Dons grill team over drug use

AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis says the roles of club doctors and medical professionals are being diminished sports science.

Essendon coach James Hird asked his players if they took drugs. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: The Advertiser

ESSENDON has interrogated every player on its list about using performance enhancing drugs as it continues to examine every aspect of the drugs scandal.

Coach James Hird, who fronted a Bombers board meeting on Thursday night, and football department boss Danny Corcoran this week summoned each player to individual meetings.

A meeting was also held yesterday in Canberra where Bombers chairman David Evans and chief executive Ian Robson met senior ASADA officials to ascertain the process of the investigation.

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At Essendon, several crisis meetings involving all the playing staff have been held, one of which was headed by Evans.

The players were told at one meeting the club did not know if they had been given banned drugs.

At the Hird meetings, the players were asked: Is there anything you need to tell us? Is there anything the club needs to know?

Each player answered no.

Gatto denies link to betting company

Although the answer was expected, Hird is understood to have found great comfort from the meetings, further strengthening his belief that his players did not knowingly take performance enhancing drugs.

Sacked sports scientist Stephen Danks has denied he gave the players prohibitive drugs when using injections and intravenous drips when loading players with supplements.

Some of those injections were done off-site, across the road from Windy Hill.

Thursday night's board meeting heard everything from Danks' signing to his departure, his unorthodox practices, the signing of consent forms and why and the expectation ahead of the ASADA investigation.

Directors were told strength and conditioning coach Dean Robinson, who joined the club in 2012, insisted that Danks join him as his sports science sidekick.

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich says their players have been injected with vitamin supplements, but all above board.

Robinson has been suspended pending the ASADA investigation, but he's not expected to to return to the club.

Evans said yesterday it had been an "extremely difficult'' week for the players and their families.

"There's going to be a lot speculaiton, about our players, about our club and possible sanctions but remember not one of our players has not tested positive for any banned substance or performancing drugs,'' he said.

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AFL clubs under scrutiny

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich says their players have been injected with vitamin supplements, but all above board.

Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson worked at Geelong and Gold Coast, prompting the AFL to investigate those clubs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

A SPECIAL AFL forensic team will investigate the operations of the two clubs who previously employed suspended Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson.

Geelong and Gold Coast have been told the league's investigators will be putting the microscope over every aspect of their high performance departments.

Robinson, who was stood down by Essendon on Tuesday, joined Geelong in 2007 as its strength and conditioning coach before moving to the Suns at the end of 2010.

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Brisbane is also on the league's hit list after admitting Stephen Dank, the performance scientist who was brought to Essendon by Robinson and is the man at the centre of the scandal, had been briefly employed as a consultant to the Lions.

The AFL is planning to audit all clubs over their use of drugs and supplements with every training practice reviewed.

Geelong has maintained it has nothing to hide about the way it conducted its sports science and fitness departments during its stunning premiership run.

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"Everyone in this organisation is accountable," chief executive Brian Cook said earlier. "That accountability is a high focus within our footy club.

"I'm confident we won't be implicated. The processes we use are pretty sound.

"The doctors are the only ones allowed to give injections, the doctors have to sign off any vitamin purchases made and we have a supplement register."

Geelong Football Club CEO Brian Cook with the 1st Brownlow Medal returned to the club. Picture: Glenn Ferguson Source: Geelong Advertiser

Despite the latest scandal, Cook said the club would continue to remain on the cutting edge of sports science.

For the past three years the Cats have had their own sports science advisory committee which is made up of elite sports scientists from across the country, including the Australian Institute of Sport.

Cook said while that committee was always looking for the next competitive advantage in the sports science area, it operated in a "very ethical framework'' that complied with Anti-Doping regulations.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire yesterday revealed the Pies had already conducted their own  audit of their sports science procedures including substances used by the club.

AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis says the roles of club doctors and medical professionals are being diminished sports science.

"We have already audited Collingwood two days ago and we are ready to come in with our ideas of what has to happen,'' McGuire said.

"After what happened in the last couple of days, we wanted to make sure everything is right and ship-shape at our club, to make sure we have the protocols in place.

"If there is anything to uncover I welcome it. One of the things that has been lost in translation is that we don't want to win a premiership by cheating. So we stand for sportsmanship. You have to stand up for that.''

Hawthorn has also conducted an audit which found players were only taking multivitamins and protein powder.

Brisbane coach Michael Voss said he was "not concerned at all'' about the club's links to Dank given the very "limited involvement'' the club had with him.

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Star-struck Tigers punished

The Indigenous All Stars show a united front against the Tigers. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND'S first game of the year descended to almost embarrassing levels last night after the Tigers were swept aside by the Indigenous All-Stars.

In warm conditions, the Tigers were never in the hunt and went down 14.6 (90) to 6.4 (40) in front of 8350 fans at Alice Springs' Traeger Park.

Richmond couldn't, or wouldn't, match the All-Stars' hunger at the contest and struggled to contain their run and spread from stoppages in the slightly shortened match.

Both sides missed key players, with stars including Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli, Shaun Burgoyne, Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt all sitting out.

The All-Stars' speed inside 50m was the telling factor, with Graham Johncock (three goals), Liam Jones, Eddie Betts (both two) and Lindsay Thomas (one) all on the end of quick counter-attacks.

Betts - involved in an intriguing match-up with Steven Morris - Thomas and Johncock all had moments of brilliance.

Liam Jones marks strongly under pressure. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

But it was Jones who caught the eye early, with the Western Bulldogs forward leading quickly and marking strongly to kick two first-quarter goals.

Leroy Jetta's 60m bomb on the run helped the All-Stars to a 23-point quarter-time lead they never looked like relinquishing.

It was an even performance from the victors, who were propelled by the midfield influence of Harley Bennell, who won the Polly Farmer Medal for best afield.

Alwyn Davey and Lindsay Thomas were consistent contributors, Neville Jetta was a success off half-back, while Brett Goodes showed signs he could make it at the highest level playing in the same position.

Richmond started with Luke McGuane and Aaron Edwards deep inside 50m in the absence of Riewoldt and Tyrone Vickery.

McGuane kicked two, but Edwards' first game in yellow and black was a success. The former North Melbourne and West Coast forward looked bright early before the supply dried up.

Second-year forward Todd Elton looked promising, despite his kicking continuing to let him down. Dustin Martin lifted after a poor first quarter, but his influence was blunted by unusually poor execution.

Acting captain Shane Edwards got better as the game wore on. Orren Stephenson did the lion's share of the ruck work in the absence of Ivan Maric and finished with two goals.

The Tigers played three draftees - Nick Vlastuin, Kamdyn McIntosh and Matthew McDonough - and rookie Cadeyn Williams.

While none of the quartet exerted any great influence, none looked out of their depth. Vlastuin's ferocious attack on the football late in the match was eye-catching.

GOALS All-Stars: Johncock 3, Jones, Betts 2, Leroy Jetta, Ryder, Ugle, Thomas, Anderson, Bennell, Newman Richmond: McGuane 2, Stephenson 2, McDonough, Edwards BEST All-Stars: Bennell, Johncock, Thomas, Alwyn Davey, Jones, Betts Richmond: Martin, Grigg, Edwards, Jackson, Conca, Elton

ALL-STARS 5.0 8.1 12.4 14.6 (90) RICHMOND 1.1 2.1 3.1 6.4 (40)

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Milne boots four in Seaford heat

Stephen Milne starred in St Kilda's first intraclub practice match of the year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

AGELESS Stephen Milne set the pattern for another productive AFL season as a standout performer in St Kilda's first intraclub practice match today.

