Port to take drug war to new level

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas, left, with new club chairman David Koch. Picture: Simon Cross Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide will seek to re-educate every member of its staff on the use of illicit drugs in a bid to be on the cutting edge in football's war against escalating drug use.

The Power is prepared to go further than the minimum guidelines set by the AFL by including every employee in a program as it aspires to be the healthiest club in the AFL on the back of industry-leading education.

Chief executive Keith Thomas also refused to use the excuse that because society is grappling with a spike of drug use of more than 20 per cent over the past 19 months to two years, football could expect a similar rise.

"As an AFL club, we must aim to set a higher standard than general society in matters such as these," Thomas said.

"We're going to aim to take a harder line on illicit drug use.

"And we're contemplating making this a whole-of-club initiative, so it goes beyond players to all staff and board and that will involve industry-leading education and accountability procedures  ... with a health-first policy.

"That is fundamental to how we want to go about it and consistent with the AFL.

"What we will do now, given that there's so much progress being made on an industry level, is wait until the working party has completed its work, see where the AFL policy lands, then assess that as a club and take it further if we think that's relevant.

"The important part of what we're doing is we're having open discussion through every aspect of our club."

The moves from Port Adelaide come as football shareholders, including all 18 clubs, were rattled by a presentation by Victoria Police at the AFL drug summit at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

But a recently retired top-echelon player, having read about the discussions, was not surprised by the epidemic.

The player, who declined to be named, said the rise in drug use in the game was an open secret among players.

He described a culture in which:

A CODE of silence still existed in the locker room. "You don't know but you sort of know the players who are using at your club and hear about others from other clubs," he said.

"I mean, you can't tell me the West Coast players didn't know about Ben Cousins after that family day when he turned up in a pretty bad state."

MOBILE phones were running hot with group messages as soon as the AFL drug testers were spotted at the club, giving a heads-up to those wanting to make a run for it. "There are always going to be tip-offs," he said.

PLAYERS in leadership groups are often the last to find out about a big night out because they are considered part of the coaching group.

THERE is no longer a stigma attached to using illicit drugs, except for heroin. "It's seen as natural, like a beer, and nothing to be ashamed about," he said.

EVERY player coming into the AFL system would be offered illicit drugs when they went out, often while intoxicated by alcohol.

DRUG spiking was still a threat. "I've had a drink and realised, hang on, something's not right with this," he said.

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

SuperCoach is back!

Shane Crawford channels his inner Liam Neeson when he discovers Gary Ablett is 'taken' and tries to organise a swap with one of his mates

Shane Crawford can't wait to get stuck into the new SuperCoach season. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

YOU can pick on my height.

You can pot the Hawks, make jokes about my teeth and bag my mother in law. Even my wife is fair game.

But if you beat me in SuperCoach, that's personal.

There's nothing like coming to work on Monday ready to brag about a SuperCoach win, or sending a text message when a mate's captain withdraws the night before our big match-up.

Goodbye tennis, goodbye cricket. SuperCoach is back and I'm so excited to be short-listing my squad for 2013.

Who will be this year's Dayne Zorko? Maybe Jack Viney from Melbourne, son of former champion Todd Viney and tough as nails.

Scroll down to see all the exciting new features of SuperCoach 2013 and Join the live chat with SuperCoach expert Al Paton from noon

Picking the next big thing is one of the keys to the game, and there will be plenty of time to change my mind before the season starts on March 22.

What I'm most excited about is the new option of being part of a SuperCoach draft.

You only have to register once and can play both games for free. How good is that?

CLICK HERE TO START PICKING YOUR SQUAD NOW

I already have my eyes on chief football writer Mark Robinson's every move and can't wait until the Herald Sun experts sit down for an internal draft (I'm picking first because I'm organising the session. Gary Ablett, you're mine.)

In either game, research is the key to picking a successful team. Watch all the NAB Cup games and follow SuperFooty every day for all the latest. Jump on Twitter and Facebook for breaking news and tips and to pick the brains of all the other SuperCoaches out there (I'm at @SCrawf9).

What will Brendon Goddard's role be at the Bombers? Will Brian Lake make an instant impact at the Hawks?

Does Mick Malthouse have the key to unlocking the potential of the Blues, and Jarrad Waite?

COMING UP: To get your SuperCoach team right for 2013 stick with SuperFooty next week and all the way to Round 1 for club-by-club SuperCoach previews, SuperCoach DRAFT player guides, SuperCoach analysis of every NAB Cup and practice match, exclusive videos plus lots more!

Will a slow pre-season for Adam Goodes interrupt his year or will his brother Brett Goodes be a must for all sides as a cheap and classy defender at the Western Bulldogs?

Will Giants forward Jonathon Patton take the competition by storm after his first full AFL pre-season?

All I can say is get involved. It's the best fun you'll have off the footy field.

And make sure you prepare like all the AFL players do to start the year. Because I can assure you I've had the best SuperCoach pre-season ever. So if you have me in your sights this year, you better be ready. In 2013, it's personal.

Join the live chat with SuperCoach expert Al Paton from noon:

Using a mobile device? Click here for a better viewing experience

WHAT'S NEW

New rules - 30 trades, rolling lockout means you won't be caught out by late team changes, smaller squads for bye rounds and a new team structure to better reflect the way the game is played

Relaunch leagues - Send league invites to your opponents from last year with the click of a button. You can even choose who to include and who to leave out.

Take on more mates - In addition to your five private leagues, you can challenge friends on Facebook and Twitter and create or join up to three unlimited size private groups

Intelligent auto-pick - Selecting a competitive squad is even easier. Choose your favourite players and let us fill in the rest.

Plus a refreshed look and feel and lots more - register or login now to explore the 2013 competition!

Join the debate on Facebook at facebook.com/supercoach

SUPERCOACH DRAFT

Take SuperCoach to a new level with a unique private league draft in which each player can only be selected once - if you pick Gary Ablett, none of your mates can have him.

Bargain with friends to complete trade deals between league opponents and make unlimited trades from the free agent pool.

Completely customisable - choose how your league works to suit you

Play alongside your SuperCoach CLASSIC team on the same login

Both games are completely FREE

Herald Sun super coach , Shane Crawford Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

FOUR EASY STEPS

1. Go to www.heraldsun.com.au/supercoach. The login page has more info on how to play and the exciting new 2013 features

2. Click register and fill in your details. Pick a team name and design your own unique guernsey

3. Join or create a private league to play against your friends and family

4. Start picking your squad of 30 AFL players who will score points for you every week

SUPERCOCH GOLD

SuperCoach GOLD helps you to better select and manage your team and make educated coaching decisions through the season. The collection of powerful tools and content provides projections for player scores and value, break-evens, analysis of player stats, player performance indicators, past stats and much more. Sign up now for a free trial.

WIN BIG

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Sign up early to win $5000 F1 Adrenaline package including tickets for the winner and three mates to the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, VIP entertainment seats, V8 hot lap and helicopter fly-over

STAY IN THE GAME

Check superfooty.com.au every day for latest news and expert advice

Like SuperCoach on Facebook to join the debate. Go to facebook.com/supercoach
Follow @superfooty on twitter for breaking developments and inside tips. Go to twitter.com/superfooty

CLICK HERE TO START PICKING YOUR SQUAD NOW

Herald Sun SuperCoach 2013 Minimal Terms and Conditions
Open to all Australian residents. Enter from 12:01AM AEDST on 01/02/13, ends at 11:59PM AEST on 01/09/13. Limit 1 entry per person. Entrants must access their home page at least every 30 days or may be disqualified. Overall and weekly winners determined by Vapormedia at Suite 107, 425 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008 at 10am (local time) on day after completion of each round (weekly winners) and on 02/09/13 (overall and other winners). Weekly Prizes: $1,000 cash. Overall prizes: Competition Major Prize $50,000 cash + $5,000 for local footy club, Website Prizes: up to $5,000 Website Prize for entrants entering via specific websites as set out in full conditions. School Group Prize (other than NSW and ACT schools): $10,000 cash & footy clinic. Weekly winners e-mailed and published online day after completion of each round and in The Australian on dates set out in full conditions, overall winners and other winners e-mailed and published online on 02/09/13 and in The Australian on 04/09/13. Promoter: The Herald and Weekly Times Pty Limited, 40 City Rd, Southbank VIC 3006. Entry and full conditions: www.heraldsun.com.au/supercoach. NSW Permit No. LTPS/13/00586 and ACT Permit No.TP 13/00230

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drugs double vision

AFL Players Assoc CEO Matt Finnis, Collingwood CEO Gary Pert , AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou and Dr Peter Harcourt. Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald Sun

TESTING of players for illicit drugs could be doubled for less than $200,000, the AFL says.

AFL medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt is believed to have told Wednesday's drug summit that the cost for each club to fund the move would be $10,000.

The proposal that clubs be given the chance to pay for extra testing received strong support.

In 2011 there were six positive results from 1489 tests conducted.

AFL clubs raised the prospect of funding greater target-testing of players they fear may be taking illicit substances.

The plan has been put to the new AFL working party on drugs, which includes four club CEOs.

