Crows coach moved on from Tippett

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson enjoys the moment with Kurt Tippett while promoting a Christmas Fun Run last year. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: The Advertiser

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson says he will never understand why Kurt Tippett decided to quit Adelaide for Sydney but insists he has "certainly moved on" from the controversial departure.

And he said he would shake Tippett's hand the next time the pair crossed paths, despite the fallout from Tippett-gate costing the Crows draft picks, money and  two key officials for several months.

"I'll certainly shake his hand and wish him good luck," Sanderson said after Adelaide completed its final training session for 2012 at Max Basheer Reserve yesterday.

"We're fine. While a lot of us don't understand the reasons (he left), it's the business and the industry we're in now.

"I've moved on because these things happen in footy. Gary Ablett left Geelong, (Nathan) Bock left here to go to Gold Coast, Phil Davis left here to go to GWS.

"There are opportunities for players to go to other clubs and while sometimes you get disappointed with decisions players make, it happens. Kurt's made his decision, so we'll get on with our business here.

"He gave everything he had for the footy club when he was here but that chapter's closed and we certainly look forward to a new-look Crows forward line in 2013.

"Who knows, it might be better."

Sanderson revealed he had not spoken to Tippett since the Queenslander told him in October he wanted to join the Swans. He noted how not many Crows players would "spend much time with him from here on in".

But he said Tippett remained in contact with "a few" of his former team-mates, most notably key forward sidekick Taylor Walker.

"I know he's still in contact with a few of the players but it will be difficult for him being in Sydney and the boys here," Sanderson said.

"Some guys have been affected more than others."

Sanderson said Tippett's move to premier Sydney would add further "spice" to an already strong rivalry.

"Everyone will look forward to Sydney-Crows games in the future," Sanderson said.

"It will be a nice rivalry that will develop between Adelaide and Sydney and we look forward to the build-up."

Sanderson said the Crows would miss Tippett's on-field presence next year but noted "four or five" players would be desperate to stand up and take his spot, including Josh Jenkins, Ricky Henderson, Shaun McKernan and Tom Lynch.

SYDNEY yesterday announced Tippett would wear the No. 8 guernsey next year.

Tippett, who donned No. 4 in 104 games for Adelaide, was unable to get his hands on that number with his new club because it is worn by ace  midfielder Daniel Hannebery.

"I'm not superstitious but I've always been an even number," Tippett said.

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18-month ban for VFL drugs player

Casey Scorpions player Wade Lees attempts to break away from his opponent. Picture: Stuart Mlligan Source: Herald Sun

AN AFL aspirant has been banned from all sport for 18 months for importing performance-enhancing drugs.

VFL star Wade Lees yesterday said he would not abandon his AFL dream despite being slugged with the ban by AFL Victoria.

Lees, 24, read his sanction in an email at Casey Scorpions training on Wednesday night - more than two years after he bought the fat-burning product online from the US.

Australian Customs intercepted the product, which contained traces of a banned steroid, and informed the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Lees was then charged with "attempted use of a prohibited substance violation" and banned by AFL Victoria after Round 7 this season.

ASADA argued for a two-year ban at the AFL Victoria tribunal and would not respond yesterday when asked if it would consider appealing for a maximum 24-month penalty.

The authority told the Herald Sun it could not comment due to possible appeals.

AFL Victoria declined to comment until "all parties have exhausted their rights to appeal".

Lees told his VFL drugs tribunal hearing he did not know the product contained banned substances.

He told the Herald Sun yesterday that ASADA had argued that ignorance was no excuse.

Lees, who nominated for last year's draft after hitting career-best form as a tagger, was left depressed and out of pocket about $13,000 in legal and therapy fees and taking days off work.

"If I ever had to cheat the game I wouldn't bother playing sport. My aspirations are to play AFL and if I was to take performance-enhancing drugs and play good football I'm more than likely to get tested, so why would you take the risk?" he told the Herald Sun yesterday.

