Power wants to play AFL match in China by 2017

Port Adelaide's Andrew Hunter is to play a big part in the Power's push to China. Picture: Keryn Stevens Source: News Limited

PORT Adelaide is pushing harder into China with the Power aiming to be the first AFL team to play for premiership points in Asia as soon as 2017.

And the club's campaign to win community and corporate partnerships in China has secured a major coup with the poaching of Premier Jay Weatherill's senior international adviser, Andrew Hunter.

A former leading volleyball player with a strong understanding of the China market, Hunter will join Port Adelaide as the general manager of the Power Community Limited arm on March 23.

The Power's bold ambition to play a NAB Challenge game in China this year fell apart only by the club and AFL not finding a suitable venue. But Port Adelaide president David Koch's grand vision of the Power developing its international profile in China has stepped up rather than been dented by this year's setback.

"We would like to be the AFL's primary club of choice to carry Australian football to China," Power chief executive Keith Thomas told The Advertiser.

"And we are going to the AFL with a compelling plan.

"Our biggest problem in playing a (pre-season) game has been finding a suitable venue, but we remain hopeful for next year or 2017. And we have not ruled out playing a game for premiership points."

Port Adelaide's case — while Melbourne also looks to China — is to emphasise the Power wants to build longstanding community partnerships and the AFL market (particularly for television rights) rather than simply take sponsorship dollars to play a pre-season or premiership game.

And Thomas' presentation to the AFL is strengthened by highlighting the Power last year developed ties to Chinese students in Adelaide at UniSA, sponsored the Chinese team for the AFL's International Cup and is now backing the South China AFL competition.

Port Adelaide also highlighted its commitment to work with Chinese corporations last year when Koch and his full board met in Hong Kong. Koch this year will return to Hong Kong to meet as many as 500 Chinese businessmen at a club lunch on April 30.

Hunter was Thomas' prime candidate to manage the club's China plans, but the Premier's former speechwriter preferred to stay in government last year delivering on Weatherill's ambitions in Asia.

Of his mission with the Power, Hunter told The Advertiser: "China could be anything, not just for the Port Adelaide Football Club but also the AFL and Australian football.

"It is a massive market — at the moment an uncontested market for Australian football. There is no limit to what can be achieved."

Hunter's job portfolio at Alberton is to build the Power's much-lauded community programs that have focused on linking sport with Aboriginal education, youth development, the "End Hunger" campaign with Foodbank — and now China.

But Thomas emphasised the Power's China strategy cannot be based solely on finding corporate partners for an AFL club needing new revenue streams.

"If we are going to have longstanding and meaningful corporate partnerships in China, we also have to show we are prepared to put in," Thomas said. "You have to give before you take — and we have shown a commitment to invest in China and build real relationships."

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Reilly returns to surprise Crow mates

Brent Reilly at a Crows training session last season. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

INJURED Crows defender Brent Reilly made a surprise return to West Lakes on Monday as he recovers from surgery to repair a fractured skull.

The 31-year-old turned up to training on Monday and attended a meeting with teammates during what has been a week of closed training sessions leading up to Sunday's NAB Challenge match.

Adelaide's Brent Reilly has left intensive care and continues his recovery from a fractured skull.

"He had enough energy to come in … he has been going for some walks and he's getting some light exercise," Adelaide head of football David Noble said.

MORE:REILLY'S FATHER SPEAK OUT

"He didn't have a walking stick or anything like that. He came in on his own steam.

"He got a rousing reception — he got a couple actually.

"He's definitely had irritations to the nerves on the left-hand side of his face, which is really common with this particular type of injury and post-surgery," Adelaide's head of football David Noble said.

Port Adelaide's Sam Gray tackles Brent Reilly in Showdown 37. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

"That's a normal occurrence.

"Radar's speech is really good. That nerve damage sometimes has a little impact on certain words but his comprehension is good, his memory is fine.

"The surgeon was really happy and thought that these symptoms were certainly temporary. They were quite comfortable with how he came through the surgery."

Reilly, who has played 203 games for the Crows, was injured during training on February 9 in what the club said was an accidental head knock.

He is about to start a rehabilitation program but his playing future remains unclear.

