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Suns gun awaits his fate

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 01 Januari 2013 | 22.09

Harley Bennell during a Gold Coast Suns recovery session at Kurrawa beach, Broadbeach. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

GOLD Coast youngster Harley Bennell has saved himself from a severe club penalty after a night out with friends in Western Australia turned ugly.

Bennell was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and failure to obey an order given by a police officer after a large New Year's melee in his hometown of Mandurah, south of Perth.

He will front court on January 15.

The Suns will convene a meeting of the senior administrators and leadership group to determine if Bennell will get a club sanction once he has faced court.

However, the blow for officials has been softened by a phone call Bennell made to Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft, who is holidaying in Hawaii.

Bennell immediately alerted Ashcroft to the incident and issued an apology for his actions.

Twelve months ago, the former No.2 draft pick would have switched his phone off and gone to ground.

The last time he found himself in a minor spot of trouble back in Perth, when he was present at the scene of a misdemeanour, he did not contact the club and when they tracked him down he only released details that had already been made public.

But this time he has been in regular contact with Ashcroft and other administrators and the Suns are confident he provided full disclosure of events.

The 20-year-old was with friends when a series of fights broke out when nightclubs shut, sending hundreds of revellers into the nearby Smart St mall, where police were called at around 2.15am.

Bennell was arrested and taken to Mandurah police station, where he was charged and released on bail.
The Suns released a brief statement confirming the incident.

"As this is a police matter the club is not in a position to make further comment," the statement said.

Friends of the footballer said he had been trying to break up the fight.

Bennell has played 36 matches for the Suns since being recruited from Perth club Peel Thunder in the 2010 national draft.

He is the second WA-bred player to get into trouble at home during the off-season break.

Young Collingwood midfielder Marley Williams was charged with assault after an incident in Albany last week that left a man with a broken jaw.

- with Stivan Pucar

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

My 2013 SuperCoach side (take 1)

ABLETT is a lock, Viney is a steal and here's hoping for a bit of Majak. Resident SuperCoach tragic Al Paton picks his line-up for 2013.

I held out as long as I could, but after SuperCoach Gold subscribers gained access to the advance team picker a couple of weeks ago, it was only a matter of time.

So while other family members were enjoying their Christmas bounty, I clicked on the SuperCoach website and compiled the first of what will be many incarnations of the line-up for the 2013 edition of my team Don't Argue.

See the full line-up below and leave your comments

Proving that I'm a sucker for punishment (I am a Richmond fan, after all), the team is built around the three players who gave me the most pain in 2012 - and who at various stages I vowed to never select again.

Greg Broughton was supposed to be a premium defender who could run in the midfield, but for some reason Freo coach Ross Lyon chose to play him in the forward pocket. Early in the season he was out of my team and on the "never again" list. But now he's at a new club (Gold Coast), where he should play a much-more SuperCoach-friendly role, he's cheaper and he now has dual-position status. Welcome back, Greg - no hard feelings.

I picked Bryce Gibbs last year in the expectation he would lift his game to a new level playing as a midfielder. Instead, he floated across half-back for most of the year, only showing signs of life after I finally bit the bullet and traded him out of my team (averaging 118 over the last five rounds). He also has a new coach for 2013 and Mick Malthouse has a habit of getting the best out of players. The fact he can be picked as a defender again is also a big plus.

The third change of heart is potentially the bargain of 2013, but he's also a very big risk - and I'm still not committed to picking him. When he plays in the midfield, Brisbane's Tom Rockliff is a rolled-gold SuperCoach star, which he proved by averaging 123 over the first five rounds of 2012. That was when (a) I traded him into my team and (b) Michael Voss decided he could be better used deep in the forward line. He went on to average about 75 for the rest of the season.

The positive from that personal disaster is that Rockliff can be picked as a forward in 2013 - and he's priced well below his potential output. If he plays in the middle. But that's still a big "if". I'll be watching his pre-season very closely.

The first-picked player in my squad was Gary Ablett, despite his huge $740,500 price tag. Anyone who hopes to have any success in SuperCoach will have to have Gaz in their side and while some will wait for his price to drop, I can't see it coming down much and don't want to use up a trade when I can have him from Round 1 - and get the extra points he brings every week.

New Richmond captain Trent Cotchin shows every sign of being the next Ablett so he's a lock in my side as well, along with Blue Marc Murphy who is pretty reasonably priced for a guy who can pump out regular 120-plus scores.

The fourth midfield spot goes to a guy entering his third or fourth season who is ready to explode - think Patrick Dangerfield in 2012. My pick (right now) is young Eagle Andrew Gaff.

The new team layout includes two extra midfield spots and opens the door for some mid-priced bargains. Luke Ball missed most of 2012 and could be the Lenny Hayes of next season. Andrew Embley is another player hugely under-priced after an injury-ravaged season. While his age (31) is a worry I have a feeling the Eagles will win plenty of games next season.