Lees said he bought the product from overseas to save costs, with the aim to lower his skinfolds to better compete with AFL midfielders in the VFL.

He said the VFL's drug education program was sub-standard.

"If the education was up to scratch all these incidents, like mine and Travis Casserly and Matt Clark wouldn't happen," he said.

Lees is eligible to return in 2014, with the seven months he was forced to serve this year counting towards the ban. He finished seventh in Casey's best-and-fairest from just five games this year.

Casserly is currently serving a two-year ban , while ASADA this year appealed Clark's nine-month sanction, wanting it boosted to two years.

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Taste of big time for Suns teen

Jack Martin is looking forward to clashing with the competition's best a year early. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

GOLD Coast recruit Jack Martin is set to be unleashed in the NAB Cup after the 17-year-old was granted permission to play in the pre-season competition a year before he can make his AFL debut.

Teammate Jaeger O'Meara was cleared to play in last season's NAB Cup under the same circumstance.

Martin, who is ineligible to play AFL next season due to his age, said he was looking forward to clashing with the competition's best a year early.

"I would love to get in and get an early taste of AFL footy and it would be great if I get picked," Martin said.

"I will have to have a chat to Jaeger and see how he found it."

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the chance to line up against hardened AFL players 12 months early would prove invaluable for Martin.

"It will give him a chance to see how he feels and goes against AFL company and then he has the whole year to go back and play in the NEAFL," Ashcroft said.

"It is the perfect model because we are not putting high expectations on Jack to play senior footy for the whole year."

With his light frame in mind, Ashcroft warned Martin was no certainty for the Suns' NAB Cup opener against Hawthorn and Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on February 23.

But Ashcroft said fans could expect to see the excitement machine used through the midfield if he did get the nod to play in February.

"I think we would play him where he is most comfortable," Ashcroft said.

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Big O aims to hit the high notes

New Richmond recruits Sam Lonergan, Orren Stephenson and Ricky Petterd. Picture: David Smith Source: Herald Sun

MATURE-aged rookie Orren Stephenson is confident there is still plenty of room for his game to grow after being thrown a lifeline by Richmond.

The 30-year-old recruit felt he made some big gains in his 12 months as an AFL player, but feared his chances of extending his league fairytale beyond one season were thin.

Stephenson played eight games for Geelong this year, before being de-listed by the Cats after the arrival of former Kangaroos ruckman Hamish McIntosh in the trade period.

Stephenson was given another chance after being rookie-listed by the Tigers and is convinced he will be a better player next year.

"I am just stoked to get another opportunity to play AFL footy, or the chance to be on the AFL program for another year," Stephenson said.

"I certainly felt the gains that I made in this 12 months just gone were pretty big, so I think there is still plenty of opportunity for me to grow as well.

"I think the biggest thing was that I am aware that I am more than capable of playing AFL footy.

"I know after one pre-season and now another full pre-season I am going to be a lot better again."

Stephenson was one of the feelgood stories of the 2011 national draft when he was taken by the Cats at No.78 after playing in three consecutive VFL flags with North Ballarat.

He made his AFL debut in Round 1 against Fremantle and finished the year with another VFL flag, this time with the Cats - his fourth.

But two months in "limbo" after his departure from Geelong, Stephenson had started planning for the prospect that his short taste of AFL could be over.

"I had started to open the doors back up into my work side of things," the father of three admitted.

"But I was a firm believer that if an opportunity arose I would take it on and it did."

Stephenson was one of three "recycled" players rookie-listed by the Tigers, along with ex-Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan and delisted Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd.

"It's exciting times, another opportunity for the three of us," he said.

NORTH Melbourne has taken a two-year punt on an American college basketballer Eric Wallace.

The 24-year-old has been signed as an international rookie list player.

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2012 countdown: Top 10 performances

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

Hawthorn star Lance Franklin snaps around the body for goal number 13 against North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

LANCE Franklin had a field day against North Melbourne but was Dane Swan's effort on Anzac Day better?

