Doughty not thinking about final game

Updated September 12, 2012 14:13:21

Adelaide stalwart Michael Doughty says he is not the sentimental type.

Doughty will retire at the end of Adelaide's season - which could be Friday night's knockout semi-final against Fremantle.

But the Crows' veteran says his impending retirement has not entered his thoughts.

"It is not something that has ever come into my mind," Doughty said.

"We have got a job to do this week.

"Until that last quarter when you're either up by too much and know you're going to play next week, or you're down and can't catch them, it's not going to come into my mind.

Doughty says he is not the type of player to dwell past achievements.

"I'm not big on reflection, I'm a player that likes to move on.

"Once you start thinking about the past, you lose your concentration on what your job is next week.

"So I have always been a player that has looked forward to whatever job that is and I think that is when I play my best footy."

Doughty, a 229-game veteran, announced his pending retirement last month.

"It's a bit of a weight off your shoulders, you don't have to answer questions or say you're not sure what you're doing - when you know you are," he said.

"To get the opportunity this year when I could have retired last year after a very poor year by the club, it's just good to get that opportunity."

Adelaide slipped to a 29-point qualifying final defeat to Sydney last weekend but the 33-year-old Doughty was confident of rebounding against the Dockers at Football Park.

"We have played Freo twice (this season) and we have beaten them," he said.

"We probably didn't play as well as we would have liked last week, some players were down. But when you look at it, we still had opportunities to win.

"Finals are not as hard as you would think, you have just got to play your role and do your bit for the team.

"Our footy stands up to most teams - it's contested ball, you have got to win your fair share, and what we didn't do last week was use the ball well.

"Every time we have played Freo we have used the ball really well going forward."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted September 12, 2012 14:13:21

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Hawks worried about hobbled Hodge

Updated May 18, 2012 12:45:48

Hawthorn is growing increasingly concerned about captain Luke Hodge's knee injury.

Hodge will miss Saturday's clash against Fremantle in Launceston and might also be out of the side next weekend against Richmond.

The tough utility was forced out last week because of the problem and coach Alastair Clarkson revealed on Friday that the Hawks will put Hodge through more tests.

"He still has some swelling on his knee and we just can't take a trick with it at the minute," Clarkson said.

"We probably need to get that re-scanned and looked at again early next week, just to see how long.

"It's just not coming good quickly enough for us ... he'd even be in doubt for next week too unless we can get the swelling out of that knee."

Clarkson said the one benefit with Hodge's injury is that the team was learning to cope without him on the field.

"We have 22 other blokes and, hopefully, they're able to get the job (done) against Freo," he said.

Hawthorn is just outside the eight with four wins, while Fremantle has five.

"They've been quietly going along, Freo, not playing outstanding footy, but getting the job done every week," Clarkson said.

"We have a lot of regard for the way they go about it, they're very well coached and we're going to need to play our best footy to knock them off.

"You know what you're going to get, playing against a side that's coached by Ross Lyon."

While Hodge struggles to return to the side, Clarkson was brighter about Lance Franklin after a week of attention on the star forward's goalkicking inaccuracy.

Franklin sprayed 3.7 last Friday night as the Hawks kicked 15.25 in the win over Melbourne.

Clarkson said Franklin also had 10 scoring assists and was doing plenty to help the team with his tackling.

"All it is is just looking for the cream on top in a sense - the polish," Clarkson said.

"In terms of the contribution he's making, the tackle pressure down there, he's a first-rate player for us.

"We'd love him to be kicking 7.3 rather than 3.7, but we're also pretty confident that's going to come in the next few weeks.

"This debate is not foreign to us. This has been going on for seven or eight years.

"What do you do? His conversion is perhaps not as high as what you'd like, but he's getting double the shots that most forwards are probably getting."

The Hawks made one change, regaining key defender Josh Gibson from injury.

Fellow tall backman Stephen Gilham is also back in the team after an extended absence, meaning they have some much-needed height in defence.

"Since Gibson has been at the club, he and Gilham have only played together 15 times or something out of a possible 50-60 games," Clarkson said.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, hawthorn-3122, vic, australia

First posted May 18, 2012 12:45:48

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What is it About Sports That Fascinates Us So Much?

Blues concerned about leaky defence

Updated May 15, 2012 15:10:58

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says alarm bells are ringing over the ease with which St Kilda pierced the Blues' defence on Monday night.

