Karmichael set to hunt AFL's best

Ready to shine: Gold Coast Suns defender Karmichael Hunt at pre-season training. Picture: Tim Marsden. Source: The Courier-Mail

KARMICHAEL Hunt will be unleashed on the competition's best clearance players as he enters his third season in the AFL with the challenge to kill or be killed.

Suns coach Guy McKenna has a two-year plan to transform Hunt from a bodyguard to an elite ball-winning AFL midfielder that will begin with the 26-year-old assuming the mantle of chief tagger a tactic the Suns have only occasionally employed over their two season in the AFL.

It is a make or break season for the code-hopper who must discover a way to continue to earn a game in a midfield that includes superstar Gary Ablett and three of the brightest young players in the game Harley Bennell, David Swallow and Jaeger O'Meara.

Hunt's transition from NRL superstar to bona fide AFL player has been a success to date but in 2013 the bar has been lifted.

He has impressed with his ability to win clearances and the bullocking work he does around stoppages but his possession average of a little over 14 a game is no longer enough.

Hunt's biggest possession count was 22 against Fremantle in Rd 6 while twice, against the Kangaroos and Lions, he gathered 21 touches.

Until he can regularly deliver those numbers, he must start delivering some big name scalps.

In a tough opening month Hunt could take on Saint veteran Lenny Hayes, Sydney ball magnet Josh Kennedy and Brisbane's evergreen Brownlow medallist Simon Black.

Hold his own against that esteemed trio and by the time Rd 4 arrives, Port Adelaide might tag him.

"Playing on them and squeezing the life out of them and then learning to work off them, the good taggers end up doing that," McKenna said.

"Eventually, the best way to stop them is to beat them to the ball but that tends to happen over years.

"'It is the evolution."

While McKenna's plan is ultimately all about increasing Hunt's possession count, he will not be judged on his touches during the early days of the new role when his primary focus will be in negating.

"We will look at what his opponent does," he said. "Lenny Hayes averages 27 or 28 possessions and gets seven or eight clearances.

"If we can reduce that by a chunk and make sure the touches he gets are under extreme physical pressure and `K' is responsible we'll be thrilled."

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Power borrows from US playbook

Port Adelaide Power recruit Jack Hombsch is a possible replacement for departed Troy Chaplin. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide will take an NFL-style approach to protecting its goal this season, with new defensive coach Matthew Nicks' portfolio expanded to include opposition ball movement.

In a move away from the traditional model of a defence coach purely focusing on the performance of the back six, Nicks has been charged with directing what the entire team does when the opposition players have possession.

To achieve this Nicks has been given greater access to the forward and midfield groups over summer to ensure all are aware of their roles when Port is trying to get the ball back.

"It's about team defence ... we've gone really big on that this year," Nicks said.

"It's heading more that way into the mould of the NFL. What do we do when we have the football? And what are we doing when we don't have the football?

"The change in our coaching structure has helped in allowing us to work with our forwards and mids.

"It's been a fantastic eye-opener for the group."

We've lost a fair bit of experience ... but I think the guys we've brought in have really stepped up

Port's backline is headed for a transition year after the departures of Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce and Jacob Surjan. The trio had a combined 415 games of AFL experience and most of the Power's replacement options are pretty green.

Injury-plagued youngster Jasper Pittard is being given every opportunity to take over Pearce's rebounding role, with recruits Lewis Stevenson and Campbell Heath the competition.

Jack Hombsch is the front-runner to replace Chaplin and join Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove in a trio of talls.

"It's quite a different looking backline," Nicks said.

"We've lost a fair bit of experience ... but I think the guys we've brought in have really stepped up."

And the coaching staff have not yet decided whether Domenic Cassisi will spend more time in the midfield or defence this season, while the shutdown role filled chiefly by Tom Logan late last season appears up for grabs.

Nicks, who has replaced Brad Gotch, said new coach Ken Hinkley had stressed the importance of defence since his arrival.

"Ken definitely comes from that mould, in terms of defending being very important, and we've put a real focus on it this off season," Nicks said.

