Football Nation’s league-wide round up providing our readers with a quick update of news from all clubs around the league.
Adelaide:
Adelaide has identified Port’s versatility in attack as one of its chief concerns for Sunday’s Showdown – but the Crows are confident they have answers for any combination the Power deploys.
Brisbane:
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Brisbane Lion Dayne Zorko is not good enough to be a Sun.
Carlton:
Dylan Buckley has been named in a forward pocket for his first senior game for Carlton – just as his father Jim was when the three-time Premiership player and club best and fairest made his debut for the Blues almost 40 years ago.
Collingwood:
Magpie Dale Thomas says Collingwood has never implemented an injecting program like the Bombers had last year.
Essendon:
The irony that is Essendon shows a club in arguably its darkest hour boasting a team list that can take it to sustained success.
Fremantle:
While most probably wouldn’t see the loss of Essendon small defender Mark Baguley to injury as a huge problem, it may have left the Bombers with a deficiency in an area Fremantle are as dangerous as any – small forwards.
Geelong:
Mercurial forward Steve Johnson will play his first game of the season on Saturday night against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
Gold Coast:
The Suns’ Zac Smith admits he took his eyes off the ball last season – a wedding will do that to you.
Greater Western Sydney:
Giants Co-Captain Phil Davis says their young side have plenty to prove when they come up against St Kilda at StarTrack Oval Canberra
Hawthorn:
Defenders are meant to shadow forwards, not the other way around, but All Australian Hawthorn half-back Grant Birchall is getting used to life as a marked man.
Melbourne:
The club’s interim chief executive Peter Spargo insists his board trusts Mark Neeld to deliver improved performances after a disastrous start to the season.
North Melbourne:
Having copped their fair share from Sydney’s home fans over the past few years, North Melbourne will look to return the favour when the two sides clash at Blundstone Arena tomorrow.
Port Adelaide:
Port defender Jackson Trengove expects the Power’s new-found depth will create a four-man posse to deal with Adelaide’s game-breaking forward Taylor Walker in Showdown XXXIV on Sunday.
Richmond:
The Tigers are building a case to repeat history ahead of a vital confrontation with a dangerous pack of Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Nathan Wright and Tom Lee will make their AFL debuts this week after they were selected in the senior St Kilda team to take on Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval this Saturday.
Sydney:
This time last year, Sydney Swans defender Nick Smith was recovering from a spell in hospital with an inner ear infection.
West Coast:
After making the move to WA last year for a final shot at AFL, Callum Sinclair has already debuted for the club and is making his mark at West Coast.
Western Bulldogs:
Easton Wood will play his first game for season 2013, when the Western Bulldogs take on Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Image appears with permission by Jack McClane (Exclamat!on Photography). All rights reserved.