Teams: No Joe for Anzac Day

Shane Crawford is in Hawaii but he's still thinking about SuperCoach - and Travis Cloke.

A further blow for St Kilda with Stephen Milne set to miss Thursday's Anzac Day match against Sydney in Wellington.

Justin Koschitzke could play his first match for the year. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON has made three changes but resisted the temptation to play Joe Daniher against Collingwood on Anzac Day.

Stewart Crameri, Kyle Hardingham and Travis Colyer have been promoted to the Bombers' line-up.

Michael Hurley is out with an ankle injury suffered against St Kilda last week while defender Tayte Pears and midfielder Jake Melksham were dropped.

Dustin Fletcher has not recovered from a groin injury in time to play.

Daniher, who has been starring at VFL level, did not even make the emergencies.

But his father Anthony is not concerned.

"It's all about the right time and the right environment to bring him in, and everyone is different," he told 3AW.

"I think tomorrow could have been just a bit too early.

See the full team line-ups below and in LiveHQ

"The critical thing is to make sure he's ready to play and Joe has missed a lot of footy over the past few years.

"He's just motoring along really nicely at the moment.

"Theres absolutely no hurry to rush him into that senior team."

Collingwood made just one change, bringing in Tyson Goldsack at the expense of youngster Josh Thomas.

Meanwhile, Justin Koschiztke will resurrect his AFL career in New Zealand tomorrow.

Koschitzke, who has been bumped from the Saints' best side this year, is one of five inclusions for St Kilda's historic clash against Sydney - the first match for premiership points outside Australia.

St Kilda will be boosted by the return of All-Australian defender Sean Dempster, while draftees Brodie Murdoch and Josh Saunders will make their AFL debuts.

The pair were selected with picks 40 and 43 in last year's national draft.

The Swans have lost Lewis Roberts-Thompson to a knee injury and dropped Mitch Morton.

Craig Bird and Andrejs Everitt are their replacements.

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ESSENDON v COLLINGWOOD, Thursday 2.40pm at the MCG

ESSENDON

B: M.Hibberd 1, C.Hooker 26, M.Baguley 46
HB: B.Stanton 5, J.Carlisle 22, B.Goddard 9
C: D.Heppell 21, J.Watson 4, C.Dempsey 15
HF: J.Merrett 20, D.Hille 19, S.Gumbleton 3
F: K.Hardingham 34, S.Crameri 12, A.Davey 29
Foll: T.Bellchambers 2, B.Howlett, 40, J.Winderlich 8
I/C: D.Zaharakis 11, D.Myers 23, H.Hocking 39, T.Colyer, 32
Emerg: N.Lovett-Murray 42, J.Melksham 17, T.Pears 16

In: Hardingham, Colyer, Crameri
Out: Hurley (ankle), Pears, Melksham

COLLINGWOOD

B: N.Brown 16, A.Toovey 34, B.Reid 20
HB: M.Clarke 9, H.Shaw 39, H.O'Brien 8
C: S.Sidebottom 22, D.Swan 36, D.Thomas 13
HF: J.Elliott 19, T.Cloke 32, Q.Lynch 21
F: B.Sinclair 28, T.Goldsack 6, S.Dwyer 41
Foll: B.Hudson 25, S.Pendlebury 10, J.Blair 11
I/C: A.Fasolo 1, J.Russell 2, B.Macaffer, 3, P.Seedsman 40
Emerg: J.Witts 15, J.Thomas 24, B.Kennedy 27

In: Goldsack
Out: J.Thomas

ST KILDA v SYDNEY, Thursday 5.50pm in Wellington

ST KILDA
B: N.Wright 34, S.Fisher 25, D.Roberton 17
HB: S.Dempster 24, R.Stanley 28, S.Gilbert 19
C: L.Hayes 7, C.Jones 4, J.Geary 14
HF: D.Armitage 20, N.Riewoldt 12, N.Dal Santo 26
F: A.Saad 21, S.Ross 6, J.Saunders 35
Foll: B.McEvoy 5, J.Steven 3, L.Montagna 11
I/C: T.Dennis-Lane 8, T. Lee 9, J.Koschitzke 23, B.Murdoch 30
Emerg: A.Siposs 2, T.Hickey 1, F.Ray 22

