Voss excited about Lions' midfield

Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich are a crucial part of the Brisbane Lions' emerging midfield. Picture: Mark Cranitch. Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE coach Michael Voss has flagged the emergence of a potential premiership-winning midfield as the Lions embark on the next stage to playing finals football again.

Voss isn't predicting a fourth AFL flag for the club next season.

But he spoke excitedly about the young midfield group continuing to mature and learn behind the experience of the club's ageless veteran Simon Black.

Boom prospect Daniel Rich, vice-captain Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden are three 21-year-old midfielders who've now played more than 50 AFL games each.

Black, 33, is the only survivor of the club's famed "Fab Four" midfield of Jason Akermanis, Nigel Lappin and Voss and later joined by Luke Power.

Throw in the hard edge provided by the Scott twins, Brad and Chris, and coached by the game's toughest man Leigh Matthews, and it was an AFL dream team.

Voss, Akermanis and Black were Brownlow medallists by the time Brisbane became only the fourth club in AFL history in 2003 to win three straight premierships.

After Brendan Fevola's failed stint at the club, which many believe set the club's recovery mission back on its heels, Voss has implemented his strategies on and off the field to get the club back to contesting finals.

September action is something they've qualified for only once in eight years since their three consecutive titles.

Voss, who has stuck solid to his youth policy for the past few years, believes his side is beginning to mature.

"I've been backing it (youth) for a few years now and we've got an exciting, young midfield group," he said. "I joked about it last year that we had Simon Black at 33 years of age and our next oldest (midfielder) at 21."

Brisbane have to get two things right in 2013, according to Voss. The first is pulling fans back to the Gabba to make it a tough venue for visiting teams.

"The second is bridging the gap between us and the better teams in the competition," he said. "We're still losing to those teams by 40 to 60 points. Does that mean we close the gap by turning those games into wins?

"We'll have to wait and see.

"Certainly we must make significant ground on those teams to warrant an improvement by this group."

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Bombers protect Scott Gumbleton

Scott Gumbleton, right, at Essendon pre-season training with Dustin Fletcher and Paddy Ryder. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON has wrapped Scott Gumbleton in cotton wool after the injury-prone forward complained of hamstring tightness yesterday.

Gumbleton, who has a history of hamstring problems, will be given next week off training - the Bombers' last week on the track before their Christmas break.

Gumbleton, 24, is expected to resume when pre-season training returns early in the new year.

Gumbleton has played only 28 of a possible 134 games since arriving at Essendon - the lowest total of any current player chosen in the first round of 2006's national draft.

He was on the long-term injury list at the start of last season as he recovered from back surgery, but, encouragingly for the Bombers, he found fitness to play six of the last eight matches of the year.

The No.2 draft pick was almost packing for the trip to Western Bulldogs in recent months, but he signed a one-year deal with Essendon in October.

"The sell to Scotty was that we believed he can play," coach James Hird told the Herald Sun this month.

"He just needs that consistency of training again.

"If he gets that he will be a very good player of the competition.

"But there is no player in the competition who can play well if they don't train.

"He hasn't missed a session in the pre-season.

"At the moment it's looking good for him."

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Dockers won't take Tippett

Kurt Tippett hopes to get to Sydney in the pre-season draft. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

FREMANTLE won't spoil Sydney's party by swooping on Kurt Tippett in Tuesday's pre-season draft.

The Dockers today ruled out a surprise move to select Tippett with their No.8 pick before the Swans' first selection at 11.

With GWS already making it clear it won't pick Tippett, the former Crow seems certain to land at his preferred home, Sydney.

The AFL today released the order of selections in Tuesday's draft, with Greater Western Sydney holding the first selection ahead of the Bulldogs and Port Adelaide.

Twelve clubs can opt to take part in the draft for recycled AFL players.

Sydney has pick 11. That means 10 other clubs could potentially grab Tippett before the Swans have a selection, but that is unlikely given the price Tippett has put on his head.

Tippett is permitted to set his contract demands before the draft, although they are believed to fall short of Sydney's reported $3.5 million offer.

The Dockers failed in a bid to lure Travis Cloke from Collingwood with a five-year $5 million deal at the end of the season, but say they are looking closer to home.

