Latin American Dancesport Championship.

FoxSports will air Mike Sheahan's Open Mike interview with Tony Charlton from July this year at 9pm AEDT tonight (and 9.30pm AEDT on FoxSports 2).


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Harto finds himself over handlebars

Brad Hartman emerges from the thick scrub in one piece and sporting a smile after a heavy stack. Pictures: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Going in fast: Hartman loses control of his mountain bike and tumbles over the handlebars at the bottom of a steep descent. Source: Herald Sun

IT was all downhill for Geelong draftee Brad Hartman at the Cats' training camp at the aptly named Falls Creek yesterday.

Hartman came to grief when he lost control of his mountain bike and tumbled over the handlebars after he locked the brakes and skidded at the bottom of a steep descent.

Fortunately only his pride was damaged.

Hartman quickly emerged from the bushes sporting a wide grin and continued riding uninjured.

The 18-year-old, who is 188cm and represented South Australia three times in basketball, was taken by Geelong at pick No.77 in last month's national draft.


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Scorpions turn a shade of Blue

The Casey Scorpions will be hoping new coach Rohan Welsh can produce some winning moves next season. Picture: Peter Ward Source: Herald Sun

VFL club Casey Scorpions has appointed former Carlton forward Rohan Welsh as its coach.

Welsh, 42, agreed to a part-time role last night after meeting Casey officials and Melbourne senior coach Mark Neeld. Casey is Melbourne's VFL-aligned club.

The Scorpions interviewed Welsh about the position three years ago, but he was unable to commit to what was then a full-time job.

Welsh played in Dandenong's 1991 VFA premiership and went on to 42 senior games with the Blues.
 


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Talia, Petrenko ahead of schedule

Adelaide Crow and Rising Star Daniel Talia after breaking his forearm against the Sydney Swans in the second qualifying final this year. Picture: Simon Cross Source: Herald Sun

KEY Crows Daniel Talia and Jared Petrenko are on track to be fit for the start of next season.

AFL Rising Star winner Talia has almost fully recovered from the broken forearm he suffered in Adelaide's qualifying final defeat to Sydney, while tough-tackling forward Petrenko has resumed light skills work after having his right shoulder reconstructed.

"They are both tracking really well and we'd expect them to be right for Round 1," Crows list manager David Noble said.

"They're not doing any competitive stuff yet because we don't want to risk any setbacks but their running and general fitness is very good.

"Overall we are very pleased with how their recoveries are going and at this stage we'd expect them to get some pre-season games under their belts."

Petrenko who had previously had his left shoulder reconstructed had been expected to miss Adelaide's opening premiership season match against Essendon at AAMI Stadium on March 22.

But he is a month ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.

"It's a lot better than I first thought," Petrenko told the club's website.

"It's usually a six-month rehabilitation but I'm looking to get back in five, which would be late February or early March.

"I was anticipating I'd miss all the NAB Cup, come back through the Eagles (in the SANFL) and possibly miss the start of the AFL season proper. Now I'm hoping to sneak in a couple of NAB Cup games.

"It still seems a long way away when I think about it, but it's looking a lot brighter than two months ago."

Petrenko, 23, dislocated his right shoulder in the Crows' semi-final win against Fremantle and took painkillers to get through the preliminary final defeat to Hawthorn.

"The damage to my shoulder was just enough to require surgery," he said.

"It wasn't a full-blown mess, so it didn't take as much work to repair."

Key defender Talia is taking part in all training except contact drills.

He must protect his rebuilt arm from a heavy hit until the end of January after having a large plate and nine pins inserted in the arm.

"I'm doing all the running and skills work. I just can't receive any direct contact because if it hits the exact spot where the bone was broken I might re-injure it," Talia, 21, said.

Talia who was a revelation in defence last season has spent the off-season improving his running. He said he was already ahead of where he was at the end of last pre-season when he was coming off an achilles injury.

The only other players in the Crows' rehabilitation group are Bernie Vince (shoulder), Luke Thompson (ankle) and Matthew Jasch (groin).

All three had minor end-of-season surgery but are expected to join in full training when the players resume training after Christmas on January 7.
 


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Malthouse's bruise-free Blues

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse and Eddie Betts after the talented small forward was made a life member with the Blues last night. Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON forward Eddie Betts has welcomed a no-tackling pre-season training policy designed to help avoid a repeat of last season's savage injury run.

Betts, who last night was made a Blues life member, praised the club for persevering with him despite some off-field setbacks.

He said he wanted to repay the club, declaring that under coach Mick Malthouse the Blues were capable of winning two premierships before he retired.

While tackling was a non-negotiable in-season, Betts said Malthouse had directed players to avoid heavy contact until the pre-season games began in February.

Betts said the strategy had left the players in their best physical condition.

"It's been pretty solid, training-wise, but Mick's a lot about getting everyone fresh and getting us all through pre-season not injured, (so) we don't tackle," Betts told the Herald Sun.

"If you want to play, you have to tackle (in games), he's certainly going down that line.

"(But) it's not worth training it (tackling) because it's a teammate and you play footy - you know how to tackle.

"Until January-February when we get into practice matches - that's when it will come out.

"Mick just wants everyone fresh because last year we had Waitey (Jarrad Waite) with a back injury; Luke Mitchell shoulder; Levi Casboult knee. Walks (Andrew Walker) did his ankle for the first four rounds last year, so we really had no talls.

"But everyone is holding up all right, and all the bodies are really fit and there is no injuries for the first time in a long time, which is really good."

Betts, 26, enjoyed a career-best season in 2012, kicking 48 goals and finishing second in the club's best-and-fairest award behind Heath Scotland.

He rated last night's honour as one of the highlights of his 166-game career, but said all the focus was on delivering on the team's potential under Malthouse next year.

With some experts questioning clubs' attitudes toward indigenous recruitment, Betts said he would be eternally grateful for Carlton's support.

"I thank them a lot. They did stick with me through a lot of stuff, being arrested in the last three years going out for some Christmas drinks, you learn a lot from that," he said.

"I was late for a few trainings down the track and they really stuck by me.

"It's pretty hard (at times). I've been here through two wooden spoons.

"Now we've built into a really good side and just sitting back watching last year in the Grand Final, you think, 'That could be us in the next couple of years'."


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