Freo not chasing Buddy...yet

MARKED MAN: Lance Franklin is set to spark interest from rival clubs as a potential restricted free agent next off-season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

FREMANTLE has denied it is already amassing a war chest aimed at luring Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin through free agency at the end of next season.

Dockers CEO Steve Rosich left the door open to joining what is expected to be a frenzied fight for Franklin's services if he delays signing a contract extension with the Hawks.

Franklin, 25, becomes a restricted free agent at the end of next season.

Hawthorn hopes he will sign an extension as early as possible to avoid a Travis Cloke-style contract saga, potentially providing a distraction next season, but the club is yet to reach an agreement with the WA product, who is arguably the most marketable player in the AFL.

Franklin, who enjoys the Melbourne lifestyle, said he hoped to be a one-club player, but the longer this draws out, the more speculation will mount over his future.

Rosich said Fremantle could not formulate any plans for next season's free-agency period until the upcoming drafts were completed.

"Once we go through the national draft and the pre-season draft  and I think there's a possibility we could be have a live pick there - then you start to reassess and address your strategy for 2013," Rosich said.

"This would include free agency and potentially looking at experienced players, maybe former West Australian players and key position players.

"But there's a lot of things to be done and executed prior to that and they clearly impact our ultimate strategy."

Earlier this year, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said the biggest stars in the AFL were worth $1.5m a season and that he would be prepared to offer the massive figure to lure Franklin to the Dockers.

Commenting on reports Greater Western Sydney were preparing a war chest to prise Cloke from Collingwood, Lyon said he believed the figure was realistic for select players.

"I'll tell you what, I'd give Buddy Franklin $1.5m tomorrow," a lighthearted Lyon said in Esperance during Fremantle's community camp in February.

West Coast's ability to make a genuine bid to bring Franklin home may depend on the playing futures of champion veterans Darren Glass and Dean Cox.

Glass and Cox are both out of contract at the end of next season and are among the Eagles' highest-paid players, so their retirements would free up space in the salary cap.

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Neeld sure he can mend a down club

Melbourne Football coach Mark Neeld is taking steps towards rebuilding the Demons. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

Melbourne coach Mark Neeld has high hopes for former Port Adelaide star David Rodan and believes his finals experience will benefit the club. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

DAVID Rodan is a short man with a long job description at his new employer, Melbourne.

The Demons want him to win contested ball, break the lines, add some pizzazz . . . and in his downtime become a father figure.

Melbourne has been criticised in some quarters for a scatter-gun recruiting approach, but coach Mark Neeld is adamant Rodan and others were targeted for a reason.

"One of David's roles will be to take Jack Viney under his wing and give him a little bit of support on and off the field," Neeld said.

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Viney, Melbourne's prime father-son pick, will be carefully managed and not rushed, with Neeld delivering more than a passing hint that the club got it wrong with another glamour pick, Jack Watts, four years ago.

"We want to do it correctly. We don't want unrealistic expectations," Neeld said.

"The role David will play with Jack we see as really important.

"There's a couple of examples at our club where there's been some unrealistic expectations on some guys and they're still battling through it now four years into their career."

Rodan, offloaded by Port Adelaide, is often derided for being a human highlights reel without a team-first mindset, but Neeld is adamant he will be an invaluable addition to a developing list.

"Why we were keen on someone like a Rodan is his experience. He'll be our most experienced player . . . he's played in finals . . . a Grand Final," Neeld said.

"When we sat down and chatted with David we acknowledged there are still certain things in his game that he needs to improve.

"We made it very clear these are the reasons we want you . . . experience, very good in contested ball, very good in clearances and you've got that dynamic speed that simply we don't have.

"There's very few perfect players, I get all that. It is his third AFL club, we're across that. We just need to make sure we're getting the balance right."

Like Rodan, other high-profile Demons newcomers Chris Dawes and Shannon Byrnes have played finals and Grand Finals. It was a key criteria when the club went hunting.

