Bundy one out of the box

Allen Christensen leaps over Chris Knights. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

ALLEN Christensen found out early on about the non-negotiables at Geelong.

A talented local Lara lad playing under Garry "Buddha" Hocking at the Geelong Falcons in 2009, Christensen had everything going for him but a work ethic.

Then he entered "the system" at Geelong, an uncompromising world where non-conformity leads to football's equivalent of a long walk off a short pier.

CATS WARY OF SLOW STARTS

Christensen, 21, or "Bundy" as he's known, realised he had two choices because if he remained a "box player" he wouldn't cut it.

"I remember Buddha saying that to me at the Falcons to not become a box player. I didn't know what he meant until he explained the box was the centre square and that was the only place I was running," said the 177cm midfielder/forward.

"He wanted me to push into the defensive 50 and forward 50 and kick a few more goals. Then I came to Geelong which was the best thing that could have happened to me. Very early on Lingy (captain Cameron Ling) was really strong with me in terms of what was expected.

"Then watching Joel Corey and James Kelly working back hard to help defenders, you really feel bad if you cheat.

"It's the first thing you are taught when you come here. They were hard on me, which was good. It is pretty ingrained in me now. Everyone gets taught the same way and if you don't play that way you'll be out the door, that's the reality of it."

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 16: A Allen Christensen of the Geelong Cats runs with the ball during the round one NAB Cup AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Geelong Cats at Patersons Stadium on February 16, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source:

Christensen was a regular member of Victorian under age teams, the talented son of father Brendan who was a good local Geelong player and mother Helen, who is part of Darwin's Long clan.

He expected to be drafted in 2009, although the placement ranged anywhere between 10 and 50.

Geelong swooped at 40 after the club had already taken Daniel Menzel and Mitch Duncan and before it took Nathan Vardy and Josh Cowan.

Cowan is Christensen's best mate at the club.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Allen Christensen of the Cats celebrates a goal during the round six AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 4, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images) Source:

Garry Hocking has always been a Christensen fan but said it took him a while to understand what was required.

"He was always beautifully skilled and balanced but there was a question on his work ethic around the ground," he said.

"That, and the fact he got a bit fat, would have been the knock on him around draft time. So going to Geelong where he trained alongside Selwood, Ling and Bartel would have been great for him ...

"He was one of those kids who would turn up to training with a cheeky smile and football oozing out of him. He was good at the lip and good at bringing players into the game because he read it so well. He has the X factor, being able to step up and change games in a short period like so many of his Geelong teammates."

The X factor was evident on 2011 Grand Final day on two occasions, one a well documented mark between two Collingwood opponents near the boundary line in the Magpies' attacking zone, the other a contest near the centre.

"That mark, well I was shocked to get the ball, it was a bit of a fluke. My favourite personal bit was winning a loose ball in the middle. I thought 'we have to win this ball' so I ran in and grabbed it then saw Stokesy out of the corner of my eye and handballed it.

"I was so lucky to be part of the team's success in 2011. I will never forget it and it just drives me even harder to have that same success again.

"It really annoys me when people say 'you are only young, you don't realise how lucky you are'. But I do, I know exactly how lucky I am to be part of such a great team."

Away from football he has developed a passion for throughbreds, racing three jumpers with Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston, one of which, Wacheem, races at Ballarat on Sunday.

As a kid Christensen remembers his father racing a grey jumper named Strange Addiction, and he was hooked.

For the past two years he has visited the Warrnambool carnival on his day off and dreams of having a runner in the Grand Annual.

"I'm doing work at Rosemont stud with Anthony Mithen on my day off. One day I would like to train horses but at the moment I'm just dipping my toe in.

"It takes my mind off footy and I just love everything about it. But I can't ride the horses because it says so in my contract."

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Dons must keep eyes on the road

Jay Clark and Scott Gullan say Nick Vlastuin is the answer to SuperCoach backline woes

North Melbourne's Nathan Grima joins the panel to discuss their "off the chain" picks for Round 7.

Joel Selwood bursts out of the middle. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

SOME games are worth more than four points and tonight is a case in point for Essendon.

When the final siren sounds, a lot of questions surrounding the Bombers' premiership aspirations should be answered.

Everyone is in awe of Geelong - on and off the field - but it is reaching another elevated platform of performance, a level few teams can match when the Cats are purring.

HOW THE CATS

CAN WIN

THE Cats need to own the "Geelong freeway". They love to hurt their opponents right through the corridor.

Stevie Johnson, Joel Selwood and the like are prepared to back their foot skills, bringing the ball into the middle with the arrogance and precision that makes them the game's best.

If Essendon cannot handle this, it will pay. If it cannot commit to it for 120 minutes, they will pay.

SEE THE ROUND 7 TEAMS

From 2006-2013 the Cats averaged 135 points against Essendon. Yes, 135 points!

Geelong needs to put Essendon to the sword again and reward the efforts of Steven Motlop, Taylor Hunt, Mathew Stokes etc, who are creating havoc in the midfield.

The Cats handball a staggering 170 times a week, up 23 on last year. They will challenge the Bombers to be good enough to catch them and then tackle with the correct technique.

Expect to see one of these lads carry the ball 40m to 50m and score a goal at some stage tonight.

Chris Scott must tag David Zaharakis. Geelong's midfield method can cover Jobe Watson and Brendon Goddard is important, but Zaharakis is the Dons' big-game performer. He is the igniter, the spark player who is forward of centre in close games.

CATS WARY OF SLOW STARTS

When Zaharakis has an impact it goes on the scoreboard. Goddard not so much and Watson ... well maybe he's untaggable.

Geelong has the best leaders in the game. Selwood, Paul Chapman, James Bartel and Stevie J just love the game in the balance moments and, more recently, in the third term.

They've dominated their opponents by 123 points in the third quarter, outscoring quality opposition such as Sydney by six goals.

If it's close, just wait and see whose turn it is to wrestle momentum back the Cats' way. Compare Watson and Co to Selwood and Co post-game, and that may just be the story.

How great is it to play for Geelong? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HOW THE BOMBERS CAN WIN

ESSENDON'S main asset is its ability to deny the opposition time and space, through tackle pressure and harassment. The flow-on effect of this pressure has allowed Cale Hooker and Michael Hibberd to stay aggressive in hunting the intercept at half-back, which has served them well.

Hooker is the competition leader at intercept marks, and Hibberd is No.3 at ground level, but can they do it against the AFL's best? They must stay proactive. The Bombers are the best in the business at counter-punching once they've forced a turnover.

About a third of the turnovers they create are converted into a score.

In this regard, their midfield is ranked No.1, up from No.11 last year - a dramatic improvement.

Dyson Heppell, Zaharakis and Goddard are powerful when given possession in space.

The Cats come into the corridor more than any other team from the defensive half - right through the absolute guts.

If the Bombers fail to force turnovers in the corridor they will be embarrassed on the scoreboard.

The Bombers must exit clearance situations by hand.

Watson must continue to put his teammates into space via his creative handballing and poise in traffic. It will be self-defeating if they hack-kick out of congestion because the Cats game is based on the extra defender being 30m to 40m on the defensive side of stoppages.

The Cats' mode at stoppages is to circle the stoppage with a noose like effect. If they lose the initial first possession they squeeze in to force an ineffective disposal, a hacked kick and, bingo, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie etc intercept and the Cats at speed on the counter-punch are unstoppable.

The Bombers short-kick the ball quickly and instinctively, allowing them to move the ball at speed.

They do it more than any team and it must continue because any slow play against the Cats will be largely unproductive.

This tactic demands that Geelong's midfielders are diligent defensively.

The Bombers are scoring a goal with 30 per cent of their I50 entries, better than any other team. Michael Hurley, Stewart Crameri and Paddy Ryder must have a genuine presence inside the forward arc.

Jobe Watson. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

VERDICT:

The Cats will roll on and win a close win, but Essendon may just show enough to continue the premiership conversation

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Cats wary of slow starts

Jay Clark and Scott Gullan say Nick Vlastuin is the answer to SuperCoach backline woes

Geelong forward Allen Christensen says his side can't start slowly against Essendon. Picture. Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

GEELONG onballer Allen Christensen has warned the Cats could be blown away against fellow ladder-leader Essendon tonight if they give away a start.

In six games this year Geelong has trailed in the first half  five times by 17 points or more in the second term.

Christensen said the team could not afford to work into the game against Essendon.

BUNDY IS ONE OUT OF THE BOX

The Cats have overcome  second-quarter deficits of 30 points against Hawthorn and 41 against North Melbourne.

Christensen, who has been a key player in some of those revivals, says while the team has a very firm belief in each other, it won't last forever.

"We believe in each other, no matter how far we are down. But I guess the solution is to not get that far down and we will keep working to fix it,'' he said.

"Against a really good side we won't be four or five goals, we're going to be 19 goals down.''

"We will improve on it and hopefully it will take us even further,'' Christensen said.

"Essendon is playing unbelievably well and have really good team balance. So we have to try to match them and go to another level.''

Essendon made six changes but could not find a spot for ruckman/forward Paddy Ryder who was available after serving a three-match suspension.

Geelong made just two changes, bringing in Jackson Thurlow for his debut, and Jordan Schroder for just his second game after he made his debut last season.

