AFL Record, Round 14, 2010

ROUND 14, 2010JULY 1-4$5 (INC. GST)

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AFL GAME

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76 ROUND 14, JULY 1-4, 2010

SHINING LIGHT: Brisbane youngster Tom Rockliff is the round 13 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

THIS WEEK’S COVERSTiger Trent Cotchin is featured on the national cover while Darren Jolly appears on the Collingwood-West Coast cover.TRENT COTCHIN COVER PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON

57 Darren JollyLoving life as a Magpie.

58 Trent CotchinA committed young Tiger makes his mark.

68 Moments of the decadeCarlton’s dramatic fall from grace.

4 BackchatYour say on the football world.

9 The BounceViews, news, fi rst person, facts, data, culture.

25 MatchdayStats, history and line-ups.

53 Dream TeamAdvice from Mr Fantasy, our Dream Team expert.

70 Answer Man74 Kids’ Corner76 NAB AFL Rising Star78 Talking Point

Ted Hopkins fi nds a cure for the congestion.

Features

Regulars

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4 AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au

feedback

Substance oversensationalismRe: Ted Hopkins’ analysis of Carlton’s performance in round 12 against North Melbourne (‘Roo pressure puts glitch in Blues’ system’, AFL Record, round 13). It’s a great column, which I predict will have a slow burn. Sensationalist articles come and go in the weekly news cycle, but ones like this will spread like ripples on a pond.SCOTT HARGREAVES, VIA EMAIL

Leading from the frontThe Hawks are lucky to have such a level-headed captain in Sam Mitchell (‘Pulling the strings’, AFL Record, round 13). The mature approach he takes when dealing with his teammates is commendable and refreshing. On top of that, he’s simply a great player.KATIE WILLIAMS, MOUNT WAVERLEY, VIC.

Dockers defying the doubtersThere are a few people waiting for Fremantle to fall away. Maybe that’s simply what happens when a club hasn’t enjoyed success. The doubters should realise this Dockers squad is fi nally going somewhere, with the right mix of experienced players and some exciting young talent. Congratulations to the club hierarchy for putting their faith in Mark Harvey by extending his contract last week. ROD MASON, BATEMAN, WA.

Time to deliver, DemonsWhat happened to Melbourne’s supposed resurgence? Yes, it was a great effort to get a draw against Collingwood on the Queen’s Birthday holiday Monday, but that performance – and the promise shown in earlier weeks – came to nothing against the Adelaide Crows last weekend. This was a winnable game and the four points would have given us an outside chance of making the fi nals, or at the very least continuing to prove we’re on the way. We know we have a young team, but so do the Crows. Let’s stop talking about

our potential and start playing consistently well, like good teams should.MURRAY, COBDEN, VIC.

Saints’ systempasses the test

Many observers were quick �to start questioning St Kilda’s premiership credentials after consecutive losses in rounds seven and eight (to Carlton and Essendon).

The Saints’ loss to the Bombers was their third in four matches, and they were playing without captain Nick Riewoldt. The team that won 19 straight home and away matches last year, according to many experts, looked vulnerable, a shadow of the side that won so much respect last season.

Five straight wins later – including victories against Fremantle in Perth in round 12 and an impressive defeat of premier Geelong at the MCG last weekend – and, not surprisingly, the Saints are back among the favoured teams for this year’s premiership.

St Kilda has perfected an all-ground style of football (see Peter Ryan’s story on its ability to limit opposition scoring for long periods of games, starting on page 9) that can withstand a loss of personnel. Riewoldt’s imminent return will only strengthen them. The Saints also deserve credit for managing a series of off -fi eld challenges while remaining fi rmly focused on winning games.

St Kilda is on track for its third top-four fi nish in a row, and another shot at that elusive second fl ag. Nobody should really be that surprised.PETER DI SISTO

HAVE YOUR SAYThe best letter each round will receive SportsEars, a portable radio that allows you to listen to the umpires at AFL venues. Email afl [email protected] or write to AFL Record, Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC, 3008.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Your say on the world of

football

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AFL RECORD, VOL. 99, ROUND 14, 2010 Copyright. ACN No. 004 155 211. ISSN 1444-2973, Print Post approved PP320258/00109

ON THE RIGHT TRACK: The Dockers have shown faith in

coach Mark Harvey by extending his contract to the end of 2012.

ON THE RThe Dockers have s

coach Mark Harvey his contract to the

PLEASE NOTE, THE AFL RECORD WENT TO PRINT A DAY EARLIER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF THE THURSDAY GAME. AS A RESULT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON SOME EVENTS.

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AFL RECORD visit afl record.com.au 7

From the moment he arrived at Hawthorn more than fi ve �years ago, as a precocious 17-year-old, Lance Franklin has shown a rare capacity to astonish. I remember asking Shane Crawford about Franklin during his fi rst pre-season training, late in 2004. Crawford, who had relinquished the captaincy the year before Franklin’s debut, just shook his head and said: “Some of the things he can do are frightening.” We’ve seen the truth of those words many times since, but never more so than at the start of the split round, when the big man’s astonishing running goals in the last quarter helped Hawthorn to a win against Essendon.

For years, we’ve marvelled at vision of Ray Gabelich’s run in the last quarter of the 1964 Grand Final, and Phil Manassa’s in Collingwood’s loss in the 1977 Grand Final replay, but this was something else – another level of commitment, self-beliefand, when the runs were over, pinpoint expertise. What separated the Franklin run/runs (images from his second run are captured here) from the rest was the fact he was not only bouncing and running fl at out, but was chased and chased and chased, fi rst by Mark McVeigh and then by Cale Hooker. Under such pressure, he delivered – two goals of the year, within minutes of each other. The joy for Hawk fans is this: Franklin is just 23, and still to hit his peak. GEOFF SLATTERY PHOTO: LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/AFL PHOTOS

Rd 13 Hawthorn v Essendon, MCGFOR MY NEXT TRICK ...

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S t Kilda strangles the life out of its opposition. It not only defends, it obliterates.

In six games this season, the Saints have played quarters without allowing their opposition to score a goal. Hitting the Saints in such a stingy mood is like meeting a waterfall on a casual kayaking expedition.

In two of those games – against Geelong last week and Collingwood in round three – the Saints have kept their opposition goalless for the entire second half. That’s eight quarters in 2010 where they have not conceded a goal, which is, even with luck factored in

(opponents missing goalscoring opportunities or conditions not conducive to high scoring, for example) great football.

Being able to achieve this not only wins games, it demoralises opponents.

Of the 42 times this season a team has been kept goalless for a quarter, the Saints have infl icted the pain the most. Fremantle is next best, keeping opponents without a goal for a quarter fi ve times.

Of the other contenders, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs have done so twice and Collingwood once.

Under Ross Lyon’s coaching, keeping the opposition goalless from one siren to the next has

become a relatively common event. In his fi rst game as coach in round one, 2007, St Kilda stopped Melbourne from scoring in the third quarter. It repeated the dose in three more games that season.

In 2008, the Saints’ opposition was kept to goalless quarters six times. This was the season when St Kilda turned its defensive efforts into a winning phenomenon.

The Saints have lost only 10 of the 41 matches they have played since stellar performers Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne were left out of the side in round 13, 2008.

That statement – that defensive actions were expected in all parts of the ground at all times, regardless of scoreboard or the position you played – and the willingness for players to implement those ‘non-negotiables’ has been part

of the reason the Saints have enjoyed recent winning success.

In 2009, St Kilda stopped the opposition from scoring a goal in a quarter 14 times. It brought the Saints within – let’s be real – a toe-poke of a premiership. That they were kept goalless in the last quarter of the Grand Final was a cruel coincidence.

They had fi nished the season the fourth highest scorer in the competition, so their game is all-round: stop the opposition scoring, score yourself.

The Saints’ system is so good and diffi cult to break that it overcame the absence of Dal Santo, Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Sam Fisher and Brendon Goddard in round 19 last year to defeat Hawthorn.

St Kilda has rebounded from the loss of skipper Riewoldt in 2010 (remember it kept

There’s no escaping the Saints’ strangleholdPETER RYA N

VIEWS NEWS FIRST PERSON FACTS DATA CULTURE

DEFENSIVE PRESSURE

NEWS TRACKER St Kilda’s Steven Baker handed a 12-match suspension (nine with an early guilty plea) pending a challenge at the AFL Tribunal.

CONTINUED NE X T PAGE

NO RESPITE: St Kilda’s pressure is suff ocating, as Geelong’s Josh Hunt discovered in this contest

with Saints forward Stephen Milne at the MCG last week.

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

NEWS TRACKER Richmond’s Graham Polak cleared of injury after a heavy head clash in a VFL game.

Collingwood goalless after it lost the champion midway through the round-three match), and will benefi t from his return.

When the Sydney Swans were at their miserly best in 2005 (and Lyon was an assistant), they kept the opposition goalless in a quarter only fi ve times. Three were during the fi nals series, and the Swans won the fl ag.

In general terms, St Kilda’s system relies on total team effort. The Saints are strong at stoppages, which means they can win plenty of 50-50 situations and then they can push into a full-court press, crowding their own forward line with numbers and daring the opposition to run the ball out.

It is good to watch as it forces opponents to take risks (and keep their nerve), but it is not without its own risk.

If the opposition can break through, it can score. Numbers crowd space when the opposition goes forward with slow ball movement.

Lyon would be pleased the season is back on track, but he’s not the type to get carried away. His description of last week’s performance shows that every week presents a new challenge: “We played good aggressive footy, defended pretty well, attacked OK and walked away with four points.”

SUCCESSFUL RETURN

Pratt proves his mettleNICK BOWEN

A t the start of the season, new North Melbourne coach Brad Scott made a

tough decision.Despite presiding over a squad

lacking experience and hard bodies, Scott decided 27-year-old defender Daniel Pratt needed time in the VFL to regain fi tness and form.

Even after North’s young side made a slow start to the season, including a brutal 102-point thrashing by St Kilda in round two, Scott resisted any temptation to rush Pratt back.

This, despite Pratt being named one of the Roos’ deputy vice-captains at the start of last year after his outstanding 2007 and ’08 seasons.

Perhaps Scott was mindful of how Pratt had struggled for form after returning from a mid-season knee injury last year. His pre-season had also been interrupted by a hamstring strain.

Certainly, when asked about Pratt’s extended stint in the VFL – he played fi ve games, missing

several weeks after round one with a groin strain – Scott was emphatic he remained in North’s best side when fi t and in form.

A point Pratt has reinforced since returning to the team in round eight against Adelaide, especially in the past two rounds, when he had 20 and 27 possessions respectively against Carlton and Port Adelaide.

Last round against the Power, Pratt was outstanding, displaying the straight-ahead aggression and defensive rebound that made him such an important player for the Roos.

Speaking with the AFL Recordthis week, Pratt said his VFL stint had been frustrating but, in retrospect, had been the best thing for him.

“Brad (Scott) just said he wanted me to get that real continuity in my game so I could perform week in, week out, which I wasn’t doing last year,” Pratt said.

“I came back too early from my knee last year and, if you don’t play at 100 per cent, with the speed of the game now, you can really get yourself into trouble with form and injury.

“The way I’ve played the past few weeks has defi nitely been pleasing, but it’s how I expect to play and how the coaches expect me to play.”

PlayerHardest part ofpre-season training:

If you could play another professional sport, it would be:

The furthest you’ve beenfrom home:

Teammate most likely to Google his own name:

ShaunBurgoyneHawthorn

The running sessions

NFL or soccer for Manchester United

NewYork Josh Gibson

AmonBuchananBrisbane Lions

Shuttledrill

Twenty20 cricket UnitedStates Justin Sherman

Steven BakerSt Kilda Early starts Soccer United States Adam

Schneider

Brett KirkSydney Swans

The sand dune runs

Icehockey Ireland Ed Barlow

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pleasing DANIEL PRATT

BACK WITH A BANG:Daniel Pratt was primed to play well on his return to the Roos’ line-up after being allowed to fi nd form and fi tness in the VFL.

