Chappy to make Tigers debut

Shane Crawford reveals his bargain ruck strategy and why Brett Deledio is a better SuperCoach pick than Trent Cotchin

Troy Chaplin at Richmond training. Source: Getty Images

FORMER Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin will be the only new face when Richmond and Carlton face off at the MCG tonight.

Chaplin was picked up by the Tigers as a free agent at the end of last season. The 27-year-old played 140 matches for Port.

"He's a very good player, but he's also got outstanding leadership qualities and will further help guys such as Alex Rance, Ben Griffiths, Jake Batchelor, all these types of players around him," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

Another free agent Chris Knights was named as an emergency, while former Demon Ricky Petterd was ruled out by groin soreness.

The Tigers' first round draft pick Nick Vlastuin is also an emergency.

Carlton couldn't find a spot for forward Sam Rowe, who was pushing for selection after recovering from testicular cancer.

The Blues also left out experienced defender Jeremy Laidler.

Both have been named as emergencies.

TEAMS

Carlton
B: Chris Yarran, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Nick Duigan, Bryce Gibbs
C: Kade Simpson, Andrew Carrazzo, Mitch Robinson
HF: Chris Judd, Andrew Walker, Jeff Garlett
F: Eddie Betts, Levi Casboult, Shaun Hampson
R: Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Brock McLean
Inter: Dennis Armfield, Josh Bootsma, Aaron Joseph, Kane Lucas
Emerg: Tom Bell, Jeremy Laidler, Sam Rowe

Richmond
B: Steve Morris, Alex Rance, Troy Chaplin
HB: Jake Batchelor, Chris Newman, Bachar Houli
C: Shaun Grigg, Trent Cotchin, Reece Conca
HF: Brett Deledio, Shane Edwards, Daniel Jackson
F: Luke McGuane, Jack Riewoldt, Robin Nahas
R: Ivan Maric, Dustin Martin, Shane Tuck
Inter: Ben Griffiths, Jake King, Tyrone Vickery, Brendon Ellis
Emerg: Matt White, Nick Vlastuin, Chris Knights

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Stevie J back in two weeks

Geelong star Steve Johnson will miss the start of the season. Source: Getty Images

GEELONG'S Steve Johnson says he expects to be back in two weeks after undergoing surgery on his troublesome left knee.

The Cats star, who is suspended for Monday's blockbuster clash with Hawthorn at the MCG, had knee arthroscopy this week.

The decision was made in the long-term interest of both Johnson and the club this year.

Johnson's problems stem from the knee injury suffered in the 2011 preliminary final.

Despite looking like he would miss the premiership decider, he got up to star in the grand final win over Collingwood.

But it has come at a price, revealing he had managed the injury all through last year.

"There have been a few problems with his knee, which have been around for about two years," he told the Nine Network's Footy Show last night.

"It has just come to a point where I am sick of waiting for it to settle down after each match.

"I had a small incident last week where it got a little sore and didn't settle.

"We just had to make a decisive decision to get it right knowing I can't play next week and I don't want to be chasing it all year."

The Geelong forward said he was optimistic he would return in no time.

"He didn't give me a definitive time frame, but he said he was surprised how good a shape the knee was in," he said.

"I can walk around fine now and there wasn't much to the operation.

"Hopefully only a few weeks."

The Cats enter Round 1 with several big names on the injury list, most of them ruckmen.

The club announced this week it had promoted young talls Mark Blicavs and Josh Walker from the rookie list.

Geelong's Round 1 opponent Hawthorn also this week placed knee victims Matt Suckling and Alex Woodward on the long-term injury list.

No replacements have been named at this stage.

The Barometer: Updated injury list for every club

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Hired gun in praise of Pies

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. Source: Getty Images

THE man hired by Collingwood to help drive a cultural shift says he is highly encouraged by the club's off-season progress.

Leading Teams boss Ray McLean is credited with honing Sydney's "Bloods" culture, and was called upon by Pies coach Nathan Buckley to help arrest slipping standards.

Leading Teams is also working with Fremantle and the Swans this year, and will have input at Hawthorn.

The Pies have sanctioned several players for minor incidents this year including Travis Cloke for repeatedly parking in CEO Gary Pert's carpark and Dane Swan for an unauthorised TV interview.

McLean says clubs that embrace honest feedback and set rigid goals can reap the benefits.

"I think Nathan is just driven to find any way he can to improve the team," McLean said.

"He is a strong believer in empowering the players and my take on it was he wanted assistance with that.

