Clubs protest cut to rookie list

Champion Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands is one of many players who have gone on to outstanding careers after being elevated from the rookie list. Picture: Daniel Wilkins. Source: PerthNow

CLUBS have called on the AFL to revisit a drastic cut to the rookie list, which will see almost 40 players miss out on being drafted this year.

The league will reduce each club's rookie list from six to four players, after allowing clubs extra rookies in the expansion era.

It means the hopes and dreams of two additional players at each club will not be realised in December - some teams will retain all four existing rookies and not bring in any new 18-year-olds.

Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said clubs would lobby the AFL to allow the additional players, given the success of the rookie list.

Many of the stars of the game, including Shane Mumford, Aaron Sandilands and Dean Cox started from rookie lists.

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Cooney's cutting-edge treatment

Western Bulldogs are hoping Adam Cooney can return to his best with the help of radical surgery in Germany. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun

BROWNLOW Medallist Adam Cooney is set to undertake cutting-edge treatment in Germany on the troublesome cracked patella that has jeopardised his career.

Cooney will fly out to the club's European training camp on Sunday, October 28,  to visit a specialist in Dusseldorf.

The Dogs are highly encouraged by the progress Cooney made with his knee this year and his form in the last weeks of the season.

The treatment is worth several thousand dollars but will not involve surgery and has the club hoping it might further allow Cooney to train and play to his undoubted potential.

He will join the Dogs after his three-day treatment process at their London base, as they train there before their exhibition game against Port Adelaide.

Cooney is not attending Munich's Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, the controversial specialist who injects calf blood into patients.

He has helped Geelong's Max Rooke and Richmond's Mark Coughlan and Dylan Grimes with their soft-tissue problems.

The 27-year-old has battled for years with the effects of the cracked patella, which limits his ability to train regularly.

"The treatment has been used by elite athletes around the world in basketball and gridiron and other sports, so we have explored it," football manager James Fantasia said.

"Adam is very keen to have a go at it. He has got himself into this particular treatment and we go over to London on Tuesday so he will leave two days early and join the group over there."

Meanwhile, the Dogs are hopeful of satisfying West Coast's demands after 21-year-old midfielder Koby Stevens nominated them as his club of choice.

The former Gippsland Power inside midfielder chosen the Dogs ahead of Essendon and St Kilda, and while he has real potential despite an injury-plagued start to his career Brendan McCartney's side has the whip hand.

They hope to satisfy West Coast with a second or third round pick for Stevens, but have the fourth selection in the pre-season draft should West Coast play hard ball on a trade.

It is a boon for the Dogs to be chosen ahead of more highly-fancied Victorian rivals, and with five picks inside 50 they should be able to satisfy West Coast.

His decision, revealed by superfooty.com.au yesterday, comes after he managed only 11 games in his three seasons at West Coast because of their midfield depth and his injuries.

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Riley replaces Hinkley at Suns

Carlton assistant coach Mark Riley, who is heading to the Gold Coast, talks to Ed Curnow and Andrew Carrazzo during Blues training. Picture: George Salpigtidis. Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Carlton assistant Mark Riley will coach at Gold Coast next year.

Riley has agreed to a two-year contract at the Suns and will fill the void left by Ken Hinkley, who has been appointed Port Adelaide senior coach.

Riley reached a financial settlement with Carlton, which last week said his position had been made redundant.

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Cats looking beyond 2013: Scott

Geelong coach Chris Scott has defended the club's decision to sign two 28-year-old players. Picture: George Salpigtidis. Source: Herald Sun

GEELONG has not compromised its long-term future by re-loading with experienced pair Hamish McIntosh and Jared Rivers for a shot at next year's flag.

While many see the recruitment of the two 28-year-olds plus the introduction of Gold Coast midfielder Josh Caddy as a sign the Cats are positioning for another premiership run, coach Chris Scott says it's not a short-term fix.

"We were keen to look at things that would help improve us in the short-term without compromising the long term at all which is what these three things do," he said.

"Caddy is a top-10 pick from two years ago so he's still years away from his best footy but he's going to help short-term and long-term.

"The other two I think help our best team but they also help our depth as well and the ability to transition young players into our team without depending on them completely.

"The only way bringing in old players comprises you long term is if you give up too much for them and we have given up very little. The other thing is if you pay them too much and we're certainly not doing that either."

The Cats gave up theirs second round pick (No.36) to the Kangaroos for McIntosh while Rivers came as an unrestricted free agent from Melbourne on a two-year deal.

