Part II: 2013 fixture preview

North Melbourne will be looking to limit Lance Franklin's influence when the two sides meet in 2013. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

THE Hawks twice or the Giants twice? Two trips to Perth or an array of Friday night blockbusters? Six-day breaks or a lengthy spell? These are the quirks that can define a club's season and the careers of coaches and players alike.

Over the next few days SuperFooty will bring you a comprehensive guide to the fixtures of all 18 clubs.

Today we look at Hawthorn, Melbourne and North Melbourne.

Over the past few days we've looked at Adelaide, Brisbane, Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.

Tomorrow we preview Port Adelaide, Richmond and St Kilda.

HAWTHORN:

EASY GAMES:
The Hawks face GWS, Gold Coast and Melbourne – the bottom three sides from 2012 – leading into their bye. That shapes as a soft month they can use to build percentage. They also travel to hostile interstate venues on just four occasions.

CRUNCH GAMES:
The two clashes with Geelong will be pivotal. Shane Crawford wrote on the verge of last year's Easter Monday clash that if the Hawks couldn't topple the Cats then they wouldn't for the year. He was dead right, and they need to leap this rising mental hurdle in Round 1. The Round 7 Grand Final rematch against Sydney at the MCG could also be a testing match crucial to the Hawks' mental belief.

TOUGH GAMES:
An absolute horror start to the season. The Hawks face all 2012 finalists in the first seven rounds, which includes trips to face Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, West Coast in Perth and concludes with the Grand Final rematch. A nightmare start – but if they can escape with a positive win-loss ratio they'll be well on the way to the top four again.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
Hawthorn's opening two months is littered with blockbusters, but you can't go past the Grand Final rematch. The Hawks must be looking for another crack at the Swans and while it might not be September, it shapes as a pivotal game given Alastair Clarkson's draw early. The match against Collingwood in Round 3 will be huge, too, and gives the Hawks the chance to square-off with Clinton Young after he defected to the Westpac Centre.

SUMMARY:
Hawthorn was disappointed the AFL did not fulfil its request to host seven matches at the MCG, while the opening two months loom as a major danger. But, that means the middle chunk of the season is extremely friendly. A SuperFooty poll recently revealed readers think Hawthorn has the toughest fixture – and by some margin.

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Geelong (MCG)
Round 2 v West Coast (PS)
Round 3 v Collingwood (MCG)
Round 4 v Fremantle (AS)

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter @SamLandsberger

MELBOURNE:

EASY GAMES:
The Dees have a mortgage on the MCG for most the season. In the first 15 rounds, they play just two games away from the home of footy – both interstate trips. Home bouts against Port Adelaide, GWS and Gold Coast in the first seven weeks presents an opportunity for the new-look Dees to create the winning culture Mark Neeld is desperate to implement.

CRUNCH GAMES:
The Round 2 match against Essendon should be interesting. The Dees have the wood over the Bombers and would love that streak to continue. The two games against the Dogs in the back half of the season will also be telling with both clubs in a similar bracket.

TOUGH GAMES:
The three-week stretch of Fremantle away, Hawthorn and Collingwood will test the Demons' improvement. Games against Adelaide away and Geelong in Geelong will also be tough to compete in.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
As if Queen's Birthday wasn't a big enough duel for the Dees, they now to go show off star recruit Chris Dawes against his old Magpie premiership teammates. Added to that Mark Neeld's former stint at the Pies and it shapes as a juicy contest.

SUMMARY:
Only three six-day breaks is a win, as is playing fellow bottom-four sides GWS, Suns and Dogs twice each. But the Dees missed out on Friday night action and must play a home game at Etihad Stadium, against their request.

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Port Adelaide (MCG)
Round 2 v Essendon (MCG)
Round 3 v West Coast (MCG)
Round 4 v GWS (MCG)

NORTH MELBOURNE:

EASY GAMES:
Not many. The Roos don't play any of the bottom-four sides twice, but a run of five-straight games again non-finalists from Rounds 14-18 should give a platform to launch a run at September.

