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AFL 360 - question approach, not umps

Written By Unknown on Senin, 06 Mei 2013 | 23.27

Daniel Talia tries to get his hands on Buddy Franklin at AAMI Stadium. Source: Getty Images

WHY is Adelaide - a team that won 17 of 22 AFL home-and-away games last year - at 2-4 this season?

How can the Crows - who won 11 of 12 games at AAMI Stadium in 2012 - have a 1-3 record at home this season?

Where is the attacking power that allowed coach Brenton Sanderson to establish the highest-scoring Crows team last season (106 points)? Adelaide is today averaging 88 points, falling back to the ineffective numbers from Neil Craig's final seasons in 2010 and 2011.

What has happened to the imposing midfield that had Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling declare Adelaide would win the AFL premiership based on its talent and rotations through the centre zone? Only Patrick Dangerfield is excused from review in this question.

After a summer of concerted training on tackling - and then remedial work with two rugby union experts - why have the majority of the Adelaide players shown no significant improvement in their tackling?


Each of these questions has more merit in salvaging Adelaide's season than concentrating on one umpire's call on Crows midfielder Scott Thompson in a marking contest with Hawthorn ruckman David Hale.

Keep in mind that umpiring decision was made at the seventh minute of the last term. Hawthorn scored four unanswered goals in seven minutes after the 19th Man rose in outrage in a contentious free kick.

Where was the mental steel in the Adelaide players to ensure they were not derailed by a free kick?

There were 20 minutes of football to play - to protect a reputation of never losing two games in a row under Sanderson's watch and to honour key defender Ben Rutten in his 200th game.

Sure, there is need for clarity on the laws of Australian football - and more critically the interpretations.

But the bigger question today is: Where is the Adelaide Football Club, on and off the field?

In the front office, new chief operating officer Nigel Smart is busy reviewing how the business works - and how it can achieve greater results, particularly on the critical bottom line.

In the revamped football department, list manager David Noble is living the fable of the best plans of mice and men falling apart.

New needs - particularly in attack - have emerged as the black-cat curse returned to claim key forward Taylor Walker and respected players such as Jason Porplyzia struggle to impose themselves in games.

The highly rated but under-performing midfield appears in need of a rethink.

But Noble and recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie's jobs in dealing with these new challenges are compromised by the draft penalties from the Kurt Tippett saga. Adelaide's ability to trade into the first and second rounds of November's national draft does not look promising when the Crows do not have players excess to needs.

There is a challenge at West Lakes. It deserves more time than questioning umpires.


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Umps' apology won't help Crows

Inconsistent umpiring over the weekend forced AFL Umpires boss Jeff Gieschen to clarify exactly what the rules are regarding the marking contest.

A controversial free kick paid against Adelaide's Scott Thompson swung the momentum Hawthorn's way in the last quarter of their AAMI Stadium classic.

Adelaide's Scott Thompson can't believed he was denied a mark against Hawthorn. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson has two apologies from AFL umpiring boss Jeff Gieschen, neither of which change Adelaide's challenge to solve its on-field form.

Gieschen has not only apologised for field umpire Ray Chamberlain calling a free kick against Crows midfielder Scott Thompson for fending off Hawthorn ruckman David Hale at AAMI Stadium on Saturday - but also a marking contest involving Thompson against Carlton a week earlier.

Each incident is in the last quarter with Gieschen admitting to Sanderson the calls against Thompson were at "vital stages" of the games.

Adelaide's official stand after the Gieschen apologies was to maintain the 11-point loss to Hawthorn was not a result of the Thompson free kick. And at 2-4 - and with finals hopes on the edge - the Crows say they have much to worry about than umpires making mistakes.


The call against Thompson - that denied the midfielder a shot on goal in the seventh minute of the last term - does demand clarity for the Crows players and the fans.

Gieschen says players can use their forearms to fend off opponents in a marking contest. But they cannot put their hands in the back of an opponent.

Gieschen also is warning player on how far they can extend their arm to keep an opponent out of a marking contest.

"You can use your forearm as a bumper bar, just to put it up if players are coming back on you (in a marking contest)," said Gieschen. "But you can't extend it out to push someone out of the way."

