Hat-trick jumper stirs past glory

The Brisbane Lions will wear a commemorative premiership hat-trick jumper in matches against Essendon and Collingwood this season. Picture: David Caird Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their premiership hat-trick by wearing a commemorative jumper against Essendon and Collingwood this season.

The traditional side-on Lion logo will adorn the guernsey for the Round 8 clash with the Bombers at Etihad Stadium on May 18, and the Round 10 Gabba clash against Collingwood.

It will also carry the 41 names on the senior list from 2001-03 to have played one game or more. But the re-emergence of the old Lion is set to open old wounds.

Brisbane abandoned the established Lion figure at the end of 2009 for a design likened to the "Paddlepop Lion", which attracted widespread outcry - particularly from Fitzroy fans, who initiated legal action before reaching a settlement with the club.

A section of the Lions faithful hoped the club would revert to the traditional logo when former CEO Michael Bowers was shown the door in 2010. But the Lions are standing firm on the modern design.

"The modern Lions logo covers the entire club from the Lions Academy, right up to our stars in the AFL," club CEO Malcolm Holmes said.

Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown is looking forward to honouring the club's glory years.

"While I love our current jumper, this guernsey is special to many because of those three flags," he said.

"There probably aren't too many of us left that have played in the guernsey so we'll be out to do it proud."

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Giesch takes a stand

AFL Football Operations Manager Mark Evans says the current video goal review system isn't "perfect" and can't gurantee it will remain until the end of the season.

Herald Sun cartoonist Macca's take on the straddling debate. Source: Herald Sun

AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen has defended the goal umpires' right to straddle the line.

The positioning of goal umpires has come under scrutiny after official Dale Edwick was partly in the field of play when a shot from Richmond's Matt White struck him on the leg.

No goal review was called, but Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believed the ball crossed the goal line.

The AFL has asked if umpires can stand where they are not on the field.

"I would think that first of all, let's get it so the ball doesn't hit the umpire in the first place," AFL football operations boss Mark Evans said.

"We've asked the umpires to look at whether, in an instance where the ball is rolling towards the goal line, that goal umpire, if he can't get to the opposite side so the ball is rolling away from him ... is there a position that the goal umpire can take so he doesn't actually come on to the field of play?"

 Gieschen said umpires had been straddling the line for years.

"They do that because they want to try and adjudicate accurately touched balls on the line," he said.

"If they're not on the line people are going to say, 'Why aren't they on the line?'

"If they are on the line they run the risk of getting hit a few times and that's exactly what happened on the weekend."

The AFL has declared a goal review should have been called.

"He was extremely confident, and that's the reason why he didn't call for a score review," Gieschen said.

"The goal umpire knew exactly where it hit him and where he was in relation to the line."

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Knee injuries not uncommon: AFL

Long term injuries to Cyril Rioli and Tex Walker a huge blow for AFL.

Adelaide Crows forward Taylor Walker being helped off the MCG by trainers. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

Injured Crow's star Taylor Walker leaves the ground on crutches. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Limited

THE AFL is not concerned by the amount of season-ending knee injuries that have occurred this year.

Adelaide's Taylor Walker yesterday became the 13th player this season to fall victim to a year-ending knee injury, with scans confirming he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

He will have a traditional knee reconstruction in the coming days following his sickening fall in the first quarter of Saturday's loss to Carlton at the MCG.

But the chief of the AFL medical officers association, Dr Hugh Seward, said a high ratio of knee injuries at this time of the season is not uncommon.

The 2012 AFL Injury Report states 16 players had knee reconstructions last year, but most were the result of early-season incidents.

By the completion of Round 5 there were already 11 players on the long-term injury list owing to knee injuries.

There were 12 players on the long-term injury list after Round 5, 2011 because of knee injuries -- the same as now -- seven in 2010, eight in 2009 and 11 in 2008.

Dr Seward said it was unfortunate to see so many players felled by knee injuries, but said he is not worried a new trend is developing.

"If you look back on each season, the first five or six weeks contain a similar number of ACL injuries,'' Dr Seward said.

"It appears to be a condition that is predominantly at the start of each season, so at this stage it doesn't look as if it's much different from the trend over the last 25 years.

"It probably relates to the hardness of the ground and the type of grass that grows over the summer as well as the condtioning of the players, their conditioning further improves as the season goes on.

"I'm asked the same question each year because it happens each year in the same way and we get a couple of high profile players go down.''

Walker, 23, also suffered damage to the lateral aspect of the joint in his knee.

He was one of three players to suffer year-ending knee injuries last weekend, Fremantle's Kepler Bradley and Collingwood's Alan Toovey being the others.

