Bomber 'embarrassed' over scandal

Mark Thompson says he feels embarrassed by the Essendon drugs scandal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON assistant coach Mark Thompson says he feels embarrassed to walk in public in light of the drug scandal currently engulfing his club.

As the AFL and Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority continue their investigation in to the club's alleged use of performance enhancing drugs last year, Thompson said the matter was the most serious issue he had ever had to deal with in football.

Thompson said the club's image had "copped a hammering", making life difficult for all players and staff.

"It's been very hard to survive and to live," Thompson said.

"Everywhere you go you feel embarrassed, you think that people are thinking you've done these things that everybody has been saying we're doing.

"To be honest we just have to sit back and wait, and we can't defend ourselves because we're just not allowed to and we understand that, we're part of this process where we want to find the truth out and once the truth comes out we'll deal with the consequences.

"In that regard it's been really difficult."

Thompson told Fox Footy that the past few weeks had been a constant challenge, but admitted he had been impressed with the way the players had handled the situation.

"The players have actually been OK," he said on AFL 360.

"They've been training really well and when we get out on to the grass you sort of forget about what you're doing so in that regard it's OK. But it does come up in your mind when you're not out on the grass.

"You've just got to bring people together and discuss things. It changes every day and in all honesty it's a challenge, but it's a challenge we have to get through because we have to play games of footy and we have to win our respect back to our members, sponsors, the game, everybody."

Speaking for the first time since the drug scandal erupted, Thompson admitted to being "part of the process" that saw suspended high performance manager Dean Robinson to the club.

"I was there. I take responsibility for that for sure."

But he dismissed suggestions his influence at the club is greater than it should be.

"I'm there because of my experience and I try to pass on that knowledge, but in the end there's no point me having that knowledge and experience and having a puppet here and a puppet there and I'm pulling the strings. I'm not the coach, I've got no responsibility.

"If I've got the experience, I'll actually train you to do your role, I can't actually do it for you. So as far as that's concerned, it's only advice."

Thompson, the coach of Geelong when it won the 2007 and 2009 premierships, refused to fan any speculation surrounding Robinson's past involvement with the Cats.

"Again, when all the truth comes out, if there is anything that happened at Geelong well it will come out too," he said.

"At least we know with ASADA it's going to be very, very thorough and they will get to the bottom of it."

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Daw battles knee swelling

Majak Daw in action during the Kangaroos' NAB Cup win against Richmond. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

EXCITING North Melbourne big man Majak Daw has knee problems and is in doubt for the NAB Cup second round.

Daw developed swelling in both knees after the Kangaroos' wins against Melbourne and Richmond at Etihad Stadium last Friday night.

Coach Brad Scott said the ruckman-forward would need to improve rapidly over the next day or so to be guaranteed a place in the 24-player squad to face the Gold Coast in Townsville on Saturday afternoon.

"We're hopefully Majak will be up and right to play, but he did have some swelling Sunday and Saturday morning,'' Scott said.

"That was disappointing given that we managed his loads through the pre-season and thought he would get through. And we managed his load in the games, so at this stage at best he's 50-50.

"He will be selected in the side, but if that swelling doesn't reduce significantly over the next 24 hours, then he probably won't play. We'll look to get him right for the following week.''

Scott said Daw's running goal, when he pushed aside Tiger defender Steven Morris, was an indication of how much more development is required as well an illustration of the Sudanese-born Roo's immense athleticism.

"Right at this stage, Maj is in the early stages of his development. Despite what people say, he has a lot of work to do and he knows that clearly,'' Scott said.

"We're trying to simplify the game for him at the moment. I said before the game that he would do a few things that would make people stand up and take notice. But he's still really working hard on the fundamentals of the game.

"He didn't see Brad McKenzie on the inside. It's very easy in hindsight to say he should've passed it off, he simply didn't see him. And they're the fundamentals that I'm talking about.

