Crows want answer on Dangerfield

AFL: Patrick Dangerfield has produced a brilliant goal for the Crows in their 77-point thrashing of North Melbourne.

Patrick Dangerfield at AAMI Stadium. The Crows star is yet to decide where he'll be playing beyond 2015. Picture: Stephen Laffer Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE wants Patrick Dangerfield to decide his future by midway through the season as the superstar free agent weighs up a move to Geelong.

Patrick Dangerfield celebrates a goal — that was later disallowed — against the Kangas. Picture: Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia

The Crows remain hopeful a strong start to the season under new coach Phil Walsh can sway the 25-year-old to recommit, despite the lure of being closer to family in Victoria.

While the club would not put a formal deadline on Dangerfield, an early call from the superstar midfielder would give the Crows' more time to prepare raids on replacement talent.

Football director Mark Ricciuto said he believed Dangerfield was a 50 per cent chance of leaving at season's end., with Hawthorn also linked to the gun ball-winner.

Dangerfield is a free agent, meaning the Crows' would be compensated with a first-round draft pick if he departed after eight years at Adelaide.

His move would clear up almost one million dollars in Adelaide's salary cap, allowing the Crows to chase out-of-contract Brisbane wingman James Aish.

Aish, 19, has put contract talks with the Lions on hold and has attracted the interest of Melbourne-based clubs, including Collingwood.

Ricciuto said the Crows would prefer to know what Dangerfield was doing in the first half of the season.

"Look, we don't know what he is doing, he tells us he hasn't made his mind up and we respect that," Ricciuto said on Triple M.

"Of course you are concerned until he signs, but I'm not going to let it ruin my year, that's for sure and the club is not going to either.

"He is a great lad 'Danger', he looks you in the eye and tells you the truth, so hopefully, by a quarter of the way or half way through the year, it will be tidied up one way or another."

Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane both remain out of contract. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Pressed on what he thought Dangerfield would do, stay or go, Ricciuto said: "I'd definitely say 50-50".

However, fellow gun midfielder Rory Sloane is believed to be on the verge of re-signing at the Crows, despite some preliminary interest from St Kilda.

Ricciuto said the signs were positive Sloane would re-sign.

"I'd be surprised if Sloaney goes, he has always talked about staying in Adelaide and being a one-club player," Ricciuto said.

"So, he's probably doing what most players do and is trying to get what he can out of the deal.

"The best thing that can happen to Adelaide is a great start to the year, so the coach is happy, the players play well, it's a great stadium, it's a good place to live.

"Hopefully, both of those players will be one-club players."

Originally published as Crows want answer on Dangerfield

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Streaks of Carey run through Walker

Taylor Walker takes a big grab at Adelaide Oval against the Kangaroos. Source: Getty Images

AFL: Collingwood forward Travis Cloke admits he was impressed by the Adelaide Crows after their big win over North Melbourne but he says the club are more focused on their own structures this early in the season.

WHEN Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown says he sees some elements of Wayne Carey's all-star game in Taylor Walker, you know you have seen something special.

The just-retired Brown made the observation after Walker's domination of North Melbourne for the Crows in the round one match at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Walker's remarkable 22-disposal, 15-mark, 6 goal performance in his first game as Adelaide captain was one for the ages.

Apart from lighting up the scoreboard and inspiring the Crows to a 77-point win, the 713 metres gained for his team was the second-most ever recorded by a key forward.

Since Champion Data started recording statistics in 1999, only Sydney star Lance Franklin has chalked up more metres in a match for his side.

Franklin gained 741 metres for Hawthorn against Essendon in 2010.

Walker's big day out against the Kangaroos also moved him into third place in Champion Data ranking points by a Crows key forward, with 177, while his 15 marks were the second-most recorded by a tall Adelaide forward.

Walker holds the record since 1999 with his 16 grabs against Melbourne in round 22, 2012.

Team-mate Patrick Dangerfield described Walker's performance as "unbelievable'' and noted if he had kicked straight he "would have kicked 10 (goals)''.

"He really took the game by the scruff of the neck,'' Dangerfield said.

Walker's supreme display was Carey-esque.

The number crunch. Source: Supplied

With the former North and Adelaide star — regarded as the greatest key forward to play the game — watching from the stands, Walker put on a show.

