Judd ready to sign for another year

Carlton superstar Chris Judd confirms he'll play on into the 2014 AFL season, despite not yet having signed a contract extension.

Carlton star Chris Judd is ready to re-sign. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON superstar Chris Judd has put aside retirement plans, telling the club he wants to play next season.

A decision to relinquish formal leadership duties has helped rejuvenate the 29-year-old who admitted he was appreciating football more this year than he had in some time.

There has been speculation the brilliant midfielder may make a sudden exit from football after delaying contract talks with the Blues until mid-season.

But the Brownlow medallist has made it clear he wanted to re-sign a deal to play a 13th AFL campaign in 2014.

"I've already expressed I will be keen to play on again next year and the club has said they're keen to have me," Judd said.

"We haven't penned a deal yet, but I'm sure that will get done at some stage during the season."

After signing a six-year deal to come to Carlton in late 2007, Judd said he would likely take it year by year from now on.

Former teammate Dean Cox told the Sunday Herald Sun he would also likely commit only for one season.

"That's the case for most blokes who get to 30 years old and I think that works for the club and it works for the individual as well," he said.

The West Coast premiership midfielder told 6PR radio the realisation he was in the final stages of his career had helped him enjoy his football more this season.

"Once you start to approach 30, more so, you realise it is going to end," he said. "So you sort of get a bit more of an extra kick in a sense, because you have this realisation that it actually it isn't going to last forever.

"I'm probably appreciating footy a bit more than I have for a while."

Judd has previously indicated he would want to leave football after he retires from playing. But the 243-gamer now said there was a chance he could return to the game in some capacity, including potentially coaching, once he hung up the boots.

"At the moment, I will look to explore other opportunities outside of footy, but I acknowledge that I do really love the game," he said.

"I just couldn't tell you how much I'm going to miss it once I stop playing.

"Hopefully, I have got a couple of years before I have to do down that path, we'll just wait and see."

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Tippett a 'scary' Swans prospect: Hall

Former Adelaide Crow Kurt Tippett has his first training session with the Sydney Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Limited

FORMER Swans premiership captain Barry Hall has anointed Sydney power forward Kurt Tippett as his successor to be the Swans first dominant goal-kicker since he left the club.

Hall said the 25-year-old star recruit's first game for the Swans in Round 13 against Port Adelaide would take the Swans to a "scary" new level in the second half of the season.

The Swans have not had a player kick more than 50 goals in a season since Hall booted 78 in 2006, but he believes that will end with Tippett.

The former Adelaide star has been unable to play for the Swans in 2013 following an AFL suspension for his involvement in the Crows' salary cap breaches and draft tampering.

Hall said Tippett was certain to be transformed into a more dominant and consistent player through the "Bloods culture" in Sydney.

"With Tippett coming back in at the end of the year, it's a scary, scary prospect," Hall said.

"Playing at the SCG, a small ground, it's going to get pumped into him a lot. He's a contested mark player. He's a really hard player to out-mark one on one. He can jump high, and he can take pack marks. So the SCG will certainly suit him. I think we've seen from numerous players going to Sydney, they've relished the opportunity and the Swans make them better players.

"The Swans will certainly be there or thereabouts again. I reckon Sam Reid and his development, for him to take the No. 1 defender all the time, it's a bit much for him at this stage. If Tippett takes the No.1 tall defender and he can take the No.2 or No.3 it's going to help him and it's going to help the Swans."

Despite leaving the club on bitter terms after being "sacked" by former coach Paul Roos for a series of brain snaps that saw him regularly suspended, Hall said he plans to catch up for a beer or coffee with former Swans teammates in Wellington for the Anzac Day match against St Kilda, where he will be for Fox Footy's match coverage.

Following fresh revelations of his messy departure from the Swans in 2009, Hall said a heated argument with Sydney coach John Longmire in the middle of his falling out with then coach Roos was one of his biggest regrets of his time at Sydney.

"That upset me more than anything, that I was arguing with a guy I respect and a guy who has helped me a great deal," Hall said.

"We sat down and had a coffee. There was no issue ongoing there. That was important to me. I would have been really upset if that had affected our relationship going forward. In some ways I think it maybe has a little bit.

"Once you move on from a footy club, you move on so fast, you don't forget the past, but you move onto the next chapter."

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Bump reprimand harsh, says Thompson

Scott Thompson at Adelaide Crows training. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

CROWS midfielder Scott Thompson has lost his clean record, but can still play against Carlton on Saturday after a tedious AFL tribunal hearing last night.

