Book shines torch on troubled time

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting had an at times difficult relationship. Source: Morne de Klerk / Getty Images

RICKY Ponting's decision to publicly air his frustrations about Michael Clarke's performance as Australian vice-captain has shone a torch on one of the most intriguing relationships in cricket.

And it confirms the widely held, but rarely reported suspicion, that the Ponting-Clarke leadership ticket just didn't click.

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Relationships are always difficult to write about because only those involved truly know what's happening and this one was particularly tricky to assess because it was hard to quantify the depth of strain.

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Branding this one a feud seems a tad harsh because, to our knowledge, there was no finger pointing or angry words. Both men had too much class to vent even the smallest syllable of disrespect for the other in public.

Cold war, while closer, was probably a touch strong the other way because it is not as if they never talked.

The words "loveless union" probably hit the spot ... like a stale marriage where two people are living under the same roof but living different lives with one engrossed in the present and the other in the future.

Sometimes three paragraphs in a career-ending autobiography can say more than 300 hours of froth-and-bubble press conference material.

So it was when Ponting wrote this in his just released work, At the Close of Play: "It was true that I'd been disappointed with some of the things he (Clarke) had done – or more accurately hadn't done – as vice-captain ...

Michael Clarke embraces Ricky Ponting. Source: Getty Images

"It wasn't that he was disruptive or treacherous ... but he had never been one to get too involved in planning sessions and debriefs at the end of a day's play, or to volunteer to take any of the captain's workload. More than once Tim Nielsen and I had encouraged him to take on more of a leadership role but when Pup was down on form or had a problem away from cricket he would go into his shell."

After all these years of smoke and whispers there it was in black and white – subtle, but undeniable confirmation Ponting wanted more from Clarke as a vice-captain than he was prepared to give.

One of the reasons Clarke is not popular with many of the senior players from Ponting's era is that they took this issue even more personally than Ponting did. They knew Ponting was running a side in decline and they wanted him to be supported by a dynamic vice-captain.

They don't say it publicly but many felt the retirement of Adam Gilchrist was one of the most underrated events in recent Australian cricket history.

Gilchrist was a vibrant vice-captain who always had his captain's back. Whether it be reminding Ponting to mention someone in a speech or having a drink with an out-of-form teammate, Gilchrist was a mature, streetwise, sensitive deputy who buzzed around behind the scenes.

There is no doubt Clarke sprung to life to be a brilliant Australian captain but, to Ponting's mates, that only confirmed he had more to give.

In time Clarke may be remembered as the most daring of the lot and for that we constantly give him deserved credit. If there has been a more proactive leader in Test cricket over the last 30 years, I have missed him.

But there is rich irony in the challenge now confronting Clarke in his quest to build a strong team culture.

It is now his duty to remind players that the team must be more than a sum of its parts, that you should care for and cajole the man beside you, that the joy of a good day for the team should override the anguish of a personal failure.

In his new book, Ponting claims that a young Clarke lacked these virtues. It must be said that all men have the right to grow up.

Ponting was a young scallywag himself and matured into a statesman of the game.

Clarke is on his way and when he sits with a youngster to give him an address about team culture he can at least say: "I was like you once."

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Cup fortunes rest with Lloyd

Lloyd Williams talks to his jockeys at trackwork. Source: News Limited

THE shape of Saturday's $2.5 million Caulfield Cup rests with one man, millionaire owner Lloyd Williams.

Never before have the fortunes of so many — mainly half a dozen jockeys stuck in limbo — revolved around one decision, which will be made about noon lunchtime on Monday when Williams reveals his Cup hand.

He has six horses still in the Cup, and final declarations will be taken at 7am ­on Tuesday.

It is possible Williams and his trainer Robert Hickmott might have just one runner, likely to be the well-backed Fawkner, who will climb in if Williams takes a few out.

It was also suggested that Williams might run Masked Marvel.

