City limits for Port in NAB Cup

Port Adelaide will "host" Melbourne in Remark during next year's pre-season NAB Cup. Picture: Simon Cross. Source: adelaidenow

PORT Adelaide again will be confronted with the possibility of playing just one pre-season match at an AFL venue after the release of next year's NAB Cup draw yesterday.

After being scheduled to open against cross-town rival Adelaide and St Kilda in the triangular format at AAMI Stadium on Sunday February 17, the Power - as it did this year - will be forced to play at country grounds in its next two fixtures.

Port will "host" Melbourne at Renmark from 4pm on Sunday, March 3, before facing West Coast at Alice Springs from 7pm on Saturday, March 9.

Unless Port qualifies for the NAB Cup grand final, this will leave it in the same position it was this year in asking the AFL to schedule it at an AFL venue in the last week before the premiership season begins.

Having faced West Coast (Mandurah) and Fremantle (Victor Harbor) earlier this year, Port was granted a match against Melbourne at AAMI Stadium in its last contest before round one.

In contrast, the Crows' three scheduled matches are all at regular AFL stadiums. After clashing with the Saints and the Power, Brenton Sanderson's men will confront Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Saturday, March 2 (2.10pm) and Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Friday, March 8 (8.10pm).

The triangular NAB Cup opener at AAMI Stadium - involving the Crows, Power and Saints - will be a twilight fixture starting from 4.10pm.

All six opening-round triple-headers in the AFL's 2013 pre-season Cup will be played as twilight or night fixtures.

Collingwood, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs will take part in the first of the triple-headers at Etihad Stadium on February 15.

"The shortened format enables clubs to use their senior players as they see fit for the opening to the season, as well as offering the flexibility to provide opportunities for new players and rookies," said AFL broadcasting and scheduling head Simon Lethlean.

"We have now fixtured each club's matches for both rounds two and three of the NAB Cup, so clubs are aware of their travel schedule and can fully plan their preparation ...   as they build up to the start of the premiership season," he said.

"In rounds two and three, we will mix matches across both regional venues and our major AFL venues."

Townsville, Wagga Wagga, Renmark, Alice Springs, Northam and Wangaratta are among the regional venues to have been allocated pre-season games.

Essendon will take on Richmond in Wangaratta on March 2.

The Bombers' pre-season match against St Kilda in the Victorian city did not go ahead this year after their chartered flight was unable to land due to adverse weather conditions.

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Eagles swoop on Dee Morton

Could Cale Morton be West Coast bound? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

WEST Coast has turned its attention to securing Melbourne wingman Cale Morton.

Morton, 22, flew to Perth yesterday for a medical and to talk to coach John Worsfold about returning to Western Australia.

Morton is contracted to the Demons for another season, but is believed to be open to a fresh start after falling out of favour with coach Mark Neeld last season.

One of West Coast's third-round selections (No.61 or No.62) could swing the deal for the Dees.

While the Eagles have made no promises, they are intent on recruiting a mature-age ball-carrier to help cover the loss of onballer Koby Stevens, who moved to the Western Bulldogs yesterday.

Stevens' move follows the sudden retirement of Tom Swift and Brad Ebert's exit to Port Adelaide last year, creating a void in West Coast's midfield stocks.

Morton's fate could hinge on West Coast's bid to poach homesick St Kilda defender Jamie Cripps.

West Coast wants Cripps, but is unwilling to part with key defender Mitch Brown in a trade for the young flanker.

Speculation was mounting last night that Essendon could be involved as part of a three-way trade.

In that scenario, the Bombers would send backman Cale Hooker to the Saints, who are in need of defensive reinforcement.

It is unclear whether Morton is in Neeld's plans for next season, with the Dees interested in Saint Farren Ray.

Morton, a No.4 pick in the 2007 national draft, played 40 games and averaged 20 possessions a match in his first two seasons under former coach Dean Bailey.

But injuries, including medial and posterior ligament problems, have interrupted his past three seasons. Morton played only nine games last season.
 

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Catch 22: Boys with their bikes

Brendon Goddard attempts to make it up the hill on a motorbike when the Saints met the Crusty Demons. Check out Catch 22 Gallery's of players on bikes below. Source: Herald Sun

ASK an AFL player what his favourite TV show is and chances are he'll nominate Sons Of Anarchy, the US drama series about an outlaw motorcycle club.