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| CULTURE



Recruiting a footballer is �not like following a recipe. You can’t fl ick to the slow-cooked food pages and fi nd a 197cm, 104kg hunk of meat, roll him in paprika, stew him for fi ve hours, add a splash of red and, “voila”, you have a centre half-forward.

And there is no section on lightly battered, 80kg stir-fried wingers. The formula to fi nding a footballer is not that simple.

That’s why when football scouts came knocking on Ryan O’Keefe’s door back in 1999, they mostly wanted to discuss someone else. They were interested in teenager Ezra Bray, who was staying with the O’Keefe family.

The reality was Bray’s football attributes appeared more appetising and he was snapped up reasonably early in the draft, Geelong using its 17th pick to secure him.

O’Keefe, on the other hand, had to wait. He was not tall or short and was generally lacking obvious bells and whistles, despite winning the Calder Cannons’ best and fairest award.

But recipes can be fl awed. The Sydney Swans decided to take O’Keefe with selection 56 overall. This weekend, as the Swans’ 2009 best and fairest winner lines up for his 200th game, it is apparent O’Keefe was a steal.

And to illustrate how formulas can be deceiving, Bray was delisted by Geelong at the end of 2001 and dumped by Carlton the following year.

On top of his best and fairest award, O’Keefe has a premiership medal and All-Australian honours; he was second in the Swans’ best and fairest in 2006, has played International Rules,

represented Victoria and won a Jim Stynes Medal.

O’Keefe says he has vivid memories of his time at the Cannons and the day he was drafted to the Swans.

“It was hard leaving friends and family, but I didn’t really care. I just wanted a game,” he says.

However, there were struggles. Building strength was essential for a mid-sized player who relied on his marking, he had injuries and there were “family issues”.

Those issues involved the loss of his brother Aaron, who died in a car accident. The impact was signifi cant on the young footballer and he once said he thought about his brother every day. He also wore an armband for him in every game.

O’Keefe now has a “new perspective”. Ten months ago, he and his wife, Tara, had a baby boy, Levi.

And O’Keefe is somewhat of a “foodie”. He cooks his

family’s meals, he teaches his teammates how to cook and he recently appeared on Channel Ten’s MasterChef.

As for following recipes in the kitchen,

O’Keefe admits his reluctance: “I use recipes for ideas and then I’m pretty much to my own devices after that,” he says.

And why not? Certainly on a football fi eld, O’Keefe is proof in the pudding that a little imagination can produce remarkable results.CAMERON NOAKES

PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING FOR O’KEEFE

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NEWS TRACKER Fremantle defender Scott Thornton announces retirement after an injury-ravaged season.

MEASURING UP

No tall tales hereMICHAEL LOV ETT

J ack Riewoldt’s stature has grown to the point where there has almost been as much discussion

about him as there is his famous cousin Nick.

While the St Kilda champion has been in the background for most of the season nursing a badly torn hamstring, Jack has been lauded for his goalkicking feats in a Richmond side that struggled in the early part of the season.

But as Jack has worked his way to the top of the AFL goalkicking table, there have been some inevitable comparisons between the cousins, from their ability to their physical shape.

Recently on Fox Sports’ On The Couch, panellists Gerard Healy, James Hird and Mike Sheahan expressed minor surprise that Jack is actually taller than Nick. The 2010 AFL Record Season Guide lists Jack at 195cm and Nick at 193cm. “Could there be a mistake?” they asked.

Vision of the pair shaking hands after a game in 2009

shows that indeed Jack is slightly taller than Nick, but that hasn’t always been the case.

Jack, who was selected No. 13 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, has grown three centimetres since arriving from Clarence in Tasmania. He was listed at 192cm in the 2007 and 2008 Season Guidesand 193cm in the 2009 Season Guide before adding two centimetres this year.

For the conspiracy theorists who think the Tigers might be a little loose with their weights and measures, Richmond’s elite performance manager Matt Hornsby says players are weighed regularly and measured annually.

“They are weighed before and after every training session and we measure them once a year,” Hornsby said.

“It’s not uncommon for 17-to-20-year-old males to grow and that has been the case with Jack. A few others, like Andrew Collins, Trent Cotchin and Dean Polo, have also shot up.”

For the record, Nick has not grown in his time with St Kilda – he was listed at 193cm in the 2001 Season Guide.

However, he weighed just 81kg back then while today he tips the scales at 98kg. Jack was 86kg in his fi rst season with the Tigers in 2007 and is now 93kg.

GROWTH SPURT:Jack Riewoldt

(right) now has a slight height

advantage over his cousin Nick.




RADIO PIONEERS

Footy callers working around the clockRHETT BARTLETT

I n the 1930s, The Argusnewspaper unveiled a unique addition to radio broadcasts of VFL matches.

The Argus 3UZ Football Broadcast Plan was an overhead diagram of a football ground, divided up as a clock face, to assist those listening at home to follow the play. It was inserted into Friday editions of the newspaper for use the following day.

Listeners would simply cut out the page on the morning of the game, and place it beside their wireless radio as they listened to the broadcast.

The commentators had to be precise in their description to ensure the listener could visualise the position of the ball. For instance, if the play was on the wing, the commentators would say, “The ball is at 3 o’clock” or “At 9 o’clock” – depending on which side of the ground it was on.

When a goal was scored, the commentator would say, “A goal kicked at 6 o’clock” or “At 12 o’clock”, depending which way the team was kicking.

Throughout the decade, the diagram changed to include more details. Grandstands were included, surrounded buildings were shaded, and each team’s dressing room was labelled.

One of the men who took up the task of broadcasting using the diagram was former Richmond player and Footscray captain Sid Dockendorff.

Dockendorff had suffered career-threatening injuries playing for Richmond in the second semi-fi nal against

South Melbourne in 1933. While recuperating the following season, he was invited to broadcast matches on 3UZ with commentator Jack Gurry, using the now-popular newspaper diagram.

In 2001, at the age of 92, Dockendorff reminisced for the book Richmond F.C: A Century of League Football about the diffi culty of calling matches at that time.

“Only three of us could fi t in the commentary box. We used to climb up a ladder, about 10 feet (about three metres) high to get there and one time somebody pinched the ladder and we had to slide down the pole to get to the ground,” he said.

“One day, I said ‘The ball is at 4 o’clock’ and somebody

in the crowd yelled, ‘You’re a bloody

liar Dockendorff, it’s not!’ It went all over the air.”

The radio station received

letters of complaint from

listeners appalled at the language

captured through the microphones.

But it didn’t matter, as Dockendorff remembered, “The more letters you got for the abuse, the better the station liked it.”

The Argus faded out its diagram before the start of the 1940s. The newspaper itself closed on January 19, 1957.

F I V E O F T H E B E S T F R O M B U D DY

ROUND 6, 2007 V ESSENDON18 disposals, eight marks, three tackles,nine goalsFranklin saw off three opponents – Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee and Mal Michael – in a dazzling display against Hawthorn’s arch rival.

FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL, 2007 V ADELAIDE12 disposals, seven marks, seven goalsWho could forget his goal from 50m from the boundary to put the Hawks in front in the dying seconds against the more experienced Crows?

ROUND 5, 2008 V BRISBANE LIONS20 disposals, nine marks, eight goals, six behinds In a shootout with Daniel Bradshaw, Franklin was unstoppable at the Gabba, kicking goals from all angles in his team’s impressive 12-point win.

ROUND 11, 2008 V ESSENDON18 disposals, 10 marks, nine goals, fi ve behindsMatched his personal best goal tally – again against the Bombers – on his way to a ton for the season.

SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL, 2008 V WESTERN BULLDOGS

15 disposals, seven marks, eight goalsShowed his nerve again under the pressure of fi nals football, single-handedly tearing the Bulldogs apart in Hawthorn’s 51-point victory.

There was plenty of discussion as to where Lance Franklin’s �eff ort against Essendon last round ranked among his best games. Here are snapshots of some of his dominant outings.pp

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OUT OF THIS WORLD:Lance Franklin

continues to amaze with his unique skills.

The more letters you got

for the abuse, the better the station

liked it FORMER 3UZ COMMENTATOR

SID DOCKENDORFF

NEW DIRECTION: The card that helped radio listeners follow the football.

NEWS TRACKER Collingwood livewire Brad Dick cleared of serious damage after injuring his shoulder against the Sydney Swans.

GEORGE FARRUGIA


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YOUNG ACHIEVER

Crow star was worth the waitCA LLUM T WOMEY

T here was some negativity in the air as Patrick Dangerfi eld, then only 17, fronted

the media in Adelaide at the start of 2008.

Dangerfi eld, the fi rst player picked by the Crows in the previous year’s draft, was about to head to Dubai with his teammates for a NAB Cup match against Collingwood.

On his return to the country, Dangerfi eld would then go back home to Moggs Creek near Victoria’s south coast, where he would attend Oberon High School and complete year 12.

It meant it was unlikely the Crows would see their prized recruit in Adelaide colours in 2008, and those who cover the Crows were impatient.

“Are you any chance of playing in Dubai?” asked one reporter. “When do you realistically think you’ll play an AFL game?” “No chance this year?” “How will you feel if the other draftees play and you don’t?” “Is there a danger you might be injured due to being put in cotton wool?”

Dangerfi eld answered each question like a seasoned pro, honestly and with a healthy dose of modesty. However, the answer to one question –

“Are you much of a student?” – said much about the young midfi elder’s character.

“Yeah,” Dangerfi eld responded with a grin. “I think I am.”

Dangerfi eld has never been afraid of backing himself. As a junior, under the instruction of his father John – who used to coach him – he would “take the game on”. It was a simple game and he played in an uncomplicated way.

“It’s been a massive part of my development, just being able to have fun,” Dangerfi eld said. “I’ve always had a crack, rather than being reserved and worried about making a mistake.”

Former Fitzroy midfi elder Leon Harris, in his role as a junior development offi cer with AFL Victoria, spotted Dangerfi eld’s talent and immediately pushed for him to be included in the 2006 AIS-AFL Academy squad.

Dangerfi eld was the last picked and made the most of the program, one night even taking to the stage as part of a Red Faces-style event and impersonating Harris to the delight of the crowd.

He continued his development with the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup and was selected as a bottom-age player by the Crows in 2007 with pick 10.

Before the draft, he had the conviction to tell all clubs that, regardless of his love of football, fi nishing school was his priority.

Even though he did end up making his debut in 2008 – in round 20 against Essendon – Dangerfi eld admitted spending the year at home made the transition easier.

“That year certainly enabled me to develop as a person. I was very young when I was drafted and I think that extra 12 months certainly helped me mature by the time I came over,” he said.

Given special permission to play for the Falcons in the TAC Cup, despite being on Adelaide’s list, Dangerfi eld worked hard on his decision-making.

Playing at half-back meant good decisions could set up goals and bad ones often hurt the team. His Falcons coach,

former Geelong captain Garry Hocking, focused on the theory “the fi rst option and the easy option is often the best one to take”.

“When I started playing, I had a lot of ‘tunnel-vision’ in me and I just had to have a better awareness of the people around me,” Dangerfi eld said.

“It’s not something I always do incredibly well, but I’m still trying to improve that awareness and decision-making process.”

His 2009 season comprised 21

games, 19 goals, a NAB AFL Rising

Star nomination and comparisons to

Adelaide champion Mark Ricciuto.

Dangerfi eld’s strength, tenacity and courage, matched with his pace, skills and goalkicking ability, have made him one of the most promising young players in the game.