"The opportunity to take the back six was definitely a priority for me and I feel a lot more comfortable working with guys in that area than what I probably would up forward.

"That's purely because of where I come from - the Sydney background. We really valued it up there.

"Back from 2000 to 2005 we didn't have the talent a lot of sides did and we knew if we were going to win games we had to be able to defend."

The six teams that conceded the fewest number of points during the minor round went furthest in the finals, including premier Sydney, which had the stingiest backline.

Port conceded 97 points per game last year, a marked improvement on the previous season (121 points per game) but still well above the league average (92 points per game).

POWER'S AVERAGE SCORE AGAINST

2007: 92 points (ranked 10th)

2008: 100 points (11th)

2009: 102 points (13th)

2010: 97 points (11th)

2011: 121 points (16th)

2012: 97 points (14th)

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KB wants trainers' on-field time cut

Former Richmond champion Kevin Bartlett wants to see AFL trainers spend less time on the field. Picture: Derrick Den Hollander. Source: Herald Sun

KEVIN Bartlett has backed plans to slash the time AFL trainers can spend on the ground during games.

The AFL laws of the game committee and players are at odds over a plan to allow trainers to run drinks on to the field only after goals.

It is understood the league also wants to reduce the number of trainers per team from five to four.

The recommendation was made to help ease congestion on the field and limit instances of interference from water-carriers.

Some players contacted by the Herald Sun have labelled the push "crazy" and "dangerous" because of the risk of dehydration in hot conditions.

Bartlett, a member of the laws committee, said players would have adequate access to water under the new proposal.

The AFL legend said any resistance to the plan was "ridiculous", considering there was an average 26.6 goals scored a game last year, plus continual interchange rotations.

"That's 26 times a game at least where they can access water," Bartlett told the Herald Sun.

"If we look at that over four quarters, that's six times a quarter.

"I don't know whether anyone's going to dehydrate in between quarters, are they? If there was to be (up to) 50 interchanges a quarter as well, any player suggesting he could get dehydrated or collapse is being ridiculous."

AFL game analysis manager Joel Bowden presented the plan to the AFL Players Association in December.

For the second consecutive year, it was rejected.

The AFLPA said there were three key reasons for voting against the proposal.

Among their concerns was the potential for long periods between goals and the hot conditions experienced early and late in the season, especially in Perth and Queensland.

West Coast hosted North Melbourne in 28C in last year's elimination final.

"We do not see how this will contribute significantly to reducing congestion," the AFLPA said.

"There are ramifications from a health and safety/performance perspective due to the importance of hydration in our game."

The AFL has introduced rules such as the substitute system to help ease on-field congestion.

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Battle of the codes heats up out west

Western Sydney Wanderers marquee signing Shinji Ono is a big drawcard for fans. Picture: Gregg Porteous. Source: The Daily Telegraph

THIS derby will never be settled on the field but it is arguably the most intriguing battle Australian football will ever see.

It is the tale of two football codes - one is global football while the other is Australian-made.

Western Sydney Wanderers v Greater Western Sydney Giants, Australian Football League v Football Federation Australia.

This sports turf war is played out west of Sydney nearly 50km from Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Introducing the Wanderers, the A-League's newest club, to the people of western Sydney was a walk in the park. But selling the AFL's Giants - the Australian game's newest club - to the area is as hard as selling ice to an Eskimo.

The Wanderers were born last May, the Giants were founded in 2009.

GWS Giants' Chad Cornes kicks a goal and celebrates a win over former club Port Adelaide, one of the fledgling club's few victories last year. Picture: Mark Evans.

Both clubs have targeted greater western Sydney as their sports hubs.

The western Sydney area is Australia's third largest economy behind Sydney and Melbourne.

The area houses 2.02 million people, a population larger than SA.

By 2036 about 2.96 million will live there.

About 30 per cent of the people have migrated to the area from other countries, more than 70 languages are spoken and about 30 per cent of the people are currently under the age of 24.

