LIVE: Eagles v Dockers

Eagle Mark LeCras will be looking to make a fast start in his return from a knee reconstruction. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

FOLLOW the action from the Western Derby No.37 between West Coast and Fremantle from Paterson's Stadium.

8.14pm - Fremantle 12 West Coast 23

WEST Coast dominated the first quarter against Fremantle but only leads by 11 points after Chris Mayne's goal after the siren.

Mayne was the beneficiary of a free kick in the goal square just seconds before the siren.

The Eagles made all the early running at Paterson's Stadium with Ashton Hams the chief destroyer with two goals in Derby No.37.

But Hams made a blue late in the term choosing to snap for goal when a conventional drop punt would suffice.

The small forward won a contentious high free kick decision but failed to punish the Dockers.

SuperCoach leaders

Hams - 58
Nick Suban - 44
Jamie Cripps - 43
Stephen Hill - 34
Chris Mayne - 31

Click for more live SuperCoach scores: HERE

8pm - Fremantle 6 West Coast 21

IT'S taken a defender to get Fremantle on the board with Nick Suban converting from a tight angle to open the Dockers' account.

Suban made no mistake to end three-goal Eagles streak midway through the first quarter at Paterson's Stadium.

The Eagles have been ultra impressive with former St Kilda defender Jamie Cripps and small forward Ashton Hams on fire.

Cripps kicked the first goal of the match while Hams has taken two strong marks inside the arc.

7.50pm Fremantle 0 West Coast 12

WEST Coast has made all the early running with Josh Kennedy looking dangerous roaming across centre-half forward.

The spearhead who missed the bulk of last year with foot problems has taken a couple of strong marks while providing scoring opportunities for Eagles teammates.

Former St Kilda defender Jamie Cripps opened the scoring for the Eagles taking a strong mark 30m out directly in front.

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Cripps made no mistake while Ashton Hams made it worse for the Dockers in Derby 37 marking uncontested in the goalsquare.

Scott Selwood has the job on Docker playmaker Nat Fyfe while Ryan Crowley will be looking to shut down Eagle Luke Schuey.

23/03/2013 SPORT: 23/03/2013 SPORT: AFL- Fremantle Dockers v West Coast Eagles, Patersons Stadium, Perth. PICTURED- Fremantle Dockers Ross Lyon coach watches his players warm up. Source: PerthNow

PRE-GAME - A DEPLETED West Coast will be hoping its three-pronged attack can hold it in good sway against Fremantle in tonight's Western Derby.

The Eagles missing key playmakers Daniel Kerr, Nic Naitanui, Matt Rosa and recruit Sharrod Wellingham boast marking targets Jack Darling, Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras inside the arc.

LeCras is the feel good story of the west playing his first game since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during the NAB Cup last year.

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The wily forward has had a strong pre-season campaign and will be looking to get his hands on the ball early to boost his confidence.

Kennedy will also make his return to senior football after missing the bulk of last season with foot problems.

Fremantle also has its injury concerns with Aaron Sandilands (hamstring) and Anthony Morabito (knee) sidelined with injuries.

Check back from 7.40pm (AEDT) for live rolling coverage of tonight's Western Derby

Jonathon Griffin has the job of chasing Eagle powerhouse Dean Cox around the wide expanses of Paterson's Stadium while skipper Matthew Pavlich will have his hands full against key defender Eric Mackenzie.

Meanwhile, Eagle Andrew Embley will start as the substitute while for the Dockers, developing midfielder, Cameron Sutcliffe has the green vest.

Embley, 31, will be nursed through the Derby after twinging his hamstring during the Eagles NAB Cup match against Collingwood.

He missed 17 matches last year with a shoulder injury.

