Power triumphs in tribute match

Port players honour John McCarthy ahead of tribute match.

Remembered - the late John McCarthy. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas, left, with members of John McCarthy's family watch the tribute to J-Mac before the match. Picture: Dylan Coker. Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

Power's Justin Westhoff takes a spectacular mark in the second quarter against the Giants. Picture: Reed Sarah Source: adelaidenow

With Justin Westhoff and Chad Wingard playing the games of their lives, the John McCarthy tribute match last night turned into a celebration for Port Adelaide.

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The rebuilt Power overcame a resilient Greater Western Sydney - the team which dramatically ended Matthew Primus's Port coaching career last year - to win its first two games of a season for the first time in three years.

In an emotion-charged game which followed a stirring tribute to McCarthy - the former Power player who died on an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas with teammates last year - Port set up its win with a devastating, unanswered six-goal second-quarter burst.

In a sign of a good side and vastly-improved fitness levels, it then kicked clear in the final term to win easily by 56 points.

The Power's triumph followed the 79-point MCG thumping of Melbourne in round one and was further evidence the club is on the right track under new coach Ken Hinkley.

Port became the last team to beat GWS - the AFL's 18th club - after losing their previous clash at Skoda Stadium in round 19 last year.

The much-maligned Westhoff led from the front.

He displayed raw emotion in his pre-match tribute to McCarthy - shown on the AAMI Stadium screens - and played magnificently.

The tall utility kicked five goals, hauled in 14 marks and had 25 disposals in his role as a floating forward.

His standout game included a towering mark in the second quarter.

Wingard - Port's 2011 first-round draft pick - showed why he was rated so highly with a career-best performance.

The former SA under-18 captain kicked an AFL career-high three goals as well as having three score assists.

The rapidly-improving Jasper Pittard, Campbell Heath and Lewis Stevenson were solid across half-back, Brad Ebert, Kane Cornes and Travis Boak won plenty of the ball in the middle of the ground and Alipate Carlile was strong at full back in his first game of the season.

Only poor kicking for goal cost the Power a much bigger victory.

While playmaker Hamish Hartlett was well held by former Docker Rhys Palmer, Port played quick, long and direct footy through the corridor to have an impressive 39 scoring shots.

The only downside for the Power was injuries to key forward Jay Schulz (ankle) and Hartlett (sore back).

The emotion of the occasion and its extraordinary build-up, which included a magnificent tribute to McCarthy from his former teammates, clearly affected Port early.

It did not look like it had come to play with the Giants dominating contested possessions and clearances.

With captain Callan Ward leading from the front, GWS won 15 of the first 20 contested possessions and continually bombarded the ball inside its 50-metre zone.

Ward had 11 disposals in the opening term and his strong ballwinning ability was capitalised on by key forward Jeremy Cameron, who kicked two goals, as the Giants quickly broke to a 19-point lead.

They booted four of the first five goals before Wingard pegged one back for the Power on the stroke of quarter-time.

Port could thank Westhoff for being so close. He had 10 disposals and took six marks for the term in his role as a high forward.

The Power's woes were highlighted in the damning 3-13 clearance statistics. Eight Giants, led by Dylan Shiel's three, had managed a clearance compared to only three Port players.

Whatever Hinkley said to his players at quarter-time worked.

In a complete turnaround from the opening term, they started diving into packs, hunting in numbers and running hard from the back half.

Boak ignited the comeback with a brilliant snap from the main scoreboard pocket three minutes into the second quarter.

Fourteen minutes later the match was effectively over.

In a blistering nine-minute burst from the eighth to 17th-minute marks, the Power kicked five goals to turn an earlier 19-point deficit into a 27-point lead.

Westhoff was again at the centre of the action with two goals, including one from a towering mark, while Hartlett produced another of his customary goal of the week contenders with a bouncing gem from the scoreboard pocket.

Two late goals to GWS reduced the deficit to 16 points at the long break but the damage had been done and the floodgates opened in the final term.

SEE THE JOHN MCCARTHY TRIBUTE VIDEO HERE

PORT  2.5  8.9  12.17  19.20 (134)

GWS   4.4  6.5   8.9     11.12 (78)

BEST - Port: Westhoff, Wingard, Pittard, Cornes, Brad Ebert, Heath, Carlile, Boak. GWS: Ward, Cameron, Palmer, Coniglio, Shiel.

GOALS - Port: Westhoff 5, Wingard 3, Broadbent, Neade 2, Boak, Hartlett, O'Shea, P. Stewart, Schulz, Mitchell, Ebert. GWS: Cameron 3, Coniglio, Shiel, Whitfield, Patton, Giles, Treloar, Brogan, Smith.

INJURIES - Port: Schulz (ankle), Hartlett (back).

UMPIRES - G. Fila, S. Hay, T. Pannell.

CROWD - 25,122 at AAMI Stadium.

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Dees plummet to hellish depths

Melbourne players trudge from the ground. Picture: Ludbey Wayne

THE reality of this match was that nothing less than a win would do for Essendon, while nothing less than having a real crack would do for Melbourne.

Essendon's mission was never in doubt, Melbourne's barely gave a yelp.

Led by a dominant midfield of Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis and Heath Hocking, the Bombers were able to dictate terms throughout.

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When they pumped the ball forward, Tom Bellchambers, Stewart Crameri and Michael Hurley were too big, strong and talented for their direct opponents, while Alwyn Davey created chances with his pace, tackling and creativity.

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

The Dons backline - built around young gun Jake Carlisle and old gun Dustin Fletcher - was superb.

Melbourne's quest to earn a semblance of respect for its intensity was dreadfully disappointing and woefully short-lived.

Last week nobody at the club had any answers to the many questions about the insipid efforts and lack of urgency in the season-opening 79-point loss to Port Adelaide.

In the minutes before the match, coach Mark Neeld publicly outlined his response when he allowed a television camera into the Demons rooms to record his pre-match address to the players.

On his whiteboard he scrawled three bullet points: Trust Yourself; Attack & Hunt With Speed; and Mistakes Do Not Matter.

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

For the first six minutes of the match the Dees played with a fierceness that would have pleased its supporters. Neither team scored and there was a palpable sense of hope that whatever the Demons lacked in polish, they would make up for in endeavour.

Yet once the Bombers opened the scoring with a Stewart Crameri goal, the inevitable march towards a demoralising thrashing began.

Throughout the first half, not only were the Demons led to the ball at centre bounces and around the ground, they were smashed in the tackle count.

Not only were failing to get first hands on the ball, they were barely doing anything to get it back.

The Demons were not forcing Essendon to play accountable football.

Rather than playing man on man or at least putting an arm across an opponent's chest, they continued to defend areas and block space.

Worst still, as the game wore on the desperation drained out of the Demons players.

They scored just one goal in the second half - at the three-minute mark of the third term - and just one point thereafter.

The 148-point loss was Melbourne's worst to Essendon (beating the 122-point thrashing in 1986), and two points higher than Essendon's previous highest score against Melbourne (in the same match).

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

The Bombers also set a record for inside-50 entries.

Only Nathan Jones, Matt Jones, James Frawley, Aaron Davey and Jeremy Howe could say they had a crack throughout, while Mitch Clark, Jack Viney and Colin Garland had their moments.

One of the most soul-destroying aspects of the game was to watch Jack Watts running around totally devoid of confidence.

On the eve of the match Neeld had put the acid on several of his players, notably Watts, who had seven disposals in the opening round against Port Adelaide.

"He's got to get going, Jack. We know that, he knows that," Neeld said.

But Watts looked lost.

His first touch came at the 18-minute mark - by which stage his opponent David Zaharakis had eight disposals - and it was the result of a backwards pass to him, unmarked at full back.

He was eventually subbed off 17 minutes into the third quarter, replaced by late call-up David Rodan.

When it was flashed across the MCG scoreboard that Watts had been banished to the bench, a loud cheer went up through the crowd of 51,153.

The intensity vanished to such a degree that the last quarter was little more than a training drill for the Bombers.

In the end, mistakes didn't matter for Melbourne, neither did trust, and hunting and attacking with speed was irrelevant.

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

What did matter was having a crack. And sadly, the longer the game progressed, the less that seemed to matter to its players, too.

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Veteran Fletcher shows how it's done

Dustin Fletcher unloads a torpedo. Picture: Salpigtidis George

IF Melbourne wanted a lesson in intensity, it had a perfect teacher in Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher.

Fletcher could have been forgiven for just kicking back and taking an easy night at the office - for a number of reasons.

Live HQ: Essendon v Melbourne

For a start, the ball wasn't in his vicinity a great deal as the scoreboard alone will tell you.

There was the fact that Fletcher will be 38 in 30 days' time. Add to that, the fact that this match comes 20 years to the corresponding round of his debut, way back in Round 2, 1993. And he is now three games into his 21st AFL season.

Essendon V Melbourne at the MCG, Colin Sylvia tackled by Dustin Fletcher Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

But none of those variables meant anything to the Bombers' defender as he knows no other way than to compete.

Sadly, Melbourne never had the same completion last night. Fletcher gave the Demons a lesson in how to do that for free.

He wasn't best afield; but he was one of his team's best players.

Fletcher threw himself into every contest within his jurisdiction. Very few Melbourne players could say the same.

One of those who had a first-hand view was out-of-sorts Demon Jack Watts. Watts started in defence, couldn't make an impression, and was then shifted forward where, for a time, he was opposed to Fletcher.

Essendon V Melbourne at the MCG, Colin Sylvia tackled by Dustin Fletcher Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

By the 20-minute-mark of the third term, Watts had to watch from the sidelines - with the red vest covering his jumper. It was symbolic of the Dees' night.

Through it all, Fletcher continued on as he started out, giving run from defence and helping to set up more than a few of the seemingly endless supply of Bomber moves forward.

There was the early tackle on Colin Sylvia; the first-term intercept; the big defensive grab that earned him a rare spot on the bench and a massive cheer from the Dons' faithful; the second-term spoil on James Sellar that ended up with a goal; and the willing of the crowd for Fletcher to unload one of his torpedo barrels.

He finally succumbed to the temptation late in the last quarter and it was the only time he was made to look vulnerable.

Fletcher's torp went off at right angles, and he instantly clutched at his groin and trudged off the field.

