Buddy not only No.23 in town

Heath Shaw models his No.23 jumper. Source: News Limited

EXPECT to see the No.23 all over Sydney this year.

With Lance Franklin carrying the number at the Swans, it's fair to assume that kids and adults alike will be keen to have 23 on their backs when the season starts.

It's also the jersey to watch across town at the GWS Giants.

Former Collingwood star Heath Shaw will wear the No.23 jersey at the Giants to honour his father and former Magpies captain Ray Shaw.

This will be the first season in 40 years that a Shaw hasn't been involved at Collingwood and it's fitting that Heath, who wore No. 9 at the Magpies, takes the number his dad wore with such distinction.

NEW JUMPER NUMBERS AT YOUR CLUB

"Dad wore (No.23) for his career at Collingwood so I thought it would be pretty fitting to wear that number here and I'm looking forward to it," Shaw said.

"Fresh start, fresh number, fresh state and I'm really looking forward to all these changes coming together for the new year.

"New spot in the locker room, too, which is good. Everything's new."

GWS recruit Heath Shaw Source: News Limited

While Shaw's trade to GWS was unexpected, even to him, it's now in the past as he looks excitedly to a new season. He sees it as a way to relaunch his career in Sydney.

"I was pretty shattered at the start, but it's like being dumped by your ex-girlfriend. You're not going to be going and knocking on her door when you've been dumped. I had a few clubs interested and I chose GWS," he said.

"It helps when your old club doesn't want you any more, though. But coming up here to a new club and new facilities and moving interstate it's been really refreshing for me."

TOP SUPERCOACH PICK AT EVERY CLUB

Shaw has been training with GWS for eight weeks and is enjoying every minute of it. With his promotion to the leadership group, he is confident he can help bring the experience to help the team improve.

"I know I'm a lot older than a lot of these guys and I've got a lot of things I want to tell them," he said.

"I think this group is growing each week and you can see the improvement from when we first started training to now and, personally, I can improve as well by coming up here."

Shaw is embracing his new home at Sydney Olympic Park, having recently moved out of his brother's house (Sydney Swans defender Rhyce Shaw) and into a place with two teammates.

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Dangerfield, Sloane to lead Crows

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PATRICK Dangerfield and Rory Sloane will share the on-field captaincy duties at Adelaide while Nathan van Berlo is sidelined with an achilles injury.

But the Crows announced on Friday van Berlo will remain captain of the club for a fourth season because he is still the "standout leader" in the playing group.

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Crows training at Max Basheer Reserve. Patrick Dangerfield under the watchful eye of Brenton Sanderson. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Limited

"After comprehensive discussions in which we assessed all the options, we were unanimous in our decision that 'VB' is the best leader of our footy club," coach Brenton Sanderson told afc.com.au.

"We'd reached that decision prior to VB getting injured and even after he was injured, we thought he could still do a fantastic job in leading the club off the field. In the best case scenario, hopefully we get him back mid-season anyway.

"Nathan is the standout leader at the moment and the best person to captain our club."

Adelaide announced a seven-man leadership group of van Berlo, Dangerfield, Sloane, Scott Thompson, Sam Jacobs and new faces Richard Douglas and Taylor Walker.

Jason Porplyzia was the only omission from last year's six man group.

Sloane during a training session at Max Basheer Reserve. Picture: Sam Wundke. Source: News Limited

The decision to appoint Dangerfield and Sloane as co-vice captains reflects the growing regard in which Sloane is held at West Lakes.

Dangerfield is the popular pick to replace van Berlo down the track and served as deputy vice captain last season.

But it now looks like a two horse race with best and fairest winner Sloane.

"Patrick and Rory are both developing into outstanding leaders," Sanderson said.

"They've exhibited an enormous amount of great leadership in the two years I've been at the club and they've gone to another level again this summer. We feel they'll do a fantastic job as acting captains, with the assistance of Nathan while he's on the sidelines.

"If there's any silver lining in Nathan's injury, it's that these two 23-year-olds get exposed to on-field captaincy roles, perhaps, a bit earlier than they otherwise would have."

Van Berlo earlier in the year winning the Crows' time trial. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Limited

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Van Berlo injury tough to Swallow

ADELAIDE captain Nathan van Berlo has sought the counsel of North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow as he comes to grips with his ruptured Achilles tendon and begins his fight to play again this season.

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Suns set to back 'Bluey'

Gary Ablett's Suns are eager to taste finals action for the first time in 2014. Picture: Jerad Williams Source: News Limited

SUNS coach Guy McKenna could be handed a contract extension within months as the club gets set to back him in regardless of how the team performs in 2014.

Suns chief executive Travis Auld hinted McKenna would receive an extension on his current contract, which expires at the end of this season.

The backing comes as the Suns get set to face their first year in the AFL spotlight.

Until now the club have escaped scrutiny in their three-year existence in the big league but this year is different.

The Suns are expected to challenge for the top eight in 2014 and anything less will have supporters calling for McKenna's head.

Auld knows how the game works but insists it won't be all McKenna's fault if things don't go to plan this year.

JOSH FRASER TO COACH SUNS' SECONDS

"We are realistic about what our goals are and where we are at as a club and it's not as if one person is responsible for our on-field performance," he said.

