Concussion TV to help doctors

The AFL has announced a new rule that will allow clubs to temporarily substitute a player for 20 minutes so they can be assessed for a possible concussion.

AFL doctors will diagnose concussion using repalys. Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images Source: HWT Image Library

AFL club doctors will view video replays during games to help them diagnose whether a player has suffered concussion in an on-field collision.

The sideline video reviews will be part of a club doctor's clinical assessment to determine if a player is fit to return to the field.

The AFL, which hosted the first day of a two-day Concussion in Football Conference at Etihad Stadium, announced several updated guidelines on concussion management.

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It confirmed that the AFL commission had approved an AFL Medical Officers' Association recommendation allowing clubs to use its substitute as an interchange player for 20 minutes while an injured player is assessed for concussion.

After the assessment, the club must activate the sub or return him to being a substitute.

The AFL is set to become the first professional sport in the world to implement new guidelines in competition from last year's International Conference on Concussion in Sport in Zurich.

AFL medical commissioner Dr Peter Harcourt said key features of the updated AFL guidelines included:

ANY player with a medically diagnosed concussion will not be allowed to return to play on the day of injury.

THE extensive Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 to determine whether a player is fit to return to play cannot take place for a minimum of 10 minutes after the on-field incident.

A player with any neurological symptoms or signs, video features of concussion and/or any evidence of a disturbance of mental state or cognitive function following trauma, can be considered to have concussion and must not return to play.

WHERE there is any suspicion of concussion, the player requires further evaluation including video footage review and assessment of symptoms, orientation, balance and cognitive function (SCAT3) prior to a final determination.

IF a player is cleared of a concussion following assessment, he can be allowed to return to play, but should be monitored for the duration of the game as concussion symptoms are dynamic and can evolve over time.

CLUB medical officers may be asked to provide full documentation of clinical assessments of concussion to the AFL medical directors for review. Full documentation will also be collected as part of on-going research.
 

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AFL to crackdown on science

The AFL will push for a uniform date to start pre-season. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

THE league's war on sports scientists could result in a uniform pre-season start for every AFL club, regardless of their ladder position.

The AFL Commission on Wednesday told captains at their annual lunch it strongly supported the idea.

One start date floated in discussions across the industry has been December 1, but clubs would rebel against such a late start.

Melbourne was the first club to start pre-season training this summer - on October 29.

Beaten grand finalist Hawthorn started its pre-season four weeks later on November 26, while reigning Premiers Sydney officially started the pre-season December 8.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou raised the prospect of a uniform start date in last year's player pay negotiations.

Commission boss Mike Fitzpatrick also pushed it in informal talks with club executives.

Players have a mandated eight-week leave period - and then 10 days over Christmas - but the AFL Players Association believes clubs already break into that period by forcing players to return for best-and-fairest awards presentations.

It is working with the AFL on a proposal that would involve a six-week blackout period plus another two weeks.

Players would get an extra week's leave if best-and-fairest presentations were held in the blackout period.

AFLPA general manager of player relations Ian Prendergast said he was happy to further discuss issues of leave and starting dates.

"We are interested in discussing a restructure of the annual leave period, and any proposals which would provide a more meaningful annual leave period," Prendergast said.

All clubs would have the same start date, but experienced players would have their returns staggered.

Essendon captain Jobe Watson has already advocated a December 1 pre-season start date.

"I would like for it to be looked at, whether it's something like every club returns on December 1 or something like that," he said last year.

"That would mean the changes the AFL are trying to make are actually working and not being sucked away by the length and stress that players are being put under during the pre-season."

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League chief admits failings

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou concedes he has made some mistakes. Picture: Glenn Daniels Source: Herald Sun

ANDREW Demetriou has conceded some "errors of judgment" as AFL chief executive as he issued a warning to clubs that a win-at-all costs mentality would no longer be tolerated.

Demetriou used the season launch - his 10th in the role - to draw a line in the sand after one of the league's most controversial off-seasons.

He said the AFL was committed to restoring the faith of its fans, which has been damaged by serious investigations into Essendon, Adelaide and Melbourne.

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"I can see the blemishes - and strengths - that have passed under my watch during the last decade," Demetriou said.

He said there were "some recent errors of judgment by some in the AFL community, myself included".

