Time for Clarkson to go: Kennett

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has called for coach Alastair Clarkson to be sacked at the season's end following 10th straight loss to Geelong

Keep walking, Clarko. Former Hawk president Jeff Kennett says it is time for a change at Hawthorn. Source: Herald Sun

Cartoon by David 'Macca' McArthur. Source: Herald Sun

A CONTRITE former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said yesterday he "wished he could take back'' his savaging of coach Alastair Clarkson following the club's loss to Geelong at the MCG on Monday.

Kennett said Clarkson, who is contracted for 2014, should leave or be sacked at the end of the season.

In a back-flip, Kennett sent a written apology to Clarkson yesterday, admitting he was out of line and sorry for the grief he'd caused him and his family.

He unsuccessfully tried to ring Clarkson yesterday and later sent a text message.

Kennett revealed he then sent his written apology to Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox, who confirmed that he personally delivered it to the coach at Waverley Park yesterday.

"I tried to ring him, but as often is the case he didn't answer the phone, so I sent him an SMS just to apologise and to say I was going to apologise and I haven't heard back," he said.

"To make sure he got it, I sent a copy to the CEO and asked him to give it to Alastair so I can't have done much more.

"I'm sure we'll catch up at some stage but I'm on my way interstate so it won't be today or tomorrow."

Hawthorn's 10-game losing streak to Geelong is dubbed The Kennett Curse after he questioned the Cats' mental drive on the eve of the 2009 season.

It followed their loss to the Hawks in the 2008 Grand Final.

Speaking about the curse on the eve of Monday's game, Kennett said he had never regretted anything he'd said.

"(But) this is one,'' he said yesterday.

"I'm sure we'll catch up at some stage but I'm on my way interstate, so it won't be today or tomorrow."

Hawthorn's 10-game losing streak to Geelong is dubbed "The Kennett Curse" after he questioned the Cats' mental drive on the eve of the 2009 season. It followed their loss to the Hawks in the 2008 Grand Final.

Speaking about the curse on the eve of Monday's game, Kennett said he had never regretted anything he'd said - "(but) this is one," he added yesterday.

"I wish I could take it back but I can't and all I can do is unreservedly apologise, which I do."

Kennett, club president from 2006-11, said no one from Hawthorn had contacted him about his outburst but, on reflection, he realised his comments were inappropriate.

"Probably uttered in a moment of great frustration because it was just as we were leaving the ground and it actually goes against everything I believe in, in a sense that no individual on their own wins or loses a thing and we do it as a team," he said.

"What I said in signalling out Alastair was totally inappropriate. I am well experienced in dealing with the media so no one is to blame but myself."

Kennett said there was no reason Clarkson, in his ninth year as coach and with a 56.6 per cent win rate, could not see out his contract.

Kennett's letter said:

I apologise to Alastair Clarkson.

I was out of line yesterday in holding him solely responsible for our club not saluting in the last three years and for our performance yesterday.

It is true that with out list of players and the support the club has given the football department that I felt we have underachieved over that three year period.

Of course that is a subjective view, and on each occasion we were beaten by a better team on the day.

And yes, someone must accept responsibility for those defeats.

But maybe in my support for my club I have come to expect too much!

And on reflection I was wrong to single out Alastair alone.

He, like all at the club, have done their best and Alastair has personal values which I have always gratefully respected.

We are all responsible for the good times and less successful.

Monday's game was a classic in that Hawthorn performed well in the first half and Geelong less so. But after halftime Geelong came out on a mission and turned the game on its head.

Our five goal advantage, which became three goals just before half time, quickly disappeared. We seem to have lost our mojo as Geelong found theirs.

The performance of (Paul) Chapman always has me in awe.

He is consistent in his toughness and drives the ball everytime he gets his hands on it. (Joel) Selwood is a wonderful leader who sets a very high standard of both leadership and effort.

Not to say Hawthorn was without contributors through (Sam) Mitchell, (Brad)  Sewell and ever competitive (Josh) Gibson. But, sadly not as competitive enough across the group as our opponents.