Another player returning from injury is Lions ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, who scored 100 and 103 in the first two rounds of 2012 then broke down in Round 3. He will be a very popular pick, along with All-Australian ruckman Nic Naitanui who can switch between the ruck and forward line.

I've picked Majak Daw as my back-up ruckman in the hope he'll get some game time after being elevated to the senior list, while the fourth ruck spot is a player who should never be called on - so I picked a guy who is cheap and can swing forward to provide added flexibility. And I like his name. Liam McBean, welcome aboard.

The other huge bargains are Gold Coast defender Nathan Bock (providing his knee recovers in time for Round 1, the signs are positive so far) and forgotten Magpie Brent Macaffer, who is cheaper than many first-year draftees.

Cat Travis Varcoe should be excellent value if he gets his body right, while young midfielders Jack Viney, Jaeger O'Meara and Brad Crouch should be on everyone's pre-season watch list.

And I'm giving Dustin Martin another shot. He disappointed plenty of SuperCoaches (myself included) in 2012, but pumped out plenty of big first halves only to fade after the break. Hopefully he's working on his stamina.

Or maybe that's just be the Tiger bias creeping out.

Here's my full 30-man squad - with the huge proviso that nothing is set in stone until Friday March 22.

Share your thoughts below or send me a Tweet at @al_superfooty.

DON'T ARGUE 2013 LINE-UP (version 1)

DEFENDERS
Brendon Goddard (Ess, def/mid) $541, 500
Bryce Gibbs (Carl, def/mid) $509,800
Jack Grimes (Melb) $472,400
Greg Broughton (GC) $441,900
Nathan Bock (GC) $297,400
Brett Goodes (WB, def/mid) $128,200
Dylan Van Unen (Ess) $109,500
Dean Terlich (Melb) $109,500

MIDFIELDERS
Gary Ablett (GC) $740,500
Trent Cotchin (Rich) $622,100
Marc Murphy (Carl) $602,900
Andrew Gaff (WC) $483,500
Luke Ball (Coll) $301,800
Andrew Embley (WC) $283,600
Brad Crouch (Adel) $115,900
Jauger O'Meara (GC) $115,900
Jack VIney (Melb) $109,500
Sam Dwyer (Coll, mid/fwd) $96,200

RUCKS
Nic Naitanui (WC, ruck/fwd) $611,100
Matthew Leuenberger (BL) $301,100
Majak Daw (NM) $115,900
Liam McBean (Rich, ruck/fwd) $109,500

FORWARDS
Lance Franklin (Haw) $618,000
Tom Rockliff (BL) $520,500
Dale Thomas (Coll) $515,800
Dustin Martin (Rich) $473,500
Travis Varcoe (Geel) $268,900
Brent Macaffer (Coll) $128,000
Tim Membrey (Syd) $109,500
Sam Rowe (Carl, fwd/ruck) $115,900

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rocca the mask avenger

Looking back on Port's year of pain

Former Collingwood player turned NFL punter Saverio Rocca has played his part in helping the Washington Redskins make the playoffs.

Washington Redskins punter Sav Rocca stops Dallas Cowboys' punt returner Dwayne Harris in his tracks. Source: AP

SAV Rocca would have the AFL's match review panel working overtime if he tried this touchdown-saving tackle in his former career.

Rocca today helped his Washington Redskins claim the final NFC playoff spot with a 28-18 win against the Dallas Cowboys.

With minutes to go victory was in the bag, but that didn't dim the competitive instincts of one of Aussie rules' most successful exports.

After sending a punt 43 yards late in the fourth quarter, Rocca watched as Cowboys punt returner Dwayne Harris stepped past his Redskins teammates and headed for the end zone.

Rocca brushed his opponent aside and launched himself at the charging Harris - employing a tactic he never got to try in 257 AFL games with Collingwood and North Melbourne.

Not content with simply pushing Harris out of bounds, Rocca grabbed the facemask of the Cowboy's helmet and slung him to the turf.

WATCH ROCCA'S TACKLE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The tackle cost the Redskins a 15-yard penalty - and Rocca might face a fine on top of that - but his coaches wouldn't have been complaining.

The Aussie finished the match with four punts at an average of 25.8 yards.

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Sun shines bright for Bock

Gold Coast Suns defender Nathan Bock participates in a light pool session with his teammates. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

GOLD Coast vice-captain Nathan Bock has opened up about his year from hell, after waving 2012 away with a sense of relief.

Plenty of people welcomed in the new year with a sense of excitement last night but none more than Bock, who declared 2012 the toughest year he's had in footy.

It started with a two-week suspension stemming from a betting scandal the year before but the worst was yet to come as a broken leg and the jailing of his mother, Michelle Joy Bock, for drug trafficking, wrecked his season on and off the field.

The 29-year-old was candid about his year from hell, conceding the off-field issues with his mother took their toll.

