Clarko fumes at new cap rule

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson new assistant coach Brett Ratten last night. Source: Getty Images

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has slammed the 80-interchange cap rule after the Hawks and Western Bulldogs last night struggled to adapt to the controversial restriction.

Clarkson and Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney were both left bewildered after becoming the guinea pigs for the rule in a game the Dogs won by one point at Etihad Stadium.

Clarkson said the AFL was taking an "enormous risk" by restricting rotations to 80.

"Take it back to old reserves and just play 18 men on the ground if that's what you want to do," Clarkson said.

"It's a pretty dramatic change to go to 80.

"Goodness knows, no one knows, what's going to happen to the game so hopefully common sense will prevail.

"If they want to introduce a cap hopefully they do it at a sensible rate like 120 and then we can see what a minor cap does to the game rather than take it to 80.

"I reckon it's an enormous risk to take with what's a pretty good game at the moment.

"Just at a hunch we're going to say, 'Oh let's put it at 80 and see what happens.

"I hope it's good, but what happens if it's no good?'

As it was neither side used its quota of interchanges, with the Bulldogs using 71 and the Hawks 72.

"You're not coaching, all you're doing is counting how many times players are coming off the ground," Clarkson said.

"You want to coach the players not count numbers.

"I could get a school kid to do that but the coaches have to do it. It's an enormous constraint in terms of the game."

McCartney, delighted his team had shown resilience to hold off a charging Hawthorn and win its first game of the year, said the rule was too extreme.

"I came to the game with a bit of me thinking there will be incredible fatigue and the game will be a shambles. We probably spent too much time ... you spend a stupid amount of time counting them," McCartney said.

"Experimenting with the game is a good thing as long as it's not too extreme and goes too far the other way."

Clarkson said the Hawks were "a bit rusty and a bit scratchy" in defeat, but said there was sufficient time to get his side up and running for Round 1.

"It's not about wins or losses, it's about game time ... but we were really poor around the footy tonight and we gave the Dogs too much easy supply from that area of the ground," he said.

Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne, Grant Birchall, Liam Shiels, Michael Osborne, Xavier Ellis and new recruit Brian Lake all missed last night.

Clarkson said injuries to Luke Breust and David Hale were only minor, while promising Western Bulldogs draftee Jake Stringer has had scans on a rolled ankle that forced him off the ground.

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LIVE: Cats v Crows

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

LIVE AT 2:40PM AEDT- IT is a big day of NAB Cup action and it starts with Geelong taking on Adelaide at Simonds Stadium. Follow it here!

PRE-GAME

HELLO and welcome to our live coverage of today's NAB Cup action, which starts with Geelong taking on Adelaide at Simonds Stadium.

Then at 3:30pm AEDT, the Gold Coast Suns will take on North Melbourne up in hot and humid Townsville.

At 5:10pm AEDT, Essendon take on Richmond in Wangaratta.

Follow all the action right here!

GEELONG: Mitch Brown, Billie Smedts, Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie, Travis Varcoe, Harry Taylor, James Kelly, Joel Corey, Taylor Hunt, Steven Johnson, Jordan Murdoch, Mitch Duncan, Josh Caddy, Jared Rivers, Cam Guthrie, James Podsiadly, Steven Motlop, George Horlin-Smith, Josh Walker, Paul Chapman, Cam Eardley, Shane Kersten, Jackson Thurlow, Jesse Stringer, Corey Enright, Joel Hamling, Mark Blicavs.

ADELAIDE CROWS: Brad Crouch, Brent Reilly, Josh Jenkins, Scott Thompson, Nathan Van Berlo, Lewis Johnson, Rory Sloane, Matthew Jaensch, Matthew Wright, Taylor Walker, David Mackay, Luke Brown, Bernie Vince, Graham Johncock, Andy Otten, Sam Jacobs, Ben Rutten, Richard Douglas, Tom Lynch, Sam Kerridge, Patrick Dangerfield, Shaun McKernan, Brodie Martin, Ian Callinan, Jason Porplyzia, Aidan Riley, Ricky Henderson.
 

