SA-born Geelong player charged after car crash

Geelong's Brad Hartman has been charged by Victorian police. Source: News Corp Australia

VICTORIAN police have charged South Australian-born Geelong forward Brad Hartman with leaving the scene of an accident and failing to stop at a stop sign.

Hartman, 20, was returning home to Murray Bridge when he allegedly clipped a parked car but continued driving at St Peters in Melbourne late last Sunday.

Geelong CEO Brian Cook said, after Hartman arrived home he discussed the matter with his father and went to the Murray Bridge police station to report the incident on Monday. He was charged on Tuesday and a court date is yet to be set.

"We are disappointed and frustrated that Brad has been involved in this incident and believe there have been too many motoring related issues with our players in recent years," Cook said.

"Brad should have handled this differently by stopping and then providing his details at the time.

"As a club, it is clear that we need to reassess the manner in which we work with our players around their responsibilities as representatives of the Geelong Football Club.

"We will convene in the new year when the key people return to the club to develop a way forward in regard to this.

"The club has advised the relevant internal and external parties of the details of this incident."

Former basketballer who represented SA three times, Hartman was recruited by the Cats at pick 77 in the 2012 AFL national draft from Sturt junior grades.

The small forward debuted at Simonds Stadium in Round 13 last season.

Before moving to Sturt, Hartman played for Murray Bridge Ramblers

Originally published as SA-born Geelong player charged after car crash

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Captain’s Call: Boak on Power season

Travis Boak celebrates a goal. Picture: Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide enjoyed the best start (10-1) to an AFL season in its history but by Round 20 they'd stumbled to 12-7 and were labelled 'over rated'.

But what followed was an amazing finals campaign in which they fell an agonising three points short of victory against Hawthorn in the preliminary final.

In his 2014 captain's call, Travis Boak says the Round 6 win over Geelong was a turning point but the pain of the preliminary final loss will drive the Power all pre-season.

ROUND 1 (1-0)

Port Adelaide 18.12 (120) d Carlton 12.15 (87)

- Power kicks seven goals to one in the final term

ROUND 2 (2-0)

Port Adelaide 19.13 (127) d Adelaide 11.7 (73)

- Crows spark outrage with SA jumper plan

- Port wins first game at new Adelaide Oval

- Hamish Hartlett wins Showdown Medal

"The whole build up was massive it wasn't just the day. I got to the ground three hours before and it was chockers, people everywhere, and it felt like a final.

"There wasn't really (talk about Crows' SA jumper plan), we didn't worry about that because we couldn't control any of that.

"For us there was no motivation there, no 'stick it up them', for us it was just about going out to put a show on for our fans. It was our home game and we wanted to make a statement.

"To have that last quarter and be out by a fair bit to enjoy it was fantastic."

Port Adelaide won the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

ROUND 3 (2-1)

North Melbourne 14.13 (97) d Port Adelaide 13.12 (90)

- Power led by two goals at final break but were over-run

ROUND 4 (3-1)

Port Adelaide 24.15 (159) d Brisbane 7.4 (46)

- Port wears commemorative 2004 premiership jumper

- Travis Boak has 41 possessions

"The one premiership with the Power side in the AFL was a pretty special moment so to have a 10-year reunion on that day and against Brisbane was a special moment for the club.

"To have the '04 stars forming a line on the ground was fantastic because a fair few of our players never got to play with them but know how special they are.

"There was a lot of talk and for the group to come out and play the way they did shows how much respect we have for the club and how much we want to play for this jumper."

Ollie Wines powers through a Jack Redden tackle wearing the 2004 premiership jumper. Picture: SARAH REED. Source: News Corp Australia

ROUND 5 (4-1)

Port Adelaide 10.10 (70) d West Coast 7.14 (56)

- Power's first win at Subiaco since 2010

ROUND 6 (5-1)

Port Adelaide 16.11 (107) d Geelong 9.13 (67)

- Port ends 10-game losing streak to Cats

"A few sides have had it over us in the last few years but Geelong certainly ever since that 07 grand final it's been a tough run.

"With Kenny (Hinkley) coming from Geelong we wanted to make sure we put in a good performance and we spoke about that it was about time we started beating these really big sides.

"Not just because it was Geelong and we hadn't beaten for a while, but the big sides that we hadn't really competed against in the past few years.

"That we needed to start making statements and getting ground on these sides and Geelong was the first one off.

"Another big occasion, another big game at Adelaide Oval it's hard to not get up for and for our fans to come out (47,000) the guys just love it.

"To get that result against Geelong really did give us a lot of confidence for the rest of the year knowing we can match it with these big powerhouse sides, that we were starting to make ground on these sides.

"We started off beating a few other sides that were probably outside the eight the year before, so for us to get a great result against Geelong who finished high up in the ladder in 2013 was great confidence for our group for the year."

Chad Wingard celebrates a goal against Geelong. Picture: SARAH REED Source: News Corp Australia

ROUND 7 (6-1)

Port Adelaide 20.12 (132) d GWS 15.7 (97)

- Jay Schulz kicks six

- Jared Polec has 30 and kicks three

ROUND 8 (7-1)

Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Fremantle 11.10 (76)

- Port wins without first-choice ruckman Matthew Lobbe

- Robbie Gray has second 30-touch game in a row

ROUND 9

Bye

ROUND 10 (8-1)

Port Adelaide 15.10 (100) d Hawthorn 13.8 (86)

- Power beats reigning premiers albeit an under-strength Hawks

- Boak has 34 and one goal

"A lot of their stars were out but we can't control that, we wanted to go out and play our game.

"That's what we spoke about before the game that it doesn't matter who they've got in the side, we go out and play the way we do and we'll win the game.

"There were a lot of areas we didn't win which we spoke about after the game ... but we played the reigning premier and beat them on our home deck so we wanted to take a lot of confidence out of it.

"For us to match it with another big side in the competition was a great result for our group."

Travis Boak and Kane Cornes after the win over Hawthorn. Picture: SARAH REED Source: News Corp Australia

ROUND 11 (9-1)

Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) d Melbourne 11.9 (75)

- Port's fast finish secures win in Alice Springs

- Boak returns to Adelaide on crutches

ROUND 12 (10-1)

Port Adelaide 19.15 (129) d St Kilda 9.5 (59)

- Chad Wingard takes mark of the year

- Power's best ever start to a season

"I was sitting up in the coaches box and you could see it coming from a mile away.

