Power zeroes in on Jurrah

Melbourne's Liam Jurrah is in Port's sights. Source: Getty Images

LIAM Jurrah is expected to train with Port Adelaide in the next two weeks as the club zeroes in on the troubled star.

Football manager Peter Rohde said the former Demon would be asked to train with the Power just before or after the November 22 national draft with a view to selecting him in next month's pre-season or rookie drafts.

Jurrah who is living in Adelaide has had fruitful discussions with Port, mainly through some of its community department employees who are family friends, and has indicated he wants to resume his 36-game, 81-goal AFL career at Alberton.

But the Power first wants to see him on the track and test him medically after he suffered serious ankle and wrist injuries this year.

"We need to have a good look at him,'' Rohde said on his return from London yesterday with the Port Adelaide team which beat the Western Bulldogs by one-point in an AFL exhibition match at The Oval.

"We won't be considering him for the national draft (where Port has three picks inside the top 31) but we might get him out to train with us just before or after that and we'll see where we go from there.

"Clearly he is an amazing talent but we need to see just how keen he is to play AFL football again, what his fitness is like and put him through a full medical because he has had injury problems and we don't know how his body is holding up.

"So we'll do our due diligence and see where that leads us.''

Rohde said the recruiting of Jurrah, 24, was far from certain because there are other delisted AFL players Port also is monitoring.

But clearly the Power is excited by Jurrah's talent.

"He's in town and he doesn't look like he'll get picked up in the national draft and if he's not we'll certainly consider him for the pre-season or rookie drafts,'' Rohde said.

New coach Ken Hinkley is said to be open minded about drafting Jurrah.

If Port claims Jurrah in the December 11 pre-season or rookie drafts, it faces an anxious wait until March when Jurrah will front a court hearing in Alice Springs to answer three counts of alleged aggravated assault.

"Everyone hopes to see him get another opportunity to play elite football,'' Rohde said of a player who Melbourne finally lost patience with after in 2009 making him one of football's greatest stories when it drafted him from remote central Australia club Yuendumu Magpies.

Jurrah was the Demons' leading goalkicker in 2011 with 40 goals but he played just one AFL game this year.

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Blue times ahead

Heath Scotland runs in yesterday's time-trial around Princes Park. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON is aware it will have to hand Heath Scotland a home-and-away suspension for his January brawl, as the AFL examines transcripts of his assault case.

The Blues and AFL initially were at loggerheads, with the league demanding heavy punishment and Carlton pondering a suspension during the NAB Cup.

AFL investigations officer Brett Clothier, who has three other investigations under way, has the transcripts of last month's hearing in which Scotland received a two-year good behaviour bond.

When Clothier gets back to the Blues, they will agree on a penalty that sets an example against violence, with Carlton aware that must be stronger than a fine and NAB Cup suspension.

Scotland ran in a time-trial with teammates at Princes Park yesterday. The run was dominated by captain Chris Judd.

Key forward Jarrad Waite was behind only Judd and delisted forward Andrew Collins, showing the benefits of an injury-free off-season, again highlighted his athleticism. He is working hard to be redrafted.

Waite, who turns 30 in February, has averaged only a dozen games in the past four seasons, but his 27.11 from 11 games this year was evidence of his scoring power.

"It was a fairly impressive morning of testing," Blues forward coach John Barker said.

"Juddy is just a pro and Jarrad ran well today. I think he understands his importance to the team, but more specifically the importance of staying healthy.

"He has missed fair portions of the past couple of seasons, so we need him fit.

"He has had a couple of interruptions to his last few pre-seasons with his ACL and hip surgery and groin injuries so, touch wood, he gets a full pre-season."

The Blues had 33 players fit for pre-season this week. Last season, surgeries and injuries meant there were as few as 19 at a similar stage.

*THE November 22 national draft will revert to the traditional format of the No.1 pick being read out first. In recent years, the league has experimented with a No.10 to No.1 countdown.

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Demons keep their pair of Jacks

The Demons' young leadership pair Jack Grimes, left, and Jack Trengove Picture: Paul Loughnan Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld has all but confirmed the captaincy pairing of Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes will remain next season.

