Leaders on trial for Blues captaincy

Defender Nick Duigan, who is one of several Carlton players auditioning for the club captaincy over the course of the pre-season, says former skipper Chris Judd's role around the club will stay the same.

Carlton defender Nick Duigan during a training session at Visy Park. Picture: Michael Dodge. Source: Getty Images

CARLTON'S next captain will be decided after two months of careful observation by coach Mick Malthouse.

Leadership group newcomer Nick Duigan said yesterday that Marc Murphy, Andrew Carrazzo and Kade Simpson would be under the Malthouse microscope until after the NAB Cup.

Duigan and the other member of the five-man leadership group, Jarrad Waite, are not candidates for the captaincy.

"Mick has said that the captain will obviously be chosen from that five-man leadership group so from there he wants to get a better read on the players, see how captaincy might impact on them and see how we handle it on game day through the NAB Cup," Duigan said.

"I think towards the end of that period Mick and the group will sit down and nut out a leader."

Duigan, a rugged defender only two years into his Carlton career at age 28, said any of the three would be a great successor to Chris Judd, who has stepped down.

"They're all well and truly capable," he said.

"Carrazzo is really demanding and vocal and I suppose a more extroverted leader within the group.

"Simpson is not as outspoken and loud as Carrazzo and prefers to have his onfield leadership do most of the talking. He's certainly a very courageous player and plays the team role.

"It doesn't hurt that (Murphy) is one of the best players in the country. He's really grown into leadership material and he's demanding of himself, and that just rubs off on all the players."

Duigan said he expected Judd's role to change only in an official capacity.

"The way he goes about it around the club will be the same," he said. "He's still got plenty of fire in the belly and wants another flag.

"It gives plenty of other guys an opportunity and I think there are a few guys who are more than capable of stepping in and fulfilling that role, so we'll just look forward to seeing how that all unfolds."

Duigan said the Carlton players were adjusting to Malthouse's trademark direct approach after six years under Brett Ratten.

"The drills have changed, the meetings are a bit shorter and sharper, he's very clear on his messages and he has a different philosophy on how he wants his side to play," he said.

"We're all trying to learn that as best we can."

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Now I'm home, says Kurt Tippett

Former Adelaide Crow Kurt Tippett in a Sydney Swans jumper for the first time after his first training session with his new club. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

FORMER Adelaide key forward Kurt Tippett was at peace with his controversial departure from the Crows as he settled into his new role with the Sydney Swans yesterday.

Tippett will serve an 11-match suspension and must cough up a $50,000 fine for his part in the messy saga that was sparked by a dodgy contract signed in 2009 - but he is ready to move on.

He was in a sunny mood as he spoke ahead of his first training session with the Swans at Lakeside Oval yesterday.

He would not be drawn into a slanging match over the episode that has harmed both his and the Crows' reputations. "I enjoyed my time in Adelaide," Tippett said.

"It was a good place, I met some great people, enjoyed my football there.

"But that's in the past now. I'm really excited about my future here.

"I felt that Sydney was the perfect fit for me. A tremendous club, a very successful club, premiership-winning club.

"One that's very well respected and Sydney's a great place as well. The future here is very bright.

"There was a little bit of time when I guess my future was a little bit unclear. But it's fantastic to be here.

"I look forward to playing football, settling in, training hard, preparing myself well and earning the guys' trust over summer.

"It's been a challenge, for myself and my family, but I'm happy to put all of that behind me now.

"I'm really excited about my future here in Sydney.

I felt that Sydney was the perfect fit for me ... the future here is very bright

"It's very exciting to be here in Sydney after a long off-season and a few little challenges. It's fantastic to be here to meet the players and meet the coaches and looking forward to playing football."

Tippett was given a prince's welcome by the Swans, with team-mate Jarrad McVeigh and coach John Longmire speaking highly of their marquee recruit.

Tippett said he had not spoken to Greater Western Sydney, which is understood to have delisted ruckman Dean Brogan in an attempt to land his services, confirming speculation he was signed and delivered to the Swans well before the saga surrounding his last Adelaide contract became public.

"I have the utmost respect for the Sydney Swans," Tippett said.

