Bulldogs' sights set on Crows' Noble

Adelaide Crows list manager David Noble is being headhunted by the Western Bulldogs. Source: News Limited

ADELAIDE'S enormous task of managing its recruiting plans against the Kurt Tippett draft sanctions is to be made tougher by the Western Bulldogs targeting Crows list manager David Noble.

The Advertiser understands Noble and former Richmond captain and current Tigers assistant coach Wayne Campbell are the last two contenders for the football operations job at the Bulldogs.

The seat has been vacant since the start of the season when another former Crows staffer, recruiting manager James Fantasia, quit to lead Hawthorn's football department.

Noble, a former assistant coach at the Bulldogs (1998-2002), did not return calls to The Advertiser last night after being in lengthy meetings at the Crows' West Lakes headquarters.

A raid on Noble is ill-timed for Adelaide considering the complications that the Crows face in October and November during the trade period and national draft.

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson is demanding Noble and Crows recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie find a way to trade back into the first two rounds of the national draft.

The Crows have lost these picks as penalties for draft tampering in the Tippett saga that unfolded during last year's trade period.

Losing Noble would cost Adelaide critical time that would need to be dedicated to finding his replacement rather than scouting and luring new players to West Lakes.

Adelaide chairman and acting chief executive Rob Chapman last night was wanting to talk Noble into staying at West Lakes rather than issuing a blunt ``hands off'' warning to the eager Bulldogs.

"I will never stand in the way of someone improving themselves by going to a bigger and better job,'' said Chapman.

"But at the same time I don't want our club to lose a quality person like David Noble.

"We understand people have ambitions - and sometimes there are not opportunities to fulfil these ambitions at our club.

"We also understand good people get hunted - and David Noble is a quality person.

"His work in our recruitment and analysis of players has been first class for us.

"He also has a great depth of experience as a player, a coach and in football administration.

"Good people do get headhunted ...

"I will have a mature discussion with David, I'm sure, before a final decision is made.''

Noble joined the Crows in 2005 as an assistant coach for Neil Craig after coaching Glenelg in the SANFL in 2003-04.

He recently has developed a stronger resume in football administration, in particular during the summer when Chapman remodelled the Adelaide football department in the wake of the Tippett scandal.

Noble's portfolio advanced from list management to more contract negotiations and long-term strategy planning.

Adelaide's vision for Noble in its total administration - where a succession plan for the chief executive role needs to emerge - was emphasised last month when Noble was enrolled in a Harvard University management course.

This vast experience makes Noble appear to stand out ahead of Campbell.

While the Tippett saga drags on until November for the Adelaide Football Club, it closes for Crows chief executive Steven Trigg on July 1 when he returns to his office after serving a six-month ban.

The issue ends for Tippett, who was hit with an 11-game suspension, on Saturday when he will play his first game for Sydney at AAMI Stadium against Port Adelaide.

###

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New chapter in season of shame

Stephen Milne may be playing his final AFL season. Source: Getty Images

JUST eight days ago Stephen Milne was lauded as a statesman holding court with the AFL to discuss preventive measures to minimise crowd abuse.

Today he is accused of four counts of rape, yet another figure turning the spotlight on the code as it suffers through its never-ending Season of Shame.

No doubt the resilient 33-year-old will try to let his football do the talking as he has in 267 games and 559 goals.

That record is good enough to have him statistically behind only greats Leigh Matthews and Kevin Bartlett as a goalkicking small forward.

Yet the question must be asked despite all those goals: is Milne's AFL career now on borrowed time?

Has he played his last game of AFL football?

St Kilda now has enough evidence to stand down Milne indefinitely ahead of a court case that experts predict is as many as two years into the future.

St Kilda AFL player Stephen Milne has been charged with rape.

In 2004 Milne faced a recommendation to charge the Saint with rape, but he was never actually charged with that offence.

Now he faces four rape charges at a club which has already shown it has a no-tolerance policy in relation to offences against women.