I guess when you have witnessed the club grow since 2005 to the level of membership and good health it enjoys today, you just expect it to keep performing at the highest level.

Hopefully that will continue to be the case and the season has just started, so to make judgments based on one game is inappropriate.

That said, the tribal nature of the game drives our emotions and yesterday, in my frustration, I wrongly singled out Alastair and for what was a team result for which we all must accept responsibility and be challenged to do better, week on week.

I sincerely apologise to Alastair Clarkson and his family for the grief I have caused them.

 

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Blues lose two stars for Pies

Carlton small forward Eddie Betts has a broken jaw. Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON has been dealt a double injury blow, with Eddie Betts and Shaun Hampson ruled out of Sunday's blockbuster against Collingwood.

Betts has a broken jaw in the wake of last week's loss to Richmond, and Hampson had his appendix removed on Saturday night.

Betts's injury slipped through the net until yesterday. The goalsneak had looked uncomfortable after a first-quarter collision in the game against Richmond, but played through the pain.

The Blues' most influential forward consulted surgeons yesterday. Carlton said it would be guided by medical advice, but already has ruled him out of its Round 2 match.

"It was a great effort on his behalf to keep playing," football manager Andrew McKay said.

"But he won't be playing this week and we'll be guided by the doctor.

"Shaun felt really terrible on Saturday afternoon, saw the doctor and was diagnosed with appendicitis.

"He went straight into hospital and had his appendix removed.

"Obviously we'll have to replace a tall and a small in our forward line, so there are a couple of spots up for grabs."

The Blues already were without first-choice pair Jarrad Waite (calf) and best-and-fairest Heath Scotland (suspension), and there is still doubt about the availability of Mitch Robinson (concussion).

It is understood Waite - one of Carlton's most important players - is still yet to resume running duties.

Hampson's absence opens the door for Robbie Warnock, who was overlooked for Round 1.

Sam Rowe may be brought in to cover for the loss of Betts' scoring power. But Lachie Henderson could also do that job, which would create an opening for Jeremy Laidler in defence.

Blues defender Michael Jamison said coach Mick Malthouse's Collingwood knowledge would be a plus.

"A lot of the players Mick coached are still there, so if there's one or two tips that he can give on those individuals then that's certainly going to be of benefit.".

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Neeld made to eat his words

Coach Mark Neeld searches for answers during Round 1 clash against Port Adelaide. Source: Herald Sun

FORGET fish, it was like shooting Demons in a barrel.

And it was a trigger-happy Port Adelaide brandishing the shotgun at the MCG last Sunday.

A close examination of Melbourne's humiliating 79-point shellacking has revealed how frighteningly easy the Dees were to play against.

In a footy era obsessed with defensive acts, it's opposition kicks inside 50m that teams want to pressure the most.

Ken Hinkley's team was allowed 62 inside 50s, with 34 of those under zero pressure.

Alarmingly, 18 of those unpressured entries came from within the 50m-70m zone, a significant number and the most in the competition during Round 1.

As a result, Port Adelaide retained the football 73 per cent of the time when launching within 70m from goal - 24 per cent above the round average and 15 per cent above any other team.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of Melbourne's "bruise-free" footy have been greatly exaggerated.
Mark Neeld used his first press conference as Melbourne coach 18 months ago to promise that the oldest club in the land would play with old-fashioned vigour.

"I simply want to coach the team that is the hardest to play against in the AFL," Neeld said at the time.

"That means all over the ground, we're going to be the hardest to play against."

On Sunday's evidence, it was a statement bordering on laughable.

After only eight minutes, Port had 30 disposals to Melbourne's six.

Brad Ebert and Hamish Hartlett had four each - two more than the entire Demons side.

Don't worry about losing the first game, what about the first eight minutes?

By the final siren, the statistics were even more horrifying.

The Power had the pill in its forward half a staggering 24 1/2 minutes longer than Melbourne.

The Demons conceded 207 disposals forward of centre and 232 uncontested possessions - both the most in the competition.

They gave up 18 marks inside 50m - again a No.1 - and they were slaughtered out of the centre 9-16. Nathan Jones, who was being worn by Kane Cornes, had seven of the nine.