This year, he has taken his game to another level. In a poor season for the club that he

I’ve alwayshad a crack,

rather than being reserved and worried about

making a mistake PATRICK DANGERFIELD

NEWS TRACKER Essendon coach Matthew Knights calls for a fourth umpire to monitor off -the-ball incidents.

FACT FILE

PatrickDangerfi eldBorn: April 5, 1990Recruited from: Anglesea/Geelong U18Debut: Round 20, 2008 v EssendonHeight: 188cm Weight: 89kgGames: 34 Goals: 40Player honours: NAB AFL Rising Starnominee 2009

32

| CULTURE



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

puts down to an “inconsistent attitude”, he has probably been the Crows’ best player, making things happen whenever he has the ball or is in the vicinity.

His toughness has also been obvious, highlighted by the gang-tackle he endured against Melbourne in round three, a traumatic hit that could well have resulted in a serious head or neck injury.

Two weeks later, he broke his wrist after running into a goalpost at full-throttle against the Western Bulldogs and missed two games. He acknowledged his fearless approach needs some

tinkering. “It’s something I’m always working on, just knowing when to take a step back and realise there’s no need to go into certain contests,” he said.

“You can be part of the play without always having to be in and under the packs, so that’s something I’m very conscious of.”

Indeed, Dangerfi eld plays like he has a cause. This weekend against Essendon, he will be playing for a cause, the Call to Arms campaign that aims to raise funds to fi ght cancer in men.

Dangerfi eld, an ambassador for the campaign, has had fi rst-hand experience of the disease, with four members of his family being diagnosed with

cancer over the past 10 years.

In 2006, he lost his uncle Peter and grandfather Kevin to the illness.

“It’s really important and obviously it’s been a massive factor in my life with the tragedies we’ve gone through,”

Dangerfi eld said.“They were both always

around, so to lose them was certainly confronting. It reinforces you to make every moment count.”

Talk of making moments count, maturing, growing up and the importance of family – Dangerfi eld has 38 cousins – belies the fact he is still only 20, but in almost half an hour with the AFL Record, he strikes as someone who hasn’t let football fame affect him.

He rarely drinks alcohol (“I just don’t like the taste!”), studies real estate, loves nothing more than getting back home to Moggs Creek to surf or fi sh, and is looking to buy a house on the beach in Grange in South Australia.

Hours after our conversation, Dangerfi eld sends a text message apologising for not picking up on an incorrect date during the interview, and makes sure

we have the correct one. Now, two-and-a-half years after that press conference before he left for Dubai, Dangerfi eld admitted to “sometimes having a laugh” about the early implied criticism. You get the feeling the reporters might be doing the same thing.

ADELAIDE WILL WEAR CANCER COUNCIL T-SHIRTS IN THE PRE-GAME WARM-UP ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THE T-SHIRTS WILL BE SIGNED AND THEN AUCTIONED ONLINE AT AFC.COM.AU FROM MONDAY TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

COMMUNITY

Power Cup helps youngsters achievetheir goalsCA LLUM T WOMEY

P ort Adelaide recently hosted its third annual Aboriginal Power Cup, a program that uses

football to encourage Aboriginal secondary school students to further their education.

The program also aims to provide participants with a pathway to the workforce.

The program culminated with participants playing in a curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide-Sydney Swans match AAMI Stadium.

The previous day, more than 300 indigenous secondary school students met at Port’s home, Alberton Oval, to learn about careers and healthy lifestyle choices, develop skills including leadership and teamwork and take part in football games.

Developed in 2008 through a partnership between Port Adelaide, the South Australian Government’s Attorney-General’s department, the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy and the SANFL, the program teaches students to set their own life goals. In his role as an ambassador for youth opportunity, former Port

Adelaide captain and recent Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Gavin Wanganeen works with students on setting career goals.

“It was great to get the students thinking about their future,” Wanganeen said. “Not all of them can become professional footballers, but they can learn about discipline, healthy living, teamwork and leadership by taking part in a major sporting competition.”

Port Adelaide CEO Mark Haysman said the support of Santos in the program has helped the club expand its relationship with the community.

“We are 100 per cent committed to building strong communities through local football initiatives. This one is especially important,” he said.

canpas

hisPegrto

imobfltg

D

ON THE RISE: Patrick Dangerfi eld is making his mark in the AFL but

he was a fresh-faced teenager (inset) when he was drafted by the

Crows in 2007.

NEWS TRACKER Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson returns via the VFL after a serious hamstring injury in round three.

AFL 200 ClubDaniel GiansiracusaWestern BulldogsRobert MurphyWestern Bulldogs

200 gamesRyan O’KeefeSydney SwansJosh FraserSydney Swans

100 gamesBrett JonesWest CoastJared RiversMelbourneChris DonlonUmpire

50 gamesAlwyn DaveyEssendon Scott HardingPort AdelaideLuke FarmerUmpireDamien SullyUmpire

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

MILESTONES ROUND 14




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VERBATIM Emma Quayle on writing Nine Lives with Adam Ramanauskas

“Before starting to work with �Adam Ramanauskas on his book, Nine Lives, I wondered whether he was ready to lay everything out, to tell his own story.

From afar, ‘Rama’ had always seemed a little guarded and, understandably, very private about the cancer battle he was fi ghting. But the best part about writing a book is that you get the chance to become immersed in someone else’s world for a while, to understand how they think, and why they think like they do.

That certainly happened in this case. We worked on the book for more than nine months. Most times, I’d go round to his place for dinner, then we’d switch on the tape recorder and talk for a few hours. I liked doing it this way because, with Adam’s

wife Belinda there too, they were able to challenge each other’s memories and help each other talk about diffi cult things.

Some nights were more emotional than others; some questions were very hard to ask and sometimes no one seemed to know what to say next, but I’d always go home thinking ‘wow’, and realising how little I really

knew about what he had gone through to launch

not one, but three AFL comebacks.

There are so many reasons why – physically – Rama should never have

been able to play again. Forget the

radiation treatment, and the chemotherapy. Few know that since his fi rst operation, in early 2003, he played with partially paralysed shoulder muscles and that his lungs were operating at half-capacity.

Then there were the mental hurdles. From a distance, Rama did seem very private, but when you understand what it’s like to walk into a chemo ward, and realise you are just like the other people in there, you start to understand why.

He never wanted to insult them, in a sense, by promoting himself as someone diff erent, someone more important, or more famous. But over time, he came to understand that his story might be able to help other people. It takes a lot of courage to share your deepest thoughts – about your very toughest times – but he did it well.”

NINE LIVES: FOOTBALL, CANCER AND GETTING ON WITH LIFE (ADAM RAMANAUSKAS WITH EMMA QUAYLE) IS PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN ($32.95 RRP). EMMA QUAYLE IS A REPORTER FOR THE AGE AND AUTHOR OF THE DRAFT.

Over time, he came to

understand that his story might be able to help other people

AUTHOR EMMA QUAYLE

kkas

COURAGE: Adam Ramanauskas’

story is an inspirational one.


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


Home team v visitors tonight

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.

Vic Country was on track �to win its fi rst title since 2003 after going into the fi nal phase of this year’s NAB AFL Under-18 Championships unbeaten.

Vic Country, the only undefeated team in Division One, was set to play pre-carnival favourite South Australia in the fi nal match, at Skilled Stadium on Wednesday. A win by Country would clinch it the title.

South Australia and Vic Metro both had mathematical chances of claiming the title; the South Australians needed to beat Country by a large margin, while Vic Metro had to beat Western Australia handsomely while relying on South Australia to defeat Vic Country to give itself a chance.

Vic Country’s stellar carnival has been built on the back of excellent individual performances and strong team eff orts. These factors were highlighted in last Saturday’s thumping 108-point win over Queensland, with forward Tom Lynch the standout with four goals. Teammate Jayden Pitt booted three.

It was Queensland’s second consecutive drubbing, having been handed a 74-point loss by NSW/ACT a week earlier.

On the same day the RAMS beat Queensland, Tasmania, thanks largely to Charlie

Riewoldt, beat the Northern Territory by 44 points. Riewoldt, brother of Richmond star Jack and cousin of St Kilda captain Nick, was the dominant player on the ground with four goals.

Last week, Vic Metro added to Northern Territory’s pain with an 89-point win, while Western Australia warmed up for its fi nal round clash with Vic Metro with a 16-point win over NSW/ACT.

The fi nal round of the championships, originally

scheduled for Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, was played over two days this week, with Queensland playing the Northern Territory and Tasmania facing NSW/ACT at Visy Park on Tuesday, and Vic Metro meeting Western Australia and Vic Country taking on South Australia at Skilled Stadium on Wednesday.

THE RESULTS OF THESE GAMES WERE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN THE AFL RECORD WENT TO PRINT. SEE SCOREBOARD PAGES FOR UPDATES.

CALLUM TWOMEY

For the fi rst time, a team �representing the South Pacifi c and a World 18 squad will play at the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, which start this weekend at Blacktown Olympic Park in western Sydney.

Recently retired Hawthorn premiership defender Trent Croad and David Lake are coaching the Pacifi c Islands team, which features players from Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Tonga, Nauru, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

Former Bombers forward Scott Lucas and triple Brisbane Lions premiership player Mal Michael are helping the team’s development.

The World team, coached by former-Sydney Swans premiership forward Michael O’Loughlin, includes representatives from South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Denmark, Lebanon, the United States, Sudan, Iraq, Canada, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, China and Argentina.

The South Pacifi c and World teams took part in a high-performance camp in Melbourne earlier this week before heading to Sydney for the carnival.

The fi nals of the two-division round-robin event will be played in Melbourne on September 24-25.

UNDER-18 TITLE HEADED FOR THE BUSH? FOR UPDATES GO TO AFL.COM.AU/U18STWITTER: @AFL OR #NABAFLU18S

FUTURE STARS: Representatives from the eight sides – from left, Joel Wilkinson (Qld), Steven May (NT), Shaun Atley (Vic Country), Seb Tape (SA), Andrew Gaff (Vic Metro), Reece Conca (WA), Anthony Miles (NSW/ACT) and Josh Green (Tas).

G A M E D E V E L O P M E N T

International fl avour for championships




NEWS TRACKER Saint Jesse Smith placed on long-term injury list following another ankle injury.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Asian infl uence in Australian footballNICK HATZOGLOU

A ustralian Football has always had the capacity to bring people together,

with many players of European heritage becoming superstars of the game.

Recent events and research by Dr Rob Hess, a lecturer in sport history at Victoria University, reveals Australian Football was once popular (and is again growing in popularity) among Australia’s Asian community, and more broadly through Asia.

Dr Hess’ research highlights that from 1892-96, despite racial tensions in the gold rush era, games were played for charity in Ballarat in western Victoria by members of the Chinese community in front of mainly Anglo-Australian crowds of up to 4000 people.

Chinese workers also played in charity matches in Melbourne around the end of the 19th century.

Complications of the day and the country’s White Australia Policy made it diffi cult and progress was stifl ed. We can only imagine the impact on Australian Football if this early involvement of Asian footballers was allowed to fl ourish.

It is not widely known that several players of Chinese heritage have played the game at a high level.

The fi rst documented example was Wally Koochew, who played four games for Carlton in 1908 and was a proud member of Victoria’s Chinese community.

His life has been documented by Carlton’s historical committee; his father James migrated to Australia from Whampoa (Guangzhou) in 1865, one year after Carlton was formed.

Wally’s son Leslie was an umpire and awarded life membership of the VFL/AFL Umpires’ Association in 1960.

Wally’s other son, also named Wally, was also a renowned footballer, having started with Melbourne’s reserves before being lured to Northcote as the VFA’s youngest playing coach.