Milne booted four goals and set up at least another three with his renowned crumbing work in the forward line at Seaford.

The form of the 258-game veteran was high on coach Scott Watters' list of encouraging signs from the workout that lasted nearly two hours.

Watters said Milne was on a modified training program early in the pre-season to protect a minor knee problem.

But the 32-year-old stepped up his work when players resumed after the Christmas break.

Milne looked sharp and keen and the coach continued to marvel at his leadership and example for younger teammates.

He had a hand in two of fellow forward Terry Milera's three goals while another small forward Ahmed Saad also chimed in with two.

Beau Maister - formerly Wilkes - was impressive among the tall targets with three goals and midfielders Jack Steven and David Armitage were others to show impressive early touch.

Captain Nick Riewoldt, best and fairest winner Lenny Hayes, Sean Dempster, Adam Schneider and Rhys Stanley were the senior players to sit out the opening practice match.

Watters was the overseer of the game, supervised by a full complement of field and boundary umpires, that gave players short breaks every 10 or 15 minutes for onfield drinks in the heat.

Ruckman Ben McEvoy ran to the dressing rooms with a trainer midway through the match and didn't return. But

Watters said he was fine and the rest was only to manage his heavy workloads.

St Kilda starts its NAB Cup campaign against Adelaide and Port Adelaide in Adelaide tomorrow week.

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Vitamin injections no worry: Rosich

CLEAN: Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich says his club has nothing to fear from any investigations stemming from the ACC report. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is adamant that cheating of any form in the AFL will not be accepted and you will be caught.

The AFL announce new measures to their Integrity Commission to catch drug cheats including more investigators and more drug testing.

Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy chats to Fox Sports News about the Bombers doping scandal, saying anyone found guilty should be banned from the AFL.

FREMANTLE CEO Steve Rosich has admitted the club has injected players with vitamins to aid their recovery but said the Dockers have nothing to fear from investigations stemming from the bombshell Australian Crime Commission report.

Rosich was also adamant Fremantle players did not take anything illegal provided by former sponsor Nutrition Systems, the supplements company whose parent company was fined more than $3m for importing and supplying unregistered substances.

Nutrition Systems sponsored the Dockers in 2008 and 2009.

"It was essentially a marketing contract. It was a non-exclusive supply arrangement," Rosich said.

"We vetted the products that we utilised and that process as we normally would, so we're very comfortable.

"I'm really comfortable with our people, our structure, our processes, so no, we don't have a major concern at the Fremantle Dockers.

"We've got well-respected and credentialed people in our sports science department."

Rosich did not believe the year-long ACC probe had looked at Fremantle.

"The short answer is we don't know definitively, but every indication is from what we know that no, we weren't part of that,'' he said.

"Our club has a food-first focus, and the supplements are obviously part of that process, but they are only a minor part of it.''

Rosich said players sometimes received injections to aid recovery.

"In some instances, if a player's feeling that way that they need a quick infiltration of vitamins, but no only natural substances in that context,'' he said when asked if players were injected with supplements.
 

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Vince held back in intra-club game

Bernie Vince was held back at Adelaide's pre-NAB Cup intra-club game. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE has no headache but a few more things to think about after a drama-free internal trial behind locked gates at AAMI Stadium.

The cautious Crows opted to hold back midfielders Bernie Vince and Richard Tambling and young defender Sam Shaw after having more than 44 players to spread across two evenly matched teams.

There was no dramatic change to the way the Crows played, with coach Brenton Sanderson's 2012 theme of contested football and direct movement through the centre corridor continuing to 2013.

But there is to be a change in how Adelaide lines up some of its players as Sanderson seeks depth by greater versatility of his men.

The question of who partners key forward Taylor Walker - either Josh Jenkins or Shaun McKernan - in the absence by defection of Kurt Tippett to Sydney appears destined to linger through Adelaide's defence of the NAB Cup starting on Sunday week.

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Jumping Jack jets home sick

Jack Riewoldt will miss tonight's match. Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images Source: HWT Image Library

RICHMOND superstar Jack Riewoldt has flown home early from Alice Springs with an illness.

The Tigers spearhead flew back to Melbourne this morning after contracting the flu on the clubs Pre-season camp in the Northern Territory.

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A Richmond official said Riewoldt had long been ruled out of tonight's exhibition match against the indigenous All Stars as he continues his recovery from injury.

Geelong pair Alan Christensen and Travis Varcoe also flew home this morning.

The absence of Riewoldt further dilutes the talent on display at Alice Springs' Traeger Park tonight, with Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli, Shaun Burgoyne and Adam Goodes all not playing.

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Crows will step up drugs protection

Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman says his club will ramp up protection against the drugs scandal. Picture: Michael Dodge. Source: Getty Images

ADELAIDE is ready to step up its protection against illegal drug suppliers and organised crime units to ensure it is not trapped in Australian sports' latest scandal.

A day after declaring they were "fully compliant'' with AFL guidelines and "every confidence'' in the club's medical programs, the Crows today reaffirmed they could do more.

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"No one can ever be 100 per cent certain that their staff and players are not involved (in drug taking or match-fixing), but given the significant education, welfare and support that is provided by us to our staff and players we have every confidence that we are compliant,'' said club chairman Rob Chapman in his follow-up statement today.

"All our club medical and physical conditioning staff have been consulted following recent events and the club is in the process of conducting our own analysis, but we believe their conduct is consistent and compliant with AFL guidelines.

"We will continue to review all club systems and procedures.

"The Adelaide Football Club acknowledges the gravity of the Australian Crime Commission's report findings.

"The club fully supports the investigations and the AFL's response, which we think is comprehensive and clearly signals a new sense of urgency which we subscribe to. We will assist the AFL in any way to ensure the integrity of the game and our club is upheld.''

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Hawks lend helping hand

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge gets his hands dirty working for Blazeaid in Tasmania's bushfire-affected Connelly's Marsh region. Picture: Roger Lovell Source: The Mercury

HAWTHORN captain Luke Hodge led a player charge to help Tasmania's bushfire affected communities.

The Hawks were already planning to do the rounds in Tasmania during this week's community camp prior to January's devastating fires, but changed tact once the enormity of the disaster became clear.

A text from Hodge to club chief executive Stuart Fox during the players' holidays set plans in motion and on Thursday a group of Hawks got their hands dirty -- and legs bloodied -- to help repair fences in the farming community of Connelly's Marsh.

"I think everyone was pretty keen to get down and help where we can,'' Hodge said.

"We've got such a tight bond with Tasmania and as soon as you hear anything that's happened with the guys down here you automatically think you want to get down and help.

"You don't actually realise the impact the recent fires had on the people down here until you get out on the roads and see it for yourself, see all the land that's been burnt and driving past houses that are gone.

"We just want to help a little bit, clean up a bit of their property. It's only little but we do as much as we can.

"I guess it's also just to let everyone know that we are thinking of them and anything we can do we will to try and help.''

Hawthorn, in consultation with the Tasmanian government, identified the areas most in need of support throughout their three-day Tasmanian sojourn.

Players based in Hobart will also visit Sorrell, Dodges Ferry, Cambridge and Dunnalley.

While Victorians paused to reflect on the fourth anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires, Fox said it was important to keep Tasmania's recent fire victims in mind.

"This is our 11th year of coming down here for our community camp and we take it pretty seriously, Tasmania, and we're very proud of our partnership,'' Fox said.