The Crows travel to Port Lincoln this weekend to play North Melbourne in their opening NAB Challenge match which the AFL this morning announced was now sold out.

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Freo in action but Fyfe catches the eye

Matthew Taberner takes a strong mark in front of Chris Mayne. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: News Corp Australia

CHAMPION playmaker Nat Fyfe was the undisclosed main act to a Fremantle intra-club practice match yesterday ­before a ball was even kicked.

Fyfe completed a series of 400m runs along the Fremantle Oval boundary line at a strong and sustained pace in an encouraging indication he will resume playing early next month.

The dual Doig medallist strained his left hamstring deep into a two-and-a-half hour training session nine days ago.

Fremantle Dockers scratch match at Fremantle Oval. Michael Barlow is tackled by Michael Walters. Source: News Corp Australia

Scans last week indicated Fyfe would need a two-week recovery before he resumed running and training ahead of the Dockers' first NAB series summer clash with Melbourne at Fremantle Oval on Thursday-week.

Fyfe now seems on track to be available to confront the Demons after his impressive workout.

Fyfe was noticeable with his extensive running before ­engaging in a light skills session with captain Matthew Pavlich, veteran Ryan Crowley and utility Tendai Mzungu ahead of an hour-long scratch match, played in front of about 5000 fans.

Big key defender Zac Dawson remained indoors for a gymnasium workout as he ­recovers from groin soreness.

Pavlich completed a searching 90-minute running and ball skills workout and held out of playing action with rising key position hopes Michael Apeness and Matt Taberner thrown into key forward ­duties.

Paul Duffield gets a handball away. Source: News Corp Australia

Matthew Taberner marks in front of Chris Mayne Source: News Corp Australia

Coach Ross Lyon and his support staff revealed clear intentions of a possible starting line-up with an apparent "A team" of 17 players in purple jumpers against "the rest" in white, including seven top-up players from alignment club Peel Thunder.

Forward pockets Michael Walters and Hayden Ballantyne were prominent with the expected dominance from the major outfit.

Stoppages exponent ­Michael Barlow led the "B team".

Regular forward Chris Mayne was also sent into the minor line-up with a key defensive role on Taberner, who took into the last term to bag his first goal.

Veteran big man Aaron Sandilands spent the first hour up forward leaving ruck work to Zac Clarke with much of his ground support offered from Nick Suban and Matt deBoer in opposition to regular first team midfielders Barlow and Lachie Neale.

Originally published as Freo in action but Fyfe catches the eye

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Long wants historic AFL post

Essendon great Michael Long wants to be AFL commissioner. Source: News Corp Australia

ESSENDON champion Michael Long has declared he wants to be the next AFL commissioner.

"We need an indigenous commissioner,'' Long told the Herald Sun. "We have women on the commission, we have let different nationalities run our great game, and I've got a passion for football, and I've had a plan for 10 years and I think I have given back what the game has given me.

"This is something I feel very strongly about and the timing is right. "I'll be one person putting my hand up and it's not my decision to say I'm the one. I'll let the powers that be decide that. But my passion is to see an indigenous person in that role.''

There is a vacancy on the Commission.

The AFL is currently searching for a replacement for Linda Dessau who is scheduled to stand down as a commissioner in May/June to start her role as Victoria's governor-general.

Jake Long hopes to follow in his father Michael Long's footsteps at Essendon. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

Former Channel Nine boss Jeff Browne has been linked to the role. It's been reported Browne has the support of Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and West Coast chairman Alan Cransberg, two people who are on the nominations sub-committee.

McGuire also has a strong relationship Long.

Australia's most senior female army officer Major General Simone Wilkie and former Sydney and West Coast ruckman Jason Ball joined the AFL Commission in December, replacing Chris Langford and Bill Kelty.

If successful in joining the nine-person Commission, Long, 45, would be the first indigenous commissioner.

He said long-term planning was required from the highest level in the sport. ''I don't think the advisory boards (reporting to the AFL) work, decisions need to be made from the top and strategic decisions, not just on a day-to-day basis but a 10-year plan or even further as part of the AFL's commitment,'' Long said.

Michael Long has long been involved in the Long Walk. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

''There are some significant outcomes we have achieved in the north, women's footy has grown enormously, it's the No.1 growing sport in the Territory.