Western Sydney has been a breeding ground for the most famous Socceroos since coach Rale Rasic led Australia to the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany.

Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, Mark Bosnich, Paul Okon, Zeljko Kalac, Steve Corica and current Wanderers coach Tony Popovic all grew up and learnt their football in western Sydney before making their mark abroad.

The AFL on the other hand has a 20-year plan to make western Sydney a production line for the Australian game.

There's no doubt the universal language for the growth area is football.

But which one are punters flocking to? Which football will survive?

Wanderers' executive chairman Lyall Gorman was born out west of Sydney in Bankstown where he played football and attended high school.

He helped grow Central Coast Mariners from an embryo in 2004 to a well-established community club armed with massive projects on the central coast of New South Wales.

He was promoted to head the A-League competition in 2010 before FFA put him in charge of an ambitious football project west of Sydney.

After the FFA made the announcement that a new western Sydney team will join the 2012-13 competition on May 26 last year, Gorman and his tight-knit small team had just 134 days before the new club made its A-League debut on October 6 against, ironically, the Mariners.

It was a 0-0 draw where 10,458 fans turned up at Parramatta Stadium.

The first block had been laid after the club's football foundations had been put down 133 years ago.

"Well, August 14, 1880 was the first game of football in western Sydney. It was played between two teams, the old Kings school and the club called the Wanderers, and its been the traditional heartland of football ever since," Gorman said.

"You know in this area immediate football association partners roughly have about 100,000 players within their ranks, they have major sporting schools.

"It's had a richer history since the 1970s with the national soccer league with Marconi, Sydney United, Parramatta and I've sort of taken the view we've been handed the baton.

"We stand on the shoulders of many pioneers before us who have put in a tremendous amount of work to imbed the cultures and traditions of football in this region.

"Time was never our friend. These people working here are spending, from day one, seven days a week. Our staff are remarkable for their contribution and passion.

"Every single one of our staff all fit that same vision and culture.

"We've also been blessed with long-term sponsors and coach Tony Popovic has been locked in for a four-year term.

"We're all joined at the hip and four years will make or break this club.

"Our decision making is easy because we've got clarity of vision and culture.

"It either fits or it doesn't and the next opportunity is to consolidate where we are and take it to new levels."

Giants' chief executive David Matthews believes football, Aussie Rules and rugby league can live in harmony out west of Sydney and the fledgling AFL club would continue to reap rewards by capturing the region in a long-term plan.

The Giants played their first AFL season last year and had no inkling the FFA was set to invade the western turf with Wanderers after the death of Queensland club Gold Coast United.

FFA needed a 10th team not only to balance the A-League's fixtures but because a new TV rights deal was looming.

If FFA took nine teams to the negotiation table it's highly unlikely Fox Sports and SBS would have thrown about $160 million towards a four-year TV agreement.

Matthews has been in charge of the Giants for the past 14 months after he was part of the AFL executive for 14 years.

His Giants contract was extended for a further three-year term last October.

Matthews knows the club was positioned in an area that wasn't all that familiar with the Australian game.

"The point the AFL has made about the investment in greater western Sydney is that it's a generational investment," Matthews said.

"It's a long-term strategy.

"The Sydney Swans have been in Sydney for 30 years and the AFL has been investing in the development from an infrastructure and a community point from about 10 years.

"The oldest Auskick graduate is now about 18 here so there's this generation of families that we're connecting and coming through.

"The Wanderers introduction we understand the size of the market is one for all sports with rugby league here as well.

"We've got the problems that everyone has got in Australia, and that's getting kids off the couch and a lot of the kids that are playing are playing multiple sports.

"We need to collaborate with soccer, league and rugby union and what sport they choose and want to attend depends on the quality of the experience."

But Gorman believes Wanderers will continue to set new standards for the area because of football tradition and the amount of new Australians arriving in the area already familiar with the world game.

"If you read the AFL they have a 20-year plan because what they don't have is a natural fit," Gorman said.

"It's a bit of a square peg in a round hole.