But the AFL boss insisted the league would emerge with renewed strength, saying "the game had never been stronger, never been supported with more passion, and has never had more potential and opportunity".

Demetriou challenged those at last night's event to "act personally and collectively".

"Everything we do - or don't do - impacts on our game, its importance to our fans, and its capacity to impact on the broader society."

He said clubs or individuals who put winning before the culture and fabric of the game would be punished.

"If our game is reduced to a madcap philosophy of winning at all costs then we have lost the spirit of sport and we need to pull out all stops to get it back," he said.

"Some will think the elite game is all about winning and winning is the only measure. It is not."

Demetriou said the majority of players and sports medical staff had every right to be angry - "besmirched as they have been by poor behaviour, driven by poor values and poor judgments".

"The ongoing attraction of our beautiful game, and the faith our fans have in its integrity and competitiveness, cannot be broken by the misdemeanours and misjudgments of a misguided few."

He added: "2013 must be a season of solidarity. (It) is our chance to do great things for our game, to reset the foundations that have been shaken, and to drive our destiny to new outcomes, new successes and new pride."

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Sydney set to swoop on Brownlow

Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson at last year's ceremony. The night could be on the move to Sydney. Source: Herald Sun

SYDNEY has the premiership trophy and now they're set to snare the AFL's showpiece red carpet event, the Brownlow Medal.

News Limited can reveal AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was in Sydney last week scouting for locations to host the glamorous award night.

Demetriou visited the recently re-developed Star City Casino but believes the new Barangaroo development would be the ideal Brownlow venue in Sydney.

"Given the size of the Brownlow now if it wasn't at Crown Casino probably the next best place would be Barangaroo," Demetriou said.

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"It would be a wonderful venue.

"We are a national code, we've taken the draft out of Melbourne successfully and the season launch was successful in Sydney last year. In a national competition anything is possible."

The AFL signed a six year deal with the James Packer-owned Crown Casino to host the Brownlow count which expires in 2016 and Demetriou appears keen for the league to continue their relationship with the Sydney billionaire when he opens his Barangaroo casino development in 2018.

The AFL's proposal to bring the Brownlow medal count to Sydney would also throw down the gauntlet to the NRL and its night of nights, the Dally M Medal.

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Having the two major awards nights for the country's two biggest codes in the same city at around the same time would take the code rivalry to another level.

The Brownlow medal count has been held in Sydney once before when Hawthorn champion Shane Crawford won in 1999 but the event was widely panned by critics. Demetriou is confident the AFL would do a far better job this time around.

"We've taken it to Sydney once before and I know we could do it better next time we did it," Demetriou said.

The AFL took a serious look at holding the Brownlow count in Sydney last year in an effort to coincide with the arrival of their 18th team, GWS, before striking a deal with Crown.

Demetriou was engaged in secret talks with the NSW government who offered big money to lure the event away from it's traditional home in Victoria.

The AFL has successfully turned what was a traditional football function for diehard supporters into a red carpet affair where wives and girlfriends have an equal billing alongside their star athletes.

Pitching the event to women has been a TV winner as well with the Brownlow medal count regularly outrating the nation's leading show biz event The Logies in the southern states.

The event has come a long way since it started in 1924 when the votes were simply counted at a VFL meeting.

The first television coverage started in 1970 and was won that year by one of the Swans South Melbourne greats Peter Bedford.

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Hawks' blueprint for success

The old Waverley park is set for a massive upgrade. Picture: David Caird Source: HWT Image Library

IT is the blueprint to keep Hawthorn ahead in footy's arms race.

Club chiefs have spent 12 months fine-tuning the club's action plan for the next five years. It's a document that will frighten the hell out of some of its rivals.

A custom-built football factory for the next generation. Significantly increased revenue. Membership breaking through 80,000. And consistent top-four finishes.

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Flipping through the 16 glossy pages of the battle plan entitled All For One - the title taken from the Hawks' theme song - the outlook for the brown and gold could hardly be rosier.

Sitting in the shadows of the only remaining wedge of the Waverley Park grandstand, president Andrew Newbold knows the club can't afford to stand still.

That's what happened in 1996, when the club almost merged with Melbourne.

The new strategy is designed to ensure the club is never in the same position.

