Thursday 29 March 2007 GRAPHIC VISION BACKS ZERO TOLERANCE AT LIONS Graphic vision of drug-affected people was yesterday used by the Brisbane Lions to reinforce the club's zero-tolerance policy to its players, reports The Age's Caroline Wilson. Coach Leigh Matthews and his senior playing list spent several hours learning of the devastating and long-term damage caused by drug use from former Brisbane drug squad boss Anne Macdonald who said: "I didn't embellish anything and I certainly didn't pull any punches." In something of an understatement, Macdonald added: "This was organised three weeks ago but it was probably timely that we did it now." One of Matthews' assistants described Macdonald's message as "terrifying". The former detective inspector, now an acting superintendent on the Sunshine Coast, will return to the club next month to repeat her message to players' wives and girlfriends and Lions officials. The chilling demonstration was an initiative of the Lions, who first employed Macdonald's shock tactics when Roger Merrett was coach. Her visit followed chairman Tony Kelly's admission at an AFL meeting last week that a West Coast-type situation at the Lions could destroy his club. Kelly said last night he was not exaggerating in his claim: "Up here the impact could be devastating. It's not an outrageous statement, it's an obvious fact. We are competing with four codes and a pretty tough local media. Clubs like West Coast do recover. History has shown they weather the storms. FOUR NEW PLAYERS TEST POSITIVE IN LAST SIX MONTHS Four more players have been nabbed under the AFL's illicit drugs policy, reports the Herald Sun. Amid the fallout from the Ben Cousins saga, the league revealed yesterday the number of positive tests in the past two years had risen to 28. And the AFL provided an insight into the types of drugs used by offending players. Of the 28 players caught, seven had traces of cannabis. The rest tested positive to harder drugs. In a breakdown of figures since the inception of the policy, 19 tested positive in year one and nine in year two. The four positive tests announced yesterday came in the six months from mid-August last year to mid-February. That period includes the six-week holiday break when players can be tested only if they are called back to the club for fitness tests. But although the rate of players testing positive is decreasing, the AFL and the AFL Players' Association showed no joy. AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale said the latest figures were disappointing. "When you consider the education that goes into players and the time and effort a range of people put into it, I'd say I'm disappointed," Gale said. "One is too many. NOTTING SET FOR TOUGH ROLE Tim Notting is set to be the Lions' secret weapon in the season opener against Hawthorn at the Gabba on Saturday night, reports The Courier-Mail. Notting pushed his case for selection with a strong showing at training last night, just two weeks after dislocating his shoulder in the NAB Cup grand final loss. Provided he pulls up OK this morning, he is a certain starter and could get the job on star Hawk forward Lance Franklin. The Lions yesterday confirmed Daniel Bradshaw would miss the entire season. HADLEY TAKES FIRST STEP BACK Popular Brisbane Lion Richard Hadley will take his first step back from a long journey this weekend. Hadley, who has undergone successive knee reconstructions and missed two years of football, will play for the Suncoast Lions against Mt Gravatt at the Gabba on Saturday. O'LOUGHLIN NEVER TESTED OUT OF COMPETITION Sydney star Michael O'Loughlin, entering his 13th season, has revealed he's never been tested out of competition for illicit drugs, reports The Telegraph. His revelation further undermines AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou's claim that the league's controversial illicit drug policy is working. O'Loughlin, a veteran of 247 games, said he would like to see a tougher stance on illicit drug use. "Personally, I'd like to see that once you've sort of done the damage (tested positive), you've probably got to get named and get to counselling," O'Loughlin said YZE'S STREAK SET TO CONTINUE The last time Adem Yze missed a match, Neil Balme was still clinging to his job as Melbourne coach, reports the Herald Sun. Not once has Balme's full-time replacement Neale Daniher gone into meaningful battle without Yze. Entering his 10th year as coach, Daniher has rubber-stamped Yze's selection in 210 successive games. Having not sat on the sidelines since Round 7, 1997, Yze's unbroken run of games totals 225 - 19 short of record holder and ex-Demon Jim Stynes. Daniher, a fierce supporter of Yze through his decorated career, yesterday stopped short of guaranteeing that run would continue against St Kilda tomorrow night, given Yze's form has not been the greatest. "We haven't picked the team yet . . . he's no certainty, no," Daniher said yesterday. But will Daniher pull the pin on his old mate? Almost certainly not, the newspaper says. GRANT UNLIKELY FOR DOGS Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says games