To state the obvious, Melbourne wasn't playing a battle-hardened premiership contender.

They were playing a side that had an average age of 23 years 88 days, the second-youngest to run out in Round 1 and a side younger than Gold Coast.

What happens when Melbourne plays Sydney probably doesn't bear thinking about.

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Goodes in doubt for flag flyer

Adam Goodes warms up during a training session at the SCG. Source: Getty Images

SWANS superstar Adam Goodes could miss the club's night of premiership celebrations this weekend after taking a knock to his knee against the Giants.

Swans coach John Longmire said Goodes was not certain to start against the Gold Coast on Saturday at the SCG when the Swans will unfurl their 2012 premiership flag.

Longmire said he was hopeful Goodes would be fit to take on the Suns, but revealed his condition must improve before Thursday.

"Goodesy had a bit of a knock on to his knee, but we're hoping he should be fine by the end of the week," Longmire said.

"The rest pulled up OK. Depending on what happens on Thursday the pressure is on for selection. Which is a good thing to have.

"We were really pleased with some of our reserves players, Andreijs Everitt, Craig Bird, (Mitch) Morton, Jed Lamb. Those guys played pretty well. We'll see how the rest of the team pulls up. The majority pulled up OK."

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Bennell pleads guilty and cops fine

Suns star Harley Bennell. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images

RISING Suns star Harley Bennell has been fined $3000 after pleading guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct and failure to obey an order given by a police officer after a large New Year's melee in his hometown of Mandurah, south of Perth.

Bennell made his plea via a video link-up yesterday.

The 20-year-old was with friends when a series of fights broke out when nightclubs shut, sending hundreds of revellers into the nearby Smart St mall where police were called at around 2.15am.

Friends of the footballer said he had been trying to break up the fight.

The Suns football department and leadership group will now discuss if there will be any club imposed sanctions.

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Hotline cools Sydney tensions

GWS Giants coach Kevin Sheedy with crosstown rival John Longmire of the Sydney Swans. Picture: Jeremy Piper. Source: The Daily Telegraph

SWANS coach John Longmire and Giants boss David Matthews yesterday brokered a ceasefire in an attempt to end the bad blood rising between the cross-town rivals.

Longmire said he chatted with Matthews over the phone yesterday morning to clear the air over bitter comments exchanged between the two Sydney clubs heading into the inaugural battle of the bridge clash.

Sparked by the Swans' resentment over the decision to brand the Sydney derby the battle of the bridge, the war of words between Giants coach Kevin Sheedy and Swans legend Paul Roos and a fresh spot fire between Longmire and Matthews has escalated the animosity between the clubs to an all-time high.

Longmire took exception to comments made by Matthews the Swans should have done a better job of selling the sport in NSW, labelling Matthews' statement inaccurate and disrespectful.

However, the Swans mentor said he and Matthews have come to an understanding.

"I not sure whether it's friction or if it's just two clubs establishing their relationship. Going through a courting period, maybe," Longmire said.

"Leading up to our next game (against GWS) we want to win that game. We're going to be pretty keen to win that.

"I've spoken with David this morning. We had a good conversation. I've known David for a long time. It'd be fair to say we both understand each other's challenges.

"We've both got challenges as two clubs up here in Sydney, but we've also both got tremendous opportunities. We had a good conversation about it this morning. I thought it was a healthy conversation to have.

"The good thing is we both realise the challenges we've got. We both respect the challenges we have ahead of us and we'll move on pretty quickly.

"While Longmire is more focused on stopping Gold Coast's Gary Ablett at the SCG on Saturday, Sheedy has been happy to fan the flames.

Sheedy and Roos continue to butt heads over the Giants' attempt to divide Sydney's AFL fan base with the Anzac Bridge as the demilitarised zone between Swans supporters and Giants supporters on opposite banks.

"Paul Roos been a critic of the Giants for the past three years yet wants to lecture us about respect. The Sundance Kid has become the Kleenex Kid," Sheedy posted on Twitter.

"To Paul Roos I say this. We have 11,000 members after one year. Swans have 30,000 after 30 years. We are not here to dance with our sister."