Newbold credited the regeneration of the Hawks to the supporters and staff.

"I'm pretty proud, but the thing that makes me proudest is really the people we have at the club," Newbold said.

"What has happened is due in no small part to them. People like me come and go, but members and a lot of our staff have been here however long.

Hawthorn Football Club reveals its business plan exclusively to the Herald Sun. Included in the plan are details about proposed redevelopment of its Waverley training base. CEO Stuart Fox with club president Andrew Newbold Picture: Pinder Lawrence Source: HWT Image Library

"They are the ones who have seen it from where it was in 1996 to where it is now."

But the challenges remain.

To pay for the estimated $35 million Waverley upgrade, the club needs to raise cash. Even more to establish a second training base, which will enable it to train away from prying eyes.

The second home will likely be established with a school or other community facility.

Giving an insight into the scale of the Hawks' review, the club considered a full relocation of Waverley.

Chief executive Stuart Fox said the club still faced a huge challenge to finance the developments.

"We are a little bit landlocked with Waverley Park," Fox said. "We have had some consultants do some work on it (Waverley), and it is pretty scary the costs and a huge challenge to try and raise that capital.

"In the AFL, we know there are some other clubs making big progress with their facilities and when a couple of the clubs finish their current ones they are going to be right up there.

"We do not want to get left behind.

"This place was considered a benchmark six or seven years ago, now the challenges of working within an old building are there."

To finance the refurbishment, Hawthorn has increased its non-football investments.

One is West Waters, a multi-purpose entertainment complex in Caroline Springs.

In all, the club wants to increase its consolidated net assets from $24 million to more than $38 million over the next five years.

The 58 per cent increase includes aggressive gains in merchandise and membership. Renewing the club's deal to play four games a season in Tasmania is vital to the plan.

But it is the on-field targets which Newbold said were most challenging.

In the club's previous business plan, the Hawks named two premierships. That goal has been amended to maintaining a top-four finish over the next five seasons.

Club legend Dermott Brereton has said the club must win a flag in the next few years before it faced a major transition phase, replacing a brigade of veteran stars such as captain Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.

Newbold is confident the club can remain at the top.

"That is one of the true challenges in the document, and we all know you are a couple of injuries away from missing the top eight," Newbold said.

"We have a lot of confidence in our recruiting and Graeme Wright, and the challenge to him is to replace the stars and have young blokes coming up ready to step up into their shoes.

"We are under no illusions that is a tough ask in this environment where if you stand still for five minutes you get overtaken.

"People might say 'oh there is not two premierships stated in this document'.

"To say that we are going to finish top four for the next five years I think is arguably more challenging."

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Rich deal for Mitchell, Buddy waits

Sam Mitchell is set to sign a new deal with the Hawks. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: HWT Image Library

SAM Mitchell has agreed to a new deal at Hawthorn as the latest piece of the club's free-agency puzzle falls into place.

The fine details of the short-term contract are still being finalised, but the Herald Sun understands the Hawks will announce Mitchell's commitment soon.

It is a significant win for the club, which is vulnerable to free-agency poachers and still has biggest fish Lance Franklin, Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne and Xavier Ellis coming out of contract.

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Mitchell's re-signing comes soon after Jordan Lewis' new deal and is the last brokered by football manager Mark Evans, who is leaving for the AFL. Franklin has put off contract negotiations until the end of the year, but the fact it will be the biggest deal of his career has created an inevitable ripple effect.

Captain Hodge, who has battled knee and calf injuries for most of the past 12 months, admitted this week that he would be prepared to take a pay cut.

It is understood Mitchell did not - and was not asked to - do the same, despite turning 31 later this year, given he has won two consecutive Hawthorn best-and-fairest awards, was runner-up in the 2012 Brownlow Medal and has displayed durability.

Lance Franklin, Adidas deal. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

It is believed Mitchell is happy to keep signing short-term deals if the conditions reflect his form. He is determined to eventually retire on his own terms and turn to coaching.

Hawthorn has stated publicly that it expects to retain Franklin, but industry sources said they believed one and possibly two teammates could be forced out.

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Equal cap is a must, says Eddie

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and his sons after the finals loss to Sydney last year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

WITH much pride, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire helped slay Brisbane's salary cap allowance almost decade ago.

