Pure forward role for Dawes

Understudy no more-Chris Dawes will enjoy a leading role at Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

NEW Melbourne signing Chris Dawes is guaranteed a lead role next season.

So often the understudy to Travis Cloke at Collingwood, Dawes will have equal billing with Mitch Clark as another tall target.

"It's terrific for Mitch and the rest of the team to have a second big body down there," Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said yesterday.

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"Dawesy has been brought in to play as a key forward.

"He won't be doing the 'key forward who goes into the ruck' role with us."

Neeld said it was "critical" for the young Demons to learn from the premiership experiences of Dawes and forward Shannon Byrnes, brought in from Geelong.

"We talk about the long-term aspect that Chris brings to the club," he said.

"He's 24 and he also brings a lot of experience coming out of a good culture, the way the Pies go about it, the way they play and the way they train.

"He has also managed to play in the last five finals series. Include the drawn grand final, he has played in three grand finals - and cracked it for a flag.

"We're certainly not underestimating what that brings to our group.

"And we've added Shannon Byrnes as well.

"Between them, there's a lot of experience at great clubs and the knowledge they can pass on to our boys of what it's like to play at the pointy end."

Neeld said medical checks reassured the Demons that Dawes had recovered from the knee injury that hampered him in the preliminary final.

Neeld is confident the Dees have the midfield capable of quick and clean delivery to the marking duo.

"For the boys in the midfield, like (Jack) Grimes and (Jack) Trengove and (Nathan) Jones, to look up and see two big targets, that's the way we want to play," he said.

Melbourne will continue to pursue other tall forwards Scott Gumbleton (Essendon) and Cam Pedersen (North Melbourne) but Neeld said it has salary cap room for only one.
 

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I regret leaving Power: Stevens

Carlton's Nick Stevens reacts to a big loss against Port Adelaide in 2004. Picture: Camerson Richardson. Source: adelaidenow

NICK Stevens wouldn't have made his controversial exit from Port Adelaide had he known "four years of pain" would eventuate at Carlton from 2004.

As gun Crows forward Kurt Tippett risks taking the same path to Sydney - via the pre-season draft - Stevens made the shock revelation he wouldn't have left Alberton if he knew the extent of the Blues' financial woes.

"My time at Carlton early days was very tough because I didn't have any idea how bad Carlton was," said Stevens, who was claimed by the Blues at pick No.2 in the 2004 pre-season draft.

"The financial trouble they were in at the time was enormous for the footy club so I had four years of pain before we started to win some games.

"Look, if I had have known that at the time, I probably wouldn't have gone because I still did love playing at Port Adelaide and loved my time there.

"It was purely on the fact I wanted to go home for family reasons.

"But if I had my time again, and knew that I would have had to go through that sort of pain - don't get me wrong I loved every minute of playing at Carlton - I probably would have stayed at Port and finished my career there."

The fact Stevens, who played 127 games for the Power between 1998 and 2003, missed out on playing in the club's inaugural AFL premiership in 2004 also hurts.

"I obviously missed out on that but that's the chance you take when you leave," said Stevens.

"And I knew at the time that I was leaving a good side.

"But I also knew that if I didn't go that year, I was going to stay at Port after that so that's where it sat with me at the time.

"I was 23 at the time and was about to sign a four-year contract (with Port) so I knew if I didn't go then I was never going to go."

Despite his departure making waves in the South Australian media at the end of 2003, Stevens says it was "blown out of proportion".

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams made a public stance on forcing Stevens to find a new AFL club through the pre-season draft.

But behind the scenes, Stevens insists the fact he didn't reach his destination of choice - Collingwood - didn't sour his relationship with Port's premiership mentor.

"It wasn't like people thought it was because still, to this day, a lot of people do think that," Stevens said.

"But they don't realise how straight-forward it was, the deal, when it all happened.

"Everyone thought that Choco (Williams) and I didn't get along but I loved him as a coach and I've always had so much respect for him.

"The talk was I was going to go to Collingwood but that wasn't the case because Choco told me straight out that he wasn't going to deal with Collingwood because we'd lost two prelim (finals) to them - unless they came up with a deal.

"So I pretty much knew I was going to Carlton the whole time whereas the media made it sound like I wasn't."

