Lonergan's debut plans in doubt

Jesse Lonergan in a sling. Picture: Adam Head Source: HWT Image Library

GOLD Coast's top draft pick Jesse Lonergan's hopes of a Round 1 debut are in doubt after injuring his wrist in the Suns' impressive 25-point win over Melbourne.

Suns coach Guy McKenna hoped the final pre-season hit-out at Southport would determine the make-up of the side to host St Kilda at Carrara's Metricon Stadium on March 30.

Things may be clearer after Lonergan's injury and stand-out performances from his brigade of big men. The Suns gave 26 players a run while Harley Bennell, a guaranteed starter, sat out. That means five players face the axe.

Lonergan seemed to have won a spot with a solid showing until he was hurt in the third quarter. He was taken for scans last night.

Charlie Dixon and Zac Smith made strong claims to lead the ruck while Steven May cannot be ignored in attack. Dixon was a stand-out switching with Daniel Gorringe in the ruck as Smith sat cooling his heels for the first half.

If McKenna was hoping to fire up the 202cm giant, it worked.

He took over the ruck duties in the second half and dominated while Dixon started to shine deep in attack.

May made his presence felt in the air and at ground level but let himself down by dropping a few marks.

McKenna said it was pleasing to see the big guys stamp themselves on a game.

"We need to cut them some slack but unfortunately given our unique list, we can't wait for them.

"Certainly the signs we saw today were very pleasing," he said.
 

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Victory proves who's the Voss

Brisbane smash Carlton in the final quarter to win NAB Cup.

Lions coach Michael Voss and AFL chief Andrew Demetriou after Brisbane's super impressive win in the NAB Cup grand final. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Brisbane Lions midfielder Dayne Zorko celebrates a goal. Picture: Andrew Tauber Source: Herald Sun

AS A player, Michael Voss expected perfection, personally and from teammates.

As a coach, it's taken time for that same stamp to be noticable - but make no mistake, signs are becoming evident.

From the Brisbane coach's viewpoint, a disturbingly large gap between old and new Lions still exists.

But when it works, look out.

The Lions won the NAB Cup by 40 points last night on the back of two stellar periods of football that, in simple terms, Carlton couldn't match.

The Blues, who themselves had some exciting patches, wouldn't be troubled long-term with their rivals seemingly more advanced in their unbeaten pre-season preparation.

But these understated Lions have pieces of the next top-flight puzzle coming together.

The arrival of Stefan Martin combined with the bigger and fitter presence of Aaron Cornelius not only gives Brisbane's forward line more structure, it permits Daniel Merrett to stay at home in the key defensive post.

In turn, Matt Maguire and Joel Patfull are shuffled down the defensive totem pole, with Jed Adcock and the ultra-impressive Pearce Hanley free to swoop on more balls brought to ground.

NAB cup grand final. Carlton v Brisbane @ Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.Lions Jonathan Brown goes for a mark against Jamison Picture: Tauber Andrew Source: Herald Sun

But it's when the next phase of play across half-back links up with Daniel Rich and Dayne Zorko that these Lions become killers.

Time and again last night, the Lions swept the ball the length of the ground with July-like precision.

Jonathan Brown (five goals) and Patrick Karnezis (21 disposals, one goal before being subbed at the final change) are the principal targets on the rampage, but Josh Green (three goals) has that Cyril Rioli-like capacity to alter games with minimal possessions whether off his own boot or setting up others.

There were times last night, whether through increased intensity or Brisbane lapses, when the Blues impressed.

Kane Lucas and Kade Simpson were running standouts, while Mitch Robinson appeared the Blues' barometer with his typically bullocking style augmented by some incisive forward forays.

But with Chris Judd underdone and the influence of new skipper Marc Murphy limited, the Lions midfield held sway.

NAB Cup,Grand Final,Carlton v Brisbane,Chris Judd tackled by Brent Moloney, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: Herald Sun

They shot the reluctant visitors out of the gate to a 27-point lead 23 minutes into the first term, before two of those lapses Voss must eradicate to make them a top team cost them two supergoals on wraparound plays for Bryce Gibbs and Zach Tuohy either side of quarter-time.

The Blues edged out to a 13-point lead at the long break, but when the Lions rebooted the game plan - particularly across half-back - the Blues were blown away.