The Adelaide club champion maintains the match review panel and three-man tribunal has judged him harshly for his bump on Western Bulldogs rookie Brett Goodes at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

"I strongly believe my contact (on Goodes) was not high and my conduct was not unreasonable," said Thompson on leaving the 90-minute hearing by video link to AFL House in Melbourne.

"If I thought I was guilty, I would not have come here.

"I've had a clean record for six years and I wanted to keep it that way.

"I'm disappointed but the bonus is I get to play against Carlton (at the MCG) this week."

Thompson took 93.75 demerit points and a reprimand from last night's hearing. Every 100 points leads to a one-game suspension.

This means if Thompson has a minor offence he will be suspended and out of the Brownlow Medal race, in which he was Adelaide's highest votegetter and fourth overall last season.

Thompson was penalised by a free kick on Sunday and offered a reprimand by the match review panel on Monday.

He failed last night to convince a panel of three former players - Wayne Henwood, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Richard Loveridge - that he had made a fair bump on Goodes in the third term on Sunday.

Thompson testified his first thought was to smother Goodes as he sought to kick the ball along the boundary line at the members' wing.

"He changed his mind to dodge me and at the last split-second I made the decision to bump," said Thompson. "I hit him on the left shoulder and the left upper chest. There was no contact to the face.

"I believe I am a clean ball-player.

"When the report came in (from the match review panel) I was a bit surprised. I'm adamant there was no contact with the face.

"If I thought I was guilty I would not be here. I feel I have done nothing wrong."

Thompson will continue to lead Adelaide as captain in the absence of Nathan van Berlo, who will miss his second match with bone bruising to his left knee.

The Crows will return to the MCG on Saturday for the first time since their preliminary final loss to Hawthorn in September.

Adelaide's planning for the highly regarded Carlton midfield will move to the field this afternoon with a closed training session at AAMI Stadium.

The Crows reported only one injury concern from the 52-point win against the Bulldogs - a sore hip to key forward Taylor Walker, who was subbed out of the game once Adelaide was sure of lifting its win-loss count to 2-2. Walker is considered a starter against the Blues.

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Jumper is no black-and-white issue

Port Adelaide legend Russell Ebert and nephew Brad Ebert in the traditional black-and-white guernsey. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

LIKE a red rag taunts a bull, a black-and-white strip at Port Adelaide stirs emotions: And reactions, far and wide.

The Power will close its AFL story at AAMI Stadium - ignoring finals - wearing the club's traditional "prison-bar" black-and-white jumper.

Even referring it to as a "prison-bar" guernsey creates debate as some of the old guard from Port's 1940s teams say they always knew the white stripes on their jumper to reflect pickets rather than prison bars.

They suggest the jail reference has been manufactured by Port's detractors, who love to put a stigma on the club's social base.

So where is everyone at with the Power opting to wear its black-and-white colours for just the third time in the AFL?

Almost every hardcore Port supporter loves it. They still wish the Power had told the AFL and Collingwood to jump when the club's entry to the big league demanded a new set of colours and a new nickname to avoid a clash with the Victorian Magpies.

Those who are club members are already lining up or counting their pennies to put down the $260 fee to get one of the 1600 limited-edition replica jumpers.

So why not every hardcore Port fan? Because there are still some who believe the Magpies in the SANFL are the "real" Port Adelaide and the Power has no right to its history, traditions ... or prison bars.

Then there is the non-Magpie Power supporter, the one who came to the AFL from Sturt, Norwood, Central District and any other SANFL club that has seen the prison-bar jumper as a symbol to hate.

Keep in mind Port promoted that hate with a "them-against-us" theme.

There will be those who argue wearing the black-and-white jumper will do nothing to endear the Power to the wider football community.

They will seek out a Power player - such as the Sturt-bred Angus Monfries and West Adelaide-reared Hamish Hartlett - to see how they truly feel about wearing an enemy SANFL jumper.

It was the same with the Glenelg-linked Cornes brothers when Port last wore black-and-white in 2007.

For the record, Kane Cornes - who hopes to wear the prison bars for the second time in August - says he is more than happy to wear the black and white.

Then there's Collingwood - the club that has an extraordinary hold on black and white stripes in the AFL.

Club president Eddie McGuire's first reaction to the Power dusting down its SANFL jumper was to automatically snarl.

But he has conceded, recognising Port has a "heritage" theme for wearing the jumper.

The Power wants to pay homage to the 13 SANFL premierships won at AAMI Stadium from 1974 - a success story that propelled the club to the AFL.

Some will smirk at this tribute, considering how Port has strived to get away from the old Football Park to the new Adelaide Oval next year.