Jesse Crichton, delisted by Fremantle at the end of the season, and WAFL players Alex Hewson, Nick Rodda, Callum Sinclair and Cam Symonds are training with the Dockers, along with Murray Bushranger Matthew Taberner.

Pic gallery: Biggest pre-season draft bargains

Richmond is believed to be prepared to use its fifth selection on discarded Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson while the Bulldogs are weighing up ex-Bomber Brent Prismall and 28-year-old VFL player Brett Goodes, brother of Sydney champion Adam.

There are 17 picks in the pre-season draft order but many of those are likely to go unused as clubs save extra selections for the rookie draft, which follows immediately after the pre-season draft.

Pic gallery: Biggest pre-season draft flops

Clubs next year must reduce their rookie list by two but can opt to list up to six rookies by using less spots on their primary list.

Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Gold Coast do not have selections in the pre-season draft.

2012 PRE-SEASON DRAFT

Round One
1 – GWS Giants
2 – Western Bulldogs
3 – Port Adelaide
4 – Brisbane Lions
5 – Richmond
6 – Essendon
7 – Carlton
8 – Fremantle
9 – Collingwood
10 – Adelaide Crows
11 – Sydney Swans

Round Two
12 – GWS Giants
13 – Carlton
14 – Fremantle
15 – Collingwood
16 – Sydney Swans

Round Three
17 – Sydney Swans
 

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Bolton raring to go for 15th season

Jude Bolton celebrates Sydney's 2012 Grand Final win against Hawthorn. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

JUDE Bolton is not a man for second thoughts.

But if anyone else harboured doubts about the Sydney veteran's decision to extend his 301-game AFL career, they would have done well to watch his 3km time-trial today, when the premiers' full squad returned to pre-season training.

The 32-year-old bettered his best time from last season, with the partially-torn posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee having healed without surgery.

"Absolutely, it does (give me confidence). You want to put a good time on the board, just so you know where you're at as well," Bolton said.

"I certainly feel pretty fit, especially with pre-season only starting ... hopefully after Christmas, I'll be even fitter.

"Having no post-season surgery (helps) ... the knee has really settled down now and it's feeling good.

"My wife and I mostly hung around Sydney and Melbourne, so I've been able to train here and do a bit. I feel nice and fresh."

While today was the official start for the experienced Swans' pre-season program, Bolton has been shaping up over the past three weeks after opting to continue a one-club career that started with pick No.8 in the 1998 draft.

Despite their premiership status, the likes of Bolton and Ted Richards made a low-key return to the track, with TV cameramen more interested in camping outside nearby NRL headquarters while drawn-out pay talks continued.

As expected, co-captain Adam Goodes (knee) did not take part.

"It's good to be back into it," Bolton said.

"You see all the other teams start back up and you sit around and start questioning yourself a bit."

Bolton said his teammates were cautiously excited about the prospect of former Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett joining the club.

"He's a super-talented player. We saw in the prelim final against Hawthorn how well he played there," the no-nonsense midfielder said.

"But the simple fact is we haven't got him yet. We'll have to wait until (the pre-season draft on) Tuesday to see whether we do get him.

"With or without him, we've got to keep improving. We're about constant improvement at this club."

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Trengove to miss six weeks

Jack Trengove will be in a moon boot for six weeks. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE'S pre-season has suffered a blow with news co-captain Jack Trengove will have to spend the next six weeks in a moon boot.

Scans revealed the early onset of a stress fracture in the 22-year-old's left foot, meaning Trengove will be forced to not only miss the club's nine-day training camp to the Northern Territory, but is also likely to be on a modified program when the Dees resume in the new year.

"This is clearly a disappointing setback for Jack," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"The positive element to this is that the stress fracture was identified early, which will allow Jack to begin his rehab immediately.

"We expect Jack to be able to begin his running program in January. His rehab will be continually assessed but at this stage we are hopeful that he'll be available for the start of the AFL season."

Melbourne leave today for a nine-day camp in the NT, returning on December 14.

Trengove tweeted this morning he was "shattered" to miss the camp.

"Thanks for all of the support guys. Not quite the news I was hoping for, that's footy sometimes.. Now to come back bigger & strong for 2013!"

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Dockers edge closer to Cockburn move

ON THE MOVE? Fremantle could be shifting to Cockburn for a new training base. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

FREMANTLE edged closer to establishing a new home base in Perth's southern suburbs after the City of Cockburn last night accepted a heads of agreement for the construction of a new facility.