"So when we come down we try and work hard spread our wings and get to as many people as we can but this year has been more of a focus on the bushfire effected areas, although we do have blokes in Launceston and on the east and west coasts.

"We don't come down here just to kick a few footballs around and shake some hands ... when we come down we want some genuine engagement.''

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Port boss stunned at drug use

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says he is stunned. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

Justice Minister Jason Clare on the shocking findings of the Australian Crime Commission investigation into Australian sport.

PORT Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says he was stunned by Australian Crime Commission findings of widespread drug use and links to organised crime in sport.

However Thomas believes the Power will emerge unscathed from a year-long investigation by the ACS which established elite sport links to illegal drug taking and match-fixing.

Thomas did concede that no club could be 100 per cent sure it's players had not used illicit substances.

The Power had no knowledge of the bombshell dropped by Federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy, police and sport bosses today.

"Like everyone in sport the findings were a shocked," said Thomas.

"When we heard reports coming out Essendon it gave us a chance to assess our own situation and I am confident our own guiding principles are sound and safeguard against the issues we could be open to."

Thomas said a repeat of the Essendon furore over use of banned growth hormones would not be possible at Alberton.

"We only purchase supplements from reputable brands and they are all batchtested. Everything is monitored and our players are educated to report being offered any products," said Thomas.

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Glass fears for AFL's reputation

FEARS: Darren Glass says he'd be devastated if the AFL's reputation was tarnished in the wake of the ACC's drugs report. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast captain Darren Glass would be "devastated for the game" if allegations over widespread substance use in Australian sport sent the AFL's reputation down the path of cycling.

The Australian Crime Commission today released the findings of a 12-month investigation into illegal drug use throughout Australian sport, across all codes.

Glass, who was appointed captain of West Coast in late 2007 following a series of off-field dramas at the club, said he was confident the Eagles were adhering to legal practises.

But the four-time All-Australian also said the damage caused to cycling by Lance Armstrong's drug saga proved an entire sport could be tarnished by illegal substance use and he feared for the reputation of the AFL if the findings revealed a dirty underbelly of Australia's game.

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"I'd feel devastated for the game, not necessarily feel cheated personally, but I'd just be disappointed to hear that it was going on," Glass said.

"(Integrity) is critical, I think, that's what people want to see; they want to see a fair, honest contest, so let's hope this doesn't take that away.

"Clearly, performance-enhancing drugs have been a part of sport for a long time and it does take away (from sports proven to be influenced).

"I used to enjoy watching the cycling, but now I can't help but think it's a dirty sport.

"So, hopefully, the Australian sporting codes don't get branded like that."

Glass said West Coast used powder-based supplements - and had done for years - but they had all been approved by the club's medical staff.

The ACC's report also found the use of illicit drugs in some sporting codes to be "significantly higher" than official statistics.

Glass admitted the age-range of AFL players meant they fell into the group of people considered more likely to use illicit drugs, but said battling the issue was a case of on-going education that West Coast and the AFL were committed to.

"We're talking about kids coming in, males 18 and 30, that's the illicit age-group demographic, so that's an issue we'll always have at sporting clubs and we'll continue to work on it," Glass said.

"But we think we've got good processes in place and guys are educated from the moment they get to the footy club.

"I think it is tough (to educate everyone), but we're prepared to do it and put the work in.

"But the majority of guys are committed to their football and the majority of AFL players are very good in regards to their professionalism."

Glass spoke as part of an Eagles Community Camp visit to Northam Senior High School, where the West Coast skipper attended until he was 15 years old.

"I grew up here and spent the first 15 years of my life here and it was a great place to grow up in," he said.

"We got some spare time, so I took a few of the boys around to visit my nan, she's 94 in June.

"She knew a few of them (the players). I had a few young boys with me who I don't think she knew, but she knew  (Mark) Nicoski; she picked the hair."
 

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'I couldn't live with guilt': Brown

Nathan Brown grimaces in pain after breaking his leg in 2005. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Richmond forward Nathan Brown has revealed he was offered human growth hormones after snapping his leg in 2005.

Brown, 34, said he declined the invitation which was made about two months after he broke his leg in a sickening clash with Melbourne defender Matthew Whelan.

"I wanted to be back… I did think about it for a fleeting moment, but I just thought how often you would be looking over shoulder if you actually went through with it," Brown told Triple M today.

"I don't think I could live with that guilt."

But Brown conceded the offer stuck in his mind during his lengthy rehabilitation.

The dual All Australian said he sympathised with Essendon players caught up in the doping scandal.

"I thought it was a pretty pure and clean game (football)… I never thought this day would come," Brown said.

"It's disappointing what's happened to the Bombers… I genuinely believe those players wouldn't take anything knowingly.

"If it turns out to be something very naïve and they haven't covered their bases, then they could be in some trouble."

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Tredrea: I was offered drugs

Former Port Adelaide star forward Warren Tredrea has admitted he was offered banned drugs. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

FORMER Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea has admitted he was offered banned substances during his playing career by an individual outside the club.

Tredrea said he only found the supplements were banned when he had them tested.

His revelation comes as the Essendon Football Club will undergo a joint probe by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and AFL into whether players have taken supplements containing banned substances under their training regime in 2012.

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Reports are that some players were taken off site and asked to sign waivers before they were injected with supplements, which may have contained banned substances.

Triple M presenter Warren Tredrea revealed on Wednesday he wasn't far off taking a banned substance during his playing days.

The pharmacist to the stars

"I was offered performance enhancing drugs by someone exterior to the football club,'' Tredrea said.

"But I went and got it tested and came back with three illegal drugs in it.''

Read more in Warren Tredrea's exclusive column in tomorrow's Adelaide Advertiser.
 

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Hird backs suspended fitness boss

Herald Sun AFL writer Mark Robinson says the Essendon supplements scandal is just the tip of the iceberg and that there are criminal elements involved as well.

Essendon hold their first training session since announcing they have gone to the AFL over concerns about supplements supplied last year.

AFL great Dermot Brereton voices his thoughts on the Essendon doping scandal.

Essendon call in AFL and ASADA to investigate the club's training regime and suppliments given to players.

Victory University Institute of Sport's Simon Outram chats to Fox Sports News about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in light of the Essendon stimulant scandal.

Retired Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh is confident the players will be cleared of any wrongdoing. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Jobe Watson leaves the field during a training session at Tullamarine as his team faces an AFL and ASADA drug probe. Picture: Blair Hamish Source: Herald Sun

Essendon coach James Hird appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders as he throws a football in a wheely bin at the end of a training session at Tullamarine on Wednesday morning. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

Essendon players training at Windy Hill in 2012. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Artwork: David Mcarthur Source: Herald Sun

RETIRED Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh has poured cold water on explosive revelations surrounding the use of supplements within the Bombers' fitness ranks.

The 232-game veteran threw his full support behind the Bombers' fitness and medical departments.

"It's a huge shock and disappointment the way the club's been dragged through the mud a little," McVeigh told SEN radio.

"I can honestly tell you that everything I took I knew 100 per cent that it was within the WADA and AFL doping regulations."

McVeigh also took a swipe at former teammate Kyle Reimers, who told Channel 9 he thought the use of supplements last year was borderline.

"Kyle Reimers has come out and said things that are untrue," a spirited McVeigh said.

"He's a disgruntled player that was delisted by the football club that very rarely turned up to pre-season training in any sort of form that resembled a professional footballer.

McVeigh rejected claims the players were asked to sign waivers clearing the club of any wrongdoing.