''And we've only just touched the surface with that.''

The Norm Smith Medallist has been for indigenous Australians before he even quit football and remains an AFL ambassador.

In 2004, he famously set out to walk to Canberra to gain a meeting with then Prime Minister John Howard to raise awareness about the plight of indigenous people.

The resulting Long Walk, which takes part on Indigenous Round and which leads thousands of fans on to the MCG, has also been a huge success. It's unprecedented for a person to offer himself as a commissioner, but Long stressed the urgency of having an indigenous influence on the top table.

''Not that I'm pushing myself, but I deliberately came home to Darwin a decade ago to develop myself, put things together,'' he said. "I don't know if I've done that, but we've developed the Thunder team which plays in the NEAFL competition. We raised just $10 million to get that up and going, and it is a pathway for us in the Territory to play in the Queensland.

''To complement that we raised a further $15 million for the Michael Long Leadership Centre here in Darwin, which will be opened on March 13. ''We're using the power of football to develop our kids and we see what football can do at all levels.

''Part of the leadership centre is influencing change.

''The leadership centre has been my baby, the Thunder has been my baby. ''The Long Walk is about bringing people together and I hope I appeal to all people, not just indigenous people.''

Originally published as Long wants historic AFL post

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Crows were ‘clever’ to give Tex captaincy

Mathew Wright about to get tackled by Crows captain Taylor Walker. Photo: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

FORMER Port Adelaide footballer and Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said the Crows made the right call in rewarding Taylor Walker with the captaincy after he committed his long-term future to the club.

Speaking ahead of the 2015 season in which a new broom has swept through West Lakes, Russell who writes for The Advertiser said while Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane were good candidates, it would have been wrong to appoint one of them captain before they committed to the club beyond this year.

"Obviously it was talked about whether Sloane or Dangerfield or Walker got the captaincy and I can understand them going with a player who is 100 per cent committed to the club, as opposed to 99.5," Russell said.

"That's a commonsense move, I don't think you want to name someone captain who at the end of the season might look at offers from elsewhere, even though they might stay.

"So philosophically I think they've done the right thing but I still think the leadership quality of Sloane and Dangerfield during the year is going to be a critical asset for Walker as well as the whole team.

"They're not the kind of people who will take a backward step in terms of how much leadership they provide on the field.

"On principle it's the right move and a clever move."

While Sloane and Dangerfield in particular are polished media performers and comfortable in the public spotlight, Walker has typically shied away from the cameras during his AFL career.

But Russell said Walker must embrace all that the captaincy comes with, which includes dealing with the media, sponsors and public scrutiny, because he is the face and ambassador for the club.

"I think we've had captains in the past who haven't necessarily enjoyed fronting up to the media and putting on a polite face for sponsors, and we just saw one (Ryan Griffen) leave the Western Bulldogs," Russell said.

"He didn't quite read into what the requirement was before he accepted it.

"I don't know how much media he's (Walker) going to do but as captain it's not just about being captain, it's about being a diplomat and a statesman for the club.

"And because Phil Walsh is not necessarily the kind of guy who wants to do that either, it's going to be an interesting dynamic for the club to play out because neither the captain or the coach are six or seven year media performers."

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Koch pushes hard to Power Port with profit

David Koch speaks at a press conference with chief executive Keith Thomas in the background. Source: News Limited

FOOTBALL clubs' annual meetings are rarely engrossing shows … until now, particularly at the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs.

Power president David Koch put on his act last week — with much of the sting in explaining how Port Adelaide's $2.5 million loss could have been softened by a better return at Adelaide Oval dulled by the leak to The Advertiser of the new stadium deal. This will deliver $3 million more to the Power and Crows next year and $4 million in each of 2016 and 2017 before another review.

Crows chairman Rob Chapman has his moment on Wednesday when the Adelaide Football Club will formally announce the two directors (Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto and, most probably Rod Jameson) elected to the board room for the first time by the club's members. This will place three former players in the board room (with Andrew Payze).

Chapman, like Koch, will use all his experience in banking with financial charts to explain how in a year of record membership and attendances the Adelaide Football Club did not report a significant profit. His chart detailing how the Crows start each season handing over $3 million in payments to external authorities will leave much of the membership speechless.