23/03/2013 SPORT: 23/03/2013 SPORT: AFL- Fremantle Dockers v West Coast Eagles, Patersons Stadium, Perth. PICTURED- Fremantle Dockers Ross Lyon coach watches his players warm up. Source: PerthNow

FREMANTLE v WEST COAST, 7.40pm SATURDAY, PATERSONS STADIUM

FREMANTLE

B: K.BradleyZ.DawsonM.Johnson

HB: P.DuffieldL.McPharlinN.Suban

C: D.PearceM.BarlowC.Pearce

HF: R.CrowleyM.PavlichN.Fyfe

F: H.BallantyneC.MayneM.Walters

R: J.GriffinD.MundyS.Hill

INTERCHANGE: M.De BoerT.MzunguL.Spurr C.Sutcliffe

EMERGENCIES: J.CrichtonJ.HannathL.Neale

WEST COAST

B: W.SchofieldD.GlassAs.Smith

HB: S.HurnE.MackenzieB.Waters

C: A.GaffS.SelwoodA.Embley

HF: J.HillJ.DarlingC.Masten

F: S.LycettJJ.KennedyM.LeCras

R: D.CoxM.PriddisL.Shuey

INTERCHANGE: A.SelwoodA.HamsJ.Cripps B.Sheppard

EMERGENCIES: J.BrennanM.BrownB.Dalziell

Follow Gilbert Gardiner on Twitter: @gilbertgardiner

16.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Schneider steps up workload

Adam Schneider celebrates a goal for the Saints. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

ST KILDA pair Adam Schneider and Tom Simpkin pushed their claims for Round 1 selection against Gold Coast when they got through today's practice match with VFL affiliate club Sandringham unscathed.

Schneider stood-out in Sandy's big victory - 11.22 (88) to 11.4 (70) - over Frankston.

He suffered an injury setback during the pre-season but got some valuable match practice under his belt with 60 minutes game time for Sandringham last week.

Saints football operations manager Greg Hutchison said Schneider go through his planned 80 minutes today without any concerns.

"He played the minutes that he was scheduled to do and did what he had to do in terms of conditioning,'' Hutchison said.

"And Simpkin did what he had to do. Because he has missed a bit of footy, we were able to get permission for him to play and from a conditioning aspect he also got what he needed from the game.''

Although the Saints had permission to play Rhys Stanley, it was decided to keep him on the sidelines.

Stanley hurt his knee against Sydney earlier this month with an injury that was diagnosed as likely to keep him out for 2-4 weeks.

Scans cleared him of any structural damage when he hyper-extended his knee when he landed after a marking contest.

Hutchison said Stanley trained fully on Friday but the conditioning and coaching staff decided the session was more beneficial than playing yesterday.

The club will assess all three players during the week.

Meanwhile four of Sydney's 2012 premiership players - Shane Mumford (ankle), Martin Mattner (hip), Nick Smith (knee) and Mitch Morton (back) - received valuable game time in a practice match between the Swans reserves and Sydney University on Friday night.

The four hope to play in the opening game against Greater Western Sydney.
 

16.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bombers focus on footy

Essendon put woes behind them by winning season opener.

Ben Howlett celebrates a running goal against the Crows. Picture: Simon Cross Source: The Advertiser

THERE'S not much midfielder Ben Howlett and his teammates can do about the Essendon doping crisis - except train and play as hard as possible.

Coach James Hird again praised the resilience of his players as they opened the AFL season with a stirring 35-point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Howlett starred with four goals and six tackles.

"It's galvanised the group a little bit," Howlett said of the issue that will hang over the Bombers for potentially the whole season.

"It's not every day you go through something like that, when potentially your job is on the line, all of that.

10 things we learnt last night

"We concentrated on what we could concentrate on and that's footy.

"The last six weeks have just been training as hard as we can and setting new standards."

Essendon is under a joint Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and AFL investigation for supplements that were given to the players last season.

The Bombers have also commissioned an independent investigation of their governance, admitting irregular practices.

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Despite the ongoing stress, Hird said it would be simplistic to say the game was won on emotion.

But it was clearly a massive way for the team to start the season, which was underscored by the players' full-throttle rendition of the club song in the rooms afterwards.

"The feeling was amazing after the game," Howlett said.

Thanks to the split opening round, Essendon now have a fortnight off before their Saturday-night match against Melbourne at the MCG.

Howlett said Essendon are determined that the Adelaide win will only be the start of a strong season.

"It (Friday's win) can't be a one-off and all pre-season, we've been training excellent," he said.

"James mentioned that during the week and we've taken our training to a new height.

"So we have to keep that standard up and hope it goes into games."

