Short break puts Power on ice

Port Adelaide skipper Dom Cassisi will be among a host of top-line Port Adelaide players to be rested for the second round of the NAB Cup. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide will rest up to six first-choice players against Melbourne at Renmark on Sunday.

Rather than make a push to win the NAB Cup, the Power is mindful of its six-day break between rounds two and three of the pre-season competition and wants to manage its players' workloads.

"We'll probably rest between four and six regular players," senior assistant coach Alan Richardson said.

"Winning the NAB Cup is not part of our preparation, it's all about preparing our team for the season proper.

"So we'll rest a few guys who have done a lot of the pre-season work and could do with a spell. Those guys will probably play the week after." Port, which has a 1-1 NAB Cup record, plays West Coast in Alice Springs six days after meeting the Demons.

Richardson said the Power had not decided which players would sit out the Dees clash.

"We'll have that discussion over the next couple of days but we'll still be picking a very competitive side," he stressed.

Richardson said ruckman Matthew Lobbe was likely to play his first game of the season after recovering from a minor hamstring strain but former skipper Dom Cassisi would be kept on ice as he recovers from serious illness and a calf strain.

Robbie Gray (knee), John Butcher (hip) and Brent Renouf (knee) remain on the long-term injured list, while ace recruit Angus Monfries will be sidelined for at least two more weeks after straining a hamstring in the Summer Showdown against the Crows.

Heralded first-round draft pick Ollie Wines is expected to be in the 24-man squad, along with fellow exciting recruits Jake Neade and Kane Mitchell.

"We'll give a few of our new guys another crack to play in a high-level game and see how they cope," Richardson said.

"While some guys will rest, the game will provide us with another great opportunity to continue the work we've done over summer under a new coach, including our structures and methodology."

Sunday's game starts at 4pm.

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Mick's boundary riders ahead

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse speaks to his players at halftime in the NAB Cup clash against GWS. Source: Getty Images

CARLTON says it is no Collingwood clone despite the boundary-hugging style of play implemented by coach Mick Malthouse.

Malthouse's preference for a radically different long-kicking style was also evident in the Blues two NAB Cup wins on Sunday.

While playing only two 20-minute halves in the compressed Round 1 format, the Blues were the longest kicking side in the opening round of the pre-season competition. Last season they ranked 17th for long kicks.

Under Malthouse's predecessor Brett Ratten, Carlton often crept around the boundary (ranked sixth for boundary play last year), but the Blues were eclipsed only by West Coast in Round 1 of the NAB Cup for using the boundary.

Malthouse's side went through the corridor just 15 per cent of the time against Sydney and Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.

Carlton forward coach John Barker said yesterday rivals who believed they knew how Carlton would play had another think coming.

He said Malthouse had proved himself a master at staying ahead of football trends and being tactically innovative.

That means the style of play Malthouse used to take Collingwood to the 2010 premiership would not necessarily be copied at Visy Park.

"People said Mick will always coach one-on-one and then (Alastair) Clarkson put a zone in place and Rossy Lyon created the press and squeeze," Barker said.

"Well, Mick took the press to another level, so he went from one-on-one to having (Nick) Maxwell loose in defence, to pressing. He understands better than anyone the need to evolve.

"So I guess you can make judgments about knowing which way Mick will coach at your peril.

"At the end of the day what worked last year or three years ago won't necessarily work this year or next year. has a solid chance of qualifying for the NAB Cup final.

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'I want to be like Cousins': Mitchell

Kane Mitchell has quickly become one of the fittest players at Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

KANE Mitchell wants to be Port Adelaide's on-field answer to Ben Cousins.

The man who sports the hairdo made famous by Carlton premiership player Tom Alvin grew up idolising the 2005 Brownlow Medallist and models his hard-running game on him.

"Being from WA, Ben Cousins was a huge hero of mine," said Mitchell, Port's impressive rookie-list midfielder who has come from the clouds this pre-season to eye a round one start.

"He was just a tireless worker and I see myself in the same kind of ilk as a player on the field."