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Hird 'just wants the truth'

Essendon coach James Hird gives orders at training. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON coach James Hird has welcomed the Bombers' internal review and says he hopes it will uncover the truth about "irregular practices" at the club.

Essendon trained at Wangaratta today ahead of its NAB Cup clash against Richmond tomorrow, in which captain Jobe Watson will make his return from a knee injury, but Hird was again questioned on the multiple reviews into the Bombers' supplement program.

This week the club commissioned former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski to conduct an internal probe into how the club found itself under investigation by the AFL and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

"I'll be involved in the review process when I need to be, but my job is to keep the team playing great footy," Hird said.

"I'm not anxious. I just want the truth. (Bombers chairman) David Evans wants the truth and that's what we're after.

"I believe once that comes out we'll be able to get on with the job of playing football."

AFL PLAYERS TOLD TO DOB IN DODGY DOCTORS

But Hird wouldn't put a timeframe on the review, saying "it will take the time it needs to take".

Hird said Watson was totally over a knee injury and was keen to build his match fitness after being given the all-clear by club medicos.

SEE ALL THIS WEEKEND'S NAB CUP SQUADS HERE

Forward David Zaharakis could be play in Round 1 after just one NAB Cup hitout after several weeks on the sidelines with a quad injury.

The Bombers play Gold Coast next week before taking on Adelaide in the first match of the home-and-away season on March 22.

Boom colt Joe Daniher will play this weekend, but at VFL level in Geelong on Saturday morning.

Hird said the Bombers had only three players on their injury list - Zaharakis, Jason Winderlich and Scott Gumbleton - and all were a chance to play in Round 1.

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Players told to dob in dodgy docs

Essendon chairman David Evans announces a full external review of the club's governance and processes.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou. Picture: Glenn Daniels Source: Herald Sun

AFL Players Association chief Matt Finnis speaks to the media. Picture: Glenn Daniels Source: Herald Sun

TWO AFL players have used the new whistleblower policy to report irregular practices at their clubs to the league.

The AFL has revealed two players have already taken advantage of the league's new whistleblower policy to report irregular practices at their clubs to the league.

The policy was introduced following the Australian Crime Commission's report into the possible use of drugs and match fixing in Australian sport and guarantees confidentiality for anyone coming forward with information.

AFLPA boss Matt Finnis today encouraged more players to come forward if they have important information.

"Gone are the days where you rely upon drug test results to tackle performance enhancing drugs," Finnis told SEN.

"If those players do have information concerns or issues ... they are duty-bound to share that.

"So if players are taking advantage of that, then I think that's a positive thing."

Finnis said suggestions players might be asked to keep a register of friends and associates to assist with AFL investigations were news to him.

"We've never had any conversation with the AFL about players having to declare lists of friends or anything like that."

Finnis is in Canberra today to make a presentation at a Senate inquiry into issues surrounding integrity in sport and the powers of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

James Hird 'just wants the truth'

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou confirmed last night that the two unnamed players were the first to come forward under the new whistleblower rules.

''Since the ACC findings a couple of players have already come forward,'' Demetriou told Fairfax media. ''They both said: 'I wanted to come forward before but I didn't'.''

While he wouldn't reveal what clubs the players were from, or detail what information they revealed, Demetriou said it proved that players were prepared to break their silence for fear of being labelled "dobbers".

''It's not the 1960s or the 1970s. We're talking about potential funding cuts, millions of dollars in lost sponsorship, brand damage and potential litigation against board members - that's to use the analogy of what's happening at Essendon at the moment," he said.

AFL "hypocritical" on drugs

''If that situation is not a wake-up call, I'm not sure what is, and to their credit the clubs seem to understand that. All the rule changes we announced are in train.

''The whistleblower service will protect individuals who come forward, guarantee confidentiality and offer reduced sanctions to those who put their hands up and, in some cases, no sanctions."

Former Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett tees off on AFL boss Andrew Demetriou.

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Saints hold back veterans

Lenny Hayes joins teammates for pre-season training. Picture: Chris Eastman Source: Herald Sun

KEY St Kilda stars Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes will miss the Saints' pre-season clash against Sydney on Sunday.

