Party time ... Adam Scott kept his green jacket on as he celebrated his Masters triumph.Source: Matt Slocum / AP
Adam Scott partied in shorts after his Masters triumph, but didn't take off the champion's green jacket.
Scott, who vaulted back to equal his career-high world ranking of No.3 with the victory at Augusta National, celebrated his historic victory into the early hours of Monday morning with a small group of friends and family at his nearby rental house.
Scott will return to his new base in the Bahamas this week before deciding the US PGA Tour event in which he'll return before the year's next major championship, the US Open at Merion Golf Club's East Course in mid-June.
But before the trip to his North American base, the Queenslander will appear on several US talk shows in New York, including David Letterman's Late Show.
It is likely he will not play competitive golf again until the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, starting on May 9.
Fellow Aussies Mark Leishman and Jason Day will return to the US tour as early as next week.
Day returned to No.25 in the world after his third place in Augusta, the highest he's been since last year's US PGA Championship after falling from a career-high seventh earlier in his injury-hit 2012 campaign.
Leishman -- who finished tied for fourth with Tiger Woods -- was the big mover, leaping to a personal-best 68th in the world and into Presidents Cup calculations for the first time.
The Victorian is now 16th in the International team standings with 10 automatic selections and two picks for captain Nick Price for the event to be held in Ohio in early October.
Party time ... Adam Scott kept his green jacket on as he celebrated his Masters triumph.Source: Matt Slocum / AP
Adam Scott partied in shorts after his Masters triumph, but didn't take off the champion's green jacket.
Scott, who vaulted back to equal his career-high world ranking of No.3 with the victory at Augusta National, celebrated his historic victory into the early hours of Monday morning with a small group of friends and family at his nearby rental house.
Scott will return to his new base in the Bahamas this week before deciding the US PGA Tour event in which he'll return before the year's next major championship, the US Open at Merion Golf Club's East Course in mid-June.
But before the trip to his North American base, the Queenslander will appear on several US talk shows in New York, including David Letterman's Late Show.
It is likely he will not play competitive golf again until the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, starting on May 9.
Fellow Aussies Mark Leishman and Jason Day will return to the US tour as early as next week.
Day returned to No.25 in the world after his third place in Augusta, the highest he's been since last year's US PGA Championship after falling from a career-high seventh earlier in his injury-hit 2012 campaign.
Leishman -- who finished tied for fourth with Tiger Woods -- was the big mover, leaping to a personal-best 68th in the world and into Presidents Cup calculations for the first time.
The Victorian is now 16th in the International team standings with 10 automatic selections and two picks for captain Nick Price for the event to be held in Ohio in early October.
All on the line ... Paul Gallen will bare all should the Sharks lose to the beleaguered Eels.Source:News Limited
Paul Gallen has made a bet with Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart he will walk naked through Cronulla if the Sharks lose to the struggling Eels this weekend.
Fairfax reports that Gallen bumped into Stuart on Tuesday and is so confident his side can defeat the Eels, he has put his modesty on the line.
Stuart, who admits his side face a tough season after their 50-0 loss to the Roosters, intends to hold the Sharks and Blues skipper to the bet.
'He said that if we beat them he's going to walk down the Kingsway naked,'' Stuart said .
''I'll hold him to that and I hope we can beat them just so I can be there to see that.''
On Thursday, Gallen took to Twitter to praise Stuart for his mind games.
Watch Cronulla face the Eels- with Paul Gallen's modesty on the line- on Saturday April 6th at 5.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 1HD.
Target ... Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin could be the subject of a big-money offer from Fremantle.Source: Michael Klein / Herald Sun
Ross Lyon is a man with a habit of getting what he wants, and he wants Lance Franklin with a burning passion.
Only last February he was happy to state of the league's most dynamic player: "I'll tell you what - I'd give Buddy Franklin $1.5 million (a year) tomorrow."
Buddy won't get $1.5 million a year at any club other than Greater Western Sydney, but you can guarantee Fremantle are building a sizeable war chest to tempt Franklin across the Nullarbor.
It makes sense on so many levels for Lyon and a Fremantle side that has ageing superstar Matthew Pavlich yet no real succession planning to replace him.
Rival clubs still believe former WA local Franklin will stay at Hawthorn, so much so that none of them have spoken to his management about an offer.
He is still short odds to stay, and could at any time decide he wants to recommence talks on a deal both Hawthorn and manager Liam Pickering agree is as extremely "respectful".
But while clubs including GWS and even Port Adelaide through president David Koch have expressed interest, the solid industry mail is that Buddy either stays put or heads to the Dockers.
Consider Fremantle's golden opportunity to secure Franklin and turn him into 'Buddy Inc'.
The 26-year-old would be replete with a five-year deal worth up to $7 million, boast massive media and endorsement deals, and rival Nic Naitanui as a money-making presence.
