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Pies defy all odds to stun Roos

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 31 Maret 2013 | 20.11

North Melbourne goalsneak Lindsay Thomas faces a nervous wait with the match review panel after flooring Collingwood's Ben Reid with a big bump.

Brent Macaffer celebrates his goal in the last quarter Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

COLLINGWOOD has spent a hellish summer on the ropes, forced to defend its culture, its misbehaving stars and even its game plan.

Under extreme duress the Pies applied that pressure to their Round 1 rival, and the result was a victory for the ages.

A Collingwood side with no right to win - ravaged by late withdrawals and mid-match injuries - instead defied the odds to set the template for its season of redemption.

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The ''swarm'' is back, and on the limited sample size so is Collingwood, after a victory achieved despite the late withdrawals of Heath Shaw (gastro) and Dayne Beams.

The Pies played beautiful football through the poise of Scott Pendlebury, the silky finishing of Steele Sidebottom and the brutish strength of Travis Cloke.

North Melbourne V Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 31/3/13. Dane Swan Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

Yet they combined it with the grit and collective will to tackle that was so absent last year as their season ended with a whimper rather than a bang.

For a half of astonishingly high quality they traded blows with North Melbourne, but where the Roos wilted the Pies just turned the pressure gauge higher and higher.


War of words between Bucks and Scott

Seven minutes into the last term after six straight goals the Pies were 34 points up, yet also out on their feet.
With Ben Johnson (leg) subbed out, Ben Reid knocked out (by Lindsay Thomas) and the cramping Ben Sinclair long out of petrol tickets, a North Melbourne comeback was inevitable.


VIDEO: See Thomas's big bump on Ben Reid

But even Collingwood's ability to hold firm after North Melbourne's four straight goals turned a cakewalk into a nailbiter was a resounding positive.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley had spent the summer preaching that talent was not enough, and that lesson clearly fell on a willing congregation.

It might be Round 1 - with September over five months away - yet given the likes of Dale Thomas, Luke Ball and Alex Fasolo were also absent this was right up there with any win on Nathan Buckley's watch.

Only a week ahead of his clash with former mentor Mick Malthouse, his side's actions showed that if it was ever in doubt, this is very much his team.

Travis Cloke battled in a gripping one-on-one battle with Scott Thompson for four goals, the small forwards relentlessly chased and tackled, and Quinten Lynch (two goals) played his forward foil role perfectly to keep Cloke isolated.

Dane Swan's industrious game (31 touches) was capped by a strong defensive mark in the final moments, while Maxwell's stats camouflage a game full of spoils, smothers and one-percenters.

North Melbourne V Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 31/3/13. Clash of heads between Ben Reid and Lindsay Thomas saw Reid off with a bloody mouth and players in a scuffle after Scott Pendlebury tested Lindsay Thomas's Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Collingwood's stars might have been on fire, but the real winners were the kids and the recently acquired mature-agers that would not give up the fight.

Sam Dwyer has real dash and poise, Josh Frost was steady down back, and late inclusion Josh Thomas (seven clearances) turned the ball over early but then just got on with the job of winning it at the coal face.

For that exceptional first half it looked like North Melbourne were the exact replica of the side that took part in barnstorming run to last year's finals.

But if Daniel Wells, the mighty David Swallow and Ryan Bastinac were brilliant, the likes of Leigh Adams, Shaun Atley, Sam Wright, and Kieren Harper were content to be total passengers.

North Melbourne's night was summed up by the performance of Thomas, so effective with four first-half goals and then totally shut out by Alan Toovey.

That the Roos were able to close on the limping Pies was mostly due to Thomas, who took it upon himself to shepherd Reid as he chased Lachie Hansen.

The result was brutal, and the aftermath will be severe.

North Melbourne V Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 31/3/13. Nathan Grima battles with Travis Cloke Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

The head clash kept Reid out of the rest of the game, and Thomas was booed for the rest of the game despite the absence of malice.

Yet there is no doubt Thomas is in massive strife.

He initiated the contact so is responsible for it, has 88.75 carry-over points, and if the incident is graded intentional and high impact faces 550 more points before a guilty plea.

Now North will return to the drawing board without Thomas for as much as a month, aware that their last-term comeback was as empty as their win tally.

North Melbourne V Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 31/3/13. Ben Cunnington goal in the first quarter Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library


20.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dismal Dees booed off

The AFL's contentious score review system has again come under fire with two incidents in today's Melbourne-Port Adelaide clash at the MCG

Nathan Jones after the match Picture: Harman Stephen Source: HWT Image Library

SHELL-SHOCKED coach Mark Neeld was flummoxed; Wayne Carey said he'd "never been as disappointed in a team".

And before the tactical dissection of Melbourne's 79-point capitulation to Port Adelaide began, shattered Demons players admitted they'd been rocked by - but understood - the savage hail of booing to which they were subjected as they trudged from the MCG.

Neeld, flanked by equally stunned captain Jack Grimes at his press conference, was at a loss to explain his team's inability to bring training track form and rudimentary footy basics to a Round 1 clash with an opponent, on average, actually younger than his Demons.


Live HQ: Melbourne v Port Adelaide

"There are angry players, angry coaches, angry supporters, (an) angry club," Neeld said.


"It's particularly disappointing that you can train one way for four or five months, then come out and be unrecognisable on a footy field.

"We didn't deal with Port Adelaide's speed and aggression ... We didn't see that coming."

Former Kangaroos champ Carey was far less diplomatic.

"Rather than play stupid games and see who can grow the longest beard, how about train? They are a shambles," he said on Triple M.

"If I was Mark Neeld I'd say to the conditioning guy, 'I don't give a crap (about recovery)'.

"I'd get 'em up at 4.30am (on Monday morning) and give them a 10km time-trial and then a swim afterwards.

"Actually, a 10km time-trial, then make them watch this game (as punishment).

"They dress like AFL footballers, look like AFL footballers, but don't play anything like one.
I've never been as disappointed in a team."

After the game, Neeld spoke to his player for half an hour trying to find out "who's a competitor and who's not".

"And the general feeling in the room was that everyone's a competitor - at times.

"There weren't too many who were able to get up in front of everybody and say, 'I thought you competed all day'," he said.


Dees lay egg in Easter shock

Neeld said the players had correctly recalled all aspects of his game plan in the review, but couldn't explain the variation from the reality.

There was one piece of good news for Melbourne: Forward Mitch Clark's leg injury is a rolled ankle, a pleasant surprise after he appeared to suffer a serious knee or ankle injury midway through the third term.

The match was peppered with stunning grabs; with Port's Jay Schulz taking an early contender for mark of the year.

But his towering speccy will be tinged with controversy after he clearly grabbed it over the goal line.

The umpires agreed the mark had been in the field of play, but went upstairs for a review that returned an "inconclusive" verdict, meaning the the mark stood.


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Watts at a loss to explain defeat

Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney spoke to his side after the loss. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

The AFL's contentious score review system has again come under fire with two incidents in today's Melbourne-Port Adelaide clash at the MCG

IT wasn't enough that first-gamer Jack Viney was probably Melbourne's best in its 79-point shelling at the hands of Port Adelaide.

He then endured another gruelling challenge: addressing his older teammates, as a lifelong Demons fan, to tell them what it meant to have pride in wearing the red and blue.


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Viney, already seemingly a father-son recruiting steal at pick No.26, had 22 touches to be one of three Demon standouts alongside captain Jack Grimes and fellow debutant Matt Jones, earning praise from coach Mark Neeld.

"He's got a mature head on his shoulders, he acquitted himself well in his AFL debut," Neeld said of Viney.

"If it's possible when you play your first game, he's probably been a Melbourne person longer than anyone in that room.

"He spoke about that, from his heart."

That sense of empathy for the fans wasn't lost on Grimes or defender Jack Watts, who spoke honestly of their pain at being booed as they left the MCG.

But both said they understood the attack.

Watts, who's seen his share of pain since his 2009 debut, said it was "right up there" among his most miserable days.

"The work we put in pre-season and the way we're training can't be faulted," Watts said.

"Then to come out and play a game like that, it's right up there with the most disappointing couple of hours I've had since I've been at the club.

"You look at our training and we feel like there are no excuses.

"There's no way we're not as fit as Port Adelaide, there's no way we're not as strong, no way we haven't put in as much work as them over summer.

"Jack Viney and Matty Jones, playing their first game of AFL footy and they're two of our best three players.

"How can that happen in a Round 1 clash against Port Adelaide when everything is on the line?

"We've trained for six months, working our bloody a---- off and it's ... I can't explain it."

Watts said to feel the Demon fans' pain was "shocking".

"But they've got every right the way we played today," he said.

"You'd hope your supporters would really stick by you and support you through no matter what, but jeez ... with what they've been through, I certainly don't blame them.

"It is just Round 1, one game of 22, so we've got a lot of chances to turn it around and change the perception of a lot of people - because right now I don't think it's too flash, to be honest.

"It's not a fitness or skills thing, it's a mindset thing and we've got to try to get everyone on board."
Grimes said everyone at the club was frustrated.

"We feel like we let the supporters down most of all," Grimes said.

"There's a lot of guys who need to have a good, hard look at themselves.

"When you hear some of the stuff (the fans are) saying, you think, 'Fair enough'.

"It wasn't good enough what we dished up.

"I'd be frustrated, too, if I was sitting there as a Melbourne supporter."
 


