Nod to Neil Craig for shaping Crows

Former Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig is getting credit from new fintess coach Nick Poulos for developing the current squad's work ethic. Picture: Chris Mangan. Source: The Advertiser ADELAIDE'S new fitness coach Nick Poulos has credited Neil Craig and the previous regime for instilling a sound work ethic into the Crows squad. With Brenton Sanderson, who still outdoes some of the players...

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Watters issues challenge to Saints

St Kilda coach Scott Watters, left, and captain Nick Riewoldt watch a Denver Broncos training session in Englewood, Colorado. Picture: Dustin Bradford. Source: Getty Images Lenny Hayes, centre, is working just as hard as every other player at St Kilda pre-season training. Picture: Chris Eastman Source: Herald Sun LENNY Hayes turns 33 on January 14, is fresh from heart surgery,...

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Truth of AFL drug testing

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis lays it down about the code's Illicit Drugs Policy. Source: Herald Sun ILLICIT drugs will be an issue in football for as long as they are an issue in society. There will always be debate on the best way to combat illicit drug use by a small minority of AFL players. Unfortunately it seems there will always be people who want to spread misinformation about...

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Ablett, Izzy rake in cash

Israel Folau during his brief, but very profitable, stint as an AFL player. Source: News Limited ISRAEL Folau earned $38,000 for every kick in his one season in the AFL, but he still wasn't the AFL's top earner in 2012. That honour goes to Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett, who pocked $2 million in match payments and sponsorship dollars. Ablett comes in at No.25 - the top-ranked footballer...

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Drug test wake-up call for Pies

Collingwood onballer Dayne Beams - one of the players woken by an early morning drug test in Utah. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: The Advertiser Collingwood players Dayne Beams and Harry O'Brien take part in a drug test in Utah, in a photo posted on Twitter. Source: Supplied COLLINGWOOD'S overseas pre-season camp has been interrupted by an early morning drugs test. The Pies...

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Ablett choked by UFC fighter

Gary Ablett gets jiu jitsu lessons from UFC fighter Kyle Noke at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: Gold Coast Bulletin UFC fighters tought AFL star Gary Ablett the finer points of wrestling during a visit to the Gold Coast. Ablett had a meet and greet yesterday with the UFC fighters, who are in town for UFC on FX Gold Coast this Saturday. Ablett got...

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Crows take mature-age defender

Kyle Hartigan, pictured left, tangles with former Cat Cam Mooney in a VFL clash between Geelong and Werribee from 2011. Source: Herald Sun ADELAIDE used its top selection, Pick No.14, in today's rookie draft to recruit mature-age Victorian defender Kyle Hartigan. The 21-year-old has spent the past three seasons with Werribee in the VFL and was part of the inaugural AFL Victoria Academy.Hartigan...

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Pies plunder VFL in rookie draft

Sam Dwyer is now a Magpie. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun COLLINGWOOD recruiting genius Derek Hine plundered the VFL in today's rookie draft, snaring three of the most sought-after mature-age prospects headed by premiership star Sam Dwyer. The 26-year-old Port Melbourne product has long been regarded as among the classiest state-league midfielders and entered the 2011 Liston...

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Who will your club pick?

Ben Hudson is set to join his fourth AFL club when Collingwood recruits him tomorrow. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun COLLINGWOOD holds the most aces as clubs prepare for their final dip in the 2012 talent pool. Tomorrow's pre-season and rookie drafts present the last chance for players to win a spot on an AFL list for 2013. And the challenge is even tougher this year, with...

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Martin is Choco's project

Dustin Martin and recruit Aaron Edwards complete a run at Princes Park. Picture: Stuart Walmsley Source: Herald Sun DEFENDER Bachar Houli says new Richmond assistant coach Mark Williams has taken Tigers' wild child Dustin Martin under his wing with the powerhouse midfielder a standout in pre-season training. The Tigers hit the track today following a 10-day camp in the heat of Cairns....

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Better Luke next time for Magpie

Luke Ball has taken the slow road back to full fitness in a bid to be ready for the 2013 AFL season. Source: Supplied LUKE Ball and patience have never been the closest of companions. But knee injuries - like the one Ball suffered in Round 3 this year, requiring a season-ending reconstruction - have a habit of teaching even the fiercest of competitors to sometimes temper their natural...

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Nicoski's hard road at an end

BACK ON TRACK: West Coast's Mark Nicoski is hoping for better things next season after injury cruelled his 2012 campaign. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow MARK Nicoski doesn't feel sorry for himself and he doesn't want you to, either. He might be challenging Beau Waters and Sam Butler for the title of unluckiest Eagle, but Nicoski is the first to see a silver lining to...

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