'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 division, a bullish Hird said he welcomed the findings.

"I just want the truth. (Essendon chairman) David Evans wants the truth. That's what we are after," he said."

"I believe once that comes out we will be able to get on and play football. Our footy club is going to fight.

"It's going to fight to prove where it's at, and we are not going to walk around with heads bowed, we are walking around proud of our footy club."

Hird's optimistic approach signifies his belief that Essendon's players will be cleared and the club exonerated.

But given the review will examine the club's chain of command and the alarming practices of its sports science division, it will inevitably lead to tough questions for Essendon.

Hird says he is ready for whatever the review finds, aware that given the buck stops with the senior coach he will be central to the investigation.

"My focus is on coaching the football club," he said.

"If we have to be distracted during the week (by the review) we will be, and we will, through this review process,get the truth for our supporters.

"Our supporters deserve that. My job is to coach this team as best I can, and I will be involved in the review when I need to be, but my job is to get this team playing great footy."

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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 Stadium.

Then at 3:30pm AEDT, the Gold Coast Suns will take on North Melbourne up in hot and humid Townsville.

At 5:10pm AEDT, Essendon take on Richmond in Wangaratta.

Follow all the action right here!

GEELONG: Mitch Brown, Billie Smedts, Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie, Travis Varcoe, Harry Taylor, James Kelly, Joel Corey, Taylor Hunt, Steven Johnson, Jordan Murdoch, Mitch Duncan, Josh Caddy, Jared Rivers, Cam Guthrie, James Podsiadly, Steven Motlop, George Horlin-Smith, Josh Walker, Paul Chapman, Cam Eardley, Shane Kersten, Jackson Thurlow, Jesse Stringer, Corey Enright, Joel Hamling, Mark Blicavs.

ADELAIDE CROWS: Brad Crouch, Brent Reilly, Josh Jenkins, Scott Thompson, Nathan Van Berlo, Lewis Johnson, Rory Sloane, Matthew Jaensch, Matthew Wright, Taylor Walker, David Mackay, Luke Brown, Bernie Vince, Graham Johncock, Andy Otten, Sam Jacobs, Ben Rutten, Richard Douglas, Tom Lynch, Sam Kerridge, Patrick Dangerfield, Shaun McKernan, Brodie Martin, Ian Callinan, Jason Porplyzia, Aidan Riley, Ricky Henderson.
 

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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 training today.

"At the moment, we've got all our backs up and running, so there's a lot of competition for spots. But, hopefully, I can cement a spot in there and help out up forward when need be.''

White's bid to impress with consistency continues in the NAB Cup against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night.

He's striving to build on solid form in the last five rounds last season after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for more than three months in the first half of 2012.

"At the end of last year, I got some games in and felt pretty confident with the body and felt like I fitted in quite well. So with a full pre-season under my belt, I'm still trying to get some game-time. I've missed a lot of games over the last few years and I think that will come.''

SEE ALL THIS WEEKEND'S NAB CUP SQUADS HERE

The 190cm backman has managed only 17 AFL games after battled knee, hamstring, hip and ankle ailments since being recruited from WA in 2010.

He credits development coach Luke Webster, now the Northern Blues VFL coach, and new coaches director Robert Wiley with the guidance to fight back to full fitness.

"Missing a lot of games in a row and trying to get consistency in performance is very tough when you've had a lot of injuries. But we've got great people at the club,'' he said.

Forced to look on for so long, no wonder White is eager for the full NAB Cup games like the hitout against the similarly defence-minded Dockers.

"It feels like you're getting back into real footy. The 20-20 games are pretty tough to get a feel for. Obviously, there was a lot of changes in teams with a lot of personnel coming out and in, so tomorrow will be more of the normal game,'' he said.

CLARKSON WANTS TO SCRAP TRI-SERIES

"It will be a good test. We've also been working under the defensive aspects under Mick. Everyone knows he (Ross Lyon) is all about defence as well, so obviously whoever can break it open will win. We've been focusing on things we can do to open it up.

"Obviously, it (the Blues' game plan) is a little different to last year, but not huge change. Everyone is saying we're going around the boundary, but it's not too different the way the boys have taken it on board. The more games we play, it will be easier.''
 