Of the Thompson-Hale incident, Gieschen concluded: "There was a little bit of incidental contact on the shoulder, but certainly not a push out.

"The questions you have to ask are: Was it a hand in the back? No, it wasn't. There was a bit of a touch on the shoulder.

"Was it a push out? No, it wasn't a push out either. To be a push out, there needs to be a degree of force, a straightening of the arm where there's a visible push out. In this case, no it wasn't a push in the back and it wasn't a push out in a marking contest."

Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane was both forgiving of umpire Chamberlain yesterday - and clear on what a player can do in a marking contest.

"That did not change the outcome of the game for us," said Sloane while Gieschen rang Sanderson to apologise for two decisions against Thompson. "Umpires make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. We make mistakes
as players.

"That (umpire) did not change the result. They got a run-on (kicking four unanswered goals) and we were not good enough to stop them."Of his understanding of the game's laws and interpretations, Sloane said: "You can't push anyone at all in a marking contest. We have to adjust to that. You have to use your shoulders, your hips - it is definitely more challenging when your first thought is to push off someone to give yourself more space."


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Change of heart for talented teen

Meyrick Buchanan will pursue footy. Picture: Colleen Petch

Meyrick Buchanan at draft camp

ONE of Victoria's most talented young cricketers has turned his back on the sport to pursue an AFL career.

Former Victorian and Melbourne Renegades batsman Meyrick Buchanan, 19, has rejoined TAC Cup club Geelong Falcons in a bid to be drafted in November.

Eighteen months ago the skilful small forward from Colac was considered a top-30 draft pick after a sparkling 2011 season with the Falcons.

A gifted all-round sportsman, Buchanan attended the draft camp that year and attracted interest from about 15 clubs as a likely second-round selection.

In a move that shocked recruiters, the lightly framed brother of 2005 Sydney premiership player Amon Buchanan made an 11th-hour switch to cricket.

However, after losing his Cricket Victoria rookie contract last week following a tough season, the Australian under-19 batsman has done another backflip, this time to football.

Falcons regional manager Michael Turner sought permission from the AFL and Football Victoria to list the slick goalkicker as a 19-year-old.

Buchanan's change of heart is a win for football, having lost top prospects Alex Keath and Mitch Marsh to cricket in recent years.

Buchanan, who turns 20 in September, faces a battle breaking into the top of the table Falcons outfit. He was due to resume training last night in a bid to build his fitness and reignite his AFL hopes.

Buchanan failed to play a game for the Bushrangers and Renegades last summer.

The former Victorian under-19 captain played his only Big Bash League match in 2011, scoring 11 runs opening the batting against Adelaide.


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Eagles need no Gabba motivation

West Coast captain Darren Glass gets a handball away under pressure. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast skipper Darren Glass says last year's shock loss to Brisbane will not be used as motivation ahead of Saturday's rematch at the Gabba.

The two-point defeat had huge ramifications for the Eagles, ultimately costing them a prized spot in the top four and the coveted double chance in September.

Eagles coach John Worsfold may show his team vision of that match from last June, but Glass expected any review to be purely for tactical purposes only.

"That's last year, that's gone and there's not much we can do about that now," Glass said.

"We might (watch the match) in terms of tactics, but not for motivation.

"A real focus (this week) will be on us playing the best footy that we can, so we'll see what happens from there."

The Eagles rebounded from its horror 1-4 start to the season on Sunday with a 70-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium.


Brisbane, meanwhile, continues to struggle despite having the same number of wins as West Coast, with Sunday's heavy loss to Sydney only increasing the pressure on embattled coach Michael Voss.

But Glass was quick to point out the Lions showed plenty of promise during the pre-season when they won the NAB Cup.

"They played some really good footy during the NAB Cup, but obviously haven't been playing so well over the last few weeks," Glass said.

"We expect them to be at their best come Saturday. They beat us up there last year so it's a good challenge for us."

Glass, who turns 32 next Tuesday, will play his 250th AFL match when the Eagles host North Melbourne next Friday night. He is currently sixth on West Coast's all-time games record list and has led the club on 107 occasions.