record-holder Chris Grant is less than a 50-50 chance of playing against Geelong on Sunday, reports the Herald Sun. With full-back Brian Harris also missing until Round 3 because of suspension, the Dogs lack height and look vulnerable in defence. But Eade is confident the height issue will not be a factor against the Cats. "West Coast had a pretty tall forward line in our last practice match and our players coped reasonably well," Eade said. "And I think our defence has coped reasonably well in the past. People talk about tall forward lines . . . (Brad) Ottens has had a good pre-season, so has (Cameron) Mooney, so they've got some talent down there. We would prefer to have another tall, but if we haven't, we haven't. We've just got to get on with it." The Dogs will welcome back former skipper Luke Darcy and fellow knee reconstruction victim Robert Murphy, and will have the experienced Jason Akermanis and West Coast recruit Andrew McDougall as the only new faces in the line-up. SAINTS WON'T MARCH UNTIL ROUND 6 New St Kilda coach Ross Lyon believes his team won't be operating at full capacity until Round 6. Lyon has conceded the Saints are a long way behind most of their rivals because of a pre-season that has been ravaged by injuries. "I don't think we will be at our best, our fittest with our full personnel until maybe Round 4-6," Ross said. Most of the Saints big guns have had interrupted preparations including Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Matt Maguire, Max Hudghton, Aaron Hamill and Andrew Thompson. Lyon said Maguire, who broke his leg last year, will play tomorrow night against Melbourne. BLOWOUT TIPPED FOR SWANS-EAGLES Many AFL superstars believe Saturday night's Grand Final rematch between Sydney and premier West Coast will break with its nailbiting tradition and be a blowout, reports The Telegraph's Nicky Tugwell. In a Daily Telegraph poll, Adelaide's dual Norm Smith Medallist Andrew McLeod, Kangaroos champion Glenn Archer, Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd, Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea, Brisbane Lions Brownlow Medallist Simon Black, Carlton All-Australian Anthony Koutoufides and Melbourne star Cameron Bruce offered their insights into the Round 1 clash at Telstra Stadium. Most believe the Eagles will either be unaffected by their off-season dramas or it will actually work to their advantage as a motivating factor. The past five matches between West Coast and Sydney have been decided by 12 points in total. Despite that, only Black tipped West Coast to win on Saturday night. Wednesday 27 March 2007 CONCERNS OVER FEVOLA Sore knee or not, Carlton say star forward Brendan Fevola will play in Sunday's season-opener against Richmond, reports the Herald Sun. "Brendan will train with the rest of the team at MC Labour Park tomorrow morning and, barring any unforeseen circumstances between now and Sunday, he will play," Carlton's football manager Steven Icke said last night. The Blues were forced to issue a statement last night after a TV report declared the full-forward faced surgery on his left knee. Fevola emerged from a visit to a specialist late yesterday and told Channel 9 tests had been inconclusive. "He (the specialist) is not quite sure," Fevola said. "He just put me on these tablets and hopefully it goes away. Just tape it up and hopefully it just goes away in the next couple of weeks. Just hope for the best." Fevola crashed heavily on the knee during the NAB Cup final win over Brisbane. WALLACE PAINTS BRIGHT PICTURE - FOR LATER Richmond coach Terry Wallace says opportunity will knock for the Tigers in 2009, with a "decade of opportunity" to kick in from 2011, according to the Herald Sun. "What opportunity that is, no one knows, but, certainly, it will be a time for us when two age brackets (of players) meet," Wallace said. Wallace yesterday revealed detailed planning relating to Richmond's current and future playing list. He said successful clubs needed many of their good players in the 22-26 age group. "That's the age bracket that wins premierships," said Wallace, entering his third year as Tigers coach. A graphic accompanying his plans suggested the club prediction for this season was a ninth-placed finish. "A holding pattern," Wallace said of Richmond's current state. "Whether that be ninth, seventh, fifth, 10th, we don't know. We expect improvement, whether that's finals, who knows?" COUSINS WENT ON `BENDER' As the football world and his family were declaring support for drug-addled West Coast Eagle Ben Cousins last week, the midfielder was in the middle of a three-day bender, according to the Herald Sun's Mark Robinson. The Brownlow Medallist went on the partying spree after being suspended indefinitely by the club, a source close to the Cousins camp said. It's not known if the bender was drug or alcohol-fuelled, but family friends feared the worst. However, after spending most of the weekend recovering, Cousins on Monday gave the strongest hint yet he wanted professional assistance to help overcome his drug addiction. The source said Cousins' father Bryan and West Coast