The Bombers brought back veteran Dustin Fletcher, Jake Carlisle, Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Jason Winderlich and Nathan Lovett-Murray.

Brent Stanton (groin) and Courtenay Dempsey (ankle) were ruled out after failing fitness tests.

Tayte Pears, Leroy Jetta and Jackson Merrett were axed, while ruckman David Hille is unavailable for two games while attending a wedding in France.

Ryder was expected to come straight back into the side for Hille, and coach James Hird admitted he was unlucky not to be recalled.

"Unfortunately for Patrick Ryder we have decided to go with Scott Gumbleton at centre half-forward,'' Hird told the club's website.

"Scott has been in excellent form and we didn't think that it was right to play another tall.

"Paddy hasn't done anything wrong but unfortunately when you go out of the team it is hard to get back in at the moment.''

Geelong lost Joel Corey to a knee injury, while Jordan Murdoch was dropped.

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I'm no one-man solution: Black

Simon Black trains with the Lions this week. Picture: Jono Searle Source: The Courier-Mail

BLACK is back and nobody is happier than the great man himself.

But veteran Lions midfielder Simon Black, who makes his long awaited comeback against West Coast at the Gabba tomorrow, has warned he is not a one-man solution to Brisbane's midfield woes.

The Lions' on-ball division was dominated by the Swans in the first quarter last Sunday, with the reigning premiers wrapping up the SCG match by the first change.

"We were blown out of the water last week by a very good side in Sydney, so we need to stand up when the heat is on early,'' Black said.

"West Coast is also a very good side and we all need to match their intensity early. It will be a good challenge for our midfield.''

The Brownlow medallist's last AFL appearance was in round 23 last year.He has since endured a summer of discontent, with his knee injury requiring months of rest and rehabilitation before three games in the NEAFL to prove he was ready for a recall.

The 34-year-old admitted the long lay-off was frustrating and that he would be more nervous than usual before the first bounce.

"The recovery took a bit longer than we initially thought,'' Black said.

"It's going to be great to play senior football again ... I can't wait to get out there.

"I'll probably will be a bit more nervous because I haven't had a run at that level for a long time but once the game starts, I'll be right.''

Brisbane have made three changes to the side that was humbled by the Swans, with tagger Andrew Raines and ruckman-forward Jordan Lisle also in to replace the omitted trio of Marco Paparone, Aaron Cornelius and Billy Longer.

Gold Coast has dropped former Lion Michael Rischitelli while Karmichael Hunt will miss Sunday's clash with Melbourne at the MCG with a low-level hamstring strain that is expected to sideline the former NRL star for up to a fortnight.

Suns hardman Campbell Brown was named in the extended 25-man squad after serving a six-week suspension along.

Steve May and Luke Russell were also included.

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said while a disrupted pre-season was catching up with Rischitelli, the former Lions' output had been below par.

"He needs to play at a higher level. It is a combination of his body not allowing him to play at that level and his form,'' Ashcroft said.

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Pyke will welcome Tippett's arrival

Mike Pyke at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

MIKE Pyke's dramatic improvement has created the opportunity for the Swans to have a triple threat of monster ruckmen when Kurt Tippett returns from suspension.

John Longmire's immediate focus is on Hawthorn in tomorrow night's grand final rematch at the MCG, but the Swans coach has told The Daily Telegraph he is open to the possibility of playing all three of his big men - Pyke, Tippett and Shane Mumford - in the same team when they are all on deck in round 13.

"I'm not ruling it out," Longmire said.

"It doesn't matter what size you are as long as you compete."

After a stellar performance in last year's grand final victory over the Hawks, Pyke has picked up where he left off last season and is now in a position where he could get a game with any team in the AFL.

The former Canadian rugby union international is now worthy of a place among the AFL's elite forward ruckmen.

"His ability to listen, learn and implement has been the key to his success," Longmire said.

"He's very smart and can process information really well."

Pyke's 15 contested marks this season place him third in the league behind St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt and Collingwood's Travis Cloke, who both have 16.

He now wins 52 per cent of all ruck contests, which ranks him equal fifth in the AFL alongside Brisbane's Matthew Leuenberger, and seven goals from six games this season has the Canadian equal fifth in the Swans' goalkicking list. They are impressive numbers.

"I'm just keeping it simple," Pyke said.

"My process hasn't really changed at all, I do just go out there and try to do my best at training and then try to implement that in games."

Longmire believes Pyke is now a far more complete footballer than he was even last season.

"He's added contested marking and goalscoring to his repertoire," Longmire said. "He's very physical and mobile for a player his size and his work rate is second to none."

Pyke's form has him at the very least on an equal footing with Mumford as the club's top ruckman. Longmire won't be drawn on choosing which of his two big men are ahead in the pecking order.

"They are an equal partnership," Longmire said.

"Their roles have evolved over the last 12 months, where Mike can spend more time forward and Shane can pick up his 16 possessions around the ground."

The Canadian believes there is room for three big men, including Tippett, in the Swans' best 22.

"It doesn't matter what the size of the players is," Pyke said.

"People get caught up on height. I think the most important thing is that your team is in form."

Pyke's rise continues to be one of the code's most remarkable stories.

After arriving at the Swans' doorstep in 2008 having never seen a game of Australian rules live, Pyke has now played 52 games and has a premiership medal.

Nick Malceski, another of the Swans' grand final heroes, has re-signed with the club until the end of 2014.

The 28-year-old has resisted the temptation to wait until the end of the season and test himself in the free agents' market.

This means the Swans will have only Jude Bolton as a potential free agent at the end of the season.

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Anti-obesity drug is off limits

Essendon's defence to ASADA has suffered a blow. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

David McArthur cartoon. Macca cartoon. WADA official tells a Dons official 'I don't care if you've got a letter from a doctor. Essendon. Drugs.

ANTI-doping agencies have dealt a body blow to Essendon's defence of AOD-9604 as a permitted drug.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority yesterday declared the anti-obesity substance off limits for athletes in any circumstances.

The Bombers had grown increasingly confident they could use a loophole to escape sanction if players were charged with doping.

The Therapeutic Drugs Administration this week confirmed it had not given approval for AOD-9604, but said "several other exemptions exist that could allow legal supply of AOD-9604".

SEE THE ROUND 7 TEAMS HERE

But both ASADA and WADA yesterday told the Herald Sun there were no loopholes, justifications or ways around the use of AOD-9604, officially banned in January 2011.

The bodies were asked if legal approval for a licensed pharmacist to make the drug would override the WADA prohibition.

"It is prohibited in all circumstances," WADA communications director Julie Masse said. "AOD-9604 is a prohibited substance that falls under the S0 category of the Prohibited List."

ASADA said while therapeutic-use exemptions for athletes were available in limited cases, AOD-9604 was not one.

"Substances falling under the S0 category are prohibited at all times (in and out of competition)," it stated. "Given substances under S0 do not have current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use, no TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) would be granted under any circumstances."

CATS WARY OF SLOW STARTS

Despite the Herald Sun yesterday revealing details of Essendon's consent forms - which listed weekly injections of AOD-9604 - the club said it did not prove any player used the substance.

Sports medico Andrew Garnham, who helped write the Ziggy Switkowski report into the club's "irregular practices", said this week there were "grey areas" surrounding approval for the substance.

"There are legal avenues people continue to pursue (for AOD-9604). It may end up being used as an entirely legitimate nutritional substance," he said.

"Pharmaceutical companies will say there are drugs which appear to have potential but never go on beyond an early development phase, so this means the whole process of interpreting data and how things can be categorised under the WADA list is difficult and subject to interpretation."

- with Jon Ralph

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Kangaroos lock Petrie away

Shane Crawford details his plan to recover from a disastrous week in SuperCoach.

Drew Petrie has re-signed at North Melbourne. Source: Getty Images

NORTH Melbourne forward Drew Petrie says he is clear on what actions are acceptable in a marking contest, despite the recent coaching and player backlash.

The Herald Sun can reveal Petrie, 30, has agreed to a new two-year deal, tying the prized spearhead to the club until the end of 2015.

Petrie, who was an unrestricted free agent, said he was thrilled to stay at Aegis Park to help steer the young Roos toward finals success.

As a key forward, the veteran is at the coal face of the controversy surrounding perceived inconsistencies in recent marking contest rulings.

But Petrie yesterday downplayed the furore, saying he understood that players would be penalised if they extended their arms in a pushing motion in a marking contest.

Port's Alipate Carlile (front) marks over North's Drew Petrie Picture: Luke Bowden Source: The Mercury

"You just can't forcefully use your hands to push a bloke out of the way,'' Petrie told the Herald Sun.

"People do say that the test of strength has gone out the window a little bit because if you are too strong and you push a bloke away, you get a free kick against you, so I can see that argument.

"But I'm clear on what's expected. You can hold your position, definitely.

"But the extension of the arms and pushing a player away or in the back isn't allowed.''

Petrie, who last year booted a career-high 58 goals and finished fourth in the best and fairest, said he was thrilled to sign a multi-year deal, at his age.

Kangaroos training at Aegis Oval Melbourne 8th May 2013, Kangaroo Drew Petrie has re-signed at the club. Picture: Petch Colleen Source:

It is normal for 30-year-olds to sign one-year contracts but it is understood coach Brad Scott had a role to play in rewarding Petrie with an extra season.