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Pies, Blues promote their grudge

Carlton coach Michael Malthouse will coach against Collingwood next week. Source: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD and Carlton have joined forces to promote their dislike of each other less than a week out from one of the most eagerly awaited grudge matches of the season.

With new Blues coach Mick Malthouse set to take on the Magpies for the first time since an acrimonious split at the end of the 2011 season, the clubs have worked on a strategy for the Round 2 game that celebrates the rivals' famous enmity.

The two clubs have billed their clashes as "the ultimate rivalry" and had to win special AFL approval so they could run with the #lovetohateCarlton and #lovetohateCollingwood hashtags on Twitter.

Collingwood director of commercial operations Justin Reeves said the push to a national competition over the past 25 years had diluted some of the inner-suburban clashes, but insisted the Magpies-Blues rivalry was as strong as ever after more than 120 years.


"This is the biggest blockbuster in the AFL and it has been for well over 100 years," Reeves said this week. "We love to hate them and they love to hate us, and that's never going to change.

"We're happy to celebrate that fact because if you barrack for Collingwood, you don't like Carlton; and if you barrack for Carlton, you don't like Collingwood."

Collingwood met Carlton in its first game - in the VFA - in 1892 and the two sides have played in 245 matches since the start of the VFL-AFL competition in 1897.

The Blues lead the ledger with 125 wins; the Magpies have won 116 and there have been four draws.

The two clubs have started an "Ultimate Rivalry" campaign on their websites featuring comedians Peter Helliar and Dave Hughes, and Magpie and Blues fans will be able to purchase merchandise with the "lovetohate" slogans.

The plan is to also have #lovetohateCarlton and #lovetohateCollingwood signs hanging in the respective suburbs.

Magpie chief executive Gary Pert said neither club shied away from the fact that the rivalry had been heated at times.

"When we ask players and supporters why they hate Carlton, sometimes they don't know, but they just know that they have to."


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Scott tells Bucks to butt out

North Melbourne goalsneak Lindsay Thomas faces a nervous wait with the match review panel after flooring Collingwood's Ben Reid with a big bump.

Lindsay Thomas's bump has sparked a war of words between the coaches. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

A SCATHING war of words erupted between opposition coaches Brad Scott and Nathan Buckley last night as the postscript to the North Melbourne and Collingwood clash at Etihad Stadium which turned sour.

Scott told his Magpies counterpart to keep his opinions to himself after Buckley called Lindsay Thomas's off the ball hit on Ben Reid an "average'' act that would see the AFL "hold him to account for his actions''.

Magpies defender Reid did not return to the field having been left concussed and bleeding from the mouth after the third quarter incident.

VIDEO: See Lindsay Thomas's bump which has sparked so much controversy in the player above

As the ball was trickling out of play Roos forward Thomas changed direction and clashed heads with an unsuspecting Reid who lay motionless on the ground for a couple of minutes.

Live HQ: North Melbourne v Collingwood

A grossly undermanned Collingwood outclassed North Melbourne by 16 points, but the Thomas/Reid incident was the major talking point afterwards.

"I thought it was pretty average,'' Buckley said.

"I have full faith that the systems the AFL has in place will hold him to account for his actions.

"It was off the ball, unprovoked and we'll see how it happens.

North Melbourne V Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 31/3/13. Clash of heads between Ben Reid and Lindsay Thomas saw Reid off with a bloody mouth and players in a scuffle after Scott Pendlebury tested Lindsay Thomas's Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun


"I don't want to pre-empt anything, but clearly if it's behind play and it it's high you're in a bit of strife.''

Scott was left seething by Buckley's remarks.

"Nathan Buckley should just worry about his own team,'' Scott said.

"Commentary like that doesn't help. I don't know what incident Nathan Buckley saw but a head clash is a head clash, it does happen in football, we play a contact sport.

"Bucks should just keep his opinions to himself when it comes to decisions and things that will be taken care of by the powers that be.

"It doesn't help when a senior coach comes in and starts influencing things and casting dispersions on our players.

"If Bucks wants to call me he can.''

Scott said it wasn't for him to say what he thought of the incident himself.

"But certainly from where I sat it didn't look malicious, it didn't look like he tried to hurt Ben Reid,'' he said.

"But as I said, it's not for me to say and it's certainly not for him to say.''

Reid's absence was further accentuated by the fact Ben Johnson had to be substituted at half time with a corked thigh.

Asked how he felt seeing Thomas continue while his side went down to two players on the bench Buckley simply said: "He stayed down and tried to fake that as well.

"It is what it is, it was not a great act and I'm sure he'll be feeling pretty sorry for it right now.

"Reidy will play next week.''
 


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Debtant Frost comes in cold

Jack Frost had little time to prepare for his debut. Picture: Scott Chris Source: HWT Image Library

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley admitted he had his doubts about his team's capacity to overcome the loss of several key players before last night's impressive 16-point win against North Melbourne.

Already without the likes of Dale Thomas, Luke Ball, Alex Fasolo, Alan Didak and Clinton Young, Collingwood lost Dayne Beams to a quad injury before the game and Heath Shaw to a bout of food poisoning 30 minutes prior to the bounce.

The two late withdrawals handed Jack Frost and Josh Thomas unexpected AFL debuts.

In the case of Frost, he had no idea he was only minutes away from playing his first game when he arrived at the ground.

"I just had my polo on outside and then all of a sudden they said 'yeah, you're in','' Frost said.

"I had two minutes to get taped, get everything on, do a tiny little warm up that went for about 10 seconds and then I ran out. That was it. I wasn't ready for that one.''

It's a debut the 21-year-old rookie elevation had been waiting for for years, but it came in an instant.

The key defender didn't even know whether his parents had been at the ground to see him play.

"Daisy (Dale Thomas) actually came up to me in the rooms and said 'do your parents know?'

"I had no idea, so I told him where my phone was but I'm not sure if he even got on to them. I hope they were there.''

Josh Thomas (18 possessions, seven clearances) at least had a little extra time to prepare after being told on Saturday that Beams wasn't right.

"Beamsy hurt himself at training yesterday arvo, so I didn't really have too much time to think about it thankfully.'' Thomas, 21, said.

"I was pretty nervous though because I've been dreaming about this day for a while.''

A third debutant, Sam Dwyer, was the Pies substitute and came on at half time after Ben Johnson copped a cork to his thigh.

Buckley was full of praise for his undermanned team after the game.

"Coming in to it we had concerns about personnel I suppose and were wondering whether we had lost too much quality to be able to play the way that we did tonight,

"But the fact is it's not just the talent level of a team that gets you wins it's the actual effort and perseverance (of the players) and the application to their roles.

"I thought it was a great win.''


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Jack wins Kirk medal in Bridge Battle

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 30 Maret 2013 | 20.11

The Sydney Swans have maintained their unbeaten record against cross-town rivals the GWS Giants with a gritty 30-point win at ANZ Stadium.

Sydney co-captain Kieren Jack won the Brett Kirk Medal for his best on ground effort of three goals and 25 disposals. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

WHEN it was time for a Sydney Swans leader to step up last night, co-captain Kieren Jack was the man.

It was also fitting that a Sydney boy born and bred took out the Brett Kirk medal as the best player in the "Battle of the Bridge", showing how far the code has come in this city.

LIVE HQ: SuperCoach scores and stats

"It was good to lead the boys out for the first time, that was something that meant a lot," Jack said.

"There are some really good people in there, some really good players I respect. To lead them out was something I'll always remember."

To claim the award named in honour of his former teammate and one of the Swans' most celebrated players was

an added bonus.

"I respect the bloke enormously and he's a player I tried to model my game on," Jack said.

It wasn't pretty, but the premiers did what they needed to as they got the better of a much-improved GWS Giants in the season-opener.

"The first game of the season you want to get off to a good start and we did," Swans coach John Longmire said.

"If we knew we would take a 30-point win before coming here tonight, I would have taken it."

Norm Smith medallist from last year's grand final, Ryan O'Keefe, gave Jack a run for his money as best on ground, shutting down Giants youngster Toby Greene.

O'Keefe kept Greene to 11 possessions while chalking up 27 touches himself.

The Swans led at every change, with a four-goals-to-nil opening quarter setting up the victory.

Grand final hero Mike Pyke celebrated the birth of his first child just eight days ago with the opening goal.

Fellow ruckman Shane Mumford was unstoppable as he took three contested marks in front of goal but could only convert one of them.

The Giants' Jonathon Patton and Jeremy Cameron didn't bother the stats sheet in the first quarter but made up for it in the second when they helped their side wrestle the lead back at one point.

Patton's two goals were eye-catching, the first coming from a 55m bomb and the second with a strong mark on the lead.

When Devon Smith slotted a banana kick from the boundary line, GWS had their noses in front by five points.

The Giants' run only served to spark the premiers into action. Jack swooped on some costly mistakes to snap two goals and Pyke marked and goaled to establish a 26-point lead at the long break.

Jack was lucky to get away with an ankle tap his rugby league champion father Garry would have been proud of
as Stephen Coniglio ran into an open goal.

The frustration began to show on Giants young gun Jeremy Cameron who punched the fence in anger and cut his knuckles.

GWS were still well in the match when Liam Sumner goaled and could have been closer when he missed on the run from close range.

A running goal to Adam Treloar closed the gap to 19 points but the Swans steadied again through Sam Reid and Jude Bolton.

The Giants were gallant but didn't have quite enough experience to really threaten the reigning champion.


