2012 countdown: Top 10 recruits

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

Mitch Morton and Adam Goodes celebrate a goal. Morton featured in the Top 10 recruits. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

IVAN Maric was unlucky not to be All-Australian in his first season at Tigerland, but did Mitch Morton's Grand Final cameo boost him into the top 10 recruits of the season?

As we count down the rest of the week we'll name the highlights, lowlights and simply strange moments of the year in footy in a countdown of top 10 countdowns.

We kicked off the series last week with the best 10 AFL games of 2012,the top 10 marks, the top 10 goals, the top 10 brain fades and the top 10 individual performances.

Today the countdown continues with the top 10 recruits of the year.

Did we get it right? Leave a comment below

10. MITCH CLARK (Melbourne)

The big fella didn't come cheaply – and the Dees moved heaven and earth to convince him to join – but Mark Neeld's fascination with the former Lion was quickly justified. Clark was a rare shining light for the Dees this season, up until his nasty foot injury. The spearhead jagged 29.18 from just 11 matches and repeatedly gave it his all in big floggings. Remember the Round 2 debacle against the Eagles? The Dees kicked nine goals for the day in a 108-point belting – and five came from Clark's boot. He straightened the Dees up and with Chris Dawes alongside next year and Jesse Hogan in 2014, Clark should continue to produce gold for the red and blue.

9. MITCH MORTON (Sydney)

"What? Mitch who?" you say. Yep, Morton, didn't make his Swans debut until Round 21. Yep, he had just 42 disposals for the season. Yep, he bagged five goals in 2012. But the livewire sneaks in because without him the Hawks could well be premiers. In the titanic struggle that was the Grand Final, the Tiger discard booted two crunch goals in the second term to spark his side. He justified John Longmire's decision then and there to gamble on him and now he'll forever be remembered as a premiership player. For sheer importance to the season, it's hard to leave this bloke out, as strange as that might just seem.

The 2012 AFL Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne. Hawthorn vs. Sydney. Mitch Morton and Adam Goodes celebrate a goal Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

8. JEREMY CAMERON (Greater Western Sydney)

Cameron crept into the system as one of the faceless 17-year-old GWS signings, sparing him draft day anxieties, and you suspect he could've rivalled Jon Patton for No. 1 status if not for that. He burst onto the scene with five goals against the Dogs in Round 5, while his contested marking and clutch kicking against Richmond in the wet showed maturity well beyond his years. Cameron had 12 score assists to complement his 29 goals and clunked a staggering 26 contested marks. Goal-wise, he had a better debut season than Franklin, Pavlich, Brown, Nick Riewoldt and Cloke. Wayne Carey warmed to him quickly, declaring Cameron could wind up the AFL's best player. Cameron provided 20 per cent of GWS goals before being booked in for surgery and the Giants believe he and Patton can tear opposition defences to shreds as a one-two punch for the next decade. A shrewd find from the remote town of Dartmoor, western Victoria.

Jeremy Cameron celebrates a goal against the Tigers on Saturday. Picture: Anthony Reginato Source: Herald Sun

7. JOSH HILL (West Coast)

The Eagles snapped up Hill on the cheap – traded for just pick No. 49 – and it turned out to be a shrewd acquisition. With Mark LeCras, Mark Nicoski and Josh Kennedy missing most of the season, Hill's liveliness and goal power became an instant asset. The goalsneak turned his career around – only 18 months ago Chris Grant said he shouldn't wear the Dogs jumper again after a spiritless effort manning the mark – to produce his best-ever season. Hill bagged the most goals and behinds of his career, while turned his tackle numbers up to 69 from 22, showing his ability to apply pressure. Now the challenge is there to remain in the best 22 in 2013.

6. STEVE MORRIS (Richmond)

The mature-age defender added a layer of resilience to Richmond's leaky defence this year. Morris boasts raw pace and a knack for closing key opposition players out of matches – just ask Cyril Rioli. The dashing defender blanketed the Hawks star as the Tigers steamrolled the minor premier in Round 9, even burning free up forward and kicking a memorable goal. Morris also has the scalp of Steven Milne, who he shut down on the Friday night stage, with his closing speed, tackling and pressure acts quickly transforming him into one of the coaches' favourites. Morris's ability to spark teammates with his selfless style has become a highlight of the Tigers this year. You'd now back the son of Richmond premiership great Kevin Morris to advance and become a 100-game strong defender at Punt Rd.

AFL Round 6 - West Coast Eagles vs North Melbourne Kangaroos, Patersons Stadium, Perth. PICTURED- Eagle Josh Hill celebrates a goal in the final term. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: Herald Sun

5. SAM GIBSON (North Melbourne)

When North Melbourne was equal 15th on the ladder after Round 10 and fresh from a 115-point hiding at the hands of Hawthorn, coach Brad Scott decided to give Gibson a chance. It would prove to be a decision which helped the Roos spin their season around. In Gibson's first 11 games, just two were losses. Significantly, he was held to just 14 touches in both those defeats, highlighting how important he is to North's success. Gibson hit a five-week purple patch as the Roos' hot streak peaked, racking up 24, 36, 26, 26 and 28 possessions to officially transform into a key part of Scott's engine room. Gibson, 26, averaged 28 touches for Box Hill last year and his leadership, work-rate and gut running have already impressed at Arden St. Not bad for a very late rookie pick who is already on the 2013 senior list.

Mature age recruit Sam Gibson is making his presence felt as the Kangaroos enjoy a late-season form rivival. Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: Herald Sun

4. TOBY GREENE (Greater Western Sydney)

The Rising Star would have been a mighty tussle if Greene had remained eligible. After Round 11 Greene's lowest disposal count was 29, while he gathered 38 touches and booted two goals against Melbourne to show his dazzling potential. As a midfielder he's lightly-framed but incredibly gifted both on the inside and outside. His white-hot form prompted Kevin Sheedy to suggest he might be the best ball magnet he has coached in the past three decades. Greene wins his own ball and knows how to damage the opposition, while his average of 28 touches a game ranks him in the AFL's top 10 and above names including Cotchin, Dangerfield, Sidebottom, Mitchell and Judd. Not bad for a teenager who 18 months ago couldn't cement a place at Oakleigh Chargers. When the 2011 draft is revisited in years to come, expect Greene to rocket in from No. 11 – where he was chosen.

GWS midfielder Toby Greene is ineligible for the Rising Star award despite his outstanding debut season. Source: Getty Images

3. JON GILES (Greater Western Sydney)

The Power reject was a revelation for GWS this season. At 201cm and 99kg Giles was ready-made and showed his worth immediately, picking up 88 SuperCoach points from 12 touches and 26 hit-outs in the season-opener. Giles, 24, was integral in the Giants' maiden win, kicking three late goals to sink Gold Coast, while he obliterated Port Adelaide with 23 touches, two goals and 26 hitouts in their second victory this year. A glance at his numbers shows when Giles plays the Giants can bank on two tackles, 22 hitouts, a goal and 14 disposals a game. Those figures stack up with all of the game's elite ruckmen. After some conjecture, he's signed on and ready for a bigger 2013.

2. DAYNE ZORKO (Brisbane Lions)

The quick, gutsy midfielder finally got his AFL chance after winning an incredible four-straight best-and-fairest awards at Broadbeach and captaining Queensland's under-21 side. Zorko became an instant AFL revelation for his cult-figure name and natural ball-winning ability after debuting in Round 7 against Collingwood. In just his fifth game he racked up 24 touches, laid seven tackles and booted three goals to be his side's best player in the loss to Hawthorn. His star continued to shine from there, torching the Dogs with 29 classy touches as he and Tom Rockliff set up a memorable win on the road. Zorko, 23, cracked the 30-touch milestone against Sydney and stood up when it counted against Port Adelaide, booting two late goals from 23 touches as the Lions came from the clouds to win. He finished with 163 SuperCoach points and has cracked the ton nine times, highlighting his deadly efficiency. The Suns had the chance to zone-list him and didn't. Big mistake.

SPORT. BCM. 1/7/12. Dayne Zorko of the Lions during the AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Demons at the Gabba. Pic Darren England. Picture: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail

1. IVAN MARIC (Richmond)

It was the big man's mullet that grabbed our attention in the NAB Cup when the Tigers unveiled their star recruit. Not long after, it was his football that did all the talking. The former Crow dragged the Tigers home several times during their early win bonanza, with Damien Hardwick clapping his hands red at Maric's ruck dominance and work around the ground. It was no wonder new Crows coach Brenton Sanderson tried to keep Maric, who fell out with Neil Craig, with the lion-hearted 26-year-old racking up 652 hit-outs. He'll play his 100th game in Round 2 and based on 2012 Tigers fans have a lot to get excited about looking towards his next 100.

Fans reach for Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric's mullet as he leaves the field. Picture: Michael Dodge. Source: AdelaideNow

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter @SamLandsberger

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Meet the new, improved Karmichael

Gold Coast Suns player Karmichael Hunt is the slimmest he's been in three AFL pre-seasons. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

SPECIAL K has become Shrinking K.

Gold Coast Suns midfielder and code-hopper Karmichael Hunt is the lightest he has ever been in his well-travelled professional football career, with the 26-year-old tipping the scales at 87kg this week.

When he played rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia he was 93kg.During his stint in French rugby Biarritz in 2009/2010, he nudged the 100kg mark.

But the trademark treetrunk legs are now gone, with Hunt halfway through his third AFL pre-season training program.

A leaner Hunt no longer looks like a rugby league player built to withstand multiple front-on high-speed collisions.