There are plenty of footballers who love motorbikes, whether it is because they rode dirt bikes while growing up on the farm or because they fancy cruising the open road on a custom-built Harley Davidson when they retire.

And at this time of year you're likely to find out exactly who a few of those motorbike enthusiasts are when you see AFL players at Phillip Island for the Australian MotoGP.

See the Catch 22 picture gallery HERE

Then there are those like former St Kilda player Brendon Goddard - pictured climbing a mound of dirt at Rod Laver Arena in 2004 - who are prepared to jump on to a motorbike to help promote an event or a cause.

Catch 22 gallery: Footy stars get on their bikes

It is probably not something the AFL clubs would encourage in this era of multi-million dollar contracts: Crows star Taylor Walker once broke his pelvis when he came off a motorbike on a camping trip, while former Geelong and Adelaide forward Bruce Lindner had to retire in 1993 after breaking his leg in four places in a trail bike accident.

To coincide with the week when motorcycling takes centre stage on the Australian sporting calendar, we've delved into the vault and found 22 photographs with AFL footballers on motorbikes.

Follow Warwick Green on Twitter @WGreenHeraldSun

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AFL crackdown eases medical toll

Jonathan Brown recovering from facial injuries suffered last year. Source: Herald Sun

NEW AFL rules have cut the number of footballers suffering facial fractures.

A review of almost two decades of data shows the new match review panel and penalties for high hits could have reduced injury rates.

It also revealed that heavy blows to the upper and lower jaws, cheekbones and eye socket are more likely to occur early in a season.

Victorian trauma surgery trainee Dr Jason Savage said the drop in number of facial fractures could be due to players being more cautious near finals time, pushing through injuries and an underreporting of incidents.

The report's authors, which include AFL injury survey co-author Dr John Orchard, recommend changing the AFL definition of an injury and broadening the injury type recorded.

Dr Savage said that the only injuries reported are those that cause a player to miss a match, which skews the data.

He said nasal bone fractures, facial lacerations and dental and soft tissue injuries are not being reported.

"These injuries have a significant impact ... (on the) life of a player," he said.

The research published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery found the number of facial fractures decreased from 13 in 2005 to just four in 2008.

From 1992 to 2008, there were 175 facial fractures.

During the same period, the total number of injuries increased from 479 to 645.

Facial fractures make up less than 2 per cent of total injuries, but can have disastrous consequences.

High-profile victims include Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown and Bombers coach James Hird.

It took players three matches on average to recover, well below professional recommendations.

Mr Savage said the most significant changes that had helped reduce facial fractures were the new match review panel and head-high contact rule, but the effect could wane as players became accustomed to them.

lucie.vandenberg@news. com.au

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Lions race to finish Martin deal

Fremantle ruckman Jonathon Griffin battles with Melbourne's Stefan Martin. Brisbane is pushing to complete a deal for Martin. Picture: George Salpigtidis. Source: Herald Sun

BRISBANE is racing against the clock to get a deal done for Melbourne ruckman/forward Stefan Martin with the AFL trade period set to expire tomorrow.

Martin met with Lions officials at the Gabba on Tuesday and is understood to be keen to head to Queensland, but he has one year left on his contract with the Demons.

Brisbane hold picks eight, 24, 33, 53, 73 and 91 at next month's national draft.

Melbourne want selection no.33 in exchange for Martin but Brisbane are unlikely to part with a pick that high.

The club's next pick at no.53 is also unlikely to satisfy the Demons meaning the two teams will have to hammer out a compromise in the dying stages of the trade period to deliver the 26-year-old key position prospect to Brisbane.

Brisbane and Gold Coast will start their 2013 NAB Cup campaigns against powerhouse Hawthorn at Metricon Stadium on February 23.

The Lions and Suns will take on the 2012 grand finalists and each other in the abbreviated two-quarter, triple-header format before travelling far and wide for the next two weeks of the pre-season competition when teams revert to full length games.

The Gold Coast will play North Melbourne in Townsville on March 2 while Brisbane will face GWS in Wagga on the same day.