In contrast to past annual meetings — with the most memorable being at Alberton where a lady drilled the Port Adelaide board on the timetable for the Footy Express buses to Football Park — this year's sessions are very much about money. Big money — and where to find more and more of it.

The Adelaide Football Club always has been a corporate darling, as emphasised by the Crows holding its major sponsorship with the Toyota Motor Corporation since the club's AFL journey began late in 1990.

The Port Adelaide Football Club tried to sell itself to Corporate Australia after the 2007 AFL grand final appearance, but has not made a profit since that success — and paid dearly for putting the corporate world ahead of its members and traditional supporters. Koch took charge at Alberton in October 2012 when the club was on a financial death row and had its commercial staff struggling to leave their business cards at the security gates of corporate headquarters in Sydney and Melbourne.

Koch declared he wanted to make Port Adelaide a "national brand". His era has delivered international sponsors, French carmaker Renault, the world's largest dairy conglomerate Parmalat and in the next week the Power is primed to announce another significant corporate deal.

The question is: Has Port Adelaide learned from the disaster of its last courting of the corporate world when it started to take its traditional fans for granted?

And the far-ranging question is: Will the AFL, with its ferocious appetite for money, ultimately price itself out of the traditional fans' wallet?

Colleague Graham Cornes notes, with a fair assessment of the Power's financial model, that Port Adelaide does not generate enough from its fans at Adelaide Oval. They have the AFL's cheapest tickets, generating — in the term Chapman made famous last season — a low "yield". What the Power does not take from its fans' hard-earned pay packets, it has to find from the corporate world.

And while fans hand over their cash with emotional spending, corporate board rooms are far more circumspect in how they doll out shareholder money.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas — whose bond with the most-basic fan at Alberton is now rock solid — makes no apology for "underselling" the Power's tickets. After all, the club — after betraying all Port Adelaide stood for after the 2007 success, both on and off the field — had to win back the fans.

Now that the Power appears on the verge of challenging for a premiership again, Thomas remains reluctant to put a premium on ticket prices. And, as Thomas has reflected with his monthly bulletins to the members, he is not going to ignore the fans while drawing more and more money from board rooms around the world.

Koch makes no apology for sanctioning decisions that had the Power spend more money than it earned last year. He calls it an "investment" in the football team and the club. He will invest more again this year, but expects the pay-offs to be much more significant to the club's financial statements. He has put more than his reputation on the line that Port Adelaide will report a profit at its next annual meeting in 12 months.

As much as it is about money — big money — in an AFL system that chews through more than a billion dollars each year, AFL club annual meetings do give the guys in their Armani suits a timely reminder of the little folk.

The lady who made a fuss about the bus timetables was not at Alberton last week, but another did challenge Koch on the cost of food and drink at Adelaide Oval. He could only shrug his shoulders and pass the buck to the Stadium Management Authority. Pity he did not remind the lady this was new AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan's opening promise to the fans.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I'm putting my proverbials on the line saying Port Adelaide will make a profit (in 2015)"

Power president DAVID KOCH makes a bold statement

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AFL, Bombers eye finish line

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan hopes the Essendon doping saga will conclude before Round 1. Pic: David Clark Source: News Corp Australia

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says he remains hopeful the Essendon doping saga will be put to bed before Round 1.

The league is working to a timetable that will see a tribunal verdict in mid-to-late March, with the season proper to kick off on April 2.

BOMBERS CONFIRM FIRST FIVE TOP-UPS

McLachlan said on Tuesday the football public now accepted the possibility Essendon would be forced to field a team that included top-up players in premiership matches.

He said the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal — which adjourned on Tuesday night — had advised that it would need at least a month to deliberate on the case against 34 current and former Essendon players charged with using a banned peptide.

The AFL Commission on Monday signed off on measures that would enable Essendon to top up its list while players are provisionally suspended and in the event the tribunal handed out bans.

"We've got a timetable that is established now that says it will be somewhere in the mid- to second half of March," McLachlan said.

"The final submissions are today (Tuesday) and then I think the tribunal has said they need at least a month.

"All we can do is work to that timetable — there are sort of variations after that but we're hopeful of a conclusion before the start of the season."

