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Tex can be as good as Buddy: Danger

Written By Unknown on Senin, 28 Januari 2013 | 14.57

Crows forward Taylor Walker wraps his hands around the ball at a Crows training session at Max Basheer Reserve. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

Star Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield says man mountain Taylor Walker is a ``force to be reckoned with'' who is ready to challenge Hawthorn's Buddy Franklin as the AFL's premier key forward.

Dangerfield says the club quickly moved on from the defection of Kurt Tippett, who controversially joined premiers Sydney in the off-season, and were ready to centre their attack on a bulked-up, mullet-sporting Walker.

And while Tippett kicked 39 goals for the Crows last season, Walker booted 63 and trailed just Franklin, Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich and Richmond's Jack Riewoldt for the Coleman Medal.

And Dangerfield says he's ready to rival the AFL's best in 2013 and doesn't deserve to have his rise compared to filling the breach left by Tippett.

"I don't know about fill the boots of Tippett - Tex (Walker) is his own man,'' Dangerfield told AAP.

"He kicks a goal just about better than anyone in the competition.

"I think he'll be a force to be reckoned with up forward for us.

"On his day, Buddy Franklin's very good, but I think Taylor Walker has the potential to be just as good a forward as him.

"He's an exciting prospect for us.''

Without Tippett drawing key defenders in 2013, Dangerfield knows Walker will have a tougher time fighting for possession - but says his imposing 192cm, 105kg frame will be ready for the challenge.

"He was already pretty big. It was hard to increase his size,'' Dangerfield said.

"He's a power forward. He's 105 kilos.

"I think the challenge for him and the challenge for many young players like myself is to continue to build the consistency, and that's what he'll be setting himself for this year.

"We're hoping that he takes the next step. He knows he'll have the number one key defender every week this year.

"He's looking forward to that challenge along with our other key forwards. I think we've got a pretty potent forward line.''

Tippett's extraordinary departure from Adelaide left a bad taste in the mouths of Crows players at the time, with
Dangerfield insisting the club wanted to build around players 'who want to be part of our footy club'.

"He made the decision to leave and that's fine. We understand that,'' he said.

"Once Kurt decided to leave, we have to move on with players who want to be around the footy club.

"And that's the players that are on our list.

"We've got a really exciting group of players at the moment and I think we can play some really impressive football this year.''

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Blues reprimand Robinson

Carlton forward Mitch Robinson has been caught on footage in a scuffle at the Big Day Out in Flemington.

Mitch Robinson shown in a scuffle at the Big Day Out. Source: Herald Sun

Mitch Robinson held back from someone else in the crowd at the Big Day Out. Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON will force Mitch Robinson to perform community work following an ugly incident at Big Day Out.

Video footage taken by a bystander shows Robinson land a left-hand blow to the other man before he is struck hard to the side of the head as he appears to bend over to pick up an item on the ground.

They then wrestle each other to the ground as others come in to remonstrate and also separate them, including a woman.

Carlton football operations boss Andrew McKay said Robinson should not have put himself in a position to be involved in such an incident.

"This type of behaviour, no matter what the circumstance, is not acceptable or in line with Club policy," McKay said in a statement released today.

"Mitch is extremely remorseful and has accepted the Club's sanction."

Robinson will complete two months of community service with the Salvation Army, working with the homeless and under-privileged in Melbourne's CBD.

He will also make a $1,000 donation to the Salvation Army.

Robinson left the Australia Day music festival off his own accord after the fracas, which ignited when the Blues midfielder tried to prevent his friend's "anti-social behaviour".

Both men have torn singlets when the footage begins, indicating the vision starts well after the fight began, but gets out of control after Robinson is struck while he is not paying attention.

The cowardly blow ignites the fight as a jeer can be heard from the crowd as two other men jump in to the fray as Robinson tries to escape a headlock.

One onlooker can be heard shouting ''That'll be six weeks Robinson'' after he throws the left hook.

Although witnesses who contacted the Herald Sun say they do not know why the fight erupted, they say up to eight men were involved in the melee before it was brought to an end.

One witness said Robinson was ''fuming'' after being ''targeted'' by a group looking for trouble.

''He was fuming, very angry, and was not going to walk away,'' the man said.

''It took his mates to get him to stop.''

But other witnesses were not positive Robinson and the other men were strangers.

The incident occurred after American band The Killers had finished their performance about 8pm.

Dayle, who said the fight started behind him near the Cruiser tent, said Robinson had ''plenty of opportunity to walk away''.

He said it appeared it may have been a fight between Robinson and someone else in his group.

''By the looks of it you would have thought it's been something in their internal group,'' he said.

''They were all pretty big and going at it. I didn't realise it was him (Robinson). He looked like he had plenty of opportunity to walk away from it.''

Carlton Football Club confirmed on Saturday night it was investigating the fight after pictures emerged of the 23-year-old on Twitter being held back by others in the crowd.