"They don't have the junior pipeline and a rich history whereas the western Sydney region has been crying put for its own national representation for a long, long time.

"We've been blessed with that and with seven wonderful football associations with whom we dedicate all of our energy trying to be the panacea of all the Sydney metropolitan area.

"We've held seven fans forums before the club was born and listened to them and what they wanted us to represent and the values and culture would be."

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Dawes, Byrnes join Demon leaders

Former Magpie Chris Dawes joins Melbourne pre-season training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE recruits Chris Dawes and Shannon Byrnes have walked straight into the Demons' leadership group for 2013.

The Dees announced today they would have a nine-player leadership group this season, with youngsters Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove to continue as co-captains.

The other addition to last year's leadership team is 22-year-old midfielder Jordie McKenzie.

The full group is: Grimes (co-captain), Trengove (co-captain), Nathan Jones (vice-captain), Shannon Byrnes, Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes, James Frawley, Colin Garland and McKenzie.

Clint Bartram (retired) and ruckman Mark Jamar are the two members of the 2012 leadership group that are not part of this year's group.

Summer Barometer: Click here for Demons' training latest

Coach Mark Neeld said the changes reflected strong competition among the playing group for leadership positions.

Players were chosen based on input from coaches, players and senior staff assessing players on 10 leadership categories including character and competitiveness.

"Jordie McKenzie continues his great story, coming from the rookie list to where he is now. Jordie's work ethic, competiveness and attention to detail have earned him this position," Neeld said.

"We are also pleased at the impact of Shannon Byrnes and Chris Dawes since their arrival. Their leadership and experience was one of the reasons we pursued them during the free agency and trade periods.

"Both Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove experienced a challenging year in 2012, but in their first year as captains, we were very happy with their development and have full confidence that this will continue in 2013."

Neeld said Jamar was disappointed to miss out on this year's leadership group but "handled it like a professional".

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Boomer won't sit out NAB Cup

Brent Harvey is suspended until Round 7 of the home-and-away season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

SUSPENDED North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey is looking forward to the NAB Cup before a six-week stint on the sidelines.

Harvey, 34, was rubbed out for separate off-the-ball incidents in the Kangaroos' heavy elimination final loss to West Coast last year.

But the wily midfielder entering his 18th season is keen to make amends, in the NAB Cup and in the coaches box, when the Kangaroos begin their 2013 campaign.

"We're pretty keen to get in there and have a good crack, because the way we finished off the season last year, we still got so much to improve on," the 346-game veteran said.

"I reckon this is a really good launching pad to start improving what we really need to work on and put the new stuff that we've been doing at training into games.

"I'm very keen to play in games one and two, definitely.

"I'm not too sure about the last NAB Cup game, knowing (coach) Brad's (Scott) going to want to get his team right for Round 1 and I understand that.

"It will be good going into it knowing that I need to play a lot of game time, normally being older they sit you on the bench for the second half.

"I reckon this year he'll say, 'Off you go, play as long as you want, as long as you can'."

Click here to see the Roos' Summer Barometer

Harvey is set to help out as the assistant coach during his suspension.

"Obviously, it's not a great thing to be out for the first six weeks but I've got to turn that negative into a positive.

"I really enjoyed (mentoring the younger guys when I injured my elbow) so I'm hoping there's a little role there for me on match days.

Boxer Brad Pitt spars with North Melbourne AFL footballer Majak Daw during a training session at Princes Park. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

"I might be an extra set of eyes on the stoppages or watching the small half forwards like Lindsay Thomas and Kieran Harper... as long as it's something I'll be happy to turn that negative into a positive."

Harvey said the early season form of Harper, rebounding defender Shaun Atley and young ruckman Majak Daw gave him confidence the Roos could improve again in 2013.

"(Harper's) got a great tank now, look at him 12 months ago and he's just getting around, look at him now and he's beating most guys in the time trial," Harvey said.

"I'd like to see him playing half-forward because he'll kick you 30 goals a year.

"Majak's a beast. He's so big and strong.

"He just needs an opportunity."
 