had mapped out a comprehensive plan, which includes what type of rehabilitation he needs and where, and when he plans to resurrect his stunning football career. Cousins' acceptance is a big step in overcoming his substance abuse. EMBARRASSING WHITNALL AFFAIR DEEPENS The bitter rift between Carlton captain Lance Whitnall and older brother Shane has deepened after their parents sided with the star Blues forward, reports the Herald Sun. A seething Shane Whitnall said he and wife Tammy had become alienated from other members of the family after the public bust-up with his brother. "Mum and Dad have heard one side of the story and they've elected to stay with that one side of the story, which is Lance's side," he said. "I've got my wife and my two kids with me, and I'll be looking towards a future with them." Shane blasted Lance for not attending Heidelberg Magistrates' Court yesterday, where an application for an intervention order was due to be heard. "He has the audacity to get it adjourned without even attending it. We've got to face the court and media. Why doesn't he have to?" MORE INJURY WOES FOR `ROO' Mark Ricciuto is in a neck brace and will not line up for the Crows until May after another extraordinary injury setback, reports The Advertiser's Michaelangelo Rucci. The rest the Adelaide captain needs for his freak back injury has worked against the Brownlow Medallist, with Ricciuto now suffering neck soreness. Ricciuto was last night confined to bed in the brace. His chance to step up training after making progress with the back injury will be delayed by at least a week. And his hope of returning for his first competitive football match since August 19 with a showdown against Port Adelaide on April 14 is lost. Adelaide is unlikely to test Ricciuto's back on the long-haul flight to Perth, where the Crows will play Fremantle on April 29. So the earliest comeback for Ricciuto would be the home clash with Collingwood on May 5. Ricciuto has not played since a bout of Parvo virus kept him out of the finals in September. HANDSTAND ALL THE RAGE Jason Akermanis has confirmed the trademark handstand is back, reports the Herald Sun. All he needs is for the Bulldogs to roll Geelong at Telstra Dome on Sunday. "I'd love to keep doing it. If I'm doing lots of it, it means we're going all right," Akermanis said yesterday. "I did it as Jason Akermanis for the fans in Brisbane. I'm still Jason Akermanis and I'll keep doing it for the fans down here. As players, we have to show our appreciation to the fans. Hopefully on Sunday there'll be a couple of sausage rolls and high fives as well." TIME FOR REDEMPTION Sunday can't come quickly enough for Geelong coach Mark Thompson. The Cats' Round 1 clash with the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome will officially shut the door on 2006 and mark a new beginning which the coach hopes follows a totally different script. "You know what, I am sick of talking about last year," Thompson told the Herald Sun yesterday. He would rather talk about youngster Joel Selwood and the Cats' new game style than look back at the most turbulent season of his career. His team started the year as flag favourites but ended up 10th with his job and many others' under intense scrutiny in a wide-ranging and public review of the club. "We were all pretty unhappy about what happened last year and we're just looking forward to this year," Thompson said. "We are just going to try and win enough games to play finals and get back to the level of respect we at least had before the start of last year." BEGLEY SET TO PLAY AGAINST HAWKS Irishman Colm Begley could be a Round 1 starter after Brisbane last night elevated him off the rookie list, reports The Courier-Mail's Andrew Hamilton. The Lions have paperwork from the AFL that lets Begley take retired skipper Michael Voss's place on the list. It means the 20-year-old is eligible for selection for Saturday night's match against Hawthorn at the Gabba. Voss, who remains on the Lions list, will be placed on the long-term injury list. Begley arrived in Australia at the start of last season and was a late rookie elevation to cover for the injured Justin Leppitsch, playing two games. He is expected to slot into the Lions' defence, paving the way for co-captain Chris Johnson to be used in the midfield. "I have a lot of time for Colm, I was amazed at what he did this time last year when he first arrived," Lions coach Leigh Matthews said. "He's had a year to learn to play and he's one of those people the way he goes about things, his personality, his character, he's a competitor and it makes you want to persevere with him." THE TOSS FOR THE TOSS Jonathan Brown will be the first of Brisbane's five captains to toss the coin in a match, reports the Courier-Mail. Brown won the toss for the toss and will perform the official duty against the Hawks. The Lions last week named Brown, Simon Black, Nigel Lappin, Luke Power and Johnson as co-captains. This week Brown will toss the coin, Johnson will lead the team on to the field and Lappin will address the team. Simon Black filled his role by attending the