16.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Siposs goes from fan to the man

St Kilda player Arryn Siposs in Mentone. Picture: Reddy Martin Source: Herald Sun

WHEN Brendon Goddard embarked on his AFL journey with St Kilda a decade ago, one of the knocks on him was the absence of a clearly defined role.

By the end of 2000, that ability to slot into a diversity of positions had become such a strength that Goddard was regarded as one of the AFL's most valuable players.

The old-fashioned "utility player" was back in vogue. Now, under the coaching of Scott Watters, the Saints prize multi-positioning more than ever.

"The ability to play in a variety of positions is vital, and now with the various rule changes and the way the interchange is going, having players with that versatility, that flexibility to go into a number of roles, is only going to become more and more important," Watters told the Herald Sun recently.

Such has been the shift in thinking, that when Goddard left St Kilda over the off-season, the unresolved question among fans became: "Who will take on BJ's role?"

Several names have been thrown around in the pre-season - Sam Gilbert, Jack Newnes, Dylan Roberton - and with some justification, because they, along with players such as Rhys Stanley and Terry Milera, will be expected to play in a broader range of positions than they have in the past. But the man earmarked for Goddard's slot is Arryn Siposs.

He has trained with St Kilda's defensive group over summer and ticks all the boxes. He is a strong mark for his size, is a skilful distributor of the ball and has a penetrating kick that can clear the next line. He can take his turn in the midfield, or be deployed as a forward capable of pinching a couple of goals.

The Saints certainly gave him plenty of time to grow into the new role with Siposs playing more minutes (346) than any of his teammates in the NAB Cup.

Siposs grew up a fanatical Saints fan and recalls watching TV and marvelling at Goddard's contribution during the 2010 drawn Grand Final.

He therefore feels a little uneasy about the Goddard comparisons, but acknowledges the vacancy sign over that job position.

"That's obviously one of the options, and if I can be half the player that Brendon Goddard is, I'll be happy," Siposs says.

"I guess where I'm going to play is not really set in stone. You look at guys like Michael Hurley and Brendon Goddard and they play forward and in defence.

"At the moment I'm more just trying to stitch up a spot in the team, and whether it's in the backline or forward or on the wing, I don't really mind, as long as I'm in the 22 and getting a chance to play some good footy and go from there. He (Watters) has thrown up all those sorts of positions and I'm happy to play in any role, as long as Scott's got the faith in me that I can do it."

I was a massive St Kilda fan, but at the time you just want to get on to any list ... When they called out my name it was the best moment of my life.

Fellow defender James Gwilt said this week that Siposs was "the one who has stepped up over the pre-season with his running and his training" and could be that backline go-to man.

"His skills are vital for us," Gwilt said. "Especially with him being that defensive player that he is, and also on the wing coming through the midfield. We want to get the ball in his hands, because he's such a super-long kick too, so he's got really good skills."

Siposs said he had not played in defence since "probably under-10s or under-13s", but Gwilt and the other senior backmen had taken him under their wing over the pre-season.

"Sean Dempster's an All-Australian defender last year and he's been fantastic for me. Sam Fisher is always there to help out, he's been great," Siposs said.

"Also, this is my third year at the club and it's the first pre-season I've got through injury-free. So I've felt the difference already in the NAB Cup matches."

Arryn Siposs goals from outside 50. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Apart from being at polar opposite stages of their careers, the other glaring contrast between Siposs and Goddard is their journey to the AFL.

While Goddard was a much-publicised No.1 national draft pick in 2002, Siposs was a speculative fourth-round selection eight years later.

He spoke to about half of the clubs at the 2010 draft camp, with Collingwood and Sydney then showing considerable interest in the days that followed. Most indicated they might look at him as a mid-to-late draft pick.

"I was a massive St Kilda fan, but at the time you just want to get on to any list," Siposs recalled. "The Saints just had a quiet chat and I didn't think they were too interested."

On the day of the national draft he went over to the house of his close mate Alex Benbow, a talented Beaconsfield and Dandenong Stingrays teammate, now on the books of VFL club Northern Blues. They watched as the recruiters sat around tables on the Gold Coast, calling out the names of contemporaries.

