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.

Pick Me: The next Brad Sewell - Nick Vlastuin is at home in the trenches

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

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

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.

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dees backs lead time trial

Melbourne defenders Tom McDonald and Daniel Nicholson win today's time trial. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

Melbourne mature-aged recruit David Rodan edges out emerging swingman Jack Watts. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

Melbourne father-son selection Jack Viney toughs it out during the three-kilometre time trial. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE defenders Tom McDonald and Daniel Nicholson led the Demons in today's three kilometre pre-season time trial around Princes Park.

Nicholson, who turned 22 yesterday, put in a strong performance just days after being promoted to the senior list.

The rebounding defender played 20 matches as a rookie including 11 of the last 14 in 2012.

He missed two matches late in the season with a jaw injury.

Mature-aged rookie James Magner was next over the line followed by co-captain Jack Trengove and Rohan Bail.

The Demons No.26 pick in the national draft, father-son selection Jack Viney, finished in the forward half of the field.

Melbourne elite performance manager Dave Misson was buoyed with the results ahead of "structured" pre-season training on Monday.

"Today was about showing what they really did in the off-season and whether they've come ready to go in the pre-season," Misson told Melbourne's website.

"We've had probably 10 PBs (personal best) out of 20 odd players, a lot of players reached their target times and the ones that didn't, weren't too far over it.

"The boys have got a really good foundation to work from and we're really pleased with the program in place."

Tagger Jordie McKenzie put in a bold front-running effort in his first time-trial while co-captain Jack Grimes ran on his own at AAMI Park.

Meanwhile, veteran David Rodan edged out swingman Jack Watts on the finish line.

The delisted Port Adelaide goal sneak was handed a lifeline by the Demons during last month's trade window.

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stevens ready to take next step

Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney (left) urged recruit Koby Stevens to train hard and put his best foot forward after playing a bit-part role at West Coast. Picture: Getty Images Source: Herald Sun

THERE were a variety of reasons why Koby Stevens left West Coast and one very big one for joining the Western Bulldogs.

The chance to play with one of his best mates from childhood was a no-brainer and one which has made the people at Bairnsdale's Patties Pies factory very happy.

Stevens and Dogs midfielder Clay Smith played junior football together for Lucknow in the East Gippsland Football League.

Their families have been close for years with Stevens' father a manager at the pie factory where both of Smith's parents work.

"We've known each other for 10 years," Stevens said. "Clay and I grew up together and played footy together. He would play in the U/14s and I was playing U/16s but most week's he'd come up and play in the U/16s.

"At Lucknow my old man was the coach and Clay's old man was the runner."

Smith, who was the Dogs first-round pick last year, said the pair spent most weekends together growing up.

"My mum and dad were in a cleaning business and then they got out of it," he said. "They were looking for a job and Koby's dad pretty much got them a job which they've been doing for the last eight or nine years.

"It's pretty exciting how it's all worked out now."

Stevens spent three years at the Eagles and played 11 games but the Bulldogs had kept an eye on his progress and made their move in trade week snaring the 21-year-old in exchange for pick No.44.

"It was a great experience the three years I had there, I had some great coaches and learnt a lot," Stevens said. "I suppose my body over the three years I have got it in good condition that it's AFL ready now.

"There were some pretty good players in my position at West Coast and I was pretty much emergency all through the year which made it tough.

"When I spoke to Macca (Dogs coach Brendan McCartney) he said there was an opportunity here as long as I trained hard and put my best foot forward."

It was a Gippsland Power reunion yesterday with two of Stevens best mates, John Butcher and Campbell Heath, in London with Port Adelaide for the AFL's exhibition match.

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Port face first game without McCarthy

Port Adelaide Power footballer John McCarthy in action. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: adelaidenow

PORT Adelaide players will be free to choose how they honour John McCarthy's memory in Sunday's AFL exhibition match against the Western Bulldogs in London.

The encounter at The Oval will be the first time the Power have played since McCarthy's death on an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas in September.

``It is completely up to the individual. If players want to wear armbands or make a tribute to him they are certainly able to do that,'' acting Port Adelaide captain Hamish Hartlett said.

Port Adelaide have pencilled in a memorial match for the former Collingwood and Power player on April 6 against Greater Western Sydney at AAMI Stadium.

A US coroner last month ruled the cause of McCarthy's death was accidental and Hartlett said McCarthy's passing had pulled the players closer together.

"That bond will continue forever,'' he said. "There is a common link, a few of the Western Bulldogs players were over there (Las Vegas) at the same time and everyone has dealt with it in their own way.

"There is no doubt it has galvanised the group.''
 
Both Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs have plenty to prove next year following disappointing campaigns, finishing 14th and  15th respectively this year.

Acting Bulldogs captain Shaun Higgins said a forgettable season meant the south London clash took on more significance.

