Blues, Malthouse go back to school

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse at Visy Park. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia

CARLTON will begin a record-breaking season for coach Michael Malthouse with a greater understanding of the club's refined game plan.

Coaching director Robert Wiley said the Blues' decision to axe their expensive overseas altitude camp to Arizona this preseason has allowed the club more time to focus on educating players at its Visy Park headquarters.

Nailing the game plan has been a major focus for the new-look playing squad, after another round of heavy cuts to the list.

Malthouse, 61, will break Jock McHale's 713-game all-time coaching record in a blockbuster meeting against Collingwood in Round 5, making the three-time premiership coach one of the most significant figures in the game's history.

Malthouse is out of contract at the end of the season, but has the strong support of the board and the playing group at the start of his third year at Carlton.

The Blues have used the boundary line more than any other club for the past two seasons and have focused heavily on improving its offensive ball movement over summer.

Carlton made a poor start to last season, losing its first four games, but finished more strongly with encouraging wins over North Melbourne and Gold Coast and impressive efforts against Geelong and Essendon.

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse directs Blues defender Sam Docherty at Visy Park. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia

Wiley said "there is no doubt" the playing list would have a better grasp of the game plan this year heading in to its blockbuster season-opener under lights against Richmond on April 2.

"We have probably tweaked it (game plan) a little bit over the past couple of years," Wiley told the Herald Sun.

"It's a bout Mick and the coaches understanding the playing group they have, and again, that has changed this year — we have got 12 new additions.

"So it was really important for the new players coming in to understand and certainly be educated in that.

"Because we are not going away this year, or not going overseas, all our training has been here at Visy and we've been able to concentrate on the footy education and the game plan education and really train to that.

"So, as I said, I think the playing group are really on top of that — the game plan, and, I think it's going to put us in good stead in the early part of the year."

The Blues have ranked 18th for corridor ball use, according to Champion Data, in the two seasons since Malthouse took over Carlton at the end of 2012.

Carlton was ranked 12th for time in forward half and 16th for forward half intercepts last season, but has reshaped its attacking setup after acquiring ex-Dog Liam Jones and former Giant Kristian Jaksch.

Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and ex-Pie utility Dale Thomas have been among the most impressive throughout preseason.

Originally published as Blues, Malthouse go back to school

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Swans should still feel Grand Final hurt

New Sydney Swans football manager Tom Harley at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

IF the Swans are looking for guidance on how to turn Grand Final heartbreak into triumph they need look no further than new football manager Tom Harley.

Harley also suffered at the hands of Hawthorn when he captained Geelong in their 2008 Grand Final loss but he and the Cats turned agony into success the following year when they beat St Kilda by 12 points in the 2009 season finale.

He has good news and bad news for the Swans players, the bad is the pain of losing on the game's biggest stage never goes away.

"You can't redeem it. It will sit in your guts forever," Harley told the Daily Telegraph.

"You ask anyone who has played in a losing Grand Final, regardless of how many they won when you play in a losing one it is there forever.

Tom Harley could not hide his disappointment at losing the 2008 Grand Final. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

If you could graph or chart it the euphoria and level of emotion you feel when you win doesn't match the depth of despair and heartbreak if you lose.

"You can't talk about erasing that. If we play in a Grand Final this year and win that's great but it won't erase what happened 12 months earlier."

If the tears that flowed in the Swans dressing rooms last year are any indication the pain is deep and real.

Harley believes how the Swans players and coaches deal with these feelings will determine how they respond in season 2015.

"It has to hurt like hell," Harley said.

"It has to sit in your guts.

"Acknowledge and embrace it, it should hurt like hell and I'd be disappointed if people within our club don't feel that.

"You don't want to go there again, so when you are running a lap and it's 38 degrees and it's starting get hard that's when you pull on those resources of losing a Grand Final. That's when it becomes a real personal thing.

"When you talk about the support and coaching staff they should acknowledge that and not pass judgment on how players will react but know they should feel like that.

Tom Harley holds aloft the 2009 Premiership Cup. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: News Limited

If it doesn't you're probably barking up the wrong tree.

"The key to successful clubs is how you harness that, how do you recognise it, embrace it and learn from it and make sure you never go back there again."

It's clear from Harley's words the passion for success in club football still burns and the Swans have done well to snare a football person of such high calibre.

In the five years since his retirement Harley has worked as a commentator for Channel Seven and as the General Manager of the NSW/ACTAFL.

"The one thing that itches away is the team and club environment when wins and losses are so important," Harley said.

"You love the wins and embrace the losses as well because it's part of the roller coaster which is really alluring

"I missed that."

Originally published as Swans should still feel Grand Final hurt

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Power players can handle the heat

Port Adelaide young gun Ollie Wines hard at work under the Dubai sun. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE'S first serious burst of hot weather for the summer should be no problem for the Dubai-hardened Power players who return to training this morning.

As the rest of the state tries to stay cool indoors or at the beach after yesterday's 42-degree scorcher, the Port Adelaide boys are expected to be running laps around the North Adelaide parklands.

There is little relief in sight today with the temperature forecast to hit 38, but at least the Power players will be somewhat acclimatised to it after their training camp in the UAE last month.

