14 | Sport
THE
19 - 25 March 2013
RUBDOWN McGuire says AFL star needed ‘tough love’
2013 Season Preview
By Will Denton
Aaaaaaaaaand we’re back. Just as the white smoke bellowing out of the Vatican was signalling a new dawn for Francis and his mates, it was also unknowingly identifying a far more significant event in the course of modern history. No longer do we have to fill our deprived lives with such offerings as basketball, tennis and lingerie football. Yep, you guessed it; AFL for this year is finally here. Now some of you may jump up and down and say it’s already been here for the last four weeks. Well yeah, that’s technically true, but in a watered down, who really cares, dancing with your sister kind of way. The NAB cup was won by Brisbane, but only because nobody else could be bothered with it. The pre-season comp is just a good run around to make sure the legs still work, see what haircuts you can get away with and to catch up with the latest ink on display. What we learned from the NAB cup is that full bush beards are the go, frullets are not, and Mick
Malthouse is still completely mental. Anyway it all kicks off fresh, clean (though I’m using this term loosely…) and even stevens. At the beginning even the most bitter, scarred, toothless, spiritless supporters have a wee bit of hope for their club’s chances for the season. Even Richmond fans. Fortunately for them the AFL has decided to stretch out round one over a two-week feast of football, with the entrée being served this week when Adelaide host ASADA’s favourite team Essendon. The next day Perth will resemble a warzone when battle lines are drawn for the Western Derby. The full degustation menu is on offer next week, with the tastiest morsel being saved for last: Hawthorn vs Geelong. So it’s all ahead of us, and with so many questions and predictions, theories and statistics, mullets and Spiderman tattoos (really), all I know is footy is back to replenish the soul and fill the chasm that’s been left gaping since last years mighty Grand Final. Good.
This could be yours!
To launch the upcoming Easter Series matches in London and Copenhagen, AFL Europe and Australian Times are giving away a signed Sherrin game ball from last year’s Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide match at the Oval. The ball has been signed by the coaches and captains of both teams on the day - Hamish Hartlett and Shaun Higgins. To grab your tickets to the big Australia vs Europe match in Guildford on 6 April, go to: afleasterseries. eventbrite.co.uk We hope to see you there supporting the future stars of the AFL and our European challengers including the best of the GAA.
WIN
footy! this signed
To enter now, go to
AustralianTimes/win.co.uk
COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire felt it was obvious to give star player Dane Swan a rocket last year over his AFL future. Asked if he told Swan at a meeting that his future at the club could be in jeopardy, McGuire responded: “Why wouldn’t you say that? Of course, that’s self-evident.” There has been speculation about Swan throughout the off season and the Brownlow Medallist enraged the Magpies earlier this month when he gave a media interview without their permission. In the interview, Swan denied he has an illicit drug problem. McGuire told FoxSports that Swan was his favourite current Collingwood player, but he worried about some of the people around the star midfielder. “He can live his own life, he
doesn’t have to live my life, he can live whatever life he wants,” McGuire said. “But he’s a good guy, he has a good heart and I want to make sure he has enough people around him who genuinely are looking after him as opposed to those who might be boosting him. “That’s not having a go at managers or anything - he has enough people around him who are going to be pulling his coat.” McGuire admitted that he did not mince his words in the meeting with Swan and his manager Liam Pickering. “I might have showed the ultimate love ... sometimes tough love is involved,” McGuire said. McGuire added AFL players in general needed to change the way they looked at the game.
“I came back from the (London) Olympic Games with a completelychanged attitude,” he said. “I realised over there that Australia is the only country in the world that still has a Generation Y. “Everyone else has 30 per cent unemployment - it’s why we were flogged at the Olympic Games. “Footballers have to have a big reality check. “We have a great game ... the only thing that can blow football up is football itself.” McGuire also said former Collingwood player Craig Kelly could one day take over the presidency from him - but he would have to stop his extensive involvement in player management. “Could he be the president? Absolutely - and I think he’d be great at it,” McGuire said of Kelly. - AAP
Form, not experience, priority for Test selectors ...continued from p16 Test rugby. Only a couple of uncapped players were included in the Wallabies’ extended 49-man squad for a logistics camp earlier this year and Deans has admitted it would be a difficult arena for a rookie to make his Test debut. But Wallabies captain James Horwill shone a light on the issue when he stressed form - not experience nor reputation - should be the priority for selectors when they pick their squad for the three-Test series on 1 June. “Oh definitely; you want the best guys picked,” Horwill said, when asked whether uncapped players should be chosen on form. “We’re in a performance-based industry and guys need to keep performing to continue to get their spot. “That works at this level and any level. “You have to keep performing to keep your position and that’s the most important thing. “It is positive for Australian rugby, as a whole, that there are guys who are putting their hand up who were not mentioned in that Wallabies space.” Deans has admitted Brumbies trio Christian Lealiifano, Ben Mowen and Jesse Mogg have put themselves into contention with their tremendous starts to 2013 while numerous rising teammates could also be in the frame for Test debuts. In contrast, the large majority of Wallabies who played in the last Test against Wales on 1 December have
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans been well off their best. Only Brumbies front-rowers Ben Alexander and Stephen Moore, Reds prop James Slipper, and threequarters Ben Tapuai and Digby Ioane have been in good form. The biggest form problems are at the NSW Waratahs, who boast 11 incumbent Wallabies, where their stars have stumbled so far this season. Queensland playmaker Quade Cooper, unable to repeat his scintillating form prior to the 2011 World Cup and a knee reconstruction, has created a different selection headache for Deans. Cooper’s normally-sharp passing game is awry, while his confidence as
a ball-runner has flagged. Deans has used Cooper, James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale all at five-eighth when they were last fit and it remains the most contentious selection for the Lions series. Reds director of coaching Ewen McKenzie expects Cooper will improve once he renews his combination with fit-again halfback Will Genia. “He’s a bit off the pace from `11 but a lot of things have happened since then,” McKenzie said. “There’s different people around him every week so it will settle down with combinations.” By Jim Morton
Watson says he has burning ambition ...continued from p16 “The way we came out and fought with the ball today is amazing, but once again the Indian batters showed us that once you get in, you have to score big.” Clarke also noted the team had played well in home series, but had been unable to transfer this to wins when on tour. Dhoni made mention of the work his bowlers did in securing India the win and felt they had “exploited the conditions well”. “Bhuvnesh’s wickets in the second innings helped us win the game,” Dhoni said after the win. “Even the fast bowlers have done well despite conditions helping spinners.” Dhoni made it clear India wanted to
make it a clean sweep of the series by taking out the fourth Test in New Delhi starting this Friday. Australia will welcome back vicecaptain and new dad Shane Watson to the squad for the final match. He may even assume the captaincy if Clarke’s back strain does not improve. Watson returned to Australia after he was dropped for the third test for not completing a team assignment set by management. The vice-captain was one of four players who were suspended for the Test in Mohali including Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson who had been Australia’s most successful bowler in the series. Watson now says his commitment to the Australian team is not in question
despite earlier voicing doubts as the ‘homework’ controversy erupted last week when he flew home. “I have a burning ambition to be an Australian Test player for as long as I can be and help Australia win those big Test series as well as the big ICC tournaments,” Watson said in a statement released on Monday. With India having now claimed the series, the Australians are left to play the fourth Test for pride and confidence with the Ashes tour of England just months away.
Get More Sport
AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport