AFL Record, Round 13 2010

I N S I D E » FEVOLA, FRASER, HASLEBY REACH 200 » JARRAD McVEIGH

ROUND 13, 2010 JUNE 18-27 $5 (INC. GST)

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ROUND 13, JJUNE 18-27, 2010

Features

BORN LEADER:

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Sydney’s Jarrad McVeigh has the credentials to step up as one of Sydney’s co-captains in 2011.

Jarrad McVeigh

The spirit of the Bloods lives on.

60

Sam Mitchell

Answering the challenges – and the critics.

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Moments of the decade

The epic St Kilda-Geelong clashes of 2009.

Regulars 4

Backchat

Your say on the football world.

9

The Bounce

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

25

Matchday

Stats, history and line-ups.

53

Dream Team

Advice from Mr Fantasy, our Dream Team expert.

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COVERS: ROUND 13 Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell features on the cover for the first week of the split round while Sydney’s Jarrad McVeigh, a possible future leader, is on the cover in the second week.

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Answer Man Kids’ Corner NAB AFL Rising Star Talking Point

Ted Hopkins looks at how the Roos dismantled the Blues.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL WILLSON

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feedback

Your say on the world of football

EDITOR’S LETTER

Light at the end of the tunnel

Roo a fine role model

It was interesting to read the feature on North Melbourne’s Andrew w Swallow. Here’s a young ung man successfully juggling ggling two professional careers eers while still managing g to keep his feet on the ground. nd. He should be an example le to other young players either just starting in the game ame or looking to enter it in the next few years.

LEVEL-HEADED: Andrew Swallow may

be a Roo on the rise, but he has his feet on the ground.

MARGARET, WILLIAMSTOWN, N, VIC.

Lions lacking depth epth

What has happened d to the Brisbane Lions? After er such a strong start and the he hope we might be a genuine ine premiership threat with a forward line featuring uring two of the great modern dern forwards, Jonathan n Brown and Brendan Fevola, a the wheels have fallen off. Yes, we’ve had our share of injury but it doesn’t seem we’ve got enough back up to replace senior players when they fall over.

NORM WALTERS, SOUTHPORT, QLD.

Inconsistency blues

The Blues are way too inconsistent for my liking. How can they beat Geelong and St Kilda, apparently so easily, then just as easily fall to Hawthorn and North Melbourne? Wins in those games would have entrenched

us in the top few spots on the ladder. Now, it seems, we have to battle against a bunch of other teams just to win a spot in the lower part of the top-eight.

Come on Carlton, let’s get serious and show the rest of the competition that we’re back as a genuine force. It’s been way too long.

VINCE, TEMPLESTOWE, VIC.

Fall from grace

4 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

JESSICA, ALEXANDER HEIGHTS, WA.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Yes, we all admire John Worsforld for what he did as player – and what he has done as a coach – for the West Coast Eagles. But to watch the team now, just weeks after he predicted this squad

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

would be good enough to win a premiership in the next few years, is i becoming b i harder h d each h week. What happened to the fast, skilful and exciting brand of footy we saw the Eagles play just a few years ago?

Send us your feedback. The best letter each round willl receive a copy of the AFL Record Season Guide 2010. Email aflrecordeditor@slatterymedia. terymedia com or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.

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� The ever-changing football landscape can be as pretty as a postcard from the tropics one week and as harsh ha as the scorching desert deser sun the next. Take the examples exam of Richmond and Melbourne Melb in recent ece t times. t es.

Earlier this year, some were calling the Tigers Tig gers the th worst side since Fitzroy Fitzzroy wa was in its death throes in in the mid-1990s. m Yet the past few feew weeks wee have produced two o stirring stirr wins – one in terrible terrrible conditions c ort Ade against Po Port Adelaide at adium and the AAMI Sta Stadium other inspired in nspired by Jack Riewo oldt’s heroics h Riewoldt’s against We against West Coast Co oast in round 12 2 – and an suddenly there is belief among amon the yellow and black faithful.

There will be b mistakes mis along the wayy and eeven first-year coach coacch Damien Dam admitted Hardwick adm mitted to a rookie error when hee didn’t allow interviewed by Riewoldt to be inter after Fox Sports immediately immedia the young star’s 10-goal haul.

But Hardwick quickly apologised, even ringing Fox Sports himself, and the matter quickly blew over. What is important is Richmond fans have someone they can hang their hat on … dare we say a new ‘Richo’?

The Demons are probably further advanced but, like Richmond, their future will be driven by youth and, as we saw on Queen’s Birthday, a belief they can match it with anyone.

PETER DI SISTO

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO TheTHIS Editor,WEEK’S AFL Record,COVER Ground Floor, XXXX XXXXX 140XXXXXXXXXXXXX Harbour Esplanade, X Docklands, Victoria, 3008.

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AFL RECORD, VOL. 99, ROUND 13, 2010 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211.

ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109

SNAP SHOT

OH NO, IT’S A DRAW Rd 12 Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG � It was as though the final siren was a vacuum, its sound sucking the noise, tension and emotion out of the stadium in a microsecond. It was football’s equivalent of the amp blowing on the lead break; the dancehall lights being turned on during the first kiss; the recorder stopping dead as a movie reaches its dramatic conclusion. The ball sat alone, suddenly as unwanted as a coach’s stare, an object of desire moments earlier immediately cast aside, as though it were a disappointing apple. Sharrod

6 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Wellingham, Steele Sidebottom, Brad Green, Harry O’Brien, Jack Trengove, Cale Morton, Dayne Beams and Alan Toovey had just played desperate all-or-nothing football, and ended up sharing the spoils. It was the 146th time an AFL game had ended in a draw (two of those were finals eventually decided in extra time) and the first such result in 2010.

PETER RYAN PHOTO: SEAN GARNSWORTHY/AFL PHOTOS

AFL RECORD visit a record.com.au 7

VIEWS NEWS FIRST PERSON FACTS DATA CULTURE

It’s almost like an accordion – the forward line moves all the way up with the flight of the ball and then comes back JAMES HIRD

LITTLE WONDER: The Roos’

Lindsay Thomas is one of several small forwards leading their club’s goalkicking list in 2010.

FORWARD STRUCTURE

As talls fall, clubs are grateful for small mercies

W

NICK BOW EN

hen Nick Riewoldt suffered a severe hamstring tendon injury in round three, it left a gaping hole in St Kilda’s forward line.

Just as Drew Petrie’s prolonged absence with broken bones in his feet has robbed North Melbourne of its chief target in attack, and Carlton has been forced to reshuffle its forward line since full-forward Brendan Fevola’s departure to the Brisbane Lions at the end of last season.

All three clubs have coped admirably without key players, but not in the way you might

have expected. While fellow key forward Justin Koschitzke (197cm) was touted as the man most likely to fill the Riewoldt void – with defenders Zac Dawson (195cm) and Sam Fisher (191cm), utility Brendon Goddard (189cm) and youngster Rhys Stanley (200cm) among the other possible replacements tossed up – small forward Stephen Milne has been the Saints’ primary avenue to goal since round three.

In that time, Milne has kicked 25 goals – he leads the Saints’ goalkicking with 30 – with the

next best being another small forward, Adam Schneider (13).

Meanwhile, Koschitzke, who has played eight of the nine games Riewoldt has missed, has kicked just nine goals.

Similarly, at North, with Petrie sidelined for all bar its round 10 match against Fremantle, small forward Lindsay Thomas has emerged as the Roos’ most potent player in attack.

Thomas leads North’s goalkicking with 25, from tall David Hale (17 goals), and last round against Carlton, was clearly the best player on the ground, dominating several Blues opponents as he kicked 7.5.

And, while Setanta O’hAilpin leads Carlton’s goalkicking with 25, smalls Eddie Betts (24), Jeff Garlett and Chris

Yarran (both 14 from nine games) have been vital cogs in the Blues’ new-look attack.

Such impressive returns are indicative of the changing nature of the small forward’s role in 2010.

Where previously such players relied mostly on the crumbs created by taller teammates in marking contests to kick their goals, the proliferation of all-ground zone defences across the competition seems to have changed that.

In an attempt to drag opposition defenders away from their designated backline zones, teams frequently push their forwards up the ground to create an open forward 50.

In some senses, the tactic is nothing new. In the 1990s, CON T IN U ED NE X T PAGE

AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 9

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Denis Pagan used a similar strategy – widely known as ‘Pagan’s Paddock’ – to create space for champion key forward Wayne Carey.

But where Pagan’s tactic was designed to create space for Carey to mark, today’s open forward lines are often best utilised by small forwards because of their pace.

Former Essendon captain and now Fox Sports commentator James Hird says players do not need to be strong marks like Carey to take advantage of an open forward 50. “(When) sides push their forward lines up, it’s almost like an accordion – the forward line moves all the way up with the flight of the ball and then comes back,” Hird said on On The Couch this week. “There’s so much space over the back that these small forwards are playing in space and the kicks (to them) aren’t on top of their heads, they’re out in space.”

A NEW TIGER HERO � Jack Riewoldt has soared to Coleman Medal contention on the back of outstanding goalkicking efforts in recent weeks.

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NEWS TRACKER

SEPTEMBER SPECIALISTS: Geelong

has been the finals master in recent seasons, but may have to adapt to a different finals system from 2012 on.

» A three-year ‘locked’ fixture, with each club to play the other 17 clubs four times (twice at home and twice away). Under this scenario, teams would play each other at least once a year and play five teams twice.

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

Fixture options released for 2012 and beyond PETER DI SISTO

A

competition featuring two or even three ‘conferences’ and finals series with as many as 12 clubs participating are among the options the AFL is considering from 2012, when nine matches will be played each round.