Scott said he understood there was an element of risk in the Cats' trade strategy.

"Hamish at his best is a very good player, we know he comes as a 28-year-old who hasn't played much footy in the last couple of years and he's got a significant injury history so there are risks associated with that and if it doesn't work, we are prepared, we can accept the worst case scenario there," he said.

"It's a little bit the same with Jared Rivers, he comes as a free-agent who basically takes up the last spot on our list if you want to look at it that way.

"He is a pretty well credentialed player but he and Hamish understand that we also have got some pretty good players that play in the same position as them."

Importantly, Geelong has retained its first-round pick, No.15, but will have only one other live pick in next month's national draft given the Cats already committed to upgrading rookie Jessie Stringer.

After a shock exit to Fremantle in the first week of the finals this year, Scott is confident that despite the loss of club great Matthew Scarlett the Cats will be a contender again.

"We know it's going to be difficult for us and history suggests that we shouldn't be one of the premiership favourites next year but that's an outsiders point of view," he said.

"We don't think that the players we brought in are the answer. We think they are going to help a little bit but more we think it satisfies multiple objectives."

Rivers described as "ridiculous" any suggestion that he came to Simonds Stadium as Scarlett's replacement.

"To be compared to, or to try and play a similar role, to Matthew Scarlett is just ridiculous," he said.

"He's going to go down as one of the best full-backs of all time. I'm just grateful for the opportunity Geelong has given me.

"It was a massive decision (to leave Melbourne). The last two years have definitely been more challenging mentally than physically.

"I can't wait to have some success at Geelong as I still think they are a real chance of winning a premiership."

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Tippett no deal a top result

Sydney Swans ruckman/forward Jesse White has become an unwitting pawn in the Kurt Tippett trade sage. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

JESSE White has become the unfortunate pawn in negotiations over Kurt Tippett.

Now that 201cm giant Angus Graham has landed at West Lakes to ease any big-man shortfall, what for White as the Crows head back to the drawing board to re-evaluate the deal over their star defector?

This is the unsavoury part of the AFL's meat market as a man's future is bartered for like a replica handbag in Bali.

Forget Tippett, the game now has an undeniable responsibility to White's wellbeing first and foremost.

In an era where player welfare on and off the field is paramount, surely the AFLPA has an obligation to make this process better for the innocent parties like White.

The emotional strain on a player as he is loved one minute and loathed the next in a very public forum potentially leads him down a path fraught with genuine danger.

Our great game must be better than this.

At 24, White has plenty of upside as a footballer but his best interests are definitely not here in the fishbowl environment of Adelaide.

With an uncertain future at Sydney he should be seeking a move to the Gold Coast, Brisbane or GWS to get his opportunity for more game time.

In our state, White will always carry the burden of being the man that replaced Kurt Tippett and he doesn't have to look far to see how unfair that type of expectation can be.

Potential team-mate Richard Tambling has carried the psychological burden of being the man taken the pick before Lance "Buddy" Franklin in the 2004 draft and it has haunted him his entire football life.

Few recall picks one, two and three but everyone knows Tambling went at four and Buddy at five, and without doubt that emotional baggage has hindered Tambling's on-field performance.

White's unprecedented publicity over the past five days will pale in comparison to what he will receive if he ever dons the tri-colours in a game for premiership points.

It's time to force Tippett to find his new home through the pre-season draft

The best outcome for White is a move to one of the AFL's non-traditional heartlands .

THE best outcome for the Crows is to show the courage they demand from their players and deny Tippett an easy passage to his club of choice.

It's time to put principle ahead of player and force Tippett to find his new home through the pre-season draft and accept nothing for him in return but restored pride and renewed respect.

That decision will have its critics but this is a pivotal moment in the history of this football club.

They don't come along often but when they do best get them right or as their arch-rivals at Alberton clearly show get it wrong and the consequences will haunt you for many years to come.

This is now a board decision and any criticism of list manager David Noble is way off the mark

Noble is not gun negotiator but planner for the future.

The call on Tippett's trade is so significant it must be rubber stamped by the appointed decision makers of the AFC.

This is a call that determines a club's standing in the football community, that defines a club's respect for its players and its supporters, and in return their love for their club.

Defining moments like this have been few and far between for the Crows since their debut season in 1991.

The change of coach from Graham Cornes to Robert Shaw at the Crows caused two years of turmoil and significant collateral damage but was saved by a similar big moment in the appointment of "The Messiah" Malcolm Blight.

The trading of Tony Modra, the recruiting of Wayne Carey and the sacking of Neil Craig are other key moments in the club's history.

