No risks with Brown and Black

Jonathan Brown made a brief appearance at training this morning. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

Daniel Merrett shows the pain of pre-season training. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

LIONS coach Michael Voss has pulled the reins on Jonathan Brown and Simon Black, sparing the club champions from the toughest block of pre-season training.

Brown made a brief appearance at the teams first session of the summer campaign, a day after the birth of his second child Jack, a little brother to Olivia.

The skipper spoke with Voss, completed same handball drills then left to visit wife Kylie.

Black did not take part in the 2km time trial but ran for most of the session and will leave with half the group on Wednesday for a training camp in Arizona.

Brown will stay in Brisbane to be with his family and to ensure he gas fully recovered from a last months bike accident.

Simon Black training today at Giffin Park. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

"We have to be mindful that was a pretty big bang up," Voss said.

"We'll be taking a low key approach with (Black and Brown) towards Christmas.

"The thing we've learnt with them both is they come to hand pretty quick."

Youngster Jack Crisp won the time trial, just ahead of Joel Patfull .

The Lions will take only half their list - players with at least four years senior experience - to the US.

The Lions in training this morning. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

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Stiller invited to Dees summer

Cheynee Stiller will train at the Dees. Picture: Anthony Reginato Source: The Daily Telegraph

DELISTED Brisbane Lion Cheynee Stiller will be given the chance to impress Melbourne coach Mark Neeld and win a surprise AFL lifeline after being given permission to train with the Dees in the lead up to the drafts.

Stiller, 26, was cut by Lions coach Michael Voss last month after mustering just three senior appearances this season.

His best was against the Dees in Round 1, collecting 19 touches and laying four tackles.

Stiller maintained a strong form line in the reserves and played a starring role as the Lions crushed Quenbeyan to claim this year's NEAFL premiership.

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Stiller played 100 games at the Lions and would add another layer to Neeld's facelift of Melbourne's playing list, which has seen the Dees turnover 14 players and bring in mature-bodies Shannon Byrnes, David Rodan, Chris Dawes and Cam Pedersen.

Delisted Blue Andy Collins will continue to train at the club under new coach Mick Malthouse in a bid to keep his career alive.

St Kilda's strengthened relationship with VFL affiliate Sandringham will see four AFL hopefuls from the Zebras train at the Saints, headed by former West Coast midfielder Adam Cockie.

Essendon has scoured the land in a bid to find its next AFL surprise packet, inviting Tom Fields (Labrador) and Nick Kommer (East Perth) to Windy Hill for the start of pre-season.

FULL AFL PERMISSION TO TRAIN LIST:

Carlton: Andrew Collins (Carlton)

Essendon: Tom Fields (Labrador), Nick Kommer (East Perth)

Pick Me: The next Bombers' superstar

Melbourne: Cheynee Stiller (Brisbane Lions)

North Melbourne: Ben Speight (North Melbourne)

St Kilda: Adam Cockie (Sandringham), Michael Sikora (Sandringham), Chris Michaelides (Sandringham), Jackson Coleman (Sandringham)

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Mick wants Blues to help Judd

Coach Michael Malthouse taking his first training session with the team Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

MICHAEL Malthouse used his first day at work as Carlton coach to reinforce his team rules to the players - clearly based around his ''mantra of defence'' - and declared that other players had to lift and relieve the leadership burden on captain Chris Judd.

The three-time premiership coach met the playing and coaching group at Visy Park at 8am this morning, then spoke to the team for 20 minutes on the field after an open training session in the afternoon.

He said the latter address was ''all team stuff. All rules and regulations that I entrust to the players when they're on the ground.''

Green excited to turn Blue

Asked what his approach would be to coaching the Blues, Malthouse said: ''I still think to this day the best defensive side has the best chance to win premierships. So it'll be based on and around that, and I think the playing group will grab it and run with it.''

He said a decision on the 2013 captaincy would depend on Judd wanting the role and the playing group choosing him, but drew parallels to how heavily Collingwood relied on skipper Nathan Buckley when he arrived at Victoria Park in 2000.

''I don't think there's any one team has gone too far relying on one player. .. from a distance I thought that everything was rolled into a Nathan Buckley at Collingwood. To relieve the pressure on him he needed to see other people stand up around him. And I see the same when I see Chris Judd.''

