Young Cats smash Crows

Geelong thrash a flat Adelaide outfit by 63 points in their NAB Cup clash at Simonds Stadium.

Jimmy Bartel was in superb touch against Adelaide. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

OLD hands Harry Taylor and Jimmy Bartel piloted an experimental Geelong line-up to a commanding 63-point victory over disappointing Adelaide in their NAB Cup clash at Simonds Stadium.

Taylor was impassable in defence for the Cats, completely blanketing Crows spearhead Taylor Walker while amassing a game-high  31 possessions.

Bartel, standing in as captain for the rested Joel Selwood, was also impressive as the Cats won 2.16.12 (126) to 1.8.6 (63).

But just as pleasing for coach Chris Scott was the performance of some of Geelong's lesser lights, who took their chance with the likes of Selwood, Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Joel Corey and Tom Lonergan on the sidelines.

Billie Smedts and George Horlin-Smith showed good signs, while rookie-listed former steeplechaser Mark Blicavs was competitive in the ruck and kicked a goal.

Also pleasing for the Cats was the performance of Travis Varcoe, who was dominant early in the game running off half-back.

Varcoe was limited to just one game in 2012 because of a serious foot injury.

In contrast there was little to get enthused about for Crows coach Brenton Sanderson, less than three weeks out from the Crows' season opener against Essendon.

Adelaide went with a near full-strength lineup on Saturday, with midfielder Rory Sloane and last year's Rising Star winner Daniel Talia among their few notable absentees.

Powerhouse Patrick Dangerfield was a rare shining light with three goals.

The home side had the match well in hand when they led by by 42 points at quarter-time having begun the match kicking with the aid of a strong breeze.

Geelong took no risks with star utility Paul Chapman, substituting him out of the game at quarter-time after he landed heavily in a marking contest.

The Cats return to Simonds Stadium next Saturday for a pre season Cup clash against North Melbourne while the Crows host Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

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Lions eye off NAB Cup final berth

Aaron Cornelius booted a swag of goals to lead Brisbane to a three-point NAB Cup win over GWS. Source: Getty Images

BRISBANE produced a great escape to beat GWS in Wagga Wagga last night and keep their hopes of a NAB Cup title alive.

Lions forward Sam Michael won a free kick in the goalsquare in the dying minutes and converted the easy chance to hand Brisbane a 1.12.19 (100) to 2.12.7(97) victory in front of 7,068 spectators at a packed Robertson Oval.

The nail-biting victory sets up a mouth-watering clash with Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

If the Lions beat the Magpies they will almost certainly qualify for the NAB Cup decider, but they will need to improve.

Lions forward Aaron Cornelius kicked five goals and four behinds for Brisbane while Partick Karnezis had a game-high 26 possessions in a topsy-turvy encounter that saw nine lead changes.

GWS was the better side for most of the night and showed its promising efforts against Sydney and Carlton in the opening round of the NAB Cup last weekend were no flash in the pan.

The Giants led by nine points deep into the last term but were never able to land the killer blow.

"It was a disappointing result. That's the second time in two weeks we've lost a game where we were beaten by a kick. We should have been able to lock the game up," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.

"It's an art in itself, the art of winning."

To Brisbane's credit, they kept coming and coming and eventually were able to run over the top of the gallant Giants.

The Lions rested first-choice stars Daniel Rich, Daniel Merrett, Andrew Raines and Ash McGrath for the trip and appeared to be paying the price as the young Giants refused to buckle in a tense contest.

Both Matthew Leuenberger and Josh Green had shots at goal to put Brisbane in front in the closing stages of the match but missed to seemingly condemn the Lions to defeat.

But Michael's hard-won free kick and the outstanding work of Cornelius and Karnezis enabled the Lions to roar home.

"We were just sloppy," Brisbane coach Michael Voss said.

"The Giants cracked in really hard early and we got fumbly early, which put us on the back foot.

"We had to make up the ground for the rest of the game.

"Last year, we would have lost those games so they are starting to learn how to win tough and sometimes you've got to be able to do that. It's about winning habits. We want to make sure that we instill those."

