AFL Record, Round 16, 2010 by The Slattery Media Group

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AFL GAME

FrEmANtLe’S AARoN SAnDILAnDS, THe AFl’S No. 1 RUCKmAN

PoSItIOnINg

AGgReSsIOn

TeCHNIQUe & AGIlITY

StReNgTH

VErSAtILItY & FoOtY SmARts

PrEseNCe

RUCKING

SeARCHInG FoR THe PeRfECt StRUCtUrE

KANE CORNES Powe ROUND 16, 2010 JULY 16-18 $5 (INC. GST)

re consistednby cy PAGE 58

ROUND 16, JULY 16-18, 2010 Features 58

POWERING ON: Kane

Kane Cornes

Port’s consistent on-baller reaches 200 games.

Cornes is one of the most durable players in the AFL and this week he plays his 200th game.

The art of ruckwork

Clubs search for the perfect big man structure.

Moments of the decade

Docklands closes its roof for the ﬁrst time.

Regulars 4

Backchat

Your say on the football world.

The Bounce

Views, news, ﬁrst person, facts, data, culture.

Matchday

Stats, history and line-ups.

Dream Team

Advice from Mr Fantasy, our Dream Team expert.

70 74

THIS WEEK’S COVERS The national cover is devoted to a feature on ruckwork and there is a special cover for the Richmond-North Melbourne Eureka game on Sunday.

76 78

Answer Man Kids’ Corner NAB AFL Rising Star Talking Point

Ted Hopkins discusses what constitutes an eﬀective kick.

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feedback

Your say on the world of football

EDITOR’S LETTER

In defence of defenders

Where are you, Bombers?

As a long-time Essendon supporter, it pains me to see the club struggle like it is right now. The pain is even worse when the likes of Collingwood and Carlton sit in the top eight. Even Richmond appears to be travelling better than us. After last year’s effort, when we made the ﬁnals, it looked like we were ready to climb back up the ladder, with a nice mix of experienced players and some youngsters ready to make an impact. The last month or so has been infuriating and hard to watch. Come on, Dons, give us something to cheer about.

BOMBER PLEA: It’s time e for

Essendon captain Jobe Watson and his playerss to stand up, according to one disgruntled reader.

MARLENE, NIDDRIE, VIC.

Six or seven?

A free kick is payable for a deliberate rushed behind, under law 15.7. Does the behind get added to the attacking team’s score, so that it becomes potentially a seven-point play? TIM McNAMARA, CANBERRA, ACT.

Editor’s response: When a free kick is awarded in this instance, the rushed behind is eﬀectively cancelled, so the attacking team can score only a maximum of six points (assuming a goal is kicked from the free).

Farewell ‘Choco’

Mark Williams has been an ornament to the game. His

departure from the Power was digniﬁed, full of emotion and full of class. Port Adelaide Football Club has always been a family club and Williams will always be part of the family, but the time has to come to move forward. The club has always been bigger than the individual and for this reason we have had many champions represent this most famous club. This is the time for all Port members and supporters to walk, talk and live the creed. We all can celebrate the premierships, and great wins, but when the club is struggling it’s time to dig deep

PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Lovett WRITERS GENERAL MANAGER, MARKETING Nick Bowen, Ben Collins, Jim Main, Cameron Noakes, & COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS Peter Ryan, Callum Twomey Paul Waldren SUB-EDITORS AFL CORPORATE Gary Hancock, Howard Kotton BUSINESS MANAGER Richard Simkiss STATISTICIAN Cameron Sinclair AFL RECORD MANAGING EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Geoﬀ Slattery Andrew Hutchison AFL RECORD EDITOR DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Peter Di Sisto Sam Russell

4 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

and support the boys. Port supporters have been spoilt with success and this rough patch is only a minor issue. Footy is not all about winning premierships – focus on the journey and the triumphs will come. BRUCE WERE, PORT LINCOLN, SA.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The best letter each round d will receive SportsEars, a portable radio that allows you to listen to thee umpires at AFL venues. Email aﬂrecordeditor@ slatterymedia.com or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.

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� We know midfielders and forwards generally attract the bulk of the attention – a quick glance at the front-runners in many media awards confirms this. And a scan of recent Brownlow Medal winners suggests anyone other than an on-baller is unlikely to collect the prize. Unfortunately, this emphasis on accumulation of possessions and scoring sometimes means we inadvertently undersell the efforts of great defenders. Several times in last weekend’s frantic GeelongHawthorn game at the MCG, defenders at each end of the ground made critical plays. Cat Harry Taylor was outstanding, taking two contested marks in the last term under enormous pressure and six overall. At the other end, the efforts of young Hawk Ben Stratton likely added more numbers to his growing fan base. Bulldog Brian Lake is another brilliant defender; he can beat his direct opponent and also create chances for his team with sharp ball use. Granted, defenders get their share of kudos in the All-Australian team, but it wouldn’t be out of place to recognise the work of the game’s best defenders with an award of their own, an honour that sat with the Coleman (leading goalkicker) and McHale (premiership coach) medals. As most coaches will tell you, defence wins premierships. PET E R DI SISTO

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO TheTHIS Editor,WEEK’S AFL Record,COVER Ground Floor, XXXX XXXXX 140XXXXXXXXXXXXX Harbour Esplanade, X Docklands, Victoria, 3008. Go9627 to aﬂ photos.com.au P: (03) 2600 F: (03) 9627 2650 E: peterd@slatterymedia.com to order prints

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AFL RECORD, VOL. 99, ROUND 16, 2010 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211. ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109

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VIEWS NEWS FIRST PERSON FACTS DATA CULTURE

VANTAGE POINT:

Paul Roos, here making his feelings known, prefers to coach the Swans from the boundary line (inset).

POINT OF VIEW

Thinking outside the box is not new for coaches TOM MINE A R

oaching from the boundary line is far from revolutionary. Indeed, it was standard practice for coaches during the ﬁrst century of the game’s history. In 1911, Geelong built two coach’s boxes in the grandstand at Corio Oval – and they were used only once. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that coaches sought a higher vantage point on game-day. According to the AFL’s statistics and history consultant Col Hutchinson, Ron Barassi started the trend. He was Carlton’s playing coach at the time, but coached the Blues from the grandstand when out injured for one match. NEWS TRACKER

Soon after, the MCC provided coaching facilities in the MCG’s stands, and we’ve since grown accustomed to coaches communicating with their players (primarily via runners) by phone, while watching the game unfold from elevated posts. In recent years, Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos has led the return to ground level. And this year, around half the senior coaches have spent time coaching from the boundary. The AFL Record asked Roos the obvious question: why? His answer, effectively: why not? “It seems strange that you spend the whole week with the players, face-to-face, and then on

game-day, you’re up in the box, a million miles away,” Roos said. “That’s what I’ve always found a bit silly about the coach’s box.” Roos ﬁrst tried boundary-line coaching in 2007, though not by choice. “The communication broke against Richmond at the MCG, and I had to come down for the last 10 minutes,” he said. “There was a tired player right near the boundary, so I yelled for Darren Jolly to go on for him. Jolly ran to full-forward, took a mark and kicked a goal. “It was a move that was pretty signiﬁcant in winning the game, and if I wasn’t on the bench, the move probably wouldn’t have been made.” Two weeks ago, the Tigers got some revenge. With minutes remaining against the Swans at the MCG, Andrew Collins was knocked heavily in a marking contest.

He stumbled off the ground with help from trainers, but told coach Damien Hardwick, who was coaching from the bench, he was right to go back on. Hardwick sent the youngster to the forward pocket. Collins kicked two crucial goals and helped the Tigers to a famous win. It’s that ability to make such split-second decisions that has convinced Roos to forgo the coach’s box. “There’s a lot of trafﬁc on the boundary at the moment, a lot of players coming on and off the ground,” he said. “It’s certainly easier to look at the players, and see who’s tired, and who’s been off for too long. You can talk to them directly about tactical moves, so there’s some clear advantages.” Other coaches are more sceptical. Western Bulldogs CON T IN U ED NE X T PAGE

Midfielder Travis Boak extends his contract with Port Adelaide, although length of the deal not confirmed. AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 7

the bounce

coach Rodney Eade has said thing I enjoyed most was he wouldn’t coach from the that you see what the players boundary, because he wouldn’t are seeing.” be able to see enough of the play. At Richmond, Hardwick Roos said he gets a “different has rarely been sighted in view”, but with assistant (and the coach’s box during his soon-to-be Roos’ successor) first year in charge, describing John Longmire coordinating the coaching from the boundary Swans’ box, he has the freedom as a “good teaching tool” that to focus on teaching his players, allows him to “empower” face-to-face. his players. That said, Roos is also aware Last week against Fremantle that coaching from the boundary when Richmond lost two players makes him far more visible to to injury, limiting his ability to his players, and to rotate, Hardwick said being television cameras. on the boundary was “You’re less beneficial, as he emotional on was able to better You can the bench than monitor how become a bit you are in the his other disconnected box,” he said. “I players were think you’ve holding up. when you sit got to make Roos said away from the conscious Hardwick’s the game decision to try approach was PAUL ROOS and be more an example of analytical, to how coaching give a bit more from the boundary can direction, and to keep your be advantageous. emotions in check.” “There’s definitely benefits Interestingly, since Adelaide for younger sides in getting that coach Neil Craig moved to the direct feedback, like Damien’s boundary for the game against been doing,” he said. Melbourne, the Crows have won Although Roos sees a trend three straight. developing, he refuses to take After his first taste of coaching credit for the change. outside the box, Craig echoed “You never do things because Roos’ sentiments. you think people will follow. I’ve “I certainly enjoyed it – I felt done it to try and make my team more involved with the game, better,” he said. with the playing group,” he said. “But it seems more and more “You can become a bit coaches are doing it, and it’ll disconnected when you sit be interesting to see whether away from the game. The that continues.”

On the prowl THEY HAVEN’T WAVERED � After starting the season with nine losses, coach Damien Hardwick stuck to his blueprint, knowing that lessons learned now would bear results later. How much later was impossible to predict.

NEWS TRACKER

ADELAIDE’S NEW BREED

‘No names’ emerge as Crows build for the future

MAKING A MARK: Rory Sloane is one of several youngsters who could lead Adelaide to some exciting times.

SH A NE McNA L LY

lenty has been said and written about the exciting young Adelaide players coming through the ranks at West Lakes, the new generation that could steer the Crows towards their next premiership. Andy Otten and Brodie Martin have been recovering from serious injuries but are a big part of the club’s future, while Patrick Dangerﬁeld, Taylor Walker and Phil Davis were on everyone’s radar. What about Rory Sloane, Ricky Henderson, Tony Armstrong and Matthew Jaensch? They were barely mentioned. With Adelaide now playing as many thought it would, the club is taking stock. Armstrong and Jaensch are getting important game time and Sloane and Henderson are starting to make their mark. Sloane, courtesy of a mop of blond hair and his fearless attack on the ball, is starting to look like a cult ﬁgure in the making; Henderson is looming as a genuine forward option and a good back-up

to emerging stars Kurt Tippett, Dangerﬁeld and Walker. Adelaide’s general manager of football operations Phil Harper said the progress of the young “unknowns” was a big tick for the club’s rookie list management. “We’re really pleased with their progress. It’s been a real positive for us this year and will help us going into the next few compromised drafts,” he said. “Henderson, Schmidt and Jaensch are already showing us plenty and Aidan Riley, Luke

Richmond’s turnaround after a terrible start is one of the year’s great stories. Here are 12 reasons that

THEY HAVE A STRONG ON-FIELD LEADER � Chris Newman wman wm a conducts his h business with aying ay ayin y ng ying g little fuss, playing e, e, with courage, displaying sharp skills and setting examples g for his young past astt team. In the past wa was as ﬁve weeks, hee w hes hest he hes eest stt the third-highest ner in ne in disposal-winner the AFL.

THEY HAVE A QUALITY KEY FORWARD � Jack Riewoldt ccontinues to impress a and leads the C Coleman Medal rrace with 58 goals. H His high-leaping sstyle attracts the h headlines but his a ability on the ground, iincluding his tackling in a and application of p pressure, improved k kicking for goal and g general smarts, adds tto o his value. There’s p plenty of upside: he’s o only 21.