"The club has shown a lot of faith in me giving me two more years,'' Petrie said.

"But I feel I probably have shown them and deserve another couple of years to hopefully help take this side deep into September.''

The 228-game big man said he never considered leaving for more money.

"There will be more movement of players in the coming years with free agency, which is great for players, but that's never entered my mind,'' he said.

"As long as the club was happy to do a deal then I was always happy to stay.''

Former captain Brent Harvey will return from a six-match suspension against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Harvey was unwell earlier in the week but he said the tougher part was feeling helpless watching his team from the sidelines for the past six matches.

"Obviously I do feel guilty because I should have been out there helping my teammates,'' Harvey said.

"But I think it was more frustration knowing how well we were playing but couldn't get the result on the board.''

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Back Black from the start

Veteran Brisbane Lions midfielder Simon Black is set to return to the AFL. Picture: Peter Wallis. Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE Lions great Alastair Lynch says Simon Black must be thrown to the Eagles from the start in his AFL comeback at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon.

Off-season knee surgery has kept the champion midfielder out for six rounds.

Conscious of the need to look after the Lions' premier distributor, coach Michael Voss would not reveal how he planned to reintroduce Black against West Coast.

Voss was criticised for handing the Brownlow medallist the lime substitute vest in round 19 last year, when Richmond inflicted a 48-point thumping on the Lions at the Gabba.

Fox Footy commentator Lynch expects his premiership teammate to be given a chance to stamp his authority from the opening bounce.

"He's had three games back (in the reserves) and he ran 14km in his first full game," Lynch said.

"The miles are in his legs, albeit at a different tempo."

Black will be named in the Lions' team tonight, provided there are no further problems with his repaired knee after training yesterday.

"All things being equal you would expect him to play," Voss said.

"We've been fairly rigid on making sure we introduce him right.

"The advantage Blacky's got, not only has he played numerous seasons but there's numerous pre-seasons under his belt.

"It's more just match fitness that he's got to get.

"We have to keep in mind though that we can't pull the trigger all guns blazing."

Choosing a substitute, and when to unleash him, is one of the few wildcards available to coaches in the heavily structured modern game.

Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley nailed it last month when he injected Robbie Gray at the end of the third term against West Coast.

Gray swung the match with 12 quick disposals.

Voss has used Josh Green to great effect as a sub, but Black is an accumulator rather than an impact man.

"Simon's not your typical burst player," Lynch said.

"He'd be prepared to play a full game.

"Aerobic capacity has never been an issue."

The pain of being without Daniel Rich could be soothed for the Brisbane Lions if his layoff results in a new deal.

Rich (shoulder) will be out of action for at least another month, but the break will allow him to closely consider the Lions' bid to re-sign him.

"It (contract negotiation) is under way. I love the boys and I've made that clear," he said.

"I could have maybe gone somewhere else (last time) but chose to stay here.

"I don't see why (this deal) should be different."

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Giants still growing, says Cameron

Jeremy Cameron during GWS Giants training at Skoda Stadium. Picture: Philip Hillyard. Source: The Daily Telegraph

JEREMY Cameron isn't the only good thing the Giants have going for them.

As they prepare to take on Adelaide at Skoda Stadium on Sunday, winless GWS are adamant they are making ground in key areas.

In their first year, they had an average losing margin of 77 points.

This season it is down to 45 points.

They are also staying in matches for longer periods and winning more quarters - unfortunately, it's not translating into victories.

"As a team, we feel like we're making a lot of progress," said Cameron, who is one of the brightest lights at the club.

"We want to make sure even if we don't win we get a good start.

"It's not the best thing to get jumped at the start by 30 points or more."

Despite his team sitting last, Cameron's 15 goals has him tied for sixth place in the Coleman medal, alongside Hawthorn champion Lance Franklin, who the Giants have targeted for 2014.

It has also helped the Giants increase their scoring rate; the fledgling club only broke the 100-point barrier once last year compared to twice this season.

But the learning curve has been steep for the boy from Dartmoor in western Victoria who had a simple view on the game before arriving in Sydney.

"I saw the ball and tried to get it," Cameron said.

"Coming to the club I had virtually no idea about leading patterns.

"I also have been working on my second and third efforts and staying in the contest."

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Red flag to Sydney's bull

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire looks ahead to the grand final rematch against Hawthorn.

SWANS midfielder Ben McGlynn has channelled the hurt of missing last year's grand final into arguably his best start to a season, becoming an inspirational figure leading into Saturday's re-match with Hawthorn.

Great mate Josh Kennedy believes McGlynn's response to the heartbreak of missing out on a premiership flag due to a hamstring injury is adding extra grit to the Swans' title defence this season.

McGlynn has played with rare ferocity this season, throwing his relatively small frame into contests like a man possessed.

On Saturday night at the MCG, McGlynn gets the chance to show what he could have done on the game's biggest stage when Sydney take on Hawthorn again in a mouth-watering duel.

"He's been determined all his career, but the disappointment of missing last year's grand final, you can tell it still burns deep inside him," Kennedy said.

"His courage and his attack on the ball is something he knows makes him a good footballer."

McGlynn provided one of the highlights of last Sunday's 60-point win against the Brisbane Lions at the SCG when he threw risk out the window to take one courageous mark when running with the flight of the ball.

"It's inspiring, when he plays like that everyone jumps on board," Kennedy said.

"When he's up and about, that forward pressure he applies is contagious amongst the side. I've seen him take those sorts of marks before when we were playing for Box Hill in the VFL."

Sydney Swans midfielder Ben McGlynn enjoys a laugh at training. Picture: Philip Hillyard.

Kennedy also took note of McGlynn's demeanour after he was ruled him out early in grand final week.

He made a point of remaining positive around his teammates at training and again in the rooms on game day.

"I don't know how I would have gone if it happened to me," Kennedy said.

"I walked taller knowing he was on my side.

"From the boundary line on grand final day, he was as much a part of it as anyone else taking the field even though he wouldn't admit it. That's how I felt."

Adding to McGlynn's pain on the day was the fact all three of his brothers won premierships in the weeks leading up to the Swans' victory over the Hawks.

Older brothers Shaun and Jason won premierships in Western Australia, while younger brother Zac helped their home town of Wentworth win the Sunraysia League premiership.

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Dons' sign of the times

Essendon chairman David Evans releases the findings of the Switkowski report. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: Herald Sun

Last week the Herald Sun revealed it had read documents about players being prescribed AOD-9604, banned by anti-doping authorities, and a type of Thymosin, which might be banned, and today produces the consent forms outlining what was prescribed to players and how often.

Revealed: Banned drug on consent forms

Yesterday, Dr Ageless - Shane Charter - told the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority he provided Essendon's former sports scientist, Stephen Dank, with banned peptides sourced from China.

Dank, remember, has said he injected the players with AOD-9604, and his name is on today's consent forms.

The Bombers last night told the Herald Sun: "The club certainly does not accept that the signing of the consent forms means that the supplements were administered."

It certainly is. So, here are consent forms listing at least one banned substance.

Essendon last week didn't even respond to their existence, and then yesterday argued that just because the consent forms exist, it doesn't mean the players took the banned substances.

Say, what?

At the same time, as revealed in yesterday's Herald Sun, Essendon is building a defence that AOD-9604 was not prohibited in 2012.

We won't get technical, but it's about chemists making up compounds for individual use.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 06: Bombers CEO Ian Robson and Bombers coach James Hird stand at the back and listen as Essendon Chairman David Evans speaks to the media during an Essendon Bombers AFL press conference at Windy Hill on May 6, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Source:

So, again, there are denials the players took the drug but, if they did take the drug, they're seeking legal opinion.

Furthermore, Bombers chairman David Evans says he is "more and more confident" the players did not take any banned substances.

Evans and AFL boss Andrew Demetriou continually assert the Bombers are co-operating fully with ASADA and are being transparent and honest.

Doubt to aid Dons

Surely then, the player consent forms have been presented to ASADA by the club, which means ASADA knows all about the players being prescribed AOD-9604.

Still, Evans says the club has not "conceded our players have taken banned substances".

And Dank? He's staying in the shadows believing he has done nothing wrong, when all around him are fighting for their careers.

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Banned drug on consent forms

Former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank listed banned drugs on the consent forms given to Essendon players. Picture: James Croucher. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Macca cartoon. David McArthur cartoon. WINDY HILL. (David Evans. Essendon. Letters. Consent form. Reid letter. Ziggy report.)

CLUB documents show some Essendon players were prescribed the anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 last season.

But Essendon last night insisted consent forms revealed today by the Herald Sun did not prove any of its players used the substance, which is banned for use by athletes.

The forms signed by Bombers players and officials reveal key details of the supplements program at Windy Hill in 2012.

They show some players were recommended weekly injections of AOD-9604.

Injection schedules for Thymosin are also documented. Some types of Thymosin are banned by doping authorities.

Mark Robinson: Confusion continues at Essendon

The forms state that "all components of the intervention are in compliance with current WADA anti-doping policy and guidelines''.

An Essendon spokesman said last night: "It is a matter for ASADA to determine these matters.''

"The club certainly does not accept that the signing of the consent forms means that the supplements were administered, and this kind of speculation is just unnecessarily harmful to the players.''