Should any or all of the players be found guilty of using Thymosin Beta-4, they are entitled to individual sanction hearings, which would add further delays to any final resolution to the case.

All parties also have appeal rights.

Essendon, which is set to play St Kilda in a NAB Challenge match on March 7, opens its season with a string of high-profile matches against grand finalists Sydney and Hawthorn before traditional blockbusters against Carlton and Collingwood, on Anzac Day.

Tribunal chairman David Jones adjourned the hearing after the closing submission from players' lawyers on Tuesday and said in a statement the panel would "deliver its determination as to whether or not there has been a breach of the AFL Anti-Doping Code in due course".

The players' camp is understood to be satisfied that they received a fair hearing at the tribunal.

Former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank also faced a range of charges, but did not attend the tribunal.

McLachlan said AFL fans understood the need to implement the contingency plans and he believed it would not cause undue harm to the NAB Challenge.

"Our supporters are incredibly well educated, and they know what is going on," McLachlan said.

"They understand the situation here.

"The reality is there is a possibility that players being out and Essendon fielding different players may apply to the home and away (season).

"I think people will see it for what it is — they understand what is going on."

McLachlan said the AFL now had "a good dialogue going with Essendon.

"They like us have got the players as the priority.

"I think we need to work together to bring this to an end.

"Whatever the outcome is, it will be. We will work through that when it happens and get Essendon and playing group back to where they need to be playing unencumbered strong football."

He would not entertain speculation that the possible inclusion of top-up players would lead to one-sided matches in the premiership season.

He did not think the lingering scandal would affect impending negotiations for the next broadcast rights deal, with the current arrangement finishing at the end of next season.

Originally published as AFL, Bombers eye finish line

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Dangerfield’s dad paid by Crows

Patrick Dangerfield's father works for Adelaide. Picture: SARAH REED Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE has confirmed Patrick Dangerfield's father, John, works as part of their recruiting team in another dramatic twist to his contract saga.

Dangerfield is out of contract at season's end and is yet to commit to the Crows as Geelong hovers with a multi-million dollar deal.

Now it has emerged father John has worked for Adelaide in a part-time recruiting role for up to two years as an educational consultant.

Retired schoolteacher John does not watch games for the Crows but has a role assessing the character of potential recruits using his contacts through the education system.

The deal was ticked off by the AFL after Adelaide alerted it to the potential issues arising from John's employment.

Geelong is preparing a big offer to lure Patrick Dangerfield. Picture has been digitally altered. Source: The Advertiser

He is understood to earn only a few thousand dollars each year, but is seen as a vital and well-liked member of national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie's team.

Dangerfield and manager Paul Connors have not officially put off talks until the end of the season but are not yet willing to discuss a deal.

Greater Western Sydney were forced to put roof tiler Phil Scully's $680,000 six-year contract as a recruiter in the salary cap after he was offered a deal 12 months before his son, Tom, signed on.

But Adelaide says there is no connection with Patrick Dangerfield's contract given John has worked at the club for some time.

Character assessment is an increasingly important part of the recruiting picture and Adelaide says John has a skill-set that is vital to their recruiting team.

Patrick Dangerfield working hard with Ian Callinan. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Geelong can easily amass a war-chest for Dangerfield, with its six veterans this year all having $118,380 of their pay packets exempt from the salary cap.

The Cats are also likely to have several high-profile retirees including Corey Enright, with nine Cats 30 or over.

Steve Johnson is one of eight Geelong free agents, but the Herald Sun understands the 31-year-old will wait until the season commences before kick-starting contract talks.

It is understood Dangerfield is keen to see how Adelaide performs this year after missing the finals in 2014, with all Crows players also gauging the progress of new coach Phil Walsh.

The AFL said yesterday it would not comment on individual contracts, but it is understood it is comfortable with John Dangerfield's role at Adelaide.

Geelong is seen as the front-runner if Dangerfield returns to Victoria given the family hails from Moggs Creek on the surf coast.

Dangerfield's mother Janette has spoken of her shock at his move to Adelaide and hoped he might return home when he signed his last deal.

But when John Dangerfield appeared on Channel Seven in 2013 he suggested Dangerfield would remain at Adelaide for his whole career.

Asked if he would finish his career in Adelaide or Geelong, he replied: "That is really hard. We do miss him but we could never take him away from Adelaide.