Carey described Walker's display as worthy of the three Brownlow Medal votes and his fellow Triple M radio commentator Brian Taylor joined Brown in noting there were shades of Carey in the way he took control of the game.

Walker was targeted by his team-mates inside 50 a round-high 15 times and the Crows scored from 80 per cent of the attacks which went through him — the best percentage in round one.

Apart from beating opponents Joel Tippett, Scott Thompson and Michael Firrito in one-on-one contests, Walker ran them off their legs.

He showed no signs of the knee reconstruction that destroyed his 2013 season and sidelined him for the first eight rounds last year.

Nine of his 15 marks were taken inside Adelaide's attacking 50m arc but six were taken outside of it, including two in the Crows' defensive half.

Walker, 24, has never looked fitter and his ability to cover the ground justified his off-season decision to get miles into his legs rather than build himself up any more physically.

Port Adelaide defender Jackson Trengove joined the chorus of Walker backslappers after his mighty round one showing.

"I watched him in the first half and he looked awesome,'' said Trengove.

"His game excites everyone, I don't think there is any person who could say they don't like watching Taylor Walker play."

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VB the forgotten Crow weapon

Nathan van Berlo training at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Stephen Laffer Source: News Limited

ADELAIDE has identified former captain Nathan van Berlo as its underrated and almost secret weapon as it prepares for its season opener against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval today.

Van Berlo completed a strong pre-season after missing all of last year to an Achilles injury, and those who have watched him closely say he is back to his old best.

He remains one of the fittest and dedicated players on the Crows list, much like Brett Burton before him, and assistant coach Matthew Clarke said he couldn't have impressed more over summer.

``It's sort of slipped under the radar a little bit (van Berlo's return),'' Clarke said. ``Because his pre-season has just been so seamless.

``I guess we've forgotten that he's been out for quite a while.

``But he's done all the work and he's obviously a super professional and there are a number of examples of guys coming back from that injury now.

``He'll be ready. He'll be fine and we wish him really well.

``He's moving pretty well. Come out on the training track and see if you can keep up with him.

``He's done really well. He's flying.''

The calls on van Berlo comes as the Crows gave Adelaide's Oval surface a high rating despite a major event being held there only days before their first match.

It reinforces the venues ability to continue to grow by adding midweek and non-football or cricket matches.

``Surface looks really good,'' Clarke said. ``In fact most of the players were actually commenting that it's probably a bit softer than it was last year.

``Obviously last year was the first year (of AFL football at the ground) and it's had another year to bed in.

``It's come up really well.''

The other two players who will be watched closely are former Hawk Kyle Cheney, who will hold down a key defensive post, and fellow backman Kyle Hartigan, who missed the back of last season to injury.

Clarke was confident both were primed to make an immediate impression.

And then there's Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who made headlines during the practice matches for his outstanding form.

He has only one game to his name, but Clarke was confident he would not be flustered by the occasion today.

``His a fairly relaxed character,'' Clarke said. ``I think he will handle it okay. He has played his first game, last year, but this will be a really big opportunity for him.

``He deserves the opportunity. He's played really well in the pre-season and that was put on the table early — that form will be rewarded — and it has in his case.

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Johnson eager to atone against Power

Fremantle Dockers defender Michael Johnson returns to footy this weekend. Source: News Corp Australia

FREMANTLE defender Michael Johnson was in agony after back surgery last September but it didn't hurt as much as sitting out straight-sets finals defeats.

The star linkman returns for a first chance at redemption against Port Adelaide's powerhouse forwards in a season opening blockbuster at Subiaco where home ground advantage has been somewhat neutralised.

It is Port's third visit to confront the Dockers in their past three home engagements but Fremantle guards a healthy first-up record with opening week victories in the past six seasons, the best of any current AFL squads.

"I think every game is a big game and the competition is getting harder and harder to win," the 30-year-old said.

"We have worked hard over the last few weeks in the NAB Cup against quality teams and we've been focusing on Port Adelaide, even though we do have some big games coming up."

The 2013 All-Australian defender conceded early wins were vital to hopes of another top-four finish and an important double finals chance through September.

"We haven't really thought of it in any way but you always want to start the year off on a high and with four points," Johnson said.