Although a voting system will again determine the leadership group and the captaincy, Neeld said major change at the top was not coming.

"The captains won't change. Neither of them even deserve to have that discussion," Neeld said.

"I couldn't speak more highly of them. They are on their way to being really good captains."

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All spots in the leadership group will be thrown open after the club's nine-day Northern Territory training camp, starting on December 6.

In effect, the camp will be a final audition for key spots in the group, which underwent a massive transformation when Neeld arrived at the end of the 2011 season.

The now-retired Brad Green, Aaron Davey, Jared Rivers and Brent Moloney were all dumped after a vote.

Tellingly, both Rivers and Moloney walked out under free agency a year after their snub.

The group consists of Trengove, Grimes, James Frawley, Mitch Clark, Clint Bartram, Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones and Colin Garland and was formed based on "actions and behaviour".

"We will continue with the leadership group in its current form until the end of the pre-season camp. There will be nominations and then a voting system," Neeld said.

Melbourne players at MCG remembering club great Jim Stynes who pasted away this morning. The leadership group headed up by co captains Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes front the media at the MCG today Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Neeld said the work of Trengove and Grimes on-field was "just the tip of the iceberg".

"They've had some pretty big issues off the field to work through for a couple of young kids," Neeld said.

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Friends await their draft fate

Glenelg's Brodie Murdoch, left, and Tim O'Brien moved from SA's south east to live in Adelaide together and hope to be drafted into the AFL. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

THEY'VE followed each other from an athletics track in the state's South-East, to a football field at Glenelg and they now share a house at West Beach.

But in a fortnight, Brodie Murdoch and Tim O'Brien could end up anywhere in the country.

Like hundreds of teenagers, the 18-year-olds are awaiting their fate in the November 22 AFL draft.

Country boys who moved to the big smoke in search of their dream which is now so close they can smell it.

AFL scraps draft countdown

Murdoch, from Port MacDonnell, is the younger brother of Jordan who played eight AFL games in a successful debut season for Geelong this year.

He's a smart left-footer and AIS graduate who developed as a forward but cracked Glenelg's league team as a defender.

O'Brien is a dual senior premiership ruckman with Mount Gambier West his first flag coming at just 16.

"I didn't really understand it (premiership) at that age,'' O'Brien said.

"But then our whole team was pretty young and I got to play with my brother, which was good.''

The red-headed big man now stands 193cm and has a terrific mark and good leg speed, which was evident at draft camp where he recorded the third-best result in agility.

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The pair first appeared at Glenelg three years ago when they would make the 10-hour return car trip to the Bay for under-15 games.

But their earliest memory of each other goes back to primary school days at the athletics oval.

"Tim was definitely the better runner 100m, 200m and high jump as well,'' Murdoch said.

"But I was better at throwing the discus and javelin.

"We're good mates and have had the same ambitions for a while.''

Murdoch played one league game this season and O'Brien spent the whole season in the reserves while both played the under-18 national championships.

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Murdoch has long been groomed for the AFL system via the AIS Academy but O'Brien only started believing in his AFL dream mid-season.

"When clubs started talking to me,'' he said, after being interviewed by no less than 16 teams.

"That (AFL) was the point of coming up here.

"I was going to stay home and have a gap year after school because AFL was more just a hope and a dream.''

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Oval to be top event centre

Adelaide Oval is shaping up as a cash bonanza. Picture: Chris Mangan Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE Oval is shaping up for a cash bonanza from outside its sport earnings, with more than $1 million of function and events business booked in from when the doors open next October after its redevelopment.

The Stadium Management Authority, a joint venture between football and cricket, has estimated the function and events business will build to a sustainable $9 million a year, with the yet-to-be-built city-view room in the southern stand having the most earning potential.

SMA chief executive Andrew Daniels told aifThe Advertiseraif it was estimated the substantial increase in business at the Oval would provide 1000 casual hospitality jobs and, if the boom eventuated, money would trickle to football and cricket.

"It's a fantastic result,'' Mr Daniels said of the early bookings. ``Melbourne Cup is booked in for next year and from October 1 next year we'll see the benefits of this.

"There has been an enormous interest in the Oval.''

