Tigers in no hurry to fill vacancy

Geelong football manager Neil Balme has been linked to the vacant job at Richmond. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND is likely to start the season without a football manager.

The Tigers have started their search, but are in no rush to appoint a replacement for Craig Cameron, who resigned this month to join the racing industry.

Respected Geelong football manager Neil Balme has been linked to the role.

Balme, a dual Richmond premiership player, refused to dismiss the rumours yesterday.

Asked if he could end speculation, Balme said: "You can say what you like."

It is known Richmond opposition analyst Wayne Campbell, who played 297 games for the Tigers, is a contender and has held talks with club chiefs about the job.

The Tigers are confident Cameron's shock departure - on the eve of the AFL season - will not have an impact on what shapes as a huge year for the club.

Richmond is considered a legitimate chance to play finals for the first time since 2001, when it lost a preliminary final to eventual premiers Brisbane Lions.

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Stevie J set to miss blockbuster

Best of mates? The field umpire asks Cats Steve Johnson and Hayden Ballantyne to cool it. Source: Getty Images

Geelong's Steve Johnson crunches Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne during their Round 1 NAB Cup match at Patersons Stadium. Source: Getty Images

STEVE Johnson is likely to become the latest Geelong star suspended for the Round 1 blockbuster against Hawthorn after being offered a one-match ban by the match review panel.

Johnson was charged with striking Fremantle antagonist Hayden Ballantyne in Geelong's NAB Cup loss to Fremantle on Saturday.

James Kelly is already ineligible for the Cats' season-opener after he was suspended for making forceful contact to Tendai Mzungu in last year's elimination final loss to Fremantle.

Geelong said last night they were yet to make a decision on whether to appeal Johnson's penalty, but history shows they rarely take cases to the tribunal.

The Cats would risk a two-match ban if they chose to fight the charge.

Johnson, looking to block for a teammate, was caught on camera delivering a swinging arm to the stomach of Ballantyne in the second half at Subiaco Oval.

The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), drawing 125 points and a one-match ban.Under new rules, players suspended during the pre-season must serve their ban during the season proper.

Johnson was already walking a tribunal tightrope, with an existing 80 carry-over points stemming from his one-match sanction for rough conduct against Sydney's Dan Hannebery in Round 23 last year.

Geelong coach Chris Scott denied after Saturday's game that there was any lingering ill-feeling from last year's heated Round 1 match against Fremantle, in which Ballantyne was suspended for striking Paul Chapman behind play, before he was punched in the face by Matthew Scarlett.

"I would be amazed (if there was still friction), none that I've seen. There tends to not be too much friction in NAB 1," Scott said.

But Scott appeared to have a dig at the Dockers goalsneak for staging.

"I didn't see what happened. I know (Ballantyne) was down for a long time," he said.

"I was more concerned with how quickly he got up and set up the next goal, he didn't look too bad did he?"

Hawthorn hasn't beaten Geelong since the 2008 Grand Final, a sequence of nine matches.

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Drugs, sex in footy film

North Melbourne great Glenn Archer says the movie delivers a strong and important message. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Actor Jack Thompson in his memorable role in the 1980 film "The Club". Source: Herald Sun

TONIGHT'S premiere of the first film on Aussie rules since The Club in 1980 will broach controversial subjects such as illicit drug use and under-age sex.

Blinder, starring Jack Thompson, was shot around Torquay.

Former North Melbourne footballers Glenn Archer and Sam Kekovich, along with ex-Carlton rover Adrian Gleeson, are executive producers.

Archer said there was a minimal amount of drug use that results in a sexual indiscretion between a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old footballer.

"There is an important story in the end to say if you take drugs, s--- can happen," Archer said.

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Crows want night football

Aiden Riley tries to cool down with a wet towel over his head on Sunday at AAMI Stadium. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson is favouring a return to night football in the AFL pre-season to protect players from the danger of summer heat.

Sanderson left the oppressive sweatbox of AAMI Stadium on Sunday - where the Crows, Port Adelaide and St Kilda were asked to play in temperatures reaching 38.7C - questioning why the NAB Cup was not played as night games spread from Fridays to Mondays in February and March.

"We probably should play all games at this time of the year at night, but it is not great for the broadcasters, is it?" said Sanderson.