"They've got a great culture and I really want to be part of that."

Tippett was also unconcerned about the pressure that came with his price tag, which has been estimated to land between $800,000 and $1 million for his first season.

The Advertiser yesterday spoke to a range of Crows insiders, and the reaction was mixed - some remain angry with the defection and his perceived lack of loyalty, others said it was an unfortunate affair as a player who was thought of as a dedicated professional, a thinker and a considerate team member was lost to the club.

"I set myself pretty high standards and I'm just worried about living up to my own standards," Tippett said.

"He (Longmire) expects me to prepare myself and come in and play a role for this side.

"That's my focus - to develop a role I can play really well. I'm not going to speculate as to when my first game will be.

"Obviously I know I'll have 11 weeks out, I'll focus on training hard during that time and we'll take it from there.

"That's a non-issue for me now.

"I obviously missed a few games to concussion but came back was able to play the way I wanted to in the end so I'm happy that won't be an issue moving forward."

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Heat's on for Power's new rookie

Sandover Medallist Kane Mitchell endured his first Port Adelaide training session in searing heat. Picture: Campbell Brodie. Source: The Advertiser

SANDOVER Medallist Kane Mitchell joined Port Adelaide for his first training session in searing heat at Grange after being taken at No.5 in the rookie draft and could not keep a smile of his face.

He had packed his bags and made a dash to the airport after learning his fate on Tuesday and Mitchell, who was in Claremont's WAFL premiership team last season, spoke ahead the Power's training session with a sense of conviction better times were ahead for Port Adelaide.

"Mate, it's huge," he said. "We've got a pretty good list and got some really good recruits.

"It's exciting.

"I was lucky enough to get my name called out, a fair few phone calls (followed), then jumped on a flight at 5pm Perth time and wouldn't have it any other way.

"I just want to be here and start training.

"You've got to make your own luck in football and hopefully I've done so.

"But only time will tell.

"(But) Port's got a great history. They've won an AFL premiership and I'm sure we're gunning for that this year. Success is what you want in football clubs and hopefully we can breed it.

"I think we've got an exciting young list and if we can embrace that energy and pull in the same direction I'm sure we can win more games than we lose.

"It (being successful) is a mutual respect between the playing group, it's caring; you care for your teammates and you want to do everything in your power to be successful with them," he said.

"You have to believe you can win - that's universal in life.

"If you don't believe in yourself in business then you're not going to succeed."

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Werribee stint pays off for Kyle

New Adelaide Crows rookie Kyle Hartigan at West Lakes. Picture: Calum Robertson. Source: The Advertiser

NEW Crows rookie Kyle Hartigan credits a move to mature-age football factory Werribee as the catalyst for his football revival.

Hartigan lived every young footballer's nightmare in 2009 when he went from top prospect to draft-day bust in less than 12 months.

But a bold decision to join Werribee in the VFL - the same club that helped spark the careers of Michael Barlow and James Podsiadly - has finally paid dividends.

"It's been a good club to be at where mature-age blokes are being picked up from," Hartigan said.

"I just had to wait for my chance and I was lucky enough that it popped up with the Crows."

Hartigan's move to Werribee caused a minor fracas in Melbourne at the end of the 2009 season.

He was zoned to Williamstown, but didn't fancy the idea of spending a season stuck in that club's reserves because of all the Western Bulldogs leftovers that needed a game. So he pushed hard to join Werribee and, after a brief challenge, Williamstown settled for a $5000 transfer fee.

The move didn't pay off immediately - Hartigan was overlooked in two more drafts before the Crows came calling on Tuesday.

He was forced to consider another career and has spent the past three years working as an electrical apprentice - a situation that has given him new perspective.

"Everything I did as a top ager I narrowed toward getting drafted and I got a bit caught up in it," Hartigan says.

"Working gave me a different outlook on life. If it (getting drafted) didn't happen I still had other things."

But getting drafted was still the 21-year-old's priority and he improved enough under former Western Bulldogs midfielder Scott West this year to convince the Crows of his worth.

"He's just been really consistent," West said.

"His main strength is his competitiveness, and he's got really good fitness and agility."