Bookings for functions and special events come as the key players in the redeveloped Adelaide Oval football and cricket are beginning their sell for football's move from West Lakes after next season.

Adelaide Football Club supporter services general manager David Couch said the club had received a spike in interest for membership and corporate packages for 2013, with supporters seeking to set themselves up for a shift in 2014.

The Crows have anticipated losing up to 4000 members through a migration to Adelaide Oval's Ultimate membership, which gives patrons access to Crows and Port games and the cricket. But they expect to maintain club membership at about 45,000 for next season.

The enthusiasm for Adelaide Oval is already making a change.

"There are a lot of people coming on board as members now,'' Couch said.

"They've knocked the thing (Adelaide Oval) down and they're building people can see it, almost reach out and touch it. We're really starting to see a fair bit of business coming our way on the back of the fact that Adelaide Oval is going to be there in 12 or 18 months.

"It's only really early days but anecdotally we're fielding lots and lots of inquiries and have people coming out of the woodwork.

"It's probably as much to do with having had a good season but Adelaide Oval is an equally important reason.''

Similarly, Port Adelaide is stepping up its efforts in attracting member and corporate support by using the profile of chairman David Koch, a television personality and financial adviser, to use 2013 as a springboard to Adelaide Oval and capitalise on the club's new coaching structure and board.

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Who will take Bate?

Matthew Bate is searching for a new football home. Picture: Paul Loughnan Source: Herald Sun

DISCARDED Demon Matthew Bate is confident he can have an impact at a new club, placing leadership high on his list of attributes.

After 102 games in an often rocky career at Melbourne, Bate is adamant he can be a good influence any young list.

"The last two years have been pretty tough, on-field wise, for both me and Melbourne. That was a time where I put a lot of effort into developing leadership skills and realising with such a young group I could have a big influence over those guys," Bate said.

"I really pride myself on being able to show a lot of good character when things are tough for me and the team - whether it be around the club, helping guys one on one or setting training standards like helping set a really good culture."

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Bate managed only 12 games under coach Mark Neeld last season, but played a positive role at Casey in the VFL.

"I know moping around is not going to get you anywhere," he said.

"As soon as you drop the head, slump the shoulders and get a negative attitude, that's going to project out to everyone, and your chances of getting to where you want to be ... are really diminished.

"I'd like to think if anyone there is asked about my character or attitude, they'd talk highly about me."

Bate has shed 3kg in the past year, giving him the flexibility to play midfield as well as half-forward.

He is also keen to try a rebounding role across half-back if a club offers him a chance through the delisted free-agency period or the drafts.

The Western Bulldogs loom as a possible home after he almost crossed to Whitten Oval in a trade a year ago. If Brent Prismall is delisted by Essendon, both he and Bate may be vying for one spot on the Bulldogs list.

"I have a lot of respect for the Bulldogs and what they're creating, the culture Brendan (McCartney) is setting around the place," Bate said.

He played through the darkest days of the Demons, including the 2009 stretch that has the club at the centre of tanking allegations.

But the 25-year-old is adamant there was no feeling that development had taken over from winning.

"I was a young player, 21 and 22 years old and my focus was just trying to go out there and play the best footy I could," Bate said.

"I was just focusing on being out there and just trying to get a kick. The most frustrating part was just losing."

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Tough Garner shoulders load

The late developer boasts skill as a medium sized forward with great hands, springs in his legs, and agility that allows him to twist and turn out of any situation.

Taylor Garner is shaping as a first-round selection. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media) Source: Herald Sun

TAYLOR Garner remembers lying on the ground in agony, his left shoulder dislocated after he dived for a mark.

The freakish half-forward was impressing in Vic Country's first match and desperate to not let his left arm, which he first tore last year, ruin his draft chances.

Garner played out the match. Two weeks later he fronted up against Western Australia.

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Again, his shoulder popped out. Again, in a marking contest and again in the second quarter.

Again, Garner battled on.

This time he was Country's best with a trio of goals from 20 touches and six tackles.

s45wg202 TAC Cup football. Oakleigh Chargers (red Blue) V Dandenong Stingrays (yellow) at Warrawee Park, Oakleigh. Oakleigh's Kieran Nolan and Dandenong's Taylor Garner Picture: Josie Hayden Source: Herald Sun

Garner finished the carnival, dislocating his shoulder in every match but downplaying the injury to ensure his place in the side wasn't jeopardised.

