Hawk new AFL football boss

Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans will be the AFL's new football operations manager Source: Supplied

THE AFL today announced Hawthorn general manager of football operations Mark Evans as Adrian Anderson's replacement.

In a boost for clubs who wanted the new AFL football operations manager to come from club-land, Evans won the role after a tight race from several key candidates both from within and outside the league.

SuperFooty exclusively revealed the appointment this morning, which was confirmed at an AFL press conference.

Evans is a highly regarded football official, having served a number of years with the Hawks and also with Melbourne.

He has been instrumental in the re-making of the Hawthorn Football club, joining the Hawks at the same time as coach Alastair Clarkson in late 2004.

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Evans, who last year attended the Harvard Business School as part of his role at the Hawks, said he would not make any "grand statements" until he had runs on the board at the AFL.

"I was absolutely delighted to accept Andrew's offer to join his executive team. This is the best sporting administration going around, without a doubt," he said at AFL headquarters today.

"I know the role will be challenging and I hope that my background … will stand my in good stead for what's ahead."

Jon Ralph analysis: Clubs get voice at the top

Evans thanked the Hawks for their support over the past nine years, while AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the league was thrilled to snare the one-time Demons media manager.

"We're absolutely delighted that Mark has accepted the role, I'm thrilled and pleased we were able to attract someone of Mark's calibre and experience."

Who is Mark Evans?

Mark played for Box Hill from 1992-1995 and in 2010 was awarded life membership to recognise 10 years' service as a player and administrator. He is currently a Hawthorn director and is a former director of Sandringham Football Club.

Evans holds a Bachelor of Education from Ballarat University and in 2012 completed key executive programs in strategy, strategic leadership, negotiation and innovation at the Harvard Business School.

He is also studying for a Master of Business Administration from Southern Cross University in topics including sport and the law, economics and labour market in sport, leadership and culture, marketing, communications and crisis management.
 

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TEAMS: Judd back for Blues

Carltons Marc Murphy will step out as Blues captain for the first time on Friday. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON star Chris Judd will step out for the first time this pre-season in Marc Murphy's debut as Blues captain on Friday night.

The Blues have named a strong team for the NAB Cup grand final against Brisbane at Etihad Stadium including power forwards Sam Rowe and Levi Casboult.

Coach Mick Malthouse has also include young Josh Bootsma for his first pre-season hit out as the Blues prepare for their Round 1 clash against Richmond on March 28.

Bryce Gibbs returns after being rested for last Friday's 'preliminary final' against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

But the Blues will go into the decider without reigning best and fairest Heath Scotland, Tom Bell and Jeremy Laidler.

Judd has been named on the bench with Matthew Kreuzer and hard-nosed defender Mitch Robinson.

Meanwhile, Lions coach Michael Voss has reunited his emerging 'Three Rs' midfield with Jack Redden joining Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich for Friday's grand final.

Rockliff and Rich were critical to the Lions defeating Collingwood.

Meanwhile, veteran defender Matt McGuire will be looking to win a second pre-season competition medallion following his victory in 2004 with St Kilda.

Injured ruckman Matthew Leuenberger (achilles) has been rested for the match as a precautionary measure.

Rookies Justin Clarke and Sam Michael have been omitted.

TEAMS: NAB Cup Grand Final

CARLTON

B: C.Yarran M.Jamison S.White

HB: N.Duigan L.Henderson Z.Tuohy

C: K.Simpson B.McLean D.Armfield

HF: A.Carrazzo A.Walker K.Lucas

F: S.Rowe L.Casboult E.Betts

Foll: S.Hampson B.Gibbs M.Murphy

INT: C.Judd, M.Kreuzer, M.Robinson, J.Bootsma, E.Curnow, A.Joseph

Emg: Heath Scotland, Jeremy Laidler, Tom Bell

BRISBANE

B: Joel Patfull, Daniel Merrett, Elliot Yeo

HB: Jed Adcock, Matt Maguire, Mitch Golby

C: Patrick Karnezis, Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley

HF: Rohan Bewick, Jonathan Brown, Josh Green

F: Aaron Cornelius, Stefan Martin, Dayne Zorko

Foll: Billy Longer, Brent Moloney, Daniel Rich

Int: Sam Docherty, Ashley McGrath, Claye Beams, Andrew Raines, Jack Redden, James Polkinghorne