The pair also skipped round one of the pre-season competition, meaning it's likely they will start the season proper with just two matches under their belt.

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says the two veterans will be available for the final two rounds of the pre-season, and is upbeat they will be match fit in time for Round 1.

"Nick's going extremely well ... generally those players are tracking well and on course for where we want them to be," Watters said.

"They'll potentially play (rounds) three and four (of the pre-season)."

Watters said St Kilda was more focused on its premiership-season team the deeper the club moved into the warm-up competition.

"I think it would be fair to say that most clubs in NAB (Cup rounds) one and two still have a strong development focus," Watters said.

"They still want to expose younger players and some players who are potentially on the fringe trying to challenge for selection.

"But as you move through the NAB campaign by the time you get to three and four you're getting a lot closer to the side you want on the park for Round 1."

He said St Kilda would still leave the bulk of their experienced players out of the line-up for this Sunday.

"We'll still have a number of younger players out there this weekend.

"We're able to bring back in Sean Dempster, Sam Fisher and Rhys Stanley - they will come in for modified game time.

"But there are probably eight or nine players that we would consider for our best side who won't play this week."

Watters welcomed the news Saints midfielder Jack Steven has signed a two-year contract extension, ensuring he will remain with the club until at least the end of 2015.

"Jack is a key component of our midfield this year ... (he) is ready for greater responsibility and challenges," Watters said of the 22-year-old.

And he stood by the Saints' decision to sack defender Jason Gram last year due to a series of off-field indiscretions.

Gram told the Herald Sun exclusively today he did not deserve to be fired and plans to try to return to the AFL.

But it won't be back at St Kilda, with Watters saying he would not be "a good fit" in the side now.

Watters said he would prefer that Gram was still playing for the club, but his actions made it impossible for them to continue to support him.

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Hodge recovery on track

Alastair Clarkson says Luke Hodge's recovery is progressing well. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Lance Franklin shows off some new facial hair at Hawthorn training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has denied reports his captain Luke Hodge has had a setback in his recovery from off-season knee surgery.

Hodge joined teammates in training at a wet and windy Waverley Park this morning and appeared to move freely.

Clarkson said he expected Hodge to be playing footy come Round 1 of the season and although he did not rule out that that may be in the VFL, he remained confident in the captain's short-term prospects.

"We've got to make a judgement at that point in time, but as long as he doesn't have any setbacks between now and then (he'll be playing)," Clarkson said.

"He's training today and we've still got four weeks until we play. My experience with footy is that four weeks is a good time once you start full training to get yourself ready to play footy, we've just got to make a judgement on when he starts playing matches and whether he's conditioned well enough to play Round 1.

"He's the captain of our footy club, it's going to be pretty tempting to select him, but we'll make that call at the time depending on how his last four weeks have been at that time."

Clarkson said the club would use the old adage of "it's a marathon, not a sprint" when assessing the merit of picking Hodge for the Round 1 encounter with Geelong or holding him back.

"Particularly with the demands on players," he said.

"It was interesting reading an article coming out of Collingwood saying they'd consider resting players a bit more, I think that's been happening across the whole competition the last two or three years.
Even the newer clubs have been doing that with some of their younger players.

"That's what's happening with the NAB Cup too especially when you're only allowed 22-24 players to play."

Hodge told the Herald Sun this month that he was fully confident in his ability to play the opening rounds of the season.

Hawks call up big guns for NAB Cup

Clarkson said Hodge's temptation would be to play.

"I don't think any player doesn't want to play because they're all competitors and they want to play footy. But I think it's just something we've got to get used to as a competition and the players have to get used to that as well."

Clarkson praised the AFL's decision to go easy on its trial of capped rotations throughout the NAB Cup.

There will still be a cap of 80 rotations for games (with a maximum of 20 per quarter) in the next two weeks, but instead of the traditional one substitute-three interchange bench teams will be able to utilise three substitutes as well as three interchange players.

"We've got Xavier Ellis and Liam Shiels for instance who we want to play next week who we would have felt compelled to play them at 80 per cent game time," he said.