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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 to fat and juicy cash cows.

This year, however, we must look at much of Greater Western Sydney's list for what it actually is - full of talented yet highly over-priced (in SuperCoach terms, at least) second-year players.

The key to selecting Giants this year is your willingness to sift through the recycle bin for players in the second chance saloon and the nursery for the yet-to-debuts.

BYE: Round 13 (with Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Gold Coast)

SUPERCOACH STAR

Callan Ward (midfield) $570,100
This tough-as-nails midfielder didn't take a backwards step despite having little support in the engine room throughout 2012. He was the only Giant to average above 100 points per game (he was at 106.55) and at 22 can only improve further with age. He led the club for contested possessions, clearances and tackles last season and that is SuperCoach gold.

BANK EM

Jonathan Giles (ruck) $498,900
Definitely not as appealing as he was last year in terms of price, but in a shallow pool of ruck stocks you have to view Giles as a quality option. Started last season like a house on fire, slowed slightly, but still ended the year averaging 93 points a game. At 25, Giles should be near the peak of his powers and with few challengers for the mantle of the Giants' No.1 ruckman, there's no reason why the 200cm big man can't push the 100 points per game mark this year.

BUY EM

Setanta O'hAilpin (forward/ruck) $252,500
Can't believe the Irishman is rated a $252k player after playing just the one game last season, but alas he remains one to consider for several reasons. GWS coach Kevin Sheedy is a massive O'hAilpin fan, even suggesting his side could have won a couple more games last year had the former Blue not injured his knee.
He's versatile - he can fill holes down back, up forward and in the ruck. And he's fit, kicking three goals in the Giants intra-club match recently.

GWS forward Setanta O'hAilpin is pushed out of a marking contest. Source: Getty Images

Lachie Whitfield (midfield) $199,500

Not much explanation needed for this one - the Dandenong Stingrays product is going to be a jet. No.1 draft picks are so often an automatic selection in any serious SuperCoach player's team and, while injuries conspired against teammate Jon Patton last year, Whitfield is one you can't afford to pass up.

Liam Sumner (midfield) $217,200

Of the Giants' bevy of picks in the first round of the 2011 national draft Sumner played the least games, as a foot stress fracture ended his season during only his second match. With a second pre-season under his belt, there is no reason why Sumner won't add to his games tally significantly and, given his starting price, the 19-year-old could be a left-of-centre cash cow.

BURY EM

Phil Davis (defender) $387,400

Wasn't a bad Giant to pick up last year because we knew he'd play every game and his lowly price could only increase because he'd be relied upon so heavily. But $387k is about as high as the former Crow is going to get and the fact remains that his points per game average in his three seasons has only been 60, 52 and 72.

Jeremy Cameron (forward) $333,700

There's no reason why last year's forward line revelation can't continue to come along in leaps and bounds this season. But in SuperCoach terms, Cameron's price makes him a difficult proposition to select considering he is still a key-position player coming in to just his second year. Watch his development with interest and awe, but don't do it while hoping he can score you crucial SuperCoach points.

SUPERCOACH DRAFT WATCHLIST

Toby Greene (midfield)

This guy is going to be a star - if he isn't already. You always fear the second year blues for someone who has burst on to the scene as Greene did last year, so in traditional SuperCoach terms his price tag of $506,300 is a little tough to swallow. But in the draft, where money is no issue, the 19-year-old could be a crucial lower round pick for your side.

Toby Greene on the move. Picture: Mark Evans Source: Herald Sun

Bret Thornton (defender/forward)

Every year always supplies one or two recycled players who go on to thrive in a new environment. Thornton played only seven games last year, the lowest amount in his career, which followed on from a 2011 season in which the former Blue could not work out if he was a forward or defender such was the Carlton coaching staff's propensity to throw him all around the field. Wherever he ends up playing this season, know that games are going to come to Thornton in a big way. And the fact that he is a dual-position player makes the 29-year-old a valuable draft proposition.

Tom Scully (midfield)

Can't doubt the 2009 No.1 draft pick's skill and coming in to his fourth season the time might be right for Scully to well and truly announce his arrival as a gun of the competition.