Bombers re-sign 'champion' Heppell

The dosages and number of injections planned to be given to individual players are detailed in the forms.

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigators have begun grilling Essendon players on their participation in and knowledge of the club's supplements program.

Bombers chairman David Evans said this week his club had "never conceded that our players have been given banned substances in 2012''.

He said the club was becoming increasingly confident its players would escape penalties.

The consent forms appear to remove any doubt that at least one substance - AOD-9604 - prescribed to some players did fall outside anti-doping rules.

If issued with an infraction notice by ASADA, it will be up to lawyers for the players and the club to argue why this was not a breach.

It is known some Essendon players refused to be injected as part of the supplements program.

The signature of Dank appears on all the documents as well as that of a witness and the player the program was devised for.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has stated that AOD-9604, which is not approved for human use, is banned.

Asked about the status of Thymosin, an ASADA spokesman said last week: "The status of Thymosin in sport is dependent on the type of Thymosin ... for example, Thymosin Beta 4 has been prohibited under S2 of the WADA Prohibited List since at least 2011.''

Essendon has not said which type of Thymosin its players were recommended by Dank.

Melbourne biochemist Shane Charter has claimed Dank ordered the banned Thymosin Beta 4 from him last year.

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Sydney Swans won't bug Buddy

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire laughs off suggestions his side will physically target fiery Hawks star Lance Franklin.

Lance Franklin dances through traffic in the 2012 Grand Final. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

SWANS coach John Longmire says his club will not look to poke the bear and go after Hawthorn superstar Buddy Franklin with niggling tactics in Saturday night's grand final rematch at the MCG.

Franklin was this week labelled irritable and a ticking time bomb after lashing out recklessly in back-to-back goalless performances.

However, Longmire said any attempt to provoke the Hawthorn power forward could backfire spectacularly.

"My experience with the very best players is that's not something you try to do," Longmire said.

"I saw some niggling tactics applied to Wayne Carey and they weren't that successful.

"So we go about our business to try and make sure we beat them as we should, and that's in a good strong honest contest - and that's what we expect.

"We played them three times last year and every one of those were really high-quality contests and we expect nothing different this year.

"(Franklin) has had seven shots at goal (in the past two games). His athleticism is such that he does make some defenders get concerned about what he can do.

"We all know what he can do when he's playing at his best.

"He looks as if he's competing really well and working really hard.

"I just think there have been a couple of weeks where he has missed a few shots at goal.

"He has been working hard and presenting.

"The best way to play well is just to keep doing the things he has been doing well.

"You know they'll turn, particularly with the best players, and he is one of the best."

Rather than focus on Franklin, the Swans identified Hawthorn defender Brian Lake as a contest changer, making it much more difficult for key Sydney targets Mike Pyke, Sam Reid and Shane Mumford to dominate in the forward line.

Having joined the Hawks from the Bulldogs during last year's trade period, the former two-time All Australian defender has added depth to the club's ability to stop sides with as many options up forward as the Swans have.

"That's what makes them a bit of a different proposition," Longmire said of the Hawks.

"That'll be a challenge for us.

"We have to make sure that we just don't kick the ball to Brian's advantage because he and (Josh) Gibson are two of the best spoilers in the game.

"You can't expect to just bang it into your forward line."

The Swans have been hit by more bad news on the injury front, with rebounding defender Rhyce Shaw's return from an abdominal strain delayed until at least round nine.

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Power shows a duty of care

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas with SA Premier Jay Weatherill, left, at the launch of partnership between the club and Foodbank. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide is standing tall in the corporate sponsorship world again - and the Power will not abandon the charity that gave the AFL club its "good citizen" look to achieve that aim.

Port this week is dedicating its AFL home game against Richmond to Foodbank's End Hunger campaign and is staying true to the charity for the next three years.

Foodbank's logo - which appeared on the club jumper until French car manufacturer Renault signed up as a major sponsor in the summer - will appear on the Power team shorts for the next three seasons.

The joint partnership will be incorporated in the Power Community Limited arm of the Port Adelaide Football Club, which works with schools and indigenous communities.

"Our commitment is not waning - it is evolving and growing stronger," Port chief executive Keith Thomas said yesterday.

Thomas does not dismiss the cynicism that came with Port's alliance with Foodbank last year.

The criticism has less credence today when Port is again a corporate darling and still offering valued AFL exposure and time to Foodbank.

Power footballers, from left, Dom Cassisi, Matthew Lobbe and Brett Ebert show off their new-look guernseys with Foodbank logos. Picture: Sarah Reed

"We can't hide from the fact we were unappealing last year," Thomas said.

"Linking up with Foodbank gave us the opportunity to be seen as a good citizen by giving back to the community rather than taking.

"We wanted to be seen as doing good things in the community. That was to open opportunities for us to a different type of corporate backer.

"A year later the corporate world is seeing our link with Foodbank in the true light.

"We believe in our role to help the community and we certainly believe in Foodbank's mission to end hunger.

"We have helped raise awareness of hunger in society at a time when Foodbank had little visibility. Now we are making a long-term commitment to Foodbank.

"We knew we could not keep Foodbank's End Hunger logo on our jumper when the corporate sponsorship returned, but we're signalling our commitment by putting the logo on our players' shorts for three years."

Staying true to Foodbank comes as the Port Adelaide Football Club has lifted corporate sponsorship by $500,000, increased its membership by 10 per cent to add $1 million to its coffers, merchandise sales by 30 per cent and home crowds by 54 per cent.

Foodbank has gained from helping to repair Port's public image.

The charity's sponsorship with the Power generated $1.1 million of national media exposure for the End Hunger campaign.

It raised $283,000 to fund Foodbank supplies and programs, which generated 500,000kg of food. This amounted to 200,000 meals for 50,000 hungry South Australian families.

Foodbank's increased profile by being attached to an AFL club allows the charity to walk into more than 600 new opportunities for corporate backing.

In the Port deal this includes links to the Bendigo Bank, the Walker Corporation, Envestra, Transfield Services and The Advertiser.

The fundraising will continue on Saturday with Port fans asked to pick up "Cans of Opportunity" at Gate 3 at AAMI Stadium. These are to be returned to the club by September 6, with every dollar raised going directly to Foodbank.

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Kennett: Dons must pay the price

AFL 360 hosts Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson review the latest in the Essendon doping saga after the release of the Ziggy Switkowski report.

Shane Crawford details his plan to recover from a disastrous week in SuperCoach.

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says heads should already have rolled at Essendon. Picture: Calum Robertson. Source: The Advertiser

Macca cartoon. David McArthur cartoon. IF IT WAS BUSINESS THEY'D ALL BE SACKED. THIS IS BUSINESS AS USUAL. (Jeff Kennett. Essendon. Supplements. Doping.)

FORMER Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says heads should have rolled at Essendon months ago.

Kennett yesterday told a Melbourne charity lunch the football world was far too busy protecting its "personalities" to do the right thing by the game.

"The failure of the duty of care (at Essendon) in terms of the processes is so clear," Kennett said.

Dons to claim drug was legal

"And if it had been at my club, there would have been accountability from the moment it became public.

"You can't treat your employees (the players) in the way that they were treated by the management of Essendon. It's just not good enough.

Essendon chief exectutive Ian Robson and Bombers coach James Hird watch from the back row as chairman David Evans reveals the Switkowski report. Source: Getty Images

"I understand the white line, on edge trying to win. But you do have a duty of care and I think that failed dramatically.

"People should be held to account for it, and if you were in the private sector I can assure you, you would be held accountable.

"But in football, where we tend to support individuals, we often forget we have a responsibility for the long-term success of the code.

"That is what the administrators of the AFL or at any club level should be focused on - rather than the personalities of the day. The code must be secured."

Bombers chief executive Ian Robson, coach James Hird, senior assistant Mark Thompson and football boss Danny Corcoran were all indirectly fingered in Ziggy Switkowski's internal review into Essendon's practices in 2012 - released on Monday - but have kept their jobs.

Kennett repeated his view that the AFL had compromised the standing of the game with recent decisions on the Melbourne tanking saga, the sacking of Adelaide recruiter Matt Rendell and Stephen Trigg's survival from the Crows' salary cap rort.

"I think we've seen standards diminished over the past two or three years - and once you reduce standards it is very hard to ever rebuild them," Kennett told the 500 Supporters' Group lunch at the MCG.

Asked later to expand on his comments, Kennett said: "If I had been president of Hawthorn and that had occurred under my watch - and I genuinely didn't know about it - then I would have acted very quickly.

"I know we are all not perfect and we all make mistakes, but in terms of procedure, this has been so appalling and so totally unacceptable.

"I'm not against Essendon, I'm not against Adelaide, I'm not against any individual - to me it's about standards.

"And my great concern is that the AFL has been so successful that they have allowed personalities to increasingly dominant the decision-making process."

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Sheedy: AFL needs another Sydney team

Giants coach Kevin Sheedy, right, chats with AFL boss Andrew Demetriou at the announcement of the GWS's new training facility at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Cameron Richardson. Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE AFL needs a third team in Sydney.

Think it's crazy? The GWS Giants already have 12,000 members in our second season. That's more than Wests Tigers, Cronulla, Manly and Penrith in the NRL.

Look at what we have already achieved in western Sydney and tell me the AFL couldn't support a third team here.