Essendon chief executive Ian Robson, a member of the working party, said it would be investigated.

"It was one of the things that was mentioned by Peter Harcourt," Robson said. "We had already flagged that the clubs could be more engaged in the prospect of what target-testing looks like.

"There was a general consensus it might be one of the ways we can continue to focus on improving the policy without compromising what lies at the heart of it - the health and wellbeing of players.

"It is one of the things that emerged as a talking point for the working group. It hasn't been signed off, but it was a proposal put forward and it was welcomed by clubs."

It is understood that if the proposal was adopted, clubs could contact AFL medical officers and request more target tests on certain groups or individuals by contributing to the costs.

Robson said: "If something emerges that clubs might be alarmed by, they would want to be able to respond to that."

But he was insistent that it would be done in partnership with the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

"This would not be a green light for a range of private testing at clubs," Robson stressed.

"I don't think anyone is suggesting that we should tear up the landscape and have 18 illicit drugs policies across the clubs.

"We only want one."

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lords of the jungle

Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown will share leadership duties this season after threatening to step down during the pre-season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

JONATHAN Brown contemplated stepping down as Brisbane Lions captain during the off-season but will now share leadership duties at the Gabba.

Brown approached coach Michael Voss at the end of last season and told him he was prepared to walk away from the captaincy.

A series of discussions with Voss produced a leadership model that will keep Brown partially at the helm.

Brown, who was a co-captain in 2007 and 2008 before assuming sole captaincy in 2009, said "the time was right" to step down.

"It's good for the club, good for the players to share the responsibility and good for myself," Brown said.

"We had a few discussions at the end of the year about stepping aside and looking to the future.

"Vossy said he would like me to continue as a captain, but we will bring in a co-captain to bring that next generation through."

Brisbane is yet to appoint the co-captain but vice-captains Daniel Merrett, Jed Adcock and Tom Rockliff are in the mix with midfielder Daniel Rich.

"It's not just restricted to the guys in the leadership group," Brown said.

"There's a few guys that are more than capable of doing it now. They are really ready for it."

Brown, 31, has been captain or co-captain of Brisbane for 112 of his 230 games.

Brown said he contemplated the move well before Carlton's Chris Judd stepped down as Blues skipper late last year.

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Big clubs say rich tax will hurt

Essendon chief executive Ian Robson fears a luxury tax could drive members away from Windy Hill. Picture: Glenn Daniels Source: Herald Sun

VICTORIA's power clubs will rebel against plans for a luxury tax, fearful the bid to help battling clubs could backfire.

Chiefs said controversial proposals to impose a levy on high-spending clubs could drive down membership and rob the league of vital revenue.

Heavyweights Essendon, Collingwood and Hawthorn have united to fight what they see as a tax on success.

Essendon yesterday called on the AFL to accelerate plans to buy Etihad Stadium to add another revenue stream and help ailing tenant clubs.

The AFL will inherit the Docklands Stadium on March 8, 2025, but if the league acquired it early it could not only restructure stadium deals but make money from soccer and cricket games.

But it became clear yesterday that having closely considered that move 18 months ago the league believed the price - believed to be over $200 million - was too high now.

A luxury tax would see clubs spending extra money over a set amount on their football departments handing back a slice of that money to battling clubs.

Bombers president Ian Robson said the league had only just implemented a complex equalisation strategy.

"Luxury taxes have been applied in the NFL and those clubs are for profit and owned by billionaires," Robson said.

"When they write a cheque to pay luxury taxes, they are writing them with their own money. We would be writing them with the money of members.

"We are against luxury taxes and caps on spending. It's not sensible or logical to go to our members and say that 90 cents of the dollar goes to us and 10 cents goes to a pot of central revenue.

"There was a radical equalisation policy put in place only last year. Don't we need to give it a bit more than 12 months to say it hasn't worked?"

Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said stadium deals should be the No.1 priority for the AFL as it seeks to find a balance between rich and poor.

"We want a healthy competition so we are supportive of keeping clubs in trouble up with the pace," he said.

"To me it a lazy way of generating revenue to give to poor clubs and is a disincentive internally and externally.

"The message it sends is terrible. Members wouldn't be supportive of being taxed. Their membership fees would effectively pay for the tax. I think it's hard enough for clubs to break even or make small clubs. We are only every one or two poor decisions away from posting a loss."

Clubs will soon respond to the AFL's request for feedback on equalisation reform, with that information to form the backbone of a discussion at a meeting with the AFL Commission in March.

AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan stressed yesterday luxury taxes were just one of several proposals and he was aware every equalisation measure had a drawback.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was similarly emphatic about proposals that are taxes on wealthy clubs.

"The two biggest issues to make sure that the smaller or poorer clubs can compete against anyone is to get the salary cap right and to get the draft right," he said.

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Joel set to lift Suns from AFL shadows

Gold Coast Suns defender Joel Wilkinson has set a new bench press record for the club, lifting 160kg. Picture: Luke Marsden Source: The Courier-Mail

WHAT do Jonathan Brown and Joel Wilkinson have in common?

Brown is a second generation Lion, three-time premiership player, All Australian and Coleman medallist and one of the greats of the modern age.

Wilkinson is of Nigerian descent, has played 16 games and is battling to make it as an AFL player.

But the pair are the strongest AFL footballers in Queensland, taking the mantle that former Lion great Alastair Lynch owned in his heyday.

"Alastair Lynch is a three-time premiership player and a legend - I'm not getting caught up in that," Wilkinson said. "For me, it is just about preparation for round 1 and trying to improve each session."

In Lynch's day, the Lions posted the records on a whiteboard in the gym for all to see, but these days such details are not publicised.

According to Brisbane, Brown's current record is mid-150kg for three repetitions. Suns weight coach Chris Gaviglio confirmed Wilkinson this week benched 160kg three times to beat the club record of 140kg held by strongman Karmichael Hunt.

While power forwards Brown and Lynch are both 195cm-plus and more than 100kg, Wilkinson is only 186cm and 86kg.

What no one can argue is that Wilkinson is a freak specimen and probably the code's best Queensland-based athlete after also claiming the Suns' 2km time trial record.

"I've worked in rugby with big front-rowers who would love to lift that and then he also wins the 2km time trial," Gaviglio said.

"He is a genetically blessed athlete."

Wilkinson has endured a rocky start to his career. He has already been racially vilified twice on AFL grounds and has found himself on the frontline of the code's war on racism.

The Suns are thrilled he is now also attracting headlines for his deeds as an athlete.

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Players can help offenders

Shane Crawford says players can help teammates using drugs. Picture: Rebecca Michael Source: Herald Sun

SHANE Crawford has backed the proposed earlier involvement of the AFL clubs in finding out if their players have recorded a positive strike.

The former Hawthorn star said AFL clubs - and potentially teammates - could play a significant role in assisting players.

Crawford said he had no idea that former teammate Travis Tuck had any issues with illicit drugs before Tuck became the only player to have tested positive on three occasions in 2010.

"The biggest area for me is knowing when a player has transgressed," Crawford said.

"I was at Hawthorn for a few years with Travis and never realised that there was an issue until he got a third strike.

"It is very hard to help a person if you don't know anything."

Crawford said club officials - and possibly the leadership group - should be told after a player's second strike, so they had the chance to address the issue before a suspension occurred.

Currently, only the club doctor finds out after a positive strike.

"I think it would certainly help if the club finds out earlier," Crawford said. "The player who transgressed might not like it, but it might actually help him. The more support these players can get, the better.

"Footy can be a great, caring environment and the players might be able to give a helping hand."

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tell us so we can help players: Crows

Former Crows player Nathan Bock speaks to the media outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to assault charges in 2009. Picture: Jo-anna Robinson Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE has cemented its push for clubs to learn of players' drug use on the second strike, following yesterday's AFL drug summit.

But the Crows are adamant finding out about offences one strike earlier is solely to "help and support" a player, rather than protect the club's brand and reputation.

Acting football manager David Noble, who attended the summit in the place of chairman and acting chief executive Rob Chapman, said club leaders "to a man" backed earlier intervention to curb poor off-field choices.

"Purely from what we found out today and from our work on the (club's) behaviour committee, from an avenue where it allows you to be able to provide help and support to the player, absolutely," Noble said last night.

We've lived through the example of a Nathan Bock

"If you are asking us whether we want to know from the position of a brand, I would say no.

"To a man, all the CEOs were adamant ... the support network you can provide a player and an environment is essential.

"That's probably where we were coming from in that discussion."

Noble said Adelaide's response to former defender Nathan Bock's 2009 arrest for assaulting his girlfriend - after which Bock was suspended indefinitely by the club, forced to publicly apologise as well as undertake alcohol and anger management counselling - reinforced the view that early action was better.

"We've lived through the example of a Nathan Bock," Noble said.

"The ability for us as a club to be able to put a support mechanism around him in his incident, to work through that with him, get him back in the workforce and get back to some sort of normality while being able to counsel and help him through, those issues were some of the ideas thrown around today."

Noble said current AFL policies meant individual clubs were not allowed to privately test players for illicit drugs.

He conceded the policy meant Adelaide was unaware of the number of strikes, if any, at West Lakes.