Over the next 10 days we'll name the highlights, lowlights and simply strange moments of the year in footy in a countdown of top 10 countdowns.

We kicked off the series on Monday with the best 10 AFL games of 2012, on Tuesday we went with the top 10 marks, and followed that with the top 10 goals yesterday.

Today the countdown continues with the top 10 individual performances of the year.

Did we get it right? Leave a comment below

10. Scott Thompson v Greater Western Sydney
The North Melbourne intercept king had a day out when the Kangaroos were made to work to counter a plucky GWS outfit. Thompson amassed 39 disposals (192 SuperCoach points), almost unheard-of numbers for a key backman, in the 28-point victory at Skoda Stadium. The Kangaroos' most prolific stopper also clunked 13 marks.

9. Trent Cotchin v Western Bulldogs
Brett Deledio tweeted post-match he had a front seat at the Cotchin Show after the No.9 put on a clinic with 35 touches, three goals and an amazing 17 score involvements. He also picked up 170 SuperCoach points. It would be the start of a withering four-game run of 30-plus possession games which propelled the silky-skilled midfielder to equal second in the Brownlow Medal with 26 votes.

8. Marc Murphy v Essendon
The Carlton star had a frustrating season and he took it out on arch-rival Essendon in Round 21. Murphy had the ball on a string, collecting 37 disposals while kicking two goals as the Blues romped home by 96 points. He also laid six tackles. Murphy capped off his superb performance with a goal after the siren to give the Blues a handy percentage boost.

7. Dean Cox/Nic Naitanui v Geelong
Orren Stephenson is still waking up in cold sweats after confronting the Eagles duo on a Friday night in Perth. When Cox and Nic Nat combine for 41 disposals and 13 marks it makes it difficult to trump West Coast. Add 77 hitouts and five goals and it's an almost impossible task. The vaunted ruck pair dominated the Cats when the two sides met in Round 20, the Eagles outlasting their rivals by five points. Cox was brilliant, kicking three goals while picking up 23 disposals and eight marks. The veteran added five clearances and four inside-50s to his stats sheet. The pair also combined for 343 SuperCoach points.

6. Jack Riewoldt v St Kilda
The Riewoldts combined for 11 of the 34 goals scored when Richmond held out St Kilda in a Round 10 shootout at Etihad Stadium. Jack claimed family bragging rights, helping the Tigers to a seven-point victory with eight goals in his 100th match. The flighty forward also clunked nine marks along the way. It would be Jack's biggest haul of the season en route to his second Coleman Medal with 65 majors – three clear of Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

5. Gary Ablett v North Melbourne
Little Gazza single-handedly kept his young Gold Coast Suns within striking distance of North when the two sides met at Metricon Stadium in Round 12. Ablett put on a masterful display including 42 disposals and four goals – none more impressive than a 45m left-foot snap from the boundary line during the second quarter. Ablett's haul included 10 clearances, five rebound-50s and four inside-50s. It was the best of Ablett's 2012 highlights reel; two weeks earlier he equalled the VFL-AFL record for possessions in a game with 53 touches against Collingwood.  4. Dayne Beams v Sydney
It was party time on Smith St when Pictures mark II, Dayne Beams, slotted his third goal to ice Collingwood's eight-point win against Sydney at ANZ Stadium. The heavily tattooed star midfielder starred in the absence of namesake Dane Swan, who was serving the first of a two-week club-imposed suspension for breaking player rules. Beams helped himself to 34 disposals including 11 clearances and five tackles. He finished with 170 SuperCoach points.
3. Dean Cox v North Melbourne
Cox was the difference between West Coast winning or losing to the Roos at Blundstone Arena in Hobart. Cox booted three goals including the sealer to ice the Eagles come-from-behind two-point victory in Round 15. The 204cm ruckman also clunked marks at both ends of the ground to stymie the Kangaroos at every turn. Cox finished with 21 disposals, 15 marks and 24 hitouts - and a lazy 215 SuperCoach points.