The Bombers' faithful were worried for a few minutes, before he came back on and took a great mark late in the game.

He still has a future left in him. The same certainty cannot be said for a number of Demons out there last night.
 

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Hard to split Selwood and Judd

Joel Selwood boots a goal as Chris Judd watches on. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Limited

UNTIL the 2007 AFL arrival of Joel Selwood, it was hard to envisage any player producing a more extraordinary first six seasons than Chris Judd with the West Coast Eagles.

Between 2002 and 2007, Judd rewrote the record books in terms of on-field achievement, producing a first half of his career to match the deeds of players such as Royce Hart and Dick Reynolds.

Nothing was out of reach for Judd in years where he captured a premiership, Norm Smith Medal, two All-Australian selections, Brownlow Medal, AFL MVP and two best and fairests.

He combined a rare mix of explosive outside run with an extreme will to win contested ball, the latter feature now being matched by Geelong captain Selwood.

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So who is the better player at age 24? To get a clearer understanding we consulted James McDonald, a man who played on both Judd and Selwood during his 264-game career between 1997-2011.

McDonald attributes some pre-game headaches to the days leading up to a Judd match-up.

"In the early days he had that blend of speed and agility," said McDonald.

"Most onballers have one or the other but he had both. I couldn't find any weaknesses in his game when he was at the Eagles in those days you are asking about. You just couldn't let him get goalside of you.

"I don't think it was possible to actually beat him one-on-one so you had to rely on teammates to help."

And Selwood? "I didn't play on him as often but like Judd he is a player who seemed to be able to find a way to change a game.

"You can't underestimate his mental strength or his relentless attack on the ball.

"I think of him as a very smart player, obviously very courageous but also capable of finding uncontested ball.

"Simon Black was another with an amazing ability to accumulate possession and someone blessed with great footy nous. I would rank him right alongside Judd and Selwood."

So if forced to choose who was the better 24-year-old out of Judd and Selwood, which way would McDonald go?

"Because of their extreme consistency and ability to individually lift their teams, as they both did in the third quarters of Round 1, who is the better would come down to the flip of a coin and I wouldn't care which way it landed."

Geelong's 2011 premiership captain Cameron Ling admits to being "completely biased", given the five years he spent playing alongside Selwood.

"I think some might lean towards Judd because he appears to be better because of the explosive nature of his game," Ling said.

"But Joel is just incredible . . . Geelong would have been 10 goals down but for him against Hawthorn and then he played even better in the third quarter.

"I would like to have them both in my garage. But deep down I will always say Joel."

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Neeld can't explain poor display

Mark Neeld looks on during three-quarter-time with no hope. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Limited

A SHATTERED Melbourne coach Mark Neeld described the team's record-breaking 148-point loss to Essendon as "unacceptable" and "clearly not good enough", but said "we can't pretend the last two hours didn't exist".

Asked what his message was to his charges after the loss, Melbourne's worst from 1134 appearances on the MCG turf, Neeld replied: "Two-fold. Clearly, not good enough. Secondly was (there's) only one way out of this and it's together. Whole club hurting - in every component - that's what we talked about. Head down, work hard, there you go."

Asked which specific aspects were not up to scratch, he replied: "How long have you got?"

Essendon hands Melbourne a hiding

The loss was Melbourne's worst to Essendon, surpassing the 122-point loss to the Bombers in Round 15, 1986. It was also Essendon's highest score against the Demons.

"We have to allow some time for a huge disappointment to the players ... We've all got to man up and accept that.
It wasn't good enough," Neeld said. "I went through and articulated that these aspects of the game were not good enough. We've just got to work at them during the week."

Neeld said after the match he asked the players and assistant coaches whether they had any answers about ways to improve ahead of Saturday's home match against West Coast, but their only response was "nobody there came up with any other way than .... to work our backsides off. It's a long road. Second crack at a rebuild in five years. And we're not out of the basement yet."

Dees hit rock bottom

He said he was terribly disappointed by the drop in intensity in the second half, in which Melbourne managed just one goal, because the early signs were that the Demons would be competitive against Essendon.

Neeld said it was too early to lose patience with individuals: "I want to show them a lot of care, but also a lot of tough love at the same time."

The coach was asked about the third-quarter substitution of the player who bears the brunt of many Melbourne supporters' frustrations, Jack Watts. The former No.1 draft pick struggled to 11 low-impact possessions before he was replaced by David Rodan 17 minutes into the second half.

"Jack Watts was ill and (also) subbed out for form," Neeld said. "He didn't feel great, he was sick, and his performance was also one that we thought 'that was enough'. (But) when you take the field you're 100 per cent fit. That's how it works."

Live HQ: Essendon v Melbourne

Melbourne was smashed in all statistic counts: tackles (61-35), inside 50s (a record 78-28) and disposals (453-262). It had few players who put in for four quarters. Nathan Jones, Jeremy Howe, James Frawley and Matt Jones had a crack, while Jack Viney put in despite rolling his ankle at the opening bounce of the second quarter.

Melbourne's average losing margin under Neeld's coaching is now close to 10 goals.

The Demons now face one of the teams regarded as a premiership fancy, West Coast, before a potentially make-or-break game against Greater Western Sydney, also at the MCG.

Asked how he would get his charges up for next week's match, Neeld replied: "I'm not going to forfeit next week. We'll have as big a crack as we can. The beauty of competitive sport in particular is that you get another go. In this case in seven days' time."

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Jack of all trades

Tigers Dylan Grimes, Jack Riewoldt, Jake Batchelor and Alex Rance celebrate their victory over St Kilda. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Tiger Jake King came within a whisker of taking out mark of the year honours with this beauty. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

SOMETIMES, the best team philosophies are slaughtered by individual brilliance.

And that's what happened with Richmond and Jack Riewoldt last night.

Last week, the superstar forward was goalless against the Blues and played "one of his best games for 12 months", according to coach Damien Hardwick.

Last night, he kicked seven of Richmond's 14 goals and clearly played one of his best games for 12 months.

That's four bags of six or more goals against the Saints in three seasons for Riewoldt, who last night had Jason Blake and then Sam Fisher as opponents.

Unquestionably, he was the difference between winning and losing.

The important point is, the Tigers are 2-0.

It's a welcoming sign from the surging yellow and black from Punt Rd: They can win with Riewoldt hitting the scoreboard and win without him kicking a score.

He wasn't the only Riewoldt to shine on the MCG last night, however.

St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt was outstanding with four goals, and by the end, his opponent Alex Rance must have felt he had covered every inch of the MCG.

The final score was Richmond 14.15 (99) to 12.10 (82).

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The evenness of these two teams was evident by the quarter-by-quarter returns.

Richmond kicked four, four, four and two goals across the four quarters. The Saints replied with three, three, five, but only one - to Ahmed Saad - early in the final quarter which, at the time, separated the teams by four points.

When it seemed like the Saints were running harder, and winning the important contests, the Tigers were able to wrest momentum.

Riewoldt kicked his seventh at the 11th minute and Ivan Maric his first at the 25th minute.

In between was 14 minutes of hard-fought and hard-win footy.

Jack denies gallant Saints

Skipper Trent Cotchin was beaten by Clint Jones in the first half and had just nine touches, but would finish with a game-high 31, including 11 in the tense final quarter.

Maric fought back from a first half in which he was eclipsed by Ben McEvoy, and emerged as a key figure in the second half.

Two big plays, among plenty on the night, were significant for the Tigers.

In the last quarter, sub Brandon Ellis and Reece Conca won huge 50-50 contests in the middle of the ground that didn't result in goals, but which helped lean momentum in Richmond's direction.

Conca just about put in his best game for the Tigers, Dustin Martin was very good in the first half and good in the second, Petterd impressed, while the backs of Chaplin, Grimes and Morris (on Milne) were a strong combination.

At halftime, the Tigers led by 16 points - it should have been more - and errors dominated the play.

At the break, the Tigers had kicked 5.7 from St Kilda turnovers and St Kilda 4.3 from Richmond's errors.

In the first quarter, and in no particular order of irresponsibility or stupidity, Morris missed a target kicking back, Nick Riewoldt dropped a chest mark, Jones had a handball intercept and eventually one error coughed up a goal.

Conca confirms composure

Jack Riewoldt's first half was pock-marked with brilliance, but one of his four goals came from a one percenter.

Sean Dempster attempted to kick across goal, Riewoldt smothered it, got back the ball and kicked Richmond's second goal.

Lenny Hayes was next to be foolish. He went for Richmond's Shaun Grigg in the middle of the ground with a shirtfront, missed him, Grigg went down as if he was poleaxed and the umpire paid a free kick down the field, where Luke McGuane kicked Richmond's third .

McGuane was the surprise for the Tigers. As the designated third tall behind Riewoldt and Ty Vickery, he was a headache for the Saints. He finished the half with 2.3, playing mainly on Dylan Roberton, and took three contested marks.

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Dempster plays on despite break

St Kilda coach Scott Watters praised Sean Dempster for playing the bulk of the game with a broken wrist. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

A DEFIANT St Kilda coach Scott Watters has praised his players' resilience after revealing Sean Dempster played most of last night's game with a broken wrist.

Dempster left the ground early in the second quarter of the loss to Richmond, but battled on as the brave Saints fell 17 points short of toppling Richmond.

Watters said Dempster had been "courageous", but was quick to insist the defender was not put at risk of long-term damage by going back on.

"I think it was half way through the second quarter. I don't want to get too caught up in the specifics other than he broke a bone in his wrist," Watters said.

"He was cleared, obviously. We wouldn't put a player out there if he wasn't cleared from our doc. But it was an effort that I admire and I thought there were a number of those from our players even though we lost."

Jack denies gallant Saints

Asked how a player could be "cleared" with a broken wrist, Watters said: "There's minor fractures and severe fractures and it was taped and he was OK to play. In the role we had him in, we needed him out there.

"But there is no way we would have a player out there if there was ever any long-term ramifications. Again, we rely heavily on our doctor."

St Kilda smashed Richmond in the centre clearances 19-9 in a stunning domination of the Tigers' fancied midfield, which caused Watters to lament his side's missing key ingredient.

"I guess if you look at our side in its entirety, it's wanting just for some polish. I can't question their workrate tonight," he said.