"It wasn't a waiver...it was a consent form," he said.

"And if you were comfortable with what you were taking, which we all were because it was within the rules and the doctor had told us it was fine... we signed it and it gave them consent to be able to have these tablets.

"Every player knew what they were taking. It was listed and we knew that it was within the rules.

"It was clearly stated to us what we were taking. If you didn't know, you must have been asleep in the meeting, which, you know what, Reimers probably was (asleep).

McVeigh confirmed the use of off-site injecting rooms.

"Footy clubs can sometimes be filthy, so we were taken to a sterile environment and the only injection I ever had was a vitamin C or vitamin B injection," he said.

"Nothing any more sinister than that, and that's what other players would have if they were feeling a bit down, or trying to get over a cold before a Saturday night game."

Essendon coach James Hird backed his club's fitness program.

The morning after the Bombers announced they had stood down the club's fitness guru, Hird said he was "still shocked" by the drugs scandal rocking the club.

"I have confidence in our processes at our footy club that we'd get it right." Hird said upon arriving at Windy Hilly this morning.

"Our players are moving on, we're training hard and we're looking forward to the start of the season.

"I'm sure it (the allegations) does have an effect (on them), but we're moving on."

While Robinson has only been suspended, the Bombers late last year parted ways with now-former performance scientist Stephen Dank.

This afternoon it has been revealed Dank, at the centre of the Bombers' supplements scandal, injected calf blood into players during his time with Manly in the NRL.

Club veteran Dustin Fletcher said he would let the club's senior officials speak about the impending the investigation.

"I'm not too fussed about it, the boys upstairs will deal with it," he said.

How soccer & NFL dealt with injection controversy

"Hirdy (coach James Hird), Evo (club chairman David Evans) and Robbo (CEO Ian Robson) will deal with it, we'll just keep training and doing our best."

Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton swore to stick by the club when he arrived at Windy Hill.

"(I'll) continue to support the football club and we're just getting on with our business," he said.

'I'd be devastated if Jobe lost Brownlow': Tim Watson

On Nova radio this morning, former Lion and Bulldog Jason Akermanis said he thought there would be large fallout from the investigation.

"It ain't going to wash this one, there will be a lot of guys who are going to be in a lot of trouble," he said.

The embattled club's home turf at Windy Hill remains a hive of activity, with players and senior officials believed to be holding crisis talks behind closed doors.

Motorists in the area are slowing down along Napier St to have a closer look at the club which has been thrown into turmoil over the past 48 hours.

Drivers are winding down their windows as they pass Windy Hill Oval, shouting choruses of "drug cheats", while the Bombers' faithful have expressed their disappointment at the drug scandal allegations.

Craigeburn resident Joseph Fisher, 65, said he had followed the Dons for more than 20 years and this scandal wouldn't put him off barracking for the red and black.

"It's a sad time for the club," he said outside Windy Hill this morning.

"I am surprised that this could be happening at the club in this day and age.

"I'll continue to support them... But let's just say, drugs and football don't mix."

Earlier, Essendon players completed a high-security training session at Tullamarine following a club meeting which was off limits to the public and media.

SEE PICTURES FROM TRAINING HERE

The footballers and training staff were ushered into the under-construction Melbourne Airport Club training ground between 7-8am by security and club staff.

Media and fans were denied entry to the venue, which is usually open to the public.

A barbed wire fence encircled the facility.

Essendon coach James Hird appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders as he throws a football in a wheely bin at the end of a training session at Tullamarine onWednesday morning. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

Several fans were relegated to watch the training session beyond the barbed wire fence and speculate on the scandal.

Bombers supporter Robert Glenn said the revelations were "a bloody shame".

"Hird and Thompson are very negligent in their jobs if they don't know what their players have taken," Mr Glenn said.

"It's a bloody shame because they've been training so well."

Tredrea: I was offered drugs

A security guard instructed those driving out of the ground to wind up their windows as he escorted them to the roadside, shielding them from the media contingent.

Media have also positioned themselves at Windy Hill, the football club's headquarters.

Security guards and club staff manned the gates of the Melbourne Airport training facility where Essendon Football Club players and officials met early this morning.

Jobe Watson leaves the field during a training session at Tullamarine as his team faces an AFL and ASADA drug probe. Picture: Blair Hamish Source: Herald Sun

It comes after yesterday's day of high drama in which it was announced the AFL would investigate the Bombers.

The Herald Sun revealed players were taken away from the club and injected with unknown substances by sports science staff last season.

The Herald Sun can also reveal the off-site injections will form part of an investigation by the AFL and Australia's anti-doping watchdog into inappropriate use of supplements at the club in 2012.

Sources allege organised crime gangs also have been linked to the scandal.

It is alleged the alarm was raised at Windy Hill midway through last season about the activities of Dank, who has since left the club.

BELOW: Possible sanctions that could be imposed by WADA and the AFL

Expense forms totalling more than $10,000, including the cost of a registered nurse to perform injections, were regularly submitted by Dank to the club.

Essendon late last night stood down Robinson, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The substances, which have not been identified, were taken orally, by injection and intravenously.

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Sports physician Dr Peter Larkins said Essendon players could be facing up to a two-year ban if found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Dr Larkins told 3AW this morning it was rumoured the drug used was a peptide.

"I've been given a lot of hints over the last 12 hours form the various people connected to this story and I've come up with three," he said.

"Best guess is that they're using a stimulator substance that produces your own increase of your natural hormones. So they're not taking an external drug that is routinely detectable," Dr Larkins claimed.

Essendon players were asked to sign waivers, supposedly exonerating the club of wrongdoing in the taking of the mystery substances.

It is understood an Essendon official spoke to an organised crime investigative body about his knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs in football last November.

The AFL is aware that its sport is being targeted by peddlers of illegal substances.

The Herald Sun last night submitted questions to the Australian Crime Commission, a leading law enforcement body in the fight against organised crime. In response, it said: "The Australian Crime Commission does not confirm who it is or isn't investigating."

Essendon coach James Hird, along with chief executive Ian Robson and chairman David Evans, talk to the media about inappropriate use of supplements by some players at the club during the 2012 season. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

BELOW: See timeline of club's past three years and snapshot of the Bombers' 2012 season

Sources last night warned at least one more club could be implicated over misuse of supplements.

It is known Essendon's highly respected club doctor, Bruce Reid, became frustrated by elements of Dank's work with the players last year.

But Bombers chiefs yesterday claimed they had become aware of "concerning information" only in the past two days. 

Who is Stephen Dank?

 Axed former Essendon star Kyle Reimers told Channel 9 last night: "They (Essendon) admitted to us that it was right on the edge.

"Speaking to blokes from other clubs, I don't think anyone has ever thought about signing it or doing the stuff we were doing.

"After a couple of months away from it, it does seem pretty odd that, the type of stuff we were taking."

Editorial: Drugs menace is a great game

Essendon yesterday stressed the recent departures of football boss Paul Hamilton and chief operating officer Dom Cato were not related to the scandal.

The Herald Sun contacted a number of senior Essendon officials about the allegations on Monday and they strongly denied any wrongdoing by the club last year.

They now fear, however, banned drugs may have been given to their players without the knowledge of senior officials.

The club had late night meetings on Monday and again yesterday before coming forward to the AFL.

Players face two-year bans

Bombers chairman David Evans said: "The integrity at the club is critical, and that's why we've moved quickly to contact the AFL.