CRUNCH GAMES:
The opening five weeks could set up North Melbourne's year. The Roos face Collingwood, Geelong, Sydney in Tasmania, Brisbane and Hawthorn and will be desperate to walk out with a few of wins. They will also be without Brent Harvey for the first six weeks, adding to the early challenges.

TOUGH GAMES:
Plenty. Two trips to Perth and return bouts against Hawthorn, Adelaide Collingwood and Geelong. Eight six-day breaks to boot makes it a hard draw on paper.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
You suspect a few North boys wouldn't mind a crack at Carlton in Round 17, and another look at Chris Judd after last year's chicken-wing gate. The clash with West Coast in Round 8 will also be eagerly-anticipated after North Melbourne's finals capitulation last year. And the Roos' backline will hopefully be devising some new plans for the Round 5 clash with Hawthorn – and 13-goal terroriser Buddy Franklin.

SUMMARY:
A difficult draw on paper, and a mixed bag commercially. Two home Friday night games (three in total) should help boost the bottom line, but the club wasn't overly thrilled with receiving three home Sunday twilight games this season.

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Collingwood (ES)
Round 2 v Geelong (ES)
Round 3 v Sydney (BA)
Round 4 v Brisbane Lions (ES)

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Video: Is this tanking?

SuperFooty analyse the match at the heart of Melbourne tanking allegations.

Jordan McMahon is mobbed by his teammates after his matchwinning goal against Melbourne in 2009. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

YOU DECIDE: These are the moments at the heart of tanking allegations against Melbourne.

Former Demons coach Dean Bailey and club officials Chris Connolly and Cameron Schwab have been asked to show why they should not be charged with offences including draft tampering in 2009.

That was the season Melbourne won just four games to qualify for a priority draft pick, which allowed the Demons to recruit Tom Scully and Jack Trengove with the first two selections in the national draft.

The club has received a 1000-page dossier containing the findings of the league's five-month tanking probe.

The AFL is understood to have interviewed about 20 people, including current and former Melbourne staff and players, about the club's on-field intentions in 2009.

Those interviews are believed to have focussed on the Dees' Round 18 loss to Richmond, when Jordan McMahon kicked a goal after the siren to get the Tigers over the line by four points.

Watch the key moves in the video player above and have your say

A review of the tape by SuperFooty has revealed several bizarre moves by the Demons' coaching box.

The most unusual was Melbourne's forward set-up at the start of final quarter, when they led by three points.

The Dees' forward line consisted of regular key defenders Matthew Warnock (full-forward) and James Frawley (centre half-forward) with top ball-winner Nathan Jones and tagger Clint Bartram in forward pockets, plus veteran Aaron Davey.

Only Davey had any history as a goalkicker. Warnock and Frawley had kicked one goal each for their careers to that point, and neither went close to adding to their totals that afternoon.

With its defenders in the forward line, Melbourne had regular forwards Brad Miller and Matthew Bate playing as onballers in the centre square. Miller (194cm) was matched up on a young Trent Cotchin (185cm).

At other stages in the game Miller played in the ruck while 199cm Paul Johnson played full-back for most of the day, opposed to Jack Riewoldt and Nathan Brown.

Brown kicked a crucial goal during the final quarter while directly opposed to the 18cm taller Johnson.

Nathan Jones outmarks Richmond key defender Jayden Post. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Melbourne made just 47 interchange rotations that day, their fewest of the season and way down on their season average of 85.

There have been suggestions questions were asked about whether players fumbled deliberately in the dying minutes, but Melbourne kicked two goals in time-on to pinch the lead before McMahon's heroics.

And Richmond players made their share of mistakes as well.

Nathan Brown summed it up in a post-match interview: "It wasn't the greatest game in the world, but it's good to get the points."
 

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AFL discards: Where are they now?