"You train all pre-season for this day and it is a bonus if you walk away with four points.

"It's never that we think about the home ground advantage and all of that, being Round 1 it's all the hard work you put in over the pre-season and you just hope that it all falls into place on the day."

Johnson said there had been an emphasis on goalkicking over the summer.

Fremantle virtually booted itself out of a preliminary final last year when it managed 6.11 to half-time against the freewheeling Port's 3.5 with the Dockers eventually going down by 22 points, 15.15 (105) to 11.17 (83).

More notoriously the Dockers butchered 17 set-shots for just 6.3 in their 15-point Grand Final loss to Hawthorn two years ago.

Despite the emphasis on finishing, the Dockers 19-point win over West Coast in the last NAB game a fortnight back was marred with 14.17.

"Everything has been stepped up and that is the way we move the ball, the way we finish and chuck in your stoppages and rebound 50s," Johnson said.

"We should be improving and goalkicking is one of those things in the past that has hurt us and as a player you always want to improve your game.

"That goes for anyone that can end up forward or with a shot on goal.

"I know the forwards have been working hard ... on their routines and on their goalkicking and time will tell, especially late in quarters and later in the game when games are on the line in a close match.

"It's one of those skills we needed to improve ... I think we're heading the right way."

Johnson, a spiritual Dockers leader, is an out of contract free agent at the end of a season and could play his 200th game in round 10 if he can remain injury free.

Originally published as Johnson eager to atone against Power

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Gil, you have a problem

AFL: Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the news that two of their players have tested positive for banned performance enhancing drugs is devastating

AFL: Collingwood's Chief Executive Gary Pert address the media following both Josh Thomas and Lachlan Keeffe's positive tests to banned performance enhancing drugs

AS IF the AFL didn't already have big plans.

While we wait for the verdict on the Essendon 34, Collingwood's Josh Thomas and Lachlan Keeffe have knocked the Bombers off the front page, which is no mean feat.

MAGPIE DUO 'SHELLSHOCKED' AFTER POSITIVE TEST

GET READY FOR ROUND 1 WITH OUR SUPERFOOTY PODCAST PREVIEW

This was D-Day which is now short for Drugs-Day.

Keeffe and Thomas — two best mates — have returned a positive test to Clenbuterol in their A sample.

AFL: 360 discuss the latest performance enhancing drugs scandal involving two Collingwood players

Their career has crashed over a cliff and they hang on by a finger nail.

Clenbuterol is an Olympic Games-type drugs. It is a big boys drug. It can't be found in a sports drink. And it can't be found in a headache tablet.

It is an S1 anabolic agent not approved for human use in Australia — and we all remember that term.

One question has to be answered: How did it get into the bloodstream of Keeffe and Thomas?

They have told club officials they have "no idea how this happened".

They are either lying or telling the truth and some people close to this story have a foot in each half.

If they're lying, they were good at it because Collingwood football manager Neil Balme said yesterday he believed the pair when he spoke to them on Friday.

If they're lying — and we've seen it at Collingwood with Heath's Shaw infamous declaration than Alan Didak was not in the car — they will eventually be exposed.

Josh Thomas has been provisionally suspended. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

If they're telling the truth, it matters not much anyhow.

They will be suspended for up to four years if they can't explain a legitimate reason for their blood being contaminated.

Various stories emerged on Monday, one which will be explored involves a couple of porterhouse steaks eaten in Queenstown eatery during the club's February training camp.

It sounds a lot like my dog ate my homework, but good luck to them because if they're telling truth, they'll need a believable story.

The Magpies distanced themselves from the pair yesterday, in the sense that they were quick to explain they had audited its nutritional program and, as expected, it was clean.

It was an important offering from the Pies because lawyers for Thomas and Keeffe might also argue that while in New Zealand they also ate what Collingwood served them.

In any case, the AFL has a problem.

That's four positive tests to performance enhancing drugs in two years.

St Kilda's Ahmed Saad drank the contaminated the sports drink. Fremantle's Ryan Crowley took a tablet from a friend. We have the Collingwood pair. And Essendon towers over the top of all of them.

So much for the AFL's chest thumping about their clean sport.

Lachie Keeffe has been an important part of Collingwood's backline. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

That's four clubs out of 18 in the headlines — and that's only for performance enhancing drugs.