He appears every bit like an AFL on-baller who is required to cover vast distances over four quarters.

Gold Coast strength and conditioning coach Chris Gaviglio said Hunt's significant body shape transformation was a result of his single-minded determination.

"Karmichael needed to make those changes to survive and succeed in the AFL," Gaviglio said.

"He is a highly-driven athlete and he has been prepared to do what it takes to meet the demands of the sport. That is what has underpinned his success across all three codes.

"He is an inherently gifted athlete and he has really bought into our strength and conditioning program as well as working closely with our dietician Benita Lalor.

"You could tell he was cooked by the end of his first season but he would have run out last season if not for a shoulder injury. His legs were willing and able to go the full distance."

After an understandably indifferent first season in 2011, Hunt had a break-out year in 2012 with a shift from defence to the midfield.

The high point was his match-winning goal after the siren against Richmond in Cairns to hand the Suns their first victory of the season, but his on-ball work throughout the year also caught the eye.

He also produced a number of bone-rattling bumps on opponents to become a genuine enforcer.Gaviglio said Hunt would still pack a punch in 2013 despite shedding the weight.

"He is stronger than ever. He is bench pressing 145kg, which is more than what he was doing at the Broncos," he said.

Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said Hunt's leaner appearance was inevitable.

"Karmichael has been training well and is in great shape at the moment but you can't not lose weight given the amount of running he has had to do," the triple premiership player said

"Especially in his new role in the midfield, he has covered a lot of kilometres.

"He has had a season in the VFL and two seasons in the AFL so it was only a matter of time before his body shape became more suited to the demands of our game."

The Suns had their last pre-Christmas training session yesterday  and will resume on January 7.

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Bone shaved from Cat's hips

James Kelly battled a hip injury during the 2012 season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

GEELONG midfielder James Kelly has revealed he had bone shaved from his thighs during post-season surgery after a pain-stricken 2012 season.

Kelly yesterday declared himself on track to play in Geelong's NAB Cup campaign after a successful recovery from an arthroscope on both hips.

The operation involved having bone shaved off both femurs.

The 28-year-old has been on a modified program this pre-season and will return to full training early in the new year, confident his hip troubles are behind him.

"I will be training more heavily over the coming days and it's all going pretty good," Kelly said.

"I'll be back to full training on January 1.

"It's clearing up really well."

Despite having a strong season, in which he was Geelong's leading tackler and still picked up 470 touches, Kelly revealed he had a weekly struggle with hip pain.

But he is confident of a pain-free season next year in a major boost to Geelong's top-four ambitions.

"The hips were more painful during the year than they are now. I'm relying on the physios a lot and they're helping out but I've still been able to do a fair bit of training recently," he said.

"I've been going through the rehabilitation program well and everything is going as planned.

"I'll be 100 per cent ready to go come next season."

Pic gallery: Cats roam the highlands

Geelong assistant coach Dale Amos last week said Kelly and Jimmy Bartel (foot) were making strong progress in their recoveries from post-season operations.

"They've been conditioned, they're doing their weights, they're just being nursed back into the football side," Amos said.

"I would be surprised if they didn't play (NAB Cup). The plan is for them to be ready for Round 1, so you'd imagine they'd play (NAB Cup) at some stage.

"They've been doing their running inside and their conditioning inside and now they're starting to do the work outside, so I think after Christmas we expect to see them a bit more.

"They'll be integrated back in after Christmas. I'm not totally sure when they'll be totally unrestricted, but they're well and truly on track and they should be right amongst it by the time we get back after Christmas.

"We've been patient with them. You want to progress those guys as quickly as you can without pushing them too much."

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Footy - simply irresistible

Catch me if you can: Sydney's Nick Malceski runs up the field after kicking the winning goal in the Grand Final. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

FOOTBALL writer Warwick Green charts a vintage year in the AFL will be remembered mostly as a year of consolidation for the league.

YEAR TO REMEMBER
GOLD Coast skipper Gary Ablett reinforced his status as the league's premier footballer, while Essendon skipper Jobe Watson had his own ripping season recognised on Brownlow night.

Others to have memorable years included Swan Ryan O'Keefe, who had a career highlight when handed a Norm Smith as well as a premiership medal, and veteran Saint Jason Blake, who finally cracked it for a Brownlow vote in his 210th AFL game.

But 2012 will be remembered as the year two footballers came of age.

Richmond star Trent Cotchin, long-touted as the next gun midfielder, arrived at that destination. The silky game-breaker won the AFL coaches award, was equal-second in the Brownlow and was Tigers club champion.

Down at Geelong, Tom Hawkins looked like his performance in the 2011 Grand Final was the catalyst for taking his game to another level. This season he has emerged as one of the best power forwards in the AFL, taking games by the scruff of the neck and performing under pressure.

He finished with more marks inside 50 than any other player and was second to Travis Cloke in contested marks. He won the Cats best-and-fairest and at 24 may look back on 2012 as the year he joined the elite bracket.

Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin had a difficult year on and off the field. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

YEAR TO FORGET
THE season was a shocker for players such as Luke Ball, Mark LeCras, Gary Rohan and Robbie Gray, who all missed a great chunk of games because of injury.

Then there were those whose form tapered. Brent Moloney went from winning Melbourne's best-and-fairest and polling 19 Brownlow votes last year to struggling to get a senior game and being traded to Brisbane.

Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin stalled in his development, was panned for his off-field behaviour, and had a club-imposed suspension for missing training.

But the standout in this category would have to be Carlton star Chris Judd. His output and influence was not at the stellar standards of previous seasons, and he played in just seven wins, the fewest of any season in his 11-year AFL career.

Judd was also heavily criticised and suspended for a month after his controversial "chicken-wing" tackle on North Melbourne's Leigh Adams in Round 16.

Since the Grand Final, he has had the AFL pull the plug on his third-party sponsorship deal with Visy, and has stepped away from the Blues captaincy.

GOOD WORK
IT was largely a year of consolidation for the AFL after a hectic 2011 in which the league introduced Gold Coast, negotiated a new broadcast rights deal, renewed its contract with major sponsor Toyota and finalised the collective bargaining agreement with the players.

No doubt 2012 will be remembered as the year Greater Western Sydney joined the competition. That process was handled relatively smoothly and successfully.

The Giants were at pains to state they should not be judged by the scoreboard alone, which is just as well, although the team did manage two wins and impressed with a hard-at-it brand of football.

Giants players train at team's new home ground of Skoda Stadium in Sydney. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: Herald Sun

The quest for off-field success and credibility looms as a tougher task, though.

In October, the AFL Commission did well to resist pressure to further alter the interchange bench rules. The laws of the game committee recommended capping rotations at 80, but the AFL took a cautious approach, opting to have a look at an interchange cap in the NAB Cup only.

It suggests the AFL is consulting more with coaches and players, who were largely opposed to the cap.

One decision the AFL undeniably got right was its choice of acts for the Grand Final entertainment.

Admittedly, the league was coming from a low base after Meatloaf's diabolical performance last year, but the decision to engage proven Australian acts Paul Kelly (pre-match) and Temper Trap (halftime) made sense.

The concept of sending the musicians and players back on to the MCG turf after the match for a free "Premiership Party" looked an innovation with merit and worth repeating.

NOT SO GOOD
THE drawn-out investigation into Melbourne Football Club began in July after former Demon Brock McLean reignited the issue on Fox Footy's On The Couch. McLean suggested "you would have to be blind Freddy" not to realise that winning was a low priority for the Demons back in 2009.

For the best part of a decade the AFL had steadfastly maintained that tanking did not exist, despite a wide-held belief that clubs near the foot of the ladder each August engaged in a race to the wooden spoon.

Nevertheless at the start of the year the league decided to scrap the contentious priority pick system that many considered the main incentive to under-achieve.

Having weathered years of carping, it seemed extraordinary that in the very season it changed the system the AFL would choose to poke at an old wound by asking its integrity department to examine how Melbourne performed three years ago.

Five months later and there is still no resolution.

The suspicion is the AFL may have painted itself into a corner. Can it definitively prove Melbourne instructed players or coaches not to win? And if so, is it time to broaden the investigation?

You suspect the only way the AFL can extract itself is to say it thoroughly scrutinised the Demons and found no damning evidence. Then hope that football can put the word "tanking" behind it and never speak its name again.

Tom Hawkins celebrates with his teammates after kicking the winning goal after the siren to continue Hawthorn's run of outs against the Cats. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

THE MOMENT
AS always, a season of elite Australian football produces numerous spectacular goals and marks.

Consider these goals: Collingwood snatching a one-point win on Anzac Day after a late Jarryd Blair toe-poke; Tom Hawkins extending Geelong's winning streak against Hawthorn with a composed 55m effort on the siren; Brock McLean's long-range ping to give Carlton a late-season win against Richmond; and, Chris Yarran's running goal in the opening round against Richmond.

Then there was the added drama of league convert Karmichael Hunt marking a brilliant Brandon Matera pass with three seconds to play and coolly slotting home the post-siren shot to secure Gold Coast's first win of the season, against the Tigers.

When it came to exciting marks, Jeremy Howe's brilliant hanger against Sydney was the finest of about half a dozen the Demon pulled in this year.

For individual brilliance, it's also hard to go past Lance Franklin's 13.4 performance against North Melbourne in Launceston.

But the most significant moments of the season are usually found in the most significant match, the Grand Final, and two stand out from Sydney's triumph over Hawthorn.

The moment that set the tone for the day was a courageous act by Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery in the first term.