"I was really keen to get some players in who had been in really good footy clubs and had played finals or Grand Finals," Neeld said.

"There is a lot of internal leadership that can be built within a group.

"I've had finals and Grand Final experience in coaching teams. I can tell them. Leigh Brown, Dave Misson and Neil Craig the same thing . . . but it is more powerful if it comes internally from the players."

A year after recruiting Mitch Clark to be the deep forward, Dawes will be the man to play closer to goal this season, allowing Clark to roam further up the ground and help out in the ruck.

"The role we want Dawesy to play is the stay-at-home forward. I was involved with Dawesy at Collingwood when he played that role really well.

"Mitch (Clark) has got great agility and between he and Cam Pederson they will share the second ruck role. It allows Mitch to get on his bike a bit more and we're keen for that."

Neeld indicated it would have been irresponsible of the club not to chase Dawes.

"You've got a 24-year-old key position player on the move . . . the right thing for our footy club to do was go and ask the question," Neeld said.

"We're rapt. He is a minimum 100-game key position player for us."

Bringing in so many recycled players has led to questions about Neeld looking for a quick fix - a respectable seven to eight wins next year to escape the heat.

But he said self-preservation was never a factor.

"I maintain strongly that the role of a senior coach is every decision you make needs to be for the betterment of the footy club, otherwise you've got the wrong role," Neeld said.

"All the decisions we make are for three, five, 10 years down the track. I'm really big on that. I see that as my role."

Neeld said nobody should be shocked at the turnover, saying it would become more common with free agency and a tendency to more closely mirror player movement in US sports.

"In my experience (at clubs), 10 to 12 list turnovers is normal," Neeld said.

"What I can gather from the reaction of the Melbourne supporters is that's not the norm here.

"I'm really clear on the type of footy we want to play, we're really clear on the type of training we want to see and we're really clear on the type of people we want to build a culture we think will take the club forward. All the decisions we made were based around that."

Matthew Bate and Ricky Petterd were delisted, Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers walked under free agency and Cale Morton left in a fire-sale trade to West Coast.

Neeld was typically pragmatic about the exits of Moloney to Brisbane and Rivers to Geelong.

"Brent's decided with what he wants to achieve and the way he goes about it, it is best suited elsewhere. That's OK," Neeld said.

Asked if his relationship with Moloney became strained, Neeld said the pair continued to talk.

"We had regular conversations. No doubt, he must have been thinking 'Hang on a minute, this is not the way it's supposed to pan out'," Neeld said.

"Brent didn't have -- and I hope this is not seen as dumping on Brent -- he didn't have a great year."

The departure of Rivers was about the opportunity to play finals.

"He believed this was going to be his last contract, and he wanted to, if he could, ensure himself that he could play finals immediately," Neeld said.

"That's one of the reasons free agency was pushed so hard by the AFL Players' Association. That's OK."

Morton was given every opportunity, but did not fit the Neeld mould and "the Eagles offered him the opportunity to move back to Perth and continue playing footy there".

Neeld said it was an era of "more mature conversations" between players and coaches and out of all the talk it was clear Melbourne was not the best fit for Morton right now.

Asked if the prodigiously talented but frustrating Morton had the ability to bite the Dees on the backside, Neeld said: "I don't look at it like that. Everyone hopes he does do well."

23.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hirdy has Bombers off and running

Essendon's Michael Hurley is enjoying the club's switch to a more run-based pre-season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON'S Michael Hurley has backed the switch to a more run-based pre-season, saying it could have a big impact on his aerobic effectiveness.

Speaking before he left for a training camp in Colorado, Hurley said the evolution of the game meant pre-seasons would always change.

And Essendon's decision to move away from its weight-building plan, which came in for criticism after a wave of soft-tissue injuries in 2012, sits fine with the key position Bomber.

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" 'Hirdy' (coach James Hird) touched on those things that we can do, some longer distance-type running, that can harden the body and might help," he said.

"That's an area that I would like to find in my game."