Nothing is set in stone – in fact, the top-eight system used now could be retained – however the AFL wants to hear supporters’ views. The AFL this week released the options being considered for an 18-club competition. These include: » A two-conference system with nine clubs in each.

Under this arrangement, each club would play 13 matches against conference opponents (twice against five teams and once against three) and one match against the nine other clubs. A number of teams from each conference would qualify for the finals (six from each, for example, in a 12-team finals system). » A three-conference league, with six teams in each. Under this system, each club would face its conference opponents twice (10 matches) and meet

the 12 other clubs once. The same arrangement used to determine finalists in a two-conference competition would be applied to a three-conference league. » ‘Resetting’ the fixture, with clubs playing each other once (17 matches) before a reallocation of teams into three ‘ranked’ divisions: a top-six, middle-six and bottom-six. Each club would play the other five in its division once to determine final ladder positions. After the 22 matches, the top-six would qualify for the finals, and the middle-six would play for the remaining finals spots, depending on the number of teams in the finals.

The bottom-six would play for an ‘advantage’, say a draft pick or a share of prizemoney. » Resetting the fixture, with clubs playing each other once (17 matches) before a reallocation of teams into three ‘seeded’ divisions.

The divisions would be made up of an “even” mix of top-six, middle-six and bottom-six clubs, based on ladder positions after 17 rounds. Each club would then play the other five in its division once to determine final ladder positions. The top team from each division would be named conference champion and qualify for the finals, along with the next five-nine teams based on ladder spots (depending on the number of teams in the finals) playing in a ‘Wildcard’ round to determine remaining finalists.

Former AFL commissioner Graeme Samuel awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia.

10 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

» A similar format to the one in place now, with clubs playing each other once in the first 20 weeks of the season.

Teams would play five teams twice a year, based on “a range of equality factors”.

The aim of this format, according to the AFL, would be to achieve a “balanced fixture year-by-year”.

The AFL is also weighing up options for a finals system that could include as many as 12 clubs but as few as six and could be played over five weeks.

The AFL wants at least two finals a week, including two preliminary finals the week before the Grand Final.

Higher-ranked clubs (on the ladder after home and away matches) would be rewarded, either with a bye, a double-chance, home-ground advantage or “easier” opponents.

Any finals system put in place would not allow ‘dead’ rubbers and would be void of incentiveto-lose matches. Under no scenario would a “worst loser” be eliminated. The top-four teams would continue to have a double chance, and no club could lose twice in the finals and still be alive.

These options for finals include: » A final 10, with the top two teams getting a week off and a double chance. The thirdsixth-placed clubs would get a double chance in week one of the finals and the remaining four teams would face elimination in the opening week. Under this format, there would be 13 matches played over five weeks.

FINAL 10 WILDCARD ROUND

WEEK 1 FINALS

WEEK2 FINALS

WEEK 3 FINALS

GRAND FINAL WINNER LOSER

BYES FOR 1ST/2ND CLUBS QF1

3v5

QF3 1 v Winner QF1

EF1

7v9

Loser QF1 EF3 v Winner EF1

EF2

8 v 10

Loser QF2 EF4 v Winner EF2

QF2

4v6

QF4 2 v Winner QF2

SF1

Loser QF3 v Winner EF3

PF1

Winner QF3 v Winner SF2 GF

Loser QF4 SF2 v Winner EF4

Winner QF4 PF2 v Winner SF1

Winner PF1 v Winner PF2

FINAL 12 ELIMINATION WILDCARD ROUND

WEEK 1 FINALS

WEEK2 FINALS

INAL WEEK 3/GRAND FINAL

BYES FOR 1ST/4TH CLUBS EF1

5 v 12*

SF1

EF2

6 v 11*

SF3 3 v Winner #2

1 v Winner #4

EF3

7 v 10*

SF4 4 v Winner #1

EF4

8 v 9*

SF2 2 v Winner #3

PF1 Winner SF1 v Winner SF4 Win nner PF1 Winner GF nner PF2 v Wi Winner PF2 Winner SF2 v Winner SF3

*ALL LOSERS ELIMINATED WINNERS RANKED #1 TO #4 BASED ON LADDER POSITION

FINAL 12 DOUBLE CHANCE WILDCARD ROUND QF1

1v2

DOUBLE CHANCE MATCH EF5

7v8

EF2

4 v 11

EF3

5 v 10

EF1

3 v 12

EF4

6v9

» Two versions of a final 12. » One version would see the top-four teams enjoy a week off while the remaining eight teams play elimination matches. The top-four would then join in week two of the finals, effectively creating an eight-team knock-out phase. Eleven matches would be played over four weeks.

NEWS TRACKER

WEEK 1 FINALS

WEEK2 FINALS

WINNER LOSER

WINNER OF QF1 RECEIVES BYE INTO PF SF1

Loser QF1 v Winner EF5

SF2

Winner EF2 v Winner EF3

SF3

Winner EF1 v Winner EF4

» The other version would see the top two play each other in the first week, with the winner going straight through to a preliminary final and the loser having the double chance.

The other teams would play in elimination matches in week one. There would be 12 finals played over four weeks. » Retaining the current eight-team format.

EEK 3/GRAND FINAL WEEK

PF1 Winner QF1 v Winner SF3 GF Winner PF1 v Winner PF2 PF2 Winner SF1 v Winner SF3

“We want to hear from the football public on key questions surrounding our season, such as ‘What is the appropriate length of our premiership season? ‘What is the appropriate number of weeks for the finals series? ‘How many teams out of 18 should qualify to play finals?’ ‘Should we look at various options such as conferences for our competition?’ the AFL’s chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? � Supporters are encouraged to provide feedback on the various options, via afl.com.au, with a dedicated section on the website open for a limited time only. Fans are also encouraged to make other suggestions for both the home and away format and the finals.

See the website for conditions of submissions.

West Coast utility Mark Nicoski set to miss several weeks with a shoulder injury.

AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 11

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10 THINGS JOSH FRASER (200 GAMES)

MILESTONES ROUND 13

300 games

� Josh Fraser is due to play his 200th game this round against the Sydney Swans. Since being drafted at No. 1 in the 1999 National Draft, he has played in two Grand Finals and one preliminary final and finished top 10 in the club best and fairest five times.

To honour his achievement the AFL Record asked teammate and friend, on-baller Scott Pendlebury, to list 10 things you might not know about Fraser:

Shane McInerney Umpire

AFL 200 club Nick Dal Santo St Kilda Lindsay Gilbee Western Bulldogs

200 games

1

Josh loves his food. Not an hour goes by where he isn’t eating or preparing food for himself.

Brendan Fevola Brisbane Lions Paul Hasleby Fremantle Josh Fraser Collingwood

2

He gets back to Mansfield whenever he gets a chance to help out his old man on the farm, and loves when I ask him 15 questions about what he actually does to help out.

150 games

3

Brendon Goddard St Kilda

4

100 games

Since the arrival of Ted (Josh’s first son), he thinks he should be in the running for father of the year.

Josh is one of the main pranksters in the team, along with his buddy Shane O’Bree. Combined, they are bad news. He loves to stir players up about anything, especially if they are willing to bite at his remarks but, at the same time, he is highly respected among the playing group for what he has done in the past 199 games.

5

Josh played every game in the ruck except one in his first season with Collingwood as an 18-year-old in 2000.

6

He loves American sports, especially American football. He could maybe one day be a punter in the NFL. He’s constantly showing off his ability to kick torpedoes at training. They are actually very impressive, usually from 65-70m out.

7

Josh fancies himself after a couple of beers as a singer, especially The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, as seen at his wedding when he stole the microphone

NEWS TRACKER

Jacob Surjan Port Adelaide Brett Jones West Coast

50 games

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD THEM: Josh Fraser doesn’t mind listening to the odd

tune, particularly The Gambler by Kenny Rogers.

and belted out a few tunes to the amusement of the audience.

his career and has performed consistently at the elite level.

8

10

Few supporters have a real appreciation of the buffeting ruckmen take and Josh has been carrying the mantle of No. 1 ruckman for 10 seasons.

9

He is one of the most respected – and respectful – people I have met and has really strong values. He is very resilient and professional with his footy.

He hasn’t missed too many senior games over the course of

Josh is very good at making young players coming through feel comfortable around the club, and also teaching them the skills he has learned throughout his career.

Fraser is the fifth No.1 draft selection to reach 200 games, behind Drew Banfield (West Coast Eagles, 265 games), Darren Gaspar (Sydney/ Richmond, 248), Jeff White (Fremantle/ Melbourne 268) and Travis Johnstone (Melbourne/Brisbane Lions, 204)

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown likely to be sidelined for a month with his groin injury.

12 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Scott Harding Port Adelaide Matthew Warnock Melbourne Ben McGlynn Sydney Swans Garrick Ibbotson Fremantle

800 games (As a player and coach) Mick Malthouse Collingwood

The list includes those not necessarily selected but on the verge of milestones.

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DOCKER SURVIVOR

HIGHER EDUCATION

200 games on, they’re still talking about Hasleby

Assistant coaches developing by degrees

F

MICH A EL LOV ET T

C A MERON NOA K ES

T

he game has not always been Paul Hasleby’s friend.

Osteitis pubis ruining one season, a knee reconstruction wiping out another, football has presented many obstacles for Fremantle’s 29-year-old midfielder.

Throw into the equation a body-shape that needs constant training to play at an elite level, a modern-day emphasis on youth and speed, and it is remarkable Hasleby has survived.