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Dogs maul Lions by 68 points

The Western Bulldogs have smashed pre-season premiers Brisbane in a stunning round-one upset.

Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney praises his players fight after narrow win over Hawthorn.

Western Bulldogs recruits Nick Lower, Koby Stevens, Brett Goodes and Tom Young sing the song with gusto. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Lions defender Matt Maguire leaves the field with ice wrapped around his leg. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

SOMETIMES a long wait can be well rewarded.

If scriptwriters were searching for a theme for the Western Bulldogs' 68-point mauling of NAB Cup champions the Brisbane Lions in an extraordinarily one-sided Round 1 clash at Etihad Stadium, it wouldn't have been hard to locate it.

Just ask the Bulldogs' players - and their long-suffering fans - who have waited and waited to finally win a match for premiership points again.

Before today, the last time it had happened was way back in Round 12 last season and what followed was a miserable streak of 11 losses that had doomsayers fearing what 2013 might hold in store for Brendan McCartney's team.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores and stats


Yet what the Bulldogs served up at their first offering for this year offered hope for the present, as much as the future, and it showed some vindication of the path on which McCartney is offering up for his young side.

Given the wait the Western Bulldogs had experienced, you could understand why they looked so elated at the final siren, given they were missing their captain Matthew Boyd, and were coming up against the form side of the pre-season competition.

But the simple equation was that the Bulldogs wanted it more. And the Lions were desperately disappointing.

There were stories of reward for effort and redemption for reward everywhere you looked for the Bulldogs, and you could understand why some of the players in the winning side celebrated long and hard on the final siren.
 
Just ask Brett Goodes who finally made his AFL debut at the ripe age of 29, and performed so well that it's almost an indictment on the competition that he was forced to wait so long.

He might do something that his brother Adam couldn't do - win a Brownlow Medal vote in his first game. Adam had to wait until his third season to poll votes off the umpires.

Goodes was outstanding off the half-back line - something which allowed acting captain Robert Murphy the chance to play forward - and he used the ball like a wily veteran that he is in age terms, but not in terms of AFL games played.

Just ask Dale Morris, who played his first game in Bulldogs colours in a home-and-away match in 595 days after a career-threatening broken leg, and who importantly got through the match with confidence in his game and in his leg.

He attacked the ball hard when he went anywhere near it, and led the backline, offering up confidence and support to key defender Jordan Roughead, who outpointed Jonathan Brown.

Just ask Nick Lower, who this time last year was struggling to adapt to life under Ross Lyon at Fremantle.

Lower completely shut-out Michael Tuck medallist Daniel Rich, restricting him to an almost inexplicable eight possessions.

He was a worthy inclusion to the Bulldogs' midfield that overwhelmed a much-hyped Lions engine room that looked as flat as the look on coach Michael Voss' face.

Lower worked well with ruckman Will Minson, who played one of his best games for the club, and the likes of Ryan Griffen, Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis.

Just ask Koby Stevens and Tom Young, who were bit players for their respective clubs West Coast and
Collingwood last season, but who slotted nicely into McCartney's team to suggest they might play nice roles this season.

And maybe ask Adam Cooney, who started the week in hospital due to an infection to his troublesome right knee, but finished it singing the Bulldogs' theme song for the first time since Round 12 last year.

Brisbane was nothing like the team that won the NAB Cup only a few weeks ago.

They were denied the ball early by the ferocious Bulldogs and nothing seemed to go right for them.

The Dogs now face Fremantle next Saturday, while Brisbane finally returns to the Gabba to meet Adelaide on the same day.


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Ablett's Suns burn Saints

Suns skipper Gary Ablett looks downfield for an option. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

GARY Ablett's won the latest battle in his personal war with St Kilda as he guided the Gold Coast to a stunning 13-point upset victory over the Saints at Metricon Stadium.

In grand finals and blockbusters with Geelong, Ablett enjoyed mixed success against the Saints being tagged by Steve Baker or Clint Jones.

Last night, there was no stopping the Suns skipper as he kicked four goals - including three in the final term - and collected 34 disposals, six inside 50s, 19 contested possessions and nine clearances in a magnificent individual display that lifted the Suns to their seventh win in club history and their third-straight success at home.

His fourth and final major was a beauty from an acute angle that appeared to sink the Saints.

But St Kilda closed to within 10 points only for Ablett to help set-up a goal for Luke Russell to keep the gutsy visitors at bay.


Live HQ: SuperCoach scores and stats

A Terry Milera goal with two minutes to go reduced the Gold Coast's lead to eight points but Aaron Hall strolled into goal in the dying seconds to seal the gritty win.

It was always going to be an ugly, scrappy affair given the hot and humid conditions that turned the Sherrin into a cake of soap.

Given the Suns do not have the experience or class to put away sides and the Saints were undermanned and under-sized, it made for an even more dour arm-wrestle.

There was never going to be a repeat of the 95 and 92-point thrashings that St Kilda handed the Gold Coast.

The Suns simply do not have the marking power or poise in front of goal to capitalise on their midfield's ball-winning prowess.

Fury over Hayes' sliding free kick

With St Kilda missing the likes of Leigh Montagna, Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster, the Saints were below full-strength and were always going to be vulnerable.

They were often indecisive and indirect and guilty of poor discipline to keep the Suns in the contest.

The Suns led by 11 points at the first change which was a fair indication of the home side's superiority.

The Saints then blitzed the Gold Coast in the second term.

St Kilda kicked five goals in the quarter with Armitage (17 disposals, five inside 50s and four clearances up to halftime) at the forefront for the visitors who restricted the Suns to just two behinds.

St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt celebrates kicking a goal against Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images


Skipper Nick Riewoldt booted two goals as the Saints midfield got on top with Jarryn Geary having a game-high 18 touches up until the main break.

The Saints appeared well on their way but the gritty Suns clawed their way back into the contest with three goals after halftime to recuce St Kilda's buffer to just nine points.

Ablett kicked a superb individual goal in the third quarter with a brilliant display of speed and finishing that shone like a beacon in a mistake-riddled term.

The Gold Coast refused to go away and closed the gap to just two points early in the final quarter to set-up a thrilling finish.

Ablett's third goal of the night put the Suns in front with 13 minutes remaining.

Boom teenager Jaeger O'Meara came into the game in the last term with seven touches and finished his first senior AFL match with 12 disposals and one goal.

Geary finished with 28 disposals, Armitage had 26 touches and Jack Steven had 25 touches for the Saints. Milera kicked three goals for the visitors.


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Saints have no excuses: Watters

St Kilda coach Scott Watters offers up no excuses for the Saints poor display against Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

A DOWNCAST St Kilda coach Scott Watters said the Saints had nobody to blame but themselves despite being below full-strength.

"Look, 22 players played. We are not going to make any excuses,'' he said.

"Half a game, you are certainly never satisfied but we controlled the ball well in the second quarter and really our efficiency for large portions of the game outside of that wasn't where it needed to be.

"One goal-five, one-goal-seven in a couple of quarters, multiple inside 50 entries without really being composed. So efficiency certainly hurt us."

Watters said Armitage's prolonged time on the bench in the third term due to bad cramps impacted on rotations and "robbed us of a little midfield grunt.''

Ablett burns Saints


"They finished the game with more running. In trying conditions early in the season, you need your compete midfield up and going and for a portion there we were vulnerable...we probably thought when we were short of rotations in the third quarter it would have an impact,'' he said.

"We were probably unable to finish out the game as we would have liked. Some of our midfielders were pretty taxed.

"I don't want to throw these up as excuses. They are the facts. They (Gold Coast) finished the game well.

"The effort was strong from the players, efficiency was poor. You need both.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores and stats

"The players will be stung by that. They'll work hard to rectify it.

"You lose a game on the back of that and that hurts. So that's where it sits.''


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Keeping it real early in the season

The Bombers celebrate after the upset win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Picture: Morne de Klerk. Source: Getty Images

NEVER make judgments on the first game of the season.

Many greats of the game will tell you the "real stuff" starts as of Round 2.

Emotions run high for a range of reasons at every club leading into their opening games of the year, and last weekend's upset victories by Essendon over the Crows and Fremantle over West Coast are clear indication some things never change.

Richmond's win over Carlton on Friday night at the G was more a 50/50 contest and not a genuine upset, but nonetheless the Tigers' first success in 10 games over the Blues made it three out of three for the underdogs.

It's easy for most teams to get up for the first game of a season.

The playing field is level while the playing lists are often thin, with hopes of finals footy real at almost every club.

Sadly, just four weeks later things begin to change, and as contenders sort themselves from the pretenders the ladder starts to take a more genuine look.

Legitimate premiership hopes these days are timing their runs to September and slow starts to the minor round can often be a genuine consequence.

As the weeks roll on and the harshness of winter sets in, the cream rises to the top and those raw emotions so valuable in the opening rounds of a season are long forgotten.

The grind of a season has never been so great, as the demands on players young and old in the modern era stretch to new heights.

The introduction of the much-criticised "sports scientists" has taken the capabilities of the human body into a new world and, as Essendon showed last year, it can have dramatic consequences, good and bad, in the early days.

Keeping control over outsiders is a must and a correction is now in place at Windy Hill as the investigation by ASADA digs deeper into the practices at several clubs in the AFL and the NRL.

The Bombers' 2012 season started sensationally with eight wins from the first nine games and finals success loomed for the first time in years, only to be shattered by a complete reverse of form late in the season that saw them lose eight of the last nine games - including their last seven - to crash out of contention and finish 11th.