Hannebery found himself under a floating kick and, as he explained after the match, "I heard the call: 'You've got to go Hanners' and I went".

He hung on to the mark despite simultaneously being crunched by Hawk ruckman David Hale, who is 22kg heavier and 20cm taller.

The defining image of the premiership decider, however, came in the final minute.

Defender Nick Malceski had already snapped a ripper from the boundary in the opening quarter.

With 45 seconds remaining in the match and four points the difference Malceski was on the end of a short handball from Hannebery, and instinctively hooked a high left-foot snap from 30m.

It sailed through, prompting TV commentator Dennis Cometti to immediately declare: "Sydney are premiers!"

The sight of the bearded defender wheeling away at full pace and leaping into the arms of Ted Richards, where he was swamped by teammates, will endure for years to come.

PROJECT 2013
UNQUESTIONABLY, the AFL's highest priority will be to further consolidate its expanded competition.

The league has invested $220 million in its two new clubs to underwrite them for six years. The objective will be to emerge from that period with 18 profitable football clubs.

Equally, those clubs need to field teams that are at the very least competitive.

This year, there were 15 games in which the result was by 95 points or more, and six of those games did not involve the Giants or Suns. If that trend was to continue, there would be worries that the league had spread itself too thin.

Sisters Prue and Phoebe McCormack, of Bellerive, take their Kangaroos mascot to North Melbourne's first AFL game in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones Source: The Mercury

The AFL will also closely watch what happens with North Melbourne in Tasmania - the Roos tried unsuccessfully for a seven-games-a-year deal in Hobart before settling on two home games - and the first overseas game for premiership points, when St Kilda hosts Sydney in New Zealand on Anzac Day.

But that's all big-picture, long-term stuff.

In the coming months, some pressing issues need resolving.

Clubs, players and administrators will be represented at a forum next month to discuss the illicit drugs policy. Some industry insiders believe the system needs to be tweaked to improve players' off-field behaviour.

The AFL is to be praised for being prepared to open up the conversation rather than close its ears to the possibility of an improved approach.

Also, expect there to be concerns raised during the season about whether the match review panel and the video score review system need fine tuning.

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Nowhere to hide for GWS players

Spare a thought for Greater Western Sydney players before you dig into your slice of Christmas pudding this year. You might be able to rest up on the couch afterwards, but not the Giants who each have a detailed training schedule they must adhere to irrespective of where they happen to be in Australia. Source: Herald Sun

THE GWS Giants have taken Big Brother to a new level. Gone are the days when a Christmas break meant a real holiday for elite footballers.

Gone are the days when players could slacken off from training on holidays and get away with it. There is no hiding it any more.

Giants players will be wearing state-of-the-art GPS watches at all times when they train during their two-week Christmas break with every detail of their training recorded into a program that can be seen by coaches and teammates.

Heart rate, speed, distance, terrain and weather are measured by the Garmin GPS watches that are now all but standard in the AFL.

"This year I was travelling around the world. I was in Delhi and I was watching what our players were doing in training," GWS head of performance John Quinn said.

"I could send them an email saying, 'How come you haven't done this?' It's keeping them honest.

"I guess what we've been able to do with the Giants is make that world a bit smaller. Even when the players go away, to keep track of them and keep them motivated to keep working.

"We have a system where everybody is held accountable."

So before you tuck into your Christmas Day feast, spare a thought for the Giants with no way of getting out of training on their holiday.

They each have a detailed personal exercise routine and they are expected to follow it.

Long distance running, sprints, weights and football skills. Memberships at Fitness First gyms across the country have been organised for them. There are no excuses.

Just because most of the players are still teenagers doesn't mean they are allowed to act like it.

The coaching staff see them as professional footballers and professionalism is demanded.

Equally important as the accountability is being able to monitor the players' training loads.

The Giants' sports science team will speak to every player two or three times over the next two weeks to give them feedback on how they are meeting their targets, saying they had to tell players to stop training too hard during their end-of-season breaks.

"We have to tell them, 'Don't get carried away', because they do," Quinn said.

"They're professional athletes, but at the end of the day they are also people and they've got to have balance in their life.

"We've pushed them as hard as we could possibly push them and now we get two weeks where the intensity comes off and then we build it up again when they get back.

"We're only about 90 days away from our first game so it's not that far to go and we've got to get them ready for it.

"They've certainly all lifted to a new level and I think they're more settled in Sydney. So yes, I am excited about what we're doing and I can see that we're only going to be going forward."

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Hurting Roos to relish spotlight

North Melbourne players after the 96-point elimination final loss to West Coast. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has urged his troops to step into the AFL spotlight with confidence next year, despite the lingering hurt of a savage finals loss.

The young Roos arrived as a future force last season, but were smashed by West Coast in a first-round finals thrashing at Patersons Stadium.

Scott said the 96-point elimination final loss was a "devastating" finish after powering into the finals by winning nine out of 10 games late in the year.

Showing they could play pulsating corridor football, the Roos were rewarded by the AFL with three primetime Friday night games next year -- their most since 2006.

While it comes with a nightmarishly tough draw, Scott said his team should relish the chance to shine on the big stage in 2013.

"If you want to be the best you have got to beat the best and I think if we are really competing well into September we certainly will have earned our spot," Scott told the Herald Sun.

"We won't shy away from that, and, the game is bigger than just the football side of things.

"As a club, I think it's great for us. Our fans are going to see us on at least three Friday nights and there is a chance we play Collingwood in the last round of the year (floating fixture) on a Friday night, too.

"If we get good exposure and it exposes our players to the best teams in the competition, that's got to be a good thing."

Once regarded as a dour, one-paced side, a young crop of outside runners led by linebreaking defender Shaun Atley added a slick edge to the Roos last season.

The club also bolstered its centre line with the addition two former first round draft picks, Port Adelaide's Ben Jacobs (No.16, 2010) and ex-Demon Jordan Gysberts (No.11, 2009).

The new recruits have helped the Roos move on from their first-round finals failure last season, as West Coast buried them under a 43-point quarter-time lead in sweltering heat.

Scott said his squad had the mental resilience to rebound from the finals lashing.

"It was a devastating result, particularly after going some ways to showing that we can compete against the good sides," he said.

"What gives me great heart is that we've had some of those horrible losses over the last three years, but we've responded to each one of them.

"We'll learn the lessons out of it and delve really deeply into why and then go about working really hard on fixing it."
 

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Catch 22: Footy Christmas

Tony Shaw meets a Santa seemingly dressed by Collingwood fans. Source: Herald Sun

IT'S THE ONE time of year when even the AFL and the footy clubs are happy to put the feet up and let cricket take the spotlight.

It's the time of year when football slips out of the media and is replaced by a Test cricketer sitting on Santa's knee asking for Boxing Day Test win. Or a touring English cricketer celebrating the festive season by donning a fancy dress outfit. Or a veteran Aussie batsman cuddling his daughter as he hands her a present from under the Christmas tree.

But fear not, for all you footy tragics who get withdrawal symptoms at this time of year, we've delved into the vault and collated 22 photographs with a Christmas-football theme.

Have yourselves a very footy Christmas.

Click HERE to see the gallery.

If you have any names you think should be there, post a suggestion to twitter.com/wgreenheraldsun

 

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2012 countdown: Top 10 rivalries

Geelong players mob Tom Hawkins after the power forward steered the Cats to victory against Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

GEELONG and Hawthorn played out two classics but was the feud between former Collingwood allies Eddie McGuire and Mick Malthouse the biggest rivalry of the season?

Over the next 10 days we'll name the highlights, lowlights and simply strange moments of the year in footy in a countdown of top 10 countdowns.

We kicked off the series last week with the best 10 AFL games of 2012,the top 10 marks, the top 10 goals, the top 10 brain fades and the top 10 individual performances.

Today the countdown continues with the top 10 rivalries of the year.

Did we get it right? Leave a comment below

10. Mullet Wars: Maric v Walker
What started as a bit of fun between ex-teammates quickly turned into one of the most talked about do's in the game. The Mullet Wars, featuring Tiger Ivan Maric and Crow Taylor Walker dominated the headlines, the former claiming line honours with his more rugged, wild man mullet. Big Ivan also fired a shot across Walker's bow during the season, claiming the Crow forward had spent a bit of time "grooming" his look. Maric said his mullet was a long-term proposition. "It hasn't crossed my mind to cut it off…my plan is long term," he told SEN in May.

9. Tom Scully v Melbourne
Melbourne fans did little to hide their disappointment when Demon defector Tom Scully suited up for the first time against his old side as a GWS Giant. Scully was welcomed back onto the hallowed MCG turf with fans holding up money bags and "$cully" and "Juda$" emblazoned banners for the Round 13 clash. But the No.1 draft pick handled himself with aplomb, helping himself to 19 disposals including five tackles in the Giants 78-point loss.

8. Alastair Clarkson v MCG coaches box wall
Frustration got the better of Clarkson when he slammed an open hand through a wall in an MCG coaches box after Hawthorn leaked a late goal to nemesis Collingwood in Round 17. Clarkson was responding to an error which Magpie Chris Tarrant seized upon to cut the margin to 16 points at the first break. The premiership coach put his hand through the wall, leaving a chunk of plaster missing and a gaping hole in his wake. Channel 7 cameras captured Clarkson's wild moment of madness but Mick Malthouse defended the action, saying only those in the caper understood the frustration some player errors caused. Clarkson agreed to fork out the cost of repairs.