Stevens - who guided Gippsland Power to this year's TAC Cup grand final - says Port's poor standing on and off the field is troubling him.

"I still speak to quite a few of the guys who work there so I would love to see them be successful," said Stevens.

"I really hope they get out of where they are and get back to the powerhouse they were when I left. It's hard for me even now to see that they are the way they are because when I left, they were the benchmark in a lot of areas.

"It's a club I couldn't speak more highly of. Choco Williams, what he did for me and the football club, was unbelievable. It makes you want to try and help in some way to get them back to where they were."

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White on way to Adelaide for talks

Sydney ruckman Jesse White could end up being a direct swap for Kurt Tippett. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: The Daily Telegraph

KURT Tippett's drawn-out move to Sydney could be formalised as early as today, with Swans big man Jesse White expected to be the linchpin in the deal.

The Advertiser can reveal White, a key forward/ruckman, is travelling to Adelaide today for a medical and a meeting with Crows coach Brenton Sanderson, who returns home today after holidaying in the US.

Swans boss Andrew Ireland said the negotiations to bring Tippett to the Harbour City were progressing well.

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"We think it's getting closer and hope there is some news by the end of the week," Ireland said.

"David Noble (Crows list manager) and Kinnear Beatson (Swans list manager) have been working through the issues and there are some things that need to be ticked off.

"Brenton Sanderson arrives back in Adelaide tomorrow and that will allow some of the things that need to be finalised to be done."

THE SWANS will play the first two matches of their premiership defence in Sydney, starting with an ANZ Stadium local derby against the GWS Giants.

Yesterday, the AFL also revealed the top four teams from 2012 (Sydney, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Adelaide) would all only play the bottom four teams of 2012 (Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs) on one occasion in 2013, with the single exception of the Swans and Giants' cross-town rivalry.

The 10 non-finalists from 2012 will all be scheduled to have a maximum of two return meetings with top eight sides from 2012.

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Longmire wins contract extension

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire shows off the premiership cup with Jarrad McVeigh, left, and Adam Goodes. Picture: Brett Costello. Source: The Daily Telegraph

SYDNEY'S premiership win has handed coach John Longmire a position of power, with the victory triggering a contract extension until 2015.

The Swans yesterday confirmed Longmire had a clause in his contract rewarding him with an extra season in the event of a Grand Final win.

Longmire was already contracted until the end of 2014, but now has his first five seasons as coach guaranteed.

Sydney would not comment on any additional financial bonuses included.

How safe is your senior coach? See Jon Ralph's pressure index

A standard coaching contract has a bonus of up to $200,000 for a premiership, which Hawthorn's Alastair Clarkson would have reaped had he won a second flag.

The extension is yet more vindication for Longmire, given some initially wondered whether he had the ability to take over from the charismatic Paul Roos.

It comes amid an almost-unprecedented period of stability in AFL coaching ranks, with only North Melbourne's Brad Scott, West Coast's John Longmire and the Brisbane Lions' Michael Voss out of contract at the end of next season.

Scott looks certain to be handed an early re-extension, given his success in taking the Kangaroos to their first finals campaign since 2008.

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw is on leave, but he regards Scott's re-signing before Round1 next year as a priority.

Voss took the Lions up the ladder this year, but might have to perform again to win another contract extension.

Sydney chief executive Andrew Ireland yesterday confirmed the Longmire extension.

"Our arrangement with John provided for an automatic trigger for a premiership that extended him until 2015," he said.

"John has done a fantastic job with us, and when you are a successful coach like him, you get your just reward."

However, the elephant in the room in season 2013 for underperforming coaches will be ex-Sydney coach Roos, whose youngest son finishes Year 12 at the end of next year.

Ireland yesterday gave his blessing for Roos to pursue another coaching opportunity, despite being contracted as the head of the Sydney Swans' coaching academy.

Roos was approached by Carlton this year about its vacant position and spent the night consulting with his wife before declining.

"A year ago he said publicly he might not coach again, but I sense that might change," Ireland said.

"He has a very good track record, and if you were running another club, why wouldn't you go and speak to him?"

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New top Dog is ready to rumble

New Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon. As a lawyer, he has taken on BHP and won. Picture: Stuart Walmsley. Source: Herald Sun

PETER Gordon looks like everyone's idea of a warm, cuddly, long-lost uncle.