He returned to the Dandenong Stingrays for one game where coach Graeme Yeats said he climbed over "a pack of eight blokes and took this speccy'' before hurting his shoulder again and coming clean on the extent of his injuries.

With an All-Australian selection in his pocket and an AFL graduation at month's draft seemingly secured, Garner booked in for reconstructive surgery to prevent his shoulder from further loosening.

"It went every game. It didn't tickle, I definitely felt the pain,'' Garner said.


"It's just that next contest where you're a little bit scared but apart from that (it was) all good,'' Garner said.

Garner's rapid rise onto AFL radars was short but sweet.

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He played TAC Cup for the first time this year, storming into the Round 1 side despite bruising in his knee limiting his pre-season and keeping him out of practice matches.

"We thought he might play Round 4 or 5 for us, but he ended up being almost the first kid we picked in Round 1 on the back of his training,'' Yeats said.

"He's mercurial, but he's got a bit of mongrel in him. When he doesn't have the ball he's an animal.''

Garner wants to develop into a midfielder in the Ryan O'Keefe mould.

S44os895 TAC CUp Footy- Dandy v Western Jets at Shelpley Oval. Pictured is stingrays # 12 Taylor Garner Picture: Loughnan,paul Source: Herald Sun

"I'd just chuck my body in, I'm not afraid to get hurt. I can't see myself being that outside guy and waiting for the ball.''

Three months on from surgery and Garner, who quit year 12 halfway through last year to start a plumbing apprenticeship, is still in rehab but nearly every club has spoken to the flashy utility and expects him to make a full recovery.

TAYLOR GARNER



AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 186cm
WEIGHT: 77kg
FROM: Dandenong Stingrays
POSITION: Half-forward
DRAFT RANGE: 14-22
IN THE MIX: GWS (14), Cats (16), Freo (17), Pies (18), Dogs (22)

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SANFL backs the Crows

The SANFL has backed Adelaide over the Kurt Tippett furore. Source: Herald Sun

THE SANFL has thrown its full support behind the embattled Adelaide Football Club over the Kurt Tippett furore, saying "everyone mucks up in their lifetime''.

League heavyweight Leigh Whicker is standing firmly behind the Crows, saying they deserve "big-time credit points'' for what they have delivered for SA football.

As the AFL investigates the Crows for salary cap rorting, Whicker said the SANFL was highly unlikely to impose any penalties on the club or its officials, including its chief executive, Steven Trigg, who has been under fire.

"Obviously it's very disappointing that the Adelaide Football Club has found itself in the position that it has, that it's under the spotlight natdhionally,'' Whicker said.

"Having spoken to Andrew Demetriou (AFL chief executive) last Friday, he's disappointed in what's happened.

"But I think we've got to wait until the final report has been delivered. And then we'll take the medicine, whatever that might be, and saddle up for 2013.''

The AFL is continuing its investigations into Tippett's questionable 2009 contract, which could result in Adelaide being hit with a big fine and stripped of key draft picks at the national draft on November 22.

Tippett, who still wants to join premier Sydney, also is in limbo. Denied a trade to the Swans, he could be de-registered by the AFL.

Yesterday an AFL spokesman told The Advertiser no time-line had been set for the league to complete its investigation, leaving Adelaide and Tippett in limbo.

"So, at the moment, Adelaide's position with its draft picks is unchanged, unless we advise otherwise,'' the spokesman said.

Tippett, who kicked 188 goals in 104 appearances for the Crows, has to delist himself before the national draft to be eligible to be selected by another club.

The league is expected to make its decision before November 22 so all parties know where they stand.

"The Adelaide Football Club has performed extraordinarily well over a 20-year period,'' Whicker said.

"It has delivered South Australia a powerful sporting culture, two premierships and a very strong financial return to football.

"Everyone makes a mistake or two in their lives, so our football commission will support the Adelaide Football Club through this, we owe it to them.