Hawthorn v North Melbourne. Aurora Stadium, Launceston. Lance Franklin kicks his 11th goal. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

2. Lance Franklin v North Melbourne
The Roos were on the receiving end again - also in Tassie - when Buddy ran riot in Hawthorn's 115-point demolition in Round 10. The raking left-footer outscored the Kangaroos 13.4 to 9.5 in the Round 10 rout at Aurora Stadium in Launceston. The Hawks piled on 27 majors to hammer the Shinboners into submission. The superstar feasted on Kangaroos defenders Scott Thompson, Nathan Grime and Luke Delaney, booting six first-half goals including three in three minutes during the second quarter. But Franklin saved his best for last, with goal No.12 coming from deep in the left forward pocket while, No.13 was a dropped mark, snap around the body with only seconds left on the clock. It was the highest SuperCoach score of the year (236), but in terms of the stage, stakes and influence on the result, we've got him just behind...
1. Dane Swan v Essendon
Talk of Swan carrying a few extra kilograms was quickly shelved when the Brownlow medallist ran amok in Collingwood's thrilling one-point win on Anzac Day. Swan collected a staggering 42 disposals – 20 contested – and kicked three goals in the MCG blockbuster. Swan capped off a brilliant day by rubbing his stomach – mocking those who called him overweight – after kicking his third goal late in the third quarter. The Anzac medallist finished with 13 clearances and six tackles. Swan obviously likes playing the Bombers - he picked up another 42 touches when the two sides met in Round 23.

TOMORROW:

Follow Gilbert Gardiner on Twitter @gilbert0408

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Ox: Don't kill the Dees

David Schwarz, who played 173 games with the Demons, fears a heavy sanction could pose a serious threat to the club's future.Picture: Fiona Hamilton Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE great David Schwarz hopes any penalty that might flow from the league's tanking investigation will not "cripple" the club.

The AFL is today expected to serve the Demons with evidence gained from its five-month probe into their list management in 2009.

While Melbourne could be hit with heavy fines or loss of draft picks, there is mounting belief the AFL would prefer to penalise individuals, rather than the club, if it is found guilty of deliberately losing games under former coach Dean Bailey.

Melbourne has pledged to vigorously defend any charges and has suggested it would be willing to take the fight to the Supreme Court.

The AFL has interviewed and re-interviewed a host of former and current officials who were at the club in 2009.

President Don McLardy said yesterday he had not seen the interview transcripts that are expected to be presented to Bailey, chief executive Cameron Schwab and former football operations manager Chris Connolly.

"There is still no comment on the investigation," McLardy told the Herald Sun. "We are pleased to see progress and are letting it take its course."

Schwarz, who played 173 games with the Dees, fears a heavy sanction could pose a serious threat to the club's future.

"I, like anyone, hope it goes away, but something might come of it," Schwarz said.

"Whatever it is, you just hope it doesn't hurt or cripple the club. That said, if individuals have done the wrong thing, then they have got to be held accountable."

If the AFL does lay charges, it is likely to happen late next month, in order to give the Demons time to respond to the evidence and prepare their defence.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has warned any person found guilty of manipulating the result of a match would "never work in football again".

Connolly is at the centre of the storm after it was reported he reminded football officials about the importance of losing matches to improve the club's draft position.

But Robert Shaw, who was Fremantle's football operations manager when Connolly coached the Dockers, said Connolly could not have been "solely responsible".

"My gut feeling is the focus on Chris is concerning," Shaw said. "These types of suggestions and allegations could not purely be the work of Chris Connolly."

Shaw said Connolly's work helping raise money for the Demons and the Dockers helped save the two clubs.

"I always found him to be a person of integrity and strong football character," he said.

"The work he did when he first went to Fremantle, I reckon he saved the two clubs.