But Noble said clubs could not ignore figures raised by police experts at yesterday's summit, which suggested a 20 per cent surge last year in drug use among some age groups in society.

"You're damned if you do and damned if you don't comment on things like that," Noble said. "Our players are exposed in the marketplace (in the same way) any other 18 to 25-year-old bracket is exposed.

"We know there has been a 20 per cent spike in drug use in the past 12 months. So we would be putting our heads in the sand to think some of our players were not exposed to that.

"Whether or not they step over the line, we don't know."

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

End the drugs secrecy, says Power boss

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says the AFL should be more open about drug testing results. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas was among a group of club bosses who lobbied for access to an annual profile of the club's drug testing results - without any names - to have a better handle on whether a problem exists.

And the AFL could approve a bold plan to allow clubs to fund target-testing of players they believe are abusing drugs.

The league united at yesterday's drugs summit, with that proposal one of a number to be considered by a working party.

The proposal which will allow clubs to target-test players they suspect of being on drugs will create most debate.

AFL clubs are banned from conducting their own testing after then Carlton president Ian Collins controversially drug-tested players Karl Norman and Laurie Angwin.

Yesterday AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou confirmed clubs might be able to pay the league's drug testers for that exact task.

Thomas and the other CEOs left still frustrated by being still in the dark over whether his club has any problem with drugs and whether there is a player he could offer additional help.

"As CEO of the club, I don't know what drug testing is going on at our club and what results are being found - I have no visibility at all and none of the CEOs do," Thomas said.

"What we discussed was that we could get, even on an annual basis, a profile of our club - no names - but something like, 'There were 500 tests, three notifications, you've got three people with first strikes' - whatever it is - that would give us a sense of the issue we might be facing.

"And over time you'd get a sense of whether it was getting better or worse."

I feel that we should have an active involvement in any solution to do with a player who has been found to have broken the code

Thomas also argued strongly for earlier club involvement when a player fails a drug test under the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

As it stands, only the club's doctor is informed of the first and second strike under the code, which fines and suspends a player if he fails a third test within four years.

It is shaping as a sticking point between the chief executives and the medical officers, who are concerned about players' privacy and confidentiality.

Thomas and the other chief executives argued that if a they - even if it's only the chief executive - could be notified after the first or the second strike they would be able to provide greater

"I personally was a very strong advocate for earlier notification at the CEO level," Thomas said.

"I think we haven't resolved this and there is some resistance.

"It's about finding a balance between confidentiality and help and being able to do something about it.

"But as a CEO, I feel that we should have an active involvement in any solution to do with a player who has been found to have broken the code.

"I'm very respectful of the confidentiality but I think the CEO and the clubs need to be involved in the solution.

"The argument we presented was that we can activate more resources towards finding a solution.

"But there is a concern that as soon as the information goes beyond the medical officer it becomes public. So we need to resolve that.

"But my read of the room is that there will be some give in that area.

"You've got to defer to the doctors' expertise but I think they also listened to our case."

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Draft drug probes

AFL recruiters track junior players to uncover the potential for illicit drug use. Picture: Stephen Harman Source: Herald Sun

RECRUITERS are going to increasing lengths to assess draft prospects' drug use before making the $250,000a-year investment in them.

The Herald Sun can reveal that, during draft camp interviews, some young players are openly admitting their drug involvement and, in some cases, providing information about the habits of teammates.

While some clubs yesterday expressed surprise at that tactic, the frank interviews are becoming increasingly vital to recruiters.

TAC Cup clubs have vehemently denied drugs were a problem in their competition and said they have developed world-leading drug and alcohol education programs.

But one leading recruiting manager said yesterday the football world would be "stupid" to think under-18 players were not "dabbling" in illicit substances before entering the AFL system.

"As a recruiting manager I speak to most clubs, and we'd be naive and stupid to think kids at that level aren't doing it. Of course they are," he said.

"I've interviewed kids and a lot of them have been honest enough to say, 'Yeah, I've tried it'. What do I say to that? I say, 'Thank you for being honest'. It's better than them lying to you.

"But it creates a massive red flag to then go and do your homework.

"You've got to go into their homes and into their community. You have to find out the story."

The recruiter said social media was providing a crucial window to the lives of players.

"You follow blokes on Twitter, on Facebook," he said. "You find out their circle of friends and you've got to, because it's a massive investment."

Draft prospects also are being asked to detail other young players' drug use.

 "One boy will tell you about another boy. You've got to get as close as possible," the recruiter said.

Another leading AFL recruiter said the percentage of drug users in the elite junior pathway system would be smaller than in the wider community.

"We'd be naive to think that no one's done it, but in my opinion most of the kids we come across are well above the average kid," he said.

"If there is an issue there, it would be at a far lesser rate than your average kid on the street. In some cases I might ask them (about drug use), but it's not something I go and ask every kid."

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drug tests on demand

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou and Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert speak after today's AFL drugs summit. Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL could approve a bold plan to allow clubs to fund the target-testing of players they believe are abusing drugs.

The league united to tackle illicit drugs at yesterday's summit with that proposal one of several to be considered by a new working party.

Among certain changes to the AFL Illicit Drugs Policy will be the closure of a loophole that allows players to self-report and escape a strike at will, and an increase in off-season hair testing - both recently flagged by the Herald Sun.

The proposal to allow clubs to target-test players they suspect of using drugs will create most debate.

Depressed, on drugs... dumped

AFL clubs are banned from conducting their own testing after then Carlton present Ian Collins controversially drug-tested players Karl Norman and Laurie Angwin in 2004.

Yesterday AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou confirmed clubs might be able to pay the league's drug testers to do that exact task.

Club sources said the AFL might also provide clubs with details of their players' drug use each year.

No names would be revealed, but a club may find out the number of players who had positive strikes, how many strikes they were on, which drugs they had used, and how many had self-reported.

Drink the link to worse behaviours

The historic summit was hailed a success by clubs, the AFL, medical experts and players, but a battle will be fought over the information flow to clubs when players test positive a second time.

Hawthorn led the charge of clubs keen to be alerted after a second strike, but that issue will be thrashed out by the working party with AFL chief executives Stuart Fox (Hawthorn), Gary Pert (Collingwood), Travis Auld (Gold Coast) and Ian Robson (Essendon).

Either the chief executive or welfare officer of a club may eventually find out about a second strike, but clubs would have to commit to extensive privacy provisions. 

Collingwood's Luke Ball and Bulldog Robert Murphy leave today's AFL drugs summit. Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald Sun

Fox said it was imperative clubs knew earlier than under the current policy.

"Hawthorn has lived through the three-strikes system with Travis Tuck and we are quite passionate about someone at the club knowing after the second strike," he told the Herald Sun.

"Clubs are much better placed and more sophisticated, so they can deal with that knowledge."

The self-reporting loophole will almost certainly see players allowed to confess to drug use - sparing a positive strike - only once a season.

Some chief executives pushed for the practice to be banned if a player was on two strikes, or even have the self-reporting seen as a third strike.

Draft drug probes

The loophole will be changed after it goes to the AFL Commission and is approved by AFL Players' Association delegates.

AFL clubs were not given specific details on the flagged rise in illicit positives - likely to be released late next month - but were told of a 21 per cent rise in drugs across the community.

Pies boss Pert said of the playing age group: "Taking drugs is a part of their lives. We are very concerned. Every CEO is concerned about what happens now, and what happens in the future."

Collingwood takes hard line on drugs

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Menzel surgery saves career

Daniel Menzel leaves the ground during his comeback match in the VFL with another knee injury. Picture supplied by Arj Giese. Source: Herald Sun

UNLUCKY Cat Daniel Menzel has had a secret third knee reconstruction.

In a desperate bid to save his AFL career, the 21-year-old has had the revolutionary LARS surgery on his left knee which he injured at training just days before Christmas.

Menzel received the all-clear from his surgeon yesterday to start running with the dynamic forward penciling in a return in the VFL by round one.

His younger brother, Troy, who was drafted to Carlton in November had LARS surgery as a 16-year-old.

"Because I'd already had two conventional reconstructions we weren't going to do a third one," Menzel said. "Two in a row is hard enough mentally, three is too much.

"Fremantle's Anthony Morabito has had exactly the same thing and he's having LARS as well because you just can't do three (reconstructions) back-to-back pretty much."

The reason for the secrecy initially was that Menzel wasn't sure whether he needed another reconstruction.

He then wanted to deal with his grief privately as he steeled himself for yet another rehabilitation program, albeit three months instead of the regulation nine.

"I never ever thought about quitting or giving up," he says.

"A lot of bad things do go through your head but the LARS is such a quick turnaround, three months, which is not long in the scheme of things."

Menzel ruptured his right knee in the 2011 qualifying final against Hawthorn which robbed him of playing in a premiership. In his VFL comeback match in June last year he tore his left ACL.

The third time was in a controlled tackling drill where he went to lay a tackle, twisted and felt something go in the knee. It wasn't painful so he kept training before realising something was wrong.

"I went to see the surgeon straight away and he said the ACL felt good but I still had scans," he said.