For the club to bounce back with a win in Round 1 despite the ongoing investigations is a credit to all at Windy Hill, but the ramifications of the findings could still bring their season to a crashing halt.

Uncertainty and rumours are now the Bombers' biggest threat.

Loose lips sink ships and the SS Essendon is still in troubled waters despite their great start to 2013.

The Crows' campaign is in a similar predicament, albeit for different reasons.

The beauty for Brenton Sanderson's outfit is the Crows' reasons are relatively well documented and appear much easier to fix.

Their pre-season has been anything but perfect and the team appears to be at least a week short of being completely ready.

Timing your run to September is important but it is only relative to those 100% certain to make it to the finals.

The Crows are yet to put that issue beyond doubt and the work is still well and truly ahead of them.

Inefficient tackling and a massive reliance on contested ball wins is their well-publicised issue.

To be so good at one and so poor at another is unusual and unless a quick fix is found the 2013 season is under serious threat.

Everyone deserves a second chance.

The Crows are up to theirs already and the ramifications will be serious if they don't make amends against Brisbane at the Gabba next weekend.

Sanderson will be laying down the law this week and demanding an immediate response from his playing group, hoping the platform they have built for future success will be enough to withstand the looming crisis.

Concerns over the ability of their forward line to kick big scores, a fragile looking defence added to the previous concerns suggest it could be a frustrating year.

But, everyone deserves a second chance


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Embrace home of footy today: Hinkley

New Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley wants his players to have no fear when they step out on to the MCG today. Picture: Calum Robertson. Source: adelaidenow

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has urged his players to embrace the wide expanses of the MCG today, the only game they are scheduled to play at the home of football for the season.

The Power have played only one game a season at the ground for the past three seasons but Hinkley has told his list it is the venue at which he is plotting for the club to one day have success again - the place where seasons are crowned or lost.

SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS OF PORT'S DEBUTANTS

It is also the ground earmarked for big matches, and if Port succeeds in its immediate goal - to become respected and relevant again - the club can expect to be granted more games there.

The Power has broken even at the ground since its landmark premiership in 2004 - six wins, six losses and a draw - but has not won there since it upset reigning premier Hawthorn in Round 4 back in 2009.

But Hinkley said the ground held no fears for the club, which is well aware of the perils of being lost on one of the wings on the wide oval.

"For us, going to the MCG is where we want to be able to go and play football and it's another opportunity," he said.

Port Adelaide debutants, front from left, Jake Neade and Kane Mitchell, back from left, Angus Monfries, Ollie Wines, Campbell Heath and Lewis Stevenson. Picture: Sarah Reed.

"Yes, we don't have many of those opportunities so we try to make the most of those opportunities when we get them. This is one of them and one we look forward to taking on."

Port will bring a raw side across, with six players representing Port for the first time and three players making their AFL debut.

And then there's Hinkley, who makes his own debut as AFL coach.

His least concern is over his own nerves, because he has had a lifetime in the game, as a take-them-on defender at Fitzroy and Geelong, premiership coach in country ranks and as an assistant coach with the Cats and the Suns.

"Mine (nerves) are OK," Hinkley said. "Having been around football for a long time and being involved in coaching . . . yes, it's my first game officially as an AFL coach but I'm not at all worried about my own performance. I think I'm more worried about making sure that the team is up and about and that the boys are feeling comfortable.

"All they've got to do is go out and play as they have for the last three or four weeks. I know it's a little bit different because it is their first AFL game officially, but if they go and perform the way they have in the NAB Cup they'll be OK."

Part of the club's quest to win back the respect of the competition will be on display during today's match through a deal with broadcaster Fox Footy.

Commentator David King, a former North Melbourne premiership player and News Ltd columnist, will be allowed access to the coaches' box during the broadcast of the game.

Hinkley said he had no qualms about the arrangement, which would have some coaches concerned about internal secrets being revealed.

"We're opening ourselves up for Fox a little bit," Hinkley said. "We want to grow the club and we know that part of that is to let some people see what we do and understand what we actually do.

"We've got to make sure that Port Adelaide becomes relevant again and that means we've got to put ourselves up for show a little bit more as Kochie (chairman David Koch) has said all the way through and that's something we're prepared to do as a club."

Today's match brings an end to a fruitful off-season for Port Adelaide, which has been revamped by a fresh air of change to the board, the coaching panel, the captaincy and playing list.

Chief executive Keith Thomas was chuffed as he reviewed the pre-season, but warned the true test began now.

"The way I'm feeling, we couldn't have done the summer much better," Thomas said. "We've made some very significant changes and think we've executed them well.

"It's created a feeling of energy and positivity and energy and hopefully it will transfer to the field. I'm hoping that it will and am confident that it will."

Thomas said Hinkley and fitness coach Darren Burgess had both delivered on their vast promise after clocking in at the club, but singled out former Collingwood wingman and experienced assistant coach Alan Richardson as a surprise boon for the club.

He had arrived with good references, but had exceeded expectations in his work in establishing a new culture and working as Hinkley's right-hand man.

"The appointment of Ken Hinkley was very positive, and we were confident it would be," Thomas said. "The thing we weren't sure about was whether we'd get him, and the same can be said for Darren Burgess, who has been everything we've expected.

"The surprising revelation has been the relationship between Alan Richardson and Ken Hinkley.

"We brought in Richardson because we wanted to have strong support for Hinkley, and he's been an absolute sensation.

"He's been a great support for Ken and also helped develop and fast-track the younger coaches."

PORT'S NEW BOYS

ANGUS MONFRIES

Drafted: From Sturt to Essendon at no. 14 in 2004 national draft.

AFL games: 150.

What's he like? Has grunt abut him and can play as a forward as well as having an impact in the midfield.

OLLIE WINES

Drafted: From the Bendigo under-18s at No. 7 in last year's national draft.

AFL games: 0

What's he like? Has shown his value in winning contested ball in the midfield during the pre-season.

CAMPBELL HEATH

Drafted: From the Gippsland under-18s to Sydney at No. 61 in the 2008 draft.

AFL games: 2

What's he like? A left-footer with a good kick suited to setting up attacks from defence.

LEWIS STEVENSON

Drafted: From Claremont to West Coast as a rookie in 2008 and elevated to the senior list in 2010.

AFL games: 10

What's he like? Quick type who can stand both the talls and the smalls.

JAKE NEADE

Drafted: From the Northern Territory via Victoria, where he played with North Ballarat's under-18s. Taken by GWS but traded on.

AFL games: 0

What's he like? Lightly built forward who is super competitive and a great tackler.

KANE MITCHELL

Drafted: Taken as a rookie from Claremont last year but has been elevated to the senior list.

AFL games: 0

What's he like? Dangerous on the outside, where he can burn off oponents and has good goal sense.


20.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lions, Suns both have point to prove

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 29 Maret 2013 | 20.11

Gary Ablett in training for the Suns. Picture: David Clark Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

APPARENTLY round 1 is the most important game of the home-and-away season - if you have watched any of the footy programs over the past week you would know that.

A win sets you up, a loss can kill you.

Fox Footy even ran a promo with greats of the game such as John Kennedy, Robert Walls, Ron Barassi and Tom Hafey hammering the importance of a first-up win.

I suspect, after months of off-field scandals, everyone just wants to talk footy, and because there are no performances to pick apart the previews have been overhyped.

Thursday night's clash needed no help; it was huge, although more so for Richmond.

Now the focus is on Collingwood v North and the Hawks v Cats - even Port v Melbourne is said to be played for huge stakes.

But what about the Queensland sides?

The Lions got a bit of airplay throughout the NAB Cup, but that has died down. No one is really talking about Brisbane v Bulldogs as a big game. But it is vitally important for the Lions.

They are in that uncomfortable period for a developing side. Their only games without much pressure are against the top four.

Last year they upset Adelaide and West Coast, but couldn't get past Richmond, Essendon, Carlton, St Kilda or the Kangaroos - the sides sitting between them and a finals berth.

Last year they got the job done against the sides below them. They were 50-50 games at the time, we thought they could win most of them, but losses would have been tolerated.

Not this year.

There are real expectations on the Lions now, which they should embrace.

It means they are relevant.

The Suns haven't earned that pressure yet.

But theirs is far from a nothing game.

St Kilda are one of the sides they need to square-up with.

The Saints belted them twice last year - smacked them.

Gold Coast are capable of knocking them over.

And as Kennedy said, round 1 can set you up for the whole season.
 


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There's nothin' like a Dane

Who is the real Dane Swan? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: HWT Image Library

DANE Swan was a nobody when he and a couple of mates touched up a security guard at Federation Square in 2003.

It was act of delinquency that caused pain and hurt.

Now Swan is a somebody, a Brownlow medallist, three-time Copeland Trophy winner and a premiership player.

The road from nobody to somebody has been one of the more impressive journeys for a player in the AFL, although it's safe to say the laid-back and likeable Swan would still like to be a nobody in a somebody's world.

He is a rare bird, Dane Swan.

A knockabout who loves a drink, the nightlife and whatever else that may tickle his fancy, Swan still plays footy at unbelievable levels of speed and endurance and leather-poisoning.

If you believe rumours, and there are hundreds of them, Swan is Ben Cousins Mark II, a player whose behaviour is of major concern who, finally this off-season, realised he had to pull his head in.