The council voted in favour of accepting the heads of agreement for the multi-million dollar facility, though it is subject to a number of conditions.

The proposed plan would see construction starting in March 2014, with opening scheduled for early 2016.

If the Dockers' move goes ahead as expected, the club would be housed at the Beeliar Drive facility - moving away from its Fremantle Oval base in the heart of the port city.

The City of Fremantle has made a pitch for a multi-million dollar redevelopment of Fremantle Oval.

Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett said last night's meeting left the city "well placed to be the FDFC's preferred option".

"The HOA was a significant decision for the City that could pave the way for a new state-of-the-art integrated Aquatic and Recreation Community Facility for the region," he said.

"The amendments will now be presented to the FDFC for their consideration."

But Fremantle president Steve Harris said there were still a number of "high-level" issues that needed to be resolved before a decision was made.

"It is clear that the proposed development at Cockburn Central West has the potential to deliver a compelling case in terms of the scope, scale and nature of facilities that can be developed on this green field site," he said.

"There are also still matters to consider further with regard to tenure, access and finance, which will require continued discussion between the City of Cockburn and the club.

"Given that those matters were the subject of confidential deliberations at last night's special council meeting it is not appropriate that the club comment further on those matters."
 

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Power reveal McCarthy tributes

TRIBUTE: Port Adelaide will retire John McCarthy's jumper for next season. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: adelaidenow

PORT Adelaide is set to honour John McCarthy's memory with a program of tributes, including retiring his jumper for next season.

The Power, its players, coaches and the McCarthy family this week finalised plans on how to best remember McCarthy, who died in Las Vegas last September.

Port Adelaide will today announce:

THAT the number 35 jumper and locker used by McCarthy will be retired for 2013.

THE club's first home match in Round 2 against GWS will be a McCarthy tribute match, with players and fans set to recognise his time with the Power.

AN award in McCarthy's name will be introduced at next year's best and fairest in honour of a player's off-field contribution.

THAT McCarthy's name will be linked to a cause and charity which will benefit from funds raised at Port Adelaide's Round 14 fixture with his other club, Collingwood.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said the club wanted to honour McCarthy's life in an appropriate and lasting fashion and in a way that respected his family's wishes

"John McCarthy made an immediate and remarkable impact upon the Port Adelaide Football Club community as he did towards many people throughout his life and that is what we will acknowledge, celebrate and never forget," Thomas said.

"We have considered a great number of suggestions, including many from our supporters, before committing to what the club and John's family feel are fitting and meaningful tributes to a much-loved and admired friend and footballer.

"John's family has made it clear, most significantly at his funeral, that they want his teammates to play with John's spirit and his love of life more than be driven by his memory or their grief at his loss."

Thomas said Port Adelaide and Collingwood would work together before finalising the arrangements around the teams' Round 14 clash at AAMI Stadium, including the charity spectators will be invited to support.

McCarthy died after falling off the Flamingo Hotel and Casino during an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas. He was 22.

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Step down, Juddy: McLean

Chris Judd at Carlton training. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON superstar Chris Judd should relinquish the captaincy to focus on his game.

That's the opinion of teammate Brock McLean, who believes the time has come for Judd, 29, to hand over the reins.

"I can only speak for myself, but personally I think it would be the best thing for Chris is to focus on his footy," McLean said after training today.

"He's probably the best player at the club. Personally I think he's best off focussing on his footy, but that's only my opinion."

McLean nominated fellow midfielders Andrew Carrazzo and Marc Murphy as the ideal replacements. Defender Michael Jamison and Kade Simpson are also thought of as captaincy material.

"The two standouts for me, I can't speak on behalf of anyone else, are Andrew Carrazzo and Marc Murphy," McLean said.

"'Carrotts' is probably a little bit more experienced and bit older than Murph, he's got a really good hold on things and the way he talks to the group both in a positive manner and a demanding manner is something that we need.

"Marc Murphy, his best way of leading is leading by example and his performance the last two years when he has been out on the park have been pretty outstanding."

There is a growing belief Judd is ready to give up the captaincy, with new coach Mick Malthouse a long-time believer that the dual Brownlow medallist is burdened with too much responsibility at Visy Park.