Adelaide general manager of football administration Phil Harper said the club is "devastated'' to lose Walker for the year.``But we know how professional he has become in his treatment of injuries,'' Harper said.

"He will be given the best possible treatment and rehabilitation program to help him get his knee prepared for the rigours of AFL football.''

THIRTEEN'S UNLUCKY

Players to suffer ACL injuries this year:
Claye Beams (B.L)
Kepler Bradley (Frem)
Alex Johnson (Syd)
Daniel Markworth (StK)
Daniel Menzel (Geel)
Anthony Morabito (Frem)
Jon Patton (GWS)
Alan Toovey (Coll)
Ryan Schoenmakers (Haw)
Matthew Suckling (Haw)
Taylor Walker (Adel)
Alex Woodward (Haw)
Stephen Wrigley (B.L)

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Rivals feast on soft Pies

Collingwood's defence is causing them a major headache this AFL season.

Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury clashes with Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis on Anzac Day. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD acting captain Scott Pendlebury called his teammates cheats - and there is evidence to support him.

The Magpies can be exposed as one of the biggest front-running sides in the competition, with their opponents scoring with ease from turnovers and stoppages in the Pies' defensive half.

Statistics supplied by AFL analyst Champion Data reveal an alarming set of figures that threaten to derail Collingwood's season.

Pies leaking points at a worrying rate

In what has been a worrying start to their campaign, the Pies have:

CONCEDED more points from opposition clearances (124) in their back half than any other side.

LEAKED 186 points from turnovers in their back half. Only Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney have conceded more from this source.

GIVEN up an average 106.4 points a game, fourth most in the league.

Collingwood legend Peter Daicos said the Pies had no reason to panic five weeks in, but there was "clearly cause for concern".

"They're not getting their hands on the pill and when they do they're not using it as well as they used to and not cutting sides up," Daicos said.

"Against the heavyweights they're being shown up."

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Bolters join Jobe, Harry and Cyril

Gold Coast sensation Jaeger O'Meara finds space against Greater Western Sydney. Picture: Kym Smith Source: Herald Sun

OUR Round 5 team has the perennials in Jobe Watson, Harry Taylor and Cyril Rioli joined by a trio of bolters in Rory Laird, Jon Griffin and Charlie Dixon.

The bearded Dixon has been huge for the Gold Coast Suns after an indifferent 2012 while Griffin is relishing the work-load created with the absence of Aaron Sandilands.

And Laird is a rookie promotion for the Crows who shows some real signs.

Then there is Jaeger O'Meara, a 19-year-old who compared very favourably with his illustrious teammate Gary Ablett against the Giants.

O'Meara would appear to be everything the good judges have been saying for the last couple of years.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: Lance Franklin (L) of the Hawks gets tackled by Scott Thompson of the Kangaroos during the round five AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 28, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

B: Michael Hibberd (Essendon): Has he played a bad game in 2013?

Ben Reid (Collingwood): Without him the Magpies would have been gone a lot earlier.

Scott Thompson (North Melbourne): Just another top job from the business-like defender

HB: Andrew Mackie (Geelong): Whether playing half back or wing, is just a class act.

Michael Johnson (Fremantle): Loved his composure when it mattered.

Andrew Walker (Carlton): So effective at either end.

C: Daniel Hannebery (Sydney): Is very much on the up.

Lenny Hayes (St Kilda): The old legs have a bit of life yet.

Jaeger O'Meara (Gold Coast): They boy is as good as they say.

HF: David Zaharakis (Essendon): Can run, win his own ball, and kick goals.

Harry Taylor (Geelong): Apologise for suggesting he be penned in as a defender.

Brent Moloney (Brisbane): He was the difference between the teams.

F: Steve Johnson (Geelong): His genius still flickers.

Charlie Dixon (Gold Coast): The big beard deserves his moment.

Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn): Has so much influence when the ball is in his area.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Jobe Watson of the Bombers runs with the ball during the round five AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

R: Jon Griffin (Fremantle): Has replaced the giant and getting better by the game.

Jobe Watson (Essendon): When it mattered there was Jobe leading the way.

Hamish Hartlett (Port): It has taken a while but the wait was worthwhile.

I: Brock McLean (Carlton): If you haven't already, get him in SuperCoach.

Steele Sidebottom (Coll): Can win a lot of ball in a short space of time

Travis Boak (Port): He and Hartlett are the AFL equivalent of Torvill and Dean.

Sub: Rory Laird (Adelaide): Loved his attack on the ball when he got his chance.