Jason Gram was stood down after repeatedly breaking protocols, and Andrew Lovett's rape allegations were the last straw after repeated misbehaviour.

Given those precedents, is a St Kilda club trying to transform itself with a new squeaky-clean "No Dickheads" policy prepared to stand by Milne?

Andrew Demetriou's strong statement last year over the presumption of innocence for Liam Jurrah while he continued to play after being charged with serious offences will give Milne some strong backing.

As should the continued presence in Collingwood's backline of Marley Williams despite charges of grievous bodily harm.

Yet football clubs are places of expediency, even if that creates double-standards.

If Milne was a 22-year-old superstar rather a 33-year-old almost certainly in his last season, would St Kilda be more determined to keep him playing?

If the Saints were heading for another of those Grand Final charges rather than in a rebuilding mode with multiple small forwards on their list would they be more prepared to stand by Milne at all costs?

They are all impossible questions to answer, as St Kilda tries to balance the AFL's respect and responsibility policy, the alleged victim's pain, Milne's presumption of innocence, and the demand that the Saints take this issue seriously.

Whatever St Kilda decides, there is another hammer blow for the AFL as a code.

First salary cap deceit, then tanking, then a peptides scandal which has spread to four clubs.

Now a nine-year old rape charge.

It means the AFL must bid a hasty retreat from the moral high ground that saw it once favourably compared to codes like the NRL.

This case might hark from 2004, but even then it was the murky intersection of club politics and favours and interference that allegedly saw any potential justice postponed.

Now it has come sweeping back in from the cold, plunging St Kilda into controversy and the game into a new level of turmoil.

Milne should be allowed to play on this season under the presumption of innocence, but not even 18 goals in 10 games are likely to save him at season's end.

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Milne: Let me play Dees

Stephen Milne celebrates a goal against West Coast two weeks ago. Source: Getty Images

STEPHEN Milne wants to play this weekend despite being charged yesterday with four counts of rape.

The St Kilda forward trained yesterday and has told the club he wants to play beside great mates Nick Riewoldt and Nick Dal Santo, who will play their 250th games for the Saints on Saturday.

A source close to Milne said the Saints forward was shocked and raw when he was alerted to the charges on Monday.

The source said Milne was in a better head space yesterday and was determined to play against Melbourne at the MCG.

A decision on Milne's immediate future rested with a crisis teleconference last night, which involved the entire Saints board, chief executive Michael Nettlefold, who is In Italy, acting CEO Terry Dillon and head of football Chris Pelchen.

An earlier meeting at the AFL was attended by Milne's management and the AFL Players' Association, and senior AFL staffers including deputy CEO Gil McLachlan and cultural strategy and education manager Sue Clark.

There was no discussion about immediate retirement for Milne.

St Kilda AFL player Stephen Milne has been charged with rape.

It was acknowledged that Milne had copped years of spectator abuse and that if he did play this weekend, he could expect the same.

The AFLPA last night said: "The right to the presumption of innocence is essential to our system of justice and that is important for everyone that Stephen is afforded that basic right.

"The AFLPA will support Stephen in continuing his football commitments as these charges are being dealt with.''

His manager Tom Pretoro refused to comment.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday described the charges as "serious'', and said that the league had sought more information from the Saints board, which will be relayed today.

Milne, 33, has played 268 games and kicked 564 goals since making his debut in 2001.

He is out of contract at the end of this season.

Milne is the second St Kilda player to face rape charges in four years.

In 2010, the Saints sacked Andrew Lovett on February 16, a day after he was charged with one count of rape stemming from incident on December 24th, 2009.

The Saints claimed Lovett's sacking came not because of the charge, but because he "engaged in actions that were failures to comply with our standards of expected behavioural conduct''.

The failures related to training commitments and communications with club officials, and the club admitted they could not ignore the "damage being done to St Kilda's reputation".

At the time, the AFL supported the club's decision to sack Lovett. In July 2011, Lovett was found not guilty of rape.