match committee meeting, giving Luke Power the week off. McKAY SET TO JOIN REVIEW PANEL Carlton's 1995 premiership defender Andrew McKay is set to be named as Peter Schwab's replacement as AFL match review panel chairman today, with St Kilda legend Nathan Burke to join him and former umpire Peter Carey on the match review panel, reports The Age. Schwab, who played 171 games for the Hawks but missed their 1989 premiership because of suspension, chaired the match review panel for the last time following the NAB Cup series. Next month he will take up a new position as head of AFL Victoria. He said his input into recent rule changes to protect the safety of players while helping to retain football's physical tradition was his greatest satisfaction in the role. The former Hawthorn coach and umpires boss conceded that rule reforms at the end of 2004 had led to some poor tribunal decisions. But further law changes had helped forge a fairer penalty system and he claimed critics who said it had made the game soft were way off the mark. Schwab also said four-match suspensions to Fremantle's Michael Johnson and Geelong's Mathew Stokes during the NAB Cup series had justified the AFL's bid for better player protection HOTEL HITS BID FOR SIX Untried Crows midfielder Darren Pfeiffer's genuine chance for his AFL debut in the next fortnight has been wrecked by a fractured cheekbone from an unprovoked king-hit at a Glenelg hotel at the weekend, reports the Advertiser. Pfeiffer, 19, had surgery to correct the break last night. He will need at least a month to recover. The incident will lead to a police report after Pfeiffer leaves hospital later this week. It might also lead to civil action for losses Pfeiffer will suffer while his AFL debut was delayed. The Adelaide Football Club last night issued a statement saying: "(Pfeiffer) was hit from behind without any provocation". This conclusion, after an extensive investigation by the club, has been supported by independent witnesses, Adelaide football operations manager John Reid said last night. Tuesday 27 March 2007 COUSINS IN DENIAL Fallen West Coast champion Ben Cousins remains in denial over his drug addiction and has refused several attempts by his family and his club to convince him to check into a rehabilitation centre, writes The Age's Caroline Wilson. The 28-year-old, who has been suspended indefinitely by the Eagles, has apparently continued to behave erratically and also has resisted attempts by the club to make a public statement about the severity of his health crisis. Although the Eagles hierarchy has made it clear to Cousins that he will not be allowed back to the club until he fully accepts his addiction to the methamphetamine "ice", and seeks rehabilitation, the 2005 Brownlow Medallist as recently as the weekend remained determined he could beat his drug problem without full-time medical and psychiatric help. Wilson writes that the club appears increasingly pessimistic about his chances of playing this year despite Cousins' best-on-ground performance in his most recent practice match. West Coast chairman Dalton Gooding confirmed yesterday that Cousins had resisted a series of attempted interventions but said some progress was being made. "The first step for Ben is accepting the problem, and then Ben making a statement and then going off somewhere for rehabilitation," he said. LYON DENIES LINK Former Melbourne captain, now Footy Show host, Garry Lyon, yesterday took the unusual step of releasing a statement through Channel Nine about an article in The Sunday Age that said a retired star of a Melbourne-based club with a high profile in the media was being investigated by drug squad police. The Age reports that Lyon stated: "I read the article in The Sunday Age and I can categorically say it is not me and I do not know who the article is referring to. Any association with me and this issue is totally ill-founded." SURPRISE DRUG TESTS FOR PLAYERS AFL stars face surprise morning-after big game drug tests in a new push to clean up the competition, reports the Herald Sun. Footballers now face the prospect of Saturday and Sunday morning swoops in a move that could curtail post-game partying at nightclubs. The crackdown comes as it emerged that two AFL investigators are talking to Victoria Police about secret 2003 phone recordings allegedly linking West Coast star Daniel Kerr to illicit drugs. The AFL probe - headed by experienced investigators Allan Roberts and Bill Kneebone - is expected to be completed by the end of the week. AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou would not speculate about possible sanctions for Kerr, but said: "I will be interested to find out what they come back with. SELWOOD SET FOR INSTANT DEBUT Geelong is set to select boom youngster Joel Selwood for his AFL debut and also is considering blooding another draftee, Nathan Djerrkura, for Sunday's opener against the Bulldogs, reports The Age. The Cats, however, will be without ruckman Steven King, who has been restricted by a calf injury, while defender Max Rooke is unlikely to be risked. While Geelong has a maturing list