Les Kewming played at North Melbourne and was full-back for Echuca in the Bendigo Football League in the late 1920s.

Kewming was a prodigious kick and won the drop and punt kick contests in a national long-distance kicking competition staged by The Sporting Globe. He was famous for a mighty 73-yard (66m) drop kick (for many years listed in great sporting achievements in Miller’s Guide).

From the early 1930s, we saw the establishment in Melbourne of the Young Chinese League, which fi elded its own team until the 1980s.

Football matches were played at Royal Park and Princes Park. In a typical season, the Young Chinese League team would play 10-18 matches against local teams and business houses.

In 1941, it played against the Bookmakers and the Past and Present Boxers Association.

The highlight for the players was the end-of-season trip to a country town where, on the Saturday, the townspeople would offer them their hospitality and, on the Sunday, they would play the town football team.

Special fund-raising dances were held to cover the costs of the teams’ travels expenses, as well as maintaining a fund for injured players.

The Young Chinese League team played Australian Football to promote ties within the Chinese community and further its understanding of the broader Australian community.

Chinese-Australians’ participation in Australian

Football attracted press coverage. An article

in The Herald in 1971 joked the Young Chinese League team’s secret weapon was that it defi ed

stereotypes by speaking English

on-fi eld and not Chinese.

Today, with the support of the AFL’s multicultural program and a more embracing environment, many Australians of Asian heritage are participating in Australian Football.

We are seeing more Asian faces at the footy, which is

PIONEERS: This photograph of a Young Chinese League team was likely taken at the league club house, which was in Frank Chinn’s house in Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, later demolished to build Cohen House. From back row (left to right) are Jack Lee Ack, Robert Kwong, Russell Youie, Norman Chong (from Bairnsdale), Oscar Kwong, Len Quon. Middle row: Harold Chin (from Darwin), Frank Chinn, Dennis Quon, Charles Quon (Junior), Geoff Chong, Earl Gooey. Seated: Edward ‘Fongie’ Gooey, Norman Quon, Tom (‘Tommy’) Wing Young, George Dann, Alan Kuramato, Maurice Lee (from Queensland). COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF CHINESE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY (D. PEEBLES’ PRIVATE COLLECTION).

It is notwidely known that several players of Chinese heritage have played the

game at a high level



For a no holds barred view on everything footy, join Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell, 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday. Sports Today - only on 3AW 693.

healthy for the future of our game.

We want Australian Football to be refl ective of Australia today. With more than half of Australia’s migrants coming from non-English speaking countries and projected immigration increasingly set to come from Asia, it is important for the continued prosperity of the game that we embrace these people and make the game attractive to them.

In October, we will see the progress of the game in China, culminating in the Kaspersky Shanghai Showdown match between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions in a 15,000-seat stadium as part of the World Expo.

There will also be many local Chinese people participating in football programs in and around that event, with a Chinese national team playing in the 2011 Australian Football International Cup.

Further progress is being made in the international development of the game, as evidenced by the recent announcement that former Hawthorn, Collingwood and Fitzroy player Tony Woods had been appointed in the new role of AFL international development manager.

Woods’ appointment recognises the AFL’s growing international presence and will seek to accelerate the work being

done across development, event and commercial areas for the AFL’s international projects.

The appointment is a signifi cant strategic one for the game, as he is the fi rst person in a dedicated international role.

In Victoria, we have witnessed the growth of the Southern Dragons, a team made up predominantly of footballers with Asian cultural backgrounds.

They started in 2008 as a one-team club playing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association as the Elgar Park Dragons.

The club, through president Tri Thoi, coach Michael Nguyen and many other dedicated football enthusiasts, expanded and now has three teams competing in the Southern Football League.

Captain Yuta Kobayashi, an Australian with Japanese heritage, recently hoisted the Tri-Short Trophy on behalf of the triumphant Dragons in a game played annually between friendly rivals, the Southern Dragons and the Sandown Cobras.

Great relationships have been built by both clubs through the leadership of Lou Short and Tri Thoi, and the Southern Dragons have made excellent progress in growing the game and engaging the Asian community.

NICK HATZOGLOU HEADS THE AFL’S MULTICULTURAL PROGRAM.

S P E C I A L V I S I T

Xi Jinping, the Vice-President �of the People’s Republic of China, was a special guest of AFL Commission Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and Victorian Premier John Brumby at the Carlton-Fremantle match at Etihad Stadium last round.

Mr Jinping was in Melbourne for meetings with the Victorian Government.

Before the match, Mr Jinping and other guests enjoyed dinner in the AFL boardroom.

Fitzpatrick, a Carlton premiership captain,

presented Mr Jinping with a Blues scarf and, during the match, AFL ambassadors, including Chinese-born aspiring football commentator Jamie Pi, were on hand to explain the rules of the game to Mr Jinping and other Chinese dignitaries.

Melbourne will play the Brisbane Lions in an exhibition match (the Kaspersky Cup – AFL Shanghai Showdown) in China in October.

Taste of AFL for Chinese VP




NEWS TRACKER AFL to meet Blues captain Chris Judd to discuss his concerns about Etihad Stadium’s surface.

ENVIRONMENT

Green Tigers have an eye on the future

R ichmond has established a partnership with the West Gippsland

Catchment Management Authority to support the Landcare project across Victoria.

This weekend, the Tigers are helping promote awareness of GippsLandcare and Landcare in Victoria.

Players Ben Cousins and Matt White this week did their bit for the cause, planting their own trees near the Tigers’ base at Punt Road Oval. Umpires offi ciating in the Tigers-Swans

match the MCG will wear green, and goal umpires will use green fl ags.

GippsLandcare is the brand that represents Landcare across West Gippsland in Victoria’s east. It is responsible for 70 Landcare groups and more than 2000 families working on Landcare projects.

A group of farmers near St Arnaud in central Victoria formed Landcare in 1986.

Since then, hundreds of groups have been established across Victoria, working to repair, enhance and protect the environment.

Members of Landcare groups plant, restore and protect native vegetation; provide habitat for native fauna; reduce the impacts of salinity, erosion and land degradation; remove and control pest plants and animals, and learn to farm in a more sustainable way.

“We hope that we can help to raise awareness of Landcare in Victoria, leaving our landscape in a better condition for upcoming generations,” Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said.

“It is an exciting opportunity to engage and involve a lot more people, through the reach of the Tigers and the AFL,” West Gippsland Catchment Authority CEO Geoff Hocking said.

“Landcare is about communities achieving good outcomes for sustainable landscapes, healthy waterways and connected communities.

“Having Richmond help raise the profi le of our region’s GippsLandcare brand will promote much wider awareness that we all have an obligation to help ensure a sustainable and healthy future for all.” TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LANDCARE, INCLUDING HOW TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER, GO TO LANDCAREVIC.NET.AU.

GREEN THUMBS: Tiger stars Matt White and Ben Cousins did their bit for the environment by planting trees near Punt Road Oval this week.

Brent HarveyNORTH MELBOURNE

In this picture, Brent Harvey � has just sealed North Melbourne’s round 13 win over Port Adelaide.

Seconds earlier, he had gathered a loose ball on the wing and taken off . Sprinting towards goal, Harvey took one bounce before feigning a handpass that left Port’s Jason Davenport grasping at air.

At that time, Port had kicked four of the previous fi ve goals to close to within 16 points of the Roos, with fi ve minutes remaining in the game.

In such a tense situation, the ball was in the hands of the right man. Running inside the 50m arc, Harvey took another bounce, darted sideways to avoid a Port defender, then clinically converted the goal with a kick across his body.

North supporters would have expected nothing less. Harvey’s long-running goals are commonplace. But there’s more to Harvey than his highlights reel. Week in, week out, he is shadowed by the opposition’s best tagger, yet he remains a

prolifi c ball-winner. Against the Power, Kane Cornes was a constant companion but Harvey racked up 32 possessions.

His strong team focus was also apparent. As well as kicking two goals, he set up six for teammates. It is Harvey’s ability to impose himself on games, though, that stands out most.

Leading up to his crucial goal against Port, he had seen teammates miss majors that could have helped build an unassailable lead. He would also have been mindful that just weeks earlier, his team had nearly squandered match-winning leads against Adelaide and Brisbane Lions.

Harvey knew what needed to be done. And he wanted the ball in his hands to ensure it got done. That’s the mindset of champions when the game’s in the balance. And there’s been no greater champion at Arden Street since Wayne Carey’s departure in 2002. NICK BOWEN

PLAYERS WE LOVEON THE MONEY:

Brent Harvey after his match-sealing

goal in round 13.

There’s been no greater

champion at Arden Street since

Wayne Carey’s departure in 2002


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T he expectations surrounding recruit Darren Jolly were much higher than

his 200cm when he arrived at Collingwood from the

Sydney Swans in exchange for picks 14 and 46. He was big, durable and consistent. He was a leader. Could he deliver?

By the time he arrived back from the Pies’

training camp in Arizona in early December, he felt at home at Collingwood.

By Christmas, he had been added to the club’s leadership group, bringing fresh ideas and a wealth of experience from the well-regarded Swans system.

He kicked a nine-pointer in the fi rst NAB Cup game. By round one, he was ready to add to his 113 consecutive games, including the 2005 premiership, with the Swans.

Jolly is the fi rst to admit he took a while to understand and fi t into Collingwood’s game-plan, but the Magpies were prepared to be patient. Midfi eld coach Mark Neeld was an asset in that process, his no-fuss style suiting Jolly.

“He gets the message across really well,” Jolly said. “He keeps it short and sharp and he’s been really valuable with his knowledge and guidance as to what (coach) Mick (Malthouse) wants, and he really listens to

the players and their ideas.” Throughout the short re-education process, Jolly took heart from the fact he had delivered with Sydney.

“‘Roosy’ (Swans coach Paul Roos) really made me realise how to be consistent,” said Jolly, who played 46 games with Melbourne and 118 with Sydney.

“Not everyone is going to play at a nine or a 10 (out of 10) each week, so the biggest thing for me (while at Sydney) was to close the gap between the good games and the bad games. I was able to do that and hopefully I will continue to do that.”

Slowly but surely the pieces are falling into place for the 28-year-old who left behind a joinery apprenticeship in Ballarat in 2001 to join Melbourne as a rookie. He spent four seasons with the Demons.

Last Saturday night, as the spotlight shone directly on him, Jolly carried his footy bag into familiar surroundings. For reasons unknown to him, Collingwood had been allocated the Swans’ old change rooms at ANZ Stadium to warm up.

“I was excited,” Jolly said about the prospect of meeting

his most recent former club. “I was excited to play up there and I just wanted to play really well.” The timing was perfect. The week’s break had come at a good time. He’d left Melbourne, ignored football for the weekend and returned to training raring to go.

He was to ruck solo (with support from Leigh Brown and Travis Cloke), something he’d done plenty of times while wearing the Swans’ colours. He

now knew the Magpies’ approach backwards.

His focus was clear when the moment arrived. “I was there to do a job and win and hopefully play well,” he said.

He achieved all three objectives. He

had 17 possessions, kicked a steadying goal

near three-quarter time and was rated among Collingwood’s best. The big grin on his face at game’s end, while becoming familiar to Magpie fans, revealed his satisfaction.

When Jolly speaks of the team and how the season is panning out, he could be speaking for his family too, his wife Deanne and two daughters, Scarlett and Lily, entrenched in Melbourne and surrounded by family: “We’re happy with the position we are in.”

The transformation of Darren Jolly from a Swan to a Magpie is almost complete if the ruckman’s impressive display against his former club last week is any indication. PETER RYAN

At home in hisDA R R E N J O L LY

I was there to do

a job and winand hopefully

play well DARREN JOLLY

DA R R E N J O L LY


he expectations surrounding recruit Darren Jolly were much higher than

his 200cm when he arrived at Collingwood from the

Sydney Swans in exchange for picks 14 and 46. He was big, durable and consistent. He was a leader. Could he deliver?