"He (Wingard) prepared himself for the leap and you knew it was coming, I think he did his hair before he went up so you just knew he was going to clunk one."

Chad Wingard takes mark of the year over Shaun Dempster. Picture: SARAH REED. Source: AdelaideNow

ROUND 13 (10-2)

Sydney 14.14 (98) d Port Adelaide 13.16 (94)

- Lance Franklin turns it on with five goals

"It was a big challenge for us and after that game we spoke about their senior players, their quality players really standing up in moments that count.

"For our whole group to learn from that, that we have to be stronger in certain moments in a game if we want to match it with the best sides.

"That's something we learnt out of that game but we came back knowing we're not far off these best sides."

Jarman Impey is powerless to stop Swans' star Lance Franklin. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

ROUND 14 (11-2)

Port Adelaide 19.14 (128) d Western Bulldogs 8.8 (56)

- Schulz bags eight goals at Adelaide Oval

ROUND 15 (11-3)

Adelaide 14.15 (99) d Port Adelaide 10.16 (76)

- Power loses Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove to injury

"That was really disappointing that middle patch through the year that we lost a few games and that was probably the start of it.

"We lost a bit of run and a bit of belief in our game and that hurt us. You never like losing your Showdowns at all and we went away and knew we had to work really hard to get back to what we were doing at the start of the year.

"It was unfortunate to lose Jacko and Bobby for a bit of time and we probably didn't realise how important they were until two or three weeks later, and not only the way they play and how we set up but their leadership was something we really missed."

Jackson Trengove injures his knee against Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

ROUND 16 (11-4)

Essendon 8.14 (62) d Port Adelaide 7.18 (60)

- Woeful 7.18 costs Power victory

ROUND 17 (11-5)

Richmond 19.12 (126) d Port Adelaide 16.10 (106)

- Port falls out of the top four

- Troy Chaplin's lively goal celebration prompts Boak the following day to say he hopes Chaplin is enjoying the Tigers' season. They were 12th at the time.

"It (comment) was all in good fun. I probably look back on it now and it wasn't the greatest thing to say come the first final.

"But it was all a bit of fun and there was nothing really spoken about at the club ... there wasn't too much said until when Richmond made the final.

"It probably looked like we were getting a little bit tired but our numbers suggested that we weren't. It was probably the way we were defending that was really letting us down.

"That was why we looked a bit tired in offence - because we weren't defending well enough and teams were able to run through us.

"The best sides in the competition defend well and it makes their offence look really good."

Troy Chaplin celebrates a goal against his former club. Source: Getty Images

ROUND 18 (12-5)

Port Adelaide 10.12 (72) d Melbourne 10.9 (69)

- Power gets out of jail thanks to stunning Schulz goal

- Port sends retiring former captain Dom Cassisi out a winner

ROUND 19 (12-6)

Collingwood 11.10 (76) d Port Adelaide 10.10 (70)

- Port returns from week off with a loss

- 10-1 start becomes 12-6 as Power is labelled a 'pretender'

ROUND 20 (12-7)

Sydney 12.12 (84) d Port Adelaide 7.16 (58)

- Robbie Gray has 37 disposals

- Front page of The Advertiser's Game On declares the Power is 'over rated'

"By that stage we were starting to get our run and belief and confidence back.

"It wasn't the result we wanted, but we felt like we were starting to turn the corner. We knew it was a big challenge - it was our home deck and we expect to win at home every week - but Sydney coming down full strength it was a pretty close game.

"We took a lot of confidence out of it, we felt like we had our run back, like that confidence in our defence was starting to get back.

"Obviously there was a fair bit of bad press around at the time with the way we were playing but as a group we stayed strong, we knew we could turn the corner."

Hamish Hartlett tackled by Dan Hannebery at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

ROUND 21 (13-7)

Port Adelaide 7.14 (56) d Gold Coast 7.5 (47)

- After losing five of its last six, Port returns to winners' list with tough win in the wet.

ROUND 22 (14-7)

Port Adelaide 20.20 (140) d Carlton 5.7 (37)

- Robbie Gray stars with 31 and four goals in 103-point win

ROUND 23 (14-8)

Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.13 (97)

- Port loses race for top-four finish in Perth

- Finishes regular season fifth with 14-8 record

"Initially we were pretty flat, it was obviously a top four double chance game.

"It was a big challenge going to Perth and playing Freo and we were so close, but again periods in games we needed to get right.

"We sat down and had a look at those and we called them 'big moments' in games and that's what the best sides in big games do best - is in those little moments in games you need to stand up.

"We looked at that and said 'alright it's do or die now and it's up to us what we want to achieve this year', we had no second chances so we had to go out and prove that we're good enough to do it."

Jay Schulz dejected after the loss to Fremantle. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

ELIMINATION FINAL

Port Adelaide 20.12 (132) d Richmond 11.9 (75)

- Power stuns Tigers with eight-goal first quarter

- Port later releases Hinkley's stirring 'pay the price' pre-game speech

"Another big moment for our group and the big stage which we haven't been involved in a lot in the last four or five years.

"We were lucky enough during the year to be able to play the Sydney games and Hawthorn games, Freo games, the massive stages, and that helped us for this one.

"Our group was starting to get used to that and you could see by that first quarter they weren't fazed by that because they just wanted to go out and play footy.

"It was really led by the senior players, from that game the Hamish hit and handball, goal, that really set the standard and showed how much we wanted it."

Jack Neade celebrates a goal against Richmond in the elimination final. Picture: Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia

SEMI FINAL

Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) d Fremantle 11.17 (83)

- Power stages remarkable comeback to claw back from 24 point half-time deficit

- Second year player Ollie Wines has 26 disposals and 7 clearances

- Hinkley rushes onto the ground and speaks to Boak post-game

"We always believed that half-time, three-quarter-time, we're never out of the game.

"And what we speak about is the work we do in the pre-season we certainly get out in the game.

"Come three-quarter or half-time I don't even need to say much to the group, the message was 'you've done the work boys, it's up to us now' and it was our younger guys like Ollie Wines and Chad Wingard, these guys standing up in these sort of moments is pretty scary because they're only pretty young.

"It was those big moments that our group had learnt during the year that we needed to stand up in and it's pretty good to see as a captain.

"The message after the game was 'yeah we've just won a game but we've still got plenty of work to do', so that was the message."