Green Moon is regarded as most unlikely and fellow import Sea Moon at best 50-50.

If Green Moon doesn't run, weights will be raised 1.5kg — but only if Sea Moon doesn't accept. If he does, weights go up a kilogram.

Green Moon, Sea Moon, Masked Marvel and Mourayan are eligible to start but Fawkner, regarded as arguably Williams' top chance, is on the fringe of missing out.

It might require the withdrawal of stablemates for Fawkner — a well-backed $15 chance — to make the cut.

Amid all of this confusion sits Brett Prebble, whose probable call-up by Williams came as Prebble sang the praises of another fringe dweller, the European raider Forgotten Voice.

Prebble also had his hat in the ring to ride third favourite Royal Descent, who has had a handful of possible riders over the past fortnight but none firmly booked.

Racing Victoria's Paul Blood­worth said it would take a "minor miracle'' for Forgotten Voice to gain a start.

Brett Prebble works Green Moon. Source: News Limited

"Lloyd would have to take nearly all of his out, even then he'll struggle to get in,'' Bloodworth said.

Prebble shrugged his shoulders and smirked when asked about the uncertainty of the Cup.

"I don't know what's going on, if I have a ride or I haven't,'' Prebble said at Werribee yesterday after dismounting from Forgotten Voice.

"I'm just part of it all (the confusing Cup picture).''

While impressed with Forgotten Voice, who galloped with Cup second favourite Dandino, Prebble said Williams would have first call on his services.

"Definitely, if Lloyd has one for me I'll ride it,'' he said.

Prebble said he couldn't split Williams' trio of Seville, Fawkner and Masked Marvel.

He said Sea Moon's resilience had surprised him, but said the star import was racing well below his best European form.

"They're all good rides. It would probably come down to barriers,'' he said.

Prebble appeared most upbeat about Fawkner, a last-start third in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on September 30.

"Fawkner the other day was huge. He was exposed at the 700 and in front at the 300. It was his first decent hit-out this preparation,'' he said.

Prebble described Forgotten Voice, who has mixed flat and hurdle racing, as "a proper horse''.

"He gave me a real good feel. I was surprised at the turn of foot he had,'' he said.

Fawkner is well backed for the Caulfield Cup. Source: News Limited

Prebble said Dandino, ridden by Craig Williams, "looked to outwork me'', but added Williams was "about 6kg ­lighter''.

CAULFIELD CUP (2400m)
Saturday - 18 runners and four emergencies. Final acceptances 10am.
Order of entry
Exempt from ballot
1 SEA MOON (Ire) Robert Hickmott 57kg
2 FORETELLER (GB) Chris Waller 54.5kg (unlikely)
3 MR O'CEIRIN (NZ) Ciaron Maher 53kg
4 TUSCAN FIRE Dan O'Sullivan 52kg
Passed first ballot clause
5 GREEN MOON (Ire) Robert Hickmott 58kg (unlikely)
6 MANIGHAR (Fra) Peter Moody 56.5kg
SUPER COOL Mark Kavanagh 55kg (unlikely)
8 ROYAL DESCENT Chris Waller 52.5kg
9 DANDINO (GB) Marco Botti 55kg
ETHIOPIA Pat Carey 55kg
MOURAYAN (Ire) Robert Hickmott 55kg
SEVILLE (Ger) Robert Hickmott 55kg (unlikely)
13 DEAR DEMI Clarrie Conners 51.5kg
HAWKSPUR Chris Waller 53kg
MASKED MARVEL (GB) Robert Hickmott 54.5kg (unlikely)
SILENT ACHIEVER (NZ) Roger James 53kg
WALDPARK (Ger) Anthony Freedman 54.5kg
18 GLENCADAM GOLD (Ire) Gai Waterhouse 54kg
MR MOET Adam Durrant 54kg
QUINTISSENTIAL (NZ) John Sargent 52.5kg
SIMENON (Ire) Willie Mullins 54kg
TANBY Robert Hickmott 54kg (unlikely)
23 FAWKNER Robert Hickmott 53.5kg
JET AWAY (GB) David Hayes 53.5kg
KELINNI (Ire) Chris Waller 53.5kg
MORIARTY (Ire) Chris Waller 53.5kg
MY QUEST FOR PEACE (Ire) Peter Moody 53.5kg
28 FORGOTTEN VOICE (Ire) Nicky Henderson 53kg
JULIENAS (Ire) Gai Waterhouse 53kg
29 IBICENCO (Ger) Peter Moody 52.5kg
KESAMPOUR (Fra) Peter Moody 52.5kg
SNEAK A PEEK (Ita) Peter Moody 52.5kg
33 MOUDRE Ciaron Maher 52kg
34 OASIS BLOOM Morgan and Widdison 50kg
35 ARALDO (Ger) Michael Moroney 51kg
MOTIVADO (GB) David Hayes 51kg
TALENT SHOW Graeme Ballantyne 50kg
38 GOLDONI (Ire) David Hayes 50kg
LET'S MAKE ADEAL Nigel Blackiston 50kg
Not passed first ballot clause
40 TREVIERES (Fra) Markus Nigge 50.5kg
Not passed first elimination clause
41 BASS STRAIT (NZ) David Hayes 50kg