Only Worsfold (138) has captained the Eagles in more games than last year's All-Australian skipper.

Glass is unsure whether he will lead the side again in 2014, let alone if he will play at all next year, but felt his body could handle a 15th AFL season.

"Things change and there's still a long way to go in the year," he said.

"I haven't really thought about (next year) to be honest, but I would assume perhaps we would talk at the end of the year."

Meanwhile, small forward Brad Dick is unlikely to force his way into the side despite booting eight goals for WAFL club East Fremantle last weekend.

Eagles assistant coach Justin Longmuir said the former Collingwood forward needed to string together several good games before he could be consider for selection.

"Two weeks before that game he only had five and six possessions in each game," Longmuir told 6PR.

"But the way he got his goals was impressive. It was a great step forward."

Longmuir also said ruckman Nic Naitanui, who had his first run as a sub on Sunday, was likely to start against the Lions.
 


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Crows' collective goal

Adelaide's goals have to come from somewhere and with big problems up forward, all eyes are on the Crows' midfielders. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE'S midfield is coming under increased pressure to deliver goals - and goalscoring chances - as the Crows deal with another heavy blow to their options in a misfiring attack.

Lewis Johnston's hopes of filling the void created by the long-term loss of key forward Taylor Walker were sunk yesterday when scans revealed a fracture to his left knee. There is no ligament damage, sparing the North Adelaide-based goalkicker from joining Walker in an operating theatre for corrective knee surgery last night.

Johnston will be sidelined for at least two months.

He now has little chance of influencing Adelaide's campaign for consecutive finals appearances.

And without Johnston, Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson and forwards coach Mark Bickley are left with fewer choices while remodelling an attack that has fallen from the highest-scoring in the club's history (106 points) to managing just 88 this season.


With Adelaide's small and medium forwards out of form - and constantly being changed at selection - there is greater need for the Crows' highly-rated midfielders to contribute to the scoreboard.

But here too much is falling on Patrick Dangerfield, with Sanderson noting he is sacrificing his star midfielder's work in the centre square to make him a pinch-hitting forward. He is Adelaide's second-highest goalscorer with nine this season.

Meanwhile, Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane has kicked three goals this season - as many as he did in the first six games last year.

"We need everyone to contribute ... and not just rely on Dangerfield," said Sloane. "The frustrating thing is everything we have been practising has not correlated into games. We're practising for certain things, yet we're not seeing the result.

"We're getting clear messages (from the coaches). It is up to us as players to action it on the ground."

At 2-4, Adelaide's season is already on the line. But the draw offers hope, with the Crows to play bottom-10 clubs GWS, St Kilda and North Melbourne in the next three weeks.

"We had good patches (against Hawthorn) at the weekend but it was not good enough to get a win," said Sloane.

"Last year, in those tight games, we were renowned for winning.

"It starts this week against GWS - it's got to be full-on football, it has to be contested football, we have to win our stoppages, we have to get the ball going forward and we have to be clean with our possessions, because we did burn it at the weekend.

"We lacked poise going forward."


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Old, new in Team of Round

Nick Riewoldt celebrates his goal in the fourth quarter. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

AGE is not a barrier to AFL success judging by our Round 6 Team of the Round.

Prominently featured are Corey Enright, Darren Glass, Luke McPharlin, Luke Hodge, Dean Cox and Nick Riewoldt, all at least 10-year veterans of the competition and all playing good footy.

Then there are the kids, headed by the sheer class of Jeremy Cameron and complimented by Allen Christensen, Luke Shuey, Lewis Jetta, Michael Walters and Ryan Bastinac.

Daniel Hannebery and his Sydney midfield mate Jarrad McVeigh are taking the competition by storm while Travis Boak is putting together a season of rare consistency.

Chat live with Ando about his team from 9am EST.

On a mobile? Click HERE for a better chat experience.

 


BACKS

Corey Enright (Geelong): Just another game for Mr Consistent.

Darren Glass (West Coast): Is he the club's finest full-back?

Tom Mohr (GWS): Belied his unusual appearance to play a blinder.