Hartigan isn't the only Werribee player making the move to SA this year. Tiger team-mates Travis Tuck and Brad Mangan have signed with SANFL club West Adelaide, so there will be a couple of familiar faces.

"I only found out at training on Monday night that Brad was gone," Hartigan says.

"He let me know and said if I need someone to live with, he'll have a house for me."

Hartigan is likely to begin the season at South Adelaide in the local league.

Sturt has decided to use the No. 1 selection in the SANFL mini-draft on Crows ruckman Angus Graham, leaving Hartigan for the Panthers at pick two.

"We'll see what happens ... If I end up there I'll be pretty happy," he said.

"I've got a long way to go. I've never been in the AFL system. I can only put my head down and train as hard as I can.

"I've got blokes ahead of me at the moment so I've just got to learn from those guys and do my best. If an opportunity arises hopefully I'm in good enough form and I've done everything I can to get the spot."

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Poulos to put stamp on Crows

Adelaide Crows in pre-season training, from left, Nathan Van Berlo, Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE will ramp up its emphasis on strength and power over summer under new fitness coach Nick Poulos as the club seeks to keep up with the evolution of the game.

Poulos, who joined the club under long-serving fitness man Stephen Schwerdt, has identified Chris Judd and Gary Ablett as the blueprint players of the competition because of their body types - their enormous talent notwithstanding - and Adelaide will look at further developing its players' lower body strength to help them excel in the congestion around the ball.

With Schwerdt having joined Gold Coast, it is now Poulos's turn to make an imprint onsummer training, although he said he had been left an outstanding framework by Schwerdt.

It is the shared vision of Poulos and senior coach Brenton Sanderson - who still outlifts several of the players in the gym - that the player who can run all day will never reach his full potential if he doesn't also have a bit of beef and grunt.

One of the Crows who is close to the ideal body type for the modern footballer is Patrick Dangerfield - quick, enduring and explosive.

The challenge for Poulos is to come up with a balanced program for all his players: David Mackay, a quick half back flanker or wingman, needs to keep weight on during the year; others, such as Jason Porplyzia, need to ward off persistent injuries.

Danger is a bit of a freak, actually: one of the best athletes I've worked with

"We've had this conversation with the coaches and there's still a lot of congestion around the ball," Poulos said.

"But you still have to spread (take off from the contest) very, very quickly so you need a large aerobic capacity.

"That's still your bread and butter and that's a big part of the program.

"But my gut feel is that you're still going to have to break out of a tackle, get out of that density around the ball.

"So you need to be strong and explosive but be able to run all day, and repeatedly.

"I think the trend is that you have to be able to work at high intensity - run all day, but intensity is going to be at the top of the ladder.

"They have to be extremely fit aerobically but breaking a tackle, absorbing physical contact, it's what makes the game great and such a challenge.

"Danger, Judd, Ablett - can run all day but still strong. Judd, definitively, as a blueprint.

"Danger is a bit of a freak, actually: one of the best athletes I've worked with.

"But also have to look at guys like Dave Mackay, who's super fit and ran a PB (personal best) the other day.

"He's a classic example of someone who's put on more lean muscle, got a lot stronger and is running better because he's more efficient."

It's a balancing act for clubs as to how to best prepare their players at this time of year. On one hand they need them to be stronger, on the other, fitness coaches have to worry about how much weight players carry around on the ground.

Beach weights - impressive big muscles built up on low repetitions in the gym - can make players look like Tarzan but be less effective than Jane. They still have to run.

"The focus has to be on the lower body," Poulos said.

"They have to be strong through the legs, glutes and the aim is to make them more efficient runners.

"You want them to be stronger but more efficient, so that as the game goes on, they're essentially using less energy.

"But at the same time have to be explosive and fast and there's still the upper body."

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Open up on AFL drug use: Crosisca

Former Collingwood footballer Gavin Crosisca is urging the AFL to change its policy on drug use. Picture: Ian Currie. Source: Herald Sun

REFORMED drug addict Gavin Crosisca has urged the AFL to revamp its illicit drugs policy, warning players are no longer afraid of the penalties.

Crosisca is determined to help the fight against drugs.

