Carlton rings changes — dials wrong number

Chris Judd clears the ball against West Coast to get the Blues out of trouble. Source: Getty Images

WHEN former AFL powerhouse Carlton won the Chris Judd sweepstakes before the start of the 2007 season it was supposed to ignite an exciting new era for the Blues.

But giving away talented but then unproven 19-year-old key forward Josh Kennedy to West Coast to secure Judd was the start of some list management bungling which has come back to haunt the club.

Judd won a second Brownlow Medal in his fourth year at Carlton and three consecutive best and fairest awards from 2008-10.

But the Blues have not finished higher than fifth in the Judd era and after spiralling to 13th last year they have slumped to 16th after two rounds this season and their future looks bleak.

While Judd, 31, is nearing the end of his career, the man Carlton traded to secure him is, at age 27, at the peak of his powers.

Kennedy kicked 10 goals against his former club last week, while the Blues, who also traded draft picks three (Chris Masten) and 20 (Tony Notte) to get Judd, managed just nine in total.

The decision to let Kennedy go was the start of a series of poor judgment calls which has and will continue to hurt the goal-starved Blues.

While Carlton has kicked just 20 goals in the opening two rounds, players it traded, delisted or lost as free agents have been on fire at their new clubs.

Apart from Kennedy's heroics, Jarrad Waite bagged a career-high seven goals for North Melbourne in his second game for the Roos last week, Eddie Betts has been in career-best form at Adelaide and Betts' former sidekick Jeff Garlett has been in fine form for Melbourne.

Two other players that Carlton found surplus to requirements – ruckman Sam Jacobs and midfielder Shaun Grigg – have carved out strong careers at their new clubs, Adelaide and Richmond.

Jacobs – who was rated behind Matthew Kreuzer, Robert Warnock and Shaun Hampson in the ruck pecking order at the Blues – has become a star at the Crows.

He is clearly the club's No. 1 ruckman and has twice been unlucky not to be an All-Australian.

Grigg has been a Tigers regular since shifting to Punt Rd at the end of 2010, playing 83 games.

Carlton has lost four other players who are still on AFL lists and two of them look like carving out successful careers at their new clubs.

Defender Jeremy Laidler has been a solid contributor for flag contender Sydney and utility Mitch Robinson has impressed in his first two games for the Lions.

Two discarded players who have yet to make an impression at their new clubs are Hampson at Tigerland and Kane Lucas at West Coast.

Of the elite eight, seven – all but Laidler – have recorded a spike in key statistics and Champion Data ranking points since leaving the Blues.

Carlton has been the league's biggest mover and shaker when it comes to recycling players in recent years.

Of players currently still on AFL lists, it has moved out 10 and brought in 15.

Sadly for Blues fans, too many of the calls have been wrong.

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All the Power sits with Port’s list managers

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas speaks to media. Photo: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

Port Adelaide is learning the lesson from its darkest hour on the national stage with Power chief executive Keith Thomas seeking ways to beat the AFL circuit-breakers on dynasties.

"We must never experience the 'fall of the cliff' syndrome of 2008-11 again," Thomas said referring to the Power's collapse from 2007 grand finalist to holding the wooden spoon in the last round of 2011.

During that nightmare, that preceded Thomas' appointment as chief executive, the Power won just 29 of 88 home-and-away games and the Port Adelaide Football Club's place in the AFL was put at risk by financial crises.

So while the Power seeks to find its second AFL flag from its impressive current player list, Thomas has charged list manager Jason Cripps to find the next squad to keep Port Adelaide in the premiership race - as Sydney has done for the past 20 years and Geelong is trying today.

"I want to know what our player list looks like in four-to-five years," Thomas said in explaining his part in list-management at Alberton. "It may sound presumptuous, but I have asked Jason Cripps: 'How do we transition out of this bubble?'

"This player group is going to be pretty good - from an age profile - for the next four to five years. But how do we get to the next point? How do we never fall off the cliff again?

"So there has to be a lot of forward thinking - and decision making now. Conscious decisions need to be made now.

"That is the untold story of list management - the pressure on list managers and the sophistication required to get that right."

This process challenges Cripps and new Power football chief Chris Davies to make strategic list-management decisions in retaining players, chasing free agents and in the annual trade market each October. And Davies' work in managing the football department budgets at Alberton continues to hinge on Thomas' commercial team delivering new revenue streams to fund coach Ken Hinkley's program.

No greater lesson stands out from the 2008-11 disaster at Port Adelaide than the failure to invest in the football team.

"In the past three years we have had significant growth in the footy program to get it right," Thomas said. "Because if you are not playing good footy, nothing else works."

As new Adelaide coach Phil Walsh has noted in the past week, the non-Victorian AFL clubs crave recognition in the Melbourne environment. But it also works in reverse with that hard-earn respect in the AFL's traditional market carrying heavy burdens of expectation from Victorian critics.

Port Adelaide returns to Melbourne tomorrow - for the first time since its preliminary final loss to AFL premier Hawthorn at the MCG in late September - after losing its opening games in Perth (to Fremantle) and at Adelaide Oval (to Sydney). The game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium carries the "expectation tag" for a team that started the season as a premiership fancy and is 0-2 today.

"We're aware of (the expectation) and how it affects the dynamic of the (playing) group," Thomas responded in his interview in Melbourne with radio SEN this week. "We're not avoiding it or hiding from it. We're embracing it. That expectation has to have some impact, but we hope we can handle it.

"We also know we have not done anything yet (such as play in a grand final). If the team is healthy and playing well, we know we are difficult to handle.

"We also know it is really, really hard to win in this competition. We have a balanced view of that."

ends

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Water boy is Bombers’ new hero

AFL: Essendon defender Cale Hooker discusses his fairytale goal against Hawthorn.

Cale Hooker celebrates his matchwinning goal against Hawthorn with Bomber fans and trainer Brad Holt. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

THERE could be a sequel on the way to Adam Sandler's comedy hit The Water Boy — starring Essendon's newest unexpected celebrity.

Trainer Brad Holt became an instant star after he was captured by Herald Sun photographer Wayne Ludbey getting caught up in the moment when the Bombers hit the lead on Sunday.

Holt, a lifelong Essendon fan, has been ribbed by Bombers players and recognised by strangers after Cale Hooker kicked the matchwinning goal.

"It's a great photo but I'm just amazed how much and how quickly it's gained legs," he said.

"My girlfriend was the one that told me about it and has actually saved it as her screen saver on her work computer. A lot of friends got into me after the game too because apparently you can see me on the telecast celebrating behind Hooksy as well."

Holt said it was tough to concentrate on the job of attending players as the clock ticked down — and revealed he had joked with Hooker about his matchwinning play before it happened.

"Naturally you do want to watch and look where the next play can go although I'd like to think I did a good job staying focussed on the task at hand.

"I remember thinking it wasn't going to be a long quarter as they were catching up. Then I noticed Hooksy come down. While I was out there running back I joked with him saying 'Down here again?', as he's done it a few times at training and I vaguely remember seeing him down there for a play against Sydney.

"Then obviously when he kicked it, it just felt like a weight was lifted and I was so happy for the boys. I felt we really needed this one."

Holt has been a Bombers trainer and myotherapist since 2009 and runs a mobile massage and myotherapy service called ACTION Myotherapy. His clients include some Essendon players.

Originally published as Water boy is Bombers' new hero

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Ebert: We’ve been too slow to react

Brad Ebert at Port Adelaide training at Alberton yesterday. Photo: Tom Huntley. Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide has not lost its nerve and is confident its game style will hold up for another premiership tilt — but it has a grave problem.

After its loss against Sydney, it is now the worst team in the competition when it comes to converting from attacking forays.

Its inside 50s are yielding just 15.4 per cent goals, compared to market leader West Coast, which is kicking goals from 37.8 per cent of its attacks.

But vice captain Brad Ebert was confident the way Port plays will still allow it to challenge this season as long as it can fix the way the ball is moved into the forward line.

The midfielders can't just bang it in, and they can't be too slow, because when they are the other side has a chance to flood their backline with extra numbers.

"To get it inside 50 and then actually use the opportunity when we go inside 50 ... I think that if we can do that we're a fair chance of improving,'' Ebert said. "But the things that we've put in place over the last few years seem to have worked pretty well.

"I think so far we've been a bit slow to move it and a little bit slow to react.

"The usual way we play the game is that fast-paced, high-tempo, exciting brand of footy.

"I think we're really just trying to get back to that a bit.''

But as much as the inability to score has hurt the Power — and they have been given some stern reviews from coach Ken Hinkley — Ebert was confident the way Port set about playing had not lost its effectiveness.

It was a matter of executing better, and quicker, as other team's will now use Sydney's big win against Port as a blueprint to slow them down for the rest of the season.

"It was a tough review but as we walked out of it we were okay with where we were heading,'' Ebert said. "I think everyone's upbeat and positive and just eager to get back out there and play again."

As the Power prepares to tackle North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, Ebert will also prepare for his 150th AFL game.

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Blog replay: Power vs Freo

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Jacobs: We flew as one against Roos

Adelaide has thrashed North Melbourne by 77 points with new captain Taylor Walker kicking six goals.