Kane Mitchell on a road trip across New Zealand. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

After Dubai they were given a fortnight off and while some returned to Adelaide others like Hamish Hartlett, Kane Mitchell and Karl Amon kept travelling.

Hartlett spent time in Turkey while Amon was sightseeing across the United States and Kane Mitchell experienced New Zealand from a mini-van.

Angus Monfries put his time off to good use by catching a handful of fish and Travis Boak also hit the water but on a surfboard.

Their cross town rivals the Crows aren't due back at training until Monday when their Christmas/New Year holiday comes to an end.

Taylor Walker and Patrick Dangerfield take time out during the Adelaide Test. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Some of the Crows are also clearly big cricket fans with Sam Jacobs and Taylor Walker throwing their support behind the Adelaide Strikers in their New Year's Eve blockbuster against Hobart.

Patrick Dangerfield spent time at the beach as did chief executive Andrew Fagan who tweeted a photo of himself and partner Alana Smith on the coast in Sydney.

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Bulked-up Saad ready, raring to join Saints

Ahmed Saad busy getting his body in shape for return to AFL stage. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

AHMED Saad brushed the dripping sweat from his brow, placed his hands on his hips and leant forward sucking in air as his trademark smile again spread across his face.

Another gruelling upper-body weights session ended as Saad's 817 AFL-listed peers enjoyed their mandatory Christmas break.

On Wednesday, Saad's extreme one-man pre-season will come to a close.

He will return to St Kilda and join its 2km time trial at Seaford 522 days after the last of his 29 AFL games and his 18-month drug suspension was activated.

But instead of meat sweats over the holiday period the goalsneak has been sweating through four weight and three running sessions each week, a rigid workout devised by personal trainer and former Collingwood player Adam Iacobucci.

Saad working hard in the gym. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

And while the majority of AFL players are five weeks into their 2015 preparation, Saad is entering his seventh month.

The 25-year-old's second home in that time has been Unified Fitness Systems, a modern and spacious gym enclosed in a warehouse tucked under the flight paths in Airport West.

"It's been tough, but I've been lucky to have Yakka as my personal trainer," Saad said of his solo campaign, banned from having any meaningful contact with the Saints until now.

Saad can't afford an off season break after an extended period out of the game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

"When you go to do the running on your own and you're doing running that's pretty solid and all you have is yourself and your watch … it's pretty hard.

"But I had the motivation that I wanted to get back and that's what I just kept using to push myself."

It's a far cry from club land. No training in Saints paraphernalia. No boisterous environment. No 40 mates in the lockeroom to joke around with. In fact, scarce interaction of any kind.

Saad says time has gone even slower since the December 3 rookie draft, when he was rewarded with a second chance at the Saints.

Saad put through his paces in the gym. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

A month before that and he threw in his job at Shaw Stockbroking, trading spreadsheets, margins and dividends for trap bar dead lifts, TRX rows and dumbbells on a full-time basis.

"I'll get here at 9am, do weights for an hour and a half to two hours, have lunch and then go do my running," Saad said.

"Everything we're doing is similar to what I did at AFL level, and that's why my fitness has improved so much.

"I'm still trying to mimic an AFL pre-season, I've just gone for much longer."

The bulked-up Saad — his arms and shoulders are visibly bigger — says he hasn't compromised speed for size but is in career-best condition.

A bulked-up Saad in the gym. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

"To get back in a team environment is going to be so much easier on him mentally," Iacobucci said.

"He's significantly improved his strength levels and running times and from what he's told me of the targets he had at St Kilda back in (2012-13), he's exceeded those. He's ready to go."

So, despite no contact with elite sport since mid-2013, is Saad really in the shape of his life?

"Yep, 100 per cent," he swears.

"My 2km time trial and my strength work proves that. We've relayed those to the club and the club was really impressed."

Saints chief operating boss Ameet Bains said pre-draft Saad would only be taken if they deemed him up for the AFL battle physically and mentally after such a long absence.

When chief recruiter Tony Elshaug called his name, he said: "When we drafted Ahmed three years ago, we were excited then and we're just as excited now".

Saad and Iacobucci — former teammates at Carlton affiliate Northern Bullants — worked with Saints coach Alan Richardson during his tenure at the Blues and Iacobucci spent two years under him at Collingwood.

"That's why (Richo) put a lot of trust in both of us," Saad said.

Saad can't wait to get back onto the AFL stage. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Saad said it was a thrill to watch the Saints conquer their membership target of 25,000 before Christmas and for veteran Adam Schneider — his former mentor — to win a place alongside him on the rookie list.

Saad and Iacobucci got the Sherrins out about a month ago with the 25-year-old sharpening his skills and goalkicking routine in a further tease during his troubled chapter.

"I've had a taste of AFL, I know what it's like and these last 18 months have definitely made me a lot hungrier," Saad said.

"If (my first game) is NAB Cup and I kick a goal I hope I don't celebrate too much. I just want to get back into it as if nothing happened."

SAAD'S DRUG BAN SUPPORT NETWORK

Scott Watters (Saad's former St Kilda coach)

Grant Thomas (former St Kilda coach)

Ali Fahour (AFL multicultural officer)

Paul Koutoufides (manager)

George Haros (lawyer)

Elle Saad (wife)

Uncle Sherif Mohamed and his parents

Originally published as Bulked-up Saad ready, raring to join Saints

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