But the portly man with the cheeky smile is a street fighter.

In his day job, spearheading class actions, Gordon has taken on and beaten BHP and international medical giants.

The heavies at German company Grunenthal have not unsettled him in a fight for justice on the notorious drug thalidomide, so Andrew Demetriou and Co. at AFL House will hold no fears.

You could argue the Dogs have been too obedient in recent years - solid, but almost silent on big-picture league issues.

That almost certainly will change when Gordon officially takes over from the respected David Smorgon.

He is a man of colourful quotes and opinions. For an everyday-looking guy, he talks with pizzazz - and right now the Bulldogs need it.

They need more headlines. They need to get back on the agenda. They need a fresh voice. Gordon, the famous lawyer of the downtrodden, is the ideal man for the job.

Through his past presidency from 1990-96, Gordon regularly attacked the AFL as the club fought for survival.

While a juicy TV-rights deal, and a need for 18 clubs, has lessened the need to go to war, Gordon will not step away from a battle either.

Gordon said yesterday he had mellowed, but you could see the fire in his eyes. Smorgon, who sat beside him, looked relieved and relaxed - as if the flames had gone out.

Gordon addressed the Dogs board on Tuesday and they were blown away by a bushfire of ideas.

There were visionary ideas for the future, including sponsorship and wiping off the club's debt, Westpac and AFL combined.

Gordon's tin-rattling saved the club in 1989, yet he will be more sophisticated this time, with the help of powerful friends.

The club will turn over $33 million this year and is well placed under chief executive Simon Garlick, but freshness is overdue after a year spent almost in a holding pattern.

Smorgon became more low-key publicly, the club became more insular than usual as the losses mounted and next season loomed as a tough sell on the membership front.

As one Dogs insider said yesterday, Gordon is a "call-to-arms" type of person. No doubt he will rally the supporter group and there will be a spike in membership.

He also has the dollars, and just as importantly, the time, to roll up his sleeves.

"I'm now in a position where over the next six to nine months I've got some significant commitments in the resolution of the rest of the thalidomide cases which I took on - but I'm really not planning on taking on any more class actions after that. I had promised my wife I would not take on any more global class actions," Gordon said.

"And whilst the term divorce had not been put expressly on the table, that was very, very clear.

"After that at the denouement of the thalidomide cases, I imagine if you talk to Simon Garlick, he'll be saying: 'If only I can find a way to get this guy outta here'."

That final quote will please every Dogs fan, for there is much work for the street fighter to do.

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Bombers still on muscle mission

Essendon fitness chief Dean Robinson, aka The Weapon, shows Kyle Reimers, Patrick Ryder and Kyle Hardingham how to lift weights. Picture: George Salpigtidis. Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON will forge ahead with the controversial strategy to turn its fleet of runners into muscle-bound warriors, despite the catastrophic injury toll this season.

The Bombers will start their pre-season on November 1 determined to learn the lessons of the soft-tissue crisis that killed their season.

Part of that strategy is giving new football operations manager and former Athletics Australia boss Danny Corcoran responsibilities spread across the sports science and fitness divisions.

But Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said yesterday fitness boss Dean Robinson - aka "The Weapon" - would lead the preparation of the players and had not been demoted.

A cult mythology surrounds Robinson, with Essendon players who have transformed their body shape describing themselves as "Weaponised".

Robson said the club as a whole took responsibility for some of the mistakes, but said the early-season successes showed Essendon was on the right track.

"We know we will be a lot better," Robson said.

"We have learnt where the playing group is at and will be much better for it. The Grand Final was proof of the way football is being played with man-on-man football. Half of Sydney's 22 were 28 or older and had strong bodies and strong minds.

"We made mistakes, but there has been a lot of fine-tuning behind the scenes. We are really positive about putting into practice what we have learnt.

"No one is pretending the injuries didn't happen. The way we ended up was extraordinary. But we had a desire for our boys to be big and strong and stay in the contest.

"When we were at 8-1 we were playing a pretty reasonable standard of footy. We showed our best footy is competitive."

The rapid weight gains of many players - executed by Robinson, but through a directive from coaches including Mark Thompson - was a source of some friction within the club this year.

There is a concession from Essendon it cannot simply stack weight on every player, given the struggles in 2012.