Coach: James Hird (Essendon): Won a close one over Ken Hinkley, mainly due to the calibre of opposition.

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Live chat with Crow Josh Jenkins

IT wasn't too long ago Adelaide was facing off against Hawthorn for a spot in an AFL Grand Final.

On Saturday, the Crows will be fighting for their 2013 survival against the in-form Hawks at AAMI Stadium.

Josh Jenkins will be one of the Crows expected to step up and fill the breach left by inured spearhead Taylor Walker.

Lewis Stevenson and Shaun McKernan also in the mix to join the short-handed forward line.

Throw your questions at Josh from 3pm (ACST) Thursday in the live blog below.

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Eagles consider Glass appeal

All the latest news from the AFL's Match Review Panel.

West Coast may contest the two-match ban handed to skipper Darren Glass for rough conduct. Source: Getty Images

A CONFUSED John Worsfold says West Coast is seriously considering challenging the two-match ban handed to skipper Darren Glass.

Glass was hit with the suspension following his report for rough conduct towards Port Adelaide's Paul Stewart on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old's poor recent record with the match review panel meant his initial sanction was increased from two matches to three, but Glass can accept two with an early plea.

Glass will face three weeks on the sidelines if he unsuccessfully appeals.

Worsfold said the uncertainty surrounding the charge had left the Eagles considering an appeal overnight.

"We're thinking about contesting it, but whether we do or not, that will be decided in the morning," Worsfold told 6PR.

"It's certainly not a cut and dry one, I don't think. There's a lot of doubt there around what the charge was over.

"There's always that risk if you challenge it now...you may end up with three weeks or it could go your way and you end up with none or one."

If Glass accepts the ban or fails to overturn it on appeal, Will Schofield is poised to earn a recall for Sunday's clash against the Western Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium.

Schofield was dropped from the team which lost to Port Adelaide, but Worsfold denied the running defender has been omitted because of poor form.

"We're pretty pleased with how Will's going, but we thought Mitch Brown would be a better match-up for (Justin) Westhoff," Worsfold said.

"It was a selection issue, not so much us being unhappy with Will. He probably had his best game for the year last week (against Carlton), but still missed out.

"He's certainly not out of our thinking or consideration."

The Eagles have a host of players listed as "test" on their weekly injury list, including key recruit Sharrod Wellingham and ruckman Nic Naitanui.

Wellingham (ankle) and wingman Matt Rosa (thigh) are almost certain to play against the Bulldogs, but Naitanui (groin) is unlikely to be rushed back.

Naitanui's WAFL team Swan Districts have the bye this week and Worsfold does not envisage him playing in the WAFL reserves.

"I think Nic's the sort of player that it's not going to take him too long to impact games of footy," Worsfold said.

"I don't think he's the sort of player that would be worried about getting 'touch' in the WAFL first.

"When the conditioning staff update us on where he's at and they believe he's ready to play some footy without getting injured, I expect we'll be looking at him to come straight back into the side.

"But if they say he can only play 50 or 60 minutes, we then have to weigh up whether we can go along with a player playing only that many minutes."
 

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Footy needs smart balls for goals

AFL Football Operations Manager Mark Evans says the current video goal review system isn't "perfect" and can't gurantee it will remain until the end of the season.

The AFL is investigating the use of microchipped ball to solve the recent goal umpiring and score review controversies. Picture: Michael Klein

MICROCHIPPED footballs could be the answer to the AFL's goal-line review woes, but league football operations boss Mark Evans says there is no technology currently available that suits the code.

Evans yesterday admitted the system, again under fire after Tiger Matt White's shot on goal appeared to cross the line but hit the goal umpire and rebounded into play, wasn't perfect but it expected it would remain for the rest of the season.

Geelong's Billie Smedts kicked what most believed to be a long goal against the Bulldogs on Saturday, only for it to be judged to have hit the post -- with no review called.

Evans said 1 per cent of scores were reviewed and said the league was considering options, including new cameras and a microchipped football.

"My personal view is that microchipping the ball will lead us down the path towards a better solution," Evans said.

"But there are other systems that are camera-based systems, some that triangulate where the position of the ball is and others that use a magnetic force.

"We'll look at all of those, but at the moment the clear message is there's no system out there . . . that covers the complexities of our game."

Evans said a system soon to be introduced for soccer's World Cup would cost $250,000 to fit out each stadium, and up to $4000 a match to run.

"The question for us is, does it actually suit our purposes or not? We'll talk to those people and see whether they could perhaps even come out and run a trial for us," he said.

Evans said he was unsure when a new AFL system could be in place or how much it would cost.

