Hinkley not worried about confines of SCG

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, left, chats with captain Travis Boak, who is returning from injury. Picture: Tom Huntley. Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is heading into the unknown as he takes the Power to the small Sydney Cricket Ground for the first time in his cracking senior coaching career.

If he has any nerves or reservations about playing on what has previously been a difficulty ground for Port, he hasn't shown it.

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Nor is Hinkley, whose team has won eight straight games to Sydney's seven, concerned about bookmakers installing the Swans as the favourite.

How his team would fair at the SCG was an unknown but Hinkley suggested the venue itself had not been a major talking point.

"I don't know because I haven't been there with Port Adelaide,'' Hinkley said.

"But there have been a lot of things over the past 18 months that we haven't done.

"The odds say Sydney are the favourites; I don't really care. I go to this game expecting to win.''

A key to a winning game was about believing in the system that had helped them to reach the top of the ladder.

As much as Port is a defence-first team, there was a danger in changing styles too much when facing Sydney at their home ground.

"We're really confident in what we're doing and if we continue to do that it will put us in every game that we play in,'' Hinkley said.

"That's what we expect this week and we expect a really good contest.

"We'll play Port Adelaide footy, that's what we have to do. That's a trap (copying Sydney's style at the SCG) that you can't afford to fall into. You have to believe in what you're doing and our team does.''

The Power are expected to swing changes in defence throughout the match to find the best match-up for marquee forward Lance ``Buddy'' Franklin and fellow tall Mike Pyke.

Pyke has replaced former Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett.

"We'll probably mix and match, as we would in any game,'' Hinkley said.

"And if Tippett was playing it would be the same, because they've brought in a like-for-like. They've brought Pyke back into the side.

"We've had hoodoo sides and we've lost lots of games in a row but we go up there with the confidence that if we go up there with our best game we can come away with a win.

"I suppose as it sits right now it's a really big test for us.

"We're travelling away to play the in-form team of the competition and one that we've great respect for.

"It's certainly going to be a significant test for us, but one we're looking forward to.''

The Power have three significant inclusions in captain Travis Boak, Angus Monfries and Matt White, who return from injury.

Hinkley was confident there would not be a repeat of last week, when Boak was a late withdrawal.

"We're really confident he'll play this week,'' Hinkley said.

"We don't play any (mind) games too much.

"We expect Travis to play. We expect 'Gus' to play and we expect Matty White to play.

"It's always good to get good players back in your team.

Ben Newton and Sam Gray boarded Port Adelaide's flight as emergencies.

Hinkley would not speculate on the fate of Angus Monfries and the Essendon saga. Monfries was with the Bombers in 2012, the year that is being investigated.

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Drugs body thinks Bombers players were duped

James Hird has launched a fresh legal challenge.. Source: HeraldSun

JAMES Hird last night launched from Paris his own legal war on the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

The dramatic legal ploy comes as ASADA investigators determine that the 34 Bombers players who stand accused of taking banned performance-enhancing substances in 2012 were deceived into taking the drugs. Consequently, ASADA favours the lightest penalty for doping violations: a six-month playing ban.

And it is understood the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has the power to overrule any penalty it deems too soft, is satisfied with this proposal.

Lawyers for Hird lodged an application in the Federal Court alleging that ASADA's joint investigation with the AFL was unlawful and in clear breach of rules governing the anti-doping body.

Hird, who is studying in Paris, told the Herald Sun last night: "I have always believed no Essendon player has taken performance-enhancing drugs or broken, ASADA, WADA or AFL laws.

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Essendon chairman Paul Little has announced the club will challenge ASADA over the investigation into the Bombers' supplements scandal.

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Essendon chairman Paul Little. Picture: Tim Carrafa

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"I want the players' name to be cleared and want our supporters of footy club to be proud of our great club.

"It's extremely difficult to be away from the people who I know it's affecting tremendously," Hird said.

Hird's move came just hours after Essendon lodged its Federal Court counter-attack to ASADA's "show cause" notices, issued on Thursday.

The dual court actions are aimed at knocking out ASADA's case.