Emg: Marco Paparone, Ryan Lester, Jack Crisp

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Cage ace to lift Port's tackling

Cage wrestler John Donehue (in white) is Port Adelaide's tackling cocah. Picture: Charlie Suriano (Blitz Publications) Source: Supplied

PORT Adelaide believes the confronting training conducted under controversial tackling coach John Donehue will be one of its greatest weapons this season.

Donehue, a former cage fighter who has worked with Melbourne Storm, Essendon and Carlton, has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and his methods have shocked the Power players because of their intensity.

He is listed as a tackling consultants on Port Adelaide's staff list and his regular sessions at "the snake pit" - a training facility next to the police academy at Largs Bay - include bare-breasted, high-impact wrestling and grappling.

Other drills include players jumping over one another and quickly getting to their feet, to underline one of new coach Ken Hinkley's mantras: when you're on the ground, you're not in the game.

"We don't want to be a team that's on the ground all the time," Hinkley said.

The sessions are said to be highly intimidating.

"In the back of their minds, they don't want to do it, but they just put a smile on their face and do it, " Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr said.

(Donehue) doesn't take lip and he's very big on respect

Hinkley said there had been times even he had had to look away as the players clashed and fitness coach Darren Burgess said it had taken him a while to change his view to the physical and potentially injury-causing drills.

The club has included the Donehue training as part of its pre-season "Malice" regime and players have noted other benefits.

Chad Wingard, the club's top draft pick in 2011, said the tackling techniques taught by Donehue had helped him protect himself better.

But the tackling consultant's approach is not universally condoned.

Among his fans is Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy but the way Donehue has taught league and AFL players has also brought him into a storm of controversy.

He was linked to the Chris Judd "chicken wing" issue last year, when he was brought in to help toughen up the Blues, and retired Melbourne forward Brett O'Farrell in 2008 said the Storm was the pioneer of the grapple, a tackle considered one of the most dangerous in the code.

An official from another club offered a stark appraisal of the training when Donehue was at Carlton.

"His defensive sessions are some of the most brutal things I've ever seen," the official said.

"He doesn't take lip and he's very big on respect.

"He's a genuinely nice bloke, almost your smiling assassin type."

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Hawks confident Buddy will stay

Hawthorn is confident of keeping Lance Franklin in the wake of losing footy manager Mark Evans to headquarters. Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN believes it will still keep free agent Lance Franklin despite losing the man whose job it was to retain him.

Outgoing Hawks footy boss Mark Evans had been leading negotiations with Franklin's management before his shock exit yesterday to become the AFL's new football operations manager.

Despite the curve ball, Hawthorn still hopes it can broker a deal with Franklin as early as mid-year, eager to continue dialogue with his manager, Liam Pickering.

Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold said yesterday the club's contract offer to Franklin was "respectful", but the Hawks had more to offer than just cash.

"I am confident (we can keep our stars) because I think we are about more than just picking up a pay cheque, and if it's one legacy I hope to leave, it's that this club is a place you want to be regardless if we are winning or losing," he said.

"I reckon we are developing that culture and perhaps we don't want that bloke who wants to go for the extra 50 grand."

Newbold said Hawks recruiting manager Graham Wright, a Collingwood premiership player, would continue the job of haggling with Pickering.

Wright is seen as one of the rising stars of list management in the AFL.
The Hawks could be the biggest loser out of free agency this year given Franklin's potential departure, but Newbold has joined the chorus of opposition to compensation picks for free agency.

Franklin has postponed talks until the post-season despite being offered a long-term deal believed to approach $1 million a season.

"The board has been very impressed by Graham Wright's performance in the contracting area and (Evans) and Graham are very much a team and were doing the Franklin contract together," Newbold said.

"So I think it will be pretty seamless until we make an appointment. I don't believe (Evans' departure) will have any detrimental effect. I personally don't think the personality of the bloke doing his contract will effect Buddy's decision to stay or not.

