Sheeds sensed Folau's potential

Master coach Kevin Sheedy talks with recruit Israel Folau after a game this earlier this year. Picture: Kym Smith. Source: The Daily Telegraph

KEVIN Sheedy, multiple premiership player with Richmond and coach with Essendon, was one of the few to have a sense of perspective as Israel Folau quit the Australian winter game yesterday afternoon.

Sheedy has always been a visionary, always one to take a punt, and he was saddened to see Folau leave the game and, as expected, return to rugby league.

The core of his sentiments ran like this: "We would never know how good Folau would have become, because it takes time to learn a new sport, but he had been a fantastic young fella to work with."

The industry has watched and scrutinised Folau closely over the past year.

Two camps formed: some argued he was a ridiculous signing, earning money close to the top five players in the competition while being statistically ranked among the worst in the land.

Those views were harsh, because as a player, he was on about the average wage. The rest of his pay packet was for promotional purposes, and he created enough headline to justify every dollar.

He was just an average player, albeit one with above-average promise. But it's not difficult to make a case that the quietly-spoken Folau earned his money.

At 23, there was time for Folau to turn into a player, much like Jim Stynes and Tadhg Kennelly did, and Sheedy, for one, had the patience. The game didn't, and it seems Folau didn't either.

Sheedy knows a punt is worth it  just ask him about Bel Esprit or Black Caviar  or former US footballer Dwayne Armstrong who he had playing in Essendon's reserves.

Not all punts pay off, but it doesn't mean you stop trying.

Sheedy also had Tim Watson come out of retirement, restored the career of ex-Cat John Barnes and will continue to look for an edge.

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Pick Me: Draft analysis series

Get the first look at the AFL's future stars in this preview of draft analysis series 'Pick Me'

Ollie Wines, Lachie Whitfield and Jono O'Rourke, three of the best midfielders in the draft, share a laugh on the first day of testing. They will all feature in the Pick Me draft series. Picture: Getty Images Source: Herald Sun

WANT first look at your club's next superstar?

Get exclusive highlights, expert analysis and find out who your club is looking at when Pick Me launches today.

The series will examine 20 of the hottest draft prospect across 20 days as we countdown to the November 22 AFL draft.

VIDEO: Watch the Pick Me trailer in the video player above

Find out who boasts the best kick, safest hands and the most ferocious tackling technique and meet your club's next star first.

Each day there will be an exclusive video only  at SuperFooty and a story in your Herald Sun as we unearth the next Steve Johnson, Jobe Watson and Scott Pendlebury.

Who will tomorrow's be?

Get the first look at the AFL's future stars in this preview of draft analysis series 'Pick Me'

 

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Vlastuin at home in trenches

Averaging 6.3 tackles per game, Vlastuin knows how to dump opponents in to the turf. Get exclusive vision and expert analysis of his hard-edge approach ahead of the AFL draft.

s04wp970 Nick Vlastuin - TAC Cup footballer who will be drafted at season's end. Picture: Jason Edwards Source: Herald Sun

NICK Vlastuin stood in a field of Australian war graves in France, half a world away from his AFL dream.

The Northern Knights onballer has a reputation as one of the most fearless and physical midfield talents in the draft.

But the pressures he confronted on the football field, managing a troublesome ankle injury and leading Vic Metro to the national championship, seemed insignificant as he remembered the lives lost in war.

For Vlastuin, the personal connection was a strong one. His grandfather, Leedert, served in the Dutch army in Papua New Guinea, before migrating to Australia with his wife, Beth (Oma in Dutch), to start a new life.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch highlights of Vlastuin and get our expert analysis in the video player above

"He worked on the Burma railways where he was a prisoner of war and in some of the Japanese death camps, in the marches," Vlastuin said.

"He was pretty hard done by in some situations throughout the war, and obviously when he came to Australia, not being able to speak English (was tough).

"It's a family thing. I would like to do him proud. He had no idea what AFL is, but looking down I think he would be proud of me if I can make it."

Pick Me started right here today but check out the preview video here

Sadly, Vlastuin's grandmother died, age 94, on the Friday before the AFL Grand Final.

Her funeral the next week in NSW clashed with the AFL draft combine, where the stoppage powerhouse was expected to press his claims as a top-15 choice.

"Dad said right from the start, 'Go to footy camp, family will understand'," Vlastuin said.