"But now we've got the flexibility to be able to play them for 40 or 50 per cent game time and that's probably ideal in their first games."

Ellis has been suffering from calf tightness, while Shiels had a late start to his pre-season campaign.

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Bomber fans 'deserve truth'

Essendon chairman David Evans announces a full external review of the club's governance and processes.

Essendon chief executive, Ian Robson, left, chairman David Evans and coach James Hird face the media at Windy Hill over the ASADA investigation. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Supplied

Former Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON says an independent review into "irregular practices" at the club will start with the board.

Bombers chairman David Evans announced the board had signed off on a full external review of the club's governance and processes, which comes as the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority continues to investigate the Bombers for possible illegal performance-enhancing drug use in their supplement program last season.

The review will be headed by former Telstra chief executive Dr Ziggy Switkowski and Evans said it would help the club to give answers to members and fans.

Evans said Essendon members deserved to know the truth about what led to the ASADA investigation.

"We just want to get to the heart of what happened - we think the members are owed that," Evans said.

"I want to ensure we give answers to our members about what happened and why, and put in place practices to ensure it doesn't happen again."

While declining to go into detail, Evans said "I am aware of irregular practices that did occur".

The review is expected to be completed before the ASADA probe and Evans said the independent report would be handed to the AFL and ASADA.

"I am in constant dialogue with ASADA, and they have welcomed this ... it's clear their investigation is months (away) rather than weeks."

He said he did not want to talk about individuals but the review would start at the top with the Essendon board.

"I've asked our members and the public to remember that no player has tested positive to performance-enhancing substances.

"I think we'll be a better club as a result of getting through this. This will make us stronger and tighten up our procedures."

Dr Switkowski is currently the Chancellor of RMIT, Chairman of Suncorp, a board member of the Business Council of Australia, and Chair of Opera Australia.

The review will also draw on expert assistance of Dr Andrew Garnham, a specialist sports and exercise physician and senior lecturer at Deakin University.

"Ziggy is a man of integrity ... with his credentials he is obviously the right man for the job," Evans said.

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Thomas, Didak race clock

Dane Swan gives a thumbs-up during a tackling drill at Gosch's Paddock. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Dale Thomas is working his way back from an ankle injury. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD captain Nick Maxwell hasn't given up hope of Dale Thomas and Alan Didak lining up in Round 1.

Thomas ran laps at three-quarter pace during training at Gosch's Paddock today and is poised to step up his workload after recovery from an ankle injury.

"Daisy (Thomas) is going really well. I spoke to him this morning and he's still aiming for Round 1,'' Maxwell said.

"It's just going to be a fitness issue, his ankle is 100 per cent. You can see he's moving pretty well around the boundary and he'll start getting into more and more drills over the next fortnight.''

Experienced goalkicker Alan Didak did ball work and little running to protect a hamstring ailment, but Maxwell was confident he will be ready for the start of the AFL season too.

"Dids (Didak) is a bit different in that he has done most of the pre-season and his fitness base is a lot higher than Daisy's right now. Obviously, a little setback, but it's only a minor hamstring and he'll be aiming for Round 1,'' he said.

"When you start to get near the end of your career which he, Johnno (Ben Johnson), Jols (Darren Jolly), myself and Swanny (Dane Swan) and all the guys who have been around a bit longer, you know there's only a year or two or three to go, you make the most of it.

"He (Didak) has had a really good pre-season and let's hope he gets that hammy right pretty quick and get back out there.''

Buckley says Swan lost his hunger

Meanwhile, Collingwood coaches and players will shift through new forward Quinten Lynch's vast knowledge of West Coast to help prepare for the NAB Cup in Perth on Sunday afternoon

Maxwell said Lynch's information on the Eagles' players and structures would benefit the Magpies' planning.

"We just want to continue on the form from a couple of weeks ago. There are more things we need to work on defensively and make sure we sharpen that up for round 1,'' Maxwell said.

"We'll tap in to Lynchy this week and hear what he has to say about his ex-teammates.

"I said to him this morning, 'Are you looking forward to it?' and he said, 'Yeah, I'll go out there and have a run and see how we go'. He doesn't say much, Lynchy, but it will be interested to see how he goes."