"Our job is to prepare as thoroughly as we can every week. I demand from our players their maximum effort. While this industry many times is a simple tick of a win or loss, there's still many things that go into a week and performance.

"So we're filthy at losing, but they could look me in the eye at the end of the game and I could look them in the eye.
They had a crack.

Jack of all trades

"Are we happy about losing a game footy? Absolutely not. Did they try their guts out tonight? Absolutely.

"We'll continue to evolve our list like we've done and I think this is my 24th game so this isn't a new pathway. We need our senior players to bring our new players through. The performance of Nick Riewoldt tonight; just strong leadership, so the balance of that we will continue to address, but we know exactly where our list is at.

"It takes resilience to dig in. That's why I'm still very proud to coach the group. They're effort was very strong. There's no knee-jerk reactions here, this is a brutal competition."

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Ablett flying the flag for underdogs

Gold Coast Suns captain Gary Ablett taking the Saints apart last week. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images

GARY Ablett's status as the best player in the AFL was confirmed last week when he willed his Gold Coast Suns to victory over St Kilda.

He's caused nightmares in the past for former Swans coach Paul Roos and now he's doing the same to John Longmire ahead of today's match at the SCG, where the Swans will unfurl their premiership flag.

The former Geelong star saw two flags unfurled at Skilled Stadium, so Neil Cordy began his exclusive interview with Gary Ablett by asking the champ whether pre-game ceremonies inspire the players.

Ablett: It's a fantastic tradition but it's really one for the fans. It gives them the opportunity to rejoice in the premiership victory but the Swans players will have spent six months working hard like all the other teams to try and win another one.

Cordy: People have raved about your performance last week. How do you rate it?

Ablett: Individually it was nice to be on the end of a couple and get a bit of the footy. But I think the team showed some really good signs, we just need to build on that.

Cordy: The debate about you and your dad about who's the best. What does your dad make of it all?

Ablett: He's pretty clear he has got me well and truly covered (laughing). To be honest is not something that we really talk about.

Cordy: A win against St Kilda would have helped the Suns' belief. Can you rain on the Swans' parade?

Ablett: That's the plan. We understand that they are a fantastic team and we can learn so much from them.

Cordy: Are the Suns better in 2013?

Ablett: Yes I think we are and we need to be. We know where we want to go and this is an important year for us as we aim to move up the ladder.

Cordy: Where has the improvement come from?

Ablett: I think there will be some natural improvement, however, the boys have showed they are benefiting from a stronger and tougher pre-season.

Cordy: What parts of the Suns' game would you like to see the Suns improve this season?

Ablett: Team defence has been an area we have been working on a lot over the summer. What has been evident over the pre-season is that when we get that right there is a flow-on effect to other areas of our game.

Cordy: Do you see your game evolving in the coming years?

Ablett: If I move forward more often I'll be expected to kick a few more goals and that's another challenge that I look forward to.

Cordy: What drives you as a footballer? Has it changed?

Ablett: I'm a competitor, I love the competition and I love to win so yeah, it hasn't been easy over the last couple of years although what it does do is make you hungry to succeed in the future and I think we all feel that at the Suns.

Cordy: You said during an interview with Mike Sheehan that you got sick of footy for a while as a teenager. How do you feel about it now and what changed it back then?

Ablett: I always loved the game, plenty of families can probably relate to it, you can simply only fit so much into your weekends and for a period of time I preferred to do other things instead of play footy. I also loved skating and surfing as well as basketball but fortunately footy was never too far away.

Cordy: You get tagged every week. Do you do homework on taggers? Do you watch vision of your taggers?

Ablett: You do a little bit of homework on them but you actually learn the most about them when you're playing on them. Usually we have a fair idea who might be doing the job and that's really based on history, but you always keep your eye out if you think you might be in for a surprise.

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Hawks taking gamble on Hodge

Hawthorn star Luke Hodge will play in Perth this weekend. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN denies it is taking any risk playing captain Luke Hodge against West Coast.

Hodge will play against the Eagles in Perth tomorrow despite saying this week he was wary of being elevated to the seniors too early.

Hodge has played one VFL game after posterior cruciate ligament surgery.

Acting football manager Chris Fagan said last night Hodge would not be the substitute.

"He is pretty excited and we are too," he said. "He pulled up really well from that Box Hill clash and was really sharp in training this week.

"He had a game at Box Hill but also a full-scale practice hitout two weeks before the season. We thought he was ready, so why hold him up?

"He won't be perfect, but he needs to play at AFL level to get some touch."

CARLTON has confirmed Sam Rowe will make his AFL debut against Collingwood tomorrow.

Rowe said last night he wanted to make his name as a footballer as well as a cancer survivor.

"I'm a better person for everything I've been through, so I'm not ever going to complain about anything that's happened to me," Rowe told the club website.

He comes in with Jeremy Laidler, Marcus Davies and Tom Bell. Eddie Betts (jaw) and Shaun Hampson (appendix) are injured and Nick Duigan and Aaron Joseph have been dropped.

COLLINGWOOD welcomed back Heath Shaw (gastro) and included Paul Seedsman.

GEELONG'S Joel Corey, James Kelly and defender Mitch Brown all come in against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

NORTH MELBOURNE brought in Scott McMahon, after suspension, in place of the injured Sam Wright.

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Watts wrong with Melbourne?

Dejected Demons leave the MCG after being flogged by Port Adelaide. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

DO. OR do not. There is no try.

Coming off a merciless hiding founded on indifference and incompetence has become standard fare for the modern-day Demons.

What has become clear in the aftermath is that Melbourne is in breach of all good faith. And its problems seem utterly entrenched.

That's particularly fraught ground for an increasingly marginal club to occupy.

In the wake of Neale Daniher's departure, Gerard Healy memorably described his old club as beige. Half a dozen years on, it is more pallid than drab.

What are the standards at Melbourne? Who sets them? Who enforces them? Who adheres to them?

Chief executive Cameron Schwab seems too browbeaten or embarrassed by baggage to lead publicly.

When the previous coach was sacked, he too was in the gallows and thus not heard. When the time came to redefine the club, he deferred to a freelancer in Garry Lyon to usher in the revolution.

Schwab's public commentary in the build-up to the season opener was: Isn't it just one of 22? That's realistically it. That's what it means for us. There will be another game the next week where we can bounce back if we lose the first one.

It served as a deadly portend of what was to come.

Don McLardy appears to be loyally executing the presidency of a dear friend. He never meant to lead Melbourne but rather signed up to help it.

The ingrained cultural failings within the club might not even have been identified, let alone rooted out.

Mark Neeld's team played with a paralysis; unorthodox structure undermined by a prevailing sense of confusion. That might improve with effort and practice.

It has been said his recruitment strategy owes to Moneyball. That is to misunderstand an oft-quoted text.

If there is an AFL equivalent to the baseball theorem, it's Sydney; poaching players with a specific skill set to fill an identified shortcoming.

Melbourne stockpiled players no longer wanted or needed by their clubs. But to understand just how bereft Melbourne is, you needed to read Jack Watts' explanation this week of the leadership gulf within the team, the absence of resilient characters of the calibre of Joel Selwood or Sam Mitchell.

"We don't have anyone like that today and that's the kind of thing that we need to work on," Watts told the Herald Sun. "That sort of culture and that grit to be able to turn those things around when momentum goes against us, because at the moment we just crumble."

Every word of this is true. It is a desperate void. But the missing person he speaks of is Jack Watts.

At 22 and in his fifth season Watts is older than one of his captains and has played more games than the other.

His underlings from the national draft of 2008 are carving out careers of substance and influence.

Nic Naitanui is the All-Australian ruckman. Phil Davis a club captain. Dan Hannebery has graduated from rising star to leading possession-getter for his team in a Grand Final.

Dayne Beams is a Copeland Trophy winner. Mitch Robinson has played for Australia. Daniel Rich won the Michael Tuck Medal. Michael Hurley is a place-getter in a best-and-fairest.

Jack Ziebell is vice-captain at North.

Watts was adjudged to possess more talent than each but has achieved nothing comparable beyond taking the field. The fault must be shared between Melbourne and himself.

Josh Fraser has been that No.1 draft pick. He walked into the wooden spoon team and played all bar four games in his first four years as the Magpies went from seven wins to 11 and onto back-to-back Grand Finals.

"The symbolic thing for me is that they are still trying to free up Jack Watts," Fraser said this week. "I think it's time now that they either make him accountable for someone back or they make him a target forward. They're letting Jack Watts off the hook.

"I think that's symbolic for the footy club -- they're looking for the easy way out."

To be sure, there is no easy way out of this special place in hell.

Gerard Whateley broadcasts for ABC Grandstand and hosts AFL360 on Fox Footy.

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Hodge named as Dees wield axe

Will Minson joins the boys to discuss their picks ahead of round 2.

Even when he's a passenger on a road trip, Shane Crawford is still thinking about SuperCoach - and why Buddy needs to lift. WARNING: Poor quality vision, filmed with a potato.

Magpie Heath Shaw will return after suffering gastro last week. Source: Getty Images

HAWTHORN will give Luke Hodge a chance of making a shock Round 2 return after naming its underdone captain to face West Coast on Sunday.

But Brian Lake is no chance of making his Hawks debut after being left out of the 25-man squad to travel west.

See every Round 2 side in full at Live HQ now

The former Western Bulldog was a late withdrawal against the Cats on Easter Monday, but the Hawks did name recycled recruits Jon Simpkin and Matt Spangher.

FULL ROUND 2 LINE-UPS AND CHAT REPLAY BELOW

Hodge returned through VFL affiliate Box Hill last week but was considered a Round 3 prospect at the earliest.

Melbourne coach Mark Neeld has axed two of his controversial mature-age recruits in the fallout from last week's embarrassing 79-point loss to Port Adelaide.

David Rodan and Cam Pedersen were axed among four changes, with Luke Tapscott and Lynden Dunn (hamstring) also out of the side to face Essendon on Saturday night.

Veteran Aaron Davey, co-captain Jack Trengove, defender Tom McDonald and debutant Dean Terlich are set to face the Dons at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Bombers made no changes after their impressive win against Adelaide two weeks ago.

