Premiership window shut: Watters

St Kilda coach Scott Watters is looking to the future. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

ST Kilda coach Scott Watters admits his club's premiership window is shut and says rebuilding started over a year ago.

A brutally honest Watters today told Saints supporters there is a long-term view at St Kilda that outweighs the club's winless start to the season.

"Our supporters aren't fools - they understand our group," Watters said on SEN radio.

"And they deserve transparency from their coach and their club, and I'm a pretty upfront person.

"We are making change - we've made change over 12 months - and we will continue to evolve our group.

"We now have seven people working in development and we know our recruiting over the next two to three years will be critical to move the club forward."

The Saints made eight list changes at the end of last season and 12 the previous year.

Watters said he was under no illusions about where his list was at.

"If people think all of a sudden we came to the realisation last night that we need to turn our list over, well that started 12 months ago," he said.

"It's not a change in direction and that's the pathway we will continue to go down."

The St Kilda coach said the focus would be on developing the club's younger players.

"When you look back at the recruiting between 2008 and 2010, there was not enough quality that came through from that era," he said.

"That's why we pushed a lot of players in last year - we were exposing them as much as we can.

"We're giving the likes of Jack Steven and David Armitage more midfield opportunity.

"We now need to find the next four or five players we can talk about in the same light."

Watters called upon his senior brigade to help bring alone the next generation at St Kilda.

"I don't want to take away the capacity for our club to compete every week," he said.

"But at the same time, our players like Hayes, Riewoldt and Dal Santo need to bring on the next group."

Defender Sean Dempster has a wrist fracture, but it is not yet determined how long he will be out for.

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LIVE: Swans v Suns

Can Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett inspire the Suns to another victory? Picture: Darren England. Source: News Limited

2.22pm: Swans 13 - Suns 14

GOLD Coast has its nose in front of reigning premiers Sydney in a scrappy affair at the SCG.

The Suns kicked back-to-back goals to set up the lead before Swans bolter Lewis Jetta slotted his first to cut the margin to one point late in the term.

Kieren Jack and Ryan O'Keefe are the pick of the Swans while Jarrod Harbrow leads the Suns with nine disposals.

Suns defender Rory Thompson spent some time off the ground with checking out his right shoulder.

2.05pm: Swans 12 - Suns 13

DEFENDER Jack Hutchins found himself in uncharted territory up forward but made the most of his opportunity slotting the Suns first goal.

Hutchins found space about 40m out directly in front and converted to give the Suns a slight break.

The visitors pushed further ahead when Charlie Dixon booted his first goal. Jarrod Harbow has picked up five disposals roaming across half back while Gary Ablett, head-to-head with Ryan O'Keefe, has three possessions.

But the Swans responded through Lewis Jetta stepping to kick his first goal and cut the margin to one point.

1.57pm: Swans 6 - Suns 1

SYDNEY co-captain Jarad McVeigh broke the shackles kicking the first goal of the match after about seven minutes of play.

The Suns are hanging tough on difficult day for clean footy with Joel Wilkinson, David Swallow, Gary Ablett and Jarrod Harbrow keeping plenty of the ball.

Kieren Jack, fresh off his best on ground performance last week, has three early possessions.

PRE-GAME

The reigning premiers go into the match against Gold Coast unchanged with Craig Bird starting off as the substitute.

In a surprise move, the Suns have opted for mercurial utility Jared Brennan as their substitute.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores, stats

Meanwhile, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle go toe-to-toe from 2.10pm at Etihad Stadium.

The Bulldogs remain unchanged after their big win over Brisbane last week.

Hard-nosed midfielder Koby Stevens is the Dogs substitute while for the Dockers, Cam Sutcliffe has the vest duties.

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Bombers fresh after long break

Will Minson joins the boys to discuss their picks ahead of round 2.

Essendon coach James Hird has 44 fit players to choose from. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON coach James Hird says he turned up the heat on his players at training in the past two weeks to combat a lack of game time.

Tomorrow will mark 15 days since the Bombers defeated Adelaide in their Round 1 encounter and the club has played just once in 28 days having also had the final week of the NAB Cup series off to prepare for the season opener.

Hird said he wasn't sure if the lack of match practice would have a positive or negative impact on his players against Melbourne at the MCG tomorrow night.

''It's allowed us to train and get ourselves right,'' Hird said.

''We're certainly now glad the season has started proper and we can get in a routine of playing week after week.

''We've had one game in 29 games and this will be the second in that period. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I do know guys are fresh, they're excited, we've got a good team out there and they should play well tomorrow.''

Hird said the Bombers coaching staff had upped the players' training loads to compensate.

''We've just trained a lot harder than we would have for a normal week,'' he said.