NAB Cup Barometer: Pre-season update on every club

Maxwell said Lynch's experience and meticulous approach would have much more long-term benefits for the Pies apart from simply the big forward's first confrontation with former teammates.

"He's more of a gentle giant, actually. He's one of the more professional players I've ever seen in my time. Just the way he looks after his body and he's always doing extra physio work and ice baths and that type of thing. And that has really rubbed off on a lot of our kids,'' the skipper said.

"Even when we do a drill, at the end he will turn around and sprint back and get another ball off the coach rather than just jogging back. He has got such a big workrate.''

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Bomber 'embarrassed' over scandal

Mark Thompson says he feels embarrassed by the Essendon drugs scandal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON assistant coach Mark Thompson says he feels embarrassed to walk in public in light of the drug scandal currently engulfing his club.

As the AFL and Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority continue their investigation in to the club's alleged use of performance enhancing drugs last year, Thompson said the matter was the most serious issue he had ever had to deal with in football.

Thompson said the club's image had "copped a hammering", making life difficult for all players and staff.

"It's been very hard to survive and to live," Thompson said.

"Everywhere you go you feel embarrassed, you think that people are thinking you've done these things that everybody has been saying we're doing.

"To be honest we just have to sit back and wait, and we can't defend ourselves because we're just not allowed to and we understand that, we're part of this process where we want to find the truth out and once the truth comes out we'll deal with the consequences.

"In that regard it's been really difficult."

Thompson told Fox Footy that the past few weeks had been a constant challenge, but admitted he had been impressed with the way the players had handled the situation.

"The players have actually been OK," he said on AFL 360.

"They've been training really well and when we get out on to the grass you sort of forget about what you're doing so in that regard it's OK. But it does come up in your mind when you're not out on the grass.

"You've just got to bring people together and discuss things. It changes every day and in all honesty it's a challenge, but it's a challenge we have to get through because we have to play games of footy and we have to win our respect back to our members, sponsors, the game, everybody."

Speaking for the first time since the drug scandal erupted, Thompson admitted to being "part of the process" that saw suspended high performance manager Dean Robinson to the club.

"I was there. I take responsibility for that for sure."

But he dismissed suggestions his influence at the club is greater than it should be.

"I'm there because of my experience and I try to pass on that knowledge, but in the end there's no point me having that knowledge and experience and having a puppet here and a puppet there and I'm pulling the strings. I'm not the coach, I've got no responsibility.

"If I've got the experience, I'll actually train you to do your role, I can't actually do it for you. So as far as that's concerned, it's only advice."

Thompson, the coach of Geelong when it won the 2007 and 2009 premierships, refused to fan any speculation surrounding Robinson's past involvement with the Cats.

"Again, when all the truth comes out, if there is anything that happened at Geelong well it will come out too," he said.

"At least we know with ASADA it's going to be very, very thorough and they will get to the bottom of it."

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Daw battles knee swelling

Majak Daw in action during the Kangaroos' NAB Cup win against Richmond. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

EXCITING North Melbourne big man Majak Daw has knee problems and is in doubt for the NAB Cup second round.

Daw developed swelling in both knees after the Kangaroos' wins against Melbourne and Richmond at Etihad Stadium last Friday night.

Coach Brad Scott said the ruckman-forward would need to improve rapidly over the next day or so to be guaranteed a place in the 24-player squad to face the Gold Coast in Townsville on Saturday afternoon.

"We're hopefully Majak will be up and right to play, but he did have some swelling Sunday and Saturday morning,'' Scott said.

"That was disappointing given that we managed his loads through the pre-season and thought he would get through. And we managed his load in the games, so at this stage at best he's 50-50.

"He will be selected in the side, but if that swelling doesn't reduce significantly over the next 24 hours, then he probably won't play. We'll look to get him right for the following week.''

Scott said Daw's running goal, when he pushed aside Tiger defender Steven Morris, was an indication of how much more development is required as well an illustration of the Sudanese-born Roo's immense athleticism.