St Kilda is set to roll the dice on defenders Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster when it battles Richmond tomorrow night.

The Saints, who have not lost their opening two matches since 2000, also brought back veterans Leigh Montagna and Adam Schneider.

Live HQ: Every Round 2 side now

Scott Watters axed Trent Dennis-Lane and lost boom ruckman Tom Hickey (foot), James Gwilt (knee) and Farren Ray (hip) to injury.

The Tigers' backline will receive strong reinforcement from the reinvented Ricky Petterd and injury-riddled Dylan Grimes for the MCG clash.

Hayden Crozier will replace goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne when the Dockers face the  Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Dogs left their side unchanged for the first time in coach Brendan McCartney's tenure after last week's surprise 68-point demolition of Brisbane Lions.

Prized draft picks Jackson Macrae and jake Stringer are edging towards debuts as well after their impressive form at VFL level.

Macrae produced a scintillating second half for affiliate Williamstown last week while Stringer blitzed the second-tier league when trialled with Bendigo Gold as the 23rd man last year.

Shtudown king Nick Lower will face his former side for the first time.

Collingwood resisted the urge to bring back Dale Thomas, who returned last week in the VFL, but did name Heath Shaw after he missed last week with gastro.

ST KILDA v RICHMOND, MCG, FRIDAY NIGHT at 7.50pm

ST KILDA
B: J.Blake S.Fisher D.Roberton
HB: J.Geary R.Stanley S.Gilbert
C: A.Schneider L.Hayes N.Dal Santo
HF: A.Siposs N.Riewoldt A.Saad
F: S.Milne B.Maister L.Montagna
R: B.McEvoyD.Armitage J.Steven
I/C: T.Milera J.Newnes C.Jones S.Dempster
EMG: N.Wright T.LeeT.Simpkin

In: L.Montagna , A.Schneider , S.Dempster , S.Fisher
Out: F.Ray (Hip) , J.Gwilt (Knee) , T.Dennis-Lane (Omitted) , T.Hickey (Foot)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
JARRYN Geary's score of 144 points last week against Gold Coast was the biggest haul of any defender in the competition and 14 more than the next best tally. He finished with 28 disposals and a disposal efficiency of 82% while also generating five rebound 50s.

RICHMOND
B: S.Morris A.Rance T.Chaplin
HB: J.Batchelor C.Newman B.Houli
C: S.Grigg T.Cotchin R.Conca
HF: B.Deledio S.Edwards D.Jackson
F: L.McGuane J.Riewoldt T.Vickery
R: I.Maric D.Martin S.Tuck
I/C: B.Ellis J.King R.Petterd D.Grimes
EMG: B.Griffiths N.Vlastuin C.Knights

In: R.Petterd, D.Grimes
Out: R.Nahas (Omitted), B.Griffiths (Omitted)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
BRETT Deledio proved last week against Carlton that you don't have to find a lot of the ball to score well. Managing only 17 disposals, he hit the target 88% of the time and pumped the ball inside 50 six times by foot, with three of these resulting in a goal for the Tigers. He also booted three goals of his own and finished with 116 points.

SYDNEY v GOLD COAST, SATURDAY, 1.45pm at the SCG

SYDNEY
B: R.Shaw H.Grundy N.Smith
HB: L.Roberts-Thomson T.Richards M.Mattner
C: J.McVeigh K.JackL.Jetta
HF: J.Bolton S.ReidR.O'Keefe
F: M.Pyke A.Goodes D.Hannebery
R: S.MumfordJ.Kennedy L.Parker
I/C: C.Bird A.Everitt N.Malceski B.McGlynn
EMG: M.Morton D.Rampe J.White

In: C.Bird , A.Everitt
Out: T.Armstrong (Omitted) , D.Rampe (Omitted)

SUPERCOACH NOTES
JOSH Kennedy dominated against the Suns in Round 18 last season, racking up 33 disposals, of which 21 were won in a contested manner. He also generated nine clearances (three from centre bounces) and booted one goal on his way to 127 points – ranked fifth for the game.

GOLD COAST
B: J.Wilkinson M.Warnock T.Murphy
HB: D.Prestia R.Thompson J.Hutchins
C: M.Rischitelli G.Ablett J.Harbrow
HF: H.Bennell C.Dixon A.Hall
F: L.Russell S.Day S.May
R: Z.Smith K.Hunt D.Swallow
I/C: B.Matera J.O'Meara J.Brennan M.Shaw
EMG: D.Gorringe J.Allen K.Horsley

In: J.Hutchins
Out: G.Broughton (Calf)

SUPERCOACH NOTES
It took JAEGER O'Meara some time to adjust to the tempo of football at the elite level in his debut last week. Managing only five disposals in the opening three quarters, he lifted his output in the final term, collecting seven disposals and 32 points. He finished with a respectable 72 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE at ETIHAD STADIUM from 2.10pm

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: T.Young D.Morris L.Picken
HB: A.Cooney J.Roughead B.Goodes
C: M.Wallis N.Lower K.Stevens
HF: T.Dickson L.Jones D.Giansiracusa
F: R.Murphy A.Cordy S.Higgins
R: W.Minson R.Griffen T.Liberatore
I/C: D.Cross L.Dahlhaus C.Smith J.Johannisen
EMG: E.Wood J.Macrae L.Markovic

NO CHANGE

SUPERCOACH NOTES
TOM Liberatore stepped up last week in the absence of Matthew Boyd, finishing with 130 points – the second-best of any Bulldogs player. He finished with a team-high 28 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 11 clearances and nine tackles.

FREMANTLE
B: K.Bradley Z.Dawson M.Johnson
HB: P.Duffield L.McPharlin L.Spurr
C: T.Mzungu M.Barlow C.Pearce
HF: R.Crowley M.Pavlich N.Fyfe
F: H.Crozier C.Mayne M.Walters
R: J.Griffin D.Mundy S.Hill
I/C: D.Pearce N.Suban M.De Boer C.Sutcliffe
EMG: T.Sheridan J.Hannath L.Neale

In: H.Crozier
Out: H.Ballantyne (Suspension)

SUPERCOACH NOTES
DANYLE Pearce starred on his Fremantle debut in Round 1 finishing with 23 disposals, two goals and 130 points. Known for his ability to win the ball in space, it was his inside work that shone against the Eagles, winning an equal career-high 15 contested possessions.

BRISBANE LIONS v ADELAIDE at the GABBA from 4.40pm

BRISBANE LIONS
B: M.Golby D.Merrett R.Lester
HB: J.Adcock J.Patfull E.Yeo
C: D.Zorko T.Rockliff P.Hanley
HF: J.Polkinghorne J.Brown J.Green
F: A.McGrath S.Martin R.Bewick
R: M.Leuenberger D.Rich B.Moloney
I/C: C.Beams P.Karnezis A.Raines J.Redden
EMG: S.Mayes N.McKeever J.Crisp

In: A.Raines , M.Leuenberger , R.Lester
Out: M.Maguire (Calf) , A.Cornelius (Omitted) , B.Longer (Omitted)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
MATTHEW Leuenberger played a full match in the NEAFL last week, finishing with 19 disposals, four clearances, five inside 50s and 128 points. With a clash against Sam Jacobs on the cards, the Lions will be keen get him back into the side.

ADELAIDE
L.Brown B.Rutten A.Otten
M.Jaensch D.Talia B.Reilly
N.van Berlo S.Thompson D.Mackay
B.Crouch T.Walker B.Vince
R.Douglas J.Jenkins J.Porplyzia
S.Jacobs P.Dangerfield R.Sloane
M.Wright J.Petrenko I.Callinan R.Henderson
G.Johncock T.Lynch S.McKernan

In: I.Callinan , B.Crouch
Out: G.Johncock (Omitted) , B.Martin (Omitted)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
PATRICK Dangerfield had his colours lowered in the season opener against Essendon, managing only 63 points. He was given very little space and when he did have the ball his kicking was woeful, recording a team-low kicking efficiency of 30%. He'll have his work cut out against the Lions as well with Andrew Raines his likely opponent if he's named.

ESSENDON v MELBOURNE at the MCG from 7.40pm

ESSENDON
B: M.Baguley J.Carlisle D.Fletcher
HB: B.Goddard C.Hooker B.Stanton
C: D.Heppell J.Watson A.Davey
HF: S.Crameri M.Hurley D.Zaharakis
F: N.Kommer P.Ryder J.Melksham
R: T.Bellchambers H.Hocking C.Dempsey
I/C: J.Merrett D.Myers M.Hibberd B.Howlett
EMG: W.Hams D.Hille E.Kavanagh

NO CHANGE

SUPERCOACH NOTES
There were no signs of a Brownlow Medal hangover from JOBE Watson against Adelaide. The skipper led the Bombers to a morale boosting win, racking up a game-high 34 disposals on his way to 121 points. He also generated seven clearances and seven inside 50s, while chipping in to score one goal.

MELBOURNE
B: T.Gillies J.Frawley D.Terlich
HB: J.Watts T.McDonald C.Garland
C: J.Grimes J.Viney M.Jones
HF: S.Blease J.Sellar J.Howe
F: C.Sylvia M.Clark S.Byrnes
R: M.Jamar J.McKenzieN.Jones
I/C: J.Toumpas J.Trengove D.Nicholson A.Davey
EMG: D.Rodan C.Pederson J.Spencer

In: A.Davey , D.Terlich , J.Trengove , T.McDonald
Out: D.Rodan (Omitted) , L.Dunn (Hamstring) , L.Tapscott (Omitted) , C.Pederson (Omitted)

SUPERCOACH NOTES
JACK Watts was outstanding against Essendon in Round 10 last season, finishing with 24 disposals, seven marks (three intercepts), seven rebound 50s and 110 points. His ability to read the play shone, recording 13 intercept possessions – four more than any other player on the ground.