The 22-year-old said a greater aerobic capacity was important to the game now as it was "non-stop".

Hurley maintains faith in the club's fitness staff to adapt and do the things required to ensure the club does not fade away as it dramatically did in the second half of 2012.

"We've got full faith in the (fitness) guys," he said. "And we are lucky enough to have the chance to go to America for three weeks, which is a new challenge.

"It (the camp) will be about fitness for starters, but also a bit of leadership as well. The leadership is coming over as well as the core midfielders."

Hurley will join nine other Bombers for 18 days on the fitness and bonding trip.

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Power wins London exhibition

Port Adelaide defeat Western Bulldogs in a thrilling exhibition match at The Oval in England.

Campbell Heath of of Port Adelaide loses control of the ball in contact with Clay Smith of Western Bulldogs during the AFL European Challenge game in London. Picture: Jan Kruger Source: Getty Images

NEW Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has started his coaching career with a thrilling one-point victory over the Western Bulldogs in the AFL's exhibition match at The Oval.

A brilliant goal by Power midfielder Brad Ebert from a set shot 50m out near the boundary line with less than a minute to play sealed the victory, 14.4 (88) to 13.9 (87).

At one stage early in the third term, Port trailed by 39 points before unleashing a nine-goal unanswered burst to take the lead midway through the final quarter.

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Much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd of about 10,000 Londoners, the Dogs snapped out of their funk and kicked the next four goals to seemingly have victory assured.

Port Adelaide players celebrate their victory with the cup after the AFL European Challenge Game against the Western Bulldogs at The Oval. Picture: Christopher Lee Source: Getty Images

But two goals in the final two minutes got Hinkley and the football club a much-needed boost given the horror couple of months they've endured following the death of Port player John McCarthy in Las Vegas in September.

New recruit Angus Monfries kicked three goals while defender Jackson Trengove and acting captain Hamish Hartlett were influential.

"I said to the players before the game that you always want to win and it doesn't matter if it's an exhibition game or anything for us," Hinkley said.

Ayce Cordy of Western Bulldogs spoils a mark for Brad Ebert of Port Adelaide during the AFL European Challenge game in London. Picture: Jan Kruger Source: Getty Images

"We are a club that needs to learn to win a little bit.

"Both sides put on a really good game I think for the fans, to get a one-point game you'd be happy with that from an AFL point of view. We're a bit happier because it was one point our way.

"We've been together three seconds and I'm not sure if we knew what we were doing but the coaching staff that are here have told me all along that there is some talent here to work with and it's nice to see that."

Acting Bulldogs captain Shaun Higgins led the way with three goals while Patrick Veszpremi kicked two as did Liam Picken who provided the highlight of the night with a spectacular mark in the second quarter.

Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said he used the 16-a-side game as a learning tool for his young players.

"We saw a few get kicked against us and we thought let's see what they do without actually giving them too much help," he said.

Hamish Hartlett of Port Adelaide handballs under pressure from Shaun Higgins of Western Bulldogs during the AFL European Challenge game in London. Picture: Jan Kruger Source: Getty Images

"A couple of the younger guys were a bit slow to react to what was happening, they (Port) played well and got a bit of momentum but we then fought back.

"We weren't doing a lot of coaching, it was just have a look at them and let them run around."

He was pleased with the performance of new recruit Koby Stevens who joined the club from West Coast during the trade period.

"He's going to help our younger midfielders, he has got a strong body as well and looks like he will be a good acquisition," McCartney said.

The victory by Port means they have won the right to be involved in next year's London game with the AFL committed to building its profile in Europe.

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Ebert's touching tribute to J-Mac

Port Adelaide defeat Western Bulldogs in a thrilling exhibition match at The Oval in England.

Port Adelaide players celebrate their victory at The Oval - their first match without the late John McCarthy. Source: Getty Images

THE moment the ball swung back through for the goal, Brad Ebert immediately thought of his best mate.

He turned to the black arm band on his left arm, kissed it and then pointed to the sky where he knew John McCarthy would be looking down on him.