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Cahill's seal for heritage tribute

Port Adelaide great John Cahill announcing his retirement from coaching back in 1995. Picture: Ray Titus. Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide legend John Cahill has backed the Power's decision to wear the traditional black-and-white jumper in its farewell from AAMI Stadium in August.

And the man who guided the Magpies to 10 of their 13 SANFL premierships at the West Lakes arena says the new-look Power is again upholding all of the Port Adelaide traditions built in the "prison bar" guernsey.

"I can see the old-style of Port Adelaide coming back," said Cahill yesterday as the Power launched the jumper at AAMI Stadium.

"And I don't see any reason why they won't keep winning.

"They're confident and the way they are playing there is no limit to where they could go.

"They can achieve anything if they want."

Port will wear the black-and-white strip for the third time in an AFL premiership match when it hosts Carlton in the last AFL home-and-away game at AAMI Stadium in late August.

The club's special run of 1600 replicas jumpers - that will sell for $260 to members - was keenly taken up by Power fans yesterday.

Victorian-draftee Robbie Gray yesterday embraced honouring the black-and-white jumper in the farewell to AAMI Stadium.

"As soon as you walk into the club you appreciate the importance of its history," Gray said.

"In round 23, we play on AAMI Stadium for the last time remembering how proud the club is to have won 13 premierships on the ground.

"It is a great opportunity for the boys today to recognise how those flags set up the club for the AFL, and we're looking forward to honouring those achievements."

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Port membership set to crack 40,000

Port Adelaide president David Koch among the Power faithful, volunteering to throw pies at Footy Show presenter Garry Lyon in Rundle Mall. Picture: Mark Brake. Source: The Advertiser

THE Port Adelaide community is "igniting" behind the club with its best-ever start to an AFL season to be matched by record membership this week.

Amid fears supporters had disengaged from the club in recent years, chief executive Keith Thomas said membership was now poised to sur-pass  its  highest-ever total of 38,850 set in 1998.

Last Friday, membership went past last year's tally of 37,735 and is expected to hit the magical 40,000 by the end of the month.

"It's a really significant number; it's another milestone and a statement to the AFL and to the whole competition that Port Adelaide is back and significant," Thomas said.

"I think it's just fantastic that the Port Adelaide community is buying in to the club's resurgence and they're voting with their feet.

"That support is so important to this playing group because you can feel it, you can feel the energy."

Thomas, who has been in the role since October, 2011, said Port Adelaide supporters never lost interest during a difficult last few years, but some had become "disengaged".

"A key difference is last year they'd buy membership but wouldn't require games, this year they're buying memberships with 11-game opportunities, so they want to come and watch again and that's a very big stat," he said.

"I think the Port Adelaide community was disappointed with what they'd been seeing and hearing from Port Adelaide for many years and were sitting back with their arms folded saying `show me something'.

"Now they're seeing it and I reckon they're igniting underneath it."

Thomas said internal optimism had been building at Alberton since the new coaching and playing group attacked pre-season.

"But you can't really tell until you start playing and I reckon that's where the broader Port Adelaide community is at, they're starting to see it materialising in front of them.

"I think we are in that phase where the hope of a better season and spread of results is starting to turn into belief.

"There's a great deal of optimism around the place and they're enjoying watching Port Adelaide play again."

If Port Adelaide's "Drive to 40,000" membership campaign is achieved, one member will win a Renault car - the ticket to be drawn at the home game against Collingwood on June 29.

The next step for the club will then be to throw away the black tarps which for years have covered empty seats at AAMI Stadium.

There were no tarps for the Round 3 Showdown and only two were in place against GWS because of sponsorship commitments.

"But our intention is we won't be needing them in the future," Thomas said.

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Saints to double up in NZ

Nick Riewoldt models the Saints' New Zealand strip. They are set to play two games across the ditch next year.

Former Sydney Swan Troy Luff joins Fox Sports News to discuss all the burning issues in the AFL including Daniel Menzel's injury and Majak Daw.

THE AFL will almost certainly grant St Kilda's "bold" bid to play two home games a season in Wellington in the next two years.

St Kilda chiefs hope to use strong Kiwi interest in the historic Anzac Day clash against Sydney to back its case for a second home game in August in 2014 and 2015.

Teams: Kosi, Dempster back for the Saints

Pre-sales point to a crowd of more than 20,000 tomorrow at Westpac Stadium, a 34,000-seat stadium that is home to Super Rugby's Hurricanes.

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan said although the Saints' proposal had not yet been approved by the league, the signs were "very promising".

"They've obviously spoken to us about whether we would contemplate two games next year and two games (the year) after," McLachlan said.

"But it's in the context of we'll see how this game goes, and on the crowd and the success of the game, and have a look at it after that.