THEY HAVE KEY FORWARD OPTIONS � Ben Griffi Grriffi ffiths ffit ffith hss ve games gam ga gam meess played five ig ige geers for the Tigers al al this year – all en he en he wins. When made ma mad dee played, hee made thin th ink nk k opponentss think irr about their s s. match-ups. atteely ate eely, el y,, Unfortunately, ed d a dislocated ld der d de err right shoulder requiring ll sse ll eeee surgery will see he him miss the rest of the year.

THEY TIGHTENED UP IN DEFENCE � In n the ﬁrst nine matches ma m atc at a tcc of the yyear, the Tigers ye cconceded a average an off 12 1120 points a g ga gam am me – 20 goals! game In tth In h six games he the sinc si sin nccce Richmond since, has h ha ass allowed a its oppo o op opp ppo po o opponents an aver av ave ver erra of only average 76 p 76 po o points, better than th ttha han ha n seven goals an a no ou u outing.

THEY MIGHT HAVE FOUND BRETT DELEDIO’S BEST POSITION � Brett Deledio has won the past two best and fairest ng a ng awards playing lees. es. T es Th Thi his is variety of roles. This ayy-m y-making -m ma mak aki kin ng g year, as a play-making are a ree half-back, wee ar ature at atu tur ure ree into int in into o seeing him ma mature ll---g -ground grrrou g oun o ou un nd n d the classy all-ground ng has ng ha h a ass player he long b e e. promised to be be.

Adelaide’s Jared Petrenko to miss rest of the season after fracturing a bone in his right foot in a SANFL match.

8 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

Thompson and Matthew Wright are ready to come on. “It’s a good group of rookie-listed players, which is great support for some of the more experienced young guys coming through.” Harper said the club made a conscious decision to develop mid-sized midﬁeld types who would be required sooner rather than later to replace the star quartet of Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton. Goodwin and Burton will ﬁnish at the end of the season

and Edwards played his last game in round 11. “We knew there was a real likelihood that some or all of them wouldn’t be going on next year,” Harper said. “You can’t just replace that sort of quality but we needed to plan for the future. Henderson fits into a Burton-type mould and Jaensch, Schmidt and Sloane are similar types to the other three. “I’m not saying they’re going to be as good as those guys – not too many in the history of the AFL are as good as them – but they are the type of player we need. “The injury to Nathan Bock gave Davis an opportunity so there are some positives from our slow start to the year when we had players injured or underdone,” he said. “The young guys got opportunities but we didn’t just throw them in the deep end. It was often better to get some games into proven players who were underdone than just play young guys too early and shatter their confidence. “In the end, when we got some consistency and game-time into the proven players, we found a good balance.” Meanwhile, following knee reconstructions, Martin has been back finding touch and fitness with the Sturt reserves in the SANFL and Otten is progressing nicely, aiming for a return at the start of next season.

might explain what the Tigers are doing right. THEY HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE MIDFIELD � The ability of Shane Tuck, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin to win contested possessions gives the Tigers a signiﬁcant entt en ent advantage. In recent ’ss weeks, Richmond’s ability to win clearances (and make the most off s) s) these possessions) has helped it in close games.

NEWS TRACKER

AFL NEWS

Fixture ﬁnalised for last round PETER DI SISTO

sides contest ﬁnals positions, while the schedule of games on Saturday should provide a strong mix for supporters across Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.” The schedule for week one of the ﬁnals will be announced on Sunday, August 29.

ive matches will be played on the Saturday of round 22, with one Friday night and two Sunday games, primarily to provide higher ranked teams with sufficient breaks before the first week of the finals. The AFL this week locked in details of the so-called floating fixture, confirming Carlton (playing West Coast in Perth on the Friday night) and St Kilda (facing the Crows in Adelaide on the Saturday afternoon) had been allocated those slots to allow them to return to Melbourne “as early as possible”. “As per recent years, the AFL scheduled five games for Saturday, so that the majority of games can be completed by Saturday night, and enable us to consider the widest possible options for scheduling for week one of the finals,” the AFL’s chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said. “It is our view that Fremantle-Carlton will be an outstanding game to play on Friday night, as both

ROUND 22 FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 Fremantle v Carlton Subiaco Oval, 6.40pm (Channel Seven) SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles Skilled Stadium, 1.10pm (Fox Sports) Hawthorn v Collingwood MCG, 2.10pm (Network Ten) Adelaide v St Kilda AAMI Stadium, 3.40pm (Fox Sports) Western Bulldogs v Essendon Etihad Stadium, 7.10pm (Network Ten) Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans Gabba 7.10pm (Fox Sports) SUNDAY, AUGUST 29 Richmond v Port Adelaide Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm (Channel Seven) Melbourne v North Melbourne MCG, 4.40pm (Fox Sports) * All times local.

PETER RYAN AND PETER DI SISTO

THEY BELIEVE DISCIPLINE IS IMPORTANT

THEY RECRUITED WELL LAST YEAR

� When Daniel Connors lost a night g to drink and th three of his tteammates w weren’t able to o pull him into in to o line, li the club into rreact re rea eac act ctted teed d decisively reacted and a an nd dw with wit ith th without fuss. Conno C Co Con on nno no orrs was ors Connors ssuspe sus usp sp peeend nd for eight suspended week w we wee eek ek ks. k s. T weeks. The others misse m mis iss sse seed d a week. missed Get G ett et tti tttin ting tti ng better was ng Getting tth hee on h o nly ly objective. the only

� Martin is a midﬁelder out of the th hee h box. Griﬃths has ry y size, David Astbury class, Ben Nason resilience and pace, Mitch Farmer precise foot skills and Matt Dea and Jeromey Webberley b potential. The club cut deep and wentt ans with youth and plans int ntto o to get 500 games into d those aged 22 and nd nd under before the eend of 2011.

THEY HAVE AMBITION AND DIRECTION � T The Th hee ‘Winning Tog To Tog geth etth plan set a Together’ big, big g, h ha big, hairy, audacious goa go oa all ((an 11th ﬂag, goal no debt d no and 75,000 m me members) and c ch challenged t club to get th the the tth hee It is still there. yyears ye ea ear ar away from a ac ach he hie achieving any of thee ma th m the major objectives, bu b utt its u itts existence but wiilllll sserve wi e will to refocus eevvveeryyyo when the everyone iin nev evviit itta a inevitable setbacks arrrri riiv ive ve ve arrive.

THEY ARE OPERATING IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT � Hardwick has taken to coaching from the boundary, providing feedback and advice to his players face-to-face. Sometimes it is with a stern look, others with a smile and a wink. Always, it is designed to teach them something.

THEY PLAY WITH PASSION, AND A LITTLE FUN � It is evident ntt this th thi thiss real re eall group has a real bond – just look at how they sing their song after a win. h And the coach occasionally high-ﬁving his players from the bench adds to the loose feel.

Magpie Travis Cloke suspended for two matches for striking Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 9

the bounce

S TA R S O F T H E T O P E N D

SWITCHED ON:

Five of Darwin’s ﬁnest

Adam Simpson gives Chance Bateman some advice via the iPad device.

With the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide playing in Darwin this weekend, JIM MAIN identifies five of the great players with roots in the area (in no particular order). r). ) MICHAEL MCLEAN M � One of the earliest to make a big impression was w Michael McLean, who joined Footscray from frr Nightcliff in 1983. The talented wingman played pl 95 games with the Bulldogs to 1989 and then th h 88 with the Brisbane Bears from 1991-97. He H won the Bears’ rss best best and and fairest fa a rest in n 1991 1991 9 and and 1993 19 9 and, over a superb supe su up per p erb rb b career, ca ccar are ree eeerr,, played p pllay pla ayyyeed d a vital vi vita v ta al role ro o in the fight against agai ag gainst g ga ain ins nst stt racism. rrac acis cism sm m.

MAURICE RIOLI � One of McLean’s contemporaries wass brilliant Richmond centreman Maurice Rioli, R oli Rio Riol lii, who played 118 games with the Tigers from rom ro om 1982-87. A Melville Islander, Rioli made his hs way to Richmond via South Fremantle an and nd d was runner-up to Ross Glendinning in the he he 1983 3 Brownlow Brownlow Me M Medal. ed dal. al.

MICHAEL LONG � Michael Long made class a byword over 1190 games with Essendon from 19892001. Long, from St Mary’s, won the Norm 2 S Smith Medal in the 1993 Grand Final when the tth h Bombers beat Carlton. An Essendon favourite, he too championed the rights ffa a of indigenous people while playing, o p ayi y ng, g and and an d remains a community rre mmunity m mm mu mun uni nit ity tyy leader. lea leead ader. ade err.

NATHAN BUCKLEY � Former Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley played with Southern Districts in Darwin, before moving to South Australia ss.. He He and playing with the Port Adelaide Magpies. joined the Brisbane Bears in 1993 before switching wiittc wit ttching ch chi hin ng g to o Collingwood, where he played 260 games and an nd won nd wo w on n the tth hee Norm Smith Medal in 2002 and the Brownlow ow in ow n2 2003. 20 200 00 03 3.

ANDREW MCLEOD A � Adelaide star Andrew McLeod s started his career with the Darwin Buﬀ B aloes. He is one of the most decorated d players in the game’s h history, winning back-to-back Norm Smith S medals in Adelaide’s 1997-98 Grand G Final wins.

NEWS TRACKER

KNOWLEDGE

Hawks embracing game-day technology ASHLEY BROW NE

dvertising for the new Apple iPad partly focuses on the fact it “goes anywhere”. In the case of the Hawthorn coaching staff, that means to the footy every week. The Hawks have been early adopters of Apple’s new tablet computer and eagle-eyed supporters would have noted assistant coach Adam Simpson toting an iPad as he addressed Hawthorn midﬁelders during breaks at the MCG in recent weeks. Apple’s television commercial shows its uses for video, photo display and presentations, and you would imagine whatever it is that Simpson uses the iPad for on match-days would feature a combination of all three. He would be able to use the video and picture applications to show what the Hawks (and their opponents for that matter) are doing right and wrong at stoppages, and perhaps use the Powerpoint function to illustrate

a few key points, including how the on-ballers ought to line up at centre bounces and stoppages around the ground. Simpson, the former North Melbourne skipper who retired late last season after 306 games, was quickly snapped up by Alastair Clarkson to join the Hawthorn coaching staff, where he shares midfield duties with Rick McGowan. His North Melbourne DNA can be seen in parts of Hawthorn’s midfield play this year. While at North, Simpson was a master at being the ‘third man up’ at stoppages and boundary throw-ins and it has become a feature for the Hawks’ play, perhaps borne out of necessity by not having a second recognised ruckman for parts of the season. Hawthorn often has another midfielder – Jordan Lewis and Chance Bateman in particular – who arrive at the contest at precisely the right time and direct the ball to a teammate waiting in exactly the right spot. The tactic has led to several goals (or defensive clearances) this season. Keen Hawk watchers have also noted the team zealously guards the mark after an opposition mark or free kick. This was a tactic the side employed well in 2007 and its premiership year in 2008. There’s a fair chance this tactic also is being honed on the tablet that goes anywhere.

Richmond’s Daniel Jackson suspended for two matches for rough conduct against Fremantle’s Hayden Ballantyne.

10 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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the bounce

FROM THE VAULTS

Nash no shrinking violet but Blues have last word ROBERT A L LEN

ne day in 1945, a small parcel arrived at the Camberwell home of South Melbourne champion Laurie Nash. Nash was in his sixth and final year with South in a career that had started in 1933 and been punctuated by four seasons with Camberwell in the Victorian Football Association and wartime army service in New Guinea. Aged 35 at the time, he was thicker around the middle, his knees troubled him and he was recovering from a hand injury. Despite this, he was still capable of helping his team win matches, regularly kicking bags of goals on South Melbourne’s forward line. Thanks largely to his efforts, South was firming as favourite to win the flag, but Carlton was making up ground after a poor start to the season.