"Some guys played well with the weight, some didn't," Robson said. "Under the same program Jobe Watson played every game and won a Brownlow. He felt fit, strong and healthy."

A group of 10 midfielders including new recruit Brendon Goddard will join midfield coach Simon Goodwin at a high-altitude camp in Colorado on November 3, with a specialised training camp on the Gold Coast on November 24.

The entire group will be assembled back in Melbourne on December 1 for the rest of the pre-season.

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Roos get in right shape

North Melbourne are on the move this pre-season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

THE North Melbourne Kangaroos will hop to Craigieburn for pre-season training this summer while Aegis Park gets a facelift.

The playing surface at Arden St has been ripped up and will replicate the size of Etihad Stadium - a ground the Kangaroos played at 13 times this year.

"If we did a training session on an oval the equivalent size of Etihad and did that same session at Arden St, the GPS results were showing that the players were running up to 2km less because of the dimensions of the ground," North's football manager Donald McDonald said.

"It was just too small, too tight.

"So we think this is another thing that's going to help our performance."

Work at Arden St will be completed about Christmas, but the club will not be able to train there until March.

McDonald said the club put a lot of thought into the interim training facility.

"The last thing we wanted to do was have any disruption to the way we prepare," he said.

"It's nothing new in a sense. Prior to the last three seasons ... we always had to train at other venues over summer because of cricket being played at Arden St.

"We're going to train at Craigieburn, Highgate Reserve, which is a great coup because Highgate is the same size as the MCG. It's a footy-dedicated oval, awesome surface, great facilities."

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Lions demand prime-time blockbuster

The Brisbane Lions want a blockbuster at the Gabba - such as a match against Collingwood - to make up for losing the Easter Thursday clash. Picture: Darren England. Source: The Courier-Mail

THE Brisbane Lions have demanded the AFL schedule a prime-time blockbuster at the Gabba next year as compensation for the club losing its traditional Easter Thursday fixture.

An early Easter in 2013 means the Lions cannot host a match on March 28, the night before Good Friday, as the ground would have only just been released by cricket and would not be ready for football.

The Sheffield Shield final is scheduled for Friday, March 22 to Tuesday, March 26 and all major cricket grounds in Australia are booked as a precaution.

Round 1 of the AFL season will be spread over two weekends, with Adelaide hosting Essendon (March 22) and Fremantle taking on West Coast (March 23) at AFL-only venues.

The second half of round 1 will be run over the following long weekend, with Carlton playing Richmond on Easter Thursday at the MCG, the Sydney derby at Homebush on Easter Saturday and Geelong taking on Hawthorn at the MCG on Easter Monday.

Games can be played at the MCG that weekend due to the ground's drop-in pitches.

The Gabba's pitch area will need time and work to be softened for football.

The Lions have hosted Collingwood, Carlton and St Kilda at the Gabba on Easter Thursday recently in nationally-televised matches drawing bumper crowds.

The Lions will be away in round 1 while the Gold Coast will start their season at home over Easter to give southeast Queensland one game in the opening round of the year.

Lions CEO Malcolm Holmes said the club had strongly expressed to the AFL that it needed a big ticket game against a powerhouse Victorian team to fill the void.

"It (Easter Thursday) has traditionally been our biggest game of the year but the ground is unavailable so we have requested a stand-alone fixture against a high-drawing Victorian team to replace it," he said.

"We've made it clear to the AFL just how important that fixture is for us to help grow the game. We are working with them to find a date.

"Blockbusters are important to all AFL clubs and we are no different. We'd like to have as many high-profile Victorian teams play up here as possible."

The Lions hosted Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong this year but poor weather and indifferent form cost the club at the turnstiles.

A Friday night clash with Collingwood is most likely to appease the Lions.

The AFL and the 18 clubs are still working through draft fixtures and finalising details before the full draw is released later this month.

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Cash Gordon for Dogs

New Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon, right, with departing president David Smorgon. Picture: Stuart Walmsley. Source: Herald Sun

RETURNING Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon will dig deep into his own pocket to boost the club's flagging football department budget.

The Dogs spent about $15.5 million on players, coaches and support services this season - one of the lowest amounts in the AFL.

But Gordon yesterday revealed "substantial" cash donations had already been pledged to kick-start his second coming at Whitten Oval.