AFL: Adelaide coach Phillip Walsh fronts the media after his side's 140-63 win over North Melbourne.

Sam Jacobs and Todd Goldstein go head-to-head in the ruck. Photo: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

PHIL Walsh started his first game day as Adelaide senior coach redefining the "Crows way".

"I hope you see a team committed to playing for one another – players with great team care," he said.

At the end, with an impressive 77-point win against North Melbourne to celebrate at Adelaide Oval, Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs was satisfied that his club's team spirit lived up to the promotional line of an Adelaide Football Club that flies as one.

"I felt we had 22 contributors," said Jacobs, after another of his absorbing classic duels with North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.

"We showed we will be strong around the contest.

"And when the Kangaroos came back at the start of the third term (to rally with six unanswered goals) we embraced the challenge. Our game held up.

"We were tested in all facets of the game – we got on top in the second quarter, were challenged in the third and responded and finished strong in the last. It sends a message, I hope, on how we are going to play."

Adelaide's match-winning second term, in which the Crows chalked up a 69-point lead, highlighted the classic adage in sport that attack is the best form of defence.

"And we were able to attack right to the Kangaroos' last line of defence," Jacobs said.

"We won the ball, we were able to move it quickly and I am sure the figures will show that we played most of that quarter in our half (to score 6.6 to 1.0).

"That is a key indicator in the AFL now – time in forward half.

"Get that working your way in most games and it will go a long way to helping us."

Jacobs was quickly called to a game review by Walsh to look at the start of the third term when Goldstein sparked the Kangaroos' revival with his deft ruckwork.

"I like to think I responded – as did the whole team because we have prepared for that situation," Jacobs said.

"It has been drilled into us just what we have to do when a team comes at us like that.

"It is a real credit to the team leadership group that they drove that response – and that there was a buy-in from the rest of the players.

"Phil Walsh (as coach) can instil that process in training, but it ultimately falls on us as players to react and respond and to know the Crows way."

In a game that has so many observations to be made of the new ways at Adelaide under Walsh, there is a telling note that more and more Crows have developed second and third strings to their games making it harder to predict and control Walsh's team.

"We were exposed to a lot of new things in the pre-season – including playing different positions," Jacobs said. "It goes a long way to building our team's depth."

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Power let win slip away to Dockers

AFL: Fremantle have done just enough to see off Port Adelaide in a cracking opening round contest in Perth.

Port's Angus Monfries after the loss. Source: News Corp Australia

IT'S ONLY Round 1 and it was only four premiership points but last night might as well have been a final and Port Adelaide will be shattered at letting it slip to Fremantle.

Without their ruckman, with five players having barely played all pre-season and facing a brutal opening month which includes playing both last year's grand finalists, the Power almost pinched a win in Perth first-up.

They had their chances but three-and-a-half quarters of hard work came undone in two minutes in the final term when a crucial turnover and clumsy free kick allowed the Dockers back-to-back goals and a seven-point victory.

HINKLEY:We couldn't quite handle the heat

The game was played at breakneck speed and for the most part, Port Adelaide's set the pace.

Their pressure was manic and tackling ruthless which appears the latest weapon in their arsenal.

Chad Wingard gets a desperate to get a handball away. Source: News Corp Australia

The Power had 32-11 tackles in the first half and finished with 73-41 led superbly by Robbie Gray, Ollie Wines and Paddy Ryder.

Wines in particular made two huge tackles in the second half and coolly slotted two goals in a brilliant performance.

Without a typically dominant performance from Travis Boak — who had to contend with Clancee Pearce as the tag for most of the night — or Robbie Gray, Port's attack came from half back.

Jared Polec and Ollie Wines hug after a Power goal. Source: Getty Images

Jack Hombsch, Tom Jonas, Jarman Impey, Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove and even Alipate Carlile turned defence into attack.

Carlile did a good job on Matthew Pavlich but when he was subbed out the Fremantle skipper turned match-winner with two final term goals while at the other end Port's talls didn't have the same impact.

Impey was outstanding on Hayden Ballantyne keeping him to one goal for the match and Kane Cornes blanketed Stephen Hill for most of the match.

Much of the pre-game focus was on Paddy Ryder's debut for Port Adelaide and it took a twist before the first bounce when Matthew Lobbe pulled out with a sore quad.

After a mostly underwhelming first half, Ryder came to live in the third quarter.

At one point he stood his ground, drew heavy contact from Lee Spurr but recovered, won the footy at ground level and got it to Chad Wingard who kicked the goal.

Ryder finished with 12 disposals but best to judge him when Lobbe is back in the side and after at least a month of footy with his new team.

Robbie Grey blasts the ball out of the centre. Source: News Corp Australia

A key to Port Adelaide's game was knowing when to attack and when to be patient.

If an option wasn't on they were prepared to back their field kicking and chip it around but if there was half a chance they were in position they played on without hesitation.

Wines' bullocking work combined with Matthew Broadbent, Jared Polec and Brad Ebert's run and creativity was a highlight, and Gray stood up in a frantic final term.

But they struggled to break through Fremantle's defence. Port had three talls in John Butcher, Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff but they kicked only two goals between them while Pavlich was the difference at the other end.

Nat Fyfe also gave Port plenty of headaches with a strong body around the stoppages then a marking option up forward.

5 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM PORT vs FREMANTLE

1. Matthew Pavlich is 33 but he can keep kicking on for at least another season with a superb four-goal effort. The Fremantle skipper hurt Port at crucial junctures as the standout focal point in a knife-edge clash.

2. Fitness guru Darren Burgess hammered Port in another merciless pre-season but his side ran out of gas in Perth's Dubai-like heat. Port at half-time believed it would finish stronger than the Dockers but was consumed by the game's toughest road trip.

3. Rain, hail or shine Port and Fremantle will be certain top-four contenders after a breathtaking, unforgiving contest. Port and Freo are two well-coached rivals with stars and warriors who run to breaking point.

4. Chad Wingard can produce the goods in the trenches and slot goals against the run of play even when relying on a zero lead-in on return from injury. This kid has style and substance.

5. Star recruit Paddy Ryder worked into the game in the third quarter after Aaron Sandilands prevailed in the first half with Freo enjoying 21 hit-outs to eight. Port beat Fremantle without Matt Lobbe in round eight last year but overcoming the man mountain is not a journey you want to undertake without a tag team.

— Richard Earle

FREMANTLE 2.1 5.3 7.5 11.9 (75)

PORT ADELAIDE 2.5 5.5 7.8 10.8 (68)

BEST

Fremantle: Fyfe, Pavlich, D. Pearce, Spurr, McPharlin, Mundy.

Port Adelaide: Wines, Trengove, Ebert, Impey, Polec, Gray.

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Wines, Wingard 2, Butcher, White, Neade, Ebert, Schulz, Boak.

Fremantle: Pavlich 4, D. Pearce, Ballantyne 2, Walters, Fyfe, Neale.

UMPIRES — N. Foot, D. Margetts, S, Meredith.

CROWD — 34,099 at Subiaco Oval.

MERV AGARS VOTES

5: Wines, 4: Trengove, 3: Ebert 2: Impey, Polec 1: Gray.

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Insipid Kangaroos ‘got ambushed’

AFL: Patrick Dangerfield has produced a brilliant goal for the Crows in their 77-point thrashing of North Melbourne.

North Melbourne players leave Adelaide Oval. Picture: Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia

A "boiling'' Brad Scott has savaged his North Melbourne team, labelling its 77-point opening round loss to Adelaide as "insipid'' and an "indictment'' on the club.

"That performance is bitterly disappointing to us and is an indictment on us,'' the Kangaroos coach said last night in the aftermath of a defeat which has left questions hanging over the club's premiership credentials.

"We came over (to Adelaide) preparing for an ambush and we got ambushed.

"We got slaughtered in the contest and it was just a really disappointing performance clearly.

''We lost contested possession 141-115, we were dominated around the ball and we fumbled the ball like I haven't seen us fumble in my time as coach at North Melbourne.

AFL: North Melbourne coach Brad Scott fronts the media after his side's 77 point flogging by Adelaide in round one.

"The kicking efficiency was horrific and the opposition's appetite for the contest was much better than ours, which is an indictment.''

North, a preliminary finalist last season, lost an opening round encounter for the sixth consecutive year and Scott vowed to put the heat on his players at training during the week to spark a strong response before next Sunday's home clash against the Brisbane Lions.

"There's no point getting angry, I'm boiling inside, but we've got to do something about it,'' Scott said.

"Everyone these days talks in cliches and it's about actions, not words.

"You can rip paint off walls and you can do those sorts of things and the players will get what's coming to them but it's about what we do about it that's going to make the difference.

Brad Scott and Andrew Swallow lead North Melbourne off. Source: Getty Images

"As a group we were disappointing. Individuals fought hard but as a team of 22 we didn't show anywhere near the fight required.''

The Kangaroos conceded six goals in each of the first, second and final quarters and were only on top for a 15-minute burst in the third term when they kicked five unanswered goals.

They were pushed aside physically by a super-competitive Crows outfit, which was playing its first game under new coach Phil Walsh.

But Scott put that down to nothing else but mindset.