TIGHT FIT: The baby jumper two Carlton fans wanted South Melbourne star

Laurie Nash to wear in a game in 1945.

The parcel addressed to Nash arrived several days before the sides were due to play in the main match of round 11. Inside were a poem and a tiny, hand-knitted South Melbourne jumper, complete with Nash’s famous No. 25 on the back. The poem read: Dear Mr Nash – Please, do you think,

You could – for Saturday – just shrink Down to about this sweater size, And thus your prowess minimise. But – please be sure you really PLAY, For should the Dark Blues win the day We’d hate it said we were supreme, ’Cos South’s champ hadn’t made the team!’

The poem was unsigned, except for two Carlton membership numbers: 3203 and 3256. History shows the unnamed Carlton supporters got half their wish; Nash did line up against the Blues, but presumably he retained his usual playing weight of 14 stone (89kg) and wore his regular jumper! In a closely fought game, Nash k kicked one goal but Carlton kicked sseven points in time-on to scrape h home, 8.8 (56) to 7.8 (50). Nash never found out who ssent him the poem and jumper, a and Carlton’s records do not sshow who the members were. The letter was an amusing p prelude to a much more serious cclash between the clubs later tthat year – the infamous 1 1945 ‘Bloodbath’ Grand Final, w which saw numerous ﬁghts, m many serious injuries and 10 p players reported. Nash was in the thick of the action, on and off the ball, kicking two goals at full-forward and tangling heavily with Carlton captain Bob Chitty, who had his jaw broken. Carlton won the ﬁght, and the match. Nash escaped being reported and retired after 99 games. Many observers saw the spiteful conduct shown by both sides as a blot on the game, but the jumper episode from earlier that season showed even the ne eyed supporters suppor most one-eyed could retain a sense of humou humour.

R E M E M B E R I N G T H R E E P L AY E R S F R O M T H E PA S T

� The football world is mourning the deaths of three former players – Geelong’s Peter Walker, Hawthorn’s Clayton ‘Candles’ Thompson and South Melbourne’s Max Piggott. Walker, who died on July 8 aged 68, played in the Cats’ 1963 premiership side. A brilliant centre half-back who joined Geelong from local country club Beeac, he won the Cats’ best and fairest in 1965. Walker played 159 games to 1971 and was regarded as one of the ﬁnest defenders of his era. He represented Victoria nine

NEWS TRACKER

times and was Geelong vice-captain in 1969. When Thompson joined Hawthorn from South Australian club Sturt in 1954, he was hailed as a “freak” because of his height (198cm) and, to that time, he was one of the tallest men to have played. The Hawks recruited Thompson after he was named an All-Australian following the 1953 interstate carnival in Adelaide. Nicknamed Candles because of his lanky frame, Thompson played 50 games with the Hawks to 1956. He died

on July 5, aged 80, following llowing owin ow in ng g a long illness. Piggott played just eight ghtt gh ght games for the Swans in 1946-47, 11946-47 19 94 946 46 6--47 -4 477, 7, but kicked 21 goals, including uding ud din ing ng g seven against Carlton in round ro rou oun oun und nd d two of 1947. This achievement was featured in the AFL Record d earlier this season, as it was ass the tth hee ﬁrst match South played at the thee th Lake Oval after the ground had had ha d been used by the military during and just after World War II. Piggott, 90, was killed in a car accident in Western Australia on July 7.

VALE: Geelong premiership player

Peter Walker (left) and former Hawthorn ruckman Clayton Thompson passed away recently.

Kangaroo Drew Petrie will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury after breaking down in his comeback game last week.

12 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

~ w e

m a k e

t h e

u n f o r g e t t a b l e

a f f o r d a b l e ~

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the bounce

PREMIERSHIP REUNION

10 years on, a season to savour for Bombers C A L LU M T WOMEY

reatness comes with success, Essendon chairman David Evans said when talking about the club’s 2000 premiership team at a 10-year reunion last weekend. The Bombers of 2000 were ruthless. It started with a Jason Johnson bump on Kangaroo John Blakey in the Ansett Cup Grand Final (a win), and ended with a 10-goal thumping of Melbourne in the Grand Final that mattered. In between, only one game was lost. The reunion, however, conﬁrmed the year of greatness actually started a long way before Johnson’s bonecrunching hip and shoulder. Captain James Hird spoke about going back to school

CHEERS: From left, Jason Johnson, James Hird, Justin Blumﬁeld and Kevin Sheedy celebrate Essendon’s 2000 premiership.

– literally – as the Bombers assembled at Essendon Grammar to hear they weren’t ‘footy smart’. Assistant coaches Robert Shaw, Mark Harvey and Dean Bailey took them through a six-week program on being elite footballers, emphasising the need to be fierce and relentless, physically and mentally. Many of the players mentioned the pain of 1999’s one-point preliminary final loss to Carlton. Harvey recalled a comment from fitness coach John Quinn, who said: “Carlton have given us a present, now we need to open it.”

Ten years on, that ‘present’ still clearly has some pulling power. At Melbourne’s Crown last Sunday, following the Bombers’ 19-point loss to the Demons earlier that day, 1200 supporters packed in and cheered as highlights of Dean Wallis’ physicality ﬂashed around the room. They laughed as Steve Alessio told stories of teaching Michael Long Italian so they could communicate at centre bounces without the opposition understanding, and sung with John Barnes, as the former ruckman led the

room in a rendition of See the Bombers Fly Up. The 2010 squad watched on quietly as others enjoyed the limelight. David Zaharakis, an Essendon supporter growing up, was 10 when the Bombers won the 2000 ﬂag and talked of owning a copy of the video of the game. The night doubled as a tribute to Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas, keys of the 2000 side and champions who bowed out at the end of last season. “This is what footy’s about – we’re able to come back and say we’re a premiership team,” Lloyd said. They were all there. Darren Bewick, whose last game was the 2000 Grand Final, knocked around, while Damien Hardwick, Dean Solomon, Sean Wellman and Blake Caracella – all now coaches at opposition clubs – joined in the celebrations. And that’s essentially what it was: a celebration. Johnson admitted he and a few teammates had met the day before the function but could recall only scant detail of the win. They only knew “how good it was”.

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14 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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HOVERING HAWK

SNAP SHOT

Rd 15 Geelong Cats v Hawthorn, MCG � Luke Hodge’s desperation to maintain possession was evident with the Hawks leading the Cats by just four points as their engrossing battle drew to a close. In the fifth minute of the final term, Hodge flew over Geelong’s Darren Milburn, sending the veteran Cat sprawling, while Hodge’s teammate Michael Osborne and Geelong skipper Cameron Ling looked on. Unfortunately for Hodge and the Hawks, a quick turnover on the wing after his kick allowed the Cats to score a goal, and they went on to win by two points. Geelong has won the past four matches between the teams by a combined 20 points. Hodge had a relatively quiet day – the master stopper Ling was never far away – but the 26-year-old is enjoying a stellar season, leading the AFL Coaches’ Association Player of the Year Award and is a candidate for a host of other awards. LAUREN WOOD PHOTO: DARRIAN TRAYNOR/AFL PHOTOS

the bounce

PHOTO: BENJAMIN THOURAD

C O U N T RY C A R N I VA L

� The best country-based players in Australia will gather in Canberra next week for the Landmark Australian Country Football Council (ACFC) carnival. Since 1990, the ACFC carnivals have been held across the country every two years and this year’s event takes place in the nation’s capital for the ﬁrst time, from July 15-18. Hawthorn great Peter Knights, who will coach the Victorian team, said it was a great opportunity for the players involved. “I got involved last year on the back of coaching at under-18 level in the country for a few years and I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said. “There’s no doubt these players are the best in their regions, and it’s a good chance for them to play with the best and against the best.” Knights, who played 264 games for the Hawks, including three premierships, said the format of the competition meant younger players would be given the chance to impress. “This is the ultimate for many of the guys,” he said. “Because of the rapid format of the competition we’ll select a lot of younger players too and it’s a great opportunity for them to get noticed.” Sydney’s Brett Kirk and Shane Mumford represented Victoria before they were drafted, while Dockers star Michael Barlow was an emergency for the squad in 2008. Relton Roberts, who has played two games for Richmond this year, also represented Victoria in 2008 while Jamie Bennell, now on Melbourne’s list, played with Western Australia. Rodney Eade, Leigh Colbert, Chris Lewis, Brett Ratten and Terry Daniher have coached teams in past carnivals.

MAKING WAVES: Former Docker

David Muir is now on the world tour for stand-up paddle surfers; below, in his playing days.

LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL

Ex-Docker rides a new wave of adventure PETER RYA N

t is sometimes possible to become so absorbed in football that we forget what might be happening around the world. That’s why the news in late May that David Muir – the 39-year-old who once played for Fremantle – had won the Sapinus Pro stand-up paddle surfing title in eight-foot (2.5m) surf at Sapinus in Tahiti came as a nice reminder of the adventures to be had post-football. In 1995, Muir was one of the 21 players to represent the Dockers in their first AFL game, against Richmond at the MCG. Now, he is an inaugural member of the fledgling Waterman League World Tour for stand-up paddle surfers. The big-wave rider who never lost his passion for surfing said this of his AFL experience: “I loved my footy. Footy was awesome.” NEWS TRACKER

Muir was a strong and talented player, a midﬁelder who often played as a high half-forward. “I was in between sizes, six-foot one (186cm) and 96 kg so I was pretty heavy for someone trying to keep up with the guys on-ball,” he said. He spent 1993 on West Coast’s list, then 1994 with North Melbourne, playing for the Roos in the reserves Grand Final. He joined Fremantle in 1995, showing he was capable at the level. However, adductor and quad problems kept him sidelined too often. By the end off 1996, his careerr stood at 20 senior games and he had one Brownlow vote in his back pocket. Then it was over. “I have no regrets at all,” Muir said. Muir kept surﬁng, his a aking reputation for taking e on big surf well established, u he feels ush the adrenalin rush paddling out to a huge swell in ng. never diminishing.

“Just finding it is the hard part,” he said, laughing. In recent years, he tried stand-up paddle surfing, a relatively new sport that was in the early stages of setting up a world tour, and won a sponsorship with board maker Starboard. Soon enough, he was doing what he always does: having a crack against the best. As part of the Waterman League, he surfed in Hawaii and France and then found himself paddling out behind the left-hand left han reef break in Tahiti that eeve even experienced surfers such ha as Muir describe as heavy. d of Sapinus is like “The end Teahupoo (Tahiti’s ((Ta world-famous break) except exceept deeper water,” Muir said. Playing g fo football and surfing g th the big waves both take cou ccourage, but Muir does no not think the two sporrts b sports bear too much comp pa comparison. “On ne is a team sport and “One one is an a individual sport,” he said.. “T “Things do roll over, like fitn nes and well-being tness do as much as and doing yyou can to prepare fo for the day, b but they are d different.”