Ollie Wines and Travis Boak lead Port Adelaide off after the semi final win. Picture: Simon Cross Source: News Corp Australia

PRELIMINARY FINAL

Hawthorn 15.7 (97) d Port Adelaide 13.16 (94)

- For the second week in a row Port looks gone but fights back from four goals down

- Power finishes the game with all the momentum but unable to cause major upset

"It was nothing too different to what we speak about at three-quarter-time during the year, just asking the guys for one more effort.

"It's a prelim final, if there's a chance to go to the big stage then there's one quarter to go, you've still got plenty left in the tank, you've done all the work.

"Unfortunately we just weren't quite good enough and that's the message we've spoken about after the game and through the off-season, we weren't quite good enough in a lot of moments.

"And that's what we'll work on in this pre-season because we know we've got the group to do it.

"It was a disappointing result and we would have loved to play grand final day but I couldn't be prouder of the group and everything right back to when we started in Dubai, the amount of effort they put into their training to improve and help each other out was incredible.

"But we spoke about it at the end, we've just got to go again and go to another level.

"And they don't need too much convincing because they want it just as much as anyone. I'm proud of them and hopefully we can do it again."

Port Adelaide players get ready for the preliminary final. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

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Power starts its propaganda lineto win war

Keith Thomas in his office. Source: News Limited

"THE first casualty of war is truth." No one knows who first uttered that profound phrase or derivatives of it. Over the years it has been attributed to ancient Greek philosophers, Japanese warlords and American politicians but is as relevant today as it ever was. For truth is not a finite concept. There can be different versions. It simply depends from which perspective you view it, and whose side you are on.

Take this "war" between South Australia's two AFL clubs and the SANFL over the unexpected riches of Adelaide Oval. Each party has a different interpretation of who should get what. Propaganda is extremely important in any conflict because the weight of public opinion is powerful — powerful enough to topple governments. But can it sway the resolve of the SANFL, who appears to be fighting a battle on three fronts, to get the best for the whole of football in this state?

Port Adelaide's chief executive Keith Thomas must have felt he was losing the propaganda battle last week as he emailed his version of the truth to his 50,000 odd members. Responding to a David Penberthy Advertiser column that the SANFL had been driven close to insolvency by underwriting the mounting debt of Port Adelaide, he proceeded to list just how much money Port Adelaide had made for the SANFL. Reading KT it seemed that Port alone, no doubt a successful club that attracted big crowds, had been a one-team SANFL. Port Adelaide over all those years actually had to play another team, and over those years, most of those other teams had their share of success and crowd appeal. Did those 66,000 fans who attended the 1976 SANFL grand final come to see Sturt or Port Adelaide? Did not Glenelg, North Adelaide and more recently Central District have their crowd appeal? Then there's Norwood.

The Redlegs have been as dominant at times as Port. Thomas made his reputation at Norwood. His grand final heroics have him enshrined as a club legend. No longer, however. Judging by the Redlegs-tinged social media after KT's rant to the Port members, they have disowned him.

However, the squabble goes on. Port and the Crows have received what they were promised, but because the Stadium Management Authority made more from the catering, greed has taken hold. It's complicated by the fact that both clubs have spent more than they made. Port's observation that after attracting such big crowds, the Crows will only show a small profit seems a valid one, but one of the realities of AFL is that the more the clubs make, the more they spend.

Earlier this week an SANFL insider put a perspective on the negotiations. "How long do you think the discussion would last if we were having this dispute with the ground managers of Etihad Stadium?" he posed? "Exactly one hour", he said. "Because that was the contract we signed. You got what you were promised."

End of story.

Sadly, the SANFL can never win a propaganda war against the Crows and Port, but its status and indeed its relevance should never be undermined as it is being now.

It's Australia's oldest football league; it has guided South Australian football to be the envy of the country; it has the responsibility for all levels of football in the state, not just the bloated professionals who want to take more and more from those who can afford it least. Most importantly, were it not for the resources, courage and strength of the SANFL, there would be no Crows, no Power and no new Adelaide Oval.

Despite KT's gospel to his true believers, Port has taken far more from the SANFL than it has given.

Adelaide Oval alone will not save Port Adelaide. There has to be more revenue from its members, sponsors and other business streams. With 42,000 members already compared to 33,000 at this time last year, Thomas's propaganda is obviously working. But is it the truth?

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Hughes’ tragic death stirs McCarthy memories

A file picture of John McCarthy from 2012. Photo: Sarah Reed. Source: News Limited

PORT Adelaide Football Club has had to "check back'' with its playing group after the tragic death of Australian and Redbacks cricketer Phillip Hughes.

Outgoing football operations boss Peter Rohde has revealed the Power spoke to its players about their welfare before they left for their pre-season training camp to Dubai after Hughes' death triggered their emotions of teammate John McCarthy's passing two years ago.

"Obviously that (the players' emotional state) has been a bit of a worry for us because all those thoughts of what happened to John have been brought back again,'' said Rohde, who finished at the Power yesterday after 10 years as a key administrator at the club.

"We've checked back with the players to see if they are all right and considering the circumstances they have coped pretty well.''

Rohde said McCarthy, who died in an accident on an end-of-season players' trip in Las Vegas two years ago, was never far from the players' thoughts.

"The players certainly still refer to John a lot,'' he said.

"He's never far from peoples thoughts and in many ways he still guides the group.

"What happened to John has had a big influence over everyone at the club to try to make the most of every opportunity you get. That's the message we take out of it.

"The players don't hide from it, they're very open about it, which I think is very healthy.''

Rohde was the Port official who hurriedly flew to the US to identify McCarthy and counsel the Power players who had been holidaying with him.

He described the experience as "shocking'', revealing Port was first told of the devastating news through a "tip-off'' by McCarthy's previous club Collingwood.

"It was just a terrible time,'' Rohde said.

"John had a Victorian licence in his pocket so the initial police inquiries went through the Victorian Police via Collingwood before we were contacted.

"We then had to get our players in the US together to tell them the shocking news, which was terribly difficult.

"Boaky (captain Travis Boak) and Alipate Carlile were fantastic in that period with the way they handled things but it's still all a bit surreal to be honest.

"I had a good relationship with John and his family and it certainly rocked everyone.

"It really affected our whole playing group because everyone liked John and felt close to him.''

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Subpoena decision set for Friday

All media will be banned from the AFL ASADA hearings following the request of 32 former and current Essendon players involved in the doping scandal

Pharmacist Nima Alavi. Source: News Corp Australia

JUSTICE Clyde Croft will deliver his verdict on ASADA's Supreme Court bid to force witnesses to give evidence to an AFL tribunal on Friday.