Mature-age pick-up Mitchell, 23, has emerged as a genuine chance to play for the Power in round one after a stellar pre-season where he has set the track alight with his speed and endurance, shone in a trial game and been among Port's best in the NAB Cup.

Short for a modern-day midfielder at just 174cm - "my grandfather was a jockey," he said - Mitchell is a ball of muscle who has quickly become one of the fittest players at the club.

His elite endurance skills and ball-winning ability helped him match West Coast star Matt Priddis' record Sandover Medal tally last year (58 votes) and play a key role in back-to-back premiership wins with WAFL club Claremont.

His chance at the big time could come soon.

The Power is considering promoting him - his lookalike Darren Pfeiffer appears the other main option - to the senior list for the injured Nick Salter, who has been placed on the long-term injury list with foot stress fractures.

"It's unfortunate that Salts is on the long-term injury list because every time he's on the track he trains the house down but it might present an opportunity for one of our four rookies (Danny Butcher and Justin Hoskin are the others) to get elevated," said Mitchell.

"I want to play AFL - being on a senior list has been a goal of mine - but I've just got to make sure I continue to work hard and we'll see what happens."

The No. 5 selection at the December rookie draft says he has taken to AFL training "like a duck to water". As for his trademark long hair, Mitchell makes no apologies for his occasionally untidy look.

"I shaved my head in Year 12 and I looked terrible, so I thought I'd better grow it," he said. "I've had the long hair for five years now and it seems to work.

"My dad's pretty much bald so I'm going to keep it until I start going bald too."

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Kemp, Morris recall heavy hits

Dean Kemp quit football early because of fears of the lasting effects of his many concussions. Picture: Joe Sabljak Source: HWT Image Library

NUMBING of the fingers and hands plus diminished eyesight led to West Coast star Dean Kemp retiring from the game prematurely in 2001.

Kemp was 32 and a veteran of 243 games for West Coast when he was forced to retire.

At the time he was concerned for what the future held if he continued being concussed.

"I was concussed seven or eight times. In the end I was getting concussed very easily, with even a body shot leaving me with the same symptoms as a hit to the head," Kemp said yesterday from Western Australia, where he runs the Dean Kemp Football Development and Leadership Program.

"In the end I wore a helmet but it didnt help me at all, not one bit. I started to worry about what I would be like down the track. Will there be side effects when I'm 50 or 60?

"Every now and then I have some little things that happen but I guess for someone who has been hit around the head a lot, Im as good as I could be."

Kemp has no problems with the way he was treated by the Eagles, although he admits "they seem to keep a closer eye on it than when I was playing".

"There is research to say we are going in the right direction. But I would be worried if a youngster got concussed a couple of times. It is something which can affect everyone differently."

MORRIS RECALLS SLOWED REACTIONS

FEW players have been concussed as severely as Hawthorn's Russell Morris was in Round 12 of 1987 at Carrara Oval.

Many well recall the sight of Morris convulsing on the ground after copping an elbow from Brisbane's Jim Edmond.

As Morris lay twitching, the scoreboard operator thought it opportune to run "COP THAT" at a time when the immediate future of Morris was still in doubt.

Morris spent the night in the Southport Hospital before flying home with the team, while Edmond received six weeks suspension for his errant elbow.

"At no stage did I suffer headaches or migrane, it was more vomiting. I missed the next week and then played against Hawthorn out at Waverley," recalled Morris yesterday.

"What I noticed was how much slower my reaction time was. I kept getting caught and by 31 my reactions had really slowed. Was that connected to the hit from Jim? Who knows?"

Morris believes the AFl deserves credit for being proactive in research into head injuries.

"The AFL has been a pioneer in this field and spend plenty to unearth the best technology to measure symptoms in the brain."

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AFL's new head injury plan

AFLPA chairman Ian Prendergast says the AFL must do everything it can to protect players. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

AFL club medical officers will have more detailed guidelines on concussion by the start of the season.

Updated policy for assessing and treating head trauma in the game is to be announced at a conference at Etihad Stadium in three weeks.

The focus on concussion, particularly possible degenerative effects, was emphasised by the plight of dual Brownlow Medallist Greg Williams, who suffers memory loss and mood swings.