The loss of their highest paid player in Tippett with their premiership window wide open will be another.

The Crows have declared they will get " the best god damn deal possible" for Tippett but in this case they will be damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Sometimes the best deal is no deal at all.

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Port to target defenders in trades

New Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has already started his rejuvenation of the damaged club. Picture: Calum Robertson. Source: adelaidenow

PORT Adelaide's fresh-start approach will prompt a double-edged approach as the trade period moves into its final stage this week.

The club has a new coach in Ken Hinkley, a new coaching structure with senior assistant Alan Richardson and internationally respected fitness coach Darren Burgess brought in.

The club is now at the stage where it rejuvenates its list.

Port has brought the wrecking ball to its list as the club seeks a new beginning under a new regime.

The Power will seek to draft in some experience to replace free agents Troy Chaplin, who crossed to Richmond, and new Docker Danyle Pearce.

The other half of the strategy will be based around loading up in the draft to have coverage for the group of players in the 22-25 year-old bracket that needs to continue having games invested in them.

After two weeks of dealing with free agents and waiting for the compensation picks they bring - in Power's case, pick 30 for Pearce and 31 for Chaplin - the club's have a clearer picture of their bargaining power.

There is also the Friday deadline to speed up proceedings, which have been cautious and measured for the first two weeks of the trade period.

Port Adelaide football operations chief Peter Rohde agreed it was a fair estimate Port would seek to trade for two or three players this week, with an emphasis likely to be on defenders.

It is the area where the Power has lost most: Ben Jacobs spent time there and in the midfield but has told the club he wants to return to Victoria.

North Melbourne is the front runner for his services, but there has also been interest from St Kilda and Essendon.

Jacob Surjan was down back, Chaplin was a key there and Pearce was just as damaging off half back as he was in the midfield.

"We'll bring in a couple of players through the trade, we think, through the next bit," Rohde said. "But we're going to end up with a lot of draft picks.

"We've got a lot of second, third and fourth-year players who want to put games into, which we'll continue to do.

"We want to build our squad, and it will be mainly through the draft, bringing young players in."

With Adelaide playing expected to play a small and specialised role over the trade and draft period - their list is close to full - Port Adelaide becomes the main South Australian player.

At this stage, the Power has selections 7, 29, 30, 31, 72, 90 and 106 in next month's national draft, which includes a pick for the tragic loss of John McCarthy.

The club has already picked up Essendon's Angus Monfries in return for No.48 and been severe in its pruning.

Pearce and Chaplin left on their own accord, but only days after Hinkley arrived at the club the club jettisoned crowd favourite David Rodan, former vice-captain Jacob Surjan, Mitch Banner, Simon Phillips and rookies Mitch Curnow, Daniel Webb and Jarrad Irons.

A question mark remains over Cameron Hitchcock, who is out of contract and has had continuous hamstring troubles, but he's expected to be offered a new deal despite playing just two games this season.

Hitchcock, 22, is an enterprising small forward but he will not have a lot of firepower at the negotiating table, with Port Adelaide also having had injury concerns with fellow talented players such as Hamish Hartlett and Robbie Gray.

WHAT POWER NEEDS TO REPLACE

JACOB SURJAN (delisted): A senior defender who was prepared to sacrifice his own game and never shirked a contest. A former vice-captain who could direct younger backmen.

TROY CHAPLIN (free agent to Richmond): Key defender who could both stand the key forwards from the opposition and work as a loose, intercepting defender who could set up forward thrusts.

DAVID RODAN (delisted): Zippy and elusive player who could stack up clearances, swerve, baulk and break lines and find space even in heavy traffic.

BEN JACOBS (seeking a trade): Strong utility with a good mark and a good mark. At 185cm, he could play in a variety of positions, including on the ball.

DANYLE PEARCE (free agent to Fremantle): Midfield zip, especially outside the contests, and one of the long elite kicks of the competition. He could deliver silver service from the half back line and make the forwards look good.

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TV bosses still want GF time swap

Sydney's Nick Malceski is mobbed by teammates after kicking the winning goal in a classic Grand Final win against Hawthorn at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

Seven boss David Leckie still wouldn't mind seeing a later timeslot for the AFL Grand Final. Picture: Getty Images Source: Herald Sun

TELEVISION bosses don't come bigger and badder than Channel 7's David Leckie.

But not even Leckie - armed with hundreds of millions of dollars - could secure a night or twilight AFL Grand Final during the last round of broadcast rights negotiations.