Carlton training at princess park, Coach Michael Malthouse taking his first training session with the team, Having a laugh with Mitch Robinson Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Midfielder Andrew Carrazzo said it was a ''misconception'' that the group relied too heavily on on Judd .

''Juddy does have a strong influence on the group and so do some of the other leaders,'' Carrazzo said.

"But there's not doubt that if we're going to go forward some of that responsibility's got to be shared among the other guys.''

Malthouse said he was interested to discover who wanted to take on leadership roles and looked forward to learning more about the playing group now that he was inside the club.

He wanted to give Blues players a chance to prove themselves before drastically changing the list. Among the changes he did expect to make, though, was for Bryce Gibbs to improve his game and spend more time in the midfield.

''I'd like to think he's going to be playing in the middle .. he certainly has to come up that next level,'' said Malthouse, adding that he expected Gibbs to play 8-10 minutes a quarter in the midfield.

The Blues 2-4 year players started training last week, but today was the first training session involving the full list.

Carlton will head off on Friday for a two week training camp in Arizona. Malthouse said it would not be ''commando-style floggings'', rather a chance to reinforce his philosophies and get to know the players better.

He said that at this early stage the only player expected to be unavailable in Round 1 was defender Andrew McInnes.

Malthouse's coaching panel was finalised yesterday when former Melbourne skipper Brad Green was appointed midfield development coach.
 

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Crows to look for older talent

David Noble says the Crows are on the search for mature-age talent. Picture: Ray Titus Source: Herald Sun

ADELAIDE has begun scouring the nation for mature-age talent as it prepares to lose early selections in this month's national draft.

As the Crows brace themselves to be penalised for the Kurt Tippett saga, their recruiting team has shifted focus significantly ahead of November 22.

"Depending on what happens with the AFL findings, we thought let's go back in an open spectrum again through all of our state league scouts,'' Adelaide list manager David Noble said.

"Let's look at what all of our options are with all those players who are currently in state leagues, ex-AFL players who continue to fit our brief in terms of our needs. We're exploring all options that we've got with our list.''

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While the candidates the Crows are looking at are unlikely to be of Ian Callinan's vintage - the Central District star was 28 when selected in the 2010 rookie draft - players in their early 20s will be strongly considered.

"(We need) to explore all those avenues again, to go back and rethink about someone you may have looked over because you were essentially going to draft a younger person,'' Noble said.

"So it's someone who might be in their mid-20s, or early 20s, who has missed that opportunity (at AFL level).

"We've got to go back and do our due diligence on all of that now to make sure we've got the right aspects to cover our needs.''

Seasoned performers in the SANFL, WAFL and VFL will be at the top of the Crows' list, with St Kilda already showing the benefits of plucking mature-age talent.

The Saints snared Beau Wilkes (26) from the WAFL, Terry Milera (24) from the SANFL and Ahmed Saad (23) from the VFL this time last year.

All three showed promising signs while playing in the AFL in 2012.

And the Saints continued along this theme last month, claiming 21-year-old Claremont forward Tom Lee in a trade deal with Greater Western Sydney.

"This was a breakout year for Tom where he developed into a dominant forward in the WAFL competition,'' St Kilda coach Scott Watters said.

"He was also a key contributor in Claremont's premiership side.

"Talented, mobile forwards are hard to come by, so he is a great acquisition to our team.''

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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."

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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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Mighty Joe a steal for the Dons

Bombers coach James Hird is licking his lips at the prospect of the 201cm father-son selection dominating in the ruck and full-forward for the next decade. Watch exclusive footage and analysis of him ahead of the AFL draft.

Joe Daniher, who was drafted to Essendon under the father-son rule, with his happy parents Anthony and Joanne. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

JOE Daniher sprinted towards the half-forward flank. As he reached top speed, he gathered the ball, swung on to his trusty left boot and slotted the goal.

All from outside 50m and hemmed in on the boundary.

The magical Round 8 moment remains Calder Cannons coach Marty Allison's favourite when discussing Essendon's father-son pick.

"It was just ... yeah. I had to pick my jaw up off the ground," Allison said.

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

Vic Metro coach Rohan Welsh had a similar reaction as Daniher slotted 6.4 against Western Australia at Etihad Stadium this year.

Daniher has played 10 games in the past two years, sitting out 2011 with growth plate issues, but it's these glimpses that have Bomber insiders salivating.