"I was very distressed to see what Greg is suffering from," AFL chief medical officer Dr Hugh Seward said.

"It was a surprise to me because the ex-footballers I've encountered haven't been suffering a higher degree of dementia.

"I hope it's not a widespread problem ...  Greg has got to have appropriate investigations and medical assessment to determine what the basis of his problems are. And until all of that's done we can't be definite of the association that has been drawn.

But we're still highly concerned about it."Dr Seward said the new guidelines were being formulated from a concussion conference attended by several AFL representatives in Zurich last November.

"It's a matter of fine-tuning what is already a vigilant approach to managing concussion compared to how things used to be in Greg Williams' era," he said.

The AFLPA is in the early stages of a survey of past players and operations manager Ian Prendergast described Williams' case as "very alarming". 

"Concussion is something we take incredibly seriously and we work closely with the AFL's concussion group to get a handle on as much information as we can to improve our knowledge of the injury and ensure measures are put in place to protect the players from the potential short and long-term impact," Prendergast said.

"It's too early to say what if any long-term effect it has on players who suffered a number of concussions during their careers. But in light of stories like Greg's and research from overseas, we must ensure we're doing every that we possibly can to protect players."

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Kick some rules into touch forever

THE last-touch, out-of-bounds free kick is gone for another year and it should be good riddance forever.

It is unfair. It contradicts the spirit of the game.

And players, coaches and fans dislike it.

Introduced to help speed up the first round of the NAB Cup, which is played across two 20-minute halves, it is a rule that should never be introduced into the season proper.

It begs the question: Why does it exist other than to quicken play? To have players pinged for running the ball across the line when they have gathered the ball 20cm from the boundary line is ridiculously unfair.

In the Gold Coast-Hawthorn game on Saturday night, a player grabbed the ball mid-air while going across the line and had a free kick paid against him.

The rule was first used in a lightning premiership in 1996 at Waverley Park, when it was howled down.

It disappeared and returned in 2011, and was also considered brutal in its interpretation.

The league has rid the game of absolute last touch - for example, when even dropped marks were paid against a player - and last season revised to last kick, last handball and carried the ball over.

It should disappear forever.

AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen said the rule would be reviewed, but refused to indicate whether changes would be introduced if, in fact, the rule survived for next year.

"The rules committee will be meeting after Round 3 of NAB Cup and will look at what had merits, and what may not have worked," Gieschen said yesterday.

He was bullish about the two rules to be introduced to the regular season this year - the separation of the ruckmen and contact below the knees.

"It's early on both of those rules, but contact below the knees creates a safe environment and encourages players to stay on their feet," Gieschen said.

Clearly, the jury is out on front-on contact.

At the weekend several free kicks were paid against players whose sole intention was to attack the ball.

It's a natural instinct in players such as Joel Selwood, Steven Morris and Campbell Brown who want the ball so badly, they throw themselves at ground-ball contests.

The new rule dictates that endeavour will be considered reckless and a free kick paid against the player.

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AFL's concussion headache

Hawthorn premiership ruckman Ian Paton has revealed his mental health battles after suffering head trauma throughout his AFL career. Source: HWT Image Library

HAWTHORN premiership ruckman Ian Paton yesterday joined dual Brownlow medallist Greg Williams in revealing his struggle with mental health since hanging up the boots.

At least five more former AFL stars are taking part in a university study into the long-term affects of head injury and concussion, and it is hoped an entire premierhip team from the 1970s will also be involved.

Williams also said yesterday he had been contacted by "five or six" other former players seeking help.

Paton said he "used to get knocked around a fair bit".

"Greg Williams said he got knocked down about three times - God, I lost count how many times I got knocked down," Paton said.

"A couple of times even at training you got knocked out."

The 1978 and 1983 premiership ruckman revealed he was diagnosed with depression about 15 years ago.

He also has issues with short-term memory and reaction times.

"I've been on medication for that (depression) for years," Paton said.

"You're just feeling down and terrible and withdrawn. I've been to quite a few doctors about it and medication helps a bit - but the minute you go off it you start feeling s---house again.