''It'll be 15 days (tomorrow) since our last game. We've had two really big sessions in that 15-day period and a couple of other smaller ones.

''It's just been about quality of training, making sure that's kept up to a high standard, and along the way our reserves team has played week after week as well so we've been able to top up players who we want extra footy in as well.''

Players such as Travis Colyer, Elliott Kavanagh and David Hille were mentioned by Hird as having benefited from extra minutes in the VFL.

See all the AFL Round 2 teams here

David Zaharakis, however, didn't play at state league level despite having his pre-season interrupted by a quad injury.

After starting as the substitute in the win against the Crows Hird said he had been impressed by Zaharakis's development and said he was start on the ground against the Demons.

''David's good,'' Hird said.

''This will be his fourth game, he's coming along well and he'll play a full game tomorrow.''

That Zaharakis won't start as the sub will be the only change the Bombers will make to the successful Round 1 team.

That's welcome news for Hird, who had to endure a 2012 season marred by an extraordinary amount of soft-tissue injuries to his players.

''I can't remember coaching a team that's unchanged so that's pleasant,'' he said.

''At the moment, certainly we have some headaches around selection because we have got a full list of 44 players who are able to play and some very good players who are missing out.''
 

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Biggest footy grudge matches

Glenn Archer clashes with former teammate Wayne Carey. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

THINK Malthouse v Buckley is big? Check out our top 10 footy grudge matches.

The build-up all week has been huge, and it's no secret why. Master v apprentice. Coach v assistant. Coach grumpy at being forced to step down from one club who now works for that club's arch enemy coaching against the guy who replaced him.

Nathan Buckley will coach against his former coach and mentor Mick Malthouse for the first time on Sunday, and the pair haven't exactly been best mates since Eddie McGuire somehow got Mick to agree to hand the job to Bucks at the end of 2011.

Where does this weekend rank in the great footy rivalries? Check out our selection below and you be the judge.

WAYNE CAREY v NORTH MELBOURNE, 2003

A premiership captain playing for a new team against his flag teammates would be big at any time. Throw in the fact he had to quit the club after he was busted having an affair with his vice-captain's wife and you have a powder keg waiting to go off. Kangaroos hard man Glenn Archer won a tete-a-tete with his former skipper in the second quarter, feigning a punch that made Carey flinch. But the Duck had the last laugh, kicking four goals in a rare Crows away win.

ROSS LYON v ST KILDA, 2012

St Kilda was stunned when the man who almost took the club to an elusive second premiership walked out to join the Dockers at the end of 2011, defending himself against claims of treason by declaring he had never used the word "loyalty" to his St Kilda charges. Saints fans got the chance to let Lyon know how they felt when Freo played the Saints at Etihad Stadium in Round 4 last season. The night didn't end well for them when the Dockers stormed home for a 13-point win. "It was an emotionally tough night in some ways. I take no joy beating the St Kilda football club other than getting the four (premiership) points,'' Lyon said. "I'd moved on. I think I said it was a sideshow.''

Ross Lyon walks past angry St Kilda fans. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

PETER MOORE v COLLINGWOOD, 1983

Moore says some Collingwood fans - including Eddie McGuire - still haven't forgiven him for taking an offer worth a reported $300,000 for five years to quit the Pies and join Melbourne in December 1982 - a deal that made him the highest-paid player in the VFL. By chance, his first game for the Demons was against Collingwood at the MCG in Round 1, 1983. The Magpies' banner read "No Moore trouble at Collingwood"; other fans were less subtle - a sign in the stands screamed "Moore filth". "As a player, I never really understood how passionate the fans were and how strongly they felt about the club and the players," he said later. "It was something I only fully understood later." Moore played below his best that day and the Magpies won, but he went on to win a second Brownlow in 1984.

KEVIN SHEEDY v NORTH MELBOURNE MARSHMALLOW WAR, 1998

Kevin Sheedy, then Bombers coach, responded to criticism from the Roos about Essendon's game plan by labelling North executives Greg Miller and Mark Dawson as marshmallows. Miller was the white one and Dawson the pink one, apparently. When the teams faced each other at what was then Colonial Stadium, the Kangaroos came from behind to win by 22 points and fans pelted Sheedy with marshmallows after the match.

TONY LIBERATORE v RICHMOND, 2001

Danny Frawley set the stage by saying after a bitter loss in 2001: "Richmond Football Club are a really proud club and it will be payback time at some stage." Spud was filthy at the Dogs and Tony Liberatore, who had forced Tigers skipper Matthew Knights from the field with blood streaming from his forehead. Frawley was fined $1000 for the comment and Libba was rubbed out for five weeks after Richmond players broke the players' "code of silence" at the tribunal to dob him in. When the teams met again there was some pushing and shoving before the bounce before Richmond exacted revenge by snatching a close win after Nathan Brown - soon to join the Tigers - was denied a free kick for a high tackle in the dying minutes.