"But I knew if I missed it (the funeral), I'll be thinking about it for the rest of my life. So it was an easy decision in the end."

For recruiters, the "family first" attitude was another big tick for his character.

Nick Vlastuin of Vic Metro in action during the 2012 NAB AFL Under 18 Championship between VIC Metro and Western Australia at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media) Source: Herald Sun

Naturally reserved off the field, Vlastuin's competitive streak and strong leadership skills come to the fore when he pulls on the boots.

Around the stoppages, the dual under-18 All-Australian brings an unflinching attack on the ball, which makes him one of the most powerful clearance players in the draft pool.

"One of the reasons his peers really gravitate to him is because of his actions on the field," Knights' regional manager Peter Kennedy said.

"He's very courageous, and one of those players that once he crosses the white line, he becomes a competitive beast.

"He really thrives on the contested side of the game, so when it becomes a little bit brutal, you know he's in there winning the contested footy."

The 187cm midfielder has also acted as a rudder in defence, showing the sacrificial side of his game, helping cover and assist teammates.

His strong frame will probably put him in the frame to play seniors from Round 1 next season, adding to his first-round appeal.

Richmond could take him as early as pick No. 9, while Gold Coast has a strong need for a ready-made inside ball winner at selection No.13.

After finishing his studies last year, Vlastuin, 18, has worked as a lifeguard at a pool this season, allowing him to focus fully on his AFL dream.

Vlastuin said he wanted to develop into the same mould of player as St Kilda midfielder Lenny Hayes and Collingwood's Luke Ball.

"All the recruiters are saying if you can't win a one-on-one (contest), you can't play AFL; that's pretty exciting for me," he said.

"I prefer the way the game is moving to more contested footy, stoppages, body-on-body stuff, because they are my strengths. Hopefully, I get that opportunity."

THE NICK VLASTUIN FILE

Age: 18
Height: 187cm
Weight: 83kg
From: Northern Knights
Position: Midfield/half-back
Predicted draft range: 9-15
Plays like: Brad Sewell
 

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Folau out but Tippett may be in

At the end of the AFL season Kurt Tippett left headed home leaving Adelaide for the Gold Coast. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

THE ducks are lining up for Kurt Tippett to play for Greater Western Sydney with marquee player Israel Folau yesterday turning his back on Australian football.

His call leaves the Giants clearing at least $250,000 off their books with the former rugby league top-liner announcing he is returning to his first love.

Giants chief executive Dave Matthews said Folau's announcement was an independent consideration to the potential recruitment of Tippett, but recognised it had boosted the club's prospects of snaring the Queenslander.

"We said earlier in the week, and this is before we knew what Israel was contemplating, that we had the selections that would enable us to get Kurt Tippett if we could afford him," Matthews said.

"We've still got to work out what that means and what are the terms and conditions in which he might enter one of the drafts.

"So the next couple of weeks (Graeme) 'Gubby' Allan and Steve Silvagni will work with the coaches to do their due diligence on him, but we're certainly in there for Kurt Tippett."

In Tippett, there is the opportunity to sign up another marquee name, one who was Adelaide's highest-paid player at an estimated $700,000 and another one who comes from a non-traditional AFL background, with Tippett growing up as a basketballer in Queensland.

Folau was understood to have combined a playing wage of $250,000 with the club's $573,000 marketing allowance and a separate AFL promotional deal.

There will be no compensation for the Crows for Tippett, whose last deal with Adelaide may have breached both the salary cap because of guaranteed third-party agreements and conduct prejudicial to the draw because of promises ensuring an easy passage to the club of his choice once he left the Crows.

But Folau has opened up an easy transition for Tippett to move to the city of his choice, Sydney, even though he may not land at the club of his choice, the Swans.

The Swans have not indicated they are out of the race for his services, but the Crows are now expecting it will be difficult for other clubs to pinch Tippett from GWS in the pre-season draft.

There is still a school of thought that he would best benefit the game by returning to Queensland, where he could be the face of Gold Coast as the home-grown player, but that club already has the game's best player in Gary Ablett and is becoming more competitive by the year.

Folau, 23, left the Giants with two years remaining on his contract and there are already rumours swirling about his next destination, with Parramatta chief executive Ken Edwards saying Folau would be an ideal recruit for the 2013 NRL season.