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Gram backs 'St Kilda great'

Teammates Jason Gram and Stephen Milne sing the song after a St Kilda victory. Source: News Limited

SACKED St Kilda midfielder Jason Gram has urged the club to stand by Stephen Milne and allow him to play despite four rape charges.

Milne was yesterday officially charged over a 2004 incident, with the club deciding last night whether to stand down the veteran goalsneak.

Gram was sacked by St Kilda last year after several warnings involving conduct towards women. He still believes his contract should not have been terminated by St Kilda, but said yesterday Milne deserved the presumption of innocence.

"I love Milney, he's one of my best mates, and I do hope the club stand by him, just like I hoped and think they should have with me'' he told the Herald Sun.

"He's one of the greats of the St Kilda football club.''

Former Essendon and St Kilda player Andrew Lovett was sacked by St Kilda after being charged with rape. He was later acquitted.

An Instagram account belonging to Lovett had a message about double standards yesterday, but it was quickly taken down.

"Wow, I wonder if Milney will get the a--- like I did? #sacked #unfair,'' it said.

Milne is believed to be keen to play, and can point to the precedent that AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou set last year regarding Melbourne's Liam Jurrah.

Jurrah faced charges over a serious assault, of which he was later acquitted, and Demetriou said at the time he should be allowed to continue to play.

"He's not the first player who's been charged who's been allowed to play football,'' Demetriou said at the time.

Jurrah was jailed earlier this month over a separate case.

"We've even got Heath Scotland at the moment who's facing charges playing for Carlton, I think Dane Swan was another one who had charges against him and he continued to play," Demetriou said.

"I really, really value the presumption of innocence in this country.''

Collingwood defender Marley Williams recently pleaded not guilty to a charge of grievous bodily assault in Albany, and is still being allowed to play senior football for the club.

He will appear again in Albany District Court on August 29.

Milne is ranked 38th on the AFL's all-time goalkicking tally with 559 goals at an elite average of 2.09 a game, and after early form concerns this year has rebounded strongly.

He kicked five goals against West Coast on Sunday in another strong showing, but before this incident he was still considered likely to retire at year's end despite season-ending goals tallies of 57, 56, and 56 in the past three years.

The AFL Players' Association yesterday backed that right to innocence, with chief executive Matt Finnis saying it was important for Milne to be afforded that right.

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Melbourne players out of excuses

Colin Sylvia must decide if he wants to be a key player for Melbourne. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE'S players seem to be an extraordinarily sensitive lot.

In 2010 they whispered in corridors and at secret meetings with president Don McLardy as their season turned to rot.

They complained about a split football department, about the actions of chief executive Cameron Schwab and bemoaned the lack of support for coach Dean Bailey.

Which Dees need to stand up or get out? Chat live at noon Wednesday EST

Then they effectively had their beloved coach sacked in one foul afternoon in 2011 at Skilled Stadium when their words of support proved empty. In the past 18 months they have had to endure plenty under Bailey's replacement Mark Neeld - support structures they held dear were stripped away and a massive dose of tough love administered.

Eventually, they got their man, with Neeld's downfall expedited by, if not a player revolt, then at least deep dissatisfaction with him on many levels.

Now two coaches are gone, and the Demons are a laughing stock.

Stats say Neil Craig is in strife

Can it scarcely be possible that the collection of humble champions, premiership players and superstars at Geelong are paid the same $9.139 million salary cap as Melbourne?

It is inarguable the Demons have been let down by poor coaching, a crumbling administration and poor development.

The contenders: Who will coach Dees next year?

But enough of the excuses.

The next 10 weeks will show how many players actually value their careers as highly paid professional players.

Chat live with Jon Ralph from noon EST below.

On a mobile device? Click here for a better chat experience

Right now, Colin Garland, Nathan Jones, Jeremy Howe and only a handful of others refuse to allow excuses, and poor teammates, and tough circumstances, affect their performance.