North Melbourne ruckman Majak Daw provided the first highlight of the match with a strong mark backing into a pack. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"It takes players a long time to develop the awareness around them. Maj at the moment, the simplest way for him to play is to play to his strengths.

"He'll evolve and develop that awareness as time goes on. He wants to be a respected member of this team and that means giving it to a player in a better position when it presents itself.

"When he saw the vision he said, 'Yeah, I should've given it to Brad, but I just didn't see him', so that's what we're working on with him to try to evolve his development.

"It's the joy of coaching, that's why we coach because the satisfaction you get from working hard with a player. And to (ruck coach) Alex Ishchenko's credit and all our development staff's credit, they take great satisfaction in watching Maj improve.''

Scott said the Kangaroos will be playing to win against the Suns and had already factored in the expected north Queensland heat in the preparations.

Nathan Grima and Leigh Adams are not likely to be risked for the long trip, but both are still on track to be ready for Round 1 of the home-and-away season.

"It's probably unlikely Leigh Adams will be right to play. He's probably the only regular member of our team who wasn't in the squad last week,'' he said.

"Nathan is close. He wanted to play last week, but he's a really important part of our back six, but we won't risk him if he's not 100 per cent. He prefer to get more training sessions into him.

"It will be more a process of leaving players out than bringing new ones in.

The Roos today unveiled the new surface at their training ground at Aegis Park.
 

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Cats won't change kamikaze Joel

Joel Selwood is a "ticking time bomb" for head trauma according to Greg Williams. Picture: Mike Dugdale Source: Geelong Advertiser

Tom Hawkins marks strongly in front of Josh Hunt at Geelong training. Picture: Mike Dugdale Source: Geelong Advertiser

GEELONG won't ask Joel Selwood to change the way he plays despite warnings of head trauma from repeated concussions.

Brownlow medallist Greg Williams described Selwood as a walking time bomb because of his fearless head-first attack on the ball.

Williams has revealed he is suffering from a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated knocks during his career with Geelong, Sydney and Carlton.

"He gets knocked out a couple of times a year and gets stunned that many times that the club has to protect him because he can't protect himself," Williams said.

"He is a champion player and courageous, but he is too courageous for his own good.

"If he keeps getting concussed, it's a huge issue for him in life and they have do to something about it."

But Geelong assistant coach Dale Amos said today the Cats wouldn't ask Selwood to change the way he plays.

"You can't change the way Joel plays. That's the way he is," Amos said at Geelong training today.

"The way they adjudicate the game, in terms of contact to players, is as good as it's ever been. It's much safer than it ever was.

"So we trust that the game will enable guys to play the way they are, because we all admire Joel.

"He's the captain of our footy club for a reason. He leads by example, and I think everybody admires the way he plays."

While Williams said players in his era would be considered "wimps" if they didn't keep playing after a head knock, Amos said times had changed.

"What was once seen to be brave and macho is quite different now," Amos said.

"Everybody in the industry is much more educated, and the players are no different.

"They report how they're feeling, and their consultations with the medical staff or the physios are quite extensive, so I think players are quite in-tune with how they feel."

AFL's concussion headache

And he said clubs couldn't take "short cuts" with concussed players.

"You just can't cheat the system anymore with those sorts of things," Amos said.

Meanwhile, the Cats will welcome back premiership stars Paul Chapman and Andrew Mackie for its NAB Cup clash against Adelaide on Saturday.

Amos said the pair were "fit and ready to play" after being rested for Geelong's trip to Perth for Round 1 of the pre-season competition.

He said Chapman was raring to go and was pushing for more midfield time.

"He's had a good injury free pre-season and in terms of his preparation it couldn't have gone any better. He's looking forward to playing, as most the senior guys are this time of year, and he's ready to go," Amos said.

Amos said Mathew Stokes (ankle) and Josh Hunt (quad) were making steady progress from injury but would not play against the Crows.

