A WARNING up front to all non-Collingwood supporters: this item will detail yet another area in which the Magpies are leading the rest of the competition - player fitness.
So if you've had your fill of Magpie humble pie lately, don't read on.
For the rest of you, Media Watch will look at the Herald Sun's feature on the "secret weapon" behind Collingwood's elite fitness program - David Buttifant.
Buttifant has run Collingwood's fitness programs for the past decade. In the early days, his job title was conditioning coach. Now he goes by the more grandiose title of sports science director.
Titles aside, there's no denying Buttifant has produced the goods at Collingwood.
In their six games this season, the Magpies have outscored their opponents by a combined 155 points in last quarters. In other words, when player fatigue really kicks in, the Magpies are running over the top of their opponents.
The Herald Sun said Buttifant drove the Magpies' decision to embrace altitude training more than six years ago, a move some may have been scoffed at the time, but which has since been followed by North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, with Gold Coast set join them at the end of this year.
Apart from a stint with the Australian Olympic Federation from 1998-2000, Buttifant, 47, has worked in the AFL since the mid-1990s.
He told the Herald Sun AFL clubs had been "real pioneers" in embracing sports science innovations like ice baths, altitude training and GPS measurements of running distances and intensities.
Buttifant paid tribute to Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse for giving him the "autonomy" to do his job, but also for the "collaborative" environment he has established at Collingwood, where coaches and staff freely share ideas.
However, Buttifant is out of contract at the end of this season and, although his preference is to stay at Collingwood, he said he would not ignore other job offers.
We suspect Nathan Buckley, who takes over as Magpies coach at the end of this season, will make re-signing Buttifant one of his highest priorities.
Push for AFL to buy Etihad Stadium
As AFL clubs strive harder than ever to keep up with the Collingwoods, The Age reveals some clubs say the AFL could improve the lot of many Victorian clubs by finalising its purchase of Etihad Stadium ahead of schedule.
Under the current contract between the AFL and the coalition of superannuation funds who own Etihad, the League will take ownership of the ground in 2025.
But Hawthorn and Geelong told Jake Niall if the AFL took possession of the stadium early, it could ensure better stadium deals for the ground's tenants, with Geelong chief executive Brian Cook saying stadium deals were the "No.1" factor dividing clubs financially.
Niall said Geelong reaped about $850,000 from a capacity crowd at Skilled Stadium because it could sell advertising space at the ground, while the Hawks' similar "clean stadium" arrangement for their four annual 'home' games at Aurora Stadium in Launceston netted them an average of about $1 million a game.
Despite the AFL's intervention to secure Etihad tenant clubs an extra $5.5 million a year from 2010, Niall said those tenants' stadium returns still lagged well behind those enjoyed by Geelong and Hawthorn, and by West Coast and Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.
Niall said other clubs shared Geelong's and Hawthorn's view on this matter and thought the AFL's future fund, which will be bolstered by the recently completed $1.25 billion 2012-16 AFL broadcasting deal, could provide the funds to make the purchase a reality.
It's an idea worth considering. Anything that can help bolster the finances of sides like North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs - both Etihad tenants and both among the League's lowest football-department spenders - is.
However, as Cook and Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett told Niall, the AFL will first have to consider whether the cost of taking over Etihad now, which would have to be negotiated with its current owners, would outweigh any benefits to Etihad tenants.
Cats' window about to shut: Harley
Many pronounced the fall of the Geelong empire when the Cats were humbled by the Magpies in last year's first preliminary final.
However, this season, with the arrival of new coach Chris Scott and the continued emergence of youngsters like Mitch Duncan, Daniel Menzel and Taylor Hunt, the Cats' empire suddenly looks as if it could survive the looming passing of veterans Matthew Scarlett, Darren Milburn, Cameron Mooney and Cameron Ling.
However, in Thursday's Herald Sun, two-time Geelong premiership skipper Tom Harley had some sobering news for any Cats fans expecting their side's incredible run since 2007 to continue - this season is Geelong's last realistic shot at a premiership for some time.
While he believed the Cats' good recent recruiting would prevent them from bottoming out in coming seasons, Harley told the tabloid Geelong was aware its premiership window would close at the end of this season.
"Everyone internally [at Geelong] would acknowledge that as a far as a premiership goes, their chances will drop off after this year," Harley said.
In any event, we will get a much better gauge of the Cats' 2011 premiership credentials this Friday night. As impressive as the Cats' 6-0 start to the season has been, particularly its wins against Fremantle (away) and Hawthorn, reigning premier Collingwood is the benchmark against which they're best judged.
In short
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse told SEN his relationship with club president Eddie McGuire was very good, refuting suggestions by television and radio commentator Brian Taylor last week it had become strained.
Adelaide Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield will resume running on Thursday in a bid to convince Crows medical staff he's fully recovered from being concussed in a tackle by Melbourne's Jack Trengove last Sunday.
Geelong coach Chris Scott told The Age second-year player Daniel Menzel had been most impressive playing as a forward this season, but was such a "well-rounded" player the Cats were keen to play him increasingly in defence.
Classy Port Adelaide forward Robbie Gray has vowed to eradicate poor on-field habits such as slumping on his knees, not chasing opponents and arguing with teammates, The Advertiser reports.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