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Patfull locked away by Lions

Lions defender Joel Patfull is staying with Brisbane. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

BRISBANE have extended club champion Joel Patfull's contract until the end of 2015, ensuring the club's defensive pillars are all locked away on long-term deals.

Brisbane's strategic vision released last year promised regular finals appearances and a grand final by 2015 and the club's football department have diligently worked to contract the key players they believe can return them to September.

At 28 and with 140 games under his belt, Patfull is at the peak of his powers and forms a defensive unit, alongside co-captain Jed Adcock and Daniel Merrett, that is the most settled and experienced area of the ground for the Lions.

His stocks have never been higher after a stand-out season in 2012, where he was asked to lead the defence while Merrett was on secondment in the forward line.

He won the Merrett-Murray Medal after a season of supreme consistency where he played all 22 home-and-away games, often on the opposition's best key forward.

Patfull intends to be a one-club player and this current deal will not be the last he signs with the Lions.

After enduring lean years since the club's last finals appearance in 2009, Patfull says he is now filled with confidence he can enjoy finals success before he hangs up his boots.

"I think so. We had a bad weekend (in losing to Western Bulldogs in round 1), but it has given us a wake-up call,'' Patfull said in the countdown to Saturday's Gabba season pipe-opener against Adelaide.

"We think we are on the right track, we have improved and there is confidence among the side at the moment.'

'Patfull flew under the radar outside of Brisbane in the early years of his career after he had been thrown a career lifeline by Brisbane in the 2005 draft, following two years on Port Adelaide's rookie list.

He arrived to a side that had lost a lot of experience from the premiership years and, although he had little AFL experience, he was physically and mentally prepared for league football after several seasons inn the SANFL

It did not take long for him to become a mainstay of the side and he has been an automatic selection ever since.In recent years, Patfull's reputation outside the club has grown and he would have found suitors had he chose to test the waters, but he said he never entertained any thoughts of leaving the Lions

"No, the Lions were the side that gave me a start as a 20-year-old,'' he said.``They picked me up after I'd been de-listed by Port, I'm grateful for that and I feel I owe them.''

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How Mick froze out Bucks

Mick Malthouse and Nathan Buckley at Collingwood training. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

THE irony of Sunday's master versus apprentice showdown is that Nathan Buckley doesn't really have anything to prove.

Actions spoke louder than words in Round 1, as Buckley's rejigged Magpies showed they were very much in lockstep with their second-year coach.

It was a mighty win, given they won with four of the club's six best midfielders sidelined and at times just with one rotation in the second half.

You just don't win against those odds in modern football.

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This is very much his playing list after a year in which some wondered if the Malthouse influence was a hindrance to Buckley's mission.

Yet the Mick v Bucks theme will still be a key focus this week, mainly because Collingwood is still filthy at what it sees as Malthouse chipping away and undermining Buckley's authority in his last two years at the club.

It started in February 2010, when he kick-started two years of speculation about the succession plan by saying Buckley was not yet ready to coach Collingwood.

Back then his anger over signing the deal to become a coaching director in 2012 was either hidden or not evident.

''If I wasn't happy (with the contract), I wouldn't have signed it,'' he told the Herald Sun on February 6, 2010.

Collingwood's anger at Malthouse finally bubbled over early in Buckley's first season in 2012, when his criticism of Collingwood's game plan saw McGuire say the former coach ''would not have a friend at Collingwood today''.

Yet it was the more subtle actions that would frustrate and bemuse many at the Westpac Centre, and actually confirm to them Buckley had the temperament for the main job.

There are many myths and legends around Malthouse's treatment of Buckley, but enough of them must be true given the sheer number of stories that came from the club in that period.

Mick Malthouse with Nathan Buckley during the 2011 Grand Final. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun

To put it bluntly, Malthouse made it evident that he was boss, and Buckley was very much the work experience kid.

Like using team meetings to assert his authority, urging Bucks to do things like ''get the lights'' before a presentation before the team, pointedly asking menial tasks of the man who would one day be senior coach.