Leroy Jetta arrives at Essendon's Tullamarine headquarters. Picture: Hamish Blair

Bombers chairman Paul Little yesterday declared: "Enough is enough. We will not be bullied and will not allow our players to be hung out to dry any longer. They have suffered enough.

"If we are right, and we believe we are, the court will declare the investigation null and void. We will seek a permanent injunction of all of the information collected in that investigation," he said.

The latest developments come after a series of exclusive Herald Sun reports, including that thymosin beta 4 — not AOD-9604 — was the new focus of the ASADA probe, and that sports scientist Stephen Dank texted about testing players in a discussion about "thymosin".

Dank has consistently denied any wrongdoing and claimed players took a legal form of the drug.

ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt yesterday signalled it would take a conciliatory approach to resolving the 17-month case.

AFL 360 discuss reports emerging some players had been issued show cause notices by ASADA over the 2012 doping scandal

"What we are hearing is players want to get on with this. We need an opportunity to reach resolution, and injunctions and that sort of thing will create further delays.

"I would now like to enter into engagement with players and with legal counsel. As much as anyone else I want to see resolution," he said.

But Essendon's decision to fight ASADA in court could now see the investigation drag on into next season.

Fears have also been raised that competing interests of the players and Bombers bosses is causing a split within the club.

Lawyers acting for the club and Hird both believe they have a "watertight'' case and will not only quash the probe, but prompt an inquiry into the actions of the AFL, ASADA and some former Gillard government heavyweights

Joe Daniher arrives. Picture: Hamish Blair

Lawyers for past and present Bombers issued with show-cause notices met with the club and ASADA yesterday.

Mr McDevitt yesterday asked the 34 players to work with his office, insisting he's satisfied they had a case to answer. "Players need to make some difficult decisions."

He floated the possibility of 50 per cent discounts on bans if they fully co-operated

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TEXT messages and details of a protein powder are likely to form part of ASADA's case against Essendon.

Dustin Fletcher speaks to security as he arrives at the headquarters. Picture: Hamish Blair

As the Herald Sun revealed in May, the case against dozens of Bombers players is expected to turn largely on the drug thymosin beta 4, or TB4.

Of various forms of thymosin, only TB4 is banned.

The case includes circumstantial elements and takes in evidence from the star witness, anti-ageing clinician Shane Charter, about the banned form of the drug.

The Herald Sun first reported how Charter would give ASADA text messages which allegedly show former club sports scientist Stephen Dank ordering TB4 from him. Dank denies ever receiving banned drugs from Charter.

Charter's evidence is that he sourced the drug on Dank's request and gave it to a Melbourne pharmacist, who in turn was to give it to Dank.

ASADA chief Ben McDevitt says the 34 current and former players have a case to answer.

That pharmacist has told investigators that he believes Dank did not use the drug at Essendon.

Charter, who has made no secret of his 2007 conviction for drug trafficking, was recently arrested by police and released without charge.

Several other text messages from Dank discuss using thymosin with the aim of repairing tissue, an outcome that the AFL last year alleged could only be achieved by TB4, and not by any other type of thymosin.

Many of the messages were sourced during the joint AFL and ASADA investigation, the legality of which is likely to be challenged by Essendon.

But there is other evidence that could place TB4 at the club, including a media interview in which Dank discusses use of the drug.

Essendon's season is in disarray. Picture: Toby Zerna

Dank has denied any wrongdoing.

ASADA had external reviewers, including respected former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer and retired judge Garry Downes, oversee and review the 16-month probe.

During these reviews, the agency was reminded that the burden of proof in doping cases is "comfortable satisfaction", not the higher criminal standard of "beyond reasonable doubt" with which many ASADA investigators are more familiar.

An ex-federal judge, Mr Downes retired in 2012 as president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the forum that would hear any appeal against putting players on ASADA's register of findings.

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mark.robinson@news.com.au

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Monfries ’should not confirm nor deny’ legal notice

Port Adelaide player Angus Monfries at training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

FORMER Essendon-turned-Port Adelaide player Angus Monfries is under advice not to confirm nor deny if he has been served a show cause note from ASADA – even to his current AFL club.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority has informed 34 players they have a case to answer over the club's 2012 supplements program.