and reasonable depth of seasoned players, Selwood's pre-season has been so impressive that he has made his round-one selection a virtual formality. Drafted as Geelong's first choice, pick No. 7 overall, in the 2006 national draft, Selwood has perhaps been the best performed to date of the early draft picks from last November, with few of his draft class likely to play in the opening round. Selwood would join brothers Troy (Brisbane) and Adam (West Coast) in the big time. West Coast did not have an early pick in last year' National Draft to be able to unite the brothers, but the Lions did at No.4. KOUTA OUT FOR THREE MONTHS Ageing Carlton star Anthony Koutoufides will miss up to 10 weeks of football after having surgery yesterday to repair a torn tendon in his right ring finger, reports the Herald Sun. He injured the finger at training last Wednesday after catching it in a jumper, but was unaware of the full extent of the damage until Friday. Koutoufides said he was especially frustrated at having to miss the Round 1 clash against Richmond. "I felt pretty fit and felt like I was ready to go," Koutoufides said. "Unfortunately at training, the finger got stuck in a (teammate's) jumper. I didn't think too much of it, but by Thursday and especially Friday (I knew) that there was something more serious than what I thought." BROWN SAY NOT TO WRITE OFF LIONS Brisbane Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown expects his workload to increase significantly with the loss of forward Daniel Bradshaw to a season-ending knee injury, reports the Herald Sun. Brown, who missed Rounds 11 to 22 last year with a hip injury, believes the Lions can make the eight but says they can't afford to repeat the mistakes of the past few seasons. Their campaign begins with a home game against Hawthorn on Saturday night. "We've got a lot of home games early and it's important we capitalise on that," Brown said. "The last couple of years we have started slowly and dropped home games." He said the Lions had performed better in the pre-season than most expected. "So it's important we carry on that momentum. We've had a great pre-season and maybe we are further advanced than some other sides," he said. DIDAK CONTINUES TO TEASE Collingwood forward Alan Didak was put through a strenuous training session by coach Mick Malthouse yesterday after the rest of his teammates left Gosch's Paddock, reports the Herald Sun. However the question of whether the Magpies' best-and-fairest plays in Saturday's opening round against the Kangaroos is no closer to being resolved. Recovering from a knee reconstruction, Didak did not play for Collingwood's VFL affiliate Williamstown on Sunday. In only his third week back training, Didak would not appear to have the match conditioning necessary for a quick return. Football manager Geoff Walsh last night said Didak got through yesterday's session, pitted against teammate Sam Iles, with no ill-effects. "He's progressing very, very well, Dids, but was it a fitness test? No," Walsh said. "Every session he trains and completes, like he did today, brings him closer to playing (at senior level). INJURY WOES FOR EAGLES Midfielder Chad Fletcher hurt his right knee at training yesterday and was attended to by club medical staff before leaving the track at Subiaco Oval, reports the Herald Sun. Although he had only a slight limp, he must be in doubt for Saturday night's clash against Sydney at Telstra Stadium. Doubt also exists about Andrew Embley, who trained at half-pace, and Michael Braun, who did not train at all. They appear to be West Coast's only injury worries and certainly pale against the intense scrutiny of the past week's drugs scandal. HOLLAND FINED FOR PUNCHING WOMAN Collingwood midfielder Brodie Holland has escaped conviction after pleading guilty to punching a woman's head during a wild fight over a taxi, reports the Herald Sun. Holland, 27, was fined $2500 for his role in the stoush, in Melbourne's CBD in December 2005, that left the woman bloodied and dazed. The suspended Magpie yesterday pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly causing serious injury. Holland, a Dancing with the Stars contestant and Footy Show regular, displayed none of his trademark flair or flashy smile yesterday as he left Melbourne Magistrates' Court with his fiancee, model Sarita Stella, and friend Brooke Hawken, who also face charges over the brawl. The court heard that the trio were trying to hail a taxi at the corner of Russell and Little Bourke streets, after leaving a nearby karaoke bar, when the fight erupted. According to police, Ms Hawken and Catherine Hill began fighting after both tried to get in the same cab. Ms Hawken, 23, and Ms Stella, 24, allegedly abused Ms Hill calling her a "slut" before she pushed Ms Hawken over, sparking a fight. The pair responded by punching Ms Hill and pulling her hair before Holland grabbed her from behind and dragged her away, calling her a "stupid slut", the court heard. When Ms Hill tried to flee, Ms Stella allegedly lunged at her and Holland pulled her to the ground, where the pair assaulted her. COUNCIL NERVOUS