Injured ruckman Hamish McIntosh is also close to a return to training after under-going knee surgery.

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Lions top NAB Cup ladder

Nick Riewoldt in the rain during St Kilda's intra-club practice match in Wangaratta last year. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HWT Image Library

THE Lions are surprise pre-season ladder-leaders, Richmond is ninth and the Dogs have a hand on the NAB Cup wooden spoon.

Brisbane bolted out of the blocks with wins against Hawthorn and Gold Coast to record the best percentage of the four teams to hold an unbeaten record after the first round of NAB Cup matches.

Mick Malthouse made a successful start to his coaching career to have Carlton sitting second, just ahead of his former club Collingwood, while North Melbourne rounds out the top four after snatching victory late against Richmond on Friday night.

Those four teams seem the only realistic hopes of making the final of the pre-season competition, which will be played between the two top teams after three rounds of round-robin matches.

See the full NAB Cup fixture below

The competition reverts to full-length games for the next two weeks as clubs head to the far corners of the country.

Brisbane will try to keep its unbeaten record intact against GWS in Wagga, Gold Coast will take on North Melbourne in the first AFL match in Townsville while Essendon will return to Wangaratta to face Richmond.

The Bombers were set to play in Wangaratta last year but the match was called off in bizarre circumstances.

After chartering planes to transport players to the town - 240km from Melbourne - on the day of the game, the Bombers were forced to return to Melbourne when the aircraft couldn't land due to bad weather.

The match was abandoned and the Saints were later awarded the points - and gave angry locals something to watch by staging a hastily-arranged practice match.

NAB CUP LADDER

1. Brisbane Lions 2-0 254.3%
2. Carlton 2-0 142.9%
3. Collingwood 2-0 134.5%
4. North Melbourne 2-0 107.5%
5. Port Adelaide 1-1  158.6%
6. Essendon 1-1 148.0%
7. GWS 1-1 135.5%
8. West Coast 1-1 133.8%
---
9. Richmond 1-1 117.5%
10. Fremantle 1-1 91.4%
11. Adelaide 1-1 87.0%
12. Geelong 1-1 83.2%
13. St Kilda 1-1 73.0%
14. Gold Coast 1-1 62.8%
15. Melbourne 0-2 75.0%
16. Hawthorn 0-2 64.5%
17. Sydney 0-2 53.1%
18. Western Bulldogs 0-2 52.2%

NAB CUP FIXTURE (all times local)

Round 2

Friday, March 1
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn (Etihad Stadium,7.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Saturday, March 2
Geelong v Adelaide (Simonds Stadium, 2.40pm) FOX FOOTY
Gold Coast v North Melbourne (Townsville, 3.30pm)
Essendon v Richmond (Wangaratta, 5.10pm) FOX FOOTY
GWS v Brisbane Lions (Wagga, 7pm)
Carlton v Fremantle (Etihad Stadium, 7.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Sunday, March 3
Port Adelaide v Melbourne (Renmark, 4pm)
St Kilda v Sydney (Etihad Stadium, 5.10pm) FOX FOOTY
West Coast v Collingwood (Patersons Stadium, 4.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Round 3

Friday, March 8
GWS v Essendon (Manuka Oval, 6.10pm) FOX FOOTY
Adelaide v Carlton (AAMI Stadium, 8.10pm) FOX FOOTY

Saturday, March 9
Hawthorn v Richmond (Aurora Stadium, 1.10pm) FOX FOOTY
Melbourne v St Kilda (Casey Fields, 2.30pm)
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs (Northam), 3.30pm
Geelong v North Melbourne (Simonds Stadium, 3.40pm) FOX FOOTY
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (Etihad Stadium, 6.40pm) FOX FOOTY
West Coast v Port Adelaide (Alice Springs, 7pm)
Sydney v Gold Coast (Blacktown ISP, 7pm)

Grand Final

Friday March 15 or Saturday March 16
(Venue TBC) 7.40pm FOX FOOTY/Channel 7

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Panel clears Buddy hit

Lance Franklin runs the ball during the round one NAB Cup match against Gold Coast. Source: Getty Images

HAWTHORN'S gun goalkicker Lance Franklin has no case to answer from an incident In the NAB Cup match against Gold Coast.

