Draft watch: Star bloodlines in top pick

South Australian James Aish is a hot chance to go pick No. 1 in this year's draft. Picture: Simon Cross Source: HWT Image Library

DRAFT WATCH: THREE Victorians are chasing a classy South Australian onballer with gifted bloodlines to be crowned this year's No. 1 draft pick.

James Aish, the nephew of SANFL royalty Michael Aish, is leading the charge but his raw body and a shoulder reconstruction threatening the early part of this season could halt his momentum.

At 16 Aish became the youngest player in SANFL history to win a senior premiership last year, kicking 1.1 from 23 touches in Norwood's grand final victory.

An AFL recruiter said he was a "special talent'' blessed with similar traits to Hamish Hartlett and Bryce Gibbs.

"His last game of under-18s he got 34 touches in three quarters,'' Norwood coach Nathan Bassett said.

"He's a nice mover and he's faster than what he looks. He's got time with the ball and it's his terrific awareness and what he sees that sets him apart.''

Tom Boyd is best-placed to mow down Aish, with another AFL scout declaring if Gold Coast or Western Bulldogs collect the wooden spoon they would jag the power forward with the first pick.

Boyd, who at 16 dragged Vic Metro across the line against Vic Country in the under-18 carnival, booted 29 goals from his best five TAC Cup matches last year and is tipped to dominate for Eastern Ranges again this season.

He comes from the same club as Jon Patton, but Ranges talent manager Anthony Parkin said they were different spearheads.

"Patton is more of a brute who takes pack marks, where as Boydy is more of a lead-up forward who works off his opponent,'' he said.

"He's special, and he deserves that billing. He's worked extremely hard to turn himself from a boy into a man.''

Boyd trained with Collingwood in January and was first touted by some clubs as a special talent when he booted four goals for the Ranges from just 30 forward entries in an 80-point hammering.

Oakleigh's Jack Billings and Dandenong running machine Billy Hartung are also early chances for prized selections after breakout 2012s.

"Billings reads the play really well and has elite kicking skills. He's very good in the air and is just a genuine footballer,'' Chargers manager Mark Smart said of the left-footer.

The left-footer set up a crucial goal in last year's TAC Cup decider before the Chargers pinched the flag in golden-point time.

Hartung has stacked on 5kg this summer, plays in the same mould of Stingrays predecessors Lachie Whitfield and Tom Scully and has no school commitments this year, allowing him to focus on footy.

Ben Lennon and Josh Kelly are the other standout Victorians, while Nick Robertson is the pick of the Western Australia talent.

FOUR EARLY TEENAGE STARS TO WATCH

JAMES AISH (183cm, Norwood SANFL)

POSITION: Classy outside midfielder
CASE FOR: Outstanding leader, elite vision and already impressing at senior level. Under-18 All-Australian last year.
EARLY KNOCKS: On the comeback trail from a shoulder reconstruction, needs to physically mature and tidy up his kicking.

TOM BOYD (199cm, 102kg, Eastern Ranges)

POSITION: Full-forward
CASE FOR: Can kick bags of goals, strong hands, proven ability to swing matches. Lack of key forwards in this draft adds to the attraction.
EARLY KNOCKS: Needs to work on mobility and ability to consistently impose on contests

Tom Boyd photo: Eastern Ranges spearhead Tom Boyd will be the No. 1 pick if Gold Coast or Western Bulldogs finish last, an AFL recruiter predicts. Source: HWT Image Library

JACK BILLINGS (183cm, 78, Oakleigh Chargers)

POSITION: Half-forward
CASE FOR: Great game sense, sharp left foot and uncanny goal sense. Under-18 All-Australian last year.
EARLY KNOCKS: Needs to work on his tank and add midfield capabilities to his repertoire.

Jack Billings of Oakleigh celebrates a goal during the TAC Cup Under 18s Grand Final between Gippsland Power and Oakleigh Chargers played at Etihad Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Blair Hamish Source: HWT Image Library

BILLY HARTUNG (176cm, 71kg, Dandenong Stingrays)

POSITION: Wing
CASE FOR: Running machine with high kicking efficiency. Once kicked 20.0 in a junior match.
EARLY KNOCKS: Still needs to add size and improve his inside work.