"Our doctor here saw the scans and thought they looked OK but then rang back and said he'd spoken to the surgeon and they weren't good."

It turned out Menzel had only ruptured two thirds of the ACL which was a positive in terms of the LARS procedure.

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Dees wait to face the music

Melbourne's legal team has responded to tanking allegations levelled at former coach Dean Bailey and his assistants during the 2009 season. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE'S legal team responded late yesterday to the AFL's tanking investigation and is now waiting to hear whether the league will lay any charges against the club.

Lawyers acting on the Demons' behalf lodged a response to the 1000-page report into suggestions Melbourne deliberately sought to lose games in 2009.

The report was compiled over a five-month period by AFL investigators Brett Clothier and Abraham Haddad and tabled six days before Christmas.

The league will decide this week whether Melbourne or any of its officials have committed any breaches relating to draft tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

If so, it's up to the AFL commission to consider the matter at its next meeting in February.

Earlier in the day, Melbourne players gathered at the club for the 2013 team photo.

Coach Mark Neeld is buoyed by the new-look squad's preparation, and should have close to a full complement to choose from for the NAB Cup.

Mitch Clark (foot) and co-captain Jack Trengove might not return until closer to Round 1, while Ruckman Max Gawn has been placed on the long-term injury list with a hamstring tear that is expected to sideline him for two months.

Gawn missed the 2012 season due to a knee reconstruction.

Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said Gawn was "progressing well".

"We expect Max to return to playing football early in the season," Mahoney said.
 

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AFL players facing perils of addiction

Addiction counsellor Robert Mittiga says there are AFL players out there who are "very sick". Picture: Matt Turner Source: The Advertiser

THE AFL has been urged to make a full psychological assessment as soon as a player tests positive for illicit drugs - or face the spectre of losing one of its own to the perils of addiction.

One of the country's leading addiction counsellors, Adelaide's Robert Mittiga, voiced his concerns to The Advertiser ahead of the AFL drugs summit in Melbourne, beginning today, where the club's powerbrokers will debate the issue.

Most clubs are expected to support the expert's stance, with Collingwood president Eddie McGuire yesterday telling Melbourne radio: "At the moment we don't get any of that information so we're shuffling around in the dark."

Mittiga, who successfully treated former Crows captain Simon Goodwin and ex-Demon Daniel Ward for gambling problems, regularly has players referred to him by the AFL Players' Association for treatment of gambling and drug addiction.

He warned some players were at grave risk if their problems were not thoroughly dealt with as early as possible.

"There are some players out there who are very sick - who are destroying themselves."

Mittiga was heartened by the game tackling the issue, but worried about the rules in place, which only informs the club's doctors of the first and second strikes and have coaches, teammates and the family of players unaware of a potentially life-threatening condition affecting a player.

"The reality of it is this: sometimes, by the time there's a third strike, it might be too late," Mittiga warned.

"We might have somebody who has a problem that actually has to be addressed."

Ten per cent of the population is going to be pre-disposed to addiction

Mittiga's recommendations comes as chief executive Andrew Demetriou said he is expecting a spike in positive tests when the next batch is collated.

Among Mittiga's recommendations are:

THAT a players' identity remains protected after the first strike, but that a psychological assessment is undertaken immediately by professionals trained in addiction

THAT those close to the player are notified after the first strike, so that a support network can be formed that include the players' family, coaches and support staff at the club - a miniature version of an intervention

THAT players are tested for a pre-dispositions to addiction early in their careers, before the club prescribes any legal - but still potentially addictive - medication. It is estimated 10 per cent of the population are have a gene that makes them particularly susceptive to addiction.

"If I was running a football club and one of these guys have a problem, I'd want to know immediately," Mittiga said.

"So that I could at least address the player, get him properly assessed and deal with it - rather than let it to go.

"You've got to look at this in perspective. These are young people, in their partying days and at times they use drugs.

"Ten per cent of the population is going to be pre-disposed to addiction.

"As a football club, as an industry that's right out there in the public eye, they need to know these things and intervene before it gets out of hand.

"And family, in particular - they need to know.

"I wouldn't just rely on club doctors - I would bring in experts.

But Mittiga dismissed of banning players after the first strike, likening that scenario to not allowing diabetics to play the game.

His advice was treatment when required, discipline when that was in order.

"But we remember these are young, emotionally immature people," Mittiga said. "And often what I see is their whole self value comes out of football.

"Some of them are vulnerable to these problems."

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Pilates get Waite back up and running

Jarrad Waite is back in the air thanks to a few pilates sessions. Picture: Mike Keating. Source: News Limited

CARLTON forward Jarrad Waite has turned to the pilates mat to help correct the abdominal weakness at the heart of his debilitating back problems last year.

After a nightmare injury run, the Blues' spearhead resisted the temptation to shoulder only light pre-season duties this summer, saying his training load had been "full-on" since day one.
 
The secret to his recovery, Waite said, was twice-weekly pilates sessions to strengthen the core muscles which hampered his return from a disc problem last year.
 
"My core wasn't the strongest (and it) basically put a lot of force through my back and then it just sort of gave up," Waite told the Herald Sun.
 
"It was very disappointing because I've had a frustrating few years with the hips and it will be good to get through a season without any issues.

 
"Obviously a lot of rehab and pilates keeps my core strong which in turn helps my back out.
 It (pilates) is going well and it's something that I enjoy doing."
 
The 29-year-old "squashed the disc" in his spine, sidelining him between Rounds 8 and 18, as his club's season hit the skids under Brett Ratten last year.
 
But the tables appear to have turned over summer as the strong-marking forward approaches the 2013 campaign in prime physical condition, after completing his first full pre-Christmas training schedule in about five years.
 
"It's been full-on since day one and I've handled it really well," he said.
 
"I think that's when you get yourself into trouble - if you only go half-paced during training - but so far it's going really well, and I just can't wait for the season to start.
 
"Obviously the last few years have been very frustrating because I know I have a lot to offer for the team and when you are on the sidelines you are useless."
 
Waite said the Blues had a bevy of tall forwards to choose from this year, with cancer sufferer Sam Rowe, emerging marking target Levi Casboult and up-and-comer Luke Mitchell pressing for Round 1 selection.
 
Waite, a 154-game veteran, said new coach Mick Malthouse had adopted a hard-line defensive mantra with the forwards this year.
 
It could mean Carlton employs some of the forward line press tactics which Malthouse used to steer Collingwood to the 2010 premiership.
 
"He (Malthouse) is all about the defence at the moment," Waite said.
 
"He's saying if you can't defend in the forward line, you are going to really find it hard to get a spot.
 
"We've always been pretty good (pressuring inside-50m) with (small forwards) Eddie (Betts) and Jeff (Garlett), they always make backlines a bit nervous.
 
"It's the midfielders and the tall forwards who probably have to lift their game a little bit.
 
"But we have full confidence we are all going to pull our weight and it will be good."

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Ice a hot item for pressured players

Former Eagles and Richmond star Ben Cousins leaving Perth Magistrates Court last year after facing drug possession charges. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

ADDICTIVE crystal methamphetamine - commonly known as ice - has become the illicit drug of choice for AFL players.

A former top player, who still has links to the game, said the use of ice among footballers had escalated since the start of last year.

Police sources said big-name footballers periodically came to their attention during drug investigations.

In those cases, one officer said, their names turned up when investigators monitored dealers.

Detectives said in most cases dealers in contact with players trafficked ecstasy, amphetamines or cocaine.

Ice sells for $600-$700 a gram, but is sold in smaller quantities for $50-$100.

The former player, who did not want to be identified, said he knew at least five players at one club who used the drug.

He said he was also aware of ice users at other clubs.

"The whole thing is pretty big out there and it's just going to get worse," the former player said yesterday.

"Cocaine is still around, but ice has taken over big time.

"There's no doubt all the clubs are doing it, but whether there's one there or four there, I don't know.

"We've seen what happened with Ben Cousins, and while these boys think they are flushing it out of their system because they're fit and training, they have to be careful in the long term."

The former player said the pressures on players to meet skin fold tests when they returned for pre-season had made ice an attractive but potentially deadly alternative to alcohol, particularly beer, which can cause weight increase and hunger.

He said ice was readily available.

"It's been around for a long time time, but it seems to have made a resurgence," he said.

"After a big night on the grog, players would have to run 10km to burn off that night. There's a lot of pressures on the players and they'll take drugs that won't make them eat."

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive officer Sam Biondo said alcohol was the most significant factor in the country.

Biondo urged the AFL to have a comprehensive alcohol and drug policy.

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AFL must tackle drug problem

Former Collingwood star Gavin Crosisca admitted to being addicted to drugs during his playing career. Picture: Ian Currie. Source: Herald Sun

THE revelation a premiership-winning team gave up illicit drugs as part of its commitment to winning the flag first raised the red flag.

How can the AFL illicit drugs policy, and specifically its drug-testing procedures, not be detecting players?

How are the players escaping the testing?

How odd is it the players agreed to the testing for illicit drugs, a world leading program they say, and then hop right into them?

We're not talking about all players, of course, but enough of them to prompt Collingwood to initiate today's drug summit, believing illicit drug use among AFL players was now a matter of urgency.