The Suns will meet reigning premier Sydney in Blacktown on March 9 when the Lions travel to Melbourne to take on Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.

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North awaits Hansen finding

North Melbourne is still waiting for the AFL's finding into the Lachie Hansen concussion case. Picture: Darren Tindale Source: Herald Sun

NORTH Melbourne will find out if it has a case to answer when the AFL delivers its findings into Lachlan Hansen's concussion case early next week.

The case has caused friction between Andrew Demetriou and his old club, with the AFL chief alleging the Kangaroos were trying to "intimidate" his investigators.

North has also been frustrated at the length of the 10-week investigation, and is keen for team doctor Andy McMahon to have his name cleared.

It is understood AFL integrity officer Brett Clothier and AFL football operations boss Adrian Anderson will meet North football manager Donald McDonald and acting chief executive Cameron Vale early next week.

Hansen returned to the ground in Round 20 after suffering a blow to the head, with teammate Drew Petrie later saying he had seen Hansen vomiting at halftime.

But the Roos do not believe they have a case to answer, and are adamant that McMahon followed AFL protocols to the letter.

The AFL, at one stage, expressed disappointment at least one club official was proving elusive despite being summoned for interviews with Clothier.

Former Melbourne Storm doctor McMahon retained legal counsel before meeting with investigators, given the severity of the allegations.

There is a maximum fine of $20,000 under concussion regulations brought in at the start of the 2011 season.

The AFL grew interested in Hansen's return to the field after Petrie's comments, but Petrie later clarified his radio interview.

Petrie told the AFL in September it needed to "tidy up their investigation and get on with it," which drew a furious reaction from Demetriou.

"I'd just caution, Drew. This is an ongoing, serious investigation," Demetriou replied.
 

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Three-way deal hits snag

Could the Brisbane Lions be going cold on Stefan Martin? Source: Herald Sun

A THREE-WAY deal delivering Stefan Martin, Ben Jacobs and Cameron Pedersen to their clubs of choice has been stalled by Brisbane's cold feet and Melbourne's meagre compensation selection.

Brisbane's reluctance to part with pick 33 for Demon utility Martin is the latest snag as Friday's 2pm deadline looms.

The potential deal could have seen Martin traded to Brisbane for 33, which the Demons could have given to the Roos for Pedersen, who could have on-traded it in the deal for homesick Port player Jacobs.

It loomed as the most likely deal to solve the trade impasse, but despite hosting Martin this week Brisbane does not believe he is worth that selection.

Melbourne had hoped even without the three-club traded it could have used its compensation deal to lure Pedersen.

Melbourne's compensation selection for Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers is only 49, which the Roos know is not enough for them to use to get Jacobs.

The Demons' next pick is 49, because they have already committed pick 27 to father-son pick Jack Viney.

Even if Melbourne would accept 49 for Pedersen, the Power want much more for Jacobs.

Port Adelaide wants North Melbourne's pick 15 for Jacobs given he was a former No.16 selection, but North won't give that up.

Melbourne also wants contracted midfielder Farren Ray, but St Kilda might have to decide if it will accept a late pick from the Demons as they have little else to give.

Meanwhile rival clubs seem to have gone cold on Hawthorn defender Stephen Gilham, which means the Hawks will face a difficult decision on the uncontracted defender.

GWS and Port Adelaide had been linked but neither has been in recent contact with Hawthorn about a trade. St Kilda, looking for a key defender, has already passed on Gilham.

Hawthorn defender Tom Murphy has already gone to the Gold Coast, but the Hawks so far have been non-committal about whether they would offer him another contract.

In a deal finalised yesterday, Koby Stevens is officially a Western Bulldog after his new club and West Coast struck an agreement clearing the midfielder's path to the Whitten Oval.

The Eagles yesterday accepted the Dogs' pick No.44 for the 21-year-old, who played only 11 games in three years at Subiaco Oval.
 

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Friday night premium

Clubs like Collingwood and Hawthorn will continue to dominate Friday night football in 2013. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL's prized Friday night time slot is moving closer to being the exclusive domain of the big-drawing premiership contenders.

It is believed the league fixture, to be released next week, will freeze out struggling Victorian clubs hoping for a slice of prime-time action.