Way too many Demons have a kitbag of excuses on show when the going gets tough.

The coach is mean to me. The forward-line delivery isn't good enough. The player development is lacking.

Now it is time for the tail to stop wagging the dog.

Time for the players to realise it is their careers on the line, too.

We hear Jack Watts is under-developed and played out of position.

Yet has Watts ever gone away during the off-season and attacked the weights and training track like a man possessed, taking responsibility for his own career?

Who at Melbourne has done what Jobe Watson did at Essendon, ntsGreinventing his body shape and nteputting the onus on himself to save a career on the fast track to nowhere?

Nathan Jones does that, playing like an animal who could be dropped at any moment, never to return to the AFL.

Does Sam Blease?

Or fellow high-draft pick Luke Tapscott?

Or Cam Pedersen, given a three-year deal but showing no signs of repaying the faith?

Does Colin Sylvia, who is on track to becoming a great wasted talent?

Mark Jamar was All-Australian in 2010, and was apparently mystified when ruck coach David Loats was sacked by Neeld.

But is Jamar happy to coast along on a three-year deal, or does he devote every waking hour to leading this football club?

"Karma is a bitch,'' former Melbourne midfielder Brent Moloney wrote of Neeld's sacking.

Yet Moloney is another who allowed himself to be sucked down into mediocrity under Neeld.

Neeld felt Moloney simply refused to play to any game plan that did not include him getting every hitout from Jamar.

Neeld preached the benefits of a varied midfield setup that also gave Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie and the young kids a chance to receive Jamar's centre-square largesse.

Neeld pushed that mantra mid-week.

Moloney continually circumvented it mid-game, demanding his teammates ignore Neeld.

So Neeld pushed him out, never to return.

He might be laughing at Neeld, but now it is Moloney getting tagged out of the game in a weak Brisbane midfield. 

Time for Melbourne's list to grow up.

To realise they better start justifying the inflated pay packets they are handed, or a new coach will simply tear those contracts up and push them out the door.

Fitzroy simply ceased to exist despite fighting to the end.

Melbourne has beaten one club bar the two expansion sides in its past 33 games of football.

Extraordinary.

Does the coach need to take some blame? Sure.

But now he is gone, and the blowtorch turns firmly to a playing list that has nowhere left to hide.

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Demons to call Lethal

Triple Brisbane premiership coach Leigh Matthews could be part of the search for a new Melbourne coach. Source: News Limited

MELBOURNE'S search for a new coach will include a call to AFL legend Leigh Matthews.

Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson has not named a list of candidates, but has spoken privately of his determination to cast his net across all premiership coaches of the current era.

Former Swans coach Paul Roos is the leading contender ahead of Port premiership coach and current Tigers assistant Mark Williams.

West Coast's John Worsfold is also in the mix but is believed to be leaning towards a break from football.

Rodney Eade tops the list of senior coaches without a premiership to their name.

Matthews is still heavily involved in football during his roles as a commentator for Channel 7.

But he lives in Brisbane and commutes to Melbourne on weekends and a return to the coaching ranks would be a major upheaval to a lifestyle he is said to be greatly enjoying.

The contenders: Who will coach Demons next year?

However, a host of his former premiership players, who did not want to go the record because they held senior positions at rival clubs across the league, were unanimous that Melbourne should make an approach to the four-time premiership coach.

Melbourne is believed to be prepared to make Roos an offer he can't refuse.

Sydney's 2005 premiership coach appeared to distance himself from the position on Fox Footy's On the Couch program, but later told News Limited he would "take a call'' from Melbourne.

However, his Fox Footy colleague Anthony Hudson said yesterday he did not believe Roos was considering the Demons job and if he coached again was "more likely to end up at Brisbane'' next season, replacing Michael Voss.

A former colleague of Jackson's said he "would not be surprised'' if Matthews come into the equation.

He stressed he had not spoken to Jackson about the issue and had not heard the AFL player of the century linked to the job but said it would not be out of place with Jackson's methods.