"Clearly its mindset because physically we are better than we were last year,'' he said.

Lindsay Thomas kicks a goal for North Melbourne. Source: Getty Images

"We tried to steel our guys for a contest and we didn't respond.

"So we've just got to get back a really aggressive mindset in the contest because really everything else is secondary.

"We'll train it really strongly, you can train that. We pride ourselves on being a good contested side and we were beaten by a much better contested side on the day.

"The flip side is that Adelaide are a really strong outfit, they are really well organised, they are hard at the contest and they've got both sides of their game - offence and defence - working really well.

"But that doesn't excuse for a second the insipid performance of our guys.''

Asked about the perception of North now as a premiership contender, Scott said: "Who cares about that.

"Do you seriously think that people internally in footy clubs care about what external people write about you?

"Whether positively or negatively, it's irrelevant to us. Internally is all we care about and what we've got to do about it.''

The only bright spot on a horror day for the Roos was former Bulldog Shaun Higgins bagging four goals in his first game for his new club, although even that didn't please Scott.

"He did what he is capable of do doing but Shaun is not going to hang his hat on that - a 12-goal loss,'' Scott said.

North's other prized off-season recruit, former Blue Jarrad Waite, had a day to forget, managing just 10 disposals and failing to hit the scoreboard.

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Walker, Crows thump flat Kangas

AFL: The Crows have belted North Melbourne by 77 points at Adelaide Oval.

Taylor Walker celebrates one of his six goals in his first match as captain. Photo: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

THIRTY-SEVEN minutes. That's all it took to understand why new Adelaide coach Phil Walsh made Taylor Walker his first captain.

With the game's greatest forward Wayne Carey watching from the stands, Walker ensured the Walsh coaching era got off to a flying start, producing one of the great first captaincy games in VFL-AFL history at Adelaide Oval.

SCOTT: INSIPID KANGAROOS GOT AMBUSHED

By the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, Walker had hauled in 10 marks, destroyed two opponents - Joel Tippett and All-Australian full back Scott Thompson - and inspirationally set the Crows on their way to a 77-point thrashing of last year's preliminary finalist North Melbourne.

The 24-year-old affectionately known as "Tex'' had made a statement reminiscent of the great key forwards.

And his teammates followed in a dream head coaching debut for Walsh, whose first senior coaching stint was 20 years in the making after serving a two-decades-long apprenticeship as an assistant.

Taylor Walker was into everything against North Melbourne. Pic Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia

By the time Walker had reached double-figures in marks - and been at the heart of most of Adelaide's forward thrusts - he had pushed his team 47 points clear and the match was as good as over.

There was a mini-fightback by the Kangaroos in the third quarter but Walker, who kicked six goals for the match, again stepped up to stop it.

His steadying goal from one of his 15 marks for the day ended a run of six unanswered goals from the Roos.

"A lot of people thought it wasn't the best decision to name him (Walker) captain,'' said Carey, who was on commentary duties.

AFL: Adelaide coach Phillip Walsh fronts the media after his side's 140-63 win over North Melbourne.

"On evidence of his first game he is relishing the role. If that's not a three-vote (Brownlow Medal game), I'll go he.''

Walker, 24, was controversially picked by Walsh as skipper ahead of midfield stars Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane.

On Sunday's display, it was the right decision.

Walker - less than a year after returning from a knee reconstruction - finished with 15 marks, 22 disposals and 6.5.

Only some shoddy goalkicking let him down.

Brad Scott and captain Andrew Swallow lead the North Melbourne players from the ground. Photo by Michael Dodge. Source: Getty Images

Former Geelong, Port Adelaide and West Coast assistant Walsh, who has replaced sacked Brenton Sanderson, vowed he would bring a new hard edge to Adelaide and it was evident from the start of the premiership season opener.

His players hit the ground running, showcasing a tough, aggressive mindset which saw the often-prolific Roos kick just three goals in the first half.

They only got off the leash once - in the opening 14 minutes of the third term when they kicked six of their nine goals as North's Round 1 hoodoo continued.

The Kangaroos have now not won a round one encounter since 2009.

While Walker led from the front brilliantly, plenty of Crows enjoyed days out.

AFL: Adelaide coach Phillip Walsh fronts the media after his side's 140-63 win over North Melbourne.

Eddie Betts was superb as a small forward and midfielder, kicking four goals and having a game-high four score assists, onballers Dangerfield, Richard Douglas and Sloane were prolific, combining for 82 disposals, Rory Laird completely blanketed veteran superstar Brent Harvey, Brodie Smith was damaging on a wing and Daniel Talia was rock solid in defence.

In other positive signs for Adelaide, former skipper Nathan van Berlo made a successful comeback after missing the entire 2014 season with a ruptured Achilles and big-bodied midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen showed some good signs in just his second AFL game.

Former Bulldog Shaun Higgins was the Roos' best in his first match for his new club, kicking four classy goals.

Taylor Walker flies high against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Pic Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE 21.14 (140)

NORTH MELBOURNE 9.9 (63)

BEST - Adelaide: Walker, Betts, Dangerfield, Laird, Douglas, Sloane, Smith, Talia.

North: Higgins, Goldstein, Cunnington.

GOALS - Adelaide: Walker 6, Betts 4, Jenkins 3, Dangerfield, Sloane 2, Lynch, Smith, Cameron, Laird.

North: Higgins 4, Thomas 2, Bastinac, Petrie, Gibson.

INJURIES - Adelaide: Brown (thigh). North: Brown replaced in selected side by Jacobs.

UMPIRES - L. Fisher, M. Nicholls, J. Mollison.

CROWD - 46,491 at Adelaide Oval.

AFL: Patrick Dangerfield has produced a brilliant goal for the Crows in their 77-point thrashing of North Melbourne.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

1.TAYLOR WALKER can carry a team as its new captain, a forward system as its main go-to player and a club with its burning desire for on-field success. Seven marks in the first term by "Tex" was a phenomenal statement of intent. Defenders are shaking.

2.NEW Crows coach PHIL WALSH – just as he wants - will get fewer and fewer questions about his complete gameplan when it is so evident that he has "a team that is committed to playing for one another". And the playbook thrives on winning the 50-50 ball.

3.RORY LAIRD, with just 35 AFL games to his name, is a manic defender who will ignore taller players to attack the ball in the air just as eagerly as he does on the ground or in one-on-one match-ups with the game's stars such as Brent Harvey.

4.ATTACK is the best form of defence. All concerns for Adelaide's raw defence and the lack of a genuine second tall defender to partner Daniel Talia vanished to an effective team system that keeps the ball pinned at the Crows' goalfront.

5.NORTH MELBOURNE'S horrible record in season-openers deepens to now read: No win in Round One since 2009 – and only one victory since 2006. The flat-footed start, the high error rate and the inability to stop Adelaide's 10-goal run from late in the first term – and it was game over early.

Originally published as Walker, Crows thump flat Kangas

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We couldn’t quite handle the heat: Hinkley

AFL: Fremantle have done just enough to see off Port Adelaide in a cracking opening round contest in Perth.

Ken Hinkley at the final break. Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has praised his players for the heat they put on Fremantle but says they needed to be better when the pressure was on them.

The Dockers won an arm-wrestle at Subiaco last night with a final quarter burst which Hinkley said was the result of the home side winning crucial contests and putting it on the scoreboard.

"They were able to convert when they needed it most and we couldn't quite get what we wanted for a long enough period," Hinkley said.

MATCH REPORT: Power go down to Fremantle

"I think if it went for one or two more quarters the same thing would have happened, a pretty tough game of footy and they would have probably just come out in front because they just won the couple that they needed to win.

"We pride ourselves on playing that way and we like to handle the heat inside (but) I think tonight by the end we didn't quite handle as much heat as we needed to.

"We put a fair bit of pressure on but it was when the pressure was being applied to us a couple of times we didn't quite clean it up.

Angus Monfries gets tackled by Matt de Boer and Stephen Hill at Domain Stadium. Source: Getty Images

"I think it's (fast pace) the way we like to play, we enjoy being in those contests, it's good for us, great against a great opposition where we get some real pressure on us."

Hinkley said the club took a no-risk approach with ruckman Matthew Lobbe who had quad soreness before the game so left him out, while Travis Boak suffered nothing more than a corkie and Alipate Carlile was subbed out because he was cramping.

Asked whether he had noticed Fremantle's new-found run and attacking style, Hinkley said without doubt.

"We know they've been having a look at us," said Hinkley, who had words with a man believed to be a Fremantle spy during a pre-season training session at Alberton.

"Absolutely, it's not just this pre-season, Fremantle are a great side and credit is given to us that we were running strong throughout last year and they've acknowledged that.

"I reckon that's good coaching, that's a club that knows what they've got to do."

Robbie Gray breaks clear of a tackle by Hill. Source: Getty Images

The Power boss described recruit Paddy Ryder's performance as "pretty solid first up", given his less than ideal preparation and said he finished the game strongly.

He was also very pleased with young defender Jarman Impey's game on Hayden Ballantyne who he says is an "absolute gun" of the competition.

"We know there's some significant upside for us with Paddy and when we get Lobbes into the side it will certainly help us," Hinkley said.

