Mick in control of NAB Cup

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse will steer his side in the NAB Cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MICK Malthouse will look to make an immediate impression on Carlton players by taking charge of all of the Blues' NAB Cup matches.

In the second half of his time as coach of Collingwood, Malthouse allowed his assistant coaches to take charge on match day during the pre-season series.

But Carlton football operations manager Andrew McKay confirmed that Malthouse wanted to ensure his message was clear from the start.

"This is a different situation (as to when he was at Collingwood)," McKay said.

Summer Barometer: See how the Blues are shaping up

"I think his assistants are going to do the internal trial games (this year), and Mick will be doing the NAB Cup.

"He wants to make sure the messages are the way he wants them to be delivered and wants to make sure the players understand that.

Coach Mick Malthouse lays down the law at Carlton training yesterday. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun

"The internal games are different. He needs to be looking at both teams in those games, so it makes sense for the assistant coaches to coach in them."

McKay said Malthouse's approach had made an impact on the players ahead of NAB Cup games against Sydney and Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown on February 24. "Mick is a positive person and that has rubbed off on the players," he said.

McKay said the Blues were better placed in terms of fitness compared to last year.
 

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Kennett urges strike action

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the AFL must change its drugs policy. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the AFL must change its illicit drugs policy to avoid a tragedy.

Labelling the system "grossly unfair", the beyondblue chairman said the three-strikes policy was flawed and clubs should be informed earlier.

"I don't believe the three-strike rule is appropriate, nor do I think it is fair to the players, or to their families or to their clubs," Kennett said yesterday.

"I hope that if (AFL boss) Andrew (Demetriou) is serious, just as initially they wouldn't move on concussion, they will recognise that if they are serious about drugs, then they have got to involve the clubs earlier than currently occurs.

"Three strikes and you're out - that is grossly unfair and it could lead to a situation where maybe you end up with a death."

Earlier notice wanted on drugs

AFL leaders meet for a historic drugs summit at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Club chiefs are expected to push for earlier notification of a player's positive drugs strike, with some support from clubs for the three-strikes policy to be stripped back to two.

Former Hawthorn midfielder Travis Tuck is the only player to record three strikes under the AFL illicit drugs policy - in 2010.

Kennett said clubs must be alerted earlier so they could support the player back to a "condition of good behaviour".

 "At the moment, a player gets suspended after three strikes without there necessarily being any outside assistance given to him," Kennett said.

"Often it's assistance given by club doctors, but not with the club's knowledge. But often a player needs more than that.

Summit to scrutinise Mad Monday

"You have got to look at who else in the club might be their friends, might be influenced by that player's behaviour, might be supplying that player with drugs. That can't be done by a doctor."

Kennett said a move to two strikes should be the first step.

"There are many who say it should be one strike and you are gone, but I don't think we're going to move to that position overnight," he said.

Demetriou said tackling mental illness would also be considered at the summit, with 50 per cent of players on a second strike dealing with mental health issues.

Kennett welcomed the move.

"It is something that should be tackled head-on," he said. "The biggest mind alterer in our society is alcohol and then there are drugs and then there is depression and often you don't know where people enter the cycle."

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Drug users in league of their own

Ex-Collingwood tall Shae McNamara says he was surprised more AFL players didn't test positive. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: HWT Image Library

FORMER Collingwood player Shae McNamara said he was surprised more AFL players had not tested positive to illicit drugs.

The American recruit, cut by the Pies last August after three years at the club, said party drug use was common in professional sport - and the AFL was not immune.

"People are definitely doing it and I'm surprised people aren't testing positive more often,'' he said yesterday.

"I mean that from high school to college to professional (athlete) in Germany and professional (AFL player) here, I'm surprised people haven't been caught ... and that goes across the league and across every sporting culture.

"They're kidding themselves if they want to lie and say 'Oh, no it doesn't happen or, not my boys or not my teammates', and that goes across the league and across every sporting culture.

"It's definitely out there, but AFL players are no different from basketball players, no different from rugby players to regular Joes. It's definitely a cultural thing to do speed and coke.

"As far as the athletes, I've never seen it. I just know and hear of it. I'm not a partier.''

McNamara has played sport across the globe.

He spent five years on a basketball scholarship at Marist College in Poughkeepsie New York, and played in the German regional football league before joining Collingwood ahead of season 2010.