"I'm happy to put this year in the back of the mind and concentrate on 2013,'' Bock said. "It was obviously pretty draining and it was frustrating at the start of the season to miss those two games because of the suspension.

"Then I felt like it took me a few weeks to get into form and the game I really felt the best was the one against Fremantle when I ended up breaking my leg.

"Then obviously the stuff with mum had been dragging on for a little while as well and the year was mentally quite challenging and physically very challenging.

"It was probably the toughest year I've had in footy.''

The former Crows defender is looking on the bright side though and believes his leg injury may even help extend his AFL career.

"That's one thought Bluey (Guy McKenna) has and it would be nice to play for as long as I possibly could,'' Bock said.

"I suppose you've got to look at all the positives and (the time I spent out) most of last season potentially could be put on the end of my career.

"I'll be 30 (this) year and most guys say if you can play until you are 32 or 33 then that is a great result.''

And the early signs in Bock's comeback are positive.

The veteran is a month ahead of schedule in his rehab and even began running last month.

"Initially I hadn't planned to start running until about Christmas but I've been running for about four or five weeks now,'' Bock said.

"Initially it just started with a five-minute jog on the AlterG treadmill, which takes a percentage of your body weight away when you run.

"I was building up on that for a few weeks and then just recently I had a couple of runs outside.

"But it's only been a few strides and it's still only a very slow jog.''

With his progress in mind, Bock is hopeful of joining the Suns' main training group by mid-February.

And the versatile tall still holds hope of striding out on to Metricon Stadium in the Suns' season opener against St Kilda on March 30.

"I saw the surgeon just before Christmas and he was happy with the progress we're making,'' Bock added.

"I would like to think Round 1 is a realistic possibility but we will just have to play it by ear.

"You have a bit of a time frame to when you are back training at full intensity with injuries like an ACL.

"But this injury is a lot different and it just depends on how it feels and how it is progressing.''

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hudson key to Pies' plan

Recruit Ben Hudson at Collingwood training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell says the Pies are close to a premiership. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Nick Maxwell runs laps during Collingwood pre-season training at Gosch's Paddock. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD captain Nick Maxwell says Ben Hudson's recruitment emphasises the importance of fellow ruckman Darren Jolly to the club's premiership chances.

Maxwell said the off-season influx of senior players - Hudson, Quinten Lynch, Clinton Young and Jordan Russell - indicated the Pies thought they were close to a flag.

He said Hudson could be the most important recruit of the lot as support for 31-year-old Jolly.

"Obviously, Jols has been outstanding for us since he came to the club, but we've got to be careful about how we manage his loads and how much we ask him to do because he's done a lot of ruckwork, the majority of it by himself, since he's come to the club," Maxwell said.

"We've got to make sure we manage him and so Huddo is a good back-up for us and also a good guy to have teach our younger players.

"Quinten Lynch will do some ruckwork, but then guys like Jarrod Witts, who we expect big things from this year, is going to hopefully step up and keep developing.

"With him and young Brodie Grundy, we think that those guys are going to work well with Huddo in the VFL and he'll really help them to develop."

When clubs top up with experience, public opinion often suggests the club thinks it is close to fielding a premiership team. Maxwell said that was a fair assessment of the Pies.

"Absolutely, we definitely think we're close," he said.

"We finished fourth last year and we didn't play very well all year.

"We lost ... guys to long-term injuries during the year and those guys can't be replaced. Luke Ball, Brent Macaffer, Andrew Krakouer, Ben Johnson and Lachie Keeffe, all those guys are going to come in and basically be like new recruits for us."

Maxwell said he was confident Lynch, Young and Russell could make an impact.

"We wanted to bring in guys who could fulfil a need for us as a club," he said.

"Quinten can play forward and do a bit of ruckwork, but we also know he's a different player to what Trav (Cloke) is, so he's a different fellow to have down there. Clinton Young we rated very highly."

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Nowhere to hide for Woods

Looking back on Port's year of pain

Dale Thomas and Tyson Goldsack box at Gosch's Paddock. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun

IF THE handful of Collingwood players who did not make the training trip to Utah thought they could escape a fortnight of hard work, they were mistaken.

Nick Maxwell and Alan Didak stayed home for the birth of their children; Alan Toovey was recovering from a wrist injury; and Dale Thomas and Tyson Goldsack were on the way back from ankle surgery.

The quintet were joined by four players selected in the rookie draft.

"There's almost one coach to every player so there's nowhere to hide for anyone ... it's been a pretty good training block," Maxwell said.

He said it hadn't been tough to stay disciplined at training.

"If you're working amongst 40 guys it's easier to hide," the 29-year-old said.

"But the way we've been working has been good and from all the reports coming back they've been really happy with how the boys were training in Utah as well."

22.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nowhere to hide for Woods

Written By Unknown on Senin, 31 Desember 2012 | 22.09