ASADA and AFL lawyers spent today laying out their case as to why biochemist Shane Charter and compounding pharmacist Nima Alavi should be compelled to attend the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal hearing of charges against the Essendon 34, which is due to begin on Monday.

ASADA'S JOB LURE TO STAR WITNESS

MEDIA BANNED FROM DOPING HEARING

Dan Star for ASADA said ASADA's case was that Charter had sourced banned peptide Thymosin beta-4, Alavi had prepared it for injection and that Stephen Dank, the former Essendon support person also charged with anti-doping offences, administered it to the players.

Star argued the AFL was a commercial business which has contractual power over the players, but not as their direct employer.

On that basis, said Star, the court could order Charter and Alavi be subpoenaed to attend the AFL tribunal under the Commercial Arbitration Act.

Shane Charter has been the subject of a subpoena but he isn't in the Supreme Court. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia

He was grilled by Justice Croft about whether the nature of the AFL tribunal legally meets the characteristics of an internationally recognised arbitrary body.

Renee Enbomb for the AFL began outlining her submissions this afternoon.

Alavi's lawyer Tony Rodbard-Bean and David Grace, QC, for 32 of the 34 players will likely address the court tomorrow.

Charter is not represented in the case but filed an affidavit asking that Alavi's submissions be applied to him.

Dank did not appear in court.

The 34 current and former Essendon players face two-year bans if found guilty of using the banned peptide.

Dank could be banned from the AFL for life.

Lawyers for the AFL last week told the court the subpoenas were necessary because "one party might travel overseas to avoid the proceedings".

Yesterday, Herald Sun revealed Charter was offered a potential job by ASADA as it sought to secure his co-operation in the case.

A secret email exchange shows an ASADA investigator discussing enlisting the controversial biochemist to a role with an NRL anti-doping campaign.

"The NRL is looking for a heavy hitting campaign and I have mentioned your worth," ASADA investigator Paul Simonsson wrote in an email to Charter sent on October 5 this year.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews yesterday criticised a ruling that ensures the tribunal hearings into Essendon's 2012 supplements regime will be conducted behind closed doors.

Tribunal chairman David Jones ruled on Monday that the three-week hearing would be confidential to protect the privacy of the players.

Matthews, now a board member at the Brisbane Lions, took to Twitter saying he was "disappointed" with the decision.

"Secrecy and finding the truth (are) rarely great partners," Matthews said.

"Let me add that a closed hearing and cynicism about the justice of the eventual outcome will go hand in hand."

Originally published as Subpoena decision set for Friday

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Unsigned duo still in mix for Crows captaincy

Rory Sloane leads his teammates in sprints at Max Basheer Reserve. Photo: Dylan Coker. Source: News Corp Australia

PATRICK Dangerfield and Rory Sloane's contract status will not affect their chances of captaining Adelaide next year, according to head of football David Noble.

With new coach Phil Walsh expected to appoint his first skipper next month, Noble said the fact that this year's stand-in co-captains Dangerfield and Sloane have yet to commit to the club beyond next season would not rule them out of the top on-field job.

"I don't see that as an issue at all,'' Noble said.

"I think you put your best people in place that are going to lead your club. That's what we're expecting them to do.''

Dangerfield and Sloane — out of contract at the end of next year — are among the six leadership candidates Walsh will pick from to lead the Crows in 2015, including incumbent skipper Nathan van Berlo.

Van Berlo has been captain since 2011 but did not play a game last season after rupturing an Achilles tendon in a pre-season training mishap.

Dangerfield and Sloane took over as co-captains, alternating the duties each week. The newly re-signed Taylor Walker, veteran Scott Thompson and new leadership member Daniel Talia round out the six-player leadership group.

Noble said he expected Walsh, who has declared he will pick only one captain, to make a decision by early next month before leaving it to the Crows board to ratify.

"Ultimately Walshy's coaching the team so I would imagine he would have a fair input as to what that (model) looks like,'' he said.

"The process is that fairly soon after Christmas something will be presented to the board and that needs to be ratified and then we'll let everyone know.''

In the meantime, Noble said new leadership mentor and former West Coast great Darren Glass is working closely with the leadership brigade "to help those guys''.

Just-retired star Eagles ruckman Dean Cox has rated Glass as the best leader he suited up alongside at the club.

"Darren is probing, he's questioning them (the Crows six leaders) and getting them to come to a conclusion and work things out themselves,'' Noble said.

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No slowing veteran Cornes in Power time-trial

Robbie Gray, Kane Cornes and Travis Boak after the 3km time-trial. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

PORT Adelaide veteran Kane Cornes has again blitzed his teammates in the 3km time trial as the full squad returned to training today.

With his greatest running rival Kane Mitchell (groin soreness) not contesting the run, Cornes ran his teammates off their legs.

The 31-year-old, due to play his 300th match next season, proved he had lost none of his renowned running power with a devastating physical performance.

Jared Polec and Kane Cornes contest the 3km time-trial at the Adelaide Uni loop. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

Young key defender Tom Clurey and half-back Sam Colquhoun — coming off a knee reconstruction — backed up their strong runs when the 1-4 year players returned two weeks ago by finishing second and third.

Travis Boak shows the way at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

Captain Travis Boak and second-year utility Karl Amon also ran strongly.

Star Essendon recruit Paddy Ryder joined in full training with his new teammates for the first time.

Paddy Ryder at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

Delisted defender Tom Logan trained with Port with the promise of being selected in Wednesday's rookie draft.

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Port not satisfied with getting close

Captain Travis Boak shows the way at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

"CLOSE is not good enough''.

That was Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak's strong message to his teammates yesterday as the full playing squad trained for the first time since the heartbreaking preliminary final defeat to eventual premier Hawthorn 72 days ago.

Rather than put the Power's three-point loss down to some bad luck, Boak put the heat on the playing squad to improve in a sure-fire sign that Port will accept nothing less than a premiership next season.

Kane Cornes and Travis Boak after the Power's 3km time-trial. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

"Close is not good enough, we don't want to be a kick away (from a grand final),'' Boak said after the club's oldest player Kane Cornes again dominated the 3km time trial.

"The simple fact is we know we weren't good enough to play in a grand final and we weren't good enough to go right to the end.

"So we have to make sure that next year we are good enough to go all the way and right now that starts with pre-season training and pushing each other to make sure we improve."

