IT HASN'T been a good week for No. 1 draft picks.
At least, not inside the pages of the Herald Sun.
On Tuesday, Mark Robinson had 2008's No. 1 pick, Jack Watts, in his sights. Robinson said "everyone bar Melbourne officialdom" would pick that year's No. 5 pick, Essendon's Michael Hurley, before Watts if that draft were held again now.
On Friday, it was 2004 draft dux Brett Deledio's turn. This time it was chief football writer Mike Sheahan taking aim.
Sheahan said Deledio doesn't impose himself on games enough - too often starting matches slowly - and the gap between his best and work performances was too great.
He did, however, acknowledge Deledio has played in a struggling team and has not enjoyed the level of support contemporaries such as Scott Pendlebury and Joel Selwood have enjoyed in strong Collingwood and Geelong sides.
Still, Sheahan said Deledio should follow the lead of Carlton skipper Chris Judd, the Blues star having "single-handedly" dragged his club back up the ladder.
Talk about setting the bar high, Mike.
Coincidentally, The Age also analysed Deledio's standing in the game on Friday, along with that of 2006 No. 1 pick Carlton's Bryce Gibbs.
The broadsheet was more forgiving, using Deledio and Gibbs as examples of how outstanding young players with already impressive football CVs could be pilloried just because they carry the No. 1 tag.
As Deledio's former coach at Richmond, Terry Wallace, told The Age, every player selected at No. 1 in the draft inherits a "poisoned chalice".
Walls not a fan of one-man bands
Age columnist Robert Walls has seen some worrying signs that Richmond full-forward Jack Riewoldt is putting himself ahead of his side this year.
Walls cited Riewoldt's angry remonstrations with the Richmond medical staff, who would not let him return to the ground after he was concussed in round two against St Kilda. And his remonstrations with teammates against Hawthorn last week and subsequent finger gesture to some Hawk fans.
Walls said all were signs "Jack's thinking was all about him".
Riewoldt either did not, or did not want to, hear Tigers coach Damien Hardwick's pre-season message that Richmond had to reduce its reliance on him to kick its goals, Walls said.
If this does not happen, Walls suggests Riewoldt could end up like Matthew Richardson, Brendan Fevola and Tony Lockett. All were outstanding forwards and, as their side's No. 1 scoring avenues, kicked mountains of goals, but none played in premiership sides. In fact, for most of their careers, they played in success-starved sides.
Walls urged Riewoldt to see "the big picture" and said for the Tigers to be successful he had to play in a variety of positions.
Interestingly, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse had some contradictory advice for Riewoldt at his press conference ahead of Friday's Magpies-Tigers clash.
Malthouse said Riewoldt should continue to play with exuberance and passion, arguing that's how he brought the best out in himself and that's what Richmond supporters wanted to see from him.
Ultimately, though, Riewoldt will only have to follow the advice of one man - Hardwick.
While he has already made it clear he wants to reduce his side's reliance on Riewoldt, it will be interesting to see how he manages his star forward's on-field demeanour.
Using the bye to regroup
After a 17-year absence, it's not surprising sides have been wary of the bye this season.
Especially when the first two sides to have a bye this year, Gold Coast and Adelaide, both lost their next game. Adelaide's experience, in particular, would have attracted clubs' attention. So impressive in round one against Hawthorn, the Crows were strangely lethargic against Fremantle in round three.
So what's the best way to approach the bye? How do clubs ensure they don't suffer a post-bye letdown?
At this early stage of the season, it seems sides have decided hard work, rather than rest and recuperation, is the best approach.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said on Thursday his side had used its round three bye to try and iron out deficiencies exposed in its round two thrashing by Collingwood.
Similarly, St Kilda football manager Greg Hutchison told Friday's Herald Sun the Saints would train normally during its bye this round.
Forward Adam Schneider even suggested the Saints would increase their workload during the break, telling Radio Sports National they would complete a "game simulation" session on Friday.
One thing's for sure, the rest of the competition will be waiting to see how the Kangaroos fare against Fremantle this Sunday, and how St Kilda fares against the Brisbane Lions next Thursday night.
If both sides do well, look for others to use the bye for work, not rest and play.
Maturing into a leader
Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge seems one of the most natural leaders in the competition. On field, his play is inspirational and his courage simply demands his teammates follow his example.
Off the field, like Brisbane Lions skipper Jonathan Brown, he has the down-to-earth charm of a country boy.
But it was not always this way, former Hawthorn skipper Richie Vandenberg told The West Australian.
Vandenberg said when 2001's No.1 draft pick first arrived at Hawthorn from Colac he "was all about having a good time and playing a bit of footy".
Together with Vandenberg's cousin, Daniel Elstone, who was drafted by the Hawks around the same time, Hodge got into "plenty of mischief," Vandenberg said.
Despite the popular perception the decision to choose Sam Mitchell over Hodge as captain in 2008 had been a close call, Vandenberg said 95 per cent of the club had favoured Mitchell because of his greater maturity.
"There was no doubt Mitch was the man for the job," Vandenberg said.
"We wanted players who actually could make a difference to the culture and direction of the footy club."
In 2011, there's no doubt Hodge now meets those criteria.
In short
Former Adelaide Crow Andrew Jarman is staggered by the average standard of kicking in the AFL, saying it is the result of players not being taught properly as juniors, The Advertiser reports.
The Tasmanian Government confirmed it was hoping to secure a deal with the AFL for North Melbourne to play two home games a year at Bellerive Oval from 2012-14, The Mercury reports.
GWS assistant coach Mark Williams has joined Port Adelaide's debt-reduction campaign, having pledged to contribute at least $5000 to the club he coached from 1999-2010, The Advertiser reports.
Live coverage of tribunal hearings could be introduced this year, AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson told the Herald Sun.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