SPORTSBET ODDS

GWS highest-scoring player

$2.65 Callan Ward
$3.25 Jonathan Giles
$3.50 Toby Greene
$8 Adam Treloar
$8 Tom Scully
$8 Stephen Coniglio
$12 Dylan Shiel

* not including finals

Source: sportsbet.com.au

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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 joined teammates in training at a wet and windy Waverley Park this morning and appeared to move freely.

Clarkson said he expected Hodge to be playing footy come Round 1 of the season and although he did not rule out that that may be in the VFL, he remained confident in the captain's short-term prospects.

"We've got to make a judgement at that point in time, but as long as he doesn't have any setbacks between now and then (he'll be playing)," Clarkson said.

"He's training today and we've still got four weeks until we play. My experience with footy is that four weeks is a good time once you start full training to get yourself ready to play footy, we've just got to make a judgement on when he starts playing matches and whether he's conditioned well enough to play Round 1.

"He's the captain of our footy club, it's going to be pretty tempting to select him, but we'll make that call at the time depending on how his last four weeks have been at that time."

Clarkson said the club would use the old adage of "it's a marathon, not a sprint" when assessing the merit of picking Hodge for the Round 1 encounter with Geelong or holding him back.

"Particularly with the demands on players," he said.

"It was interesting reading an article coming out of Collingwood saying they'd consider resting players a bit more, I think that's been happening across the whole competition the last two or three years.
Even the newer clubs have been doing that with some of their younger players.

"That's what's happening with the NAB Cup too especially when you're only allowed 22-24 players to play."

Hodge told the Herald Sun this month that he was fully confident in his ability to play the opening rounds of the season.

Hawks call up big guns for NAB Cup

Clarkson said Hodge's temptation would be to play.

"I don't think any player doesn't want to play because they're all competitors and they want to play footy. But I think it's just something we've got to get used to as a competition and the players have to get used to that as well."

Clarkson praised the AFL's decision to go easy on its trial of capped rotations throughout the NAB Cup.

There will still be a cap of 80 rotations for games (with a maximum of 20 per quarter) in the next two weeks, but instead of the traditional one substitute-three interchange bench teams will be able to utilise three substitutes as well as three interchange players.

"We've got Xavier Ellis and Liam Shiels for instance who we want to play next week who we would have felt compelled to play them at 80 per cent game time," he said.

"But now we've got the flexibility to be able to play them for 40 or 50 per cent game time and that's probably ideal in their first games."

Ellis has been suffering from calf tightness, while Shiels had a late start to his pre-season campaign.

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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 v Essendon clash at Wangaratta.

And while some might suggest he doesn't mind his cult following, he said he's learnt more about himself and where umpiring sits in his life in the past 18 months.

Chamberlain said his time out had been a revelation as he realised he had put umpiring before everything else and been oblivious to other things in his life.

After umpiring 110 consecutive games, Chamberlain said his career was going along nicely.

"Sleep, eat, read, rehab, prepare for games, review games ... and all that would come ahead of games and I was oblivious to other things in my life which suffered," he said.

"What 18 months away does - apart from a lot of time on the iTunes because you're training on your own - (is) it gives you a lot of time to think and put your energies into other stuff.

"You realise I'm not Ray Chamberlain the AFL umpire, but I'm Ray Chamberlain the dad, I'm Ray Chamberlain the finance company, I'm Ray Chamberlain the son ... all those things."

The rest has also made him realise how much he loves umpiring and admits he'd lost sight of that because he was getting a bit cranky.

Chamberlain carried a patella tendon injury in the second half of the 2011 season and hoped rest would heal it, but scar tissue forced him to have surgery.

Keen to enjoy a lower profile, he said: "I have no control over whoever this Razor dude is. I didn't create it and I just want to get back umpiring with my mates."

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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 that players don't play every game. You've just got to manage players a lot better,'' he said.

"That has happened against the newer teams in the competition, like Gold Coast and GWS. But what it also does is give others a chance.

"I know the older players, it's pretty hard to convince them to take the week off and rest up because they're used to playing every game.

"Darren Jolly famously played 150 games in a row and trying to convince him to have a week every now and then, given that he carries such a big load, was tough. But now he's really starting to embrace that and that's something a lot of older players will have to do.

