ntnews.com.aulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllll SPORT Nadal downs injured Federer Stosur succumbs to injury Barca battles PSG’s big bucks RAFAEL Nadal took another big step in his return SAMANTHA Stosur’s sputtering tennis season CHAMPIONS League favourites Barcelona will play from injury with a convincing victory over a hurting continued yesterday when she withdrew from her big-spending Paris Saint-Germain in the pick of the Roger Federer yesterday in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells quarter-final due to a right calf injury. quarter-finals after last night’s draw in Nyon, Indian Wells Masters. Nadal broke Federer three Stosur, the world No. 9, had found her touch at the Switzerland. Last year’s losing finalists Bayern times in the second set en route to a 6-4 6-2 victory tournament and was eyeing her first semi-final Munich will play the first-leg at home against Italian over the 17-time grand slam champion, who has been appearance in five months. But instead fourth- giants Juventus, while record nine-time champions nursing a nagging back injury. Nadal returned in seeded German Angelique Kerber, who Stosur held a Real Madrid will take on Galatasaray. In the last February and notched one runner-up finish and two 2-0 career record over, received a walkover into the quarter-final, Spanish outsiders Malaga were drawn titles in a three-tournament Latin American swing. tournament’s semi-finals. against 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund.

Wood works on early return

DASHING Western Bull- injury is progressing. dogs defender Easton ‘‘Easton’s travelling Brown decks Blues Wood has every chance well,’’ Grant said. of playing in the opening ‘‘He’s coming along round of the season. well with his program BLUES 69 The 23-year-old in- and he’s certainly in the jured his hamstring mix to play round 1. LIONS 109 against Fremantle last ‘‘It was just a minor BRISBANE 0.5.3 0.7.5 0.12.10 weekend, but scans have strain, so we’re just tak- 0.16.13 (109) d CARLTON 1.2.0 2.6.6 revealed nothing more ing a precautionary ap- 2.7.7 2.7.9 (69) Nine pointers - Brisbane: Nil; than a strain. proach with him.’’ Carlton: B Gibbs Z Tuohy. He completed a rigor- Brett Goodes looks set Goals - Brisbane: J Brown 5 J ous boxing session, free to add another chapter to Green 3 D Zorko 2 A McGrath D Rich J Polkinghorne J Redden P of strapping, at Whitten his fascinating football Karnezis R Bewick; Carlton: E Oval yesterday and journey by making his Betts L Casboult M Kreuzer M Robinson N Duigan S Rowe S assistant coach Shannon long-awaited AFL debut White. Grant said the club is against the Brisbane Best - Brisbane: D Rich D Zorko J happy with how Wood’s Lions in a fortnight. Brown P Hanley D Merrett A Cornelius J Green; Carlton: M Kreuzer K Simpson K Lucas B Gibbs C Yarran M Murphy. Umpires: Scott Jeffery, Dean Margetts, Jordan Bannister. Demons launch fightback Official Crowd: 24,884 at Etihad Stadium. MELBOURNE coach to his coaching career. Mark Neeld says his club Yet Neeld, whose De- BRISBANE co-captain could have imploded mons take on Gold Coast Jonathan Brown has shown during a controversy- today in Southport in Carlton what they’re still packed 12 months if their final clash before lacking while leading the not for the strong leader- round 1, says he is proud Lions to a 0.16.13 (109) to 2.7.9 ship from its board Melbourne found a way (69) win over the Blues to and administration. through the continued clinch the AFL pre-season In no particular order, turmoil. He has been as- premiership. Mark Neeld stared down sured that Melbourne’s It was Brisbane’s first pre- these obstacles last year: $500,000 tanking fine will season flag, to go with their a tanking inquiry, the not affect the club’s foot- three grand final triumphs death of a much-loved ball department spend- in 2001-03. president, the loss of ing, confirming banned Brown kicked five goals, sponsor EnergyWatch, a staffer Chris Connolly including two in the third fabricated racism storm, would return after 12 quarter as Brisbane made and a nine-loss opening months in exile. their decisive break, at Eti- had Stadium last night. Small forward Josh Green kicked three majors. A giant plea for workers But the Blues did not have a multiple goal-kicker. KEVIN SHEEDY wants around the country. ‘‘We With Carlton almost cer- a tribute game for the shouldn’t let go for the tain to enter the season pro- farmers of Australia as working people in this per without their best key he begins negotiations country,’’ Sheedy said. forward Jarrad Waite (calf), for a new non-coaching ‘‘I don’t think we thank they lack a target, with the contract at Greater them enough. It’s a tick likes of Shaun Hampson, Western Sydney. for the Australian crick- and Sam Sheedy, who will end et team, a tick for the Rowe unconvincing. his 29-year coaching ca- movie stars in America, The Lions will enter the reer at the end of the a tick for, say, Dame season unbeaten, while the season, wants to con- Edna, but what’s there Blues, who started so tinue working with GWS for the workers?’’ strongly under new coach in a marketing and pro- Sheedy hopes to build Mick Malthouse, ended motional role. the game to the same rec- their pre-season with back- Part of his vision is to ognition as ‘‘Dreamtime to-back defeats. have a game against at G’’ between Essendon After the Blues kicked the Geelong in tribute to the and Richmond and even night’s first goal, Brisbane farmers and workers Anzac Day. kicked the next five to build a 27-point lead late in the first quarter. Brisbane’s Daniel Rich won the Michael Tuck Med- Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin (left) and Carlton opponent Matt Kreuzer battle for possession al for best afield. during the NAB Cup grand final at Etihad Stadium last night Picture: ANDREW TAUBER

The Old and new star for Cats only Specialist IT WAS a mix of reliable regular per- of game-time leading into the season,’’ formers and exciting new talent for Scott said. Fitness Geelong in its practice match victory ‘‘It wasn’t crucial for his chances of Equipment against Collingwood yesterday. playing round 1. I’ve been pretty Dealer in Gold Coast trade Josh Caddy and happy with the way he has been play- former athlete put in ing and he took another step forward Darwin! their bids for selection with impress- today.’’ For weights, cross trainers, ive performances in the 51-point win And Blicavs underlined that he treadmills, home gyms, exercise bikes, boxing gear and more, trust at Simonds Stadium. might be able to hold down a ruck role PUB: Caddy ran up 20 possessions and if required early in the season. Colby Fitness to look after all your LO-R:NTNE-WS-16-53KTE:GE:MDA-Y-C-CO- booted two goals with his strong work The steeplechase convert comple- equipment requirements. in the midfield and up forward in mented his running agility with quick what Cats coach Chris Scott described hands as he held his own in the ruck as collectively ‘‘an overwhelmingly battles with experienced Magpie Dar- positive’’ final tune-up. ren Jolly. ‘‘It was pretty important for Josh. ‘‘We’re a long way from deciding 8947 2464 He’s still learning our system, he’s what our best look is, but there’s some one of a few players who hasn’t been chance he’s a part of that even when www.colbyfitness.com.au • [email protected] exposed to it for long and he got a lot our big guys come back,’’ Scott said. www.ntnews.com.au Saturday, March 16, 2013. NT NEWS. 53