PORT ADELAIDE v GWS GIANTS, SATURDAY at 7.40pm at AAMI STADIUM

PORT ADELAIDE
B: Tom Jonas, Alipate Carlile, Cameron O'Shea
HB: Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove, Lewis Stevenson
C: Kane Cornes, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert
HF: Paul Stewart, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Jake Neade
R: Jarrad Redden, Oliver Wines, Hamish Hartlett
I/C: Campbell Heath, Kane Mitchell, Matthew Lobbe, Matthew Broadbent
EMG: Sam Colquhoun, Andrew Moore, Aaron Young

In: Carlile
Out: Moore (omitted)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
If HAMISH Hartlett remains injury free this year, then he looms as a boom recruit for any coach. He started strongly against the Demons, finishing with 29 disposals, four clearances, five inside 50s, two goals and 123 points. With the added bonus of dual position eligibility, he has to be considered.

GWS GIANTS
B: A Kennedy T Mohr P Davis
HB: T Bugg S Gilham C Hampton
C: T Scully C Ward W Hoskin-Elliott
HF: S Coniglio J Cameron D Shiel
F: L Sumner J Patton D Smith
R: J Giles A Treloar T Greene
I/C: D Brogan R Palmer L Plowman L Whitfield
EMG: S Frost S Darley S Reid

In: Rhys Palmer
Out: Taylor Adams (hip)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
Opposition sides are likely to target TOBY Greene after his outstanding debut season. Sydney used Ryan O'Keefe on him effectively last week, restricting him to 11 disposals, one mark, one tackle and 45 points. He can expect to have Kane Cornes by his side this round.

GEELONG v NORTH MELBOURNE, SUNDAY, ETIHAD STADIUM at 1.10pm

GEELONG
B: M.Brown T.LonerganC.Enright
HB: T.Hunt A.Mackie T.Varcoe
C: A.Christensen J.Bartel J.Kelly
HF: M.Duncan S.Motlop B.Smedts
F: J.Podsiadly T.Hawkins H.Taylor
R: T.West J.Selwood P.Chapman
I/C: J.Corey J.Caddy M.Stokes, G.Horlin-Smith J.Thurlow J.Stringer M.Blicavs

In: J.Corey , J.Kelly , M.Brown , J.Stringer , J.Thurlow
Out: J.Rivers (Knee) , J.Murdoch (Hand)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
If it wasn't for JIMMY Bartel's strong finish to Monday's match against Hawthorn, then his score would have been unacceptable. He collected 10 of his 22 disposals for the match in the final term, with 43 of his 88 points scored in that quarter as well.

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: S.McMahon S.Thompson M.Firrito
HB: J.Macmillan N.Grima S.Atley
C: A.Mullett R.Bastinac S.Gibson
HF: K.Harper R.Tarrant D.Wells
F: L.Thomas D.Petrie L.Hansen
R: T.Goldstein A.Swallow J.Ziebell
I/C: L.Anthony B.Jacobs B.Cunnington, L.Adams L.Greenwood T.Hine M.Daw
In: S.McMahon , L.Greenwood , M.Daw , T.Hine
Out: S.Wright (Knee)

SUPERCOACH NOTES
ANDREW Swallow is clearly one of the safest premium midfielders going around, playing in 89 consecutive matches – the second-longest streak of any player in the AFL. He dominated in the season opener against Collingwood, finishing with 34 disposals, nine tackles, seven clearances and a team-high 137 points.

COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON, SUNDAY, MCG FROM 3.20pm

COLLINGWOOD
B: N.Brown N.Maxwell B.Reid
HB: A.Toovey H.Shaw H.O'Brien
C: S.Sidebottom D.Swan P.Seedsman
HF: J.Elliott T.Cloke Q.Lynch
F: B.Sinclair T.Goldsack S.Dwyer
R: D.Jolly S.Pendlebury J.Blair
I/C: M.Clarke J.Frost B.Johnson B.Kennedy B.Macaffer J.Russell J.Thomas

In: H.Shaw , B.Kennedy , P.Seedsman

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
SCOTT Pendlebury will be looking to redeem himself against Carlton this week in what will be his 150th AFL match. He was nullified by Andrew Carrazzo in Round 3 last season, recording only 10 disposals form the 63 minutes they were matched up.

CARLTON
B: C.Yarran M.Jamison L.Henderson
HB: Z.Tuohy D.Armfield B.Gibbs
C: K.Simpson A.Carrazzo M.Robinson
HF: C.Judd A.Walker J.Garlett
F: T.Bell L.Casboult S.Rowe
R: M.Kreuzer M.Murphy B.McLean
I/C: J.Bootsma D.Buckley M.Davies N.Duigan J.Laidler K.Lucas S.White

In: S.Rowe , S.White , J.Laidler , M.Davies , D.Buckley , T.Bell
Out: E.Betts (Jaw) , A.Joseph (Omitted) , S.Hampson (appendix removed)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
CHRIS Judd has excelled against the Magpies since 2010, averaging 114 points per game – ranked No.1 at the club. Averaging 30 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven clearances and six inside 50s per match, he dominated in the two meetings last season, racking up 35 and 32 disposals respectively.

WEST COAST v HAWTHORN, SUNDAY, 4.40pm at PATERSONS STADIUM

WEST COAST
B: A.Selwood D.Glass M.Brown
HB: S.Hurn W.Schofield B.Waters
C: A.Embley M.Priddis A.Gaff
HF: J.Cripps JJ.Kennedy A.Hams
F: C.Masten J.Darling J.Hill
R: D.Cox S.Selwood L.Shuey
I/C: J.Brennan S.Butler B.Sheppard C.Sinclair As.Smith B.Dalziell B.Wilson

In: S.Butler , M.Brown , B.Dalziell , J.Brennan , B.Wilson , C.Sinclair
Out: M.LeCras (arm) , E.Mackenzie (Hamstring) , S.Lycett (Omitted)

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
MARK LeCras' wretched injury run continues after he suffered a fractured arm against Fremantle – an injury that will sideline him up to one month. He impressed in the lead up, finishing with 14 disposals, eight tackles, two goals and 91 points. A straight swap for team mate Josh Kennedy is your best option.

HAWTHORN
B: R.Schoenmakers J.Gibson B.Guerra
HB: G.Birchall B.Stratton S.Burgoyne
C: I.Smith S.Mitchell B.Hill
HF: C.Rioli L.Franklin P.Puopolo
F: J.Gunston J.Roughead L.Breust
R: M.Bailey B.Sewell J.Lewis
I/C: L.Hodge J.Anderson D.Hale S.Savage J.Simpkin M.Spangher L.Shiels

In: L.Hodge , J.Simpkin , M.Spangher

SUPERCOACH NOTES:
SAM Mitchell found plenty of the ball last week against Geelong, winning 24 of his 37 disposals in the defensive half. He was the top ranked player for the match courtesy of his 141 points – 19 more than any other Hawthorn player.

REPLAY THE CHAT WITH SAM LANDSBERGER BELOW

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Hawks demand Buddy answer

Hawthorn want an answer from Lance Franklin. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

HAWTHORN will demand to know before the end of the season whether Lance Franklin will stay at the club.

The superstar shocked Hawthorn when he put contract talks on hold, but he will be asked to decide his future on the club's timetable.

The Hawks want an early answer from Franklin to eliminate the sort of distraction that surrounded Travis Cloke's contract status at Collingwood last year.

"You can't leave it until after the season, because from a recruiting point of view, it's just impractical," Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold told the Herald Sun.

Despite Franklin's pre-season call to shelve contract talks, the Hawks will present their marquee player with another contract offer some time throughout the season.

Newbold said the club was "truly very relaxed" about the situation and remained confident the terms on offer to Franklin reflected his standing.

But Newbold said the club could not afford to wait until the last minute to get an answer from its brilliant forward.

"It can be towards the end of the season, but it won't be able to be after the season," he said.

"I think that maybe we have taken that for granted a bit, but that's certainly our position.

"If he is going to leave, he needs to be thinking about where he is going. He just can't leave that until after the season, there are practicalities attached to it."

Newbold said the club would discuss with Franklin's manager, Liam Pickering, whether some of the terms of the warehoused proposal could be negotiated.

"We will be going to him some time during the year with another offer saying 'Mate, there it is, we need to know'," he said.

"We will talk to his manager about that, about what needs to be tweaked and what doesn't and whether we can and whether we can't."

One of the biggest names in the game, Franklin, who is a restricted free agent at the end of the year, could command a salary in excess of $1.2 million a year on the free market.

Greater Western Sydney has already declared its interest but Fremantle is adamant it is not in the running.

With the Hawks salary cap estimated to be near capacity, the club has insisted it would not compromise its list for one player.

"You just can't do it when you've got 44 players on your list," Newbold said. "All the aspects of the leadership of the club are at one on that.

"Everything I am hearing and seeing for myself is that he loves the Hawthorn footy club and certainly we want him to be here."
 

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Will new Riewoldt role backfire?

Jack Riewoldt leads Lachie Henderson up the ground last Thursday night. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

IF you didn't know better, you might think Jack Riewoldt had kicked a bag against Carlton, such were the accolades he received.

"I thought he was outstanding ... his best game in 12 months," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

Teammate Brett Deledio was just as effusive: "I was really proud of Jack and the way he played."

It says something about the beguiling nature of the Coleman medallist that he didn't kick a goal.

The issue of what Richmond does with its star forward on one level should be straightforward. But things are never simple with Riewoldt.

His roaming of the flanks drives many fans crazy, but insiders are adamant it's for the best.

And Riewoldt apparently agrees.

"He's after team success, so he's put aside personal success," Richmond forward coach Mark Williams said this week.

"He understands as a leader, for a team to play as a team he has to be a great team player.

"He's a bit more mature. He's had a little bit of personal success in the past but it hasn't led to team success so he understands team success means playing roles, it means giving into, - no, not giving in - but playing your part for the team."

Tiger Jack Riewoldt. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Hardwick has been telling his flamboyant forward to kick fewer goals for years.

Leigh Matthews calls it the full-forward conundrum.

In economics, the concept is known as opportunity cost.

Sure, Tyrone Vickery kicked three last week, but if Riewoldt had played deep, who knows how many he would have kicked?

"I reckon the way Richmond were dominating the game, if Riewoldt was playing out of the full-forward line on (Michael) Jamison or whoever, he would have kicked his four, five, six," Matthews told Channel 7's Game Day.

Matthews, expanding on that view for the Herald Sun, said he could understand what the Tigers were trying to do.

"I tend to term it the conundrum of the gun full-forward," he said.

"Teams don't want to depend on one player to kick too big a percentage of your scores.