"I understand we know what's best for us and everything is what's best for the team. We want to make sure, should we lose someone during the year, we've got someone who can step in and they haven't played 10 games of VFL and have to come into the seniors. It's too hard to do that. So we understand it (resting) is part of football now.''

Maxwell is adamant the Magpies have regained the winning urge that drove them relentlessly to the 2010 premiership. And much of that edge has been created by the infusion of experienced "recruits'' Clinton Young, Quinten Lynch, Ben Hudson and Jordan Russell.

"I think there's more of a hunger than I've seen. After 2010 when you get that success, you think you can just roll along,'' the Pies captain said.

"We had success in 2011, we only lost to one team (Geelong) for the whole year, but we lost to them three times and when it mattered. Last year was a change with a new coach and a different game plan and we lost a few guys through injury.

"But this year the hunger is back. We've seen that over the pre-season and with new guys we've brought into the group from other clubs."

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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 because of back problems and has averaged only 12 games a season over the past four years.

He's currently battling a calf complaint which has the Blues doubting he'll be ready for Round 1.

"I'm starting to think not," coach Mick Malthouse said today.

"I'm not convinced he isn't. He's line-ball."

Malthouse said youngster Andrew McInnes (knee) is the only other Blue expected to miss the start of the season through injury.

CLICK HERE TO START PICKING YOUR SUPERCOACH SQUAD NOW

Chris Judd, Matthew Kreuzer and Scotland all skipped Carlton's opening-round pre-season games, but all three trained today.

Malthouse was unsure which of them would play in the Blues' Round 2 NAB Cup match on Saturday night against Fremantle, but wasn't too concerned.

"They don't have to do a lot," he said.

"I don't believe you have to play practice matches. It's for young kids.

"They've got nothing to prove."

Malthouse, meanwhile, has pleaded for the AFL to relax the20-interchange per quarter rule to allow coaches "to coach''.

For the next two weeks of the NAB Cup the league will trial a cap on interchange rotations, with clubs limited to 80 moves a game.

"If we are going to have the 80 rule, please let us coach,'' he said.

"So, if I want to use 50 in first quarter and 10 in the last, let me coach the side ... there's too many restrictions on the coaches (having to use) 20, 20, 20. That might not suit us.''

He tentatively welcomed the team composition being 18 players, three interchange and three subs.

The original plan was for 18-3-1 plus the interchange cap.

"Two or three of my players would not have played this weekend had the rule existed from what they said, which was 18, 3 and one,'' he said.

"It's impossible because I've got players who should only play half a game because they haven't played any football, players who should only play a quarter of a game. What can you do?

"Fortunately, they (the AFL) have jumped on and given us another two (players) which is (still) borderline.''

Malthouse also supported the new rule to stop players diving at the legs of players, and has renewed his call to ban players on the ground from taking possession of the ball.
 

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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 would need to improve rapidly over the next day or so to be guaranteed a place in the 24-player squad to face the Gold Coast in Townsville on Saturday afternoon.

"We're hopefully Majak will be up and right to play, but he did have some swelling Sunday and Saturday morning,'' Scott said.

"That was disappointing given that we managed his loads through the pre-season and thought he would get through. And we managed his load in the games, so at this stage at best he's 50-50.

"He will be selected in the side, but if that swelling doesn't reduce significantly over the next 24 hours, then he probably won't play. We'll look to get him right for the following week.''

Scott said Daw's running goal, when he pushed aside Tiger defender Steven Morris, was an indication of how much more development is required as well an illustration of the Sudanese-born Roo's immense athleticism.

"Right at this stage, Maj is in the early stages of his development. Despite what people say, he has a lot of work to do and he knows that clearly,'' Scott said.

"We're trying to simplify the game for him at the moment. I said before the game that he would do a few things that would make people stand up and take notice. But he's still really working hard on the fundamentals of the game.

"He didn't see Brad McKenzie on the inside. It's very easy in hindsight to say he should've passed it off, he simply didn't see him. And they're the fundamentals that I'm talking about.

North Melbourne ruckman Majak Daw provided the first highlight of the match with a strong mark backing into a pack. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"It takes players a long time to develop the awareness around them. Maj at the moment, the simplest way for him to play is to play to his strengths.

