The age of cyberspace imposters
THE PERILS the social media presents to players are like cyberspace itself - interminable and, sometimes, uncontrollable.

Yes, some of the players' troubles are of their own making. Some Melbourne players recently vented their spleen on Twitter about teammate Jack Trengove's three-match suspension for his sling tackle on Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield.

And, last year, Richmond midfielder Daniel Jackson used Facebook to blow off steam after he was suspended for rough conduct against Fremantle small forward Hayden Ballantyne.  

The fall-out from these episodes has put players on notice they cannot use the social media to have a 'free hit' at a Tribunal, or any other AFL, decision. If they do and they breach AFL rules, they now know it's no different to criticising the decision in the mainstream media - they are going to be sanctioned.

But more often in cyberspace the players are the victims.

We saw late last year how an individual can use social media to publish private photos of players as part of a campaign to besmirch their good names.

And there's also the widespread practice of identity theft.

On Thursday, the Herald Sun revealed 29 fake Facebook pages claiming to belong to St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt had been removed this year at the behest of the AFL Players' Association.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the tabloid said there were still more than 15 Facebook profiles claiming to be Riewoldt.

Other players who have been popular targets of fake Facebook pages include Jake King (Richmond), Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs), Michael Hurley and Brent Stanton (both Essendon) and Daniel Menzel (Geelong), the paper said.

AFLPA spokesman Ben Hart said such sites were generally used to defame the players with offensive material.

Although the AFLPA had been successful in having about 80 fake Facebook pages removed, Hart said other social network sites, such as Twitter, were more lax policing cyber imposters.

Imagine how frustrating this must be for players. Aside from the personal embarrassment such identity theft can cause, the most significant issue is the invasion of their privacy.

This is fast becoming one of the biggest issues in the game. Against this backdrop, it's no wonder players are feeling less and less comfortable about opening up in public.

Bulldogs' rookie dilemma
Every team that's had sustained success eventually reaches a fork in the road.

As the first signs of decline appear, they must decide, 'Do we try to hold on for one more crack at a premiership, or start rebuilding for the future?'

St Kilda has grappled with this dilemma already this season. Although coach Ross Lyon has not given up on their season, he has conceded the players who took the Saints to the 2009-10 Grand Finals are no longer the same players and has responded by blooding six debutants this season.

The Western Bulldogs now find themselves in a similar position. After reaching preliminary finals in the past three seasons, the Bulldogs have opened 2011 with just three wins - against Gold Coast, Brisbane Lions and Richmond - and sit 12th on the ladder, two games outside the eight.

Like Lyon, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has started to introduce more youngsters into his side, having played four debutants already in 2011.

However, Eade and his match committee soon face another choice that will offer further insight into their thinking on just where the Bulldogs' list is at.

In Thursday's Age Emma Quayle looks at the choices the Bulldogs will have to make in coming weeks, namely which rookies it will elevate to fill: (a) the vacancy on the senior list left by Tom Hill's move to the long-term injury list, and (b) the nominated rookie position that opens up after round 11.  

As Quayle sees it, the main candidates the Bulldogs will look at are 181-game veteran Mitch Hahn, 30, former Sydney Swan Ed Barlow, 24, and 18-year-old speedster Luke Dahlhaus.

Quayle says going with Hahn would give the impression the Bulldogs are "clinging to the past", but it remains a possibility if the Bulldogs can get their season back on track and push for another finals berth.

On the other hand, Dahlhaus would be the pick for the future, Quayle says.

However, he's been in such good form in the VFL, his pace and crumbing ability could give the Bulldogs a lift now, she says.

Then there's Barlow, who was delisted by the Swans after playing 26 games in four seasons. Quayle says while he has the hardened body to play straight away, picking him might be playing it "safe", given he is yet to show he has the game sense to match his athleticism.

The Bulldogs don't have to elevate a rookie straight away. But you get the sense Eade will do so sooner rather than later, so he can fully assess his list. It will be interesting to see which path he decides to go down.

Schwarz in Bailey's corner
If anyone knows what Max Bailey has gone through in the past few years, it's David Schwarz.

The 24-year-old ruckman played just his eighth AFL game last Sunday after undergoing three knee constructions since he was drafted by Hawthorn in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft.

Sunday's game against the Bulldogs was Bailey's second in a row, the latest in a promising comeback from his most recent knee injury in round 22, 2009.

Although Bailey is still finding his feet back in the AFL, his ruckwork over the past two rounds has been impressive enough to give the Hawks hope he can - injury permitting - cement their No. 1 ruck position.

Former Melbourne forward Schwarz knows all too well the mental and physical road bumps Bailey has negotiated to fight his way back into the Hawks' senior side.

After an outstanding final series with Melbourne in 1994, Schwarz, then 23, looked set to establish himself as one of the most exciting key forwards in the competition.

However, a serious knee injury the following pre-season was the start of a nightmare two-year period for Schwarz, in which he underwent three knee reconstructions.

Schwarz told Thursday's Herald Sun when he finally got back to play with the Demons - he played a further 99 games after his third knee reconstruction - he was freed of the mental baggage he had carried through his previous injury comebacks, knowing a recurrence would end his career.

Schwarz told the tabloid he believed Bailey had been similarly liberated, judging by his lack of apprehension when running and jumping into packs.

"I think he is at a stage where, if his knee goes again, he is finished, and he would know that," Schwarz said.

"So you say, 'Bugger it, I have no pressure on me. If it goes, it goes. The shackles are off, I will just go for it'."

In short
Port Adelaide president Brett Duncanson says the club will be happy to wear any conditions the AFL attaches to the financial assistance it announced this week, The Advertiser reports. Duncanson told the paper he expected the AFL would insist Port significantly reduced its $3 million debt before its home games were moved to the Adelaide Oval from 2014.

Former Sydney Swans great Gerard Healy says 19-year-old key forward Sam Reid has shown enough in his 10 AFL games to indicate he could develop into an "A-grade forward" who will be "a cornerstone for future success" at the Swans, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The Brisbane Lions are expected to reappoint coach Michael Voss by as early as next month, having revised earlier plans to decided Voss' future at the end of this season, Caroline Wilson writes in The Age. Wilson said "it was almost certain" Voss' contract would be extended until the end of 2013.

After an incredibly successful coaching career with the Darebin Falcons in the Victorian Women's Football League, Peta Searle is making a strong impression as a member of the Western Jets coaching staff in this year's TAC Cup, The Age reports.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.