"His appetite for work and to get out and raise sponsorship singlehandedly at Fremantle, and knock on doors himself, all that sort of stuff is unfairly forgotten in the mist that is tanking allegations.

"He always had the best interests of his football club at heart."

TANKING TIMELINE

JULY, 2012

CARLTON midfielder and former Demon Brock McLean re-ignites the tanking debate when he reveals in an interview on Fox Footy's On the Couch a major reason he wanted to leave Melbourne was because of its strategy of deliberately losing games.

"You can't create a good culture by going out and experimenting and trying to get draft picks and losing games of football,'' McLean said.

"It goes against everything you're trying to do.''

THE AFL launches a fresh tanking investigation, headed by its integrity officer Brett Clothier, following McLean's explosive TV interview.

AUGUST, 2012

McLEAN is called to AFL headquarters to face integrity chief Brett Clothier over his explosive claims the Demons tanked in 2008-2009.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou promises severe punishment for any side found guilty of tanking, encouraging anyone with knowledge of tanking to come forward.

"We shouldn't sweep it under the carpet,'' Demetriou said.

"If they've got information that can prove, that's supportive of the fact that a club lost a game on purpose to achieve a particular outcome that is a serious allegation and I would encourage them to come forward.

"Any issue that involves integrity of the code, any issue, is something we should thump on the head.

"That's my strong position.''

MELBOURNE president Don McLardy launches a passionate defence of the club's integrity in the wake of the AFL's tanking investigation.

"I want to make it very clear that we will defend our club's integrity in the strongest fashion,'' McLardy said.

"For anyone to suggest that our players did not give their all every time they ran on to the field is not acceptable to us.''

AFL intensifies its tanking investigation, interviewing former coaches and key football figures, including former senior coach Dean Bailey.

OCTOBER, 2012

THE AFL uncovers details of a meeting, addressed by former football boss Chris Connolly, of the Demons' football department in which the need to play for draft picks was reinforced.

A SECOND member of Melbourne's 2009 wooden-spoon winning team claims then coach Dean Bailey was under fierce pressure to lose matches deliberately.

"It was disgusting what was going on and you felt for 'Bails' because everyone knew he was under the pump to lose,'' said the player, who the Herald Sun agreed not to name.

"Players had meetings and asked him what was going on but there was nothing he could do.''

NOVEMBER, 2012

A THIRD Melbourne player reveals coach Dean Bailey called a player meeting to signal a sudden change in tactics midway through the 2009 season.

A FORMER Melbourne sponsor reveals a Melbourne Football Club official boasted openly about tanking at a meeting of big sponsors.

"It was an off the cuff remark regarding the No.1 draft pick,'' the company representative said.

"He said words to the effect of, `We made sure that happened'.''

DECEMBER, 2012

THE AFL has asked Melbourne to respond to evidence that could lead to the club being charged with tanking for draft picks in 2009. The league said its five-month investigation was complete and a report of evidence would be provided to all relevant parties.

PERSONS OF INTEREST

Chris Connolly, Dees football manager

Cameron Schwab, Melbourne CEO

Brock McLean, Melbourne player in 2009

Dean Bailey, Melbourne coach in 2009

James McDonald, former Demons skipper

Scott West,  ex-Melbourne assistant coach

Barry Prendergast, former Demons recruiting manager

Josh Mahoney, then assistant coach, now football manager

WHAT THE RULES SAY

"A person, being a player, coach or assistant coach, must at all times perform on their merits and must not induce, or encourage, any player, coach or assistant coach not to perform on their merits in any match - or in relation to any aspect of the match, for any reason whatsoever.'' - AFL Regulations 19(A5)

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Roos find new CEO

Carl Dilena (second from left) is North Melbourne's new CEO. Source: Herald Sun

NORTH Melbourne's 199-day search for a new chief executive is finally over.

The Roos today announced they had hired with Carl Dilena, with the former North player set to start in February.