Former Bomber Kyle Reimers will line up for Perth in the WAFL this year. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

FROM Perth to the Uni Blues in the Victorian amateur league, find out where axed and retired AFL stars will be playing in 2013.

Players fresh from the elite facilities of the AFL are about to report for pre-season training at lower leagues around the country - some lower than others. Here's a run-down of who's playing where.

Retired Geelong champion Matthew Scarlett announced last year he would line up for South Barwon this season in the Geelong Football League.

The 284-game Cats champion said one of his career dreams (presumably behind playing in three AFL premierships) to finish his career at the Swans.

"I feel like I've made the right decision (to retire) and really excited that I'm joining a great club, going from one great club to another, so I'm just excited and ready to jump into it," Scarlett said.

The bad news for opponents is Scarlett says at 33 his body feels great.

Newly-appointed co-coach Casey Tutungi joked Scarlett "might be the swingman for us" while fellow coach James Garvey added: "What's he done, he's played 15 years down at full back? We might throw him forward and see how he goes."

Matthew Scarlett after being announced as a new recruit for South Barwon Football Club. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Geelong Advertiser

Scarlett will combine his playing duties with a part-time assistant coaching role at the Western Bulldogs - where he'll work with Cam Mooney, Ben Graham and Brad Johnson. Other retirees who will stay in the AFL system as assistant coaches include Brad Green (Carlton) and Josh Drummond (North Melbourne).

But others are happy to pull on the boots in a more relaxed environment.

Lindsay Gilbee, who played 206 games from the Western Bulldogs, knocked back an offer from Wangaratta Rovers to line up with University Blues in the VAFA.

His former Dogs teammates Brodie Moles and James Mulligan will play for Hoppers Crossing out west while Ryan Hargrave has signed with Hillside in the Essendon District Football League.

He will line up against 2004 All-Australian Adam McPhee (Greenvale), sacked Richmond defender Daniel Connors (Aberfeldie) and delisted Tigers ruckman Andrew Browne (Keilor) in the star-studded competition.

Other former Tigers playing the suburbs next year include Brad Miller (Heidelberg) and Jayden Post (below), who will pull on the Altona Vikings' purple strip.

Former Richmond footballer Jayden Post is returning to his home club Altona in the WRFL. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: Herald Sun

And there are unconfirmed reports retired Magpie Chris Tarrant has joined Deer Park.

Other players will stick with the main feeder comps in Victoria and interstate in bid to stay on the AFL radar.

Brent Prismall trained with Essendon, Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs in the lead-up to the rookie draft, but didn't get picked.

He'll be under the noses of Dogs coaches at Williamstown, alongside former Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood. Also in the VFL are former Collingwood and Gold Coast midfielder Sam Iles (Box Hill) and ex-Giant Steve Clifton (North Ballarat).

Cruize Garlett walked out on the Kangaroos in the hope of a new start at another AFL club. He'll be playing for Perth in the WAFL in 2013 ex-Bomber Kyle Reimers - who opted to return home despite an offer to train with Carlton in draft week - and retired Hawk Chance Bateman.

Kyle Reimers celebrates a goal for Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Also in the Perth comp are axed Saint Brett Peake, who has signed a two-year deal with his former club East Fremantle, delisted Carlton defender Paul Bower (Peel Thunder), former Eagle and Swan Mark Seaby (Claremont) and Brendan Lee, who will line up for East Perth after playing two matches for Essendon late last season.

Ben McKinley is also expected to play for the Royals, while Jay van Berlo (delisted by Fremantle) and Andrew Strijk (West Coast) will stay at West Perth.

Paul Medhurst has come out of retirement (again) and will line up for Claremont.

Across the border in South Australia, former North Melbourne forward Matt Campbell has signed with North Adelaide along with former rookies Daniel Archer (North Melbourne) and Nathan Gordon (Sydney), best known for dropping the F-bomb on live TV after his AFL debut.

