Battle of the codes heats up out west

Western Sydney Wanderers marquee signing Shinji Ono is a big drawcard for fans. Picture: Gregg Porteous. Source: The Daily Telegraph THIS derby will never be settled on the field but it is arguably the most intriguing battle Australian football will ever see. It is the tale of two football codes - one is global football while the other is Australian-made. Western Sydney Wanderers v...

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Karmichael set to hunt AFL's best

Ready to shine: Gold Coast Suns defender Karmichael Hunt at pre-season training. Picture: Tim Marsden. Source: The Courier-Mail KARMICHAEL Hunt will be unleashed on the competition's best clearance players as he enters his third season in the AFL with the challenge to kill or be killed. Suns coach Guy McKenna has a two-year plan to transform Hunt from a bodyguard to an elite ball-winning...

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Dawes, Byrnes join Demon leaders

Former Magpie Chris Dawes joins Melbourne pre-season training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun MELBOURNE recruits Chris Dawes and Shannon Byrnes have walked straight into the Demons' leadership group for 2013. The Dees announced today they would have a nine-player leadership group this season, with youngsters Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove to continue as co-captains. The other...

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Smart takes senior Crows post

ADELAIDE has appointed deputy chairman and former All-Australian full-back Nigel Smart as the club's new chief operating officer. Club chairman Rob Chapman today said Smart would fill the key off-field position -- made vacant by former Channel 9 boss Mark Colson's move to Tasmania."Nigel Smart is highly accomplished and brings to our club an irresistible blend of achievement as a manager, businessman...

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Pies plug leaky defence

Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan get a little rough at a Collingwood training session at Gosh's Paddock. Picture: Nicole Garmston. Source: Herald Sun COLLINGWOOD wants to stop the bleeding in the back half which undermined its premiership ambitions last season. After revolutionising the game with its famed "press" tactics in 2010-11, the Pies pressure weakened last season, prompting a...

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Surgery for Port forward

Port Adelaide forward Cameron Hitchcock has suffered another injury setback. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser PORT Adelaide hopes small forward Cameron Hitchcock will recover from foot surgery in time to play in the NAB Cup. Hitchcock will not be able to run for two weeks after surgery to fix plantar fasciitis - inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of his foot. "He has...

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Morabito opts for LARS surgery

Anthony Morabito (left) will have LARS surgery in an attempt to save his AFL career. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library STRICKEN Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito will travel to Sydney for LARS surgery in a bid to keep his AFL career alive. The 21-year-old last week reinjured the left knee he had twice had reconstructed in the past two years, suffering a tear in the...

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Morabito hopes for LARS

It could be more heartbreak for Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito after suffering a knee injury at the Dockers' first training session of 2013. Anthony Morabito is considering his future after suffering a third serious knee injury. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library FREMANTLE midfielder Anthony Morabito will have LARS surgery in a bid to save his career...

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Knee will be Goodes to go

Sydney Swans captain Adam Goodes is on the comeback trail from a knee injury and is confident of being fit for Round 1. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph SWANS captain Adam Goodes admits he is underdone after a pre-season dominated by rehabilitation on an injured knee, but remains confident of being ready for the season opener in March. Goodes said he would do whatever...

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Ban won't change Brown

Gold Coast veteran Campbell Brown tangles with Bulldog Liam Picken. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun GOLD Coast hard man Campbell Brown says he won't curb his aggression despite sitting out the first six rounds of 2013 through suspension. Brown says he would be "useless" to the Suns if he tried to play differently. The 29-year-old former Hawk was suspended for six weeks for...

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Cotch plays the man

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin is keen on building player relationships at Punt Road. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun RICHMOND skipper Trent Cotchin says he wants to focus on building player relationships under his captaincy at the Tigers. In his first pre-season as captain since taking the reins from Chris Newman, 22-year-old Cotchin said strong off-field relationships would...

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Sorry Lake says he needs to win respect

Hawthorn footballer Brian Lake at training today after he was booked by police for being drunk in a public place over the weekend. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun Lake with his wife, Shannon. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis, Source: Herald Sun Hawthorn footballer Brian Lake (right) at training today after he was booked by police for being drunk in a public place over the...

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Bolter in line to lead Blues

Andrew Carrazzo is one of the leading candidates to captain the Blues if Chris Judd steps down. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun CARLTON midfielder Andrew Carrazzo could cause a boilover in the Carlton captaincy race, with the hard-running midfielder firming as the Blues next on-field leader. Superstar midfielder Marc Murphy was considered the early favourite to replace Chris...

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Dogs tip a new-year resurgence

Western Bulldogs star Adam Cooney has enjoyed a strong pre-season. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun WESTERN Bulldogs intend to rise up the ladder quicker than expected under second-year coach Brendan McCartney. The Dogs suffered an horrendous injury run sidelining some of their biggest stars last year, resulting in only five wins - their least since 2004.But the return of four...

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