North Melbourne narrowly missed on poaching Geelong boss Brian Cook and was linked to Adrian Anderson after his sudden departure from the AFL this month.

Dilena, 45, was a former senior partner at KPMG and is on North Melbourne's board.

"We were looking for someone with great leadership skills, senior management experience, a comprehensive understanding of the football industry and someone who also appreciates the unique culture of our club," Roos president James Brayshaw said.

"Carl has been a senior partner with one of the world's biggest professional services firms, played football at the highest level, has been a member of our Board for the past five years and has chaired the club's finance and audit committee.

"He comes to us with an impressive skill-set and we couldn't be happier to announce his appointment."

Dilena played 33 games with the Roos and Fitzroy between 1989-92.

The Roos have been searching for a new chief executive since Eugene Arocca resigned in June.

Cameron Vale, the Roos chief financial officer, has been serving as interim chief executive but was told last month he would not be handed the permanent position.

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We'll always be the Dockers

Matthew Pavlich celebrates a goal. Freo says it won't be changing its name from the Dockers. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

FREMANTLE president Steve Harris has promised the club will continue to be known as the Fremantle Dockers despite announcing it is shifting its training base to Cockburn.

In conjunction with the City of Cockburn, the Dockers will build a $107 million training base on a 26,000-square metre greenfields site in Success. They hope to move there in 2016 or 2017.

"It's only two years ago that we successfully completed lengthy negotiations with Levi Strauss to have the legal right to call ourselves the Fremantle Dockers, and we have absolutely no intention of changing our name from the Fremantle Dockers either now or in the future," Harris said.

''We are and will always be known as the Fremantle Dockers."

The City of Cockburn will fund most of the project, with contributions from the Dockers, the AFL and the state and federal governments also expected.

The club has spent this year weighing up whether to redevelop its current base at Fremantle Oval or create a new base in Success, at a site known as Cockburn Central West.

In the face of a backlash from some members over abandoning their traditional home, the Dockers said it would take a compelling case to move.

The move has been seen as a fait accompli for months and club's board formally resolved this week that compelling case had been sustained.

"Given our club's traditional and historical links to Fremantle Oval, there is no question about the significance of the decision to locate our core operations away from Fremantle Oval, and this was carefully considered throughout the decision-making process," Harris said.

"In addition to the club's operating costs at Cockburn Central West being less when compared to redeveloping at Fremantle Oval, the Cockburn Central West option allows for our club to have access to a bigger indoor training facility, bigger and better aquatic facilities and provides for access to a second oval.

"It is a green field site, so there is likely to be less planning uncertainty and there will be no facility transition costs or interruption to club operations as there would be under the Fremantle Oval master plan options.

"Operating costs at the Cockburn Central West site will also be lower because we are sharing the City of Cockburn's sporting and aquatic facilities with the community. This is also a great result for the community."

Harris said the new facility presented an outstanding opportunity for the Dockers to gain an advantage over their rivals.

"When the club opened its current training and administration facility at Fremantle Oval in November 2000, the facilities were regarded as one of the better club facilities in the AFL," he said.

"However, given the advances in the past decade nationally and internationally in technology and sports science, and an increase in the competitive landscape of the AFL, the club's current facilities are now well behind the AFL benchmark.

"In addition to the Cockburn Central West site allowing for the development of a world-class training and administration facility not seen previously in Australia, the site, which is within the greater Fremantle region, provides greater prospects for future expansion, community engagement and supporter interaction."

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Meet the new, improved Karmichael

Gold Coast Suns player Karmichael Hunt is the slimmest he's been in three AFL pre-seasons. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

SPECIAL K has become Shrinking K.

Gold Coast Suns midfielder and code-hopper Karmichael Hunt is the lightest he has ever been in his well-travelled professional football career, with the 26-year-old tipping the scales at 87kg this week.