"He will want someone who can bring credibility to that football club and build the culture of that football club,'' he said.

"It will be someone the players will follow and respect and someone the fans and sponsors believe will take the club somewhere.

"Paul Roos does that and so does Leigh Matthews.''

Rodney Eade and Paul Roos react to being linked with the recently vacant Melbourne Demons coaching job.

Roos was unequivocal that the Demons needed a high-profile coach that could revitalise the club and buy time with fans and sponsors while the rebuild took place.

"I think they have to get an experienced coach for all those things ... hope and brand, etc,'' he said.

"I think it's got to be someone who you can sell to the members immediately because this is the hard thing for the Melbourne supporters they may not win next year.

"So that's a long rebuilding process and a young coach is going to find that very, very difficult.

Meanwhile, Voss said he could not see how Mark Neeld's situation could be linked in any way to his own.

Voss is out of contract at the end of the season and has come under much scrutiny for the Lions' 3-8 record.

He stressed he could not allow the public's desire for results to shift his focus from developing for the long-term.

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Dons drug had 'euphoric' effects

Former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank listed banned drugs on the consent forms given to Essendon players. Picture: James Croucher. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Macca cartoon. David McArthur cartoon. WINDY HILL. (David Evans. Essendon. Letters. Consent form. Reid letter. Ziggy report.)

THE controversial drug prescriped to Essendon players last season has "euphoric" effects but doesn't help weight loss, according to a researcher who conducted clinical trials.

Club documents obtained by the Herald Sun show some Essendon players were prescribed the anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 last season.

But Essendon last night insisted the consent forms did not prove any of its players used the substance, which is banned for use by athletes.

The forms signed by Bombers players and officials reveal key details of the supplements program at Windy Hill in 2012.

They show some players were recommended weekly injections of AOD-9604.

Injection schedules for Thymosin are also documented. Some types of Thymosin are banned by doping authorities.

The forms state that "all components of the intervention are in compliance with current WADA anti-doping policy and guidelines''.

An Essendon spokesman said last night: "It is a matter for ASADA to determine these matters.''

"The club certainly does not accept that the signing of the consent forms means that the supplements were administered, and this kind of speculation is just unnecessarily harmful to the players.''

Today, Adelaide University Chair of Medicine Professor Gary Wittert has revealed the results of a series of clinical trials of AOD-9604 in 2007.

Wittert led a team which conducted three human trials into AOD-9604 including a final three-month test.

"We designed a six-month study properly powered to look at the outcome of 'Would it be a drug suitable for weight loss?' and the outcome from that was a definitive no," Wittert told Adelaide news website INDAILY.

Pic gallery: Bomber beach boys

Wittert said after the trial he had "assumed the company had stopped developing the drug".

"Now it's been in some cream and just about every journalist has called it an anti-obesity drug, which it ain't – it's a failed anti-obesity drug at best."

Wittert said there was no clinical evidence that it helped with tissue repair or had any other benefit in people.

"However, when we gave it intravenously, we noticed that 60 per cent of people felt a euphoric effect, so (the company) and I patented it as an anti-depressant."

Mark Robinson: Confusion continues at Essendon

Wittert told INDAILY he didn't know why a football club would prescribe an unproven drug.

During the intravenous trial no person had more than three doses which were given at least a week apart.

The dosages and number of injections for individual Essendon players are detailed in their consent forms. Some players were recommended one injection a week for the whole 2012 season.

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigators have begun grilling Essendon players on their participation in and knowledge of the club's supplements program.

Bombers chairman David Evans said this week his club had "never conceded that our players have been given banned substances in 2012''.

He said the club was becoming increasingly confident its players would escape penalties.

The consent forms appear to remove any doubt that at least one substance - AOD-9604 - prescribed to some players did fall outside anti-doping rules.

If issued with an infraction notice by ASADA, it will be up to lawyers for the players and the club to argue why this was not a breach.