Meanwhile, Carlton has announced that communications manager Ian Coutts will leave the club after 20 years.

Coutts joined the Blues in 1992 and has spent the past 14 years working with the media.

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Swan 'in great nick': Jolly

Darren Jolly wrestles with Collingwood's top draft pick Brodie Grundy at Magpies training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Darren Jolly says he has no problem with the off-season behaviour, or fitness, of star teammate Dane Swan.

The club was last week forced to defend Swan after media reports that he had been "a law unto himself" since the Magpies' season ended.

Swan joined teammates at Melbourne Airport today to fly out to the club's high-altitude training camp in Utah.

Jolly said he had no reason to be concerned about the Brownlow medallist.

"Everyone has been away on holidays. He's off doing his own thing, I was off doing my own thing and everyone is doing their own thing," he said.

"He's come back to training really well and he's in great nick, he's running really well, so I don't think anyone's got an issue with that at all."

Forward Andrew Krakouer is making his first trip to the US after his assault conviction caused Visa problems in previous seasons.

The Magpies' free agent, trade week and draft recruits are all on the plane, but new fathers Nick Maxwell and Alan Didak are staying home.

Alan Toovey is also missing the trip as he recovers from a wrist injury.

Ben Hudson, who has joined the club as a part-time ruck coach and is set to be added to the playing list in the pre-season draft, is on the plane.

Jolly told the AFL website he didn't expect to play every game next season with the arrival of Hudson and highly-rated draft pick Brodie Grundy.

"I think gone are the days you can play out a full year. It's just impossible," Jolly said.

"You need to manage your players and we've certainly managed our players. I've been managed, which has been really good to get through the year unscathed and make sure you're flying at the end of the year.

"I'm sure we'll do that again this year and the club has probably got a plan with a number of players that they'll look at managing through."

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Tigers turn up heat on hoodoo

Dustin Martin leads his team in a canoeing challenge during Richmond's training camp in Cairns. Picture: Tom Lee Source: The Cairns Post

Karmichael Hunt celebrates after kicking the winning goal after the siren against Richmond in Cairns. Picture: Stewart McLean Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Richmond captain Chris Newman hopes an intense tropical training camp will snap the Tigers' Cairns losing streak.

Richmond holds the unenviable record of being the only AFL team not to register a win against Gold Coast in the Suns' two years in the competition.

Both losses have come in Cairns under a three-year deal that will take the Tigers back to north Queensland in Round 16 next season.

Richmond players and coaches fly back to Melbourne today after a training camp in and around Cairns that included two days getting to know Cazaly's Stadium.

"We've been really fortunate to get the opportunity to come to Cairns, we've obviously played here a couple of years in a row without a lot of success, but hopefully this helps us next year when we play Gold Coast," Newman said on SEN.

The camp also included a multi-day Amazing Race challenge that involved players being split into six teams and exploring north Queensland on foot, by bike and in giant outrigger canoes.

Mega pic gallery: Tigers' Amazing Race

The race also included a golf challenge, climbing Mt Sorrow at Cape Tribulation and a sandcastle-building contest at Port Douglas.

While clubs including Collingwood, St Kilda, Essendon, Carlton and Brisbane fly to the US for altitude training, Richmond and Melbourne are hoping to gain as much by training in extreme heat closer to home.

Newman said the hard work would continue in a heat chamber at the ME Bank Centre, Richmond's training facility at Punt Rd.

"It's been really good for the boys to get a bit of heat training here and we're all pretty fit," he said.

"It's all about heat acclimation, we play here during the year but we feel like there's some benefits to be gained by training in this heat."

Meanwhile, Newman said he would return to his No.1 guernsey after stepping down from the leadership group.

Newman backed new skipper Trent Cotchin to lead the club out of the wilderness.

"We've already seen he has a lot of leadership qualities and I'm looking forward to getting behind him and running out on the 'G in Round 1."

Follow Al Paton on Twitter: @al_superfooty

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Liam's more X-factor than distractor

Former Melbourne footballer Liam Jurrah (left) at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: Herald Sun

PORT Adelaide believes Liam Jurrah will prove more X-Factor than distraction with the forward's pending court case clouding a recruit with massive upside.

Power great Warren Tredrea has urged the club to cool its interest in drafting the former Melbourne cult figure until 2014 - allowing Jurrah to gain peak physical and mental condition.