At halftime, Carlton had managed 14 scoring shots to 12.

By game's end, the Blues had managed just six more compared to Brisbane's 17.

Hanley, the Irishman whose knowledge of the game's finer points continues to both advance and amaze, was brilliant across half-back.

He and co-captain Adcock are a lethal springboard combination against whom opposition coaches must guard.

Because when they look further afield now, it's not just Jack Redden and Tom Rockliff, it's Rohan Bewick, Brent Moloney and the destructive Zorko and Rich who help diffuse attention from Brown.

NAB cup grand final. Carlton v Brisbane @ Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.A jubilant Lions after the win Picture: Tauber Andrew Source: Herald Sun

Carlton will be better for the run.

It shouldn't be forgotten that the Blues are still building and were far from rampant victors in their early NAB Cup rounds.

Bryce Gibbs showed flashes of the impact he will have in the midfield this year, while Michael Jamison already looks fitter than in recent seasons at full-back.

Make no mistake, though, this won't be the last time the Lions salute in big games this year.

It's folly to suggest a NAB Cup trophy is a guarantee of something bigger.

But you can see Voss' imprint - and it's impressive.

NAB Cup,Grand Final,Carlton v Brisbane,Stefan Martin tackles Bryce Gibbs, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: Herald Sun

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Zorko admits accolades all a bit Rich

Outstanding: Brisbane's Dayne Zorko gets tackled by Chris Yarran in the NAB Cup grand final at Etihad Stadium. Source: Getty Images

Daniel Rich handballs while being tackled by Carlton's Mitch Robinson. Source: Getty Images

DANIEL Rich's emergence as an elite AFL talent is not restricted to his medal-winning ways.

Rich, who on Friday night added the Michael Tuck Medal as best afield in the Brisbane Lions' 40-point NAB Cup grand final win to his 2009 Rising Star award, has played a pivotal role in the development of Dayne Zorko.

Zorko, a revelation in his first 16 games last season as a mature-age recruit, was another key in Brisbane's nine-goal-to-one second-half romp over Carlton, booting two goals among 26 disposals.

The 24-year-old later revealed Rich had helped him on his mental approach to a 2013 campaign bound to attract a lot more opposition attention than his first.

Rich is still only 22, but has worked tirelessly in the past 18 months to work through heavy tags and expectations after a sluggish - by his standards - 2011 season.

"I'm still pinching myself to be here," said Zorko whose work rate was highlighted by having two rebound-50s to go with his game-high nine inside-50s.

"I worked really hard over the pre-season with Vossy (coach Michael Voss) and Daniel Rich - everyone was talking about the second-year syndrome and now I've just got to keep putting my best foot forward each week and having their advice (on how to combat that) has really helped.

"Being older and realising what's out there (outside the AFL) helps me a lot."

There's clearly great camaraderie among the Lions, who have also worked extremely hard on fitness and bulking up over summer.

"We worked really hard in the pre-season, we did a lot of extra sessions, the boys went to Arizona, and some of the younger guys went on camp," Zorko said.

"We've all really gelled together, it's a really good feeling at the moment."

Both Zorko and three-goal hero Josh Green said the Lions had not only learnt Voss' game plan better, but were adamant on rebuilding good habits at the club which remarkably has had just one ``winning'' season since its most recent Grand Final appearance in 2004.

"Some people might look at it differently, but it's vital to us ... we needed to start a successful culture and this is the start of it," Green said.

"Everyone's starting to work out what he (Voss) wants us to do. And we're all starting to get that relationship together which is good.

"It's the partnerships and relationships that are very important.

"Especially with sliding to help a mate at a contest."

Green said quicker ball release from the Lions' dynamic half-backs had a positive effect up the field.

"We try to use that overlap (that creates) and get it going quicker over the spare (player) - that's when I can use my pace to get over the back and run on to it."

Green has the happy knack of needing limited possession to damage opponents - and shone with as many goal assists as majors in his 12 disposals.

"I don't aim for 30 possessions a game. I just do my role for the team which is chase and tackle - the most important stuff for me - and then all the good stuff will come after that - goals and passing.