Billy Hartung photo: Dandenong Stingrays star Billy Hartung is a chance to be the No. 1 draft pick. Source: HWT Image Library

- Sam Landsberger

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Kennett: Buddy shouldn't be greedy

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett is concerned about what may happen to Buddy Frankling after his football career ends. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says Lance Franklin's life after football should be more important to the champion footballer than getting paid more money else where.

Kennett said yesterday that Franklin, a free agent at the end of the season, had been given opportunities beyond his "wildest imagination" by the Hawks.

"My interest for Buddy is firstly giving thought to his career beyond football and he is now 26 and hopefully he may get another five or six years," Kennett said.

Ken Hinkley: Buddy will stay with the Hawks

"But my greatest concern for Buddy is what happens to him after he completes his football career in terms of his development and opportunities. And and my second concern is how he manages himself and the opportunities he has between now and the end of his football career.

"The way he behaves as a citizen will best determine what happens post football."

Kennett said Franklin's decision not to sign a new contract with Hawthorn would be disruptive to himself and the club.

Sheedy: Let's go and get Buddy

"But it is his decision and he has always said he's a one club man and certainly the Hawthorn Football Club has given him training and disciplines and opportunities beyond his wildest imagination so I trust at the end of the year he'll see fit to stay with us," he said.

"It's no always about money in life and it's actually about how you approach life, how you prepare for life and in Buddy's case it's how you start to prepare for life after football and that he has already started but he has got five years to go."

Kennett said Franklin had the opportunity in the next five years to secure a wonderful future but would risk it all if he made the wrong decision.

He said all players at Hawthorn were getting a good sense of community values and the club's culture was more than money.

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Jurrah's AFL comeback starts in Alice

A Supreme Court jury has found former AFL star Liam Jurrah not guilty of assaulting a man in Alice Springs.

AFL footballer Liam Jurrah arrives the Alice Springs court house for the first day of his trial. He was later acquitted. Picture: Justin Brierty Source: adelaidenow

TROUBLED former Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah's long road to a hoped-for AFL comeback will start with a game for South Alice Springs.

Jurrah, acquitted of assault in Alice Springs last week, has been granted a clearance to play for the Central Australian Football League club, the league confirmed on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old is scheduled to play his first game for the Kangaroos on April 13.

Jurrah, who kicked 81 goals in his 36 games with the Demons, said last week he dreams of returning to the AFL.

But as well as needing to find the form and fitness to convince AFL scouts he is worthy of another punt next season, he also faces more legal battles.

Jurrah failed to appear in an Adelaide court on a drink-driving charge on Tuesday.

The magistrate issued a warrant, although that will only be activated if Jurrah again fails to turn up at Elizabeth Magistrates Court on April 2.

He is also listed to appear in the same court on Thursday on a charge of aggravated assault in Adelaide in January.

His lawyer told the court on Tuesday that he was still in the Northern Territory.

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Mick's messages confuse Blues

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ON THE eve of Round 1, Carlton coach Mick Malthouse already has an excuse if he loses.

It's the wretched game plan, or lack of adherence to it by his players.

On the flip side, if the Blues win, it's suddenly a glorious game plan, the missing piece of the defensive pie that transports Carlton from mid-table lethargy to top-four contender.

The problem is, it's a case of suck and see it for Carlton and its army of fans, for no one knows if the players have successfully adopted Malthouse's game plan or not.

One week they have, when they savaged Fremantle in the pre-season, and the next they have no idea, when they were embarrassed by Brisbane in the NAB Cup final.

Malthouse certainly has had a bit each way, although he didn't blame the game plan for the Lions loss. That was simply a pathetic attitude, he said.

He has said the Blues have the ingredients to win the premiership (after a pre-season intra--club game), and also acknowledged an astute Matthew Lloyd (on 3AW) for leaving them out of the eight because they might adapt the game plan in time to make September.

"It's a work in progress,'' Blues chief executive Greg Swann told the Herald Sun this week.

Malthouse's famed game plan has has received more publicity than anything, or anyone, at Carlton this off-season.