FoxSports Source: Fox Sports

FoxSports Source: Fox Sports

7. Clarkson v junior football umpire
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson copped a reality check in July when he was banned for four weeks after verbally abusing a junior football umpire. The ban stemmed from an incident in which it was alleged Clarkson, who was acting as the runner for his son's U9 team, told a 19-year-old umpire's adviser to "F--- off" when the official told him to stop coaching players on the ground. Clarkson accepted full responsibility and said he had been left humiliated and disappointed by his actions at the South Metro Junior Football League game. "I got myself involved in a situation, with my profile and experience from the game, that I should have known better," he said at the time. "I should have pulled myself out of that situation or handled myself better in that situation." Clarkson will miss the first four games of his son's 2013 SMJFL season.

6. Mick Malthouse v Brett Ratten
Brett Ratten was confident of keeping his job. Mick Malthouse was happy being a media commentator. That was until Carlton did the unthinkable and lost to Gold Coast. The Suns pounced on the Blues, kicking the first six goals of the match, to set up a memorable 12-point victory at Metricon Stadium in Round 22. The shock loss sparked Blues chiefs into a round-table at the Malthouse residence. Days later, Ratten oozed class during his Visy Park swansong, thanking the club for the opportunities it had given him as a player and coach. Two weeks later and Malthouse was endorsed as Blues coach at an at-times fiery press conference. Malthouse remained adamant his first met with the Blues hierarchy after the loss to the Suns, despite speculation the takeover had been on the cards for some time. "There are going to be those naysayers saying that (the first meeting) happened before (last Monday)," he told the media scrum. "I have no doubt there are doubts about that."

5. Hawthorn v Sydney
Hawthorn drew first blood. But Sydney landed the knock out blow as the Swans went on to secure a fourth flag. Ryan O'Keefe starred in both games (Round 22 and Grand Final) with a combined total of 58 disposals, 27 tackles and five goals. Lance Franklin (seven goals in two games) and ball magnet Josh Kennedy (61 possessions, three goals) also made the most of their opportunities. Hawthorn leads the head-to-head ledger 6-4 over the past 10 matches.
4. The Weapon v Essendon player's hamstrings
The Weapon was the talk of Windy Hill during 2012 when the bulk of Essendon's list was cut down by soft-tissue injuries. The Bombers struggled to field their best side for much of the season, with Michael Hurley, Nathan Lovett-Murray and David Zaharakis among the worst affected by hamstring and quadriceps strains. The Bombers had more than 25 soft-tissue injuries for the season, Hurley tweaking his hamstring on three separate occasions.  Despite the apparent crisis, Essendon stuck by its man - the Weapon – writing off the injuries to heavy pre-season workload aimed at preparing the young Bombers for a tilt at the flag.

3. Travis Cloke v Collingwood
It was one of the longest contract negotiations in AFL history. But Collingwood got its man when power forward Travis Cloke inked a new four-year deal worth an estimated $4m. The negotiations coincided with Cloke's dramatic form slump and caused coach Nathan Buckley to accuse the forward of damaging his and the club's "brand". Cloke was sought after by as many as six clubs including Fremantle, Adelaide and Carlton.

2. Hawthorn v Geelong
As far as rivalries go, it doesn't get any bigger than Hawthorn and Geelong. The Hawks have lost nine on-the-trot to the Cats since their shock win in the 2008 Grand Final. Big Cat Tom Hawkins was the difference in 2012. The power forward slotted six against the Hawks in Round 19, including one after the siren for a thrilling two-point victory. Tomahawk was again prominent in Round 2, kicking three goals as the Cats went on to record another two-point win despite trailing the Hawks going into the final change. James Podsiadly stood tall with five goals, while skipper Joel Selwood almost knocked himself out crashing into Hawk Brendan Whitecross' legs late in the game. Kennett's Curse, hoodoo, call it what you like… watch out when these two renew pleasantries in Round 1, 2013.

1. Malthouse v McGuire
Hard to see Mick Malthouse getting a Christmas card from Eddie McGuire after a series of 2012 tongue-lashings between the former Collingwood allies. Malthouse re-ignited the feud after the Magpies Round 3 loss, claiming the players weren't responding to Nathan Buckley's style. McGuire hit back, urging Malthouse to "move on" and "give Bucks a go". The pair also butted heads during the Travis Cloke saga and Brett Ratten's departure from Carlton.

Follow Gilbert Gardiner on Twitter @gilbert0408

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Patton hits power button on track

GWS Giants' 2011 No.1 draft pick Jonathon Patton is revelling in his first full pre-season. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

GWS Giants' No. 1 draft pick Jonathon Patton is thriving in his first full pre-season after revealing how far knee surgery disrupted his first season in the AFL.

In an open reflection of his first year at the Giants, Patton revealed he wasn't fit enough at any point in 2012, carrying pain and swelling in his knee. He was also unhappy being away from teammates while training on his own.

He did not start training with teammates until March, when they had been training as a full squad for five months already.

He also admits to wincing every time he landed on the injured knee during their round 19 win over Port Adelaide - his seventh and last game of the season.

"You do really question yourself a few times in the rehab group," Patton said.

"It's just so taxing. Early mornings every day. You're not with the group, you're watching them train. You're sort of thinking, 'When are you going to play? When are you going to train?' All that adds up. But it makes you mentally stronger."

Now, having completed every task assigned to him by the GWS strength and conditioning staff during the eight weeks since they returned from their end of season holidays, Patton says he feels the fittest of his career.

"You don't really understand it until you're doing it," he said.

"Now that I've done all of this pre-season I can tell so much of a difference."

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Goldstein No.1 and aiming higher

Singular style: North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein wants to stamp his authority on the job. Picture: Rob Leeson Source: Herald Sun

NORTH Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein says he is ready to stamp his authority on the Kangaroos' No.1 ruck role after Hamish McIntosh's departure.

While Goldstein has carried the Kangaroos' ruck division in McIntosh's injury-enforced absence in the past two years, the 24-year-old said he needed to step up and "make the most" of his new seniority.

McIntosh joined Geelong via this year's trade period after seven years at North.

"It was sad to see 'H' go, we were all very good mates with him," Goldstein said.

"But I think we have got to move on now and try and stamp our own authority on the game and our own footprint at the club.

"Probably in the last two years with his (McIntosh's) horrible injury run that he's had, I did have to step up and take that role. I enjoy it. I think every player wants to be the No.1 in their position.

"It's definitely a role that I take on. Coming into my seventh year now, I do really need to step up and make the most of it."

With McIntosh restricted to just seven games for 2012, Goldstein attended the most ruck contests in the competition and was ranked third for total hit-outs.

While eager to progress he also wants to see other ruck prospects develop.

"I think we've got a pretty good group of ruckmen now with Daniel Currie being brought on board, Majak (Daw) and Ben Mabon really starting to lift up," Goldstein said.

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Goddard's leading role at Bomberland

Former Saint Brendon Goddard, 2011 Rising Star winner Dyson Heppell and the injury-plagued Jason Winderlich are all named as members of Essendon's leadership group for 2013.

Mover and shaker: Essendon recruit Brendon Goddard has be chosen to join the eight-man leadership group at Windy Hill. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

STAR Essendon recruit Brendon Goddard has wasted no time stamping his authority on his new club and will today be elevated to the leadership group.

And in a pointer to the future, 20-year-old Dyson Heppell will also be named as one of the club's new leaders.

Goddard, Heppell and Jason Winderlich will join this year's leaders Jobe Watson, Heath Hocking, Brent Stanton, David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley in the eight-man group.

The only player to drop out of the 2012 rotation is the retired Mark McVeigh.

Goddard made the controversial switch from St Kilda to Essendon in October before heading to Colorado with a small band of fellow midfielders for a training camp last month.

Players took a leadership vote a fortnight ago and were told of the results late last week.

Heppell said he had no hesitation in nominating Goddard.

"I hold him in high regard as a leader, even though he's been here only a couple of months," Heppell said.

"He's stepped in as if he's been here for 10 years.

"Obviously he's a fantastic player and clearly a good leader as well, so he'll be great for the group."

Heppell's leadership elevation continues what has been a staggering first two years in the AFL system.

The 2010 No.8 draft pick stormed to the Rising Star award last year and had just as good a season in 2012, playing 20 games. Heppell vowed his new leadership tag would not change the way he played.

"Hirdy (coach James Hird) certainly mentioned that throughout last year, just to not add any extra pressure on myself," he said.

"I think I'll just take my footy the same way as I have been and just really enjoy it.

"(Being a leader) is about being able to have more say amongst the group, I guess, and not being afraid to voice my opinion.

"I'm pretty excited, it's great. It was a bit unexpected, but certainly a massive honour."

Heppell said that it was important for him to act as a conduit between the club's younger and older players.

"It was me only a couple of years ago, so I know what it's all about," he said.

"It's important for me to be able to assist them in any way I can because I know exactly what they're going through. That's something I'll be taking pretty seriously."

Heppell said it would be an honour to captain the club one day, if given the chance.

"It's something you dream about as a kid. It'd be unbelievable, but it's a long way down the track, I reckon, if that is ever going to happen," he said.

SQUADRON LEADERS
Jobe Watson (c)
Heath Hocking
Brent Stanton
David Zaharakis
Michael Hurley
Brendon Goddard
Dyson Heppell
Jason Winderlich
 

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Ablett the SuperCoach $740k man

Gary Ablett has confirmed his status as the No.1 player in SuperCoach. Picture: Matt Roberts. Source: Getty Images

GOLD Coast skipper Gary Ablett will cost you more than $740,000 in SuperCoach next season - $65,000 more than any other player.