Power chief executive Keith Thomas was told by Essendon at 10.30pm on Thursday that the legal advice to the Bombers players from the contentious program, which included Monfries, was that they should not tell their club if they were on the ASADA investigation list.

This is to keep the legal work for the players at arm's length from the football club.

This also leaves Port blind to Monfries' position and frustrated at being kept in the dark on a player vital to its premiership chase this season.

Despite leaving the Bombers at the end of 2012 as a free agent, Monfries is to be represented by the same legal group advising the players still at Essendon.

ASADA notified players by email and texts, detailing that they face "show cause'' notices and will now have to prove why they should not be cited for doping.

The dramatic move, which follows a 16-month probe, throws the AFL season into turmoil.

Essendon sources last night revealed the club will hit back , by seeking a Federal Court declaration that the joint AFL-ASADA investigation was unlawful.

An application to the court, arguing the joint probe breached disclosure laws, could be launched by the Bombers as early as today.

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Time for stars to step up: Sando

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson. Picture: Tait Schmaal Source: News Corp Australia

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson has put the blowtorch on his stars and experienced players to stand up in the crucial clash against North Melbourne on Saturday night.

Revealing he and his assistant coaches gave club champion votes to only three players after last Sunday's 40-point loss to Fremantle, Sanderson said he needs more from Adelaide's big guns to help save the club's 5-6 season.

"I've certainly put it on our leaders," Sanderson said after the team had a light training run at Adelaide Oval on Friday morning.

"We didn't have enough consistently from our leaders last week.

"We need more from our star players — it's as simple as that.

"We do need a contribution from our 22 but we need a consistent output from our stars, our leaders, as well."

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Sanderson said he was so disappointed with his side's performance against the Dockers that only three players were worthy of club champion votes.

He did not name the players who were given a pass mark by the coaches.

"And you are not going to win too many games when 19 players don't get a vote," Sanderson said.

"When we play well we get maximum output from our senior players and we

need them to stand up now and play 120 minutes of good football.

"Good players play well when it matters."

Sanderson is expecting more from stand-in co-captains Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, along with fellow midfielders Richard Douglas and Scott Thompson and lead ruckman San Jacobs.

He also has demanded more from his high-profile forward line, which did not fire a shot against the Dockers.

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Trust in Sando, says Crows chairman Rob Chapman

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson arrives back from Perth. Picture: Tait Schmaal. Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE chairman Rob Chapman has backed the direction of his club and coach Brenton Sanderson as they negotiate a tricky AFL landscape.

The Crows enter Saturday's clash with North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval saddled with a 5-6 win-loss record - never in the black for a season that promised so much.

Chapman met with coach Brenton Sanderson to dissect a 40-point loss to Fremantle in Perth that continued a fluctuating campaign for Adelaide and concluded he is "absolutely" on the right path.

"I had a quick debrief with Sando post game and discussed some of the reasons as best you can straight after the game as to why we got the result we got. That will be fleshed out, " said Chapman with the Crows attempting to avoid an empty September schedule.

"I trust where Sando is taking this and complete faith in him reviewing this week's game to get a better result."

While skipper Nathan van Berlo is still on the comeback trail from a serious Achilles injury, Chapman noted the development of stand-in skippers Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and in-form defender Daniel Talia.

There are green shoots.

What's Plan B? Crows coach Brenton Sanderson during the loss to Fremantle. Picture: Danial Wilkins.

"We have some excellent leaders like Patrick, Rory, Daniel who are learning on the job. Our leadership stocks are in good stead for the future," Chapman told The Advertiser.

While Chapman must contend with a Crows side languishing mid table, it is not where the club would want to be in terms of profitability.

The Crows keep packing Adelaide Oval and its corporate facilities in 2014 but a segment of the revenue stream is consumed by the Stadium Management Authority and SANFL.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan will next month chair a review where the Adelaide Oval numbers will be crunched.

The projections of uplift delivered two years ago will be finally compared with numerical reality.