"He'll evolve and develop that awareness as time goes on. He wants to be a respected member of this team and that means giving it to a player in a better position when it presents itself.

"When he saw the vision he said, 'Yeah, I should've given it to Brad, but I just didn't see him', so that's what we're working on with him to try to evolve his development.

"It's the joy of coaching, that's why we coach because the satisfaction you get from working hard with a player. And to (ruck coach) Alex Ishchenko's credit and all our development staff's credit, they take great satisfaction in watching Maj improve.''

Scott said the Kangaroos will be playing to win against the Suns and had already factored in the expected north Queensland heat in the preparations.

Nathan Grima and Leigh Adams are not likely to be risked for the long trip, but both are still on track to be ready for Round 1 of the home-and-away season.

"It's probably unlikely Leigh Adams will be right to play. He's probably the only regular member of our team who wasn't in the squad last week,'' he said.

"Nathan is close. He wanted to play last week, but he's a really important part of our back six, but we won't risk him if he's not 100 per cent. He prefer to get more training sessions into him.

"It will be more a process of leaving players out than bringing new ones in.

The Roos today unveiled the new surface at their training ground at Aegis Park.
 

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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 in the first place. I'm not sure that we should be trying to tire players out to try and reduce congestion," Scott said.

"You go back and look at the evolution of the game. In the early 2000s you had flooding, 2010 you had the opposite with players pushing to the other end of the ground. So the coaches evolve and alter their tactics based on what's presented to them.

"If we cap rotations and fatigue players and make it difficult for them to get around the ground, we'll just adapt, we'll just change the game again.

"If our players are really tired and we're getting scored against and we're opening up, we're likely to just put 16 players behind the ball to stop us being scored against.

Majak Daw battles knee swelling

"So, I'm very wary when it comes to tinkering with the game to try and change the evolution of the game. If we make rule changes every times there's an evolution in the game, we'll just end up chasing our tail.

"My great fear is that the game becomes unrecognisable in the not too distant future. I would prefer to just let things go as they are and let the game evolve naturally.

"I feel for the AFL because they do the best they can to trial things in the NAB Cup. But the reality is we're playing shortened games and, when you cap interchanges at 20 (each quarter), the quarters go for seven or eight minutes less than the regular season and you find most interchanges happen late in the quarter.

"So are we going to get accurate set of data? I doubt it, but I don't know what the alternative is."

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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 teams to hold an unbeaten record after the first round of NAB Cup matches.

Mick Malthouse made a successful start to his coaching career to have Carlton sitting second, just ahead of his former club Collingwood, while North Melbourne rounds out the top four after snatching victory late against Richmond on Friday night.

Those four teams seem the only realistic hopes of making the final of the pre-season competition, which will be played between the two top teams after three rounds of round-robin matches.

See the full NAB Cup fixture below

The competition reverts to full-length games for the next two weeks as clubs head to the far corners of the country.

Brisbane will try to keep its unbeaten record intact against GWS in Wagga, Gold Coast will take on North Melbourne in the first AFL match in Townsville while Essendon will return to Wangaratta to face Richmond.

The Bombers were set to play in Wangaratta last year but the match was called off in bizarre circumstances.

After chartering planes to transport players to the town - 240km from Melbourne - on the day of the game, the Bombers were forced to return to Melbourne when the aircraft couldn't land due to bad weather.

The match was abandoned and the Saints were later awarded the points - and gave angry locals something to watch by staging a hastily-arranged practice match.

NAB CUP LADDER

1. Brisbane Lions 2-0 254.3%
2. Carlton 2-0 142.9%
3. Collingwood 2-0 134.5%
4. North Melbourne 2-0 107.5%
5. Port Adelaide 1-1  158.6%
6. Essendon 1-1 148.0%
7. GWS 1-1 135.5%
8. West Coast 1-1 133.8%
---
9. Richmond 1-1 117.5%
10. Fremantle 1-1 91.4%
11. Adelaide 1-1 87.0%
12. Geelong 1-1 83.2%
13. St Kilda 1-1 73.0%
14. Gold Coast 1-1 62.8%
15. Melbourne 0-2 75.0%
16. Hawthorn 0-2 64.5%
17. Sydney 0-2 53.1%
18. Western Bulldogs 0-2 52.2%