Tony Liberatore, Wayne Campbell and Matthew Knights do battle early in the first quarter. Picture: Kelly Barnes Source: Herald Sun

CAMPBELL BROWN v ESSENDON, 2010

There was already plenty of heat in this rivalry from the 1980s and the infamous "line in the sand" game in 2004. It sparked again in the final round of 2009 when Matthew Lloyd knocked out Brad Sewell. A fuming Alastair Clarkson had to be restrained on the boundary line and in a post-match interview Hawks hard man Campbell Brown described Lloyd as "one of the biggest snipers in the game" and said "his time is coming". The AFL chastised Channel 10 for using footage of those incidents to promote the next meeting of the two clubs, on a Friday night in May and Brown never got a chance to face Lloyd on the field - the Bombers full-forward had retired at the end of the season. The match itself was a fizzer, with the Bombers winning by 43 points.

CARLTON v BRUISE-FREE MELBOURNE, 2011

Brett Ratten claimed Mitch Robinson was talking about areas the Blues needed to improve on when he said after an easy win in May, 2011: "They didn't want a bruise game." That didn't fool anyone, least of all the Demons who said it was a sign of disrespect, coach Dean Bailey adding the club had "long memories", setting the stage for a rematch later in the season. The build-up for that game was slightly overshadowed by events of the previous weekend - when the Dees lost to Geelong by 186 points and Bailey got the chop. Stand-in coach Todd Viney did slightly better against the Blues - Carlton won by 76.

CHRIS JUDD v WEST COAST, 2008

The Eagles banner before the match read "we could rub it in, but we're better than that". The crowd then proceeded to boo the new Carlton captain every time he went near the ball in his first match in Perth after switching from the Eagles. Judd admitted he had to stop himself from grabbing water bottles from West Coast trainers but he managed OK, picking up 24 touches and helping his new club to a big win.

MARK YEATES v DERMOTT BRERETON, 1989

Yeates' hit on the Hawthorn hard man remains one of the most enduring memories of the brutal 1989 Grand Final, but the origins of the incident are less well known. Yeates revealed recently to the Geelong Advertiser that Brereton had "fixed me up nicely" when the two clubs met in Round 6 that season. "What goes around, comes around," he said. Brereton went into more detail: "Did he have the motivation? Yes. I grabbed him savagely in the nurries earlier in the year and (as) I was being chaired off and carted off by the trainers I told him he wouldn't need them anymore, and he had a very beautiful-looking wife." Shame Channel 7 didn't know about that for its pre-game promos.

Dermott Brereton after being crunched Mark Yeates at the opening bounce. Source: Herald Sun

GARY ABLETT v GEELONG, 2011

Cats fans were devastated when Ablett left to join the Suns and couldn't wait to play against him the next year. In the lead-up to the first Geelong v Gold game, Ablett wrote in his newspaper column: "Don't know if I will be targeted, but I predict they will play a few tricks." As it turned out, there were no fireworks - not even a misfiring cracker. The Cats didn't bother to tag Ablett and cruised to an easy win. After the game they joked with their former teammate. He even got a hug from James Kelly. Where was the hate? Disgusting, really.

Gary Ablett with former Geelong teammates after the game. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

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Cold breakfast for Mick, Bucks

Nathan Buckley and Mick Malthouse shake hands at today's Peter McCallum Cancer Centre breakfast. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MICK MALTHOUSE and Nathan Buckley were civil but did not talk to each other at a charity breakfast at the MCG this morning.

The Carlton and Collingwood coaches joined their respective captains, Marc Murphy and Nick Maxwell, on an on-stage panel in the MCG Dining Room as part of a fund-raiser for the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre.

They briefly shook hands before the panel discussion got under way, but did not have a conversation before or after the breakfast.

After the panel, Malthouse turned on his heel and walked off the stage as Buckley approached him. The two coaches left immediately -- Buckley via the lift, Malthouse down the escalator -- to attend their club's respective training sessions.

During the panel, hosted by former Collingwood full-forward Brian Taylor, Malthouse said the tension between himself and Collingwood was "more media and supporter-driven''.

Buckley 'has empathy' for Malthouse

Malthouse coached the Pies to the 2010 flag then lost the 2011 decider to Geelong, then sat out of coaching for a year before taking over the reigns at Carlton this season.

"I do know some of the players who will be playing for Collingwood,'' Malthouse said, "but it's amazing that 12 months out what's happened is that there's a massive change in personnel t the football club -- and that goes for every football club. So it's not the same football club that I was at.

"But if I focus on that, it's the very thing that I coach against, which is individuality. It's all about and must be about the team. So I've got to make sure that any emotions I have are all directed towards our team playing as well as they can.''