If you believe those who know him, Swan is nothing of the sort.

"Dane Swan has not changed one bit from when he was a 17-year-old lad," his manager, Liam Pickering, says.

"He loves footy and he plays great footy and he cares about his footy. People don't think he does care, but they're kidding themselves. You can't be that good if you don't care about it."

Swan is a fascination for all in football and his exploits are front-page news.

He says he doesn't care what is said and written about him, but others wonder whether he tries too hard to project a feeling that he doesn't care about what is said and written about him. Whatever the thinking, there's been plenty to write about.

His parents, Billy and Dee, and his grandparents are hurt by the articles - and that hurts Swan.

"He finds that more frustrating than anything," Pickering said. "All the stuff that goes on about him he takes in his stride, but it homes in a little bit when his grandma or his mum get upset. I understand that. No one wants to pick up a paper and read negative things about their boy, and a lot of factually incorrect stuff as well."

Pickering didn't say it, but clearly he was a talking about a report written by Caroline Wilson in The Age last November.

Some at Collingwood - but not all - think Wilson has a vendetta against Swan.

In the report, Wilson called for Swan to be sacked by the club, arguing his bad behaviour had a terrible influence on younger teammates.

One small sentence said Swan had got into a "nasty fight", which supposedly took place in the Nursery car park on Emirates Day, the last day of the Spring Carnival.

The fact is Swan didn't get involved - it was one of Swan's mates and another man. A former AFL player who was a casual passserby can verify that.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says Swan gets a heavy media treatment because he's different.

"There's some in the media who haven't met anyone who doesn't live off Page 59 of the Melways," he said, referring to the page that incorporates the well-to-do inner-eastern suburbs.

"He's got that element of danger about him.

"He's from Broady, he's got tatts, he's got a sense of humor, he's his own man, he makes blues and he's sublime on the field.

"They probably think he's white trash from Broady. I'll tell you something, Swanny's a ripper. He's an old-timer, he's a Glasgow boy out of Broadmeadows in a lot of ways."

Dane Swan is a SuperCoach must. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

It must be said, McGuire is a dufflecoat wearer. If any of his boys murdered someone, he'd probably argue it was a misunderstanding. But there's a warmth from McGuire to Swan, borne perhaps from their upbringing.

Both grew up in hardened Broadmeadows, both have climbed the pinnacle of their professions and both are at Collingwood.

The Swan name in Broady is legendary.

Swan is the son of VFA legend Billy Swan, and Billy's cousin is Roy Ramsay, who played for 126 games for North Melbourne from 1976-86.

"In Broady, Roy and Billy were superheroes," McGuire says. "Roy Ramsay's old man basically came out on the same boat as my dad, they were mates from 1958, and we lived two blocks from each other in Olsen Place, which is the Bronx of Broadmeadows.

"The Ramsays lived around the corner and Swanny's old man used to live near Upfield High, and Swanny's aunty taught me, she was my student teacher at school.

"You could say it's been a similar journey for us."

Consequently, McGuire throws a protective rug around Swan, although the rug was ripped off him at a robust meeting between McGuire, Swan and Pickering late last year.

Described recently by McGuire as "tough love", it centred on Swan's behaviour before the meeting descended into a slanging match between McGuire and Pickering.

"People think that if we're blueing or we pull him in (that we're fighting), but it's because we want to get him to the end of his journey in footy and we want him to be a Collingwood bloke forever," McGuire said.

The robustness between McGuire and Pickering continued when Swan appeared in an apparently unauthorised interview on Channel 9 in March, where, among other issues, Swan denied he had a drug problem.

The club was furious Swan did the interview and fined him $5000, fuelling the fire that Swan and the Magpies were the best of enemies.

Meanwhile, the public's fascination in Swan saw the The Footy Show secure close to one million viewers on the night.

That's the thing about Swan, he's watchable.

And he's normal.

The truth is, there are Dane Swans everywhere. Go for a walk down Sydney Rd, or visit Northland, or got a local footy game on a Saturday, or a bar on a Sunday afternoon, and there you'll find your Dane Swans. In some ways, his normalcy makes him a stand-out in the rigid and robotic world of the AFL.

The further truth is, most people don't give a brass razoo what Swan does in his own time, as long he plays good footy at the weekends.

Still, the appetite for everything Dane Swan is evident.

If Swan appears on superfooty.com.au in a story or in photo form, the reader interest is clearly definable.

Pickering agrees the normal bloke relates to Swan.

"There are no airs and graces, what you see and what you get," Pickering said. "He's not trying be someone he's not and that's the beauty of Dane Swan. He's only always been Dane Swan and you either like him, like most people do, or you don't. It's no skin off his nose if they don't like the fact he's got tattoos."

I asked a female friend for an opinion.

She said: "He's a bad boy with a wicked sparkle in his eyes. It's endearing. And he's not caught up with prettiness off the field. From his clothes to his words. He is who he is."

You only have to see his mates to know what sort of bloke he is. When people are that loyal to you, it's because you've got something special in you.

People who know Swan acknowledge he loves a good time, but point out that he's also fiercely loyal, reliable, funny, caring and giving.

True, he can run with the wolves, but he also can graze with the sheep.

He is part of - if not the leader of - the Collingwood brat pack, who think nothing of pulling an all-nighter at Eve nightclub or Tramp or a favorite haunt, the Barkly in St Kilda.

But he's also great mates with skipper Nick Maxwell, who likes to be in bed before 10.30pm.

Just recently Swan and his partner, Taylor Wilson, joined Maxwell and his wife Erin, and a couple of younger players and their partners, for a weekend at Rye, and they say Swan hanging with Maxwell's daughter two-year-old Milla was magical to watch.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley talks with Dane Swan. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

So much for thinking Swan spends every weekend watching the sun come up. That said, it's not foreign to him.

In August last year, when Swan's behavior drove Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert to despair, as well as his teammates, Swan was suspended for two weeks by the club for arriving at training clearly affected by alcohol.

He had been at the Barkly the night before and kicked on at a private residence. Those at the Barkly claimed Swan was drinking water. Someone apparently in the know said the water bottle was sometimes filled with vodka.

The upshot was suspension, a loss of confidence and respect from teammates, who rightfully wanted to know why the bender was in the month before finals.

Swan was at fault, but perhaps the leadership at Collingwood was at fault, too, for Swan had been getting away with benders for some time.

Under Mick Malthouse, the "bad boys" were tolerated, and certainly weren't suspended. But where Malthouse was lenient, believing the knockabouts played an important role in team culture, new coach Nathan Buckley wasn't as flexible.

The club had suspended Sharrod Wellingham for two weeks earlier in the season for drinking, so when Swan mucked up, the same penalty applied.

Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan is Collingwood's SuperCoach superstar. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Fast-forward to this pre-season and not a word of criticism can be heard from Swan.

His teammates have noticed a real change. Just little things, such as taking ice baths after training to help the body recover, and answering questions with depth in player meetings, and completing early morning swim sessions at the beach without the complaining. It's called buy-in.

"He is going really well," Maxwell said on SEN radio this week. "He is always casual and calm but this pre-season I have seen him really push himself to levels I haven't seen in the 11 years I have been here."

The belief is Swan has finally grasped the fact that all actions have consequences.

The relationship between Pert and Swan, however, remains strictly professional.

"I think Swanny gets me," McGuire said, "but he's got Perty from a different point of view and he would probably see Perty as petty hard at it. Perty is the boss. We all hate the headmaster until we realise the headmaster was the bloke who was keeping us from falling into the abyss.

"At footy clubs, we all play different. You can't have everybody being the easy touch. You know what, they'll sit down together in 10 years at a reunion and they all laugh at how much pain and suffering was caused and Swanny will say, 'Gee, I wish I knew at the time, I would've pulled my head in'."

Despite the problems last year, at no stage did the club consider trading Swan.

McGuire would never have ticked it off.

"You know my philosophy: how many chances do you get - as many as it takes. If Swanny wasn't a good bloke and a great contributor to the club, you would probably pull the pin. But he is a great contributor, he's got a lot to give and he's a giving bloke.

"You only have to see his mates to know what sort of bloke he is. When people are that loyal to you, it's because you've got something special in you.

"You know, what we've got to make sure is this is a game for working class boys and blokes from all parts of the community.

"To do that, you've got to take into account people that have different backgrounds, different philosophies ... it's a melting pot.

"I've seen Swanny develop and develop and develop, and yes things happen, there's a few spotfires here and there, but there's a lot more of Dane Swan to come, providing he makes sure it happens."


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Brad's ready for the main game

Adelaide Crows youngster Brad Crouch. at training Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

BRAD Crouch is ready for the AFL.

Last year the young bloke was ineligible for Crows selection because of his age.

The Crows now have access to his talents and - on the evidence of his season debut, for West Adelaide in the SANFL battle with Central District on Thursday night - his chance at the big time is here.

For those Crows fans yet to get a glimpse of the teenager, he can play.

Crouch is another Patrick Dangerfield, who also spent a season at the Bloods before being unleashed on the national stage.

Only time will tell if his output on the field is similar but the potential is definitely there.

He attacks the contest without fear and does not deviate from the course.

He simply oozes class.

His mark late in the second quarter was a classic example and it created a goal-scoring opportunity for the Bloods on the way to their win.

Then late in the game he swooped on the ball in a pack, bulldozed his way through several opponents and hit a team-mate running at pace with a 20m handball. The team-mate did not have to break stride.