GWS led by one point going into the final term and went further ahead when ball magnet Toby Greene kicked truly, only for the Lions to respond through Cornelius.

But a nine-point supergoal to Devon Smith gave the Giants valuable breathing room before a goal to rookie Marco Paparone narrowed the margin and set up a thrilling finish.

Injury was added to insult for GWS when Giants star Jonathon Patton went crashing to the turf midway through the second term.

Patton sent a scare through the Giants camp when he had to be assisted from the field by two trainers appearing to be in considerable pain.

But GWS breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was revealed that the the 2011 No.1 draft pick had suffered a bad cork to his right leg and was able to hobble to the dressing room at half-time under his own steam.

Teammate Nathan Wilson suffered a suspected AC joint injury.

Adam Treloar had a team-high 21 touches for the Giants and kicked two goals while Jeremy Cameron booted a supergoal and one regulation major for GWS.

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Carlton delivers Docker pounding

Geelong thrash a flat Adelaide outfit by 63 points in their NAB Cup clash at Simonds Stadium.

Marc Murphy gets a handball away in the Blues' demolition of Fremantle at Etihad Stadium. Source: Getty Images

Jobe Watson has his first NAB Cup hitout against Richmond. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Geelong star Paul Chapman will be looking to impress against Adelaide today. Picture: Reg Ryan Source: Geelong Advertiser

CARLTON clicked into Mick Malthouse mode with a commanding performance against Fremantle last night.

The Blues shared the glory around - and all the hard work too - to blitz the normally ultra-competitive Dockers by 70 points in a lopsided NAB Cup match at Etihad Stadium.

Eddie Betts led the scoring spree with four goals and Jeff Garlett bagged three among the 11 Blues on the scoresheet.

Betts, the team's leading goalscorer last season with 48, quickly picked up where he left off in 2012 with his pinpoint crumbing ability and defensive pressure.

The Blues certainly didn't look to be struggling to adapt to Malthouse's game style, with precise ball movement and not a hint of hesitation to specific targets in the resounding victory.

Their attack on the ball and the ball carrier was relentless, as evidenced by the 154-115 contested ball count.

And, remember, they did it without Chris Judd, Jarrad Waite, best and fairest winner Heath Scotland, Brock McLean and Shaun Hampson.

Levi Casboult hit the packs hard to create the spillage that was the fodder for Betts and Garlett.

And Matthew Kreuzer provided another tall forward target when substitute Robbie Warnock took over the ruck duties in the second half.

It was difficult to fully gauge the merits of the Blues practice match romp as Fremantle was strangely loose and lethargic, unlike the normally disciplined Ross Lyon teams.

Rarely were Carlton's back six - Michael Jamison, Nick Duigan, Jeremy Laidler, Lachie Henderson, Zac Tuohy and the rebounding Chris Yarran - put under stress or caught one out.

That allowed the Blues to trial Simon White at times as another tall option up forward with promising results.

Two goals each from Matt De Boer and David Mundy in the third quarter was the only time Fremantle's Pavlich-less forward setup showed any system.

It was Betts and his speedy sidekick Garlett who instigated the early scoreboard pressure.

Garlett's first 30 seconds set the pattern - he kicked the wrong way with a hurried high ball at the opening bounce, but tracked it down and burst clear to goal on the run.

Carlton were simply harder at the footy, slicker with their use and prepared to run and keep running.

"Yes, that was pretty solid. I think we're getting better each week we have under Mick," acting captain Kade Simpson said.

"Now we're in proper games, we can really dissect the way we play. We'll go through this game again and see that our structures and stuff are right.

"There was a lot of good stuff, but I'm sure there's plenty of other stuff to work on.

"Obviously, last week was pretty slippery and it took us half a game to adapt to the conditions. But tonight we didn't muck around with the ball, just got it forward and our pressure up forward was pretty good and put them under the pump. And obviously kicking goals put scoreboard pressure on them as well."

The Blues' domination was outstanding, if surprising, from the opening bounce and they had three goals on the board before the Dockers eventually scored a behind from a long shot by a busy Danyle Pearce.

Even the normally more assured Dockers coughed up the ball or made poor decisions when confronted by Carlton's fierce tackling pressure.