We've had have heat maps, corridor and boundary line percentages, contested-ball numbers, short kicks evaluated, long kicks investigated - and here we are 24 hours from the first game and the confidence in Carlton is immeasurable.

Lloyd, Cameron Mooney, Daniel Harford, Dermott Brereton and Robert Walls are among the commentariat who are not necessarily concerned for the Blues, but believe time is an opponent in learning Malthouse's way. Mooney said it might takes six months.

After Round 1 of the NAB, Malthouse said: "The intent was there, but we're getting a bit confused between the two game structures from last year and this year.'' After the NAB Cup final, he had to be even more confused.

That and the fact the boundary-line deployment requires big key forwards who can mark the ball.

At Collingwood, Malthouse had Travis Cloke, a bit of Chris Dawes and Leigh Brown was prominent before he retired.

At Carlton, he has Levi Casboult, Sam Rowe and resting ruckmen Matthew Kreuzer, Shaun Hampson and Robert Warnock.

There's Jarrad Waite, too, as the lead-up forward, but who knows if his body will stand up.

Of concern was that after Round 1 of the NAB, against Sydney and GWS, Malthouse said: "The intent was there, but we're getting a bit confused between the two game structures from last year and this year.''

After the NAB Cup final, he had to be even more confused.

Still, midfield Kade Simpson said on Monday the players were ready to implement the game plan: "We've had two weeks to fix some of the things that happened.''

The test will come tomorrow night and certainly in the four games after that. They play the Tigers, then Collingwood, Geelong, West Coast and Adelaide.

"It's a fair test,'' Swan said. "The fact is you can practice all you like, but it has to stand up under pressure.''

 

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Freo's Pitt has heart scare

Docker Jayden Pitt and Cat Joel Selwood contest the loose ball. Picture: Daniel Wilkins. Source: PerthNow

THE AFL playing career of Fremantle utility Jayden Pitt has been put on hold due to a recently diagnosed heart irregularity.

Pitt will return to Melbourne with his family to seek further opinions on the initial diagnosis.

The club did not release any further details about the nature of the heart irregularity.

"The club will be working closely with Jayden, his family and his management to determine the best course of action for his future,'' Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond said in a statement released on Tuesday night.

"In the meantime, training and playing football for Jayden have been put on hold while further opinions are sought.''

Sandilands could be back in eight weeks

The 20-year-old has played 10 games since being recruited with pick No.20 in the 2010 national draft.
Pitt's health scare follows bad news on the injury front for ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who will miss up to 12 weeks after it was deemed he needs surgery on his left hamstring.

Fremantle have a bye this weekend after opening their season with a 28-point win over arch rivals West Coast.

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Kosi 'no guarantee' for Saints

Saints forwards Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt at training. Picture: Getty Source: Herald Sun

ST KILDA coach Scott Watters won't guarantee veteran Justin Koschitzke a place in the Saints' best 22.

Koschitzke is in a group of four Saints over the age of 30 to come out of contract at season's end.

Watters said the quartet -- which includes Lenny Hayes, Stephen Milne and Jason Blake -- would be re-assessed each year. 

But Koschitzke's position, both short-term and long-term, will come under intense scrutiny given his status as a former No.2 draft pick and the club's off-season acquisitions of big men Tom Hickey and Tom Lee.

"We haven't picked our side for next week so it would be premature of me to answer that,'' Watters told the Herald Sun when asked if Koschitzke was certain to play against Gold Coast on Saturday night.

"When in good form and when training well he's a good player, but as he's already stated, he'll be competing with a number of other players (for a spot).

"To pick 22 players for Round 1, for every coach in the league, is always a challenge.''

Koschitzke, 30, has played 195 games and admitted last month he was under the pump.

In his 19 appearances last year his average disposals dropped below 10 for only the third time in his career, while he has managed just 42 goals from 32 games in the past two seasons.

What may save Koschitzke this week is injury to teammates Rhys Stanley -- still recovering from a knee complaint  -- and Sam Fisher, who pulled up with a sore foot last week.

Watters said competition for spots was hot.