``If you had a successful year last season it may be a bit of a throw away game,'' he said.

``But for us it is a great opportunity to get together again and to continue building.''

The match, starting at 1530 local time (0230 Sunday AEDT), will be an opportunity for ex-Geelong assistants Brendan McCartney and Ken Hinkley to lock horns for the first time as senior coaches.

McCartney and Hinkley were part of the brains trust during the Cats' 2007 and 2009 premiership campaigns.
McCartney has completed one season in the hot seat at the `Dogs while Hinkley was only handed the top job at
the Power three weeks ago.

``We are pretty lucky that we have spent a lot of good times together and we have had some great success and now an opportunity to use what we have learnt and apply that to our own teams,'' Hinkley said.

``Macca has been doing that for 12 months, I have been in the seat for three seconds and feel like I am not sure what I am doing.

``So when we are finished here, I will talk to Macca and get some clues.''

McCartney said his players would be ordered to entertain an expected crowd of more than 10,000 in south
London.

``We are going to let our boys go for hangers and play and have a bit of fun out there,'' he said.

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hunt backs Izzy move

Karmichael Hunt has backed Israel Folau's decision to walk away from the AFL. Picture: Kym Smith Source: The Daily Telegraph

AFL convert Karmichael Hunt believes Israel Folau made the right decision to walk away from the AFL rather than continue playing a game his heart wasn't in.

Hunt, who was the first to stun the rugby league world when he walked away from the Brisbane Broncos to sign with the Gold Coast Suns on a multi-million dollar deal, was told of the news while completing altitude training with the Suns in Arizona.

The former Origin and Kangaroo star said Folau had made the right decision for himself.

Neil Cordy: Izzy worth every cent for AFL

"Obviously he felt his heart wasn't in it and I guess it would have been unfair to a lot of people, including himself, if he carried on," Hunt said.

"It's a pretty brave decision on his behalf and I respect his decision."

Hunt said it was unfair to make a judgment on Folau's AFL ability.

"Obviously he has got a lot of potential and ability and I guess that is one question we will never know the answer to," Hunt said.

Hunt also reiterated his strong desire to remain in the AFL.

Folau set to sign with Parramatta

Suns coach Guy McKenna, who has guided Hunt's transformation to legitimate a legitimate AFL player, said fans often under estimated how difficult code-hopping was.

"At times I think we do take it a bit for granted what they have to go through," he said.

"You look at K and (Sydney's) Mike Pyke is the same.

Phil Rothfield: Folau comeback a triumph for NRL

"We shouldn't see this lightly and its massive for these blokes who haven't grown up in the sport."

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

No big change to pre-season: Hird

Essendon's pre-season is underway with the Bombers focussing on fitness this summer after fading badly in the second half of the 2012 season and missing the finals.

Essendon players hit the pavement this morning as pre-season begins. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON coach James Hird says the Bombers will not be making dramatic changes to their pre-season program in the wake of this year's soft tissue injury epidemic.

Hird admitted earlier in the year the team's gruelling training load last summer may have contributed to a rash of soft-tissue injuries during the season.

But Hird said today the club did not plan to overhaul its training regime this pre-season.

"We've changed a few things, but we won't change a lot," Hird said.

Essendon training this morning. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"We think our players, coming into a third pre-season, it's really important that they continue to get the conditioning right.

"So, we won't change too much."

The Bombers returned to pre-season training yesterday, with the players completing back-to-back 2km time trials today around Princes Park.

Midfielder Brent Stanton recorded the best times.

A group of 10 players, mostly midfielders, will head to Colorado tomorrow for a three-week altitude training camp that Hird hopes will fast-track their summer preparation.

"It's the first time that we have tested the waters with altitude training," Hird said.

"The first couple of years we wanted to get a lot of the game down bedded down the way we wanted to play and this pre-season is a little bit more about the fitness levels of our players.

"I think going to Colorado for an altitude training camp for our midfielders is something very exciting for us.

"(We hope to) increase our aerobic ability to probably fast-track their training to a certain extent and to really see if it's something that we want the whole group to do as of next year."

Dustin Fletcher,Paddy Ryder and Scott Gumbleton during their 2km time trial this morning. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

High-profile recruit Brendon Goddard, who has been holidaying overseas, will join his new teammates for the first time on the camp.

"We are very excited to have him come along, but it will be a couple of weeks before our fans get to see him train with us properly," Hird said.

Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson is also in the US and will meet up with the group in Colorado.

Hird said he wanted to see the ``effort'' from out-of-contract pair Ricky Dyson and Brent Prismall on the training track as the club decides whether to give them a spot on the list next season.

"We just want to see them train for a couple of weeks and make sure the effort is there and make sure their bodies stand up to a whole pre-season," Hird said.
 