In: Koschitzke, Dempster, Lee, Murdoch, Saunders
Out: Milne (suspension), Maister (hand), Simpkin, Milera, Ray

SYDNEY

B: D.Rampe 43, H.Grundy 39, N.Smith 40
HB: M.Mattner 29, T.Richards 25, N.Malceski 9
C: K.Jack 15, R.O'Keefe 5, L.Jetta 32
HF: J.Bolton 24, S.Reid20, D.Hannebery 4
F: M.Pyke 38, A.Goodes 37, B.McGlynn 21
Foll: S.Mumford 41, J.Kennedy 12, J.McVeigh 3
I/C: T.Armstrong 19, C.Bird 14, A.Everitt 13, L Parker 26
Emerg: J.White 18, T.Walsh 17, M.Morton 10

In:Bird, Everitt
Out: L. Roberts-Thomson (knee), Morton.
 

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Crouch down in Crow blow

Shane Crawford is in Hawaii but he's still thinking about SuperCoach - and Travis Cloke.

Brad Crouch celebrates a goal with Taylor Walker. Picture: Simon Cross Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE has been dealt a stinging blow with promising midfielder Brad Crouch expected to miss at least two weeks after suffering a hamstring injury at training yesterday.

Crouch, who debuted this season after spending a year as an ineligible 17-year-old player on the Crows list, had impressed coach Brenton Sanderson in his few senior games but the injury is expected to be at the lower end.

Crouch warmed up with teammates before hurting his leg during today's closed session. He will be sent for scans to determine the damage.

"It's a bit of a setback for us,'' Sanderson said.

"I've really liked how he's been playing; he's been great for a first-year player."

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Sanderson was this afternoon heading for a match committee meeting, and one of the first names that would be brought up to replace Crouch was Bernie Vince.

Vince was dropped to Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL last weekend and responded with a dominant contribution.

"I did like how Bernie went back,'' Sanderson said. "He went back and dominated that game in the SANFL and he's too good to play in the SANFL, you know.

"So we'll look for opportunities to get those guys back where we can.''

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Carlisle commits to Bombers

James Hird says he's wary of Dane Swan's form against Essendon.

Fired-up Essendon defender Jake Carlisle shouts at an opponent. Source: Getty Images

JAKE Carlisle has re-signed with Essendon.

The key defender has penned a new two-year deal that ties him to the club until the end of the 2015 season.

The 21-year-old has been immense in the Bombers backline so far this season and news that he has re-committed himself to the club comes as a massive boost ahead of the Anzac Day showdown with Collingwood tomorrow.

"I couldn't be happier, it's a privilege to play for a club with such a rich and proud history, and it means a lot to recommit to the club that gave me the opportunity and drafted me,'' Carlisle said.

"I'm glad I could get my contract signed so early in the season so I can just focus purely on my football and keep developing my game.''

The Calder Cannons product has played 32 games since being selected by the Bombers with pick No.24 in the 2009 national draft.

To see an extended interview with Carlisle tune in to The Hangar on Fox Footy at 9pm tonight.
 

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Tigers lose Conca for a month

Damien Hardwick compares Tigers training to sleeping with his wife.

Reece Conca gets a handball away. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

EMERGING Richmond midfielder Reece Conca will miss at least four weeks after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his foot.

Conca will wear a moonboot for 5-10 days after scans this week detected the injury in his right foot.

The No.6 pick in the 2010 draft has averaged 20 disposals and four tackles a game this season.

"The good thing is we picked it up this early. It didn't develop into a crack or stress fracture," Richmond's elite performance manager Peter Burge told the club website.

"If there's a positive, it's that it is a little bit shorter-term than a stress fracture."

After a trouble-free start to the season, the Tigers will be forced to make at least three changes at the selection table tomorrow.

Steven Morris will miss Friday night's clash against Fremantle through suspension while defender Troy Chaplin has not recovered from concussion.

Their absence is likely to open the door for Nick Vlastuin, Richmond's top pick at last year's draft, to make his AFL debut.