Axed Bomber Henry Slattery will play for the Port Adelaide Magpies alongside Jacob Surjan and Liam Jurrah, who Port's AFL cousin has committed to helping through his off-field issues.

Liam Jurrah training with Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

Matthew Panos will play for Norwood after failing to crack a senior appearance at the Bulldogs in 2012 and luckless Gold Coast defender Michael Coad has signed with Sturt.

Tasmanian Football League Clarence has won the race for the signature of former Richmond wingman Jeromey Webberley.

"I was really surprised by all the offers," Webberley told The Mercury.

"It was actually hard to make a decision.

"Because I've played at Clarence before -- and all the players there -- that helped me make my decision and was something that got me over the line in the end."

But the prize for the biggest career move goes to Shae McNamara.

The American was playing for Collingwood in the NAB Cup last year. This season he'll play for Sandringham Sabres in the Southern Basketball Association.

Have you heard of any other ex-AFL players at a local team near you? Let us know by leaving a comment below or contact us on Twitter @superfooty.

- with Sam Landsberger, Michael Washbourne, Chris Cavanagh, Matt Turner

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Daisy in moonboot as Pies hit track

Collingwood train at Gosch's Paddock today. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Collingwood star Dale Thomas at training today. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD hit the training track for the first time this year this morning with Dale Thomas sporting a moonboot.

Thomas joined his teammates on Gosch's Paddock, but was restricted to stationary skills.

The star Magpie has had a very interrupted pre-season, which has hindered his fight to get himself in the best shape possible for 2013.

The midfielder, who carried the injury through the latter half of last season, underwent surgery on his right ankle late last year.

It meant he was one of a handful of players to miss the club's high-altitude training camp to Utah.

It is a setback as he looks to return to his damaging best this year following a topsy-turvy 2012.

Meanwhile, star midfielder Scott Pendlebury left the training track early today after speaking with coaching staff.

See our gallery of the Magpies in action at Gosch's Paddock today here.

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AFL guilty in tanking war: Thomas

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has warned anyone found guilty of tanking will "never work in football again". Source: Herald Sun

FORMER St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says tanking charges against Melbourne will blow up in the AFL's face if they end up in court.

Thomas, a vocal critic of league headquarters and CEO Andrew Demetriou, says the AFL is complicit in any rule breaking because it provided an incentive for clubs to lose.

Former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey and officials Cameron Schwab and Chris Connolly are believed to face charges including draft tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

The AFL's tanking investigation centres on the 2009 season, when the Demons lost six of their last seven matches to finish the season on four wins and qualify for a priority draft pick.

"AFL is putting themselves into a corner with tanking saga that will eventually expose their own behavior & test their strategies legally," Thomas tweeted today.

"Any decent senior counsel would be able to rip the AFL apart in a witness box. Honorable Andy won't want to get in the box - GUARANTEED!"

Thomas said players always tried to win but officials could make decisions to reduce their chances.

He said it was impossible to prove the real motivation behind selection decisions and calls from the coach's box on game day. But he had little doubt tanking was real.

"If comp manager provides incentive for losing what do u expect? Players try but club realise greater reward is extra draft pick than 5th win."

Melbourne officials are digesting an 800-page document into  tanking allegations - and potential charges - against the club.

The documents were handed to chief executive Cameron Schwab, Chris Connolly and former coach Dean Bailey sometime before December 25.

Lawyers for the club, and Bailey's own personal representation, have been scouring the explosive allegations and must answer to interim AFL football operations manager Gillon McLachlan before the end of January.

The three parties involved must state their reasons why they should not be charged.

If the AFL does lay charges, it is likely to happen late this month, in order to give the Demons time to respond to the evidence and prepare their defence.

It is believed Bailey is facing three allegations which include tampering with the draft, not coaching to his full ability and bringing the game into disrepute in the 2009 season.

Schwab and Connolly however are only facing two charges -  tampering with the draft and bringing the game into disrepute.