The AFL match review panel cleared Franklin of contact to Suns youngster Matt Shaw, deciding the Hawks ace had his hand open and it wasn't a striking action.

Carlton forward Levi Casboult is also in the clear after his heavy collision with GWS Giants Matt Buntine was deemed to be accidental.

The MRP decided Casboult had made a realistic attempt to win the ball.

Reports this morning suggested Buntine was still in hospital and may have suffered a punctured lung.

Gold Coast rookie Andrew Boston won't face a front-on bump charge after it was decided he had no alternative way to contest the ball when he collided with Brisbane Lion Claye Beams.

 

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SuperCoach: Rev up and win

Sign up for SuperCoach today for a chance to win the best seats in the house for the Australian Grand Prix. Source: Supplied

Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia powers past the crowd during qualifying for Formula One's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Source: AFP

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The F1 Adrenalin package includes:

TICKETS for the Winner and three friends to the 2013 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Premium Zone at Turn 15 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the event valued at $249 each.

A V8 Hot Lap valued at $1000.

HELICOPTER ride over the GP circuit.

ACCESS for the winner and friends to the VIP viewing platform at the Nitro Circus live closing performance on Sunday March 17.

PLUS accommodation for two at Crown Plaza in Melbourne from Thursday March 14-Sunday March 17 valued at $2200.

To have a shot at the fantastic prize all you have to do is register your team in Australia's biggest and best fantasy sports game before Friday.

And you'll also have a shot at the SuperCoach grand prize of $50,000 plus $1000 every week to the highest-scoring team.

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CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR TEAM NOW

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Integrity name of the game

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou vows to maintain the integrity of the sport. Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL has vowed to restore the trust it concedes some football fans have lost in the code, insisting it will rid the game of "rogue elements".

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou insisted the competition would not tolerate anyone who puts the integrity of the game at risk.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday Herald Sun columnist Shane Crawford, Demetriou rejected calls for his sacking from former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.

"All of us want to have our supporters and our key partners believe in the game and live up to its values, and I think in the main that we do," Demetriou said.

"But it is sometimes the acts of individuals that taint great people at clubs, boards and players. The actions of a particular player at a particular club could taint the whole playing group, so what we have to do is live up to the values that we set ourselves."

Asked if he could understand why some supporters might be questioning the game after a tumultuous off-season, Demetriou said: "I certainly can, because in this organisation we pride ourselves on very, very strong core values, on being transparent, being honest, acting with integrity, acting with the right ethics.

"That's what the public expects. It is something that should apply in any organisation, any club, any business.

"We have drawn a line in the sand. We are going to put a stop to rogue elements at clubs and the insidious nature of some individuals who are trying to spoil it for the rest of the code. It is only a handful of people but it can cause significant damage.

"The public are entitled to be questioning the values of the code because they are wondering, given what has happened with the Melbourne, Adelaide and Essendon (investigations). I have said the issues of values, principles and ethics in the code are absolute non-negotiables."

Demetriou said clubs had been provided with a "road map" of warning signs - "things like ex-players, anti-ageing clinics, gyms and tattoo parlours".

He would not be drawn into criticism by Kennett, who suggested on Footy Classified that the AFL was being run on a culture of fear and intimidation.

 Kennett also said the AFL Commission had to start considering a time frame for change at the top of the AFL.

But Demetriou was adamant that he still had the fire in the belly to help restore the faith that some people might have lost in AFL football.

"I'm not distracted ... I'm not tired," Demetriou said of the criticism being levelled at him. "I am very excited about the season ahead.

"(And) I am very excited about the new people we are about to appoint and bring in to reinvograte the executive."