The goal - a brilliant kick from 50m out near the boundary line - sealed a one-point victory for Port Adelaide over the Western Bulldogs in the AFL's exhibition game at The Oval.

Power wins London Exhibition

But for the Power this game was more than just a scratch match in a foreign land. It was about finally getting the chance to move on from what has been a horrible couple of months following McCarthy's tragic death in Las Vegas in September.

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"It has been a tough season and the post-season, it has probably been some of the toughest times of my life to be honest," an emotional Ebert said afterwards.

"There have been a lot of emotions going through the last few months and Dani was here tonight, John's girlfriend.

"Over the last year we have got on really and he was my best mate so it was great to be able to kick that goal and even though it was only an exhibition game, it was really nice to able to do that and give him a litle bit, give him a salute."

Ebert said John's friends had urged Dani, who was in tears after the game, to come to London on the trip which she'd planned with her boyfriend months earlier.

"She was initially going to come over with John and then after everything that happened she was going to cancel it and that sort of stuff but the flight was already booked and we just said to her, 'Why don't you come across?'," he said.

"My girlfriend Bec was here and Nathan Blee's girlfriend Jess came across so they were able to stay together for the last five nights in London and Edinburgh.

"It was good for her to get away as well otherwise she would have just been in Melbourne. Being able to get over here, get around the girls and try and have a bit of fun...I think it has been good for her to get away."

Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert kicks the winning goal againts the Western Bulldogs at The Oval. Source: Getty Images

The Power have a memorial planned for McCarthy at their first home game next year in Round 2, but Ebert said playing the exhibition game in London was going to help the club move forward.

"While we will always have J-Mac's memory with us, we really wanted to make sure this off-season that we would be able to move on," he said.

"And while it still will hurt for a long time, we need to be able to use that on the footy field going forward and really start afresh.

"For me personally, I got over here for a few weeks before and that was great to be able to come away with my girlfriend, catch up with a few mates and just get away from everything that was going on in town and try and enjoy yourself.

"Hopefully going forward we will get back to Alberton and really make sure everyone is switched on because we all know how hard the last season has been."

The thrilling victory - 14.4 (88) to 13.9 (87) - was a great start to the coaching career of Ken Hinkley who has spent only a couple of days with his players after being appointed last month.

Former Essendon forward Angus Monfries was the star for the Power kicking three goals and engineering an impressive third-quarter comeback which saw his team kick nine unanswered goals to come from 39-points down to hit the front.

It looked like it was going to amount to nothing with the Bulldogs hitting back with four straight goals midway through the last quarter to wrestle back the advantage before Ebert, with the spirit of J-Mac on his side, produced something special with just 40 seconds remaining in the match.
 

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Hinkley: winning games a learning curve

Port Adelaide defeat Western Bulldogs in a thrilling exhibition match at The Oval in England.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, left, stands with Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney at The Kia Oval in London, England. The Power beat the Bulldogs in the European Tour match. Source: Getty Images

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has been quick to note that his club "needs to learn to win a bit''.

This is why the new Power mentor took a sense of satisfaction from his side's spirited one-point victory against the Western Bulldogs in London yesterday morning.

Despite trailing the Bulldogs by 39 points during the third term, Hinkley's men kicked nine goals in succession en route to an impressive victory at The Oval.

"I said to the players beforehand `you always want to win'  it does not matter if it is an exhibition match or anything for us,'' Hinkley said.

"We are a club that needs to learn to win a bit. I don't like losing and that is what most of us are about if we are in this game. We like to play to win and we were lucky enough to end up just in front at the end.

"I am not sure whether we knew what we were doing. We have been together for three seconds but the coaching staff told me all along there was some talent here to work with and it is nice to see that.''

While the former Geelong assistant would have been aware of the talent of Essendon recruit Angus Monfries, the Sturt draftee wasted no time in signalling his determination to make a difference at Alberton.

Monfries  who finished with three goals  provided a much-needed spark during the premiership term, taking an eye-catching overhead mark while floating in front of a pack.