Prices for Australia's biggest fantasy competition will be released to SuperCoach Gold subscribers later today, but SuperFooty can reveal Ablett tops the list with a price tag of $740,500.

The little master averaged 138 points a game in 2012.

His 2013 starting price is a $50,000 jump from 12 months ago and well ahead of the second most-expensive player, Magpie Dane Swan.

Swan's Collingwood teammates Scott Pendlebury and Dayne Beams are No.3 and No.4 on the rich list.

Pendlebury, the priciest player at the start of last season at $700,500, will cost $667,300 next season.

Beams' starting price has jumped more than $100,000 on the back of an outstanding 2012. Other big movers include Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield and Tigers Trent Cotchin and Ivan Maric.

The 10 most expensive players are all midfielders, with Hawk forward Lance Franklin coming in at No.11 with a price tag of $618,000.

There are 19 players priced at $600,000 or more including four ruckmen - Maric, Aaron Sandilands and West Coast pair Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox, who are both listed as ruck/forwards for 2013.

More than 100 dual-position players are available to pick from, including Dale Thomas (mid/fwd), Lewis Jetta (mid/fwd), Dyson Heppell (def/mid), Jack Watts (def/fwd) and Brendon Goddard, who retains his def/mid status.

But some big names can no longer be picked in multiple positions, including Beams, Dangerfield, Brett Deledio, Nathan Fyfe and Ryan O'Keefe, who are all pure midfielders in 2013.

Goddard, the most expensive player of 2011, is No.45 on the 2013 rich list, starting his career as a Bomber with a price tag of $541,500.

This year's No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield has a price tag of $199,500.

Father-son pick Jack Viney is just $109,500

There are plenty of bargains and surprises - scroll down for a quick sample.

SuperCoach will have a major shake-up next season with new rules including a permanent rolling lockout, extra trades and a change to how many players can be selected in each position - CLICK HERE to find out more.

SUPERCOACH 2013 MOST EXPENSIVE PLAYERS

$740,500 Gary Ablett (GC) mid
$675,300 Dane Swan (Coll) mid
$667,300 Scott Pendlebury (Coll) mid
$657,600 Dayne Beams (Coll) mid
$647,200 Jobe Watson (Ess) mid
$643,300 Josh P Kennedy (Syd) mid
$636,600 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel) mid
$629,500 Joel Selwood (Geel) mid
$624,100 Brett Deledio (Rich) mid
$622,100 Trent Cotchin (Rich) mid

FIVE BIG PRICE JUMPS

Dayne Zorko  (BL) $535,100 - up $421,900
Sam Gibson (NM) $411,100 - up $316,400
Ivan Maric (Rich) $606,900 - up $268,600
Orren Stephenson (Rich) $320,400 - up $213,800
Harley Bennell (GC) $521,900 - up $150,200

10 POTENTIAL BARGAINS

Mark LeCras (WC) $369,200 fwd
Brent Moloney (BL) $362,400 mid
Matthew Leuenberger (BL) $301,100 ruck
Luke Ball (Coll) $301,800 mid
Josh J Kennedy (WC) $299,600 fwd
Travis Varcoe (Geel) $268,900 mid/fwd
Koby Stevens (WB) $176,600 mid
Brett Goodes (WB) $128,200 mid/def
Anthony Morabito (Frem) $115,900 mid
Tom Mitchell (Syd) $115,900 mid

10 NEW FACES

Lachie Whitfield (GWS) $199,500 mid
Jono O'Rourke (GWS) $195,400 mid
Jake Stringer (WB) $179,500 fwd
Ollie Wines (PA) $169,500 mid
Troy Menzel (Carl) $149,500 fwd
Jaeger O'Meara (GC) $115,900 mid
Brad Crouch (Adel) $115,900 mid
Brodie Grundy (Coll) $114,900 ruck
Jack Viney (Melb) $109,500 mid
Lachie Hunter (WB) $109,500 mid

SuperCoach will be open to all players on February 1, 2012. Prices are subject to change by that date. Stay tuned to SuperFooty for more news and tips all summer.

For more SuperCoach off-season talk follow Al Paton on Twitter: @al_superfooty

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Swans: We need our cap bounty

Former Adelaide Crow Kurt Tippett in a Sydney Swans jumper for the first time after his first training session with his new club. The Swans salary cap bounty helped secure him. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE Sydney Swans have fired back at rivals calling for an immediate end to their salary cap bounty after last night announcing a minor $207,007 profit for 2012.

The AFL premiers used the announcement of their 2012 financial balance to get on the front foot and put pressure on the AFL to continue to grant them salary cap concessions for cost of living and player retention expenses.

The Swans' ability to blow all rival AFL clubs out of the water in luring former Adelaide power forward Kurt Tippett to the club on a two-year-deal reported to be worth around $1.5 million was met with a hail of gunfire from Melbourne-based clubs demanding the Swans $900,000 salary cap bonus be removed.

However, Swans chairman Richard Colless said the club's minor profit shows the reality of how volatile Sydney's sporting landscape can be with the club's minor profit coming off a dream premiership season on the field.

AFL superpower Collingwood earlier this month announced a record $7 million profit.

It comes in a year where the Swans growth has been hamstrung by redevelopments to the SCG, immense competition from new cross-town rivals GWS Giants, and huge boosts in the popularity of soccer in the harbour city through Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers.

"The modest profit, posted after achieving the ultimate objective of winning the 2012 AFL Premiership, reflects the reality of fielding an elite sporting team in Australia's most competitive sporting market and in one of the world's most expensive cities to live,'' Colless said.

"The 2012 result was achieved despite the disruption caused by the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust announcing in January that the SCG Stage 2 Redevelopment would proceed with approximately 10,000 seats being unavailable for the entire 2012 AFL Season (approximately 25 per cent of total SCG capacity).

"This resulted in over 7,000 of our members having to be relocated and regrettably approximately 3,000 chose not to renew their memberships.''

It is the second consecutive year the Swans have achieved an end of financial year profit, taking into account non cash expenses of $391,633.

The club is confident of cashing in on their premiership triumph in 2013 with memberships and match day attendance expected to grow significantly despite ongoing renovations to the SCG.

Leading into 2011, the Swans had lost $1,664,904 over three years.

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Fiacchi secures Port position

Magpies premiership players Tim Ginever and George Fiacchi (right), who has been appointed to the board of the Port Adelaide Football Club. Picture: Simon Cross Source: Herald Sun

SEVEN-TIMES Port Magpies premiership player George Fiacchi has been appointed to the board of Port Adelaide Football Club.

His member nominated position was ratified by the SA Football Commission yesterday.

He replaces Alex Panas, who had held the position since 2006.

Fiacchi, who signed a three-year deal, has a strong background in marketing, media and sports administration. He is client manager for Australian Radio Network National.

Crows chairman Rob Chapman, former player Andrew Payze and Robert Foord have been reappointed to the Adelaide Football Club board - for three-year terms.

"The SA Football Commission looks forward to working with the directors of both Adelaide and Port Adelaide Football Clubs as we enter the 40th anniversary year of AAMI Stadium," SANFL executive commissioner Leigh Whicker said.

"I am confident the Commission and two AFL club boards will continue to work for the overall benefit of the game at all levels as football makes its historic transition to Adelaide Oval."

PORT'S round 17 clash against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on July 20 has been moved from a day to night timeslot.

The match will now start at 7.10pm after Greater Western Sydney asked the AFL to reschedule its night match against Essendon at Skoda Stadium to the afternoon.

This was to avoid clashing with English soccer giant Manchester United's exhibition match against the A-League All-Stars at ANZ Stadium in the Sydney Olympic Sporting Precinct.

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Menzel suffers another setback

Daniel Menzel has suffered another setback in his recovery from a second knee reconstruction and has been withdrawn from training. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

EMERGING Geelong forward Daniel Menzel has suffered a setback in his comeback from a second knee reconstruction and has been withdrawn from training.

The luckless Menzel, 21, did not make the trip to Falls Creek for the Cats' camp after tweaking his recently reconstructed knee at training.

Club medicos opted to keep the livewire forward in Geelong to ensure he had access to the best available medical treatment.

Menzel was completing an agility drill at training when he felt the tweak and immediately left the field.

But the Cats said the injury was minor and they remained confident Menzel would resume his recovery after the Christmas break. He remains on track for Round 1.

Gallery: Cats roam the highlands

"He was just doing a little bit of twisting work, nothing major at all, so he'll be fine," Geelong assistant coach Nigel Lappin said yesterday.

"It was a slight tweak on it. Just precautionary ... he just iced it straight up and was sent off to get it checked out, but it seems fine."

"We wanted to make sure that the best treatment was available for him, so he stayed back there (in Geelong). I guess he'll nearly be ready to head back to Adelaide and join his family for Christmas."

Another youngster, Billie Smedts, spent yesterday's solid 150-minute session in football's version of solitary confinement as he battled to overcome a flare-up of his hip problems.

Smedts could only jog laps and take part in stationary ball work by himself away from the main group, despite receiving plenty of physio treatment before the session.

Lappin said Smedts should be right after Christmas.

"He's been pulled out of training for a couple of weeks, so hopefully it's nothing too serious and it will settle down," Lap- pin said.

"He's done the majority of training this pre-season and looked good."

Smedts missed the entire 2011 season after having surgery to fix a hereditary hip problem that also affected his twin sister, Maddison.

Speedster Travis Varcoe rejoined the main group after overcoming his foot issues and looked sharp yesterday, and ruckman Hamish McIntosh took part in most of the session in his comeback from knee surgery.