By the time he arrived back from the Pies’

training camp in Arizona in early December, he felt at home at Collingwood.

By Christmas, he had been added to the club’s leadership group, bringing fresh ideas and a wealth of experience from the well-regarded Swans system.

He kicked a nine-pointer in the fi rst NAB Cup game. By round one, he was ready to add to his 113 consecutive games, including the 2005 premiership, with the Swans.

Jolly is the fi rst to admit he took a while to understand and fi t into Collingwood’s game-plan, but the Magpies were prepared to be patient. Midfi eld coach Mark Neeld was an asset in that process, his no-fuss style suiting Jolly.

“He gets the message across really well,” Jolly said. “He keeps it short and sharp and he’s been really valuable with his knowledge and guidance as to what (coach) Mick (Malthouse) wants, and he really listens to

the players and their ideas.” Throughout the short re-education process, Jolly took heart from the fact he had delivered with Sydney.

“‘Roosy’ (Swans coach Paul Roos) really made me realise how to be consistent,” said Jolly, who played 46 games with Melbourne and 118 with Sydney.

“Not everyone is going to play at a nine or a 10 (out of 10) each week, so the biggest thing for me (while at Sydney) was to close the gap between the good games and the bad games. I was able to do that and hopefully I will continue to do that.”

Slowly but surely the pieces are falling into place for the 28-year-old who left behind a joinery apprenticeship in Ballarat in 2001 to join Melbourne as a rookie. He spent four seasons with the Demons.

Last Saturday night, as thespotlight shone directly on him, Jolly carried his footy bag into familiar surroundings. For reasons unknown to him, Collingwood had been allocated the Swans’ old change rooms at ANZ Stadium to warm up.

“I was excited,” Jolly saidabout the prospect of meeting

his most recent former club. “I was excited to play up there and I just wanted to play really well.” The timing was perfect. The week’s break had come at a good time. He’d left Melbourne, ignored football for the weekend and returned to training raring to go.

He was to ruck solo (with support from Leigh Brown and Travis Cloke), something he’d done plenty of times while wearing the Swans’ colours. He

now knew the Magpies’ approach backwards.

His focus was clear when the moment arrived. “I was there to do a job and win and hopefully play well,” he said.

He achieved all three objectives. He

had 17 possessions, kicked a steadying goal

near three-quarter time and was rated among Collingwood’s best. The big grin on his face at game’s end, while becoming familiar to Magpie fans, revealed his satisfaction.

When Jolly speaks of the team and how the season is panning out, he could be speaking for his family too, his wife Deanne and two daughters, Scarlett and Lily, entrenched in Melbourne and surrounded by family: “We’re happy with the position we are in.”

The transformation of Darren Jolly from a Swan to a Magpie is almost complete if the ruckman’s impressive display against his former club last week is any indication. PETER RYAN

I was there to do

a job and winand hopefully

play well DARREN JOLLY

Jolly might be verging � on veteran status but he is green enough to become a key part of the Green Magpies, a free program designed to help small and medium-sized businesses reduce their carbon footprint via information, advice and incentives on practical

actions taken to operate more environmentally effi ciently.

In promoting the program, Jolly will assist ex-Collingwood defender Shane Wakelin, the Green Magpies ambassador.

“I’m helping out by going to some forums and talking to companies about better ways

to save energy and diff erent ways to think about making practical changes in the workplace to reduce thecarbon footprint,” he said.THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH AGAINST WEST COAST IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE GREEN MAGPIES, A JOINT INITIATIVE BETWEEN COLLINGWOOD, THE VICTORIAN EMPLOYERS’ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT.

B L AC K A N D W H I T E … A N D G R E E N

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ngesgeng

AR14 p57 Darren Jolly.indd 57 29/6/10 5:15:19 PM

After a horror start to the season, Richmond has wiped the slate clean, winning three of its past four matches and tackling the future with confi dence. And leading the way is Trent Cotchin, a precocious 20-year-old who has the football world at his feet. ASHLEY BROWNE

o here we are. Round eight this year at the MCG and it’s Richmond versus Hawthorn. And

it’s close. Too close, in fact, for the Hawks when you consider that not only are the Tigers winless, but they are supposedly good things to become the fi rst team since Fitzroy in 1964 not to win a game all season.

It’s the fi nal quarter. Hawthorn needs one more

goal to put the game away for keeps, but as good as its midfi eld is, it’s getting killed at the stoppages. And the player stopping the likes of Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Shaun Burgoyne getting fi rst use of the ball is Trent Cotchin.

The 20-year-old plays an enormous last quarter for the brave Tigers, who could have won the game had Shane Tuck not been tackled by Mitchell just as he was winding up to kick

T R E N T C O T C H I N

SKY’S THE LIMIT: Trent Cotchin takes a spectacular mark over Carlton’s Marc Murphy in round one.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL WILLSON/AFL PHOTOS

After a horror start to ason, Richmond

late clean, t

T R E N T C O T C H I N

AR14 p58-62 Trent Cotchin.indd 58 29/6/10 5:52:10 PM



TRENT COTCHIN

match. “And the most complete. I’d had a few good halves but

I played that game at a standard and that’s the standard I’m setting for myself. Until I get to that level on a consistent basis, I won’t be happy.”

It has taken Cotchin until his third year before giving himself the chance to take a game on and really dominate. He managed 15 games on debut in 2008 and 10 last season, but those campaigns

to the club it was on the right track under fi rst-year coach Damien Hardwick, and to Cotchin that he had the makings of an elite midfi elder.

“It was our turning point,” Cotchin said last week, as he prepared for a welcome few days away from Tigerland as part of the club’s split round bye weekend. “We played to our own structures and played for four quarters.

“That was important for us and, even though it was disappointing to go down, we sat down as a group with the coaching staff and pretty much said that our season was starting.”

Vision from that afternoon shows Hardwick addressing his players intently before they

left the ground. In subsequent interviews, Hardwick has admitted the slate was wiped clean after

that match and that, in effect, the Tigers’

season was starting again. That being the

case, to stretch the point, the Tigers are 3-2 and

among the form teams of the

competition.“It was my

best game,” Cotchin said of the Hawthorn

what would likely have been the winning goal.

The Hawks won by three points, but the moral victory belonged to Richmond, and the talk of the match was Cotchin, with his 27 touches and 11 clearances.

Since being selected by the Tigers with the No. 2 pick at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, Cotchin has given Tiger fans glimpses of how good he could be. That afternoon against the Hawks, many among the 40,000 people who left the MCG were asking the same question, “How good is Cotchin?”

For both Richmond and Cotchin, the Hawthorn game was the most important of the season. Never mind there have been three wins since, each impressive in their own way. The Hawthorn game demonstrated

came on the back of severely restricted pre-seasons. His ailments have included a broken foot in the season before he was drafted, two achilles injuries and a hip complaint.

He entered this seasonhaving done far more work than in past summers, but still took part in only about 75 per cent of the work.

“Obviously, I’m looking forward to the next pre-season,” he said. “I’m the fi ttest I’ve ever been, but the best thing for me is that I know the next level I need to go to, which is what you need in the AFL when you’re competing against Chris Judd, Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel and others.”

What this season has demonstrated to Cotchin is that he has the game to become one of the better midfi elders in the AFL.

“I think it’s been OK. It’s just nice to be getting consistent games under my belt. I’ve got full confi dence in my body, which is a nice thing to have,” he said.

“Mentally, footy is a tough game, so I think the wins have helped me enormously, because it gives us faith that we’re going in the right direction.”

Cotchin is not the type to offer bulletin board material for a coming opponent. Not for him are any grand proclamations about his place in the game, now or in the future.

But speak to him for just a few minutes and you get a sense of quiet determination and the knowledge of what he and his team needs to do to get to the next level, a sure sign of the growing confi dence and maturity around Punt Road.

“As a team, it’s been great to have had some success over the last few weeks. There’s nothing more exciting about having that win and feeling like you’ve achieved something,” he said.

“The chips were down earlier in the season and there’s nothing better than having a few wins and have the belief going our way.”

Each of Richmond’s three wins had something special about it. The fi rst came in the slop at AAMI Stadium, where the Tigers were just too hard at the ball and the player for a struggling Port Adelaide.

“The conditions made it even nicer,” Cotchin said. “We slugged

Dustin Martin:“Has already

shown how strong he is and how he loves a contest. We have to get the ball into his hands as often as we can because he can hurt the opposition. He’s still learning the game and still has a lot of development in him, so that’s the most exciting thing.”

Nathan Foley: “He’s a very exciting player. There’s no more professional player than Nathan and, once he gets his body right, he is another player for the opposition to worry about because of his really good speed.”

Shane Tuck: “We lack a bit of size in there because we’re young, so it’s great to have a big body in there. ‘Tucky’ gives 100 per cent every time, gets fi rst to the footy and gives us fi rst use.”

Ben Cousins: “He’s been terrifi c with the knowledge and professionalism he brings on and off the fi eld. You can tell in the group that whenever he speaks, it’s all ears, including the coaches. He’s been through a bit, but it’s great that he has turned his career around and he’s playing some pretty good footy this year.”

Shane Edwards: “He’s going to become one of the best players at the club. He’s a high-quality midfi elder, very composed and is able to get himself out of trouble a lot.”

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been three wins since, eachimpressive in their own

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I played that game at a standand that’s the standard I’m sefor myself. Until I get to that level on a consistent basis, Iwon’t be happy.”

It has taken Cotchin until hthird year before giving himsthe chance to take a game onreally dominate. He managegames on debut in 2008 and last season, but those campa

left the ground.In subsequent interviews, Hardwichas admitted the slwas wiped clean af

that match and thin effect, the Tiger

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among the formteams of the

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TURNING POINT: Trent Cotchin believes the improved eff ort against Hawthorn in round eight gave the Tigers new-found belief.

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TRENT COTCHIN ON HIS MIDFIELD COMRADES


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TRENT COTCHIN

it out for the whole game and, while we weren’t able to play to our game style, it was really good to get the monkey off the back as they say.

“And going by the reports in the media, nobody has seen a club song sung with as much passion as we did it, so it was great to be able to achieve something as a really young group.”

A fortnight later came the hammering of West Coast at the MCG. The biggest handicap for the Tigers that week may have been themselves, given it was the fi rst time in the Hardwick era that they entered a match as favourites.

“A four-quarter continuous effort and making sure everyone played their role was the key for us winning that match,” was Cotchin’s straight-forward assessment.

But the win at the Gabba a fortnight ago against the Brisbane Lions was a different match yet again.

“The two other wins were good, decent wins (and) we didn’t need to worry in the fi nal quarter because the games were safe. So it was nice against Brisbane to have a battle on our hands, and the way we fought through it was great.”

Jack Riewoldt has been the talk of Richmond for the past month and his 10-goal haul against the Eagles in round 12 vaulted him to the lead for the Coleman Medal.

But the key to the Tigers’ improvement has come from their midfi eld, which appears to have the key characteristics of pace, skill and strength.

Cotchin loves being part of the engine room. Dustin Martin’s fi rst season has him excited, Nathan Foley’s return from injury has injected further class (although he did miss last round), Shane Edwards is the surprise packet, while old heads Ben Cousins and Shane Tuck are

helping keep the group level-headed and focused.

Watching from the sidelines are midfi eld coaches Wayne Campbell and Brendon Lade, and Cotchin is a fan of what the pair is helping build.

“‘Ladey’ plans a lot of the moves at stoppages, telling us how to fi nd the body and remove the opponent so you guard the dangerous space,” Cotchin said.