In his interview with the Sunday Herald Sun, Demetriou also said the AFL would ban the use of intravenous injections other than painkillers and would ensure the club doctor would be the sole person responsible for player treatment.

"There will be a ban on IV at clubs - not just on game day," he said. "We are implementing some very, very serious measures to restore treatments of players under one person and that is the club doctor."

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Shocking trip north for Hawks

Hawthorn forward Paul Puopolo writhes in pain after landing awkwardly on his left knee. Picture: David Clark Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says the Hawks have no concerns from the opening round of the NAB Cup despite a knee injury to Paul Puopolo, Lance Franklin's indifferent outing and the Hawks' twin losses to Brisbane and the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium last night.

The Hawks suffered a one-point loss to the Suns in the opening match of the night while the Lions roared past last year's grand finalists in the second match to claim a 21-point victory in steamy conditions to end Hawthorn's chances of claiming the pre-season silverware.

Puopolo crashed to the turf late in the loss to the Suns and clutched his knee, sending a scare through the Hawks' camp.

He received urgent medical attention and eventually hobbled off the field.

Picture: David Clark Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

Meanwhile, apart from one nice touch to set-up a goal for Sam Grimley in the first game, Franklin had a forgettable start to 2013.
He made high contact with Suns midfielder Matt Shaw midway through the second half and struggled to make a mark on either contest.

The impact with Shaw was relatively minimal but the incident could draw the attention of the AFL match review panel tomorrow given the crackdown on any contact with the head.

Clarkson was not stressed by anything he saw last night.

"I think he (Puopolo) is OK. He's walking around, so he'll be OK," he said.

"We get gametime for our players, that's the most critical thing.

"We were pretty competitive for three quarters and then the heat probably drained a bit out of us the last quarter.

"Brisbane ran over the top of us a bit. They had more legs ... but we'd been out there in pretty stifling conditions for three quarters prior to that.

"We gave exposure to a lot of younger players on our list tonight and they'll really benefit from that."

Clarkson claimed to have missed spotting the Franklin-Shaw incident.

"I didn't see. So I couldn't tell you," he said.

He said the humid conditions were not ideal for Franklin, who finished with five touches and no goals against the Suns.

He was pushed into the midfield against the Lions and had nine touches, two clearances and three inside-50s.

But he could not catch a cold last night, registering two marks across the two games in a generally unhappy night with his hands.

Picture: David Clark Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

He dropped a sitter of a mark deep inside Hawthorn's attacking 50 when scores were level late in the match against the Gold Coast.

"He competed hard, he was a bit scratchy with the ball from time to time. In hindsight we should have brought a mosquito fleet up here because it wasn't a game where it was conducive to tall players," Clarkson said.

"It was nearly like wet weather footy. He had a bit of a run up there (midfield). With the ball so slippery we thought if we could get the ball in his hands at least he can kick it a mile when he gets it."

The Suns got off to a bright start but could not turn their dominance into points.

Hawks forward Luke Breust kicked the first goal of the match but rising Gold Coast star Harley Bennell handed the home side a well-deserved lead with two quickfire goals.

Hawthorn took a slender one-point lead into halftime after Ryan Schoenmakers booted a goal late in the first half after outstanding build-up work from Matt Suckling.

Goals to Suns defender Jarrod Harbrow and ruckman Zac Smith brought the home side roaring back into the contest and scores were level deep inside the second half before Luke Russell registered a point after the siren.

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett had 13 possessions while Jaeger O'Meara caught the eye with seven disposals.

The contest with Brisbane was a horribly scrappy affair.

The Hawks led 1.3 (9) to 0.3 (3) but were no match for the Daniel Rich and Brent Moloney-inspired Lions in the second half.