But he has. In fact, as the hurdles keep being shoved before him, Hasleby has found ways to crawl over them, using his wits and cunning, and, most of all, his natural football ability to get by.

Hasleby – who plays his 200th game for Fremantle this round, becoming the fourth Docker to reach the milestone – has had a career that has been unusually topical.

Even before he was an AFL player, people were talking about Hasleby after Fremantle gained a priority selection (No. 2) in the 1999 National Draft and used it to secure him.

Then, soon after, the football world was talking about Hasleby again, this time for his 30-possession debut against Geelong, a club record that survived for a decade and was only broken this year by mature-aged recruit Michael Barlow.

When Hasleby contemplated his career with the AFL Record recently, he was amazed just how quickly the years had passed.

“It feels like yesterday when me and ‘Pav’ (Matthew Pavlich) NEWS TRACKER

It feels like yesterday when me and ‘Pav’ walked through the door PAUL HASLEBY

walked through the door, and Leigh Brown, back in that ’99 draft,” he said.

“And I remember playing on (Geelong star) Garry Hocking in my first game, which was a great experience straight off the bat.”

Hasleby impressed in his first year but a back injury at the end of the season impacted on his preseason and second year.

He lived up to his draft pick status in the next few years but a hernia hampered his performance in 2005 and in 2006 it was osteitis pubis.

“I’ve always been a player that’s really needed to be at my fittest to play my best footy, just because of my body type, I guess,” he said.

Doubts started to surface about Hasleby’s ability to remain an AFL player but when he went down with a knee in the first NAB Cup game of the 2008 season, he used the setback to prove his doubters wrong.

“Because it happened in the first part of the year, it gives you a full year to recover. I got to go away and experience a few other things in life,” he said.

Hasleby went to the Olympics in Beijing and recalled watching a hurdler, who was

CELEBRATION TIME: Paul Hasleby has stood the test of time to reach his 200-game milestone in this round.

favourite, tripping on the first obstacle of her heat.

“She had obviously prepared really hard for four years and I just thought it was very similar to the year I had just had, where I had trained really hard over the pre-season and at the first hurdle I did my knee.

“I was feeling shattered for her but I thought I’m not going to have to wait four years to have another crack at it.”

The following season, 2009, Hasleby was back to his best, and became emotional after he won the Ross Glendinning Medal in the western derby.

“That was my teammate Matthew Pavlich’s 200th game.

It was a combination of that and also that it was five games back from my knee reconstruction, so it kind of signaled to me that my recovery was complete,” he said.

“You’ve really got to make the most of it while you’re in the game and myself and Matthew have been privileged to be able stay in the game for over 10 years.

“You’ve just got to make every post a winner while you’re involved.”

And with a record four Glendinning Medals to his name, there is no doubt Hasleby has done exactly that.

or most AFL assistant coaches, studying the opposition is as close as they get to furthering their football education.

However, a small network of assistant coaches from various clubs is developing new study habits, thanks to the Australian Catholic University.

The coaches, including North Melbourne’s Darren Crocker, Collingwood’s Paul Hudson, Essendon’s Alan Richardson and the Western Bulldogs’ Peter Dean, Paul Williams and Leon Cameron, are the first group of coaches studying for a university degree at ACU. They are undertaking a bachelor of high performance degree (sport and business), which involves four years of part-time study.

As part of their first unit, ‘Ethical Leadership in Sport’, the coaches have discussed and debated the values inherent in their coaching, how these values have been developed over time and what factors have influenced them.

In February this year, 22 coaches started the course and over three days they had guest lectures from four-time premiership coach David Parkin, Geelong CEO Brian Cook, AFL Coaches’ Association CEO Danny Frawley and former Olympian and now Basketball Australia CEO Larry Sengstock.

All shared their experiences as leaders, how the club/teams in which they were involved developed and lived by their values, the roles played by leadership groups and how they and their teams and clubs developed and acted out their values in times

Saint Leigh Montagna and Eagle Bradd Dalziell accept reprimands for respective tripping offences.

14 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

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As part of their first unit, the coaches have discussed and debated the values inherent in their coaching that test the strength of their commitment.

All but one of the coaches undertaking the degree at ACU this year is involved in Australian Football. They come from across the country – Melbourne (14), Perth (three), Sydney (two), Gippsland (one) Ballarat (one) and Adelaide (one). They are involved in coaching at AFL, WAFL, VFL and TAC Cup level. All coaches in the degree course must have a Level 3 coaching accreditation and coaches from all sports can undertake the course.

While the course requires students to attend the ACU for two periods of concentrated study each year, the majority of units are completed online.

IF COACHES WANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2011 COURSE, THEY CAN EMAIL COURSE CO-COORDINATOR ROSS SMITH AT ROSS.SMITH@ACU.EDU.AU

16 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE

the bounce

BUSY ACHIEVER

Long journey to 300 games GREAT EFFORT: Shane

McInerney will officiate his 300th game in round 13.

� For the first few years of their lives, Shane McInerney’s two young children thought their father’s car was a taxi.

He spends most of his working time travelling interstate and, as a senior AFL umpire, he has the odd road trip thrown in for good measure.

McInerney, who works as a quality systems manager for a mining company, leads a hectic life that combines family, work and umpiring at the highest level.

During this split round, the 39-year-old will officiate his 300th AFL game and in a few weeks he will move into the top 10 on the all-time list of games umpired.

“I’m pleased the kids (daughter Tarryn and son Callum) will have some memory of their old man being involved in footy,” he said. “With my job and umpiring as well, they used to think I drove a taxi because there would always be one pulling up outside the house.”

His family, including wife Deborah, have made plenty of sacrifices to see their father and

husband through to the 300-game milestone.

“It was a battle when they were really young,” McInerney said. “But our coaching staff have been great. They have a good understanding of my work/life situation and that’s probably helped me get this far.”

Originally from Ballarat, McInerney joined the VFL state panel in 1989 and was promoted to the AFL panel in 1993. He umpired his first AFL game the following year (Carlton-Sydney Swans at Princes Park) and recalls two points from the game.

“They gave me the honour of the opening bounce but what I remember most was the speed of the game … now it’s even faster,” he said.

McInerney, who officiated the 2004 and 2007 Grand Finals, plans to continue on but isn’t sure about a 400-game milestone.

“I thought when I started that 300 games would be tough but Hayden Kennedy (on 468 games) reset the mark,” he said.

MICHAEL LOVETT

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NAB AFL UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Vics show the way with big victories � Victorian junior football came to the fore with both Vic Metro and Vic Country posting wins away from home in the third round of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

Metro surprised favourite South Australia with a dominant display, leading all day to post a 23-point win at Norwood Oval.

Midfielder Ben Jacobs was in control, picking up an astonishing 47 possessions, continually rebounding from defence and providing clean delivery to his forwards.

Metro got an even effort from its forwards, with the team’s 15 goals coming mainly from Patrick Karnezis and Aaron Young (three each) and Andrew Gaff and Darcy Barden (two apiece).

Inaccuracy cost South Australia any chance of threatening Metro.

The home team finished with two more scoring shots but kicked 17 behinds. Zak Fitzgerald (four goals) was the

FOLLOWING A DREAM OUTSTANDING: Midfielder Ben Jacobs dominated with 47 possessions in Vic Metro’s upset win over South Australia.

best option up forward for the South Australians.

In a tighter affair, Vic Country remained unbeaten when it held off a late charge from Western Australia to win by six points at Subiaco Oval.

Western Australia burst to a 21-point lead at quarter-time but fell away in a tough game.

Harley Bennell continued his outstanding carnival

form with another strong performance (26 possessions and 10 inside-50s), but it wasn’t enough as Country’s brigade of Luke Parker, Shaun Atley and Adam Treloar had control of the midfield.

Country’s Lucas Cook, usually a forward, pushed up the ground and played predominantly behind the ball, impressing with his smart reading of the play.

The NAB AFL Under-18 Championships continues on Friday, June 25, when Vic Metro meets the Northern Territory at Visy Park (2pm).

The next day, also at Visy Park, Vic Country plays Queensland (9.30am), NSW/ACT takes on Western Australia (11.55am) and Tasmania battles South Australia (2.20pm).

The carnival ends with four games at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, June 30, from 9.30am.

CALLUM TWOMEY

Inspired to be a Swan C A L LU M T WOMEY

A

lex Jalloh’s voice bubbles with excitement. “I’m so happy about it,” the 14-year-old says.

After several counts of adversity in his young life, Jalloh has reason to be excited.

Born in Sierra-Leone, his father died when he was two, and Jalloh and his family, including his twin brother Andrew, moved to Australia when he was eight.

Tragically, Andrew died of stomach cancer in 2008. Now, however, Jalloh is using his brother’s death as inspiration for his burgeoning football career, and last week was signed to the Sydney Swans Academy.

Jalloh has excelled at soccer, rugby, athletics and Australian Football, but opted to be part of the Swans Advanced Academy, which means he can be drafted directly to the club in 2013.

“When Andrew passed away, I pretty much dropped all the other sports and AFL took focus.

It’s a great privilege for me to do it for him,”Jalloh says. “Of course I am following my footy career for myself and my family

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

AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 19

the bounce

VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE

but it’s mostly for Andrew, because it’s something he wanted to do.

“I was going to play soccer, but Andrew’s dream was to play AFL for the Swans. When he passed away, I wanted to continue that dream for him.”

Jalloh is going a long way to doing that, and was recently selected in the NSW under-15 side to play in the national school championships.

A boarder at St Ignatius College in Riverview, Jalloh also still plays rugby for the school and laughs when asked if he has any tips for AFL converts Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau.