ON ROOS REDEVELOPMENT The Kangaroos' $7 million redevelopment of Arden St hit a snag yesterday with Melbourne City Council threatening to withdraw its funding, reports the Herald Sun. However Roos chief executive Rick Aylett said last night the project was on track. He said a meeting of stakeholders - football club, council, state government and AFL - was held yesterday. "It's a matter of re-jigging to make sure the redevelopment fits into the budget and suits everyone," Aylett said. The council is worried the Roos might move to the Gold Coast permanently. "We want to be sure if we're putting money towards this, that the Kangaroos are going to be around for some length of time," Cr Fraser Brindley told Channel 9 News. SCARLETT IN CLEAR DESPITE ALLEGED HEAD BUTT Geelong is unlikely to take any action against star defender Matthew Scarlett after he allegedly head-butted a business associate at a hotel at the weekend, reports the Herald Sun. Scarlett is believed to have lashed out in a heated argument over a dispute involving the closure of a bar he owned in partnership with teammate Steven King and former Cat Kent Kingsley. The Cats released a statement last night saying: "The club has spoken to both parties in relation to the dispute and understands that the issue has been resolved amicably between them." It is believed Scarlett phoned his former business partner and apologised the morning after the incident, which helped ensure no further action was taken. Last month the George and the Dragon Bar restaurant, which the AFL stars opened in 2004, closed because of financial difficulties. The players claim they weren't made aware of the dire nature of the business problems until days before it was shut down. BRUCE COMMITS TO DEMONS Melbourne utility Cameron Bruce has signed a new three-year contract. The deal takes the 27-year-old to the end of the 2010 season. Bruce has played 146 games since his debut for the Demons in 2000 and was runner-up in last year's club best-and-fairest award. "It's fantastic to know that I will be here for at least another three years," Bruce said. "I think we are improving as a list with a good balance of young and experienced players." PAV AND TAZ PLAN DOUBLE ACT Buoyant Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich believes a pre-season of note-swapping on the AFL's best defenders with star recruit Chris Tarrant will help forge one of the AFL's most potent attacking duos, reports The West Australian. The Dockers' desperation to lure Tarrant from Collingwood got an early tick in a practice match against Adelaide a fortnight ago as the pair tore up the Crows defence. Their hard leading up the ground then recovery back into Fremantle's forward 50 also helped resting ruckmen Aaron Sandilands and Justin Longmuir look more dangerous in the team's tall rotation. While swarming defences are unlikely to allow a spacious "Pav's Paddock" similar to Wayne Carey's Pagan's Paddock of the 1990s, the Fremantle skipper said an open attack could be disastrous for opponents. And he hoped he and Tarrant would play leading roles following their promising first game together against the Crows Monday 26 March 2007 BIG STAR UNDER POLICE WATCH One of Australian football's biggest stars is being investigated by drug squad police as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into a so-called "rat-pack" of sport, media and entertainment cocaine users, reports the Sunday Age's Andrew Rule. Rule, who broke the sensational story about Chad Fletcher's `incident' in Las Vegas, says the superstar under investigation is not an Eagle. The former star of a Melbourne-based club has maintained a high profile in the media since his retirement from the game he played with distinction. Persistent rumours of his links with a drug dealer have prompted detectives to monitor his activities in recent months. The result, according to a well-placed source, is that the colourful football identity has unwittingly led investigators to the dealer, allowing them to gather evidence that will soon be used to lay charges. It is understood police plan to recruit a third person known to the football identity to help an undercover detective to infiltrate a "rat-pack" of sporting and media people who use cocaine regularly. KERR COULD FACE DEREGISTRATION The AFL will meet today to consider its response to revelations that star Eagles midfielder Daniel Kerr was caught on secret police recordings talking about his drug use with a convicted dealer, reports The Age. The series of sensational telephone calls involving Kerr, former Perth Wildcats basketballer James Harvey and Victorian drug dealer Shane Carl Waters emerged on Friday. In one call, Kerr could clearly be heard describing how he had been affected by taking ketamine, a recreational drug often used as a horse tranquilliser. Yesterday, the AFL confirmed it still had the rarely exercised power to deregister a player if he is found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. The last time a player was deregistered was in 1985 when Hawthorn's Leigh Matthews was rubbed out for an off-the-ball king-hit