This bloke is the complete package and the Crows would have loved what they saw from the stands.

There is always a gamble putting too many raps on a young player and you can be left red-faced with predictions.

No risk here - he will make it at the highest level.

The Crows knew what they were doing in 2011 when they made a trade with the GWS to secure Crouch in the AFL mini-draft.

The GWS had access to the best 17-year-olds in the land and they put four up for trade - two in 2011 and two last year.

Boom West Australian product Jaeger O'Meara was first to go when Gold Coast grabbed him.

Then the Crows chased Crouch and he moved to Adelaide to play with the Bloods in the SANFL.

Right from the word go he showed something special.

Bloods coach Andrew Collins cannot comment because Crouch is a Crows player, but the former Hawthorn champ is a massive supporter not only of Crouch's abilities and approach to the game but also his attitude and demeanor.

O'Meara will make his debut for the Suns against St Kilda tonight.

Should Crouch have also made his AFL debut in the first round? There would be few at Richmond on Thursday night thinking no.


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A Power reborn in search of respect

New-look Port Adelaide announces Renault as its major sponsor. From left, coach Ken Hinkley, captain Travis Boak, chairman David Koch, Chris Bayman of Renault and vice captain Brad Ebert. Picture: Hamish Blair. Source: Herald Sun

SIXTEEN years have passed since the Port Adelaide Football Club first sent a team on to the biggest stage in Australian football, the MCG.

Then it had respect from its SANFL domination, national admiration for having risen from suburbia to the AFL and was filled with ambition.

Tomorrow, the Power returns to the MCG.

Now it has to rebuild respect after five years of decline in the AFL, regain admiration from its disillusioned fans and prove it has a future.

There is one significant similarity between the Port Adelaide Football Club of 1997 and today - the arrival at football's pantheon, the MCG, comes after a summer of dramatic change.

New president, new board, new coach, new coaching staff, new captain, new players ... there's almost more change than in 1997.

But for all the work off the field in the past six months to reposition the PAFC, the real challenge for change has to unfold in the next six months from the players.

Unlike many of those John Cahill took to the MCG in March 1997, none of the current Power group - except the Port-entrenched Ebert cousins, Brad and Brett - really knows the pain and disdain the club endured for almost a decade to fulfil its charter-driven ambition to play in the AFL.

New-arrival midfielder Kane Mitchell was born in Perth in December 1989 as the then PAFC board decided to join the VFL.

He may not fully understand the turmoil his new club went through to make it to the AFL, but he does appreciate the challenge the Power has to stay in the big league.

"We've taken a couple of steps in the right direction during the pre-season  ... we're all about earning respect on and off the field," said Mitchell, one of 12 new players at Alberton.

This is a club of tradition and culture - it has a history of success

"We've been working hard off the field - now the ball is in (the players') court to take another step in earning respect."

New coach Ken Hinkley recognises what the PAFC was, particularly when it entered the AFL in 1997 and won the 2004 flag.

It forms his agenda in setting the benchmarks for what the Power has to be again.

"This is a club of tradition and culture - it has a history of success," says Hinkley.

His appointment was messy as it seemed to drag through a musical chairs events in which the candidates - rather than the chairs - kept disappearing.

Hinkley famously insists he was not the "last man standing" but will be remembered as being the "right man standing".

So far, Hinkley's pre-season work in re-establishing discipline among his players, order in his football department and faith from a disillusioned supporter base is without fault.

But coaches are judged on results in premiership action.

"I have a group that is driven to make sure this club climbs up the ladder again," says Hinkley, whose reputation is of a man who hates losing.

He admits he cannot even accept losing to his 15-year-old son. This has translated to his players.

"This group is sick to death of being average," he says.

Hinkley's first list is raw.

"We've lost 600-plus games of experience," said Hinkley, who arrived at Alberton as free agents Troy Chaplin and Danyle Pearce were clearing their lockers. "That at some stage is going to affect you.

"What we have lost, we have replaced with players of outstanding character. They are quality people. They are blokes who will play the Port Adelaide way."

For much of the past three years few Port traditionalists have recognised the "Port Adelaide way" in their team. The frustrating sideways movement of an inept gameplan had the comics wondering when Port would change its nickname to "the Crabs".

Koch, the Sydney-based television personality, has invested his reputation on leading the PAFC to success. As a man who made people watch him on breakfast television, he knows the Power must satisfy the fans again. And not just the Port fans.

"Now we have to deliver - we want Port Adelaide to be fun to watch," says Koch.

"We want the team to play a style the Port Adelaide fans will be proud of. We want to bring back the swagger in Port Adelaide - and we want to justify that swagger in how we go about our business."


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Crows reserves a chance for youth

A Crows reserves side could be an opportunity for SA's best youngsters, such as 2013 AFL draft hopefuls, from left, Trent Dumont, Luke Dunstan, Matthew Scharenberg, James Aish, Luke Reynolds, Dwayne Wilson and Alex Spina. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE believes tapping into the state's best under-18 talent is the key to setting up its reserves team next year.

The AFL club is determined to have its own seconds regardless of whether it is admitted into the SANFL league competition.

The Crows face a hostile vote from the SANFL clubs as they consider a second-string Crows' side poses a threat to the credibility of their premiership race.

This leaves the Crows to consider a compromise, such as having their reserves in the SANFL reserves, or joining the Victorian Football League or the South Australian Amateur Football League.

The Crows maintain they want a direct link to the SANFL rather than a move to another league.

"It would be a shame, because we came from the SANFL," Adelaide football operations manager Phil Harper said.

"And that's where we'd like to play. Hopefully, it's not a closed book."

Adelaide needs to convince the eight independent clubs - the Port Adelaide Magpies no longer vote at the SANFL table - that playing in the SANFL would benefit all SA football.

Talks are in an embryonic state because the SA Football Commission has declared discussions about AFL-run reserves teams will come after negotiations to sell back the AFL licences of Port and the Crows to the AFL Commission.

But Crows chairman Rob Chapman says his club is becoming increasingly advanced in its talks about a reserves set-up.

He adds a range of ideas have been floated, many of them beneficial to the SANFL clubs.

The crux of the problem is that the Crows, when injuries inevitably sideline a few players, will not have enough AFL-listed players to field a second side.

This means they will have to use top-up players.

But the Crows are working through ideas that will help, rather than hurt, SANFL clubs in fast-tracking their juniors and enhancing their prospects for AFL drafting.

The ideas include:

PICKING the top-up players from the initial State under-18 squad, which can run 50-deep, but only selecting those who do not get a senior game with their SANFL club.

INVITING players from each SANFL country zone, young players who are otherwise not exposed to SANFL football.

LIAISING with SANFL clubs and inviting young players who are on the brink of selection for league action, but have narrowly missed out because there were too many players in their position.

Further complicating the scenario is Port Adelaide, which would ideally like to have the SANFL-based Magpies as its reserves.

If the Crows are allowed to play only in the SANFL reserves, it makes it problematic for Port: would they still have the Magpies in the SANFL league series and have their AFL players scattered across the competition? Or would the Power consider dropping the Magpies out of league ranks and have a Power reserves side in the SANFL reserves?


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We can stand up without Carlile

Port Adelaide recruit Angus Monfries, who is about to play his first home-and-away match for Power, talks with veteran Kane Cornes. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

IT'S "team first" for new Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley who is dismissing the loss of full back Alipate Carlile as the game-changer at the MCG tomorrow.

"I never want to have a team that relies on one player for success," said Hinkley yesterday, as he named his first 22 for AFL premiership action.

"It's team - it always has to be."

Carlile, the Power's most-experienced defender, will miss tomorrow's season-opener against Melbourne with hamstring soreness he has felt for a fortnight.

His absence leaves Hinkley - who has rebuilt the Power's gameplan from defence - with the rawest Port back six sent into action since the club's AFL start on the MCG in March, 1997.

The most-experienced back man will be 61-game key defender Jackson Trengove.

He will form a partnership on Melbourne's tall forwards with two novices - 22-game Cam O'Shea and 13-game Tom Jonas.

All up the new Port back six has just 112 games of AFL experience - half with Trengove.

Hinkley's says regardless of who he has in his back six, defence will be a team ethos particularly for the Power midfielders.

"Defence - no matter who is there - is an area where there is a lot of stress," said Hinkley.

"So it always important in the AFL that your midfield run both ways to back up the defence."

Carlile's absence comes shortly after the 25-year-old full back signed a four-year contract extension that drew the ire of former Essendon key forward Matthew Lloyd.

But tomorrow Carlile's increased value could become more obvious, particularly if the tall Melbourne forwards led by James Sellar and Mitch Clark torment the new Port defence.

Co-ordinating the Power back six also falls to a rookie with tomorrow's game marking assistant Matthew Nicks' start in an AFL match-day coaching panel.

Nicks also reinforces Hinkley's point that team defence begins well before the last 50-metre arc.

"In today's game it's so important that every player show his defensive ability," Nicks said.

"When you have an eight-goal loss and everyone blames the back six, you have to wonder how your opponent was able to get it back down so easily from the other end.

"The biggest thing of this pre-season under Ken Hinkley has been a focus on team defence.

"My best defenders are (forwards) Jake Neade and Jay Schulz and (midfielder) Travis Boak ... and that might surprise many.

"But Jay Schulz is such a good defender with his attack and hunger for the footy. Neade has shown already that he loves to tackle. Boak's game is built around winning the ball - all our players have learned the value of defence."