Ryder was one of five Power players last night who barely played during the NAB Challenge series due to injury and the Essendon drugs investigation.

But he said that was no excuse for the Power not over-running the Dockers and he was content with the output of the five who included Jackson Trengove, Chad Wingard, Hamish Hartlett, Ryder and Angus Monfries who was subbed into the game in the final quarter.

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Walsh pleased with Crow ‘buy-in’

NAB: Adelaide head into the start of the AFL season with confidence following a 24-point win over arch-rivals Port.

Rory Sloane looks to deliver the ball into the forward line. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

PHIL Walsh has crossed his first major bridge as the new Adelaide Football Club coach – getting a "buy in" from his Crows players.

As the rookie AFL coach put himself up for review from his 281-game, premiership-winning mentor John Worsfold at Football Park on Saturday, the promise of his work across the toughest pre-season the Adelaide players have known since Neil Craig started his revolution in 2005 certainly crystallised for the hundreds of thousands who judge the Crows.

The "Phil Walsh" game – the one he wants judged by actions rather than talk – is becoming easier to understand for those who have watched Adelaide in its three pre-season games against North Melbourne (win), Geelong (loss) and Port Adelaide (win).

NAB: Crows coach Phillip Walsh fronts the media after his side's 117-93 win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

But most importantly the Phil Walsh game is clearly understood by his players. The execution may not be perfect as the Crows work away the ingrained sins of the past two years; the output is not always 100 per cent complete, but the Adelaide players have clearly bought into the plan. For a new coach, this makes for a dream start.

So how have the Crows changed in the way they play?

There is more discipline for accountable man-on-man football. There is a seemingly insatiable appetite for the contested ball that stood up with an impressive 151-135 count in Adelaide's favour on the statistical sheets. Walsh prefers to boil down this number by measuring how prepared his players are to dirty their fingernails in winning the ball off the ground – and here he does have a strong buy-in.

Phil Walsh talks to his players. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

But the real change in Adelaide's game – one that will define the season for a team that is playing short of key defenders – is how the Crows defend. This stood out on Saturday as Adelaide slowed down and often derailed the Power, the team that is supposedly the quickest on its feet and most dangerous in transferring play from one end of the park to the other.

Adelaide is pretty effective in its end-to-end plays too. And which of these two qualities – team defence or the complete rebounding attacking game – impresses Walsh more?

"I'm happy with the defence – that is what I felt we needed to do the most work on," said Walsh who inherited a team that leaked badly last season. "As a team, we got back to help (defend) really well today – I took a lot of positives from that.

"What I liked is that as a team, when Port Adelaide won the ball and tried to move it, we all moved as a team to get into a defensive structure. In the two games previously, we may have had only three-quarters of the team do that. There was better buy-in today."

And on that alone, Walsh can now work on the three major tasks – kicking efficiency, goalkicking and tackling – that separate Adelaide from an also-ran to be a real challenger for the top eight this season. The long journey has begun on the correct foot.

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‘We’ve got work to do’: Lobbe

NAB: Port Adelaide's coach Ken Hinkley fronts the media after his side's disappointing 24-point loss to the Crows.

Matthew Lobbe in pursuit of Adelaide youngster Cam Ellis-Yolmen in the NAB Challenge clash at AAMI Stadium. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

RUCKMAN Matthew Lobbe says Port Adelaide's pre-season derby loss to Adelaide has served as a timely wake-up call ahead of the start of the premiership season.

The Power was upset by the Crows by 24 points in its final NAB Challenge match on Saturday and Lobbe says the club is taking the defeat seriously and has work to do before beginning its home-and-away campaign against Fremantle in Perth on April 5.

"I think that the weekend showed that we've got a bit of work to do,'' said vice-captain Lobbe.

"It showed that we've got to get better at handling pressure, so that's something that we'll work hard on in the next couple of weeks to make sure we're ready to take on Freo.

"We'll up the pressure at training and work on specific drills in the three or four more (main training) runs we've got before we run out (against the Dockers).''

While it was only a pre-season match, Lobbe said coach Ken Hinkley was not happy with the performance and had let the players know.

"Ken is disappointed,'' Lobbe said.

"We've got a certain standard that we want to perform at every time we step out on to the field and we weren't able to do that.''

Port has today been given good news on the injury front, with key injured trio Jackson Trengove (shoulder), Chad Wingard (knee) and Hamish Hartlett (groin) almost certain to be available for the Dockers' clash.

Sore spots will also not stop Andrew Moore, Jack Hombsch and Matt White from being available.

Playmaking defender Sam Colquhoun has also been cleared to resume playing after undergoing a knee reconstruction last April.

He is available for round one selection but might not make his season debut until round two in the SANFL as the Port Magpies have a round one bye.

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Young Crow stars in Showdown triumph

NAB: Adelaide head into the start of the AFL season with confidence following a 24-point win over arch-rivals Port.

Rory Sloane booted two supergoals in Adelaide's win over Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Limited

CAM Ellis-Yolmen is emerging as the Crows' next power midfielder after Adelaide beat Port Adelaide in its final practice match at Football Park.

Ellis-Yolmen finished with a team-high 27 disposals, 22 of which were contested, five tackles and six clearances.

He looked every bit the senior player he has had the promise of becoming since arriving at West Lakes as the No. 64 draft pick at the end of the 2011 season.

SUPERCOACH SCORES: CROWS V POWER

He has only played one senior AFL game — as a substitute in Round 12 against Fremantle last year — but was only shaded by the brilliance of Eddie Betts, who added more to the highlights reel as he turned opponents inside out.

There were indications of what to expect from both teams this season on display.

NAB: Port Adelaide's coach Ken Hinkley fronts the media after his side's disappointing 24-point loss to the Crows.

Ellis-Yolmen's contribution came against as Adelaide promised a sharp improvement in its first year under new coach Phil Walsh.

But the win should be tempered by the fact that the Power were missing players such as Paddy Ryder, Angus Monfries, Hamish Hartlett and Chad Wingard.

For the Crows, a more intense forward press was obvious, and there were times when Port Adelaide struggled to break out of their inside 50 area.

Adelaide was also winning the contested ball and getting the ball forward more often, but the Crows weren't without issues. They were spraying it in front of goals and rushing it at times, and they could also be accused of overusing it by handball.

It's a taxing style of football to have the majority of players run up and down the ground like a basketball side, but the Crows worked over the Power in the third quarter and look like they have improved their running power significantly over summer.

Patrick Dangerfield caused havoc at stages during the game. Source: Getty Images

There is still some tweaking to do for the Crows, but they were outstanding in the third quarter, when they broke the game through two long goals from Rory Sloane and strangled the Power's efforts to attack.

But there were also players who made onlookers hopeful for the upcoming season.

Ellis-Yolmen had passages when he was the most dominant player on the ground after years of promising to be something special and this could be his year. He reads it well around the packs and had a sense of calm about him when the game was at its busiest.

Eddie Betts spent a bit of time in the midfield and brought the same magic he has in attack to the area. It will be a balancing act to decide how much time he roves the packs, because some of his work in the forward line had onlookers out of their seats.

One of the best moments of the afternoon was when he beat a couple of taller opponents, danced around them and to set up one of the Crows' goals.

NAB: Crows coach Phillip Walsh fronts the media after his side's 117-93 win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Captain Taylor Walker stood out, and continued in the same vein he has in previous practice matches; he tends to set up as many goals as he kicks and is comfortable working a long way up the ground for a key forward.

The ruck dual was worth watching in itself, and it was difficult to split Adelaide's Sam Jacobs and Port's Matthew Lobbe. They are both top-drawer ruckmen in the competition; what's more important is how good their support is.

For Port, it was the players you expected who caught the eye, not least the cool Robbie Gray, captain Travis Boak, veteran Kane Cornes and the balanced Matthew Broadbent.

Forward John Butcher, a forward who is a standout athlete and competitor, had three goals by half time and looked like he had buried the wobbles in front of goals as he was taking his shots from deeper in attack.

It is not panic stations for Port Adelaide, but they will watch closely how they struggled to move the ball out of the backline as they review the game.

Adelaide young gun Brad Crouch was subbed out with a left foot injury. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Limited

At times, it looked like they were more stagnant than the brave and risk-taking Power of last season.

But then it must be remembered that this was just a practice match, and there was nothing riding on the end of it than finding out more about the players.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT

1. THERE'S hope in John Butcher yet. The horror of just four touches and no scoring shots last week in a half-strength Port Adelaide side was erased by the time he held his fourth mark inside 50m and slotted his third goal midway through the second term. It could have been his fourth, if not for an earlier miss. And has that kicking action been tidied up over summer?

2. CAPTAINCY sits well on Taylor Walker. It's been noted already this pre-season but the evidence just keeps mounting up. From the exemplary skills of his opening supergoal to the team-first bodywork and touch that set up multiple shots at goal for the likes of Josh Jenkins and Eddie Betts, the skipper looks to be flourishing with the leadership.

NAB: John Butcher has soccered the ball to score a goal for Port Adelaide in their clash with the Crows at AAMI Stadium.