Like defender Luke McPharlin, the Dockers' lone All-Australian last season, who tried to bust through a tackle and gifted a goal to Casboult in the first quarter.

And Garrick Ibbotson was like the deer caught in the headlights when Betts and Garlett set upon him, dispossessed him and the former ran away with it for another goal.

Skill errors cost Fremantle at least three goals in the second quarter and even full-back Jamison was among the goalkickers for only the second time in his career when the Blues took a well-earned breather at half-time.

FINAL SCORE

Carlton 0.18.16 (124) bt Fremantle 1.6.9 (54)

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Tigers snatch thrilling win over Dons

Ricky Petterd's late super goal gives Richmond an eight-point win in their AFL pre-season match against Essendon in Wangaratta.

Ricky Petterd celebrates the super goal that gave Richmond a last-minute win over Essendon. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

FOOTY tried to spruik itself as a world spectacle watched by beefy NFL stars this week, but last night Essendon and Richmond returned to the game's beating heart.

FOOTY tried to spruik itself as a world spectacle watched by beefy NFL stars this week, but last night Essendon and Richmond returned to the game's beating heart.

The 11,000 rusted-on country fans who crammed every corner of Wangaratta's Norm Minns Oval were given a spectacular contest for their patience after last year's aborted game.

A Ricky Petterd supergoal capped Richmond's last-quarter surge to topple Essendon in a eight-point victory, snapping a run of close losses for the Tigers dating back to last year.

Given Richmond had at least six of their Round 1 side out and rested Dustin Martin and Chris Newman at half-time, even an honourable loss would normally be enough.

But as the behinds mounted up for Richmond in the last term - eight in all as well as a Matty White goal - suddenly this contested threatened to heighten Richmond's mental fragility.

Then Petterd gathered, running away from goal, turned and darted past an Essendon defender and finally broke the Dons' resistence with a bomb from outside 50 metres.

Given Essendon was missing just David Zaharakis from its Round 1 side and has only a clash with Greater Western Sydney before its season-opener, no wonder James Hird was frustrated with the last term.

But bottom line - both sides got star performances from some youngsters, with no match review panel or injury worries.

For Essendon, Jobe Watson made a successful return from knee issues and Brendon Goddard was again impressive.

Richmond counterpart Jack Riewoldt - leading his team in the absence of Trent Cotchin - was well beaten by emerging defensive star Jake Carlisle.

Carlisle and Dustin Fletcher were defensive rocks in a side that had its backline decimated last season.

The win from Richmond showed plenty of heart, given they had already given up a 20-point second-term lead, then let Essendon kick five straight to grab back the ascendancy.

Early on, Orren Stephensen took control in the ruck, Martin continued his excellent pre-season form, and the Tigers' swarming defensive pressure saw them jump out to a 20-point lead late in the second term.

If not for inaccurate kicking at goal and acting captain Riewoldt's determination to pass to teammates when within range, they could have built a match-winning lead.

But just as they did against North Melbourne last week - and so often last year - they let an opponent back into the match with a five-minute brain fade.

The impressive Nick Vlastuin missed a set shot that would have put Richmond 25 points up, and the ball was immediately spirited down field where Michael Hurley scrounged a goal at ground level.

Two minutes later Brent Stanton had goaled too, and when Leroy Jetta slipped a Richmond tackle then kicked a supergoal from 55 metres, Essendon had hit the front by a point.

From there the game opened up and Richmond just ran Essendon off its feet.For Richmond, Vlastuin kept knocking up winning hard possessions, Shane Edwards continued 2012's exceptional form, and Stephenson had six first-half clearances.

David Astbury at least broke even with Hurley at centre half back, all of it highly encouraging for a side missing Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric, Reece Conca, Troy Chaplin and Dylan Grimes.

Goddard's super start to his new career in red and black continued, with Dyson Heppell's midfield education continuing apace.

If Zaharakis can make a successful return and Heath Hocking or Jake Melksham can rebound from poor 2012 seasons, Essendon will finally be building some impressive midfield depth.

The revelations yesterday were tall defender Carlisle, staunch on the last line, and last year's pick 73 Nick Kommer.