"I'd love to, but I've been bashed around the head," Leckie admitted when the $1.25 billion deal was penned.

The man that bashed him was Andrew Demetriou.

The league chief has long declared that a night Grand Final simply won't happen under his watch.

And on this count of trademark Demetriou belligerence, let's hope he's right.

It's called Grand Final 'Day' for a reason.

Since 1898 when Fitzroy beat the Bombers, the last Saturday afternoon in September has been the showpiece of the Australian game.

Why fix what isn't broken?

But rumblings are growing louder that the TV kings are set to try again, for a twilight slot at least.

Seven yesterday remained tight-lipped about its intentions.

And if you're one of those in favour of the game being played under lights, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire is your man.

"If you are serious about what you are trying to achieve, the ultimate marketing tool the AFL has is the AFL Grand Final," McGuire said this year. "And if you want to put on the biggest and best show you do it at night. Have an entertainment spectacular with a million-dollar budget."

Sorry Ed, but the Rolling Stones could have played pre-game this year and we'd still be talking about Nick Malceski's goal.

The Sydney-Hawthorn epic played out in fading light at the MCG didn't need fireworks or rock bands to make it an all-time great.

Rugby league's failed experiments should serve as another warning.

In 2001, the NRL shifted to a night decider on the whim of Channel 9 before people power got the game moved back to a 5pm start.

When last asked for their opinion, more than 90 per cent of AFL players said they opposed anything other than an afternoon game.

The AFL, obsessed about congestion, said amid the interchange furore this week that all its rule changes were made with a view to player safety and the spectacle of the game.

So surely the best stage for footy's biggest match is a sunny September afternoon - not a night match more likely to be slippery because of dew.

Not to mention the death of the backyard Grand Final BBQ.

But if Demetriou's words ring true, traditionalists need not fret.

"If the only reason we were to do it was to please our broadcasters or to get more eyeballs on it, it wasn't a good enough reason to do it," he has declared.

"Even if we were offered a significant amount of money to move our Grand Final, we wouldn't do it."

That was August 2007 and the boss isn't a man to backflip.

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Cats, Hawks trust in the tried

The Hawks forfeited their first-round draft pick in order to gain Western Bulldogs veteran Brian Lake. Picture: Bronwyn Ward Source: Herald Sun

PERENNIAL powers Geelong and Hawthorn have gambled on the "now" rather than turn to this year's AFL draft.

With the Sydney Swans almost certain to lose at least pick No.22 in their bid to secure Kurt Tippett, all three clubs appear likely to have just one selection before pick 65 on draft day, November 22.

In contrast, fellow 2012 contender Collingwood will have chosen five times before its rivals return for a second selection.

Western Bulldogs fans, told a fortnight ago by coach Brendan McCartney to brace for a long rebuild, will have seven new names to ponder before Geelong's second choice.

The Cats traded their second-round pick for North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh, and their third-round selection as part of the deal to land Josh Caddy, giving them just one choice in the first 78.

The Hawks remain furious with their third-round pick as free-agency compensation for the departed Clinton Young, especially having traded away their first pick and down in the second round to get defender Brian Lake from the Bulldogs.

The Hawks are still assessing their options after being handed pick 66 for Young and will likely approach the AFL tomorrow for further explanation of the compensation rules.

An emerging issue with the fledgling formula, based largely on a player's contract at his new club, is that restricted free agents' deals have tended to be significantly enhanced so their original clubs are less likely to match the offers.

This, in turn, means compensation for restricted free agents is bigger in relation to unrestricted free agents.

The free agency period ended on Friday, but there is one more week of trade talks to run.
 

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How Mick stopped a player revolt

Mick Malthouse with Eddie McGuire at the end of the 2011 season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Biography of Mick Malthouse to be released this week. Source: Herald Sun

MICK Malthouse hosed down a 2011 player revolt at Collingwood that wanted to keep him as coach.

In an exclusive book extract from Malthouse: A Football Life, to be released this week, it is revealed the Magpies' 2010 premiership coach was approached by a senior player who said several of his colleagues were prepared to sign a petition to have him stay on.

Former champion Collingwood player Nathan Buckley signed a deal in mid-2009 that meant he would take over from Malthouse as Collingwood coach for season 2012, regardless of interim results.

But almost from the moment the Pies saluted in the 2010 Grand Final replay against St Kilda, there was intense speculation about the arrangement and how the football giants would co-exist.

