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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Open Hart to boost Power

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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AFL drops the ball on ageism

OF all the discriminations that the AFL has campaigned against in recent years, be they social, ethical or moral, there is one that it continues to ignore. It is ageism.

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Crows' close shave for Bailey

Crows coaches show their support for Dean Baily. From left, Alan Hincks, Heath Younie, Graham Dunstan, Mark Bickley, Peter Jonas, Tate Kaesler, Rob Harding, Matthew Clarke, Scott Camporeale, Darren Milburn and Brenton Sanderson. Source: Supplied

ADELAIDE Crows coaches have shaved their heads in a show of support for colleague and friend Dean Bailey.

Bailey is currently undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with cancer in November.

Despite being on indefinite leave, Adelaide's strategy and innovation coach has continued to play a role at the club, inspiring the players with visits between treatments.

At the club on Friday afternoon, coaches and support staff took turns with the clippers; some opting for a No. 2 shave and others, including coach Brenton Sanderson, assistant coach Scott Camporeale and high performance manager Paddy Steinfort, going down to a streamline No. 1.

Experienced cue-balls Scott Thompson and James Podsiadly were among the players on hand to offer hairdressing advice.

Crows CEO Steven Trigg said it was a show of support.

"It was a message to our mate that we're thinking of him," Trigg said.

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Swan to be a Magpie for life

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Pendlebury keen to step up

Scott Pendlebury picks up the pace at pre-season training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited

COLLINGWOOD star Scott Pendlebury says he's not letting captaincy thoughts cloud his pre-season as he focuses on helping get the Magpies "back on track'' for 2014.

While he is widely regarded as the successor to premiership skipper Nick Maxwell, Pendlebury says his attention is focused on preparing for next year's campaign.

COLLINGWOOD'S BEST 22

The Magpies are expected to make a call on the captaincy in February.

"We do our leadership as a playing group, so come February when we sit down and we do that we will go from there,'' Pendlebury, 25, said.

"Maxy has been fantastic for the footy club and it's been great to learn off him and guys like Bally (Luke Ball) as well.

"I haven't been in the leadership group for a while for no reason, it's something that I want to do, but at the same time it's up to the players to decide.

"That's something that all the players respect.''

SHOULD SCOTT PENDLEBURY BE NAMED COLLINGWOOD'S NEXT CAPTAIN? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW

It has already been an off-season of change for the Magpies, who said goodbye to Darren Jolly, Alan Didak, Heath Shaw, Dale Thomas and Andrew Krakouer.

Despite the loss of considerable experience, Pendlebury said the Magpies' blooding of young players in 2013 had them well placed.

"We have lost a fair bit of experience and we have replaced that with some youth,'' the midfield ace said.

"We have also got a lot of games into young guys at our footy club so it should hold us in good stead.''

After a disappointing finish to last season, which ended in an elimination final loss to Port Adelaide, Pendlebury said talk of the need for cultural change at the club had been "a bit misleading".

"Guys were frustrated we weren't winning," Pendlebury explained.

"In 2009, '10, '11 we won a lot of games and footy clubs are great places to be around when you win.

"(We were) just dealing with up and downs. It was a bit of a bumpy ride last year and we just want to get back on track next season and hopefully win lots of games of footy next season and everyone will be happy."

Pendlebury said the Pies had made a positive start to pre-season under the club's new high-performance manager Bill Davoren, who has crossed from St Kilda.

"It's been a bit different this year not going away (on an overseas camp),'' Pendlebury said.

"It's been a good change for us just to stay here and (with) new head of sport science Bill Davoren taking over, it was good to get him on top of the program.

"He has been really good and pre-season's going well.''

The Magpies resume pre-season training on January 6.

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Dons warned of drug distraction

THE supplement saga that derailed Essendon's season is set to be a distraction again in 2014, assistant coach Neil Craig has warned.

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From the backline: GWS Giants

All eyes will be on Victorian Tom Boyd at the AFL draft, with the highly-rated forward expected to be recruited as the number one pick by the GWS Giants.

The Giants latest draft class Cameron McCarthy, Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited

GWS is banking on the addition of premiership stars plus development from its young guns to move it up the ladder

Herald Sun writers name your club's best 22 in 2014, today is Greater Western Sydney.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

OUT

Dom Tyson (traded to Melbourne)

Taylor Adams (traded to Collingwood)

Sam Darley (traded to Western Bulldogs)

Josh Bruce (traded to St Kilda)

Kurt Aylett (traded to Essendon)

Shaun Edwards (traded to Essendon)

Chad Cornes (retired)

Dean Brogan (retired)

Setanta O'hAilpin (delisted)

Bret Thornton (delisted)

Gerard Ugle (delisted)

Josh Growden (delisted)

Joe Redfern (delisted)

REPLAY THE CHAT: Relive the questions fired at Sam Landsberger on the prospects of the Giants and the summer developments at the other 17 teams

IN

Heath Shaw (Collingwood), defender

Shane Mumford (Sydney), ruckman

Jed Lamb (Sydney), small forward

Dylan Addison (Western Bulldogs), utility

Josh Hunt (Geelong), defender

Tom Boyd (Eastern Ranges), power forward

Josh Kelly (Sandringham Dragons), midfielder

Cameron McCarthy (South Fremantle), key forward

Rory Lobb (Swan Districts), ruckman

Jake Barrett (Temora), midfielder

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COACHES

Leon Cameron

Alan McConnell (senior assistant)