With a shag of dirty blond hair and a willingness to apply forward pressure, he might just sneak into a Round 1 debut.

FINAL SCORE

Richmond 2.8.20 (86) bt Essendon 1.10.9 (78)

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North continue unbeaten run

Aaron Mullett and his North Melbourne teammates had a day out against Gold Coast before the Suns came home late. Picture: Zak Simmonds Source: News Limited

THE Suns stormed home but just failed to catch North Melbourne in a sweltering Townsville late yesterday, with the stalled Kangaroos holding on for a 13-point win.

For the visitors, key forward Aaron Black and Lindsay Thomas top-scored with three goals, while ruckman Daniel Currie was always threatening in a performance that featured two goals.

Suns star Gary Ablett had a quiet day with just one goal, but David Swallow maintained his good form by kicking two.

Gold Coast coach Guy McKeena praised his outfit for hauling back a 39-point first-quarter deficit to leave north Queensland with respect, but lamented a sluggish start.

"I don't think we've ever come close to running down a side after a 39-point head start, so I think the boys got a bit of belief out of that," he said.

"In the last three quarters it was a very willing contest. It's the second week of NAB and we've got things to work on.

"The boys have been up here for a couple of days and I think credit goes to the AFL for relaxing the rules and allowing to play six on the bench and take the rotations away."

The AFL's heat policy was introduced after temperatures reached 32C at Tony Ireland Stadium before the bounce, and the players needed it, given the game's 3.30pm start.

The Kangaroos seemed to relish the testing conditions early as they surged to a commanding seven-goal lead, with Thomas providing the most points with his two goals and Jordan Gysberts a super goal.

Inaccurate shooting continued to plague the Suns during the following quarter and North Melbourne thrived to take a 73-34 half-time lead, although a supergoal to the Suns' Steven May and other majors to Swallow and Aaron Hall at least got Gold Coast on to a competitive footing.

Ablett's goal was met with rousing applause but the moment was short-lived when Thomas kicked his third, followed by a super goal to North Melbourne's Robbie Tarrant.

The Kangaroos continued to assert their dominance in the latter stages of the third term before the Suns finished with a late flurry of goals from Swallow, Campbell Brown, Jarod Breenan and Jarrod Harbrow.

FINAL SCORE

North Melbourne Kangaroos 2.13.6 (102) bt Gold Coast Suns  1.11.14 (89)

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Danger signs for struggling Crows

Adelaide Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield's performance was one of the few highlights for the club in the NAB Cup match against Geelong at Simonds Stadium. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun

Geelong's Harry Taylor took Crows full-forward out of the match at Simonds Stadium. Picture: Scott Barbour. Source: Getty Images

FOR the Crows, thank heavens this was a practice match.

Yesterday's effort at Simonds Stadium was a screeching signal that it is time for them to ramp matters up in the few weeks leading up to the home-and-away season.

Smashings such as this 10-goal loss prompt an obvious question: was Geelong awesome or Adelaide awful?

The answer likes somewhere in between, but Adelaide looked flat yet hesitant, sloppy when under pressure and too reliant on too few.

As much as Geelong looked like millionaires, despite playing a young side, they were helped along by the Crows, who arrived as favourites with the bookmakers but were never even close to the Cats.

Adelaide's movement out of the backline is a major concern: full of one-step kicks, overuse of the ball and players getting in the way of one another. Geelong added to the woes by pressing forward, but this is one area that needs attention and fast.

Of the young ones, Brad Crouch and Sam Kerridge showed positives to take home - Crouch for body strength and composure in congested situations, Kerridge for looking more and more like he belongs at this level.

There was a fresh southerly gusting towards Corio Bay as the match began but it wasn't just the wind that made the Crows look pedestrian.

You could see that it assisted the Cats when Travis Varcoe, a former Central District player, elegantly glided past a contest, received, and nonchalantly kicked it from outside 50.

But the conditions could not account for the Crows being second to the ball as Geelong cranked up their well-known drill of sharing it around and running in numbers.

It didn't help the Crows that Taylor Walker was stood by Harry Taylor, one of the best-marking defenders in the competition, and was given a bath. Best on ground versus best to forget.