"I think he will be in Crows for the rest of his career."

As recently as November when Taylor Walker signed on Dangerfield remained vague about his future intentions.

"It is great to see that Taylor has signed on, but as I have said before, there is no time limit with that,"

Dangerfield is set to appear at an Adidas function in Adelaide tonight where he might give some more clarity on his contract.

Originally published as Dangerfield's dad paid by Crows

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Power can see profit on horizon

Power chief executive Keith Thomas and president David Koch. Source: News Limited

PORT Adelaide is forecasting its first profit in eight years with the once financially threatened AFL club declaring it again has a "sustainable" business model.

Power president David Koch last night presented his club's record membership at Alberton with budgets revealing Port Adelaide is out of its financial tunnel of doom.

The long-touted $2.5 million loss was confirmed at last night's annual meeting at Alberton, but more relevant were Koch's financial projections for this year – and explanations on how the anticipated profit is a pay-off for big investment packages in the club and Ken Hinkley's football program in the past three years.

"I am delighted to announce that Port Adelaide is budgeting for a profit," Koch said last night.

This optimism is based on membership rising to 60,000, more corporate backing and a new stadium deal at Adelaide Oval.

"We achieved record home crowds but we didn't realise the full return for our investment (at Adelaide Oval)," Koch said. "The good news is the new stadium deal to be finalised soon will allow us to get a fair return from Adelaide this year and onwards."

Power chief executive Keith Thomas last night described his club's turnaround from possible financial collapse to profit in 2015 as a "football-led recovery".

"We've been investing in our club's future – first and foremost with the football program," he said. "We started this campaign (two years ago) wanting to fix footy and to hit Adelaide Oval with full momentum.

"We are unhappy to lose $2.5 million. But we also know the business model is fixed. Now we have a sustainable football club – and this year it will be a profitable football club again."

Port Adelaide's annual report reveals these key numbers:
REVENUE increased by $6 million with the significant growth in corporate backing (by $4 million), merchandise (by $800,000) and membership that was at record levels.

But the $4.3 million bonus from moving to Adelaide Oval - where the Power lifted its average home attendance to 44,364 after managing 26,915 at Football Park – covered the gap created by losing $4 million in grants from the AFL and SANFL.

Thomas noted the Power is primed to reap major gains from its new appeal to the corporate market.

"We have almost doubled corporate support (with corporate backing rising from $5.5 million to $9.5 million), but we were coming off a low base," he said. "And there always is a lag in turning that interest from the corporate sector into sponsorship deals. There is more (corporate dollars) available to us."
SPENDING rose by $7 million - with $1.5 million added to the football program. Even then, the Power ranked 12th in football spend across the 18-team national competition.

"We achieved a top-four result on the field with a bottom-six spend," Thomas said. "It has been modest spending to achieved a top-four finish."

Port Adelaide's administrative spend ranked 14th across the league. Much of the increased spending off the field last year was related to marketing the Power's successful - and much-lauded - game-day experience at Adelaide Oval and servicing 14,000 new members.

The Power's financial forecasting also is boosted by the new Adelaide Oval stadium deal that will deliver $3 million more to Port Adelaide and the Crows this year and meet the club's target of collecting 70 cents in the Oval dollar next year.

"The review of the stadium deal does deliver millions of dollars more to the clubs with the critical change being the incentive we have as clubs to draw big crowds at the Oval," Thomas said.

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Oval deal down to last check of finer details

A new Adelaide Oval stadium deal is expected to be signed off soon. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

LEGAL documents outlining the new Adelaide Oval stadium deal will be put to the vote in both the Crows and Port Adelaide board rooms next week.

Negotiations for a new deal — that will deliver an extra $3 million combined to the Crows and Power this season — ended between the SANFL and AFL on Thursday night, 211 days after the stadium review began.

Both of the SA-based AFL clubs are now working the finer details of the legal documents that present new "technical" clauses to the financial agreements reached just before Christmas.

The financial spoils are an extra $3 million combined for the Crows and Power this season with this figure rising to $4 million in each of 2016 and 2017. By 2016, the deal delivers the 70 cents in a dollar return sought by the two clubs.

