Infos » Hodgson will feel so much better next week -- he w

Melbourne star Jack Viney has never been shy about his leadership ambitions, but he believes his AFL apprenticeship still has at least two years to run.Viney, 22, is the vice-captain to skipper Nathan Jones and the heir apparent for the role with the up-and-coming Demons.Jones will turn 29 in January, but Viney doesnt see a leadership transition happening any time soon.Hes done a terrific job as captain and hes still learning and becoming an even better leader every year, Viney told AAP.I think hes definitely got a couple more years left in him at least.The combative on-baller enhanced his leadership credentials in September with his first best and fairest award, the Keith Bluey Truscott Trophy.Viney, however, feels like hes still got a lot to learn.I want to be seen as someone who lives the trademarks and the values our club upholds, he said.For my peers to see me as someone who does that would be very humbling ... it means a lot to me.But I still feel like Im learning about leadership, what makes a great leader, and I feel like Im getting better at that.Im just on the journey at the moment and really enjoying it.Viney underwent hip surgery two days after Melbournes season ended and has started his pre-season campaign on a modified program.But hes already about a week ahead of schedule in his recovery and expects to join the main group in early December.The Demons are only weeks into new coach Simon Goodwins tenure, but Viney can already sense a difference from the past three years under Paul Roos.Were definitely still on the same path that weve been going down for the past few years but it does feel like a bit of a new era under Goodi, he said.Hes a different coach to Roosy and I cant wait to have a full pre-season with him to see how he directs the group and the football club. Eduardo Escobar Diamondbacks Jersey . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Yasmany Tomas Diamondbacks Jersey .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-wilmer-flores-jersey/ .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Jake Lamb Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Steven Souza Diamondbacks Jersey .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. The NRL is down to the final four teams and ESPNs NRL expert Brett Kimmorley has handed down his views and predictions after another enthralling weekend of action?in his latest edition of Set of Six.Referees were much improvedAfter copping a fair bit of criticism last week, I thought the performance from the refs over both games was brilliant and what that leads to is two quality games of football. Theyve got to play a massive part in the fluency of the game, the play the ball speed and setting the 10 metres that can make a great game of football.I think, like the players, its very important that they hit their best form at this time of year as well -- I reckon we had that at the weekend.In saying that, weve only had one good weekend so its too early to say there are any standout referees for the grand final just yet. Next week will bring more pressure and more scrutiny so its about how they handle the game.The referees are in a unique position to determine whether the game is good or bad. The referees in the Cowboys and Broncos game should be congratulated -- they showed great courage to make a correct and crucial decision to award a penalty late in the match and thats what we want from the officials.Darius Boyd demonstrated great qualitiesDarius Boyd showed enormous qualities for the Broncos against the Cowboys on Friday night -- I know they didnt win the game but I thought the reason why they went so close to winning was because of him.I think this year hes earned a stature of being one of the best fullbacks in the NRL competition. It was one of the great leaders knocks on Friday night -- he made the decision to go down the short side for the Corey Oates try and I think hes taken his game to a whole new level.From where hes been, its a really good story -- he snapped his Achilles, had some dramas when he first returned to Brisbane but I thought he was a standout performer the other night.It was cruel to see him drop that kick-off to start the second half of extra-time but I think hes been so good for the Broncos this year.Brilliance and athleticism of Cowboys and BroncosThe brilliance, the athleticism and the unbelievable nature of the Cowboys and Broncos -- theyve played four times now and theyve all been classics.I could watch them every day of the week -- that was the best game of football I have ever seen on Friday night. It had everything -- physicality at the start of the game, Broncos looked home, Cowboys came from behind, Johnathan Thurston came up with a critical penalty kick in the 79th minute, we go to extra-time and he nails an audacious flick pass to set up the match-winning play.I thought the game was a great promotion for the NRL -- it was the best example of our product weve seen. I like the fact we didnt have golden point because the players actually thought about playing football rather than setting up for field goals.Its a much better spectacle when its played that way and that was made it so much more pleasing -- the fact a try sealed victory and it was a pretty special one as well.Thurston is the greatest in historyIve played with and against Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer but I think Thurstons ability to continually win football games while under fatigue and getting smashed is the best ever. His competitive nature sets him apart - there was a Broncos raid in the second half on Friday night that the Cowboys were able to repell but only because Thurston tackled a player over the sideline as he was about to score.ddddddddddddWhen you rewind the play, Thurston was on the other side of the field before the final tackle started yet he was there to save the try for the Cowboys -- his competitive nature is unbelievable. The amount of running he does, plays the game with a great spirit, gets bashed over on most kicks, has the big blokes continually running at him, there were rumours he had a few injections because he had a virus and he is still the match-winner.Its amazing to think what hell be remembered for when he eventually retires. You look at his career -- hes won two grand finals at two different clubs, the most Origin games in a row, four Dally Ms, Golden Boot award so I think hes the best player Ive seen and Friday night confirmed it.He is always thinking Im going to win the game and I think the rest of the Cowboys players believe when they have him in the side think were OK, JT will get us out of it again. Its amazing that at 33 he keeps getting better and better.Raiders cant win competition without Hodgson, AustinThe Canberra Raiders need Josh Hodgson and Blake Austin in their team if they are to win the premiership. That was a much better performance from them on Saturday night with those two together. We thought Hodgson was no chance of even playing but he did and was brilliant, and Austin scored their first try and that gave them the necessary shot of confidence to go on and beat Penrith.Hodgson goes off last week and the Raiders were absolutely horrendous. While those two went into the game against the Panthers with a great deal of risk, next week they will be so much better. I think the Raiders can now start to dream that they can go to Melbourne and cause an enormous upset.Theyll match up physically with the Storm in the grind and the arm-wrestle and the fact those two players are back at this time of year would give them an enormous confidence boost and in the end I thought they controlled the game against Penrith.Canberra were a totally different football side with Hodgson and Austin back on the park and I think that is the difference for the Raiders. Hodgson will feel so much better next week -- he wont train much on that ankle this week because you dont need to practice too many things at this time of year -- its all second nature now and those two are at the forefront of everything the Raiders do.?Appreciation of Corey ParkerI think weve said goodbye to an absolute legend for Queensland -- he is an example that people should never stop chasing their dreams.He wasnt the most talented player when he came into the competition but hes ended up playing around 340 games of NRL football, won a grand final, played in the all-conquering Queensland historic side and turned himself into one of the best forwards in the game.I thought the farewell he received after the loss to the Cowboys in his last game was a nice tribute to a bloke thats done a lot of good things for the game and Ive really enjoyed watching him play.If there are kids out there that may not think they have the pure talent or are not super-flashy, Parker has shown that if you work really hard and believe in yourself, theres a chance you can still have a future in this game. ' ' '