White's lucky escape

Simon White back at training after overcoming a broken neck. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: CAS Hamish Blair / News Limited

SIMON White doesn't like to think about what might have happened had a fractured vertebrae in his neck remained undetected and he played for Carlton just week a week later.<image-web-group channel="Web" group="SpecialElement"> <image-web dtxInsert="Gallery Portrait (366x488)" fileref="/NewsLimited/Content/MET/Images/NWK/Sport/AFL/Cropped/2013-11-27/NEWSMMGLPICT000019270519-ksa-GalleryPortrait366x488-366x488@Web-HeraldSun.jpg?uuid=1e6075c2-5802-11e3-8974-69a7d7a3124c" height="488" id="GalleryPortrait366x488" tmx="366 488 366 488" width="366" xtransform="1 0 0 1 0 0"></image-web> <image-web-caption> <p>Simon White in a neck brace. Source: Twitter</p> </image-web-caption> </image-web-group>

In a bizarre chain of events, the Blues defender trained and complete a pilates session only a few days after suffering a direct hit to his head while playing for the Blues' VFL affiliate side Northern Bullants in July.

He had taken possession of the ball and was on his feet with his head lowered to avoid a Box Hill Hawk tackler when he heard a crack after receiving a bump to the head.

"It was just a bit of a wet day and I sort of jumped up to grab the ball and I saw a guy coming at me and I thought I could side step him and go under his arm and I don't know whether I slipped or misjudged him but I had my head down and he hit me straight on top of the head," he said.

"At that stage it just felt like my neck had cracked and I didn't think anything of it."

Amazingly White, who had a free kicked awarded against him for holding the ball, had little discomfort at the time and even a couple of days later experienced only what he described as a stiff neck.

In an indirect way Blues coach Mick Malthouse saved him from what could have been a disastrous outcome when he went to the bench after White came from the ground and said don't put him back as he'd be playing for Carlton against Gold Coast the following Saturday.

"It was on the Saturday and I didn't think much of it and on Sunday I got it checked by the doctor again and he was reasonably happy with it and at the start thought it was just whip lash," White said.

"I trained on Monday and they had another look at it on the Tuesday and I was still moving fine but the doc said he wouldn't mind having a look at it and I went down and had a scan.

"I went off and did pilates and after that I had about eight missed calls and there were a couple of messages from the doc who told me to ring him urgently."

A neurosurgeon told him he'd have to wear a cervical brace, from his neck to his waist, for the next two months after explaining that the scan had revealed the C3 vertebra was fractured three quarters of the way through.

Simon White is helped off the ground after hurting his knee against Werribee. Source: News Limited

White, who says he'll be available for the NAB Cup, said he definitely would have played, risking serious spinal cord damage, if hadn't been ordered to have the scan.

"It was all a bit of a shock and I was fairly lucky in the end," he said.

"The brace wasn't terribly comfortable and I was in it nearly all day except when Í took it off to have a shower."

White wasn't allowed to drive for the two months he wore the brace and had to rely on teammate and housemate Michael Jamison to chauffeur him and cook dinner.

The most worrying aspect for White was knowing that he was coming out of contract but Malthouse quickly told him that he would be offered a new contract for 2014.

"When you've just come out of a 12 month contract you think you might be in a bit of trouble here," he said.

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Warner set for Barmy reception

Barmy Army Trumpeter Billy Cooper picked up a new instrument on Thursday. Source: News Limited

THE Barmy Army takes its role as England's 13th man very seriously - as David Warner is about to find out.

The Army, who yesterday added a match against an Indigenous XI in Alice Springs to their chant-writing duties, has promised a renewed attack on the Aussie opener during the second Test in Adelaide next week.

Trumpeter and spokesman Billy Cooper, who brought the house down when he managed to get a few notes out of a didgeridoo he was presented, said Warner's inflammatory words during the Gabba Test had sent the Army's writers into overdrive.