3. DISPOSAL remains a work in progress at Adelaide, especially by foot. Disposal efficiency all game was below 70 per cent for the Crows, which quality teams regard a benchmark. The clean movement from the likes of Richard Douglas and Brodie Smith was great, but Adelaide's typical ball movement and desire to press up the ground puts a premium on accuracy to avoid being burnt on the turnover. It's got to lift a notch.

4. SCOTT Thompson won't play in Round 1. In fairness to the veteran, his spot was in doubt thanks to a hamstring injury that has prevented him from playing a pre-season game. But elite players generally get some forgiveness. Unfortunately for him — or fortunately for the Crows — Cameron Ellis-Yolmen stepped up as the type of big-bodied midfielder coach Phil Walsh will appreciate.

5. THE Power has ample room for improvement. After the first term Port rarely looked in the contest. Their attacking play was totally blunted by the Crows, their contested work and tackling was well down, marks inside 50m were rare — yet on paper it was just a three-goal loss. With at least five first-choice players out and Phil Walsh's inside knowledge of the Power's game plan, the only way is up.

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Port not counting on Paddy, Monfries

NAB: Adelaide head into the start of the AFL season with confidence following a 24-point win over arch-rivals Port.

Paddy Ryder in action during a Port Adelaide practice match. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is not even counting on former Essendon pair Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries starting the AFL premiership season.

In total contrast to Essendon coach James Hird's bold claim no Bomber will be banned by the AFL anti-doping tribunal on Tuesday week, Hinkley has no certainty on how many names he will have on his selection whiteboard for the opening clash against Fremantle in Perth on Easter Sunday.

But Hinkley is prepared to gamble on three players who have had little or no pre-season action - key defender Jackson Trengove (shoulder), forward-midfielder Chad Wingard (knee) and midfielder Hamish Hartlett.

Hinkley's dilemma at selection was eased yesterday when midfielder Matt White was cleared of any injury after taking a heavy knock late in the summer Showdown closer to the pre-season.

Angus Monfries could be left out of Port Adelaide's Round 1 team. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

The wash-up from the derby - won by Adelaide by 24 points - is not without pain for the impressive Crows who today will learn from scans on young midfielder Brad Crouch's sore left foot that was injured while changing direction to evade a tackle in the first term.

Ryder and Monfries are under an ASADA provisional ban while the investigation on Essendon supplements program from 2012 reaches a conclusion with the AFL anti-doping panel. Hinkley remains blind on the outcome from Australian football's murkiest saga.

"I've not even entertained picking them to be honest because I don't know what is going to happen," Hinkley said.

"James Hird has lived (the saga). I haven't. James has seen every bit of information. I don't have enough information to make an accurate assessment.

Paddy Ryder arrived at Port Adelaide over the off-season. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

"All I know is that if Paddy and Angus are not available we have a good enough side to play. But they would be handy players to have."

Hinkley returns to Alberton today after a 1-2 win-loss pre-season without a sure 22 to consider for the resting start against the Dockers.

"I'd like to have everyone - all 45 - available, but ...," Hinkley said. "So you have to make decisions on key players who are out of the side (by injury) and we need to get back - are they the type of players who can come straight back?

"I've picked Jackson Trengove off a 10-week break twice before, so I have no problem with him. I'd be happy to pick Chad Wingard. Happy to pick Hartlett."

Ryder's expected absence from the first two-four games of the premiership season is eased by the pre-season form of key forward John Butcher who kicked five goals against the Crows.

"John can play, there is no doubt about that," Hinkley said. "He looks like a player, after doing 90 per cent of the pre-season, who is physically ready to compete. He still has a lot of work to do because he has not played much AFL footy. There will be good and bad days."

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Bombers saga: What happens next

Essendon coach James Hird. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

WHAT to expect when you're expecting the Essendon doping saga to end.

ON MARCH 31

THE AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal will deliver its verdict on whether 34 current and former Essendon players used the banned peptide Thymosin Beta 4.

It will almost certainly happen behind closed doors, so that players can be informed of their fate before the media and general public is told.

March 31 is a guilty or not guilty call — NOT a final determination of penalties.

Even if all 34 are found guilty, they most likely won't be named, as the anonymity provisions in the AFL's anti-doping code extend through their 21-day appeal period.

Stephen Dank's guilt or innocence on a range of charges should also be decided.

IF IT'S NOT GUILTY

THE players, now involved with three AFL clubs, are free to play in Round 1 matches beginning on April 2.

ASADA and the World Anti-Doping Authority both have appeal rights — ASADA at the first instance to the AFL Appeals Tribunal and WADA to either that body or directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

James Hird talks to the media outside the Federal Court. Picture: Eugene Hyland Source: News Corp Australia

IF IT'S GUILTY

IF one or more of players is found guilty, brace yourself for more tribunal hearings.

The possibility that some players will be found guilty and others not is very real — sources close to the tribunal process say the players' experiences in the 2012 supplements program, and their recollections of those experiences are not all alike.

First, and shortly after the verdict, there will be a directions hearing to work out when and on what basis sanctions hearings will take place.

Players' lawyers will outline what provisions in the AFL Anti-Doping Code they believe should be applied to reduce what are normally inflexible sanctions.

If ASADA, which has not made submissions on penalty so far, and the AFL agree the discounts should apply, sanctions hearings could be mercifully short — a couple of days.

If the sanctions hearings are to be contested, then the merits of each of the 34 individual cases could be up for argument, with hearings taking weeks.

If any or all of the players don't like the final result, they can appeal to the AFL Appeals Tribunal and then CAS.

Essendon coach James Hird looks on during match simulation training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

SANCTIONS & DISCOUNTS

A TWO-year ban is the starting point for a player found to have used a banned drug — but there are provisions in the code that could see the players cop no punishment (highly unlikely) or little if any further punishment than time already served.

The first, and least likely to succeed, argument open to players is that they bear No Fault or Negligence for the violation.

The definition of this provision in the code says: "He did not know or suspect, and could not reasonably have known or suspected even with the exercise of utmost caution, that he had used or been administered the prohibited substance."

But the fine print appears to rule it out in the Essendon example, saying it should not apply when "the administration of a prohibited substance by the player's personal physician or trainer (is) without disclosure to the player".

An argument of No Significant Fault or Negligence is considered much more likely to be palatable to ASADA.

It means the players' "fault or negligence, when viewed in the totality of the circumstances and taking into account the criteria for No Fault or Negligence, was not significant in relationship to the violation".

If it is accepted the players were "duped" into taking something banned, without their knowledge or approval, this provision fits the bill.

It allows the two-year penalty to be cut in half to one year.

Next, is a provision that allows for a discount because of delays in the case not attributable to the player.

The code says: "Where there have been substantial delays in the hearing process or other aspects of doping control not attributable to the player, the tribunal determining the sanction may start the period of ineligibility at an earlier date commencing as early as the date … on which (the) anti-doping rule violation last occurred."

Players' lawyers will point out that the last of the player interviews was in June 2013. Show cause notices (the first time around) were not issued until 12 months later.

Further, the players were not party to Essendon and James Hird's court action, which accounted for a further five months' delay.

The bulk of the players have been provisionally suspended since they received infraction notices on November 14.

The months since then will also count against any ban.

This is how a two-year ban could result in no future suspension or one that amounts to a matter of weeks — not months or years.

Originally published as Bombers saga: What happens next

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SuperCoach scores: Swans v Dockers

Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Limited

FREMANTLE midfielder Lachie Neale looks set for a break out season after starring in the NAB Challenge loss to Sydney.

Neale (154) amassed a game-high equalling 33 disposals — 19 in the first half — and eight tackles.

Swans extractor Josh Kennedy (153) and Luke Parker (144) were among the bestwhile Nat Fyfe (133) emerged in the last quarter to boost his score.

MATCH REPORT: SWANS HANG ON

Emerging Swans midfielders Craig Bird (101) and Tom Mitchell (78) had solid outings while Dockers intercept king Garrick Ibbotson (73) is back to his best after struggling with injuries last year.

SUPERCOACH SCORES

154 Lachie Neale

153 Josh Kennedy

144 Luke Parker

133 Nathan Fyfe

124 Daniel Hannebery

104 Nick Suban

101 Craig Bird

95 Michael Johnson

90 Dean Towers

88 Jake Lloyd

87 Mike Pyke

85 Tanner Smith

84 Alex Silvagni

83 Chris Mayne

83 Kieren Jack

80 Daniel Robinson

80 Zac Clarke

78 Tom Mitchell

76 Nick Smith

73 Garrick Ibbotson

72 Lewis Jetta

71 David Mundy

71 Dane Rampe

70 Harry Cunningham

64 Heath Grundy

61 Gary Rohan

61 Connor Blakely

60 Ted Richards

59 Isaac Heeney

57 Matt de Boer

54 Michael Walters

46 Cameron Sutcliffe

46 Tom Sheridan

45 Rhyce Shaw

44 Lance Franklin

42 Tendai Mzungu

41 Hayden Crozier

36 Matthew Pavlich

35 Jeremy Laidler

35 Jonathon Griffin

34 Brandon Jack

34 Sam Naismith

30 Adam Goodes

30 Clancee Pearce

25 Stephen Hill

24 Max Duffy

19 Lachie Weller

12 Toby Nankervis

10 Hayden Ballantyne

10 Michael Apeness

8 Xavier Richards

* Sydney players in bold

Originally published as SuperCoach scores: Swans v Dockers

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What does Oval deal do for fans?