Young gun Allen Christensen left the field late in yesterday's session after appearing to roll his right ankle.

He immediately had the ankle iced and Lappin said he was confident Christensen escaped any major damage.

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Cats pour praise on recruit Caddy

Recruit Josh Caddy (right), kayaking with Shane Kersten, has impressed the Geelong crew since joining the club. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

GEELONG has lauded recruit Josh Caddy for his hard work since he arrived from the Gold Coast two months ago.

"He's been fantastic," assistant coach Nigel Lappin said. "He hasn't done a lot of contact work yet, that will start for him after Christmas.

"We had a time trial up the mountain ... on the bikes and Josh finished with the third-best time.

"He's another strong body for us in the midfield to take some pressure off (Jimmy) Bartel and (Joel) Corey and (James) Kelly and (Joel) Selwood, so we're really excited."

Caddy's power and poise were on show at yesterday's training run in Mt Beauty, despite the midfielder being on a slightly restricted program due to post-season shoulder surgery.

"It's never easy walking into a side with this much experience and this many good players, but I had a pretty good start to the pre-season," Caddy, 20, said.

Former elite runner Mark Blicavs blitzed teammates in two-minute sprints - after more than two hours of training in 27C.

Gallery: Cats roam the highlands

Blicavs tried out for the London Olympics before being picked up by the Cats.

The 198cm rookie finished streets ahead of the chasing pack, including Selwood, Josh Walker and Jesse Stringer.

"He's an amazing athlete, a terrific person and a fantastic trainer," Lappin said of Blicavs.

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Pendles makes switch to Tigers

Kris Pendlebury was named full-back in the 2012 VFL team of the year. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD'S VFL captain, Kris Pendlebury, hopes a move to Werribee will enhance his AFL draft prospects next season.

Pendlebury, 26, has informed the Pies he will leave the club after five seasons, including three as skipper.

The brother of superstar midfielder Scott, Pendlebury was overlooked again in this year's drafts, despite some interest from Collingwood and St Kilda.

Instead, the Pies opted for another key defender from the VFL, Williamstown's Jack Frost.

Pendlebury was named full-back in the 2012 VFL team of the year.

After 93 VFL games, Pendlebury yesterday told the Herald Sun he still wanted to play AFL.

"I had done everything I could to get noticed (at Collingwood) but it wasn't happening," he said.

"So I wanted to go to a successful club like Werribee.

"The Western Bulldogs drafted Brett Goodes at age 28, so you never know what's around the corner."
 

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2012 countdown: Top 10 goals

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season

Sydney speedster Lewis Jetta celebrates his incredible goal in the Swans' preliminary final win against Collingwood. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON speedster Chris Yarran won the official goal of the year, but an even quicker Swan might have gone one better.

Over the next 10 days we'll name the highlights, lowlights and simply strange moments of the year in footy in a countdown of top 10 countdowns.

We kicked off the series on Monday with the best 10 AFL games of 2012, and followed that with the top 10 marks yesterday.

Today the countdown continues with the top 10 goals of the year.

Did we get it right? Leave a comment below

10. James Polkinghorne v West Coast

Torpedo punts that sail through the middle are great to watch any time, and even better when your side is less than a goal down with about 30 seconds to play. That's when Polkinghorne pulled this one out of the bag from inside the centre square against the Eagles in June, pulling off one of the upsets of the season.

9. Ahmed Saad v Geelong
This might have been the moment Matthew Scarlett decided 'stuff it, I'm going to leave this to the younger blokes'. Isolated against the Geelong champ in St Kilda's forward 50, Saad gathered the loose ball, turned Scarlett inside-out and burnt him off before snapping truly from the boundary line.

Ahmed Saad kicks a goal ahead of Matthew Scarlett. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

8. Luke Breust v Collingwood
Third-man up specialist Jordan Lewis tapped a ball-up towards the boundary line where Breust gathered, spun onto his left and bounced through the goal from next to the behind post. Don't you love it when a plan comes together? It was the third of Breust's five goals for the day in the Hawks' big win.

Luke Breust celebrates a snapped goal with Jordan Lewis and Cyril Rioli. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

7. Jonathon Griffin v Richmond
An almost identical effort to Breust, with a few extra points for degree of difficulty due to heavy rain and the fact 201cm ruckmen aren't meant to do this kind of thing.

6. Lindsay Thomas v Carlton

The man who couldn't kick a goal from the goalsquare last year picked up a bouncing ball on the boundary line about 55m out and somehow wobbled through a bouncing reverse torpedo. Unfortunately for Lindsay, this game is remembered for another incident when the Carlton captain had a sudden taste for chicken wings. 5. Hayden Ballantyne v West Coast
Ballantyne was front and centre when Matthew Pavlich spilled a mark in the western derby, pouncing on the ball then shrugging a Will Schofield tackle, dodging Sam Butler then leaving Shannon Hurn sitting on his backside wondering which way the Dockers pest went before slotting the goal on the run. You can imagine the celebration. 4. Lewis Jetta v Western Bulldogs
Hard to believe this guy couldn't buy a goal in his first season. Jetta ran on to a loose ball at half-back, put on the afterburners and slotted the goal from 45m near the boundary after two bounces. We didn't know it at the time, but it was just a teaser of what was to come.

Lewis Jetta in action during the Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs AFL game at the SCG in Sydney. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

3. Chris Yarran v Richmond
Yarran won Goal of the Year for his Round 1 effort against the Tigers. He took Chris Judd's handball on the wing, shrugged off Ivan Maric then stepped around Steve Morris and goaled from the forward pocket. If only Dustin Martin had chased a little harder ...

Carlton's Yarran snaps a wonder goal from near the boundary line against Richmond. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

And we won't ruin the party by asking if Yarran took the ball over the boundary line during his explosive run.

Chris Yarran runs along the boundary line on the way to kicking goal of the year against Richmond. Source: Herald Sun

2. Rory Sloane v GWS
The Sloane Ranger lived up to his namesake with his solo effort against the Giants. Gathering at half-back, Sloane sprinted up the wing, taking three bounces before sending an absolute mongrel finger-breaker inside the forward 50. He made up for that mistake with his follow-up, grabbing the ball off the boot of Taylor Walker and snapping truly on his left. Although Bernie Vince evidently thought he should have handballed.

Rory Sloane goals against GWS. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

1. Lewis Jetta v Collingwood
Ineligible for Goal of the Year because it came in a final, but that doesn't bother us. We'll also conveniently overlook the fact Jetta should have been pinged for running too far given he bounced the ball only three times while covering about 90m. Jetta left scorched turf behind him after he took off from the back of the ANZ Stadium centre square and ran all the way to the goal-line. Kudos to Magpie defender Nathan Brown, who chased Jetta the whole way knowing he was no hope of catching him - and earned himself a cameo in one of footy's great highlight reels.

Sydney's Lewis Jetta burns off his Collingwood opponents to kick an amazing running goal last weekend. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

Lewis Jetta at top speed on the way to one of the great finals goals against Collingwood. Source: Getty Images

Sydney's Lewis Jetta celebrates goal against Collingwood in the first preliminary final at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

TOMORROW: TOP 10 BRAIN FADES OF 2012

Follow Al Paton on Twitter: @al_superfooty

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AFL dives out of Man U's path

Kevin Sheedy and James Hird when their teams clashed at Skoda Stadium this year. Picture: Rohan Kelly Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL will change the time of Greater Western Sydney's home clash against Essendon next year to avoid a clash with soccer heavyweight Manchester United.

The switch means St Kilda's home game against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium will be played at 7.40pm in a direct swap with the GWS-Dons match, to maintain the broadcast structure.

Manchester United last week locked in a night friendly on July 20 at ANZ Stadium against an A-League All-Stars side.

The Giants and Bombers were to play at Skoda Stadium in Round 17 at the same time.

But the match will now be played at 2.10pm after a GWS request.

"The AFL seeks to support major events where possible, and to avoid clashes with any AFL matches," AFL broadcasting boss Simon Lethlean said.

"It's in the best interests of all sports fans for these changes to be made for Round 17 next season with as much notice as we can provide."

The reshuffle will bring relief to GWS supporters agonising over which match to attend in Sydney that night.

The NRL currently has a clash with the Manchester United sell-out, with the Sydney Roosters set to host Cronulla Sharks at Allianz Stadium that night.

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Buddy puts contract on the other boot

Adidas wins the lace: Hawthorn's Lance Franklin has traded in his Nike boots for those made by its rival. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

NIKE has lost its No.1 footballer Lance Franklin to rival adidas.

Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin has worn Nike boots since he made his debut in 2005, including when he won his first Coleman Medal in Hawthorn's premiership season of 2008.

It's understood the new deal is worth about $150,000 a season.

Hawthorn recently announced the end of its 30-year association with Puma, striking up a new apparel deal with adidas.

While players must wear the club's official apparel, they retain the right to wear their choice of boots.

It's understood adidas is in the final stages of finalising the deal and would not comment.

Franklin's manager Liam Pickering did not return calls from the Herald Sun, while Nike's George Lawlor was reluctant to discuss the deal. Asked whether Franklin was staying with Nike or looking elsewhere, Lawlor replied: "No idea."

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Crows build steel into new backline

Kyle Hartigan, left, defends on Cameron Mooney in a VFL match. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: Herald Sun

A YEAR on from watching Phil Davis follow Nathan Bock out of the exit lounge, Adelaide's key defensive stocks are looking fully replenished.