“He’s only just retired, so he knows what’s going on. How we structure and set up at stoppages comes from both of them.

“They have both played a lot of footy and they know, if something’s not working, they’ll look at what can change and what can be done differently.

“It’s all about us believing in them and them believing in us.”

Cotchin enjoyed his time under coach Terry Wallace and (caretaker) Jade Rawlings, but believes the Tigers have found a special coach in Hardwick.

“I know a lot of guys say he is straight down the line and goes about it in the same way he did as a player, but he’s a terrifi c bloke,” he said.

“He’s more than willing to get you into his offi ce and have a chat about how you’re going and even just to have a joke. He likes a gag and it’s nice to have a coach who’s easygoing but also fi rm and down the line when the going gets tough.”

The word from Punt Road is that Hardwick’s approach doesn’t change from week to week. The key messages and key

themes are constant, whether the team is coming off

a belting or a win.“That’s

the greatest thing about him,”

Cotchin said. “He hasn’t changed his way; he’s stuck by the game-plan and his message was that it will always work if we play four quarters. Now that it’s starting to work, who knows what’s to come in the future?”

Cotchin does allow himself to dream just that little bit. The MCG erupted after the win over West Coast, with more than 30,000 Tiger fans making the noise of double that number. Committed to Richmond until at least the end of 2013, he believes there will be no better place to be once, as is starting to become apparent, the sleeping giant awakens from its slumber.

“It’s very exciting and that’s the reason I signed on,” he said. “I just have full faith in where we’re going as a club and as a team. If we can keep the young blokes together and start building a team that has played a lot of football together, it’s going to be very exciting for all of us.

“I just believe we have the right mix. The coaching staff gets on very well, they’re always open to discussion and learning news things and we have perfect people in the administration. It’s a club full of good people and it’s all coming together.” ASHLEY BROWNE IS EDITOR OF BACKPAGELEAD.COM.AU

Trent Cotchin is living the �dream, playing footy with a bunch of mates. He has already enjoyed one match as acting captain (against Melbourne in round four) and would love the honour in a full-time capacity later in his career.

An aspiring property developer, he is also the proud owner of a new home in Melbourne’s inner north-west, which he was happy to show off on national

television during a broadcast of the recent Richmond-St Kilda Friday night clash.

Yet, if he wasn’t aware how the game can bring you crashing back to earth, he found out a fortnight ago when his closest friend, Carlton big man Matthew Kreuzer, tore the ACL in his right knee and was ruled out for the next 12 months.

Cotchin was there to see Kreuzer when he was taken to

hospital and was there again when he came out of surgery.

“You don’t want that to happen to any AFL player, let alone your best mate,” he said. “He’s in pretty good spirits. No one can truly get the big ‘Kreuz’ down, but he is frustrated.

“He’ll be so professional in his recovery and has such a strong character that he’ll make an excellent recovery.”

FACT FILE

Trent CotchinBorn: April 7, 1990Recruited from:PEGS/Northern U18Debut: Round 8, 2008, v GeelongHeight: 185cm Weight: 85kgGames: 37 Goals: 12Player honours: NAB AFL Rising Star nomination 2008Brownlow Medal: Career votes 3

9

I just have full faith in where we’re going as a club and as

a team TRENT COTCHIN

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Untitled-14 1 16/6/10 9:03:30 AM

CONNECTING: Essendon’s Angus Monfries believes

fans can get to know players better by

following them on Twitter.

Info Wall +Photos

By using social media, players are creating new space

A NEW FORM OF COMMUNICATION


they were non-users who weren’t really aware of what was happening in cyberspace, or more accurately, how to deal with the risk it carried for players, and more broadly, the clubs.

Many shared the same view Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade expressed, in a good natured manner it must be said, during an AFL Record discussion before round one: “Why players would get on things like Facebook has got me stumped. A friend of a friend puts a photo on there and you’re linked to something and mud sticks. I’m

an old man, but why do it?” Eade was more concerned

about personal reputation than performance issues, but the message was the same: if he had his way, players would stay away from social networking in cyberspace. There is a simple reason, however, why a growing number in the industry don’t share Eade’s view.

Players use Facebook for the same reasons as everyone else: to stay connected to friends and family in a way that is convenient and easy; they use Twitter to communicate with the public.

I t was the last thing I expected. Sitting at home, fl icking around the internet, scanning Facebook and, bang, out of nowhere, an

AFL club’s selection secret appeared on the screen in front of me.

A friend, the relative of an AFL player, connected to our Facebook page, had sent the player a message congratulating him on his selection for what would be his debut match.

The person’s privacy settings were adjusted so we (and whoever else was connected to this person) could see the message on our Facebook wall.

The selection decision had not yet been made public.

Suddenly, six degrees of separation had become one. The type of information that can tempt opposition scouts to go to all lengths to secure (including posing as a construction worker) was in my possession, and I had hardly moved a muscle to get it.

On receiving the information I immediately did ... nothing. I merely wondered about the way information that otherwise would only get to most people when made public was widely accessible now well before it was supposed to be.

This was not a new event, but a growing issue. There was the famous example of Australian Test cricket opener Phillip Hughes notifying the

world via Twitter he had been dropped from the team on the eve of the second matchof the 2009 Ashes series with the words, “Disappointed not to be on the fi eld with the lads today”.

Then, Sydney Swan Gary Rohan had to be gently reminded by the club to be more careful after he announced to the world on Facebook he was making his debut in round seven against Geelong, before the news had offi cially been made public.

His coach Paul Roos joked that every player had one chance (he called it a “mulligan”) and Rohan had used his before he’d even played a senior game.

It’s not just selection revelations making social media a new front in the media landscape, posing threats and opportunities for athletes who participate in this space.

Increasingly, comments made on people’s Twitter accounts are being used in news reports as a quote to support a story.

Journalists are also using Twitter to provide running commentary about a range of issues during the week, bouncing opinions around the space. AFL clubs have only this season properly understood the capacity and infl uence of social media, and the need to effectively manage the digital space.

Last year, many offi cials were caught fl at-footed;

The rise in social media is bringing clubs, playersand fans closer together. PETER RYA N

AR14 p64-66 Social Media.indd 64 29/6/10 5:14:41 PM


Essendon player Angus Monfries is pretty sure most players would have a Facebook account. “A lot of my mates are travelling overseas and it is a good way to keep in contact with them and see how they are going over there,” Monfries says.

The clubs soon recognised social media was an issue they had to address. The Herald Sun reported in February that some clubs had called in Susan McLean, a former policewoman and an expert in the area, to explain to players the risks attached to social media, and the possible dangers for high-profi le users.

The AFL Players’ Association has in recent months been running education sessions at all clubs for players to ensure they are aware how to use social media in a way that minimises the potential threat it represents to their privacy.

“Our view is that, as long as players know how to protect themselves through privacy settings and good judgment, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be able to use it to stay connected with their friends,” the AFLPA’s public affairs manager Ben Hart says.

“In our experience, players are, for the most part, showing great care and responsibility when using social media.”

Monfries is well aware of the pitfalls. “You just need to be careful what you post on it (Facebook) and make sure your privacy settings are pretty high and be careful about whom you accept as your friends,” he says.

He understands that anything he posts has the potential to reach a wider audience, so he remains measured when interacting in the space.

The clubs have remained relatively relaxed about the developments, knowing that trusting players to act responsibly is inherent in their relationship with them.

Melbourne CEO Cameron Schwab, a savvy user of social media, sees no cause for massive concern.

“They will work it out,” he says. “We’re equipping our

players better than we ever have to make good choices and good decisions, but there are no guarantees in relation to that. All we can do is give them the opportunities and educate them as to what the pitfalls are.”

In January, Manchester United banned its players from having Facebook profi les, but the AFLPA does not see that as the best way to manage the situation.

“Clearly, in terms of the dangers, the safest thing for players to do is to not go on Facebook and Twitter,” Hart says. “However, we also think that it is unfair to expect people to remove themselves from these sites, especially when it has become a major part of the way their friends communicate.”

Facebook, says Schwab, is an issue for football clubs in

the same way it is an issue for the rest of society. Handle with care. But “Twitter is a different thing to Facebook,” he says.

Twitter is the way real communication between players and fans is happening. At last count, about a dozen AFL players (plus high-profi le fi gures such as Schwab) were making regular Twitter updates to communicate to supporters.

Schwab has encouraged the club and its players to take an open approach in using this medium, with four listed Demons twittering.

“There are obviously some risks associated with it, but the risks are such that it is in the judgment of the person who is managing the communications,” he says. “We’ll put players on national

television, so why would you not feel comfortable about them managing their own communication?”

Schwab concedes, however, that Twitter’s simplicity is both its greatest advantage and its biggest danger.

As much as a comment can be posted without much effort, it can also, if a user is not careful, be made without much thought, such is the pace and directness of the communication.

Schwab predicts, however, Twitter will eventually become a great tool to cut misinformation off at the knees.

“If there is a rumour going around or something being said which is gaining some momentum, you can cut it off in 140 characters (a message posted on Twitter),” he says.

“Because the message is coming straight from you, I think sometimes that can mean a whole lot more than a carefully crafted media release.”

Some players are obviously more comfortable communicating in such a way than others.

Monfries, who has 3917 followers at last count, said twittering allows him to engage on a different level with fans.

“It shows a different side to us, (other than) being robots and running out and playing footy every week. People feel like they might get to know us a bit better if they follow us on Twitter,” he says.

Fans, says Monfries, are most interested in non-footy matters so the dilemma he, like all on Twitter, must resolve is more about how much of his personality he wants to reveal through the medium, rather than the prospect of revealing in-house information.

“Obviously, you have to monitor what you say as you are representing the footy club, and be careful yourself about what you post. You’ve just got to be smart with it and have fun with it as well,” he says.

Players are still bound by AFL regulations when it comes to communication via Twitter.

STAY AWAY: Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade sees dangers in social networking.

Chat

We’ll put players on national television, so why would you not feel comfortable about them managing their own communication? MELBOURNE CEO CAMERON SCHWAB

Chat (5)



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A NEW FORM OF COMMUNICATION

Info Wall +Photos

Comments about umpiring are not allowed in any form, while the rules relating to match review panel and tribunal matters ensure comments on these are off limits.

Players are not allowed to communicate using social media or phones for a period of 90 minutes before a match as part of the AFL’s integrity regulations. This is common in professional sport.

Last September, the National Football League in the United States banned its players from certain communication, stating that the use of “cell phones, PDAs and other electronic communication devices (and thus accessing social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter) was now prohibited during games for players, coaches and other team personnel involved in the game.”

Collingwood’s Harry O’Brien is receiving plaudits for his unique and adventurous postings on Twitter and on his personal blog, Harry’s World.

Initially, he thought Facebook and Twitter were more about hype than substance. Then he took a step back and saw the possibilities.

A fan of international sport, he also recognised the trends emerging

in other countries would soon be a

feature of the AFL. “There are not many

people in the AFL who use it as I do,” O’Brien says, “but if you just look to trends in sport and look to the States and Europe, then you will see they use it heavily and effectively. So I thought, ‘Why not?’”

Most clubs are paranoid about information, but Schwab has been around long enough to know that control is not always the answer. In fact, controlled chaos is more likely to reign.

“You do try to control the information fl ow as far as it affects and impacts you at a performance level, but we’re also quite realistic about that too,” he says. “How long has the saying been around that there are no secrets in football? There probably still are, but if the media don’t fi nd out something now with 700-800 people writing about and commenting on the game, then that is more because of good luck rather than because anyone’s been necessarily great at it.”

The AFLPA is clearly supportive. “A number of

players such as Harry O’Brien are using it really effectively as a way to directly communicate with their fans,” Hart says.

“We think that when this is done well, it can be a great tool for players to build a ‘brand’ and take control of how they are viewed in the community.”