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Sheedy: Drugs an 'ego issue'

Kevin Sheedy says drugs are an ego issue. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

VETERAN Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy says he will support anything that will keep all drugs out of football and sport.

He said tomorrow's AFL drugs summit was crucial.

"It is a very important issue to be putting on the table right now after seeing what has happened with the cycling,'' Sheedy said yesterday.

With an average player age last season of 21 years and 64 days, Sheedy said he no personal evidence of drug use at his club.

"I haven't heard of anything, but to be honest sometimes the coaches are that far away that they wouldn't know.

"It's more player managers and management that know that.

"To me, as far as I'm concerned, I will just go for anything that will keep the drugs out of sport.''

Sheedy said a lot of his players were 18 and 19-year-olds and he hoped their main priority would be trying to establish their careers.

He alluded that the drug problem could be with older players.

"Sometimes when you've got blokes with a lot money, a lot of kudos and a huge ego bigger than the moon, they think they are out there with the rock and roll stars of Hollywood and the world.'' Sheedy said.
 

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Players see holiday hazzards

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has already said the AFL needs to change its drugs policy. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun

AFL players will agree to more drugs scrutiny during the "volcanic" holiday period, proposing a doubling of hair tests that lead to in-season target testing.

But the AFL Players' Association will dismiss out of hand a push to include off-season hair testing in the three-strikes regimen.

It is also understood the players' union will refuse to consider a two-strikes policy at tomorrow's drugs symposium, despite former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett labelling the current three-strikes policy "grossly unfair" and dangerous to player welfare.

AFL heavyweights will meet at Etihad Stadium tomorrow to discuss perceived weaknesses in the policy.

A key discussion point will be the controversial off-season period during which players are potentially tempted by drugs.

At the AFLPA's December meeting of club delegates, players suggested doubling the hair-testing numbers would better identify those who required help with drug problems.

Players who test positive in one of the 100 or more hair tests each off-season would be target-tested as many as four or five times during the season.

Hair tests at the end of an off-season can detect a player's drug history dating back three to four months, but are not considered definitive enough to be used for in-season drug testing.

Hair testing also provides the AFL and the players' union with a reading on the level of drug use throughout the competition during the off-season.

But having voluntarily agreed to the hair-testing trial, the AFLPA will not relent and allow players to be urine tested during the off-season, believing they are entitled to some respite from the scrutiny they face when playing and training.

The AFLPA refused to comment yesterday in the lead-up to tomorrow's drugs forum, but already has conceded the self-reporting loophole that allows players to dodge positive tests with impunity would have to be tightened.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert in November spoke about "volcanic" off-season behaviour from players.

But any perception the players' association will fold on a range of issues is wide of the mark, despite several clubs pushing for significant change to the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

The league argues the target-testing aspect of the policy ensures repeat offenders will be caught.

Testing now occurs on Sunday and Monday mornings rather than mid-week, and is focused on players with strikes against their names or positive hair tests, rather than those who have had a clean slate for several years.

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All-Stars name Buddy skipper

Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin will captain the All-Stars. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

STAR Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin has vowed to work even more diligently on his goalkicking this year after being named captain of the Indigenous All Stars team.

Franklin will lead the All Stars in a clash against Richmond in Alice Springs next month in his first game since Hawthorn's 10-point Grand Final loss to Sydney.

He was one of the Hawks' best players, but conceded he and his teammates did not make the most of their scoring chances.

"We had a crack and gave everything we had, but some things didn't go to plan on the day," he said.

"There were players who were down and people who missed shots."

Summer Barometer: See how the Hawks are shaping up

Asked if he planned changes for 2013, Franklin - who turns 26 tomorrow - said: "I will practise my goalkicking a lot more."

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun to coincide with his appointment as All Stars skipper, Franklin:

WAS reluctant to speak about impending contract negotiations, saying he was leaving that to his manager Liam Pickering.

SAID he would push for a three-way International Rules series in which the Indigenous All Stars took on Australia and Ireland.

ADMITTED his elevation to the All Stars captaincy was one of his proudest moments.

SAID he wanted to help develop even better AFL pathways for indigenous players.

Franklin is eligible to become a free agent at the end of 2013, but said a new deal was not something he was thinking about now.

"Hawthorn has been a great footy club for me. I am coming up to my ninth season, but at this stage we are working through it," he said.

"I will leave all that to 'Pickers'."