The Crows added VFL backman Kyle Hartigan with their sole selection in yesterday's AFL Rookie Draft, after selecting fellow key defender Sam Siggins in the national draft.

With Ben Rutten nearing the end of his career, the Crows will bank on a mix of Hartigan, Siggins, Sam Shaw, Luke Thompson and Andy Otten developing into long-term partners for emerging star Daniel Talia.

At 194cm and 93kgs and with three seasons of senior football under his belt, 21-year-old Hartigan has the potential to step in and play immediately next year if injury or form slumps strike.

A highly rated junior prospect, Hartigan earnt AIS selection as a 17-year-old and captained TAC Cup side Western Jets.

But he was overlooked in his draft year and has spent the past three years at Werribee honing his game under former Western Bulldogs midfielder Scott West.

"In some of those 18th years there's high expectations," Crows list manager David Noble said.

"Some of the guys are still growing and maybe don't look as accomplished as they did in their 17th year and for whatever reason their footy is a little bit off.

"But to his credit he's gone back and worked extremely hard to not give up."

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

Hartigan, a favourite of Melbourne-based Crows scout Steve McCrystal, eventually earnt his opportunity by showing an ability to play on forwards of all sizes.

He has held his own in match-ups against James Podsiadly, Tom Hawkins, Matthew Bate, Jayden Post and Brendan Fevola in the past two years and played senior state football this season.

"He's played on quicks, he's played on mediums, he's played on talls," Noble said.

"Siggins, we know, is a longer-term prospect, but Hartigan is one, if opportunity creates itself, who could step in and play AFL footy next year. We're pretty happy to get him."

The Crows completed the process of returning Nick Joyce to their list yesterday by selecting him in the preseason draft.

Noble praised the attitude of the youngster, who had to be delisted because of a technicality that saw Kurt Tippett remain on Adelaide's list longer than the club wanted.

"Nick's handled himself extremely well and shown maturity beyond his years," Noble said.

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No concerns on Tippett's concussions

Kurt Tippett is finally a Swan. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: adelaidenow

SYDNEY coach John Longmire says Kurt Tippett's late-season resurgence means the club will enter next season unconcerned over the forward's concussion history.

Tippett's long and tortured journey to the Harbour City was completed yesterday when the Swans secured the former Crow with pick 11 in the pre-season draft.

His 11-match ban for his role in Adelaide's salary cap saga has overshadowed his struggles with several head knocks last season.

But Longmire said doubters only had to look at the Crows' last game of 2012.

"We saw the way he came back. Whilst he took a few weeks to get going, by the end of the year he was in really good form," Longmire said yesterday.

"Anyone who saw that preliminary final (against Hawthorn) last season when he kicked four goals and contributed to a number of others could see the impact (he had) and the condition he was in and we're confident that going forward he'll be a very important, key player for us.'

Despite Tippett's Swans debut unlikely to happen before Round 14, Longmire said the club was excited about the impact he would have in the long-term.

"What he brings ... he's only 25 years of age, a 202cm key position forward who this year had over 70 shots at goal," he said.

"We think he can add some real fire power in our front half and importantly not only do it next year, but the years beyond. We think he's got some good footy ahead of him."

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

Greater Western Sydney threw a lifeline to delisted Carlton defender Bret Thornton, a year after doing the same with Thornton's former Blues teammate Setanta O'hAilpin.

Thornton, an 11-year 188-game veteran at Visy Park, was dumped by Carlton at the end of last season. The Giants also re-drafted veteran ruckman Dean Brogan, who was initially delisted to make room for Tippett.

Richmond signalled its intent for finals success next year by bringing in a bevy of recycled talent to Punt Road.

The Tigers yesterday added Ricky Petterd, Orren Stephenson and Sam Lonergan to its list after securing Chris Knights, Troy Chaplin and Aaron Edwards earlier in the off-season.

Collingwood took a chance on twice-retired ruckman Ben Hudson to support veteran Darren Jolly in a move that could prove critical to its premiership chances.

Hudson joins the Pies - where he will also act as ruck coach - after stints at Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane.

Hawthorn also opted to boost its ruck stocks by taking Jonathan Ceglar after the delisted Collingwood big man had impressed the Hawks during pre-season training.

"We just felt that we needed more ruck depth and Jonathon fills that," recruiting manager Graham Wright said.

West Coast opted for delisted Demon Jamie Bennell, despite the small forward still recovering from a knee reconstruction.

The Eagles had been interested in Bennell as a teenager before he was drafted by Melbourne in 2008.

"It's great to get another opportunity and I am really looking forward to it," Bennell said.

"I am about five months down the rehabilitation path after a reconstruction on my left knee, and after training on my own it will be good to get into a professional environment."

Among those to miss out on pre-season and rookie selection were talented, but troubled teen Dayle Garlett, Brent Prismall, Cameron Wood and Josh Toy. Delisted Port pair Steven Salopek and Jacob Surjan were also overlooked.

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Cachia heads back to the Blues

Jaryd Cachia, right, tackes Port Adelaide's top draft pick, Ollie Wines. Cachia has been draft back to Carlton. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

ONE year after being delisted by Carlton and told to work on his outside game, tough-nut midfielder Jaryd Cachia is this morning back at Princes Park.

His rookie draft selection yesterday capped a 12-month mission to force his way back into the AFL and more specifically, at Carlton.

The bonus is he picked up a SANFL premiership with Norwood and lifelong mates along the way.

Within three hours of being rookie listed by the Blues for the second time, Cachia took a phone call from new coach Mick Malthouse and was on a plane back to Melbourne.

He starts training with his former club today, confident he's got a clean slate to work with.

"I'm looking forward to a fresh start," said Cachia, who was rookie listed by Carlton in 2010 but delisted without playing a game two years later.

"I got a call from Mick (Malthouse) who said he was excited to get things going and start training.

"I wanted to come over (to SA) and prove to other people and also myself that I could play at the highest level.

"When you get delisted you can get pretty down but I always thought I was good enough."

The 21-year-old starred for Norwood in its premiership season and finished equal fifth in the Magarey Medal.

Profiles of every recruit in our draft tracker

He has revealed he spoke to Carlton recruiters throughout the year and two phone calls in the past fortnight all but sealed his fate, despite spending this month training with Port Adelaide.

"I was on the phone to family before and I said `I'm really going to miss Norwood' because I may never get to experience a senior premiership again," Cachia said.

"It's been a fantastic year and I can't thank them enough for all the hard work they've done for me."

Cachia was one of six SANFL players taken in yesterday's rookie and pre-season drafts.

The big surprise was Central District ruckman Jack Hannath who landed at Fremantle when the Dockers pounced with Pick No.8 in the pre-season draft.

Hannath was in Darwin training with Melbourne but the Demons, without a selection until the rookie draft, were trumped by the Dockers.

Other SA rookie selections included Glenelg's Nathan Stark (No. 3 to Melbourne), Eagles' Nick Hayes (No. 6 to Brisbane), North Adelaide's Mitch Clisby (No. 19 to Melbourne) and Port Magpies' Justin Hoskin (No. 20 to the Power).

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Young Lion takes a 'massive step'

Brisbane Lions rookie Jordon Bourke. Picture: Andrew Brownbill Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE Lions rookie Jordon Bourke says he cannot afford to remain idle when his teammates take their Christmas break next week.

The 19-year-old AIS-AFL Academy graduate has been training with Lions for the past fortnight and plans to work out on his own over Christmas to help match the fitness levels of his new peers.

"It's a massive step up from anything I've done," the former Morningside forward said.

"I'm going up against AFL superstars in training so this has been a big reality check for me and I realise it only gets harder from here."

Profiles of every recruit in our draft tracker

The son of former Geelong and Brisbane Bears ruckman Damian Bourke is the first member of the Lions Academy to join the club's list, which was further strengthened in yesterday's rookie draft by former Woodville-West Torrens forward Nick Hayes.

Callum Bartlett was re-drafted with pick No.21.

Queenslanders fared well in the rookie draft after being largely overlooked in the national draft.

Broadbeach's Andrew Boston, an under-18 All-Australian selection this year, was recruited by the Gold Coast Suns while Redland's Adam Oxley is off to Collingwood.

The Suns used their second selection to recruit 22-year-old backman Leigh Osborne.

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Recruits join Swans' blood brothers

Kieran Jack, celebrating after the 2012 grand final, will be joined by brother Brandon at the Sydney Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: Herald Sun

THE Jack and Richards brothers will be racing each other to break a 23-year drought after the Swans yesterday drafted the younger brothers of star midfielder Kieren Jack and All Australian defender Ted Richards.

Nineteen-year-olds Xavier Richards (from Sandringham in the VFL) and Brandon Jack (Pennant Hills) trained with the Swans for the first time yesterday as part of the club's list after six players were promoted to the rookie list.

If Brandon Jack or Xavier Richards is able to crack into the Swans' primary list and play a game in the AFL next season, they will be the first brothers in the senior side since The Daily Telegraph's Neil Cordy and his brother Graeme played alongside each other for the Swans in 1989.

The two new recruits have a mountain to climb to make the Swans' top 22 players, but the club did promote 2012 rookie list player Harry Cunningham for their opening-round clash against the GWS Giants this year - demonstrating that there is a pathway for them.

If both sets of brothers do play together, it will be the first time the Swans have played double brother duos on the same team in 32 years.

Paul Morwood, Tony Morwood, Michael Wright and Stephen Wright all played alongside each other in 1980.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

However, Swans coach John Longmire said it does not necessarily have to be in 2013 that Brandon and Xavier make their debuts in the AFL because the club is allowed to retain players on its rookie list for two full seasons.