"Play Friday, Saturday, Sunday and maybe Monday nights in the pre-season - all night games. Thursday night even."

This adds to the debate sparked by the AFL not invoking a heat policy at West Lakes where the 20/20 tripleheader on Sunday started at 4.10pm - the hottest point of the day.

The expectation of the 20-minute halves being reduced by two-and-a-half minutes was batted away by the AFL which, according to St Kilda coach Scott Watters, offered each team two extra water carriers to care for the players.

"We have to have a close look at the heat policy," says Watters.

"The only adjustment was two extra water carriers.

"Our players were under a fair bit of pressure in the second half. We tried our best to rotate them, but when you're playing in that sort of heat it's testing, particularly for younger players."

The evolution of the NAB Cup from a night series to a pre-season competition with games - even the final - played during the day has been forced by broadcasting needs and the AFL's push from city centres to country venues, many of which do not have floodlighting suitable for AFL night games.

The AFL, which loses money on the pre-season series, also is seeking to minimise costs.

The 4.10pm start to the triple-header at West Lakes on Sunday allowed St Kilda to leave Adelaide before the airport curfew and saved the AFL the cost of booking the Saints in a hotel for an overnight stay.

But the cost of player welfare is now difficult for the AFL to ignore as clubs question the safety of playing pre-season games under a summer sun.

Port Adelaide is at risk of being cooked in its next two NAB Cup games - at Renmark against Melbourne at 4pm on Sunday week and at Alice Springs against West Coast at 7pm on March 9.

Power football operations chief Peter Rohde yesterday declared his concerns for his club's players.

"It's going to be difficult to manage if you've got really hot weather in Renmark and Alice," he said.

"When the draw came out, we were disappointed we were playing in regional towns twice in a row - and then add in the hot weather.

"The real issues are going to come in the next few weeks when you're only allowed three interchange players and the substitute (rather than six on the bench as on Sunday) - and then have a cap on just 20 rotations a quarter."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley yesterday urged the AFL to re-think capping rotations in the NAB Cup.

"I can understand the AFL's want to gather information about the cap on rotations and try to make it as realistic as possible with a three and one interchange bench," he said.

"But if we're playing in 35-degree-plus conditions, whether it's Collingwood or any other team, I think there's a duty of care to the playing group to make sure that we shuffle things a little bit to make sure players aren't under undue duress at this stage of the season in particular."

The NAB road tour of the Australian countryside also deprives AFL teams the state-of-the-art medical facilities they have at their city venues.

These were critical for Adelaide in dealing with their players after their 20/20 opener against St Kilda while waiting for the "Summer Showdown" clash against the Power.

While the Port players were under a scorching sun facing the Saints, the Crows were in a perfect recovery program in their multi million-dollar facility at West Lakes.

"It suited us having the break," said Sanderson, noting how both St Kilda and Port wilted during their second 20/20 games.

"With the conditions, we had the advantage here with our changerooms to put our players in the cold baths and the pool so the players could at least cool off, have a shower and change jumpers."

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Aker: Take drug claims seriously

Jason Akermanis says the Brisbane Lions are wrong to instantly dismiss claims that six players at the club in the past decade were heavy users of drugs. Picture: Darren McNamara Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Lion Jason Akermanis has urged Brisbane to fully investigate claims that six players at the club in the past decade were heavy users of drugs.

Brisbane yesterday distanced itself from claims by Ash McGrath's cousin Jason McGrath, a confessed drug dealer, that six Lions were heavy users of speed, ecstasy and marijuana over a period spanning 2002-09.

Akermanis said the Lions were wrong to instantly dismiss the claims.

"People say he is a drug dealer, but if you are a drug dealer you generally know who you are giving the drugs to,'' said Akermanis, who played for the Lions between 1995-2006.

"Who knows who is in his little black book? But you have to be really careful not to just dismiss it straight away.

"That can be the worst thing that can happen.

"I would be more than happy for Jason (McGrath) to expose any player, but he will probably go into hiding and nothing will come of it.

"Come show us the facts and we will happily deal with it.

"You see what you see even though you might not know everything that is going on.

"There are elements of truth that if they are serious they need to uncover.

"Six years ago I was saying things like this (about drug use among AFL players at the time) are going on. Six years later, the ACC (Australian Crime Commission) come out with some air, but it does suggest that some very shady characters are now involved.