THE BETTING

Caulfield Cup (2400m)
$4.40 Hawkspur
$7 Dandino, Royal Descent
$13 Dear Demi, Jet Away, Fawkner
$18 Mr O'Ceirin, Masked Marvel
$21 Foreteller, Green Moon, Seville, Super Cool
$31 Ethopia, Manighar, Mr Moet, Moriarty, Waldpark

Melbourne Cup (3200m)
$6 Fiorente
$7 Hawkspur
$8.50 Puissance De Lune
$10 Mount Athos
$16 Verema, Voleuse De Coeurs
$21 Dandino, Green Moon, Masked Marvel, Royal Descent, Sea Moon, Simenon, Tres Blue

Odds: TAB

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JOC welcome in Aussie sevens side

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TAINTED Wallaby James O'Connor would be welcomed with open arms into Australia's surging sevens squad for their next tournament if he is seriously committed not a publicity stunt.

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Coach Michael O'Connor on Sunday night offered his namesake a way back into national colours, the fluro yellow sevens variety, after a gallant young Aussie team threatened a giant-killing Gold Coast Sevens triumph.

The Aussies led the world champion Kiwis 12-0 in the final despite being rattled by medicos ruling out aces Shannon Walker and Nick Malouf because of head knocks sustained in their semi-final thriller.

SCORES, RESULTS: All the Gold Coast Sevens fixtures

Five nations had scored a single try between them against New Zealand before skipper Ed Jenkins and veteran James Stannard stunned the Kiwis twice inside five minutes to open the final at Robina's Skilled Park.

Kiwi class and the undermanned Aussies running out of petrol after their pulsating 24-19 double extra-time victory over South Africa in the semi told as the defending HSBC Sevens World Series champs from NZ galloped home 40-19.

Missing Walker's pace and sparkle was pivotal too. He came of age as a bona vide sevens weapon this weekend. A quick tap and wraparound try ignited the 24-12 quarter-final win over Kenya, the Africans who vanquished Australia a year ago.

In the semi-final, a Walker fend and step produced a pure winger's try inside 40 seconds.

Flanker Sean McMahon and big moments man Jenkins, player-of-the-tournament, were also weekend standouts.

"One thing I'm proud of saying is that this team sure has some ticker," coach O'Connor said.

"We held our nerve to beat South Africa in the semi with some big plays and we took it to the Kiwis to open the final with two of our starters sidelined.

"The Aussies have been the youngest and least experienced on the world sevens circuit for the past three or four years and I hope this performance shows Australia what we are capable of in the future."