“When it comes to Folau, he’s a tall guy so he will be able to jump pretty well which will be an advantage,” Jalloh said.

“Hunt will also make it too, I think, but he’s definitely got some things to work on. I heard he didn’t run a very quick 3km time-trail so I think I might be able to beat him!”

The Academy’s talent identification and operations manager Chris Smith said Jalloh’s signing was a coup.

“This is a real win for the Academy in its first year. Alex has speed and strength and we’ve been very impressed by his maturity, focus and ability to work hard,” Smith said.

After attending a few Swans training sessions, Jalloh knows he has a long way to go. He has, however, ticked one box after meeting his hero, dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes.

“I’ve met a few of the boys, but he’s my idol and he was the first one to introduce himself to me so it was great,” Jalloh said.

“It’s all been pretty amazing.”

EXCITING TALENT: Fourteen-year-old

Alex Jalloh has been signed by the Sydney Swans Academy.

NEWS TRACKER

REMINISCING: Collingwood’s 1990 premiership captain Tony Shaw (left) and star forward Peter Daicos enjoy memories of the Magpies’ drought-breaking flag.

PREMIERSHIP REUNION

Magpies laud heroes of 1990 PETER RYA N

W

hen Collingwood’s 1990 premiership team held a reunion recently that marked 20 years since the Magpies’ only premiership in the past 52 years, there were smiles everywhere.

The year when the drought was broken was relived with stories of mateship, the infamous quarter-time brawl and individual quirks that sound hilarious now – such as Tony Shaw’s grumpy reaction on Grand Final day to his wife’s parting words of encouragement to “not get reported today”.

There were also moving reminders that an important

member of the team, Darren Millane, had passed away just a year later, aged 26.

Perhaps the most striking element for the independent observer was the sense the premiership went beyond the 20 members of the team and the coach who represented Collingwood that day.

The breadth of personnel that goes towards winning a premiership was obvious when the group of 1990 gathered on stage. The faces of the hard-luck stories stood out: Alan Richardson, now an Essendon assistant coach, played 18 games that season and would have played in the Grand Final except for a broken collarbone suffered in the second semi-final.

Brian Taylor, now a media commentator, the man who every Collingwood fan knows kicked a late goal in the qualifying final – his last AFL game – that enabled the Magpies to force a draw against West Coast.

Ron McKeown, not in the room but with 20 games in 1990,

There were also moving reminders that Darren Millane, had passed away just a year later, aged 26 will always be remembered fondly for his contribution in an 84-game career.

There were nine other players who represented the Magpies that season, most of their names only recognisable to family and fanatics: Paul Tuddenham (10 games in 1990), Colin Alexander (four), Jason Croall (two), Athos Hrysoulakis (two), Terry Keays (six), Darren Saunders (four), Heath Shephard (two), Andrew Tarpey (two) and Brendon Tranter (one).

Of those, only Tuddenham was announced as being present at the function, but the names and games of the others are cemented in history for anyone prepared to look.

Then there was coach Leigh Matthews, his sidekick Graeme ‘Gubby’ Allan, ruck coach Peter

Match-day striking reports laid against St Kilda’s Justin Koschitzke and Geelong’s David Wojcinski thrown out by Match Review Panel.

20 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE ‘Crackers’ Keenan and team manager Eddie Hillgrove, all on stage among other faces even the most ardent Magpies fan would struggle to put a name to.

Recognising the effort of the collective, Collingwood announced during the function it was releasing a premiership photo of the whole 1990 group.

All that information is leading to this simple point. It’s not a new idea, but one worth supporting: a way needs to be explored to acknowledge those who play senior football for a club in a premiership year but don’t earn selection, for whatever reason, on Grand Final day.

Maybe, in the future, a premiership list medal should be awarded after the event to those who missed out on the day (and, in my view, nominated football department staff).

It’s not meant to be a compensation prize, a sap to the modern ‘everyone’s a winner’ trend.

It’s one acknowledgement of the reality that premierships are won by the collective efforts of players and football department staff, both a reminder of the team ethos successful clubs are built on and a nice symbol on the mantelpiece for those who participated.

No big deal needs to be made.

It’s just a subtle shift to bring into the present a fact that becomes so obvious 20 years after the event.

the bounce

KICKING GOALS THE FEVOLA WAY Brisbane Lion Brendan Fevola has been one of the standout full-forwards of his generation.

Since his debut with Carlton in 1999, he has kicked 616 goals at an average of 3.1 a game, converting 60.6 per cent of his scoring shots. On the eve of his 200th game, against Richmond at the Gabba this round, Fevola explains his approach to goalkicking.

Every time I mark the ball within scoring range, I just go back and think, ‘I’ve got to kick the goal’.

I have a set routine which I’m confident in and stick to.

Near the start of my career with Carlton, I was missing set shots to the right a bit. At the time, (St Kilda coach) Ross Lyon was an assistant coach at the Blues and he told me I was waving the ball around like I was stirring a bowl of porridge or a bowl of soup.

So we just tinkered with a few different things and came up with the style I have now (Fevola holds the ball with his right hand below his left, almost cupping the bottom of the ball). I’m confident in that.

Most balls go straight; they don’t always go straight through the middle but they do go straight. Obviously, you have also got to make sure you

do the practice during the week and you should get out there and have 50-100 shots a week. But you have to practise as though you are playing a game.

This pre-season with Brisbane, we put an iPod on with crowd noise so we had to deal with the sort of stuff that can put you off in a game.

My goalkicking partner has been ‘Browny’ (Jonathan Brown)) and he’s thrown a few sledges my way and I’ve done the same to him. We have competitions where the loser buys lunch, so there’s a little bit riding on our goalkicking practice.

The amount of goalkicking you do can get cut back, depending on how sore you are during the week. I haven’t been getting the practice in of late because I haven’t been training most of this year.

Not surprisingly, I have sprayed a few set shots recently – goalkicking is like a golf swing, if you don’t practise it, you lose it. t t.

In the past few rounds, I’ve kicked pretty straight (11.1 in thee past three games), which has been good.

Hopefully, now my body is sound, I can get out there and do o n some goalkicking and straighten up in the second half of the year..

I don’t really ever feel pressure to convert opportunities for my team,

though. While full-forward can be a pretty tough position to play if the ball’s not coming down, I’ve played with some classy midfields who have made it quite easy for me to get on the end of their work.

I have just got to make sure I put it through the big sticks.

A S TOLD AS TO OLD D TO TO NICK N NIC CK K BOWEN BOW BO WE EN N

FORMULA: Brendan

Fevola has a set goalkicking routine.

,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.

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AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 21

the bounce

VIEWS | NEWS | FIRST PERSON | FACTS | DATA | CULTURE STATS NOT EVERYTHING: Hard-nosed midfielder Luke Ball had just 15 kicks and five handballs for Collingwood against Carlton in round six, but was easily best on ground according to coach Mick Malthouse (below).

OBSERVATIONS

The nonsense of numbers C A MERON NOA K ES

S

tatistics, statistics, statistics. We seem to spend a lifetime poring over them. Dream Teamers drool over them; some study them for days, months.

There are websites devoted to them, newspaper columns full of them … and these nasty little numbers have even changed the language of football.

Maybe Lou If my Pa was Richards was right alive today, I in 1979, when he wonder what he would named Robbert think when Klomp best on I told him ground for his we won the six kicks and six stoppages 67-10 handballs and the inside 50s were 82-9, Klomp best on ground and the rebound for his six kicks and six 50s were 47-5 and we handballs (and no marks) in a smashed them in the night competition game against clearances 56-2 to boot.

Fitzroy at Waverley Park.

That’s right, Pa would But just maybe we were, and mumble, “English please”. just maybe we are, all utterly Maybe Lou Richards was off-base. Certainly, Mick right on that cold, wet night Malthouse keeps telling us we are. in 1979, when he famously After Collingwood won named Carlton recruit Robbert th the inside-50 count against

38 and d th kl Melbourne 58-38, the ttackle count 90-47, and the scoring shots 31-21, Malthouse declared statistics were nonsense.

And it is not the first time this year he has been derogatory to our beautiful numbers.

When Carlton played Collingwood, he told us Luke Ball was best on ground by a street. We looked at the

numbers, he looked at the numbers, someone asked why, and he told us, “Don’t look at the numbers.”

But like stubborn mules, we don’t listen and, last round, we were staring at them again as North Melbourne ran Carlton ragged. But how could it be?

The clearances told us the Blues were winning easily; in fact, they were 26-12 up in the first half, yet trailed by 17 points.

Of course, it didn’t stop there, did it? Carlton’s dis disposal ef efficiency was be better than N North’s in th three quarters a and those cclearance n numbers eended up a w whopping 47-27 iin the Blues’ favour favour. But they got done.

As for best on ground in that game, North’s Scott Thompson had 21 handballs, eight kicks, three marks, made four spoils and had no critical errors and Lindsay Thomas slotted 7.5 – but they’re just numbers. I liked Setanta O’hAilpin’s game – he only had two kicks, but, gee, they were nice kicks.

ONE DOWN FOR AFL CONVERT FIRST STEPS:

Karmichael Hunt made his VFL debut for Gold Coast against the Coburg Tigers.

HUNT DRAWS LARGE CROWD TO VFL DEBUT

� Rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt kicked two goals in his Gold Coast debut, a VFL match against the Coburg Tigers at Craigieburn in Melbourne’s outer north.

An estimated crowd of more than 6000 watched as Hunt, who signed with Gold Coast last year, won a free kick in the opening minutes for a tackle that caused his opponent to incorrectly dispose of the ball.