Anecdotal evidence suggests the illicit drug problem is far bigger than people believe.

It was only in November, 2012, that Magpies chief executive Gary Pert said some players were guilty of "volcanic behaviour" during the off-season.

It emerged in January, 2013, that up to half a dozen Magpies players had self-reported to the AFL after using illicit drugs in the 2012 season.

Let's be honest, it has been a bitterly disappointing period for the biggest franchise in Australian sport.

If the Bombers players are found guilty today, the 2015 season will be destroyed.

Surely, the AFL want the players to be found not guilty because the alternative is carnage for the competition — appeals, more appeals, and the Bombers would require kids and top-ups for who knows how long.

A not guilty plea might also spare the AFL from a tsunami of legal writs over an alleged breach of duty care.

It might not save them from James Hird, however.

Will he seek revenge or let sleeping dogs lie?

Originally published as Gil, you have a problem

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Ryder, Monfries: ‘It’s a massive relief’

Port Adelaide pair Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries have told of their relief at exoneration in the AFL supplement saga while crediting crucial family support through the ordeal

Ryder, 27, and Monfries, 28, were among 34 past and present Bombers cleared by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal of using banned peptide Thymosin Beta-4 while playing for Essendon in 2012.

Having been cleared of any breaches small forward Monfries and ruckman Ryder are eligible for selection in Port Adelaide's season opener against Fremantle in Perth on Sunday.

"It's a massive relief to come in here today and get the news that we all wanted," said Ryder.

"I'm just looking forward now to getting back out there and playing football."

Versatile, 170-game star Ryder - considered the missing 194cm ingredient in Port's flag mix - will become the 154th player to don the teal and black jumper against the Dockers.

"After getting the decision I walked past most of the boys downstairs and they were all shaking my hand … we've done the hard yards this pre-season with the boys and I just want to get out there and show them what I can bring to the team and just have fun," Ryder said.

"I am really looking forward to that."

Ryder recognised the efforts of his family through a three year controversy where his credibility was questioned by association with the Bomber supplement scandal.

"My wife Jessica has been amazing, she is the one who sees me when I am down. My family in WA have also been on the phone to re-assure me I haven't done anything wrong," said Ryder.

Monfries was glad the gloom and uncertainty had finally lifted in a protracted process some likened to a witch-hunt.

"It's been a long process over a number of years and to have the result that it was today, it's just a great feeling to know we're be able to play this weekend and get on with life," 191-game veteran Monfries told portadelaidefc.com.au.

"Over the whole summer you try to concentrate as much as you can and try to put that (the tribunal) in the back of your mind."

"It will be great to play footy this weekend and to have Paddy across and for him to play his first game as well.

"I'm really just looking forward to playing footy again and pulling that guernsey on."

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Who is the best coach of modern era?

Alastair Clarkson has changed the way we think about AFL coaches. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

THERE was a time not that long ago when a relative dill, at least in an academic sense, could land a coaching job at an AFL club.

In some instances the said species actually coached for a healthy duration, surviving on their footy smarts and basic rat cunning, skills sets unlikely to see them achieve honours in the Classical and Mathematical Triposes at Cambridge or the Literae Humaniores at Oxford.

Then times changed and types such as Alastair Clarkson forever buggered up the hopes of an uneducated AFL champion winning a senior coaching job. Bloody Clarkson, with his Bachelor of Sports Science and Masters of Business Administration from Monash Uni.

As if that wasn't enough then he went and completed a two-week leadership and management course in glowing fashion at that toffee joint called Harvard University in Massachusetts. You know, the one where "them" Roosevelts and Kennedys went.

And once Clarkson took Hawthorn from 14th to first in four years from 2005-08, the blueprint for an AFL coach in the 2000s had been written. Yes, there have been occasional unsuccessful dalliances with the blue over white collar since, but clubs that turn over millions of dollars want someone mentally agile enough to be the public face of their organisation. A Paul Roos, John Longmire or Nathan Buckley.

Clarkson is very much that person and one who has a genuine claim to be rated the finest coach in the AFL era from 1990. So on a day where Mike Sheahan has produced his final Top 50 for this newspaper, in this instance the finest players of that era, who is the coach deserving of controlling that group?