Or in pre-season training sessions when AFL umpires helped out, cutting short conversations because he had to ''go and see what Bucks was doing'' with his players. As in go and fix what Bucks was most likely buggering up.

Those close to the action say Buckley's conduct was impeccable, holding his tongue and calmly serving out his time under his former coach.

Mick: My family was bitter at Collingwood

In the coaches box, he resembled an Easter Island statue, determined to show little emotion yet still help execute Malthouse's game plan to the letter.

In one of Malthouse's last games - the West Coast final during the failed premiership run of 2011 - he threw up a suggestion about shoring up the defence that was savagely torched by Malthouse as not the Collingwood way.

How it affected Buckley - fury, frustration, bitterness - is not known because even when Malthouse smashed his game plan he defused the situation with grace and wit.

They must have been incredibly confusing and harrowing times, especially if senior players did suggest a player petition to retain Malthouse in July 2011, as he describes in detail in daughter Christi's recent biography.

Malthouse has his own issues with Collingwood, seemingly believing the Magpies ambushed him during a difficult period in his life and made him sign a succession plan.

Yet Collingwood's anger back at Malthouse is real, even if publicly the club will toe the party line about its most recent premiership coach.

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WHY ESSENDON IS FAR FROM OUT OF THE WOODS

ANDREW Demetriou has never been accused of lacking smarts.

A City Hall still battling to combat negative emotions over a shocking summer got on the front foot over the past 10 days.

All of a sudden Demetriou was throwing out news stories left and right on radio and TV and in print.

Some cynics might suggest it was to divert the news agenda, but we wouldn't dare.

Take it as read the pre-season will be cut in length and the NAB Cup will likely be as few as two games before a longer season with two byes.

Demetriou also smashed Etihad Stadium repeatedly over trifling issues like the countdown clock, no doubt as part of his wider continuing battle to find an appropriate price for the stadium.

But one little nugget slipped the attention of many and it concerned Essendon.

Asked by SuperFooty's Mark Robinson on SEN Radio about the potential for Essendon to be fined under the rules which govern bringing the game into disrepute, Demetriou was quick not to pre-judge ASADA's inquiry.

But he said Essendon had already committed to giving league headquarters a copy of its internal inquiry, and certainly didn't rule out using the AFL's full powers.

Anyone who tells you they know exactly what is going to happen with the ASADA inquiry is making it up.

Yet despite Demetriou's careful use of words you were left with the distinct impression Essendon could easily face the kind of AFL penalty that saw Adelaide and Melbourne hit with recent sanctions.

Given Demetriou has admitted the AFL has asked how Essendon players could access lesser penalties, it would seem strange for the AFL to penalise Essendon before the ASADA inquiry is done.

Demetriou gave a nice clip there too on the weekend, saying we should not assume the AFL hadn't voiced its displeasure with the grandstanding press conference into the ACC report.

When Demetriou voices his displeasure, people aren't left in any doubt about his feelings.

So we will likely have to wait months before any potential AFL action, but even if players dodge sanctions or are found not to have taken banned substances, the AFL could still hit Essendon hard over those often-quoted ''irregular practices''.

Essendon chief executive, Ian Robson, left, chairman David Evans and coach James Hird face the media at Windy Hill yesterday. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Supplied

THE BEST OF THE MIDFIELDERS

Midfield performances that include 30 possessions and multiple goals are a dime a dozen.

What impressed us about the Round 1 midfield masterclass was that so many of them featured onball stars who performed with backs to the wall, or with monumental stakes.

We thought for the sake of it, we would rank those performances, just because we could.

1. GARY ABLETT

His sheer mastery of football is mind-boggling. On his home track and with nothing to lose, yet Ablett went forward and conjured magic time and again. Couldn't go past his 34 possessions, six inside-50s, 19 contested possessions and four goals, including three in the final term to get Gold Coast home.