A tie-breaking Jesse Parahi try to kill off South Africa was the highlight of his big-hitting weekend at Skilled Park where inexplicably there were 2000 fewer fans over the two days than last year. The festive 25,320 who were there made the din of twice that number.

"James would have to be genuine about sevens and committed to the harder training but if he was I'd definitely like him on board. It can't be a publicity stunt," O'Connor said of the uncontracted Wallaby.

"We have a close-knit team culture which he would have to conform to."

A solid training block could have O'Connor primed for the Dubai Sevens (November 29-30).

Rookie Junior Laloifi, just 19, was a big learner. The winger ignored unmarked Jenkins outside him when the South Africans could have been finished earlier but became "Senior" Laloifi when regrouping to throw the winning pass to Parahi.

Parahi's five-pointer broke a pulsating 19-all deadlock in the Cup semi-final against South Africa with just over 70 seconds to play in the second five-minute extra time period.

Both sides were exhausted and depleted with the Australians losing both try-scoring ace Shannon Walker and bloodied forward Nick Malouf to head knocks.

It meant players like 19-year-old rookie Junior Laloifi and forward Paul Asquith, 20, having to step up in the clutch closing minutes for a wildly enthusiastic crowd at Robina's Skilled Park.

Winger Laloifi bungled a perfect chance to put the South Africans to the sword in the first period of extra time when he ignored unmarked skipper Ed Jenkins outside him. He took on two defenders himself and was crashed to the ground deep inside the attacking quarter.

The Australians commanded possession and showed greater authority in the collisions. With just over two minutes to play, the Aussies elected to take a drop-kick penalty goal attempt but Cam Clark miscued.

It was left to a rousing surge through multiple sets of hands to get the ball to Laloifi in the closing seconds. He redeemed himself admirably by throwing the final pass to the powerful Parahi who shed a tackle before plunging over.

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Sevens not in heaven on Coast

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PUZZLED rugby supremo Bill Pulver will discuss a possible switch to Brisbane or Sydney for Australia's premier sevens tournament in 2015 after a half-empty stadium watched Sunday's pulsating action on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Sevens delivered on just about every level with an underdog band of young Aussies reaching Sunday night's final against the odds, perfect weather for rugby and drinking, upsets galore and spectacular tries at a machine gun rate.

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Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver asked the big question himself as costumed GI Janes, Buzz Lightyear, a zealous Fijian contingent, young Aussie footy lovers and an ample turnout of coast Kiwis roared from all corners of the stands at Robina's Skilled Park. It was just the gaps in between.

The dream result of an Australia-New Zealand final fired up the fans. The Kiwis responded too after their 40-19 victory with a series of bare-chested hakas to their beer-fuelled worshippers in the stands.

"The product is fantastic but we are not getting the people here," Pulver said as the two-day turnout of 25,320 fans came up more than 2000 short of the 2012 crowd.

"Our market research tells us that 88 per cent of the people who do turn up for rugby sevens really enjoy the experience.

"You can hear the noise and fun but something is not quite right because so many more people should be at this event."

Pulver stressed he wasn't having a shot at the Gold Coast Sevens, just talking out loud about finding a way to lure more Australians here in 2014 or contemplate taking the high-paced spectacle to a big-city market like Brisbane or Sydney in 2015.

"Queensland Events have been a wonderful partner for the Gold Coast Sevens. We'll sit down in the next month and talk about the future beyond 2014," Pulver said of the four-year deal for the Gold Coast which ends next season.

"All ideas will be in the melting pot ... what is the best location for a sevens tournament, is there a better time of year, does it work better with a precinct nearby as there is around Suncorp Stadium, how does the ARU have to go about pushing the sevens message."

Pulver is a devout sevens rugby evangelist who believes Australia must embrace the big commercial and participation opportunities of sevens as the rest of the world is.

"The sevens game is a shot of energy worldwide and there are wonderful opportunities for rugby in Australia to grow from it in the lead-up to the game being played at the 2016 Olympics," Pulver said.