Buckley, who captained the Pies for eight years under Malthouse's coaching before working under him as an assistant coach, downplayed the significance of the Pies coming up against their former mentor.

"The rivalry exists longer than any of us sitting here have been around, and that's a great thing to be a part of,'' Buckley said.

Picture gallery: Pies make a splash at training

"We don't have a lot to go on, Carlton under Mick. But obviously having played under him and coached with him, I've got a fair understanding of the way he sees the game of footy.

"We all know what Mick Malthouse-coached sides look like. Carlton, as Mick has detailed, are a work in progress, and how much of the residual is still there and how much of the new stuff is still to come through, we'll see as the year progresses.

"My recent experience with Carlton last year, and this group of Carlton players, is that they knocked us over twice. So Brett Ratten had a fair understanding of us and had a way to get around our strengths, so we need to get get around Carlton's.''

Maxwell said the players were more interested in the match than personal rivalries.

"We've got expectations on ourselves, where we want to finish this year ...,'' Maxwell said.

"I know everyone wants to build it up and make it sound like it's all about Mick and it's all about Bucks and about our coaches, but it's about who gets the four points.''

Buckley refused to buy into speculation about players returning from injury, other than to say Dayne Beams was "zero'' chance of returning from a quad injury this Sunday.
 

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Scott grateful for Bucks' apology

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has revealed his Magpies counterpart Nathan Buckley phoned to apologise for his post-match criticism of the Lindsay Thomas bump.

Scott said today he considered the issue to be "dead" after Buckley called to apologise to both Thomas and himself during the week.

Buckley sparked a war of words after he called Thomas to account over his heavy clash with Magpie defender Ben Reid last Sunday, describing the bump as "pretty average".

Thomas was cleared by the match review panel for the heavy bump, which left Reid concussed.

But Scott today gave credit to Buckley for his apology.

"It's important that we all move on, but I think Nathan has made a retraction of his remarks and he forced me to defend one of my players which I will do 100 per cent of the time," Scott said.

"I think that when you cast aspersions over opposition players it is never a good thing, but when that criticism is wrong it makes it even worse.

"To Nathan's eternal credit, he has called me, he has apologised to me, which I didn't think he had to do, but he apologised to me and to our football club.

"But more importantly he rang Lindsay Thomas and apologised to him. I think that speaks volumes for the type of person he is."

Scott said he felt no confusion over the rule regarding accidental head clashes and said there would be no change in his philosophy in training.

"I'm in no doubt as to what the rule is and I think the match review panel adjudicated it as they said they would and the way they did last year," Scott said.

"So I am not confused. But there is no doubt that when you choose to bump, you take a risk."

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We just didn't turn up: Craig

Neil Craig and Mark Neeld at Melbourne training. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

NEIL Craig has joined the chorus of criticism of Melbourne's insipid Round 1 loss to Port Adelaide.

The Demons' director of sports performance used his first video on the club's website to analyse a "really poor performance" against the inexperienced Power.

Craig said only co-captain Jack Grimes deserved to be spared, claiming his teammates simply didn't turn up to play.

"For me it was a confirmation of the importance of bringing to the game a level of effort, intensity, competitive spirit, call it what you like, but clearly that wasn't on show and that was the most disappointing aspect of our performance," he said.

10 things wrong with Melbourne

"That's the No.1 priority of any club because your gameplan, how you want to move the ball and all your structures are heavily underpinned by players bringing that competitive spirit to the table, and that certainly wasn't there.

"It's the performance we've produced. It's now our responsibility to change that with Round 2 coming up against Essendon. In the end it will be about our actions and the way we respond (that matters), to win back some trust from our members and supporters."

Craig said Grimes was thriving on the captaincy.

We lack leadership: Watts

"Jack's performance was one of the few bright spots or highlights of the weekend," he said.

"I thought his performance, in a really tough game, was exceptional and on top of that his leadership qualities ... the way he tried to drag other players along with him, was outstanding."

Stats make Neeld eat his words
 

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'Nothing but respect for Mick'

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says he has nothing but respect for former mentor Mick Malthouse. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has played down suggestions of a rift with Carlton coach Mick Malthouse ahead of Sunday's blockbuster encounter.

"There's plenty of people keen to drum that up and to try to make it an adversarial relationship,'' Buckley said today.

"I've got nothing but respect for Mick.

"I learnt a lot from him, played under him for a number of years as his captain and worked under him as an assistant coach in the plan to eventually become senior coach.

"We've had many frank discussions, not in recent times, (but) we've had many frank discussions about that situation.''

Buckley said he did not think there would be any pre-game acknowledgment between the two coaches before Sunday's clash.