Port's match 22 named last night puts:

THREE players in AFL action for the first time - Neade, first-round draftee Ollie Wines and elevated rookie Kane Mitchell.

SIX players in Power jumpers for the first time - former Essendon forward Angus Monfries, former West Coast defender Lewis Stevenson, Sydney import Campbell Heath, Neade, Wines and Mitchell.

CONFIRMS Port will work a two-ruck system with Jarrad Redden and Matthew Lobbe.

From the 25 named Thursday, Hinkley dismissed Daniel Stewart, Aaron Young and GWS Giants recruit Jack Hombsch.

Port and Melbourne meet just four weeks after Hinkley and Demons coach Mark Neeld put makeshift line-ups into their NAB Cup thriller at Renmark where Melbourne won by two points.

Hinkley is taking little from that match other than the competitive spirit his team showed.

"Both sides are entirely different (for Sunday)," he said.

"Melbourne saw our method that day in Renmark. We saw theirs. But we're different teams for this game.

"We know both clubs are on the start of a journey."


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Coach Ken hides brutal will to win

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 28 Maret 2013 | 20.11

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is leading the changes at Alberton. Picture: Morne de Klerk. Source: Getty Images

KEN Hinkley is Port Adelaide's smiling assassin.

The man given the herculian task of transforming the Power from AFL basket case to finals contender portrays a Mr Nice Guy image and quiet, almost shy, demeanour.

But behind closed doors Hinkley is renowned for his toughness and ruthlessness.

"He gives the impression of being ultra-relaxed and all happy-go-lucky," Port key defender Jackson Trengove said.

"But trust me, he's a competitor.

"He's a very competitive person who has a real ruthless streak in him.

"He just wants to win and he tries to bring that out in us. He's pretty ruthless with the way he trains us and how quickly he wants us to get better.

"Every time we go out on the track, we're in the gym or whatever he just pushes us hard to get better.

"He won't tolerate anyone not sticking to team rules or not doing the right thing off the field."

Hinkley, finally an AFL coach after spending 10 years as an assistant at St Kilda, Geelong and Gold Coast, has made quite an impression at Alberton since his appointment in October.

With support from highly rated senior assistant Alan Richardson, Hinkley has helped change the mentality of a football program which posed more questions than answers under his predecessor Matthew Primus.

"It's tough love," said Trengove.

"With Kenny there's no grey areas, it's very much black and white. No player is left in any doubt as to what he wants and expects from us, which is a good thing.

"You have to do what he demands because he's ruthless to each player.

"He'll treat you the same whether you're a young fella or (four-time club champion) Kane Cornes.

"He's totally honest with his feedback and he's able to deliver it in a way where we know exactly what is expected of us. And if you don't deliver you're in trouble."

Hinkley, who will lead the Power into premiership season battle for the first time against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, famously - and torturously - pushed his young troops through 100, 100m sprints before Christmas.

When they started pre-season training, he was so disappointed with some of their skills after their 3km run, he made them do the run again.

In most training sessions, Hinkley has taken water bottles off the track. Rather than trainers running the water to players during exhaustive sessions - as had been the norm - if a player wants a drink he has to run to the sidelines to get it, just to make him work a bit harder.

Senior players have also copped a serve when they haven't lived up to expectations while training has been so physical there have been plenty of cut heads and bruised bodies.

"It's a combative game," Hinkley argued.

"I think every club expects some clashes to happen (at training). It's a fierce game and the players have to play that way on game day so training has to be like that sometimes. As long as they are doing what they need to do to make themselves better players, I'm OK with it."

Trengove - who this week showed his faith in Hinkley and the direction the club is heading by joining fellow Victorians John Butcher, Alipate Carlile and Andrew Moore in re-signing - insists Port's new coach is tough but "not stupidly tough"

"For him it's not about just smashing us," Trengove said.

"He's got his way of doing things and while he's hard he's fair and consistent with the message he delivers and what he wants from us in every session. He's just trying to lift standards around the place and is desperate for us to get better  ... He leaves you in no doubt about what's right and what's wrong.

"He's fair with his judgment but he won't accept mediocrity, which is a good thing. The boys have embraced that and have been impressed with him from the moment he walked into the club.

"I'm certain we've taken steps in the right direction under Kenny."

Hinkley admits he has a touch of white-line fever.

"But that's just me on training days and me on game days," he says.

"I expect us to train well, I expect us to prepare well and I expect us to go out and play well.

"I try to make sure we do all the little things well because they make a difference. If you do them well you'll end up getting great results."


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Sliding a slippery slope in AFL

Sydney Swans' Gary Rohan during one of his first outdoor runs since breaking his leg last season. Picture: Brett Costello. Source: The Daily Telegraph

"KEEP your feet," is today's answer to the AFL latest rule change that challenges a footballer's natural instinct.

The crackdown on sliding into the legs of an opponent - after serious injuries to Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury and Sydney utility Gary Rohan and reckless slides by Swans captain Adam Goodes last season - has made the "keep your feet" philosophy appear the simple answer to giving away a free kick.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley seems more of a genius for making this mantra a core element of the Power's pre-season training regime.

He had midfield assistant coach Shaun Rehn build a sand pit on the old cricket practice pitches at the southern end of Alberton Oval where Port players threw themselves to ground and were compelled to make a Jack Rabbit-rise to their feet.

"It's the way you want to play," says Hinkley. "You are a much better player when you are on your feet. That's what we've told our players all summer  ... Hopefully, that helps the players with the rule."

On the evidence of last week's season-opener between Adelaide and Essendon at AAMI Stadium, "keep your feet" is not enough to spare a player significant grief from the new slide-in rule.

Too much is made of the first goal scored from this new rule - the free kick conceded by Adelaide defender Brent Reilly as he rolled into the legs of Essendon forward Alwyn Davey, making the "forceful contact below the knees" that the new rule punishes. Not even the Crows match committee defends Reilly on this costly error of judgment.

But Adelaide's coaches have isolated incidents in the game that do prove that even the "keep your feet" mantra will not help.

Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield kept his feet, put his head over the ball and as he claimed possession of a loose ball ran head-first into the legs of Essendon captain Jobe Watson. He was penalised for making forceful contact below Watson's knees.

A year ago Watson would have been penalised under the bump rule that forbids forceful, front-on contact above Dangerfield's shoulders.

Pity the umpires who have to make the distinction today.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood would be nervous now. He made an art of dropping his head over the ball and ramming opponents to score a free kick for high contact.

If he now burrows into the lower legs of an opponent - in the way a Geelong team-mate did to break Pendlebury's legs - Selwood would be punished. Keeping your feet is not the guarantee for any AFL player who instinctively puts his head over the ball and wants to move through heavy traffic.

Hinkley says "there is not so much you can do in training" to cope with the slide-in rule. The AFL will argue at least coaches will stop training their players to dangerously slide into the scrimmages, as Goodes did twice last year.

"We've been aware (of the new rule) - aware of it for some time," Hinkley says. "It is going to take some adjustment for the players because instinct takes over when you are out there playing."

But what of the umpires who have been burdened with interpretation on top of new rules.

What defines "forceful" contact below the knees? When does this rule over-ride forceful, front-on contact above the shoulders?


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Port skipper's in a new league now

New Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak. Picture: Matt Turner Source: The Advertiser

IT SUNK in for Travis Boak during a promotional photo shoot of all the captains.

He had faced a large press conference at Alberton when he became the club's fifth AFL captain behind Gavin Wanganeen, Matthew Primus, Warren Tredrea and Dom Cassisi.

On that day, he also had to begin to get accustomed to being the face of the club in various promotional material and deal with countless interview requests.

"I knew it was going to be full-on and the first three or four weeks were pretty full-on, before the season started," Boak said.

"But I'm really enjoying it.

"I've had great support from (vice-captain) Brad (Ebert) and the rest of the leadership group and I'm really looking forward to getting out there on Sunday and just leading the boys."

Boak settled in. But the magnitude of the appointment struck him when he went to Melbourne to spend time with the other 17 captains.

His appointment had been logical - he and Ebert had been outstanding over summer, Cassisi felt the time was right to hand over the leadership and assist, and it was a symbol of the revival at Alberton.

But among the other captains, he had to ask himself - do I belong here?

"It was probably a bit daunting, walking around with some big names with (St Kilda captain Nick) Riewoldt and (Hawthorn captain Luke) Hodge and those sort of guys there," Boak said.

"But I felt really comfortable. They were some great guys and I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot off them.

"I'll probably speak to them at regular functions but I'll also learn a lot off these guys at the club."

The way Boak sees it, his appointment will not lead to radical change at Port. He will seek out Cassisi's counsel on a regular basis and he predicted his leadership would be similar - he will seek to lead by example rather than words.

Some work has been done in projecting his voice better but, like Cassisi, he will lean on others in the leadership group for the verbal sprays. Cassisi had Dean Brogan and Chad Cornes as the loud voices at gatherings, Boak will have Jackson Trengove and Jay Schulz.

"I'm probably pretty similar (to Cassisi)," Boak said. "I've never been really outgoing and loud and we've got guys who do that - we've got Schulzy and Jacko who are pretty vocal and pump up guys.

"I'll continue to just do the things that have got me here today and the rest of the leadership group bring their own quality attributes. That's sort of how we'll go about it. We'll lead the club as one whole group; it won't just be one player."