Port will decide on Friday whether to hand troubled Jurrah an AFL lifeline at the December 11 pre-season and rookie drafts. Jurrah, 24, must answer assault charges in March stemming from a town camp incident last February near Alice Springs.

An underdone Jurrah fronted at Alberton last Wednesday as part of a 10-man train-on squad and football operations manager Peter Rohde dismissed thoughts his presence - now or next season - was an unnecessary sideshow.

"We obviously have him out there, we don't necessarily think that is the case, he has some special needs but that is not something that will turn us off," he said of the 36-game, 81-goal ace who was also plagued by ankle and wrist injuries this year.

"If we can get him up playing he has some real talent to add to our team."

The Power languished in 14th spot this year and Jurrah's mercurial leap and marking prowess would lift a side craving gamebreakers and potency. Welcoming a recruit with real baggage is a risk but could be worth it.

"There has been a lot of publicity around Liam," Rohde said.

"He is certainly straight up and there are issues going around his court case that we have to get our heads around but more than anything we just want to see him come out and train, how he presents himself.

"At his best he is one of the most talented players in the competition but he hasn't played at that level for a couple of years, that is what we have to measure up."

Rohde said Jurrah was actually a very different package to the one linked with the incidents in Alice Springs.

"He is very quiet, only took up English language late but certainly listens, is quite smart but shy," Rohde said.

Former Essendon and Geelong midfielder Brent Prismall has also been linked to a multi-year deal at Alberton but the Power will be wary of any long-term commitment to a 26-year-old who has spent the past year sidelined with a knee injury.

"It is as not a done deal in the pre-season draft. We would probably be keen to offer one year," Rohde said.

While his counterpart at Adelaide Phil Harper has landed in hot water, Rohde said Port had the protocols in place to avoid a Kurt Tippett-style salary cap issue.

"We have reporting processes to make sure that everything is within the rules," Rohde said. "They may have deviated from their normal processes for some reason."

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Crows faithful behind Trigg

Adelaide CEO Steven Trigg chats with fans at Crows training. Picture: Sarah Reed

BELEAGUERED Adelaide Crows chief executive, Steven Trigg, has met face to face with a group of supporters urging him to stay on in the job.

Accompanied by Crows chairman Rob Chapman, Trigg walked out of his office this morning at AAMI stadium to speak with the group of around 20 who are all Crows Gold Members.

"We may be one-eyed, but we feel Steven has enough brownie points in the bank to keep going," a supporter, who wished to be known only as Des, said.

"He's made one mistake and if we were sacking people for one mistake not many people would hold down a job for too long.

"This all happened at a time when the Crows had to keep Kurt Tippett at all costs and mistakes can be made under that kind of pressure."

Trigg has been fined $50,000 by the AFL for his role in the club's illegal bid to keep Tippett at the Crows.

He will start a six-month suspension from all involvement with the Adelaide Crows from January 1, 2013.

Chapman and his board have backed Trigg and will permit him to return to his role at the end of the suspension.

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Trigg stays but still packs his bags

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg says he offered his resignation to the club but they declined it.

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg speaks to members of the media at Crows HQ in West Lakes, the day after the AFL Commission. Picture: Dylan Coker. Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

• Tell us: Have the Crows been dealt with fairly by the AFL?

CROWS boss Steven Trigg says he considered stepping down "every day" for the past six weeks but was swayed against falling on his sword by yesterday's unanimous backing from the club's board.

Adelaide backed Trigg to continue as the club's chief executive despite his six-month suspension imposed by the AFL for his part in the Kurt Tippett scandal.

Less than 24 hours after Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman declared himself a "personal supporter" of Trigg, the eight other elected members of the club's board voted to retain Trigg when his ban is lifted on July 1.

"The board is united on this," Chapman said.

"All decisions of the board are based on putting the club first and ensuring the best overall outcomes for the club."

Football manager Phil Harper, who inherited the dirty deal built by Trigg and former football boss John Reid in 2009, also won unanimous board backing to retain his role.

Harper received a two-month ban, keeping him off Adelaide's books until March 1.

Dodgy deal the Tippett of the iceberg

But it was the decision to retain Trigg that raised eyebrows in a football community that was predicting a sacking or a voluntary dismissal.