Local football fans have been promised they will see the benefits from the signing of the long-awaited stadium deal

ALL the men who sat at the table during the 237-day Adelaide Oval stadium review - the SANFL, the Crows and the Power - are happy with their new deal. But what about the fans?

After the carve up of the millions the fans will handover to watch AFL games at the Oval, what do the members and supporters get?

CHEAPER tickets next season? No. The arms race to fund football departments in the chase for an AFL premiership demands the Crows and Power keep lifting their revenue streams - and that includes lifting membership and ticket prices next year.

But - as Power chief executive Keith Thomas noted yesterday - that does put a demand on the clubs to keep delivering more and more value in game-day experiences.

CHEAPER food and drink? No. Despite the 20-40 per cent cut in prices at the MCG, the Stadium Management Authority is standing firm on the prices it has set for this season.

There is a written agreement between the AFL and SMA that the pressure applied to the MCG will not unfold at the Oval. The catering revenue is critical to underpinning the new stadium deal for the Crows and Power, the SMA's management budgets and the SANFL's budgets.

Football fans Ben and Amelia Mislov and their three children Leila, 7, Lucas, 5, and Eliza, 3. Picture: Noelle Bobrige

So what does the fan get while the Crows and Power pocket an extra $3.1 million this season and $4.1 million in 2016 and 2017?

"For our members," says Thomas, "they will be thrilled that they can fully believe that as they walk into the Adelaide Oval their club is being adequately rewarded. That is a great sense of relief.

"Knowing the club is better off financially at the Oval makes them feel pretty good.

"Also, the experience the fan had at Adelaide Oval in 2014 has delighted our members and people. The feedback we get is overwhelming - and you can see that in our record membership number this year."

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Wagner, Redden named in Power squad

Jarrad Redden has been named in the squad to take on Richmond. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

THE big guns are missing but Port Adelaide has unveiled two good news stories in its 29-man squad to play Richmond in the round two NAB Challenge match against Richmond at Albury on Saturday.

Injury-plagued big man Jarrad Redden will play his first match for the Power in 651 days, having recovered from a knee injury which has sidelined him for a year.

And The Recruit winner Johann Wagner is also named to represent Port for the first time, having played well in the club's internal trial two weeks ago.

Redden, 24, last played an AFL match for Port in round 10, 2013, against the Western Bulldogs in Darwin, when he dislocated a shoulder.

He has played only 15 matches in seven years on the Power's list because of a succession of injuries.

But the club has stuck with him because it loves his talent and attitude and believes if he can get his body right he can be a key fixture in the team, despite Port already having key ruckmen Matthew Lobbe and Paddy Ryder.

Redden has made giant strides at training in the past two weeks, with the club last month fearing he wouldn't be ready to play until April.

Wagner, 24, is a former Central District league player who hails from Port Lincoln.

Johann Wagner at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

He was the first winner of Foxtel reality program The Recruit last year and won a spot on the Power's rookie list.

He is raw but boasts good pace and athletic qualities and coach Ken Hinkley likes his breakaway ability between wing and half-forward.

Port has rested a host of big names as Hinkley spares them from a tough road trip ahead of the round one premiership-season clash against Fremantle in Perth.

Captain Travis Boak, vice-captain Brad Ebert, club champion Robbie Gray, key forwards Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff, veteran Kane Cornes and full back Alipate Carlile have all been rested, while Hamish Hartlett (groin) is injured.

All eight played in the Power's 40-point NAB Challenge win against West Coast on Sunday.

There was good news on Hartlett today with scans clearing him of serious injury to the groin he hurt against the Eagles. He remains on track to play against the Dockers in round one.

RICHMOND v PORT ADELAIDE

Lavington Sports Ground, Albury, NSW

4.10pm Saturday

RICHMOND

2. D. Grimes, 3. B. Deledio, 4. D. Martin, 5. B. Ellis, 6. S. Grigg, 8. J. Riewoldt, 10. S. Edwards, 11. J. Batchelor, 13. R. Petterd, 14. B. Houli, 16. S. Hampson, 18. A. Rance, 20. I. Maric, 22. N. Gordon, 25. T. Chaplin, 26. A. Miles, 27. S. Lloyd, 28. T. Hunt, 29. T. Vickery, 30. R. Conca, 31. N. Vlastuin, 33. K. McIntosh, 34. L. McBean, 35. B. Lennon, 36. M. McDonough, 38. S. Morris, 43. T. Elton, 44. M. Arnot, 48. K. Lambert.

PORT ADELAIDE

2. K. Mitchel, 3. J. Neade, 5. M. Broadbent, 11. J. Butcher, 13. C. O'Shea, 14. P. Stewart, 15. K. Amon, 16. O. Wines, 17. T. Clurey, 19. M. White. 21. J. Polec, 23. M. Lobbe, 24. J. Impey, 26. A. Moore, 29. J. Pittard, 31. M. Harvey, 32. D. Howard, 33. D. Byrne-Jones, 34. J. Redden, 36. J. Hombsch, 37. J. Palmer, 40. A. Young, 41. B. AhChee, 42. T. Jonas, 43. J. Wagner, 44. T. Logan, 46. S. Gray, 47. S. Russell, 48. N. Krakouer.

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Hard-working Crows please Walsh

Phil Walsh has lauded the Crows fitness levels. Source: Getty Images

ADELAIDE coach Phil Walsh believes the Crows are as fit as any team he has worked with as a pre-season of toil is beginning to show how he wants his side to play.

Walsh, who has previously worked at Geelong, Port Adelaide and West Coast, had few concerns over the Crows' final quarter fade-out in a NAB Challenge match at Port Lincoln.

He is still managing his players carefully, indicating two rather than three is the ideal amount of trial matches for senior players, but is confident the fitness level of his players is top shelf.

Walsh's comments carry additional weight after he spent last year as a senior assistant with the Power, which was widely regarded as a benchmark in running power after regularly working teams over in the final quarter.

His first job as post-playing was also as a fitness coach, under Gary Ayres at Geelong, and he keeps a close eye on the work of the fitness staff headed by Nick Poulos.

Phil Walsh watches Crows players at training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

``One thing that happens at this time of year is that you're not sure what both teams have done coming into the game,'' Walsh said. ``We actually trained two solid sessions, and we've done that again for this game (against Geelong) and we'll do it again for the Port game.

``Because our goal is to be absolutely cherry ripe for Round 1.

``In my time in footy ... I've been in it for a long time — some might argue too long — this group has worked as hard as any group in a pre-season.

``So I'm very happy.

``I've got excellent fitness staff here. It's been a good alignment with my philosophy on conditioning and theirs and we've worked really well as a team. So I'm happy in that regard.''

Phil Walsh is very happy with Adelaide's pre-season training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Walsh's call comes as Crows best-and-fairest Scott Thompson is in doubt for the remaining pre-season matches after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Thompson hurt himself about a month ago and has since re-injured his hamstring, placing him in doubt for the next two NAB Challenge matches against Geelong and Port Adelaide.

Fitness staff at the club are confident he will be ready for Round 1, but coach Phil Walsh suggested his pre-season match appearances were in doubt.

He will not front against Geelong on Thursday night At Simonds Stadium and didn't play against North Melbourne at Port Lincoln last Sunday.

Walsh said the injury was understood to be unrelated to Thompson's back-related hamstring injuries in the past.

"Thommo's had a slight setback with his hammy and he's probably touch and go for even next week (against Port Adelaide),'' Walsh said. "We'll just monitor that one as we go along.

"We've still got four weeks (until round one), and most hamstrings are only three weeks.

"But he did have a slight setback.''

Walsh said the match against Geelong was another opportunity to explore what his players can do against opposition clubs on one of the competition's most challenging grounds.

He was keen on seeing where Sam Jacobs plays best when he doesn't ruck — as a forward or a backman — and would swing other positional changes to learn more about his team ahead of Round 1.

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What does Oval deal do for fans?

Football fans Ben and Amelia Mislov and their three children Leila, 7, Lucas, 5, and Eliza, 3. Picture: Noelle Bobrige Source: News Corp Australia

ALL the men who sat at the table during the 237-day Adelaide Oval stadium review - the SANFL, the Crows and the Power - are happy with their new deal. But what about the fans?

After the carve up of the millions the fans will handover to watch AFL games at the Oval, what do the members and supporters get?

CHEAPER tickets next season? No. The arms race to fund football departments in the chase for an AFL premiership demands the Crows and Power keep lifting their revenue streams - and that includes lifting membership and ticket prices next year.

But - as Power chief executive Keith Thomas noted yesterday - that does put a demand on the clubs to keep delivering more and more value in game-day experiences.

CHEAPER food and drink? No. Despite the 20-40 per cent cut in prices at the MCG, the Stadium Management Authority is standing firm on the prices it has set for this season.

There is a written agreement between the AFL and SMA that the pressure applied to the MCG will not unfold at the Oval. The catering revenue is critical to underpinning the new stadium deal for the Crows and Power, the SMA's management budgets and the SANFL's budgets.