But it gave a clearer picture of what the Crows can expect as it embarks on the post-Tippett era.

Walker not only receiving the standout defender, but also having other backmen drop off to help out.

The Cats ran circles around them, and late in the first quarter Geelong had 20 inside-50s to Adelaide's two.

As Crows coach Brenton Sanderson had predicted, the Cats shape as a contender again. Varcoe, who only managed one game last year because of injuries, Steven Motlop and Billie Smedts added zip to go with the sturdy contributions of James Kelly and Jimmy Bartel.

Predictably, it befell Patrick Dangerfield to take matters in his own hands. When Geelong had 31 points on the scoreboard, Adelaide none, he wrested the ball out of a contest, avoided one tackle and broke another, took off on a sprint and kicked the Crows' first.

Close to 15 minutes had been played.

Gradually, the Crows worked themselves back into the match, much through the steady hands of Dangerfield, captain Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, Sam Jacobs taking control in the ruck and Ben Rutten asserting himself down back.

But clearly, it was not all about the wind; the lead had grown from 42 points at half-time to 46 at the long break. It only got worse from there.

GEELONG v ADELAIDE

CATS     2.5.6   2.9.8   2.13.11   2.16.12 (126)

CROWS  0.2.0   0.5.4   0.6.4       1.8.6 (63)

BEST PLAYERS: GEELONG: Taylor, Kelly, Varcoe, Mackie, Bartel, Horlin-Smith, Enright. ADELAIDE: Dangerfield, van Berlo, Thompson, Rutten, Vince.

NINE-POINTERS: Geelong: Chapman, Varcoe. Adelaide: Kerridge.

GOALS: Geelong: Kersten 3, Smedts, Bartel, Murdoch Duncan 2, Mackie, Horlin-Smith, Kelly, Blicavs, Hunt. Adelaide: Dangerfield 3, Martin, Johncock, Porplyzia, van Berlo, Douglas.

INJURIES: Geelong: Chapman (sore quad). UMPIRES: Scott Jeffery, Nicholas Foot, Andrew Talbot.

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Eagles won't risk Selwood

SITTING OUT: West Coast has decided to play it safe with Adam Selwood (bottom, centre). Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast has been forced to make a late change for today's NAB Cup Round 2 clash with Collingwood at Patersons Stadium, following a minor injury to Adam Selwood.

Selwood was withdrawn from the squad named on Thursday and replaced by defender Jacob Brennan.

A West Coast spokesperson told The Sunday Times that Selwood's absence was more precautionary than serious, after he suffered a "knock" at training that required stitches.

The clash left Selwood with a split ear, but the Eagles said they expected he would be named for Saturday's pre-season Round 3 game against Port Adelaide at Traeger Park.

Selwood had an arm infection and missed last season's first meeting between West Coast and Collingwood  a Round 13 loss for the Eagles at the MCG  but played in the Round 22 rematch win at Patersons Stadium and the semifinal loss.

Today's game marks a showdown with one of the Eagles' most dogged rivals in recent years.

Last year, West Coast gave Collingwood a 49-point belting in the Round 22 clash, before the Magpies had the final say in a 13-point semi-final win at the MCG that ended the Eagles' finals campaign.

It was West Coast's third finals loss to Collingwood in six seasons, after the drawn semifinal of 2007 at Patersons Stadium resulted in extra time and an eventual 19-point Magpies win.

Collingwood then trumped West Coast in the 2011 qualifying final at the MCG by 10 points in the Eagles' first finals campaign since that 2007 semifinal loss.

West Coast has named a strong squad for the game, with several sub-plots adding to the intrigue of both sides' first full-length hit-out of the pre-season.

Goalsneak Mark LeCras gathered five touches and kicked a goal in the NAB Cup Round 1 game against Geelong but will get a better chance to find his footing in his first proper run since rupturing his ACL last pre-season.

The Eagles were forced to field their two backup ruckmen, Scott Lycett and Callum Sinclair, in the three-way pre-season duels against the Dockers and Cats, with All-Australians Nic Naitanui (groin surgery) and Dean Cox (finger surgery) both injured.