We have a first-class venue in Skoda Stadium in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. It's a 25,000-seat stadium that we reckon we can fill on a regular basis within five years.

We have an elite training facility with the Tom Wills Oval being opened this week.

We have a great facility in StarTrack Oval in Canberra.

This didn't exist four years ago. The AFL should be planning now to have a team in southern Sydney, representing the Shire down to the South Coast.

They need to be just as brave as they were with the Giants, when they made a $200 million investment in western Sydney.

Still, the AFL was 15 years late in starting the Giants in western Sydney. We can't make that mistake again.

We're building the foundations of the Giants now. They are strong foundations that will allow the club to be on its feet and firing in five to 10 years.

We've got to make up for lost time. The AFL needs to be thinking now about planning for another Sydney-based team in the next 15 years. Yes, it should be that soon.

If you really want to get AFL in a much stronger position, you really should have a team in the north, west, east and south of Sydney.

Sydney's population is expected to be pushing six million in 2030.

Three teams means two million people for the three clubs. It means all three have the scope to be among the biggest in the AFL. The potential is limitless.

The Giants might be just finding our feet now, but we'll be ready when the third club comes in.

The Swans have been here for 31 years and have 33,000 members as well.

The game is bigger than the Swans and it's bigger than us.

We have to be quicker with our development than the Swans were.

There is no plan B to slow down or scale back the ambitious targets we have set. We already have the foundations in place for the Giants to become a big club.

Even Andrew Demetriou thinks we'll one day become as big as the West Coast Eagles are in Perth.

Many people in Sydney will be worried and shocked by this. We've just arrived and we intend to make western Sydney proud.

Sydney is only going to get bigger and all those people deserve another team that's going to represent them and make them proud, too.

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Reilly wants Otten down back

Adelaide defender Andy Otten and spoils Hawthorn's Jack Gunston. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

VETERAN Crows defender Brent Reilly is pleading with coach Brenton Sanderson to not "rob Peter to pay Paul" by reassigning Andy Otten to attack.

Reilly yesterday declared the Crows cannot afford the luxury of recasting Otten as a forward, particularly after the Adelaide back six achieved its best team system on Saturday against Hawthorn.

"I don't think we can," Reilly said ahead of today's match committee session at West Lakes where Sanderson still has to find a working forward six in the wake of the Taylor Walker setback.

"Andy has had an outstanding year already down back. Personally, I like Andy down back - he helps me out in the air and he helps Ben Rutten and Daniel Talia as well.

"We need him in our back line."

Otten became Sanderson's option to cover Walker a fortnight ago when the key forward damaged his right knee on the MCG.

Sanderson opted for defender Matthew Jaensch in the new-look Adelaide attack last week, but vowed to revisit using Otten as a forward against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.

Walker's radical surgery - with an allograft using a dead person's tendon to repair a lateral ligament - was declared a success yesterday by club doctor Andrew Potter.

Critically, the surgeons found no new damage beyond the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and torn lateral ligament.

"There were no unexpected findings with the surgery, which was successful," Potter said. "Taylor will now rest and recuperate for three weeks before starting his rehabilitation program."

Walker will have 12 months out of football.

Adelaide will resume training tomorrow with the Scott Thompson controversy far from cleared away, despite the Crows players trying to avoid being caught in bashing umpire Ray Chamberlain's erroneous call in last Saturday's loss to Hawthorn.

Reilly was far from convincing yesterday when he asked if he knew what he can and cannot do in a marking contest.

"We just have to adapt to the game," Reilly said. "That is the way the game is going at this stage. As players we have to keep adapting to it.

"We have to adapt to every rule they have brought in. If they call a free kick, they call a free kick. We can't change their minds.

"There's a few things that as players we know what's right and what's wrong. We make mistakes and umpires make mistakes."

Reilly was more forceful in selling a message that the Crows are far from sunk with a 2-4 record.

"There is a good feeling around the footy club at the moment - the boys are up and about," Reilly said.

"We played some really good footy at the weekend. We made some mistakes that might have cost us the game in the end.

"But we're looking forward to getting to Sydney and playing some of our best footy that hasn't been seen this year."

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Crows searching for answers

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson labelled some of his players "fat heads" last week. Picture: Tait Schmaal. Source: The Advertiser

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson can no longer question the attitude of his erratic players - but the so-called "fat heads" at West Lakes are now giving themselves headaches finding answers to their mysterious form slump.

Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane says the simple key to salvaging the Crows' season - that is delicately balanced with a 2-4 win-loss count - hinges on players finding pride in their work again.

"It all starts on the training track," Sloane said.

"It's about guys taking it up to themselves. Your performance is up to you. You have to take a lot of ownership and pride in your performance."

A week after Sanderson challenged his players to stop basking in the glow of their 2012 season, by labelling them as "fatheads", the Crows did restore their reputation as a difficult opponent by pushing AFL premiership favourite Hawthorn at home on Saturday. They came within 11 points.

But not winning, for the third time in four games at AAMI Stadium, highlights how Adelaide is eroding the gains from 2012 when the Crows were among the AFL stand-outs with 17 wins in 22 home-and-away games.

"We have to start winning those close games," Sloane said.

"Beating Hawthorn would have been a great way to get the season rolling, but we weren't good enough. If we can tidy up on a few key areas, we will definitely be back to where we were at last year."

Beyond the issues of poor tackling, poor forward movement, less power in the midfield and injuries robbing them of key staff, the common theme of Adelaide's season is the erratic and disappointing form of so  many valued players.

"That is what coaches have been trying to figure out forever," said Sloane.

He dismisses the "fathead" charge - one the Crows have had to answer internally while the critics have been asking what happened to the hunger for success they vowed to carry from the bitter preliminary final loss to Hawthorn in September.

"We have no reason to have fat heads at all and no reason to be thinking like that," said Sloane. "That is why we are trying to stamp that (image) out because we are definitely not satisfied with last year.

"We were a kick off a grand final ... and we're not satisfied with the way we have been playing."

The state of the Adelaide player list - particularly when the Crows face a lock-out of the first two rounds of the November national draft because of the Kurt Tippett saga - will be a greater point of debate if the club fails to reach consecutive finals.

Adelaide had 13 players from the 22 who battled Hawthorn in last year's epic AFL preliminary final appear in the rematch at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

The preliminary final was lost by five points - with the Crows bitter at umpiring decisions in the night game.

They lost the rematch by 11 points, and were frustrated by one critical umpiring call on midfielder Scott Thompson early in the last term.

The key difference in the two line-ups is the absence of  damaging small and medium forwards Ian Callinan, Graham Johncock and Jared Petrenko, who are out of form, and the loss of Tippett and Taylor Walker.

Two players who missed the preliminary final rematch because of injury - captain Nathan van Berlo and utility Ricky Henderson - are back in contention for Sunday's clash with Greater Western Sydney at Skoda Stadium.

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Full marks to Talia's 'Buddy blow'

Lance Franklin and Daniel Talia battle it out at AAMI Stadium. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

The man who last year became Adelaide's first AFL Rising Star winner put a so-so start to the season behind him to heroically keep Hawthorn superstar Lance "Buddy" Franklin goalless at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

While the Crows' forward line - suddenly minus its star Taylor Walker (knee) - remains a work in progress, Talia marshalled a defence which produced its best performance of the year.

"The back six ... make sure you write about them," coach Brenton Sanderson said.

"They gave everything for 'Truck' (Ben Rutten), I know they idolise Benny, and Daniel Talia, the way he performed his role was fantastic.

"He had some help at times but I'm so pleased with him. At times he led Franklin to the ball.

"He was really up for this game. He's been mentored by Rutten early in his career and he really wanted to play his role for the team and he'll get maximum votes in our best and fairest award because he just did his role. He was fantastic."

Ace key forward Franklin had torched Adelaide for 36 goals in his previous 11 games against it but Talia wore him like a glove and forced him up the ground to win most of his 17 disposals.

It was the second consecutive week Franklin had failed to kick a goal. The last time he went two weeks in a row without goaling was in his first AFL season in 2005.

Talia conceded only two behinds and two marks to the four-times All-Australian.

Sanderson surprised by starting Talia on Franklin rather than 200-gamer Rutten.

"When Franklin was deep it was going to be Rutten and when Franklin was up the ground a bit more it was going to be Talia," Sanderson said.

"But once we saw Talia was going okay we stayed with the match-up as we had it."

Talia, who has taken time to find his best form this season as he slowly recovered from having his forearm shattered in last year's qualifying final loss to Sydney, was the defensive standout against the Hawks.

Most encouragingly for Sanderson, however, was the way the back six performed as a group.

While Adelaide lost for the fourth time in six matches, the rock-solid defensive performance was a major positive.
Last year the Crows conceded 83 points a game. That figure had risen to 91 after the first five rounds.

Adelaide coughed up 89 points against the Hawks. But that was a meritorious effort after last year's beaten grand finalist averaged 119 points a game against last year's finalists Geelong, West Coast, Collingwood, Fremantle and North Melbourne to start the season.

"I was really pleased with the defence," Sanderson said.

"Talia was fantastic, I liked Brent Reilly's game, Andy Otten has had a fantastic season, Luke Brown in his ninth game, those guys fought their hearts out for the big fella.

