WEST COAST

BEN Cousins is facing an onslaught from the AFL's best tagger, Kane Cornes, as Port Adelaide sets itself a target of breaking even with West Coast's midfield in tomorrow night's qualifying final at AAMI Stadium. Cornes, who has taken on and beaten Hawk Sam Mitchell, Geelong's Joel Corey and Fremantle's Peter Bell in succession in the lead into the finals, is almost certain to be given the role on Cousins, who Power skipper Warren Tredrea yesterday claimed could be in career-best form despite his shortened season because of a club suspension. Chris Judd's problems and Daniel Kerr's absence will allow Port to target Cousins with Cornes.The 24-year-old as had a remarkable season, prompting West Coast coach John Worsfold to admit he would consider tagging the tagger. West Coast has revealed a long-term hip injury has finally ended the career of stalwart Josh Wooden.

PORT ADELAIDE

Brogan fitness boost

PORT Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan took a giant step towards being fit for tomorrow night's AFL qualifying final against West Coast by training freely at AAMI Stadium yesterday. Brogan, having hurt his knee against Fremantle in round 22, missed the Monday session and was fighting against a history of missing at least a match whenever he has picked up an injury this season. Power captain Warren Tredrea, himself recently returned from a knee problem, said Brogan's value in concert with Lade was significant. "He and Brendon Lade are, I think, the best ruck combo in the comp. I've seen what those guys have been able to go through and play through this year," he said.

ADELAIDE

Queue to take Franklin

THE Crows are preaching flexibility as the best way to counter Hawthorn's attack, with any one of three players capable of minding potential game-breaker Lance Franklin in Saturday's elimination final. The Crows completed a long main training session yesterday minus Scott Thompson (leg soreness) and fringe player Michael Doughty, who has been ruled out with a quad strain. Before the run, defender Kris Massie said Franklin was regarded as a player to be countered by an athletic, mid-sized opponent. Massie, Scott Stevens and Nathan Bock would all appear capable of filling that role. One factor favouring Stevens or Bock is that Massie was pitted against tall Saint Nick Riewoldt at Telstra Dome, a match-up that went badly wrong for the Crows.

UMPIRES

Allen to retire at season's end

ONE of the AFL's most experienced umpires is to retire. Brett Allen, a seven-time grand final umpire and a four-time All-Australian umpire, will retire at the end of the season. "I've got a full-time job and four girls at home desperate to have their dad at home to help them out with their own sport and school," he said. "For me, the increased demands from interstate travel and pre-season training are the reasons I've come to the decision." Allen, 41, is fourth on the all-time list with 346 games and will officiate in the Hawthorn-Adelaide elimination final at the Docklands on Saturday alongside his good friend Hayden Kennedy, who breaks the all-time record by umpiring his 411th game. Allen believed that umpiring was improving. "I think the umpiring standard has improved, but the scrutiny on the standard has increased by so much … (which) gives people the opinion that the standard has dropped off but I don't think that's the case," Allen said.