The former Collingwood player, who has been clean since May 2011, recently confessed he had spent 25 years as a player and coach addicted to amphetamines, cannabis and alcohol.

Crosisca, 44, yesterday volunteered to be involved in the AFL's drugs symposium next month, hopeful the league would assemble a panel of drug and alcohol experts and throw the forum open to the public.

The 1990 premiership player said if the AFL stuck with a three-strikes drugs policy, there must be greater disincentives for first and second strikes and fewer loopholes.

Crosisca, an assistant coach at Carlton as recently as 2008, is concerned that players can dodge strikes by repeatedly self-reporting drug use, and avoid tests while receiving counselling for a second strike.

My addiction was hidden ... if someone had confronted me it would have brought the issue to attention more quickly

"The AFL have been doing the best they can, but this is a great opportunity to bring this into the public forum, and do more," he told the Herald Sun.

"I have had a good look at the AFL's illicit drugs policy and it's about five years old and there is a real opportunity for them to revamp that.

"My addiction was hidden. Looking back, if someone had confronted me it would have brought the issue to attention more quickly. After your first strike someone needs to be told, not just AFL club medicos and the club doctor.

"Kids need help straight away, even if it's a one-off.

"The reason why players aren't afraid of it is there are no consequences.

"They aren't strong enough for them to be fearful of it.

"For a second strike you get a $5000 fine and a suspended six-match sentence and your club chief executive finds out.

"But without your coach knowing, or at least your welfare officer or chaplin, we are just hoping."

Players cannot play while receiving counselling after a second strike, but Crosisca said only a freak occurrence, such as Hawthorn's Travis Tuck being caught by police with drugs, would lead to three strikes.

Crosisca, who regularly attends Narcotics Anonymous meetings, has had extensive discussions with people in the drug and alcohol fields about the AFL's issues.

"I would be the first to put my hand up and would love to be involved in some way in the (symposium)," he said.

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Drug test wake-up call for Pies

Collingwood onballer Dayne Beams - one of the players woken by an early morning drug test in Utah. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: The Advertiser

COLLINGWOOD'S overseas pre-season camp has been interrupted by an early morning drugs test.

The Pies were woken at 6.30am yesterday in Utah's Park City for surprise blood and urine testing.

A group of players, including Harry O'Brien, Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams and Darren Jolly, were all made to undergo tests in the team hotel before sunrise.

The rude awakening - ironically on a designated "sleep-in" day - caused a flurry of Twitter activity.

O'Brien tweeted: "Nice 6.30am wake up call from the drug testers. @swandane noted: "They aren't the most popular people right now."

Vice-captain Pendlebury said: "630 blood test and drug test isn't ideal on the day u get a sleep in. #bigfan".

It caused coach Nathan Buckley to chime in with: "That's life as a professional H #smallpricetopay".

Collingwood players were tested on at least one earlier trip to Arizona and drug testers showing up at clubs' pre-season camps isn't unusual.

The tests come ahead of an AFL-agreed drugs symposium after calls for action by Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert.

Pert last month raised serious concerns about a growing illegal drug culture in football.

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We want to get better: McVeigh

Sydney Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh faces the media with new signing Kurt Tippett. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: The Daily Telegraph

SYDNEY co-captain Jarrad McVeigh was quick to make a fuss over Kurt Tippett as the club assessed the signing of the former Crow ahead of his first training session with his new club yesterday.

When addressing the signing, the Swan's key message was improvement.

"We want to improve as a group," McVeigh said.

"Just because we won the premiership doesn't mean we don't want to get better.

"We see Kurt as a long-term player and we're rapt to have him at the club.

"After a hectic couple of months, we can get out there today and get back to what back to what he knows best and that's playing footy.

"It's an exciting time for the club. We do want to improve as a group and to get a player of Kurt's calibre - we need to boost our big guys department, in the forward line and ruck.

"We see Kurt as a one of those players and a long-term player for us.

"We know the way he plays, we know he trains hard and works hard and we expect that from him.

"He'll earn the players' trust the way he goes about it over the next few months and hopefully when he can get out on the park he'll have the players' trust and we can get on with it."