While Cox has returned, Naitanui remains in doubt for Round 1 of the season-proper later this month. Today's clash presents the opportunity to see how effective the Cox-Lycett combination will be through the regular season, should the preferred pairing be unavailable.

The Eagles' midfield depth will also be on show, remaining potent despite the absences of Naitanui, grunt Daniel Kerr, who continues his recovery from minor knee surgery, and Sharrod Wellingham, who injured his ankle jumping on a trampoline a fortnight ago.

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Cox takes 'less is more' approach

LESS IS MORE: Dean Cox will take part in his first pre-season hit-out today. Picture: Will Russell Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast ruck general Dean Cox has said the injury battles of teammates and Dockers counterpart Aaron Sandilands have kept him vigilant with his own fitness, as he holds faith in a "less is more" mantra.

Cox has proven remarkably resilient in his 12 seasons at West Coast, having missed just 30 games, many of which came in his 2009 campaign (nine games) as he struggled with groin issues.

The 203cm ruckman holds the current consecutive games tally at the Eagles at 71 - a feat made more impressive, given he began building the streak as a 29-year-old and looks set to continue into 2013, now at 31.

In further evidence of his fitness, Cox will resume his role at the heart of the Eagles' set-up in today's NAB Cup Round 2 clash with Collingwood at Patersons Stadium, having recovered from a finger injury that sidelined him for West Coast's three-way opener with Fremantle and Geelong.

It is a fortune not shared by Sandilands, who at 30 has missed 19 games over the past two seasons and was recently ruled out for eight weeks with a hamstring tear.

Asked if the recent run of injuries to a player in a similar role and career-stage brought about thoughts of his own sporting mortality, Cox said it was a constant issue he had to keep on top of and credited his longevity to a "less is more" approach as his career wore on.

"You look at, obviously, Aaron, but also (Anthony) Morabito and any one of our players, (such as) LeCras last season and you do feel for them, but it's part and parcel of the game, unfortunately," Cox said.

"I think in the back of every player's mind is that they want to do everything possible to play AFL and do everything to hopefully not get injured.

"As you get a bit older, you do become more aware and more pedantic in your preparation to make sure that these things (injuries) don't happen.

"The body doesn't recover as well as it used to and you just want to make sure you're following the correct procedures.

"We speak about this around the footy club; players that have an unlucky run with injuries.

"When I was younger, I was always trying to do as much as I possibly could, plus extra away from the program.

"As I've got older, I sat down with (assistant coach) Scott Burns and he suggested that less is more, now, because your body can't handle the work of a 22-year-old.

"It's also about being smarter: picking and choosing the sessions, the drills, and sitting down with the coach and fitness staff to go through a program that ensures you're as fresh as possible throughout the weeks."

Today's game will also mark the return of Quinten Lynch to Patersons Stadium after the former Eagles premiership player last year accepted a two-year deal to help spearhead the Magpies' attack.

Cox, who played 11 of his seasons alongside the forward, said he and many of the Eagles shared a bond with Lynch that would not be broken by the black and white bars of Collingwood.

"It'll be a little bit different, but he did so much for this footy club... but I understand the nature of the game," Cox said.

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Steeplechaser set for Cats ruck gig

Mark Blicavs taps the ball over Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs. Picture:Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Geelong thrash a flat Adelaide outfit by 63 points in their NAB Cup clash at Simonds Stadium.

HE'S played just six games since under-14s but Mark Blicavs has emerged as a wildcard to be Geelong's starting ruckman in Round 1.

The former steeplechaser, who had dreams of representing Australia before giving up his running career last year, more than held his own against Adelaide's Sam Jacobs in yesterday's NAB Cup game to put his hand up for the season-opener.

All of Geelong's senior-listed ruckmen are on the injury list - Trent West (knee), Dawson Simpson (back), Hamish McIntosh (knee), Nathan Vardy (groin) - which means Blicavs and fellow rookie Josh Walker have had to carry the load in the pre-season.

Blicavs, 21, joined the Cats midway through last year and played four VFL games - the first time he'd pulled on the boots since representing Taylors Lakes in the under-14s.