NEWS TRACKER

Moments later, he received a handball and ran into an open goal. He was given another kick after being pushed from behind by a Coburg opponent after kicking the goal, and booted his second from the goalsquare.

The 23-year-old New Zealand-born Hunt left the game with a leg injury, but was content with his first-up effort.

“It’s definitely good to have that experience put away now (and) for me to move on and work on the skills to get better. That’s my next focus,” he said.

Shane Jansen has become just the sixth boundary umpire to officiate in 300 AFL matches.

22 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

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The Sydney Swans Swa have just the person to carry on the Bloods le legacy when Brett Kirk hangs up his boots at the end of the season. Like Kirk, hard-working m midfielder Jarrad McVeigh exudes a quiet demeanour demeanou that belies a fanatical work ethic and hunger for success that earmarks him as a future leader of the club. CAMERON NOAKES

T

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL WILLSON/ PHOTOS

heir ‘spiritual leader’ is a lead Buddhist and Budd the coach c is famous for famo meditating med and whistling a dit ditty during a game. It is not ex exactly what one expects from a football club but this has be been the unlikely face of the Sydney Swans for the past seven years, mysteriously Zen, a profile so wonderfully profile wonderfu alien to a male sports team that it is a constant source of conjecture for media commentators.

Even the coach has found himself in hot water for

jokes that have been dubbed inappropriate, or at least not in the spirit of the fire-and-brimstone breathing hot gospellers who once ruled the roost of football clubs.

This is the club Jarrad McVeigh was born into and this is all he knows as an AFL player.

McVeigh arrived at the Swans at the end of the 2002 season and made his debut in 2004. The timing coincided with Paul Roos taking the reins, coaching the last 10 matches in 2002 and officially being appointed for the 2003 season.

AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 57

JARR JA RRAD RR AD Mc McVE VEIG IGH IG H

It would be nice to get a win against them, because we owe them one JARRAD McVEIGH ON THE BIG SYDNEY-COLLINGWOOD CLASH THIS ROUND

LOOKING AHEAD:

Jarrad McVeigh has aspirations to one day lead the Swans, hopefully as soon as next season.

What McVeigh then witnessed as a young player was nothing short of extraordinary.

Roos and co-captain Brett Kirk transformed the club into a perfect 21st century enigma.

The pair slowly but surely transformed the club’s off-field personality into that of a wise, vegan monk, two deep breaths away from soaring into nirvana.

But the club’s on-field persona is the antithesis of this: an unrelenting, blood-starved warrior, so driven by a thirst for the contest, and desperate tackling, that a few years ago it was condemned for playing “ugly” football.

In addition to these two contrasting faces, Roos and Kirk brought back to life the club’s other moniker, the Bloods; and this is also especially befitting because the alternate name is, again, so entirely in contrast to the official moniker of the calm, white swan gliding on the water.

The Sydney Swans are in many ways hippy outside and soldier inside; they are free 58 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

spirits who live by routine and structure, they are war and peace, the bloodied but graceful, the yin and yang.

So it is completely appropriate that Kirk has been a leader because, according to records, he has to his credit more tackles than any other footballer in the history of the game. (Kirk passed Western Bulldog Tony Liberatore this year – no doubt, a peculiar record for a Buddhist to hold).

Now, prima facie, McVeigh’s world is about to drastically change. Although there has been much talk about the regeneration of the Swans this year, next season the change will be complete. John Longmire takes over the senior coaching position from Roos, and Kirk will be gone, having announced his retirement several weeks ago.

Adam Goodes and Craig Bolton will undoubtedly continue to lead from the front, but a co-captaincy position may be available and McVeigh seems a natural choice to fill the void. Although not a ferocious-

tackling Buddhist, club leaders may note that McVeigh is a suitable contradiction, albeit a physical one.

He is able to play tennis with either left or right-hand, bat in cricket with his right-hand but bowl with his left, and generally perform most day-to-day actions using both sides of his brain (or the yin and yang of his consciousness, to labour a point).

He is also a natural footballer who grew up in New South Wales. (He flirted with rugby league for one year at school, because most of his mates were playing, but quickly ended the experiment.)

As far as his on-field performances are concerned, they are also pointing toward a leadership role: already a best-and-fairest winner (2008) and still only 25.

And indeed, it is evident from his personality that he is cut from a similar cloth as Kirk, with an almost serene, outwardly happy exterior concealing a driven, hard-working and

obsessed footballer, proud of his work ethic and ability to give directions on the field.

“We’re continually learning with someone like ‘Kirky’.

He will always help you and prompt you into situations to feel uncomfortable, but you know he is just trying to help you,” McVeigh said.

“And guys like ‘Goodesy’ and Craig do the same. We have very, very strong leaders at our club.

“Obviously we don’t want to be down the bottom of the pile. We always want guys stepping up to that role, so if there is a captaincy position up for grabs next year, we’re going to have a lot of guys who are going to put their hands up and that is something I would love to be part of.”

But McVeigh acknowledges that replacing Kirk will be hard, if not impossible. “Hopefully we will get more players standing up when he goes, to try and fill that role of Brett Kirk. I don’t think you can replace him, but we will get that opportunity,” McVeigh said.

If there is a captaincy position up for grabs next year ... that is something I would love to be part of “He is such a great person ve around the club and to not have nd him, and run out beside him and know what he is going to give the team is going to be different, but obviously we know these guys can’t play forever.”

Success also does not go on forever, however, there might have been a time early in ll McVeigh’s professional football life that he thought it would. ith His first season coincided with the start of a golden modern era: Sydney playing finals thatt ng year and again in 2004, winning the premiership in 2005 and n reaching the Grand Final again re, the next season. In Roos’ tenure, als the Swans have missed the finals just once – last year.

While some players ng dream of finals action, missing out on September football pt was an utterly foreign concept for McVeigh.

“Obviously shattered,” n.

McVeigh said about last season. lay “That’s what you play for; to play in the big games, in the finals ith and try and achieve success with your mates, so obviously (last year) was very disappointing.””

Surprising many, the Swanss n have rebuilt quickly and are on track to see finals action again this season.

“I think there were 11 or 12 art new guys (at the club at the start of the year),” McVeigh said. ple “We’ve lost some great people ve … but I think the new guys gave ak. us a new lease of life, so to speak.

“What they’ve brought to thee group has been great. It gives nd the guys who have been around a while more competitiveness at training because (the new players) are trying to gain the rest of the group’s respect and we’re really trying to push the group further and further.”

McVeigh is also hoping the new group can push its round

nem mesis Collingwood, 13 nemesis someth hing the old group something strugglled to do even when struggled a the top of its game. it was at S The Swans managed to sneak past thee Pies by one point in 1 2005, but in the next round 13, en ncounters, Collingwood eight encounters, ken the honours. has tak taken “We obviously really respect them ass a team,” McVeigh said.

“Speeaking to Rhyce Shaw “Speaking ca ame from Collingwood, who came he was telling us they really them mselves for the game set themselves againstt the Swans. They really ir research on us and do thei their really want to stand up they really againstt us. thiink we just have to “I think o terms with that come to

and we have to hunt them down and not be the hunted.

“They are obviously a team in really good form at the moment, so we have to hunt them down, but I don’t think they have a psychological (edge) over us, well not for me personally.

“But it would be nice to get a win against them, because we owe them one.”

That may be an understatement, but if it is prophetic, one can only assume that for McVeigh, and the new Bloods, the new dawn will be just as bright as the old.

FACT FILE

3

Jarrad a a McVeigh Mc i h

Born: o : April p 7, 7 1985 9 Recruited e u d from: ro : Pennant e a Hills/NSW Hills/NSW-ACT l N W ACT C U18 U8 Debut: e t Round R n 1, 1 2004 0 v Brisbane B s n Lions L n Height: e h 184cm 1 c Weight: e h 83kg 8 g Games: a e 135 135 Goals: o s 94 4 Player l e honours: o o s Best e a and d fairest i s 2008 0 8 Brownlow r n w Medal: M a Career a e votes o s 15 5

IN GOOD HANDS: Players such as

McVeigh will carry on the Bloods’ legacy that will be left by Brett Kirk and Paul Roos at the end of the year.

60 AFL RECORD visit aďŹ&#x201A;record.com.au

SAM MITCHELL

PULLING THE STRINGS Sam Mitchell’s leadership has com come under scrutiny in some quarters, surprising considering just over a year-and-a-half year-and-a ago he was being lauded as just the sixth Hawk to captain a premiership. However, However the champion midfielder is unperturbed, seeing himself as a ‘puppeteer’ helping de develop the club’s leaders of the future. ASHLEY BROW NE

S REAPING THE REWARDS:

Sam Mitchell can be proud of his team and individual achievements which include the 2003 Rising Star award (top left) and, with coach Alastair Clarkson, guiding the Hawks to the 2008 premiership.

oon after his appointment as Hawthorn captain at the start of 2008, Sam Mitchell was asked what sort of captain he would be.

The journalist was only halfway through the question before Mitchell cut him short, pleading for time to allow him to actually settle into the role.

Without it, he would struggle to provide an honest answer.

So here we are in mid-2010 and Mitchell, 27, has been in the role for two-and-a-half seasons. In that time, on top of consolidating his role as one of the best midfielders in the game, a genius at stoppages, he felt the exhilaration of hoisting the premiership cup in the middle of the MCG, but had also had his worth publicly questioned by one of his club’s former greats.

The morning after Hawthorn’s 47-point win over Adelaide last round (which squared the club’s win-loss ledger at 6-6), Mitchell considered the question again, this time happy to give an expansive answer.