"I probably shouldn't tell you too much, but David Warner is probably our No.1 target (in Adelaide). Obviously in the (northern) summer, we've been giving him all that stuff about picking on poor Joe Root," Cooper said as he broke into the theme from "Rocky" on his trusty trumpet.

"We'll be giving him some more of that … but we're going to be coming up with stuff while we're here in Alice Springs.

"Warner has upset a few of the team (and) we wouldn't be doing our job properly, as the Barmy Army, if we didn't give him a bit of stick."

Cooper smiled when asked if his vocal travelling partners were in any position to be giving grief for some pointed chatter.

"I would never be in a position to criticise someone for sledging because essentially our role, if we can get on top of some of the Australian players and put them off a bit, then we can help our team in that way.

"But I thought it was a bit much Michael Clarke picking on Jimmy Anderson. He's our No.11 batsman.

"He's only going to be score five runs against you anyway. It seemed a bit much when you're about to win.

"But it makes for an interesting series."

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'It hurts - that's why I like it'

Luke Durbridge on his way to winning at the Gold Coast Festival of Cycling. Source: News Limited

AS ALL road cyclists know all too well, the time trial _ the race of truth, they call it _ hurts. A lot. Which is one of the reasons Luke Durbridge likes it so much.

"It's just you out there against the clock and it's a suffer-fest all the way to the line. That's what I've always been good at," he said yesterday.

Durbridge, 22, confirmed his status as one of Australia's most talented and versatile young road cyclists when he became the first to win both the road race and the time trial in the same year at the national championships in Buninyong last year.

Speaking at the launch of this year's titles, which will run from January 8 to 12, Durbridge said the time trial would be his priority.

That is unusual in that among riders and fans alike the road race has a much higher profile, although the time trial has attracted plenty of attention in Australia recently.

Most remember Cadel Evans clinching his historic Tour de France win in 2011 with a superb ride against the clock in the second last stage, and last year Orica-GreenEDGE won the team time trial at the Tour and then _ with Durbridge joining the squad _ failed by a whisker to repeat the feat at the world championships.

Luke Durbridge celebrates as he wins the men's under-23 time trial in Denmark. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Source: News Limited

Before that, veteran Australian Michael Rogers won three successive individual time trial world titles between 2003 and 2005.

Durbridge's 2013 season in Europe, his first with GreenEDGE, yielded only moderate results after his powerful start at the nationals, but that was of no great concern given he was riding big events such as the Paris-Roubaix one-dayer and the Tour of Italy for the first time.

"These are hard races to finish let alone perform in, so it was a year of learning rather than achievement," he said.

"This year will be different."

Durbridge will do the Italian three-weeker again hoping for a win in the TTT, which would then hopefully propel him into the Tour de France, which has always been a huge ambition.

He also has the Commonwealth Games in sight "so there are a few big goals."

He has decided to specialise in the time trial because, he says, the strongest rider usually wins, which is not always the case in the road race where various factors, including luck, can influence the results.

"The time trial is never going to have the hype of the road race but it is always going to have a place in cycling," he said.

"It's a show of strength. The Grand Tour guys like them because it's a chance to put a time difference into the others and show who really is the strongest.

"Yes, it hurts _ but if you don't like that, don't do this race."

ron.reed@news.com.au

TWITTER: @REEDRW

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King hit could be end for Brown

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CAMPBELL Brown is facing the sack after a drunken punch left Suns teammate Steven May with a suspected broken jaw.

The Suns have lost patience with the veteran forward after his second overseas fight in three years.

Brown is alleged to have punched May after a night of drinking in Los Angeles following the club's altitude camp in Arizona.

The Suns have been told the told the punch was unprovoked and May did not retaliate.

Hawthorn premiership player Josh Gibson is also believed to have been present. The players were given two days R and R during which they took in an Arizona Cardinals NFL game and also visited Las Vegas.

It was reported the argument between Brown and May flared up over a restaurant, bill but the Suns have not heard that version.