Robin Nahas and former Kangaroo Aaron Edwards are also chances to play the Dockers.
 

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How Anderson buried his demons

Ian Anderson, Miss Suong and Mr Ngan. Source: Supplied

Essendon's Ian Anderson during his playing days. Picture: Photo File Source: Supplied

IAN Anderson brought the enemy to his world to finally bury the demons of the Vietnam War.

A promising enough ruckman/forward to be named Essendon's recruit of the year in 1967, Private "Ginger'' Anderson of the 8th Battalion spent six weeks during 1970 in the Long Hais mountains, dodging land mines and bullets rather than backhanders in the ruck from John Nicholls or Len Thompson.

He fought hard but struggled with losing a couple of diggers in the same battle, the waking during the night with cold sweats, the sense of aimlessness and the guilt with participating in a war that his countrymen protested about.

So Anderson kept going back to the silent hills that had once offered death with every poorly conceived step.

And last year, on his seventh trip and one where he had taken his children to explain why Dad was sometimes the way he was, everything changed.

"We were travelling around the Long Hais mountain when this Vietnamese bloke started gibbering in the back of our van.

"I asked our interpreter, Miss Suong, what he was talking about and she just said 'exactly the same stuff you were just telling your kids','' said Anderson, 64.

"His name was Mr Ngan and it turns out he fought in the same battle during February, 1970. When I found out I touched him on top of his head and said 'you missed me, you little mongrel'. He replied 'but you shoot at me first'.

"He was a lovely man but then again all the South Vietnamese people are. That's where he came from, a VC man from the south, part of the VC D445 Battalion. He spent 11 years in those mountains, getting wounded four times.''

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So Anderson, who played 27 games for the Bombers and kicked 49 goals after being recruited from the Wimmera area of Miga Lake, decided to bring Mr Ngan and Miss Suong to Australia, to show them how we lived.

Last November he outlaid $5000 for their flights and asked them to stay with him in his hometown of Port Fairy.

And it was then that his head cleared.

"I've had stuff going on for over 40 years, just like a lot of other blokes. But my head is good now thanks to that experience.

"I taught Mr Ngang how to punt, drink and speak English. We would go down to The Star of the West (where the beer is best) in Port Fairy and I taught him the words 'one more'. Every time he wanted a beer that's what he would say.

"And he kept winning on the mystery bets. I'm worried that I have sent him home a compulsive gambling alcho.''

Anderson now sends money back to Vietnam for the education of Miss Suong's son, and he will see them both agains when he goes back to Vietnam in August.

Anderson was one of six Essendon players to have served in Vietnam, the others being Keith Gent, Lindsay McGie, Ian ``Porky'' Payne, Greg ``Rattler'' Perry and Bill ``Sherry'' Thompson.
 

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Unity key to Pies' game

James Hird says he's wary of Dane Swan's form against Essendon.

Essendon skipper Jobe Watson. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley declared Essendon skipper Jobe Watson "basically untaggable" as he plotted a positive strategy for the Anzac Day clash.

Buckley said it would be pointless to individually target Watson, Brent Stanton, Brendon Goddard and Dyson Heppell.

"It's pretty hard if you're going to trailer and caravan them around," Buckley said.

"We believe we can defend well as a unit, reinforce our strengths and blunt the opposition's at the same time. We back the way we play, we back the way we defend."

GALLERY: See the Pies prepare for Anzac Day

The Pies made one change to the team that defeated Richmond last Saturday, bringing back versatile Tyson Goldsack at the expense of Josh Thomas.

Essendon resisted the temptation to hand father-son recruit Joe Daniher, 19, an Anzac Day debut.

Stewart Crameri comes back from a knee injury, as well as Kyle Hardingham and Travis Colyer. Tayte Pears and Jake Melksham are on the sidelines with the injured Michael Hurley.

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Coach James Hird said this year's Bombers were better placed to take on the Pies than last year's, despite a 4-0 record going into Anzac Day yet again.

"We've certainly got a better injury list, we've got more players available and we're playing better football than this time last year," Hird said.

"We may have been 4-0 last year, but if you look back on the games that we were playing, we were just beating sides and probably lucky to win a couple of those games.