"I prefer to look at the ones I've given away to my mates. It's good to kick goals, but to know that I've worked hard and set up a goal to help a mate out is a good feeling. I enjoy that."

It helps both he and Zorko that inspirational leader Jonathan Brown appears in great nick early in the season.

"I'd say he's fresher (than recent seasons)," Green said of Brown, who booted five goals and was his usual physical self in setting up several others.

"He's running out games a lot better and he's backing up game to game. That reduced pre-season really helps him.''
 

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AFL pre-season matches wrap

Gary Ablett appeals for a free kick as the Suns beat the Dees. Picture: Adam Head Source: HWT Image Library

THE Suns beat the Dees, Hawthorn broke its pre-season duck and a Roo was placed on report. Get a full wrap of all of today's AFL pre-season matches here.

RICHMOND 148 (92) def WESTERN BULLDOGS 12.11 (83) at Visy Park

A BURST of last-quarter domination from Tigers rookie Sam Lonergan ignited Richmond to a nine-point win against the Western Bulldogs in a hotly contested match at Visy Park today.

Both sides fielded near full-strength sides as a proper tune-up for Round 1, and the Dogs controlled most of the match before Lonergan separated the sides.

Richmond v Western Bulldogs at Visy park, Sam Lonergan crash's into Luke Dahlhaus Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

The former Bomber won a pair of centre clearances and kicked an important goal as he fights to win a place on Richmond's senior list.

Ruckman Ivan Maric was best-afield, booting three goals and impressing around the ground, while Shane Edwards, Shane Tuck and Shaun Grigg relished the winter-like conditions.

Former Docker Nick Lower took another step towards sewing up a Round 1 place for the Western Bulldogs, shutting down superstar and Richmond captain Trent Cotchin.

Lower has excelled as a tagger this pre-season, also taking the honours against Sam Mitchell.

A Jason Tutt goal cut the gap to just three points in the final term, before Jack Riewoldt found the sticks to secure victory.

It was Riewoldt's sole goal as he was shutdown by a magnificent performance by Dale Morris, who is ready to play his first proper game in 18 months after snapping his leg.

Earlier, the Dogs raced to a four-goal lead as Adam Cooney and Mitch Wallis got busy.

Cooney booted a last-quarter goal when Nathan Hrovat, the first-round draft pick who the Dogs debuted today, spotted him in attack.

Hrovat and Tom Liberatore impressed in the final quarter with their inside midfield grunt.

Jordan Roughead again showed signs his move to defence is set to pay off, while a dazzling interception from Luke Dahlhaus set up a Daniel Giansiracusa goal in the third quarter as the Dogs looked set to run away with the match.

Richmond v Western Bulldogs at Visy park, Sam Lonergan crash's into Luke Dahlhaus Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

But the Tigers held firm until the last change before making their move, with goals to Maric and Brett Deledio to start the last quarter.

Brett Goodes capped his incredible summer with another standout performance from halfback and looks certain to make his AFL debut in Round 1 at the age of 29.

GWS GIANTS 16.6 (102) def ST KILDA 12.14 (86) at Blacktown

ST KILDA has suffered a 144-point turnaround from its debut meeting with GWS Giants late last year, falling to the baby club to end its pre-season campaign.

The Saints leaked six last-quarter goals as they were overpowered by the wooden-spoon favourites in a shock result at Blacktown.

It prompted Giants coach Kevin Sheedy to issue a stern warning after the match to nemesis Sydney, declaring "they wouldn't want to treat us with any disrespect" when they do battle in Round 1.

Beau Maister goaled to give the Saints the lead late in the third term, but it was all GWS after that as the home side cruised to a rare victory.

Jack Newnes again impressed, while Gold Coast recruit Tom Hickey was spared the majority of ruck duties as Ben McEvoy took control

Oddly, St Kilda beat the premier (Sydney) and lost to the bottom side (GWS) this NAB Cup. The Saints now have a week off before travelling to Metricon Stadium to play Gold Coast in Round 1.

GOLD COAST 12.8 (80) def MELBOURNE 8.7 (55) at Southport, Queensland

A DOMINANT performance from maligned Dee Jack Watts did little as an undersized Melbourne was exposed by Gold Coast in its final pre-season match today.