With more than a hint pride yesterday, McGuire officially set his sights on Sydney's $900,000 handout.

It's still to be determined if the Swans will retain their bonus, but at the very least it's firmly back on agenda.

Among a host of ideas floated at yesterday's equalisation love-in, McGuire continued to push his belief that a uniform salary cap for everyone was the first step in equalising the game.

There's fixture issues, horrible stadium deals, gaming profit issues, and, of course, an uncompromised draft to work through, yet McGuire believes equalisation begins on the field.

He has a point.

Sydney paid $1.75 million more to its players than three clubs living on the bottom line in 2012.

They were the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.

And there's a sliding scale from there.

The $1.75m adds up to a superstar and two very handy players.

The problem is not every club has the ability to pay its full salary cap, a situation the clubs and the AFL want to rectify from next year. Where that money comes from is what yesterday was all about it.

McGuire might have personal - read, Collingwood - reasons for wanting to strip Sydney of its excesses, but it would appear he has support from most of the clubs.

Clearly, they wouldn't have been hard of hearing.

As other officials drew breath, McGuire time and again highlighted the blatant argument for equalisation - the cap.

Even AFL boss Andrew Demetriou acknowledged there was a push for a "pure" salary cap.

He didn't offer thoughts on whether the Swans' allowance should stay or go, although he has mostly been in favour of its intention.

Time will tell if he also has been swayed.

On the day when the most senior members of the AFL industry held hands and spoke of a brave new world, footy fans should be happy.

It would appear a fan tax is not on the agenda - "we want to keep it affordable", Demetriou said - and that wealthy clubs won't be unhinged by a cap on football department spending.

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Clubs push to end Sydney allowance

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou and chairman Mike Fitzpatrick. Picture: David Caird. Source: The Daily Telegraph

SYDNEY'S contentious $900,000 living allowance appears doomed after a push by clubs to equalise the game.

A key agreement from yesterday's AFL gap summit was for a return to a "pure" salary cap where all players at all clubs are paid the same.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said a decision on the Swans' 9.8 per cent allowance - also afforded to Greater Western Sydney due to the city's high cost of living - would be made by the end of the season.

Yesterday club and league chiefs were also united on reducing the gap in football department spending between rich and poor clubs.

Collingwood spent $21.2 million on its footy operations last year, compared with $15.7 million at the Western Bulldogs.

Other equalisation options raised include:

REPLACING the AFL logo on club jumpers with a sponsor brand and sharing the profits among clubs.

STAGING an annual mini-draft to help battling clubs buy, swap or sell franchise players.

BUYING back Etihad Stadium to eradicate disastrous stadium deals affecting St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Bulldogs.

TAXING excessive poker machine profits banked by the richer clubs.

Asked about the Swans salary cap allowance yesterday, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said: "I have a very straightforward belief . . . and that is that salary cap and its adherence has to be (equal) . . . otherwise it just blows up.

"You can't have teams having $2 million more salary cap than others."

It was also suggested that from next year the AFL should help cash-strapped clubs pay 100 per cent of the $10 million salary cap - up from 95 per cent.

League chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said all clubs supported the concept of "disequal" distributions to assist the poorer teams.

"Fans should expect that their club will be competitive on any given day," Fitzpatrick said.

"We also agree that not all clubs are or should be equal - support for equal funding of smaller clubs remains."

He said the commission had made no progress on buying back Etihad Stadium from its management company.

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw said all clubs were supportive of changes to distributions.

"It's going to come in and it will be good for everyone," Brayshaw told Triple M.

"We can't have what we have in the EPL in England, where it's the same four clubs every year and the rest of them are just a waste of time. That makes for a very poor competition."

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$35m plan to rebuild Hawks

Hawthorn Football Club reveals its business plan exclusively to the Herald Sun. Included in the plan are details about proposed redevelopment of its Waverley training base. CEO Stuart Fox with club president Andrew Newbold Picture: Pinder Lawrence Source: HWT Image Library

HAWTHORN will embark on $35 million redevelopment of Waverley Park as part of a five-year plan to keep the club at the front of the AFL pack.

The Hawks want to double the size of the football facilities at their home and build a separate training base away from Waverley for closed sessions.