Franklin was more expansive on the two-day indigenous camp with 60 players, followed by the match against the Tigers on February 8.

"I'm proud to be Aboriginal, to put the jumper on and play with all the guys and for all our families," he said.

"Micky O (All Stars coach Michael O'Loughlin) gave me a call and said he wanted me to captain the side, and I was over the moon.

"To get the chance to lead the best indigenous boys is going to be an unbelievable experience. Not only does it recognise the talent we have, it brings us together as a family.

"Personally, I would love to see the All Stars take on the Australia and Ireland teams. That would be great recognition for the indigenous players."

Franklin has images of an indigenous elder tattooed on his left shoulder, but wants to make just as lasting an impression on the pathways into the AFL.

"The talent indigenous players bring to the game has been amazing, but there has to be more players out there," Franklin said.

"The clubs do a great job, but the more players we can bring through, the better.

"When I finish footy, that's what I would like to be working on."
 

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Pies players admit drug use to AFL

Collingwood players contacted the AFL medical department after a late night last year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

A GROUP of Collingwood players self-reporting drug use to the AFL was one of the catalysts for tomorrow's historic drugs summit.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Magpies players - understood to be at least four - contacted the AFL medical department after one night's activities late last season.

The players escaped a strike under a contentious provision in the AFL's Illicit Drugs Policy.

Self-reporting occurs when a player admits to an AFL medical officer to having used drugs, whether deliberately or inadvertently.

It is not only Collingwood players who are reporting drug use to the AFL.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire last night was furious when contacted for comment.

"You're telling me that, but as far as I know at the Collingwood Football Club there is a clean slate because no player as far as I know has had any strikes, because we are not told," McGuire said.

"And that you've been told something two days before a drugs summit which was specifically called for by Collingwood dismays me greatly.

"It shows this drugs policy now to be a farce, where the one thing people could hold the hat on was confidentiality.

"If there is a problem at Collingwood, and even if I suspected something, I have no powers. This is the AFL's problem, why tell me?"

Magpies chief executive Gary Pert raised the need of a drugs summit when he spoke on the eve of the national draft of an alarming use of illegal drugs by players in the off-season.

He later described the players' behaviour as "volcanic".

The AFL yesterday would not confirm the the club with the raft of self-reporting players.

Self-reporting has been described as a loophole in the drugs policy - some players have taken advantage of the strike-free confession more than once.

The drugs summit tomorrow will discuss limiting self-reports to one a year per player.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said last night any loophole in the system would be eradicated.

"There's no doubt there is an agreement any loophole that can be used will be closed," Demetriou said.

The loopholes include a group of players self-reporting, just as the Magpies players did, or a player consistently self-reporting.

Praising the self-reporting mechanism, Demetriou said it encouraged players to come forward if "they have made a mistake or have an issue".

"What it has uncovered is blokes who have got mental health issues or other issues and it allows them to get treatment," Demetriou said.

"And then all those guys go into target testing.

"If they didn't self-notify they wouldn't be target tested or have their medical issues come to the fore."

Demetriou said one self-report per player per season would be one of many discussion points tomorrow.

"That's a topic that's already been discussed and it might be one of the resolutions," Demetriou said.

"There's no firm view about where we end up other than everyone knows there is a loophole that has to be closed."

Demetriou said he was expecting a spike in positive drug tests, not from testing hair in the off-season, which he said had shown no dramatic change, but from regular in-competition testing.

"We don't know why (there is a spike) ... is it a case of it being one bad year?" Demetriou said.

"Is it in line with what happening in the community where there has been a 21 per cent increase in drug use among young people?

"Is it peer pressure? It could be all those things.

"And, also, the police will talk about this ... it's freely available."

Demetriou said the summit wouldn't be confined to drugs, and would include discussion on alcohol and whether it could be beneficial to allow players to drink more through the season so their off-season wouldn't be so alcohol charged.
 

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McCartney can pick any Dog in pound

Tom Williams is over his foot injury, handing the Dogs a clean bill of health. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HWT Image Library

THE Western Bulldogs are on track to enter the NAB Cup with a full list to choose from with their sole injured player - Tom Williams - set to exit the rehabilitation group this week.

Assistant coach Shannon Grant said the key defender was over his foot troubles and, on the back of Daniel Giansiracusa's return from knee surgery this month, left the Dogs with a clean bill of health.