On Friday, the chief executive copped a six-month, unpaid ban from holding any position within the AFL or clubs.

He was also fined $50,000, and faced speculation his position at the club was no longer tenable.

Breaking his silence since the sanctions were handed down on Friday, Trigg revealed he had offered his resignation during several meetings with Chapman after details of Tippett's contract began surfacing during a tumultuous trade period.

Kurt Tippett leaves the AFL Commission with his legal counsel David Gallbally. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: adelaidenow

"It's been an unbelievable six weeks," Trigg said.

"If I said to you there wasn't a day go by where I didn't think about stepping down you'd probably believe me.

"But particularly in the last week there's been a couple of occasions when I've had that formal discussion with our chairman, and I think reflective of their decision today is the proposition that I can still continue to add value and make sure that we go forward as a footy club."

It is understood Trigg's involvement in ongoing negotiations surrounding the club's move to Adelaide Oval for 2014 and a push for a reserves side were among key planks that won the board's backing.

Despite a wave of outcry at his retention on talkback radio yesterday, Trigg was adamant the stain of his role in the Tippett affair did not affect the viability of his job with the club.

"I've always said I'd love to stay in the role," he said.

"I want to stay in the industry and I want to stay in the role.

"People find that extraordinary given the circumstances, and I understand that as well. I've made some blues, we've buggered up some things, no question about that, and I take complete responsibility.

"But for me, do I want to stay in the role? Absolutely.

"For me it's a question of does the board want me to stay in the role.

"They've put a position where they're really strong, no ambiguity, so it's on that basis that I stay in the role."

Tippett blames Crows for 11-week ban

Trigg learnt of the board's decision in a phone call from Chapman late yesterday morning, immediately after the board meeting.

He was uncertain whether his AFL-imposed ban meant he was allowed to attend games before the suspension ended on July 1.

Trigg said during his enforced lay-off he planned to launch a fact-finding mission with other national and international sporting organisations.

"Apparently I've got a few jobs to do around the house," he said.

"I do need a spell and after 11 years in this role where you're just going flat out the whole time there is a little bit of upside in having a spell. I didn't want it to be this way.

"What I really want to do at some stage is get out, under my own steam and my own cost, and go and look at some world sport so I can learn some things, bring them back here and put them into place.

"Whether that's other codes, other clubs, other sports, I'll spend a bit of time doing that. It needs to be mapped out, I don't want to waste it."

THE PENALTIES

- Adelaide Crows fined $300,000 and stripped of their first and second round picks in the 2013 national draft.

- Tippett fined $50,000 and suspended for the 2013 pre-season and first 11 home and away games, with a suspended sentence for the remaining 11 home and away games.

- Steven Trigg fined $50,000 and suspended from any involvement in the AFL for the first six months of 2013, with a suspended sentence for the remaining six months.

- Former Crows football operations manager John Reid suspended from any involvement in the AFL for the first six months of 2013, with a suspended sentence for the remaining six months.

- Crows football operations manager Phil Harper suspended from any AFL involvement for the first two months of 2013, with a further four-month suspended sentence.

scott.walsh@email.com.au

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Sun rises again for Brennan

Jared Brennan trains with the Suns at Metricon Stadium. Picture: David Clark Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

FROM the back of the bus to the front of the plane.

Jared Brennan's road to redemption is all but complete.

The mercurial 28-year-old was on the brink of quitting the AFL after a horror 2012 season in which the high-priced recruit was twice dumped to the Gold Coast reserves.

Disillusioned and questioning if he still had the passion to play at the top level, a reclusive Brennan withdrew from the pressure-cooker environment of the AFL knowing his career balanced on a knife's edge.

But the former Lion was a new man during the Suns' two-week high-altitude camp in Arizona.

He trained the house down to the point where he was voted by his peers as the best performer in the US - and was rewarded with a seat in business class for the long flight back to Australia.

"He's backed it up (since returning home)," Suns coach Guy McKenna said.

"The big test is coming back to sea level and putting your head down and working hard.

"Jared has shown a real appetite for that hard work. He hasn't missed a beat. His enthusiasm is up, his passion is up, all indicators to do with his training are on the up."

Brennan said he would have regretted pulling the pin.

"I've still got a few good years left in me. If I gave up now it was probably the easy way out," he said.

"(And) I don't want to be known to take the easy way out."

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