SPORT llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ntnews.com.au Eagles prepare to stop Buddy No pressure to bail out Port Stratton sidelined for season WEST Coast coach John Worsfold is keeping his cards PORT Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi says no pressure HAWTHORN defender Ben Stratton’s AFL season is close to his chest as he weighs up who to play on was put on players to donate money to reduce the over. Stratton tore the posterior cruciate ligament in Hawthorn star in Saturday’s AFL clash AFL club’s debt. The entire Power playing squad has his knee in the Hawks’ big win over Richmond at the at Aurora Stadium. Franklin booted five goals from 22 chipped in a combined $55,000 as Port embarks weekend, and Hawthorn had been evasive since possessions in the Hawks’ 63-point win over on a campaign to reduce its $3 million debt. The about the likely timeframe for his recovery. Richmond last week, teaming well with partner-in- donation follows Port asking members of its 2004 But the Hawks finally gave up on Stratton for the crime (three goals) to create a premiership side to give $5000 each to the debt season on Wednesday after surgery on Tuesday to potent forward line. Eagles skipper , Eric reduction campaign. ‘‘No one was forced into repair his PCL and have the lateral ligament in his Mackenzie and Mitch Brown are the frontrunners. putting in or donating,’’ Cassisi said on Wednesday. right knee stabilised. Big Mal tells son Fletcher has key role to play it soft in Dons’ resurgence By BRUCE MATTHEWS

FORMER football strongman Mal Brown has sarcastically urged his son Campbell to avoid body contact in future. In a rant against the game PUB: and the media on radio yes- terday, Brown said the sus- pended TNEWS NT backman didn’t appeal a four-match ban because he had been ‘‘crucified’’ in the media. ‘‘Now he has to change his style of play, just run around and get the ball, pick up easy

DATE: kicks like a lot of blokes do,’’ Brown Sr said on 927 ‘‘Get 27 statistics and the media blokes who aren’t at

14-APR-2011 the game will look at it and say well, the side lost, but he’s the best player because he had 27 possessions be- cause they don’t count the blocking and the shepherd- ing that a lot of players do. ‘‘He has got to change his style because that’s the way PAGE: the game is now. ‘‘The shirtfront was a mar- vellous instrument. (John) Worsfold got Gary Ablett in 36 the Grand Final, (Tony) Mod- ra got hit at the WACA, it

COLOR: was beautiful. Not many peo- ple could do it.’’ While Brown agreed his son, suspended for separate offences against Bulldogs and ,

C had committed reportable of- fences, he said no-one had as- Essendon’s pictured here at his negating best. He will be a key player in Saturday’s match against Carlton M ked why it happened.

