HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson hopes six extra weeks of pre-season training, compared with last year, will put his side in a much stronger position entering tonight's NAB Cup clash against Richmond in Launceston.

WHEN he was recruited to Hawthorn, Shaun Burgoyne hobbled out on crutches to speak excitedly of his move to a new club.

EVERGREEN Sydney FC captain Steve Corica will make his return from injury against Newcastle on Sunday but the club has been hit with a fresh concern over fellow midfielder Karol Kisel, who will miss the game with a groin problem.

IT COULD have been the bad memories of playing injured players in last year's grand final, or an unwillingness to disturb a winning team, or even the desire for grand-final discards of previous years not to miss out again.

IT MAY have been remembering the folly of playing injured players in last year's grand final, it may have been an unwillingness to disturb a winning team, it may even have been a desire that grand final discards of previous years not miss out again. Irrespective of the reason the..read more