"Perhaps the capacity of the players to be rigorous with one another, they realised that had dropped away.

"And they have really improved that in a short time."

The company's philosophy also caters for left-field personalities like Matthew Scarlett and Dane Swan.

"Those blokes bring you rigour. They challenge you.

"There are also people who will influence the group almost exclusively through performance."

McLean says the peer assessment element of Leading Teams heavily criticised by sacked Bulldog Jason Akermanis is overblown and only a minor part of the company's role.

But if players at any club are not willing to confront each other about standards, he does not believe teams maximise their potential.

It is that potential to improve on-field that has seen influential players, including Scarlett, buy into the Leading Teams philosophy.

"The most important thing we are about is growing high performance," McLean says.

"If you are going to be a high-performance team, you will have very clear rules around your behaviour and be prepared to grow really strong relationships between key people, and you will have much more open dialogue than can happen in some players."

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Buddy on straight and arrow

Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

HAWTHORN star Lance Franklin has unveiled a revamped set-shot routine after his costly Grand Final performance.

The dynamic Franklin was Hawthorn's best player alongside Brad Sewell but his lack of accuracy was a key factor in the Hawks' loss.

He kicked 3.4 and a shot out of bounds just before halftime, with his confidence in his set-shot action falling away badly.

He played on at all costs - even from directly in front of goal - and badly hooked a set shot in the last quarter that would have put Hawthorn 17 points up.

For many years Franklin's routine has featured a sudden diversion to the left or an arcing run before he kicks at goal across his body.

This pre-season Franklin has noticeably bent further over the ball with a less free-flowing run up, with no sign of the hard cut to the left.

Franklin still drifts fractionally left but he looks to be kicking straight through the ball rather than across it.

Hawthorn is adamant there has been no deliberate revamp but a video comparison from last season shows a clear difference.

Hawthorn legend Shane Crawford said improved conversion for Franklin was the difference between "the ultimate success for Hawthorn and making up the numbers".

"I have noticed he is running straighter at goal and it will be interesting to see if it works," he said.

"Everyone has a different way of kicking the football and you work with them, you don't try to totally change them.

"But he averages something like nine shots at goal a game. If he can get himself converting at a better rate, that's enormous.

"It becomes two or three goals a game. He becomes a hundred-goal-per-season kicker again, and it's the difference between winning and losing close games."

The obsession with Franklin's run-up would be trivial and obsessive if it were not so important.

His Grand Final performance was mighty, with two bombs from 50m on Ted Richards as well as another goal on the run.

But Franklin was joined by Jarryd Roughead (0.3), Sewell (0.2) as players who did not seize the day in front of goal.

Sewell, who missed two snaps in the final moments, spoke later about missed opportunities.

"We have had a good year but we lacked a bit of polish today. We ended up kicking 11.15 and that's the story at the end of the game - they kicked straight and we didn't," Sewell said.

Franklin has kicked an amazing 520.385 (905 scoring shots) in his eight years of football, not including shots at goal that did not score.

But after an encouraging 82.61 in 2011, he kicked 69.64 last year at a conversion rate of 52 per cent, excluding shots out of bounds.

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Carrazzo fit, no sweat

Carlton insist Andrew Carrazzo will play. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON insists there's nothing sinister about midfielder Andrew Carrazzo missing yesterday's final training session.

"He's fine. He will be there," Blues football manager Andrew McKay said.

Carrazzo was the only absentee from the 25-man squad named to play Richmond at the MCG tonight.

McKay said the vice-captain often didn't join the last workout on the day before a game.

"He has had a heavy workload in the pre-season and the sports science people keep a watch on that," he said.

The decision to rest Carrazzo seemed strange because the players barely raised a sweat during the leisurely 30-minute run-around at Visy Park.

Carlton's young key forward Sam Rowe is also listed as an emergency.

Coach Mick Malthouse was glowing in his praise for Rowe, who fought back from testicular cancer last season to rejuvenate his career.

"He's an intelligent young man who has been through a lot," Malthouse said.

"He will play a lot of football, I believe, because he has got an ingredient that's exactly what you want. He's a massive contester.

"He wants to play good football. He has been through a journey and he has tasted enough of floating around and has overcome a change of clubs. And now, of course, I suppose, a scare.

"And he's one of those players who's very easy to coach because he has got massive ambition. When you've got that, you virtually coach yourself."

Richmond named experienced defender Troy Chaplin, who joined the Tigers during the free agency period following nine seasons with Port Adelaide.