A Demons side missing Mitch Clark,  Jack Viney, Jack Trengove James Frawley and Chris Dawes lacked firepower up forward and was stretched in defence as the Suns' young tall timber speared the home side to a 25-point win.

Big men Aaron Hall and Charlie Dixon combined for five majors, while Gary Ablett stepped his pre-season up another notch, collecting 24 touches in the 12.8 (80) to 8.7 (55) victory at Southport.

Watts racked up 25 disposals as he was unleashed from halfback, while James Sellar provided a lone target in attack, booting three goals.

Mature-aged recruit Dean Terlich again impressed for Melbourne and is on track for a Round 1 debut against Port Adelaide in two weeks.

Terlich collected 21 touches and booted a goal, while Mark Jamar was dominant in the ruck.

Suns' first-round draftee and midfield wrecking ball Jesse Lonergan injured his wrist and was spotted sporting a sling after the match.

16/3/13 AFL -The Gold Coast Suns play the Melbourne Demons in NAB Cup game at Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast. Jesse Lonergan in a sling after the game. Pics Adam Head Picture: Adam Head Source: HWT Image Library

HAWTHORN 19.8 (122) def NORTH MELBOURNE 5.11 (41) at Craigieburn

HAWTHORN and North Melbourne called off their practice match halfway through the last quarter as wild weather lashed Craigieburn.

With the Hawks leading by 79 points and 13.55 on the clock, both sides mutually agreed to end the contest.

And the Roos could be without another defender for their Round 1 clash against Collingwood with former Sun Taylor Hine reported for a high bump on Jack Gunston.

The Roos are already without Scott McMahon for the season-opener, while veteran Brent Harvey is suspended until Round 7.

The Roos were monstered by Hawthorn, with David Hale booting four goals in the first three quarters against his old side to spear the Hawks to a 76-point lead at the final change.

Nathan Grima and Ryan Bastinac tried hard for the Roos, while Lance Franklin and Gunston kicked three goals each.

For updates from Craigieburn follow Matt Windley on Twitter

PORT ADELAIDE 15.12 (102) def SYDNEY 10.12 (72) at AAMI Stadium

NEW Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak speared his side to a five-goal win against premiers Sydney to cap the Power's impressive pre-season under Ken Hinkley.

The midfield star booted three goals from 29 touches as Port shot clear in the final quarter.

But forward John Butcher injured his hand during the 15.12 (102) to 10.12 (72) win, although Port Adelaide tweeted it did not appear to be a serious blow.

Brad Ebert collected 25 touches, while former Eagle Lewis Stevenson racked up 21 from defence as he continues to bolt towards a Round 1 Power debut after 10 games for West Coast in 2010.

Goals to Sydney stars Adam Goodes, Kieran Jack and Jesse White in the third quarter sent the Swans into the final break just seven points down, before the home side seized control in front of 5042 fans.

Sam Reid kicked Sydney's sole major in the final term, two weeks out from Sydney's Round 1 match against GWS.

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Hawks win carries worries

Sam Mitchell spins out of trouble. Picture: Scott Chris Source: HWT Image Library

HAWTHORN finally got its first win of the pre-season, but will now sweat on the fitness of Josh Gibson and the Match Review Panel's verdict of David Hale's hit on Leigh Adams as it prepares for Round 1.

The Hawks defeated North Melbourne by 81 points in Craigieburn this afternoon in a match that was cut short midway through the final term as both teams opted for a safety first approach at a rain-swept Highgate Reserve.

Gibson was smashed in a marking contest in the dying seconds of the first half and appeared to be short of breath and holding the left side of his rib cage.

Get a wrap of all the matches here

He moved gingerly towards the bench, but then was assisted from the field by two trainers once the half time siren sounded.

He did not return to the field, but coach Alastair Clarkson said afterwards it was always planned to rest Gibson - as well as Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead - in the second half.

nm#38 Majak Daw gets away from h#25 Picture: Scott Chris Source: HWT Image Library

Hale was reported for making forceful front on contact to Adams in the first quarter.

Both attacked a ground ball in the Hawks' forward 50m, but Adams was sent crashing to the turf after being collected high.

He played on, but was sporting a black eye after the match.