Corey Enright celebrates a late goal in his 250th match with mate Steve Johnson. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HALF-BACKS

Luke Hodge (Hawthorn): Has returned in a rich vein of form.

Luke McPharlin (Fremantle): Is rising 32 but who would know it?

Dale Thomas (Collingwood): Relished the freedom of playing at half-back.

CENTRES

Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney): A key part of a prolific ball-winning midfield.

Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide): No wonder Geelong tried so hard to woo he and Boak.

Luke Shuey (West Coast): Taken a while but now back to full bore.

Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield takes off. Source: Getty Images

HALF-FORWARDS

Eddie Betts (Carlton): Carlton supporters can never complain about lack of excitement.

Jeremy Cameron (GWS): The closest thing to Royce Hart since Royce Hart

Allen Christensen (Geelong): Just how did he get through to 40 in the 2009 draft?

FORWARDS

Lewis Jetta (Sydney): Football is the winner when Lewis finds form.

Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda): Becomes exhausting watching his non-stop running.

Michael Walters (Fremantle): The young man known as "Sun Sun" is really humming.

RUCKS

Dean Cox (West Coast): Not ready to hand over the No.1 mantle to Nic Nat just yet.

David Zaharakis (Essendon): The Z-man is proving how much he was missed in 2012.

Ryan Bastinac (North Melbourne): A natural runner well suited in today's game.

Dean Cox celebrates a goal. Source: Getty Images

INTERCHANGE

Dan Hannebery (Sydney): Graduating from Rising Star to total star.

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood): Just rolls along at his own pace collecting possessions.

Travis Boak (Port Adelaide): Has he played a bad game this season?

Sub: Jed Lamb (Sydney): Really liked the look of this debutant.

Coach: Alan Richardson (Port Adelaide): Yes, they lost, but it might be my only chance to pick him. And Port was competitive.


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Ziggy report raises more Q's than A's

Essendon chairman David Evans says the buck stops with him, for the failings which led to the supplements saga at the Bombers.

Former Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun

THE Ziggy Switkowski report told us plenty, but not what we all want to know.

Did the players take banned drugs?

It wasn't Ziggy's job to find out.

There were, however, unconventional ideas, rapid diversification into exotic supplements, more injections, unfamiliar suppliers and medical staff marginalised, which altogether "created a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment".

Let's simplify that: The players were guinea pigs.

Ziggy interviewed everyone and anyone - but not Dean Robinson and Stephen Dank, the men who ran Essendon's supplements program - and found the football department was dysfunctional and bereft of clear leadership, and the medical department was fragmented.

Switkowski's report did not paint Essendon in a flattering light.

Who was to blame for such a shemozzle, however, was a tougher task.

He said of the football department: "Who was accountable for what is difficult to ascertain."

That does not mean there will not be casualties.

The Bombers have reserved their judgment on individuals until the joint ASADA/AFL investigation is completed.

Asked if he could guarantee jobs - and the insinuation was they were those of coach James Hird, head of football Danny Corcoran and chief executive Ian Robson - chairman David Evans was non-committal.

"I'm not guaranteeing anything," he said.

"The club has been through a tumultuous time and there's some change that needs to occur."

Robson position's is under fierce scrutiny.

The prime example, among many, of the breakdown in practices is the misplaced letter written by Dr Bruce Reid.

In the days leading up to January 15, 2012, Reid wrote a letter listing concerns about some practices in the sports science program.

On January 15, Hird, after consulting Reid, imposed strict reporting procedures surrounding the use of supplements, stressing that every supplement for players had to be ticked off by Reid. Those procedures were revealed in an email published in the Herald Sun on April 12.

What happened to Reid's letter is unknown.

Reid handed it to then football manager Paul Hamilton. The board never received it.

"We're confused as to where that letter went," Evans said yesterday. "Clearly that letter didn't go to who it should have."

Clearly, there were concerns inside the club at the start of last season.

Switkowski found there was a "lack of clarity" about who was in charge of the football department - Hamilton or Corcoran - even though Corcoran missed three months of the pre-season after the death of his wife and returned to the club in a type of liaison role.