"There's also moods and a little bit of anger and stuff and you try to keep it under control as best you can."

Asked if his test results from Deakin University helped explain his problems, Paton said: "I'm finding it interesting and I think also my wife is finding it interesting.

"It helps them understand a little bit as well about what can go wrong."

Paton's complete test results will not be known for several weeks, but he said he believed there was a trend of players in his era suffering from mental health issues in later life.

"There is definitely a problem there with ex-players," Paton said.

Williams, who believes he is suffering from symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy - a degenerative brain disease - said he had already been contacted by other former players.

"Five or six players have rang me and they are suffering the same problems and they don't know what to do. Now I know what I'm doing and they want the same help as me," Williams said yesterday.

Former Western Bulldog Matthew Robbins came forward last year, revealing he was diagnosed with severe depression towards the end of his 146-game career.

He suffered several head traumas, including a collision that left him in hospital.

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Dons to unleash Daniher on Tigers

Essendon are set to unveil prized youngster Joe Daniher in this weekend's NAB Cup clash against Richmond in Wangaratta

Joe Daniher dominated Essendon's pre-season intra-club match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

IT may have been a low-key scratch match with just a handful of construction workers watching, but for Essendon fans it could well prove to be the start of something special.

The much-anticipated debut of Joe Daniher did nothing to hose down the hype that has surrounded him for the past 12 months.

In an eye-opening performance on Friday at the club's new training facility at Tullamarine, the 201cm father/son recruit kicked a handful of goals and pulled down a dozen marks at full-forward, opposed mainly by experienced defender Tayte Pears.

He is now likely to be selected for the Bombers' NAB Cup clash with Richmond in Wangaratta on Saturday night."He was impressive," Essendon football operations manager Danny Corcoran said.

"He certainly showed he's not out of place in senior company at all.

"No-one was keeping score but I reckon he kicked five goals.

"That was his first match back and probably because of the extra interchange (for this week's NAB Cup games), he may be a chance to play."

Daniher, who turns 19 next week, had a minor knee operation over the summer, which slowed down his progress in the pre-season.

The tall left-footer has been widely touted as one of the best junior players to emerge from the draft for years.

He was seen as a certain No.1 pick but the Bombers were able to snare the son of Anthony Daniher at No.10 through the father/son rule.

The Bombers will welcome back captain Jobe Watson and defender Ben Howlett for the Richmond game.Key midfielder David Zaharakis (quad) is back to full training but won't play on Saturday.

Jake Melksham (hand) is also another week away.

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Rising Sun Rory ready for Roos

OVER THE TOP: Gold Coast Suns defender Rory Thompson rolled his ankle in his club's first of two NAB Cup matches on Saturday night. Source: The Courier-Mail

RORY Thompson may yet to have caused much of a ripple outside the Suns, but when he rolled his ankle last Saturday the shudder that went through the coach's box left Guy McKenna nauseous for days.

Thompson, a low-fuss defender, has quietly become one of the Suns' most important players.

He was playing on Hawk star Lance Franklin when he re-injured the same ankle that needed surgery last year, restricting him to five games.

It forced him out of the Suns' second game against the Brisbane Lions but he said yesterday club doctors said he had escaped any serious damage and he hoped to play against the Kangaroos in Townsville on Saturday.

"It was a slight roll, nothing major at all," he said.

"I was just unlucky the way I came down on it and it wasn't worth the risk of going out there for the second game.

"It is the same foot I injured last year but it is on the other side of the ankle, I don't think they are linked."

Thompson has become something of an accidental hero for McKenna.

He played all his junior football as a forward and in the ruck and was picked up as a Queensland zone selection as a project player.

No one back then would have had his name down in the club's first premiership side, but these days he is one of the first players picked.

Thompson was thrown into the back half by reserves coach Shaun Hart midway through the Suns' first season and two weeks later he was playing key defence in the seniors, holding his spot for the remainder of the year.

He went into the Suns' second season as their first-choice defender, with McKenna intending to use vice-captain Nathan Bock in attack.

"When I first went back there I was thinking, 'That's not my go'," he said.

"But I love it back there now, it suits how I play and I'm very happy."

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