"Richmond obviously believe if Jack's in that part of the ground his teammates just kick it to him all the time.

"It's kind of this balancing act. The guy most likely to kick six, seven, eight goals is Riewoldt, but there's no use him kicking eight if we kick 12, that kind of thing.

"They're trying to work out how to use Tyrone Vickery compared to Jack Riewoldt.

Who, me? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"I made the comment that I understand the principle ... but Richmond were dominating the game that much on Thursday night if he'd been somewhere towards their go-to player I suspect they might have (scored more).

"Vickery was OK, but as a target forward I would have thought Riewoldt is likely to be better than Vickery, generally speaking."

Riewoldt might be the new Steve Johnson - he wants to have the most score assists at the Tigers.

"Jack's had that in his mind the last couple of years," Williams said.

During 2011 and 2012, Riewoldt scored fewer goals but had more impact on the scoreboard when you factor in score assists.

"People don't see these things," Williams said. "They see what they perceived years go, but he's evolved so much in regards to his team play.

"Everyone needs to play for the team. He's a leader, so he knows he's got to fly the flag."

Geelong premiership forward Cameron Mooney said single-minded forwards can change.

"By the end of my career I found it more satisfying when I looked down my assists column than my goal column," Mooney said.

"I just think that's going to be fantastic for the Richmond footy club if they all know Jack Riewoldt's about team, not that I'm saying he hasn't been that way before, but I just think it sends a great message to everyone else."

Before Round 1 Riewoldt said he was starting to "look past individual stuff".

Brett Deledio and Jack Riewoldt against Carlton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"Early on in your career you look to get a game, then you want to have an impact, and then you want to be regarded as a senior player," he said.

"And then it gets to the stage where you haven't had much (team) success, and you start to look outside the box. How can I improve Jake King? How can I improve Tyrone Vickery?"

Some who know Riewoldt reckon while he's talking team, Jack is still Jack - the role will be a challenge for the big character with the healthy ego.

But he's certainly trying, even pushing it too far on occasions. During a pre-season match in Wangaratta Deledio said it was "ridiculous" the way Riewoldt was passing the ball off rather than having a shot at goal.

"He's so focused on trying to help others sometimes it can go the other way," Williams said.

"But we've worked our way through that and I think he's got the balance right now."

Williams said the forward structure this season would be flexible.

There's no full-forward really. The set-up comprises key forwards (talls), small forwards (high forwards) and hybrid forwards (mids/forwards).

"It looks like Jack plays high, but he basically goes where he wants to," Williams said.

"He's drawn to the ball, he makes the play by positioning himself where he can get it. Sometimes that's high, sometimes that's deep. It just depends on our flow of play and how we're going in games.

"You say he's a full-forward but really, he's a tall forward. He knows he has to play a role for the team and he's very happy to do that.

"He knows if he can help others be better by playing selfless roles for the team, it helps the team get better and helps him getter better as well."

Tonight, it won't be a surprise to see Riewoldt working out of the goalsquare again. He kicked eight last year against St Kilda and in 2010 he had hauls of seven and six.

Mooney said while the Tigers needed to find more goalkickers if they are to play finals, Riewoldt should remain their key target "50-60 per cent of the time".

"Don't be fooled, I've still got him down for the Coleman Medal," Mooney said.

"I still think he's going to kick big bags of goals this year. He's just going to do a lot of team stuff as well, which is going to make him a better player."

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Fletch can top 400, say greats

Dustin Fletcher can reach 400 games, says James Hird. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

A knock on the door at the 400 game club. Cartoon by David 'Macca' McArthur Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON coach James Hird, and the two men who have played more than 400 league games, say Dustin Fletcher can reach the remarkable milestone.

Tomorrow night Fletcher will play his 367th game for the Bombers and celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut in Round 2, 1993.

Hird said he saw no reason why Fletcher could not play beyond this season, with Michael Tuck (426 games for Hawthorn) also urging the 37-year-old to play on.

Fletcher's father Ken believes his son will play again next year.

Given he needs 33 more games to reach 400, Fletcher could eclipse Kevin Bartlett (403 games for Richmond) by the end of next season.

Fletcher is more than three years older than North Melbourne's Brent Harvey, who, at 34 and with 346 games, also has a chance to join the 400-game club.

"It is an amazing story," Hird told the Herald Sun.

"You have Michael Tuck and you have had Kevin Bartlett, and hopefully we have Dustin Fletcher. It is a fantastic story and I hope it goes a lot longer."

Asked if there was any reason for Fletcher not to get to 400, Hird said: "Not at the moment, not the way he's playing. Footy can change quickly, but everything I have seen on the training track and certainly in Round 1, he's shaping up for another very good year."

Bartlett said Fletcher was a marvel, and that modern sports science would allow more players to get close to games milestones that have stood for decades.

"I hope he gets to 400 games and plays for as long as he possibly can. He has been an absolutely marvellous player," he said.

Tuck urged Fletcher to keep playing the game.

"I would like to keep it (the record), but one day he could have it. Records are made to be broken," Tuck said.

"Anyone is capable of 400, but the big thing is injuries. When you get a little bit older it takes a little while to get over the game itself, let alone injuries."

Fletcher will break Simon Madden's club record of 378 games as early as Round 14.

"Don't worry about my record, worry about Tucky's. I don't know if I have seen another guy of his size who can run that fast and play on so many players," Madden said.

Fletcher drew level with Bernie Quinlan (366 games) in Round 1, and trails Tuck (426), Bartlett (403), Robert Harvey (383), Madden (378) and Craig Bradley (375).

Ken Fletcher said he had no doubt his son would play on, barring injury.

"I reckon if he doesn't get injured, and let's hope that doesn't happen, he will play again next year," Fletcher said.
 

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Anyone for Frosties, guys?

Nathan Buckley and Mick Malthouse shake hands at the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre breakfast. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

THE body language was telling.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley arrived early at yesterday's Peter Mac charity breakfast at the MCG, looking relaxed in a club polo top and slacks.

He stood beside his table laughing as he mingled and chatted to guests.

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse arrived later, dressed in a crisp suit and tie, seemingly stiff and on edge as he strode through the crowd in the Members' Dining Room looking for his seat - at one point getting to within a couple of metres of Buckley - and not making eye contact with anyone until he found Blues president Stephen Kernahan.

The two coaches took their seats at tables 19 and 21, separated by about 10 metres, and listened intently while they ate fruit, muesli and juice followed by poached eggs.

Both had rescheduled training sessions to accommodate the annual panel discussion at the charity breakfast.
Yet insiders suggested Malthouse had inquired about coming early to start proceedings, and had even sounded out the possibility of not attending.

He looked tense throughout and barely cracked a smile.

Picture gallery: Pies make a splash at training

Host Brian Taylor, the former Collingwood spearhead and a one-time Malthouse teammate at Richmond, was not dancing around the subject of Mick coaching against "his boys", the Collingwood players he took to a flag in 2010.

Fully aware that Malthouse and Collingwood president Eddie McGuire - who was out of the country yesterday - had exchanged barbs over the past week, Taylor chuckled into the microphone: "Eddie's away, otherwise there might be another dynamic in the room."

After the morning's formalities, the coaches and captains were individually called up to the stage to join the panel.

When Malthouse was introduced, Buckley politely applauded. When it was Buckley's turn, Malthouse was facing the other direction, chatting.

On stage, the two men exchanged a perfunctory handshake, Buckley making eye contact, Malthouse looking to the right at Maxwell.

They sat at opposite ends of the table.

For eight of Malthouse's 12 seasons at Collingwood, Buckley was his captain. Yet the two men did not talk before, during or after yesterday's breakfast.

The only words they exchanged came when Buckley was asked what he expected from the opposition coaches' box on Sunday.

"We don't have a lot to go on, Carlton under Mick. But obviously having played under him and coached with him, I've got a fair understanding of the way he sees the game of footy."

Craning his neck to look down the panel, Buckley added: "I think after 29 years as a head coach ... Mick?"

"Yep," Malthouse confirmed bluntly.

"After 29 years we all know what Mick Malthouse-coached sides look like. Carlton, as Mick has detailed, are a work in progress, and how much of the residual is still there and how much of the new stuff is still to come through, we'll see as the year progresses."

Buckley then landed a backhanded compliment, mentioning that Carlton had defeated Collingwood twice last year: "Brett Ratten had a fair understanding of us and had a way to get around our strengths, so we need to get around Carlton's."

When asked his view on the subject, Malthouse reiterated his stance that it would be business as usual coaching against his former club, despite having revealed earlier in the week that his family was "disappointed with humanity" about his messy departure from Collingwood.

Malthouse said the perception Sunday's game meant something special to him was "more media and supporter driven".

"I do know some of the players who will be playing for Collingwood, but it's amazing that 12 months out what's happened is that there's a massive change in personnel at the football club - and that goes for every football club. So it's not the same football club that I was at," he said.

"But if I focus on that, it's the very thing that I coach against, which is individuality. It's all about, and must be about, the team. So I've got to make sure that any emotions I have are all directed towards our team playing as well as they can."

Buckley and Maxwell agreed their focus this week was on the old enemy, not the new 59-year-old enemy.

"The (Collingwood-Carlton) rivalry exists longer than any of us sitting here have been around, and that's a great thing to be a part of," Buckley said.

Maxwell suggested: "I know everyone wants to build it up and make it sound like it's all about Mick and it's all about Bucks and about our coaches, but it's about who gets the four points."

When the panel discussion concluded, there was an awkward moment when Malthouse stood up and spun on his heel, turning his back when it seemed Buckley was intent on approaching him.

Both men immediately left the room for their respective clubs. Buckley headed for the lift, while 20 metres behind him Malthouse took the escalator and marched off towards the city

TAB's Adam Hamilton previews the upcoming round 2Collingwood vs Carlton game.

Dave Hughes and Peter Helliar tell us why they love to hate each other's footy teams.

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Dogs left out in cold by Willy

Western Bulldog Jarrad Grant had nowhere to play on the weekend. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Cartoon by David 'Macca' McArthur. Source: Herald Sun

WESTERN Bulldogs players will be forced to play VFL reserves under a selection policy enforced by affiliate Williamstown.