In the biographical book on her father, Christi Malthouse has revealed that while the thought of the petition appealed, the three-time premiership coach talked the player around because he thought it would "derail" the Magpies' 2011 premiership tilt which, at the time, was flying.

"By Round 16 (of the 2011 AFL season), the Magpies were second on the ladder, with 12 wins, one loss and two byes," Christi writes.

"By now it was early July and speculation about the future of the Collingwood coach had reached boiling point.

"Rumours abounded that Mick might not stay at Collingwood, that he might possibly coach elsewhere in 2012.

"Mick was in his office when a player tapped on the door.

"The young man in front of him looked nervous. 'Can I talk to you?'

"As the coach listened, his player revealed to him that several senior players wanted to sign a petition to have him reinstated as senior coach for the following year.

"It was nothing against the 'coach in waiting' (Buckley), he insisted, but the boys were concerned.

"They loved Mick, they needed Mick, and they weren't prepared to stand back and do nothing as he was replaced.

"Especially after winning a premiership. 'I would like to take it to management and the board', said the player.

"Mick's heart thumped inside his chest and echoed in his mind. 'What an amazing gesture,' he thought. But what a disaster it would be."

Christi writes that her father then made a call based on keeping the Magpies on a roll.

" 'No. Put those ideas away. I appreciate it, I really do, but it will only do more damage than good'," she writes.

"He was firm. 'It's not going to change anything. Nathan will be your coach next year - you have to get used to that. The only thing that can derail our season this year is if our focus is taken off winning.'

"Mick was desperate not to let that happen.

"They talked some more, and in the end it was agreed that everyone was better off concentrating solely on playing good football.

"They could worry about next year later."

Malthouse, who has signed to coach Carlton next season, was famously in tears as Collingwood rallied late to beat Hawthorn in the 2011 preliminary final.

But the Magpies were over-run by Geelong in the final quarter of the Grand Final, having led narrowly at halftime.

From Malthouse: A Football Life, published Wednesday by Allen & Unwin. Copyright Christi Malthouse 2012.

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Morabito confident of derby return

ON TRACK: Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito (left) is aiming for a Round 1 return next season. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

FREMANTLE could be bolstered for its Round 1 Western Derby by a remarkable return from injury by midfielder Anthony Morabito.

Morabito's manager, Colin Young, said the Dockers bolter was confident he would be ready to put his hand up for the season opener and could be in line for selection as early as the NAB Cup, marking an against-the-odds recovery from consecutive knee reconstructions.

Morabito, the Dockers' top pick from the 2009 draft, has not played for Fremantle since the 2010 finals series after rupturing his left ACL in the following pre-season.

The Peel product, who turns 21 at the end of this month, was battling his way back through the WAFL and had made seven appearances for the Thunder before suffering a recurrence of the injury at a Fremantle training session in July.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon noted last month that his player's initial reconstruction had not been successful, leading to the re-injury, but Young said the second operation had produced better results.

"I haven't spoken to Morra since the best-and-fairest, but he's on track for the NAB Cup," Young said.

"I said to him: 'Still Round 1?' and, he said: 'Nah, NAB's looking good'. He's keen to start for the NAB Cup; he said he's ready to go and doesn't see any problems starting Round 1 and going on.

"He looked in great shape when he was training and he's very confident, very excited about next year."

A pre-season return for Morabito would be a stunning recovery and an overdue bit of good fortune for the footballer.

After his first operation in December, 2010, it took almost 16 months for his return to football  a 15-touch game with Peel reserves in Round 3 in late-March this year.

An NAB Cup return would mark a seven-month layoff, while Round 1 selection to face the Eagles would be eight months' recovery.

Young said there was a notable difference in Morabito's reaction to the latest surgery.

"He went to Melbourne to have the operation under Julian Feller, who's probably the master of all surgeons in Victoria," Young said.

"He was pretty convinced that he'd be back for NAB Cup, if not, then latest Round 1 and so he's very happy with the outcome of working with Julian.

"(The first time around) I don't think in his own mind he felt confident the operations were successful: he didn't feel right.

"He really feels 120 per cent now, since the last one.

"He had no swelling at all after the operation and he's really confident going forward."

Fremantle begins its pre-season on November 14, with the first-to-third-year players, with general manager of football operations Chris Bond saying the Dockers expected Morabito to rejoin ball drills in January.

"It's tragic circumstances, but to his credit he's really dug in," Bond told ABC radio.

"We've had the surgery done and we're expecting him to start running well into our pre-season and join in our football in January.

"We're in no doubt at all that we're going to get a fair bit of footy out of him."

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