The Herald Sun understands Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will not have a single Friday night outing next season. In the past it has been an unwritten rule that every Victorian club is awarded at least one Friday night game.

But the AFL has made it clear the position must be earned with on-field performances.

Collingwood, by contrast, is set to play at least seven games in broadcaster Channel 7's key ratings slot.

Premier Sydney, which had only one Friday night game last season, is known to have at least two matches locked in with potentially more to come when the fixture is official.

The Demons had one Friday night game last year - in Round 7 against Hawthorn - and the Western Bulldogs were drawn to play two - against Collingwood in Round 6 and Geelong in Round 9.

Adelaide and Essendon play the first Friday night match of next season in a sign of things to come as big clubs and premiership contenders take the fixturing limelight.

The gap between the Friday night matches against the powers and minnows has been gradually widening.

Geelong had eight Friday night fixtures last season while Carlton had seven.

The next most common Friday night teams were Hawthorn (five games) and Collingwood (five).

The Herald Sun understands there will also be a subtle shift in the strength of Sunday afternoon matches in Melbourne next year.

Collingwood, which in recent years has not featured that prominently on Sundays, is believed to be headed for as many as five games in that time slot next year as the league looks to beef it up and Seven's replay leading into its Sunday night news.

The upside for the lowly clubs from this year, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, is the fact they will have only one game against last year's top four and could play the teams surrounding them in last year's bottom four twice.

The AFL will release its 2013 fixture on Wednesday.

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Tippett deal 'on'

It has been a saga but Kurt Tippett could still become a Swan despite contract probe. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL will not be rushed into completing the Kurt Tippett investigation, despite tomorrow's 2pm trade deadline.

Talks between Adelaide and Sydney have stalled amid the uncertainty, but the AFL last night was adamant the probe would be open-ended.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said investigators Ken Wood and Brett Clothier would take as long as required to get to the bottom of the issue.

The Crows, Tippett and his manager Peter Blucher face sanctions over an alleged written arrangement to guarantee the player easy passage to the club of his choice in return for a second-round draft pick.

AFL clubs and managers lodging contracts must also sign statutory declarations that there are no other agreements in place.

It is likely the Crows will at least be fined and, once the AFL probe is completed, the agents' governing body is almost certain to investigate whether Blucher acted inappropriately.

The Crows last night broke their silence, with chairman Rob Chapman declaring the club had not intended to break AFL rules.

"We have a history of compliance, no record of any misdemeanours," Chapman said.

"We have nothing to hide - and we have opened all the books to the AFL without condition.

"I can give a gold-plated commitment the AFL will find nothing.

"But if we have now got this wrong, we need to know before the trade is done ... and we will have to abide by any penalty."

He could not answer why the club  or the AFL  had not put up the Tippett agreement for review earlier.

While Blucher and Adelaide faced trouble for their conduct, rival clubs did not believe the issue constituted "draft tampering".

It is unlikely Adelaide will be stripped of draft picks, its cause helped by the fact it put up its hand.

Because there is no AFL injunction, Sydney and Adelaide might still seal a deal.

Sydney was last night waiting to hear from the AFL, believing it could get its man by offering pick 23 and Jesse White.

There was speculation the Swans could come up with a more "commercial" deal to satisfy the AFL.

It is understood some senior members of the Adelaide camp were not aware of the "agreement" until late last week, but felt the need to confess to the AFL when all of the facts were known.

AFL player rules prohibit any "entering into, making or being a party to any agreement, arrangement, understanding, promise or undertaking, whether express or implied and whether or not enforceable or intended to be enforceable, or entering into or carrying out any scheme, plan, proposal, action, course of action or course of conduct that hinders, interferes or prejudices with the natural operation of the draft".

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Crows may have breached salary cap

The Adelaide Crows are insisting they didn't mean to breach AFL rules in Kurt Tippett's out-of-contract dealings. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

ADELAIDE'S no-longer secret "exit clause" with forward Kurt Tippett may be the least of the Crows' problems as the AFL investigation turns to allegations of undisclosed third-party payments.

If proven, these claims - that relate to Tippett and his brother Joel who plays with SANFL club West Adelaide - could subject the Crows to heavy sanctions for salary cap breaches.