"It got to the picks between 40 and 60 and I thought, I better start paying attention," Siposs said. "Then it got to 70 and I was starting to get nervous, thinking maybe I won't get picked up.

"Pick 75 was St Kilda's and they asked for extra time, so I was sitting there for a couple of minutes thinking, 'Geez it'd be nice', and I think so were Mum and Dad. When they called out my name it was the best moment of my life. I was ecstatic."

Over the next 24 hours it began to dawn on Siposs - who was working part-time selling doughnuts at Krispy Kreme in Fountain Gate - that he now had the chance to play alongside footballers who previously looked upon him from posters on his bedroom wall. That night he took a phone call from another former Dandenong Stingrays under-18s player, Stephen Milne.

"A few days later and Nicky Dal's coming up and shaking your hand, Rooey (Nick Riewoldt) is coming up and saying 'Hi, I'm Nick' and you're thinking, 'Don't worry, I already know who you are', but all you can do is say, 'Hi, I'm Arryn'. It was just a special week," Siposs said. "And then to go from them being your heroes, who you're watching and cheering, to training and then playing alongside them, it was pretty good."

I think we're good enough to challenge again. We genuinely believe we've got what it takes.

He was handed the No.2 jumper vacated by ruckman Steven King and marvelled at the knowledge it had been worn by Saints stars such as Danny Frawley and Aaron Hamill.

Just over two years later and Siposs has gone from wide-eyed fan to a young man St Kilda regards as potentially pivotal to the team's future.

In recent months he has signed a three-year contract extension that ties him to the club until the end of 2015, and has been elevated to the Saints' emerging leaders group alongside Newnes, Tom Curran, Sam Dunell and Seb Ross.

"We have a session every two weeks and it's working well," Siposs said.

"(The emerging leaders) tend to be there to help the younger guys. They might not want to approach the older players but feel comfortable raising things with us, maybe just in a friendly chat. You only have to look at the first-year guys, coming into a new environment, trying to get their heads around it. We can help them adapt, give them a bit of advice."

He realises that St Kilda's youngsters perhaps need to step up sooner than many of their peers at other AFL clubs.

"There aren't all that many players on our list who are in the 24-28 age group," Siposs said.

"There are the guys who have been playing 10 years and more, but I think it's something like half of the list are 22 or under. So that gives us more of a chance to drive it a bit more, to build the club up from there, because guys like Rooey and Lenny (Hayes) and Joey (Leigh Montagna) have done a fantastic job building the club to what it is now, but now it's our opportunity to at least maintain it, if not take it further.

"We've got that chance to do it early in our careers so that once (the experienced players) are gone, the young guys should be more comfortable with that responsibility."

Arryn Siposs looks for an option. Picture: Martin Reddy Source: Herald Sun

Siposs does not, however, buy into the theory that this might mean the Saints need to bottom out before they will be genuine contenders again.

"We're pretty determined to focus on the expectations within the group, not the outside perception," he said.

"The boys have spoken about it a lot. We just want to get our fundamentals right, our game plan right and have the trust in each other to be able to execute that.

"I think we're good enough to challenge again. We genuinely believe we've got what it takes.

"The older guys are still playing great footy and the younger guys are coming up and feel we're ready for the challenge."

Whether it's Riewoldt, Hayes or - yes - Goddard, the younger Saints need to step up and fill those senior players' roles.

Some sooner than others.

16.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tigers to tie up Jack

Jack Riewoldt is in talks for a new deal with the Tigers. Source: Getty Images

COLEMAN medallist Jack Riewoldt has begun talks on a new long-term deal, and he and Richmond are confident of a speedy resolution.

Riewoldt, 24, has recently joined the elite stable being assembled by Strategic Management's Liam Pickering that includes Lance Franklin, Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Gary Ablett.

Pickering and new Tigers football manager Dan Richardson have spoken about Riewoldt's deal and will start thrashing out the length and cost.

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Although Riewoldt is thought to bleed yellow and black, Richmond will have to pay huge dollars for a player with two Coleman Medals, an All-Australian nod, a best-and-fairest and 215 goals in the past three seasons.

The Tigers now have talks under way with their big three out-of-contract stars - Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin.

The Herald Sun revealed in November Richmond's issues with Martin's behaviour, and the potential for him to be elsewhere next year.