James McDonald (midfield coach)

Luke Power (assistant coach)

Chad Cornes (assistant coach)

Dean Brogan (ruck coach)

Brett Hand (NEAFL coach)

Amon Buchanan (development coach)

Sam Reid (development coach)

Jeremy Cameron was outstanding in just his second year in the AFL. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Limited

GIANTS' BEST 22

B: Josh Hunt, 31, 198 games Stephen Gilham, 29 113 games Tom Bugg, 20, 32 games

HB: Curtly Hampton, 20, 35 games Phil Davis, 23, 53 games Heath Shaw, 28, 173 games

C: Lachie Whitfield, 19, 19 games Tom Scully, 22, 71 games Adam Treloar, 19, 38 games

HF: Jed Lamb, 21, 12 games Jeremy Cameron, 20, 37 games Stephen Coniglio, 20, 30 games

F: Devon Smith, 20, 38 games Jon Patton, 20, 10 games Dylan Addison, 26, 88 games

R: Shane Mumford, 27, 100 games Callan Ward, 23, 101 games Dylan Shiel, 20, 33 games

INT: Adam Tomlinson, 20, 26 games Toby Greene, 20, 38 games Will Hoskin-Elliott, 20, 19 games Jon Giles, 25, 42 games

HOW WILL THE GIANTS PLAY?

EXPECT a more aggressive and creative GWS next year. The Giants were all about self-preservation in their first year, with Kevin Sheedy and Mark Williams instructing the baby side to hold the ball up and crack in at stoppages.

But in their third AFL season, and after adding four premierships among 571 games experience to their squad, Leon Cameron's side will now gain a layer of flair.

The brand of footy which saw GWS scoot three goals up against Collingwood at the MCG and maul Melbourne late this year will become the norm as the young but talent-laden midfield looks to get the pill into the hands of Cameron, Patton and Boyd with added speed and precision.

READY TO FLY

GET set for the draft class of 2011 to make its mark.

The Giants are bullish about their third-year players zeroing in on 50-game milestones. We haven't heard much about Curtly Hampton, but the Alice Springs product with enormous athleticism added 18 games to his tally this year, excelling as a rebounding backman.

Adam Treloar has raced to 38 games and, along with the Chris Judd-like Dylan Shiel, has all the tools to blossom into one of the game's hottest young guns.

Adam Tomlinson took big strides forward as a key defender in 2013 which should continue, while last year's No. 1 pick Lachie Whitfield's debut season was rated as outstanding internally. Add him to Tom Scully, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Josh Kelly and GWS boasts four young, elite midfield running beasts.

Sandringham Dragons midfielder Josh Kelly is likely to score a place at GWS with pick two in the 2013 AFL Draft following an outstanding TAC Cup season.

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Crows tinker with secret tricks

Richard Douglas admits the Crows need to win at least seven from their remaining 10 home-and-away games to qualify for finals. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE players returned from their mid-season break yesterday further behind in their chase for an AFL finals berth - and with much to learn with changes in their playbook.

It will take until Saturday's re-start against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium to see how coach Brenton Sanderson's rethink on the Adelaide game plan will manifest as a circuit-breaker against a three-game losing streak.

In the meantime, secrecy was the order of a farcical morning at West Lakes that might have reflected the pressure that increased on the 11th-ranked Crows (5-7) at the weekend.

They have moved from four to eight premiership points from a place in the AFL top eight.

A publicly declared open training session on Max Basheer Reserve at West Lakes was moved to an equally chopped up Thebarton Oval.

The reason for the move, according to Crows officials, was safety issues on Adelaide's regular training ground outside AAMI Stadium.

Yet, the surface was still safe for some Crows - such as young midfielder Brad Crouch, veteran Graham Johncock and in-form SANFL player Richard Tambling - to practise their craft.

Not only was there a change of venue but a rethink on training session status. It went from "open" to "closed" with two media outlets not only asked to leave Thebarton Oval but directed to stop filming despite being on public property.

Adelaide midfielder Richard Douglas may have been playing down how much change the Crows are being asked to embrace but he was not denying his team will be playing to a different theme.

"With tactical skills, we always have a closed session - as we did today," he said.

The Gold Coast scouts shut out of Adelaide's workouts this week can only report to Suns coach Guy McKenna the obvious. The Crows have recognised they have to rethink defence.

"We think we are playing some good footy (to attack) but the defensive side of the game has to improve a bit," said Douglas. "Hopefully, this week you will see much more pressure on the ball carrier and some stronger tackles.

"We'll tinker with a few little things. You will see that at the weekend.

"Nothing too major."

To qualify for consecutive finals series Adelaide needs at least seven wins from its remaining 10 home-and-away games - against the Suns, West Coast (home), Collingwood, Geelong (home), Fremantle, Port Adelaide (home), North Melbourne (home), the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne (home) and West Coast.

"We have to win seven of the next 10. We believe we're a chance," said Douglas.

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Moored in misery

• by: Sam Edmund
• From: Herald Sun
• June 24, 2013 11:30PM

THE man who preaches defence more than any other in football had to employ it when he was announced as the new coach of Fremantle.

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