The Power traded for what many pundits believe will be the missing link in its bid for a second AFL premiership and first since 2004 by securing ruckman/forward Paddy Ryder from Essendon.

Recruit Paddy Ryder at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

Boak talked Ryder up as being "a fantastic player and great person'' who will add potency to the attack and help give Port's midfielders an armchair ride with his ruckwork.

But he said Ryder alone would not get the Power over the premiership hump.

"Every individual has to make sure they get better and that includes me, whether it's my captaincy or my own game,'' Boak said.

Boak praised Cornes for setting the example at the first training session for the entire playing group this off-season yesterday when, at age 31, he set a new personal best for the 3km time trial to blitz the field.

"He's the oldest player on our list and he continued to improve himself," said Boak, whose team heads to Dubai on Friday for a two-week training camp.

Brad Ebert and Justin Westhoff at training at the Adelaide Uni loop. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

Young defender Tom Clurey and running half-back Sam Colquhoun — on the comeback trail from a knee reconstruction — finished second and third and Boak said many players set personal best times.

"When we finished last season we had a chat and said we have to come back in really good shape because we weren't good enough last year, Hawthorn was too good for us, and that if we are fair dinkum we have to go to another level again,'' he said.

"We have to keep driving each other to improve, whether it's fitness, skills or competitiveness, all that sort of stuff has just got to go to another step and it was good to see the boys come back in such good shape.''

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Suns ready to launch Rocket

Gold Coast closes in on Rodney Eade to coach the club. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited

RODNEY Eade is on the verge of a return to senior coaching with the Gold Coast.

The Suns headhunted the former Sydney and Bulldogs coach and are now in negotiations with him over a three-year deal to return to coaching after a stint as head of football at Collingwood.

The panel formed to select Guy McKenna's replacement met in Melbourne on Monday where Eade was confirmed as the preferred candidate on a three-man shortlist that also includes highly rated Suns assistant coaches Dean Solomon and Andrew Lovell.

Should the Suns fail to lure Eade out of Collingwood – the position would go to one of the duo who were encouraged to apply for the position and impressed during two rounds of interviews.

Eade did not formally apply for the position and did not present during the preliminary rounds but met with Suns officials over the weekend.

It is understood a second meeting took place on Monday in Melbourne. It is believed Hawks premiership assistants Brendon Bolton and Luke Beveridge and former Adelaide coach Neil Craig were the other candidates to make it through to the second round of interviews.

Suns CEO Andrew Travis confirmed the selection panel had met on Monday and said an appointment would be made in the coming days.

Hawthorn assistant Brendon Bolton was high on Gold Coast's pecking order. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

He confirmed the six-man shortlist had been whittled down to three but refused to reveal any names.

"We are down to the final few,'' he said.

Suns chairman John Witheriff said the panel was given the discretionary powers to choose the next coach but the decision would have to be ratified by the board.

A board meeting will be called for later this week.

"I am expecting after today's meeting the committee will have a reasonably clear view of who they want to consider for the position,'' he said.

Meanwhile, McKenna is set to join the AFL in a player development role. He is in talks with the league over a job with the AFL's Australian Institute of Sports program.

He will move to Melbourne in the coming weeks and has placed his Robina house on the market.

The move rules McKenna out of the race for the vacant position at the Bulldogs, who are looking for a replacement for sacked coach Brendan McCartney.

It was announced on Monday that McCartney has joined Melbourne as a development and strategy coach.

The 54-year-old made his name as a development coach at Geelong under Mark Thompson, he then joined the former Cats boss at Essendon before being appointed to the Bulldogs in 2012.

His three-year tenure at the Western Bulldogs ended abruptly when he resigned the day after former skipper Ryan Griffen informed the club he wanted to be traded to Greater Western Sydney.

with Sam Landsberger

Originally published as Suns ready to launch Rocket

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Gray will be at Port until end of 2018

Robbie Gray in action for the Power against Richmond. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide and star midfielder Robbie Gray have agreed on the value of the All-Australian's signature on a new contract.

All that needs to be resolved is the term of his new deal at Alberton.

As reported in The Advertiser in September — when Gray earned his first All-Australian honours — the Power and Gray's management are in agreement on how much to pay the 26-year-old Victorian midfielder-forward, who this year won the John Cahill Medal as club champion.

Robbie Gray after winning the John Cahill Medal as the Power's best-and-fairest player. Picture: Tait Schmaal Source: News Corp Australia

Port would prefer a three-year contract extension which would take Gray out of next year's free agency field. Gray is currently on contract to the end of next season — and is prepared to consider a longer term.

The long-running talks between Port and Gray's management will resume in a fortnight when Gray returns from his overseas holiday.

"We have been talking for a while," Power football chief Peter Rohde said tonight. "And we are hopeful we will finalise a deal in the off-season."

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Hird ready to plan Dons’ summer

Essendon recruit Adam Cooney admits it was bittersweet to leave the Bulldogs and move to the Bombers in a trade for pick 37 at next month's draft. Cooney says the lure of playing at a 'big club' was main reason for his move.

James Hird exercising on the oval at Essendon's training facility. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia

ESSENDON can look forward to a "meat and potatoes type pre-season" as James Hird takes the reins of his side for its 2015 campaign.

Hird is back in charge after the Bombers board backed him to retain the top job earlier this month.

And after returning from overseas where he was finishing some studies, Hird is looking forward to planning the club's pre-season with his assistants.

WINDERS: VETERAN BOMBER SHELVES RETIREMENT

Hird said the Bombers, like other clubs, would scale back their high-altitude activity this summer.

A smaller group of just four or five players will travel to Colorado in December but the majority of the club's playing group will stay at its Tullamarine base.

Essendon coach James Hird at Essendon's training facility with Neil Craig. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia

Earlier this month Hird said his club would stay closer to home to work on specific requirements.

"We will train pretty hard, it will be a meat and potatoes type pre-season but one where we work on all things we need to work on to get them in the conditioning they need to be in throughout the year," he told essendonfc.com.au.

RING-A-DING: BELLCHAMBERS LOOKING GOOD

This week the Bombers will narrow their focus on the long summer ahead.

"At the beginning of this week the coaches start to come back from their break," Essendon high performance manager Neil Craig told the Bombers' website.

"James comes back from overseas over the weekend and he is really keen to sit down with Mark Harvey, Nathan Bassett and Matty Egan to plan.

"They have done some planning but this is about 'let's really roll up the sleeves and get the detail into the program'.