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Yarran puts faith in Mick's plan

Carlton defender Chris Yarran is happy with life under new coach Mick Malthouse. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON speedster Chris Yarran has lifted the lid on the Blues' recipe for success under new coach Mick Malthouse.

Yarran hinted a return of Malthouse's boundary at all costs game plan which led Collingwood to premiership glory in 2010.

"Mick is all about everything on the boundary line," Yarran told SEN radio this morning.

"We'll take his game style and hopefully it can take us to the finals."

Click here for Carlton's Summer Barometer

Yarran, grounded by toe injuries last year, revealed his plans of moving further up the ground adding to the Blues' engine room.

"I feel totally fitter this year than what I was last year... hopefully I can try and crack into that midfield next year and help Juddy (Chris Judd) and Simmo (Kade Simpson) out," Yarran said.

The rebounding defender said the Blues had endured a tough, but controlled, pre-season with Malthouse at the helm.

Picture gallery: Blues train in the bay

"Last year Ratts (Brett Ratten) was all about, I think personally, just whacking each other (at training) and guys were getting into little (injury) niggles here and there but Mick's come in now and (brought) really good attitude to look after each other at training but train hard - not tentative - but to get the most out of ourselves."

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Smart takes senior Crows post

Nigel Smart at Variety SA with chairwoman Nicola Haack. Picture: Mark Brake Source: The Advertiser

Nigel Smart with the 1998 premiership cup. Picture: Mark Brake Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE has appointed deputy chairman and former All-Australian full-back Nigel Smart as the club's new chief operating officer.

Club chairman Rob Chapman today said Smart would fill the key off-field position -- made vacant by former Channel 9 boss Mark Colson's move to Tasmania.

"Nigel Smart is highly accomplished and brings to our club an irresistible blend of achievement as a manager, businessman and footballer,'' Chapman said.

"Nigel knows business and he knows football. He has a record of success both inside and outside the Adelaide Football Club as a leader of people and builder of businesses. We chose him in an exacting national selection process from a first-class field of candidates.''

Smart's appointment fills an existing vacancy and is not related to the shuffle at the top following the suspension of CEO Steven Trigg for his involvement in the Kurt Tippett saga.

Chapman said Smart, who has been deputy chairman since 2009, would immediately step down from the Crows board.

Smart joins the Crows from children's charity Variety, where he was chief executive.

"I look forward to continuing to do all that I can to contribute to the success of our great club,'' Smart said.

"The Crows and its people -- players, staff and supporters -- have been at the centre of my life for the greater part of it. I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to return here as a leader of a terrific group of people, many of whom I have grown up with and admire tremendously.''

Summer Barometer: Click here for Crows' training latest

Smart played 278 games for the Crows from 1991-2004 and was vice-captain in the premiership years of 1997 and 98 and again in 1999. He was an All-Australian in his first year of AFL and again in 1993 and 1998.

He served on the AFL Players Association's executive board throughout his playing career.

Smart's previous business posts during the past 20 years include national sales and marketing manager with the Jobs Statewide Group, national business development manager of Disability Works Australia, network development manager SA/NT for the Toyota Motor Corporation and sales and sponsorship manager SA/NT for Lion Nathan Australia.

He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Adelaide's Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from the Flinders University.

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Staker's knee faces biggest test

Brent Staker cools off during a hot training session in Brisbane. Picture: Jono Searle Source: The Courier-Mail

BRENT Staker stands in the goal square at the Brisbane Lions' Coorparoo training base looking a million dollars.

His knee is heavily bandaged, but he looks as fit as always. Ridiculously fit in fact.

Then he leads at the footy and you hold your breath.

Staker's athleticism is undoubted and his value to a team that has been undersized over the past two years is undisputed, but his dodgy knee's ability to withstand the rigorous of AFL is uncertain.

The 29-year-old's dedication to his rehabilitation has been faultless.

If they handed out games on professionalism, he would be in the side in Round 1.

He has been able to convince himself he is ready to go through hard work over summer, but only when he has played games will others breathe more easily.