But given a positive off-season, and Cotchin's recent guarantee that Martin is on track for a bumper season, the 21-year-old is much closer to securing a new contract than he was late last year.

Pickering said Riewoldt was ready for a big year after spending the past two seasons fighting injury issues.

"He is one of the stars of the competition and, without putting too much pressure on him, the Tigers should come good this year so he should get a bit more ball in there," he said.

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Waite in wars again

The Blues could be without Jarrad Waite for the next month. Source: Getty Images

CARLTON forward Jarrad Waite is expected to miss the club's early season blockbusters after another setback with his troublesome calf injury.

Waite is not expected to be available until Round 3 or 4 at the earliest and, given his poor fitness base, may need several weeks in the VFL before he is ready for senior selection.

It is understood a scan a fortnight ago revealed a second calf tear after Waite struggled to recover from the injury suffered in early February.

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Waite was sidelined for seven weeks for what the club initially described as a "minor calf strain" so his rehabilitation could stretch past 10 weeks.

Waite is one of the Blues' most important players given their lack of key forwards and his goalkicking talents.

Carlton will handle Waite's latest injury setback with extreme caution.

The Blues first five rounds are testing with games against Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong, West Coast (away) and Adelaide, before their draw becomes more manageable, with just one double-up against a top-eight team from last season.

Carlton great and SEN commentator Robert Walls, who is seventh on the club's all-time goalkicking list, said yesterday that, given his history with injury, the Blues could not rely on Waite.

"He is 30 years old and in his last four years he has averaged 12 games a season, so you can't build (a team) around him because he's not there," Walls said.

"There is the injury and there are the (recent) suspensions. So you can't rely on having him out there.

"Having said that, you think about how (coach Mick) Malthouse likes to play and he brings the ball in wide and needs someone to lead up to the wings and take marks.

"Waite is the perfect one to do that.

"But averaging 12 games a year and being 30, will we ever see him put in a solid year?

"His best is very good, but he doesn't play enough."

Waite, a father-son pick in the 2001 draft, kicked 27.14 from 11 games last season as he battled a mystery back injury.

With game tallies of nine, 16, 12 and 11 in the past four seasons, Waite is a star who simply cannot get on the ground.

16.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

No pain, no game for Mundy

David Mundy throws the footy forward Picture: Michael Klein Source: HWT Image Library

DAVID Mundy talks about "Fremantle choices". It's a phrase straight out of the book of Ross.

Coach Ross Lyon has worked his magic at the Dockers, convincing his players to enjoy a holiday with little relaxing, rewarded by an amped-up pre-season.

Like St Kilda players before them, the Dockers have committed.

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"Each and every player is convinced by it, the results of individuals and the team that we had last year," on-ball star Mundy told the Herald Sun.

"Ross has come in and he has certain mantras that he goes on with and goes on about, but they were results based.

"You put the hard work in, we've seen the results ... some boys have made hard choices throughout their time over the pre-season and over the off-season but, if we want success, it doesn't come by making easy choices.

"To be part of the Fremantle Football Club and football playing group, you need to display certain behaviours and really buy in, and people make personal choices throughout that.

"If they don't want to make the Fremantle choices, they won't be around much longer."

Dockers Matthew Pavlich and Ross Lyon. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

When Lyon arrived at the club at the end of 2011, he took no time to set his standards.

Former Dockers assistant coach Todd Curley spent the 2012 pre-season under Lyon before quitting to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry.

"To be honest, the playing group, any playing group probably, are desperate to have success and him coming in with a reputation and having success, they couldn't wait to start training under him," Curley said.

"I guess he was just really confident in what he wanted and what he wanted to put in place. He was able to give the confidence to the group that if they took that on board, anything's possible."

Clancee Pearce got rid of what Lyon described as his "fat a---" and forward Michael Walters was told to get with the program or leave. He chose the former.

Michael Johnson was another player who has blossomed under Lyon.

But why do they work so hard for Ross?

"It's just high accountability, high-review processes," Mundy said. "If someone's not toeing the line, the group's notified almost immediately.

"It's not only Ross, it's really the players holding each other to account - a high peer review (system).

"I wouldn't boil it all down to Ross, but he's the head of the snake I guess."