"The players start to come back the week after and then all of a sudden it is back on you again so it is amazing how quickly it comes around."

Essendon's youngsters, including the likes of Dyson Heppell and Jake Carlisle, return to training on November 5.

Originally published as Hird ready to plan Dons' summer

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Clubs cash in on poker machines

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says gaming revenue is a chief reason why the league has introduced equalisation measures Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

VICTORIAN AFL clubs creamed more than $88 million from pokies punters in the last financial year, with Hawthorn and Carlton leading the way.

Gaming revenue has become such a factor in football that AFL boss Gillon McLachlan recently cited it as one of four chief reasons why the league had introduced equalisation measures.

The 19 gaming venues operated by the AFL clubs generated $88.7m in net gaming revenue, according figures published by the industry regulator.

North Melbourne is the only Victorian AFL club not to have poker machines.

Net gaming revenue is what the machines take after winnings. The figures do not represent the profits made by clubs.

Hawthorn's club Vegas at Waverley Gardens generated almost $11m while its 73 per cent interest in the West Waters Hotel brought in a further $7.6m.

Carlton's four pokies clubs took $17.5m, Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation figures show.

Figures have revealed Hawthorn and Carlton were the biggest winners from gaming revenue last financial year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Collingwood and Essendon also generated more than $10m in the year to the end of June.

Speaking at a recent business event, McLachlan named gaming revenue as one of the factors that prompted the league's recent competitive balance push.

"Equalisation is characterised as taking from the rich and giving to the poor — but what it is actually for is to compensate the smaller clubs for the structural inequities they have in their business," McLachlan said.

"They are their stadium deals — some have got good ones, some have got bad ones; the size of their supporter base, and that is an historical thing; the fixture which has some indirect structural stuff in their like Anzac Day and others; and the fourth one is gaming, where some clubs — you take a Hawthorn who make about a $4 million net profit out of their gaming business — and in Western Australia, you can't own machines."

In 2012, then AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said clubs had shown interest in getting out of pokies, but since then the number of machines run by AFL clubs has grown.

Next year, the Western Bulldogs will more than double their stake in pokies, when 70 machines go on line at the club's long-awaited Edgewater development in Maribyrnong.

*****

Victorian AFL clubs and their pokie takes in 2013-14

CARL $17.5m (4 pokie clubs)

COLL $12.7m (3)

ESS $11.9m (2)

GEEL $8m (2)

HAW $18.6m (2)

MEL $9.4m (2)

NM — Nil

RICH $4.1m (1)

STK $2.2m (1)

WB $4.3m (2)

TOTAL = 19 pokie clubs — $88.7m

* SOURCE: Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation

** Net gaming revenue is the total amount lost by players in the 2013/14 financial year

Originally published as Clubs cash in on poker machines

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Boyd departs Giants for Griffen and picks

Tom Boyd traded to Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

IF Tom Boyd doesn't want to be a Giant then the Giants players and coaches don't want him.

That's the game-changer which has seen Boyd swapped to the Western Bulldogs for their captain Ryan Griffen move the Giants along with pick six in the draft and a large slice of salary cap relief.

On Monday and Tuesday GWS were adamant the number one draft pick was going nowhere but on Wednesday the massive deal was done.

After just nine games and eight goals Boyd will become one of the AFL's richest players signing a Buddy Franklin type deal worth $7 million over seven years.

"If someone doesn't want to be part of this footy club you have to look to see if you can get a suitable trade," Giants coach Leon Cameron told the Daily Telegraph.

"Clearly he's stated his intentions that his future was elsewhere, you work through that and see whether it's workable or not and after consulting with our leadership group and having a good think about it and he was probably lost to us so you wish him all the best at his new footy club.

"We're rapt to have Ryan Griffen and Joel Patfull (Brisbane Lions) come in and go to the draft again (with picks 4, 6 and 7). It's a great endorsement of our footy club and the direction we're going in."

The worry for the Giants will be the message it sends to a host of their young stars who are out of contract at the end of next season- If they are prepared to trade a number one draft pick like Boyd what is stopping GWS from trading them?

Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Devon Smith and Adam Tomlinson are all in the final year of their agreements.

"We have to work hard on making sure our players are in a great environment and our culture is heading in the right direction," Cameron said.

"If people buy into the footy club then we've got them for life, they invest in the footy club like someone buying shares. We feel as though the majority of our players are doing that year by year under tough circumstances.

"If you create a good club players want to buy in and 90 per cent of our players have. They also understand the dream of where we want to get this club to. Guys like Adam Treloar, Devon Smith and Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton they can all see that.

They can see the vision, the mateship and how we started from scratch.

"If some players can't see that you try to convince them that it's going to be a great club, if you can't see that in individuals it becomes about how you can negotiate the best outcome for the footy club."

The Giants have lost Boyd but now have two more experienced quality players in their prime. They also have picks 4, 6 and 7 which could still be traded for St Kilda's number one pick or for another senior player. The salary cap relief will be $1 million over four years and could prove vital when it comes to re-signing some of their talented youngsters.

"Ryan Griffen and Joel Patfull add value to our list and that comes after adding Shane Mumford and Rhyce Shaw this year. It balances our list and helps our young players understand how hard AFL is but also how exciting it can be if we get it right.

"We feel like we're getting it right."

Originally published as Boyd departs Giants for Griffen and picks

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Bulldogs buy Boyd in Buddy-style coup

Tom Boyd is on his way to the Whitten Oval. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

TOM Boyd has joined Western Bulldogs on a Buddy Franklin-style contract after a sensational about-face by Greater Western Sydney.

The Giants stated on Monday that "under no circumstance" would they release last year's No. 1 draft pick and they took an even stronger stance on Wednesday.

But the Bulldogs on Wednesday sealed a deal to send disaffected captain Ryan Griffen and their prized No. 6 pick to the Giants in exchange for the 200cm, 104kg monster likened to Tom Hawkins.

Giants chief executive David Matthews said Boyd's position had become untenable as the players no longer wanted him.

Boyd, 19, will earn his base draft salary next season — about $180,000 — and his annual salary will then skyrocket to more than $1 million, making him the richest Bulldogs player in history.

He played nine AFL games this year.

Tom Boyd is a much-needed power forward for the Bulldogs. Picture: Simon Cross Source: News Corp Australia

The Bulldogs will also pay about a third of Griffen's 2015 salary, believed to be around $650,000.

The Herald Sun has been told that the subsidy for Griffen extends beyond next year.