Injuries and reports aside, it was a fairly routine win for Hawthorn against an extremely undermanned Kangaroos outfit missing up to 12 of its first choice players.

After a competitive first quarter, the Hawks ran out 19.8 (122) to 5.11 (41) winners.

Hale kicked four goals while Gunston, Lance Franklin and Sam Grimley chipped in with three goals each.

Clarkson said he was confident Gibson would be fit to face Geelong at the MCG in 15 days time.

"I think he's going to be OK, Gibbo ... he just got a bit of a knock in a marking contest,'' Clarkson said.

nm#38 Majak Daw gets away from h#25 Picture: Scott Chris Source: HWT Image Library

"We were going to take him out at half time anyway. He'll be OK, he's a pretty tough competitor.''

Many Hawks fans would have headed to the northern suburbs hoping to glean information on how their side would go about replacing the injured Matthew Suckling.

Matthew Spangher was good in defence and can play both tall and small, while Kyle Cheney was also serviceable.

Interestingly, Gunston also won a fair few possessions in the back half and also had two rebound 50s to his name.

Clarkson said the art of re-working his side's backline was still a work in progress.

"We'll work it out, we've got good depth at our footy club,'' he said.

"Suckers is obviously a loss for us, but you've just got to forge ahead _ when one goes down you replace him with another guy.

"We think we've got enough depth, is it the same quality? We'll wait and see. We'll keep putting blokes in there and hopefully we'll get the same rebound as last year.''

The coach said Gunston's clean foot skills could be utilised in defence at times.

"But just his polish in the front half is really valuable for our side, so we'll continue to explore things across half back but we probably don't want to rob the influence he can have for us in the front half of the ground.''

Clarkson said the match had been approached as a full Round 1 dress rehearsal and, as such, he was happy enough with the outcome.

"You can only control what you can do ... by and large it was a good hitout for both sides.''
 

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Roos not out for Round 1 rehearsal

Hawthorn thrashes an underdone Kangaroos, but suffers several injury scares in the win.

Ryan Bastinac gets a kick away before the match was abandoned. Picture: Scott Chris Source: Herald Sun

AS NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott sought out his Hawthorn counterpart during the last quarter seeking to call today's practice match off early it spoke volumes for what the Roos were trying to get out of the day.

Granted it was pelting down with rain at Craigieburn's Highgate Reserve, and with the Hawks ahead on the scoreboard by some 81 points there was little to gain from playing out the final 15 or so minutes.

But still, North - minus up to 13 of its best 22 - were in the northern suburbs purely for a practice match, not a Round 1 tune up.

Calling the match off early was the only thing needed to ensure the club's No.1 objective for the day was met - not suffering any injuries heading in to its clash with Collingwood in a fortnight.

"I think everyone had just about headed for cover,'' Scott said.

nm#3, Ryan Bastinac Picture: Scott Chris Source: Herald Sun

"The Hawks wanted to shorten the last quarter anyway and then when the rain came it was just handy having the coaches boxes next to each other (so such a decision could be made).

"When the weather's like that two weeks before Round 1 you're just worried about getting your players through unscathed.

"We came in to the game with a genuine practice match mentality.''

There were no injuries to speak of for North Melbourne, but the club does have a Match Review Panel concern.

Former Gold Coast defender Taylor Hine - who Scott suggested was in line for a Round 1 call up - was reported for making forceful front on contact on Jack Gunston in the third term.

Gunston was bending down to pick up the ball, but was collected in the head by Hine's hip and, if precedent is anything to go by, would be facing a nervous wait for the MRP's verdict.

The undermanned Roos were competitive in the first half and Scott was pleased with the endeavour, but ultimately numbers told as a near full-strength Hawks line-up ran out 19.8 (122) to 5.11 (41) winners.

Brent Harvey, playing his last game before a six-week suspension layoff for the season proper, kicked two goals, as did Drew Petrie.

Ryan Bastinac was a spark in the middle, while Nathan Grima wracked up an impressive 26 possessions as he strengthened his Round 1 claims by playing a full game.

Otherwise, game time for specific players was the name of the day for Scott and his men.

"We've got about, by my rough calculations, two or three spots that 10 or 12 players are putting their hands up for so we wanted to give them really good opportunities to try and push their case against what was pretty much a Round 1 dress rehearsal (line-up) for Hawthorn.''