Nick Vlastuin, the Tigers' first-round draft pick, was named among the emergencies.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said former Port Adelaide backman Chaplin would add defensive steel.

"He's a very good player, but he's also got outstanding leadership qualities," Hardwick said on the club's website.

"He will further help guys such as Alex Rance, Ben Griffiths, Jake Batchelor, all these types of players around him."

The Tigers are missing defenders Dylan Grimes and David Astbury, along with midfielder Nathan Foley through injury.

They decided against giving a Richmond debut to AFL-experienced recruits Aaron Edwards (from North Melbourne) and Chris Knights (Adelaide).

with AAP

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Kennett: Buddy shouldn't be greedy

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett is concerned about what may happen to Buddy Frankling after his football career ends. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says Lance Franklin's life after football should be more important to the champion footballer than getting paid more money else where.

Kennett said yesterday that Franklin, a free agent at the end of the season, had been given opportunities beyond his "wildest imagination" by the Hawks.

"My interest for Buddy is firstly giving thought to his career beyond football and he is now 26 and hopefully he may get another five or six years," Kennett said.

Ken Hinkley: Buddy will stay with the Hawks

"But my greatest concern for Buddy is what happens to him after he completes his football career in terms of his development and opportunities. And and my second concern is how he manages himself and the opportunities he has between now and the end of his football career.

"The way he behaves as a citizen will best determine what happens post football."

Kennett said Franklin's decision not to sign a new contract with Hawthorn would be disruptive to himself and the club.

Sheedy: Let's go and get Buddy

"But it is his decision and he has always said he's a one club man and certainly the Hawthorn Football Club has given him training and disciplines and opportunities beyond his wildest imagination so I trust at the end of the year he'll see fit to stay with us," he said.

"It's no always about money in life and it's actually about how you approach life, how you prepare for life and in Buddy's case it's how you start to prepare for life after football and that he has already started but he has got five years to go."

Kennett said Franklin had the opportunity in the next five years to secure a wonderful future but would risk it all if he made the wrong decision.

He said all players at Hawthorn were getting a good sense of community values and the club's culture was more than money.

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Mick's messages confuse Blues

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ON THE eve of Round 1, Carlton coach Mick Malthouse already has an excuse if he loses.

It's the wretched game plan, or lack of adherence to it by his players.

On the flip side, if the Blues win, it's suddenly a glorious game plan, the missing piece of the defensive pie that transports Carlton from mid-table lethargy to top-four contender.

The problem is, it's a case of suck and see it for Carlton and its army of fans, for no one knows if the players have successfully adopted Malthouse's game plan or not.

One week they have, when they savaged Fremantle in the pre-season, and the next they have no idea, when they were embarrassed by Brisbane in the NAB Cup final.

Malthouse certainly has had a bit each way, although he didn't blame the game plan for the Lions loss. That was simply a pathetic attitude, he said.

He has said the Blues have the ingredients to win the premiership (after a pre-season intra--club game), and also acknowledged an astute Matthew Lloyd (on 3AW) for leaving them out of the eight because they might adapt the game plan in time to make September.

"It's a work in progress,'' Blues chief executive Greg Swann told the Herald Sun this week.

Malthouse's famed game plan has has received more publicity than anything, or anyone, at Carlton this off-season.

We've had have heat maps, corridor and boundary line percentages, contested-ball numbers, short kicks evaluated, long kicks investigated - and here we are 24 hours from the first game and the confidence in Carlton is immeasurable.

Lloyd, Cameron Mooney, Daniel Harford, Dermott Brereton and Robert Walls are among the commentariat who are not necessarily concerned for the Blues, but believe time is an opponent in learning Malthouse's way. Mooney said it might takes six months.

After Round 1 of the NAB, Malthouse said: "The intent was there, but we're getting a bit confused between the two game structures from last year and this year.'' After the NAB Cup final, he had to be even more confused.

That and the fact the boundary-line deployment requires big key forwards who can mark the ball.

At Collingwood, Malthouse had Travis Cloke, a bit of Chris Dawes and Leigh Brown was prominent before he retired.

At Carlton, he has Levi Casboult, Sam Rowe and resting ruckmen Matthew Kreuzer, Shaun Hampson and Robert Warnock.

There's Jarrad Waite, too, as the lead-up forward, but who knows if his body will stand up.

Of concern was that after Round 1 of the NAB, against Sydney and GWS, Malthouse said: "The intent was there, but we're getting a bit confused between the two game structures from last year and this year.''