"That's dependent on when we can find the right technology first of all, then I think you'd need to have an appropriate time period where that's tested," he said.

He also said two goal umpires at each end wasn't the answer.

Evans gave qualified support to the system remaining while the league assessed better technology.

"There are two options for this year, really. You can either run the system that we have got or that you can get rid of it and go back to the goal umpires' call," he said.

"The system is there to prevent a couple of howlers.

"At the moment we have a system where we can correct the absolute errors and that's got to be better than not having it at all, at the moment.

But later, Evans answered "no" when asked if he could guarantee the current system would stay for the rest of the season.

Evans said video evidence this year was more inconclusive than last year, when the review system was introduced.

"Last year the camera system showed about two-thirds of them (the reviews) were conclusive -- either backing the goal umpire's original view or changing that view on the odd occasion," he said.

"This year the vision seems to be much more skewed to being inconclusive.

DISPELLING CONFUSION, ERRORS - AN ADMIRABLE GOAL

Some options open to the AFL on goal-line adjudication

GoalControl

Will be used at the Confederations Cup in June and, if a success, next year's FIFA World Cup

* Fourteen cameras mounted on the stadium roof and focused on both goal mouths. Captures three-dimensional position of the ball. When the ball crosses the goalline, referees' watches vibrate and light up.

Hawk-Eye

To be used in the English Premier League next year

* Seven cameras on each goal, the most common location on the roof but can be flexible. As soon as the system detects that the ball has crossed the goalline, it sends a signal to officials' watches.

GoalRef

Was considered for FIFA World Cup

* Uses a chip in the ball and low-frequency magnetic fields. Goal message is sent instantaneously to referees' watches.

CAIROS

Was considered for FIFA World Cup

* A magnetic field is created behind the goalline. Cables are installed in the turf to generate the field. Sensors in the ball recognise the magnetic field as soon as the ball comes into them.

Four goal umpires

* Ron Barassi has been talking about it for decades and it was trialled in the 1996 pre-season. AFL football operations boss Mark Evans isn't a fan: "Having two goal umpires won't solve whether the ball has been touched off the boot or touched in flight."

Old school

Two goal umpires. That's it.

* Unlikely AFL will go back to the future.

Status quo

* Current system. Two umpires, with video review open to field umpires and stand officials. Vision pulled from match broadcasters.

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Rioli out for two months

Long term injuries to Cyril Rioli and Tex Walker a huge blow for AFL.

Cyril Rioli leaves the field after hurting his hamstring. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN has suffered a huge blow with Cyril Rioli set to miss the best part of two months with a hamstring injury.

Carlton's Bryce Gibbs will also spend time on the sidelines with a hamstring strain, but he is likely to miss only one week in what was better news for the defender.

Rioli suffered a high grade tear to the lower part of his right hamstring during the final quarter of Sunday's win against North Melbourne.

The Hawks livewire will not require surgery, but the club has already conceded the 23-year-old will not play before its bye in Round 11.

"It's probably not looking too good,'' Rioli said yesterday.

"I just remember hearing and feeling a pop and I went down.

"I'd love to be out there every week, but these sort of things happen and I think it will give me a good break mentally from footy.''

The damage Rioli's absence could cause was no more apparent than Sunday considering, before he went off, he was a huge part of why the out-of-sorts Hawks were able to topple the Roos.

Rioli, who was walking with a considerable limp yesterday, said the injury was all the more frustrating considering his previous history with hamstring troubles in both legs.

Teammate Grant Birchall said Rioli's injury was a blow.

"He's obviously very explosive and a very damaging player,'' Birchall said.

"He's pretty hard to replace with his skill level and his ball winning ability and his goalkicking and all that sort of stuff, so he'll be sorely missed.

"But we've got some good depth, so I'm confident whoever comes in can fill the void pretty well.''

Gibbs was substituted during the third quarter of Saturday's win against Adelaide after feeling tightness in his hamstring.

Scans yesterday revealed a low-grade strain and the Blues wasted no time in ruling Gibbs out for the weekend's clash with lowly Melbourne.

"By missing this week's game and then having an extended eight day break, we will evaluate how Bryce recovers and reassess next week his availability for the round seven Monday night match,'' Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

PORT Adelaide's Jackson Trengove will miss "an extended period of time'' with a foot injury according to high performance manager Darren Burgess.

The 22-year-old key defender had surgery yesterday after scans revealed a fracture in his foot.

"After an incident in the game (against West Coast) we thought it was only a minor foot issue, but given that he was unable to continue playing we had it investigated and found a metatarsal fracture,'' Burgess said.

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