Hinkley would have also been encouraged by injury-prone pair Cam Hitchcock and Ben Newton chipping in on the scoreboard while regular defenders Jackson Trengove and Jack Hombsch also looked dangerous in attack.

Forgotten backman Jasper Pittard  who battled hamstring strains throughout last season  showed off his finishing skills with a fine goal from well outside the 50m arc.

Acting captain Hamish Hartlett seemed to shine with the added responsibility, also kicking a goal from long range as his side fought its way back into the contest.

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Fit Hrovat is on the money

Midfield wrecking ball Hrovat picks up possessions with ease and nearly every AFL club has shown interest in drafting him. Is he the next Sam Mitchell?

Nathan Hrovat could end up at Collingwood, the team he grew up supporting. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media Source: Herald Sun

IT was the $50 that helped put Nathan Hrovat on the draft map.

After copping a blast for his fitness levels in a frank 2011 season review, the pint-sized midfielder was told it was time to "pull his finger out'' or his AFL dream would disappear.

Hrovat got straight to work, hell-bent on producing a faultless pre-season.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch highlights of Hrovat and get our expert analysis in the video player above

He grabbed his runners on New Years Day and hit the Rye beach and was desperate to not let a family holiday on the Gold Coast in January thwart his fitness regime.

Hrovat forked out $50 for a seven-day membership at a Gold Coast gym and hit it twice most days.

When he wasn't lifting weights in the sunshine state, Hrovat was out honing his kicking skills at Southport and any football ground he could find.

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"Being a diminutive type I need to be really strong around the ball, so it certainly helped,'' Hrovat said.

His initiative didn't end there.

Nathan Hrovat of Vic Metro in action during the 2012 NAB AFL Under 18 Championship between VIC Metro and Western Australia at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media) Source: Herald Sun

The Northern Knights captain hooked up with Brent Harvey, eager to tap into AFL resources after seeing the fruits of Lachie Hunter and Jack Viney's father-son connections.

Hrovat's dedication immediately impressed the North Melbourne champion.

"He's got a lot of talent, and that's one small part of it, but the want and the desire to constantly improve is a big part of making an AFL footballer, and Nathan's got that,'' Harvey said.

"I guess the knock on him is he's short. And that's why he wanted to speak to me, to see what sort of extra stuff you need to go to get over that hurdle.''

Harvey mentored Hrovat this year, dishing out key advice on burst speed techniques, diets and training approaches.

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As the Sam Mitchell-type tore TAC Cup sides apart with his clearance work, he went from speculative draft hopeful to a probable late choice.

Then the accolades came, igniting Hrovat up the order.

Vic Metro's MVP and vice-captain, All-Australian, Knights best-and-fairest winner despite playing just eight games and third in the Morrish medal and second in TAC Cup coaches award.

"I spoke to our recruiters at the start of the year and they said 'he's got things to work on, he might get drafted' to people talking about first-round now,'' Harvey said.

n05wp607 Nathan Hrovat has been selected to represent the Vic Metro u15 footy team in the National Championships Picture: Travis Mccue Source: Herald Sun

"It'd be good to have him at Arden St, he's an outstanding footballer and he's got great character, so he'd fit our club well.''

Knights talent manager Peter Kennedy said Hrovat's standing as a late first-rounder was testament to his consistency and work-rate.

"There's not a lot of players under 180cm taken, so he knew he had to work really hard,'' he said.

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"He had to cover all bases and he did. His ability to win the ball, weave through traffic and hit targets is (impressive), and he's got the ability to kick a goal when needed.''

THE NATHAN HROVAT FILE
AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 174cm
WEIGHT: 76kg
FROM: Northern Knights
POSITION: Inside midfielder
DRAFT RANGE: 15-25
IN THE MIX: Roos (15), Freo (17), Pies (21)
PLAYS LIKE: Sam Mitchell

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter: @SamLandsberger
 

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Hogan to stretch legs in VFL

New Melbourne Demons recruit Jesse Hogan will play in the VFL next year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE will be given permission to blood its key defensive hope Jesse Hogan in the VFL next year, giving fans a glimpse of what they will see in 2014.