The standards went up a notch this summer. Lyon encouraged his players to embrace pre-season, not to loathe it.

He reckons the players haven't done more, they've just been worked harder. Certainly midfielder Lachie Neale felt the pain. The 19-year-old collapsed during a session in 30C-plus heat in January. Teammate Matt de Boer faced the media after the incident.

"It is good that Lachie is pushing his body to the limit," de Boer said.

It's been about working hard - abnormally hard, as the former St Kilda coach puts it. "We talk about normal effort gets you normal results but abnormal effort gets you great results," Lyon said in an interview with ABC WA last month.

Mundy said it was about making "hard" choices. "It's easy to come off the training track for example and say 'I don't want to jump in the ice today because it hurts or it's too cold'," he said.

"But the abnormal decision is to really knuckle down and get your recovery right and do what's required. I definitely know which path will lead to AFL success.

"That was something that Ross starting speaking about from day dot at Fremantle."

Curley said there was never any doubt what Lyon means when he speaks.

"It's just really plain, what the players need to do to be successful in his team," Curley said.

"They all understand that and like anything, once they buy in and have a bit of success, I guess you're going to do it more and more."

Mundy said that before last week, he had not even thought about Round 1.

"We've got to get through training before we can play," he said. "Some of the review processes from our training are quite pointed and demanding.

"If you didn't train well, they're often more abrasive than post-match reviews.

"In terms of the workload that we've done, you can quote our sports science guy for this, but that's our ticket to the dance. We've done what was required."

16.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Four teams can win the premiership

The Swans face some challenges in 2013, but can go back to back in the premiership race. Source: Herald Sun

THE most frequently asked question in the off-season is ''who do you think will win the premiership?''

This is closely followed by ''how do you think my team will go?''

The only guide is what happened last year and for that reason I believe the premiers will come from one of Sydney, Hawthorn, Collingwood or West Coast.

SYDNEY

THE reigning premiers face some challenges in going back to back.

The Swans don't look to have had a great pre-season and are going into season 2013 a little underdone.

That is not unusual for a premiership team as they start pre-season a month later than most sides. This factor has been helped by a soft start to the season with the Giants and the Suns.

They must not fall into the trap of taking either side lightly and pick the fittest team that they can.

Age may be a factor for the Swans, but there were no signs last year that players such as Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Ryan O'Keefe were slowing down.

The reason I believe the the Swans can go back-to-back is there is significant improvement left in players such as Hannebury, Reid, Jetta, Parker and new skipper Kieren Jack.

HAWTHORN

THE Hawks seem to be most people's premiership favourites and deservedly so.

I thought the Hawks were exposed in last year's Grand Final when the Swans players 15-22 were far better than those of the Hawks.

We know of the Hawks star power, but they must unearth more consistent role players to hold the cup aloft.

Brian Lake is an excellent good addition if he can get on the field regularly and, at his best, he is the key position defender the Hawks have been crying out for.

COLLINGWOOD

I BELIEVE the Pies are as well placed as any of these four teams to win a premiership.

On pure talent they can assemble the best 22 players.

They have the star power, depth, and great role players to fill their fans with confidence.

There is possibly two concerns for the Magpie army.

First, they must find a better balance between attack and defence. In their quest last year to become a more aggressive ball using team they certainly became much more exposed defensively.

I'm sure coach Nathan Buckley would have been stressing this during the pre-season. They must get back to becoming one of the most difficult teams to score against in the competition.

Second, sometimes their players can be their own worst enemies.

I applaud Nathan for his team first approach and trying to set high on-field and off-field standards. It is time for all Collingwood players to understand football is a team game and requires you to put the team first.

WEST COAST

THE Eagles have built nicely over the last couple of seasons. With a very talented list and 11 home games it is hard to see them not figuring in the premiership hunt.

Their ground is so big it's the most difficult for rival teams to play. Whilst this is a huge positive in order to reach the finals we know that premierships are won at the MCG.

Like the Swans, they do have some aging veterans who appear to be playing great football.

There is also tremendous upside in the young array of talent that they have assembled over the past six or seven years.

If the veterans continue to hold up and the youngsters improve as Woosha would hope a repeat of 2006 is very much on the cards.