The coach said he had been "excited'' by the arrival of former Gold Coast ruckman, Hickey, and said former WAFL forward Lee would force his way in to the seniors at some stage this season.

"Out of our squad of 45 we realistically have 32-35 players who are ready to play. I think you could throw any player in to that same bracket, not just Kosi, because we've got more depth amongst our defenders, more depth in our forwards,'' Watters said.

"You need to train well and you need to play well to keep your spot.''

Watters said he expected Nick Dal Santo, also a free agent at year's end, to extend his contract and stay at the club for another "three or four years''.

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Cats must stay loyal to club: Selwood

Geelong Cats Season Launch: Geelong captain Joel Selwoodmakes a speech. Picture: Jon Hargest. Source: Geelong Advertiser

GEELONG captain Joel Selwood has implored the Cats' star players to follow the lead of chief executive Brian Cook and ignore overtures from rival clubs.

Speaking at the club's season launch last night, Selwood said the Cats' unrivalled success over recent years meant their players, coaches and staff would continue to be headhunted by clubs across the league.

Cook had virtually accepted a lucrative offer to become North Melbourne's CEO late last year, but turned down the offer and extended his reign at the Cats in a major show of commitment.

"I don't know if we know how lucky we were to keep one of our staff members who was pretty close to leaving, and that's Cookie," Selwood said.

"We really appreciate the decision that he's made and we're a better club with him, and I think he knows that, also.

"He's set a standard for us, though. He set a standard that a number of players are going to get, they're going to get asked to go to different clubs.

"Staff are going to be poached, coaches are going to be wanted, and if we're the best club they're going to be wanted, and I actually think we are the best club."

The Cats kick off their season on Easter Monday with a blockbuster against Hawthorn at the MCG.

It will be at the scene of the crime of their elimination final shocker against Fremantle when the Cats were sent packing a week after an ominous win over eventual premier Sydney.

Selwood declared the lessons learnt from last year's elimination final shocker continue to be a motivating factor for the Cats.

"From that night we got taught a lesson," he said.

"We got told all through the year by the coaches that anyone can beat anyone.

"We didn't come to play and from now on, we've learnt that lesson, we have to come to play. It doesn't matter who we play, or when we play, we've got to be on our game."

Bristled by people questioning whether Geelong can remain a force, Selwood said the Cats would leave no stone unturned this year in pursuit of more success.

Selwood urged fans to judge the club's recruits for who they were, and not compare them to past greats.

"Let's judge Jared Rivers for being Jared Rivers, not Matthew Scarlett," he said.

"Hamish McIntosh isn't Brad Ottens.

"Josh Caddy is a young player who I think is going to be a star, but he'll be a better player in three years' time."

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North gives Harvey job in the box

Kangaroos champion Brent Harvey will have to swap his footy colours for a suit on match day when North Melbourne take on Collingwood. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

SUSPENDED North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey is being assigned a match-day job to help him as well as his teammates.

North coach Brad Scott said the role would make the "irreplaceable" 346-game forward a better player when he returned in Round 7.

Daw remains in ruck calculations

"We've got him looking at some specific things which, even at 34, will really help him as well," Scott said yesterday. "The things he'll do for us on match day will help our team. But the primary reason we're doing it is to actually show him a look at the game from the other side of the fence and just get a better understanding of what's really important to winning games."

Harvey will sit with Scott and his assistant coaches or the statisticians during the six rounds as he serves his suspension for two striking offences in the elimination final loss to West Coast in Perth.

"While we would love to have him out there on Sunday, it forces us to adapt," Scott said.

Recruits Ben Jacobs and Taylor Hine are ready to step up to replace suspended defender Scott McMahon and Harvey for the game against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.

"He (Jacobs) is still learning the way we want to play, but he's really coachable and we think he'll be a really good player for us," Scott said.

"Taylor came in and we were impressed what he did in defence against Hawthorn. We've been looking for that guy who can play on a genuinely good small forward, which Collingwood has."

And Scott said improving Majak Daw was a ruck alternative to Todd Goldstein and Daniel Currie.

While the battle for the No.1 spot against the Pies is expected to be between Goldstein and Currie, Scott said Daw would play seniors this season.