The Magpies should be applauded for their stance.

They got kicked in the bum yesterday when it was revealed at least four players self-reported drug use to the AFL last year - and for that they got a back page of the Herald Sun - but they at least are fighting the fight.

There is an element of self-preservation admitting they had the problem before their problem was exposed.

Fact or fiction, stories of drug taking among players are common

But clubs laughing at Collingwood's expense should not be naive. If it is happening at Collingwood, it is happening elsewhere.

Anyway, back to the premiership-winning club.

It knew it had a major problem, and, driven by the players, it addressed the matter.

In a move away from traditional mission statements, the team met midway through the year - every player on the list - and a show of hands is understood to have found about a dozen players admitted they took drugs.

Then came the declaration: No more drugs for the remainder of the season.

It worked.

Not being cute, but if you listened to and accepted the AFL's version of events over the past decade of how many players take drugs, and how wonderful their drugs policy was, then drug taking was the least of the league's issues.

Finally, just as they have accepted that tanking is an agenda item, the AFL, via the Magpies, has put drug taking squarely on the agenda.

Fact or fiction, stories of drug taking among players are common.

Clubs receive calls every Monday morning, and newspapers aren't far behind. Social media is out of control.

This is not a hunting expedition on AFL players, for it is fact drug-taking is common among young people, and footballers are just that: young people.

And being rich and famous and buffed, and having the necessary self-belief, just about makes them Exhibit A for drug experimentation.

There are countless anecdotes - most recently about a group of young players from one club partaking at a popular music festival on the coast.

What about a few years ago, when, on a footy trip, one player asked who hadn't taken drugs - not who had - and only four players from more than 30 put up their hands?

One recently retired player said drug taking was commonplace at his club for at least five years.

And then there's the horror story of three former players from the one club battling drug addictions.

Add real names such as Chris Mainwaring, Gavin Crosisca and Ben Cousins - one of them is dead and the other two could have been.

Today's summit is a watershed moment.

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Players save themselves by dialing AFL

AFL players are saving themselves from drug tests when they believe they are in danger of being tested by self-reporting to the AFL.

CLUBS believe some players have activated the self-reporting loophole in the AFL's illicit drugs code when alerted to the presence of a tester.

A number of high-ranking club officials yesterday said they had been told players who become aware of a possible imminent test could immediately call AFL medicos to confess recent drug use.

The Herald Sun has reported that Collingwood players are among those to have confessed to drug use and dodged drug tests in the following days.

The Illicit Drugs Policy states: "A player may refer himself to the AFL Medical Officer for testing, education, counselling or treatment at any time. A player shall not be deemed to have recorded a positive test if he refers himself for such treatment prior to submitting a sample that subsequently returns a positive result."

The self-reporting loophole will be tightened today, with AFL clubs to also push for more information after a second positive drug strike.

But the AFL player union will resist, believing if club chief executives are told it raises the possibility of a player's confidentiality being breached.

The AFLPA said under the letter of the law players should not be able to self-report if the aim is to avoid an imminent positive test.

The player union said if drug testers were aware of that motive, a test would be conducted and a strike recorded if a positive result was found.

One club is believed to have had 10 incidences of six players self-reporting in 2012, with one putting his hand up three times in that period.

Critics argue those figures show players are taking advantage of the three-strikes system.

Sources say players especially those fearing they have drugs in their system are increasingly aware of the presence of drug testers which can lead to self-reporting.

Former West Coast and Richmond star Ben Cousins is known to have dodged drug tests after being alerted to the presence of testers by players already at the club.

Players who self-report are target-tested in future months, but for a player on two strikes future testing is clearly a risk worth taking.

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis said the policy had only recently been abused by players.

"In that very example, the player would have to do that drug test and he would be bound by any result that came from that but the policy has contained a provision which is there for a player who has used drugs, has an issue with drugs, to be able to put his hand up and seek help," he told SEN.

"That's because the nature of the policy is helping people to make change when they have made a mistake. If a player notifies, he then is able to get that assistance, be diverted into relevant programs and had he returned a subsequent policy he wouldn't be burdened with that on the basis that he's put his hand up to seek help."

One official said the policy was routinely abused.

"It can be an excuse as lame as 'my drink was spiked last night and I may have inadvertently taken drugs'," one club executive said.

"It means a player holds a Joker if he is on two strikes, a get-out-of-jail free card."

"Most players have reached a stage where they don't particularly care about one strike with some even prepared to roll the dice when on two strikes."

Confessed drug addict Cousins said he was often tipped off by teammates about the appearance of drug testers and simply failed to attend training to avoid positive tests.

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Sheedy: Drugs an 'ego issue'

Kevin Sheedy says drugs are an ego issue. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

VETERAN Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy says he will support anything that will keep all drugs out of football and sport.

He said tomorrow's AFL drugs summit was crucial.

"It is a very important issue to be putting on the table right now after seeing what has happened with the cycling,'' Sheedy said yesterday.

With an average player age last season of 21 years and 64 days, Sheedy said he no personal evidence of drug use at his club.

"I haven't heard of anything, but to be honest sometimes the coaches are that far away that they wouldn't know.

"It's more player managers and management that know that.

"To me, as far as I'm concerned, I will just go for anything that will keep the drugs out of sport.''

Sheedy said a lot of his players were 18 and 19-year-olds and he hoped their main priority would be trying to establish their careers.

He alluded that the drug problem could be with older players.

"Sometimes when you've got blokes with a lot money, a lot of kudos and a huge ego bigger than the moon, they think they are out there with the rock and roll stars of Hollywood and the world.'' Sheedy said.
 

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Drug users in league of their own

Ex-Collingwood tall Shae McNamara says he was surprised more AFL players didn't test positive. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: HWT Image Library

FORMER Collingwood player Shae McNamara said he was surprised more AFL players had not tested positive to illicit drugs.

The American recruit, cut by the Pies last August after three years at the club, said party drug use was common in professional sport - and the AFL was not immune.

"People are definitely doing it and I'm surprised people aren't testing positive more often,'' he said yesterday.

"I mean that from high school to college to professional (athlete) in Germany and professional (AFL player) here, I'm surprised people haven't been caught ... and that goes across the league and across every sporting culture.

"They're kidding themselves if they want to lie and say 'Oh, no it doesn't happen or, not my boys or not my teammates', and that goes across the league and across every sporting culture.

"It's definitely out there, but AFL players are no different from basketball players, no different from rugby players to regular Joes. It's definitely a cultural thing to do speed and coke.

"As far as the athletes, I've never seen it. I just know and hear of it. I'm not a partier.''

McNamara has played sport across the globe.

He spent five years on a basketball scholarship at Marist College in Poughkeepsie New York, and played in the German regional football league before joining Collingwood ahead of season 2010.

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Players see holiday hazzards

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has already said the AFL needs to change its drugs policy. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun

AFL players will agree to more drugs scrutiny during the "volcanic" holiday period, proposing a doubling of hair tests that lead to in-season target testing.

But the AFL Players' Association will dismiss out of hand a push to include off-season hair testing in the three-strikes regimen.

It is also understood the players' union will refuse to consider a two-strikes policy at tomorrow's drugs symposium, despite former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett labelling the current three-strikes policy "grossly unfair" and dangerous to player welfare.

AFL heavyweights will meet at Etihad Stadium tomorrow to discuss perceived weaknesses in the policy.

A key discussion point will be the controversial off-season period during which players are potentially tempted by drugs.

At the AFLPA's December meeting of club delegates, players suggested doubling the hair-testing numbers would better identify those who required help with drug problems.

Players who test positive in one of the 100 or more hair tests each off-season would be target-tested as many as four or five times during the season.

Hair tests at the end of an off-season can detect a player's drug history dating back three to four months, but are not considered definitive enough to be used for in-season drug testing.

Hair testing also provides the AFL and the players' union with a reading on the level of drug use throughout the competition during the off-season.

But having voluntarily agreed to the hair-testing trial, the AFLPA will not relent and allow players to be urine tested during the off-season, believing they are entitled to some respite from the scrutiny they face when playing and training.

The AFLPA refused to comment yesterday in the lead-up to tomorrow's drugs forum, but already has conceded the self-reporting loophole that allows players to dodge positive tests with impunity would have to be tightened.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert in November spoke about "volcanic" off-season behaviour from players.

But any perception the players' association will fold on a range of issues is wide of the mark, despite several clubs pushing for significant change to the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

The league argues the target-testing aspect of the policy ensures repeat offenders will be caught.

Testing now occurs on Sunday and Monday mornings rather than mid-week, and is focused on players with strikes against their names or positive hair tests, rather than those who have had a clean slate for several years.

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All-Stars name Buddy skipper

Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin will captain the All-Stars. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

STAR Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin has vowed to work even more diligently on his goalkicking this year after being named captain of the Indigenous All Stars team.

Franklin will lead the All Stars in a clash against Richmond in Alice Springs next month in his first game since Hawthorn's 10-point Grand Final loss to Sydney.

He was one of the Hawks' best players, but conceded he and his teammates did not make the most of their scoring chances.

"We had a crack and gave everything we had, but some things didn't go to plan on the day," he said.

