'Hold your heads high': Hird

Essendon coach James Hird is urging his troubled team to play with pride. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun ESSENDON coach James Hird has urged his players to hold their heads high, declaring the club will fight to uncover the truth as investigations continue into its "irregular" medical practices. While the club has conceded there are issues of concern in its sports science...

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LIVE: Cats v Crows

Geelong star Paul Chapman will be looking to impress against Adelaide today. Picture: Reg Ryan Source: Geelong Advertiser LIVE AT 2:40PM AEDT- IT is a big day of NAB Cup action and it starts with Geelong taking on Adelaide at Simonds Stadium. Follow it here! PRE-GAME HELLO and welcome to our live coverage of today's NAB Cup action, which starts with Geelong taking on Adelaide at Simonds...

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White out to cement Blues spot

Simon White clears out of defence. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun A RARE uninterrupted summer has buoyed Simon White's campaign to break into Carlton's back six set-up this season. White reckons he can finally become a regular defender in his fourth year with the patient Blues."I hadn't even been close to doing a full pre-season, so it's exciting,'' the 24-year-old said after...

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GWS SuperCoach preview

Jonathon Patton is worth keeping an eye on in his second season. Source: Getty Images WHICH GWS players should you pick in SuperCoach this year and who should you avoid? Last year GWS was all the rage in SuperCoach land, and with good reason.Possessing 11 of the first 14 picks of the 2011 national draft, there were plenty of ultra-talented, cheap Giants to pick up and watch grow in...

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Hodge recovery on track

Alastair Clarkson says Luke Hodge's recovery is progressing well. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images Source: Getty Images Lance Franklin shows off some new facial hair at Hawthorn training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has denied reports his captain Luke Hodge has had a setback in his recovery from off-season knee surgery. Hodge...

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Razor Ray returns to fray

Umpire Ray Chamberlain will don the whistle for Saturday's NAB Cup clash between Richmond and Essendon. Picture: Andrew Tauber Source: Herald Sun THE umpire fans love to abuse - Ray "Razor" Chamberlain - returns to action on Saturday after missing last season with a knee injury. The AFL's most recognised flamboyant umpire, Chamberlain said he is excited about officiating at the Richmond...

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Senior Pies won't play every game

Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell says senior players will be managed during the season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun CAPTAIN Nick Maxwell flagged the probability that senior Collingwood players will be rested from games this season. Maxwell said the demands of the AFL now mean player management was a critical element of week-to-week planning."I think we're already seeing...

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Waite in doubt for opener

Jarrad Waite is battling a calf injury. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun INJURY-prone Carlton key forward Jarrad Waite could miss the Blues' opening-round blockbuster against Richmond. The Blues will already be without their reigning best-and-fairest winner Heath Scotland for the opening two rounds because of a club-imposed suspension. Waite played just 11 games last season...

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Daw battles knee swelling

Majak Daw in action during the Kangaroos' NAB Cup win against Richmond. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun EXCITING North Melbourne big man Majak Daw has knee problems and is in doubt for the NAB Cup second round. Daw developed swelling in both knees after the Kangaroos' wins against Melbourne and Richmond at Etihad Stadium last Friday night.Coach Brad Scott said the ruckman-forward...

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Scott: 'Stop messing with our game'

Brad Scott wants the AFL to stop tinkering with the rules. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott fears the game will become "unrecognisable" if the AFL continues to tinker with rules. Scott is opposed to the 80 interchange rotations cap to be trialled in this weekend's NAB Cup second round. "I'm concerned a little bit that the premise is incorrect...

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Lions top NAB Cup ladder

Nick Riewoldt in the rain during St Kilda's intra-club practice match in Wangaratta last year. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HWT Image Library THE Lions are surprise pre-season ladder-leaders, Richmond is ninth and the Dogs have a hand on the NAB Cup wooden spoon. Brisbane bolted out of the blocks with wins against Hawthorn and Gold Coast to record the best percentage of the four...

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Panel clears Buddy hit

Lance Franklin runs the ball during the round one NAB Cup match against Gold Coast. Source: Getty Images HAWTHORN'S gun goalkicker Lance Franklin has no case to answer from an incident In the NAB Cup match against Gold Coast. The AFL match review panel cleared Franklin of contact to Suns youngster Matt Shaw, deciding the Hawks ace had his hand open and it wasn't a striking action.Carlton...

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Lions and Suns shine against Hawks

Gold Coast Suns midfielder Harley Bennell in the NAB Cup opener against Hawthorn. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images QUEENSLAND'S two AFL sides bundled Hawthorn out of NAB Cup contention at Metricon Stadium last night. The Lions join Collingwood and North Melbourne as the only three club to have won both games in the round robin format. You can't read too much from two 20-minute...

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Jacobs commits to Crows' cause

Sam Jacobs awaits the ball during an Adelaide Crows training session. Source: The Advertiser CROWS lead ruckman Sam Jacobs has confirmed he is committed to a long-term contract extension at Adelaide. Jacobs, 25 in April, will sign a three-year extension keeping him at West Lakes until the end of 2016. The former Carlton player pre-empted official announcements from Adelaide by taking...

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