CALLUM TWOMEY

The AFL has encouraged Geelong to consider the installation of ﬂoodlights at Skilled Stadium. AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 17

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GOAL UMPIRES

Fitness the key for ﬂag bearers C A MERON NOA K ES

oal umpires are subjected to regular skinfold tests, they are weighed every six weeks and there are agility and beep tests to pass. And to ink your name on to the AFL’s goal-umpire list, you have to complete a 5km time trial. Every game is monitored by a coach and an observer and is scrutinised from several different camera angles. And performances are reviewed during the week. Indeed, the days of unﬁt blokes in coats are long gone, however, some insist on still treating goal umpires as ﬁgures of fun. The reality is goal umpiring in the 21st century is serious business. So last weekend when Fox Sports’ cameras captured goal umpire Chelsea Roffey and her colleagues going through their pre-game paces, the commentators remarked – with a smirk and a wink – on their staid and earnest nature. AFL umpires director Jeff Gieschen explained it was the same members of the media who demanded 100 per cent

ALERT: Goal umpires such as Chelsea Roﬀey must be switched on.

accuracy from the umpires and a “professional” approach. “We are an easy, soft target,” Gieschen said. “There is this expectation of 100 per cent accuracy 100 per cent of the time and, when we’re not right, we’re the worst in the world. “But (the umpires) are no different to the players and they make mistakes.” However, Gieschen pointed out that due to contemporary training procedures and the umpires’ “professional”

attitudes, those mistakes were at record lows. He said there were about 10,000 shots at goal a year and last season there were just three “conﬁrmed errors”, including Tom Hawkins’ goal for Geelong in the 2009 Grand Final. This year, there have been four “conﬁrmed errors” – the most recent was Dale Thomas’ grab and mid-air kick in Collingwood’s game against West Coast, with Thomas’ foot judged not to be over the line.

the bounce

Gieschen said the Thomas example demonstrated just how little time goal umpires had to react and why their ﬁtness and reaction times were so important. He said changes made to goal umpiring over the past 10 years, including losing the “dustman’s coat” and hat and changing the height of the goal posts (old goal posts are now used as point posts), had helped improve decision-making. And Roffey, a by-product of this uber-professional era, is unapologetic for her pre-game routine. “I suppose you can say we take it very seriously, but we don’t apologise for that,” she said. She said she liked to visualise the area she was working in before a game, similar to what a batsman would do before facing a bowler, or to a footballer inspecting the ground. “I like to really familiarise myself with the area before the game. People may look at it and think it’s a bit over the top, but how many times do you hear commentators say: ‘the goal umpire is in the perfect position’?” she said. “And there are plenty of other decisions that are made that aren’t actually scoring decisions. “We don’t just go out on to the ground and stand there and wave ﬂags. You’ve got to be alert for two-and-a-half hours and absolutely switched on.”

There’s a fresh new team in the AFL You won’t believe the big names lining up for 3AW in 2010. New recruits Brian Taylor, Tim Lane and Richo will join cult hero Dennis Cometti, Robert Walls and ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews. And there are even more names on our team sheet. Like Tony Shaw, Mike Sheahan and footy’s First Lady, Caroline Wilson, just to name a few. With a fresh new team like this, in 2010 Melbourne’s own 3AW is football.

Home team v visitors tonight

NEWS TRACKER

XXXXXXXXX > XXXXXXXXXXXX > XXXXXXXXXXXXX AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 19

the bounce

NEW MEDIA

That’s a wrap as Marmalade returns

� When oﬀered the opportunity to head BigPond’s latest online video venture, comedian and former The Footy Show comedian Trevor Marmalade jumped at the chance to be involved in football again. “A privileged few are able to make the jump from the small screen to the big screen,” he said. “I have leapt from the small screen to the really small screen.” Marmalade and former Hawk Dermott Brereton host BigPond’s Sunday Footy Wrap, produced by McGuire Media. Guests, including comedian Lawrence Mooney and AFL commentator Michael Christian, join them. The show, streamed live at 7.30pm (AEST), can be accessed online on BigPond and on Telstra NextG mobile phones and, later this year, on Telstra’s IPTV service BigPond TV. The show encourages viewer feedback via Twitter, email, and online talkback. Brereton described the interactive component of the show as being an essential part of the program. “If we think (the viewer’s) opinion counts, we’ll have them on the show in the following weeks to talk more,” he said. Sunday Footy Wrap is free and unmetered for BigPond customers online. Telstra NextG customers can watch the show via their mobile phones as part of the $5.95 a month AFL action pack. LAUREN WOOD

20 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

PLAYING FOR A CAUSE

Roos, Tigers to make a stand in Eureka game NICK BOW EN

orth Melbourne and Richmond will again join forces at the MCG on Sunday to commemorate the role the Eureka Stockade played in establishing the democratic freedoms we enjoy today. It will be their third annual Eureka game, and marks the upcoming 156th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade. On December 3, 1854, more than 30 gold miners were killed at the Eureka Stockade near Ballarat in western Victoria, as they fought to defend their rights and liberties. It remains the only armed insurrection in Australian history. The Kangaroos and Tigers are marking this historic event in conjunction with the City of Ballarat. Each year, the city holds a number of events to help raise awareness of Eureka and its spirit of fairness and a ‘fair go’ for all. It is hoped the Eureka game will become the centrepiece of these events. North Melbourne won the inaugural Eureka game in round two of 2008, by 41 points, while last year’s game was a thrilling draw. The Eureka Medal will be awarded to the best player on the ground. The Eureka game perpetual trophy, which is a silver-plated Sovereign Hill gold pan featuring the Eureka game emblem, will be awarded to the winning team.

FAREWELL FAVOURITE SON

Williams a great character to the end PETER RYA N

ark Williams provided much more to the game in his 274-game coaching career at Port Adelaide than a win-loss ratio could ever explain. His winning record was not bad by the way – 55 per cent – and he won the 2004 premiership. He will be remembered as a great coach who also became a much-loved character. He was

a teetotaller, a family man and a football person through and through. Sometimes he saw the absurd. At other times he was emotional. Most of the time he was entertaining. His jubilant display after winning the 2004 premiership, when he tightened his tie and held it aloft to bury once and for all the choking taunts his club had lived with for years, was one great memory. He then took to the podium and responded to a suggestion made one year earlier by the club’s major sponsor, Allan Scott, that Port Adelaide would never win a premiership while Williams was coach. His memorable words, “Allan Scott, you were wrong” might not have been appropriate or helpful to his administration, but it was an emotional response the outer loved.

without a moment’s hesitation: a man whose priorities were clear. The next time he walked out the door without waiting at the end of a game was last Friday night, just hours after his 11th season as senior coach at Port Adelaide came to an abrupt end. His first two seasons at Port – as the club made its way in the AFL – were spent as an assistant coach, having played 115 games with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL (and forging a solid career with Collingwood, which he captained, and the Brisbane Bears). His name is synonymous with Port Adelaide. He led the club into its first AFL final (in 1999) and 17 overall.The His jubilant Power won eight of those matches. display after The club was winning the 2004 minor premier premiership three seasons in succession (2002was one great 04) yet made the memory Grand Final only once, When beating the Brisbane he rushed Lions in 2004 by 40 points. to hospital to be at the He lifted a generally young birth of his fifth child, Isabelle, group into the 2007 Grand immediately after the second Final. However, Port’s opponent qualifying final in 2007, our that day was a rampaging fondness for him grew. Geelong, and it lost by a record His reaction on being told 119-point margin. by then media manager Hitaf After that loss, Port Adelaide Rasheed straight after the siren managed just 21 wins in 59 that his wife, Pauline, was games. Eventually the club in labour caused laughs and decided it had to move forward admiration all over the country. without one of its favourite sons He was heading to the hospital at the helm. SYNONYMOUS:

Mark Williams ‘ name will be forever linked to Port Adelaide.

Primus ready for new role � Matthew Primus made himself into one of the game’s premier modern-day ruckmen – now he’s using the same determination to become a full-time senior coach. Primus, who was thrust into the role of Port Adelaide caretaker coach in the wake of Mark Williams’ sudden departure, said this week he would like the position on a permanent basis. “I wouldn’t be putting my hand up for the next seven weeks if I didn’t think I was,” Primus said. “It was fantastic the club oﬀered me the role, and I think it’s a stepping stone towards being a senior coach in the future. “I can put my foot forward and show what I’m about, and at the end of the day, what will happen in the next seven weeks will have a little bit to do with getting a senior coaching job. “It can go against you, too, but you never know if you never have a crack at it.” Primus played 157 games from 1996-2005 (20 with Fitzroy in 1996; 137 with Port Adelaide from 1997-2005). A dual All-Australian, he captained Port Adelaide

from 2001-05 but was injured when the Power won the 2004 premiership under Williams. The 35-year-old has been an assistant coach at Port Adelaide since 2005. He overcame setbacks early in his career when, as a gangly young ruckman with Geelong under-19s, he was told his skills weren’t good enough to make it in the AFL. He went to South Australia and developed his game with Norwood in the SANFL before joining Fitzroy in its ﬁnal year in 1996. However, Primus had a further setback when he was rejected by Brisbane as one of the eight Fitzroy players to join the Lions as part of the merger deal. A grandson of Reg Hickey, one of Geelong’s most revered players and coaches, Primus becomes only the second grandfather-grandson combination to coach at AFL level. Charlie Pannam snr coached Richmond for 18 matches in 1912 and his grandson Ron Richards was a caretaker coach with Collingwood for two games in 1974. MICHAEL LOVETT

,7¶6 )227< :,7+287 7+( 58/(6 For a no holds barred view on everything footy, join Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell, 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday. Sports Today - only on 3AW 693.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 21

the bounce

SMALL WORLD: Rueben Riak (left) and Aliir Aliir discovered they are related.

CHANCE MEETING

A world away, duo reunited by football

550 games (player and coach) Paul Roos Sydney Swans and Fitzroy

AFL 200 club Shaun Ryan Umpire

ueben Riak and Aliir Aliir represented the World team at this year’s NAB AFL Under-16s Championships. They quickly became mates during the carnival in Western Sydney and found themselves part of an amazing story when they discovered they are related. Rueben is from Western Australia and Aliir from Queensland; both have Sudanese heritage and a fondness for Australian Football. The more they talked and shared information, the more they discovered how much in common they had. During the horrific conflict in Sudan in Africa, people in villages and communities had to hurriedly flee to save their lives. In the resulting bedlam, families were split and, in many cases, family members were separated. The ties between the two became evident during a conversation about Sydney’s

PHOTO: ROBERT KEELEY

NICK H ATZOGLOU

200 games Kane Cornes Port Adelaide Josh Fraser Collingwood

road tunnels. The story goes something like this. In a casual conversation on the way to Blacktown Olympic Park, Rueben commented that Perth had a road tunnel similar to the Sydney one they were travelling in. Aliir was quick to point out a new road tunnel had recently been completed under the Brisbane River. It was obvious to Rueben that Aliir was from Brisbane and he asked Aliir if he knew a girl named Yar, who was recently in Perth visiting relatives and friends. Rueben and Yar are cousins, but have never met. Reuben is the only one from his family in Australia, so making friends and meeting family members is important to him as he looks to navigate the challenges of settling into a new country.

He explained how disappointed he was not being able to meet Yar, the daughter of his mum’s sister. Aliir sensed something strange being played out. “Are you serious?” he asked Rueben. “Yar is my older sister. I need to check this out!” The boys quickly got on their phones to verify their discovery. On confirmation of the news, they hugged and were overcome with emotion. “This is not something that happens every day,” Rueben said. “We are first cousins. Our mothers are sisters.” (Aliir’s mother Zainab lives in Brisbane with her six children while Rueben’s mum Jamila is still in Africa.) Football brought them together, by chance. They now plan to find out as much as they can about each other and their families.

150 games Chance Bateman Hawthorn Ashley McGrath Brisbane Lions

100 games Grant Birchall Hawthorn

50 games Scott Harding Port Adelaide Zac Dawson St Kilda Paul Bower Carlton Michael Jamison Carlton Jake King Richmond The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.

South Australia, Tasmania claim under-16 titles � Despite losing its final game, South Australia broke through to win Division One of the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, with Tasmania claiming the Division Two title. The South Australians lost to Vic Country in the final round (it was Country’s first win of the carnival) and were tied with Western Australia on two wins and two losses, but claimed the title having defeated the West Australians earlier in the carnival. WA also finished the championships in strong fashion, defeating Vic Metro by 78 points with Chris Yarran the star. Yarran NEWS TRACKER

capped an impressive campaign, kicking seven goals and was awarded the Kevin Sheehan Medal for the best and fairest Division One player. Corey Chalmers was named the most valuable player for WA, while Jack Viney (SA), Lachie Whitﬁeld (Vic Country), and Nick Vlastuin (Vic Metro) were named most valuable for their teams. Tasmania defeated Queensland in the ﬁnal round to win the Division Two title. With scores level at three-quarter time, Tasmania’s Bayden Bryant broke the game open with three of his four goals in the last term sealing the win.