No report has been lodged with police and it is not believed anyone was injured.

Robinson, recruited from Tasmania, has played 67 games with the Blues.

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Mick in control of NAB Cup

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse will steer his side in the NAB Cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MICK Malthouse will look to make an immediate impression on Carlton players by taking charge of all of the Blues' NAB Cup matches.

In the second half of his time as coach of Collingwood, Malthouse allowed his assistant coaches to take charge on match day during the pre-season series.

But Carlton football operations manager Andrew McKay confirmed that Malthouse wanted to ensure his message was clear from the start.

"This is a different situation (as to when he was at Collingwood)," McKay said.

Summer Barometer: See how the Blues are shaping up

"I think his assistants are going to do the internal trial games (this year), and Mick will be doing the NAB Cup.

"He wants to make sure the messages are the way he wants them to be delivered and wants to make sure the players understand that.

Coach Mick Malthouse lays down the law at Carlton training yesterday. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun

"The internal games are different. He needs to be looking at both teams in those games, so it makes sense for the assistant coaches to coach in them."

McKay said Malthouse's approach had made an impact on the players ahead of NAB Cup games against Sydney and Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown on February 24. "Mick is a positive person and that has rubbed off on the players," he said.

McKay said the Blues were better placed in terms of fitness compared to last year.

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Kennett urges strike action

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the AFL must change its drugs policy. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the AFL must change its illicit drugs policy to avoid a tragedy.

Labelling the system "grossly unfair", the beyondblue chairman said the three-strikes policy was flawed and clubs should be informed earlier.

"I don't believe the three-strike rule is appropriate, nor do I think it is fair to the players, or to their families or to their clubs," Kennett said yesterday.

"I hope that if (AFL boss) Andrew (Demetriou) is serious, just as initially they wouldn't move on concussion, they will recognise that if they are serious about drugs, then they have got to involve the clubs earlier than currently occurs.

"Three strikes and you're out - that is grossly unfair and it could lead to a situation where maybe you end up with a death."

Earlier notice wanted on drugs

AFL leaders meet for a historic drugs summit at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Club chiefs are expected to push for earlier notification of a player's positive drugs strike, with some support from clubs for the three-strikes policy to be stripped back to two.

Former Hawthorn midfielder Travis Tuck is the only player to record three strikes under the AFL illicit drugs policy - in 2010.

Kennett said clubs must be alerted earlier so they could support the player back to a "condition of good behaviour".

"At the moment, a player gets suspended after three strikes without there necessarily being any outside assistance given to him," Kennett said.

"Often it's assistance given by club doctors, but not with the club's knowledge. But often a player needs more than that.

Summit to scrutinise Mad Monday

"You have got to look at who else in the club might be their friends, might be influenced by that player's behaviour, might be supplying that player with drugs. That can't be done by a doctor."

Kennett said a move to two strikes should be the first step.

"There are many who say it should be one strike and you are gone, but I don't think we're going to move to that position overnight," he said.

Demetriou said tackling mental illness would also be considered at the summit, with 50 per cent of players on a second strike dealing with mental health issues.

Kennett welcomed the move.

"It is something that should be tackled head-on," he said. "The biggest mind alterer in our society is alcohol and then there are drugs and then there is depression and often you don't know where people enter the cycle."

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Primus adds grunt to Suns' rucks

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 27 Januari 2013 | 14.57

Gold Coast Suns ruck coach Matt Primus with senior coach Guy McKenna. Picture: David Clark. Source: The Courier-Mail

MATTHEW Primus has two key tasks at the Suns bring some mellow to the coaches box and mongrel to the football side.

For the Gold Coast AFL side to make ground in 2013, they need to improve their clearance work.

Primus' focus over summer has been injecting aggression into young ruckmen Zac Smith and Daniel Gorringe.

The fact that Primus was a senior coach at Port and an imposing ruckman in his playing days made him a key off-field signing for the Suns, to replace the cool head of assistant coach Ken Hinkley, who took Primus' old job at Alberton.

"He ticks all our boxes," coach Guy McKenna said. "To be competitive in the ruck you need an aggressive streak in you. Clearly Charlie Dixon is that way inclined, Zac and the other boys need to understand that.

"Part of that is being shown that and educated how. Matty, because that is the way he lived as a footballer, it should be easier for him to coach that."

Smith has acknowledged the impact Primus has already had.

"He's been unreal, he's helped me hopefully take it to that next level," he said.

"One of the things I need to work on is my aggression.ntsD He's hopefully going to give me some of thatnte."

The addition of Primus, and Malcolm Blight on a part-time basis, to the coaching ranks will also allow McKenna to continue to operate from the boundary line on game day.

The third-year coach believes his side would continue to benefit from the instant feedback he can provide from the dug-out.

"He (Primus) as been in the cut and thrust of it, he adds a lot of experience for us and to have him up there, you are certainly a lot more at ease,'' McKenna said.