on Geelong's Neville Bruns. The Eagles are understood to have decided against taking any action against Kerr. DRUGS ISSUE KEEPS GROWING IN THE WEST Eagles coach John Worsfold has laid bare the stunning extent of West Coast's drug crisis, revealing eight players had admitted to him they had taken illicit drugs, reports the Herald Sun. Worsfold made his most frank comments on the crisis, saying Daniel Kerr was one of a number of Eagles players who had admitted to experimenting with drugs. While Ben Cousins, Chad Fletcher and Kerr have been implicated in the fiasco, Worsfold's individual meetings with players since last year's premiership win have seen more players come forward. Worsfold said later that some of the eight had since left West Coast. "I believe they have been very honest with me," Worsfold said. "Some of them - and I don't want to name them - have admitted to experimenting or used, intermittently, drugs in the past, but they believed in the way we needed to go. And a big part of that was they had seen the effect it was having on Ben and that is a scary thing to be part of." HIT THE TESTING HARDER: PLAYERS AFL captains have supported calls for the AFL to dramatically ramp up testing for illicit drugs, after Ben Cousins' addiction went undetected throughout last season. The Herald Sun says the AFL has conducted 750 out-of-competition tests on its 640 players in the past 18 months, but the captains say there is too much potential to dodge drug testers. Richmond captain Kane Johnson has been drug tested only once in the past five years and believes there needs to be a greater disincentive for players tempted by drugs. He was joined by Carlton's Lance Whitnall, Melbourne's David Neitz and Port Adelaide's Warren Tredrea, who said that while the AFL was active in tackling drugs, it could do more. "I don't think it is enough," Johnson said of the current level of non-matchday testing. "Obviously they are trying to get through as many people as they can, but I just haven't been tested that much." The captains are worried a player could take the risk of trying drugs, aware they are likely to be tested less than once a year on average. FORMER EAGLE IN THE CLEAR WITH ROOS The Kangaroos yesterday told new forward Aaron Edwards he remained in the selection mix for Round 1 and would not be penalised despite police tapes linking him to drug use, reports the Sunday Herald Sun. Former Eagle Edwards was recorded on the same Victorian police phone taps in 2003 that caught Daniel Kerr and Perth Wildcats basketballer James Harvey talking about drug use. Kangaroos football manager Donald McDonald and chief executive Rick Aylett spoke to Edwards yesterday and he pledged that he was now drug-free. Edwards told them he had not been spoken to by either the Victoria Police or the AFL. As the incident was four years ago and at a previous club, the Kangaroos have decided not to investigate further JUDD RANKED NO.1 IN THE GAME West Coast superstar Chris Judd has, not surprisingly, been named the No.1 player in the competition by the Herald Sun's No.1 football writer Mike Sheahan in his annual pre-season Top 50 list. Unlike perhaps anyone before him, Judd doesn't have bad days, Sheahan says. When he is below par (for him), he is still solid; when in the groove, he is sensational. Then he plays an absolute blinder every other week. Sheahan adds that Judd averages 16 kicks, 13 handpasses and eight clearances in finals. Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes comes in at No.2. "He is an amazing player for someone of his dimensions - 194cm, 98kg - he racked up almost 500 possessions, was fourth for effective kicks and in the top 10 for inside 50s last season," Sheahan says. Sheahan's top 10 is: 1 - Chris Judd; 2 - Adam Goodes; 3 - Brad Johnson; 4 - Barry Hall; 5 - Ben Cousins; 6 - Matthew Pavlich; 7 - Nick Riewoldt; 8 - Scott West; 9 - Dean Cox; 10 - Brendan Fevola. BLUES STUN MAGPIES Collingwood's chief executive of the past seven seasons, Greg Swann, committed `high treason' on Saturday by defecting to Carlton, reports the Herald Sun. Carlton president Dick Pratt has engineered the administrative coup of recent years, luring Swann out of the luxury of Lexus Centre to the dilapidated facilities of Princes Park and to the club that has finished last for the past two seasons. Swann replaces Michael Malouf, Carlton's CEO for the past four seasons. He is considering choices including a possible role with Pratt's Visy group. Immediately after accepting the Carlton job, Swann flew to Sydney to advise Collingwood president Eddie McGuire of his decision. McGuire, who would grudgingly admire Pratt's audacity and powers of persuasion, was stunned and disappointed. "I'm bitterly disappointed," he said. "I'm very disappointed with the timing and probably more disappointed with the destination." RICHO SET FOR ROUND 1 Star Richmond forward Matthew Richardson showed he was on track to play the season opener against Carlton with a strong training performance at Gosch's Paddock on Saturday. He trained the house down, he was terrific to be honest," coach Terry Wallace said. "I