"People say there are mental scars, but I don't think there is too much to worry about," Staker said.

"Pre-Christmas there were a couple of marking contests where I was thinking about it, I was a bit nervous and maybe I didn't go in that hard, but it just isn't entering my head now."

Staker underwent two reconstructions and a bone graft on his right knee over a horror two year period that followed an impressive debut season for Brisbane in 2010.

Round 1 in 2011 was a game famous for the horrific facial injury to skipper Jonathan Brown, but it also started the nightmare stretch for former West Coast star Staker when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

Staker chose to undergo the radical LARS procedure, which uses a synthetic ligament, and it appeared to have paid dividends when he was back in the side by Round 17.

But it wasn't long before Staker damaged his ACL once again and this time he opted for a conventional reconstruction this time around.

Again there was a setback, although this time it was immediate.

The surgeon found a hole in Staker's knee that had to be filled before the reconstruction could be completed.

That procedure set Staker back six more months, and killed off his chances of playing last year.

Now he is fit, but he must still force his way back into a side that has been bolstered by key position players Stefan Martin (Melbourne), Jordan Lisle (Hawthorn) and Billy Longer (2011 draft).

"I've got to earn that game," he said.

"It would be unfair to come in and be a walk-up start. You have to fit into the team structure you have to be able to get a kick.

"I feel my skills are pretty good for a bigger guy and I can run. I consider that to be a bit vital."
 

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Pies plug leaky defence

Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan get a little rough at a Collingwood training session at Gosh's Paddock. Picture: Nicole Garmston. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD wants to stop the bleeding in the back half which undermined its premiership ambitions last season.

After revolutionising the game with its famed "press" tactics in 2010-11, the Pies pressure weakened last season, prompting a thorough review of the team's defensive operations over summer.

According to Champion Data, Collingwood was ranked No.1 for time the ball spent inside forward-50m in 2010 and 2011, but slid to 11th last year, when they were beaten by premier Sydney in the preliminary final.

While the early-season return of key backman Lachlan Keeffe from a knee reconstruction will help defend the back-50m, the Pies have also zeroed in on how they protect the ball up the ground.

Coach Nathan Buckley said yesterday the Pies wanted to put the brakes on the opposition's scoring in 2013.

"We had heavy scores against, especially against good opponents, which we've clearly identified in our review," Buckley said.

"We allowed too many scores per percentage of inside 50s and we allowed too many inside 50s, so it's definitely a focus of ours.

"We need to be able to slow the opposition ball movement down a bit better than we did in 2012.

"Good defensive sides are generally good transition sides - sides that can be aggressive on both sides of the ball.

"We are practicing that and we'll get a chance to practice that in real time in the NAB Cup and early in the season."

Nick Maxwell, who is critical to the defensive setup with the aerial support he provides teammates, is again set to lead the Pies this year.

Summer Barometer: Pies' training and injury latest

Buckley said although the leadership process was still incomplete, Maxwell had his vote.

"Personally, I've got no reason why Maxy wouldn't be (captain)," Buckley said.

Dale Thomas has removed the moon boot from his recovering ankle, but won't train with the main squad for another three weeks.

First-choice ruckman Darren Jolly is continuing an impressive pre-season but Buckley lauded the impact new tall recruits Ben Hudson and Quinten Lynch had had some arriving at Lexus Centre.

"Ben Hudson has been fantastic, he brings a bit of mongrel into the way that our big fellas go about it," he said.

"I think already that's starting to rub off on our younger talls and we're looking forward to that continuing."

Lynch lost his place in the Eagles' side last season but is set to play a key role in attack for the Pies, as a ruck-forward replacement for new Demon Chris Dawes.

Buckley said Lynch's work ethic had been so strong he needed to be "held back" over summer.

"He's been great, he's a work horse and he's everything we thought we were recruiting," Buckley said.

"You need to put a leash on him.

"If you said we've got 20 x 400m and we're only going to give you 15 seconds break in between, he would put his foot on the line and put his head down and get ready to run. There's no questions."

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