The battle for North's No.1 ruck spot continues - Todd Goldstein had 19 hitouts and six possessions to Daniel Currie's 16 hitouts and four possessions.

Scott said Goldstein's first quarter was his best quarter of footy  "in two or three years'' and admitted Currie "wasn't as good today'' before endorsing his pre-season as a whole.

Scott said the coaching staff had a tough decision to make, but conceded it was unlikely he would play both in the one team throughout the season proper.

"Who does it in the AFL these days? The Swans did it, but one of the rucks plays key forward. West Coast do it because (Nic) Naitanui is a rare athlete,'' he said.
 

"Other than that there are very few clubs who can do it with one on the bench and three substitutes. I'd say it would be very unlikely we would go that way, but it's a good problem to have.''
 

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Daisy, Reid on track for opener

Collingwood's Dale Thomas now appears a huge chance to be available  for Round 1. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD hasn't given up on Ben Reid and Dale Thomas being available for its opening-round clash against North Melbourne in 14 days.

But the Magpies have already ruled out Alex Fasolo and Andrew Krakouer.

Reid and Thomas could play in a practice match next weekend, and director of football Geoff Walsh said they would be available for the first round.

If they don't play for the senior side against the Kangaroos on March 30, they will line up four days earlier for the club's VFL side against an Australian Institute of Sport team in a curtain raiser to the Richmond and Carlton clash.

Yesterday Walsh said Reid and Thomas, who both missed Friday's practice match against Geelong, were in a similar situation.

"Like Reidy, if 'Daisy' (Thomas) is not fit to play in the game on the weekend, he'll be right for Round 1," Walsh said.

Fasolo won't make his AFL return until at least Round 3 after battling a hamstring complaint. He has not played so far this pre-season.

Krakouer is still a couple of weeks away from playing his first game for the season in the VFL.

He was a considered a chance of playing in yesterday's VFL clash against Geelong, but the club believes he needs more fitness work before he resumes at the lower level.

Walsh said Krakouer had missed a couple of training sessions in the past month and the club wanted to make sure he was fit before he played.

"He might be a couple of weeks away from playing," Walsh said. "His general fitness is not as good as it could be, so we want to get him fit on the track."

Forward Quinten Lynch suffered a corky during Collingwood's 51-point loss to the Cats at Simonds Stadium on Friday.

Lynch, who booted four goals, has already been cleared of any serious damage.

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At last, a Power in the midfield

Port Adelaide forward Justin Westhoff marks in front of Sydney's Dane Rampe. Picture: Morne de Klerk. Source: Getty Images

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley will today review Port Adelaide's pre-season with the knowledge the club is the surprise of the summer after its trial-game win against premiership side Sydney by five goals at West Lakes yesterday.

Port had a lot to prove after two seasons of pain and the effort against the Swans confirmed the club gets a pass mark.

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There is a distinctly different look about Port under new coach Ken Hinkley, and it was on display against Sydney in front of the sparse crowd of 5042 at West Lakes.

There has been a long-standing question over the Swans' interest in pre-season practice matches.

But the side they brought out was filled with enough stars to suggest the premier considered it an important game as it prepares for its flag defence.

Nick Malceski floated forward for an early, casual goal, reminding the audience of his Grand Final contribution and Josh Kennedy, one of the club's most important players, was busy enough to have a game-high 15 disposals by half time.

Shane Mumford was firm in the ruck but Jarrad Redden and Matthew Lobbe in tandem competed well and it looks like that's the way Port will go this season - with multiple ruckmen.

The Swans are contenders again but it was the Power that made onlookers take notice first.

Much of Port's midfield work was channelled through captain Travis Boak, who played another game from the top drawer.

He glided out of heavily-congested situations - and being against Sydney, there were many - and was particularly sharp with his handpasses.

Boak has been one of the Power's most influential for years, and when Mark Harvey coached Fremantle, he singled out Boak as the first player who needed attention by opposition sides wanting to shut down the Power.

The difference a couple of years later is that Port's midfield is beginning to have some depth.