In the wake of the report into the Essendon supplement scandal, James Hird speaks on the Bombers' preparation for its clash with Geelong.

It is known some Essendon players refused to be injected as part of the supplements program.

The signature of Dank appears on all the documents as well as that of a witness and the player the program was devised for.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has stated that AOD-9604, which is not approved for human use, is banned.

Asked about the status of Thymosin, an ASADA spokesman said last week: "The status of Thymosin in sport is dependent on the type of Thymosin ... for example, Thymosin Beta 4 has been prohibited under S2 of the WADA Prohibited List since at least 2011.''

Essendon has not said which type of Thymosin its players were recommended by Dank.

Melbourne biochemist Shane Charter has claimed Dank ordered the banned Thymosin Beta 4 from him last year.

Bombers re-sign 'champion' Heppell

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How Thomas turned it around

Kangaroo Lindsay Thomas has been on fire this year. Source: Herald Sun

HE has gone from being the goalsneak who struggled to hit the side of a barn to the sharpshooter leading the Coleman Medal.

And North Melbourne small forward Lindsay Thomas says the reason is nothing to do with different set-shot routines or overhauled kicking techniques.

It is all about what goes on between the ears.

"It's hard to believe, but I didn't change anything, really,'' Thomas said.

THOMAS WEATHERS BUMP STORM

"The funny thing is I don't think I changed any part of my routine ... it was just about finding that inner belief.

"The first thing I had to do was actually acknowledge that I needed to do something about my kicking for goal. So I spoke to Tara (Kavanagh), who's the club psychologist and went through the challenges that I was facing.

"The way I saw it was that my football couldn't get any lower than it was, so the only way forward was to progress upwards."

That nadir came midway through 2011 when Thomas "got to the point where you didn't want the footy in your hands''.

He had kicked 17.29, 7.15 of them from set shots, and had lost confidence to such an extent that he was missing shots from the top of the goalsquare.

"It was pretty mentally draining,'' he said.

North Melbourne small forward Lindsay Thomas, the AFL's leading goal-scorer, has kicked 172 six-pointers in 115 games Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

His coach Brad Scott said at the time: "We're well aware it's a (mental issue). He's a very good kick - very good kicks don't miss (shots like) that.''

Privately Scott approached Thomas and began the process of rebuilding a scarred psyche.

"I'm a confidence player,'' Thomas said, "and all that Brad said was, `Look, go back to the VFL and try to find that enjoyment in your footy'.

"So I went back for, I think, three weeks and kicked a few goals and then came back for the last three games of the year, and the turnaround started there.

"It had to. I just felt that I was letting my teammates down.''

With the help of Kavanagh, forwards coach Brett Allison and teammates Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells, Thomas realised that part of the problem was that he was putting so much pressure on himself not to miss.

He also had so many thoughts going through his mind while lining up that he wasn't concentrating on kicking the ball.

The key was to stay relaxed and focused rather than to change his run up or ball drop.

"I've got the utmost respect for Brad Scott,'' the 25-year-old said.

"He could have just dumped me and left me there to sort myself out, but he went back and played me and showed a lot of faith in me.

"Having a coach like that in my corner, well, it just meant that I love playing for him and love being part of his team.''

Thomas also devoted the next 18 months to "working my backside off on getting fitter and stronger.''

Becoming more powerful also meant that he was better at staying on his feet, helping to address another perceived flaw in his game: staging for free kicks.

Thomas said the coach told him at the end of 2011 that he was "a more damaging player when you keep your feet''.

"A few years ago he did talk to me about it, but not recently,'' Thomas said.

"If he said I needed to pull back, then I would. He's the only person I really need to listen to. Him and the other coaches and my teammates. But Brad has told me that he's loving the way I'm playing my footy at the minute.''

From the opening six games of this season Thomas has kicked 23.8 - a conversion rate of 74 per cent - and he heads the league's goalkicking table.

If he is still there after Round 23 he will be the first small forward to win the Coleman Medal since Hawthorn's Leigh Matthews in 1975 with 67 goals.