Northern Territory beat the South Paciﬁc team by 40 points, while NSW/ACT defeated the World team by 104 points. Queensland’s Alex Sexton, who kicked four goals and was his team’s best in its 23-point loss to Tasmania, was awarded the Alan McLean Medal as the best player in n Division Two, and was also named his side’s most valuable player. Henry Schade (Tasmania), Matthew Cubis (NT), Craig Moller (NSW/ACT), Kane Clark (World) and Dylan Wolfgramm (South Paciﬁc) were named most valuablee players of their teams.

CHASING A TITLE: SA’s Ben Kennedy in action during the championships.

CALLUM TWOMEY Y

Former Essendon ﬁtness manager John Quinn has joined Team GWS, heading its sports science department.

22 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

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F O E C I L S A LUCK ONLY TORY LL GR ANT BIRCHA

S S ’ K W A H THIS emiership star love for Hawthorn pr -g -in nd ha go ia an d Tasm Milestone games an

awthorn’s Grant Birchall should send whoever is responsible for the AFL ﬁxture a letter of thanks. This week he plays his 100th game in his home state, Tasmania, at Launceston’s Aurora Stadium. He played his 50th game there too. And his ﬁrst. The odds of that happening must be longer than the Tamar River. This week will be his 17th game at the venue and again friends and family will be on hand to watch the hard-running 22-year-old ply his trade. It could not have “It panned out any better,” Birchall said. “I’m just very lucky, as I always enjoy playing in front of friends and family down there.”

Lucky is a word Birchall uses when describing the good things that have happened in his career. When asked about playing in the 2008 premiership, aged just 20, in his 65th game (his 60th in succession) he put the experience down to good fortune. “I feel very, very lucky, particularly when you look at guys like Robert Harvey (the former St Kilda champion played 383 games without a flag) who played so much footy but was unable to get that flag,” he said. “I felt pretty lucky and a little bit embarrassed I sup suppose.” Embarrassed? That’s T not a word you hear from footballers that often n. often. “You just j realise how m much those guys have put p in, i and that is what wha at they th play footy for. An d th And then there is a blok young b bloke who comes play p in and plays 60-odd and gets one – so I games a prettty lucky.” luc feel pretty Birch hall w Birchall was a Sain nts fan fa growing Saints p in Shearwater S up n Devonport, De in and Harv was his H Harvey ffavou favourite player. A circumstances cir As woul have it, w would Biircha played in Birchall Ha arve last game Harvey’s forr the Saints, th he 2008 20 the prellimin preliminary final. Su uch imaginings im Such f from f were far Birchall’s w mind when the talented aske junior ba basketballer layin football stopped p playing ason, preferring for one sea season, w young the hoops. He was HUMBLE HAWK: Hawthorn

defender Grant Birchall feels blessed to be able to play his 100th game in his home state, especially after making his debut and playing his 50th game there as well.

RYAN Grant Birchall. PETER

first form slump of and it was a short I always his short career. departure from In tough times, the game he enjoy playing attitude counts has made his in front of friends more than ever name in. and family and Birchall’s “It came character was to a time down there never going to be where I had to GRANT BIRCHALL found wanting. make a pretty “I learned a lot tough decision from last year with whether to play the injuries and a bit of a form basketball or footy and I chose footy. I think it has worked slump. I tried to focus on what we had to do,” he said. out pretty well so far,” he said. “You can’t worry about what He was playing in the everyone else is saying. I just Devonport seniors in round one kept sticking at it and tried to of 2004, aged just 16. He played improve in all areas of the game. there for two seasons, part of “I knew if I worked through it two losing Grand Final teams. and kept improving and doing all His Devonport coach Dale the little things, it would come Perry said Birchall made a great pretty right at the end.” impression on and off the field. Working through that “He always did as he was told individual experience was useful and never thought he was better when the Hawks reached the than anyone else,” Perry said. edge of the cliff early this season. “He had a great attitude, which There was a sense the team’s has propelled him into becoming form would turn around, and what he is now.” Birchall put the improved Birchall might not have performances down to the return thought it, but on the field he of key personnel, an improved was better than anyone else. attitude and some slight In the 2004 first semi-final, Perry said Birchall got the team tinkering with the approach. A relatively settled defensive over the line. line-up has also helped. “We were 35 points down at “A couple of wins in a row half-time. I moved him into the centre and he kicked four goals in gave the boys some confidence, too,” Birchall said. 15 minutes in the third quarter. Another premiership is the We won by about five goals.” next goal. After the experiences Tagged at 16, Birchall played of the past two seasons, Birchall mainly on the wing, his ability would be entitled to feel proud to read the football years ahead as well as lucky if his team wins of his age. Birchall has fond another flag. Right now, the face memories of the time. “They were a great bunch of guys down of Tasmania, a phrase teammates love to stir him with, is making there. I enjoyed playing on a Saturday afternoon and the local his home state proud. That’s nothing to be side of it was good too,” he said. embarrassed about. On his 100th “I think it held me in good game, it’s worth celebrating. stead knowing I had played “I’m sure a few mates and against bigger and stronger men family will be attending the coming into the AFL.” game. You always want to play His dream run ended last well when you have got a bit of a season when he had hamstring crew there,” he said. problems and experienced the AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 57

There aren’t too many weeks when Kane Cornes doesn’t put his head over the ball and win it. And the times he can’t get his hands on it, he makes life diﬃcult for his opponent. This week, the durable midﬁelder will be rewarded when he plays his 200th game for Port Adelaide. NICK BOWEN

CONSISTE KANE CORNES

ane Cornes’ ability to perform consistently is remarkable. For the past six years, he has finished in the top three in Port Adelaide’s best and fairest award. It was only in his first two seasons at the Power (2001 and 2002) that he finished outside the top 10, and he played just seven and 15 games respectively in those years. Cornes’ durability has been just as impressive. He is on a run of 164 consecutive games – Sydney’s Brett Kirk (191) is the only player on a longer active streak – having last missed a game in round 16, 2003. However, Cornes is quick to downplay his standing in the game. “I’m probably not the most talented player and I don’t have huge leg speed or anything like that,” he says. This may be true, but two All-Australian selections (2005 and 2007) and two Power best and fairests (2007-08) suggest Cornes is among the game’s elite.

58 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

As a midfielder, he may lack 200th game, against the Western the explosiveness and gameBulldogs at TIO Stadium in turning ability of Chris Judd Darwin on Saturday night. or Gary Ablett, but he has the It was just days after the only rare talent to shut down players coach Cornes had played under of that calibre while winning in the AFL – Mark Williams – left plenty of the ball himself. the club. The run-with player – as Cornes had also just attended opposed to the almost extinct his first training session in the tagger who focuses solely post-Williams era, an experience on stopping their he admitted was opponent – is “really weird”. I pride crucial to their “Mark has been myself on my team’s fortunes such a great figure preparation and in modern for me. He’s football. my training – that’s probably In this had the biggest been one of my speciality, influence of strengths over Cornes is anyone on my undeniably career, so it was the journey among the best a really sad day KANE CORNES in the business, to see him go,” rivalled perhaps by Cornes says. only Geelong’s Cameron Ling. “He was a really caring Modestly, Cornes says his person and cared not only about game is built on hard work. your performance on the field, “What I bring to the table is my but your life and your welfare effort every week,” he says. “I off it. pride myself on my preparation “It was great to be able to and my training – that’s been walk into his office and have a one of my strengths over chat about anything. One of his the journey.” best qualities was that he really Cornes spoke to the AFL Record believed in his players and was this week in the lead-up to his incredibly loyal to them – he

FOCUSED: Ever-reliable midﬁelder

Kane Cornes will become just the ﬁfth Port Adelaide player to reach 200 games this weekend and, at just 27, there are plenty more to come.

ENCY would defend them and their ability to the end. all “His honesty was his other real strength. He’d tell you exactly o where you were at. He’s going to be missed by a lot of people.” As much as Cornes will be one of them, he has thrown his support behind caretaker coach, and former teammate Matthew Primus. “Matty’s been here for a long time, as a player and captain, and then as an assistant coach,” he says. “He’s got a great pedigree and a great reputation – he’s a legend of the club – so it’s great he now gets the opportunity as senior coach. He’s moved from playing to the coaching role really well. He’s still great to have a laugh with and one of thee boys, but when it’s business, it’s business with Matty.” Primus takes over with Port g in the midst of the longest losing streak in its 13-year history – n eight games – and almost certain to miss the ﬁnals for the third successive year after its 2007 Grand Final defeat. But despite this gloomy backdrop, Cornes is eyeing

KANE CORNES

COMMITTED: Cornes is looking

forward to the Power ﬁnishing the season strongly “so we can lead into 2011 with a bit of conﬁdence, a bit of form and a bit of excitement around the place”.

FACT FILE

Kane Cornes

Born: January 5, 1983 Recruited from: Glenelg Debut: Round 10, 2001 v Hawthorn Height: 183cm Weight: 83kg Games: 199 Goals: 78 Player honours: best and fairest 2007, 2008; All-Australian 2005, 2007; premiership side 2004; pre-season premiership sides 2001, 2002 Brownlow Medal: career votes 40

the remainder of the season enthusiastically, confident his side can still salvage something from the year. “The players are pretty excited about the last seven games of the year, hopefully we can show something for Matty and can get a few wins on the board,” he says. “Eight (losses) in a row has been pretty tough going, but we’ve been pretty competitive in most of our games. We just haven’t been able to get the wins. “The big focus for us is to start getting some wins on the board and finishing off the year well, so we can lead into 2011 with a bit of confidence, a bit of form and a bit of excitement around the place.” At just 27, Cornes will become the fifth Port Adelaide player to reach 200 games, joining Warren Tredrea, Peter Burgoyne, Brendon Lade and elder brother Chad. That he and Chad feature so prominently in the Power’s short history is ironic given the fierce rivalry their father Graham enjoyed with Port Adelaide as a player and coach of Glenelg throughout the 1970s and ’80s in the SANFL.

QUICK CORNES FACT

60 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

Graham was also the of the most courageous players inaugural coach of the Power’s to play for this club and has cross-town rival Adelaide certainly been a big role and, as a prominent media model for me.” commentator, has often Despite his professional admitted to feeling conflicted front, Cornes likes a joke. about wanting to see his sons When I mention that teammate succeed but struggling to Tom Logan has mockingly embrace Port Adelaide. referred to him as a “workhorse” Despite growing up a staunch in two recent AFL Record Crows supporter, Kane says pocket profiles, Cornes bursts he was rapt when the Power into laughter. selected him, giving him “That’s a bit of a running the chance to play joke between us,” he alongside Chad. explains. “Tommy’s “We’ve one of our hardest been really trainers – never The big fortunate to misses a thing, focus for us is play at the always out on to start getting same club the track, always some wins on and I’m just the one doing thankful to the hard work – the board Port Adelaide so I call him the KANE CORNES for giving workhorse but he’s me the somehow tried to flick opportunity,” it back on to me. he says. “But you can write it down “Chad’s been a great support that he’s the original workhorse.” for me from the day I got here. A bad haircut years ago We’re totally different players, led his teammates to dub but there’s no competitiveness Cornes ‘Wig’, a nickname between us. he said had since morphed “He’s been one of the best into ‘Wigums’, ‘Wiganaut’ players for this club and the and other derivations. way he attacks the footy has If he hadn’t made it as a just been brilliant. He’s one footballer, Cornes says he would

have pursued a career with South Australia Police’s Special Tasks and Rescue (STAR) Force. This despite the fact he had one of the scariest experiences of his life while on work experience with the elite unit as a 16-year-old. “They put me down a well to do a rescue exercise. But as they came to rescue me, the walls of the well started to cave in and dirt and rocks were flying everywhere and falling on my head,” he says. “It was pretty scary but they eventually came and got me, so I was lucky to get out of that one alive.” Port fans should be grateful Cornes emerged from that scare in one piece and that he is well placed to help guide his young teammates through the next few seasons. Cornes wants to play finals again before he retires. “I’m really looking forward to working with the young guys and getting the club back to where it should be,” he says. “The club’s a great place to be around when finals are on the agenda and it’s something I definitely want to experience again.”

The Cornes name might live on at Port Adelaide – he has three boys aged three and under.