"There were players who were down and people who missed shots."

Summer Barometer: See how the Hawks are shaping up

Asked if he planned changes for 2013, Franklin - who turns 26 tomorrow - said: "I will practise my goalkicking a lot more."

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun to coincide with his appointment as All Stars skipper, Franklin:

WAS reluctant to speak about impending contract negotiations, saying he was leaving that to his manager Liam Pickering.

SAID he would push for a three-way International Rules series in which the Indigenous All Stars took on Australia and Ireland.

ADMITTED his elevation to the All Stars captaincy was one of his proudest moments.

SAID he wanted to help develop even better AFL pathways for indigenous players.

Franklin is eligible to become a free agent at the end of 2013, but said a new deal was not something he was thinking about now.

"Hawthorn has been a great footy club for me. I am coming up to my ninth season, but at this stage we are working through it," he said.

"I will leave all that to 'Pickers'."

Franklin was more expansive on the two-day indigenous camp with 60 players, followed by the match against the Tigers on February 8.

"I'm proud to be Aboriginal, to put the jumper on and play with all the guys and for all our families," he said.

"Micky O (All Stars coach Michael O'Loughlin) gave me a call and said he wanted me to captain the side, and I was over the moon.

"To get the chance to lead the best indigenous boys is going to be an unbelievable experience. Not only does it recognise the talent we have, it brings us together as a family.

"Personally, I would love to see the All Stars take on the Australia and Ireland teams. That would be great recognition for the indigenous players."

Franklin has images of an indigenous elder tattooed on his left shoulder, but wants to make just as lasting an impression on the pathways into the AFL.

"The talent indigenous players bring to the game has been amazing, but there has to be more players out there," Franklin said.

"The clubs do a great job, but the more players we can bring through, the better.

"When I finish footy, that's what I would like to be working on."
 

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Happy end to Pie in sky plan

Shae McNamara is playing basketball again. Picture: Harman Stephan Source: HWT Image Library

WHEN American import Shae McNamara's AFL dream was snuffed out in December, he was thankful he had a back-up plan.

The 204cm Milwaukee giant would switch back to basketball.

The problem was, he hadn't touched a round ball in anger in three years.

"I had shoot around with Pendles (Magpie Scott Pendlebury), we'd played a bit of one on one, just horsing around," McNamara said.

Cut by Collingwood last August, he found his way to South East Australian Basketball League club Sandringham where he began training, hoping for a spot on their roster.

"I just thought it was another avenue to stay in this great city and great nation and just be an athlete," said McNamara, who lives near the Sandringham headquarters with his American fiancee Kari.

McNamara, 27, had played college ball in New York state and had spent a season with German Regionalliga club Dachau before he joined Collingwood as an international rookie for 2010.

He was a poster boy for the AFL's international push, famously uploading a YouTube clip pitching his wares to league clubs, but failed to play a senior game.

"In short it was kind of like a perfect storm against me in a sense - I'd never seen the sport, I was developing from scratch and I was coming into their (the Magpies) peak years," McNamara said.

"Bucks (coach Nathan Buckley) re-signed me to play forward-ruck and then I never had the chance to compete there.

"They gave it to (Chris) Dawes and he was thrown in the deep end. They got exposed, that's one of the reasons we didn't win the Grand Final.

"That's not Dawes' fault. He was put in a position for him not to succeed ... I was promised that I would have that spot or at least fight for it and I was thrown to defence, which I'd never played.

"That didn't make any sense to me or my teammates. I wish I'd had the opportunity to at least fail or succeed and I never had that."

His return to the game he loves came after his second shot at AFL slipped away.

He trialled for a tall man's spot at Hawthorn, receiving the bad news on December 11, rookie draft day, as he was working out in the Sandringham Sabres gym.

"As I'm walking out I'm just like 'oh man' and then literally two steps later I see the GM Vince (Sandringham chief executive Vince Crivelli)," he said.

"He goes 'So, big day hey?' I just showed him the iPhone with the text. And he reads it and says, 'unlucky but we want you, so you're good'."

McNamara now wants to play basketball in the NBL, or Europe again.

"This is essentially the off season so my opportunity is to use this as a resume builder. This is like an internship," he said.

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Pies players admit drug use to AFL

Collingwood players contacted the AFL medical department after a late night last year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

A GROUP of Collingwood players self-reporting drug use to the AFL was one of the catalysts for tomorrow's historic drugs summit.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Magpies players - understood to be at least four - contacted the AFL medical department after one night's activities late last season.

The players escaped a strike under a contentious provision in the AFL's Illicit Drugs Policy.

Self-reporting occurs when a player admits to an AFL medical officer to having used drugs, whether deliberately or inadvertently.

It is not only Collingwood players who are reporting drug use to the AFL.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire last night was furious when contacted for comment.

"You're telling me that, but as far as I know at the Collingwood Football Club there is a clean slate because no player as far as I know has had any strikes, because we are not told," McGuire said.

"And that you've been told something two days before a drugs summit which was specifically called for by Collingwood dismays me greatly.

"It shows this drugs policy now to be a farce, where the one thing people could hold the hat on was confidentiality.

"If there is a problem at Collingwood, and even if I suspected something, I have no powers. This is the AFL's problem, why tell me?"

Magpies chief executive Gary Pert raised the need of a drugs summit when he spoke on the eve of the national draft of an alarming use of illegal drugs by players in the off-season.

He later described the players' behaviour as "volcanic".

The AFL yesterday would not confirm the the club with the raft of self-reporting players.

Self-reporting has been described as a loophole in the drugs policy - some players have taken advantage of the strike-free confession more than once.

The drugs summit tomorrow will discuss limiting self-reports to one a year per player.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said last night any loophole in the system would be eradicated.

"There's no doubt there is an agreement any loophole that can be used will be closed," Demetriou said.

The loopholes include a group of players self-reporting, just as the Magpies players did, or a player consistently self-reporting.

Praising the self-reporting mechanism, Demetriou said it encouraged players to come forward if "they have made a mistake or have an issue".

"What it has uncovered is blokes who have got mental health issues or other issues and it allows them to get treatment," Demetriou said.

"And then all those guys go into target testing.

"If they didn't self-notify they wouldn't be target tested or have their medical issues come to the fore."

Demetriou said one self-report per player per season would be one of many discussion points tomorrow.

"That's a topic that's already been discussed and it might be one of the resolutions," Demetriou said.

"There's no firm view about where we end up other than everyone knows there is a loophole that has to be closed."

Demetriou said he was expecting a spike in positive drug tests, not from testing hair in the off-season, which he said had shown no dramatic change, but from regular in-competition testing.

"We don't know why (there is a spike) ... is it a case of it being one bad year?" Demetriou said.

"Is it in line with what happening in the community where there has been a 21 per cent increase in drug use among young people?

"Is it peer pressure? It could be all those things.

"And, also, the police will talk about this ... it's freely available."

Demetriou said the summit wouldn't be confined to drugs, and would include discussion on alcohol and whether it could be beneficial to allow players to drink more through the season so their off-season wouldn't be so alcohol charged.
 

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Primus adds grunt to Suns' rucks

Gold Coast Suns ruck coach Matt Primus with senior coach Guy McKenna. Picture: David Clark. Source: The Courier-Mail

MATTHEW Primus has two key tasks at the Suns bring some mellow to the coaches box and mongrel to the football side.

For the Gold Coast AFL side to make ground in 2013, they need to improve their clearance work.

Primus' focus over summer has been injecting aggression into young ruckmen Zac Smith and Daniel Gorringe.

The fact that Primus was a senior coach at Port and an imposing ruckman in his playing days made him a key off-field signing for the Suns, to replace the cool head of assistant coach Ken Hinkley, who took Primus' old job at Alberton.

"He ticks all our boxes," coach Guy McKenna said. "To be competitive in the ruck you need an aggressive streak in you. Clearly Charlie Dixon is that way inclined, Zac and the other boys need to understand that.

"Part of that is being shown that and educated how. Matty, because that is the way he lived as a footballer, it should be easier for him to coach that."

Smith has acknowledged the impact Primus has already had.

"He's been unreal, he's helped me hopefully take it to that next level," he said.

"One of the things I need to work on is my aggression.ntsD He's hopefully going to give me some of thatnte."

The addition of Primus, and Malcolm Blight on a part-time basis, to the coaching ranks will also allow McKenna to continue to operate from the boundary line on game day.

The third-year coach believes his side would continue to benefit from the instant feedback he can provide from the dug-out.

"He (Primus) as been in the cut and thrust of it, he adds a lot of experience for us and to have him up there, you are certainly a lot more at ease,'' McKenna said.

"We still have two-thirds of our group who are first to third-year players, they still need a fair bit of coaching, so to have things taken care of upstairs allows me to do that from the sidelines."

Primus believes Smith and Gorringe have the makings of a first-class pairing and that questions over Smith's hardness are unwarranted.

"Zac's first year, most people were pretty impressed with how he went about his footy and he certainly hasn't lost that ability," he said.

"He might have had an average year last year but a lot of young players have ups and downs.

