It is good to see our young guns Scully, Gysberts, Tapscott will play on Saturday. Should be a great lift to our midfield and forward line. That alone makes me want to go.

In the announcement of the team on the MFC website, I notice that there is a list of injured players which for this time of year is worryingly long. I note that Max Gawn is listed as still having a knee injury. Is this still the one that he had when he was recruited? If so that is a two year plus injury. Do we know what the prospects of long term recovery and if and when he is likely to be on the park?

I also notice that Cale Morton has a hand injury. Do we know what this is and it's prospects of recovery?

Not sure about Gawn, but Morton should be back in the first couple of weeks of the season. According to his twitter he is aiming for a round 1 return, but it sounds like that it him being optimistic. I'd expect to see him debut in round 2, 3 or 4.

Looks like he's... wait for it... " GAWN ".

Looks like he's... wait for it... " GAWN ".

Gee that's Sad.

Anyone know how far away Max Gawn is?

Not exactly sure but I believe he lives in the Bentleigh-McKinnon area so if you're at the GPO then it's about 14 kilometres.

Gawn played the interclub match and look rather good. but after half time he was sitting on the bench with huge bags of ice on both knees so I don't know if he had a new injury, or they are just managing the old one etc etc. Maybe bhima may have some more from training.

Morton had his finger caught in a jumper during a training drill just before the NAB cup opener and ruptured the tendons which required surgery, I think it is a 6 to 8 week injury so rd 1 best case rd 3 worst case.

"Anyone know how far away Max Gawn is"

about half a metre if you look up.

On Tuesday night Max said he had recently hyperextended his knee slightly and that set him back a little but he was just about right now and might play half a game this week or the next at Casey.

Deeman and Demon Rob.

I know the Comedy Festival is coming up but you'll have to work on the material before you go onstage.

He was drafted as an 18 year old giant who'd already undergone a knee reco.

Given his size and the documented history of slow development of big men (let alone giants) I expect nothing more than for it to take at least two years for his body to get used to AFL.

Another 12 to 18 months before he starts playing regular AFL and then from there anything is possible.

Sandilands was a dud for many years before he finally grew into his body and became co-ordinated by AFL standards, I (and i believe the MFC) will give him at least 4 years to get going and show his value.

If he plays an AFL game this year it will be a bonus, but in all reality, if he plays a full (or close enough to) season at Casey then that is a positive step forward and a good launching pad for 2012.

He was drafted as an 18 year old giant who'd already undergone a knee reco.

Given his size and the documented history of slow development of big men (let alone giants) I expect nothing more than for it to take at least two years for his body to get used to AFL.

Another 12 to 18 months before he starts playing regular AFL and then from there anything is possible.

Sandilands was a dud for many years before he finally grew into his body and became co-ordinated by AFL standards, I (and i believe the MFC) will give him at least 4 years to get going and show his value.

If he plays an AFL game this year it will be a bonus, but in all reality, if he plays a full (or close enough to) season at Casey then that is a positive step forward and a good launching pad for 2012.

Well said gramps. Put it in a nutshell.

Not exactly sure but I believe he lives in the Bentleigh-McKinnon area so if you're at the GPO then it's about 14 kilometres.

that's sick

Well said gramps. Put it in a nutshell.

GrandSON of a gun.

And how far away is Max Gawn?

'Bout 5 years.

Played for Scorpians today according to Cale Morton

"Hi Dustin, Big Max is a good mate of mine, so I really want him to do well. His knee is OK. He played in a practice match a few weeks ago. And after a two-week rest, he is resuming today for the Scorpions."

I would expect them to take a fairly careful approach to his development for the next few years. Aside from the usual comment about big men taking longer, there is the fact that someone his size is going to be putting a huge amount of stress on his joints trying to play AFL. Until he has completely stopped growing they will be very cautious about putting too much stress on his body. If they do the right thing now they'll have a dominant big man for a decade once he gets his body in the right shape.