Dogs president Peter Gordon said on Monday that a straight Griffen-Boyd swap was "fair and equitable" but the Dogs threw in their first pick to land their man.

The shock exchange leaves the Dogs without a captain and coach but with the young power forward they have craved.

Senior assistant Brett Montgomery is favourite to win the vacant coaching post.

PICK ME: WHAT'S ALL THE BOYD FUSS ABOUT?

Dogs chief executive Simon Garlick said the move to sign Boyd until 2021 was a "really strong, prudent and responsible decision".

Prominent player agent Liam Pickering orchestrated both Boyd and Franklin's deals — Franklin's $10 million for nine years at the Swans — with the Giants missing out on Franklin and now losing Boyd.

Boyd is in Thailand but will be unveiled by the Dogs next week.

All eyes will be on Victorian Tom Boyd at the AFL draft, with the highly-rated forward expected to be recruited as the number one pick by the GWS Giants.

Dogs chief executive Simon Garlick said the deal, "out of circumstances that were far from ideal (Griffen walking out) ... is a magnificent outcome".

"There will be conjecture ... some people think we might have paid overs or given them a bit much," he told AFL Trade Radio.

"But we think it's a really strong, prudent and responsible decision."

Pickering was adamant on Wednesday that if the Giants held Boyd to his contract next year he would walk after the season.

In a parting whack, Matthews said Giants coach Leon Cameron had consulted the leadership group about Boyd's intentions.

"We are proud to represent western Sydney and Canberra and it's critical that our players share that value," he said.

"Clearly Tom doesn't and the best course of action is for him to leave the club."

Ryan Griffen will head to GWS. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

The Giants' sole All-Australian, Jeremy Cameron, tweeted: "Yes! A city slicker for a pig shooter."

Griffen was due to return from a hunting expedition in South Australia today to explain his controversial move north.

Cameron headlines a list of prized baby Giants out of contract next season with Victorian clubs now expected to queue up with bags of money.

There were concerns over Boyd's management at GWS this year with the power forward bulking up too much, limiting his mobility and speed.

He was told to strip back down late in the season.

Recruiting experts rated Boyd the standout No. 1 pick in the draft era before his name was read out last year.

Originally published as Bulldogs buy Boyd in Buddy-style coup

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Trio of Magpies turn up the power for final

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Overall it’s a great result for Panthers

Young Panthers, from left, Sam Overall, Caleb Daniel and Jake Veide will be hoping to take South Adelaide into its first grand final in 35 years. Picture: Dave Cronin. Source: News Corp Australia

NINE months ago, Sam Overall's SANFL footy dream appeared over. On Sunday he might be a key factor in taking South Adelaide to its first grand final in 35 years.

Juggling work as an apprentice carpenter and cricket with Encounter Bay, Overall was cut during pre-season by Glenelg where he had played a handful of lower grade games in 2013.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE BOTH PRELIMINARY FINAL TEAMS

Resigned to playing footy in the Great Southern League, the 19-year-old's mum then contacted South, and new coach Brad Gotch decided to take on the 193cm Overall as a long-term project.

But this "project" has come to rapid fruition, with Overall named as the Panthers' attacking spearhead against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval this afternoon.

''He's from Victor Harbor and I think he was having trouble getting to training during the early part of the year,'' Gotch said

''He got cut because I think (Glenelg coach) Nick Stevens had about 90 players he was going through at that stage.''

Gotch said Overall's schedule created similar challenges when he began training at Noarlunga. He missed most of the pre-season matches, busy playing his part in Encounter Bay's cricket Premiership.

"He was training with us three times a week, training cricket twice a week and also playing some basketball," Gotch said.

"He's an active kid and that's what he wanted to do but he started to get tired.

"He was getting up at 6am every morning then not getting home until 9pm. So we cut him back to two nights a week to balance that out.

"We had a little bit of a talk to him about pulling back just to keep him in the program. We just decided we didn't want to lose him."

Overall spent the season developing in the reserves until he produced two standout games six weeks ago, forcing selectors to offer him a league debut against the Eagles in round 16.

This afternoon's Preliminary Final will be his sixth league game, and he has made the goal-kickers' list in all bar one of his senior matches so far.

"He showed something in his first game," Gotch said.

"And he's just picked up week-in, week-out leading him to kicking three goals last week."

PORT ADELAIDE v SOUTH ADELAIDE

Adelaide Oval, Sunday, 2.40pm

MAGPIES

Backs: Krakouer, Clurey, Russell

Half-backs: Heath, Stevenson, Amon

Centre: Hitchcock, Logan, Stewart

Half-forwards: Byrne-Jones, J. Butcher, Newton

Forwards: Ah Chee, Harvey, Shaw

Ruck: Bruggemann, Summerton, S. Gray

Interchange (from): A. Young, Impey, Mitchell, Flynn, Slattery

In: J. Butcher, Mitchell, Russell, Hitchcock

Out: R. Young (finger), Biemans

PANTHERS

Backs: Dale, Crabb, Fields

Half-backs: Murphy, Thewlis, Taylor

Centre: Veide, Cross, Rose

Half-forwards: C. Daniel, Eddy, Rolfe

Forwards: Macleod, Overall, Gulden

Ruck: Brooksby, Liddle, Gotch

Interchange: Bass, Secull, N. Daniel

Radio: 5RPH, LifeFM

TV: 7mate

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Swans and Buddy could be a AFL’s dream scenario

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Time for Crows to make strong decisions

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Live: Power surge has Freo in strife

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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‘Hard to see Boomer playing prelim’

Jon Ralph discusses the clash between Brent Harvey and Joel Selwood during Friday night's AFL semi-final between Geelong and North Melbourne.

Brent Harvey and Joel Selwood had a running battle all night. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

AS much as it's unpalatable and seemingly unfair, it is difficult to see how North Melbourne's Brent Harvey can avoid being suspended for this week's preliminary final.

Everyone by now should understand the stricter bump rule — if you choose to bump and make forceful head contact, even accidentally, then you're responsible for the consequences.

LET BOOMER PLAY: ARCHER

KANGAROOS ESCAPE CATS COMEBACK

Harvey chose to jump and bump Joel Selwood when the ball wasn't even in the vicinity. Not a wise decision.

North Melbourne have won a thrilling AFL semi-final against Geelong, holding on for a six point victory.

Yes, you could argue the head clash wasn't forceful, but a key opposition leader and playmaker was forced off the ground with blood streaming from an eyebrow cut. Not a good look.