"I have already had talks with some of the long-time, high net-worth supporters of the Bulldogs," Gordon told the Herald Sun.

"I have been excited by those talks ... and I believe that we will be in a position to raise substantial funds.

"We have a great young list, we have the opportunity to draft some of the best quality in the country and we have the best developmental coach in the AFL.

"But however you want to spin it, there is a very direct relationship between the amount of money you've got to invest and the number of premiership points you win. We need to accept that reality."

Another reality is the club's mountain of debt, put by Gordon yesterday at $10.5 million.

Gordon, 55, said plans for new revenue streams would be unveiled in the coming months.

Outgoing president David Smorgon, who will step aside at the club's annual meeting on December 20, told the Herald Sun the plan to bring back Gordon was hatched during lunch at South Melbourne's Centro restaurant in August.

Over a bottle of pinot and grilled flathead tails, the pair discussed the class-action lawyer's interest in returning to help out at the club he left in 1996.

"This was a lunch where Peter came with an idea to find out what my intentions were and where my head was at," Smorgon said.

"And I was sitting there while he was talking, thinking to myself that this guy might be the successor because there's a twinkle in the eye about the Bulldogs and the role.

"We followed that up a few weeks later when Peter hosted my wife Kathy and I to a very nice dinner. There was an even better bottle of red on that occasion, so I knew he was warming up."

On Monday the pair went to AFL House in the Docklands to discuss the succession plan with league supremos Mike Fitzpatrick, Andrew Demetriou and Gillon McLachlan.

They walked away convinced the time was right, but Smorgon said he did not decide to hand over the baton until 11am on Tuesday, before the club's monthly board meeting.

Gordon, too, had spent several weeks poring over the club's finances and action plans.

The pair addressed the staff at Whitten Oval yesterday, but the official handover will not take place until the annual meeting, where director Susan Alberti will be installed as Gordon's deputy.

Smorgon, 65, said the highlight of his 17 years in the top job was the building of new facilities at Whitten Oval.

He nominated the five lost preliminary finals as the low.

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Good news for high-flying Swans

Sydney Swans stars Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh hold up the premiership cup at Sydney Town Hall. Picture: Brett Costello. Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE Swans will play their first two matches of their premiership defence in Sydney, but that's just the start of the good news for the red and whites.

With the glow of the grand final win against Hawthorn still sweeping Sydney,

The Daily Telegraph

can reveal:

THE grand final win triggered a clause in coach John Longmire's contract for an automatic one-year extension to 2015;

THE Kurt Tippett transfer from Adelaide could be completed as early as today;

THE Swans will start their premiership defence with an ANZ Stadium blockbuster against GWS Giants; and

THE St Kilda-Sydney match in Wellington will be broadcast after the traditional Anzac Day Collingwood-Essendon clash.

Swans boss Andrew Ireland said the negotiations to bring Tippett, a star forward, to the harbour city were progressing well.

"We think it's getting closer and hope there is some news by the end of the week," he said.

"David Noble (Crows list manager) and Kinnear Beatson (Swans list manager) have been working through the issues and there are some things that need to be ticked off.

"Brenton Sanderson arrives back in Adelaide tomorrow and that will allow some of the things that need to be finalised to be done."

One of those items includes Swans key forward/ruckman Jesse White, who is travelling to Adelaide today for a medical and a meeting with Crows coach Sanderson.

The Swans hope their season opener against the Giants draws a crowd greater than the 38,000 for the corresponding fixture this year.

"We worked really hard last year with GWS and the AFL and we were really pleased there," Ireland said.

Giants boss David Matthews thinks a crowd close to 50,000 is on the cards.

"It couldn't be a better opening for the Giants to be playing the premiers," Matthews said.

"Kevin Sheedy and the Giants have been cheering on the Swans through September, the premiership is just great for the town."

The Swans will unfurl their premiership flag at the SCG in round two against a yet to be named opponent.

"It's a great way to recognise the members and share the occasion with the fans," Ireland said.

The Swans will then have two big games in rounds four and five when they host Geelong on a Friday night at the SCG followed by the Anzac Day match in Wellington against St Kilda.

The top four teams from 2012 (Swans, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Adelaide) will play the bottom four of 2012 only once in 2013, with the exception of the Swans and Giants.

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