Hamish Hartlett is there with his elite skills, Brad Ebert is steady with an uncompromising work rate, Kane Cornes's first 10 disposals came at an efficiency of 100 per cent and top draft pick Ollie Wines has the ability to win it in close like an older player.

Add to that former Essendon player Angus Monfries, who showed sparks yesterday as he returned from hamstring injury, and Boak is likely to share his time between the midfield and the forward line.

The match had a different look about it, the way many games Sydney are involved in are. It was old-fashioned one-on-one tactics for most of it, rather than teams using heavy forward presses.

Also, there was a strong wind blowing towards the lake end.

Tom Jonas played a peach of a game, restricting Sydney legend Adam Goodes just one week after holding the Eagles' Mark Le Cras.

Jonas shapes as one who can handle the stars of the game.

Goodes had his own moments but he's too good to be completely shut down.

In the backline, there was a steady partnership between Jackson Trengove and Alipate "Bobby" Carlile, who looks fitter and more mobile than last season, to go with the foot skills of Jasper Pittard.

But the most drastic improvement in Port is in attack, where the forwards have finally added to their defensive skills and manage to keep it in the area for longer periods.

It was exemplified by little Jake Neade, who took on contest after contest like a man wanting to fight the front bar.

First-year player Sam Colquhoun was busy and won his own ball and Sandover medallist Kane Mitchell, who was barely sighted in Alice Springs last week, kicked a couple of quick goals when he came on in the second half to prove he has both smarts and enterprise.

PORT ADELAIDE  4.1  7.5  11.6  15.12 (102)

SYDNEY               3.5  4.7   9.11 10.12 (72)

GOALS: Port Adelaide: Boak 3, Young, Mitchell 2, Brad Ebert, Pittard, Colquhoun, Stewart, Lobbe, O'Shea, Thomas, Wines. Sydney: Parker, Goodes 2, Malceski, Jack, Reid, Bolton, McGlynn, White.

BEST: Port Adelaide: Boak, Brad Ebert, Trengove, Hartlett, Carlile, Wingard, Lobbe, Pittard. Sydney: Kennedy, McVeigh, Malceski, Mattner, Jack.

Injuries/reports: Butcher (hand).

Umpires: G Fila, S Hay, H Ryan, C Fleer

Crowd: 5042 at AAMI Stadium.

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More pain for injured Nicoski

SETBACK: West Coast's Mark Nicoski has been placed on the long-term injury list. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast veteran Mark Nicoski's career is at the crossroads after being placed on the long-term injury list again.

Nicoski, who missed all of last season after a severe hamstring injury in the NAB Cup Grand Final, is unlikely to be available until the second-half of the season. It is a serious blow for the 29-year-old, who has been battling in his recovery and is on a one-year contract.

Nicoski had originally targeted a NAB Cup return and hoped to push his claims for Round 1 but the club has become increasingly concerned with his progress over the past two months as his body struggled to cope with his rehab program.

The popular clubman, who played in the Eagles' losing Grand Final team in 2005 but missed the premiership a year later, remains adamant his career is not over.

"There has not been a setback per se, it's just a matter of backing it off a little over the next couple of months, managing and manipulating my training loads," he told the club's website.

Nicoski enjoyed a career-best season in 2011 but would have to prove himself for an extended period in the WAFL before pushing for selection later this year.

He may find it tough to break into the West Coast team if it is performing strongly. The decision to return Nicoski to the long-term injury list continues the Eagles' turbulent build-up to the season.

West Coast is preparing to throw off-season pickups Jamie Cripps and Mark Hutchings straight into the cauldron of the Round 1 Western Derby on Saturday amid its midfield injury crisis. Cripps, secured in a trade deal after playing 16 games for St Kilda, impressed during the NAB Cup and is a likely inclusion for the clash with Fremantle.

Hutchings had not originally been pencilled in for a Round 1 debut and has been playing for West Perth in WAFL pre-season fixtures in recent weeks.

But the 21-year-old was held out of the Falcons' side for yesterday's match against East Perth. The Eagles are looking for options to bolster their ball-winning division with key midfielders Daniel Kerr (knee), Sharrod Wellingham (ankle) and Matt Rosa (thigh) all sidelined.