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Dundeel Baker's greatest test

Murray Baker, track rider Emily Murphy and It's A Dundeel. Source: Jay Town / News Limited

MURRAY Baker faces the training test of his career with It's A Dundeel but learned at Matamata on Saturday that anything is possible.

Baker ran a home-bred horse he described as one of the slowest he had trained. "Useless, it is,'' he said.

Baker's wife told him she was keen to plonk $50 each-way on it and Baker told her she was mad.

"It got up and paid $9, won by a neck,'' he said. "The missus was filthy on me because I talked her out of backing it. I guess is shows anything can happen.''

It's A Dundeel is the best and fastest horse Baker has trained, yet It's A Dundeel presents the great trainer with a task not dissimilar to the one achieved at Matamata.

It's A Dundeel suffered a hoof abscess last week and missed two day's work. More crucially, he missed last Saturday's Caulfield Stakes clash with Atlantic Jewel, the champion mare he'd nosed out in the Underwood Stakes.

The hoof has healed but Baker now finds himself in a race against time to have It's A Dundeel fit to take on an ominously in form Atlantic Jewel in Saturday week's Cox Plate.

One corporate bookmaker last week described the task, of recovering from injury and beating one of the all-time great mares, as near-impossible.

Its a Dundeel finishes 2nd in the Mitchelton Wines Vase Source: News Limited

Baker concedes the task is difficult but refuses to hoist the white flag.

"We've only missed two day's work but missing the race was the real concern,'' Baker said.

"But he's a naturally athletic type of horse and we think he's a chance of making it.''

Baker will arrive from New Zealand tomorrow and will gallop It's A Dundeel between races at Caulfield on Wednesday.

He will give the champion a strong hit-out at Moonee Valley's Breakfast With The Stars gallops on the Tuesday before the Cox Plate.

"Galloping at Caulfield and at the Valley are race simulation type experiences, with the crowds and all that, and I think they will really benefit him,'' he said.

Baker said Atlantic Jewel's romping win in the Caulfield Stakes was a jolting reminder of the task he and It's A Dundeel now faced.

"The mare was absolutely awesome. It's hard to say if she was better on the day than when we beat her but she was awesome just the same,'' he said.

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$20m fear drove Osieck sacking

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FEARS over a vital $20m of income for Australian football were a major factor behind the sacking of Holger Osieck, with football chiefs growing increasingly alarmed at the damage to the game's bottom line from the dual drubbings from Brazil and France.

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As the Australian team decamped in shock from Paris to London for the friendly with Canada on Wednesday morning, CVs from around the world have started arriving at Football Federation Australia.

The extent of former France boss Gerard Houllier's influence has also become clear in finding Osieck's replacement, with Houllier believed to have provided a list of names yesterday of potential candidates.

Though Osieck's sacking will cost FFA some $900,000, to satisfy a contract described as "watertight" thanks to World Cup qualification, CEO David Gallop believes it will be a necessary outlay in the wake of the 6-0 massacre handed out by France early on Saturday. 

Gallop's executives feared a double financial whammy if the poor results had continued - acutely aware of the need for Australia to do well on home shores at the 2015 Asian Cup to make it a success, FFA has so far also made no significant headway in seeking a new sponsor for the Socceroos. 

Some $14m worth of tickets have to be sold for the Asian Cup to make a profit, with more than half that anticipated from Socceroos games.

Increasingly FFA feared that Osieck would depart after the World Cup leaving behind a broken and dispirited squad that would make no impact at the Asian Cup, and leave millions of dollars worth of unsold tickets.

Any profits for the tournament will be shared between FFA and the state governments that have underwritten it, but it is also seen as an unprecedented opportunity to advance the game's popularity and standing.

FFA has also been seeking a new naming-rights sponsor for their flagship team since the long-standing deal with Qantas expired in July but the poor recent results threatened to devalue the deal Gallop is seeking of up to $5m.