"We think Israel would be a great fit," Edwards said.

Folau's exit will not affect Adelaide, which still has concerns explaining its deal with Tippett signed in 2009.

Folau admits the thought of playing at the same NRL club as his younger brother Eni is appealing but the code-hopping star insists his future is uncertain.

"At this stage, I've had no discussions with any clubs at all," he said.

"I'll leave it up to my management to control that stuff ... I haven't had no discussions with any club so I can't confirm anything.

"My future at the moment is uncertain. I still don't know what to do."

The former Melbourne, Brisbane, Queensland and Australian rugby league star admits he'd like to play at the Eels with 19-year-old brother Eni, who is a member of Parramatta's under 20s side.

"It'd be nice but, like I said, that's not a thing for me ... At this stage, I don't know what I'm doing," he said.
 

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Crows' mettle truly being tested

AFL investigators arrive at the Adelaide Football Club Administration in the wake of deals made with former player Kurt Tippett Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Australian

ADELAIDE is embroiled in two of the AFL's biggest investigations in recent memory and living a nightmare that is testing the foundations of the club.

Adding to the inquiry into Kurt Tippett's 2009 contract with the club, the AFL now has ramped up the tanking probe into Melbourne which led to Crows senior assistant Dean Bailey's departure from the Demons and has been simmering since 2009.

Adelaide's plight was highlighted yesterday with former NRL star Israel Folau quitting Greater Western Sydney which clears the way for Tippett to join the Giants in the drafting period.

The explosive issues have been made more volatile with former players and officials being interviewed again at league headquarters and information leaking out to test the mettle of the Crows, the Demons and Bailey.

This comes as a second player reportedly has backed Brock McLean's claims of tanking by the Demons and a former staffer telling The Advertiser the winning chances of at least two Melbourne games were severely compromised by orders handed down to the coaching staff.

A Melbourne insider told The Advertiser here had been a steady stream of people involved with the club back in 2009 being interviewed by the AFL. That came as the Demons were seen to set up a defence on the basis that disgruntled former employers-turned-whistleblowers were motivated by a wish to sink the club.

The Crows distanced themselves from the investigation yesterday, saying they  were yet to speak at length to Bailey about the matter.

It is understood the two investigations the AFL is conducting simultaneously  into the Melbourne tanking issue and the alleged contract law breaches in Tippett's contract  are stretching the league's resources and potentially could delay proceedings.

Some of those involved with Melbourne in 2009 said they were interviewed for the second time by the AFL last week, having first been called to AFL House in August, and it leaves the league's chief investigators Ken Wood and Brett Clothier with a heavy workload.

The Crows had initially thought the investigation into Tippett would conclude this week and there was speculation yesterday a decision was imminent. But the Crows yesterday feared it would not be resolved until the days leading up to the national draft on November 22.

This much is clear: there will be no compensation for Tippett, who was the club's highest-paid player, and the club is likely to be restricted in both this and next year's draft.

Football operations manager Phil Harper said the club was not in a position to make a comment while the matter was being investigated by the AFL. The draft-tampering issue has cast a cloud over the game and the Crows, with the AFL warning that anyone involved in tanking would never work again in football.

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Izzy worth every cent for AFL

Neil Cordy discusses where Israel Folau will go next.

Israel Folau attempts a shot at goal against the Kangaroos. Picture: Rohan Kelly Source: The Daily Telegraph

TWO goals for $2 million. It is tempting to view the Israel Folau experiment as an abject failure through the prism of footy performance.

But in terms of his effectiveness as a public relations driver, Folau has been nothing short of a spectacular success.

If you were to conduct a vox pop in the streets of Sydney, asking people to name a GWS player, it's a fair bet the vast majority would baulk after identifying Folau.

And that says plenty about his worth to the code.

Rothfield: Folau return a triumph for NRL

The AFL's expensive bid to launch a team in western Sydney with a predominantly inexperienced list was always going to be a hard sell, particularly in the formative years.

An identifiable face and an audacious transformation project was crucial in engaging the public and generating awareness in an already crowded sporting market.

So, while Folau might never have cracked GWS's best 22, he more than pulled his weight off the field.

Analysis provided by Media Monitors has revealed that his reported $1 million-per-season wage was offset by the publicity he generated, particularly in that crucial window around the time of the club's launch earlier this year.

I personally think it's a shame he didn't play at least another year in the AFL.