"He is aggressive by the way he jumps in and creates a contest, Charlie just has a bit more aggression when the ball hits the ground. They all have aggression in different waysntsD but I think they have a lot of talentnte."

Primus has enjoyed mixed fortunes as a player and coach. A two-time All-Australian and club captain at Port, he missed the 2004 premiership with a knee injury that ended his career prematurely.

His coaching career began well in 2010 when he won five games from seven after taking over as caretaker when premiership coach Mark Williams quit the post.

But 2011 and 2012 were a slog and he stood down with four matches to go last season after being told his contract would not be renewed. Primus said taking a back seat required adjustment but he is motivated by the enthusiasm at the Suns.

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Power caught with pants down

Port Adelaide veteran Kane Cornes, centre, with teammates during a pre-season beach session. Picture: Campbell Brodie Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

NO, this is not the latest commercial for the summer range of Bonds undies.

But Michael Clarke and Pat Rafter might be looking over their shoulders as company front men if yesterday's Port Adelaide session at Grange is any guide.

While most of the nation was packing Eskys and defrosting lamb legs for Australia Day celebrations, the Power were slugging it out during a morning beach recovery session.

Thirty-five players from the Power's senior and rookie lists wound down from another hard week on the track under new coach Ken Hinkley with a 15-minute run, stretch and 15-minute return run at Grange beach about 8am.

The group finished the session with a quick dip - a welcome but unplanned one, likely, considering the lack of board shorts on show.

Port Adelaide's Brad Ebert during a beach session at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie

Among the players getting into the Bondi spirit were Danny Butcher, far left, a former TAC Cup Morrish Medallist and younger brother of Port forward John.

Last year's WAFL best and fairest and fellow Port rookie Kane Mitchell, middle, and key midfielder Brad Ebert also channelled their inner David Hasselhoff.

The countdown to Port's and Adelaide's three-way NAB Cup clash with St Kilda, on February 17, hits three weeks today.

New Port Adelaide recruit Kane Mitchell during a pre-season training session at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie

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No Nic, no calamity for Eagles

READY: Ruckman Dean Cox says the Eagles are well-equipped to deal with the likely absence of Nic Naitanui at the start of the season. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper. Source: PerthNow

CHAMPION West Coast big man Dean Cox has assured fans the Eagles are well placed to cope without Nic Naitanui if his All-Australian ruck partner misses the start of the season because of injury.

Bookmakers have West Coast on the second line of betting for this year's flag, behind Hawthorn and ahead of reigning premier Sydney, but there is a view the Eagles' chances hinge on Naitanui's recovery.

While Naitanui has done little more than walk laps and complete handball drills after groin surgery, Cox has quietly powered through one of his strongest summers on the track.

Entering his 13th season in the AFL, Cox said he was capable of rucking for 100 minutes a game if Naitanui was not available early in the season.

But the 251-game veteran said he was so impressed with understudy Scott Lycett's improvement this summer that the team could continue with the unique 50-50 ruck sharing strategy that has been so effective with Naitanui in recent seasons.

Cox also said he would like to continue spending plenty of time forward after kicking a career best 28.14 last year.

"Even if it was me and Scotty, I think we'd continue to do the same thing," he said.

"The biggest thing I took out of my season last year was probably my work when I went up forward, and Nic as well, and we each had a lot of shots on goal."

Cox said the players were confident 20-year-old Lycett, who has played just three times in his first two seasons, was ready to step up.

"He's come on in leaps and bounds," he said.

"Just his soft hands, his control with the footy and his body positioning in ruck contests.

"I think he's getting a little bit more mature and starting to really understand how to position himself to try and control the stoppage.

"It's been really good to push each other all the way through the pre-season and try and learn from each other as well.

"I'd certainly love Nic to be fully fit and playing all the time. The player that he is and what he brings to the club is so important.

"But what you find out when players step up and fill the void is they really blossom and certainly if Nic isn't ready, Scotty will do that."

Rookie-listed ruckman/forward Callum Sinclair is also likely to receive opportunities during the NAB Cup, though Lycett is the frontrunner to partner Cox given his two years in the club's system.

Cox predicted the loss of Quinten Lynch, who was able to do some part-time ruck work, would mean the Eagles would have to select two genuine ruck options in every game.

None of West Coast's key position players have had experience as a relief ruckman, following Lynch's move to Collingwood as a free agent.

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Tex can be as good as Buddy: Danger

Crows forward Taylor Walker wraps his hands around the ball at a Crows training session at Max Basheer Reserve. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

Star Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield says man mountain Taylor Walker is a ``force to be reckoned with'' who is ready to challenge Hawthorn's Buddy Franklin as the AFL's premier key forward.

Dangerfield says the club quickly moved on from the defection of Kurt Tippett, who controversially joined premiers Sydney in the off-season, and were ready to centre their attack on a bulked-up, mullet-sporting Walker.

And while Tippett kicked 39 goals for the Crows last season, Walker booted 63 and trailed just Franklin, Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich and Richmond's Jack Riewoldt for the Coleman Medal.

And Dangerfield says he's ready to rival the AFL's best in 2013 and doesn't deserve to have his rise compared to filling the breach left by Tippett.

"I don't know about fill the boots of Tippett - Tex (Walker) is his own man,'' Dangerfield told AAP.

"He kicks a goal just about better than anyone in the competition.

"I think he'll be a force to be reckoned with up forward for us.

"On his day, Buddy Franklin's very good, but I think Taylor Walker has the potential to be just as good a forward as him.

"He's an exciting prospect for us.''
 
Without Tippett drawing key defenders in 2013, Dangerfield knows Walker will have a tougher time fighting for possession - but says his imposing 192cm, 105kg frame will be ready for the challenge.

"He was already pretty big. It was hard to increase his size,'' Dangerfield said.

"He's a power forward. He's 105 kilos.

"I think the challenge for him and the challenge for many young players like myself is to continue to build the consistency, and that's what he'll be setting himself for this year.

"We're hoping that he takes the next step. He knows he'll have the number one key defender every week this year.

"He's looking forward to that challenge along with our other key forwards. I think we've got a pretty potent forward line.''

Tippett's extraordinary departure from Adelaide left a bad taste in the mouths of Crows players at the time, with
Dangerfield insisting the club wanted to build around players 'who want to be part of our footy club'.

"He made the decision to leave and that's fine. We understand that,'' he said.

"Once Kurt decided to leave, we have to move on with players who want to be around the footy club.

"And that's the players that are on our list.

"We've got a really exciting group of players at the moment and I think we can play some really impressive football this year.''

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Mick in control of NAB Cup

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse will steer his side in the NAB Cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MICK Malthouse will look to make an immediate impression on Carlton players by taking charge of all of the Blues' NAB Cup matches.

In the second half of his time as coach of Collingwood, Malthouse allowed his assistant coaches to take charge on match day during the pre-season series.

But Carlton football operations manager Andrew McKay confirmed that Malthouse wanted to ensure his message was clear from the start.

"This is a different situation (as to when he was at Collingwood)," McKay said.

Summer Barometer: See how the Blues are shaping up

"I think his assistants are going to do the internal trial games (this year), and Mick will be doing the NAB Cup.

"He wants to make sure the messages are the way he wants them to be delivered and wants to make sure the players understand that.

Coach Mick Malthouse lays down the law at Carlton training yesterday. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun

"The internal games are different. He needs to be looking at both teams in those games, so it makes sense for the assistant coaches to coach in them."

McKay said Malthouse's approach had made an impact on the players ahead of NAB Cup games against Sydney and Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown on February 24. "Mick is a positive person and that has rubbed off on the players," he said.

McKay said the Blues were better placed in terms of fitness compared to last year.
 

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Kennett urges strike action

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the AFL must change its drugs policy. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the AFL must change its illicit drugs policy to avoid a tragedy.

Labelling the system "grossly unfair", the beyondblue chairman said the three-strikes policy was flawed and clubs should be informed earlier.

"I don't believe the three-strike rule is appropriate, nor do I think it is fair to the players, or to their families or to their clubs," Kennett said yesterday.

"I hope that if (AFL boss) Andrew (Demetriou) is serious, just as initially they wouldn't move on concussion, they will recognise that if they are serious about drugs, then they have got to involve the clubs earlier than currently occurs.

"Three strikes and you're out - that is grossly unfair and it could lead to a situation where maybe you end up with a death."

Earlier notice wanted on drugs

AFL leaders meet for a historic drugs summit at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Club chiefs are expected to push for earlier notification of a player's positive drugs strike, with some support from clubs for the three-strikes policy to be stripped back to two.

Former Hawthorn midfielder Travis Tuck is the only player to record three strikes under the AFL illicit drugs policy - in 2010.

Kennett said clubs must be alerted earlier so they could support the player back to a "condition of good behaviour".

 "At the moment, a player gets suspended after three strikes without there necessarily being any outside assistance given to him," Kennett said.

"Often it's assistance given by club doctors, but not with the club's knowledge. But often a player needs more than that.

Summit to scrutinise Mad Monday

"You have got to look at who else in the club might be their friends, might be influenced by that player's behaviour, might be supplying that player with drugs. That can't be done by a doctor."