But Thomas has learned not to waste his time over-thinking.

Rather, he trains his mind to what is in front of him, in this case the game against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium tomorrow.

"It's always good to snag a few early in the season,'' Thomas chuckled.

"It's good for the confidence.''

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Hutchings wins call-up

CALL-UP: Mark Hutchings will make his AFL debut this weekend. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

MARK Hutchings will become West Coast's second debutant this season after being named to take on Brisbane on Saturday.

The 21-year-old midfielder received his chance after the Eagles lost midfield duo Daniel Kerr and Chris Masten, while impressive ruckman Callum Sinclair was also squeezed out.

Matt Rosa will play his first game for the season after proving he had overcome a quad injury through a WAFL stint, while Brad Sheppard also returns.

Masten's streak of 36 consecutive games will end after the wingman was left out due to a foot complaint, while Kerr (knee) will miss his third game of the year.

Masten has been the Eagles' leading ballwinner this season, averaging 28 disposals per game to sit among the league's top ten.

Hutchings has enjoyed a fine spell for WAFL club West Perth so far this season, including a season-high 33 touches in last weekend's win over East Fremantle.

The midfielder was taken at No.60 in last year's draft after a stint on St Kilda's rookie list in 2010.

Falcons president Brett Raponi took to Twitter to express his delight at Hutchings' call-up, writing "Hutchy will kill them in the clearances, he worked hard for this".

As expected, the Lions will welcome back champion ballwinner Simon Black, as well as Andrew Raines and Jordan Lisle.

Aaron Cornelius, Billy Longer and WA product Marco Paparone have all been dropped.

Meanwhile, Fremantle has made just the one change to the team that beat Gold Coast last week ahead of Saturday night's home clash with Collingwood.

Wingman Stephen Hill returns to the side after a one-week absence and replaces Cam Sutcliffe.

The Pies welcome back skipper Nick Maxwell and have also included Caolan Mooney. Tyson Goldsack (hip) and Jarrod Witts (omitted) are out.

Follow Chris Robinson on Twitter: @CJKRobinson
 

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Ultimate SuperCoach formguide

North Melbourne's Nathan Grima joins the panel to discuss their "off the chain" picks for Round 7.

Jay Clark and Scott Gullan say Nick Vlastuin is the answer to SuperCoach backline woes

Matt Priddis looks the bargain of next week. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

THE best SuperCoach tips including who's hot and who's not and best captain picks. Everything you need to give your team the edge.

WELCOME to SuperCoach slaughtering season.

The fantasy-land fire sale officially commenced this week with Daisy Thomas hitting a rock-bottom price and Buddy Franklin is set to join him on the clearance line next week.

SEE ALL THE ROUND 7 TEAMS HERE

With Matty Priddis, Jobe Watson and Trent Cotchin to come the future is bright and the terrors of last week's donut-plagued round are behind us. (Well, sort of.)

But while we're about to cash in on some of the biggest bargains SuperCoach has ever seen, the fantasy bean counters aren't simply giving these superstars away.

DO NOT ARCHIVE... 04/05/2013 WIRE: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Jobe Watson of the Bombers evades a tackle during the round six AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Etihad Stadium on May 4, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Pic. Images Getty Source:

It's time to stockpile some Funds. Jasper Pittard, you delivered a pair of 90s and swelled in price more than $100,000 before your hip went 'ping' and it's time to go.

Pittard's teammate Ollie Wines is probably on track for this year's Rising Star award. But his SuperCoach days are numbered. Ollie, thanks for the $200,000 profit you generated, but you'll be switched for Priddis next week.

Koby Stevens. Cool name and a cool $115,000 he made our SuperCoach bank accounts, but it's time to go. Not only from our sides, but from Brendan McCartney's too, apparently, after his surprise AFL omission.

With all that in mind it's time to toss out the 'one week at a time' cliché and get planning. Which premiums can you afford and which can you not afford to miss?