The Seagulls will pick no more than 12 Bulldogs in any VFL match after the alignment soured last year, leading to an impending split.

The deal gives Williamstown greater selection control. It has declared it will pick a minimum of 11 VFL-listed players as it prepares to become a stand-alone club next year.

The policy is a temporary blow to the development of several prized Bulldogs youngsters.

Last week No. 5 draft pick Jarrad Grant, father-son pick Lachie Hunter and exciting prospect Fletcher Roberts were among five AFL-listed players who were fit but had nowhere to play after the Seagulls overlooked them.

With Dylan Addison, Easton Wood, Nathan Hrovat, Tom Williams and Matthew Boyd due back from injury in the next three weeks, that number is set to rise.

Of the 44-listed Bulldogs players, 33 are guaranteed a senior match each week, with the rest forced into Williamstown's reserves.

The Seagulls went on a recruiting spree in the off-season, headlined by AFL discards Justin Sherman, Cameron Wood, Brent Prismall and Leigh Williams, to reduce their dependence on Bulldogs-listed players.

Seagulls general manager Brendan Curry said he believed the selection was a fair split and his club had a responsibility to develop Bulldog players.

Curry will now meet with Dogs football manager James Fantasia each week to discuss which AFL players should be picked.

"We'll take certain requests on board, but it's a Williamstown call. There's consultation and we'll take a common sense approach,'' he said.

Curry said the alignment had worked smoothly since last September.

Dogs football manager James Fantasia agreed the clubs were working well and said there was "healthy" discussion around team selection.

"We believe (Willy coach) Peter German does a great job juggling both clubs' priorities,'' he said.

Next year the Bulldogs and Richmond will join Geelong, Collingwood and Essendon in fielding stand-alone reserves side in the VFL.

DOGS LEFT OUT IN THE COLD LAST WEEK

Jarrad Grant
Lachie Hunter
Fletcher Roberts
Josh Prudden
Alex Greenwood

HOW THE SELECTION POLICY WORKS

- When up to 15 Bulldogs are available for VFL duties, Williamstown will pick a maximum of 11
- When 16 or more Bulldogs are available, Williamstown will pick a maximum of 12

*THE Western Bulldogs are considering a name change for their new VFL team.

A decision will be made during the season whether the VFL team will play under the club's original name Footscray.

But president Peter Gordon said last night there were no plans for the club or its senior side to revert to Footscray.

The club changed its name to the Western Bulldogs late in 1996.

-with Daryl Timms
 

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Dee-fiant Neeld ignores backlash

Demons coach Mark Neeld says vicious critics can boo all they want. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld says he will ignore widespread criticism and supporter backlash as he continues to rebuild his ailing football club.

Shell-shocked after Sunday's shameful performance against Port Adelaide, Neeld has ignored the media this week and concentrated on replicating the high intensity of training on match day.

Emphasising he had a job to do, he admitted he heard the booing at three-quarter time on Sunday, but it did not faze him.

"I heard it," Neeld said.

"But the coach's main concern during the game is the players.

"It's not great to hear it ... and that's how they dealt with an unacceptable performance.

"My way of dealing with it is to sit down with the players and have heart-to-hearts, review the game, explain how we want to play, go back through training ... that's how I've got to deal with it.

Read Mark Robinson's full interview with Mark Neeld here

"If people chose to boo, that's their choice. That will never get in the road of what we are trying to achieve."

"I will simply state that what we've seen over summer and at training is not what we saw on Sunday," Neeld said.

Neeld was understanding of fans who might turn their backs on Melbourne.

"Unfortunately, if you're not going to turn up and watch us play through this period, that is your decision, no problem, but you will always be welcomed back."

Neeld refused to give guarantees about the performance this week, but did make promises about preparation and professionalism.

He said the game against Essendon on Saturday night was about effort and work ethic, and not the about winning.

"It's about how we go about it," Neeld said.

"We might get beaten by Essendon on the weekend, but it will be the way in which we approach the game which will be important.

"Clubs in rebuilding phase cannot use the number of victories (to judge), it's about the manner in which we go about it and that's what was disappointing about Sunday. We didn't go about it in the right manner.

"We're doing what we can to instil in very young players the correct manner in which to play.

"We can promise that the attitude of our players to train and to prepare is becoming a highly competitive AFL standard.

"And I can inform supporters today's training session was of AFL standard and quick and there was energy there.

And, yes, there were a few terrible kicks, but I saw players make mistakes and have a crack at the next one."

Neeld did not make excuses, but pointed out last Sunday's game was "game one, year two of a rebuild of a rebuild which never got off the ground".

He said training loads had increased, as had the players' appetite to compete at the highest level.

"Last year they were driving to training to survive the day ... now they are driving to training to attack training."

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Neeld: What happened next

Melbourne coach Mark Neeld. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

A SURPRISINGLY calm Mark Neeld pulled up a chair and sat in front of his players in the coaches' room, moments after being heckled off the MCG.

 He chose not to pace up and back and rant at the forlorn figures in front of him, instead making it a discussion.

"You need to be really careful with immediate post-match discussions," he said.

"They can be quite emotive, but the reason we did that is we believe they needed to listen most importantly and then deliver to us things that needed to be said."

Neeld said his piece, basing it generally on bigger-picture plans and specifically on the work rate of the previous two hours.

Skipper Jack Grimes spoke, then Nathan Jones, Mitch Clark and, finally, first-gamer Jack Viney.

The players weren't invited to speak - they invited themselves.

"I pointed out what we didn't see is what we have been seeing at training," Neeld said.

"I was pleased those guys spoke.

They are the natural leaders within the group.

I was really interested to see the reaction from the other players as to whether they were listening, what they were taking in.

"They were listening and that's a good sign. But the biggest challenge is actions, and we talked about that a lot.

"One of the key messages was we know it's hard, we know the position the club is in. It's not too often you have to rebuild and there's a million reasons why we are here, but that's our job.

"And unless you are on the inside and seeing it day to day no one will believe there has been improvement.

"And that's OK, because we've got nothing to offer on performance day - yet.

"And the thing they all reinforced was how hard they've trained over the past 12 months and that guys with good character don't let that slip."

The Demons after their Round 1 loss. Source: Getty Images

CRITICISM

YOU just knew it would be vicious and it was.

From Wayne Carey, from Garry Lyon, from Paul Roos to talkback radio and Twitter, the Demons were pulverised.

Weak. Pathetic. Soft.

They can't play. He can't coach. The game plan was confusing, the coach had lost the players and the players were sooking in response.

Neeld said he has a strong armour.

"The criticism is going to come with the job," he said

"A lot of the people who make the criticisms don't have all the information.

"It doesn't matter how big the names are, unless they see what happens day to day, they don't know everything.

"But we're not going to shy away ... that was a below-par performance.

"But it is one game of 22 in the second year of a rebuild, and we're going to do as much as we can to make sure that doesn't put us back."

Neeld said he hasn't read a newspaper, listened to the radio or watched any of the footy programs on TV.

"When I got home, I wasn't ready to do the review straight away, which is abnormal," he said.

"And the reason I wasn't ready is because that natural competitive nature that we talk about all the time wasn't there and I was really disappointed."

Fuming?

"Not really. If there is a coach who lets themselves fume inside for too long, you're not going to make the correct decisions for the club, which is a bad call," he said.

He watched Collingwood-North Melbourne - "It was a completely different game," he said, "almost like a completely different sport."

The performance didn't jolt him, nor was it a situation of a disconnect between the coach and the players.

"It's a hard road we've chosen, but it's the one we're on.

The confidence I get is from what I see every day. I haven't got a crystal ball, I don't know how long that turns into performance, but I know that's the hardest step to take."

The Demons come onto the ground against the Power. Source: Getty Images

REVIEW 1

ON Sunday morning Neeld hit the pavement because, his wife said, he had eaten too much Easter chocolate.

The coaching group gathered about midday.

Each coach reviewed and tagged and cut and listed pros and cons from their specific areas.

Then it was across the road to watch Geelong and Hawthorn.

"There were lots of learnings for us," Neeld said.

"It was good to watch without being in the game.

"Right now, we will never lament that we don't have a Sam Mitchell or (Joel) Selwood - we need to develop them.

"I don't know how many times you sit in the box and watch the TV and when someone is kicking for a goal, up flashes the name, 27 years, 170 games.

"I will use Liam Shiels as an example. He's having a shot for goal and he's played so many games, but he's played more games than our two captains.

"Look at Mitchell. Our job is to develop (Jack) Grimes into that over time. Different player but play in the same area of the ground."

Neeld sat with defensive coach Jade Rawlings for a quarter andmonitored the Geelong defensive group, which includes Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright and Andrew Mackie.

"Our job is to try to develop Watts into that, and Col Garland down those lines," Neeld said.

Oh no, how did this happen? Source: Getty Images

REVIEW 2

MONDAY was a day of individual discussions with almost half the team.

One in particular left its mark.

It was with first-gamer Jimmy Toumpas, and showed Neeld the depth of feeling and the want to succeed.

"I just wanted to know what he thought about AFL footy," Neeld laughed.

"He was hilarious. I said, 'S---, what did you think?' He's a good kid. He was devastated. And this is where you get a reality check.

"He thought he had let down the entire Greek community.

"I said, 'Jimmy, you've just debuted in something you've always wanted to do, I think you've made the entire Greek community proud'.

"He asked what I was thinking, and I said, 'You're playing against Essendon, this is where you're going to play, have you got any questions?' "

Neeld also spoke to Viney.

"I said, 'Jack, what have you got for me?' He says, 'Right, I've spoken to Jonesy this morning and what we're going to do in the centre bounce against (Bomber Paddy) Ryder is this, we're going try this ...

"I said, 'Jack, that's OK, but how did you recover, how's the body?'

"He said, "Mate, don't worry about that, that's sorted, this is what I reckon we should do this week'.

"They are the future of our footy club."

Coach Mark Neeld, Nathan Jones and Jack Grimes of the Demons stand for the national anthem before Round 1. Source: Getty Images

REVIEW 3

TUESDAY.

It's about the journey of being ready to play AFL which leads to the game review, which centres on work ethic.

Not so long ago you could tell a player he didn't work hard.