Ratten is also worried his players have lost the fanatical zeal to pressure the opposition they had in the opening rounds.

The Blues took the ball into attack more often than the Saints at Docklands on Monday night, but still conceded the biggest score they have all season, losing 19.8 (122) to 14.14 (98).

Saints small forwards Stephen Milne, Terry Milera and Ahmed Saad ripped the Blues' defence apart, with nine goals between them.

Ratten says the worry was that the Blues often had extra numbers in defence but still could not stop the Saints' flow of goals.

"It was just alarm bells for us that we've still got a fair bit of work to do in that area of the game," he said.

"We knew the way they were going to play, we've watched them over the past few weeks.

"They get a lot of numbers up and they try to create space out the back.

"We knew that was going to come and we had an extra player back there at times and still our ability to win that contest, you would think we would and we didn't.

"That was quite alarming."

Another concern was that the Blues dominated the hit-out count 60-25 yet still lost the clearances.

"Full credit to them, they hunted us and they really got after us," he said.

Ratten says the Blues need to return to hunting their opposition as they had in the first three rounds.

"Our intensity and how fanatical we were to put heat on the opposition (in the early rounds) was very good," he said.

"I think that's dropped away."

The drop-off followed the huge round-three win over Collingwood, which catapulted the Blues into premiership favouritism, but Ratten denies his side had got ahead of themselves.

Saints coach Scott Watters says a strong defensive mind-set and desire to win the contested ball will continue to underpin his team's approach.

He was thrilled with the damage his fleet of small forwards caused, with the club having previously leant heavily on big men Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Rhys Stanley.

"We're probably just starting to see some progression in some different types of forward line set-ups that we need our club to progress through," Watters said.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carlton-3053, vic, australia

First posted May 15, 2012 15:10:58

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Dockers coy about chasing Cloke

Updated May 02, 2012 14:53:26

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he is in a hurry to add a power forward to his list, but refuses to reveal whether Collingwood's Travis Cloke is in the club's sights.

The Dockers are reportedly in the hunt to sign Cloke on a deal that could be worth around $1 million a season.

Cloke will be a restricted free agent at season's end, meaning the Magpies could retain his services if they are able to match any offer made by a rival club.

The Dockers are in desperate need of a reliable key forward to partner Matthew Pavlich in attack.

Former Magpies forward Jack Anthony has failed dismally since crossing to Fremantle two years ago, while Kepler Bradley has struggled to hold his position up forward for any length of time.

Lyon confirmed the Dockers needed more firepower in attack, but says there are a number of ways the club can achieve their goal.

"From a football club perspective, we're on record as having a clear, strategic list-management plan in place, which Chris Bond and Brad Lloyd head up," Lyon said.

"They've been planning for free agency since inception and, clearly, they're trying to identify opportunities within the market and work within the bounds of the AFL policies of that.

"We started a list-management process four years ago when we were paying maximum salary cap and finishing on the bottom. Since then, it's been four years of drafting and a lot of youth brought in.

"I mentioned that Carlton took 10 years to get to their position from when they were bottom in a similar position and I said we don't want to take 10 years to do that. We're in a hurry.

"Talent identification is through draft, trade and free agency, and a power forward sits within that model."

Lyon says ruckman Aaron Sandilands will miss Saturday's clash with Gold Coast at Carrara due to a knee injury.

Midfielder Nat Fyfe will also be out for the next 12 weeks after opting for surgery to fix his troublesome left shoulder.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, fremantle-6160, collingwood-3066

First posted May 02, 2012 14:53:26

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Sporting codes warned about organised crime

Updated December 14, 2011 09:36:01

Australia's elite sporting organisations are being urged to help stop organised crime from flourishing in sport.

A forum involving Victoria Police, Interpol, the Australian Crime Commission and sporting codes such as the AFL and cricket, is being held in Melbourne today.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Graham Ashton says the gathering will discuss how to tackle illegal offshore betting.

He warned that the risk that organised crime could corrupt players or officials is just as real in Australia, as it has been overseas.

"We're certainly pleased that it hasn't crept into Australia yet, as it has overseas and we want to keep it that way," he said.

"Certainly online gambling and the internet has brought us closer to the world in many respects and this is particularly timely at the moment to better insulate our sport from those threats."

Cricket Australia is one of the 13 sporting bodies attending the conference.