It is true. Some of the most interesting snapshots for people without regular access to inner sanctum spaces this season have come via twitpics (pictures taken inside the rooms, for example) and twitvid (scenes from the Melbourne rooms moments after the round 12 draw with Collingwood, for example), while Twitter postings give an insight into a player’s personality. Most clubs manage their own Twitter accounts, regularly supplying supporters with information.

However, everyone is watching the space closely, as even Schwab knows it’s a work in progress.

“While we employ a lot of risk-taking individuals, I think they are quite risk-averse when it comes to their communication,” he says.

“Clearly, there are some who aren’t. We have not uncovered one of those at this stage. It might be that you end up in a situation where it might be diffi cult.”

ANGUS MONFRIES (ESSENDON) @AngusMonfries

ANDREW SWALLOW (NORTH MELBOURNE) @andrewswallow

JOBE WATSON (ESSENDON) @JobeWatson

NATHAN JONES (MELBOURNE)@Nathan2Jones

HARRY O’BRIEN (COLLINGWOOD) @harry_o

BRAD JOHNSON(WESTERN BULLDOGS)@BradJohnson6

Some popular AFL tweeters

GS)GS)

FACEBOOKFacebook is a social networking vehicle that allows users to connect with ‘friends’ who can then see users’ personal information and relay messages, including images, to each other. You can set Facebook pages up with privacy settings to limit those who can see the personal information.

TWITTERTwitter is a microblogging service that allows users to send and read messages known as tweets. These tweets are limited to 140 characters but users can link to photos (Twitpics) and short videos (Twitvids). Once you have set up a Twitter account, you can follow people’s twittering.

CAMERON SCHWAB



the national draft for the next two years. Moreover, they were banned from utilising the priority draft picks they had qualifi ed for.

It was a massive whack and a major blow to a club that – contrary to Elliott’s oft-stated mantra – had fi nally determined it needed to rebuild.

By now, Elliott was no longer in charge, having resigned at the end of 2002 when it became clear he would have been swept out of offi ce at the annual general meeting.

Elliott’s last major act as president was to appoint Denis Pagan as coach. The dual North Melbourne premiership coach crossed from Arden Street to replace Wayne Brittain, but the salary cap scandal robbed him of any opportunity to properly

rebuild the squad. Instead of having

the chance to grab Brendon Goddard (ironically, a diehard Carlton supporter) and Daniel Wells with the fi rst two picks

at the 2002 draft, Pagan and the Blues

watched forlornly as the pair headed

to St Kilda and North Melbourne respectively.

They have forged fi ne careers at those clubs.Pagan lifted Carlton to

15th in his fi rst season and 11th the following year. But unable to select from the fi rst two rounds of the draft, the Blues chased a series a fringe players from other clubs in order to create some playing depth.

Among those were Heath Scotland (Collingwood), Jason Saddington (Sydney Swans), Brett Johnson and Daniel Harford (Hawthorn), David Clarke (Geelong) and Barnaby French (Port Adelaide).

It proved to be a false dawn and in 2005 the Blues crashed to the bottom of the ladder, a sad end to a year in which they played their fi nal home game at the Carlton ground.

By 2006, the Blues were at their lowest ebb. The draft ban was over, but its impact left a list full of battlers but bereft of stars, save for the enigmatic Brendan Fevola.

The club was millions of dollars in debt and its training facilities, once the envy of many, were among the worst in the League.

Enter Richard Pratt. The billionaire cardboard and packaging king was once a Carlton under-19s player, who in 1953 won the Morrish Medal for the best player in the VFL’s under-19 competition.

He was a board member during part of Elliott’s time as president and a longtime fi nancial benefactor of the

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Blues’ darkest daysCarlton, traditionally one of the most powerful and successful clubs in the game, hit rock bottom in the 2000s. ASHLEY BROWNE

I t is a story Carlton offi cials would never quite admit to, but is said to be true and amusing all the same.

Following a game between St Kilda and Fremantle at Optus Oval (now Visy Park), maintenance and cleaning staff found wooden spoons all over the place – in bathrooms, food outlets, underneath seats and in the walkways.

There may have been only about 8000 (mostly Saints) fans in attendance, but this was

their payback for then-Blues president John Elliott labelling their club “tragic”.

Carlton was on its way to the fi rst wooden spoon in club history and it wasn’t just St Kilda types who were rejoicing.

Powerful on the fi eld, rich off it and with a propensity for letting the rest of the football world know about it, there was little sympathy for the Blues come the end of 2002, when they fi nished with just three wins, two-a-half games behind the second-bottom Saints.

It was a poor end to Elliott’s 21-year reign as president which, while landing four premierships, ended with the club on the bottom of the ladder, carrying massive debts and about to be hit hard by the AFL for salary cap breaches.

Following on from breaches in 2001, an AFL investigation in October of 2002 concluded Carlton had been engaging in “systematic rorting” of the salary cap for four years.

The Blues were fi ned a record $987,500 and were barred from the fi rst two rounds of

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WHITE KNIGHT: Longtime benefactor Richard Pratt, pictured with former champion forward Brendan Fevola, helped resurrect the club when he took over as president in 2007.

BATTERED BLUES: Carlton was at its lowest ebb in 2006, on and off the fi eld, and suff ered several drubbings, including this 65-point defeat by Geelong in round 14 at Docklands Stadium.

AR14 p68-69 Moments.indd 68 29/6/10 4:38:01 PM


club. The old Hawthorn Stand at Carlton had been renamed in his honour.

In early 2007, he was announced as the new club president, replacing Graham Smorgon. Pratt brought vision and hope and yes, it

T H E A F T E R M AT H

Carlton is a club that has �returned to a clean bill of health.

The succession of low fi nishes allowed the club to have the fi rst selection at the NAB AFL Draft for three years in succession, and in Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer, the Blues have chosen exceptionally well.

The trade for Chris Judd (right) was the icing on the cake. He had a patchy fi rst year as he recovered from injury, but still won the best and fairest. His second year with the club was outstanding, with more than a few glimpses of the form that won him the 2004 Brownlow Medal while at West Coast.

Under Brett Ratten, who replaced Denis Pagan midway through 2007, the Blues made the fi nals last year for the fi rst time since 2001 and, although they have lost their past two

matches, are showing every sign they will return to September action again this season.

The club’s balance sheet is its healthiest in years, membership is well up and the Blues recently moved into a swish, new administrative and training

facility at the western end of Visy Park, located where the Heatley and George Harris stands

used to be.

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must be said, some cash. He underwrote much-needed short-term improvements to the club’s administrative and training facilities.

Overseesing the reconstruction of the club on a daily basis was CEO Greg Swann, who Pratt dug deep to lure away from Collingwood, where he was Eddie McGuire’s chief lieutenant.

The biggest coup of all came at the end of 2007 when West Coast superstar Chris Judd announced he was returning home to Victoria. After being courted by several clubs, Judd chose the Blues.

Just like the old days, when the best players from outside Victoria found their way to Royal Parade, Carlton had again landed the big one, and their fans were strutting once more.

ASHLEY BROWNE IS EDITOR OF BACKPAGELEAD.COM.AU

The club was of dollars in debt and its

training facilities were among

the worst in the League

AR14 p68-69 Moments.indd 69 29/6/10 5:27:38 PM

timeon


Which Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame has played the fewest games?

D. ERSKINE, PAKENHAM, VIC

CH: Eight of the 23 Legends played fewer than 200 matches at the elite level, but all but one of them reached the double century when games in the SANFL, WAFL or at senior level in Tasmania are taken into account. The champion with the briefest

career was star full-forward John Coleman, who kicked 537 goals in 98 appearances in a brilliant career for Essendon. As a 20-year-old, he booted 12 majors on debut in 1949. His playing days were suddenly ended in round eight, 1954, when he sustained a serious knee injury. Many who watched him in action regard him as the greatest player they have seen.

N A M E G A M E

Landed gentryThe drafting of the �

Brisbane Lions’ Callum Bartlett revived memories of one of the greats of AFL/VFL, Kevin Bartlett. Bartlett is a diminutive form of the medieval given name Bartholomew. Bartholomew derives from the Aramaic bar-Talmay (“son of Talmay”). Talmay was a given name meaning “having many furrows” – that is, owning a lot of land. The surname of Melbourne’s Matthew Bate is also a diminutive form of Bartholomew, as, strangely, is the surname of his teammate John Meesen, a Dutch or Flemish diminutive (full form Bartolomeusen); and at Geelong there is a Germanic diminutive of Batholomew in the surname of Jimmy Bartel. An Irish version of Bartholomew is Mac Phartalan which appears on League lists (in a variation form) in the surname of Fremantle’s Luke McPharlin; and dual Carlton premiership player Mario Bortolotto’s surname is a patronymic (“son of Bartholomew”).

KEVAN CARROLL

WRITE TO ANSWER MANThe Slattery Media Group, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, 3008 or email [email protected]

Our AFL history guru answers your queries.

Col Hutchinson

Charles Henry Fehring Fehring was born on March �

21, 1899, and represented Surreys in metropolitan Melbourne before making 25 senior appearances for Richmond and Essendon in a career which began in 1917 and ended in 1921. He was leading goalscorer for the Tigers in his fi rst year. His brother, Arthur also played for Richmond.

Allison Razey McCrorey Known as Alan, the Irish-�

born McCrorey began his football career with Carnegie before joining Richmond for fi ve matches in 1938. He also represented Carlton Brewery and Oakleigh before playing four games for St Kilda between 1941 and 1943. He died about 1989, aged in his early 70s.

AFL mystery men

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.

SHOOTING STAR: Champion

Essendon forward John Coleman

kicked 537 goals in just 98 games before being cut

down in his prime by a serious knee injury.

AR14 p70 Ask Col.indd 70 29/6/10 5:28:16 PM

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MISSUNIVERSEAUSTRALIA

I have a 1942 Christmas card from the Richmond Football Club, handed down from my grandfather. It has an unusual Tiger logo on the front and is in quite good condition. Value?PETER, VIA EMAIL, MALVERN, VIC.

RM: This is a rare item and I doubt if there are any others around. I value it at $350.

I have a match-day program from a WA-SA clash at Subiaco Oval in 1949. It cost sixpence (fi ve cents) at the time, but I would like to know its current value. It is in good condition and unmarked.TREVOR HOLFORD, VIA EMAIL, WA

RM: You have a good item and it is worth at least $200 as there would be plenty of collectors wanting to buy it.

I have a 1966 WEG Collingwood premiership poster. Of course, St Kilda defeated Collingwood by one point in the Grand Final that year, so this must have been one that was printed in case of a Magpie win. Any value?MATT LANZIE, VIA EMAIL

RM: The Herald posters featuring the winning team were sold immediately after the game and those of the losing team generally were destroyed. However, a few seem to have survived and I have

never seen a 1966 Collingwood one. If you have the real thing, you would be looking at thousands of dollars.

I have 30 original football cards from the late 19th century. Some pre-date the VFL’s fi rst season of 1897 and include Port Melbourne and Williamstown players, as well as those from the eight original VFL clubs. The cards were produced by

Capstan Cigarettes and their condition is fair. Value?PETER BAUMGARTNER, VIA EMAIL

RM: These cards were issued in the 1930s in a series titled “Past and Present Champions”. They are printed on poor qualify card and are diffi cult to fi nd in perfect condition. If so, they are worth $50 each, but only $20 each in the condition you describe.


timeon COLLECTABLES

R I C K ’ S R A R I T Y

Times were tough in �Australia in the 1920s and one of the few escapes from reality was following your favourite football team. Companies issued free swap cards to attract customers and one series in particular was unusual. It featured many now little-known players such as Herbert Sutton, who was Hawthorn captain-coach in 1928 after playing 49 games with South Melbourne. The cards had a tag at the bottom and the idea was to cut these off each of the 60 cards in the series to win an “acceptable gift”. The cards were issued at groceries and butcher shops. They are very elusive and sell for $20 each.