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RUCKI SeARCHInG F FoR o THe oR He H e PeRfE P PeRfECt e f Ct StR S St StRUCtUrE RUCtUrE U UCtU UCt t r rE E

MoBIlITY

TApPInG ABIlITY

PrEseNCe

VERSATILE: Collingwood’s Darren Jolly,

pictured left, outpointing Sydney Swan Shane Mumford, is mobile around the ground and adept at pushing forward to kick a goal.

NG DOMINANT FORCE: At an imposing 211cm, Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands (left) is recognised as the best big man in the game, as much for his football smarts as his physique. Melbourne’s Mark Jamar and West Coast’s Dean Cox (below) are others who combine skill, smarts and agility in the ruck.

PoSItIOnINg

FoOtY SmARts

Every team is searching for a ruck combination that works best for them. Regardless of their approach, they know rucking remains a crucial part of the game, with coaches constantly looking for an edge and the big men reﬁning what they do. PETER RYA N & C A L LUM T WOMEY

ew truly understand the role of ruckwork. Fewer still can assess its value. Ruckmen even have specialist coaches, outliers in a team game. The best in the business, Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands, says few appreciate how long it takes to learn the art: “I just understand the game a lot more in the last few years, learning where to run and where to position myself.” Sydney Swan Mike Pyke is beginning to work out what it’s about: “My main priority is to improve each week and take little steps.” When it comes to selection, ruckmen are football’s wicketkeepers, fighting for a specialist position like few others. History shows two ruckmen are needed to win premierships, but the best structure for the modern game is debated more and more as the game quickens, midfield run becomes vital and the search for an edge is constant. Do we use one specialist and one part-timer? Do we pick one very good and one ‘OK’ ruckman? Is there room for two top-quality big men? Do we rotate them off the bench or push them forward for a breather? Do we want an athletic runner or a bigbodied stoppage expert? You need at least one, as Hawthorn found out in round five when its only available big man Brent Renouf was a last-minute withdrawal. His absence prompted coach Alastair Clarkson to deliver post-

match one of the season’s biggest understatements: “I reckon losing your ruckman is pretty significant when you’ve only got one of them.” It’s tough having three, as North Melbourne coach Brad Scott is finding out in trying to place Hamish McIntosh, Todd Goldstein and David Hale in the one line-up, unless they bring a variety of attributes to the table. “I think finding the right combination is about versatility. It’s still very difficult for one ruckman to go alone, and we think it’s a real strength to have our three key position ruckman-sized players running around the ground who can play other positions,” Scott says. “With our three guys, we know they’re all very good ruckmen, but we’re trying to develop their games so they can play elsewhere because I don’t think you can just run with two ruckmen and play them 5050 game-time anymore. “It’s always a balance and you’re always searching for that balance you want. “It comes down to a decision – I rate those three players in our best 22, but whether it’s necessarily our best structure (having all three in the team) is something we’ve had to do a lot of experimenting with.” Hawthorn was forced into the laboratory earlier this year. With rucks Simon Taylor, Max Bailey, Wayde Skipper and Luke Lowden injured at the start of the season, ruck coach Damian Monkhorst and fellow assistants resorted to teaching midfielder

RUCKING

WATCH FOR… Luke Hodge the basics of ruck work. Hodge’s role was merely to compete while Renouf rested. m “We focused on teaching him mainly to get the ball down to the ground in the area our ground-level guys knew it was going to be,” says Monkhorst, the No. 1 ruckman in Collingwood’s 1990 premiership team. “If the ground-level players are second-guessing where the opposition ruckman is going to put the ball – especially if they happen to be dominant – then it puts everyone behind the eight-ball,” he says. Jarryd Roughead and FIERCE: Carl Peterson were tried too. Essendon’s Employing the third Patrick Ryder man-up tactic increased (a goes hard at this contest play Hawthorn continues using with Port to effect). Down on big-man Adelaide’s power, the Hawks struggled. Dean Brogan. As soon as Skipper was over his injury, however, the “I think it’s possible, Hawks enjoyed a turnaround particularly with the way players in fortunes. (It has helped, also, now rotate around the ground. If that several other Hawks have you look at Leigh Brown returned.) Skipper made his at Collingwood, debut in the brown and his flexibility is gold in round seven, keeping Josh and the Hawks have I’d also say Fraser out lost only once since, that by far the of the side by two points to most dominant because, if Geelong last week. they get in Skipper’s smarts, ruckman in the trouble, he Monkhorst says, competition is can be used have compensated Sandilands as a key back, for his comparative BRAD SCOTT forward or lack of height (he is in the ruck,” 194cm, one centimetre Darcy says. taller than Roughead), and It’s not a simple decision he has complemented Renouf’s though, as Adelaide ruck coach athletic, jumping style, which and former Brisbane Lions, Monkhorst is also fine-tuning. Crows and St Kilda ruckman “Skipper has grown up as Matthew Clarke points out. a ruckman and, though he’s Clarke agrees that finding the a shorter ruckman, he’s got a best ruck combination is about strong technique, like John “versatility”, but also argues Barnes of yesteryear. They that using key-position players get away with being shorter because they’re smarter, and he’s as ‘pinch-hit’ ruckmen can be detrimental. given the side some balance,” “Sometimes it works really Monkhorst says. well in that it frees them up The Hawks’ experience and gets them into the play and settled one debate. It’s now clear gets their confidence going for two men capable of contesting when they go forward, but other stoppages is necessary. But what times they’ll go out with a dozen qualities (or combination of plans in their head and not be characteristics) do they need? able to execute any of them,” Former Western Bulldogs Clarke says. ruckman Luke Darcy believes “We’ve seen that this year with the thinking is “starting to Kurt Tippett, who has benefited change” and that a premiership from having a single focus.” team in the future will buck the Scott says although trends trend and win with only one favour athletic ruckmen, room (specialist) ruckman. 64 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

COLLISIONS: The tactic, whereby ruckmen jump into each other at a centre bounce and aim to palm the ball when they land back on the ground, is widespread according to Adelaide’s ruck coach Matthew Clarke.

AGgReSsIOn

THINK ABOUT… THE IMPACT OF CHANGE: If the AFL caps interchange rotations, clubs may not be able to carry two genuine ruckmen.

remains for the more physical, old-style ruck role. “I note with interest the success of Mitch Clark and Paddy Ryder as mobile ruckmen, and it has been very successful,” he says. “But I’d also say that by far the most dominant ruckman in the competition is Sandilands, because he allows Fremantle to dictate how it wants to set up around the ground and at stoppages. “If you’re asking me who the most important ruckman in the competition is, it’s not a versatile ruckman. It’s a big, dominant tap-out ruckman in Sandilands.” Monkhorst supports the notion that fundamental elements remain vital. He believes bigger-bodied ruckmen, whose main asset is their strength, will continue to have currency in the modern game. “Some people get caught up with a ruckman getting 30 possessions, but it’s not really a ruckman’s role to do that,” Monkhorst says. “If you’ve got good on-ballers, they should be getting the touches and a ruckman should be making their lives easier. “Generally you’ll ﬁnd that a smaller, athletic guy will come in for a short period of time and be the new ‘fad’ everyone’s talking about, but then they get found out. The big blokes work them out, and get back to taking over. It’s always been the way.”

Many midfielders talk of the confidence they get from having a big-bodied ruckman alongside them as they hunt for the ball at ground level. Presence is often an underestimated attribute outside football clubs. Sandilands has presence, as do Mark Jamar, Darren Jolly and Shane Mumford. Darcy says Sandilands has become the complete package. “Even if someone like Sandilands only had similar hit-out skills and stoppage work as his strengths, he would need more,” Darcy says. “Sandilands’ value at the moment lies in his aggression and physical presence. He floats forward, is a good mark and a good leader.” Sandilands says his performance is measured by the impact he has on the game. “Whether that is giving first use to the midfield, or the quality of your clearances, or the work you do around the ground,” he says. “It’s not so much possessions or the number of hit-outs; it’s more about following up after the stoppage and your positioning.” Sandilands has an enormous height advantage – at 211cm he is the tallest man in the competition – but his footy smarts are as important as his reach. The rucking role is clear: give the team the best possible chance to win quality clearances or score or stop goals from stoppages. A dominant ruckman allows teams to set up structures on their terms, rather than reacting. Almost every week we see how important the decisions ruckmen make at stoppages are to the overall result. In round 14 when Hawthorn beat the Western Bulldogs, the

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RUCKING

THe BeSt IN THe BUsINeSs � Champion Data’s rankings are geared towards measuring and ranking the impact players have on winning games, combining a range of statistics with factors including the state of the game, where the ball is won and the impact actions have on the scoreboard, to get a more accurate gauge of a player’s contribution. The top-ﬁve ranked players include the game’s premier ruckman.

HOW THe RUCKmEn RAnK

Brendon Goddard Gary Ablett Paul Chapman Chris Judd AARON A O SANDILANDS ND A D

* AVERAGE PER GAME

134 131 126 125 123 2

Ranking

H-O to ADV*

Clearances*

Aaron Sandilands

123

17.2

36.7

9.9

4.1

12.0

20.9

3.8

2.3

Dean Cox

16.4

24.5

5.0

3.1

Shane Mumford

13.0

25.2

4.8

3.1

Mark Jamar

13.0

29.4

7.8

3.3

HIT-OUTS AARON SANDILANDS Mark Jamar Cox Dean e Co Mumford Shane h eM Patrick a c Ryder R

AARON A O SANDILANDS Jamar Mark k Ja Cox Dean e Co Blake Mark k Bl Darren a e JJolly

66 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

H-O*

Patrick Ryder

550 441 368 328 314

HIT-OUTS HIT-OU O TO ADVANTAGE

Hawks kicked two critical goals after errors by the Bulldogs in the ruck contests. You don’t have to look far back to see even more celebrated instances. Remember Gary Ablett’s last-quarter goal from a stoppage in the 2007 preliminary ﬁnal against Collingwood? Many would forget three of Nick Davis’s four last-quarter goals in the 2005 second semi-ﬁnal for the Sydney Swans against Geelong came from stoppages. Deciding the best rucking structure is hard because patience is often required. Time needs to be invested in big men to get them playing well. What is less clear is how much game time is enough. It makes the (ruck)man management issue huge. Everyone wants more game time. Greater recognition goes to those who shoulder the load. The more you play, the better you become. For every No. 1 ruckman you can bet there is another just waiting for an opportunity. There is no better example of this then the Swans’ Pyke. Just 17 games into his career, Pyke is showing signs of adapting to the game’s demands

Disposals*

149 117 75 74 67

PERCENTAGE OF HIT-OUTS TO ADVANTAGE AARON SANDILANDS Mark Jamar Sam Jacobs Ivan Maric Will Minson

27.1 % 26.5 % 25.3% 24.7 % 24.1 %

CLEARANCES AARON SANDILANDS Nic Naitanui Ben Hudson Mark Jamar Dean Cox

and his past two “You’ve I know the performances have got to have best sides I played been good. someone Pyke admits who can in were the ones he relishes any give you a that had a chance to take the chop out strong ruck lead: “Opportunities for five or combination can define your 10 minutes LUKE DARCY career in some because, if you ways,” he says. are coming up The chances he had in against opposition rounds eight and nine to ruck sides that have two quality solo when Mumford was out ruckmen, there is no way you suspended were beneficial to his are going to keep up with development. “Going in as the them,” he says. No. 1 (ruckman), you face the Throw in the third-man up No. 1 for the other team as well. tactic, where teams use smaller They are at a higher standard players to jump into the ruck than a back-up,” Pyke says. contest, and it’s not hard to “When you are on the field imagine the toll contest after longer, you get to settle into contest takes on the players. the game better and you feel The fact Sandilands’ more part of things. You get a back-up ruckmen Kepler Bradley feel for the midfield group a bit and Michael Johnson can also more than you do if you are just play forward gives Fremantle a coming in for the odd contest.” perceived advantage. But coaches will always put Darcy knows what it’s like to be the good of the team first. Pyke both the back-up and the No. 1. knows that, but he also knows He learned the craft alongside this: “Every moment I have on Scott Wynd. When Wynd retired the field is of benefit to me.” at the end of 2000, Darcy assumed Sandilands says it is vital he the main position and found that, receives support from a back-up though he wanted to ruck solo and ruckman, even if it’s only for a played better when he did, having short amount of time. a partner benefited the team.