After the NAB Cup final, he had to be even more confused.

Still, midfield Kade Simpson said on Monday the players were ready to implement the game plan: "We've had two weeks to fix some of the things that happened.''

The test will come tomorrow night and certainly in the four games after that. They play the Tigers, then Collingwood, Geelong, West Coast and Adelaide.

"It's a fair test,'' Swan said. "The fact is you can practice all you like, but it has to stand up under pressure.''

 

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Cats must stay loyal to club: Selwood

Geelong Cats Season Launch: Geelong captain Joel Selwoodmakes a speech. Picture: Jon Hargest. Source: Geelong Advertiser

GEELONG captain Joel Selwood has implored the Cats' star players to follow the lead of chief executive Brian Cook and ignore overtures from rival clubs.

Speaking at the club's season launch last night, Selwood said the Cats' unrivalled success over recent years meant their players, coaches and staff would continue to be headhunted by clubs across the league.

Cook had virtually accepted a lucrative offer to become North Melbourne's CEO late last year, but turned down the offer and extended his reign at the Cats in a major show of commitment.

"I don't know if we know how lucky we were to keep one of our staff members who was pretty close to leaving, and that's Cookie," Selwood said.

"We really appreciate the decision that he's made and we're a better club with him, and I think he knows that, also.

"He's set a standard for us, though. He set a standard that a number of players are going to get, they're going to get asked to go to different clubs.

"Staff are going to be poached, coaches are going to be wanted, and if we're the best club they're going to be wanted, and I actually think we are the best club."

The Cats kick off their season on Easter Monday with a blockbuster against Hawthorn at the MCG.

It will be at the scene of the crime of their elimination final shocker against Fremantle when the Cats were sent packing a week after an ominous win over eventual premier Sydney.

Selwood declared the lessons learnt from last year's elimination final shocker continue to be a motivating factor for the Cats.

"From that night we got taught a lesson," he said.

"We got told all through the year by the coaches that anyone can beat anyone.

"We didn't come to play and from now on, we've learnt that lesson, we have to come to play. It doesn't matter who we play, or when we play, we've got to be on our game."

Bristled by people questioning whether Geelong can remain a force, Selwood said the Cats would leave no stone unturned this year in pursuit of more success.

Selwood urged fans to judge the club's recruits for who they were, and not compare them to past greats.

"Let's judge Jared Rivers for being Jared Rivers, not Matthew Scarlett," he said.

"Hamish McIntosh isn't Brad Ottens.

"Josh Caddy is a young player who I think is going to be a star, but he'll be a better player in three years' time."

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Kosi 'no guarantee' for Saints

Saints forwards Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt at training. Picture: Getty Source: Herald Sun

ST KILDA coach Scott Watters won't guarantee veteran Justin Koschitzke a place in the Saints' best 22.

Koschitzke is in a group of four Saints over the age of 30 to come out of contract at season's end.

Watters said the quartet -- which includes Lenny Hayes, Stephen Milne and Jason Blake -- would be re-assessed each year. 

But Koschitzke's position, both short-term and long-term, will come under intense scrutiny given his status as a former No.2 draft pick and the club's off-season acquisitions of big men Tom Hickey and Tom Lee.

"We haven't picked our side for next week so it would be premature of me to answer that,'' Watters told the Herald Sun when asked if Koschitzke was certain to play against Gold Coast on Saturday night.

"When in good form and when training well he's a good player, but as he's already stated, he'll be competing with a number of other players (for a spot).

"To pick 22 players for Round 1, for every coach in the league, is always a challenge.''

Koschitzke, 30, has played 195 games and admitted last month he was under the pump.

In his 19 appearances last year his average disposals dropped below 10 for only the third time in his career, while he has managed just 42 goals from 32 games in the past two seasons.

What may save Koschitzke this week is injury to teammates Rhys Stanley -- still recovering from a knee complaint  -- and Sam Fisher, who pulled up with a sore foot last week.

Watters said competition for spots was hot.

The coach said he had been "excited'' by the arrival of former Gold Coast ruckman, Hickey, and said former WAFL forward Lee would force his way in to the seniors at some stage this season.

"Out of our squad of 45 we realistically have 32-35 players who are ready to play. I think you could throw any player in to that same bracket, not just Kosi, because we've got more depth amongst our defenders, more depth in our forwards,'' Watters said.

"You need to train well and you need to play well to keep your spot.''