“Well, it’s probably changed a bit,” he said. “Early on, I did a fair bit of stuff myself, but what I have really tried to do at the club is focus on developing some other leaders.

“Some of the other guys have stepped up and become a bit more confident in their own leadership roles. I’ve been able to hand over some of the responsibilities, as opposed to when I started out and wanted to do everything on my own.”

Mitchell replaced Richie Vandenberg as skipper. It is fair to say Vandenberg created a new doctrine at Hawthorn when it came to the captaincy. It was ruthlessly and unapologetically a team-first concept, to which Mitchell has truly bought in.

“What I’ve been good at as a captain is to find the right person to do the right job,” he said. That has meant identifying which players need a pat on the shoulder and focusing on others who might need a kick up the bum and, most importantly, which player should then deliver the message.

“I’ll find the right person, whereas in the past I probably tried to do it all by myself,” he said.

Hawthorn has a nine-player leadership group in 2010. It might seem a lot, but Mitchell said the system worked a treat.

“Nine can be a difficult number to manage, but it can also be a show of strength,” he said.

“Michael Osborne has been at the club for 10 years and this is his first year in the leadership group, so it can be a pat on the back and a reward for effort for a guy like him.

“There are a bunch of mid-range players at the club who he relates to and they’re the ones who sometimes get overlooked in the day-to-day life of a footy club.”

Mitchell said the nine don’t meet all that often. Unless it’s a formal meeting, not everyone will be in attendance, nor are they required.

“It doesn’t really matter how many are meeting at any one time because one of the other guys AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 61

SAM MITCHELL

HAPPY HAWKS: Hawthorn is on a

five-game winning streak and Mitchell (centre) savours the club’s round 11 victory over Port Adelaide with Brad Sewell (left) and Clinton Young.

FACT FILE

5

Sam Mitchell

Born: October 12, 1982 Recruited from: Mooroolbark/ Eastern U18/Box Hill Hawks Debut: Round 5, 2002 v Rich Height: 179cm Weight: 83kg Games: 164 Goals: 32 Player honours: Best and fairest 2006, 2009; 2nd best and fairest 2008; NAB AFL Rising Star 2003; Liston Trophy 2002; premiership side 2008; captain since 2008 Brownlow Medal: Career votes 83

might be catching up with a younger player or have something else to do,” he said.

Mitchell drew an interesting analogy when asked how he juggled the myriad tasks required of an AFL club captain.

“There’s a bit of ‘puppeteering’ that goes on when you’re the leader at a club. You end up pulling a lot of strings and making sure the right people get in touch with the right people to make sure you get the right outcome and the best response, not just from the players but the entire club.”

Questions were asked of Hawthorn’s leadership group after the loss to Essendon in round six. The Hawks went into the game against their hated rivals having lost four games on the trot and, despite calls for wholesale changes at selection in the lead-up, coach Alastair Clarkson and his selectors made just one change.

What followed was a 43-point loss, widely considered the most disappointing of the Clarkson era.

It was reported afterwards that the coach had resisted making major changes after an appeal from the leadership group for the team to be given one last chance to rectify things.

62 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

According to Mitchell, the of good cop-bad cop. If the real story might have been lost coach is banging the door in translation. down, then it’s quite often the “‘Clarko’ talks to us about captain who is patting blokes selection and that week he was on the back and making sure tossing up whether to make everyone’s up and going. wholesale changes or stick with “And vice-versa. When the group we had and both the coach is being very, very ‘Hodgey’ (vice-captain Luke positive, then it can be the Hodge) and I had the belief we captain’s role to go the other way should give the guys who were and say that, while it’s OK to be out of form one last chance to positive, we have to play better prove themselves, but with a bit than we have been. of a rocket up them.”

“It’s horses for courses and According to Mitchell, the there are different times for discussions that week all types of leadership were more or less and you can’t Some of the same as any pigeonhole talks between us aren’t going yourself all the coach and to be around forever, time because captain in any different times so it’s important to other week. call for different develop guys like “There’s a lot leadership of speculation styles.”

Lance (Franklin) about players One of these as leaders and coaches and leaders in the SAM MITCHELL how we go to future could be the coach with Lance Franklin. The star something,” he said. forward has recently expressed “But the communication the wish to lead the club one between Hodgey and myself and day and Mitchell was delighted the coach is open. I’d speak with at the expression of interest.

Clarko every day, either at the “Some of us aren’t going to be footy club or on the phone. It’s around forever, so it’s important not like we go to the coach and to develop guys like Lance as ask for something.” leaders,” he said.

Mitchell admitted to being “He really has matured as a fascinated by the dynamic person in the past two years. between him and his coach.

There’s always the joking side “There’s probably a fair degree of big Bud, but when it’s time

to be serious, he’s very good at that side of it and he’s starting to understand the game and to speak up in meetings a lot more.

“Someone as big and as powerful as him is always going to have people following him, it’s just a matter of whether he can harness the people following him to go in the right direction.

He’s been able to do that in the past 12 months, which is a big step in the right direction for Lance.”

This round’s clash with Essendon is the start of a tough stretch for the Hawks. They have taken advantage of a softer draw over the past month, with five straight wins to get back to 6-6 after losing the previous six.

At first glance, the reason behind the turnaround would appear to be having better personnel available. But Mitchell is not sure. “I don’t think it’s entirely that. We’ve changed a few things; the way we play.

We’re a bit more measured, a bit less gung-ho. We’re being a bit more careful with the ball and it’s had its rewards,” he said.

“We haven’t been as pretty or as exciting, particularly when we were learning that new style and we were having some pretty scrappy wins there for a few weeks, so hopefully we can get the balance right between when we have to get up and go, and

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SAM MITCHELL when we need to slow the game down a little bit.”

Still, the Hawks are able to name significantly stronger teams than they did two months ago.

Shaun Burgoyne has added the sparkle that was hoped for when the Hawks traded early draft picks to Port Adelaide to get him. Another important addition has been former Western Bulldogs ruckman Wayde Skipper, who not only has provided much-needed relief for Brent Renouf, but also has been an important link player in his own right.

“He seems very close to coming in and busting a game wide open,” Mitchell said.

The Hawks appear to have great depth in their midfield, with Cyril Rioli, Brad Sewell, Jordan Lewis and Xavier Ellis all having found form, and a backline that, while still susceptible to big marking forwards (of which the Bombers have Michael Hurley and Scott Gumbleton), has been doing the job. Hodge, of course, is in career-best form.

That leaves the forward line, which has looked good at times, but has yet to click on a consistent basis.

To that end, Mitchell said recent criticism of Jarryd Roughead was a bit misinformed. Roughead’s inconsistency, he said, was a by-product of a team coming to grips with a new style.

“While he hasn’t been kicking big bags of goals, his pressure count each week has been right up there and he’s still able to do the little things well, chasing and tackling and, for such a big bloke, the amount of forward pressure he places on the opposition has been good.

He’s a pretty resilient sort of fellow,” he said.

And so to the Bombers. So clinical have footballers become, they tend to be a bit detached from the passion and emotion that drives many supporters.

But if Mitchell and the Hawks were in any doubt as to how important this clash is, they were reminded of it at an after-match function in Launceston after beating the Crows. As soon as the E-word was mentioned, it led to an impromptu pep rally for the coming match.

“When I mentioned that it would be nice to beat the Bombers, the roar in the room was so loud that I couldn’t hear myself speak. And it went on for three or four minutes,” Mitchell said.

“But it is an important game for us. We didn’t do well against them last time and we want to do something about that. Friday night footy, when everyone’s watching, is pretty big and it will be a good indicator of how we’re going.”

Which at the moment is pretty well.

ASHLEY BROWNE IS THE EDITOR OF BACKPAGELEAD.COM.AU.

SAM MITCHELL ON ...

WHAT WENT WRONG IN 2009 � “Attitude and injuries came into it, but they were just small factors. But the one thing I truly believe is that the game changed a lot last year and we weren’t quite as ready as we should have been.

“St Kilda, in particular, did something very different and changed the way the game was played and we were probably still trying to play the way we were in 2008. The game had gone past that style.

“We needed to change some things and we probably didn’t do it quickly enough.

Add to that players who were injured and out of form and it adds up to the sort of year we had.”

DEALING WITH ADVERSITY � “What was really good about us this year, even when we lost six games in a row, was that the vibe around the group was still really good. When we have a dinner organised, every player will get there and it’s not one of those fake or forced things that can happen in footy clubs at times. “When there’s genuine camaraderie and spirit within your playing group, then the down times don’t generally last.”

WHERE HE IS AT WITH HIS FOOTY � “I was thinking when I drove back from the airport after the Adelaide game that I’m not sure I’ve been much happier than this. I’ve got a beautiful little family to go home to (his son, Smith, was born on April 6), we had a good win and we’re playing some good footy. I think we’re on the right track.

‘Clarko’ has sold the vision of what we want to do and how we can take ourselves to our next premiership, and I’m confident we’re on the right track with that.

“I also handed handed deed d in my lastt uni uni un assignment nt for nt ffo orr the term, which whic wh whi ich ch h is great. I’m m studying business at at Monash one night a week with Luke Hodge and Xavierr Ellis, which ch h iss great. Jordan rd dan da dan n Lewis started rtted ted te d with us ass wel well, w we ell ll, l, b but bu utt then he dropped ro opped o op pp peed ped do out. ou out ut. t.

That’s because ca ause a au aus use see he’s h hee’ss he’ a sook.”