TIPSTERSWATCH BEFORE THE GAME SATURDAY NIGHTS ON TEN

beforethegame.com.au

LADDERSAM 65

DAVE 63

ANDY 62

LEHMO 60

FITZY 60

MICK 51

FITZYCarltonHawthornFremantleCollingwoodAdelaideGeelong CatsSydney SwansSt Kilda

MICKCarltonWestern BulldogsFremantleCollingwoodEssendonGeelong CatsRichmondSt Kilda

SAMCarltonWestern BulldogsFremantleCollingwoodEssendonGeelong CatsSydney SwansSt Kilda

DAVECarltonWestern BulldogsFremantleCollingwoodEssendonGeelong CatsSydney SwansSt Kilda

LEHMOCarltonHawthornFremantleCollingwoodEssendonGeelong CatsSydney SwansSt Kilda

ANDYCarltonHawthornFremantleCollingwoodEssendonGeelong CatsSydney SwansSt Kilda

This week, special guest

appearance byRODNEY EADE

CONTACT RICK [email protected] ordrop him a line: 5 Cooraminta St, Brunswick, Vic, 3056 or call (03) 9387 4131. One query per reader.

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

Festive seasonRick

Milne

SEASON’S GREETINGS:This rare 1942 Richmond Christmas card is valued at $350.

AR14 p72 Rick Milne.indd 72 29/6/10 4:56:31 PM

Kids are built pretty tough. But not as tough as they think. So we’ve created a range of super soft footballs designed especially for littlies. Because the only place in football for tears is after a narrow loss in a Grand Final.

For your nearest stockist call 1300 367 582 or go to sherrin.com.au.


timeon KIDS’ CORNER

A L S C D

C K

O C D A

K A G T C

D A L

C T D A O

A S O K

O D

T S L O G

SCRAMBLED FOOTBALLER: CRYPTIC FOOTBALLERS:

BIG MOUTH:

FIVETO FIND

Sudoku1 Who was the last St Kilda player to win the

Coleman Medal?

2 How many times was Matthew Lloyd Essendon’s leading goalkicker

3 Which club did Melbourne coach Dean Bailey play for?

4 Which former Collingwood captain is now an assistant coach for West Coast?

5 How many times has Warren Tredrea won Port Adelaide’s best and fairest award?

5 QUICK QUESTIONS

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T.GOLDSACKCOLLINGWOOD

Solve this puzzle by fi lling 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.

5 QUICK QUESTIONS: 1. Fraser Gehrig (2005); 2. 12 times; 3. Essendon; 4. Scott Burns; 5. Four times.SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: The Fremantle player in the background has been removed; colour of football changed to red; Docker David Mundy’s hair has been changed from blond to red; the purple stripes on Mundy’s left sock have been removed; letters on fence signage have been removed.

wiin the

THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS

AR14 p74 Kids Page.indd 74 29/6/10 3:02:38 PM


timeon NAB AFL RISING STAR

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 Banfi eld (Bris)

Round 7 – Tom Scully (Melb)

Round 8 – Jake Melksham (Ess)

Round 9 – Nathan Fyfe (Frem)

Round 10 – Dustin Martin (Rich)

Round 11 – Jordan Gysberts (Melb)

Round 12 – Ben Reid (Coll)

Round 13 – Tom Rockliff (BL)

1 Rockliff was born in Lismore, NSW, and lived in Casino for two years before moving to country Victoria.

2 He is the ‘baby’ of his family, with a brother (aged 24) and sister (22).

3 Rockliff was studying to be a teacher, but is no longer enrolled in the course.

THREE THINGS YOUMIGHT NOT KNOW

2010 NAB AFL Rising StarNomineesO verlooked in the

NAB AFL Draft, selected in the pre-season draft and

now starring for the Brisbane Lions, 20-year-old Tom Rockliff’s progression to the top level has been far from orthodox.

And, following his 26-possession effort against Richmond in round 13, he is a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

Rockliff says he is slowly getting used to playing for the Lions, “but I don’t think I’m comfortable yet. I don’t think you ever really feel comfortable week-in week-out, because the opposition is always strong and, with the evenness of the competition, this year it’s a challenge every week.”

Rockliff has become used to challenges, though. After leading the TAC Cup’s goalkicking in 2008 and gaining Vic Country selection, the Murray Bushranger sat down and watched the draft, only to be left shattered when his name wasn’t called out.

“At the time, it was pretty disappointing to miss out, even though I did know it could have gone either way,” Rockliff says.

“But after a couple of days of complaining, you get back on the horse, get back training and hope to get a chance elsewhere.”

That chance came when Melbourne invited him to train with it in the lead-up to the pre-season draft and, though the Demons indicated they would select him as a rookie, the Lions snuck in fi rst and took Rockliff with pick fi ve.

Last year, he played almost

a full season in the QAFL, before making his AFL debut against Collingwood in round 18. That taste of senior action showed Rockliff the benefi ts of a strong pre-season.

“It was a lot quicker than I fi rst expected and it caught me out a little bit, but I did a lot of work during my pre-season break in Melbourne, doing boxing and other fi tness work to get my running levels up to AFL standard,” he says.

“Because I broke my leg as a 16-year-old, I had never really done a good pre-season,

but doing that extra work has certainly been worthwhile – I’ve noticed that instead of being at the back of the training groups, I was towards the middle and front sections of the running.”

As the Lions struggle for form, Rockliff’s past month has been impressive. He has averaged 28 disposals a game and used his smarts and pace to add an important element to the midfi eld.

After his early disappointment, Rockliff is not letting his opportunity slip. “I think it’s always good to get knocked down a few times and have some setbacks because it makes you stronger,” Rockliff says.

Young Lions midfi elder Tom Rockliff has overcome early setbacks to forge an AFL career. CALLUM TWOMEY

Rising to the challenge

It’s good to get knocked

down a few times and have some

setbacks because it makes

you stronger TOM ROCKLIFF

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 fi nancial planner and the Ron Evans Medal, all courtesy of the NAB. The NAB Rising Star award is the fi nal stage of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfi l their dream of playing in the AFL.

“If you get everything handed to you, then you don’t appreciate it as much, but I’m trying to grab the opportunity I have at the moment with both hands.”

has overcome early setbac

FOCUSED: After being overlooked

in the draft, young midfi elder Tom Rockliff

has grabbed his opportunity with the

Brisbane Lions.

AR14 p76 Rising Star.indd 76 29/6/10 5:28:59 PM

Who will be the 2010 NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year?The search is on again in 2010 for the NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year. We are looking for the Auskicker that best demonstrates the spirit of the game – commitment, enthusiasm, teamwork and passion.

Twenty-two nominees for the Award will receive a money-can’t-buy 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final Experience in Melbourne, plus the overall winner will receive $5,000 in a NAB Smart Junior Saver Account and Joel Selwood as a footy mentor in 2011.

Enter at nab.com.au/auskick today!

NAB CommunityNAB AFL Auskick

AFL Authorisation Code: GFAFL10/01. The provision of tickets to any match that is a declared event under the Major Sporting Events Act 2009 (“Act”) including the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final is subject to the provision of tickets being permitted in an approved ticketing scheme under the Act.

©2010 National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937


timeon LAST LINE

How to get rid of the pack mentality

I n the football of yesteryear, reference was often made to what would become a familiar term: the dead pocket. Nowadays, I

swear I am seeing another version of it: the dead half.

Before 1969, many games were played on windswept suburban ovals or boggy grounds, with no penalty for kicking the ball out of bounds on the full. Without impunity, defenders revelled directing play into the dead pocket.

Consequently, long passages of play involving nearly all players from both teams searching for a kick and avoiding the cold and miserable conditions sweeping extensive areas of vacant fi eld were sucked into the dead pocket, where all the action was.

As a result of the extreme congestion, stoppage numbers skyrocketed, as did tackles, and scoring a goal from the dead pocket was bloody hard.

It did not look pretty. Asnoted previously in this column, public dismay at the time led to the introduction of the out-on-the-full rule for the start of the 1969 season.

Almost immediately, the rule change stimulated a more open style of game. In effect, it laid the foundations of modern football, and the 1970 Grand Final between Carlton and Collingwood heralded its birth.

Featuring 31 goals, that Grand Final was played at an exhilarating pace from start to

forward half of the ground reserved for his benefi t. Hence, the rest of the team was instructed to crowd the centre bounce. Where else could they go at tiny Glenferrie Oval?

Opponents responded likewise and soon chaotic passages of play ensued, with mass packs of players fi ghting for the ball.

It was pretty much what I am seeing a lot of now. However, today’s congealed ‘spectacles’ of dead pocket play and centre circle nesting are happening all over what I have dubbed the dead half.

What is the dead half? It is the all-too-common phenomena of 36 players cramming into a half of the fi eld where the ball is. When the ball eventually switches to the other half, all 36 players then switch to that same side.

The result is an explosion in tackle counts, holding-the-ball decisions and low scoring. It’s like

y

Applyingdata

laterally

fi nish. There were no passages of dead pocket play. The style of game suited me. In the second half, I kicked four goals and one behind.

The closeness of the result (10 points in favour of Carlton) and the manner in which the game was played was adopted as the early model for a brand of free-fl owing contested football that has since fl ourished in the modern era.

Notably, extreme congestion around the ball leading to excessive stoppages, stacks-on-the-mill tackling and low-scoring outcomes are aspects generally frowned upon.

A case in point was the introduction in 1973 of the 50m centre bounce exclusion zone (the centre square), which allows only four players from each team to contest the ball.

At the time, Hawthorn’s goalkicking machine Peter Hudson usually had the entire

watching dead pocket football of yesteryear, pre-1969.

How can it be fi xed? Given that exponential increases in interchange rotations is likely a major contributor, capping interchange numbers appears a reasonable redress. But will offi cials have the will and support to do so?

Changing a kicking rule (out-on-the-full) and setting up an exclusion zone (centre square) have proven far more successful and less contentious than modifying umpiring

interpretations (prior opportunity and disposing

of the ball, etc). Hence, in the

interests of fostering discussion, here are two possible rule

changes designed to break up the

excessive congestion and scrimmages occurring in the dead

half of the ground. First, a mark from a

teammate’s kick within the defensive 50m area can only be awarded if the mark is taken outside the 50m arc. Wow! Defenders kicking long and taking on the fi eld – I’d liketo see that!

Second, at any stoppage, a minimum of three players from each team must be standing within the respective 50m areas. If a team is caught short, a free kick is awarded to the opposition at the place where the stoppage has occurred.

I envisage this could work in a similar way to centre square infringements, but in reverse.

Testing these rules ‘off-stage’, say in junior competitions or state leagues, would be an ideal way to measure their impact.

TED HOPKINS IS A CARLTON PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND FOUNDER OF CHAMPION DATA. HIS CURRENT PROJECT IS TEDSPORT, A HIGH PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS AND CONSULTING SERVICE.

Chaotic passages of play

ensued, with mass packs of players

fi ghting for the ball

CONGESTION: Hawthorn of the early 1970s deliberately clogged up the midfi eld to leave space up forward for champion goalkicker Peter Hudson.

AR14 p78 Column.indd 78 29/6/10 5:29:47 PM

We got Lance Franklin to hang up his boots≥

‘Buddy’ is one of the most exciting players in the AFL today and is now one of the Hawks leading goal kickers. Which is why we asked him to hang up his boots. Buddy’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.

Artist: David Williams, Gilimbaa

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Documents

AFL Record, Round 14, 2010