"The info we gathered over the last 24 or 48 hours is slightly concerning, and we want to dig a bit deeper but we want the AFL to help us."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has long made known his dislike for the growing influence of sports scientists in the game.

Last night he said: "They (Essendon) have just started the investigation. They don't know what they have taken or alleged to have taken, they don't know the composition, and they don't even know if they have broken any WADA rules.

"They have come forward so I think they are entitled to the benefit of the doubt."

Bombers legend Tim Watson believes the players' trust has been abused.

"Players by nature are trusting individuals who think OK, if these people have been accepted into our football club, then we as players, we're not scientists, we don't know the make-up of this supplement," Watson told SEN.

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd also said the blame couldn't be placed on the players, who he says would have been following medical advice.

"You're told by a fitness coach or a sports scientist that you'll get a greater advantage and recover well, be fitter, stronger, and everything is done legally ... yeah you'd just jump onboard and do it," he told 3AW.

Meanwhile, Brownlow medallist and footy commentator Gerard Healy said he made the AFL aware of doping concerns 12 months ago after the issue was raised by an Essendon official at a sports medicine conference, 3AW reported.

- Reporting by Mark Robinson, Michael Warner, Mark Buttler, Erin Marie and Angus Thompson

Dejected Essendon players depart the MCG after another loss late in the season last year. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON'S 2012 IN A SNAPSHOT

- The Bombers soared to an 8-1 win-loss record and are second on the table heading into June. Their premiership odds are crunched as Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton and Dustin Fletcher lead the charge.

- The Dons' opening nine weeks eventuated despite a spate of early-season injuries and included a stunning 30-point win against Carlton, which is the flag favourite at the time.

- A shock loss to straggler Melbourne in Round 10 lights the fuse for Essendon's dramatic demise in the second half of the season. The Dons are the first side to lose to the Dees under Mark Neeld.

- Dons chairman David Evans is forced to publicly defend high-performance manager Dean Robinson ("The Weapon") for the injury curse in August. Essendon's soft-tissue epidemic claims about a dozen stars, including Michael Hurley, David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton, Paddy Ryder, David Hille and Stewie Crameri.

- Essendon peters out to finish with an 11-11 record, dropping 10 of the final 13 matches to finish 11th on the ladder.

- The Dons record embarrassing losses to Richmond (45 points) and Carlton (96) in the final month of the season.

- Jobe Watson becomes the first player since Shane Crawford in 1999 to win the Brownlow Medal from a non-finalist, polling 30 votes.

- Essendon parts company with sports science guru Stephen Dank in the fallout from their wretched collapse last season.

- Football manager Paul Hamilton reportedly walks out in September, with Danny Corcoran taking charge at Windy Hill.

Essendon's big guns (from left), chief executive Ian Robson, chairman David Evans and coach James Hird, front the media yesterday. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

What they said
"I am very disappointed. Shocked, is probably the best word ... I believe we followed processes; we put in place the right kind of processes. My understanding is we worked within the framework that was given to us by the AFL and I am shocked to be sitting here really.'' - Essendon coach James Hird

"I think the investigation takes its course from here and we learn more, as I said earlier I don't have all the answers but as you would agree this is a minefield. It takes experts, we have contacted experts today and we will use them to help us with the findings.'' - Essendon chairman David Evans

"David Evans has briefed the AFL about the matter and we support his actions. The AFL's Integrity Unit already works closely with ASADA and will assist with the investigation.'' - Acting AFL Football Operations Manager Gillon McLachlan

TIMELINE
End of 2010
- Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson quits the Cats to join Essendon as James Hird's senior assistant. He says the Bombers must get bigger.

End of 2011
- Former Geelong and Gold Coast fitness guru Dean ``The Weapon'' Robinson joins Essendon and says his pre-season program for the under-sized Bombers will be ``intense''.

Start of 2012
- Robinson recruits long-time collaborator sports scientist Stephen Dank. Known as "The Pharmacist'', Dank worked at NRL club Manly and Gold Coast Suns in the AFL with Robinson.

End of season 2012
- Robinson has his role downgraded as former Athletics Australia chief executive Danny Corcoran takes on more responsibility.

- Jobe Watson win the Brownlow medal, polling 30 votes.

- Football manager Paul Hamilton quits the club.

- Dank parted company with the club amid concern over the sports science program.

Yesterday
- Essendon chairman David Evans says "over the last 48 hours the Essendon Football Club has received information about supplements that have been given to our players as part of the fitness program of 2012". ADL and ASADA launch investigations.

Last night
- Essendon stands down Robinson pending the outcome of the inquiries.

A young fan flies an Essendon flag during a match at Etihad Stadium last season. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Possible sanctions

WADA
- World Anti-Doping Code penalties for using performance-enhancing drugs: First violation - two years ineligibility; Second violation: lifetime ineligibility.

However, the Athlete or other Person shall have the opportunity in each case, before a period of Ineligibility is imposed, to establish the basis for eliminating or reducing this sanction

AFL
- The AFL has broad powers under its rules to penalise clubs and players it deems have brought the game into disrepute - clubs could face hefty fines and exclusion from the national draft.

REPLAY our chat of the press conference coverage below

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Around the world in 80 injections

Former Juventus superstar Alessandro Del Piero was accused by a rival coach of bulking up through methods other than training. Source: AP

THE East Germans wrote the book on it, the Chinese Olympic team refined it, and now the question is: did Essendon also use illegal injections to take their performance to another level?

Professional sport is littered with stories of teams and players who have pumped their bodies full of all manner of substances in the quest to get a jump on the pack.

SOCCER

We very rarely hear a decent drug-related story in world football, but in reality the surface of the world game's use of mystery substances and injections has barely been scratched.

Cast your minds back to 2004, when French soccer legend Zinadine Zidane testified in a drug trial that he was given vitamins and supplements intravenously "according to what the doctor said", while playing for Italian club Juventus.

The murkiness doesn't stop there.

Czech coach Zdenek Zeman was coaching AS Roma in 1998 when he levelled his sights at Juventus, and in particular the A-League's recent recruit Alessandro Del Piero, who was one of the team's star players at the time.

Zeman said Del Piero appeared to have suddenly bulked up, and queried whether he could have done so without a little bit of chemical help.

Zeman's accusations against Juventus led authorities to take action, with a police search on Juventus' stadium finding more than 280 types of drugs.

NFL

The Bombers wouldn't be the first club to ask players to sign waivers absolving their club of any responsibility for the substances it doles out.

In fact, in America's National Football League, the entire competition has been asked to put ink to a liability waiver for a painkilling shot called Toradol.

Toradol is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory that masks any number of injuries, aches and pains to allow players to take the field, but also comes with a history of side-effects, including kidney, liver and gastrointestinal problems.

One former NFL player said his team used to "line up like cattle" to receive their Toradol shot before a game.

But forget about the NFL finding out about Toradol's use (which is legal) second-hand - the league is actually handing out the waivers, seemingly in a bid to trump potential future lawsuits like those arising from the current wave of post-career concussion issues.

Former New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens was tried over allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career. Source: AP

BASEBALL

You name it, they've done it in baseball.

And the list of big names who may have used questionable methods to gain an edge while engaging in America's pastime grows by the year.

Two-time World Series winner, 11-time All Star and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens was last year found not-guilty of lying about using performance-enhancing drugs during his glittering career.

That was despite a trainer saying he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone. Clemens maintained the needles contained vitamin B-12 and a legal anesthetic.