Watters said he expected Nick Dal Santo, also a free agent at year's end, to extend his contract and stay at the club for another "three or four years''.

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Draft watch: Star bloodlines in top pick

South Australian James Aish is a hot chance to go pick No. 1 in this year's draft. Picture: Simon Cross Source: HWT Image Library

DRAFT WATCH: THREE Victorians are chasing a classy South Australian onballer with gifted bloodlines to be crowned this year's No. 1 draft pick.

James Aish, the nephew of SANFL royalty Michael Aish, is leading the charge but his raw body and a shoulder reconstruction threatening the early part of this season could halt his momentum.

At 16 Aish became the youngest player in SANFL history to win a senior premiership last year, kicking 1.1 from 23 touches in Norwood's grand final victory.

An AFL recruiter said he was a "special talent'' blessed with similar traits to Hamish Hartlett and Bryce Gibbs.

"His last game of under-18s he got 34 touches in three quarters,'' Norwood coach Nathan Bassett said.

"He's a nice mover and he's faster than what he looks. He's got time with the ball and it's his terrific awareness and what he sees that sets him apart.''

Tom Boyd is best-placed to mow down Aish, with another AFL scout declaring if Gold Coast or Western Bulldogs collect the wooden spoon they would jag the power forward with the first pick.

Boyd, who at 16 dragged Vic Metro across the line against Vic Country in the under-18 carnival, booted 29 goals from his best five TAC Cup matches last year and is tipped to dominate for Eastern Ranges again this season.

He comes from the same club as Jon Patton, but Ranges talent manager Anthony Parkin said they were different spearheads.

"Patton is more of a brute who takes pack marks, where as Boydy is more of a lead-up forward who works off his opponent,'' he said.

"He's special, and he deserves that billing. He's worked extremely hard to turn himself from a boy into a man.''

Boyd trained with Collingwood in January and was first touted by some clubs as a special talent when he booted four goals for the Ranges from just 30 forward entries in an 80-point hammering.

Oakleigh's Jack Billings and Dandenong running machine Billy Hartung are also early chances for prized selections after breakout 2012s.

"Billings reads the play really well and has elite kicking skills. He's very good in the air and is just a genuine footballer,'' Chargers manager Mark Smart said of the left-footer.

The left-footer set up a crucial goal in last year's TAC Cup decider before the Chargers pinched the flag in golden-point time.

Hartung has stacked on 5kg this summer, plays in the same mould of Stingrays predecessors Lachie Whitfield and Tom Scully and has no school commitments this year, allowing him to focus on footy.

Ben Lennon and Josh Kelly are the other standout Victorians, while Nick Robertson is the pick of the Western Australia talent.

FOUR EARLY TEENAGE STARS TO WATCH

JAMES AISH (183cm, Norwood SANFL)

POSITION: Classy outside midfielder
CASE FOR: Outstanding leader, elite vision and already impressing at senior level. Under-18 All-Australian last year.
EARLY KNOCKS: On the comeback trail from a shoulder reconstruction, needs to physically mature and tidy up his kicking.

TOM BOYD (199cm, 102kg, Eastern Ranges)

POSITION: Full-forward
CASE FOR: Can kick bags of goals, strong hands, proven ability to swing matches. Lack of key forwards in this draft adds to the attraction.
EARLY KNOCKS: Needs to work on mobility and ability to consistently impose on contests

Tom Boyd photo: Eastern Ranges spearhead Tom Boyd will be the No. 1 pick if Gold Coast or Western Bulldogs finish last, an AFL recruiter predicts. Source: HWT Image Library

JACK BILLINGS (183cm, 78, Oakleigh Chargers)

POSITION: Half-forward
CASE FOR: Great game sense, sharp left foot and uncanny goal sense. Under-18 All-Australian last year.
EARLY KNOCKS: Needs to work on his tank and add midfield capabilities to his repertoire.

Jack Billings of Oakleigh celebrates a goal during the TAC Cup Under 18s Grand Final between Gippsland Power and Oakleigh Chargers played at Etihad Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Blair Hamish Source: HWT Image Library

BILLY HARTUNG (176cm, 71kg, Dandenong Stingrays)

POSITION: Wing
CASE FOR: Running machine with high kicking efficiency. Once kicked 20.0 in a junior match.
EARLY KNOCKS: Still needs to add size and improve his inside work.

Billy Hartung photo: Dandenong Stingrays star Billy Hartung is a chance to be the No. 1 draft pick. Source: HWT Image Library

- Sam Landsberger

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