Kennett said a move to two strikes should be the first step.

"There are many who say it should be one strike and you are gone, but I don't think we're going to move to that position overnight," he said.

Demetriou said tackling mental illness would also be considered at the summit, with 50 per cent of players on a second strike dealing with mental health issues.

Kennett welcomed the move.

"It is something that should be tackled head-on," he said. "The biggest mind alterer in our society is alcohol and then there are drugs and then there is depression and often you don't know where people enter the cycle."

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Heartbreaking loss spurs on Mzungu

MOTIVATED: Fremantle's Tendai Mzungu at Victoria Quay. Picture: Will Russell Source: PerthNow

IT might be four months since Fremantle's heartbreaking semi-final loss to Adelaide, but it's a bitter memory that continues to drive the Dockers as they set themselves to make consecutive finals series for the first time.

Fremantle had appeared headed for the preliminary finals after charging to a 29-point lead in the second quarter before being overrun by the Crows.

The AAMI Stadium loss is acting as a significant spur and an inspiration, according to midfielder Tendai Mzungu.

"It still burns in our guts a little bit. We felt that we were right in the game and had an opportunity to play in a prelim," Mzungu said.

"You've got to acknowledge it. It did happen and we did lose. So it's something that I think drives us, knowing that we can improve and our best is good enough.

Unfortunately on the night it wasn't, and it's something we've dealt with at the moment, but at the time it felt like a bit of a missed opportunity."

Fremantle is yet to make the finals for two years in a row after reaching September in 2003, 2006, 2010 and last year, but the Dockers know a top-four finish is the only place from which a realistic premiership assault can be mounted.

"We can't rest on what we did last year," Mzungu said. "At the end of the day, we didn't really achieve anything. We didn't get what we wanted.

"This year we know that if we put in the hard work, we'll be really competitive. We'll all put in as much as we can and who knows where we can go?"

Mzungu fractured his left wrist in the finals defeat to Adelaide but the pain of elimination was so acute he didn't take much notice of the throbbing in his arm.

The injury was picked up by scans the following week, and while it limited his ability to do weights pre-Christmas, the noted runner has been able to stay on his feet and believes he's in career-best shape heading into his third AFL season.

The late-blooming 26-year-old forged a more permanent role in the midfield under Ross Lyon last season but is happy for his versatility to remain an advantage.

"I guess a strength of mine is to be able to play a few different roles, so anything that Ross puts to me I think I'll be able to handle," he said.

"I'm doing all the sessions and I feel a lot fitter and stronger than previously."

Mzungu said the squad was benefiting this summer having had a year to come to grips with Lyon's game style and methodology. He rejected the depiction of Lyon as a negative coach whose systems stifled players' creativity and attacking flair.

"Having 12 months with Ross and the style he's brought to the club, and being able to crack in day one of pre-season and implement the things that we've learnt in his first year, has been really beneficial and I think is something that will hold us in good stead for the year," Mzungu said.

"He really embraces the players, if you do the work he's 100 per cent supportive of you.

"With the game style, he loves scoring and moving the ball quickly and through the corridor, so there's certainly no negativity with the type of play.

"You defend really well and it's probably the best way to end up attacking."

Mzungu, the Dockers' best clubman last season, said the award was made more special because close mate Matt de Boer had won it for the two years previously.

"We're pretty tight. We kick around together and maybe a little bit of his influence rubbed off on me," he said.

"I was really humbled to win that award."

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Daisy not ready for contract talks

Collingwood's Dale Thomas is likely to miss the entire NAB Cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD star Dale Thomas says he has no desire to start talking about a new contract with the Magpies until he recovers from ankle surgery.

Thomas has not yet commenced running and will almost certainly miss all of the NAB Cup.

He will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, heightening fears that his contract negotiations could prove a distraction for Collingwood as Travis Cloke's contract saga did in 2012.

"At the minute I don't think they'd be too keen to talk contracts and I don't know if I would be either with a bung foot and obviously coming off not a great season," Thomas said yesterday.

"Hopefully it doesn't turn into some sort of circus like has happened at other clubs and a little bit last year with Trav Cloke.

"It's one of those things that'll play out, there's a lot of things that I have to do first before I would even start talking contracts with the Pies."

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Primus adds grunt to Suns' rucks

Gold Coast Suns ruck coach Matt Primus with senior coach Guy McKenna. Picture: David Clark. Source: The Courier-Mail

MATTHEW Primus has two key tasks at the Suns bring some mellow to the coaches box and mongrel to the football side.

For the Gold Coast AFL side to make ground in 2013, they need to improve their clearance work.

Primus' focus over summer has been injecting aggression into young ruckmen Zac Smith and Daniel Gorringe.

The fact that Primus was a senior coach at Port and an imposing ruckman in his playing days made him a key off-field signing for the Suns, to replace the cool head of assistant coach Ken Hinkley, who took Primus' old job at Alberton.

"He ticks all our boxes," coach Guy McKenna said. "To be competitive in the ruck you need an aggressive streak in you. Clearly Charlie Dixon is that way inclined, Zac and the other boys need to understand that.

"Part of that is being shown that and educated how. Matty, because that is the way he lived as a footballer, it should be easier for him to coach that."

Smith has acknowledged the impact Primus has already had.

"He's been unreal, he's helped me hopefully take it to that next level," he said.

"One of the things I need to work on is my aggression.ntsD He's hopefully going to give me some of thatnte."

The addition of Primus, and Malcolm Blight on a part-time basis, to the coaching ranks will also allow McKenna to continue to operate from the boundary line on game day.

The third-year coach believes his side would continue to benefit from the instant feedback he can provide from the dug-out.

"He (Primus) as been in the cut and thrust of it, he adds a lot of experience for us and to have him up there, you are certainly a lot more at ease,'' McKenna said.

"We still have two-thirds of our group who are first to third-year players, they still need a fair bit of coaching, so to have things taken care of upstairs allows me to do that from the sidelines."

Primus believes Smith and Gorringe have the makings of a first-class pairing and that questions over Smith's hardness are unwarranted.

"Zac's first year, most people were pretty impressed with how he went about his footy and he certainly hasn't lost that ability," he said.

"He might have had an average year last year but a lot of young players have ups and downs.

"He is aggressive by the way he jumps in and creates a contest, Charlie just has a bit more aggression when the ball hits the ground. They all have aggression in different waysntsD but I think they have a lot of talentnte."

Primus has enjoyed mixed fortunes as a player and coach. A two-time All-Australian and club captain at Port, he missed the 2004 premiership with a knee injury that ended his career prematurely.

His coaching career began well in 2010 when he won five games from seven after taking over as caretaker when premiership coach Mark Williams quit the post.

But 2011 and 2012 were a slog and he stood down with four matches to go last season after being told his contract would not be renewed. Primus said taking a back seat required adjustment but he is motivated by the enthusiasm at the Suns.

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No Nic, no calamity for Eagles

READY: Ruckman Dean Cox says the Eagles are well-equipped to deal with the likely absence of Nic Naitanui at the start of the season. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper. Source: PerthNow

CHAMPION West Coast big man Dean Cox has assured fans the Eagles are well placed to cope without Nic Naitanui if his All-Australian ruck partner misses the start of the season because of injury.

Bookmakers have West Coast on the second line of betting for this year's flag, behind Hawthorn and ahead of reigning premier Sydney, but there is a view the Eagles' chances hinge on Naitanui's recovery.

While Naitanui has done little more than walk laps and complete handball drills after groin surgery, Cox has quietly powered through one of his strongest summers on the track.

Entering his 13th season in the AFL, Cox said he was capable of rucking for 100 minutes a game if Naitanui was not available early in the season.

But the 251-game veteran said he was so impressed with understudy Scott Lycett's improvement this summer that the team could continue with the unique 50-50 ruck sharing strategy that has been so effective with Naitanui in recent seasons.

Cox also said he would like to continue spending plenty of time forward after kicking a career best 28.14 last year.

"Even if it was me and Scotty, I think we'd continue to do the same thing," he said.

"The biggest thing I took out of my season last year was probably my work when I went up forward, and Nic as well, and we each had a lot of shots on goal."

Cox said the players were confident 20-year-old Lycett, who has played just three times in his first two seasons, was ready to step up.

"He's come on in leaps and bounds," he said.

"Just his soft hands, his control with the footy and his body positioning in ruck contests.

"I think he's getting a little bit more mature and starting to really understand how to position himself to try and control the stoppage.

"It's been really good to push each other all the way through the pre-season and try and learn from each other as well.

"I'd certainly love Nic to be fully fit and playing all the time. The player that he is and what he brings to the club is so important.

"But what you find out when players step up and fill the void is they really blossom and certainly if Nic isn't ready, Scotty will do that."

Rookie-listed ruckman/forward Callum Sinclair is also likely to receive opportunities during the NAB Cup, though Lycett is the frontrunner to partner Cox given his two years in the club's system.

Cox predicted the loss of Quinten Lynch, who was able to do some part-time ruck work, would mean the Eagles would have to select two genuine ruck options in every game.

None of West Coast's key position players have had experience as a relief ruckman, following Lynch's move to Collingwood as a free agent.

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