The moves are key elements of the club's 2013-2017 strategy document, to be presented at its season launch tonight.

The Herald Sun can reveal Hawthorn:

- HAS re-signed chief executive Stuart Fox for five years to drive the ambitious project;
- IS determined not to compromise its list strategy in negotiations with unsigned star Lance Franklin;
- WANTS 80,000 members by 2017, up from the 60,800 record;
- BELIEVES it can maintain top-four finishes for the next five years;
- OPPOSES profit sharing between clubs; and

- CONSIDERED a full relocation from Waverley Park, but decided the move was too costly.

The Hawks will use a mix of its own reserves, private investment and possible government and AFL funding to help build the infrastructure, which in part would be open for community use.

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As the AFL equalisation debated heated up at yesterday's summit, Hawks president Andrew Newbold said the club was not in a position to share its profits.

"We want to be humble about the fact that we are in a privileged position," Newbold said.

"We want there to be an even competition. We don't want that gap to be bigger - it's how you go about bridging that gap that's important to us.

"We have set out an agenda for this footy club based on a set of rules."

"We thought we were operating under a five-year equalisation policy," Newbold said.

"We are happy to share a whole lot of things, but we are not happy to change the rules after year one."

Hawthorn's vision is to become "The Destination Club", which attracts and develops the best people.

"If I could make one comment on what I perceive what others do and what we do, there is an awful a lot of rigour about who we get into this footy club," Newbold said.

The "Destination Club" vision will face an immediate test with Franklin.

Newbold said the club would have no regrets with its offer to its marquee player.

"What we are confident of is, we have given him a really respectful offer," Newbold said.

"Now the ball is in his court as to whether he wants to be part of the Hawthorn Football Club or not.

"Let's make no mistake that we think it is a privilege to play for this footy club. If people don't want to take that privilege, that's up to them."

The club has backed its recruiting department to maintain a top-four position, but shied away from putting a number on how many premierships it wanted in the next five years.

However, Newbold said the players would probably feel they had failed to capitalise on their talents if they could not secure another flag soon.

"I think when these guys retire, if they don't win another premiership in the next three or four years - I think human nature will tell they will look back and say, 'We, you know, underachieved'."

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Brown: It's time for a history lesson

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown, left, and Jed Adcock celebrate winning the NAB Cup. Picture: Michael Dodge. Source: Getty Images

JONATHAN Brown wants today's Three-Peat Anniversary Lunch to inspire the Lions to create their own glittering history.

More than 1200 people will converge on the Brisbane Convention Centre for the club's celebration of the hat-trick of AFL flags from 2001-2003, with defender Mal Michael the only player missing from the three victorious teams because of work commitments.

Brisbane's 2013 squad will also be there, fresh from their NAB Cup grand final win over Carlton last Friday night.

Brown, 31, was the youngest player on the MCG when Brisbane beat Essendon in the 2001 grand final and was the oldest Lion at Etihad Stadium when the club broke their decade-long trophy drought in the pre-season.

The Lions' co-captain wants the side to soak up the atmosphere and images from the club's glorious premiership run.

"It was a wonderful era for the club and it will be great to relive it all with all of the boys at the lunch and bring back a few memories," Brown said.

"But it's important that this current group gets something out of it too.

"It will be nice to look back but we need to look forward and think about creating our own legacy for the club.

"We need to create our own success.

"Things are starting to click and the group has developed greatly over the past 12 to 18 months.

"It was a nice reward to get our hands on some silverware, albeit pre-season silverware, and it tells us that we are on the right track."

When Brisbane launched the Three-Peat Anniversary lunch concept late last year, triple premiership coach Leigh Matthews delivered the sobering warning that the Lions may never win another flag.

Matthews said so much needed to go right for a team to stand on top of the mountain on the last Saturday in September and the ultimate success was never guaranteed.

Lions coach Michael Voss could not agree more with his long-time mentor. Voss said his side could not take anything for granted, despite the undefeated pre-season campaign, and past success was no sign of future success.

"We always want to honour and respect our past but our group now has to realise that those premierships were 10 years ago and they have to do the work to form their own history," he said.

"Seeing the highlights of 10 years ago should inspire them and help them focus on the season ahead.

"They shouldn't think it's automatically going to happen for them

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