Is it Kevin Sheedy, who coached two premierships in the era we are speaking of and was desperately unlucky in both 1996 and 1999 when key injuries arguably robbed him of another two flags? When assessing Sheedy I judge him only on the 18 years he spent as Essendon coach from 1990-2007 given his two years with GWS were all about development of a young group.

Mark Thompson learnt from master coach Kevin Sheedy. Source: News Limited

He was able to continually reinvent the Bombers until his last three seasons in 2005-2007, which he now admits were three too many.

Or his one-time Richmond teammate Mick Malthouse took a West Coast outfit from 11th to third in his first season, winning a premiership two years later and positioning the Eagles in September action for all of his 10 years in charge. When he joined wooden spooner Collingwood 2000 the naysayers were sitting in judgment to see how he would improve a so-so list given West Coast had some serious talent to work with.

After his first four years Malthouse took the Pies to a couple of losing Grand Finals, a nine-point loss to super side Brisbane in 2002 being arguably his finest coaching achievement. The Pies then bottomed out before he again rebuilt them into a challenger, going all the way in 2010 and runners-up a year later.

Who is the best coach of the AFL era?

Or maybe you like the work of eccentric genius Malcolm Blight, his CV lacking the longevity of Sheedy and Malthouse but boasting similar highs, taking Geelong and Adelaide sides to Grand Finals in 192-94-97-98 that contained a sprinkling of champions and good numbers of journeymen?

Others would point to Mark Thompson with a winning percentage of 61.8 per cent or Denis Pagan (63.6 per cent) who only missed the finals once in 10 years with the Kangaroos. You could make cases for all five but my choice comes down to two, Leigh Matthews or Clarkson.

The former has won flags with different teams in the era we are talking about and the first was with a club in Collingwood that had been tortured by a succession of near misses for 32 previous years. Then he took wooden spooners Brisbane to 4th and 5th before three straight Premierships followed by a loss to Port Adelaide. The only knock on Matthews is he left both clubs when they were very much on the slide.

Mick Malthouse was a happy man once. Source: News Limited

Then there is Clarkson, who has been able to change or sometimes remain ahead of and ever-changing AFL landscape. A measure of Clarkson was his ability to take over the Australian International Rules campaign last year with instant success after a recent history of failure.

Like Matthews, he has a rare finals strike rate, in his case 13 wins against five losses (Matthews is 17-6). Compelling figures are 17-6 and enough reason for me to nominate Matthews at No.1. But as they say in the music industry, Clarkson is closing fast with a bullet.

Name / Grand Finals / Premierships / Winning rate

Leigh Matthews / 5 / 4 / 60.1%

Alastair Clarkson / 4 / 3 / 61.2%

Mick Malthouse / 6 / 3 / 59.4%

Kevin Sheedy* / 4 / 2 / 59.7%

Mark Thompson / 3 / 2 / 61.8%

Malcolm Blight / 4 / 2 / 55.3%

Denis Pagan / 3 / 2 / 51.2%

* Excludes his two season with GWS.

Originally published as Who is the best coach of modern era?

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Hinkley wants bulked up Power

Ken Hinkley wants his players bigger and stronger. Source: Getty Images

PORT Adelaide is adding bulk ahead of the 2015 season and has smashed the public perception that they will have a leaner side this season.

The Power is heading down the same path as Carlton champion Chris Judd, who has spoken about adding muscle to make him more explosive, rather than turning into a lean greyhound version of a footballer.

Coach Ken Hinkley said the club's figures suggested an average increase in weight had been recorded by the fitness staff — at around 0.6kg — but that figure is pushed down by senior players retiring and being replaced by light-framed rookies.

Hinkley shook his head at the suggestion that Port's players are shedding weight for running purposes and do not have the same muscular power ahead of this season.

"We're not leaner,'' Hinkley said. "It's a myth.

"It's an absolute myth. Across the board, we're actually heavier, by the numbers.

"I've heard the same story that we're leaner because we're training hard or we're running hard but that's not the fact.

"You lose some size at some stage with some players who leave your football club and you replace them with younger players. That happens.

Travis Boak tries to shake off a tackle. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

"But we're not leaner.''