So what does the fan get while the Crows and Power pocket an extra $3.1 million this season and $4.1 million in 2016 and 2017?

"For our members," says Thomas, "they will be thrilled that they can fully believe that as they walk into the Adelaide Oval their club is being adequately rewarded. That is a great sense of relief.

"Knowing the club is better off financially at the Oval makes them feel pretty good.

"Also, the experience the fan had at Adelaide Oval in 2014 has delighted our members and people. The feedback we get is overwhelming - and you can see that in our record membership number this year."

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Hartlett injury sours Power win

Hamish Hartlett was subbed out of the game at quarter time with a groin injury. Photo Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

ROBBIE Gray produced a masterclass performance as Port Adelaide lived up to its pre-season hype with a convincing 40-point win against West Coast in its opening NAB Challenge match at Norwood Oval.

In a win soured by a groin injury to midfield playmaker Hamish Hartlett, the Power — playing its first match since losing last year's preliminary final to Hawthorn — kicked four unanswered goals in the opening 12 minutes and then held the Eagles at bay to give stand-in coach Matthew Nicks a win in his first game in charge.

In good signs for Port, second-year midfielder Karl Amon showed some class, one-game defender Tom Clurey was solid in the back half and second-chance utility Nathan Krakouer had some nice touches when activated as the sub.

But the big talking point was Gray's standout display.

AFL - NAB Challenge - Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles at Norwood Oval. Robbie Gray wraps up Sam Butler. Photo Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

The winner of last year's AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year and Power club champion awards, Gray was a Brownlow Medal flop, polling just 14 votes — 12 behind winner Matt Priddis from West Coast.

But Gray's brilliant performance shows he deserves to be one of the favourites for this year's Brownlow.

Veteran teammate Jay Schulz declared 26-year-old Gray was primed for an even better season this year after watching him burn up the training track up over summer.

And he didn't disappoint in his first competitive match of the year, looking a class above most other players on the ground.

The midfielder/small forward had 28 disposals and kicked a game-high three goals in a vintage display which proved the difference between the two sides.

Captain Travis Boak, vice-captain Brad Ebert and powerhouse on-baller Ollie Wines were other strong performers for flag contender Port as it blew the cobwebs out in emphatic fashion.

Josh Kennedy marks over Cam O'Shea. Photo Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

The Power was expected to struggle early against the Eagles, who had already had two serious hit outs against the Indigenous All-Stars and Carlton.

But it hit the ground running, tackling hard and running in numbers to put the visitors to the sword early to race to a 25-point lead after 12 minutes.

With Priddis, fellow midfielder Andrew Gaff and key forward Josh Kennedy on top, West Coast hit back to tie the scores up late in the second quarter.

But the Power, which prior to the game omitted first-choice players Matthew Broadbent, Jared Polec and Jack Hombsch from its 29-man squad, took control again late in the second term and careered away in the final quarter.

While Hartlett's injury was the bad news for Port, the Eagles suffered some injury blows of their own with Xavier Ellis (hamstring) and Sharrod Wellingham (leg) pulling up sore.

SCOREBOARD:

PORT ADELAIDE 1.11.14 (89)

WEST COAST 0.7.7 (49)

BEST — Port: R. Gray, Boak, Ebert, Wines, Cornes, Stewart, Moore.

West Coast: Priddis, Gaff, Rosa, Lamb, Kennedy, Lycett, Sheed.

SUPERGOAL — Port: Moore.

GOALS — Port: R. Gray 3, Mitchell, Butcher, Amon, White, Lobbe, Westhoff, Young, S. Gray.

West Coast: Lycett 2, LeCras, Gaff, Kennedy, Lamb, Lucas.

INJURIES — Port: Hartlett (groin).

West Coast: Ellis (hamstring), Wellingham (leg).

UMPIRES — C. Deboy, J. Schmitt, C. Kamolins, S. Meredith.

CROWD — 9212 at Norwood Oval.

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Hey, they’re no second-string Suns

Dion Prestia and a host of teammates are aiming for Round 1. Picture: David Clark Source: News Corp Australia

GOLD Coast are set to pick their strongest NEAFL side ever this week in a bid to get a host of senior stars ready for the start of the AFL premiership.

The Suns' NEAFL side plays a scratch match against Southport at Metricon Stadium on Saturday and as many as 10 players from the likely Round 1 side will take part.

Of the players yet to make a NAB Challenge appearance, Stephen May (knee), Rory Thompson (foot), Dion Prestia (hamstring) and Sam Day (knee) will all play.

Steven May is set to play in the NEAFL. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: News Corp Australia

Michael Rischitelli, Jarrod Harbrow, Luke Russell and Alex Sexton who played in the opening week win against Geelong before being rested for the loss to GWS in Sydney on Saturday are also likely to play against the Sharks.

Ruckman Tom Nicholls, who made his first appearance in nine months in Sydney will back-up again.

Jaeger O'Meara (both knees) and Aaron Hall (groin) will also come under consideration.

If O'Meara does not quite convince the conditioning staff he is ready to play in the NEAFL this week, he is considered a certain starter for the match against the Lions.

That decision will be made after the main training session of the week on Thursday.

The Suns had a wretched run with injuries over the pre-season and have struggled to pick sides in the first two weeks of the NAB Challenge but are suddenly a realistic chance of being close to full strength for the start of the season.

Only ruck forward Charlie Dixon (foot) has been definitively ruled out for the premiership opener against Melbourne at the MCG on April 4. The Suns final Nab Challenge game is against Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on Friday March 20.

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the side that runs out against the Lions is likely to be the same to kick off the season.

Skipper Gary Ablett will make his first appearance of the year that day.

"It is all timing, we had too many in the rehab group pre and post Christmas but the medical and conditioning staff have managed to get most of the boys ready to go in time,'' he said.

"There are obviously guys who haven't played any footy at all and then there are also guys who haven't played a lot of game time so the next two weeks is really important for us.

"We need to get our preparation right for round one."

The Suns have a few minor injury concerns from the match against GWS.

Josh Hall has a strained neck and Andrew Boston suffered a slight concussion.

While Hall has played twice and is likely to sit-out this weekend, there is a desire to get Boston out there against Southport.

"Boston is one who needs some footy, he has got to go through the concussion testing so we will see how he goes during the week,'' Ashcroft said.

Originally published as Hey, they're no second-string Suns

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Dynasty built on lots of legwork

Norwood players celebrate their 2014 SANFL grand final victory. Source: News Corp Australia

WHEN Nathan Bassett returned to Norwood in 2010 to essentially rebuild the club from the ground up he had two clear mandates.

He insisted on a structure whereby every Norwood footballer would train as if they were playing and were taught in a way that any player could step into the team at any time and perform.

The other was a promise to blood the kids which was part of his vision he sold to the selection panel when he was interviewed for the job.

So come Round 1, Norwood had six teenagers run out against Glenelg and they were belted by 12 goals.

And things got worse before they got better.

They lost to South Adelaide, the Eagles and Westies and were suddenly 0-4 and football manager Mark Ross remembers the conversation in Bassett's office.

"When we were 0-4 it looked pretty ordinary but I remember he kept saying that he needed to coach to make individuals better," Ross said.

"So you go back to thinking about coaching rather than results, and that was the turnaround."

Bassett's mindset might have changed but he never once diverted from his plan to play youth and create a unified club — which some rival clubs are now trying to emulate.

"That's been our philosophy — the number one priority is the junior system and structure," Ross said.

"They've been taught at a junior level how it is they want them playing and they've just got to get better at their craft.

"If you were to watch Norwood train, we train exactly the way we want to play.

"We watched Port Power train today and sometimes when you watch an AFL team train you go 'phew, look at that', well the drills they were doing was the same sort of drills we are doing."

Suddenly Norwood — a club which had won two premierships in 26 years when Bassett arrived in 2010 — has now won three on the trot and shows no signs of stopping.

Central District's magnificent nine flags in 10 years isn't quite under threat but it's not impossible we may see something like it again.

Everyone from the board down is committed to the cause and that includes trainers, water boys and statisticians.

"They know what their job is and they go and do it," Ross said.

The commitment from the players and coaches has been matched by a commitment from the board to fork out for recruits and upgraded facilities such as $30,000 for an ice bath in the changerooms.

Chief executive Geoff Baynes said the club was committed to doing everything possible for its players and coaches.

"I'm sure with Bassett and it certainly is with Ben (Warren) it's 'what more do we need to support you to get the right result on the ground?'" Baynes said. "In the end we believe that our success is built around our club culture and part of that is the way we treat the players and what we try to provide for them."

The last three seasons have yielded premierships but also individual success such as the 15 players who have been drafted during the premiership years.

Players like Paul Puopolo, who Bassett told to get fit and play attacking footy from defence, is now a two-time Hawthorn premiership player.

Others like Jarryd Cachia, Nick Lower and Matt Thomas are guys who spent more time at Norwood than they did with their AFL clubs the first time around and got a second chance at the top level.

The challenge when Bassett joined Essendon last year was whether Norwood — or more specifically his replacement — could maintain the rage. Enter full forward Ben Warren.