At this stage lawyers plan to argue over the definition of tanking.

"The way the investigation has been carried out from a legal point of view is quite extraordinary, with some of the questioning," a source close to the Demons told Fairfax Media.

"There potentially could be a good challenge to the AFL rules. I think it's fairly fraught with danger the AFL going down this path."

The AFL investigation has centred on comments made in a Demons football department meeting run by football operations manager Chris Connolly, pictured with Dean Bailey, allegedly reminding staff about the importance of the extra draft pick. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Melbourne is believed to be willing to take the matter further if charged and found guilty of the offences, perhaps even as far as the Supreme Court.

While Melbourne could be hit with heavy fines or loss of draft picks, there is mounting belief the AFL would prefer to penalise individuals, rather than the club, if it is found guilty of deliberately losing games.

Former Melbourne player Brock McLean triggered the AFL investigation when he claimed in July he quit the club because it had set out to lose games in 2009.

"You can't create a good culture by going out and experimenting and trying to get draft picks and losing games of football," McLean said. "It goes against everything you're trying to do."

As revealed by Jay Clark for News Limited last week, the AFL has interviewed and re-interviewed a host of former and current officials who were at the club in 2009.

Some of the interviewees were subsequently told as many as 12 people had provided the AFL's investigators with potentially incriminating details about the club's intent throughout the second half of the 2009 campaign.

Melbourne administrators allegedly held a secret meeting in 2009 to plot their tanking strategy. The end game was to secure the first two picks in that year's national draft.

It is also believed the AFL has inquired about knowledge of a follow-up meeting between Bailey and Schwab at Schwab's house.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou previously warned any person found guilty of manipulating the result of a match would "never work in football again''.

Connolly, however, is at the centre of the storm after it was reported he reminded football officials about the importance of losing matches to improve the club's draft position.

But Robert Shaw, who was Fremantle's football operations manager when Connolly coached the Dockers, said previously that Connolly could not have been "solely responsible''.

Unusual tactical moves in the Dees' losses to Sydney (Round 17) and Richmond (Round 18) have been the subject of intense speculation.

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Suns of anarchy they are not

Gold Coast Suns young gun Harley Bennell arrested and charged over a New Year's Eve brawl in Mandurah.

Suns coach Guy McKenna denies there is a culture problem at his club. Picture: Tim Marsden Source: The Courier-Mail

SUNS coach Guy McKenna insists the club is not developing a culture problem, despite star midfielder Harley Bennell's arrest in the club's Christmas break last week adding to a series of off-field issues.

Bennell was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and failing to obey an order given by a police officer in his home town of Mandurah, south of Perth, on New Year's Eve.

The incident follows veteran Campbell Brown and then first-year players Maverick Weller, Joel Wilkinson and Jacob Gillbee being detained by police after an alleged bar-room brawl in Thailand in 2011, while defender Nathan Bock was suspended by the AFL for his part in a betting scandal in the same year.

Trent McKenzie added to the club's woes when he was suspended for turning up late to a recovery session last season following a night out.

McKenna admits slip-ups off the field were inevitable but is adamant the problem is not out of control.

When asked yesterday if a culture problem was developing at the club, McKenna replied: "Clearly not and it's not an issue whatsoever.

"When the boys go home to have a break and let their hair down, things will happen.

"You are always disappointed when your club gets shown in a bad light but the AFL, the AFL clubs themselves, coaches, senior players and all the playing group have to take responsibility and continue to drive for perfection."

The Suns will wait until Bennell's court case next Tuesday before determining if the incident will receive a club-imposed sanction.

But McKenna revealed Bennell's teammates would get the chance to air their thoughts on the matter as the club strived to be in the news more for the right reasons.

"In the scheme of things (Harley's incident) is not great but our pre-season has been good on and off the field and we will continue to move forward," McKenna said.

"The playing group will (get the chance to) air their grievances and we will come down after the court case and speak to Harley about all that.