Hinkley went on to speak of young players losing fat content and replacing it with muscle.

But he said the emphasis had not been on getting players lighter to adapt to the interchange rotation cap.

Hinkley wants his players as strong and explosive as possible and wants them to add weight and muscle.

Midfielder Ollie Wines was the perfect example.

"You want young players, and Ollie is a young player, to lose a bit of the puppy fat and turn it into muscle,'' Hinkley said. ``And that's what most young players do.

"Not just Ollie, but every young player: Jake Neade would have done the same. That's just the way it goes.

"Ideally, every player would have really low `skinnies' (skin fold measurements) and more muscle.

Matt White on the run from Nathan Gordon. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

"All I can tell you is what the numbers tell me and the numbers tell me that we're 0.6 kilos heavier over the squad.

"That's where we're at. We're not lighter.''

Hinkley's comments come as the Power prepares to play the Crows at Football Park today, and it has not been viewed as the ideal programming.

Hinkley can't wait to begin coaching again as he returns to the box against former colleague Phil Walsh.

But in a typically frank assessment, he would prefer not to play against the Crows in the pre-season.

Hinkley's message to the AFL is to protect the value of the Showdowns and keep them for the main season, when they can be built up properly and stir the emotions of football followers in South Australia.

He would rather travel to Melbourne for the final practice match than to face Adelaide during the pre-season.

"I'm not a fan of it (pre-season Showdowns),'' Hinkley said. ``I think it (a regular Showdown) is a great game, a marquee game for the state and we should protect it as much as we possibly can and put it out there when it's significant.

"I'm not sure we need one know. It's a national competition and we travel every second week. No big deal. I said the same thing to (AFL chief executive) Gillon McLachlan: if we travel one week out (from the season), we can do it one year and somebody else could do it the next.

"My view is that the Showdown should be protected.''

Hinkley would also prefer to play at Adelaide Oval, the new home of football in Adelaide, than return to Football Park.

Originally published as Hinkley wants bulked up Power

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Which AFL players are owed a beer?

Which way to the bar? Chris Judd leaves the AFL tribunal. Source: News Limited

CHRIS Judd needs to start a tab.

That's the main conclusion to draw after Brent Harvey revealed he made good on his promise to buy Joel Selwood a drink following last year's dramatic tribunal hearing.

The drink was payback after the Cats skipper gave evidence that helped Boomer beat a rough conduct charge from their semi-final.

"I felt a trickle. I wasn't sure if it was sweat or blood," Selwood told the hearing last September, adding he could not recall feeling any impact to the head.

The result? Harvey walked free to play in the preliminary final.

Based on that precedent, the Carlton champ could be handing his credit card over the bar.

Chris Judd owes Campbell Brown

Judd, then a West Coast star, was cleared of an ugly eye-gouging charge in 2007 due in large part to evidence from the alleged victim, who was then playing for Hawthorn.

Brown later admitted in a TV interview he lied to get Judd off.

"He obviously wanted to get off, I wanted him to get off, everyone wanted him to get off," Brown told On The Couch. "I tried to do the right thing, which I think all players should try and do. We don't want to see a player get rubbed out."

The AFL didn't see it that way, fining Brown $15,000.

Campbell Brown cops a poke in the eye. Source: News Limited

Chris Judd owes Matthew Pavlich

In 2010 Judd again escaped suspension when the match review panel ruled an elbow to Matthew Pavlich's face was below the force required for a reportable offence, despite Pavlich requiring five staples to close the wound.

We're not sure if Pav gave evidence that helped clear Judd but given the Carlton skipper went on to win the Brownlow a few weeks later, he can shout a beer for the Dockers champ.

Gary Ablett owes Liam Picken

Brownlow eligibility was in the headlines again last year when Gary Ablett came under scrutiny for elbowing Bulldogs tagger Liam Picken with grainy footage appearing to show contact to the head of the Bulldogs tagger.

As the footy world sweated on the outcome, Picken told the MRP he felt contact to the body. Ablett was cleared and punters (and SuperCoach players) breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Six weeks later Brent Macaffer drove Ablett's shoulder into the ground, ending his season and his Brownlow dream (just).