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A rival recruiter confirmed Daniher "had all the tools" to be a No.1 pick, if he hadn't been tied to the Dons.

Cannons talent manager Ian Kyte went a step further, declaring Daniher could finish as the TAC Cup's best product yet.

"I saw (Chris Judd, Trent Cotchin and Tom Scully) come through and Joey could finish up as good a player, a different sort, but at that level," Kyte said.

"He marks at the highest point, and with long arms and at a jump, he's taking it at 3 1/2 to 4m. If he can continue to do that on the lead, he'll be hard to beat.

AFL Under 18 Championships at Etihad Stadium. Joe Daniher shoots for goal. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

"With that leap he could be like Dean Cox, going in and out of the forward line and changing with the ruck. The potential is unlimited."

Essendon recruiter Adrian Dodoro said last month when Daniher was signed, the club was "extremely blessed" to land the left-footer at pick 10.

It's high praise but comes with a rider.

"The Bombers supporters should be excited, but they need to lower their expectations and not expect him to play straight away," Allison said.

"He's missed a lot of footy and has a lot of development left."

Daniher remains raw and, after brother Darcy's injury curse, will be carefully managed. He also has some areas he needs to improve.

His inaccurate kicking and desire to go the impossible instead of the team option frustrated at times this year.

Daniher completed a 2km time-trial with the Dons yesterday and said he felt at home walking into Windy Hill, greeted by a painting of uncle Terry on the wall.

The 18-year-old is tipped to spend most of next year developing in the VFL under the guise of Hayden Skipworth, the man who trained Daniher before school three times a week last year.

"He put on 8-9kgs on in (2011),'' Skipworth said earlier this year.

"So we worked on weights and also running techniques, which will hopefully help his hamstrings later on in his career.''

The Dons told Daniher two years ago they would draft the talented teenager, who is now teammates with Dustin Fletcher - who made his AFL debut 335 days before Daniher was born.

THE JOE DANIHER FILE

Age: 18
Height: 201cm
Weight: 89kg
From: Calder Cannons:
Position: Full-forward/ruck
Draft range: Pick 10 to Essendon (father-son)
Plays like: Paul Salmon

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Tippett just wants to be a Swan

Despite an AFL investigation in salary cap breeches, Kurt Tippett is still keen on moving to Sydney to kick goals for the Swans. Picture: George Salpigtidis. Source: Herald Sun

KURT Tippett still wants to play for Sydney, despite the Greater Western Sydney push to pluck him from the Swans' grasp.

Yet even the Swans admit it will take something exceptional for the Adelaide forward to find a way to the reigning premiers in the national or pre-season draft.

Sydney has two realistic chances at procuring Tippett at the expense of GWS - the Giants are bluffing and will overlook him, or he puts a large enough price on his head that even Kevin Sheedy is scared off.

Sydney chief executive Andrew Ireland has been in regular contact with Tippett, who has identified the Swans as the only club he wants to play for.

But as Ireland said this week, given Sydney has only pick 23 in the national draft and the final pick in the pre-season draft, challenges lie ahead.

Some Sydney officials believe the club's hopes of drafting him are fast fading.

``We are hopeful. The reality is when you go to the draft and someone you want is in there, you have to hope the circumstances work out well if you are deep in the draft,'' he said.

``One thing we know is we can't control what other clubs do, we can only control our end. We are still hopeful and Kurt is still hopeful of playing for the Swans.''

Israel Folau's sudden rejection of AFL has less relevance to the Tippett deal than their determination to save some salary cap room for their clutch of high draft picks.

Coach Kevin Sheedy believes if the Giants can secure Tippett and fast-track their contention for the premiership it might off-set the salary cap room it takes up given the kids will want to stay.

Sheedy said yesterday Tippett was the prototype of the type of player he wanted to recruit.

``We would be derelict in our duty if we didn't talk to the young man,'' he said.

``We need a ruck/forward who would be handy for us. The Swans are after him, but we need a marquee player like that. Why wouldn't you want to come to our club?''

Tippett is more likely to put himself in the pre-season draft given there are fewer picks, but GWS has the first pick in that draft.

The Giants have five picks ahead of the Suns in the national draft - 1, 2, 3, 12, 13 - so could use any of those if forced to select him through that draft.

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