Now the hunt is on for a coach who can make the team as competitive as possible at the World Cup and then the Asian Cup.

Having been pursued at length by Frank Lowy to succeed Hiddink in 2006, Houllier has remained close to FFA director Phil Wolanski since then.

Wolanski, the Socceroos head of delegation at all matches and regarded as Lowy's closest confidant outside his direct family, was given a list of names on Saturday by Houllier which is understood to include Frenchman Alain Perrin.

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Having succeeded Houllier at French club Lyon, Perrin was a serious candidate to coach France in 2008, but has since been working in the Middle East.

Former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has also made his interest known, but is not thought to be a favoured candidate.

Gallop is believed to strongly favour a local candidate, with Ange Postecoglou firming as the favourite ahead of Graham Arnold.

In the immediate term the Australian squad – described by Gallop as "raw" after Osieck's sacking, will be coached by assistant Aurelio Vidmar against Canada but suffered fresh depletion of its numbers yesterday.

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Luke Wilkshire and Tommy Oar were released to return to their clubs for treatment. Wilkshire managed 70 minutes of the loss to France despite a persistent knee injury but will now fly back to Russia for treatment at his club Dinamo Moscow.

Oar meanwhile, having been ruled out of the France game with a back injury, was also declared unfit to face Canada and immediately returned to his club, FC Utrecht.

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The Barometer: AFL trades edition

St Kilda is making it hard for Nick Dal Santo to leave. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / HeraldSun

WITH the AFL Grand Final out of the way, the time has come for player managers and recruiters to broker deals for 2014 and beyond.

Key dates:

Friday 18 October at 5pm: Free agency trade period closes.
Monday 21 October: AFL restricted free agency matching offer three-day period ends.
Friday 25 October at 2pm: AFL Trade period closes.

Department of Trades

ADELAIDE

THE Crows are locked in a battle with arch-rivals Port Adelaide to secure homesick Brisbane midfielder Jared Polec. Club champion Bernie Vince is also on the market with the at-times inconsistent midfielder keen to test the market - Melbourne into him. Shaun McKernan will continue in his quest to return to Victoria with St Kilda among his suitors.

BRISBANE

BILLY Longer's bid to land at Hawthorn hit a snag last week when the premiers signed Ben McEvoy from St Kilda. Unlike a couple of his Lions teammates, Longer is open to staying at the club should a deal not get done. Jared Polec prospects hang in the balance with both South Australian clubs keen to secure his services. Sam Docherty is poised to sign a deal to join Carlton while, Elliot Yeo's move to West Coast should also get done now Eagles coach Adam Simpson has settled in his new role. Patrick Karnezis is yet to find a new home. Meanwhile, Lions champion Simon Black is yet to announce whether he plans to play on in 2014.

SCROLL DOWN TO JOIN IN THE TRADES CONVERSATION...

CARLTON

DALE Thomas ended months of speculation last week when he signed to Carlton as a free agent. Thomas will be looking to reignite his career stalled by nagging ankle problems. The Blues remain in the hunt for James Podsiadly and Scott Gumbleton, although Fremantle is in the box seat to sign the Bomber. Jeremy Laidler has attracted some interest, while veteran defender Heath Scotland is yet to decide on whether he wants to play on in 2014. The Blues have withdrawn from the race for Paul Chapman, but are poised to sign disgruntled Lion Sam Docherty.

17/05/2013 SPORT: Collingwood training at Olympic Park, Heath Shaw doing laps before training Source: News Limited

COLLINGWOOD

THE Magpies are waiting on Heath Shaw to decide which club he would like to be traded to - Geelong and GWS Giants the likely destinations. Once that's sorted, the Magpies can move on Giants midfielder Taylor Adams (Geelong also interested), Sydney utility Jesse White and Adelaide swingman Ricky Henderson. Delisted Magpie Darren Jolly has attracted interest from St Kilda.