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"Collingwood is an outstanding team and it's going to be a very tough game."

Essendon yesterday signed key defender Jake Carlisle for two more years.

"It means a lot to recommit to the club that gave me the opportunity and drafted me," Carlisle said.

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Elliott signs to stick with Pies

Jamie Elliott is staying with the Pies. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD has locked in young gun Jamie Elliott, one of the AFL's in-form small forwards this season, for the next two seasons.

And promising young ruckman Jarrod Witts has also inked a new deal for the next three seasons.

Elliott, 20, has kicked nine goals from his four games this season, including a five-goal haul against Carlton and three goals against Hawthorn.

His form in his second season had attracted the interest of rival clubs, but the one-time kid from Euroa has now committed to the Magpies until the end of the 2015 season.

Witts, also 20, is yet to play a senior game, but has long been touted as a ruckman of the future.

"Obviously I wanted to see how the first few rounds went with my form,'' Elliott told The Club last night.

"It was really promising for me, and to get it out of the way now, and focus on the year ahead is a big deal. It is a big relief for me.''

Collingwood director Geoff Walsh described the pair as "two of our most promising players.'

"Jamie Elliott, with almost 20 games under his belt now, is becoming one of the bright young players of the competition,'' Walsh said.

"Jarrod, although he is yet to play a senior game, has played some really good games in the VFL of recent times and certainly as a ruckman, we have invested heavily in his future and we see him as a player in Collingwood colours for a long time.''

Witts said: "I haven't even played a senior game yet and they have given me that security of three years. They have shown a lot of faith in me and it is up to me now to repay them.''

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We took the drug: Essendon

ANZAC day match is more than just a game for James Hird.

Essendon have admitted to drug investigators some of its players took anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 last year. Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON has admitted to drug investigators some of its players took the anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 last year.

The Bombers said they relied on a document purported to have been issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency approving use of the substance, which WADA confirmed this week was banned.

It is believed Essendon's former sports scientist Stephen Dank showed a document to Bombers club doctor Bruce Reid.

Essendon does not have the letter, and believes Dank has the only copy.

Several Essendon officials are aware of the letter's existence.

Dank was not available to respond to questions about the document yesterday.

It has been reported "half a dozen" Bombers took the drug as part of the supplements program at Essendon last year, the subject of a joint Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority-AFL investigation.

While AOD-9604 is not banned under category S2 of the WADA code - which lists specific substances - it is prohibited under category S0, which states substances not approved for human use are prohibited at all times.

Reid has been interviewed by ASADA investigators and is believed to have told them of the letter of authorisation.

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Essendon coach James Hird also has been interviewed, with other coaches and players to follow.

Dank has not yet agreed to talk to ASADA.

Given he is not employed by an AFL club, he is not compelled to submit to interview.

Asked about an AOD-9604 "authorisation letter" last night, an Essendon spokesman said: "The club has launched an AFL-ASADA investigation and an internal review and we will not be commenting until the investigations are completed."

If charged with doping, players would be expected to defend themselves under 'exceptional circumstances' provisions in the WADA code and the AFL Anti-Doping Code, which can have two-year bans cancelled.

WADA's rule 10.5.1 discusses the principle of "no fault or negligence", and is based on athletes proving they did not know what they were being given by sports scientists or doctors.

If an athlete can prove "in an individual case that he or she bears no fault or negligence, the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility shall be eliminated".

The Australian Crime Commission said yesterday it had relied on information from ASADA in compiling its report on drugs in sport, which stated several times AOD-9604 was not prohibited.

Melbourne has also been linked to "AOD" in text exchanges between Dank and Demons club doctor Dan Bates revealed last week.

Bates, who has been stood down by Melbourne, was interviewed by ASADA and AFL officers last week.

He said yesterday: "I wish to point out that I will be open and transparent and I look forward to continuing to fully assist ASADA and the AFL in their investigations."

with Eliza Sewell

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Scene, not Hird on Anzac Day

ANZAC day match is more than just a game for James Hird.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Essendon coach James Hird. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

James Hird after winning his third Anzac Day medal in 2004. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

ANZAC Day is not about James Hird - he just knows plenty about it.