Gary Ablett had a tough day against Liam Picken. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

Steve Johnson owes Scott Thompson

Maybe Selwood's act of sportsmanship was payback itself for a similar act by North Melbourne defender Scott Thompson a month earlier.

Steve Johnson beat a kneeing charge after Thompson revealed he was playing with a guard to protect a broken rib, which explained his exaggerated reaction to contact from the Geelong star.

"I didn't think it was much force, but obviously got the spot where my previous injury was," Thompson said.

Johnson, facing the tribunal for the 16th time, beat a two-match ban and walked from AFL House a free man.

Paul Van der Haar owes Dermott Brereton a beer (maybe)

Turning back the clock, the high-flying Essendon forward might find it in his heart to thank Dermie for helping him beat a striking charge in 1989 — but if he doesn't, that's fair enough too.

Vander was originally suspended for three weeks for striking Hawthorn ruckman Greg Dear in the second semi-final, but the ban was overturned because Van Der Haar was still feeling the effects of being smashed into next week by a vicious Brereton bump 90 seconds earlier.

The big Bomber was cleared by the tribunal but missed the preliminary final anyway with concussion. Essendon lost that game, setting up arguably the greatest Grand Final of all time — one in which Brereton would again play a central role.

A relieved Paul Vander Haar with coach Kevin Sheedy at the tribunal in 1989. Source: Supplied

Originally published as Which AFL players are owed a beer?

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Selwood, Danger to stretch legs

Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield may lock horns on Thursday night. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

JOEL Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield are set to return for their first games of the pre-season as Geelong prepare to host Adelaide in Thursday night's NAB Challenge clash.

Selwood didn't play for Geelong against Gold Coast, but looks set to return for his team's home clash at Simonds Stadium.

Former Demon Sam Blease could make his debut for the Cats after being named in the Geelong squad. But there's still no Steve Johnson, and big men Rhys Stanley, Hamish McIntosh and Nathan Vardy are all still missing.

Patrick Dangerfield, Richard Douglas, Sam Jacobs, David Mackay and Brodie Smith have been named in Adelaide's squad of 29 after missing NAB 1 against the Kangas.

FREE DRINKS: 'BOOMER' SHOUTS SELWOOD

INJURED: THOMPSON'S HAMMY BLOW

However it's not all good news for the Crows, with veteran midfielder Scott Thompson in doubt for the season-opener on April 5.

The club revealed he has injured his hamstring at training and could miss Adelaide's Round 1 clash with North Melbourne.

Former Hawk Luke Lowden (left) and Scott Thompson won't play against the Cats, with Thompson in doubt for Round 1 with a hamstring injury. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

GEELONG

2. Billie Smedts

3. Jimmy Bartel

4. Andrew Mackie

5. Nakia Cockatoo

7. Harry Taylor

9. James Kelly

11. Darcy Lang

12. Sam Blease

13. Tom Lonergan

14. Joel Selwood

15. Dean Gore

16. Dawson Simpson

19. Mitch Clark

21. Jordan Murdoch

22. Mitch Duncan

23. Josh Caddy

24. Jed Bews

25. Jared Rivers

26. Tom Hawkins

27. Mathew Stokes

28. Cory Gregson

29. Cameron Guthrie

31. Jordan Cunico

32. Steven Motlop

33. George Horlin-Smith

35. Jarrad Jansen

39. Shane Kersten

44. Corey Enright

46. Mark Blicavs

Cats recruit Sam Blease may step out in the blue and white hoops for the first time. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE

1. James Podsiadly

2. Brad Crouch

4. Josh Jenkins

7. Nathan van Berlo

8. Mitch Grigg

9. Rory Sloane

10. Matthew Jaensch

11. Matthew Wright

12. Daniel Talia

13. Taylor Walker

14. David Mackay

15. Kyle Hartigan

16. Luke Brown

17. Sam Kerridge

18. Eddie Betts

23. Charlie Cameron

24. Sam Jacobs

25. Kyle Cheney

26. Richard Douglas

27. Tom Lynch

28. Cam Ellis-Yolmen

29. Rory Laird

31. Jarryd Lyons

32. Patrick Dangerfield

33. Brodie Smith

36. Brodie Martin

43. Reilly O'Brien

45. Ricky Henderson

47. Jake Kelly

Originally published as Selwood, Danger to stretch legs

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