Brown is not a big drinker and his off-field record is reasonably clean, but the Suns will not tolerate the latest incident if the allegations May was king-hit are true.

Glenn McFarlane and Jay Clark say Campbell Brown may have played his last game after an off-field incident in Los Angeles.

No other players were involved but there were five other Suns present. These players will arrive back on the Coast on Friday and have been summoned immediately to the club.

They will be grilled extensively and Brown's only hope of extending his 205-game career is if an alternative version of events arises from those interviews.

Brown and May have struck a truce and shared a flight back to Australia after being ordered home.

They were grilled by football manager Marcus Ashcroft on Thursday. It is not known how Brown defended himself.

BAD BOY BROWN'S LONG RAP SHEET

Neither Ashcroft or CEO Travis Auld returned calls but the club issued a brief statement confirming the incident took place.

"The club is in the process of establishing exactly what happened and all other relevant facts, and is discussing the matter with the two players concerned, who have since returned to the Gold Coast ahead of their teammates,'' the statement said.

"The Gold Coast Suns are considering appropriate actions and will not make further comment at this stage in relation to the incident.''

Brown remains a favourite of the fans and media because of his open and engaging manner but the Suns are concerned at his volatile temperament.

He was demoted from the leadership group after becoming involved in a brawl in Thailand at the end of the 2011 season.

He was spared further punishment then because he had intervened to help teammate Maverick Weller, who had become embroiled in a fight.

The Suns hit the trail during their Arizona camp, in a picture posted on the club's Facebook page. Source: Supplied

During the 2012 pre-season he had to be separated from Weller after an argument at training.

Brown has always walked a tightrope because of his poor on-field disciplinary record.

The 30-year-old is the most-suspended player in the game and was set to start his second consecutive season on the sidelines after being rubbed out for a month for kicking Melbourne player James Strauss in the head at Metricon Stadium last season.

He was suspended for four weeks in his second game for the Suns in 2011 after incidents with Bulldogs players Callan Ward and Barry Hall, and started this season with a six-week ban for a shirt-front on Adelaide player Aiden Riley.

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Stolz men set to make history

Andre Stolz with his son Zac will both play in the Australian Open. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited

PARENTS make sacrifices for their kids and Andre Stolz can still remember the club that copped it for his son Zac.

Though his baby boy was only just up on unsteady feet, Stolz took a hacksaw to the graphite shaft of Ping 7-iron and slipped it into Zac's tiny hands.

"Apparently they were worth about $500 a club," Stolz laughs. "I can still remember that club. I cut it down. It went from grip to the head.

"He wouldn't remember but he's seen video of him wobbling around, whacking balls around the backyard."

Eighteen years on, with both Zac and his golf clubs are now fully grown, the sacrifices will pay dividends when the teenager and his Dad make history in the opening round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

Andre and Zac will become only the second father and son to play together in the tournament after Stolz junior won a spot in qualifying on Monday.

Andre Stolz with his 18 year old son Zac who will both be playing in this weeks Australian Open Golf at Royal Sydney Golf Club. pic. Phil Hillyard Source: News Limited

Given the genes - and a childhood on the golf circuit - it's not a huge surprise. Andre Stolz is a 25-year tour professional who has played on the PGA Tour, and mum Cathy is a golf pro as well.

"He's beaten me a few times already so its nothing new if it happens again this week," Stolz senior laughed.

"He was always going to play in the Australian Open, whether it was this year or next year or somewhere down the line. We're very proud obviously."

Andre Stolz in action at the Queensland Open at Brookwater Golf and Country Club. Picture: Chris McCormack. Source: News Limited

"He hits the ball properly and strong, he has good ball flight and all those things. If he can settle into the round and play his game, he'll be plenty good enough."

Zac, who is set to go to college in the US next year on a scholarship, said the nerves had eased since Monday, but only "fractionally".

"They are still well and truly there. I can't wait to turn up and play," Zac said.