Adelaide chief executive Andrew Fagan will present his recommendation on the deal to the Adelaide board by Thursday when the Crows directors have a scheduled meeting.

Fagan noted recent negotiations between the AFL and SANFL had introduced to the deal "new elements — technical, not financial — that we need to assess."

"We've only had the documents for 48 hours," he said.

"And after 211 days, I'm not going to rush (read the legal papers) on Day 212 ... if it takes to Day 221, that's fine.

"It won't be a lengthy process, but it is one we need to go through."

Of the new financial return, the Adelaide Football Club regards the new carve-up of the money pot at Adelaide Oval as "reflecting the distribution levels expected before the move from Football Park."

Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide gained the projected increase in returns at the Oval this season. But the projections were based on crowd figures both clubs significantly shattered at the 53,000-capacoty Oval.

In the Power's case, it collected the $4.3 million uplift forecast with average crowds of 30,000. But Port Adelaide drew average home crowds of 44,364 last season — and the club did not bank the benefit of the extra 14,000 fans.

The new stadium deal at the Oval presents significant incentives for the Crows and Power if the clubs continue to deliver big crowds. Adelaide had the AFL's highest home-crowd average last season at 48,046 — more than projected in the original Oval stadium deal.

Also new is the opportunity to collect corporate and catering returns from home finals where the AFL keeps the gatetakings.

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Crows selfishness a thing of the past

Daniel Talia says he has noticed changes around West Lakes. Source: News Limited

ADELAIDE'S new "team-first'' mantra has hit home, with club champion Daniel Talia revealing he already has noticed a distinct change in the way the Crows players are going about their business.

Having made a stirring speech at last year's club champion presentation when he declared the Crows had underachieved in making the finals just once in his five years at the club, Talia hinted selfishness had crept into the playing group.

But he said the team was "definitely'' more team-oriented under new coach Phil Walsh, who replaced the sacked Brenton Sanderson at the end of the 2014 season.

"The way we've been trained, the way we've been taught, everyone is in it for the team,'' said All-Australian backman Talia, noting the Crows have had the individual talent to have finished higher on the ladder.

"That's what the Adelaide Football Club is going to do this year, everyone is going to play their role for the team.''

Asked why the Crows had fallen into the trap of playing as individuals under Sanderson, Talia said: "Why did it happen previously? That's the million dollar question.

Adelaide players have spoken for the first time about the sickening incident that fractured the skull of veteran teammate Brent Reilly.

"Certain things happened last year but we don't really need to dwell on the past. It's all about 2015 and we are looking forward to this year.

"It doesn't really matter now what happened last year. We've got one goal now, that's to bring that team ethos together, to bring individuals together to play as a team and that's what we're going to do.''

Talia — recognised as the ultimate team player for his ability to sacrifice his game to shut down the opposition's best key forwards — said the Crows players had attacked this pre-season with renewed vigour.

"Everyone has come back really refreshed and positive,'' he said.

"I feel that as a team we are really working together and everyone is working for each other, so hopefully 2015 will be a good year for us.

"Phil has come in and brought some new ideas and it's been really refreshing for the group.

"Everyone is putting their best foot forward and we're really looking forward to the NAB Cup to show Phil what we can do.''

Questions have been raised about the strength of Adelaide's backline following the retirement of 2005 All-Australian full back Ben Rutten and a serious injury to 2012 All-Australian nominee Brent Reilly (fractured skull), which has put his football future in jeopardy.

Key recruit Kyle Cheney also has had a setback after suffering an irregular heartbeat at training.

Talia however believes the club's team-first philosophy will enable the back six to limit opposition scoring chances.

"It's about us as a team stepping up collectively,'' he said.

"We need everyone to work together and play their role for the team.''

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Oval deal down to last check of finer details

A new Adelaide Oval stadium deal is expected to be signed off soon. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

LEGAL documents outlining the new Adelaide Oval stadium deal will be put to the vote in both the Crows and Port Adelaide board rooms next week.

Negotiations for a new deal — that will deliver an extra $3 million combined to the Crows and Power this season — ended between the SANFL and AFL on Thursday night, 211 days after the stadium review began.

Both of the SA-based AFL clubs are now working the finer details of the legal documents that present new "technical" clauses to the financial agreements reached just before Christmas.