"Right at this stage, Maj is in the early stages of his development. Despite what people say, he has a lot of work to do and he knows that clearly,'' Scott said.

"We're trying to simplify the game for him at the moment. I said before the game that he would do a few things that would make people stand up and take notice. But he's still really working hard on the fundamentals of the game.

"He didn't see Brad McKenzie on the inside. It's very easy in hindsight to say he should've passed it off, he simply didn't see him. And they're the fundamentals that I'm talking about.

North Melbourne ruckman Majak Daw provided the first highlight of the match with a strong mark backing into a pack. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"It takes players a long time to develop the awareness around them. Maj at the moment, the simplest way for him to play is to play to his strengths.

"He'll evolve and develop that awareness as time goes on. He wants to be a respected member of this team and that means giving it to a player in a better position when it presents itself.

"When he saw the vision he said, 'Yeah, I should've given it to Brad, but I just didn't see him', so that's what we're working on with him to try to evolve his development.

"It's the joy of coaching, that's why we coach because the satisfaction you get from working hard with a player. And to (ruck coach) Alex Ishchenko's credit and all our development staff's credit, they take great satisfaction in watching Maj improve.''

Scott said the Kangaroos will be playing to win against the Suns and had already factored in the expected north Queensland heat in the preparations.

Nathan Grima and Leigh Adams are not likely to be risked for the long trip, but both are still on track to be ready for Round 1 of the home-and-away season.

"It's probably unlikely Leigh Adams will be right to play. He's probably the only regular member of our team who wasn't in the squad last week,'' he said.

"Nathan is close. He wanted to play last week, but he's a really important part of our back six, but we won't risk him if he's not 100 per cent. He prefer to get more training sessions into him.

"It will be more a process of leaving players out than bringing new ones in.

The Roos today unveiled the new surface at their training ground at Aegis Park.
 

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Lions top NAB Cup ladder

Nick Riewoldt in the rain during St Kilda's intra-club practice match in Wangaratta last year. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HWT Image Library

THE Lions are surprise pre-season ladder-leaders, Richmond is ninth and the Dogs have a hand on the NAB Cup wooden spoon.

Brisbane bolted out of the blocks with wins against Hawthorn and Gold Coast to record the best percentage of the four teams to hold an unbeaten record after the first round of NAB Cup matches.

Mick Malthouse made a successful start to his coaching career to have Carlton sitting second, just ahead of his former club Collingwood, while North Melbourne rounds out the top four after snatching victory late against Richmond on Friday night.

Those four teams seem the only realistic hopes of making the final of the pre-season competition, which will be played between the two top teams after three rounds of round-robin matches.

See the full NAB Cup fixture below

The competition reverts to full-length games for the next two weeks as clubs head to the far corners of the country.

Brisbane will try to keep its unbeaten record intact against GWS in Wagga, Gold Coast will take on North Melbourne in the first AFL match in Townsville while Essendon will return to Wangaratta to face Richmond.

The Bombers were set to play in Wangaratta last year but the match was called off in bizarre circumstances.

After chartering planes to transport players to the town - 240km from Melbourne - on the day of the game, the Bombers were forced to return to Melbourne when the aircraft couldn't land due to bad weather.

The match was abandoned and the Saints were later awarded the points - and gave angry locals something to watch by staging a hastily-arranged practice match.

NAB CUP LADDER

1. Brisbane Lions 2-0 254.3%
2. Carlton 2-0 142.9%
3. Collingwood 2-0 134.5%
4. North Melbourne 2-0 107.5%
5. Port Adelaide 1-1  158.6%
6. Essendon 1-1 148.0%
7. GWS 1-1 135.5%
8. West Coast 1-1 133.8%
---
9. Richmond 1-1 117.5%
10. Fremantle 1-1 91.4%
11. Adelaide 1-1 87.0%
12. Geelong 1-1 83.2%
13. St Kilda 1-1 73.0%
14. Gold Coast 1-1 62.8%
15. Melbourne 0-2 75.0%
16. Hawthorn 0-2 64.5%
17. Sydney 0-2 53.1%
18. Western Bulldogs 0-2 52.2%