When he played rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia he was 93kg.During his stint in French rugby Biarritz in 2009/2010, he nudged the 100kg mark.

But the trademark treetrunk legs are now gone, with Hunt halfway through his third AFL pre-season training program.

A leaner Hunt no longer looks like a rugby league player built to withstand multiple front-on high-speed collisions.

He appears every bit like an AFL on-baller who is required to cover vast distances over four quarters.

Gold Coast strength and conditioning coach Chris Gaviglio said Hunt's significant body shape transformation was a result of his single-minded determination.

"Karmichael needed to make those changes to survive and succeed in the AFL," Gaviglio said.

"He is a highly-driven athlete and he has been prepared to do what it takes to meet the demands of the sport. That is what has underpinned his success across all three codes.

"He is an inherently gifted athlete and he has really bought into our strength and conditioning program as well as working closely with our dietician Benita Lalor.

"You could tell he was cooked by the end of his first season but he would have run out last season if not for a shoulder injury. His legs were willing and able to go the full distance."

After an understandably indifferent first season in 2011, Hunt had a break-out year in 2012 with a shift from defence to the midfield.

The high point was his match-winning goal after the siren against Richmond in Cairns to hand the Suns their first victory of the season, but his on-ball work throughout the year also caught the eye.

He also produced a number of bone-rattling bumps on opponents to become a genuine enforcer.Gaviglio said Hunt would still pack a punch in 2013 despite shedding the weight.

"He is stronger than ever. He is bench pressing 145kg, which is more than what he was doing at the Broncos," he said.

Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said Hunt's leaner appearance was inevitable.

"Karmichael has been training well and is in great shape at the moment but you can't not lose weight given the amount of running he has had to do," the triple premiership player said

"Especially in his new role in the midfield, he has covered a lot of kilometres.

"He has had a season in the VFL and two seasons in the AFL so it was only a matter of time before his body shape became more suited to the demands of our game."

The Suns had their last pre-Christmas training session yesterday  and will resume on January 7.

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Bone shaved from Cat's hips

James Kelly battled a hip injury during the 2012 season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

GEELONG midfielder James Kelly has revealed he had bone shaved from his thighs during post-season surgery after a pain-stricken 2012 season.

Kelly yesterday declared himself on track to play in Geelong's NAB Cup campaign after a successful recovery from an arthroscope on both hips.

The operation involved having bone shaved off both femurs.

The 28-year-old has been on a modified program this pre-season and will return to full training early in the new year, confident his hip troubles are behind him.

"I will be training more heavily over the coming days and it's all going pretty good," Kelly said.

"I'll be back to full training on January 1.

"It's clearing up really well."

Despite having a strong season, in which he was Geelong's leading tackler and still picked up 470 touches, Kelly revealed he had a weekly struggle with hip pain.

But he is confident of a pain-free season next year in a major boost to Geelong's top-four ambitions.

"The hips were more painful during the year than they are now. I'm relying on the physios a lot and they're helping out but I've still been able to do a fair bit of training recently," he said.

"I've been going through the rehabilitation program well and everything is going as planned.

"I'll be 100 per cent ready to go come next season."

Pic gallery: Cats roam the highlands

Geelong assistant coach Dale Amos last week said Kelly and Jimmy Bartel (foot) were making strong progress in their recoveries from post-season operations.

"They've been conditioned, they're doing their weights, they're just being nursed back into the football side," Amos said.

"I would be surprised if they didn't play (NAB Cup). The plan is for them to be ready for Round 1, so you'd imagine they'd play (NAB Cup) at some stage.

"They've been doing their running inside and their conditioning inside and now they're starting to do the work outside, so I think after Christmas we expect to see them a bit more.

"They'll be integrated back in after Christmas. I'm not totally sure when they'll be totally unrestricted, but they're well and truly on track and they should be right amongst it by the time we get back after Christmas.

"We've been patient with them. You want to progress those guys as quickly as you can without pushing them too much."

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