"If they had just listened six years ago ...

"The AFL have been telling people for so long that nothing is going on. They didn't do the work."

Akermanis believes the AFL should also investigate Jason McGrath's claims that the Lions fixed a match, although he did not believe it was possible to do so.

"We went through eras when we seem to be winning every game," he said.

"It is impossible to fix a game of football.

"It may have been linked to exotic bets like first goals and stuff like that. Clearly he believes things were happening and games were being manipulated."

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Ink the link for Garlett

Carlton forward Jeff Garlett wants to spend time in the midfield. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

THERE is a new man in Jeff Garlett's life, someone who has fast-tracked his maturity after an indifferent 2012.

Garlett, 23, admits the addition to his circle of trust has "changed my life and there are times when I just can't find the right words to say how I feel about him".

So he ordered a tattoo on his inner left forearm to honour his inspiration.

And it doesn't read "Malthouse" after a coach Garlett said had already changed Carlton.

For Garlett it is all about his one-year-old son Nason, who has just mastered "dad-da".

"He means everything to me and I love him so much. He has helped me grow up because now I'm responsible for him as well," Garlett said.

"I had some injury problems and stuff last year, but now I'm ready to go and we have moved on as a club. We are very happy and very healthy right how and there is heaps of talent at Carlton."

Ready to go under Mick Malthouse, someone Garlett knows is a supporter of indigenous talent.

"Most Aboriginal boys are shy so it's good to know the coach is there for you no matter who or what you are. Otherwise you can go into your shell," he said.

"We all know exactly what he wants to get out of us."

Garlett retreated into his shell last year (29 goals) after 48 goals in 2011.

He knows the percentages are reduced when playing as a small forward. He has already discussed with Malthouse the chance to play in the midfield.

"He did say that I would be in the midfield a bit more to help give our mids a rest and get a bit of extra run," Garlett said.

"Any opportunities I get to go in centre bounces I will take because it sort of takes a bit of pressure off - you can push back to help the backmen."

Assistant coach John Barker said Garlett would succeed if he could be consistent in training.

"He is searching for that consistency, on the track, in the gym, in his prep work," Barker said.

"The talent is there, no doubt about that.

"We think he can be electric around the ground, with his speed combined with a reasonable tank.

"He can get up and get out the back of opposition defences when they squeeze too hard.

"That type of speed is hard to counter because opposition defences are so keen to get up and control you in their half."

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Ray of hope for Dons

Playing on: After accounting for the Bulldogs on Friday, the Bombers will again be looking to take their minds off the drugs inquiry when they face Richmond on Saturday week. Picture: Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON players could be cleared of sanctions for any violation of the World Anti-Doping Agency code by proving they were not aware they were taking illegal substances.

The club believes its players did not take any non-WADA approved substances, but they could have unwittingly been given illegal peptides by sports scientist Stephen Dank.

The WADA code and the AFL's Anti-Doping Code both have a section on "exceptional circumstances".

Legal experts believe the case of Ukrainian rower Olena Olefirenko in 2004 could be relevant to the Essendon players.

Olefirenko tested positive to the stimulant ethamivan at the Athens Olympics, but was able to prove her team doctor administered it without her knowing it was on the banned list.

She lost her bronze medal, but was not banned from future Olympics.

WADA's rule 10.5.1 discusses the principle of "No Fault or Negligence", and is based on athletes proving beyond doubt they did not know what they were being given by sports scientists or doctors.

If an athlete can prove "in an individual case that he or she bears no fault or negligence, the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility shall be eliminated".

In other words, any future ban can be wiped or dramatically reduced.

While a potential mitigating factor, WADA warns the law is meant to have an impact "only in cases where the circumstances are truly exceptional and not in the vast majority of cases".

Sportspeople can have sanctions reduced rather than wiped completely, although WADA warns that "athletes are responsible for their choice of medical personnel and for advising medical personnel that they cannot be given prohibited substances".

Essendon players were given a log of substances they took under Dank, with players signing consent forms.

The Bombers are also facing an AFL-ASADA investigation for the manner in which substances were administered, with intravenous infusions banned in almost all circumstances under the AFL Anti-Doping Code.