He would be the Prince of West Australia.
First discount West Coast from the picture, despite the link to former housemate Sharrod Wellingham.
They have a salary cap close to full, a priority to re-contract free agent Mark LeCras, and out-of-contract stars including Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Chris Masten and Eric Mackenzie.
Franklin just doesn't get to West Coast next year. Full stop.
Yet Fremantle have massive cash invested in their veterans Aaron Sandilands and Pavlich - who have half of their salaries outside the cap - in deals that expire at the end of next year.
Also out then are Luke McPharlin and David Mundy, with all of them probably including Mundy set for salary reductions given Mundy signed a huge four-year deal after Essendon went hard at him.
Fremantle had $1 million plus a year for Travis Cloke, so that cash is still available for a player clearly superior, and one with significantly better ability to become the face of the club.
Some of the Cloke money went to Danyle Pearce, but again that was off-set by Adam McPhee's surprise retirement.
Then consider that Freo under can-do man Lyon don't want a key forward for ageing superstar Pavlich, it must have one.
Fremantle have five ruckmen on their list as a succession plan for Sandilands, including highly encouraging 21-year-old Jack Hannath and 204cm rookie Craig Moller.
Yet where is the Pavlich replacement?
Chris Mayne is a star who needs a foil, yet none of first-year rookie forwards Alex Howson or Matt Taberner are ready to step up despite real promise.
WHY BUDDY TO FREMANTLE MAKES SENSE - Ross Lyon is desperate to get him - They have more salary cap space than almost every rival - They are crying out for a replacement for 31-year-old Matthew Pavlich - They could back-end a massive deal given key players out of contract next year - They are in the premiership window, which is critical for any Buddy suitor
Old Dog ... Brett Goodes will achieve a life-long goal if he debuts for the Western Bulldogs.Source: Michael Klein / News Limited
Brett Goodes is the accidental footballer.
Even his biggest fan - dual Brownlow medallist and older brother Adam Goodes - thought his dream of playing AFL was over three years ago.
"The dream was probably over when he decided to take a position in Darwin," Adam said. "That was a big decision for Brett - does he stay in Ballarat or get his career going and put footy on the backburner?"
Brett chose to leave VFL side North Ballarat, where he won back-to-back premierships in 2008-09, and move to Darwin to play for the Thunder and work for the AFL in their indigenous programs.
But fate would intervene soon after when the Western Bulldogs head-hunted Brett to work as their player development officer.
Brett returned to the VFL where he continued to impress while playing at Williamstown.
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney liked what he saw and gave Brett the chance he had been waiting for all of his adult life.
He is set to become one of the oldest players to debut in recent history - if Brett is selected to play in the Bulldogs' opening match against Brisbane next weekend he will be starting his AFL career at the age of 29 years and 41 days.
"I'm really proud of Brett," Adam said. "It's a great story of determination, hard work and not giving up."
While Adam was a bargain at pick 43 in the 1997 national draft, Brett was overlooked because he suffered a serious compartment syndrome injury in both lower legs playing for North Ballarat in the TAC Cup.
Nowadays recruiters pay more attention to mature-age players like Geelong's James Podsiadly, Adelaide's Ian Callinan and Fremantle's Michael Barlow.
But a decade ago AFL list managers rarely took a second look at players like Brett, who had been passed over in the draft.
The Goodes brothers have never played together or against each other. Earlier this year they missed out playing together for the Indigenous All Stars against Richmond in Alice Springs. Adam was still recovering from the knee injury he suffered in the grand final.
They will have to wait until the round 19 clash between the Swans and Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
"That's OK, it gives me plenty of practice and his knee will be right so he'll have no excuses," Brett said. "I'd love being out there with him."
David Smith ... 'There are no clubs being considered to have any systemic issues beyond what we already know.'Source: ALAN PORRITT / AAP
The ASADA investigation has moved its focus to individual NRL players, with the drugs agency directly contacting two current NRL players earlier this week to arrange formal interviews.
And it can be revealed one represents Cronulla, the other Canberra.
Both were contacted via their mobile phones, in contrast to how NRL boss Dave Smith and ARLC chairman John Grant outlined ASADA interviews would be requested at Wednesday's press conference.
A total of 31 current players will be issued with interview notices from early next week, and about 10 former players - who could still be involved in other competitions - are also wanted for questioning. The process will take up to six weeks, Smith said.
The interviews
ASADA has spent this week compiling interview notices for the 31 current players who are of interest, and intend to start delivering them early next week.
They will be initially sent to the NRL's newly-formed integrity unit, headed by former Federal Court judge Tony Whitlam QC and commercial lawyer Michael Eyers.
The integrity unit will then pass on the requests to players and/or their clubs.
"ASADA will tell us the players they want us to contact and through our integrity unit, we will issue the notices," Smith said.