Jon Ralph: Mick's private war against Buckley

"I very rarely go to any of the opposition coaches on game day,'' he said.

"I caught up with Mick at the coaches' AGM last week, I will see him tomorrow morning at the Peter MacCallum breakfast and I am sure, watching the TV shows, I will see plenty of his head between now and Sunday.''

Buckley inadvertently brought some humour to the build-up when asked if the two coaches had had any recent conversations.

"He's the coach of Collingwood,'' he said of Malthouse before correcting himself.  ``He was ... he's the coach of Carlton.''

Dayne Beams (quad) will miss Sunday's clash and could be on the sidelines for a few more weeks, but Buckley remained confident Ben Reid (concussion) and Ben Johnson (thigh) will play.

Heath Shaw (illness) is a certain starter.

Buckley refused to rule out Dale Thomas, who missed yesterday's training session, but played 75 per cent of last week's VFL match.

Clinton Young, Alex Fasolo, Paul Seedsman and Andrew Krakouer are also in the mix.

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Cats v Hawks: 10 things we learnt

Steven Motlop puts the pedal to the metal as he runs forward during the last quarter of the Hawthorn vs Geelong match at the MCG. April 1, 2013. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun

THE Geelong-Hawthorn rivalry is one for the ages, but yesterday's match taught us more than just that Kennett's curse continues.

1. Cats are now quick
Geelong used to make up for the relatively slow legs of stars such as Jimmy Bartel, Paul Chapman and Corey Enright with quick minds. The new breed of Cats – Steven Motlop, Allen Christensen, Travis Varcoe and Jordan Murdoch among others – are flatout fast. 

2. Hawks look under-done
Hawthorn has probably had the most injury interrupted pre-season of any team and it showed in the second half yesterday. Too often, the Cats had multiple players overlapping, exposing the Hawks' lack of run. It will be interesting to see if the Hawks' late game fitness improves through the year or if it becomes an Achilles' heel.

3. Brad Hill can play
The livewire small forward was the Hawks' best player in the first quarter and a half, having a hand in at least four goals. He looks to have cemented a place in the best 22. Hill was subbed off but looks a great addition for the Hawks – and SuperCoaches who snared the $152,000 midfield bargain.

Geelong have continued their recent dominance over Hawthorn with a thrilling seven-point victory at the MCG.

4. Cats' ruck problems may be over-stated
Geelong's Trent West and debutant Mark Blicavs were done over by their Hawks opponents in the first half, as the brown and gold midfield dominated the centre clearances. But by the end of the game, Blicavs shows enough endeavour around the ground to indicate he has a future at this level.

5. The Hawks need Plan B going into attack
Too often Hawthorn's midfield kicked long and high to their tall forwards. Against Harry Taylor and Co – who are so good at reading the play - that was never going to be a recipe for long-term success. Pack marks aren't Lance Franklin's strong suit and, aside from a two-goal second term, Buddy had a dirty day. Jarryd Roughead, meanwhile, was rarely sighted until the final term.

6. Harry Taylor still has the best pair of hands in the game
See above. If one AFL player had to take a contested grab for your life, who would you choose? My vote goes to Taylor.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson concedes the Hawks ran out of gas in their loss to Geelong.

What did we miss? Have your say below.

7. AFL is blessed with leaders
On Saturday night, Gary Ablett set a high bar for what it means to lead from the front, but Joel Selwood did his best to clear it in the third term. Selwood had a hand in several Cats goals with the highlight coming when he tackled Shane Savage, ripped the ball away and started a chain of handballs that led to a Mitch Duncan goal. Meanwhile, Sam Mitchell did everything he could to try to will the Hawks over the line, collecting a game-high 37 touches.

8. Clarkson is praying for Lake's health
The big question after the Hawks' traded for Brian Lake was would the former Dogs' body hold up through the season? He was a late withdrawal yesterday and the longer the game went, the more Alastair Clarkson needed his sure pair of hands against the Cats' key forwards.

Joel Selwood escapes from the centre clearance with the footy during the third quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

9. Varcoe experiment needs more work
One of the big changes for Geelong this year is meant to be Travis Varcoe's re-invention from a half-forward to a half-back sweeper. In the first half yesterday, he looked lost at times defensively and struggled with decision making. He played forward more in the second half.

10. It's probably time for Kennett to keep quiet
He was a great president for Hawthorn, and the game as a whole (especially us in the media). But this constant commentary from the sidelines – including last night's ridiculous call for Clarkson to step down at the end of the year - is doing no favours for the club he claims to love.

Mark Blicavs, Jared Rivers and Josh Caddy - all making their debut for the Cats - celebrate in the rooms after winning the round one match. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Betts out with broken jaw

Carlton small forward Eddie Betts has a broken jaw. Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON has been dealt a double blow ahead of Sunday's blockbuster against Collingwood, with Eddie Betts and Shaun Hampson both ruled out.