Stolz senior was regarded one of Australia's top talents and won a PGA Tour event in 2004 but chronic wrist injuries hampered his career.

He was set to skip this week's tournament after a recent flare up but Zac's achievement convinced him to play.

The parental pride is obvious, and so too is good-natured competition between the Stolz clan.

"He has one PGA Tour win up on me, so he uses that call all the time," Zac says.

Andre adds: "I have told him he has to pass me on the career money list before he can hang shit on me. He probably will."

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Tigers must remain tight: Bradtke

Mark Bradtke in his playing days. The Tigers great has called on the club to stick together. Source: News Limited

FORMER club great Mark Bradtke says the Melbourne Tigers can bounce back in tonight's crucial NBL clash against the New Zealand Breakers if they stick together.

The tough road trip comes on the back of Sunday's home loss to Townsville, which was labelled by coach Chris Anstey as a "reality check."

Bradtke - who was at The Cage on Sunday - says his former club will turn it around quickly as long as they remain tight.

"You can see the hustle and desire is there," he said.

"Sometimes the execution is just not though because of good defence from the opposition or maybe because shots just don't drop.

"But as long as you're all together on the same page, eventually it will turn.

"You just have to make sure everyone knows their roles, executes and then good things should happen because you're doing the right things."

The Tigers coach has been highly critical of his side's poor starts this season.

Tigers coach Chris Anstey talks with Lucas Walker. Picture: GEORGE SALPIGTIDIS Source: News Limited

They trailed the Crocodiles by as much as 15 points in the first term on Sunday and Anstey said it was inexcusable.

Bradtke believed it was a confidence issue.

"The way they started (against Townsville), they were trying to target (centre) Scott Morrison inside," Bradtke said.

"And I thought they executed right well but they just couldn't quite finish.

"It's a fine line because if he makes three of the four shots then they're off and rolling.

"It's all about confidence so one of the ways to help that area is to work on the small things."

Tonight will be replacement guard Mustapha Farrakhan's second NBL game.

The guard had six points and three assists in almost 20 minutes on the floor against the Crocodiles.

Bradtke urged Tigers fans to be patient while Farrakhan adjusted to the league.

"It's always difficult coming into a new environment and a new country," he said.

"You don't want to step on toes but there are also a lot of expectations so you have to try and perform.

"He'll be a lot better after a week's worth of training.

"With replacement players it does take time."

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Poms loving Alice Springs oasis

ALICE Springs is about the last place you'd come to escape the heat.

But, as the mercury nudged towards 40C in central Australia yesterday, the English cricketers took the opportunity to jump as far out of the fire as they've been since they arrived on our shores last month.

For the third time in as many days after their Gabba pounding left them 1-0 down in the Ashes, the Englishmen didn't address the Aussie media.

So instead of being the constant target of prying eyes as they have would been in Adelaide before the second Test, the Poms scurried to all parts of the red centre, delighting in the anonymity the expanses offer.

With no training scheduled until late today, six of the team ventured to Uluru on Tuesday; many played an early-morning round of golf yesterday without a soul on the course to bother them.

Kevin Pietersen's camel (right) gets close to England teammate Graeme Swann's beast at Uluru. Picture: Twitter

Captain Alistair Cook even took a hire car and was last seen heading with a mate towards Glen Helen Gorge - an hour west of the Alice - where he was reliably informed by locals that he could spend a relaxing day checking out the scenery and grabbing some pub fare without hassle.

It's a far cry from the glitz and glamour of England's high-profile celebrations of recent Ashes triumphs, but a break in which they're understood to be revelling.

Sources close to the team say it's just the tonic for the embattled tourists after the fierce spotlight of their epic Brisbane flop.

They say that while some weren't sure why the Northern Territory was on the itinerary when it was first produced, they're absolutely delighted now to have found their own little oasis in the hottest of deserts.