WHO WILL JUMP?

THERE always appears to be a team that jumps up out of nowhere and last year it was the Adelaide Crows. I don't have them in my top four and think they may drop down the ladder.

The loss of Tippet is a big one, and time will tell as to whether they played at their absolutely optimum last season.

That brings us to the next debate as to who may jump up in 2013.

I believe the two most likely teams, despite the Brisbane Lions' outstanding pre-season, are Richmond and Essendon.

The only reason I don't have them in the eight is because I can't make a case for other teams to drop out.

Richmond's biggest problem last season was losing close games and there is no doubt that would have been a huge focus in their off-season.

Role-playing at training and placing players in game like situations would have happened on a regular basis. If they can arrest that worrying trend and win the close games, finals are a genuine consideration.

The Bombers' best 22 looks competitive. Last year they were cruelled by injury and also struggled to match the top teams run.

They looked to have had a much harder pre-season and will start 2013 a lot more confident with their running capacity.

Zaharakis is extremely important to them as he will give them another hard-running midfielder, something they lacked last year.

If they can put the turmoil of the off-season out of their minds, they like Richmond, will genuinely challenge for a spot in the eight.

16.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jolly OK after lung scare

Darren Jolly cops a knee in the back in a ruck contest against Geelong. Picture: Harman Stephen Source: Herald Sun

Darren Jolly with trainers. Picture: Harman Stephen Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Darren Jolly says he will line up in the Magpies' opening clash next week despite a stint in hospital.

Jolly was hospitalised after suffering a hit in his back in last Friday's practice-match loss to Geelong at Simmonds Stadium.

"I just copped a knock in the back, of all places, in the last quarter, which was purely an accident," Jolly said.

"I went into hospital as a precaution, just to make sure the lungs are OK.

"It's all good now."

However, Jolly admitted he had had an easier week following the incident "to settle down".

"I'm very confident (of playing in Round 1). I've dealt with injuries in the past and this is no different," he said.

"I'll make sure I look after it this week and be ready to go for next week."

Collingwood recruited former Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Lions ruckman Ben Hudson as a ruck coach only to later recruit him in the rookie draft to shore up their playing stocks.

Jolly said he was happy that Hudson would play a role on-field at various times.

"I knew when Huddo was coming he was probably going to play a few games, which is great," Jolly said.

"Huddo brings great experience to our group. Obviously he's played at three different clubs now and the way he goes about training and playing, his attitude towards things is fantastic.

"I'm not going to play every game and I don't think every player will play every game so there's opportunities there for him," he said.

Meanwhile, Jolly said star midfielder Dale Thomas was in doubt for the first round against North Melbourne on Sunday week but backman Ben Reid should play.

"I think maybe Reidy might be ready to go but I'm dubious about Daisy (Thomas)," he said.

"He's confident he'll be ready for Round 1 and he's back training but I think he has to prove to the coaches that he can really get up and go and be tackled."

Collingwood's Dale Thomas is struggling to be ready to go in Round 1. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Thomas has been involved in controversy recently after saying he might not stay at Collingwood if he gets a more attractive offer under the free agency rules.

"Internally, we don't really worry about it," Jolly said.

"Daisy, to his credit, is coming off an injury so he wants to prove to the club that he wants a good contract and he will start to play some good footy before he starts talking about it.

"None of the guys have a problem with it at all - we know where he stands."

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Cooney's knee dogs him again

Bulldogs star Adam Cooney could miss Round 1 with a setback to his troublesome knee. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun

WESTERN Bulldogs star Adam Cooney is in doubt for next week's season-opener after suffering a setback with his troublesome knee.

The Brownlow Medallist was forced to enter hospital yesterday to receive treatment for an infection to his right knee.

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Cooney, who travelled to Germany late last year for revolutionary treatment on the knee, has been the stand-out of the Dogs pre-season and again played well in Friday night's final practice match against Richmond.

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 He will remain on antibiotics for the rest of the week but the Dogs are confident the 27-year-old will be back at training next week which at least gives him a chance of lining up against Brisbane .

"We see this as a minor set-back for Adam and we're looking forward to having him back at training next week," General Manager of Football, James Fantasia said.

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