Betts has been diagnosed with a broken jaw in the wake of last week's loss to Richmond, while Hampson had surgery on Saturday night to have his appendix removed.

Betts' injury slipped through the net until Carlton confirmed it today. The goalsneak played through the pain against the Tigers after he involved in a collision in the first quarter against the Tigers.

He consulted surgeons earlier today. The Blues said they would be guided by medical advice, but have already ruled the influential forward out of their Round 2 match.

"Eddie sustained the injury early in the game, so it was a great effort in his behalf to keep playing. But he won't be playing this week and we'll be guided by the doctor," Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

"Shaun felt really terrible on Saturday afternoon, saw the doctor and was diagnosed with appendicitis. He went straight into hospital and had his appendix removed.

"Obviously we'll have to replace a 'tall' and a 'small' in our forward line, so there are a couple of spots up for grabs."

The Blues are already without first-choice pair Jarrad Waite (calf) and best and fairest Heath Scotland (suspension), but Mitch Robinson (concussion) is expected to prove his fitness.
 

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LIVE Hawks v Cats: Lake out

Brian Lake at Hawhorn training. Picture: Stephen Harman Source: Herald Sun

BRIAN Lake is a late withdrawal from the Hawthorn team to face Geelong at the MCG today in the final match of Round 1.

LiveHQ: Follow the match live with live SuperCoach points, stats, commentary and more

Lake was named in the Hawks' defence despite not playing since he hurt his calf in the first round of the NAB Cup.

The team sheets for today's match have just been submitted and the former Bulldog is out, replaced by ruckman Max Bailey.

The late inclusion means the Hawks have three potential rucks in their line-up - Bailey, David Hale and Jarryd Roughead - while the Cats are playing first-gamer Mark Blicavs as first ruck. Trent West is on the bench.

The Geelong team is unchanged.

The subs are Jed Anderson (Hawthorn) and George Horlin-Smith (Geelong).

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Scott tells Bucks to butt out

North Melbourne goalsneak Lindsay Thomas faces a nervous wait with the match review panel after flooring Collingwood's Ben Reid with a big bump.

Lindsay Thomas's bump has sparked a war of words between the coaches. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Brad Scott and Nathan Buckley have clashed over an incident involving North Melbourne's Lindsay Thomas and Collingwood's Ben Reid.

A SCATHING war of words erupted between opposition coaches Brad Scott and Nathan Buckley last night as the postscript to the North Melbourne and Collingwood clash at Etihad Stadium which turned sour.

Scott told his Magpies counterpart to keep his opinions to himself after Buckley called Lindsay Thomas's off the ball hit on Ben Reid an "average'' act that would see the AFL "hold him to account for his actions''.

Magpies defender Reid did not return to the field having been left concussed and bleeding from the mouth after the third quarter incident.

VIDEO: See Lindsay Thomas's bump which has sparked so much controversy in the player above

As the ball was trickling out of play, Roos forward Thomas changed direction and clashed heads with an unsuspecting Reid who lay motionless on the ground for a couple of minutes.

A grossly undermanned Collingwood outclassed North Melbourne by 16 points, but the Thomas/Reid incident was the major talking point afterwards.

"I thought it was pretty average,'' Buckley said.

"I have full faith that the systems the AFL has in place will hold him to account for his actions.

"It was off the ball, unprovoked and we'll see how it happens.

"I don't want to pre-empt anything, but clearly if it's behind play and it it's high you're in a bit of strife.''

North Melbourne V Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 31/3/13. Clash of heads between Ben Reid and Lindsay Thomas saw Reid off with a bloody mouth and players in a scuffle after Scott Pendlebury tested Lindsay Thomas's Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Scott was left seething by Buckley's remarks.

"Nathan Buckley should just worry about his own team,'' Scott said.

"Commentary like that doesn't help. I don't know what incident Nathan Buckley saw but a head clash is a head clash, it does happen in football, we play a contact sport.

"Bucks should just keep his opinions to himself when it comes to decisions and things that will be taken care of by the powers that be.

"It doesn't help when a senior coach comes in and starts influencing things and casting dispersions (sic) on our players.

"If Bucks wants to call me he can.''

Brad Scott tells Buckley to "keep opinions to himself".

Scott said it wasn't for him to say what he thought of the incident himself.

"But certainly from where I sat it didn't look malicious, it didn't look like he tried to hurt Ben Reid,'' he said.

"But as I said, it's not for me to say and it's certainly not for him to say.''

Reid's absence was further accentuated by the fact Ben Johnson had to be substituted at half time with a corked thigh.