Follow Gilbert Gardiner on Twitter: @gilbertgardiner

ESSENDON

STEWART Crameri has had his move to the Western Bulldogs blocked - for the time being - with the Bombers turning their nose up on a swap for pick no.22 in the national draft. Scott Gumbleton will more than likely head to Fremantle. David Myers - a 'required' player according to Essendon's footy department - has been linked to St Kilda and Melbourne, while the Bombers are best-placed to ink Paul Chapman.

FREMANTLE

THE Dockers recruitment plan is a simple one, find a key forward. Scott Gumbleton is club's first choice to help Matthew Pavlich and Chris Mayne in 2014. Out-of-favour midfielder Viv Michie is set on a return to Victoria while Fremantle is also in the race with West Coast to sign Hawk Xavier Ellis.

Joel Corey in action for the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun

GEELONG

JOEL Corey retired last week, the third premiership Cat to part ways with the club recently following the delisting of Paul Chapman and James Podsiadly. Three clubs including Essendon are into Chapman while Travis Varcoe remains on the trade table. Trent West is also considering his options.

GOLD COAST

IT'S fairly quiet up north with the Suns keeping their powder dry during the trade period. Top draft pick David Swallow was linked to Melbourne briefly as part of deal involving pick two. The Suns' list is ticking over nicely and with three picks inside the top 23 the future is bright on the coast.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

HEATH Shaw is due back from holidays late in the week when is expected the rebounding defender will nominate his club of choice. GWS is well-placed to sign him on a lucrative deal. Get the feeling Shaw's move will trigger Giant Taylor Adams' move to Geelong or Collingwood. As yet no trade has been achieved with bitter rivals Sydney to finalise Shane Mumford's move. Josh Bruce to St Kilda is as good as done.

Hawthorn recruit Ben McEvoy has his hands full countering West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: HeraldSun

HAWTHORN

THEY'VE done it again. Last year it was Brian Lake who signed with Hawthorn before going on to win a premiership and Norm Smith medal. This time around it was Ben McEvoy who crossed from St Kilda to Hawthorn following Hawk Max Bailey's retirement. Shane Savage parted ways with Hawthorn as part of the McEvoy deal. Brisbane ruckman Billy Longer remains hopeful of landing at Hawthorn, although given the club's wealth of talls a trade is unlikely.

MELBOURNE

PICK No.2 was on the table and it attracted little interest from rival clubs and players alike. Melbourne confirmed it had sought out Brisbane star Tom Rockliff - who was simply not interested. Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane was also considered before the Demons lowered the bar somewhat sounding out Crows Bernie Vince and Jarryd Lyons. Bulldogs veteran Daniel Cross has also been linked to the Demons.

St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo is still looking for a new home. Source: News Limited

NORTH MELBOURNE

NORTH is locked in a battle with St Kilda for star midfielder Nick Dal Santo. The Kangaroos would prefer Dal Santo signs as a free agent, whereas the Saints are after picks. The Kangaroos' first available pick is 26 after setting aside pick no.8 for exciting father-son prospect Luke McDonald. North Melbourne defender Luke Delaney will almost certainly call St Kilda/Seaford home next season. Kangaroos Liam Anthony - keen on a move west - and Jordan Gysberts are looking for greater opportunities elsewhere.

PORT ADELAIDE

ALBERTON has gone Jared Polec mad in recent weeks with the Power wrangling to secure the disgruntled Lion - the problem being no one wants out or a trade to Brisbane. Making matters worse, the Power have all but resigned themselves to missing out on a key forward with James Podsiadly (Carlton/Western Bulldogs/Fremantle) and Scott Gumbleton (Fremantle) fielding rival offers.

RICHMOND

GET the feeling Richmond has its cue in the trades rack after a hectic start saw Matt White (off to Port Adelaide) and Shaun Hampson's arrival from Carlton. The Tigers don't have any salary cap room to make a big play following a series of re-signings including Dustin Martin, Reece Conca and Jack Riewoldt. Richmond is not interested in Paul Chapman.