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Jolly 'shattered' by rookie snub

Jon Ralph and Jay Clark name the surprise picks of the rookie draft and the likely winners next season

DUAL premiership ruckman Darren Jolly is "shattered" and "disillusioned with the game" after his decorated AFL career effectively came to an end on Wednesday.

Jolly, 32, was overlooked in Wednesday's rookie draft after initial approaches from Essendon and St Kilda amounted to nothing.

In an incredible fall from favour, Jolly was still Collingwood's first-choice ruckman during the first half of this season before knee issues and the emergence of young ruckman Brodie Grundy cost him his position within the team - and ultimately at the club.

Jolly could not be contacted yesterday, but sources close to him suggested he was devastated he would not get another AFL chance.

He was still dealing with the fallout and has not yet decided whether he would play football at a lower level next season.

ROOKIE DRAFT - WHO DID GET PICKED?

It's believed he would likely have been taken as a rookie at St Kilda if Scott Watters - his former assistant coach at Collingwood - had not been sacked last month.

The appointment of Alan Richardson as Saints coach brought about a change of heart and the Saints looked elsewhere.

The Bomber made a last-minute play to secure the former Magpie, Swan and Demon, and a meeting with the club on Tuesday raised his hopes of a reprieve.

But those hopes were crushed when Essendon opted to bypass the veteran and choose young Queensland ruckman Fraser Thurlow instead.

To add some salt to the wounds, Carlton resurrected the career of 26-year-old Cameron Wood, whom Jolly kept out of the Collingwood side for the best part of three seasons.

THE BEST ROOKIES WE'VE EVER SEEN

Jolly played 237 games for three clubs, including Grand Finals wins with Sydney (2005) and Collingwood (2010).

Only three years ago he was credited as being the difference as the Magpies secured the premiership in his first year at the club.

Jolly endured a tough season on and off the field this year, battling knee issues and courting controversy by criticising former teammate Josh Fraser in a newspaper column.

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Pies flex financial muscle

Collingwood CEO Gary Pert and president Eddie McGuire have plenty to smile about. Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia

COLLINGWOOD re-affirmed its status as the AFL's biggest financial powerhouse by posting a net operating profit of more than $5.2 million for the past season.

And if you include two grants - $10 million from the Federal Government and $1.15 million from the Melbourne and Olympic Park Trusts - the club's overall net profit swells out to more than $16.3 million.

As the debate over equalisation and revenue sharing hots up at AFL Commission and club levels, the Magpies have once more blown their rivals out of the water with their financial bottom line.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert dismissed suggestions the club's swelling booty compared to many struggling AFL clubs was a sign that the AFL needed to take a harder line on equalisation.

GIANTS GO COLD ON 'DIDS' LIFELINE

"Revenue sharing is already happening - the debate at the moment is whether there needs to be more," Pert said.

"Collingwood very much supports having that debate and discussion, even though there are quite clearly pros and cons.

"A key part of that revenue sharing program is that the clubs, with the support of the AFL, need to very quickly get themselves to industry best practices to ensure the money is being maximised in every opportunity."

Collingwood lifted its annual turnover to more than $75 million, raising its year-to-year revenue by $2.6 million, largely off the back of record club membership of 80,456.

The Magpie army ensured a healthy profit for Collingwood. Source: News Corp Australia

The club's football department spend was also boosted to $22,459,510, up from $21,167,238 last year. The club has net assets of more than $35 million and is now effectively debt-free.

"As per our promise to supporters, the profits will continue to be invested back into the club's two key stakeholders, being the playing group and fans," Pert said.

"This year we invested an extra $600,000 into our membership services and an extra $1.3 million into our football department.

"The rest of the club profits are earmarked to help fund the new community facilities bordering our Westpac Centre training ground, which will require extra club funding of $15 million over the next three years.

"It has never been more important in Australian sport to be financially sustainable, to be able to determine our own future, retain our identity and protect our brand."