Sean Carroll is representing the code and says cricket already has a strong focus on preventing corruption and a self-regulation process is in place.

"We provide training for all our players and match officials and we have our own anti-corruption officers at match maintaining the integrity of the playing venue," he said.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, cricket, corruption, bribery, police, gambling, melbourne-3000

First posted December 14, 2011 09:36:01

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Port's win all about persistence: Primus

Posted May 29, 2011 15:19:00

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus says his team's drought-breaking AFL win over Richmond in Darwin reinforces what the Power can do when they fight out an entire match.

Despite some early dominance in general play the Power trailed by nine points at half-time but showed the type of character that has been too rarely evident this season to win 13.11 (89) to 10.14 (74).

It was the club's first win in six games and just its second for the year, but Primus said the hard-fought victory over in-form opposition should build belief.

"I think moreso (it will create) belief and confidence amongst each other about how we want to play and how we want to go about our football," he said.

"It's only our second win for the year, but by no means are we getting carried away with it.

"For the players it shows they have a bit of resilience. It's been a difficult six weeks, but they've kept on backing up and proving how they want go about their footy.

"We played against a pretty good opposition, who've had a good bit of form in the last couple of months and they got their just deserts, the players."

Primus said Port had previously only produced the intensity it needed for parts of games.

He said his team's ability to maintain it for a full match against the Tigers vindicated the coaching staff's belief that the issue had been mental, rather than physical.

"We've always been of the view it's our concentration and our ability to keep sticking towards our game plan rather than anything else, and we've been drumming that into the guys," he said.

He said the challenge was now to repeat that effort at home to Carlton next weekend.

"We'd like to build on it for sure. It's a tough competition, and we've got to back up," he said.

"All it does is show the players the (value of our) beliefs on how we want to play ... we'll bounce back and look forward to Carlton."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nt, darwin-0800, sa, adelaide-5000, port-adelaide-5015, vic, richmond-3121

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Magpies not worried about Swan

Updated May 26, 2011 10:26:00

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has shrugged off suggestions star midfielder Dane Swan will not take his place for the AFL clash with West Coast at the MCG on Sunday.

Swan has been battling leg soreness - believed to be a quadriceps problem - in recent matches.

But Malthouse says Swan is no different to most other players at this time of the season who are able to play despite soreness and knocks.

"The attrition rate in AFL football is far greater than what's reported," Malthouse said on Thursday.

"Players continually play and carry some form of injuries ... players who can play but are restricted are in the majority.

"We will not play players who aren't able to play, so Dane is like about seven or eight players - able to play but slightly restricted."

Leigh Brown, Ben Johnson and Alan Toovey are also likely to come into consideration to take on the Eagles, who thrashed the Western Bulldogs by 123 points last weekend.

Brown, a late withdrawal from the Magpies' win over Adelaide last weekend, will be vital as Collingwood attempts to counter the Eagles ruck tandem of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.

Malthouse said Brown, Johnson and Toovey were all over their respective injuries.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, wa, perth-6000

First posted May 26, 2011 10:17:00

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What You Should Know About Endurance Sports Nutrition

Endurance sports are those type of sports in which sportsmen are required to produce prolonged athletic output over a long period of time. Usually such sports are very aerobic in nature.

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There are many kinds of sports where endurance sports nutrition can help you maximize your performance. Endurance sports nutrition can help you a great deal in running. As mentioned above, running is the easy part; it is enduring the pain that is constantly present in your lower extremities that you need to endure.

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The endurance in swimming is not like any other. Why? It is because, like told before, there are two kinds of pressure that you need to think about. There is, first, the pressure that you experience under the water, plus the atmospheric water. So whether you put your face under water or you turn your head out of the water to breathe in some air, the cramps and the pain caused by the pressure should be endured.

In case of rowing, all that matters is the upper body strength. Off course, it also involves coordination with your teammates, especially mind and arms coordination, but if you are weak with your upper body, then rowing is definitely not the right sport for you. Your hands will probably just suffer bruises from your firm grips on the oars, but you arms are the ones that should have high endurance. Endurance sports nutrition can definitely help you survive the boat ride.

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Not all about Judd any more: Ratten

Posted May 10, 2011 16:31:00

As good as Chris Judd was late in Carlton's tight win over St Kilda, coach Brett Ratten is heartened that this time it was not just the skipper lifting the Blues home.

Judd's extraordinary performance at the SCG the previous weekend ensured a tight win over Sydney.