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Full whack for Bailey, Connolly

Heavy penalty: Dean Bailey (above) and Chris Connolly will each be barred from working in the AFL for several months. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Melbourne coach Dean Bailey and his football lieutenant Chris Connolly will be forced to serve the full term of bans for tanking.

The Herald Sun last night confirmed the AFL had rejected a bid to have part of their sentences suspended.

Bailey and Connolly will each be barred from working in the AFL for several months. The pair will become the face of tanking with Melbourne chief executive Cameron Schwab appearing to have escaped sanction in the seven-month probe.

The AFL Commission considered a report on the investigation into Melbourne's 2009 season at a meeting yesterday. Melbourne will be fined about $500,000 - but has been spared the loss of draft picks or premiership points.

Despite Melbourne's protests, it is believed the AFL have found the Demons were guilty of deliberately manipulating results.

Bailey, who is an assistant coach at Adelaide, has refused to comment since the investigation began.

He was sacked midway through 2011 and said at his final press conference: "I was asked to do the best thing by the Melbourne Football Club and I did it. I put players in different positions."

Bailey did not explain who asked him.

The AFL tanking investigation, led by chief integrity officer Brett Clothier, involved dozens of interviews with past and present Demons officials.

At the centre of the investigation was Melbourne's selection and game-day strategy during the contentious 2009 season.

Club insiders have claimed Bailey was under fierce internal pressure to lose games.

It was also alleged several club figures held a secret meeting in 2009 to plot their tanking strategy.

Connolly became a central figure after it was reported he reminded football officials about the importance of losing matches to improve the club's draft position.

He no longer works in Melbourne's football department but is employed by the club in marketing.

Matches scrutinised by the AFL included Melbourne's Round 17 loss to Sydney at Manuka Oval and the after-the-siren Round 18 loss to Richmond.

The tanking probe was triggered in July when Carlton midfielder and former Demon Brock McLean revealed on Fox Footy's On the Couch that a major reason for leaving Melbourne was its strategy of deliberately losing games.

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

There was no decision last night on a proposal to install integrity officers at every AFL club.

The commission was last night told new equalisation proposals were still being considered by clubs, several of which have criticised the so-called "rich tax".

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Players need to pressure AFL: Bucks

Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes tries to cool down at AAMI Stadium last Sunday. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley believes the AFL Players Association must pressure the league in coming days to make sure players are not exposed to undue duress in extreme heat during the NAB Cup.

Buckley suggested the AFL needed to be wary of putting its pre-season rules experiments, in particular "gathering information about the 3 and 1 interchange rotation", ahead of the players' welfare.

His comments came after Adelaide, Port Adelaide and St Kilda sweltered through 38-degree heat at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon, prompting Saints coach Scott Watters to call for "a close look at the heat policy".

Speaking at Healesville Sanctuary on Monday, as part of Collingwood's community camp in the region, Buckley said tweaking the policy "is probably something that the AFLPA will look at strongly over the next couple of days in particular".

"If we're playing in 35-plus-degree conditions, there's a duty of care to the playing group to make sure that we shuffle things a little bit to make sure players aren't under undue duress," Buckley said.

Clubs must trim their squads to 22 for the rest of the pre-season as the AFL's trial of a cap on interchange rotations takes effect.

They can make just 80 interchange rotations, 20 per quarter, under the experimental rule.

Buckley queried the relevance of taking statistics about interchange rotations during the extreme heat of the pre-season anyway.

"Moving the time of games is a consideration but I can understand the broadcasting relationship," he said.

"Adding players to the interchange bench, sometimes you need to say as much as we'd like to get this information, the conditions don't allow us to do that."

The AFL has scope to shorten quarters and extend breaks under its extreme heat policy.

Buckley said he was "sure the AFL and AFLPA will come to some arrangement and I'd be surprised if we didn't see some movement to support the welfare of players... In the end the thing that the AFL and the PA need to be commended for is that they have had the players' welfare at heart, and I think common sense will prevail."

Collingwood's next NAB Cup match against the Eagles is scheduled for 4.40pm in Perth on Sunday March 3.

He said the Magpies' two wins to begin their NAB Cup campaign on Friday night were "quite encouraging", and was unperturbed about the two-week break until the next match.