NAB CUP FIXTURE (all times local)

Round 2

Friday, March 1
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn (Etihad Stadium,7.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Saturday, March 2
Geelong v Adelaide (Simonds Stadium, 2pm) FOX FOOTY
Gold Coast v North Melbourne (Townsville, 3.30pm)
Essendon v Richmond (Wangaratta, 5.10pm) FOX FOOTY
GWS v Brisbane Lions (Wagga, 7pm)
Carlton v Fremantle (Etihad Stadium, 7.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Sunday, March 3
Port Adelaide v Melbourne (Renmark, 4pm)
St Kilda v Sydney (Etihad Stadium, 5.10pm) FOX FOOTY
West Coast v Collingwood (Patersons Stadium, 4.40pm) FOX FOOTY

Round 3

Friday, March 8
GWS v Essendon (Manuka Oval, 6.10pm) FOX FOOTY
Adelaide v Carlton (AAMI Stadium, 8.10pm) FOX FOOTY

Saturday, March 9
Hawthorn v Richmond (Aurora Stadium, 1.10pm) FOX FOOTY
Melbourne v St Kilda (Casey Fields, 2.30pm)
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs (Northam), 3.30pm
Geelong v North Melbourne (Simonds Stadium, 3.40pm) FOX FOOTY
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (Etihad Stadium, 6.40pm) FOX FOOTY
West Coast v Port Adelaide (Alice Springs, 7pm)
Sydney v Gold Coast (Blacktown ISP, 7pm)

Grand Final

Friday March 15 or Saturday March 16
(Venue TBC) 7.40pm FOX FOOTY/Channel 7

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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 forward Levi Casboult is also in the clear after his heavy collision with GWS Giants Matt Buntine was deemed to be accidental.

The MRP decided Casboult had made a realistic attempt to win the ball.

Reports this morning suggested Buntine was still in hospital and may have suffered a punctured lung.

Gold Coast rookie Andrew Boston won't face a front-on bump charge after it was decided he had no alternative way to contest the ball when he collided with Brisbane Lion Claye Beams.

 

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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 matches, but both the Suns and Lions showed signs there is a chance they can build on the momentum they built at the end of last season.

The Suns smashed the Hawks in the clearances and contested possessions in the opening game which they won 4.6 (30) to 4.5 (29) with an after the siren point from Luke Russell.

But they remain highly dependent on skipper Gary Ablett and looked like a different side in his absence from the second game.

Brisbane motored through their hosts 2.6.3 (57) to 4.6.24 in the final game giving Michael Voss the perfect start to his 2013 campaign.

The encouraging sign for Suns coach Guy mcKenna is his side has clearly taken another step in its physical development.

They no longer look like boys playing against men and were able to match both Brisbane and the Hawks physically. They weren't outmuscled by the Lions they were just outplayed.

Their two new faces look ready to step into the AFL in round one.

Jesse Lonergan adapted to senior footy with ease and Jaeger O'Meara also showed he was in the Suns' best side.

Like most footy fans Ablett is excited at the prospect of O'Meara's entry into the AFL this season.

He demonstrated his undoubted class in the 2012 NAB Cup and he showed last night he is more than ready for the physical demands of senior footy.

"He did really well, he played the role we asked of him and we're really pleased," Ablett said.

"He didn't kick any goals tonight but he cracked in which is what we wanted and he made his presence felt, the goals will come there is no doubt about that."

Brisbane's decision to recruit Brent Moloney apears to have paid immediate dividends.

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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 to Twitter today.

He Tweeted team-mate Patrick Dangerfield saying: "Great to join your ranks in hanging round for a long time.''

Dangerfield last year signed a three-year contract extension.

But Jacobs suggests there is a significant difference in his deal when compared to the big-grossing Dangerfield: "Not $$$ though.''

Jacobs has been held back in the Adelaide pre-season as the Crows manage their senior players.

He is expected to appear for the first time on Saturday when Adelaide plays Geelong in the NAB Cup at SKilled Stadium.

Jacobs was added to the Crows' leadership group this season.

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