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Voss: AFL will move on quickly

Lions coach Michael Voss says AFL will quickly get over Israel Folau leaving. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

ISRAEL Folau's dumping of AFL has barely hurt the code and is just a "mossie bite'' the game will easily overcome, Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss says.

Voss was adamant the code would not be damaged by Folau's "retirement'' from the game yesterday.

Folau is set to return to rugby league after two unsuccessful years playing AFL, where he kicked two goals valued at $1 million each.

Voss said the fact Folau was not an established AFL star meant there would be few negatives resulting from his return to the game he loves.

Hunt backs Izzy defection

This is despite Folau repeatedly stating he had "no passion" for the game.

"If it was Chris Judd or Jonathan Brown it would hurt,'' he said.

"Our code will carry on. It is bigger than one person.

"There's no black eye. A blemish, a mossie bite maybe.''

Fellow cross-code athlete Karmichael Hunt said his former teammate made a brave decision to leave the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

"I guess it's a pretty brave decision on his behalf and I respect his decision because he felt his heart's not in,'' he told the AFL site.

Izzy gives Giants $1m Tippett carrot

"It would have been unfair to a lot of people, including himself, if he just stayed on and carried on.

"I wish him well.''

Hunt switched from rugby league to AFL at the end of 2009 with Folau following 12 months later when he joined another expansion club Greater Western Sydney.

The pair played for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia together.

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pick Me: Draft analysis series

Get the first look at the AFL's future stars in this preview of draft analysis series 'Pick Me'

Ollie Wines, Lachie Whitfield and Jono O'Rourke, three of the best midfielders in the draft, share a laugh on the first day of testing. They will all feature in the Pick Me draft series. Picture: Getty Images Source: Herald Sun

WANT first look at your club's next superstar?

Get exclusive highlights, expert analysis and find out who your club is looking at when Pick Me launches tomorrow.

The series will examine 20 of the hottest draft prospect across 20 days as we countdown to the November 22 AFL draft.

VIDEO: Watch the Pick Me trailer in the video player above

Find out who boasts the best kick, safest hands and the most ferocious tackling technique and meet your club's next star first.

Each day there will be an exclusive video only  at SuperFooty and a story in your Herald Sun as we unearth the next Steve Johnson, Jobe Watson and Scott Pendlebury.

Who will tomorrow's be?

Get the first look at the AFL's future stars in this preview of draft analysis series 'Pick Me'

 

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Folau the player a total failure

Israel Folau leaves Greater Western Sydney two years before his contract is up, but doesn't know what is next.

GWS Giant Israel Folau didn't work as a player, but did generate publicity in Sydney. Source: HWT Image Library

ANALYSIS: AS an AFL player, Israel Folau was a total, unmitigated, disastrous failure.

He kicked just two goals in 13 matches, amassed 80 thoroughly unconvincing possessions, and looked totally at sea for all but two 30-minute bursts in his two years as an AFL player.

In one pre-season game against Hawthorn, and against the Western Bulldogs in Round 5 we saw small signs that Folau was slowly getting the hang of this complicated, nuanced game.

But apart from that there was virtually nothing - in truth it was depressing to watch.

Yet for an AFL so desperate to get a small foothold into rugby league-dominated western Sydney, this exercise has already served its purpose.

Forget high-profile signings Tom Scully, or Callan Ward, or Phil Davis.

Folau was the mass drawcard that allowed GWS to get media traction into the state, a recognisable face the club could sell itself around.

Kevin Sheedy was the song-and-dance man that drummed up the publicity, but even as he was failing, Folau was still a media-generating machine.

After two years and millions of dollars of wages funded partly by the AFL, he is gone.

Some will say that his departure is irrefutable proof the experiment was a failure in every ways, but in truth it is perfect timing.

If GWS it to survive it has to be as a football club, not a sideshow experiment featuring a former NRL star.

Consider Folau's on-field prospects next year, competing with the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Jon Patton and most likely Kurt Tippett.

He would have been the most expensive reserve-grade forward the competition has ever seen.

That could well have caused more damage than actually still having Folau around at the Giants.

Make no mistake, GWS wants Tippett, as Kevin Sheedy told the Herald Sun this week.

"I think it is very important and we owe it to our fans to get in senior players who are very talented. If you look at the teams which have won premierships, these are the situations which come up. The Swans built themselves up by getting Tony Lockett and Barry Hall. They got those players around 25.

"We are having a look at him, don't worry about that.''

If they can secure him as their new marquee forward, Folau's departure and the salary cap room it creates will be a win-win for both parties.

Folau was never going to become Gold Coast revelation Karmichael Hunt, who honed his body shape and worked and worked until he reawakened his junior AFL pedigree.

Better to get two years of freakishly good publicity from Folau, then allow him return to the sport he was really born to play.

The AFL got its publicity, Folau got his millions, and now the Giants will get on with the enormous task of proving they can eventually become self-sufficient without the AFL's drip-fed allowances.

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More