Chinese swimmer Zhang Yi was one of four Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned substances at the World Championships in Perth in 1998. Source: AP

OLYMPICS

It says something about how sorry China really is for their years of state-sponsored doping that the man in charge of the entire setup is still a celebrity there.

Chen Zhanghao, who was the lead doctor for the Chinese Olympic teams at the 1984, 1988 and 1992, finally broke a three-decade silence last year to admit that his athletes were human guinea pigs as China searched for the best cocktail with which to inject their way to gold.

Chen said athletes were only given illegal substances on a "voluntary" basis, but many athletes later came forward to say they had no idea of exactly what they were being given.

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Carlisle backs Power medicos

AFL football - Port Adelaide Power vs Fremantle match at AAMI Stadium - footballer Alipate Carlile and Matthew Pavlich. Source: Herald Sun

PORT Adelaide's players have been shocked at the probe into Essendon's use of potentially illegal substances after having their own policies strengthened and fireproofed under fitness coach Darren Burgess and club's medical staff.

Power backman Alipate Carlile was surprised even to be asked whether the players injected -- half the team was afraid of needles to begin with -- and the players are banned from taking any supplements without having them checked by the club.

"Whatever we buy, we've  been told to bring it to the club doctor and he'll tick it off with the AFL,'' Carlile said.

"And if there's anything close to being a red mark, we don't go anywhere near it.

"So everything's ticked off by the club doctor. We've got full faith and trust in him and that he studies the rules.

"It goes through all levels.

"And we've never injected anything.''

Carlisle's comments follow Power premiership captain Warren Tredrea's admission he had been offered a supplement to help him with a knee injury from a person from outside the club.

But when he had the drug tested, it came up with three illegal ingredients, none of which were on the label of the pills.

Tredrea put it down to the supplements being imported.

He suspected the reason some players unwittingly took imported illegal substances was because US legislation does not require all ingredients to be listed on the bottle, which Australian law does.

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Who is Stephen Dank?

Steve Dank in 2005 with NRL club Manly. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Essendon call in AFL and ASADA to investigate the club's training regime and suppliments given to players.

HE'S the mystery man who made a name for himself with innovative sports science methods including delving into the genetic build-up of players.

Stephen Dank would research the DNA of star NRL players to help structure their training programs.

He worked at Manly with Dean "The Weapon" Robinson before the pair reunited at Windy Hill.

But 2012 didn't go to plan and Dank was a quick casualty. He was sacked, The Weapon was downgraded and, as of today, the Bombers are under investigation from the AFL and ASADA.

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Most of us had not heard of Dank before today, and while it is not known if he is linked to the current investigation, let's find out more about him...

WHO IS STEPHEN DANK?- A physiologist from Sydney who became known in Australia's sporting landscape a decade ago, when working for NRL outfit Manly Sea Eagles

- Dank grabbed headlines in 2004 when, working for NRL club Manly, he pioneered testing players' DNA to increase performance.

- This allowed Manly to tailor speed, power, weight and endurance programs to suit the make-up of their stars.

- In 2008 Dank put it on the record that he did not do media interviews

- Dank was known to work with calves' blood, altitude training machines, while his DNA program made Manly global pioneers

- Dank worked closely with Manly coach Dessie Hassler before joining Essendon

- Dank was sacked from the Bombers at the end of last season amid the fallout from the injury epidemic and Essendon's dramatic demise in the second half of the year

- It is believed Dank has since taken up a role at a different AFL club
 

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Franklin out with calf tightness

Lance Franklin is out of the All-Stars game. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: Herald Sun

LANCE Franklin has been ruled out of the Indigenous All-Stars game after scans revealed fluid build up at the top of his calf.

The Hawks spearhead and All-Stars captain had scans late yesterday which confirmed the minor injury after experiencing tightness in the calf.

Franklin had a Baker's cyst behind his knee which burst on Monday.

The superstar forward will join his All-Stars teammates in a coaching capacity for Friday's match against Richmond.

It's not expected the injury will keep Franklin out of Hawthorn's NAB Cup matches against Brisbane and Gold Coast on February 23.

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Sacked Essendon staffer worked for NRL premiers

Sports scientist Steve Dank with the NRL's Manly Sea Eagles at training. Source: news.com.au

• Supplements scandal at AFL's Essendon
• Implicated sports scientist worked with NRL's Manly
• No suggestion any wrongdoing at Manly

THE sports scientist at the centre of a probe into AFL club Essendon was part of the medical team for the Manly Sea Eagles during its 2008 NRL premiership-winning season.

Essendon today called on the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority to help investigate the club's 2012 fitness program, after receiving new information about supplements given to players.

Stephen Dank, a sports scientist implicated in administering supplements at the club, will be at the centre of the investigation.

He was sacked by the Bombers in 2012.

A Manly Sea Eagles spokesperson confirmed to news.com.au that Mr Dank had been part of the Eagles' sports science staff. There is no suggestion Mr Dank was involved in any wrongdoing at Manly.

An article published in Sydney's Daily Telegraph in 2008 reported that Mr Dank was a "suited Sydney physiologist who attends every Manly training session".

Mr Dank "travels the globe, employs three assistants and refuses to share his knowledge with anyone," the article said.

Essendon sacked Mr Dank amid concerns about his conduct with players.

The Bombers received information over the past 48 hours about supplements used in 2012 which club chairman David Evans said was "concerning".

Mr Evans called on ASADA and the AFL to assist an investigation into the use of the supplements.

In 2012, the Bombers slipped from second to 10th on the AFL ladder in 11 weeks.

Mr Evans said: "Of course this is a very distressing time for our club, we believe as a club we have done everything right to be compliant with the AFL and ASADA.

"We have moved quickly to call the AFL and ASADA to seek a clean bill of health."

Bombers coach James Hird said he was disappointed with the situation.

"As a coach I take full responsibility for what happens in our footy department," Mr Hird said.

"It's my belief we've done everything right."

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Port may set Jurrah adrift over legal woes

Liam Jurrah is facing court action in both SA and the Northern Territory. Picture: Derrick Den Hollander Source: Herald Sun

PORT Adelaide is ready to walk away from Liam Jurrah after the troubled former AFL star had a warrant issued for his arrest because he failed to attend court.

The high-flying former Melbourne footballer could not be contacted by his lawyer after he failed to attend Elizabeth Magistrates Court this morning.

Magistrate Joanne Tracey issued a warrant for Jurrah's arrest and ordered that he be refused police bail and be brought to court to face the charges for the first time.

Jurrah, who has been living in Adelaide since being delisted by Melbourne last year, was to have faced court today on separate charges of drink driving and aggravated assault.

Jurrah was pulled over by police and charged with driving with excess blood alcohol at Para Hills on January 14, when he allegedly recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.269 percent.

Police further charged Jurrah with the assault of a woman following an incident at Elizabeth North on January 29.

The gifted but wayward footballer was overlooked for a spot in Port Adelaide's AFL team and has failed to take up an offer to begin training with the Magpies' SANFL squad.

Port football operations manager Peter Rohde said Jurrah's latest indiscretion had dampened Port's interest.

"It's probably got to the stage where we're getting less and less comfortable about getting involved with him," Rohde said.

"Obviously he's got a lot going on outside of football, he has a lot to deal with.

"We made the offer for him to come and get on board with the Port Magpies program but he hasn't taken it up and we've been chasing him trying to find out where he's at.

"We will continue to offer what support we can but believe playing football cannot be a primary consideration for him at this time."

Rohde said that without football, Jurrah - from Yuendumu, 300km northwest of Alice Springs - could find life tough.