61 58 55 49 47

“I think your natural competitive instinct says you want to be out on the ground 100 per cent of the time, but having said that, I know the best sides I played in were the ones that had a strong ruck combination,” Darcy says. Mumford summed up the reality with one sentence to Fox Sports after the North Melbourne game last week. “Me and ‘Pykey’ have started to forge a good combo and ‘Seabs’ (Mark Seaby) might struggle to get back in.” The comment had it all: The No. 1, the rucking partnership, the battle for position, the knockabout banter and the selection dilemma. It’s a tough gig, the life of the ruckman. The physical demands are obvious; the mental requirements to compete with everyone in your vicinity less so. And to make matters worse, very few understand the role at all. So why does Sandilands love it so much? “I just love playing footy in general to be honest. It’s hard to put the ﬁnger on one thing I enjoy about playing in the ruck.”

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Moments of the

Raising the roof at Docklands The opening of the stadium at Docklands in 2000 changed the way Victorians watched their football.

ASHLEY BROW NE

n Sunday, March 19, 2000, the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions played the first game for AFL premiership points under a closed roof. It was the final match of the second round of the season and was played as a twilight game. For the record, the Lions ran out comfortable 29-point winners, 21.13 (139) to 17.8 (110). Daniel Bradshaw booted seven goals and Simon Black had 26 touches for the Lions, while Rohan Smith booted four goals for the Bulldogs. Nathan Brown had 24 touches, the most for the home team. But perhaps the most illustrative stat of the evening came in the final term, when the Lions rattled home eight goals to the Bulldogs’ five. As rain fell in Melbourne, a game of footy – fast, entertaining and high-scoring

2000-09

– continued, oblivious to the weather conditions. It wasn’t the first AFLsanctioned game played under a roof. Melbourne and Sydney played an international challenge match in a domed stadium in Vancouver, Canada, in October of 1987, only notable because it was the first time both Eddie McGuire and Bruce McAvaney commentated a VFL/AFL game. But the importance of the Bulldogs-Lions clash cannot be overstated. The new Docklands stadium had been mooted for several years, but initial plans called for it to be rectangular in shape and a home for soccer and the rugby codes in Melbourne. However, it soon became apparent that, without AFL y owned matches, the privately-owned stadium would not be commercially viable, so the econfigured stadium design was reconfi val an nd the from rectangular to oval and ajor AFL was announced as a ma major Esseendon, tenant, bringing with it Essendon, ern Bu ulldogs St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs as home clubs. eal, the th he AFL And as part of the deal, wnersh hip of would assume full ownership the stadium in 2025. sold’ The stadium was ‘sold’ ball public p to the Victorian football vide a for its capacity to provide viewing experience on parr ng with the finest sporting venues in the world. It was replacing thee verleyy tired and limited Waverley

HISTORIC: Bulldog Rohan Smith,

being tackled by Brisbane’s Darryl White, kicked four goals in the ﬁrst match played under the roof, in 2000.

Park in Melbourne’s outer south-east, but the one-time showpiece stadium still held a p in the hearts of manyy soft spot because entry was affordable, it was family-friendly and accessible to the thousands of AFL fans in Melbourne’s important growth corridor. Docklands, or Colonial Stadium as it was ﬁrst known, opened on March 9, 2000, with a game between Essendon and

FIVE GREAT MOMENTS AT ETIHAD STADIUM STA ADIUM

Jason McCartney’s comeback game after the Bali bombings in 2003.

The Western Bulldogs snap Essendon’s unbeaten streak late in the 2000 season.

Bomber Gary Moorcroft’s speccy in 2001.

68 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

The St Kilda-Geelong match last season, w when both teams were u unbeaten after 13 rounds.

Wayne Carey versus Glenn Archer and the Kangaroos in 2003.

As rain fell in Melbourne, a game of footy continued, oblivious to the weather conditions

STATE OF THE ART: The new Docklands Stadium, with its retractable roof, was a big hit with fans as it provided a viewing experience equal to the best sporting venues in the world.

Port Adelaide, watched by 43,012 people. (It later became known as Telstra Dome and is now Etihad Stadium.) Bombers star Michael Long kicked the ﬁrst goal at the venue, which the Dons christened with a thumping win – their ﬁrst of many for the year. The stadium was ready to host the game only at the last minute.

Workmen were putting the finishing touches to the stadium as fans filed in for the opening game – and it wasn’t until several weeks after it opened that all the construction work was finally completed. The roof itself wasn’t fully operational for the opening round. But it became quickly apparent that football fans would warm to the stadium once a few operational bugs were sorted. The sight lines were impressive – far superior to those at Waverley and even to the older sections of the MCG – while the gleaming facilities for players, corporate supporters and the public took football viewing in Melbourne to a new level. There were a few teething problems. The stadium was almost completed before it emerged there were no plans for coach’s boxes. The surface looked pristine enough but the grass was easily displaced. The Seven Network – which owned the stadium at the time – censured its own journalist Craig Hutchison for

referring to one part of the ground as “Death Valley”. There were enough concerns with the state of the ground in 2000 that a St Kilda-Hawthorn match was transferred to the MCG with less than 24 hours notice in order for extensive repair work to take place. The other issue was access. The multitude of ticketing arrangements for the ground (each of the tenant clubs had their own pricing and seating options) often led to long queues outside the ground. But it was also about a change of mindset as football fans gradually got used to the concept of pre-booking their tickets, rather than just turning up on the day and paying for general admission, which had long been the norm at the MCG and Waverley Park. The arrival in June of 2000 of Ian Collins from the AFL as stadium manager alleviated some of the problems and eliminated many others. Within a year, he had the stadium running smoothly and it is now hard to imagine football, certainly in Melbourne, without it.

T H E A F T E R M AT H

� As successful a venue as Docklands has become, there are two issues the stadium’s management and the AFL, as its primary tenant, continue to grapple with. The ﬁrst is the roof. The basic policy is that it is open during the day as long as rain is not forecast, and closed at night. But sun-glare creates issues and there remains a school of thought that the roof should also be closed on sunny days in order to have optimal conditions for players, spectators and broadcasters. Another issue often debated is the volume and types of activities the venue should host immediately before and during the AFL season. Soccer, rugby league and rugby union co-exist with the AFL during the football season, but events such as this year’s AC/DC concerts, which attracted 180,000 people over three nights in mid-February, left the stadium surface mottled and in need of major repair just before the start of the NAB Cup.

AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au 69

Col Hutchinson

timeon Our AFL history guru answers your queries.

Recently, I read in the AFL Record that Lindsay Thomas was born on February 29, 1988. How many players have celebrated their birthday on that last day of the second month of a leap year?

LEAPING TO IT: Magpie Brent Macaﬀer

(left) and former Blue Lindsay Smith (below) are among only ﬁve players born on February 29.

RODGER STEPHENS, CAMBERWELL, VIC.

CH: Just four others are known

to have been born on February 29. Amazingly, Magpie Brent Macaffer was born on the same day as Thomas. George Collard was born in 1916 and played a total of 73 matches for Carlton and South Melbourne between 1935 and 1942. Born in 1980, Lindsay Smith made one appearance for North Melbourne in 2001 and three for Carlton the following season. Tom Allison was born in 1944 and played 106 matches for North Melbourne from 1963 until 1970. There is yet another twist to the tale. Just two players have died on February 29 – Ernie Barber, who managed 28 goals in 21 matches for South Melbourne in 1918-19, and Jim Kearney, who played a total of 79 games for Geelong and Richmond between 1915 and 1921. Kearney passed away on the very day Allison was born!

WRITE TO ANSWER MAN The Slattery Media Group 140 Harbour Esplanade Docklands, 3008 or email michaell@slatterymedia.com

70 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

AFL mystery men Charles James � James was recruited from Albert Park by South Melbourne in 1899 as a full-back who could kick the ball magnificently. He was a member of his club’s losing Grand Final team in his first season and played 78 matches in a distinguished six-season career. Occasionally, he was switched to the forward line and finished with 13 goals.

Albert Tasman Roberts � Born on August 18, 1901, Roberts came joined St Kilda from Prahran in 1925. In three seasons, he notched 22 goals in 41 appearances as a 184cm, 84kg ruckman. In 1928, he transferred to Fitzroy, where he added 10 majors in 17 games.

Should you have any further information regarding the above mystery men, including their date of death, contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col.hutchinson@aﬂ .com.au.

NAME GAME

Another bald Blue

� Carlton rookie Levi Casboult has a surname that, like many, began as a nickname. Other examples of those on AFL lists, past and present, include Jolly, Swift, Winderlich and Cameron. Casboult derives from two Middle English words, cas and balde, meaning “bald head” – currently a fashionable style at Carlton, indeed throughout the AFL. Casboult, with various spellings, can be traced back to at least the early 1300s. Casboult shares his given name, Levi, with only Levi Greenwood (North Melbourne) on current lists. In the Old Testament, Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah. The name is of disputed origin but the most appropriate one for Casboult would be that it is a derivative of yillaweh – “he will join”; he would be hoping it isn’t long before he represents Carton. As an English given name, Levi came into use after the Reformation in the 16th century. KEVAN CARROLL

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timeon

COLLECTABLES

Signed and sealed

Rick Milne

A weekly look at collectables, memorabilia and all footy ooty things t gs stored sto ed in boxes bo es and a garages.

I have a Bill Goggin testimonial dinner program from August 18, 1971, and on the back are the signatures of Kevin Murray, Geoﬀ Ainsworth, Graham Farmer, Peter Jones, Ron Barassi, Wayne Closter, John Watts, Ken Newland, John Scarlett, Phil Steven, Bill Ryan, Doug Wade and Goggin. Does this have any value or is it just a precious item for a Bill Goggin collector like myself?

RICK’S RARITY

� The VFL kicked off in 1897 with eight teams breaking away from the VFA. South Melbourne was one of the original clubs and this membership card dates from 1882. South that year played games against Essendon, Melbourne, Geelong, Carlton, Hawthorn (which was allowed to field 23 players), Hotham (now North Melbourne), Sandridge and Norwood (SA). This card is extremely rare and worth at least $4000. Geelong won thee VFA FA flag iin 11882. 2

LIAM SZARAZ, VIA EMAIL

RM: This program is a great item, even without the signatures, and is worth at least $250. I have a copy of the Football Record for the 1961 Hawthorn and Footscray Grand Final. It is in good condition and I would appreciate a valuation.

HAPPY CAT: A testimonial dinner program fo fforr

ove), which h Geelong champion Bill Goggin (above), includes signatures of other stars such as Wayne Closter (right), is worth at least $250.

BRETT CHAPLIN, VIA EMAIL

respected player, I believe this jumper would have increased in value since his retirement.

RM: As Hawthorn won its

ﬁrst ﬂag in 1961, this item is worth at least $500 if in excellent condition. Adelaide’s Tyson Edwards early in his career signed a Crows jumper for me. Seeing that he recently retired, has this jumper increased in value? ANTON, HAPPY VALLEY, SA

RM: Given that Tyson had such a

fantastic career and was a highly

I have every edition of AFL/VFL finals Football Records and the SANFL finals Budgets from 1966, plus every WAFL finals Budgets from 1982. Most are in good condition, except for some in which the goalkickers and scores have been written. Could I please have a valuation? RUSSELL TANGEY, ALBERT PARK, VIC.

RM: The one that stands out

is the 1966 VFL Grand Final edition, as this alone is worth $200. Also, the 1970 VFL Grand Final edition is worth $80. The best of the SA Budgets is the edition for the 1970 Grand Final in which Sturt defeated Glenelg in pouring rain and this is worth $40. Other Grand Final editions are collectable and on average are worth $25 each, with considerably less for the other ﬁnals editions.