"We want to make sure we become a club full of cleanskins and that's what you strive for."

The Suns squad resumed post-Christmas training yesterday under the watchful eye of McKenna, who is not due back from holidays for another week.

"I just wanted to see how they had come back from the break and leading into Christmas we had a really good physical block of training," McKenna added.

"Looking at the shape of them, they look pretty good."

Bock was seen jogging laps around Metricon Stadium as he attempts to keep his ambitious bid to return from a broken leg in round 1 on track.

But McKenzie was kept to light duties as the club continues to monitor his knee injury.

"He will need another one or two weeks to get over his knee injury," McKenna said.

"But round 1 is still a fair way away (March 30) and there is still a lot of time for him to get right."

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2013 club-by-club fixture preview

A mountain of hype is already surrounding Mick Malthouse's showdown with Collingwood in Round 2. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

THE Hawks twice or the Giants twice? Two trips to Perth or an array of Friday night blockbusters? Six-day breaks or a lengthy spell? These are the quirks that can define a club's season and the careers of coaches and players alike.

Over the next five days SuperFooty will bring you a comprehensive guide to the fixtures of all 18 clubs.

We start with Adelaide, Brisbane Lions and Carlton today.

ADELAIDE:

EASY GAMES:
Seven of Adelaide's away games are against non-finalists, giving the Crows a dream chance to push for another top-four finish. And expect Brenton Sanderson's mob to fire early. They don't meet a 2012 finalist until Round 6 (Hawthorn), and play just one 2012 contender in the first eight weeks. Adelaide also has no return matches against top-four sides.

CRUNCH GAMES:
The Crows host grand finalists Hawthorn and Sydney at AAMI Stadium. Pencil those in as eight-point games, while a trip to the Gabba to face the Lions in Round 2 – a fixture the Crows threw away last season with a sloppy loss – could also prove pivotal.

TOUGH GAMES:
Two trips to Perth is never easy, especially in the back half of the season. Rounds 18 and 23 the Crows head west, ending their home-and-away campaign against West Coat. Ouch. Trips to the MCG to face Carlton and Collingwood could shape as finals barometers.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
The Crows will avoid a home-and-away bout with Kurt Tippett, so you can't go past the two showdowns against Port Adelaide.

SUMMARY:
Two Friday night blockbusters, including the season-opener, is a big win commercially. And it seems on the field the Crows have again hit the jackpot. Three MCG games will help come September, while the platform is there early to again

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Essendon (AAMI)
Round 2 v Brisbane Lions (G)
Round 3 v Port Adelaide (AAMI)
Round 4 v Western Bulldogs (AAMI)

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter @SamLandsberger

Crows chairman Rob Chapman has vowed Adelaide will be a big player in the free agent market next year. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: Herald Sun

BRISBANE LIONS

EASY GAMES:
The Lions will back themselves to take six wins from six games against the Dogs, Dees and Suns. A stretch of late-season games against the Suns, Roos, Dees, Port, Saints, Tigers, Giants and Dogs will define whether Brisbane is a legitimate finals contender. Only four six-day breaks is an added bonus and should keep Michael Voss's side fresh.

CRUNCH GAMES:
Home games against sides in the bracket one up from Brisbane will prove pivotal. The Lions host North Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda and must start winning those encounters to take the next step.

TOUGH GAMES:
Plenty. Fremantle in Perth, Geelong in Geelong, Collingwood at the MCG and Sydney at the SCG. The Lions also travel to Tasmania to face Hawthorn and host West Coast at the Gabba. But, Brisbane did knock off the Eagles at home last year and will take confidence from that.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
Nothing stands out, but Stefan Martin and Brent Moloney will enjoy heading back to the MCG to face the Dees in Round 5. The Q-Clashes should step up a gear if Gold Coast can become competitive more often than not.

SUMMARY:
A blow to the old Fitzroy fans with just four games in Melbourne and one in Geelong. Particularly when the Lions requested six games in Melbourne. But a clutch of games against lowly sides and a soft run to the line will please Voss.