At the same time, Reid was isolated and considered "yesterday's man", the sports science department introduced confidentiality forms, sought supplements from unknowns, used doctors outside of the club, and we already know they spent up to $100,000 over budget (although this is not stated in the public report).

The overriding feeling is that secrets were kept from the board, as well as from people within the football department.

Switkowski said the "CEO and the board" were not informed about any of it.

One conclusion that could be drawn is that Robson wasn't aware of Reid's letter.

Indeed, it's probably best for Robson he wasn't.

Still, it is difficult to accept Hamilton received a letter from Reid, which Hird was aware of, and put it in his top drawer and left it there.

Again, this saga continues to throw up questions without answers, such as why was Dank summoned to the Australian Crime Commission and and why won't he talk to ASADA?

That Switkowski did not talk to Dank makes his report important but not critical to the eventual outcome.

As usual, all roads lead to Dank. He denies he gave the players banned drugs, although the anti-obesity peptide AOD 9604, has been declared prohibited by ASADA. Documents seen by the Herald Sun last week showed it has been prescribed to some players.

The club, however, is more confident than ever the players are clear.

The problem is Switkowski could not tell us either way.

And, in the end, that remains the biggest question of all.

WINDY HILL

ESSENDON'S HOME, AND IN 2012, A ... "PHARMACOLOGICALLY EXPERIMENTAL ENVIRONMENT"

Essendon yesterday released an abridged version of the findings of a review into the management of its 2012 supplement program.

Below are some key findings in former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski's report.

"The period of interest begins with the recruitment of new personnel and leaders for the high performance team at the end of the 2011 season. This new group of experts in player strength and conditioning was given considerable space within which to operate and found little early resistance to their sometimes unconventional ideas.

"The rapid diversification into exotic supplements, sharp increase in frequency of injections, the shift to treatment offsite in alternative medicine clinics, emergence of unfamiliar suppliers, marginalisation of traditional medical staff etc, combine to create a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented within the club.

"The high performance team grew to seven staff in early 2012. Both the head of the performance unit (Dean Robinson) and the sports scientist (Stephen Dank) appeared to have credible qualifications in the sports science field and long periods of relevant experience in elite sport.

"Who was accountable for what (in the football department) was difficult to ascertain. The responsibilities of two key staff (Paul Hamilton and Danny Corcoran) overlapped and the new fitness team was able to largely ignore their attempts at direct management. Added to this is a senior coach (James Hird) in his first coaching role.

"Following concerns about the program, in January (2012) the senior coach reasserted the principles about the supplement program that:

ANY supplement must be WADA and ASADA compliant.

IT must not be harmful to players' health.

PLAYERS must be properly informed about anything entering their bodies.

EVERY product was to be cleared by the doctor.

"These guidelines were reasonable and unambiguous, but compliance required robust recording and monitoring processes, which proved inadequate.

"The following key issues led to a breakdown in oversight:

AN assumption was made by the senior coach that his instructions would be followed to the letter. In early 2012, there appears to have been no structured follow up, monitoring or recording of compliance with the wishes of the coach.

INSTRUCTION by the coach to the performance team to manage the supplements program legally and not cross the line' is superficially clear enough but in this area of moving boundaries, as anti-doping authorities try to regain control at the frontiers of pharmacology, it is unwise, perhaps reckless, for any club to even approach this 'line'.

"The attitude of some in the new fitness team was that EFC's medical personnel were yesterday's men. They were 'part of the problem, not part of the solution'.

WHO ZIGGY SPOKE TO

Essendon executives, board members, three players from the leadership group including captain Jobe Watson, "parties outside the club" including former football manager Paul Hamilton.

WHO HE DIDN'T

The sports science "contractor" at the heart of the inquiry, Stephen Dank. Also the man who introduced Dank to the Bombers, now suspended high performance manager Dean "The Weapon" Robinson.

Ziggy Switkowski conceded in his report that his work had been "inevitably constrained" because "a number of individuals key to a full analysis of this period have been unavailable for interview".

WHAT WE STILL NEED TO KNOW

Did Essendon players take drugs that were banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency code?

Switkowski said he did not consider the "nature of supplements administered by the EFC during this period, and their compliance or otherwise with various anti-doping codes".