"The feedback from Pickering is that we have put a pretty respectful offer to Buddy and it's not to say we won't continue dialogue with him. That dialogue will continue, but Mark Evans going to the AFL isn't going to change the landscape in that respect."

Hawthorn has a group of free agents still uncontracted, including Franklin, Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis and Michael Osborne. Shaun Burgoyne is on a one-year deal with a trigger for a second season.

Newbold said compensation should be dropped from the free agency formula.

"I don't think the compensation pick is here or there, to be honest," he said.

Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox will make a recommendation to Monday's board meeting about replacing Evans.

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Murph aims to lead by actions

New Carlton captain Marc Murphy shows coach Mick Malthouse some tricks. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

IN the end, Marc Murphy's appointment as Carlton captain came down to who was identified as the best leader, not player.

His accession to becoming captain of an AFL club, 40 years after his father John was elected to the same role at Fitzroy, was something the baby-faced midfielder admitted he had desired.

But it didn't come easily, with strong support in some sections of the club for Andrew Carrazzo, who will now become Murphy's deputy along with Kade Simpson. The final decision wasn't reached until Tuesday lunchtime.

Leadership is an area the club has identified as a weakness since the departure of captains such as Anthony Koutoufides, Andrew McKay and Brett Ratten.

Koutoufides was at the club yesterday to welcome Murphy into the role, along with premiership captains in John Nicholls and Stephen Kernahan, plus Mark Maclure and Chris Judd.

Murphy, 25, said: "I'm a pretty competitive person who will lead by example. Once I get over that white line, I can be pretty vocal, but it is an area of my game I can further improve.

"One day, I was hopeful I could captain the club, so it's a very exciting day. I'm very humbled by this selection."

He spoke as his new coach, Mick Malthouse, looked on. Malthouse said the search for a successor to Judd had been "exhaustive".

"We looked at every angle to ensure we uphold the traditions of this football club.

"It's not about who's the best player but who's the best leader," he said.

"Captains are all about 'we', not 'I'. Marc likes to talk about 'us'. But as captain, there is an isolation factor ... where you don't have to be the most popular person."

As for making any predictions on where the Blues can finish in 2013, Murphy played the same straight bat that has been the theme since Malthouse's arrival.

He repeated the players were placing no limits on the year, and noted the importance of a settled back half.

"Premierships are won in defence and we really need to improve that area of our game," he said.

Club president Kernahan said it was a perfect time in Murphy's football career to become captain.

"He can take this football club to another level," Kernahan said. "But I wouldn't have batted an eyelid if Andy Carrazzo or Kade Simpson got the nod."

While Judd is now removed from all leadership duties, he remains a revered figure within the playing ranks.

Also highly respected is Nick Duigan, who would have been in the race but for fluctuating form. Defender Michael Jamison is also seen as a potential leader but, like Bryce Gibbs, has chosen to concentrate on having a good season.

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Evans' focus on footy matters

New AFL football operations manager Mark Evans will turn his attention to footy matters. Source: Supplied

OUTGOING Hawthorn footy boss Mark Evans will fill a diluted position as the AFL's incoming football operations manager.

Evans replaces Adrian Anderson in the key post, but will do so without the responsibility of policing integrity issues such as match-fixing, gambling and salary cap breaches.

A new integrity and compliance department will instead be headed by league investigator Brett Clothier.

Evans, 47, was a surprise choice to replace Anderson, who quit the AFL in November, with league executive Simon Lethlean thought to have been the frontrunner.

But AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said Evans, who beat off 140 applicants, came with valuable experience from two AFL clubs.

"I've always believed it would be a huge advantage if we had someone with club experience, particularly as the restructure involved the role being focused more on football," Demetriou said yesterday.

"To get someone with a football club insight is going to be hugely beneficial to the whole organisation."

Evans, who will stay on at the Hawks for a few more weeks, will be responsible for rule changes, player welfare, the tribunal and match-review system, pay negotiations with players, the drafts and umpiring.

"I know the role will be challenging and I hope that my background will stand my in good stead for what's ahead," Evans said.