As we have seen with fellow code-jumpers Karmichael Hunt and Mike Pyke, it takes two years of heavy slog to learn a new sport and it is not until season three that benefits are reaped.

Many wrote off the recruitment of Folau as nothing more than a marketing gimmick, but I'm not convinced that was the case.

There was genuine intent and investment from the AFL, GWS and the Giants' coaching staff to transform Folau into a footy player. In time, he might have got there. But now we'll never know.

It's clear, though, that Folau's best game for the Giants was his last one. For the first and only time, he looked in his element against the Kangaroos, kicking a goal and imposing himself upon the opposition.

But now he is headed back to his natural habitat where, at the age of 23, Test matches, State of Origin and perhaps grand finals await.

From bit-part player in AFL to superstar in league - I don't think anyone would begrudge him this move.

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Saints struggle to fill defence holes

The AFL announces its fixture list for the 2013 premiership season.

The Saints are looking for a defender to replace Jason Gram. Source: Herald Sun

THE sudden sacking of Jason Gram means St Kilda heads to the national draft with five picks, but dumped Cats defender Tom Gillies is not the answer to their defensive frailties.

Coach Scott Watters has conceded the club will have to reinvent a tall like Rhys Stanley or Justin Koschitzke if it cannot identify a potential defender by the pre-season draft.

St Kilda has lost star onballer Brendon Goddard, the troubled Gram, and first-round pick Jamie Cripps from its midfield.

Gram and his management will consider his options, but he is likely to nominate for one of the coming drafts.

It is yet to be seen if a rival club would consider drafting the 28-year-old, but as a delisted player he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

St Kilda must negotiate the size of his payout with the player union and his management.

Yesterday the exodus continued, with the Saints releasing the much-maligned Raph Clarke and rookie Warrick Andreoli.

St Kilda has five picks - Nos. 25, 26, 41, 44 and 77 - in the November 22 draft.

It could end up saving its final list position for the pre-season draft and while it hasn't ruled out taking an experienced tall, it does not have a player in mind.

The Saints were ecstatic to snare Gold Coast ruckman Tom Hickey and Claremont forward Tommy Lee. But now they will quickly move on from the Gram sacking to try to restructure their defence.

The pressure is likely to be put on Koschitzke to justify his position given the club now has two A-Grade ruckmen and can play Lee and Stanley alongside Nick Riewoldt.

Watters said this week Sam Fisher might end up taking the opposition's main forward, which means the Saints might need to manufacture another rebounding defender.

"It is going to be a squeeze from a big-man point of view. Whether we look at Rhys Stanley spending time down back or Kosi, it all depends what becomes available in the draft and what type of role we want to use Sam Fisher in this year," Watters said.

"We are discussing all the possibilities pretty intently. Towards the end of the year we saw Sam Fisher when he locked down against the A-Grade key forward as opposed to a roaming defensive role, and he was very rarely beaten."

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Stynes: Dees always did their best

Jim Stynes watches on during an AFL match between Melbourne and Carlton. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE is expected to strongly reject allegations that it deliberately lost games in 2009, arguing that it never participated in "tanking" as defined under AFL guidelines.

Former Melbourne president Jim Stynes, who died in March, was asked about the 2009 tanking allegations while he and I were co-writing his autobiography, My Journey, towards the end of 2011.

He was adamant there was no strategy to lose matches, saying: "Melbourne never sat down our coach Dean Bailey and instructed him not to win games". Stynes was frustrated about the tanking accusations, asking: "What is tanking?

"It's a really difficult one because sometimes when you put together the team, you put the best players that you can on the ground and then some people will say, 'Oh, you're not playing these players'. So that's tanking, right?

"But sometimes we sack players because their attitude is not good or they're not listening. They might be playing well but they are not playing the way they can play. (We tell them) 'This is the way we need you to play to be part of the team, this is the role or the position we want you to play, not that way'. Otherwise you end up teaching them bad habits.

"So is that tanking? Well that's not tanking because that's saying to the group that this player needs a lesson or needs to go. You have to choose because sometimes they need to play that role in the twos before they can come back again."

AFL Regulation 19(A5) defines tanking as "a person, being a player, coach or assistant coach, must at all times perform on their merits and must not induce, or encourage, any player, coach or assistant coach not to perform on their merits in any match - or in relation to any aspect of the match, for any reason whatsoever."