But, after falling in nail-biters in cut-throat finals in the past two seasons, Ratten feels the spread of contributors in Monday

night's three-point win over the Saints is a more healthy sign.

He said it was the type of match his side would have lost in the past.

"We've been in those spots where we've had to fight and dig and find the will to win," Ratten said.

"That's showing through the group that we've matured a little bit as a team across the board.

"It's not just Chris Judd standing up and doing what he has to do, I think the credit has to go to a lot of men in the team, not just one individual.

"I thought his performance last week was outstanding.

"But this week I thought (Michael) Jamison and (Nick) Duigan and (Bryce) Gibbs on (Brendon) Goddard was outstanding, (Chris) Yarran's first half was brilliant, there were a lot of players that played their part and did a great job."

Ratten said it was the sort of win that would build confidence throughout the playing group.

While the Blues lost Ed Curnow to an AC joint injury, their mood will be further boosted by the imminent return of ruckman Matthew Kreuzer.

Ratten said Kreuzer, out since injuring his knee in round 13 last year, could play in the VFL as soon as next weekend, although it might be a week later.

"We haven't fully decided which way we'll go there, but he's within a week or two of playing," Ratten said.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, carlton-3053

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Bailey in two minds about Suns thrashing

Updated April 17, 2011 17:57:00

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey admits there were disappointing aspects to his side's 90-point win over Gold Coast at the Gabba, not least being the first team to concede a quarter to the fledgling AFL side.

The Demons crushed the Suns 23.21 (159) to 9.15 (63), mainly on the back of an unanswered eight-goal run to close out the match before their bye weekend.

Spring-heeled forward Liam Jurrah, who was substituted out in the third term, and utility Cale Morton both kicked three majors to be among 13 goal-scorers for the Demons.

After two wins, a loss and a draw from its opening four games, Melbourne heads into a bye weekend in reasonable shape - on the ladder that is.

Structurally and game plan-wise there is cause for concern.

Despite a thumping win and a massive percentage boost, the Demons were outscored in the third term 4.6 (30 to 4.5 (29) by the Suns.

Bailey offered Melbourne's poor decision-making - which was not necessarily made under immense pressure, and its skill execution - which left a lot to be desired in the third term, as reasons for the third-quarter lapse.

"It was disappointing not to win all four quarters," Bailey said.

"Our decision-making with our kicking let us down, we had some intercept marks taken... we turned the ball over kicking into the half forward area.

"Kicking is important all the time but our execution of the skill turned the ball over too much in the third quarter.

"There wasn't too many great phases in the game where the ball moved incredibly quickly from one point to the other."

Not only did the Suns win their first quarter of football for the season, they also kicked their highest score.

The Suns showed healthy signs of improvement and trailed by only 37 points seven minutes into the final term after midfielder David Swallow landed a 60m goal.

It possibly could have been closer had the suspended Cambell Brown been available and superstar Gary Ablett had not withdrawn because of a calf injury.

It took more then three quarters for Melbourne to put the Suns away with a last quarter goal rampage.

Despite the thrashing, Suns ruckman Zac Smith continues to improve and appears destined for greater things.

The three-game player drew enormous praise from Bailey and Suns coach Guy McKenna for his work at stoppages and his ability to be a formidable target in attack where he kicked two goals.

"There were pressure around the stoppages and we knew they were a good stoppages team," Bailey said.

"At times we let ourselves down in that area, but young Smith is going to be a superstar of the competition.

"He's tall, athletic and he's super impressive.

"I think the big bloke is going to be something special."

After three sizeable thrashings, McKenna remains positive about the future.

He continues to see improvement in his youngsters who have lost their opening matches by a combined 280 points and must now confront a revitalised Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Saturday.

"We leaked a bit but if you take away 20 minutes in the last quarter, I'd say it's a step forward," McKenna said.

"When we were clean and took first option the footy was exciting."

Demons: 23.21 (159) - C Morton 3, L Jurrah 3, A Davey 2, A Wonaeamirri 2, B Green 2, J Trengove 2, L Dunn 2, M Jamar 2, B Moloney, C Sylvia, J Bennell, N Jones, R Bail

Suns: 9.15 (69) - D Swallow 2, Z Smith 2, A Magin, B Matera, D Stanley, J Fraser, M Shaw

-AAP

First posted April 17, 2011 17:03:00

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