Y ‘‘If you’re caught giving a THE oldest player in the AFL ‘‘It would be hard to say ing to new AFL heights. In pell all helped quell St Kilda’s backhander, you’ve got to is still among the best. he’s not our most important his 19th AFL season, his ca- forward line in the Bombers’ AFL DRAW K cop it,’’ Brown Sr said. Essendon’s Dustin player at 35. reer has outlasted every big win last weekend. Round 4 ‘‘Has anyone asked or loo- Fletcher continues to shine ‘‘It’s hard to coach Dustin player in both his premier- With Heppell, ruckman Tomorrow: Richmond ($9) v Collingwood ($1.06) at MCG (7.10pm). ked to see if anything hap- and has been an integral part Fletcher. He knows what to ship sides - the last survivor and re- Saturday: Hawthorn ($1.12) v West pened before that, did of the start to the Bombers’ do and as much as anything, of the 2000 flag-winners who born forward Stewart Cra- Coast ($6.25) at Aurora Stadium, anyone ask if Ward hit season. he’s telling us (the coaches) is still playing at Essendon. meri firing, Hird faces wel- Launceston (1.40pm), Carlton ($2.00) him, did anyone ask if the Turning 36 next month, what’s happening out on the A reshaped back six and a come selection headaches for v Essendon ($1.81) at MCG (1.40pm), Sydney ($2.08) v Geelong ($1.75) at bloke mouthed off, if there Fletcher’s durability and field and trying to help us.’’ greater emphasis on defence Saturday’s clash with SCG (6.40pm), Port Adelaide ($3.05) v was an incident at the bound- quality even has his coach There is an element of full under Hird than under pre- Carlton. No.1 ruckman Adelaide ($1.38) at AAMI Stadium ary line?’’ in awe. circle ont where Fletcher’s vious coach Matthew is available after (7.10pm). The AFL is reportedly set ‘‘He’s a star. Dustin career sits. A premiership Knights has given Fletcher injury, and Hird says he Sunday: Gold Coast ($6.00) v Melbourne ($1.13) at Gabba (1.40pm), to target off-the-ball thuggery Fletcher is an out-and-out player at 18, in the Baby an important role. would have no problem play- Fremantle ($1.15) v North Melbourne and is considering harsher star and he has been for 330 Bombers side of 1993, Fletcher, developing key ing three ruckmen to accom- ($5.50) at Paterson’s Stadium penalties for behind-the-play or whatever games,’’ said Fletcher now is the defensive defender and modate Bellchambers, Hille (4.10pm). incidents. Hird, just two years older. rock of a youthful side soar- first-year player Dyson Hep- and Patrick Ryder. Bye: Brisbane, St Kilda, Western NT hopes ride with Simone Robbie wants joy day for Gai

By TOM BIDDINGTON approaching full Montgomerie, who missed BOOKMAKER Robbie Wat- means such a her most recent success be- fitness after last weekend’s Territory erhouse is firmly in his tremendous ing Grand Armee in 2003. YOUNG hoop Simone three runs back meetings through suspen- wife’s corner as the trainer amount to her,’’ More Joyous, unbeaten in Montgomerie will represent from a spell. sion, has ridden six winners shoots for a record-equalling Robbie Water- Sydney in almost two years, the Territory in the fourth Hot Rocks is so far this season and takes seventh Group One Doncas- house said will carry topweight of 57kg heat of the National Appren- drawn to get the on talented apprentices the ter on Saturday. while fielding at after weights were raised tice Series at Hawkesbury to- Montgomerie gun run from calibre of Jason Maskiell, Gai Waterhouse has the Waterhouse the Canterbury 0.5kg at acceptance time. day. barrier one and despite only Jake Noonan and Nathan dominant favourite in More races yesterday. The last horse to carry top- Montgomerie has got the winning one of her 15 starts, Berry in the race. Joyous heading into the ‘‘I haven’t looked at the weight and win the Doncas- ride on the Clarry Connors- has placed in three of her last The National Apprentice Randwick mile (1600m) and race thoroughly yet but it ter was Sunline when she trained Hot Rocks, a filly five. Series features talented will also be represented by (More Joyous) seems to be lumped 58kg in 2002. bred by leviathan owner The biggest dangers ap- young jockeys from around last-start Ajax Stakes winner very well weighted.’’ Robbie Waterhouse said at Gerry Harvey. pear to be Sir Prancer, from Australia competing in a Pureness in the time- TJ Smith holds the record the weights for this year’s The Conatus three-year- the Gwenda Markwell stable, seven-race series nation- honoured race. number of Doncaster wins as race, it gave More Joyous a old takes on the older gal- Robert Price’s County Cavan wide, with all NT-based ap- ‘‘Obviously I hope More a trainer with seven. great chance to claim her lopers in the Benchmark 65 and the Bart Cummings- prentices getting the chance Joyous wins and for Gai to Waterhouse has been suc- sixth Group One success in Hcp (1400m) and should be prepared Gold World. to ride in the event. equal her father’s record cessful on six occasions, with Saturday’s event.

36 NT NEWS. Thursday, April 14, 2011. www.ntnews.com.au