AFL salary cap investigator Ken Wood has taken to investigating how the Crows may have paid Joel Tippett to move from the Gold Coast to Adelaide to ease Kurt's unease in the SA capital.

Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg on Friday handed to the AFL a letter of agreement reached outside the Crows' contract dealings with Tippett in 2009.

That letter has at least three clauses - the exit demand to trade Tippett to any AFL club of his choice when he chose to leave Adelaide and two deals that could breach the AFL salary cap rules.

Adelaide faces harsher penalties for the alleged third-party arrangements than the exit clause written in the 2009 letter between Crows football operations chief John Reid and Tippett's Brisbane-based manager Peter Blucher.

If Wood and AFL integrity officer Brett Clothier find the Crows should have detailed the third-party deals in Tippett's contract, Adelaide will be subject to penalties ranging from fines to losing draft picks.

Trigg's decision to hand the document to the AFL on Friday appears to have been triggered, in part, by rival AFL club Gold Coast becoming aware of Tippett's letter of arrangement with the Crows and seeking AFL scrutiny of the 2009 document.

Also, Wood had taken interest - before Trigg's declaration - in an interview in The Advertiser earlier this month when Crows chairman Rob Chapman spoke of Joel's move to Adelaide.

EARLIER, Crows chairman Rob Chapman insisted the club had nothing to hide after initiating an AFL probe into Kurt Tippett's out-of-contract terms at West Lakes.

Chapman also has opened the Adelaide player files to AFL investigator Ken Wood as the special letter between Tippett and the Crows from 2009 brings into question how the club has signed up its squad.

"We have nothing to hide - and we have opened all the books to the AFL without condition," Chapman said last night.

"I can give a gold-plated commitment the AFL will find nothing."

Chapman defended his club's officials who allowed Tippett to have a letter detailing the terms by which he was to be traded from Adelaide if he chose to leave the Crows at the end of his three-year contract - as he has asked with a trade to Sydney.

"Our intent was never to break any rules," Chapman told The Advertiser last night.

"And we have a history of compliance, no record of any misdemeanours, but if we have now got this wrong, we need to know before the trade is done and we will have to abide by any penalty."

Chapman last night would not prejudice decisions that could follow if the AFL finds the Crows and Tippett have breached league rules.

He would not comment on a potential sacking of chief executive Steven Trigg who sanctioned the deal in 2009.

The other key player in the negotiations, football operations chief John Reid, left the Crows at the end of the 2009 season.

But Chapman did praise Trigg for putting the Tippett issue - which has been subject to media scrutiny for more than a year - before him on Friday, an hour after Trigg returned from a three-week European holiday.

Department of Trades

"And 90 minutes later we were on the phone to (AFL chief) Andrew Demetriou," said Chapman.

"We have disclosed the issues we think he should be aware of.

"We have opened to the AFL all the books at the Adelaide Football Club without condition. And I have given the AFL a gold-plated commitment they will find nothing out of order with any other player contract."

Chapman could not answer why his club - or even the AFL - had not put the Tippett agreement up for review earlier, particularly when it was subject to intense public speculation this year.

"They are good questions you ask," said Chapman.

"And I would love to be in a position to disclose more fully my answer to those questions - and I look forward to the day I do.

"Because the club's members and the football public deserve to know what is going on.

"Remember, we asked the AFL to investigate this.

"In the past week it has been clear we have to remove every shade of grey from this debate. There must be full disclosure.

"Once I took this to the board, every director without hesitation agreed this needs to be clarified and there needs to be disclosure to the AFL.

"The AFL acknowledges we have done the right thing to bring this to them.

"Everyone deserves answers."

The AFL investigation now puts in question if Tippett can be traded before tomorrow's 1.30pm deadline - and what happens to his football career if he is suspended for breaching league rules.

Adelaide is understood to have agreed after closing contract talks with Tippett in 2009 to release him at a "minimal cost", supposedly a second-round draft pick.

"Remember three years ago everyone in this state wanted our club to re-sign Kurt Tippett," said Chapman. "

"At that time, our people negotiating the deal believed what they were doing was right."

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Chapman would not reveal the legal advice his club has received.

"I've consulted far and wide - and put in place methods to look at this with due diligence," he said.

"We're asking all the questions. We are still in the process of getting the answers."

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