Today you can tell them they didn't work hard and thrust GPS data at them.

"It was interesting to sit down with the players and look at their vision, but also pull out numbers to show how they worked during the game compared to when they trained - and they were very different," Neeld said.

Neeld used 10 to 12 clips from the Port Adelaide game to highlight the lack of work ethic, and used the data to compare their training workloads to Sunday's workloads.

"We were able to draw the parallel from training," he said.

"For example, there's your result from January 15 and you ran that far, that quick, that many times and that hard. And look at what you did on Sunday."

One clip was of defender James Frawley.

"He's as honest as the day is long, and we said, 'Chipper, what happened here?'

"He said, 'I can remember that and I thought I was going quick. I felt like I was going quick. But looking at that, I wasn't going quick'.

"I said, 'Chipper, you weren't'.

"Those were the sort of talks we had."

Demons coach Mark Neeld speaks to his team at three-quarter time last Saturday. Source: Getty Images

CAM PEDERSEN

IT'S a tricky one for Neeld.

Pedersen, in his first game and in a non-threatening environment, ducked his head as he went for a mark in the middle of the MCG.

Neeld knows every player has done that at some stage, and tells Pedersen so.

He also tells Pedersen that it can't happen again.

Neeld won't say if Pedersen is in the team or out.

They spoke Tuesday morning.

"He said he wasn't great," Neeld said.

"I could imagine how he was feeling. Most footballers have done an act they thought they could have gone stronger in.

"And I told him, he needed to grow stronger, but here is how we are going to help you through it.

"On the training track this week and every other week we will put you in that position to make sure you watch the football into your hands, and we will bump you, and you need to keep watching the ball into your hands. And as each week goes, the body contact will get harder.

"Your end of the bargain is to eradicate that from your game. I gave him other examples of players that the world knows did it, but they've got it out of their game. That's the way I handled it.

"I told him I can't guarantee you will play this week, nor can I say if you're out of the side, but whatever happens we won't shy away from our role to educate you.

"The reality is Cam Pedersen has played 17 games of AFL football ... and we won't abandon him."

Cameron Pederson in action against Port Adelaide. Source: Getty Images

SELECTION

SOMETIMES you throw the challenge at the same group and don't make changes.

Other times the performance is so unacceptable changes are needed.

Neeld is a latter-type coach. He will make four changes, and will only say that Lynden Dunn is out with a hamstring strain.

Into the side will come skipper Jack Trengove, Tom McDonald, debutant Dean Terlich, a running half-back, and one other.

"We have to get balance," Neeld said.

"And within that there are roles that have to be played. There were a couple of cases where players knew exactly what their role was, and we saw none of it."

There was also the lack of application, and that always carries a penalty.

"The penalty for that is you won't be playing AFL football this week," he said.

The Demons leave the field after their Round 1 defeat. Source: Getty Images

GAME PLAN

ONE question being asked: is Neeld over-coaching, over-complicating the manner in which they play?

He laughed at the question.

No, he's not a Mick Malthouse clone who hugs the boundary.

No, not one player has told him in the past 18 months he doesn't understand what the coach is saying.

No, he doesn't have a zone defence, which it looked like on Sunday.

And, yes, he wants attacking football.

"You have to ask the players if I over-complicate things," he said.

"No one has ever told me they are confused.

"I hate kicking down the line, it's slow and boring. Just get it going.

"The person with the ball is the most important person on the ground."

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'I feel for Mick': Bucks

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says he has nothing but respect for former mentor Mick Malthouse. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley admits to having some empathy for Carlton coach Mick Malthouse ahead of Sunday's blockbuster MCG clash.

But he doesn't expect the same from Malthouse in return.

"I do feel for Mick in some ways,'' Buckley said yesterday.

"I understand he has said himself that he doesn't want it to be about him, but it's pretty hard to avoid given his recent connection with the club and then going to the arch enemy."

"Try as he might, he won't be able to avoid that, but that happens on the other side of the fence.

The real action is going to be on the field come game day and the players can't help but pick up there's going to be a lot of eyes watching.'

Jon Ralph: Mick's private war against Buckley

Asked if he thought Malthouse might feel empathy towards him, Buckley said: "No.''

But Buckley, still chasing his first win as coach against Carlton after two losses last year, has played down suggestions of a rift.

"There's plenty of people keen to drum that up and to try to make it an adversarial relationship,'' he said.

"I've got nothing but respect for Mick.

"I learnt a lot from him, played under him for a number of years as his captain and worked under him as an assistant coach in the plan to eventually become senior coach.

"We've had many frank discussions, not in recent times, (but) we've had many frank discussions about that situation."

Buckley did not expect there would be any pre-game acknowledgment between the two coaches on Sunday.

"I very rarely go to any of the opposition coaches on game day,'' he said.

"I caught up with Mick at the coaches' AGM last week, I will see him ... at the Peter MacCallum breakfast and I am sure watching the TV shows, I will see plenty of his head between now and Sunday.''

Picture gallery: Pies make a splash at training

Buckley inadvertently brought a laugh to the press conference yesterday when asked if he and Malthouse had had recent conversations.

"He's the coach of Collingwood,'' he said of Malthouse before correcting himself.

"He was ... (now) he's the coach of Carlton.

"I haven't spent a great deal of time with the coach of Carlton in my time as the coach of Collingwood.''

Dayne Beams (quad) will miss Sunday's clash and could be absent for another fortnight.But Buckley is confident Ben Reid (concussion) and Ben Johnson (thigh) will be right to play against the Blues, while Heath Shaw (illness) is a certain starter.

The Magpies coach refused to rule out Dale Thomas, who missed yesterday's session, but played 75 per cent of last week's VFL match.

Asked if Thomas was still a chance to play, he said: "Absolutely.''

Clinton Young, Alex Fasolo, Paul Seedsman and Andrew Krakouer are also in the mix.

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Kennett drops call to sack Clarko

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has called for coach Alastair Clarkson to be sacked at the season's end following 10th straight loss to Geelong

Keep walking, Clarko. Former Hawk president Jeff Kennett says it is time for a change at Hawthorn. Source: Herald Sun

Cartoon by David 'Macca' McArthur. Source: Herald Sun

A CONTRITE former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said yesterday he "wished he could take back'' his savaging of coach Alastair Clarkson following the club's loss to Geelong at the MCG on Monday.

Kennett said Clarkson, who is contracted for 2014, should leave or be sacked at the end of the season.

In a back-flip, Kennett sent a written apology to Clarkson yesterday, admitting he was out of line and sorry for the grief he'd caused him and his family.

He unsuccessfully tried to ring Clarkson yesterday and later sent a text message.

Kennett revealed he then sent his written apology to Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox, who confirmed that he personally delivered it to the coach at Waverley Park yesterday.

"I tried to ring him, but as often is the case he didn't answer the phone, so I sent him an SMS just to apologise and to say I was going to apologise and I haven't heard back," he said.

"To make sure he got it, I sent a copy to the CEO and asked him to give it to Alastair so I can't have done much more.

"I'm sure we'll catch up at some stage but I'm on my way interstate so it won't be today or tomorrow."

Hawthorn's 10-game losing streak to Geelong is dubbed The Kennett Curse after he questioned the Cats' mental drive on the eve of the 2009 season.

It followed their loss to the Hawks in the 2008 Grand Final.

Speaking about the curse on the eve of Monday's game, Kennett said he had never regretted anything he'd said.

"(But) this is one,'' he said yesterday.

"I'm sure we'll catch up at some stage but I'm on my way interstate, so it won't be today or tomorrow."

Hawthorn's 10-game losing streak to Geelong is dubbed "The Kennett Curse" after he questioned the Cats' mental drive on the eve of the 2009 season. It followed their loss to the Hawks in the 2008 Grand Final.

Speaking about the curse on the eve of Monday's game, Kennett said he had never regretted anything he'd said - "(but) this is one," he added yesterday.

"I wish I could take it back but I can't and all I can do is unreservedly apologise, which I do."

Kennett, club president from 2006-11, said no one from Hawthorn had contacted him about his outburst but, on reflection, he realised his comments were inappropriate.

"Probably uttered in a moment of great frustration because it was just as we were leaving the ground and it actually goes against everything I believe in, in a sense that no individual on their own wins or loses a thing and we do it as a team," he said.

"What I said in signalling out Alastair was totally inappropriate. I am well experienced in dealing with the media so no one is to blame but myself."

Kennett said there was no reason Clarkson, in his ninth year as coach and with a 56.6 per cent win rate, could not see out his contract.

Kennett's letter said:

I apologise to Alastair Clarkson.

I was out of line yesterday in holding him solely responsible for our club not saluting in the last three years and for our performance yesterday.

It is true that with out list of players and the support the club has given the football department that I felt we have underachieved over that three year period.

Of course that is a subjective view, and on each occasion we were beaten by a better team on the day.

And yes, someone must accept responsibility for those defeats.

But maybe in my support for my club I have come to expect too much!

And on reflection I was wrong to single out Alastair alone.

He, like all at the club, have done their best and Alastair has personal values which I have always gratefully respected.

We are all responsible for the good times and less successful.

Monday's game was a classic in that Hawthorn performed well in the first half and Geelong less so. But after halftime Geelong came out on a mission and turned the game on its head.

Our five goal advantage, which became three goals just before half time, quickly disappeared. We seem to have lost our mojo as Geelong found theirs.

The performance of (Paul) Chapman always has me in awe.

He is consistent in his toughness and drives the ball everytime he gets his hands on it. (Joel) Selwood is a wonderful leader who sets a very high standard of both leadership and effort.

Not to say Hawthorn was without contributors through (Sam) Mitchell, (Brad)  Sewell and ever competitive (Josh) Gibson. But, sadly not as competitive enough across the group as our opponents.

I guess when you have witnessed the club grow since 2005 to the level of membership and good health it enjoys today, you just expect it to keep performing at the highest level.

Hopefully that will continue to be the case and the season has just started, so to make judgments based on one game is inappropriate.

That said, the tribal nature of the game drives our emotions and yesterday, in my frustration, I wrongly singled out Alastair and for what was a team result for which we all must accept responsibility and be challenged to do better, week on week.

I sincerely apologise to Alastair Clarkson and his family for the grief I have caused them.

 

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