Geelong's compulsory medical report to the AFL match review panel will state how Selwood had to be stitched up during the half-time break. Not a good read.

Even with the lowest rough conduct gradings of negligent conduct with low impact, Harvey attracts 125 demerit points. With a clean record, he pleads guilty and escapes with a reprimand.

Do you think Brent Harvey will be suspended?

Alas, he's lumbered with 41 carry-over points and a 10 per cent bad record loading from the three-game suspension from his Round 21 misconduct offence.

The 25 per cent discount for an early guilty plead would still leave him with 137 points and an automatic one-match ban. Only a successful tribunal challenge to, perhaps, question Selwood's eyebrow scar tissue would allow him to play against the Swans.

You have to feel for the popular Kangaroo, but he had been warned.

* Bruce Matthews has been covering the VFL/AFL tribunal for more than 20 years.

Originally published as 'Hard to see Boomer playing prelim'

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Just what is the AFL thinking?

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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All eyes on Magpies squad for second semi final

SANFL coaches, from left, Brad Gotch (South Adelaide), Seamus Maloney (Sturt), Ben Warren (Norwood) and Garry Hocking (Port Adelaide). Picture: Sam Wundke. Source: News Limited

MAGPIES coach Garry Hocking says Port Adelaide is yet to decide how many players will be held back from its SANFL semi finals clash against Norwood to be available as emergencies should the Power require them the following day.

The SANFL held a finals media session on Tuesday and much of the interest surrounded who the Magpies squad would feature when they entered the major round on Saturday evening.

Port's remarkably small injury list means the Magpies would field a season-high 19 AFL-listed players for the clash if it chose not to hold any emergencies for the following day.

But the events on the Gold Coast three weeks ago — where the Power called in not one but two late emergencies — the club may be cautious.

Port could even hold back three emergencies for Richmond, meaning the Magpies AFL-listed contingent would be reduced to 16.

Hocking said no decision had been made.

"It's only speculation at this point in time,'' he said.

"We've got a (small) injury list which means we've got a really good list to select from for the Magpies and we'll pick a really strong 21."

Cameron O'Shea, Kane Mitchell and Ben Newton were Port's three emergencies last weekend and their presence, or non presence, for the Magpies could have a massive baring on Saturday night's result.

Redlegs coach Ben Warren said his side was eager to get another crack at Port after narrowly losing at Alberton three weeks ago and would focus on tidying up its forward entries.

"The supporters and the club are pretty excited to be playing Port Adelaide at 5:40pm on Saturday in a final at Adelaide Oval,'' Warren said.

"Our forward entries weren't as good as they could have been last time we played them and we've done some work on that."

Sturt coach Seamus Maloney and South counterpart Brad Gotch both agreed the knockout first semi final from 2:40pm was likely to be won in the midfield.

Magarey medallist Zane Kirkwood and Richard Tambling will go head-to-head with the Panther's deep onball unit, which includes Joel Cross, Nick Liddle and Brent Macleod.

South beat the Double Blues a fortnight ago.

"(Ruckmen Angus) Kurtze and (Keegan) Brooksby have had two really good battles this year … and at ground level it's been really evenly fought,'' Gotch said.

"We feel like we've got a little bit more depth in there so that's where we might be able to get them."

Maloney praised the effort of his midfield in last week's loss to Norwood and said his forward line needed to step up.

"We need to play with a bit more dare to give our forwards space but its also about our forwards winning their positions,'' Maloney said.

"We didn't have a clear winner up forward (against Norwood)."

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VB vows to keep steering Crows

Crows captain Nathan Van Berlo speaks to the media at the crows end of season gathering at the Hackney Hotel. Photo: Tom Huntley. Source: News Limited

RE-BOOTED Nathan van Berlo wants to continue as Adelaide skipper next season despite the winds of change sweeping West Lakes.

Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane co-captained the Crows this season after the 182-game midfielder was struck by a weighted training sled in a freak training mishap during January at Max Basheer Reserve.

Van Berlo, 28, says he can combine a comeback from a snapped Achilles tendon and leadership responsibility as Adelaide enters a crucial season — hoping to end a two-year exile from finals action.

"I love leading the club and it has been a huge honour for me and we will have those discussions in due course, when the time is right," said van Berlo, who has led Adelaide in 68 games since 2010.

"It has been an honour to lead the footy club."

Van Berlo was a chance to return for the Crows had they made the finals but will have to wait another six months to end a "frustrating" stint on the sidelines.

"I guess I will have an 18 month pre-season to get myself up and going for 2015," he said.

The Crows gathered this morning to commence end of season celebrations at the Hackney Hotel ahead of a bus tour through the Adelaide Hills. It could be a final chance for bonding with list and coaching overhaul expected over the summer following a 10th placed finish.

Leading goal kicker Eddie Betts and rookie Charlie Cameron caught the eye while Dangerfield and veteran James Podsiadly arrived in matching suits.

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Power, Crows with bumper All-Australian options

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Barrack with your head, not your heart, in finals

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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It’s not all black and white for Power

PORT Adelaide's core statement of "never being torn apart" is being tested by the compromise to wear the club's Magpie heritage jumper for the Power's first final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Power unfazed by mediocre form heading into finals

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Port takes no risks with injured duo

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We’ll worry about winning game first: Jacobs

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We must run Dockers into ground: Hartlett

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Round 23 Barometer: Will Heppell play?

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Greatest journo stoushes in world sport

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Bombers snub AFL ‘soft bans’ deal

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Impey powers towards SANFL finals

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	20	16	0	4	142.72	64
2	Geelong	20	16	0	4	112.84	64
3	Hawthorn	20	15	0	5	138.54	60
4	Fremantle	20	14	0	6	128.84	56
5	Port Adelaide	20	13	0	7	126.50	52
6	North Melbourne	20	12	0	8	116.71	48
7	Essendon	20	11	0	9	105.84	44
8	Adelaide	20	10	0	10	111.24	40
9	Richmond	20	10	0	10	104.49	40
10	Collingwood	20	10	0	10	96.86	40
11	Gold Coast	20	10	0	10	96.81	40
12	West Coast	20	9	0	11	111.08	36
13	Carlton	20	7	0	13	93.98	28
14	Bulldogs	20	7	0	13	83.23	28
15	Brisbane	20	7	0	13	71.47	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	20	5	0	15	74.81	20
17	Melbourne	20	4	0	16	69.51	16
18	St Kilda	20	4	0	16	61.27	16

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