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said: "The club's strong financial position has allowed us to create the ultimate Collingwood vision of Australian sport's best training and administrative complex, a facility that can hold its own against the best sports clubs around the world.

"We know that to provide our players, coaches and staff with the best facilities and opportunities to succeed in an increasingly difficult environment that we must remain financially healthy and independent.

"The next development phase will be pay off (the facility) for our social club members and the broader community.

"With a special focus on women's sports and fitness activities, it stands to be a wonderful asset for the people of Melbourne."

Collingwood's annual general meeting will take place on February 11 next year, at the MCG.

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Perfect ABs all about belief

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PERFECTION came 84 seconds after the final bell, long after all but those in black thought it was possible to conjure victory at Lansdowne Road against an inspired Irish team.

New Zealand had conquered every opponent this year, winning all 13 previous Tests. But when it was time to complete the 2013 sweep, to become the first international side of the professional era to go through an entire year unbeaten, they got stage fright.

The men in green turned Hulk, it was they who played the game like invincibles.

After 20 minutes they led 19-0, after 64 minutes they led 22-10, and after 81 minutes they led 22-17.

After 108 long years, Ireland had their first win over the All Blacks in the bag.

But what transpired next broke the hearts and backs of Irish support, and confirmed that this All Blacks team went undefeated this year because they didn't know how to lose.

They didn't realise that the effort was futile when they received a turnover penalty 10 metres from inside their own half with the final bell already rung.

They could not comprehend that after winning 26 of 27 previous Tests against Ireland and drawing the other, it was finally time for the cruel streak to be broken.

New Zealand could not accept that after running the ball from left to right, end to end all night and being thumped by Ireland's raging tacklers, it was pointless to try again post-siren from deep inside their own half.

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And so they went, left to right, end to end, with locks charging up the middle, centres clearing out rucks, playmakers shifting the ball, flankers running dummy lines.

They didn't drop the ball. They didn't drop their heads.

And after testing Ireland's defence at every turn the split-second opportunity came.

Who else but replacement hooker Dane Coles would be required to draw the last defender and pop a deft pass in contact to replacement back Ryan Crotty. The No.16 and the No.23 finished the magnificent play to remind all why their side is No.1.

After 81 minutes and 24 seconds, New Zealand were level, the first time in the entire game they had not trailed.

And only then did the drama start. Five-eighth Aaron Cruden missed his conversion attempt from the sideline, but a handful of Ireland players had jumped the gun to chase the kick down.

Referee Nigel Owen ordered them back, and allowed Cruden to take another attempt. Of course he nailed it - 24-22 the final score in a game history won't soon forget.

"It comes down to belief," All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said. "When I was a young player, I was in a provincial game and we were down by a similar 29 to very little. I thought the game was over and the captain said: 'Believe'.

"We got home and forever since then I've never, ever given up.

"I've always been proud of All Blacks teams, you never give up and never stop believing there's a chance. We had 15 guys out there still believing right to the last minute and it's amazing what can happen."

The first professional perfect Test season followed New Zealand's 12 wins from 13 wins last year.

It was another reminder of the gulf between them and the chasing pack.

The Wallabies are only on the cusp of rebuilding, having won three in a row now.

Against Wales this weekend Australia will aim to win four Tests in a row for the first time in five years.

New Zealand will start next year with history in their sights. Incredibly, the world record for most successive wins is ongoing and held by Cyprus.

While their second- and third-tier opponents give an unnatural context to the record, the All Blacks will nevertheless be aiming to add another three to their streak of 14 when the fast-improving England side visits them mid-next year.

Of top tier nations, New Zealand and South Africa jointly share the record of most successive wins with 17.

If the All Blacks win all the Tests against England, their chance to top that record will likely come against the Wallabies in a Bledisloe Cup showdown.

In the aftermath of his side's crushing defeat on Sunday, Ireland's Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt said: "You've got to be prepared to defend until the final seconds and we didn't.

"We have to live with that now."

There is always a price for perfection.

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