Ross describes Warren initially as the "reluctant coach" who had to be told he was the right man for the job.

Redlegs coach Ben Warren marshalls his troops. Source: News Corp Australia

But like the 0-4 Bassett endured in 2010, Warren faced his own moments of truth in his first season. Having lost 12 players from its 2013 premiership team, Norwood started the 2014 season 2-4.

Then the following Friday night at The Parade they trailed Adelaide by four goals closing in on quarter time and the season was slipping away.

Not many thought they were watching the would-be premier that night, yet the Legs rallied to win by 31 points and only lost three games for the rest of the season on their way to the flag.

"There's always a few doubts when you're not winning," Warren said. "But the group at the time needed to play some footy together and certainly believed in what had been created at Norwood."

Warren played in Norwood's 2012 and 2013 premierships but said the 2014 flag as coach was the most satisfying.

"It was great to see it unfold as the year went on," he said. "There were doubts whether we'd be able to do it and to see the delight of not just the players that day but others as well and supporters was fantastic."

The exodus this summer is barely a blip on the radar compared the previous year with only four players from the grand final side not returning to The Parade. Crucially, one is captain Kieran McGuinness, meaning James Allan is now the club's oldest at 29.

NATHAN BASSETT'S 2010 COACHING DEBUT

*Norwood starts the season 0-4 including a 12-goal loss to Glenelg

*Breaks the drought against Port Adelaide at home.

*Finishes the regular season in 3rd place with a 12-8 record. Wins a thrilling preliminary final against the Eagles by five points.

*Makes the grand final but lose to competition giant Central District by one goal.

BEN WARREN'S 2014 COACHING DEBUT

*Redlegs lost 12 premiership players from the previous year and start the new season 2-4.

*Trail Adelaide by four goals closing on quarter time at home the next week, then rally to win by 31 points.

*Norwood goes on to lose only three more games for the remainder of the year and finish the regular season 2nd with an 11-7 record.

*Beat Sturt in the qualifying final and then Port Adelaide twice — in the semi final and grand final in which they held on to win by just four points.

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Party that lured Mat back to Parade

Classy midfielder Mat Suckling has returned to The Parade. Picture: Stephen Laffer Source: News Limited

LAST August Mat Suckling phoned Norwood coach Ben Warren to tell him that after a year away from the club he wouldn't be coming back in 2015.

Suckling played in Norwood's 2012 and 2013 premierships but decided to return to Victoria to work for his family's residential construction business.

He barely played footy with Collingwood's VFL side thanks to a torn hamstring — which he took into the 2013 Grand Final — but footy played second fiddle to an 80-hour working week anyway which included manning display homes.

"I didn't really want to leave (Norwood) in the first place, but it was something I felt I had to do," Suckling, 26, said. "With Dugga (Warren) coaching and coming on board, him and I got along well and we maintained that relationship throughout last year.

"I never shut the door but I never opened it either, work was just too busy.

"And I remember a phone conversation with Dug just before finals and I said 'look, I'm probably not coming back, we're building a new display home in Melton and they need to be manned on top of the extra administration'. I just didn't think it was possible."

But then Norwood made the Grand Final and Suckling flew over from Melbourne to watch it and what was meant to be a fly-in, fly-out visit became a three-day party that convinced him to come back.

"Seeing them get it done against Port Adelaide, 38,000 people at Adelaide Oval, I stayed for a couple of days and went to mad Monday," Suckling said. "And I sat down with Dug and Rossy and they said 'what are your thoughts?' and I said 'I want to come back'."

The hard-nosed inside midfielder says it's hard to describe what has made Norwood such a place that he just couldn't resist coming back to.

"The last three years we've had 40 blokes every year go on the footy trip," Suckling said.

"If you ever want a gauge on whether players are getting along — because there are cliques at footy clubs ... there's no clique here, you can go into our changeroom and anyone feels welcome."

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AFL dream within reach for rookie Ramsey

Local Port Lincoln hero Keenan Ramsey is mobbed by kids at a clinic on Centenary Oval. Photo: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE rookie Keenan Ramsey considers his first AFL practice match a small step but as the Crows were winding up their trip to Port Lincoln he was given the attention of a star by onlookers from his home town.

Watching him mingle with the locals at Centenary Oval it was clear he is easygoing and self-deprecating.

AFL DREAM: KEENAN RAMSEY'S INSPIRATIONAL STORY

He was taken aback by the words of support as they rushed to congratulate him on a performance that included some eye-catching efforts against North Melbourne in the first round of NAB Challenge matches.

Ramsey lost the sight of one eye when he was just two years old through a cancer of the retina but he has turned out to be a significant promise of a footballer.

Taken at pick 27 in the rookie draft, Ramsey received extra time of the ground because of the misfortune of Tom Lynch, who suffered a concussion from a collision, and Ramsey's opportunity gave him the confidence to think that he could challenge for a senior game sooner rather than later.

Much of that confidence comes after new coach Phil Walsh promised the crop arriving at West Lakes that he was not interested in games played or the age of his players. If they were good enough, they would play. It also helps that his mentor is captain Taylor Walker, another knockabout bloke from the country who calls it as he sees it.

Ramsey thought of his time against North Melbourne as an invaluable learning opportunity.

"It was good to get on the ground and play in front of the home crowd," Ramsey said.

"I thought that everyone contributed well and obviously it showed, because we won the game.

"To play my part, with Tom Lynch unfortunately going down, was really pleasing for myself."

Keenan Ramsey is mobbed by teammates after kicking his first goal for the Crows in the NAB Challenge. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Ramsey reminds those around him of Walker, his mentor, because he is similarly dry and has a bush footballer's way of speaking. And he fronts up like it doesn't worry him one bit that he's the youngest player in the forward line.

It was not surprising that he didn't suffer from nerves ahead of his first game for the Crows in front of his home crowd in Lincoln.

"I don't really get too nervous,'' Ramsey said. "I know that if I prepare well during the week then all I have to focus on is to help out the team as best as I can."

Keenan Ramsey kicks his first goal in Crows colours. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Ramsey knows he's only at the beginning of a path of becoming a league footballer.

But he and the other first-year players have been heartened by their treatment by Walsh who has told them he has put no limits on the pace of their progress.

"He's said that he's thrown out all the birth certificates," Ramsey said. "If you're good enough and you're doing the right things, which he's looking for, you're going to get an opportunity.

"There was myself and another four or five other first-gamers ... it shows that he's given us an opportunity to show what we can do. I've found it quite challenging, but also a good learning experience.

"Coming into the system you don't know how it's going to be. You go from training two or three times a week to training six days a week. It's full-on and it takes a little while for your body to get used to.

But with the help of all the fitness staff ... you're nurtured pretty closely."

Keenan Ramsey is a $102,400 defender in SuperCoach. Is he in your squad? Register now!

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New-look Wines works to new Port dimension

A leaner looking kicking the footy at training. Photo: Dean Martin. Source: News Limited

Wines handballs during a drill. Photo: Dean Martin. Source: News Limited

OLLIE Wines not only has a new look - with a leaner body - but also a new outlook on how he is to play extra roles in the Port Adelaide midfield this season.

"Our midfield these days is running so deep - the competition for spots is one of the highest in the AFL - so you can't be just an inside player here," Wines said yesterday as he explained the motivation that sparked a major rethink on his preparation for the 2015 season.

Wines, 20, last season matched captain Travis Boak as a key spark in the Power midfield by constantly putting his head over the ball to win possession for the "outside" midfielders. Now, Wines wants to be able to switch-hit between inside and outside midfield play.

"You need to have more than one string to your bow," he said.

To achieve his goal, Wines left Alberton to return to his country Victoria home - after the Power's preliminary final loss to eventual AFL premier Hawthorn - determined to change his body. By the AFL guide, Wines has lost two kilograms - 94 to 92 - but he says the more meaningful measure is the skinfold count that highlights he has converted fat to muscle.

"I've lost a lot of weight during the off-season - and that helped me get through the running (program designed by fitness coach Darren Burgess," Wines said at Alberton today.

"And as pre-season has gone on we have ramped up weights so I've put on muscle and lost fat. I think I am a lot leaner which is helping with my running ability. I don't have specifics (on weight loss) but my skinfolds have gone down by a fair bit and that is the indicator we use at our club."

It also has helped add an extra dimension to Wines game allowing him to convert - when Hinkley and midfield coach Michael Voss need change-up systems in the Power engine room - from an inside midfielder to an outside runner.

"As the game is evolving and getting a lot quicker, you can't be that plod-around midfielder," Wines said.

"Losing that extra bit of weight makes sure I won't be that one-dimensional player and lets me get outside the contest and get that outside ball that can really add to my game.

"It means I won't always play inside. I can go to a wing, play a more outside role and not only play offence but also defensively shut down the opposition when they get out on us.

"I've put more muscle on and lost fat so it is a lot easier to run when you are not carrying that extra weight in fat - and I've increased my strength," added Wines whose famous thick thighs have not lost any definition.

"That's from hard work and not eating much. Mum ramped up the diet back home (in country Victoria) when I was there for two months. Combine that with the hard work 'Burgo' sets us in the off-season ... plus dedication and the professionalism expected from the players here."

ends

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