The SANFL has indicated there will be a $12 million uplift to the Crows and Port from the move to Adelaide Oval.

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says his team was blown off the park in the second half.

The state's AFL clubs expect it is $7m with a predicted split of $3m for Adelaide and $3.9m at Alberton.

If the Crows' uplift dipped below $3m - even to $2.5m - then the financial afterglow of the move from West Lakes would dim appreciably.

Regardless, Chapman declined to speculate on any figures - determined to wait for the results of next month's stadium review.

"We have a plan and that has been articulated for the last 18 months. We are in the middle of executing against it and it is going well.

"We will do the review with all the goodwill necessary to get a good outcome.

"We are also working really hard to get better on-field results and that will be our focus this week against North Melbourne."

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Pies clear Dane Swan over ‘Gatto link’

Eddie McGuire said he will "chat" to Dane Swan about the event attended by Mick Gatto. Source: News Corp Australia

COLLINGWOOD boss Gary Pert says Dane Swan did not deceive the club over his attendance at a fundraising event with links to former underworld figure Mick Gatto.

Swan was the star attraction at a $200-a-head dinner attended by 50 people on Tuesday at Gatto Nero, a Coburg pizza restaurant majority-owned by Gatto's brother John, Fairfax Media reports.

Mick Gatto and several of his friends attended the event.

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The Pies have no issues with Swan's attendance, and have spoken to the AFL multiple times in the last 24 hours to assure the league there are no concerns.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has also brushed aside Fairfax's report.

There were reports that Swan had told the club his manager Liam Pickering had booked the event - but that Pickering actually had no idea.

But Pert said the Brownlow Medallist had events manager Scott McConville as well as business manager Pickering.

Gary Pert and Eddie McGuire both say Dane Swan has done nothing wrong. Source: Getty Images

He said Swan had not misinformed the club in any way - he had told them it was booked by his agent, and he had little idea who would be at the event.

"We are very comfortable with the speaking engagements Dane Swan does at multiple venues,'' he told the Herald Sun.

"Scott McConville is his speaking manager and he booked it. By all reports those events are very well attended and successful events.

"Swanny gives his time signing autographs with Collingwood fans and families and we have never had an issue with them."

The AFL has warned players and clubs not to associate with underworld figures out of concern organised crime could infiltrate the game.

However it seems unlikely the AFL will act on the issue given it was vastly different to Richmond player Jake King's ongoing friendship with ex-bikie boss Toby Mitchell.

King brought Mitchell into the Richmond rooms last year, with the AFL strongly recommending he cut ties with Mitchell.

Former underworld figure Mick Gatto says "there's nothing in it". Source: News Limited

Eddie McGuire with Dane Swan and his partner Taylor Wilson at the 2010 Brownlow. Source: News Limited

McGuire told Southern Cross Austereo it wasn't surprising Swan knew some colourful identities given his working class upbringing.

"You go to the footy one day, you go to the races, go to the opera you'll meet people from all walks of life," McGuire told Triple M's The Hot Breakfast today.

"So from my point of view as long as Swanny is walking the tightrope correctly, so long as he informs people what's going on, so long as he doesn't get himself into trouble then I don't see to much of a problem with this situation."

McGuire, who was speaking from Italy, said he'll have a chat with Swan about the photos.

"I'm not being flippant about it, I'll talk to Swanny when I get back or when he gets up this morning at some stage just to check out exactly what's going on," McGuire said.

Gatto told ABC Radio that "there's nothing in it".

"I wasn't an organiser, nothing to do with me at all," he told broadcaster Jon Faine.

"I went there and bought a table. I filled the table with elderly friends of mine, non-underworld figures. We listened to Swanny talk about football and had an auction and that was it."

Gatto said he had "no idea" how much Swan was paid for the event.

"I go to these sportsmen nights all the time. Most of the football players that speak at them they come over and say hello. There is nothing in it.

"Dane Swan is a real champion of a man, he has spent time with elderly people and with children. He came over briefly and said hello to me, I asked him for a photo and that was it.

"I can't understand why the carry on with all this nonsense. There is never a problem until the media makes it a problem."

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