The 17-year-old was secured in a trade with Greater Western Sydney and in a worst-case scenario could be the sole star selection for the Demons from this year's draft process.

There remains a possibility the Demons could lose their No.4 pick and perhaps father-son selection Jack Viney (No.27) if found guilty of tanking.

Melbourne had to apply to Football Victoria for permission to play Viney in the VFL last year given he was still 17 and not officially a Demons player.

But it is understood Hogan will be able to play each week if the Demons want him to, given he has finished his junior football career in Perth.

Hogan is a powerful key forward from WA with explosive speed and strong overhead mark.

The league would have to quickly resolve the investigation, give Melbourne time to respond, and put it before the AFL commission meeting on November 19 to interfere with the November 22 draft.

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Drum: tanking a problem because it pays

Damian Drum heads back to the box after addressing his Fremantle players at Subiaco Oval. Picture: Ian Cugley. Source: News Limited

THE first AFL coach accused of "list management" to gain priority picks says tanking will continue until the AFL removes such a huge incentive for failure.

Former Fremantle coach Damian Drum was at the centre of the infamous "Hasleby Game" in 1999, in which Geelong kicked the last 11 goals against the Dockers in Round 22, handing them a priority pick.

Dockers players remarked about their positional changes, but Drum was adamant the club did not deliberately lose the game.

He said he had been given a reminder by club president Ross McLean before the game that he must coach to win.

Perth boy Hasleby became the No.2 draft pick, but the extra pick enabled the Dockers to recruit No.4 selection Matthew Pavlich, who became one of the greats.

Now the National Party MP for Bendigo, Drum said he had a clear conscience about the game, but he said the system was broken and must be repaired.

"What we have is a flawed system that encourages teams to lose," Drum told the Herald Sun.

"The AFL have to look at it very carefully. While they continue to leave these serious inducements for losing, the system will always have conjecture.

"The AFL will be battling these allegations in two years time and four years and six years, and there will be suspicion over the performance of bottom clubs for as long as they leave these rules in place."

The league has since made it almost impossible for clubs to win a pre-draft priority pick, but struggling clubs starved of high picks in the expansion era still have huge incentives to finish on the bottom.

Drum favours a lottery system that means every club in the bottom eight has a chance at the first pick, with weightings given to the worst sides.

In that much-scrutinised 1999 game Brodie Holland played on a half-back flank and Jess Sinclair back pocket - both for the first time - and commented on those moves post-match.

"Effectively you know what the stakes are from the result of that game," Drum said. "We were very, very clear we went out to win ... but the prize we got for not winning was Matthew Pavlich."

23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jurrah's benching scrutiny

Brendon Goddard is nearly run down Liam Jurrah. In the same 2009 game Jurrah was benched despite his efforts on the field. Picture: Tim Carrafa. Source: News Limited

MELBOURNE'S benching of Liam Jurrah in Round 22, 2009, could form part of the evidence against it in the AFL tanking inquiry.

Jurrah's mentor and biographer, Bruce Hearn Mackinnon, said yesterday he could not fathom Melbourne's treatment of the exciting forward.

Hearn Mackinnon referred to the benching in his autobiography of Jurrah, and yesterday said he was mystified by the tactics and a post-match response from a Melbourne official.

Jurrah kicked four goals, but was dragged twice when on the verge of taking the game away from St Kilda.

St Kilda won by 47 points, handing the Demons the priority draft pick.

Hearn Mackinnon said Jurrah had not taken issue with his treatment, but it did not make sense.

In The Liam Jurrah Story, Hearn Mackinnon wrote: "(Jurrah) kicked four goals himself and provided several goal assists. However despite Liam's brilliant form he was continually dragged to the bench by his coach, prompting television commentators to suggest some tanking was going on."

23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More