ASADA has elected to go through the NRL because players and clubs are compelled to co-operate under the game's code of conduct. Those who don't co-operate face automatic suspensions, with clubs vulnerable to a four-year ban.
Club officials have already been made aware of these obligations.
Interestingly, players contacted directly can't be forced to undergo an interview.
The Focus
Apart from Cronulla, all clubs - including the five others implicated in the Australian Crime Commission report - are in the clear.
And with the exception of those who played at Cronulla in 2011, the investigation is concentrating on individuals or groups of players suspected of buying, possessing or taking banned peptides via their own means.
Although ASADA has no positive tests, it's understood phone taps and internet or credit card records have been used to build a strong case.
Sports scientist Stephen Dank, who worked at the Sharks during the period in question, is believed to be the central figure.
There's a concern that certain players maintained contact with Dank or his supplier, Darren Hibbert (aka The Gazelle), to source treatments beyond the walls of their club.
Hibbert has revealed 20 players from Manly, Cronulla and North Queensland bought supplements from the boot of his car at training venues. And Dank also privately treated players at a now-defunct medical clinic in Bankstown.
Dank has denied ever using performance-enhancing substances in the NRL.
"Other than the well-reported issues at Cronulla, they're now moving to the players," Smith said.
"There are no clubs being considered to have any systemic issues beyond what we already know."
Smith has vowed not to identify the players of interest, however it's already known that 14 are currently at Cronulla, while three are with Manly.
There are another eight former Sharks, either retired or playing elsewhere, in the sights of investigators.
Suspensions
Smith on Wednesday promised that all players interviewed would continue to take the field until ASADA issues infraction notices.
He does not expect that scenario to unfold for another eight weeks at least, meaning that one of the biggest dramas in the game's history could damage its showpiece - State of Origin.
Any players who receive infraction notices will be stood down, but still presumed innocent, until they front the NRL's tribunal.
Plea bargains can also be negotiated between the players and ASADA.
Two weeks ago, Cronulla - through former ASADA senior counsel Richard Redman - offered 14 players a six-month ban with financial incentives to stand down immediately. The offer was rejected, with players now armed with independent legal advice as they prepare to be interviewed.
Internal draft
After suggesting an internal draft would be convened to distribute players to decimated clubs, Smith backed away from endorsing the proposal.
But should the ARLC rubber-stamp it, there would be significant opposition from clubs who believe their rosters should not suffer for the wrongdoing or mismanagement of others.
"To go into detailed discussions about which players are going where, or whether it's fair or unfair, it's certainly too early to do that," Smith said.
However, he and Grant both conceded "contingency plans" had already being entertained.
Sponsors
Smith has been in contact with game's major backer, Telstra, over the past 24 hours. He's confident the establishment of the integrity unit and impending introduction of blood passports will maintain confidence among corporate backers.
Corridor ... Nathan Buckley's Magpies are set to play a much more direct brand of footy.Source: JULIAN SMITH / AAP
Collingwood has ditched its boundary-hugging game plan.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Pies have become one of the AFL's corridor kings, using the NAB Cup to launch a more aggressive pattern of ball movement.
All times are listed in EDT
Statistics provided by Champion Data reveal Nathan Buckley's men are ranked fifth in the league for moving the ball from defence through the centre square.
Last year, Buckley's first as coach, the Pies were ranked 18th and last going down the middle. In 2011, Mick Malthouse's final season, they were 17th and last.
It is only the NAB Cup and, admittedly, early days, but it's a dramatic strategic shift over four pre-season games. Heat maps best illustrate the change in philosophy, with the 2011 and 2012 versions showing a distinct avoidance of the centre square.
But the early 2013 map highlights a willingness to take the riskier, albeit most direct, avenue to goal.
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The statistics focus on ball movement out of the defensive 50m zone - a better measure than all midfield possessions because teams have direct control over how they launch attacks.
Collingwood has gone from going down the middle 13.4 per cent of the time in 2011 and 15 per cent last year to 29.7 per cent so far this pre-season.
Former full-back Simon Prestigiacomo, who helped execute Malthouse's defence-first philosophy before retiring in 2010, offered an insight into the old strategy.
"If you were going to kick it in the corridor you had to be 100 per cent sure that you weren't going to turn it over because if you did it would be an almost certain goal (the other way)," Prestigiacomo said.
"Even if you came into the corridor too early going forward and turned it over they would kick it straight over the top for a goal. Because we were playing that pressing style, where you pressed right up, it left three or four of their forwards on their own.
We would rather go the long way around than take the risk. It wasn't constantly drilled into us or anything but, if it didn't come off, you would feel the wrath on the scoreboard and the wrath of the coaches."
Collingwood's overhaul had its origins at the start of summer. An early February intra-club match and hour-long match simulation session revealed the Pies' clear plan to kick the ball shorter and move the ball quicker through the middle.