"In December he was with us for a few weeks and we spent a lot of time working with him," Rohde explained.

"We knew he had a lot of issues going on with his life but while he was with us we thought he was getting back on a decent keel and might settle down a bit.

"But our concern always was that if he wasn't in a footy program and didn't have good people around him his life could become embroiled in turmoil, which is the way things look at the moment."

On Australia Day, Jurrah was part of a group in which one person was arrested during celebrations at Elder Park but he was not charged with any offences.

Jurrah is also listed to stand trial in Alice Springs next month on serious assault charges stemming from an incident involving feuding families at the Yuendumu community in March last year.

Prosecutors allege Jurrah used weapons to strike his cousin Basil in the head with a machete and to assault another woman in the fight.

Jurrah's lawyer has previously claimed the footballer was the victim of "tall poppy syndrome" and that his client would fight and be acquitted of the charges.

Jurrah, who is an initiated member of the Walpiri people, became the first Aboriginal player from a remote central Australian community to play AFL, when he made his debut for the Demons in 2009.

He played 36 games for Melbourne and was awarded the Mark of the Year in 2010 for a spectacular leap against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

When arrested by police, Jurrah will be brought to the Elizabeth court to face the latest charges and will be forced to make an application for release on bail.

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Crows plan closed doors scratch match

Adelaide Crows football list manager David Noble says there is nothing sinister in the club's decision. Picture: Ray Titus Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE will hold its major internal trial at AAMI Stadium on Friday - but fans will be kept in the dark.

 In a move which will upset some supporters, the Crows will play behind closed doors as they fine-tune their 2013 game style and experiment with some positional moves.

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In contrast, hometown rival Port Adelaide will open its internal trial up to its fans, incorporating its 5.30pm trial game on Friday with its annual family day.

List manager David Noble defended Adelaide's the decision to lock fans and the media out.

Crows want Buddy

"There's nothing sinister to it, we just want to work on a few things away from prying eyes,'' Noble said.

The match is expected to be held at about 10.30am.

The Crows have plenty of competition for spots, with only bulldozing forward Jared Petrenko on their long term injury list.

However he is recovering faster than expected from end-of-season shoulder surgery and is likely to be fit for the start of the AFL premiership season.

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Suns play down stoush

Shane Crawford channels his inner Liam Neeson when he discovers Gary Ablett is 'taken' and tries to organise a swap with one of his mates

Campbell Brown and Maverick Weller were involved in a training stoush today. Source: The Courier-Mail

THE NAB Cup can't come soon enough for the Gold Coast Suns with tensions today spilling over into a training stoush between Campbell Brown and Maverick Weller.

No punches were thrown but the pair had to be separated several times by senior players Karmichael Hunt and Jarrod Harbrow during a running verbal battle that lasted for a couple of minutes.

It came close to re-erupting as the players walked from the field for a drinks break when Brown, reacting to something Weller said, spun around and attempted to force his way through several team mates to get to the young defender.

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The veteran hardman predictably played down the incident at the completion of training saying it was evidence the young side were sticking to their pre-season commitment to demand higher standards from each other and to communicate better.

"There was nothing in it, there are certainly no hard feelings,'' Brown said.

"It may not have looked ideal but there was a bit of feedback given and the point was certainly made.''

The Suns are itching for the start of the pre-season competition and the opportunity it provides to carry on the momentum built at the tail end of last season.

The tournament is particularly important for Brown who is suspended for the first six weeks of the premiership season.

He said he had never been a fan of the pre-season tournament, preferring to ease his way into a season, but this year he would be treating the games like premiership matches to give the coaching group a reminder of what he can offer the side.

"I got myself into this predicament and I'm going to fight my way out of it,'' he said.

The Suns have almost a full squad of fit players and positions for Rd 1 will be hotly contested during the NAB Cup.

The club's biggest concern is the continued absence of vice-captain Nathan Bock from full training.

Bock, who missed the majority of last season with a broken leg, is still limping and looks to be extremely doubtful to be fit for the start of the premiership competition.

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Seven Tigers set for debut

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has chosen a new-look side, including prized draftee Nick Vlastuin. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images

RICHMOND has selected a new-look side filled with recycled talent and exciting teenagers to face the Indigenous All-Stars on Friday night.

Tiger fans will get their first look at forwards Chris Knights (Adelaide), Aaron Edwards (North Melbourne) and rookie-listed ruckman Orren Stephenson (Geelong) in the Alice Springs clash.

Prized draftee Nick Vlastuin, last year's No. 9 pick, has also been selected in the 30-man squad.

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Vlastuin, 18, made an immediate impact at Punt Rd with the competitive beast poised for an early-season debut, most likely on a half-back flank.

Defender Steve Morris recently praised Morris's attitude and said Tiger fans would quickly fall in love with the Brad Sewell type.

Draftees Matthew McDonough, Kamdyn McIntosh and Cadeyn Williams have also been picked.

Knights, 26, crossed to the Tigers as a free agent, while Edwards was acquired in the trade period.

Star midfielder Trent Cotchin will make his debut as captain against the Lance Franklin-led All-Stars.

The match will be played at Traegar Park at 8.30pm AEDT and will be aired on television network NTIV.

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Maxwell set to lead Pies again

Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD is expected to announce this morning that Nick Maxwell will continue as captain for the fifth straight season.

Former Pies' premiership captain Tony Shaw had voiced his support for Scott Pendlebury's leadership claims, but the star onballer is tipped to remain vice-captain.

It will also be the fifth season Pendlebury, 25, has held the position.

Onballer Luke Ball is also set to play a key role in the leadership group this season.

Heath Shaw, Travis Cloke, Dale Thomas and Harry O'Brien rounded out the group last year.

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Cloke is Lynch's No.1 fan

Collingwood recruit Quinten Lynch works up a sweat in pre-season training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

TRAVIS Cloke has lots to be excited about.

With last year's contract circus behind him, the Collingwood spearhead will enter 2013 with a clear mind and niggle-free.

But there's something else that is giving the Magpies' chief goalkicker plenty to smile about as the club stepped up its pre-season with a solid one-hour match simulation session yesterday.

The man who replaced Chris Dawes as Cloke's new key forward partner, Quinten Lynch, has been one of the standouts of Collingwood's summer.

While the 30-year-old may not have attracted as much pre-season hype as some of the other club's big-name recruits, the West Coast premiership forward's physical game style is set to bring an imposing and versatile edge to the Pies' forward setup.

Cloke, who ranked No.1 in the AFL for contested marks last season, yesterday warmly welcomed the aerial support Lynch is poised to provide.

"He's going to help us out and and obviously 'Jolls' (Darren Jolly) and 'Huddo' (Ben Hudson) in the ruck, so he's a massive plus for the team and also myself," Cloke said.

"I'm looking forward to working with him. He's an amazing (physical) specimen and he's a very big man and he can run all day, so it's great.

"I got to know him quite well the last couple of months, he's a fantastic man and a lovely family man."

Adding to their Magpies' delight, fellow free agent Clinton Young, from Hawthorn, joined in on the match simulation after spending much of the summer carefully managing his recovery from foot surgery.

Jordan Russell and Ben Hudson also impressed in the full-ground workout at Victoria Park, adding vital playing depth to the club's premiership tilt.

Picture gallery: Collingwood family day

After booting 33 goals mainly playing deep forward for West Coast last year, Lynch yesterday said he was relishing the move to the Westpac Centre.

" I just feel there's a hunger in this group at the moment to succeed and it's really exciting for me," Lynch said.