2. JOBE WATSON
A knee just recovering from a medial strain. A club under siege all season. A team battling against the odds at AAMI Stadium. And yet Watson steps up with 34 touches, 13 of them contested, with seven clearances. Plus the goal to seal the game. As coach James Hird said, Watson had put his game face on from halfway through the week until the final siren. He simply would not be denied. Amazing.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Jobe Watson of the Bombers celebrates after the round one AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Essendon Bombers at AAMI Stadium on March 22, 2013 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images) Source: HWT Image Library

3. TRENT COTCHIN
Was it a better performance than those scintillating games from Pendlebury and Selwood? Probably not. But he certainly had a better tagger in the form of super stopper Andrew Carrazzo. And the stakes were higher if Richmond lost from 42 points down. He was quiet early but willed Richmond into the contest with 33 touches, at one point dragging down Carrazzo then setting up Tyrone Vickery for a goal. Then he twice saved Richmond from Carlton goals with intercepts in the last term. Huge.

4. JOEL SELWOOD
Great players single-handedly turn games. Joel Selwood did that against Hawthorn with his inspired third quarter in a match Chris Scott said reminded him of Ablett's deeds. Selwood had no James Kelly to give him a chop out, no Steve Johnson pinch-hitting in the midfield and no Joel Corey as the strong-bodied presence. He did it all. There was a time Selwood didn't dominate finals. Now he hardly fails in big games or finals and could easily have a Norm Smith Medal around his neck from the 2011 premiership.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood bursts out of trouble to set up a late goal for the Cats. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun

5. SCOTT PENDLEBURY
The fifth great midfield performance of the round against the odds. He had Dane Swan alongside him, but no Luke Ball, Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw or Dayne Beams. Yet he cut North Melbourne to ribbons, then helped the Pies hold on when Collingwood looked out on its feet. His shimmy past Ben Cunnington, then precise kick to Travis Cloke on the lead was one of the true highlights of the weekend.

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Dees lack strong leaders: Watts

The Demons trudge off the MCG after being thrashed by Port Adelaide. Source: Getty Images

Cartoon by David 'Macca' McArthur. Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE defender Jack Watts says his club is suffering from a lack of leadership and a losing culture.

Watts, 22, lamented the absence of a senior key figure, such as Geelong's Joel Selwood, who could help steer the team out of on-field trouble.

The Demons were thrashed by Port Adelaide on Sunday, prompting soul-searching talks among playing and coaching ranks.

Watts, a No. 1 draft pick, said that after years at the bottom of the ladder the team crumbled when things got tough.

"A lot of it is to do with confidence (and) mindset. We've been losing for so long now and it's 'what can you do?' " Watts said.

"You look at the good teams like Geelong and Hawthorn and Fremantle and those kind of things. You've got guys like Selwood, Joel Corey, Stevie Johnson, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis - they stand up and they don't accept that (losing) for their club.

"We don't have anyone like that today and that's the kind of thing that we need to work on.

"That sort of culture and that grit to be able to turn those things around when momentum goes against us, because at the moment we just crumble."

Demons leaders Jack Grimes and Nathan Jones will today front the media before a closed session at Casey Fields, desperate to atone on Saturday night against Essendon.

The Dees tackle heavyweights West Coast in Round 3, followed by a clash against a young Greater Western Sydney side.

Sportsbet.com.au yesterday slashed the Dees' wooden spoon odds from $12 to $3.50 second-favourite.
GWS at $1.50 is favourite to finish last.

Watts told the club's website the Demons had to show they weren't a basket case.

"We're going to have to cop whatever we cop and we get another opportunity ... to prove ourselves that we are not a laughing stock of the competition," he said.

"We need a few blokes to stand up - myself included - and get us going the right way."

Furious fans have vented their disappointment at Melbourne's continued poor form and Watts said the club's supporters deserved better.

"They have stuck by us for this long through all of the crap that we've been through and we are going to have to change something," he said. "We are hating it just as much as everyone else.

"It is painful at the moment, but if you stick through the toughest times, the good times will be a lot more rewarding, so what can I say? Stick with us and we are doing everything we can to repay your faith."

Watts said the Round 1 hiding caught everyone by surprise.

"The feeling from the players is that we really turned a corner just with our training over summer," he said.

"That's probably the reason why it really cut us deep because it came out of nowhere and we didn't expect it at all."

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