He grew up in Canberra, two torpedoes from the War Memorial, and every year as far back as he can remember, he would be outside watching people old and young march to the heartbeat of Australia.

Hird's grandfather and great uncle fought in World War II.

Both returned.

So, when Hird arrived at Bomberland and began playing in the annual blockbuster against Collingwood, the importance of Anzac Day was already entrenched.

That he won three won three Anzac Medals (2000, 2003-04) is beside the point.

He played some magical football on the revered occasion, but if you ask him his favourite moment of Anzac Day, he would say it was the birth of his first daughter, Stephanie, on this day in 1999.

"Anzac Day has always been a big day," he said.

"My house in Canberra was the closest house to the War Memorial, so Anzac Day was always huge. You had the big march, and from a young kid, you went and watched the march up Anzac Parade.

"Then, when I think back to '95, we played footy on Anzac Day.

"It has always meant a lot because I've been around it all my life.

"But it wasn't a football game that changed my thinking about Anzac Day."

The Bombers on Anzac Day last year. Source: Getty Images

Today is his third Anzac Day as coach and he says it remains as important to him as the first occasion as a player.

"It's an historic day where we remember people who have done so much for our country - it's as simple as that,"

Hird said. "It's very important for our young players and all players of our football club to remember those people."

Yesterday was about the Anzac message.

Hird wouldn't go into detail about what was said, and by whom.

On Monday, several players visited the Shrine of Remembrance.

This morning, those players not playing will attend the dawn service.

"We'll speak about what it means to Australia and how the young people of Australia have carried the day on," Hird said.
This is where Hird and Magpie coach Nathan Buckley are so important - at their respective teams, they carry the torch of responsibility.

They follow on from Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse; men who understood the messages of life - not just football.

Hird and Buckley are there to talk to their young players.

They are also there to show leadership to young people.

Hird never tires of Anzac Day.

"There are always different stories to tell, different occasions, different parts of the story ... it's not a story I get sick of telling," he said.

"Our country was built on hard work, and part of the our history is the men and women who served and sacrificed, and who served in other countries to protect people.

"When you think of all the people who sacrificed part of their life to go to war, you just have huge pride and respect."

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Players must step up: Watters

Swan Kieren Jack and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt in Wellington. Source: Getty Images

ST KILDA coach Scott Watters has channelled legendary coach Mick Malthouse by urging his players to prove their character in today's historic Anzac Day clash.

The Saints enter the game against Sydney with a precarious 1-3 record.

Big man Justin Koschitzke will play his first game of the season as one of five changes, with All-Australian defender Sean Dempster (wrist) another inclusion.

St Kilda will field two debutants - Brodie Murdoch and Josh Saunders - while Tom Lee is back in.

Sydney recalled Craig Bird and Andrejs Everitt for Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee) and forward Mitch Morton (dropped).

This game is shaping as St Kilda's line in the sand moment - playing the Swans on a foreign ground with key absentees and at a ground guaranteed to provide flukey winds.

For Watters, an assistant with Collingwood on previous Anzac Days, this is a chance for his players to prove their mettle.

"What we are looking for is real honesty in the contest. On this particular day, this particular stage, so many people watching, it's an opportunity for players to show what they stand for, on both sides, I guess," Watters said.

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"You've got to take those opportunities whether you're a young player or an older player, to make a statement on what type of player you are.

"It's not a final, but these sort of games have that sort of feel to it.

"You've got to win games to stay in the hunt, we don't shy away from that. It's a big game, as last week was.

"You've just got to take your chances when they're there if you want to stay relevant and push yourself up the ladder."

Of debutant Saunders, Watters said: "He is a terrific kid, he's got great courage over the footy.

"He has good pace, good endurance, a developing player."

St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt said yesterday he remained quietly optimistic about the club's season.

"At the end of the day, it's a game of football for four points and we are on the hunt for a win." he said.

"We have been thereabouts this season without getting over the line and are clearly playing an opposition that we respect, but I think we match up really well. Last year we had a couple of really close games against them so we are quietly confident about our chances and looking forward to a really tough struggle."

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