"I've obviously come in as a tall forward to help Clokey out up there and that's exciting and no doubt I'll have a little bit of a run through the ruck if needed, so there are two good roles there," he said.

"These boys made the prelim final last year and hopefully I've come over here and we can go one better."

Cloke, who kicked 59 goals last year, downplayed the distraction caused by his contract saga, which looms for Hawthorn and its superstar Lance Franklin this season.

"I spoke to Bucks and said earlier in the year: 'Mate, this is what I want to do and he knew the whole way along what was happening'," Cloke said yesterday.

"And I had faith in him and he had faith in me, so we knew what was happening, it was just a matter of getting pen to paper."

These boys made the prelim final last year and hopefully I've come over here and we can go one better.

Midfield dynamos Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan continued their impressive build-up to the season yesterday as Dale Thomas and Dayne Beams watched the match practice from the sidelines.

Beams, whose enjoyed a career-best year last season winning his first Copeland Trophy, said he had overcome a few niggles in the pre-season.

"(I've had) a couple of little hiccups along the way, but it has probably been one of my better pre-seasons," Beams said.

Luke Ball and Lachy Keeffe continue to make solid progress in their comeback from knee reconstructions, training away from the main group yesterday.

Andrew Krakouer, who had a quick-fix type of knee surgery to repair his ruptured ACL, also looked in excellent touch with a bag of goals deep forward.

Summer Barometer: Magpies injury, training latest

Hoping for a better run of injury luck in 2013, coach Nathan Buckley is expecting more welcome headaches picking the Pies' best 22 this season.

"The great thing we have got is we have competition for spots, so we'll spend the next two or thee weeks in practice matches and through the early part of the NAB Cup working out who is going to be putting their hand up to play senior footy early in the first couple of rounds," Buckley said.

"We've probably got 30-35 blokes that we're trying to squeeze into 22.

"You will be rewarded in selection for your efforts."

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Country rookies in high demand

TALL TIMBER: Young giants Darcy Cameron (of Albany) and Scott Jones (from Busselton) have their eye on an AFL future. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

WA will provide the two tallest players in this year's national draft pool, with towering ruck pair Scott Jones and Darcy Cameron capturing plenty of attention at yesterday's inaugural WA Talent Day.

The duo, who are both 17 and stand at 203cm, are set to form a powerful ruck combination in this year's under-18 championship and are predicted to be hot property come November.

State Academy manager Raff Guadagnino said it was rare to have teenagers of that size with clean hands and high overall skills.

"They are definitely the best ruckmen the WAFL has produced at an under-18s level since Nic Naitanui," he said.

"They possess intelligence, quality hand-eye coordination and are mentally-tough athletes."

Jones, from Busselton, said he had always embraced his height.

"I love being tall, it's who I am, and I love ruckwork," he said.

"I'm making the move up to Perth to get my footy career up and going and have a big year with East Perth and with the state 18s again, so hopefully if that goes well I'll get drafted at the end of the year."

Albany product Cameron also has his sights set on an AFL career.

"I'd love to get there and I'll work real hard for it," he said.

"I was always fairly tall but then I had a bit of a growth spurt in Year 9 and got a lot bigger and I've been playing ruck since then."

The best 50 prospects from around the state completed combine testing and interviews with recruiters from 16 AFL clubs yesterday.

They also played a north v south of the river match at Arena Joondalup in front of scouts.

The first WA Talent Day came after criticism of the state's development system last year.

"It ensures that we're the first in the nation to promote our under-18s players to the AFL clubs, but more importantly ensure that they get a good quality education throughout the day," Guadagnino said.

"We want to be at the cutting edge and this is part of making sure that our players are better developed going into 2013."

AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said it was too early to make judgments regarding the depth of this year's crop of potential draftees from WA.

"Kids change so much over a period of three or four months: they change athletically and get bigger," he said.

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Sharrod denies Buddy pact

Lance Franklin tells Hawthorn he will not discuss a new deal until the end of the year, sparking fears at the Hawks that he may walk.

New Eagle Sharrod Wellingham believes Lance Franklin will remain a Hawk despite putting off contract talks. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

LANCE Franklin's good mate Sharrod Wellingham believes the Hawthorn champion will remain a one-club player, despite stunning the Hawks by putting off contract negotiations to the end of the season.

Hawthorn had been confident of securing Franklin's signature before Round 1 in an effort to avoid a drawn-out Travis Cloke-style saga providing a distraction.

Fremantle and West Coast management refused to comment yesterday, and the WA clubs are set to publicly pour cold water on Franklin talk throughout the season.

The Dockers and Eagles will be buoyed by the twist and are likely to ask privately what it would take to bring the competition's biggest name back home.

Wellingham, Franklin's former housemate, denied the pair had planned to play for the Eagles together from 2014 and said he did not know why Franklin, 26, had walked away from contract talks with Hawthorn.

"I've sensed that he would like to finish his career at Hawthorn," Wellingham said.

"We'll find out at the end of the year.

"He'll make the decision in due time.

"I'm not sure why he's done that.

Summer Barometer: See how the Eagles are tracking this pre-season

"It's probably similar to all the stuff we went through last year over at Collingwood with Travis - put it at the back of his mind and worry about footy through the year.

"It's just going to be one of those merry-go-rounds throughout the year, I suppose.

"I haven't been in his ear yet (about coming to West Coast). I'll have a whisper in his ear, but I'm not sure how far it'll go."

Wellingham and Franklin will play together for the first time when they run out for the Indigenous All-Stars in Alice Springs on Friday.

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Hamstring scare for Judd

Chris Judd is experiencing some tightness in a hamstring. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON will take a "super cautious" approach with champion Chris Judd after a tight right hamstring forced him off the training track on Friday.

The setback reinforced Carlton's decision to rest its former skipper from an intraclub practice match on Wednesday, although they hope Judd will be ready to play in Round 1 of the NAB Cup in Sydney in three weeks.

"It was just some tightness in his right hammy and he felt it coming on so he decided to come off the track," Carlton's general manager of football Andrew McKay said on Sunday.

"The medicos think he'll be fine, we're just going to be super cautious. We'll see how he pulls up. If it doesn't free up in the next couple of days we'll send him off for a scan."

McKay said Judd would be one of several senior players rested from match simulation on Wednesday, the same day the Blues plan to reveal their new clash jumper.

Carlton's opening NAB Cup involvement is a twilight engagement with the Swans and the Giants at Blacktown on February 24.

Meanwhile, Blues ruckman Matthew Kreuzer believes he has learned to listen to his body, and hopes to have put three injury-interrupted seasons behind him.

Knee, hip, foot and muscle injuries have limited Kreuzer to 45 games since 2005, and have at times reduced his effectiveness.

"You don't want to miss a game if you can, so you've just got to cope with it and find ways around it," he told the club website.

"Some weeks you do this and other weeks you do that, and you work out what works best for you. I learnt a lot about how I've got to manage my body, so I'll take a lot of things from last year and put them in place this year.

"It was a tough year but I took a lot out of it. And it was like that for the whole club because we had a lot of injuries and had to play a few players out of position."

Kreuzer, 23, conceded that injury niggles meant he "wasn't the greatest kick" last season, but hopes that will have been addressed by off-season surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee.

"Last year it was just hard to find time to work on it because I was on a tight schedule as to how much (training) I could do during the week," he said.

"Hopefully this year I wont have any of those problems and I can do every session. If that's what happens, I think my kicking will definitely improve, and everything else will too."
 

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