ST KILDA

THE Saints caught us all by surprise off-loading No.1 ruckman and future captain Ben McEvoy for Hawk Shane Savage and an exchange of picks. The Saints revealed last week their plan was to secure three draft picks inside the top 20 - a bold move aimed at fast-tracking the club's rebuild. Sam Fisher could be traded to Greater Western Sydney while Leigh Montagna's name keeps bobbing up as trade bait - would be very surprised if he was to go. St Kilda blocked Zac Clarke's move to Port Adelaide after losing McEvoy and remain locked in a tussle with North Melbourne over Nick Dal Santo. The Saints have also been linked with delisted Magpie Darren Jolly to replace McEvoy.

Lance Franklin in his new colours. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: DailyTelegraph

SYDNEY

BUDDY is signed, sealed and now delivered. Life is good, he's got a pad at Bondi and has shacked up with former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbell. Not a lot of movement elsewhere with a trade for ruckman Shane Mumford expected to get done this week.

WEST COAST

IT'S been fairly quiet out west as new coach Adam Simpson settles in the hot seat. Simpson hired former Kangaroos teammate Brady Rawlings as an assistant last week too. Out-of-favour Lions backman Elliot Yeo's transfer could be finalised this week. Meanwhile, the Eagles were quick to stamp out suggestions Luke Shuey was considering a move back to Victoria.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

THE Bulldogs want Stewart Crameri. And Stewart Crameri wants to go to the Bulldogs. But Essendon refuses to let the forward go without getting something good in return. The Bulldogs best offer (pick 22) for Crameri was rejected at Windy Hill. Regardless, Crameri will find his way to the Whitten Oval, even if it means entering the pre-season draft. Jarrad Grant was thrown up as possible trade bait last week with Brisbane most interested, meanwhile Dylan Addison remains on the market.

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Gumby impresses Dockers

Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton could be headed to Fremantle. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

ESSENDON will insist on Fremantle's second-round pick for Scott Gumbleton, but has all but given up the chase for Saint Leigh Montana.

Speculation was rife at the weekend Essendon was on the verge of securing the 29-year-old Montagna as the Saints embark on an aggressive list rebuild.

But the Bombers are unable to put forward a satisfactory trade deal to the Saints, who have put a premium value on their experienced players.

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Despite rumblings about player discontent at Seaford, Montagna is expected to remain a Saint.

Instead, Essendon is expected to deal key forward Stewart Crameri to Western Bulldogs for pick 22 and marking target Gumbleton to the Dockers, most likely for pick 33.

But Port Adelaide, which has pick No.30, and Adelaide have also expressed strong interest in Gumbleton and could yet pip the Dockers.

The picks would give the Bombers a strong position in the second round of the draft after being stripped of their first two selections as part of the supplement scandal penalty.

Former Cat Paul Chapman is also set to rejoin former coach Mark Thompson at Windy Hill, although negotiations are ongoing.

Carlton has given up hope of landing Chapman, 31.

Gumbleton, a former No.2 draft pick whose career has been dogged by serious back and hamstring problems, is understood to have easily passed his medical test at Fremantle last week.

He has played only 35 games in seven years at Essendon, but is adamant his injury issues are in the past after completing last season fully fit.

Gumbleton, 25, is from Western Australia and wants to find a new home after slipping down the pecking order of key forwards under James Hird.

An athletic and hard-running key forward, Gumbleton would bolster a Dockers forward line already featuring Matthew Pavlich, Chris Mayne and Hayden Ballantyne.

Adelaide does not have a selection before No.42 to use for Gumbleton, but the Crows are trying to gain a top-30 pick by dealing Bernie Vince to Melbourne.

Essendon will look to promote Joe Daniher to a regular full-forward position next year after het cut his teeth in the VFL for the bulk of his first season.

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