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter @SamLandsberger

MAKING THE ROLLING LOCKOUT WORK FOR YOU

The new rolling lockout means we can make changes to our team up to the final bounce of every game.
If Koby Stevens is a late inclusion you can log in and swap him on the field or even make a late trade, provided you're only moving players who haven't taken the field.

It's also crucial for when the substitutes are announced. Check SuperFooty before the start of each match and if one of your boys is put in the green vest, simply move him out of your side.

Note that the reverse trades button is disabled after the first game of each round - so if you are trading now, do it carefully!

Jay Clark and Scott Gullan say Nick Vlastuin is the answer to SuperCoach backline woes

THE CAPTAINS LOOPHOLE

Pick a star player who appears early in the round and make them vice-captain. I'll be going with Dane Swan, who plays Fremantle on Saturday night.

If Swanny scores 140-plus, I'll leave him as vice and put the "C" on a on-starting player (Bryce Gibbs).

If Swanny fails to fire, I'll simply take the "C" off Gibbs and place it on Gary Ablett – who plays later in the round (Sunday).

This gives you a free hit in picking the perfect captain. Take advantage.

JUMP ON

Nick Vlastuin (Rich) $159,500 def/mid
WITH Gibbs, Goodes, Pittard and Docherty still in the stands, many of us are fielding thin backlines. 'Tigger' could be the answer. Richmond's top draft pick is dual-position, averaging 55 and on the bubble. He's also avoided the vest in his first two games in a promising sign.

Dale Thomas (Coll) $428,200 mid/fwd
DAISY weighs in at $87k cheaper than his Round 1 price after a turbulent pre-season hampered by ankle problems. He's now fully fit and you'll never see him this cheap again. Showed what he's capable of with a 150 last week. The pick of the week.

Dale Thomas had the ball on a string against St Kilda. Source: Getty Images

Jack Hannath (Freo) $109,500
WANT to make some fast cash in the ruck? Big Jack is your man. The man the Dees wanted last year is on the bubble and set to rise at least $40k this week alone. A nice downgrade option for Rowe or Blicavs. The only query is whether he holds his place when Zac Clarke returns.

North Melbourne's Nathan Grima joins the panel to discuss their "off the chain" picks for Round 7.

JUMP OFF

Jasper Pittard (Port) $235,700 def
PITTARD will miss his third-straight week with a hip flexor issue. That's an injury that can force players out for a full month, and with Pittard's medical history the Power will tread cautiously. Time to sell, with Vlastuin and Rory Laird (if he makes the Crows' final cut) prime downgrade targets.

Sam Dwyer (Coll) $250,700 mid/fwd
SAM has been one of the best cash cows this year, but his job is done. He's not going to rise much further and, barring his ton against Carlton, hasn't posted a mega score. A brilliant purchase who has made more than $150k, but it's time to go. If you've got the cash to convert Dwyer into Daisy it looks the trade of the round.

Koby Stevens (WB) $291,700 mid
THE plan was to give Koby one more week due to his low break-even, but after falling out of the Dogs side he has to go now. Jesse Lonergan (Gold Coast) looks the perfect downgrade option.

Koby Stevens handballs whilst being tackled by Jordan Lewis. Source: Getty Images

CHAMPION DATA SUPERCOACH FORMGUIDE
Every week the stats gurus at Champion Data crunch the numbers to find the best buys. CLICK HERE see the Round 7 edition.

TWITTER TALK

@FantasyFreaky
No Gibbs. Cotchin out injured. Ryder an emergency. Colquhoun to debut. #supercoach

‏@HeraldSunMick
Hearing Cotchin might miss this week …

@SamLandsberger
It's midfield sale time in #supercoach land. Priddis (~$450k) next wk, Jobe (~$550k) the week after and Deledio (~$490k) coming up #bargains

@Andrew_JPerkins
Finally my preseason #supercoach selections are paying off. Go well @SamColquhoun #jetforlife

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