CONTACT RICK MILNE mrpp@iprimus.com.au or drop him a line: 5 Cooraminta St, Brunswick, Vic, 3056 or call (03) 9387 4131. One query per reader.

WATCH BEFORE THE GAME SATURDAY NIGHTS ON TEN

beforethegame.com.au L ADDER SAM 76 DAVE

ANDY

FITZY

LEHMO

MICK

TIPSTERS

FITZY Adelaide St Kilda Hawthorn Essendon Western Bulldogs Carlton Richmond Fremantle

72 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

MICK Geelong Cats St Kilda Hawthorn Essendon Western Bulldogs Sydney Swans Richmond Fremantle

SAM Geelong Cats St Kilda Hawthorn Essendon Western Bulldogs Carlton Richmond Fremantle

DAVE Geelong Cats St Kilda Hawthorn Essendon Western Bulldogs Carlton North Melbourne Fremantle

LEHMO Geelong Cats St Kilda Hawthorn Essendon Western Bulldogs Carlton Richmond Fremantle

ANDY Geelong Cats St Kilda Hawthorn Essendon Western Bulldogs Carlton North Melbourne Fremantle

This week, special guest appearance by PAUL ROOS & CAMERON N LIN LING

ROUND 16: COLLINGWOOD vs ST KILDA

WHOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S YOUR PICK? Introducing the 2010 AFL Team Canvas

Available at AFL Stores and participating AFL Club merchandise stores. RRP $100. Selected teams only. Collingwood, Geelong Cats, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Essendon, Hawthorn, Carlton and West Coast Eagles. Real size of canvas is 20 inches wide by 30 inches tall. Canvas is supplied stretched and ready to hang.

timeon

KIDS’ CORNER

IVE F TO FIND

Sudoku

� Solve this puzzle by ﬁlling in the empty squares with the nine letters of the player’s name. You must make sure you use each letter only once in each row, column or small box of nine squares. Do not guess, as there is only one correct solution.

LIAM JONES WESTERN BULLDOGS

S S

M O

A O

E E

gers 3 Which former Brisbane Lion is now the Tigers’ defensive coach? last year?

E L

coach Matthew Primus start his AFL career?

4 Who was West Coast’s leading goalkicker

J J

1 With which club did Port Adelaide’s caretaker

medallist?

A J

QUICK QUESTIONS

2 Who was North Melbourne’s last Brownlow

w 5 Which former Magpie and Kangaroo is now playing in the NFL in the US?

THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Teal on Port Adelaide guernsey changed to red; No. 3 on back of Collingwood player changed to 8; light in background removed; tattoo on Harry O’Brien’s arm removed; Justin Westhoﬀ’s moustache made thicker. QUICK QUESTIONS: 1. Fitzroy; 2. Ross Glendinning (1983); 3. Justin Leppitsch; 4. Mark LeCras (58 goals); 5. Sav Rocca. B IG G MOUTH: MOU MOUT M MO O H: BIG SCRAMBLED SCRA SC S CRA AM MBLE BLE LE L ED FO FOOTBALLER: OTBA BALLER ER: ER CRYPTIC CRYP C RYP YPTIC TIIC T C FOOTBALLERS: FOOT FO F OO OO OT TBALLERS: LE

74 AFL RECORD RE R EC CO COR OR O RD visit RD viis vvis isit it aﬂ aﬂrecord.com.au record..co om m.a .a au

timeon

NAB AFL RISING STAR

Tackling task with relish Jack Redden is making his name in a new-look -look B Brisbane rriissb bane mi midﬁeld. CALLUM TWOMEY

here’s a simple philosophy behind Jack Redden’s outstanding tackle count this season: if you don’t have the ball, you have to try to get it back. Redden, the round 15 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee, has laid 88 tackles in 2010 – the most of any Brisbane Lion and eighth best in the competition – but points out with laugh that, if he’s making tackles, it means he hasn’t got the ball himself. “I grew up playing with my two brothers in the backyard so it did get pretty competitive,” Redden says. “It (his tackling ability) could come from that, but mainly in the last few weeks I was a bit quiet with my possessions, which meant I was chasing tail and ended up tackling more.” Redden may be selling himself short. Against St Kilda last week, he not only racked up eight tackles but collected the ball 22 times playing on a wing in his side’s 14-point loss. He says it was daunting coming up against a star-studded midfield, including the likes of Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo. “It was pretty intimidating, but I thought our midfield boys did a good job and it ended up being a pretty good battle as the night went on,” he said. Since making his debut in round 15 last year, Redden has established himself as a member of the Lions’ new “midfield boys”, playing 25 consecutive games. He says it’s exciting to be part of the next Brisbane

2010 NAB AFL Rising Star Nominees

COMPETITIVE: Jack Redden has

slotted into the Brisbane Lions’ midﬁeld well, playing the last 25 games in succession.

Round 1 – Chris Yarran (Carl) Round 2 – Daniel Hannebery (Syd) Round 3 – Ryan Bastinac (NM) Round 4 – Nic Naitanui (WCE) Round 5 – Jack Trengove (Melb) Round 6 – Todd Banﬁeld (Bris) Round 7 – Tom Scully (Melb) Round 8 – Jake Melksham (Ess) Round 9 – Nathan Fyfe (Frem) Round 10 – Dustin Martin (Rich) Round 11 – Jordan Gysberts (Melb) Round 12 – Ben Reid (Coll) Round 13 – Tom Rockliﬀ (BL) Round 14 – Ben Stratton (Haw)

midfield with the likes of Tom Rockliff and Todd Banfield – both NAB AFL Rising Star nominations earlier this season – along with last year’s Rising Star, Daniel Rich. “I reckon the crop of young guys coming through are showing really good signs for the club,” the 19-year-old says. “We’re going through a rough trot but we’re trying to pull all the positives out of the negatives. “It’s obviously a lot worse around the club when you’re losing, but we’ve got to build off that.” The experience of last season, especially playing in two finals, helped fast-track Redden’s

development and he says he used the pre-season to improve specific areas of his game. “I worked on my weaknesses, mainly just my strength – I was pretty light-framed when I got to the club – and also my running,” the South Australian says. “The home and away season is so fast, and the finals were so much quicker, but I loved playing finals in my first year and it’s held me in good stead.” Redden’s brother Tom was an Adelaide rookie in 2005 and spent a year on the club’s list before being delisted. His brother’s advice – “to make the most of your opportunities” – still drives him.

Round 15 – Jack Redden (BL)

THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW 1

Redden comes from Keith in South Australia, where former Hawks and Bulldogs defender Simon Cox also hails from.

2 He lives in the same

building complex as Lions teammate Todd Banﬁeld.

3 He is a big fan of

television comedy show Family Guy.

Each week throughout the home and away season, a panel of judges will select the nominee for the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star. At the completion of the season, one outstanding player will be chosen as the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star winner. He will receive an investment folio, a dedicated personal banker, a financial planner and the Ron Evans Medal, all courtesy of the NAB. The NAB Rising Star award is the final stage of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.

76 AFL RECORD visit aﬂrecord.com.au

timeon

LAST LINE

Applying data laterally

The long and the short of eﬀective kicking

onsider this anomaly. Lenny Hayes drills a 35-metre pass in the direction of Saints teammate Nick Riewoldt, who is in a 50-50 contest. Riewoldt marks and goals, and is credited with a contested mark and effective kick. But why do the official AFL statisticians call Hayes’ pass figure. ineffective? Go fi gure. If you he so-called want to, blame the 40-metre rule; orr more me me. I expect specifically, blame ople know only a handful off people ule and a about the 40m rule undeerstand even fewer who understand ved. it, or how it evolved. used The 40m rulee is used kick king to determine thee kicking monly efficiency rates comm commonly referred to. In a nutshell, it iss thee h basis upon which the official statisticians categorise the een difference between effective and ineffective kicks.. pectu us The AFL Prospectus published by desccribes Champion Data describes ck ass any an ineffective kick m to a that is “less than 40m n 40m contest or more than 0 to a worse than 50-5 50-50 eam””. contest for the team”. Also included in the category of ineffective is the er kick, kicck, notorious clanger disstance which can be anyy distance layerr has prior and where the player d delivers deliivers down opportunity and opposition. the throat of the opposition. ive side siide of the On the effective k of “more equation is a kick 0-50 0 contest or than 40m to a 50-50 78 AFL RECORD visit afl a record.com.au

better”. A short effective kick is any kick less than 40m that must “result in a teammate’s uncontested possession or to the team’s advantage”. Based on these criteria, the rate of kicking efﬁciency or effectiveness is simply the sum of effective kicks divided by total kicks. For some reason I am not aware of, common usage appears to interchange efﬁciency and effectiveness as though they are the same thing. This confusion aside, why 40m? And what was the background to settling on this cut-off distance between a good and bad kick? Before founding Champion Data in the mid-1990s, I had been researching an enhanced statistical scheme that could apply to our game. Back

SAINT OR SINNER?:

Players like St Kilda’s Lenny Hayes might be surprised to know that a kick of less than 40m to a 50-50 contest is oﬃcially regarded as ineﬀective, regardless of whether it ends up in the hands of a teammate or not.

We know many of these so-called ineﬀective kicks provide real value

then, only the basic statistics of total kicks, mark, handballs, frees for and against and hit-outs existed. A kick was just a kick, with no other qualitative descriptive values attributed to it. Aside from scoring accuracy, my observation was that better field kicking and more of it than the respective opposition was the foremost factor in winning games. There had been a history of some clubs grading kicks for their own individual purposes, but none had attempted to do this on a competition-wide basis and hence were limited in making any validity claims across the board. The challenge was coming up with a consistent grading standard that could be applied objectively for all players, teams, and games within a season. Computers and software systems for entering rapid-speed data had advanced, but not anywhere near the sophistication and power of what is available today. Hence, the initial standard had to be simple, manageable and accurate for the given resources. On the field, long kicking w still king. Leading coaches was of the 1990s, Denis Pagan, Malcolm Blight, David Parkin, Kevin Sheedy and Michael Malthouse, were influenced by the Tom Hafey coaching school based on the benefits of “kicking long to advantage”. Initially for them, kicking efficiency was as simple as total kicks per goal, and it was assumed the lower the ratio the better. There was no mucking about, and no fancy sideways or backwards

kicks wasting time and energy. I recall several debates on a possible definition with Pagan and other footy luminaries of the day: how long is a long kick? I adopted the 40m rule as the standard and tested it on a host of randomly selected games. It was introduced officially in 1996 and is unchanged since. The logic? In game theory, gaining more than 40m of territory with a 50-50 chance of retention or better is beneficial. Psychologically, a skilled statistician can readily identify the kicking action needed to roost the ball longer than 40m. In contrast, delivering shorter than 40m requires a distinctly different kicking action. The arcs and centre square are set at 50m and are other cues the statisticians take note of to judge the distance of a kick. At the end of 1996, I commissioned mathematicians to report on the outcome of all ineffective kicks less than 40m that went to contests (more than 30,000 in the sample). The results were conclusive – the chances of scoring after gaining possession from an ineffective kick were equal for both teams. Today, on average, there are 90 long and 168 short kicks a match, with ineffective kicks ballooning to 106 a game, even though we know many of those so-called ineffective kicks provide real value. The introduction of the 40m rule in the mid-1990s was an important evolutionary step forward, but it now seems like a quaint relic of the past. TED HOPKINS IS A CARLTON PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND FOUNDER OF CHAMPION DATA. HIS CURRENT PROJECT IS TEDSPORT, A HIGH PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS AND CONSULTING SERVICE.

After 9 years with the Lions, Ashley McGrath is hanging up his boots≥ Artist: Riki Salam, Gilimbaa

From Club Rookie of the Year to the Indigenous All-Stars team – Ashley McGrath’s boots could tell some stories. Which is why we asked him to hand them over. Ashley’s playing boots have been painted by an Australian Indigenous artist, and hung as part of an exhibition to celebrate the talent of Indigenous players in the AFL today. See the full Qantas Boots & Dreams Exhibition and tour details at afl.com.au/qantasboots Qantas. Proud supporter of dreams.

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