NAB CUP FIXTURE (all times local)

Round 2

Friday, March 1
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn (Etihad Stadium,7.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Saturday, March 2
Geelong v Adelaide (Simonds Stadium, 2pm) FOX FOOTY
Gold Coast v North Melbourne (Townsville, 3.30pm)
Essendon v Richmond (Wangaratta, 5.10pm) FOX FOOTY
GWS v Brisbane Lions (Wagga, 7pm)
Carlton v Fremantle (Etihad Stadium, 7.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Sunday, March 3
Port Adelaide v Melbourne (Renmark, 4pm)
St Kilda v Sydney (Etihad Stadium, 5.10pm) FOX FOOTY
West Coast v Collingwood (Patersons Stadium, 4.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Round 3

Friday, March 8
GWS v Essendon (Manuka Oval, 6.10pm) FOX FOOTY
Adelaide v Carlton (AAMI Stadium, 8.10pm) FOX FOOTY

Saturday, March 9
Hawthorn v Richmond (Aurora Stadium, 1.10pm) FOX FOOTY
Melbourne v St Kilda (Casey Fields, 2.30pm)
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs (Northam), 3.30pm
Geelong v North Melbourne (Simonds Stadium, 3.40pm) FOX FOOTY
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (Etihad Stadium, 6.40pm) FOX FOOTY
West Coast v Port Adelaide (Alice Springs, 7pm)
Sydney v Gold Coast (Blacktown ISP, 7pm)

Grand Final

Friday March 15 or Saturday March 16
(Venue TBC) 7.40pm FOX FOOTY/Channel 7

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Panel clears Buddy hit

Lance Franklin runs the ball during the round one NAB Cup match against Gold Coast. Source: Getty Images

HAWTHORN'S gun goalkicker Lance Franklin has no case to answer from an incident In the NAB Cup match against Gold Coast.

The AFL match review panel cleared Franklin of contact to Suns youngster Matt Shaw, deciding the Hawks ace had his hand open and it wasn't a striking action.

Carlton forward Levi Casboult is also in the clear after his heavy collision with GWS Giants Matt Buntine was deemed to be accidental.

The MRP decided Casboult had made a realistic attempt to win the ball.

Reports this morning suggested Buntine was still in hospital and may have suffered a punctured lung.

Gold Coast rookie Andrew Boston won't face a front-on bump charge after it was decided he had no alternative way to contest the ball when he collided with Brisbane Lion Claye Beams.

 

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Integrity name of the game

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou vows to maintain the integrity of the sport. Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL has vowed to restore the trust it concedes some football fans have lost in the code, insisting it will rid the game of "rogue elements".

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou insisted the competition would not tolerate anyone who puts the integrity of the game at risk.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday Herald Sun columnist Shane Crawford, Demetriou rejected calls for his sacking from former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.

"All of us want to have our supporters and our key partners believe in the game and live up to its values, and I think in the main that we do," Demetriou said.

"But it is sometimes the acts of individuals that taint great people at clubs, boards and players. The actions of a particular player at a particular club could taint the whole playing group, so what we have to do is live up to the values that we set ourselves."

Asked if he could understand why some supporters might be questioning the game after a tumultuous off-season, Demetriou said: "I certainly can, because in this organisation we pride ourselves on very, very strong core values, on being transparent, being honest, acting with integrity, acting with the right ethics.

"That's what the public expects. It is something that should apply in any organisation, any club, any business.

"We have drawn a line in the sand. We are going to put a stop to rogue elements at clubs and the insidious nature of some individuals who are trying to spoil it for the rest of the code. It is only a handful of people but it can cause significant damage.

"The public are entitled to be questioning the values of the code because they are wondering, given what has happened with the Melbourne, Adelaide and Essendon (investigations). I have said the issues of values, principles and ethics in the code are absolute non-negotiables."

Demetriou said clubs had been provided with a "road map" of warning signs - "things like ex-players, anti-ageing clinics, gyms and tattoo parlours".

He would not be drawn into criticism by Kennett, who suggested on Footy Classified that the AFL was being run on a culture of fear and intimidation.