It shapes as a massive boost for second-year coach Brendan McCartney, who entered last year's NAB Cup with about six players - including Brian Lake, Adam Cooney, Dale Morris and Shaun Higgins - unavailable.

"By the middle of (this) week we'll have everyone on our list fully training, so we're in a pretty healthy state at the moment,'' Grant said.

Summer Barometer: See how the Dogs are shaping up this pre-season

"It's been good for us, we've managed the loads across the group quite well, so let's hope it stays that way.''

Dogs fans will get advanced screenings of prized draftees Jake Stringer, Jackson Macrae, Nathan Hrovat and Lachie Hunter in the NAB Cup as the Whitten Oval rebuild hits overdrive.

Welcome to the major league, lads: Jake Stringer and Jackson Macrae after being selected at No.5 and No.6 by the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Macrae, who has drawn comparisons to Scott Pendlebury for his crafty sidestep and vision, has stacked on 5kgs in muscle this summer, while No. 5 pick Stringer is completing extra bio-mechanical track sessions to fix his running gait after horrifically breaking his leg in 2011.

Grant said the Bulldogs would use the NAB Cup to blood their youngsters as well as get crucial minutes into their senior group.

"We haven't sat down and worked out exactly who will be playing and when but at this stage we're keen, as we were last year, to have a look at the younger kids and see how they're developing,'' he said.

"Our list has changed quite dramatically over the last couple of years, so to be able to get a look at our kids against quality opposition in the NAB Cup will be something to look at.''

A fully-fit Cooney, who avoided post-season surgery for the first time in four years, is reaping the rewards of specialist treatment on his right knee in Germany last year.

"He's training well. I think having a good break over the off-season and getting across to (Germany) for the treatment helped,'' Grant said.

Bulldogs star Adam Cooney back on the track after injury. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun

"He's certainly revitalised and vibrant and looks like he's enjoying his footy at the moment and you can tell by the way he's training that that's the case."
 

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Happy end to Pie in sky plan

Shae McNamara is playing basketball again. Picture: Harman Stephan Source: HWT Image Library

WHEN American import Shae McNamara's AFL dream was snuffed out in December, he was thankful he had a back-up plan.

The 204cm Milwaukee giant would switch back to basketball.

The problem was, he hadn't touched a round ball in anger in three years.

"I had shoot around with Pendles (Magpie Scott Pendlebury), we'd played a bit of one on one, just horsing around," McNamara said.

Cut by Collingwood last August, he found his way to South East Australian Basketball League club Sandringham where he began training, hoping for a spot on their roster.

"I just thought it was another avenue to stay in this great city and great nation and just be an athlete," said McNamara, who lives near the Sandringham headquarters with his American fiancee Kari.

McNamara, 27, had played college ball in New York state and had spent a season with German Regionalliga club Dachau before he joined Collingwood as an international rookie for 2010.

He was a poster boy for the AFL's international push, famously uploading a YouTube clip pitching his wares to league clubs, but failed to play a senior game.

"In short it was kind of like a perfect storm against me in a sense - I'd never seen the sport, I was developing from scratch and I was coming into their (the Magpies) peak years," McNamara said.

"Bucks (coach Nathan Buckley) re-signed me to play forward-ruck and then I never had the chance to compete there.

"They gave it to (Chris) Dawes and he was thrown in the deep end. They got exposed, that's one of the reasons we didn't win the Grand Final.

"That's not Dawes' fault. He was put in a position for him not to succeed ... I was promised that I would have that spot or at least fight for it and I was thrown to defence, which I'd never played.

"That didn't make any sense to me or my teammates. I wish I'd had the opportunity to at least fail or succeed and I never had that."

His return to the game he loves came after his second shot at AFL slipped away.

He trialled for a tall man's spot at Hawthorn, receiving the bad news on December 11, rookie draft day, as he was working out in the Sandringham Sabres gym.

"As I'm walking out I'm just like 'oh man' and then literally two steps later I see the GM Vince (Sandringham chief executive Vince Crivelli)," he said.

"He goes 'So, big day hey?' I just showed him the iPhone with the text. And he reads it and says, 'unlucky but we want you, so you're good'."

McNamara now wants to play basketball in the NBL, or Europe again.

"This is essentially the off season so my opportunity is to use this as a resume builder. This is like an internship," he said.

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