When asked if he was ready to carry the ruck load against Hawthorn in Round 1, he said: "Hypothetically if that happened, I versed (Aaron) Sandilands two weeks ago and Jacobs who are two of the best ruckmen in the league in my eyes.

"It can't be anymore daunting than that so I'll just take it as it comes . . . . against the Hawks would be pretty exciting I guess."

Assistant coach Blake Caracella said Blicavs' improvement over the summer had surprised everyone.

"His rate of improvement has been remarkable," Caracella said. "He's obviously an outstanding athlete, his spring is pretty good, he's a fantastic runner but his game sense and knowledge of how to play the game, for someone who hasn't played footy since U/14s is amazing.

"He has somehow managed to learn at a rapid rate and come along heaps. He's certainly going to push for selection come Round 1 or certainly during the season.

"I think (he could handle it). I think his game two weeks ago he jumped over Sandilands at his first centre bounce he took and obviously against a quality ruckman today he rucked quite OK.

"He and Josh Walker add some midfield depth as well because they don't just ruck, they get after the footy as well, they get after the tackles and contested footy as well. It brings certainly a different element to the game.

Blicavs had 14 hit-outs and eight possessions yesterday including an impressive mark and goal in the third quarter.

The new ruck rule which has outlawed scragging at ball-ups certainly helps the rookie whose outstanding leap is his best weapon.

"I'm 198cm and for a ruckman that's not that tall and I'm 96kg so for a ruckman that's tiny so I don't want to be trying to body on Jacobs or anything," Blicavs said. "That one-metre rule does advantage the jumpers who don't want to wrestle.

"I've found moving into the ruck and doing a bit of work in the midfield has helped (over the past two weeks). I guess it has given me a bit more free rein to run a bit and play a bit on instinct.

"I'm just loving it at the moment. It's really good."

Geelong has already placed Simpson on the long-term injury list which means they can elevate a rookie onto the main list for Round 1.

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AFL clears the way for ducking tactic

TAKING COVER: Hawthorn's Lance Franklin takes Eagles forward Ashton Hams high last season. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast has been given the all clear to continue its controversial "ducking" tactic to draw free kicks, despite protests from several AFL clubs.

The Eagles won more head-high tackle frees than any other club last season, a total of 177 in the home-and-away season - 37 more than the second team, Greater Western Sydney, and almost 65 more than the AFL average.

AFL director of umpiring Jeff Gieschen confirmed yesterday there would be no change to the head-high interpretation this year.

A number of Eagles and several other players, including Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, were accused of ducking to elicit head-high frees.

But Gieschen told the 18 AFL clubs recently that "the clear mandate is to protect the player with the ball and to protect the head".

"We have said very clearly that the onus is on the tackler to get as low as he can to make sure the tackle is legal," Gieschen said.

"When a player has won the ball and is about to be tackled, he is entitled to evade and try and beat the tackle," Gieschen said.

"This isn't so much about the player with the ball; it is about the player tackling."

Gieschen admitted some clubs had asked for a clearer interpretation and for a possible change after several coaches last year accused the Eagles of milking free kicks.

But after some discussion at the AFL laws of the game committee meetings, the panel ruled the head had to remain sacrosanct.

"Some of the feedback was that there was probably a risk that some players will adopt the same tactics to try and beat the tackles," Gieschen said.

"We have said that we don't have an issue with that providing the tackler does it legally, which is below the shoulder."

Gieschen stressed: "This is not a West Coast thing.

"You have players at every club who are very good at trying to evade tackles.

"Individual players have their own skills and idiosyncrasies. Some feel comfortable with the ball in their hands, taking on the tacklers; others don't.

"I don't see it as certain players trying to get an advantage, because for some it is a part of their footy DNA."

Last year North Melbourne's Brad Scott and Hawthorn's Alastair Clarkson questioned some tactics used by players to chase free kicks in a tackle.

With the issue of concussion and protecting the head paramount, Gieschen said the laws of the game committee - which he attends but does not vote on - had opted for no changes.

Gieschen said a free would be paid against a player with the ball if he put his head down and initiated contact with another player.

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