"They'll be disappointed, they'll be hurting, those boys, because they gave everything they had for Truck and unfortunately came up short."

Like Talia, All-Australian nominee Reilly had started the season slowly. He was outstanding against Hawthorn, winning 23 disposals and taking eight marks, including several key intercept grabs - his hallmark last year.

Otten took another step forward in his comeback from persistent knee problems, Rutten kept Jarryd Roughead to one goal and youngsters Luke Brown and Brodie Smith defended stoutly as well as combining for seven rebound-50s.

"This was a step in the right direction and we know we are going to have to play like that for the rest of the year," Smith noted.
 

Hawthorn star Lance Franklin is struggling to maintain his early season form, failing to kick a goal in two weeks and unable to contain his frustration on the field.

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Dons wait on Ziggy report

James Hird and the Essendon Bombers are today expected to receive the key findings from the investigation into the club's alleged illegal practices. Source: Getty Images

FORMER Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski expects the key findings of his investigation into "irregular practices" at Essendon to be made public today.

The Bombers will this morning release an edited version of Switkowski's report, which had initially been delayed by a legal challenge from suspended conditioning coach Dean Robinson.

"When (Essendon chairman) David Evans set up this review he promised to publish the recommendations, unedited, and there will be some narrative around that, I expect," Switkowski told the Herald Sun yesterday.

"But let's see what the club releases tomorrow."

Switkowski wouldn't comment on what percentage of the report would be revealed, nor what it would recommend.

But club great Tim Watson, the father of club captain Jobe, yesterday said no Bombers official would be told to resign.

"I don't think there's going to be recommendations for anyone to be sacked. I don't think there's going to be blood on the floor tomorrow post this meeting, if that's in fact when it takes place," Watson told Channel 7.

"I think this is about the governance, so what they're looking to do is make sure that any of the errors of judgment along the way in terms of their supplement program won't be made again."

The review of the club's governance, processes and supervision followed revelations the Bombers were embroiled in an Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation into their supplements program run by sports scientist Stephen Dank.

The release of its findings comes as Dank continued to insist Essendon had nothing to fear.

Dank told Sydney-based media at the weekend that his correspondence with the World Anti-Doping Agency and ASADA proved he could use anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 on players because it did not contravene category S2, which lists specific substances.

But Dank was not drawn on the fact AOD-9604 was prohibited under category S0, which states substances not approved for human use are prohibited.

ASADA is this week expected to start interviewing Essendon players.
 

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Cotchin set to remain at Tigerland

Trent Cotchin is poised to sign a new deal with Richmond. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND superstar Trent Cotchin says it's only a matter of time before he signs a new contract to stay at Punt Rd.

Cotchin's deal has been delayed, with Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin also out of contract at the end of the year.

The sudden departure of football manager Craig Cameron has also stalled the negotiations.

Cotchin, 23, said he expected to confirm a long-term deal soon enough.

"My management and the club are obviously in discussions," Cotchin told Channel 7.

"It's just something that will get done in the future, whether or not it's in the next couple of weeks or in the next three months.

"It's not something I'm stressing about, to be totally honest.

"The powers that be will make that decision at the appropriate time."

Riewoldt said last week that talks were well under way on his deal.

"I think any player wants to get their contract over and done with and their future set in stone as soon as possible," he said.

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Lions enter the hunt for Buddy

Hawthorn key forward Lance Franklin in action against the Fremantle Dockers. Picture: Robert Cianflone. Source: Getty Images

BRISBANE has thrown its hat into the ring for AFL superstar Lance "Buddy" Franklin.

The Hawthorn spearhead is off contract at the end of 2013 and sent shockwaves through the competition this year when he put off negotiations until October.

The Lions have entered the race for the most prized signature in the sport by making contact with Franklin's manager. But they face stiff competition from GWS, Adelaide and Fremantle, plus the Hawks, for his once-in-a-generation services.

The 26-year-old will attract offers well in excess of $1 million a season.

The Lions have room to make a competitive offer given they play 95 per cent of their salary cap. The impending retirement of Lions great Simon Black will also free up cash.

Brisbane football manager Dean Warren confirmed the Lions were in the hunt for the flamboyant Franklin (below). "It is our responsibility to look at all possible options with Jonathan Brown in the twilight of his career," Warren said.

"We'd like to think we can offer Lance the opportunity to play with a young, emerging group.

"We can also offer the Queensland lifestyle and the chance to get out of the Melbourne fishbowl.

"Ultimately we feel we are headed in the right direction as a footy club and a key position player like him would only enhance our chances of success. It would certainly create excitement on and off the field."

Gary Ablett was the same age as Franklin when he left Geelong to join the Gold Coast at the end of 2010. The engineer of that blockbuster deal was Liam Pickering, who also looks after Franklin.

The "Buddy bid" may appear pie in the sky but if the Suns can extricate Ablett out of Geelong, anything is possible.

The Lions' desire to land a big-name forward has not waned after missing out on Kurt Tippett last year.

To be a legitimate finals contender, the Lions need to be a serious player in the free agency market.

Brisbane great Alastair Lynch said the northern club had to sell a bright future. Lynch was a star at Fitzroy before joining Brisbane in 1994 on a lucrative 10-year deal.

"I didn't start to entertain the idea of going to Brisbane until I saw that they were going to be good side capable of playing finals," Lynch said.

"They had young players like Michael Voss, Justin Leppitsch and Chris Scott so you could see that Brisbane was heading in the right direction with some of the best young talent in the country.

"That's what Brisbane has to do they need to convince Buddy that they are entering into a successful era with guys like Daniel Rich, Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley and Matthew Leuenberger.

"It's a big call for Buddy to leave a club that is still in a premiership window but Brisbane need to convince him that their window might be opening soon ... The money is going to be pretty much the same from every club that has a crack at him, so it will come down to who can give him the chance to enjoy sustained team success."

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Sharrod ready to impress

NEW COLOURS: Sharrod Wellingham will make his Eagles debut against the Dogs. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

SHARROD Wellingham has vowed to prove his worth by making an immediate impact when he plays for West Coast for the first time against the Western Bulldogs today.

Wellingham has recovered from a syndesmosis injury (a serious sprain) in his right ankle after a trampoline accident 11 weeks ago.

The Collingwood premiership midfielder, who grew up in Perth barracking for the Eagles, is confident of getting through a full game despite his disrupted preparation.

Wellingham, on crutches for two weeks and in a moon boot for a month, had his confidence boosted when he gathered 28 possessions for East Perth in the WAFL on Anzac Day.

"Hopefully I can get out there and make an immediate impact," he said. "I haven't been sitting around eating chips on the couch for the last 11 weeks. It's been a huge workload that I've been doing.

"I got out of the boot about six weeks ago and was pretty much running that week. I've got a lot of confidence in the amount of work that I've put in over the summer and then in the last six weeks that I'll be able to run out the game."

The Magpies traded Wellingham to the Eagles last summer for pick 18 in the national draft.

"One of the things I'm really looking forward to doing is getting out there and showing the fans that the trade was worth it and doing everything that I can to make them feel like I'm here to play my part in winning a premiership," he said.

Joining Wellingham in making his first appearance for the season will be All-Australian ruckman Nic Naitanui, who has recovered from off-season groin surgery.

Naitanui, 23 yesterday, said he could not wait for his comeback match after an arduous rehabilitation period.

"Now it's time to put it to the ultimate test and play some footy. I'm more excited than worried about my groin," he told Channel 7.

"I had osteitis pubis and had the surgery, the scrape and drilled a few holes in there to fix it all up. It was pretty sore at the time, but now it's recovered pretty well."

The Eagles are a short $1.04 with Player to defeat the Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium, with the Dogs paying $10.

The Bulldogs have lost 15 of their past 16 matches dating back to Round 13 last season.

West Coast's top-four aim is already verging on mission impossible after a 1-4 start to the season.

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Coburg coach tells of Boston terror

Marathon runner in tears after the two explosions at the Boston Marathon. Source: Supplied

COBURG VFL coach Tim Clarke was less than 200m from the second bomb blast in the Boston Marathon terror attack, when the panic set in.

One of Richmond coach Damien Hardwick's lieutenants, Clarke had flown to Boston after the April 13 VFL match and run the marathon in an impressive 2hr 32min 50sec.

But that high was soon rocked by the explosions one street away from his hotel.

Clarke, who played 96 games for Hawthorn, was finishing lunch with his wife and friends when the tragedy occurred.

"You heard the big bang and initially we didn't know what to make of it," he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

"One of our friends thought it was lightning or maybe something had fallen off a crane.

"Then, in about a minute, a whole heap of people were running out of a side street into our street, so there was a swarm of people running at us, telling us just to run.

"We weren't sure what we were running from.

"We couldn't see any smoke but once we started talking to people and looked on our phones we realised that it was a couple of bombs.

"Once we found that we got three or four blocks away just to be safe.

"Your heart goes out to the people who were injured and the families of those who were killed."

Clarke shelved plans to tour Boston and caught an early flight home.

One of his friends was 400m from the finish line when one of the explosions that killed three people occurred only 50m from her.

"Once she saw the second one just in front of her, she felt under attack, so she made a bee-line right for the hotel," he said.

"She was a bit more rattled. It would be a tough memory to get out of your mind if you saw it all."