"If they improve without playing senior footy, that will give them the best possible chance of being on the list the following year," Longmire said.

"As a rookie-listed player you only get a one-year contract, but if they're showing signs of improvement during the year, that's a good sign.

" Brandon Jack has got elite speed. I think he's even quicker than Kieren, even though Kieren will probably dispute that. So he gives some real bite to us.

"Xavier Richards is a young key-position player who can help bolster our key-position stocks. Brandon Jack is part of the famous Jack name up here in Sydney. He joins his brother here, which is a great story."

In a bumper day for the Swans, the club also added Jake Lloyd (North Ballarat Rebels), Dane Rampe (University of NSW), Daniel Robinson (NSW scholarship player from Mosman) and Sam Naismith (North Shore) to its rookie list.

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Tigers primed for top four: King

Former Bomber Sam Lonergan is one of three recycled players picked up by Richmond in the pre-season draft. Picture: Jon Hargest. Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND should be aiming for a top-four finish after yesterday's dramatic influx of recycled players, former assistant coach David King says.

"They need a slice of luck and they need some midfield players to come along with Trent Cotchin, but they are certainly in very good shape to attack the top four," he said.

"If (Reece) Conca and (Dustin) Martin spike up and become good players the world is their oyster."

Richmond, which has not made the eight since 1991, yesterday rookie-listed former Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson, ex-Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan and delisted Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd.

The Tigers also picked up Adelaide half-forward Chris Knights and key defender Troy Chaplin as free agents and swapped pick 74 for North Melbourne forward Aaron Edwards in the trade period.

The club last night warned against outlandish expectations, however.

Head of football Craig Cameron said the Tigers were simply adding experience to a team that was at times close to the youngest in the competition last year.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

"Apart from the expansion sides last year we were either the youngest or second-youngest list, depending on which side we played," he said.

"In the last four years we have been keen to improve our average games of experience and bringing some more mature players in helps.

"We have brought a whole heap of younger players in over the last four years, including four 18-year-olds at the national draft, and one more 18-year-old as a rookie yesterday.

"So we have looked after our future in terms of the national draft and we have taken (experienced players) as rookies."

King believes the club should dare to dream big, given the new acquisitions and Richmond's recent recruiting successes.

"The number one thing is their list has improved and that brings a level of expectation," he said.

"The list rebuild has been done very wisely but with the guys they have got in, if they can get similar output from the fresh faces as they did last year they are every chance to shoot for the top four."

Richmond, which has set as its goal a finals berth next year after 11 consecutive barren Septembers, also took Murray Bushrangers midfielder Cadeyn Williams.

Stephenson has been taken as back-up for first-choice ruckman Ivan Maric but Petterd has been a dangerous forward when injury-free and Lonergan will add midfield depth.

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It's Goodes news week for Brett

Western Bulldogs pick up Brett Goodes, the brother of dual Brownlow Medallist Adam, at the pre-season and rookie draft.

Brett Goodes, brother of superstar Swan Adam Goodes, is now a Bulldog. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun

REMINDED that people love a fairytale, Brett Goodes chuckles. "I suppose that's what some people are calling it," he says.

"Yeah, I suppose that's what some people are calling it," Goodes said yesterday.

The 28-year-old journeyman has copped enough knockbacks and years of being ignored by the top level to know it's much less magical than that.

"You look back at it and a lot of the people you played footy with didn't persevere," Goodes said. "So I suppose it's a great reward for a lot of hard work. I think it can be a bit of a right place, right time industry. I think in this case it's certainly one of those situations."

A dream Goodes had given up on long ago became a reality yesterday when the Western Bulldogs plucked him with its sole pick in the rookie draft.

"I was pretty excited just to tell some family members who know how hard it's been over the years to finally get an opportunity," he said.

A brother of Sydney superstar Adam, Goodes' road to the AFL has been a long one.

He started with North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, spent a year at Port Adelaide in the SANFL, went to VFL club North Ballarat Roosters, trained with North Melbourne, went back to North Ballarat and travelled to Darwin to work for AFL NT and play at the NT Thunder.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

In a story eerily similar to James Podsiadly at Geelong, Goodes had been employed by the Dogs since last year as their player wellbeing manager while playing VFL with Williamstown.

But that job description started to change on the Dogs' trip to London for last month's exhibition game.

"I had a brief, informal, chat with Macca (coach Brendan McCartney) in London and he just said, 'Have you ever thought about maybe having a run around with us?'," he said.

"I was a little bit shocked but I just thought, 'What do I have to lose?' It was a win-win situation.

"I'm out on the track a bit anyway in my role, and as long as the players and coaches were happy for me to do it, I was happy.

"It all eventuated ... I had a good two weeks and I think they were surprised with how well I was testing and then it all started to become a bit more real."

A running defender with excellent foot skills, Goodes will add aggression to the Dogs' back half after a VFL season in which he won state honours and a place in the team of the year.

He beat former Essendon midfielder Brent Prismall to the rookie spot. It emerged last night Prismall was under consideration for Goodes' player welfare position.

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Garlett wrecks chance to be a Bomber

Dayle Garlett, left, in action for WAFL club Swan Districts. Pcture: Kerris Berrington. Source: PerthNow

A LEADERSHIP group decision on Monday night and a 4am bender in Fremantle last weekend combined to dash Perth teenager Dayle Garlett's hopes of being drafted by Essendon.

Garlett trained with the Bombers last week and, while his form did not overwhelm them, they were still considering him until his weekend exploits.

The Bombers were aware Garlett's return to Perth at the weekend would be a test of his dedication.

But Garlett, whose reputation has tarnished his exceptional talent, effectively sealed his fate with his night out on the town.

Essendon's leadership group was consulted and voted against Garlett being given a place on the list.

The Bombers instead selected Gippsland Power midfielder Will Hams after a brilliant 2km time-trial performance and put delisted forward Ariel Steinberg on the rookie list.

Another Perth teenager, Shannon Taylor, impressed Essendon with his character, but because of his fitness he will play for WAFL club Claremont next season in the hope of making the AFL in 2014.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

AFL recruiters across the league are saddened by the lack of progress of a band of junior WA players who seemed likely to set the competition alight until their progress flat-lined in recent seasons.

They include Garlett, Taylor, and Chris Yarran, who was awarded the Kevin Sheehan Medal at the 2010 Under-16 Championships but was not taken in any draft this year.

One AFL recruiting boss yesterday suggested AFL multicultural boss Jason Mifsud catch the first plane to Perth to investigate the continuing problems with indigenous recruitment.

But Mifsud said last week it was untrue to say AFL clubs had gone cold on indigenous talents.

"It is a bit narrow isolating it to indigenous players because I think, equally, there would be other talented players who are being asked to improve their level of dedication and discipline," he told the Herald Sun.

"It is only 20 years ago that AFL lists were made up of one per cent of indigenous players.

"We should not forget we've come a long way in a short period of time."
 

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Tippett's the best since Barry

Kurt Tippett is potentially the best Swans forward since Barry Hall, says coach John Longmire. Picture: Michael Dodge. Source: Getty Images

STAR recruit Kurt Tippett will be the biggest forward for the Swans since Barry Hall, coach John Longmire said after the club yesterday completed its pre-season draft heist.

The Swans have not had a player kick more than 50 goals in a season since Hall booted 78 in 2006.

The Swans believe they now have a player capable of breaking that drought, with Longmire agreeing the controversial former Adelaide power forward is capable of kicking 50 majors in a year.

The reigning premiers would not have endured such a drawn out recruitment process and offered a four-year-deal worth $3.55 million if they didn't believe in Tippett's ability to win games.

Tippett kicked 39 goals from 70 scoring shots this year, suggesting he is more than capable of following in Hall's footsteps.

He will make the Swans' forward line one of the most feared in the competition alongside Sam Reid, Adam Goodes, Gary Rohan, Lewis Jetta, Ryan O'Keefe, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mike Pyke and Mitch Morton.

"We think he can add some real firepower in our front half alongside Sam Reid and the other blokes we've got in there and, importantly, not only do it for next year but do it for the years beyond that and we think he's got a lot of good footy ahead of him," Longmire said.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

"He has a lot of shots at goal and we think he has a lot of improvement. He's only 25 and he's hopefully coming into the better part of his career. Lewis Jetta kicked 45 goals this year and I'd love him to do that again next year, but that's a big ask for Lewis to do.

"(Tippett) is able to hit the scoreboard. That's what he's able to do. We're not guessing about that. He gets himself in position to be able to have shots at goal and we know also he can go in the ruck when needed. So that's a pretty flexible player you've got on your hands."

The 25-year-old, 202cm Gold Coast product will be unveiled to Swans fans at a media conference this morning and train with teammates for the first time after flying to Sydney yesterday.

But he will not play a game for his new team until their round-13 clash with Port Adelaide - when his 11-match suspension for being involved in salary cap breaches and draft tampering with the Crows ends.

He also has question marks surrounding his fitness after missing four games for Adelaide this year with concussion issues.

But Longmire said doubters only had to look at the Crows' last game of 2012.

"We saw the way he came back. Whilst he took a few weeks to get going, by the end of the year he was in really good form.

"Anyone who saw that preliminary final (against Hawthorn) last season when he kicked four goals and contributed to a number of others could see the impact (he had) and the condition he was in and we're confident that he'll be a very important player for us."

For all his issues and huge salary, Tippett still comes to the club at a steal, with the Swans only needing to use their No.11 pre-season draft pick to pull off one of the biggest AFL signings in recent years.

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