"We knew we were taking a significant risk trading Hamish McIntosh at the end of the year and a lot of the responsibility went to Todd Goldstein," he said.

"But Daniel Currie has been a revelation. It's not just those two either. It's Majak Daw who has shown he can play in the ruck too."

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We're on our way up, says top Dog

Brendan McCartney beleives his young team aren't too far off the mark on the AFL big stage. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

BRENDAN McCartney says the Western Bulldogs are further advanced in their progression than outsiders think.

The Dogs coach was quick to pounce yesterday on a question about his team's progress, desperate to set the record straight about the perception improvement could be up to five years away.

"What has been lost in translation through some headlines is that we've put a lot of work, coaching and AFL gametime into a lot of young people over the last 2-3 years," McCartney said.

Murphy gets captain's gig

"I said history will show it takes 5-6 years for a player to emerge and handle the game. If you happen to be in a position like we are where you've got a lot of young people, it can take 5-6 years for that team to really feel comfortable in big games.

"But that doesn't mean you don't win a lot of games along the way and become a really competitive club.

"We may be a little more advanced than some people think outside our club ... a little closer along the journey than people think.

"We're learning to be much more functional around the ball and defend and once you put those things in place, the scoreboard has a way of taking care of itself."

Bob Murphy will lead the Bulldogs into their season opener against Brisbane on Saturday with captain Matthew Boyd out for up to three weeks with a calf injury.

But far from bemoaning that loss, McCartney said there were plenty of young pups "itching" for their shot in his stead.

"When we told (the team) that Boydy wouldn't be playing, there were a lot of eyes in the room that lit up with (thought of) an opportunity," he said.

McCartney said three of the club's other mature-age recruits - Tom Young, Brett Goodes, Nick Lower and Koby Stevens - would play after impressing in the NAB Cup.

The Dogs will test Adam Cooney today and are upbeat about his chances despite the speedster spending time in hospital last week with a knee infection.

Tom Williams will rejoin full training next week with an eye to a Round 2 or 3 resumption, while Shaun Higgins is raring to go.

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Mackie: Cats business unfinished still

Andrew Mackie and Josh Hunt with his daughter Miyah.. Picture: Jon Hargest. Source: Geelong Advertiser

JOSH Hunt and Andrew Mackie last night paid glowing tribute to their teammates after being inducted into Geelong's Hall of Fame.

The star pair joined some of Geelong's all-time greats when they were unveiled as the club's latest inductees at the Cats' season launch at Crown.

Both spoke of their honour to have played for the Cats during the most dominant era in the club's history - but declared there was still unfinished business.

Steve Johnson out indefinitely

The premiership players said they would be nothing without the teammates they played alongside each week, as well as the hard work of the club's coaches, both past and present.

"It's a huge honour. We've been blessed to be part of a great club," Hunt said.

"We've got so many people to thank for getting us to where we are today . . . it's been a lot of hard work by a lot of people who are still at the club and who have moved on.

"We don't forget those people and the amount of work they've put into us.

"It's just another feather in the cap that you can look back on at the end of your career and think you've been pretty lucky to be part of that.

"I'm pretty sure I've ridden on the coattails of a few people to get to here and I thank them for that.

"It's very exciting and one of those things you'll cherish forever."

Players need to play 200 games (across AFL and NAB Cup) to satisfy the club's Hall of Fame selection criteria.
Players can also be inducted if they meet five of 14 other areas of criteria that relate to other achievements over their career.

But Mackie declared there was plenty of unfinished business as the Cats embark on another premiership tilt this season.

"We're very lucky that we got the opportunity to come to the Geelong Football Club for a start, and then obviously to be part of a very good era," Mackie said.

"It's very special for us and something that we'll look back on when we're older.

"While you're still playing, you have ambitions and focuses. As we talk now we're a week away from a Round 1 game and that's where the focus is.

"We're trying to make history again and achieve more goals . . . we're trying to achieve something in 2013.
"It's very important to point out that all of our teammates are why we're here.

"As I said, we've been part of a really good period for the club and it's to do with some really good people around the footy club and some really talented players."

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