But the terror attack won't stop Clarke from running more big events. Clarke, who had elite endurance in his junior and playing days, completed the Hawaii ironman in 8hr25min two years ago, despite being in a serious road cycling accident only six weeks earlier.

Next on his agenda is the New York marathon, hopefully in a sub-2hr 30min time. The Australian Olympic qualifying time is 2hr 12min.

"I just love to train and train with people who are motivated," he said.

At Punt Rd, he is relishing learning from Hardwick in a dual Coburg-Richmond development role.

"I love to coach, I love sport, I love the game of football, and I get up every morning and you love coming to work," he said.

"Richmond is a fantastic footy club and a really good environment to be in and coaching Coburg, it's a really proud footy club, the people are fantastic."

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Chris Scott hails milestone pair

What will the AFL match review panel make of Geelong captain Joel Selwood and Richmond's Chris Newman's wrestling moves

GEELONG coach Chris Scott lauded his milestone men Corey Enright and Steve Johnson last night.

Scott described Enright as the best small defender of his time as the consistent Cat celebrated his 250th game with another stellar display at the MCG.

And the Cats coach credited the inside work of Johnson in his 200th game as critical to the second-half turnaround that set up the 44-point win against Richmond.

"When we were a bit average inside the contests, Johnson was one keeping us in it. I loved his game tonight, he can do some fantastic things," Scott said.

"When we needed someone to give us a lift inside the contests, he was the one. I don't think he's credited for that work enough. And Boris (Enright) just did what he always did."

Scott said he could vaguely recall a NAB Cup game once when he thought Enright wasn't up to his usual standard.

"We work for guys like Boris, he doesn't work for us. So, the conversations are certainly not schoolteacher, student," he said.

Geelong stalwart Corey Enright celebrates a spectacular goal with Steve Johnson. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

"You're a bit careful making outlandish statements this close to the finish of the game, but he's probably the best small defender of our era.

"We're biased, I know. We're Geelong people, but that's not just my opinion. That's the opinion of people who have been around football for a long time.

"I wanted to say ever. I think you've got the idea how I rate him."

Enright was swamped by teammates after a rare goal late in the last quarter.

"The players love him. And Johnno as well," the coach said.

"Those players have done so much for the footy club and they're not done yet. We've got a few more things we want to tick off.

Corey Enright, front, and Steve Johnson run onto the field for the match against Richmond. Both played in their 250th match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

"But it is important on big occasions for those individuals that the team lifts. When Corey kicked that goal, you saw the esteem he's held by his teammates."

Scott was also enthusiastic in his praise of small forwards Allen Christensen and Mathew Stokes, the latter who sparked the Cats revival by beating three opponents to set up a Trent West goal in the second quarter.

"If there was a trigger, that was probably it. When things aren't going your way, you need moments like that to help and lift the team," Scott said.

"We really value players when they're outnumbered and outgunned can at least halve contests. And that was a pretty good example of that."

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Fast fix needed for Eagles goalkicking

STRAIGHTEN UP: West Coast's goalkickers will be seeking more accuracy against the Dogs. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

IF bad kicking is bad football, then West Coast has been terrible this season.

Champion Data's complex goalkicking index, known as Kick Ratings, has revealed the Eagles were the second-worst team at shooting on goal during the opening five rounds.

Remarkably, battler Melbourne has been easily the best team in front of the sticks.

The formula rates goalkicking accuracy by looking at which goals players should kick and also factors in attempts that go out on the full or fall short.

The measure takes into account the type of shot, distance, angle and pressure from opponents.

The Eagles were ranked 17th, ahead of only Gold Coast, in the ratings. Fremantle was also in the bottom three.

West Coast has kicked 17.42 in losses to Carlton and Port Adelaide in the past two weeks.

Midfielder Scott Selwood is the Eagles' biggest culprit, with the worst rating of any player to have had at least five shots on goal, while the omitted Jamie Cripps had the best rating.

Cripps has an expected accuracy rating of 46.6 per cent for his eight shots this season, but nailed them 62.5 per cent of the time giving him a rating of +15.9 per cent.

Josh Kennedy is easily the best kick for goal among West Coast's main forwards, with a rating of +15.4.

Callum Sinclair (-25.1), Dean Cox (-18.6), Jack Darling (-11.9) and Mark LeCras (-1.1) all have negative ratings.

Essendon's Ben Howlett has the top rating for any player in the competition with at least 10 shots for the season.

Dockers skipper Matthew Pavlich, who played the first three games before being sidelined with injury, has the worst rating in the AFL at -28.9 per cent.

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We want Worsfold: Eagles boss

BACK HIM IN: West Coast chairman Alan Cransberg wants John Worsfold to be at the club next season. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast Eagles chairman Alan Cransberg says John Worsfold is "the right guy" to coach the club and will be offered a new contract, despite the dire start to the season.

Cransberg confirmed talks over a new deal had been delayed until the end of the season, but said he had no doubt Worsfold deserved to extend his coaching tenure into a 13th season.

"We'll sit down at the end of the year and, providing John's got the passion and the desire to keep going, then that's exactly what he'll do," Cransberg said.

"You always look at the results, but I cannot imagine a scenario where he wouldn't be coaching us next year if he wanted to coach us.

"We haven't set John specific targets. I think John is the right guy to coach the club."

Worsfold, who narrowly avoided being sacked following the 2010 wooden spoon, is on a two-year deal that runs until the end of this season.

He received his last extension after leading the Eagles to a fairytale preliminary final in 2011, becoming the first VFL/AFL coach in 94 years to take his side to a wooden spoon and then into the finals the following year.

A West Coast Hall of Fame member who holds the records as the club's longest-serving captain and coach, Worsfold will coach the Eagles for the 265th time against the Western Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium today.

He faces one of his greatest challenges as he attempts to revive the Eagles' premiership hopes after just one win  against struggling Melbourne  in the opening five rounds.

Cransberg said he did not believe coaches necessarily became stale after a long stint at a club and praised Worsfold's willingness to change and innovate.

While Worsfold has said he will need to consider whether he still has the required drive and hunger to continue, Cransberg did not believe the 2006 premiership coach was at risk of burning out.

"He still has the enthusiasm and the energy," Cransberg said. "He not only says that, but I see that.

"Importantly, he's still got a good connection with the players, the executive and the board of the club.

"If somebody's performing and achieving the goals we set out for him, still has the personal passion and desire and is continually looking to change and innovate, then it can work for a longer period of time.''

West Coast finished fifth last season before being knocked out in a semi-final by Collingwood.

The club had targeted a top-four finish this season but the Eagles have already dropped four matches and face a tough draw in the second half of the season.

"Collectively we know we're not achieving what we set out to achieve at the start of the year," Cransberg said.

"There's still a positive attitude and frankly it's more about a focus on the things we need to improve on and let's get on and do them."

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Charter opens up on Stephen Dank

Shane Charter will detail his dealings with former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank during interviews with ASADA next week. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

STEPHEN Dank, Essendon's former sports scientist, ordered a banned peptide in quantities sufficient to treat a team of AFL players, according to a former associate.

Records of Mr Dank's purchasing process reveal he sourced the peptide Thymosin beta 4 from Melbourne biochemist Shane Charter while working for Essendon.

In a text message sent in January 2012, Mr Charter asks: "Which peptides do you need next?"

Mr Dank replies: "Thymosin beta 4, CJC-1295."

The Herald Sun has previously reported that Essendon has been unsure which type of thymosin its players had been given.

Thymosin beta 4 is prohibited for athletes under anti-doping rules.

It has been listed as prohibited from "at least 2011", an Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority spokesman said.

During a meeting with the Herald Sun, Mr Charter produced a text message exchange between him and Mr Dank.

He also produced an email he sent Mr Dank in which he details how to use the substance, commercially known as TB-500, and says it is "for research use only".

Former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank.

Mr Charter will detail his dealings with Mr Dank during interviews with ASADA next week.

Thymosin is a peptide that assists muscle regeneration and is commonly used in racehorses.

Mr Charter, a personal trainer who has worked with dozens of AFL players, worked with South Yarra pharmacist Nima Alavi to acquire and prepare supplements for Mr Dank during Mr Dank's time as the Bombers' sports scientist.

The supplements would be made in bulk and Mr Dank would collect them each week.

Mr Charter will tell ASADA that Mr Dank had ordered enough Thymosin beta 4 to treat a squad of 30 players with regular weekly injections.

"It was enough for an entire squad," he said.

It is not known if it was used on athletes.

Essendon is not named in any correspondence about Thymosin beta 4 between Mr Charter and Mr Dank.

Mr Dank also purchased B vitamins through Mr Charter, in the name of club doctor Bruce Reid, as far back as August 2011.

Mr Charter said Mr Dank had later telephoned him for advice about appropriate B vitamin doses for athletes in recovery.

Mr Charter has recently received death threats, his house has been burgled and his car stolen.

Ballarat University's Dr Stephen Brown, who co-wrote a paper about Thymosin beta 4 and sport that was published in February in the authoritative Journal of Sports Science, said the substance was commonly used on racehorses.

"I'm shocked that it would be given to humans, because there's no evidence to show that it's beneficial. So why inject it and, if you do, what are the risks?" he said.

"Who knows what nasty genes it could turn on down the track?"

Thymosin beta 4 is in the early stages of development as a drug that could help regenerate human hearts.