"We still have two-thirds of our group who are first to third-year players, they still need a fair bit of coaching, so to have things taken care of upstairs allows me to do that from the sidelines."

Primus believes Smith and Gorringe have the makings of a first-class pairing and that questions over Smith's hardness are unwarranted.

"Zac's first year, most people were pretty impressed with how he went about his footy and he certainly hasn't lost that ability," he said.

"He might have had an average year last year but a lot of young players have ups and downs.

"He is aggressive by the way he jumps in and creates a contest, Charlie just has a bit more aggression when the ball hits the ground. They all have aggression in different waysntsD but I think they have a lot of talentnte."

Primus has enjoyed mixed fortunes as a player and coach. A two-time All-Australian and club captain at Port, he missed the 2004 premiership with a knee injury that ended his career prematurely.

His coaching career began well in 2010 when he won five games from seven after taking over as caretaker when premiership coach Mark Williams quit the post.

But 2011 and 2012 were a slog and he stood down with four matches to go last season after being told his contract would not be renewed. Primus said taking a back seat required adjustment but he is motivated by the enthusiasm at the Suns.

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Power caught with pants down

Port Adelaide veteran Kane Cornes, centre, with teammates during a pre-season beach session. Picture: Campbell Brodie Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

NO, this is not the latest commercial for the summer range of Bonds undies.

But Michael Clarke and Pat Rafter might be looking over their shoulders as company front men if yesterday's Port Adelaide session at Grange is any guide.

While most of the nation was packing Eskys and defrosting lamb legs for Australia Day celebrations, the Power were slugging it out during a morning beach recovery session.

Thirty-five players from the Power's senior and rookie lists wound down from another hard week on the track under new coach Ken Hinkley with a 15-minute run, stretch and 15-minute return run at Grange beach about 8am.

The group finished the session with a quick dip - a welcome but unplanned one, likely, considering the lack of board shorts on show.

Port Adelaide's Brad Ebert during a beach session at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie

Among the players getting into the Bondi spirit were Danny Butcher, far left, a former TAC Cup Morrish Medallist and younger brother of Port forward John.

Last year's WAFL best and fairest and fellow Port rookie Kane Mitchell, middle, and key midfielder Brad Ebert also channelled their inner David Hasselhoff.

The countdown to Port's and Adelaide's three-way NAB Cup clash with St Kilda, on February 17, hits three weeks today.

New Port Adelaide recruit Kane Mitchell during a pre-season training session at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie

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No Nic, no calamity for Eagles

READY: Ruckman Dean Cox says the Eagles are well-equipped to deal with the likely absence of Nic Naitanui at the start of the season. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper. Source: PerthNow

CHAMPION West Coast big man Dean Cox has assured fans the Eagles are well placed to cope without Nic Naitanui if his All-Australian ruck partner misses the start of the season because of injury.

Bookmakers have West Coast on the second line of betting for this year's flag, behind Hawthorn and ahead of reigning premier Sydney, but there is a view the Eagles' chances hinge on Naitanui's recovery.

While Naitanui has done little more than walk laps and complete handball drills after groin surgery, Cox has quietly powered through one of his strongest summers on the track.

Entering his 13th season in the AFL, Cox said he was capable of rucking for 100 minutes a game if Naitanui was not available early in the season.

But the 251-game veteran said he was so impressed with understudy Scott Lycett's improvement this summer that the team could continue with the unique 50-50 ruck sharing strategy that has been so effective with Naitanui in recent seasons.

Cox also said he would like to continue spending plenty of time forward after kicking a career best 28.14 last year.

"Even if it was me and Scotty, I think we'd continue to do the same thing," he said.

"The biggest thing I took out of my season last year was probably my work when I went up forward, and Nic as well, and we each had a lot of shots on goal."

Cox said the players were confident 20-year-old Lycett, who has played just three times in his first two seasons, was ready to step up.

"He's come on in leaps and bounds," he said.

"Just his soft hands, his control with the footy and his body positioning in ruck contests.

"I think he's getting a little bit more mature and starting to really understand how to position himself to try and control the stoppage.

"It's been really good to push each other all the way through the pre-season and try and learn from each other as well.

"I'd certainly love Nic to be fully fit and playing all the time. The player that he is and what he brings to the club is so important.

"But what you find out when players step up and fill the void is they really blossom and certainly if Nic isn't ready, Scotty will do that."

Rookie-listed ruckman/forward Callum Sinclair is also likely to receive opportunities during the NAB Cup, though Lycett is the frontrunner to partner Cox given his two years in the club's system.

Cox predicted the loss of Quinten Lynch, who was able to do some part-time ruck work, would mean the Eagles would have to select two genuine ruck options in every game.

None of West Coast's key position players have had experience as a relief ruckman, following Lynch's move to Collingwood as a free agent.