"It's obviously a very bold play from St Kilda.

"But you certainly get excited when you arrive, as we have today, and there are people in St Kilda and Sydney gear walking the streets and every cab driver wants to talk to you about the game.

"It feels very real."

St Kilda chief executive Michael Nettlefold told the Herald Sun yesterday that benchmarks set by the Wellington Council for continuing support would be met.

Nettlefold urged the AFL to think big.

"It's possible that in 20 or 30 years, you might have a side playing over here," Nettlefold said. "You have seen it work in rugby league, and netball and soccer and rugby union. This is a country which loves its sport and we think it will be taking to Australian rules as well.

"It is three hours door-to-door from Melbourne and Sydney, and there is only a two-hour time difference. It has a very similar travelling profile to Perth."

St Kilda players and coaches arrived yesterday a day later than the Swans.

St Kilda coach Scott Watters knows playing the premier on a small ground in windy conditions may favour Sydney, but he said the support in Wellington would be for St Kilda.

"(Westpac Stadium) is a fantastic ground; it's the same length as the SCG but 17m thinner. It's a cauldron. They call it the Cake Tin for a reason," he said.

Nettlefold said 2500 St Kilda and 1500 Sydney fans were in town.

"Hotels are booked out, Virgin put another flight on to accommodate demand, and there are a lot of Australians in Wellington," he said.

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Lions must turn back the tide

This week's ME Bank Fair or Unfair: Michael Voss' job is in peril - fair or unfair?

LIONS co-captain Jed Adcock says his side must rediscover their lost values.

A month into the season, the 1-3 Lions are barely recognisable from the side that finished 2012 so strongly before rolling undefeated through the pre-season NAB Cup.

Senior players are woefully out of form, the attitude is not right and game day has disintegrated into a structureless mess.

Adcock said Brisbane cannot let the expected win against Melbourne at the Gabba on Sunday wallpaper over cracks that have derailed their season.

And after an insipid loss to the Kangaroos last Sunday, they cannot even expect to win.

"A win is a win, no matter who the opposition is," Adcock said. "Melbourne played a great final quarter on the weekend (kicking 12 last-term goals to beat GWS).

"We are not looking at opposition any more, we have to look at our own backyard."

Twice in four weeks, against the Bulldogs and Kangaroos, Brisbane have been embarrassed.

Adcock said the senior players must take responsibility, starting with adhering to team principles and structures and extending to taking the right attitude into games and leading by example on the field.

"It is up to the senior players," he said. "We were hoping it was a one-off, but really we haven't been in very good form at all. The core group, the senior group, isn't in good form and we are the group that needs to lift."

Amid the gloom has been encouraging debuts from Sam Mayes in the Q Clash and Sam Docherty and Marco Paperone last weekend.

"It is disappointing they are not getting the recognition across the competition because the side is not winning, but they certainly are with-in the club and from our fans," Adcock said.

Two days after the 63-point loss to the Roos, Adcock was still scratching his head at what happened at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

"They put us on the backfoot and we pressured up a bit," he said.

"We have gone away from what was working for us in the NAB Cup which was our defence mentality, our attack starts from there."
 

Brisbane Lions co-captain Jed Adcock says his team must win at all costs against Melbourne on Sunday.

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Smith begs for reprieve from axe

Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith is struggling for form and in danger of being axed. Source: Getty Images

UNDER-PRESSURE Suns ruckman Zac Smith has made an impassioned plea for coach Guy McKenna to give him another chance as the club prepares to wield the axe for Saturday's crunch clash against Greater Western Sydney in Canberra.

Smith's head is expected to be on the chopping block after he failed to use his big body to any effect in the loss to Port Adelaide last weekend.

Smith last night revealed he had genuine concerns about keeping his spot in the team.

It would be a major call to axe Smith, regarded as one of the club's best talents.

But it is believed the match selection committee are concerned with his form.

Smith declared he wanted another chance, certain he can lift his game.

"I want the chance to play against GWS this weekend to prove myself," he said.

"Lynchy (Tom Lynch) had a great game (in the reserves) last weekend and I'm sure he will be back in.

"Because he had such a good game and I'm tall as well, there is always that bit of doubt I might not be there."

Smith has been criticised for his lack of aggression in his early days at the Suns.

While the 205cm giant admits he has a long way to go to better use his big frame, the 23-year-old is adamant he is moving in the right direction.

"I need to show a bit more intensity in the air and crash a few more packs," he said.

"I'm still working on (my aggression) but you know you're not going to be perfect every week and I'm trying to become a consistent player.

"It's tough and you know during games when you make mistakes and you just wait around to Monday for that review and wait until you can address that with the coaches."
 

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