 Kennett also said the AFL Commission had to start considering a time frame for change at the top of the AFL.

But Demetriou was adamant that he still had the fire in the belly to help restore the faith that some people might have lost in AFL football.

"I'm not distracted ... I'm not tired," Demetriou said of the criticism being levelled at him. "I am very excited about the season ahead.

"(And) I am very excited about the new people we are about to appoint and bring in to reinvograte the executive."

In his interview with the Sunday Herald Sun, Demetriou also said the AFL would ban the use of intravenous injections other than painkillers and would ensure the club doctor would be the sole person responsible for player treatment.

"There will be a ban on IV at clubs - not just on game day," he said. "We are implementing some very, very serious measures to restore treatments of players under one person and that is the club doctor."

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Shocking trip north for Hawks

Hawthorn forward Paul Puopolo writhes in pain after landing awkwardly on his left knee. Picture: David Clark Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says the Hawks have no concerns from the opening round of the NAB Cup despite a knee injury to Paul Puopolo, Lance Franklin's indifferent outing and the Hawks' twin losses to Brisbane and the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium last night.

The Hawks suffered a one-point loss to the Suns in the opening match of the night while the Lions roared past last year's grand finalists in the second match to claim a 21-point victory in steamy conditions to end Hawthorn's chances of claiming the pre-season silverware.

Puopolo crashed to the turf late in the loss to the Suns and clutched his knee, sending a scare through the Hawks' camp.

He received urgent medical attention and eventually hobbled off the field.

Picture: David Clark Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

Meanwhile, apart from one nice touch to set-up a goal for Sam Grimley in the first game, Franklin had a forgettable start to 2013.
He made high contact with Suns midfielder Matt Shaw midway through the second half and struggled to make a mark on either contest.

The impact with Shaw was relatively minimal but the incident could draw the attention of the AFL match review panel tomorrow given the crackdown on any contact with the head.

Clarkson was not stressed by anything he saw last night.

"I think he (Puopolo) is OK. He's walking around, so he'll be OK," he said.

"We get gametime for our players, that's the most critical thing.

"We were pretty competitive for three quarters and then the heat probably drained a bit out of us the last quarter.

"Brisbane ran over the top of us a bit. They had more legs ... but we'd been out there in pretty stifling conditions for three quarters prior to that.

"We gave exposure to a lot of younger players on our list tonight and they'll really benefit from that."

Clarkson claimed to have missed spotting the Franklin-Shaw incident.

"I didn't see. So I couldn't tell you," he said.

He said the humid conditions were not ideal for Franklin, who finished with five touches and no goals against the Suns.

He was pushed into the midfield against the Lions and had nine touches, two clearances and three inside-50s.

But he could not catch a cold last night, registering two marks across the two games in a generally unhappy night with his hands.

Picture: David Clark Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

He dropped a sitter of a mark deep inside Hawthorn's attacking 50 when scores were level late in the match against the Gold Coast.

"He competed hard, he was a bit scratchy with the ball from time to time. In hindsight we should have brought a mosquito fleet up here because it wasn't a game where it was conducive to tall players," Clarkson said.

"It was nearly like wet weather footy. He had a bit of a run up there (midfield). With the ball so slippery we thought if we could get the ball in his hands at least he can kick it a mile when he gets it."

The Suns got off to a bright start but could not turn their dominance into points.

Hawks forward Luke Breust kicked the first goal of the match but rising Gold Coast star Harley Bennell handed the home side a well-deserved lead with two quickfire goals.

Hawthorn took a slender one-point lead into halftime after Ryan Schoenmakers booted a goal late in the first half after outstanding build-up work from Matt Suckling.

Goals to Suns defender Jarrod Harbrow and ruckman Zac Smith brought the home side roaring back into the contest and scores were level deep inside the second half before Luke Russell registered a point after the siren.

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett had 13 possessions while Jaeger O'Meara caught the eye with seven disposals.

The contest with Brisbane was a horribly scrappy affair.

The Hawks led 1.3 (9) to 0.3 (3) but were no match for the Daniel Rich and Brent Moloney-inspired Lions in the second half.

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