"It is at times quite a fickle industry and you go back to year one and we got our midfield wrong and our coaches weren't up to the challenge, according to some commentators in the AFL.

"It was a different view last year and we just need to hold our line on what we believe and not respond to commentary outside the footy club.

"Either way if we have a strong start to the season we need to keep our feet on the ground and if things don't start how we like we need to remain focused on what our longer term goal is."

Discussion about McKenna's long-term future comes after the Suns re-signed him to a new two-year deal in May, 2012 despite the club recording a 0-8 win-loss record at the time.

Auld said showing faith in McKenna was part of the club's key values.

"From day one we talked about stability being one of key planks to building our club," he said.

"That's not just the senior coach and that's the playing group, assistant coaches and even in the administration side of the business and the board.

"We would love to see all our key people stay around for some time."

MCKENNA DENIES FORWARD REST FOR GAZZA

But while he doesn't have any performance-based measures to reach this year, Auld said McKenna will have his own expectations in 2014.

"He will have expectations on how he wants to coach and the team to play and you don't last long in this game unless you've got really high expectations on field," Auld said.

"(But) I don't think there is anything in particular we are asking him to do this year that would determine whether he gets another contract."

As for his three seasons at the helm of the club, Auld has been impressed by McKenna's growth.

"He came to us in 2009 with a lot of experience as an assistant coach but to coach your own team at AFL level, we've been really pleased with his development," he said.

"It was no surprise to see us improve a lot last year and I think it's a combination of not just the players but the overall coaching group improving."

Auld said a contract extension for McKenna would need to be ratified by the Suns board.

Suns chairman John Witheriff did not return calls yesterday.

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No guarantees in Bombers case

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Saints' woes are set to go

James Gwilt is recovering from a knee injury. Source: News Limited

NEW St Kilda coach Alan Richardson is hopeful of a full list for the NAB Challenge despite a dozen players battling injury complaints in recent months.

Richardson is confident the Saints' injury list is rapidly shrinking, as the likes of James Gwilt (knee), Rhys Stanley (hip/shoulder), Dylan Roberton (ankle) and top draft pick Jack Billings (quad) return to training.

The Saints faced a defensive crisis early last season, and many key defenders are still easing back to training, including Tom Simpkin (shin) and Luke Delaney (hip).

Nathan Wright (shin) and Tom Lee (shoulder) are both not yet in full training, while Jack Newnes (shoulder) and Aaron Siposs (shoulder) have overcome their issues.

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But Richardson says the Saints have a key group of about 35 players having completed much of the pre-season, with many of those officially on the injury list also having got through a solid chunk.

No. 3 draft pick Billings tweaked his quad in early December on the club's Colorado training camp and will finally return to full training this week.

Young forward Daniel Markworth, who needed an arthroscope in December after a setback for the ACL rupture he had suffered late in 2012, is not far behind him.

The Saints take on the Western Bulldogs on February 19 in their first NAB Challenge game, then Greater Western Sydney on March 1.

Their Round 1 opener under Richardson is against Melbourne on March 22.

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson is optimistic his list is taking shape. Picture by Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

"We are in pretty good shape, we would be mid-30s (training well), and those guys would have been able to get significant load into them in terms of preparation for a game in a few weeks time,'' Richardson said last week.

"There would be others who aren't in the 35 who are in pretty good shape who would add to that group by the time we get to matches. We will certainly be healthy enough. You can tell when you put them in a game simulation, they are cracking in, they are getting ready to play."

ST KILDA'S BEST 22

Captain Nick Riewoldt has completed a strong pre-season despite being held back from some drills and training.

The 31-year-old is a strong favourite to again be skipper in his 14th season, with fellow veteran Leigh Montagna the only other option for the Saints.

Both players last year signed contract extensions, with new father Lenny Hayes also in great shape for his 16th season.

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Chappy has Bomber excited

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Leaving Lions a tough ask for Hart

New Port Adelaide director of coaching Shaun Hart, right, with coach Ken Hinkley at Alberton Oval after the announcement. Picture: Simon Cross. Source: News Limited

NEW Port Adelaide director of coaching Shaun Hart said leaving the Gold Coast was one of the toughest decisions he has ever made.

But the former Suns' reserves and development coach said the opportunity at Alberton, and the lure of working under Ken Hinkley, were too good to refuse.

"Ken Hinkley is a brilliant operator and to work with him, and have that opportunity presented to me after I'd inquired about the role in mid-December, I couldn't believe the opportunity was (there)," Hart said.

Hart, a three-time premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist at the Brisbane Lions between 1990 and 2004, had lived on the Gold Coast for 24 years.

He said it was a desire to chase his dream that led him to relocate his family to Adelaide for the role.

"At times you can sit in a comfort zone,'' he said.

"My line to my wife around Christmas time was …'sometimes you've got to take a risk to find your way to the dream in your heart and realise your full potential in this life'.

"I went down that line with my wife and she has just been an incredible support."

Hart said he would draw on his time playing under four time premiership coach Leigh Matthews at Brisbane.

He said he would encourage Port Adelaide to think big in 2014.

"I'm really big on people and vision and working towards (goals) that we set together as a group," he said

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TEN years ago Shaun Hart unknowingly helped set Port Adelaide on the path to a premiership, now he's here to help them win another.

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