Asked how he felt seeing Thomas continue while his side went down to two players on the bench Buckley simply said: "He stayed down and tried to fake that as well.

"It is what it is, it was not a great act and I'm sure he'll be feeling pretty sorry for it right now.

"Reidy will play next week."

Live HQ: North Melbourne v Collingwood

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Scott tells Bucks to butt out

North Melbourne goalsneak Lindsay Thomas faces a nervous wait with the match review panel after flooring Collingwood's Ben Reid with a big bump.

Lindsay Thomas's bump has sparked a war of words between the coaches. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Brad Scott and Nathan Buckley have clashed over an incident involving North Melbourne's Lindsay Thomas and Collingwood's Ben Reid.

A SCATHING war of words erupted between opposition coaches Brad Scott and Nathan Buckley last night as the postscript to the North Melbourne and Collingwood clash at Etihad Stadium which turned sour.

Scott told his Magpies counterpart to keep his opinions to himself after Buckley called Lindsay Thomas's off the ball hit on Ben Reid an "average'' act that would see the AFL "hold him to account for his actions''.

Magpies defender Reid did not return to the field having been left concussed and bleeding from the mouth after the third quarter incident.

VIDEO: See Lindsay Thomas's bump which has sparked so much controversy in the player above

As the ball was trickling out of play, Roos forward Thomas changed direction and clashed heads with an unsuspecting Reid who lay motionless on the ground for a couple of minutes.

A grossly undermanned Collingwood outclassed North Melbourne by 16 points, but the Thomas/Reid incident was the major talking point afterwards.

"I thought it was pretty average,'' Buckley said.

"I have full faith that the systems the AFL has in place will hold him to account for his actions.

"It was off the ball, unprovoked and we'll see how it happens.

"I don't want to pre-empt anything, but clearly if it's behind play and it it's high you're in a bit of strife.''

North Melbourne V Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 31/3/13. Clash of heads between Ben Reid and Lindsay Thomas saw Reid off with a bloody mouth and players in a scuffle after Scott Pendlebury tested Lindsay Thomas's Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Scott was left seething by Buckley's remarks.

"Nathan Buckley should just worry about his own team,'' Scott said.

"Commentary like that doesn't help. I don't know what incident Nathan Buckley saw but a head clash is a head clash, it does happen in football, we play a contact sport.

"Bucks should just keep his opinions to himself when it comes to decisions and things that will be taken care of by the powers that be.

"It doesn't help when a senior coach comes in and starts influencing things and casting dispersions (sic) on our players.

"If Bucks wants to call me he can.''

Brad Scott tells Buckley to "keep opinions to himself".

Scott said it wasn't for him to say what he thought of the incident himself.

"But certainly from where I sat it didn't look malicious, it didn't look like he tried to hurt Ben Reid,'' he said.

"But as I said, it's not for me to say and it's certainly not for him to say.''

Reid's absence was further accentuated by the fact Ben Johnson had to be substituted at half time with a corked thigh.

Asked how he felt seeing Thomas continue while his side went down to two players on the bench Buckley simply said: "He stayed down and tried to fake that as well.

"It is what it is, it was not a great act and I'm sure he'll be feeling pretty sorry for it right now.

"Reidy will play next week."

Live HQ: North Melbourne v Collingwood

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LIVE Hawks v Cats: Lake out

Brian Lake at Hawhorn training. Picture: Stephen Harman Source: Herald Sun

BRIAN Lake is a late withdrawal from the Hawthorn team to face Geelong at the MCG today in the final match of Round 1.

LiveHQ: Follow the match live with live SuperCoach points, stats, commentary and more

Lake was named in the Hawks' defence despite not playing since he hurt his calf in the first round of the NAB Cup.

The team sheets for today's match have just been submitted and the former Bulldog is out, replaced by ruckman Max Bailey.

The late inclusion means the Hawks have three potential rucks in their line-up - Bailey, David Hale and Jarryd Roughead - while the Cats are playing first-gamer Mark Blicavs as first ruck. Trent West is on the bench.

The Geelong team is unchanged.

The subs are Jed Anderson (Hawthorn) and George Horlin-Smith (Geelong).

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Hawks punt on star's fitness

Underdone Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli will step out against Geelong tomorrow. Source: News Limited

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson admits Cyril Rioli and Brian Lake's preparation leading into tomorrow's blockbuster against Geelong at the MCG is not ideal.

He said both sides had taken a little bit of a punt on selections, pointing out that  Geelong had named Trent West.

"It's not always ideal going into round one and we'll just see how we go,'' Clarkson said before today's 30-minute training session at Waverley Park.

And he confirmed that 19 year-old Jed Anderson, whose wife is due to give birth in the next few days, will make his debut after being traded by Greater Western Sydney for Stephen Gilham.