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64 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

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Moments of the

A rivalry that knows no bounds A bitter war of words between Geelong and St Kilda that grew into an intense rivalry culminated in two epic showdowns in 2009, including a classic Grand Final. ASHLEY BROW NE

G

eelong and St Kilda played two of the best matches you could wish to see in 2009 and, by season’s end, a full-blown rivalry had spawned that was expected to last well into the new decade.

But it was a rivalry that had simmered just beneath the surface for the best part of a decade, starting not with a particular match or with any deeds on the field, but with a few provocative words before a match between the teams, which, at the time, were a long away from premiership contention.

It started before round 22, 2003. The Saints were preparing

2000-09

to trek down the Princes Highway to play the Cats in the final game of the season.

It was 13th hosting 10th and neither side was going to play finals, but that didn’t prevent St Kilda coach Grant Thomas from declaring the Saints were more advanced than the Cats, and would win one or more premierships over the next few years – and certainly more than Geelong.

St Kilda was putting together a nice list, but after the Cats won a fairly drab affair by 19 points, coach Mark Thompson weighed into the discussion, suggesting Geelong was pleased with how it had drafted and that its emerging talent was equal to that of the Saints.

Never one to take a backward step, Cats forward Paul Chapman also had his say, basically telling Thomas to crawl back into his box.

And so it was on. The next year’s pre-season cup Grand Final needed little build-up and more than 50,000 fans watched St Kilda beat the Cats by 22 points. The two clashed again a fortnight later, with the Saints winning again, this time by 10 goals.

After that, Geelong won five of the next seven meetings, HOW SWEET IT IS: Norm Smith medallist Paul Chapman and coach Mark Thompson after last season’s Grand Final triumph over the Saints.

including the 2008 qualifying final which, despite all the hype, was actually the first time in the decade the teams met in a final.

But the rivalry exploded again in 2009, except this time without the rancour. Thomas had been moved on from Moorabbin at the end of 2006 and in his place was Ross Lyon, who was all about ‘Saints Footy’, as he liked to call it, and not particularly interested in giving even the slightest ammunition to the oppositio opposition.

The 2009 fixture had the Saints and Cats scheduled for fo round 14 at Etihad Stadium and, a as both clubs skate d through the skated first few weeks of tthe he season, season the build-up began. began n. There was wa a huge push for thee match to be moved to the MC CG, which MCG, was vacant, but Eti ihad Stadiu Etihad Stadium management re mained firrm remained n to the gam and held on game.

The on nly concess only concession enormity of o to the enormity the game gam me was that th the st tart time was w start push hed back by b pushed an h hour to allow all thee game to be b br roadcast liv broadcast live in Melbourne on M Channel Se C Seven.

So often in ssport, a big match fails m fail to llive up to tthe hype. But tthis h

The rivalry exploded again in 2009, except this time without the rancour

one lived up to its billing, and then some. The unbeaten teams (never before had two teams been 13-0 in the same season) staged a beauty, with the Saints jumping out to a five-goal lead in the first quarter, only for the Cats to slowly reel them back.

In front of the biggest crowd for an AFL match at Etihad (54,444) and a further 1.18 million watching on television, the Cats drew level in the last quarter and had chances to win the game. But with just seconds to go, St Kilda’s Luke Ball got the ball and pushed forward. With his key forwards too tired to present, he kicked to the top of the goalsquare, where Michael Gardiner hauled in a towering mark and converted.

The former West Coast ruckman kicked four goals and had 20 hit-outs and received three Brownlow Medal votes for his efforts, although many believed the most influential player was Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel, who single-handedly dragged the Cats back into the contest after quarter-time.

e early, although by quarterttime, the Saints were n narrowly in front. And t they were in front at h half-time and three-quarter t time as well, before three u unanswered goals in th final term clinched the it or Geelong.

But the Cats left it late, w scores level at the start with of time-on, with a draw – the r for 32 years – appearing first d a distinct possibility. But then cam a genius toe-poke from came def defender Matthew Scarlett tha released Gary Ablett, that wh whose long bomb to the forw forward line ended up with Cha Chapman, whose left-foot SPARKS FLY: Provocative comments from snap gave the Cats a six-point St Kilda coach Grant Thomas before the lead. Max Rooke then extended round 22 match in 2003 (above) ignited the lead by another goal after the rivalry, which reached a crescendo last season with epic clashes in round 14 the siren. (left) and then the Grand Final.

Chapman won the Norm Smith Medal with three goals After such an enthralling and 26 possessions, but the brave clash, the hope and expectation Saints could not be faulted. was of another meeting in Granted, it came as little the Grand Final, and we got consolation, but they had just it. Different ground, different taken part in two of the best conditions – but again, it was matches of 2009, and indeed agonisingly close. of the decade.

This time it was the Cats ASHLEY BROWNE IS EDITOR OF BACKPAGELEAD.COM.AU who led by a couple of goals

T H E A F T E R M AT H

� The Saints and the Cats were only drawn to play once in 2010, a move that was criticised when the fixture came out last October.

In past years, the Grand Final rematch was often played in round one, but according to the AFL’s chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan, the significance of the matches was often lost in the build-up to the season in general.

He said there was more interest in the 2009 RichmondCarlton match on the Thursday night of round one than the

following night’s HawthornGeelong clash, with television ratings and match attendance supporting that.

By playing the rematch on a Friday night in the second half of the split round – the only match in Melbourne for the weekend – the AFL hopes the wait and the build-up will ensure a massive MCG crowd and more than the 69,564 the Hawks and Cats attracted to their Grand Final rematch in round one last season.

EARLY BATTLE: The Cats and the

Hawks met in a Grand Final rematch in round one last year.

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AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 69

Col Hutchinson

timeon Our AFL history guru answers your queries.

NAME GAME

AFL mystery men

Kings of clubs

� The monarch featured much in the creation of names during the Middle Ages. On current lists there are two Kings, a surname which started out as a nickname for someone who acted in a kingly manner or who had played the part of a king in one of the many medieval pageants or, rarely, someone who had served in the king’s household. However, a player with a royal name that is not so obvious is Ben Cunnington. Cunnington is a variation of Conington, the name of two English villages. But Conington itself derives from the Old English words cyning (king) and tun (“enclosure”), which became the modern word “town”.

So, Cunnington is King’s Town and is equivalent to Kingston, the name of several League players, notably the fine Magpie premiership half-back of the 1950s, Ron Kingston.

King was a nickname given to Wayne Carey; and was used in newspapers for Dick Reynolds (‘King Richard’) and Graham Arthur (‘King Arthur’). KEVAN CARROLL

70 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

Jack Louis Cliff � Cliff played 32 matches and kicked eight goals for St Kilda from 1940-42. He played as a back pocket, half-back fl anker and half-forward fl anker and wore No. 26. During his first season, he earned two Brownlow Medal votes. He was born on May 23, 1919, and played his early football with West Broken Hill.

FAMILY FEUD: Former Carlton

player Cory McGrath and brother Toby were on opposing teams in last month’s state match between the VFL and the WAFL.

Last month, when the WAFL played the VFL at Leederville, the McGrath brothers (Toby and Cory) were in the opposing teams.

Has that happened previously in a state match?

DAVE CLEMENT, APPLECROSS, WA

CH: At this stage, I have just

investigated encounters played under the State of Origin banner (1977-2008). There has been just one case of siblings being selected in opposing squads.

During the Bicentenary Carnival played in Adelaide, on March 4, 1988, at Norwood Oval,

the Riewoldt brothers were fierce rivals. Chris, the father of Richmond spearhead Jack, played for Tasmania and his brother, Peter, represented Queensland, with the team from the Apple Isle winning by 12 points. Chris and Peter are uncles of St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt.

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

Carl Norman Schaefer � Born in 1894 at St Kilda, Schaefer made one appearance for the Saints as a wingman in round nine, 1920, against Fitzroy at the Junction Oval, after being recruited from Oakleigh. He is one of three Schaefers to play at the elite level. Keith represented South Melbourne 102 times between 1947 and 1953, and Robert played 11 games for Richmond in 1993.

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.

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COLLECTABLES

Saints get towelled

A weekly look at collectables, memorabilia and all footy things stored in boxes and garages.

Ih have a St Kilda bath towel produced by to Dickies, in good condition.

Dic Iw was wondering if you could give me an idea co of era and value.

DAVE EASTMAN, VIA EMAIL DAV

RM: This item is from RM

th the 1960s or early ’70s an and very few have su u survived.

I love it and it iis worth $150.

Ih have the chance to get 1970 19 9 Brownlow Medal winner Peter Bedford wi w to o sign my as-new copy of that year’s Grand o Final Football Record.

Fi F will also ask him to Iw sign my copy of the ssig Football Record for Fo the South Melbourneth St Kilda first semifinal n as there is a feature on the South fe star inside. Would the st signatures add or detract value from these items?

PAUL FARRELL, VIA EMAIL

THROWING IN THE TOWEL: Very few of these bath towels from the 1960s or early ’70s have survived, and are valued at $150.

RM: It is always good to get a

Brownlow Medal winner to sign items, so go for it.

I have a 1971 Mobil swap card featuring SANFL champion Malcolm Blight in his Woodville jumper. The card has a printed

RICK’S RARITY

� An enterprising Yarraville Football Club fan in 1997 issued a set of cards featuring footballers from the western suburbs club which once had played in the VFA (now VFL). Three of these cards aree interesting as they feature Don n Whitten, Glenn Gingell and Rohan Smith, who played for the Bulldogs in the AFL/VFL. Whitten’s elder brother Ted was an all-time great, Gingell was a

signature and, although the front is in good condition, there are some tape marks on the back. Value?