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Kurt must earn Swans' respect

Kurt Tippett prepares for his first training sessions with the Sydney Swans. Picture: Matt King. Source: Getty Images

KURT Tippett can't relax just yet.

After an incredibly turbulent off-season, the 25-year-old power forward must now overcome another major hurdle before he can settle into his new Sydney home - earning the respect and trust of the most fiercely loyal playing group in the AFL.

Tippett officially became a Swan yesterday after wearing Swans colours and training with teammates for the first time. But he is not one of the boys, yet.

Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh said yesterday Tippett still has to prove himself.

"We've got a set of behaviours that we like to live by and we'll go through all that kind of stuff over the next few months," McVeigh said.

"All the boys that come through, you want to earn the respect of your peers and that's what you want out of footy.

"You do that by training hard, doing all the right things and then when game day comes you look after your mate and if Kurt can do that and the other boys can do that they'll get a game."

(Kurt will) earn the players' trust the way he goes about it the next few months

He has not got off to a great start, suspended for the Swans' first 11 matches of the AFL season, including all pre-season matches which will only see him available to debut for the club in round 13 against Port Adelaide on June 22.

Tippett was banned from playing any form of football by the AFL for his involvement in salary cap breaches and draft tampering with former club Adelaide.

However, McVeigh said the club has no trepidation about Tippett's character.

"We see Kurt as a long-term player for us," he said.

"We know the way he plays. We know he trains hard and works hard. We expect that from him. He'll earn the players' trust the way he goes about it the next few months.

"Hopefully, in round 12 or whatever it is that he can get out on the park, he'll have the players trust and we can get on with our business."

Tippett yesterday admitted it has been a difficult few months for him since leaving Adelaide in a messy exit, but vowed to earn the trust of his teammates through determination on the training pitch.

"It's been a long off-season with a few little challenges," he said.

"It's fantastic to be here and meet the players and coaches. I'm looking forward to playing football.

"There was a little bit of time where I guess my future was a little bit unclear, but it's fantastic to be here. I look forward to playing football, settling in, training hard, preparing myself well and earning the guys trust over summer.

"It's been a challenge for myself and my family, but I'm happy to put all that behind me now and I'm really excited to be here in Sydney.

"I've got to come in with a good attitude towards getting better and making sure I'm at my best when I can play."

Tippett has signed only a two-year deal with the club after nominating terms for a two-season deal in the pre-season draft for fear of being plucked by a team he did not want to go to.

However, the Swans will commence talks with Tippett's manager Peter Blucher as early as next month to discuss extending his deal to four years - as the club originally hoped to do.

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Jetta's journey proof of value

Sydney Swans star Lewis Jetta celebrates after the siren in the 2012 AFL grand final. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: Herald Sun

INDIGENOUS educator Gerard Neesham says AFL clubs should keep faith with talented Aboriginals, pointing to Sydney star Lewis Jetta as the poster boy for second chances.

The issue of indigenous recruitment has flared again, with a handful of talented players overlooked in recent drafts because of perceived problems with their character.

The Herald Sun revealed yesterday Essendon could not consider Perth teenager Dayle Garlett, because he went on a 4am bender in Perth only three days before the pre-season draft.

Garlett will return to play at WAFL club Swan Districts. That club's football manager, Phil Smart, criticised AFL clubs for being hypocritical.

He attacked AFL multicultural manager Jason Mifsud, saying his club had not received a phone call from the league official for two years, despite Garlett's problems.

Neesham, whose Clontarf Academies have helped 3000 indigenous boys across 54 schools, said AFL clubs should not back off.

"The classic is Lewis Jetta," Neesham said.

"We picked him up and put him in our program when he was turning 16 and he finished year 12 at 19.

"Lewis wasn't even at school . . . he was disconnected from mainstream society and then he came into our program and became a fantastic story."

Smart said Mifsud needed to spend more time at grass-roots level.

"We have had a couple of issues with a couple of boys who were in the AIS and we have had no contact from Mifsud," he said.

"We have had contact from (game development manager) Kevin Sheehan, who has been very helpful, but Mifsud is in charge of indigenous development and we have not had one phone call from him."

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