AS FOOTBALL continues to get more taxing on the body, with players running faster and further and hitting harder, the old belief that you always play your strongest 22 has been blown out of the water with the need for depth as great now as ever.
AAP reporter Guy Hand attributes much of the success of Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong to their belief in the need for a strong playing list that goes beyond the top half of the roster, labelling Mick Malthouse, Alastair Clarkson and Chris Scott as "depth collectors".
The "maxim of 'never change a winning team' appears to have become outdated," Hand says.
Mick Malthouse is certainly an advocate for roster depth.
"I just don't see how you can possibly get through a year … by minimising your [player] numbers," Malthouse says.
"We're very aware you have to have quality numbers at the end of the season ready to play football.
"I don't want to be in a position at the end of the year guessing about the form of players.
''The best idea is throw them in when they're in good form. When there's a position there, throw them in, give them a chance. That player then adds on to the list that you need.''
When you look at a player like Jarryd Blair, who made his debut midseason before playing in Collingwood's 2010 Grand Final win, or Luke Breust, who has become an integral part of Hawthorn's success this year, it is apparent that depth is a critical factor in success.
Brotherly love
As North Melbourne's Andrew Swallow prepares to meet his Gold Coast-playing brother David at Metricon Stadium for the first time, Mike Sheahan of the Herald Sun takes an interesting look at brothers going head-to-head in footy.
Sheahan speaks to Luke Power, who had his brother Sam sent his way by Western Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace only two weeks after Sam made his AFL debut, a move that the older Luke said was "was something I never really handled too well."
"He's my brother and one of my two best mates. It was probably something that played on my mind a little bit too much."
This was exactly what Terry Wallace was after.
"I did it because I always reckon it puts pressure on the older brother," Wallace told the Herald Sun.
"The older brother has got the standing in the game and … is more protective of the younger brother.
"The young kid is determined to prove a point against the bloke who has kicked him round in the back yard all their life. The younger brother has always got a point to prove."
It will be interesting to see how often the Swallow's come into contact and if Guy McKenna sends David to in-form Andrew. It is certainly a match-up Media Watch will be looking for.
Losing has its baggage
The name of the game in footy is winning. That is what it is all about. Winning premierships, winning games, winning quarters, winning contests.
When teams are flying high, it is all honey and rose petals and slaps on the back.
Collingwood have a premiership coach handing the reins to his successor at the end of the season but aside from some media speculation, there has been little trouble in the transition. It certainly isn't trouble that is manifesting itself on the field.
There certainly seems to be plenty of love at Geelong, following a year of simmering tension as the Cats fell from premiership grace, no doubt a result of being undefeated in 2011.
At the Western Bulldogs though, on the back of a sharp slide down the premiership ladder after three straight preliminary finals, there has been plenty of chatter of a boardroom battle brewing.
That chatter centred on former midfielder Paul Dimmatina, who was allegedly orchestrating a plot to overthrow current Bulldogs president David Smorgon.
Dimmatina has been quiet on the issue.
That was until Friday when the 131-game Bulldog went on Kevin Bartlett's show on SEN to quash speculation he was poised to chase the Bulldogs' presidency.
"I'm not trying to facilitate any change and I'm definitely not a backstabbing plotter," Dimmatina said.
"I'm not agitating to create change."
Dimmatina even went on to praise Smorgon, comments that suggest there is no coup in the offing.
"[I have] absolute respect for everything that David Smorgon has stood for at the Western Bulldogs Football Club. He's a much loved and revered figure in and around the club and the whole Western Bulldogs community.
"And anyone who doesn’t respect his total passion and commitment to the club over such a significant part of his life is obviously silly and mean spirited."
This kind of thing is not uncommon when a team used to success is struggling. St Kilda copped it earlier this year. Adelaide has seen the coach put under constant pressure. Fans, former players, analysts, journalists and plenty of others look for answers.
The veracity of supposed coups, however, must always be taken with a large grain of salt. More often than not, warning shots across the bow are just a sign of frustration and cooler heads usually prevail.
In short
A recent visit to soccer giant Barcelona has Geelong president Colin Carter looking at new membership models The Age reports with Carter saying "I think one of our challenges is to wean people off this idea that membership means discount admission".
Western Bulldogs assistant coach Brett Montgomery said on SEN radio about Brian Lake after being asked about his mental strength: "I would have to say of the sample that we've seen this year, I would say he's not [showing enough mental strength]".
Former Adelaide coach Malcolm Blight has called on the Crows board to either commit to coach Neil Craig long-term or sever ties with him immediately, The Advertiser reports.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