BRIAN, VIA EMAIL

winger/rover who played for the Bulldogs in the 1970s and Smith played 300 games with the Doggies to 2006 and now is a television boundary rider.

membership cards. They were in great condition, but I recently sold them for $200 each. Was this the correct value?

JIM QUIGLEY, ASCOT VALE, VIC.

RM: Many SANFL cards are

very collectable and some that come to mind include those from Sweet Nell Cigarettes (1906), Easi-Oats in the late 1950s and Big Ben Pies in the 1980s. The Blight card is the most valuable of the Mobil series and is worth $75 in top condition. Yours, in the description you have provided, is worth $25.

Several years ago, I was given 1929 and 1930 North Melbourne

RM: You might have been a little

generous, Jim. Not much turns up from North’s earliest VFL years and perhaps $350 each might have been closer to the mark.

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 60 DAVE

58

ANDY

58

LEHMO

56

FITZY

55

MICK

46

TIPSTERS

FITZY Hawthorn Carlton Brisbane Lions North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Collingwood Adelaide

72 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

MICK Essendon Fremantle Richmond North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Collingwood Melbourne

SAM Hawthorn Carlton Brisbane Lions North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Collingwood Adelaide

DAVE Hawthorn Carlton Brisbane Lions North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Collingwood Adelaide

LEHMO Hawthorn Carlton Brisbane Lions North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Sydney Swans Adelaide

ANDY Essendon Carlton Brisbane Lions North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Collingwood Adelaide

This week, special guest appearances by XAVIER ELLIS

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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.

H. SCOTLAND O

O

L

D

C

L

N

H

D

T

L

D

A

C H

L

S

S

?

4 Which AFL club did North Melbourne coach Brad

A

Scott play in two premierships with?

C

5 Name the Sydney Swans’ player

A T

3 What number does Gary Ablett jnr wear

for Geelong?

T O

1 Who won the Coleman Medal in 2009?

start his AFL career?

H C

QUICK QUESTIONS

2 At which AFL club did Magpie Luke Ball

COLLINGWOOD AND CARLTON

H

5

who is a dual Brownlow medallist?

H

S

N

T

N O

THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS 5 QUICK QUESTIONS: 1. Brendan Fevola 2. St Kilda 3. 29 4. Brisbane Lions 5. Adam Goodes SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Small Eagles logo on Naitanui’s shorts missing; ring added to Tuck’s right hand; Naitanui’s left hand removed from beind Tuck; word ‘Reebok’ on bottom of Tuck’s jumper removed; bandage added to Naitanui’s right hand.

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

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NAB AFL RISING STAR

From strong stock Young Magpie defender Ben Reid was born to play lay football given his family background in the th game.

2010 NAB AFL Rising Star Nominees

F

our years after being UP FOR A CHALLENGE: Ben Reid drafted and three is filling an important role in defence for the Magpies. seasons following his debut, Collingwood forward-turned-defender Ben Reid was rewarded for the best game of his short career with the round 12 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

Reid, 21, who was drafted by the Magpies as a 17-year-old forward, picked up a career-high 22 disposals in last round’s draw with Melbourne and said the move to defence has given him renewed confidence.

“My first two years I played as a forward and last year I changed my role to a backman and played the whole year down there,” Reid said. “I also spent all this pre-season with the I enjoy the backline group so I’ve fact that every been able to learn a lot in a short period of time. week I’ve got “I enjoy the fact that a challenge in every week I’ve got a trying to stop challenge in trying to someone stop someone. Our big showed BEN REID focus as a backline group direction is not only on stopping the on the field. opposition individually but “Scott has also as a back six to work been fantastic for together, so it’s always me, he’s given me some real a challenge.” confidence to play my own Reid, at 195cm and 99kg, has game,” Reid said. played eight consecutive games “He talks to me after every since replacing injured veteran game and he’s always on to me Simon Prestigiacomo in round with things I can improve and five, and in last round’s draw things I’m doing well. (the first he had played in during “Guys like Nick Maxwell, his career), provided plenty of Harry O’Brien and Heath Shaw rebound from defence all speak to me out on the He said new assistant coach ground, instruct and point me and former Fremantle star Scott in the right direction so they’re a Watters has helped build his real help too.” knowledge of the backline while Having grown up in Victorian the senior players around him country town Wangaratta, Reid

CALLUM TWOMEY

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)

THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW said the move to Melbourne when he was drafted in 2006 was made easier by the fact his family was only two hours away.

“Mum and Dad can drive down whenever and also living with a few of the draftees from the country at the time – Nathan Brown, Brent Macaffer and Tyson Goldsack – made the transition pretty easy,” Reid said.

It’s not commonly known, but Reid comes from strong football stock. His grandfather, Bruce Reid snr, played for Footscray in the late 1940s and his father, Bruce Reid jnr, played with Footscray and Carlton in the late 1970s and early ’80s.

1

Reid plays golf with teammate Lachlan Keeffe, and admits to regularly being beaten.

2 Has recently finished a personal training/ fitness course.

3 He lives by himself and owns two cats, named Max and Oscar.

His uncle John Reid played for Melbourne, Footscray and Sydney in the 1970s as well, and his grandmother’s brother, Keith Carroll, played in Melbourne’s premiership sides of 1956-57.

Ben’s brother, Sam, was drafted by Sydney last year.

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

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LAST LINE

Applying data laterally

Roo pressure puts glitch in Blues’ system

BLEAK NIGHT:

A disconsolate Chris Judd (left) and Jarrad Waite after the Roos dismantled the Blues’ game-plan last round.

I

n round 12, on the Friday night stage at Etihad Stadium, Carlton suffered what could be called a network breakdown.

Against North Melbourne, the main systems instrumental in the Blues’ promising start of seven wins and four losses failed to connect.

Explaining reasons for the 29-point loss, coach Brett Ratten referred to the usual culprits: “A lack of intensity and skill errors,” he said. “We gave the ball back too easily. That diminished our confidence to run and spread and get involved.”

This is a standard coaching admission that, in reality, reveals nothing. There is no mention of an opposition out there on the playing field, and what it did to stuff up the best intentions of Carlton’s plan.

No acknowledgement of the Disruptive Pattern Theory, which was in effect during this game.

Anyone familiar with computer systems should be familiar with the theory. A simple network glitch breeds panic. There is no plan B. What next? No clues! The Roos-Blues game is a good example of how the theory applies in action.

North was outstanding at disconnecting Carlton’s plan A, and then pouncing on the opportunities available.

Without an apparent plan B, the Blues looked lacklustre.

As Ratten lamented, giving the ball back too easily was certainly the case.

The supposedly lessercredentialled Kangaroos ‘won’ 79 turnovers from the Blues’

78 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au

disposals and scored a matchwinning 9.8 (62) from these opportunities. In contrast, Carton won only 57 turnovers from North Melbourne disposals and scored just 4.4 (28) from these chances.

Importantly, the Roos knocked the Blues off their perch around the stoppages.

Before the game, Carlton’s main strength had been its ability to out-score its opposition from stoppage wins.

During the game, the Blues had an exceptional advantage of 47 clearances to North’s 27. However, this domination resulted in Carlton scoring only 17 points more than the Kangaroos from their respective stoppage wins.

How could these two discrepancies have occurred?

What is Carlton’s plan A? How was it derailed?

What mattered in this instance is how North Melbourne applied pressure to the Blues’ system, and the effect this pressure had.

Carlton is the most captaindriven club of any. It’s not unlike North Melbourne of the 1990s

winning team. Hence the supply to their revamped livewire forward structure (minus Brendan Fevola) has been top-notch, and the forwards generally have delivered.

But Carlton has lost five games and what has broken down in these losses is revealing.

It has suffered a spectacular drop in kicking dominance, averaging 15 fewer kicks than its opposition in these games.

Against North, Judd, Murphy and Gibbs, along with Eddie Betts (five Carlton is goals), made important contributions. the most However, the Roos captain-driven were outstanding club of any. It is at limiting the roles played by the rest of not unlike North the team.

Melbourne of North Melbourne, the 1990s under skipper a team that usually Wayne Carey. struggles to outnumber Like the its opposition for Carey example, the total kicks, evened the score Carlton system is engaged to with Carlton. Blaming the accommodate the exceptional Blues’ lack of intensity and skill talents of Chris Judd. errors for the loss does not give Watching Judd take flight, due credit to how good the Roos drawing opposition flak while were at disconnecting teammates, confident he the captain’s system. will prevail, are lining up in The sustained pressure attacking positions, is among the North applied produced 31 most compelling forces in footy. turnovers forward of centre, It is a mistake to think the while Carlton could manage system is a one-man-show. If only eight in its forward too much attention is paid to half. The result was further Judd, the likes of outstanding endorsement of the Kangaroos’ lieutenants Marc Murphy and work-in-progress development.

Bryce Gibbs can get you.

Carlton should also Carlton takes pride in gain valuable lessons for its dominance and effectiveness improvement. Handling at stoppages. pressure and applying it are two After Geelong, it is the of the keys to success. second-best team at outscoring Take note: the grand masters the opposition from stoppage at these capers are Geelong wins. Slick and efficient exits and St Kilda. They clearly from stoppages also propel disconnect opponents better Carlton’s run-and-spread caper. than any other teams.

In their seven wins, the Blues TED HOPKINS IS A CARLTON PREMIERSHIP have averaged a remarkable PLAYER AND FOUNDER OF CHAMPION DATA. 50 more kicks than their HIS CURRENT PROJECT IS TEDSPORT, A opposition, which is the HIGH PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS AND CONSULTING SERVICE. highest kick differential for any

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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