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Western Bulldogs (ES)
Round 2 v Adelaide (G)
Round 3 v Gold Coast (MS)
Round 4 v North Melbourne (ES)

Sunday Mail - Lions v Suns AFL at the Gabba Photo - David Kapernick Picture: David Kapernick Source: HWT Image Library

CARLTON:

EASY GAMES:
The Blues cashed in seven of their first eight games in Melbourne, although there are some tough opponents in there. Collingwood is the sole 2012 finalist the Blues face twice, while they have doubled-up against Port Adelaide. Carlton also finishes with the Power, Dogs and Suns inside the final six rounds. Here's hoping the late-season trip to Metricon Stadium goes better than last year.

Bold 2013 predictions: Saints to slide, Tigers to rise and a surprise Blues skipper

CRUNCH GAMES:
Plenty, starting with Richmond in Round 1. In fact, the opening five weeks will set the tone for Carlton's debut year under Mick Malthouse. It reads; Tigers, Pies, Cats, Eagles (away), Crows. If the Blues can scramble to a 3-2 start you'd think they'd take it. Duels with Brisbane away and the Richmond-Essendon double late in the year should also help define Carlton's year.

TOUGH GAMES:
The Eagles away in the first month is the first real litmus test for Carlton. A three-game stretch of Hawthorn, Sydney away and Collingwood will also test just how far the new Blues have come.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
Round 2. Mick Malthouse v Collingwood. Is there a game the football world is more eagerly anticipating than that? She'll be an absolute corker in front of a packed MCG on a Friday evening. Imagine Mick walking off a winner and screaming out "we're the old, dark navy Blues" against the side he steered to five Grand Finals and a breakthrough flag? Bring it on.

SUMMARY:
A challenging month early, but as the Blues said when the fixture came out, you may as well get them out of the road early. The Blues kept their 9-8 split of games between Etihad Stadium and the MCG, but will be disappointed the first Mick v Collingwood blockbuster is an away fixture. An even mix with the majority of games against sides in the middle tier.

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Richmond (MCG)
Round 2 v Collingwood (MCG)
Round 3 v Geelong (ES)
Round 4 v West Coast (PS)

Carlton Training Mick Malthouse lays down the law Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: HWT Image Library

Tomorrow: We preview Collingwood, Essendon and Fremantle

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Hawks worry for Tassie

A Tasmanian firefighters battles a blaze. Source: Herald Sun

Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox. Source: News Limited

HAWTHORN Football club has made a $10,000 Red Cross donation to help bushfire victims at its second home base in Tasmania.

Captain Luke Hodge was among several players who spoke with chief executive Stuart Fox yesterday to express their concerns.
 
The club will visit regions affected by the bushfires and help assist the recovery effort on its annual community camp in Tasmania next month.
 
The 2008 premiers have played home games in Launceston since 2001 and last year signed up 8700 Tasmanian members. 
 
Fox yesterday expressed his sympathy and support for those affected by the disaster.
 
"The Hawthorn Football Club family wishes to extend its deepest concerns for all those in Tasmania who have been affected by the devastating bushfires," Fox said. 

 
"Many families across the state now face an enormous challenge to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, and we offer our support and encouragement in what is an extremely difficult time for the community.
 
"Our small contribution is the least we can do for a state and a community that continues to support our football club. 
 
"Hawthorn Football Club would also like to acknowledge the brave efforts of the firefighters, emergency service officers and volunteers across the state."

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Pre-season unlikely for injured Kerr

SIDELINED: Daniel Kerr is set to miss the bulk of the pre-season with a knee injury. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

ELITE West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr could be thrown straight into the Round 1 Western Derby without playing an NAB Cup game.

Kerr, who had a knee arthroscopy last month, will be carefully managed by the Eagles throughout the pre-season as the club seeks to ready his battle-hardened body for a 13th season.