Asked about the interchange system, Evans said yesterday: "I think we know there's a cap coming, and I actually liked (St Kilda coach) Scott Watters' viewpoint on the radio at the end of last week.

"His viewpoint was: 'Whether the cap is 80, 100, 120 or no cap at all - the sky won't fall in.

"But coaches and administrators just need to get their head around how they best manage it."

The league decided to split its football operations department and integrity unit before Anderson's surprise departure after nine years in the job.

The move was made to return the position to a football-focused role.

Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said yesterday: "While we're disappointed to lose him, we're extremely proud Mark has secured this outstanding career opportunity with the AFL".

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Make or break season for Voss

Lions split over NAB Cup final being moved to Melbourne.

CRUCIAL YEAR: Coach Michael Voss has one season to save his job at the Brisbane Lions.  Picture Jono Searle Source: The Courier-Mail

THE coaching career of Michael Voss will depend on Brisbane's results this year, after contract talks were delayed to the end of the season.

Voss will not necessarily have to pilot the Lions into the AFL finals to keep his job but they need to improve on last year's 10 wins for the triple premiership captain to continue his tenure at the Gabba.

Voss, 37, is in the second season of a two-year deal.

He met with chairman Angus Johnson, CEO Malcolm Holmes and football manager Dean Warren last month and it was agreed to put talks on hold until the end of the campaign.

Voss told The Courier-Mail he was "comfortable and confident" about the process and no official benchmarks had been set for him to keep his job.

But he knows Brisbane cannot go backwards this season.

"I'm realistic enough to know that if we aren't improving and not getting around that number (10 wins), it will be hard for me to argue," Voss said. "Wins and losses are what we are measured by.

"We want to see improvement in our Gabba results and individuals continuing to develop, but wins and losses are obviously pretty important in the overall scheme of things.

"Hopefully by putting this issue to the side until the end of the season, it will remove some distractions and allow all of us to focus on what we need to do to be successful.

"It's the right time to wait."

About to enter his fifth season in charge of Brisbane, Voss has a 39 per cent success rate with 35 wins and a draw from 90 matches at the helm.

The only time he guided Brisbane to the finals was in 2009. The Lions have since finished 13th (2010), 15th (2011) and 13th (2012).

Voss said qualifying for tomorrow night's NAB Cup grand final against Carlton at Etihad Stadium was a well-earned reward for a good pre-season by the players but was unlikely to hold much sway for him at the negotiation table come September.

"I don't know if it's a measuring stick. It may come up at the end of the season when we all sit down, but the season proper is where we are held accountable," he said. "(That) is where we want to see the improvements."

And Johnson said the Lions want to create a culture of "continuous improvement" but insisted no hard numbers had been set in stone for Voss.

"There is an expectation that we will do better on the field than what we did last year but we expect that across every facet of the footy club," he said.

"Vossy wants to improve our results, the players want to improve our results and we are confident that we are heading in the right direction."

Brisbane have recalled midfielder Jack Redden and defender Matt Maguire for the NAB Cup decider.

The Lions are near full-strength for the club's tilt at a first pre-season trophy.

Carlton named former captain Chris Judd on the interchange bench.

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Buckley makes his mark

Coach Nathan Buckley has implemented a more direct game plan. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD has ditched its boundary-hugging game plan.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Pies have become one of the AFL's corridor kings, using the NAB Cup to launch a more aggressive pattern of ball movement.

Statistics provided by Champion Data reveal Nathan Buckley's men are ranked fifth in the league for moving the ball from defence through the centre square.

Last year, Buckley's first as coach, the Pies were ranked 18th and last going down the middle. In 2011, Mick Malthouse's final season, they were 17th and last.

It is only the NAB Cup and, admittedly, early days, but it's a dramatic strategic shift over four pre-season games. Heat maps best illustrate the change in philosophy, with the 2011 and 2012 versions showing a distinct avoidance of the centre square.

But the early 2013 map highlights a willingness to take the riskier, albeit most direct, avenue to goal.

The statistics focus on ball movement out of the defensive 50m zone - a better measure than all midfield possessions because teams have direct control over how they launch attacks.