But Boak knows that as he settles into the role, he will be expected to shoulder a heavier load as the club seeks to advance itself in new markets.

Part of it will be straight-forward promotional work, but he also tipped there would be times when he had to carry the can for the club in off-field debates and issues.

"That will probably come and I've enjoyed it so far," Boak said.

"There's probably going to be different sort of functions that I have to go to and I'll just take that as it comes.

"I'll probably speak to Dom about it all, which I've done so far, about what sort of things the club needs. I'll speak to Kochie (David Koch, president) and Ken (Hinkley, coach) and these sort of guys as well.

"I'm enjoying it so far."

For Port, this season is about winning back respect, a commodity that the club was flush with when it entered the AFL but has since frittered away after losing its way both on and off the field. To Boak, it comes back to basics - a commitment to physical football built on a fitness base restored by internationally respected fitness coach Darren Burgess.

"We're just going to go in and focus on what's worked for us over the last two or three weeks," Boak said.

"We've got to go in and earn the respect back from the competition and we do that by the physicality, tackling and hunting of the ball.

"And getting the win.

"I think there's a lot of confidence there and I think we've worked at a lot of parts of our game that weren't there last year.

"The whole defensive side has taken a step up and we've got to continue that if we want to be a good side. Most of the top-four, top-eight sides are really great defensive sides and that's what we've got to focus on."

Boak warned against being seduced by the club's outstanding pre-season, which included wins over premiership contenders Sydney and West Coast.

But there was a sense of renewed confidence as the club is preparing for Sunday's round one match against Melbourne at the MCG.

"It doesn't matter what you do in the pre-season - it doesn't count for any points," Boak said. "We can go in confident that we've done the work.

"But it all starts now."


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Blight lights the path for Hinkley

Ken Hinkley, right, with Malcolm Blight and Peter Jonas, left, during their stint at St Kilda. Picture: Craig Borrow. Source: Herald Sun

KEN Hinkley openly admits he is a disciple of dual Crows premiership coach Malcolm Blight.

Like Blight, he hates losing and is soft on the outside with a tough underbelly.

"I played my best football under Blighty and had my best time as a player working under him," said Hinkley, who made two All-Australian teams playing under Blight at Geelong in 1991-92.

"He encouraged the best from a lot of people and gave me confidence to play the game, so I'm certainly converted to the Malcolm Blight side of things."

Hinkley - who interviewed but missed out on the head coaching jobs at Richmond, Geelong and St Kilda - said Blight had taught him to "give players freedom to play".

"It was about taking the game on inside some guidelines and then seeing how far they could go," he said.

"But over the journey I think Blighty also has learnt that you needed to have some pretty solid defence about your team too.

"If you can combine a bit of both I think you'll get a pretty good recipe."

A strong family person, Hinkley is renowned as a great teacher, having nurtured many Geelong premiership players including Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson, Paul Chapman and Andrew Mackie.

Ablett, now captain of Gold Coast, describes him as a "close confidante".

"He's just got a really good handle of the game," Blight said.

"He has a very astute football brain and he gets on very well with each player, he has a really nice way about him."

Mackie said he loved working with Hinkley.

"He has one of the smartest footy brains that I know," he said.

"He's a bloke just with a desire to win. I think Port needs that and a brand footy fans want to go see."


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Carlile injury hurts Port's raw squad

Port Adelaide full back Alipate Carlile at training earlier this week. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide's summer of progress last night took its first hit of misfortune with key defender Alipate Carlile ruled out of the Power's premiership season-opener on Sunday.

And Carlile's absence with hamstring soreness exposes the Port defence to having just one experienced key backman - 61-game Jackson Trengove - against a fresh Melbourne unit that can load up with talls on the MCG.

Just three days after Carlile signed a four-year extension to his contract, the 25-year-old full back trained fully yesterday.

But at the end of the session at AAMI Stadium Carlile reported he still had the soreness that forced him out of the last quarter of the trial win against AFL premier Sydney a fortnight ago.

"I'm not prepared to take the risk," said new Power coach Ken Hinkley last night.

"It's not serious with Carlile, but I want a fit side. This game is too important to not have 22 fit players."

Carlile's absence leaves Trengove to form a critical partnership with Tom Jonas and Cam O'Shea to work against the Melbourne threats of Mitch Clark, James Sellar and lead ruckman Mark Jamar and potential switch-hitters Jack Watts and Colin Garland.

Hinkley is backing players who have passed his character test to start a new era for the respect-chasing Power.

Port will start its critical 2013 AFL premiership campaign against the Demons with as many as:

THREE first-game players - teenager Jake Neade, first-round draftee Ollie Wines and upgraded rookie, midfielder Kane Mitchell.

SEVEN players wearing the Power colours for the first time - defenders Campbell Heath (ex-Sydney), Lewis Stevenson (West Coast) and Jack Hombsch (Greater Western Sydney), forward Angus Monfries (Essendon) and Neade, Wines and Mitchell.

TWENTY players with less than 100 games of AFL experience.

SIXTEEN players with less than 50 games.

And Hinkley is backing the quality of his new-look Port squad ahead of the quantity of AFL games played by the old mis-firing crew.

Hinkley's first premiership line-up is without five players who featured in the Power's 2007 grand final 22 - Troy Chaplin (140 AFL games), Danyle Pearce (154), Steven Salopek (12), Jacob Surjan (121) and David Rodan (176).

This takes 712 AFL games off the Power's squad profile.

"And we have replaced them with outstanding characters - and quality people," says Hinkley. "Blokes who want to play the Port Adelaide way."

Port's last team on the MCG, where the Power closed the disastrous 2012 premiership season with a draw against Richmond, had 1958 games of AFL experience.

Hinkley's first 25-man squad, which will be reduced to the match 22 this evening, has a collective 1189 games.

This raw group will be led by a first-time captain, Travis Boak, who yesterday reiterated Hinkley's line the Power must re-establish respect, relevance and honour in the AFL.

"It doesn't matter what you do in pre-season, it doesn't count for any points," said Boak yesterday.

"We have to go in earning that respect back from the competition and we do that by the physicality and the tackling and hunting the ball and getting the wins.

"It all starts now."

MELBOURNE'S 25-man squad has its own new look with four new faces, including South Australians Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Viney.

They are among four Demons in line for their first AFL premiership game.

Port will be playing Melbourne on the MCG for the ninth time. But the Power has just one win from the previous eight games - in 2007 when Port last played in finals.

Makeshift Port and Melbourne teams last month played a highly competitive game in the NAB Cup series with the Demons winning by two points at Renmark.


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A lot to work on: Malthouse

Lachie Henderson after the final siren. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Blues coach Mick Malthouse lays down the law. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse admits he is wrestling with the Blues' defence-attack balance after only one game.

The Blues were down by as much as 42 points 11 minutes into the third quarter, but threw caution to the wind in the second half to fall five points short of an incredible comeback.

Malthouse said he made the call to abandon his conservative approach in a bid to pinch the game, which only failed when Chris Yarran missed too good chances in front of goal in the dying minutes.

"I learned a lot, they'll probably learn a lot. Just the methodology, the things you can do that work and things that don't work and you've got to start to get the balance right," Malthouse said.

"By working one way you do rob yourself of some defensive play and we took that gamble so I'm not too sure where I actually sit with that. It got us back in the game, but I'm not 100 per cent sure you can keep having shootouts with sides.

"Nonetheless I guess it was enough to spook Richmond a bit."

Carlton face a daunting start to the season, with Collingwood, Geelong, West Coast (away) and Adelaide to come in the next month, but Malthouse strongly rejected suggestions he needed to "pick players up".

"What, do you think they're walking around with their head down? They've come back and had a crack," he said.

"This is one round. It's Round 1 of a 22-week season. They're not babies, they don't need to be cuddled and caressed and told how unlucky they are. We know we got beaten by a better side and we know we've got a lot of work to do to make us more competitive.

"But this is not a kindergarten. These are grown men."

Malthouse criticised the Blues' use of the interchange, claiming he was unhappy with only 106 rotations compared to Richmond's 133.

But that was the extent of his irritation with his side's first loss to the Tigers since 2008.

"There's enough there," he said.

"I said to the playing group, 'There's no witch-hunt in the rooms tonight'. It is simply that we need to look at why our planning didn't work and why we were able to get back in the game."

Malthouse said Marc Murphy and Chris Judd would continue to get better after limited preparation and said Bryce Gibbs would get more confidence in his game.


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Catch 22: Footy fashionistas

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 27 Maret 2013 | 20.11

Anthony Koutoufides and Ang Christou at a Carlton Fashion Review at the Metro, Melbourne in 1996. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

WHAT a massive week we've just had. The start of the AFL season, the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival and preparations for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

So in the spirit of all three events, we've delved into the pictorial vault and come up with a theme: footballers whose forays into the world of fashion have provided a bit of a chuckle.

There are plenty of images from the-time honoured "footy club hosts fashion night'' phenomenon. Just check out the fans swooning around Carlton pair Anthony Koutoufides and Ang Christou at Metro back in 1996.

There are also some pretty dodgy publicity shots, and photographs from players' revues that the footballers involved would surely prefer went the way of the drop kick.

But perhaps the best images are of those guys who reckoned they were pretty good at the fashion caper and through themselves into the style of the times.


We've collated our best 22, but if you think there is an obvious ommission lodge your nomination on Twitter at @wgreenheraldsun.

CLICK HERE to see the gallery.


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