"We'll have a solid training session on Wednesday and probably some match simulation on Friday," he said.
Buckley believes the Magpies are well advanced in their preparations to this time 12 months ago.

"Clearly we believe the decisions we made on the trade table in our recruiting have us better placed," he said.

"We believe that we're in a position to contend for premierships right now and a lot of our decisions came with that in mind.

"We feel we're stronger and we feel we're deeper."

He said the club was relatively well placed on the injury front, with Dale Thomas (ankle), Alex Fasolo (foot), Tyson Goldsack and Luke Ball (knee) a chance to be back to full fitness by Round 1.

He expected tall backman Lachy Keeffe to return from a knee reconstruction a couple of months into the season.

Apart from the community camp in the Yarra Ranges, Buckley has just spent a few days in Mansfield with a dozen youngsters as part of the club's first-year players camp, which incorporated golf and hiking.
 

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Cover-up claim hits the Lions

Lions coach Michael Voss says there is no chance drug taking could have happened at the club in the years of his captaincy without his knowledge. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Brisbane Lions players with 2002 premiership cup. Picture: Jody Darcy Source: Herald Sun

EXPLOSIVE allegations have emerged that the reason for a Brisbane Lions player's absence from some games last decade was falsified to cover-up an illicit drug issue.

A former Lions staffer told The Courier-Mail a player missed specific matches in this period because of the illicit drugs issue.

It is just one of several allegations to emerge that have prompted the AFL to open an investigation into behaviours at the club between 2002 and 2009.

The AFL confirmed yesterday the league's integrity unit would investigate.

It follows claims by Jason McGrath, the cousin of premiership player Ash McGrath, that he was involved in match-fixing, illegal gambling and was a drug supplier to six Lions players from that period who were regular users of speed, ecstacy and marijuana.

The Courier-Mail revealed these claims yesterday and was then contacted by a former staffer who worked at the Lions for several years.

The ex-staffer said he could confirm many of Jason McGrath's allegations surrounding drug use.

Another former employee also made the revelation that while at the Lions he was told the reason for a player's absence from the side was a fabrication to cover up an issue with illicit drugs.

Last week AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou confirmed players in the AFL have been repeatedly forced to miss matches because of serious breaches of the league's illicit drug policy.

The Lions reacted angrily to the decision by The Courier-Mail to publish Jason McGrath's allegations.

"These claims from a 'self-confessed drug dealer' are completely unsubstantiated and do not deserve publicity," the Lions said in a statement.

"We have no reason to believe the word of a 'self-confessed drug dealer', but if anyone, including The Courier-Mail, has any evidence with regards to this, or any other matter, it should be referred to either the AFL integrity unit or the Queensland Police.''

AFL corporate affairs manager James Tonkin said the league had opened a probe into events at the club between 2002-09.

"We don't comment on unsubstantated claims, but the matter has been referred to the integrity unit,'' Tonkin said.

The AFL confirmed the League's integrity officer Brett Clothier will also investigate a 2003 game involving the Lions with regards to match-fixing claims.

The Lions received an irate phone call from the AFL in 2003 following the game.

The AFL's Integrity Unit was not established until 2008.

Lions chief executive Malcolm Holmes declined to return calls from The Courier-Mail  yesterday requesting further comment.

The Courier-Mail has alerted the AFL to the latest allegations, but have protected the identity of our sources.

It can be revealed that one person has made himself available for a confidential interview with the AFL's integrity unit and another is considering his position.

Other sources declined.

Last week, The Courier-Mail contacted several former players and staff in an attempt to interview about Jason McGrath's claims.

None of the sources had proof of any drug-taking, but each claimed they were aware of drug use by some or all of the players from the 2002-09 period mentioned by Jason McGrath.

Former Lions chairman Graeme Downie said he was unconcerned about the allegations.

"I never heard questions about any matches and I never heard any rumours of drugs during my time,'' Downie said.

Lions coach Michael Voss last night told Channel 7 there was no chance drug taking could have happened at the club in the years of his captaincy without his knowledge.

Voss captained Brisbane in each of their three premiership years in 2001-03 and until his retirement in 2006.

"You would know, when you are amongst the players, you would know,'' Voss said.

"If there is evidence to suggest that we would encourage you to go to the AFL integrity office or Queensland police.''

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