"Questions about the pharmacology of certain supplements, their possible performance affecting properties, compliance or otherwise with anti-doping codes etc, are issues for the AFL and ASADA investigations."

The ASADA/AFL investigation is believed to have months to run, with Essendon players beginning interviews this week.


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No control at Essendon

Essendon chairman David Evans says the buck stops with him, for the failings which led to the supplements saga at the Bombers.

The Herald Sun's Michael Warner says Essendon Chairman, David Evans, should consider resigning.

Ian Robson and James Hird show the strain. Picture: Getty

The Bombers arms race 2012. Cartoon: Macca

SIXTEEN months after Essendon doctor Bruce Reid sent an official letter warning the club about its supplements regimen, the club still cannot say where it went.

The admission goes to the heart of the breakdown of management at Essendon last year as the club embraced the controversial drugs strategy that now threatens the careers of players and officials.

Reid wrote the letter in the days before January 15, 2012, which prompted coach James Hird on that day to lay down rules surrounding Stephen Dank's supplements program.


Ziggy report raises more Qs than Qs

A heavily abridged public version of Ziggy Switkowski's review into Essendon's practices, released yesterday, revealed compliance with the coach's demands was "inadequate".

Asked about the Reid letter yesterday, Essendon chairman David Evans said: "Bruce did write a letter and one of the confusing things here is we're confused as to where that letter went."

"Clearly that letter didn't go to who it should have and that, again, is to the core of this report, that escalation of issues when they arise should go up the chain," Evans said.

The Switkowski report declared that Essendon:

- FAILED in its duty of management and governance and lost control of the football department.

- MARGINALISED medical staff, including Reid, in favour of an unchecked high performance unit.

- ALLOWED a new weights regimen to mushroom into a program of "exotic supplements" and frequent injections at off-site facilities.

- USED unfamiliar suppliers of drugs.

"This combined to create a picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented," Switkowski said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 06: Bombers coach James Hird (R) and Essendon Chairman David Evans leave after an Essendon Bombers AFL press conference at Windy Hill on May 6, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Source:


The report also found some Medicare claims by the club "may have been inappropriate and should be notified for review and action".

The AFL Players' Association last night slammed Essendon for compromising the health of its players.

"No AFL player should ever go to work in an environment which can be described as 'pharmacologically experimental'," AFLPA chief Matt Finnis said. "The players have demonstrated enormous loyalty to one another and also to their club - but I think what we have got to look at is (whether) that loyalty is deserved."

Evans said it was an "uncomfortable report" and revealed he would be standing for re-election at the end of the season, two years ahead of schedule.

"This has happened under my watch," he said. "I act at the pleasure of the members and supporters of this football club, and I think they have a right for me to put myself up for re-election and they can make a call as to whether I remain as a board member of the Essendon Football Club."

Evans would not be drawn on the futures of club chief executive Ian Robson, coach Hird or football boss Danny Corcoran but said: "The club has been through a tumultuous time and there's some change that needs to occur."

The man at the centre of the scandal, Dank, was not interviewed by Switkowski - nor was stood-down high performance manager Dean Robinson.


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Giant leap forward in facilities

GWS Giants players run through a banner to open the new high performance centre at Sydney Olympic Park. Source: The Daily Telegraph

GWS chief executive David Matthews has declared the Giants' new high performance centre at Sydney Olympic Park will rival Collingwood, Essendon and West Coast's as the most elite training facility in the AFL.

Matthews said the club's promise of a new training facility had helped it re-sign the bulk of its young list, including Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio, to long-term deals beyond 2015.

The high performance and community centre, including a field yesterday unveiled as the Tom Wills Oval - after the New South Welshman widely regarded as the founding father of Aussie Rules - ends the farcical situation that had the club struggling to find locations to train at over summer.

Matthews said it was vital to give their players the same advantages in training enjoyed by the best resourced clubs: "I think it's a very significant development."

"It means that our players can prepare as well as anyone in the competition," Matthews said.

"Our competition is Collingwood and West Coast and Essendon and those sorts of clubs. We had to have comparable facilities."
 


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