That definition will be closely scrutinised by Melbourne's legal team, which includes vice-president Guy Jalland, a legal counsel for Publishing and Broadcasting Limited from 2004-07.

Stynes was Melbourne president when the Demons were alleged to have underperformed in the second half of 2009, and when club officials are alleged to have met to discuss strategies to "forfeit matches". It coincided with his cancer diagnosis (June), major surgery (early July) and recovery in Thailand (July-August).

His first game back was Melbourne's 63-point win over Fremantle in Round 20, and he wrote in his diary: "We had the biggest win in 3 years and it felt awesome. It was great to be back passionate again about this great club and these terrific people. This makes it all worthwhile."

Stynes was critical of the AFL's special assistance rules for effectively providing lowly clubs with a disincentive to win games. By winning no more than four games in 2009, the Demons were guaranteed a priority pick (No.1) in that year's national draft.

"People at the club found themselves shrouded in that reality," he wrote. "It went against the grain for each of us to find solace in failure, but that was the system."

Stynes said ladder position "doesn't necessarily reflect how good or bad your team is", and was in favour of a more holistic examination of clubs.

"The number of games you win and lose should be one component and then the way you run your football club or the numbers; the amount of people supporters you get, you know, what you are able to generate - all those things should come into it.

"The AFL could then use its judgment or a broader set of guidelines to award a priority pick. But it certainly shouldn't set a target before a season and give a club a disincentive to win."

Editorial, Page 28

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No guarantees for minor premiers

The AFL announces its fixture list for the 2013 premiership season.

An emotional Lance Franklin sits on the ground after the Swans topped the Hawks in 2012 AFl Grand Final at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Limited

THE AFL says it is no position to guarantee next year's minor premiers a longer break than their Grand Final opponent.

Hawthorn were upset to be given a seven-day break leading into this year's Grand Final, while an ANZ Stadium double booking handed Sydney a critical eight-day break.

The league was furious that Patersons Stadium scheduled a rugby union test in Week 1 of the finals, but only weeks later put Hawthorn at a disadvantage.

AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said yesterday it could only ensure the minor premier won a seven-day break.

``We do our best to negotiate, and I think in the end everyone understood what happened, but it may well happen again in the future.''

The league said the Grand Final would stay an afternoon game, while the push for Good Friday football seems to have been extinguished for the forseeable future.

The league says that Monday night would be the logical time to play a fourth day of football each week given a crowded calendar.

But despite having two Monday night games this year - up from one last season - it says there is no groundswell for regular Monday night football.

St Kilda and Carlton get their now-traditional Monday night game after Mother's Day, while West Coast and Richmond play in Round 10 at night on a public holiday in West Australia.

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'Kreuzer Cup' stigma remains

Matthew Kreuzer joined the Blues after their shocking 2007 season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

IF Andrew Demetriou is adamant any tanking "cold case" can be reopened at any time, then Carlton would be most nervous.

The stigma of the "Kreuzer Cup" in the final round of 2007, and the lame matches leading into it, just won't go away for the Blues.

They lost 10 matches in a row, ensuring they snared Matthew Kreuzer and had another early pick to nab Chris Judd, and assistant coach Tony Liberatore caused screaming headlines early the next season after an interview on The Footy Show.

Liberatore said he had never heard a directive from above for the Blues to deliberately to tank games, but said he could "feel it".

He said there were even jokes made among coaching staff.

"We wouldn't use those words (how do we lose), but another assistant coach would say, 'Tanks very much', or something along those lines in a jocular way," he said.

He added that he believed coaches from both sides had laid low in the Round 22 Carlton-Melbourne clash that would become known as the "Kreuzer Cup".

"In all honesty I think both coaches tried to lose it," he said.

They were extraordinary comments at the time ... even more extraordinary when you re-visit them in the current climate.

Yet, in an era before a fully fledged integrity department, the investigation was limited.

Liberatore's claims were just as explosive as Brock McLean's, but it was not as if every Blues assistant coach and executive was hauled in. It was over in a flash after "Libba" watered down his story on visiting the AFL.

The "Kreuzer Cup" was full of startling stats and moves. The game was a free for all, more NBL than AFL. Both teams had 60-plus forward entries, underlining the shootout and a loose Demon Travis Johnstone racking up 42 disposals.

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