was really pleased. We did some match-practice work in training although it was a fairly average day to be doing it. But he worked really well . . . kicked a bagful (of goals) . . . and did everything over and above what we would have expected." Richardson has been sidelined since straining a hamstring in the opening NAB Cup game against Geelong. BRADSHAW SURGERY TOMORROW Brisbane Lions key forward Daniel Bradshaw will have a knee reconstruction tomorrow, ruling him out for the entire season, reports The Australian's Greg Denham. His loss will be a huge blow to the Lions as Bradshaw, who had previously played 36 games in succession, was their highest scorer last season with 59 goals. Bradshaw tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a reserves practice match and he will be joined in hospital by team-mate Pat Garner who will undergo his second knee reconstruction. But the Lions, who host Hawthorn at the Gabba on Saturday night, are expecting to regain Nigel Lappin for the first time since 2005. The 2004 best-and-fairest had an ankle reconstruction last year. No.1 ruckman Jamie Charman is also expected to play after being hampered by an achilles problem in the pre-season, as is Tim Notting, who dislocated his shoulder in last Saturday week's pre-season grand final. Joel Patfull is likely to be available. However, those unavailable include Chris Scott, who is unlikely to play again because of a debilitating hip problem, Mitch Clark, Josh Drummond, Richard Hadley, Joel Macdonald and Troy Selwood, who is not due to resume until the middle of the season after back surgery. PRESSURE ON LEADING UMPIRE AFL Grand Final umpire Darren Goldspink has been deemed not fit enough to get a game in Round 1, according to the Herald Sun. Goldspink, named All-Australian umpire last year, is yet to meet stringent pre-season running benchmarks. The 42-year-old, with 359 games to his name, will not resume until he has passed required tests. "There are fitness tests that all umpires are required to meet," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said yesterday. "At this stage, those results have not been met." Goldspink does not possess the typically svelte umpires' build, but is highly regarded by the AFL umpiring department for his decision making. SANDILANDS COMMITS FOR THREE YEARS Giant Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands has signed a three-year deal to remain a Docker until 2010, reports the Herald Sun. Sandilands, 24, had his best season last year as the Dockers reached the preliminary final. His current contract was due to expire at the end of this season. The 211cm Sandilands said he was pleased to have the deal signed before Round 1. "I'm pretty happy with how the club is going at the moment and I reckon we're not far away from having success," he said. SMALL FORWARD PROBLEMS FOR PIES WHAT little hope Alan Didak had of making an opening-round comeback, against the Kangaroos at the MCG on Saturday, appeared to be extinguished on Saturday when the Collingwood forward was withdrawn from a VFL practice match, reports The Sunday Age. Didak was slated to appear for Collingwood's VFL affiliate, Williamstown, against Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval yesterday, to place the knee he had reconstructed at the end of last season under the strain of match conditions for the first time. Instead, he was mothballed for at least another week and effectively ruled out of the Magpies' first game. "He won't play or, I should say, he almost certainly won't," said Collingwood football operations manager, Geoff Walsh. The delayed start for Didak, the 2006 Copeland Trophy winner, appeared to be a loss that was compounded when Paul Medhurst, the artful small forward who might have deputised for him on Saturday, finished the match with his troublesome left foot packed in ice. BOMBERS TURN TO SCIENCE ESSENDON has turned to the sports science lab this season in its quest for more on-field endurance, reports the Herald Sun. The Bombers have been involved in V02 max-testing with the University of Ballarat to help map out the players' peak training intensity. The V02 max-test measures the amount of oxygen a person uses during exercise. The higher the V02 max, the higher the person's endurance level. Bachar Houli, Brent Stanton and Andrew Welsh have been among the top performers in testing. Brendan O'Brien, an exercise physiologist with the university, said the best players were not far off the pace of top international athletes. "The boys do a test where they start at 9km an hour and we increase the speed by 1km per hour, per minute, basically until the guys have had enough," O'Brien said. "What we have been finding is these athletes can potentially get up to say 20-22km per hour, which is fairly impressive. Your very good endurance runners that compete internationally, say in 5-10km, they would probably be able to get to 23-24km an hour. What we're gauging is how good an endurance athlete they really are." Essendon backman Adam McPhee said the test was as gruelling as any he had done in football.
Last Modified on 29/09/2010 15:05