West Coast football operations manager Neale Daniher said Kerr, 29, would not require pre-season matches to be ready for the derby.

"He'll just slowly build up over January, February, March," Daniher said. "We don't think he needs to have a lot of games in the NAB to be ready to go.

"Given he's such a senior player, and played 24 games last year, all his preparation will be around building up for Round 1 AFL."

All-Australian pair Nic Naitanui (groin) and Beau Waters (hip) are the club's other significant injury worries, with Naitanui likely to miss the start of the home-and-away season.

Daniher could not say when Naitanui would be fit to play, but was confident Waters would be available for Round 1 after having hip surgery last month.

Naitanui, who made a cameo appearance at Friday's training session at McGillivray Oval for some handball drills, is hoping to start running on an anti-gravity treadmill later this month.

The Eagles will launch their season against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium in a twilight game on March 23.

Comeback pair Mark LeCras (knee) and Mark Nicoski (hamstring) are back training with the main group and are on target to resume during the NAB Cup.

It is unlikely they will play in the triangular pre-season opener against the Dockers and Geelong on February 16.

Second-year forward Murray Newman, who was thrashed by coach John Worsfold in a 2km time trial in November, is being forced to improve his aerobic capacity before he can join in full training with his teammates.

Newman jogged laps with Jamie Bennell and Blayne Wilson on Friday and was the last to leave the track as he completed a punishing cone-running drill.

The 19-year-old, who is also facing a serious charge over a nightclub incident, is likely to be mostly running for the rest of the month, away from the main group.

Midfielder Chris Masten maintained his title as the club's best runner with a narrow win in the 2km time trial at the WA Athletics Stadium on Thursday.

Masten was one of 16 Eagles who posted personal-best times as they resumed from a two-week Christmas break.

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Parkin mentors the comeback kid

David Parkin has helped mentor Anthony Morabito in his comeback.  Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

PREMIERSHIP coach David Parkin has emerged as an unlikely mentor in Anthony Morabito's remarkable comeback from two knee reconstructions.

Fremantle's forgotten No.4 draft pick has not played AFL since a sparkling debut in 2010, after twice tearing his left ACL ligament.Parkin has helped guide the 21-year-old through the emotional despair of two years on the sidelines.

The four-time Carlton and Hawthorn premiership coach praised Morabito's mental fortitude as the 191cm midfielder prepares to return to the Dockers line-up for the NAB Cup and potentially Round 1.

>> SUPERCOACH WATCH: Morabito is a $115,900 midfielder

"I tremble every time I hear his name because you don't want to find out that he has had another setback," Parkin said.

"I'm just hoping and praying he has a half-reasonable chance to prepare himself properly and continue what was an outstanding first year of league football."

In a horror run, the young Docker ruptured the ligament in the 2011 pre-season and then again during a training mishap last July.

Parkin, who has beaten prostate cancer, said Morabito had overcome some dark periods in his rehabilitation.

"I've kept in touch with him and he has had some miserable psychological downs, as you would expect of a kid of his age," Parkin said.

"To be between 18-22 years old and suffer what he did, emotionally you have to deal with that, and it gets you down, to the point where you may not recover physically, let alone emotionally.

"But he's been supported by (assistant coach) Simon Lloyd, who is probably just about the best young man I've dealt with in football, and had wonderful support from the club and his family."

With superstar captain Matthew Pavlich under a fitness cloud after back surgery, Morabito's power-packed game style is looming as a major boost to the Dockers' midfield and forward set-ups.

Priced at $115,900, the man likened to Swans game-breaker Adam Goodes is also looming as a bargain SuperCoach prospect.

The devastating ball-carrier averaged 13 possessions in 23 games in his first season and twice laid nine tackles in games against Geelong and Richmond."He has a big heart, fantastic endurance capacity, he has a strong body and to maintain the form he did through 23 games in his first season is almost unheard of," Parkin said.

"So we know the kid brings the total package."

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