The financial spoils are an extra $3 million combined for the Crows and Power this season with this figure rising to $4 million in each of 2016 and 2017. By 2016, the deal delivers the 70 cents in a dollar return sought by the two clubs.

Adelaide chief executive Andrew Fagan will present his recommendation on the deal to the Adelaide board by Thursday when the Crows directors have a scheduled meeting.

Fagan noted recent negotiations between the AFL and SANFL had introduced to the deal "new elements — technical, not financial — that we need to assess."

"We've only had the documents for 48 hours," he said.

"And after 211 days, I'm not going to rush (read the legal papers) on Day 212 ... if it takes to Day 221, that's fine.

"It won't be a lengthy process, but it is one we need to go through."

Of the new financial return, the Adelaide Football Club regards the new carve-up of the money pot at Adelaide Oval as "reflecting the distribution levels expected before the move from Football Park."

Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide gained the projected increase in returns at the Oval this season. But the projections were based on crowd figures both clubs significantly shattered at the 53,000-capacoty Oval.

In the Power's case, it collected the $4.3 million uplift forecast with average crowds of 30,000. But Port Adelaide drew average home crowds of 44,364 last season — and the club did not bank the benefit of the extra 14,000 fans.

The new stadium deal at the Oval presents significant incentives for the Crows and Power if the clubs continue to deliver big crowds. Adelaide had the AFL's highest home-crowd average last season at 48,046 — more than projected in the original Oval stadium deal.

Also new is the opportunity to collect corporate and catering returns from home finals where the AFL keeps the gatetakings.

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Dale’s return huge boost for Panthers

Frazer Dale at Hickinbotham Oval — South Adelaide's newest recruit. Source: News Limited

SOUTH Adelaide's depth has been boosted following a decision by Frazer Dale to cut short his retirement.

Dale, who played 20 league games for the Panthers after being recruited from Carlton last year, opted to retire after the preliminary final loss to Port Adelaide.

However, the utility has decided to return to the Panthers and the decision was announced today by the club.

South Adelaide general manager of football Neill Sharpe said the club had kept in touch with Frazer following his decision in November and was pleased to welcome him back.

"Frazer was really genuine and honest with us late last year and ultimately he probably just needed a break after being in the AFL system for two years and coming straight to Adelaide,'' Sharpe said.

"Fortunately for Frazer he is a very good athlete so shouldn't take too long to return to peak condition."

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Christensen gets pre-season green light

Tom Rockliff with captain the Brisbane Lions in 2015 with Jed Adcock dumped from the leadership group.

Allen Christensen is set to ramp up his pre-season training. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: News Corp Australia

HIGH-priced Brisbane recruit Allen Christensen has been given the medical all-clear to ramp up his pre-season campaign.

But the 2011 Geelong premiership player is no sure thing to play in Round 1 in the Easter Saturday blockbuster against Collingwood at the Gabba.

Christensen flew to Melbourne yesterday to meet with doctors following back surgery in September last year and his progress was given a resounding thumbs up.

The lightning quick midfielder/small forward was confined to a stationary bike before Christmas after leaving the Cats for the Lions and has completed a month of running since returning from the end-of-year break.

New Lions Mitch Robinson, Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen. Picture: Mark Cranitch Source: News Corp Australia

The 23-year-old went through a gruelling sprint session on Monday that totalled 10km and will now participate in modified drills before gradually being eased into full training.

The Lions open their NAB Challenge schedule against St Kilda at Burpengary on February 28 before further pre-season outings against Sydney at Coffs Harbour on March 6 and the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on March 20.

Brisbane football manager Dean Warren said while the news on Christensen was promising, the club would continue to err on the side of caution given he was limited to just eight games in 2014.

"It was a pretty challenging year for him last year with his surgeries so we won't play Allen until he is absolutely ready to play,'' Warren said.

"Hopefully he can play some of the NAB Challenge and Round 1 but we just have to see how he goes over the next month or so.

"Round 2, Round 3 and Round 4 are just as important as Round 1 so we don't want to rush him back too early.

"The doctors are really happy with his progress and are really happy with the program we have out in place for him so we will gradually work him back into the main group.''

Originally published as Christensen gets pre-season green light

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