"It's pretty exciting for Jed,'' Clarkson said.

"It's been a great effort for a lad to get drafted and then force his way into a side that played off in a grand final.''
Rioli (ankle) and Lake (calf) have not played since Hawthorn's opening NAB Cup game.

Lake, recruited from the Western Bulldogs, will be assigned key Cat Tom Hawkins as the Hawks attempt to break a nine-game losing sequence against Geelong.

Clarkson said the Bulldog veteran had been  recruited specifically to play on bigger players.

"Hopefully he will acquit himself well,'' he said.

"Hawkins has turned into an outstanding player in the competition and whoever plays on him, no matter what stage of the game it is or what stage of the season, it is a formidable task, so we'll see how we go.''

Clarkson said Rioli and Lake were "okay'' going into clash, despite their lack of game time

"It's not ideal going into round one without the same game time as some of the other players. They are quality players and both of them are All Australian players.

"Sometimes first up they can play really well too, and sometimes it's the second and third game that you're worried about.''

Clarkson said that after a long pre-season, Geelong and Hawthorn had to wait until the last game of the opening round.

"There is so much excitement and anticipation  around the first round of the season,'' he said.

"It's the latest game of the round and we can't wait to get out there and perform.''

Clarkson said he was again expecting a great contest from Geelong.

"We have always had great games against Geelong and we just haven't been able to get over the post in the pressure of last minutes of games so we need to get better at that,'' he said.

Clarkson was reluctant to make any comment about the controversial sliding rule.

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LIVE: Demons v Power

Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney bursts forward against Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

2.27pm: Demons 44 - Power 73

THE case for goal line video technology is mounting with contentious marks being paid to Port Adelaide sharpshooter Jay Schulz and Melbourne utility Cameron Pederson.

Schulz was awarded a mark on the goal line despite an inconclusive review.

Moments later, Pederson clunked a strong mark next to the goal post which looked at real speed to have crossed the line.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores and stats

The Power dominated the first half setting up a 29-point buffer at the main break.

Paul Stewart booted three goals while Kane Cornes leads the Power with 14 disposals.

Meanwhile, debutant Jack Viney is the pick of the Demons with 15 touches -- 12 contested -- and a goal to his name.

The tough as teak midfielder also has four clearances to his name.

2.04pm: Demons 31 - Power 58

MELBOURNE continues to find a way of keeping up with Port Adelaide at the MCG today.

The Power have made all the early running but until now have been unable to shake the pesky - at times outclassed - Demons.

Goals to Shannon Byrnes and Jeremy Howe, his second, cut the margin to 27 points midway through the second term.

Port Adelaide has kicked three goals in the term, its last in somewhat controversial circumstances with Jay Schulz awarded a mark on the goal line.

Schulz, who launched over the pack, looked to clunk the ball over the line. The umpires paid the mark despite a video review showing Schulz, his Demon's stepladder and the football clearly over the line.

Regardless, it was a goal, and great mark, either way. Play on!

1.49pm: Demons 19 - Power 45

ALL Port Adelaide and Melbourne's Jack Viney in the first quarter with the Power running rings around the hapless Demons.

The boom father-son prospect leads the Demons with nine disposals.

But the Power look superior to their rivals with Hamish Hartlett on track for a best on ground performance.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores and stats

The classy midfielder has 10 disposals and two goals early in the second quarter.

Mitch Clark made a welcome return to senior footy kicking two goals in as many minutes during the first quarter.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: Hamish Hartlett of the Power passes the ball during the round one AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 31, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

1.34pm: Demons 13 - Power 27

MELBOURNE spearhead Mitch Clark has made a welcome return to senior footy kicking two goals in a hurry to claw the Demons back within striking distance.

Port Adelaide made all the early running at the MCG with midfielders Hamish Hartlett, Brad Ebert, Kane Cornes and young gun Olli Wines dominating the stoppages.

Clark's timely goals helped the Demons get back in the match before Power sharpshooter Jay Schulz's courageous mark in the goal square.

It took Melbourne about four minutes of play to register its first kick, a free kick to co-captain Jack Grimes at half-back.

PRE-GAME

Melbourne lines up as selected in today's match against Port Adelaide at the MCG.

The Demons will unveil prized recruits Jack Viney and No.4 pick Jimmy Toumpas in the Easter Sunday clash.

Port Adelaide also boasts a couple of new faces including No.7 pick Olli Wines and mature-aged recruit Kane Mitchell who will start as the substitute.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores and stats

Demon Sam Blease will also start on the pine wearing the green substitute's vest.

Melbourne will join Port Adelaide in wearing black armbands today in memory of Power midfielder John McCarthy.

The former Collingwood and Sorrento utility fell to his death while on holidays in Las Vegas with Power teammates last year.

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