"The club has been totally transparent, it has worked hard with the SANFL over the journey, it has had an amazing administration and chairmen from Bob Hammond's day to Bill Sanders and right through to the current administration.

"Everyone mucks up in their lifetime, I'm sure of that, so we are saying let the AFL Commission make its decision and then we'll deal with whatever happens at that time.''

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Demons stung by ailing VFL side

The Casey Scorpions are in debt and could force Melbourne to go it alone. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

EMBATTLED Melbourne could be forced to run its own VFL team next year because its affiliate, Casey Scorpions, is fighting for survival.

A failed pokies venture has left the Scorpions hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and they are without a senior coach for next season.

Most players haven't been paid since about Round 5.

The Demons, sweating on the outcome of an AFL tanking investigation, would have to find another $400,000 to field a stand-alone VFL team and source a ground to ensure the development of prized youngsters such as Jesse Hogan, Jack Viney and Dom Barry is not compromised.

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AFL Victoria chiefs, including chairman Peter Jackson, general manager Grant Williams and operations boss John Hook, held a crisis meeting with Casey officials last night.

The Scorpions will meet the Demons today to discuss their disintegrating alignment, which started to sour when Casey signed Brendan Fevola last year.

Casey's most pressing challenge is to prove to AFL Victoria that it is viable.

For months Casey and Melbourne have been negotiating a long-term deal under which the Demons would assume more responsibilities, including finances, marketing and sponsorship, in what would effectively be a merger.

VFA: Geelong v Casey Scorpions at Skilled Stadium, Geelong. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

But it is believed Melbourne became concerned about the Scorpions' financial position and has explored the possibility of forming its own VFL team, which would be called the Casey Demons and adopt the Demons' red and blue strip.

Melbourne has a long-term relationship with the City of Casey to deliver "community programs" and will play a NAB Cup match at Casey Fields in March. The Scorpions hold a 50-year lease to the ground.

The Scorpions moved from Springvale to Casey Fields in 2006, planning to build a social club to maintain a regular revenue stream.

They secured the rights for 40 poker machines costing $1.2 million, but the development has stalled.

The club transferred the pokies licences earlier this year, incurring losses, but it has told VFL officials its debts are manageable and that money has been set aside to pay the players.

Casey general manager Brian Woodman said in July that lenders had tightened their belts and had been unwilling to finance the project.

The club signed a 50-year lease with Casey council for a parcel of land next to its base to house the venue.

Woodman would not comment last night.

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Gray faces another delay

Robbie Gray when he injured his knee. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Sunday Herald Sun

ACE Port Adelaide forward Robbie Gray faces a delayed start to 2013.

Gray, who had his right knee reconstructed in April, could miss the first month of the premiership season because of nerve damage in a calf.

He suffered the injury when his leg horrifically buckled when landing from a marking contest in the final minute of the Power's round four loss to Collingwood.

"My knee's actually feeling really good now,'' Gray said.

Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray kicks under pressure from Jake Batchelor of the Tigers during their round 10 match in Darwin. Source: Getty Images

"But because of the nerve damage in my calf from the incident my leg faded away and I lost a lot of strength in the calf. So I need to be able to build my calf back up and get it strong enough to be able to run again.

"At the moment all I can do is a bit of jogging, so I have to work hard on building my strength and power back up.''

Gray began jogging last month and yesterday returned from London with his Port team-mates after spending 10 days in Europe.

The team beat the Western Bulldogs by one point in its exhibition game in London on Sunday and worked out at the Australian Institute of Sport's European training base outside Milan in northern Italy.

Gray upped the ante on his training on the trip under the guidance of new head fitness coach Darren Burgess.

While most AFL players return from traditional knee reconstructions within 10 months, 24-year-old Gray is now facing a year out of the game.

"I definitely want to be back early in the year but there's no (return) date set yet,'' he said.

"We'll wait and see what happens. I don't want to rush it obviously because it was a pretty serious injury.

"We'll see what happens over summer and just how everything progresses with the injury.''

Getting the injury-prone Gray on the park is crucial to Port's chances of climbing the ladder under new coach Ken Hinkley.

Talent-wise, Gray - a brilliant small forward/midfielder - is one of the club's top five players but he has played only 70 games in six seasons.

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