"It's been used in racehorses as something that could improve recovery after injury but, as far as clinical data goes, it's pretty thin on the ground," said Dr Brown, who has a PhD in physiology.

"There isn't enough evidence to support giving it as a drug for a horse."

Essendon said last night it could not comment until the ASADA and AFL investigations had finished.

Mr Dank's lawyer, Greg Stanton, refused to make any comment.

Mr Dank has previously denied any wrongdoing, and says everything he gave players was above board.

carly.crawford@news.com.au

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Carl's career a mirror of Saints

St Kilda champion Carl Ditterich and Bulldogs great Doug Hawkins at the 2004 Hall of Fame gala. Picture: Cameron Tandy Source: Herald Sun

CARL Ditterich pauses, delving into his memory to recall the last time he caught up with his old St Kilda teammates.

There was a table of them at the club's function after the 2010 drawn Grand Final, but he reckons it was probably 12 months earlier when the 1966 team gathered at the Launceston Country Club for a premiership reunion with ailing skipper Darrel Baldock.

"I remember there being a Focker Friendship put on to fly myself and a few of the other blokes," Ditterich, now 67, recalled. "We all got down to Tassie and got around 'Doc' (Baldock) and had a great evening. It was just sensational."

On that August evening in 2009, only three members of the club's most famous team were missing: the recently deceased Travis Payze, as well as Ian Stewart and Daryl Griffiths, who were overseas.

Since then, the Saints have mourned the passing of Baldock, defender Roger Head and coach Allan Jeans.

It is one of the reasons "Big Carl" is so looking forward to tonight's function, at which about 650 guests will celebrate St Kilda's 140th anniversary.

12/04/1976. Carl Ditterich in action for the Saints. Carlton v St. Kilda. football. Picture: Photo File Source: Herald Sun

Members of the 1966 premiership team such as Allan Morrow, Kevin "Cowboy" Neale, Bob Murray, Verdun Howell, Ian Synman and Brian Mynott will mingle with Stewart Loewe, Lance Oswald, Brian Gleeson, Danny Frawley and games record holder Robert Harvey, who will become the 42nd player inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.

Ditterich, who was in the Etihad Stadium stands for last night's match against Collingwood, had a career that in many ways encapsulates the club's history: spectacular, enigmatic, capable of brilliance, controversial and punctuated by Grand Final disappointment.

It is 50 years since he burst on to the scene as a 17-year-old from East Brighton, making a breathtaking debut against Melbourne in the opening round of 1963. Amazingly, Ditterich had been to only one VFL game in his life - to watch his beloved Geelong play St Kilda at the same ground the previous year.

"The thing I remember most about my first game was just running through the race and on to the field with the rest of the players," Ditterich said.

"It was at the old St Kilda (Junction) Oval, a magnificent ground and the place was packed. And just the roar of the crowd.

"I started off in the ruck. It's all about confidence. If you can get a couple of early tap-outs and a kick here and there, your confidence grows."

Ditterich was best afield and the legend was born.

"I was absolutely buggered after the game. The nervous tension drained all of the energy out of me and I was that tired that, about an hour after the game, I had to go and have a lie down on the carpet in (club secretary) Ian Drake's office."

Over the next 14 seasons Ditterich played 285 games, won two best-and-fairests, captained St Kilda and captain-coached Melbourne. He played in two losing Grand Finals and famously missed the 1966 decider due to a six-match suspension for striking Fitzroy's Daryl Peoples in the penultimate round of the season.

"I thought it was quite a legitimate bump myself, straight down the line, but these days they'd probably lock you up," Ditterich recalled.

"He was going for the ball and I just ran right through him. Next thing I know, they're descending from everywhere. The bloke who was umpiring on the wing on the other side of the ground even ran over and reported me."

It was one of 19 reports laid against Ditterich during a career in which he missed 30 games through suspension.

Ditterich said his memories of the 1966 Grand Final were hazy. He watched the match sitting up in the stand with injured wingman Ross Oakley and rover Ian Rowland.

12/04/1976. Carl Ditterich in action for the Saints. Carlton v St. Kilda. football. Picture: Photo File Source: Herald Sun

"I reckon we were up in the second tier, probably the Southern Stand I'd say. And when the siren went, I remember Ross and I were jumping up and down hugging each other - as you would after your first flag in 60 odd years - and we grabbed 'Doggy' Rowlands, who was unfortunate enough to have been left out of the previous week's side, and headed down to the rooms.

"When we got down there 'Huggo' (president Graham Huggins) divorced himself from the celebrations and came over and grabbed us blokes. It was a lot more spontaneous than it is today."

Tonight, with old friends, Ditterich will have five decades of memories to catch up on.

CARL Ditterich would get another crack at a premiership when he played in the 1971 Grand Final, when the Saints were overrun by Hawthorn.

"It was a tough, hard game," Ditterich said. "I think I might have run through a few players early and lost a bit of focus."

Within 12 months his time at the club was up, crossing to Melbourne under the 10-year rule after a minor dispute that pains him to this day.

"I would have eaten a car tyre for St Kilda," he said. "You got wrapped in the euphoria of playing league football with a team full of your mates. All I wanted at the end of 1972 was about $80 a game, and at that stage they were paying $60, $70 and $80 a game to guys who were no certainty to even play each week.

"It sounds greedy, but I'd put in 10 good years for the club and all I was after was an extra few dollars.

"But my motivation for playing was still the club and the supporters. And to win. I mean everyone loves winning and nobody loved it more than me."

Over the next eight years Ditterich waxed between Melbourne and St Kilda before leaving league football in 1981 and heading to the Mallee, where he still lives today.

"Managed to get to the grand final with Woorinen a couple of times and got done, then Tooleybuc and got done again, then Robinvale and the same thing happened again," he said. "Never quite got there in a grand final, except with the East Brighton under-17s. Premiership-wise, that's the only one of my life."

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Tom sullied

Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Scully finds space against his old team. Source: Herald Sun

IN AMERICAN sports they are known as "busts" - the No.1 rated draft talent who never quite cuts it in the big show. And right now that is Tom Scully.

The young man with the $1 million wage is in danger of becoming our equivalent of US basketballer Kwame Brown or former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Brown has become a journeyman, while Russell is trying to find a second NFL club.

Scully isn't in their league yet but his career graph is spiralling downwards at a time when he should be making a serious impression in his fourth AFL season.

Instead Scully, 21, is meandering along as a midfielder, being surpassed by younger Greater Western Sydney teammates such as Toby Greene, Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Lachie Whitfield.

His statistics show he is down in overall disposals, contested possessions and tackles, while continuing to struggle in his attempts to hit the scoreboard.

Yes, Scully is a soft target considering he wasn't responsible for being selected at No.1 in the 2009 draft.

But he did take the money and run from Melbourne and that leaves him more open to criticism.

Melbourne training at AAMI park. Tom Scully faces the media before training. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Graeme Yeats, who coached Scully in 2008-09 at the Dandenong Stingrays, believes there are mitigating circumstances that should be considered when judging him.

"He is in uncharted territory in terms of leaving his club after two seasons to join a new franchise, and with that comes extra pressure. Plus he is someone who has always placed a lot of pressure on himself," Yeats said.

"By moving to a young club he has been placed in a role that would challenge a 26 or 27-year-old.

"It's fair to say I would have thought he may have had a greater impact by now, but if anyone can push through, then Tommy can."

Yeats still regards Scully as someone who plays his best football as an outside runner, not winning the hard ball in the packs.

He said the consistency would come when Scully was allowed to settle in a position that suited his strengths.

"Given his strength is his aerobic capacity, we played him wing, half-back or half-forward," Yeats said.

"He would pick up 30 possessions across half-back in his first season with us (2008).

"His kicking wasn't penetrating, but I wouldn't have seen it as a deficiency.

"The areas I thought he needed to improve were his decision making and execution by hand.

"But, overall, he was as capable as anyone to make an impact at AFL level.

"He is taking time to adapt and GWS probably needs a better performance out of him based on his salary.

"But he will do everything to ensure that happens."

The recruiters, men who spent plenty of wintry afternoons watching Scully and the class of 2009 ply their trade, aren't all as generous in their assessments.

But to a man - and the Herald Sun spoke with four - they said Scully and his former teammate Jack Trengove, who was taken at pick No.2 in the same draft, have been victims of the club that recruited them.

"Name one Melbourne player who has improved over the past four or five years," one leading recruiter said.

"Maybe Nathan Jones, and they can't even get that right by naming him captain.

"Jack Watts can be placed in the same category.

"Had those players gone to a Geelong or Sydney they would be more advanced, no doubt. They are products of their environment."

Tom Scully in action for GWS against Carlton on Sunday. Source: Getty Images

Dual North Melbourne premiership player and football analyst David King is prepared to cut Scully some slack.

"He is what he is, a gut-busting and overlap runner who is a very good short ball user," King said.

"I'm not as critical of him right now as I was at this stage last year.

"I still think he will be a very good player. As the GWS midfield group gets better, so will Tom.

"I saw him play on Nathan Jones recently and he was terrific.

"I know there are plenty of critics, including recruiters, but they tend to see what players can't do.

"And his professionalism creates standards within a developing club.

"Has he burst on the scene like some other young midfielders? No, but some players take longer."

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