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LIVE: GWS Giants v Blues

It is Mick Malthouse's first game as coach of Carlton. Can he start off on a winning note? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

IT is Mick Malthouse's first match as coach of the Blues. Follow all the live action from tonight's NAB Cup matches featuring Carlton, Sydney and GWS Giants at Blacktown here.

4:45pm AEDT - GWS Giants 1.0 (6) trails Carlton 1.3 (9)

A BAD mistake by Matthew Watson has seen the Giants kick the first game of the match.

As the ball bounced towards the GWS goal, Watson overran the ball - allowing big Jonathon Patton to run to it and kick the opener.

Carlton blew a number of early chances before San Rowe kicked the first goal for the Blues.

In first game since recovering from chemotherapy, Rowe slotted it home from a set shot.

Both teams still finding their feet in the early going.

New Carlton coach Mick Malthouse with his arch rival Kevin Sheedy. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

4:15pm AEDT-

HELLO and welcome to our live coverage of today's NAB Cup clash from Blacktown.

It is Mick Malthouse's first game as Carlton coach and he will be looking for an instant response from his new players, who will all be looking to make an impression.

First up will be the Giants and the Blues at 4:40pm.

No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield will be making his debut for the Giants and he will be one to watch.

Follow the coverage with us right here!

SCHEDULE

Giants v Blues 4.40pm AEDT
Swans v Blues 5.45pm AEDT
Giants v Swans 6.50pm AEDT

FOLLOW NICK SMART ON TWITTER: @NickSmart85

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Day to meet Bubba head to head

Jason Day is Australia's last remaining hope at the World Golf Championships in Arizona.

Jason Day in action in Arizona. Source: Getty Images

JASON Day is hoping his mental game will help catapult him towards the World Golf Championship Match Play finals.

The Australian is thriving on the competitive nature of match play golf while his next opponent, Masters champ Bubba Watson, claims he's not a fan, but keeps winning regardless.

Day needed 19 holes to dispatch of American rookie Russell Henley in the second round on Friday, a talented 23-year-old who won in Hawaii in January, while Watson required 22 holes to beat Jim Furyk to set up a mouth-watering round-of-16 match.

Here for the third time, Day is 5-2 in his career after making the round of 16 for a second time while Watson, also on his third appearance, is 7-3 after a semi-final run in 2011.

The Queenslander used every bit of his mental toughness against Henley, who hit 18 of 19 greens and 13 of 15 fairways.

He also was forced to draw from the reserves when he squandered a 2-up lead with four to play. After a wayward drive on 15 cut the lead in half, Day made a brilliant up and down from a waste area on 17 to stay 1-up but a clutch last hole birdie putt from the American looked set to send Day packing.

But drawing on his competitive spirit, Day stuck his approach to the first extra hole to eight feet and made the winning putt.

"Russell only missed one green, which was very, very frustrating on my side, because he hit it great, so that means you have to make birdies," Day said.

"I just did enough today to win. He was clutch on 18 to actually hole the putt. Fortunately, I hit a nice tight one into the 19th hole and he missed his birdie putt and I holed one, which was nice.

"My mental toughness continues to be something I work on, particularly through the pre-shot routine just to make sure I am thinking about the right things."

Watson is the only top-10 seed left, after Luke Donald, Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Rose joined first-round losers Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel and Jason Dufner on the scrapheap. But he continues to claim he's not a fan of the format.

"It's not my favourite form of competition. It's a toss up. You can't really judge who's going to win," Watson said.

"Here in a match, 18 holes, some guy can hit four balls in the desert and you're only one-up but, in a golf tournament, he shoots 80, you shoot 70 - you're 10-up.

"I'd rather have the chance to make up my bad mistakes in a 72-hole event."

But Day has warmed to the format.

"I like match play. I am a little different - I am very competitive and it gets me charged up to be in this environment," he said.

The other Australian left in the field Marcus Fraser was bundled out 4 and 3 by Swede Fredrik Jacobson but will move to as high as 51st in the world rankings come Monday, ever so close to a chance at a Masters invite.

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