If recent outings are anything to go by, Liam Picken will be in his element on AFL grand final day.The aerially gifted Western Bulldogs utility has already pressed his case for best player of the finals with game-changing displays against early-September scalps West Coast and Hawthorn.Picken was again influential in Saturdays scintillating six-point preliminary-final triumph over Greater Western Sydney, making a crucial smother with three minutes remaining to set up Jack Macraes match-winning goal.Its becoming standard fare for the 30-year-old former tagger, who has been reincarnated since Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge let him off the leash in a more attacking role.His endurance and sky-high marking this month has turned heads and drawn comparisons with the 1970s and 80s finals exploits of his father, Collingwood VFL legend Billy Picken.Beveridge, in turn, has been quick to praise his quietly spoken charge as a big-game performer, someone who thrives on high-stakes footy and will do practically anything to win.He is one of those players whose game really relates to big finals, Beveridge said last week.He doesnt shy away from anything.The question now is what impact will he have at the MCG in the hunt for the Dogs first premiership in 62 years?Pitted against a Sydney side boasting oodles more grand-final nous, the comparatively inexperienced Bulldogs players say they draw confidence from Pickens mix of fearlessness and reliability.Stand-in captain Easton Wood has even likened his game to that of North Melbourne great Wayne Carey.But less than a week before making his own grand-final debut, Picken himself is more concerned with lauding his teams even spread of contributors.He backed the close-knit squad to make it count on the biggest stage of all on Saturday.The team is really tight and sticks together - were a very unique group, Picken said.Its great momentum at the moment and the boys are playing really well. Were really gelling.To get the chance to play in a grand final is just amazing. Ray Ban Sunglasses Cheap . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Ray Ban Sunglasses Sale Cheap . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.cheapraybanfromchina.com/ . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Cheap Real Ray Bans .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Ray Ban Sunglasses Sale . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. EUGENE, Ore. -- Coach Mark Helfrich certainly wasnt concerned about Charles Nelsons missteps in Oregons opener, joking that hed bet his mortgage on the receiver and special teams standout.Nelson had 288 all-purpose yards for the No. 24 Ducks in the season opener as he transitions back from the defense to the offense. He chalked up a pair of fumbles to first-game jitters.For me, and for everybody in here, the coaches just talk about playing the next play, thats what I try to do: Just brush it off and play the next play, he said.Nelson certainly has plenty more plays to focus on this season, starting Saturday night when Oregon (1-0) hosts Virginia (0-1).Of his overall yards in the 53-28 victory over UC Davis last weekend, 251 came on returns. Nelson averaged 38.3 yards on kickoff returns and 24.5 yards on punt returns.His 153 total yards on kickoff returns pushed him past Kenjon Barner into fifth on Oregons career list with 1,447.Nelson also successfully rushed for two of Oregons four two-point conversion attempts after touchdowns against the Aggies.The rest of the Ducks agreed that the bookended fumbles on his first and final return attempts were uncharacteristic.I would bet my mortgage and all I have on Charles every time out, Helfrich said. Thats a guy that makes a million plays for us. He didnt make one and then he made several and then he tried to maybe make more out of what was there and turned it over.Quarterback Dakota Prukop weighed in: It was surprising because thats not something you expect out of Charles. If its going to happen, let it happen in the first game. I dont foresee that being an issue at all the rest of the season.Nelson has alwayss been a versatile and intriguing player.dddddddddddd As a freshman from Daytona Beach, Florida, he turned heads in his first college game with a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown against North Dakota in 2014. He developed as the season progressed, and had seven catches for 104 yards in the Pac-12 championship game against Arizona. Oregon went on to play in the first College Football Playoff title game that season.Last season he started at receiver, but made his debut at safety in a 45-38 double-overtime loss to Washington State on Oct. 10. He finished with a team-high 12 tackles against the Cougars while also playing at receiver and on special teams. Injuries necessitated the move.He moved back to wide receiver this year, explaining that he was happy to be able to focus on only one job.It was a mutual decision between the coaches and I, he said at the time. I told them I wanted to play receiver but if the time comes, I could always go back over there.In the opener, he fumbled his first punt return of the game to give UC Davis the ball on the Oregon 33. The Aggies went on to score. His second fumble came on a kickoff return in the third quarter. It, too, gave the Aggies the ball.I had the first-game jitters. I just took my eye off the ball for a second and fumbled it, he said. Second time, I just tried to make extra yards. I should have run out of bounds. I had the ball in the wrong hand, and the other guy made a great play. Ill be looking to correct that next week.For emphasis he added: Im already looking forward to that. ' ' '