Collingwood has gone from going down the middle 13.4 per cent of the time in 2011 and 15 per cent last year to 29.7 per cent so far this pre-season.

 Former full-back Simon Prestigiacomo, who helped execute Malthouse's defence-first philosophy before retiring in 2010, offered an insight into the old strategy.

"If you were going to kick it in the corridor you had to be 100 per cent sure that you weren't going to turn it over because if you did it would be an almost certain goal (the other way)," Prestigiacomo said.

"Even if you came into the corridor too early going forward and turned it over they would kick it straight over the top for a goal. Because we were playing that pressing style, where you pressed right up, it left three or four of their forwards on their own.

"We would rather go the long way around than take the risk. It wasn't constantly drilled into us or anything but, if it didn't come off, you would feel the wrath on the scoreboard and the wrath of the coaches."

Collingwood's overhaul had its origins at the start of summer. An early February intra-club match and hour-long match simulation session revealed the Pies' clear plan to kick the ball shorter and move the ball quicker through the middle.

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Viney to play in opener

Jack Viney is set to make his AFL debut in Round 1 despite a neck injury. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE wunderkind Jack Viney remains a Round 1 lock, despite not playing since the first round of the NAB Cup.

The midfielder has been recovering from a neck injury suffered in the Demons' hitouts against North Melbourne and Richmond at Etihad Stadium on February 22.

Viney has since been kept on ice, missing games against Port Adelaide and St Kilda, but his injury is not considered serious.

He could play against Gold Coast on Saturday, but even if he doesn't - and is not summoned for a VFL practice match the following week - the Herald Sun understands he will still be named for the Round 1 clash against Port Adelaide.

While Viney is in contention to face the Suns, Chris Dawes is not after complaining of hamstring tightness at training last week.

Demons elite performance manager David Misson said Dawes may be warehoused for Round 1.

"He's obviously really valuable and the coach is really keen for him to be available Round 1 so we're playing a pretty conservative line with 'Dawsey'," Misson said.

"He's running already and looking good, but ... we want to make sure we set him up for a good first part of the season."

Long-term casualties Mitch Clark and Jack Trengove (both with foot injuries) have graduated to full training duties, but still appear some time away from playing.

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Tom's weigh more deadly

Giants midfielder Tom Scully has put on 5kgs during the off-season. Source: Getty Images

GWS vice-captain Tom Scully will play a more expansive role for the Giants this season having added 5kg to his frame during the off-season.

The new look Scully is developing into a player capable of executing different roles across the ground.

Scully, the 2009. No. 1 draft pick, has spent this pre-season building size and strength to be able to go toe-to-toe with the midfield warrior ball-winners of the AFL in a move that will see him spend more time hunting for possessions.

Ahead of the Giants' final pre-season hit-out against St Kilda at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday, Scully said GWS are looking to become more versatile to make things uncomfortable for their opposition.

While Scully has become one of the AFL's best outside midfielders playing on the wing as an outlet to the Giants engine room at stoppages, he now wants to win the hard ball on his own to giveassistant coach Leon Cameron the option of moving him into the thick of the fray when needed.

"It's my fourth pre-season and I want to be able to play inside midfield as well as a number of other positions," Scully said. "I want my game to become more rounded. I want to be able to go in there and win my own footy.

"The majority of my footy will be on the wing and half forward, rotating through the midfield, but I suppose now for me it's just a thing where I can play a run-with role on a good inside mid.

"We're building a really good midfield at the moment, but if we can all play more positions it makes us harder to match up on. Everyone's got to take their turn to play that role. A lot of the younger guys from last year have gained size and gained some strength in the gym and you can see that in the games now. It's certainly going to give us a chance to be much more competitive in games for longer. That's a big focus for us this year to be competitive for longer and put ourselves in a winning position."

The Daily Telegraph revealed last month Scully has bulked up almost 5kg to tip the scales at 83kg.

His new frame means the Giants can field an inside midfield group including co-captain Callan Ward and youngsters Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio. The Giants are expected to field a full strength team for their clash with the Saints, using the match as a full dress rehearsal for their round one match against the Swans.

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