An AFL debut in the derby would continue a fairytale turnaround for Hutchings, who was taken in the rookie draft by St Kilda in 2010 but dumped after one season without playing a senior game. He starred in the WAFL for the past two season before being selected by the Eagles at No.60 in last November's national draft.

In a fresh approach to the derby build-up ahead of the 37th meeting between the two clubs, coaches Ross Lyon and John Worsfold will hold their official pre-match press conference at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle on Wednesday.

West Coast remains favourite despite its injury woes, with the Eagles at $1.60 and the Dockers paying $2.35.

The derby is set to be played at a frenetic intensity, with the combatants in the unusual situation of having a fortnight to recover. The Dockers have a 14-day break before their Round 2 trip to face the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, while the Eagles will have 15 days before they host Hawthorn.

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Swans to win it all on a pair of Jacks

Kieren Jack ducks and weaves with the ball during a Swans training session at Lakeside Oval. Source: Getty Images

THEIR backyard footy games were brutal and would almost always end with Brandon Jack in tears.

"Head high contacts were in,'' Kieren said. "You could tackle on the pavement. There was no ref.''

So a bruised and tearful Brandon, usually after the first try, would run inside to his mother, while big brother would run down the street in fear.

"Because I knew I would cop a verbal serve from mum,'' Kieren said. "(She would say) you're a bully, Kieren. You should look after him.''

The two brothers sit at ANZ Stadium now and laugh about those old rugby league games in the backyard. These days, both are playing AFL for the Sydney Swans and living a very different dream.

"It is incredible,'' Kieren said. "It rarely happens that brothers play top-line sport together, let alone the same club.

"I feel like I can mentor Brandon a little bit, but he is going to find his own path.''

Kieren Jack is a premiership player, a club champion and was named co-captain of the Swans last week. The 25-year-old has served as an inspiration to not only 18-year-old Brandon but for all aspiring young AFL footballers.

As a teenager, Kieren was often told he wasn't good enough and remembers one representative coach telling him to give up.

"If I had listened to what people told me throughout my childhood, I would not be playing AFL,'' he said.

"There were so many people who told me I was never going to be good enough. They told me I was too short. They told me my skills were no good.
 
"But I just used it as fuel to motivate me. My first couple of years on the Swans list, I was a fair bit behind the rest of the pack. I was on a one-year rookie list deal. I had to work my butt off to stay at the club.

"I had this vision, I wanted to get there. It was brutal, but I wasn't going to let anyone tell me I couldn't (make it)."

Brandon has endured a similar path to the Swans' rookie list.

The 1.82m teenager is blessed with the same speed as his brother, but he was also rejected by representative teams.

"I didn't take much notice because I knew if I worked hard, I could get there," Brandon said.

"It is just great I have got on the list and I will try to do everything I can to get a first-grade game."

Brandon's determination not only saw him break into the club last year but earn sufficient marks to study combined law at the Universityjlof NSW.

Kieren marvels at his brother's ability to balance his academic goals with football.

"To be honest, he has been extraordinary the way he handled school and football. He is in a very fortunate position now where he can do whatever he wants," Kieren said.

"The silly bugger wants to play football."

The third part of this football dynasty is father Garry.

The former rugby league legend always speaks with pride about his boys, but there is no shortage of debate as he tells them he could have made it in the AFL, too.

"Brandon and I tell him he didn't have the skill and the fitness to play," Kieren joked. Brandon added: "I tell him he's a has-been. And he replies, 'Well, at least I was'. He still holds that over me.

"He says he will listen to us when we play as many first-grade games as he did. Kieren is about halfway there. I have 244 to get before I can tell him to shut up."

Kieren last week also signed a three-year deal with the Swans and sponsors are flocking to him. ANZ Stadium have made him an official ambassador, as have AFL NSW. He has also recently signed deals with Umbra, Rebel Sport and Nokia.

So what about those old days in the backyard?

It took around 10 years, but Brandon recently got his revenge on Kieren.

"There was a sparring session (at training). They call it a bar-room brawl, where everyone is in - it is a free-for-all and there were about 20 players down there," Kieren said.

"I was sparring with Lewis Jetta when I copped a big roundhouse punch from behind into my stomach. I turned around and it was little Brandon with a big grin on his face.

"His punches have certainly got a bit harder from when he was a seven-year-old kid."

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