Training - Friday 24th February, 2012 (Gold Coast)

[Whispering_Jack 28,011]

I arrived on the Gold Coast yesterday after experiencing several weeks of mostly sunny weather in Melbourne and whilst there was a bit of sun around yesterday, today's weather and that predicted for the next few days is pretty ominous. Rain, shower and possible thunder storms. Predicted maximum temperature for the day of the game is 26.

The decision to come up was a bit last minute and I'm hoping to catch up with some of the Queensland Demons for that pre game lunch if spots are still available and (with the consent of she who must be obeyed) get off to training tomorrow if somebody could please advise the time and I assume the venue is Metricon Stadium. (Thanks in advance)

Report and possible pictures will be forthcoming if I make it there.

[Whispering_Jack 28,011]

Ah well ... I just read on Twitter that training's been brought forward half an hour because of the weather which means I have no hope of getting there to see much training.

End result.

I'll stay indoors and hope someone else braves it out there and reports here later on.

I hope it improves tomorrow as otherwise, the games will be absolute shockers.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I think it is meant to be a bit better up here tomorrow, but possible late showers. Hope it clears up though because my engagement party is on tomorrow night also (didn't check footy calendar when setting the date and would of been one of my only chance to see Melbourne live this year ).

[The Chazz 4,077]

I think it is meant to be a bit better up here tomorrow, but possible late showers. Hope it clears up though because my engagement party is on tomorrow night also (didn't check footy calendar when setting the date and would of been one of my only chance to see Melbourne live this year ).

Postpone it until Sunday. The in-laws will understand.

[Dee-Bortoli 8]

Weddings off

[Hannibal 5,814]

And people complain about Melbourne's weather.

The rains were supposed to never come again and those that did would never fill our dams. Yeah, right. The last time it stopped raining in NSW and QLD Phil Scully was climbing roofs, Dean Bailey was obsessed with being competitive, and I wanted to meet Daisycutter's Sister.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

It's still pissing down in Brisbane at the moment and apparently the rain is expected to set in for the whole weekend. Now where did I leave my Demon poncho . . .

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

I'll stay indoors and hope someone else braves it out there and reports here later on.

I hope it improves tomorrow as otherwise, the games will be absolute shockers.

WJ what a legend.

I hope tomorrows lunch is just as wet as todays weather.

GO DEES

I'm glad I postponed the trip up there.

Experience tells me don't go to QLD between Xmas and March 31.

[Whispering_Jack 28,011]

Yep, it's still persistently coming down and I'm glad I didn't go to training. I came up with summer gear only and it looks like I'll be giving the local economy a much-needed boost tomorrow morning by hitting the shops to buy some protective gear against the predicted monsoonal conditions.

The car I drove today had squeaky windscreen wipers. Does anyone have a quick fix? It's bloody irritating especially when it happens in a place where it's not supposed to rain. If I see another of those Queensland beautiful one day, perfect the next ads, I'll be ill!

Going to the Queensland Demons lunch and understand that some of my absolute childhood heroes are going to be there. Ronald Dale Barassi who is THE club legend, Laurie Mithen who wasn't far behind him in our glory days and Johnny Townsend who came along in 1962 and was a brilliant rover in our last premiership side.

I know a lot of people here don't have a great interest in the club's history. This is a great pity - perhaps due to the lack of success we've been having lately. The above trio are to me like Demon royalty. I look forward to being in the same building with them tomorrow.

About tomorrow's games?

Well, we don't have anywhere near our best side on paper but I reckon they'll do well. Results don't mean much at this time of year and judging by results so far the format doesn't lend itself well towards the team that follows up playing the second on end. Still, we've trained hard and we have some new talent on display - five new faces wearing the colours for the first time - Clark, Sellar, Tynan and two rookies in Magner and Couch. Jack Grimes makes his debut as skipper. If this weather keeps up it should suit the bigger bodies and we've got a few.

[DeeSpencer 23,256]

Yep, it's still persistently coming down and I'm glad I didn't go to training. I came up with summer gear only and it looks like I'll be giving the local economy a much-needed boost tomorrow morning by hitting the shops to buy some protective gear against the predicted monsoonal conditions.

The car I drove today had squeaky windscreen wipers. Does anyone have a quick fix? It's bloody irritating especially when it happens in a place where it's not supposed to rain. If I see another of those Queensland beautiful one day, perfect the next ads, I'll be ill!

Going to the Queensland Demons lunch and understand that some of my absolute childhood heroes are going to be there. Ronald Dale Barassi who is THE club legend, Laurie Mithen who wasn't far behind him in our glory days and Johnny Townsend who came along in 1962 and was a brilliant rover in our last premiership side.

I know a lot of people here don't have a great interest in the club's history. This is a great pity - perhaps due to the lack of success we've been having lately. The above trio are to me like Demon royalty. I look forward to being in the same building with them tomorrow.

About tomorrow's games?

Well, we don't have anywhere near our best side on paper but I reckon they'll do well. Results don't mean much at this time of year and judging by results so far the format doesn't lend itself well towards the team that follows up playing the second on end. Still, we've trained hard and we have some new talent on display - five new faces wearing the colours for the first time - Clark, Sellar, Tynan and two rookies in Magner and Couch. Jack Grimes makes his debut as skipper. If this weather keeps up it should suit the bigger bodies and we've got a few.

Sadly we do. Trengove is a miss as is a firing Jurrah but it's a pretty strong line up for the first NAB cup game. That said I expect the players to be pretty focused on getting structures right which might hinder the result.

[Whispering_Jack 28,011]

You can add to Trengove and Jurrah, the likes of Morton, McKenzie, Blease, Tapscott, Jetta and Strauss which gives you eight players who would be in our best side or contenders at least while a few in the squad are coming back from injury so they wouldn't be expected to be at their best. I'm also not including our two tallest players who are both LTI's but are only ruck depth ATM.

All in all we have at least half a dozen first choice players out this week. I suppose our opponents are in the same boat.

[Striker475 696]

God, I'm up here now and it has not stopped raining since I landed, it's just been various degrees of heavy.

And look at the weather in Melbourne!!

[Guest Thomo]

Missung four - Trengove, Jurrah, McKenzie, Morton/Blease/Strauss/Tapscott (one of). in reality as good a side as will be on the ground during the season.

[bing181 8,176]

Missung four - Trengove, Jurrah, McKenzie, Morton/Blease/Strauss/Tapscott (one of). in reality as good a side as will be on the ground during the season.

... except that we have to play two games, so not all will play together. Of course, that's equally true of our opponents, so will be interesting to see how the teams are lined up, and whether we "stack" one relative to the other.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

I say Thrash the suns and cop the loss to Brisbane. The deck is stacked that way anyway.

[Whispering_Jack 28,011]

It's still drizzling here on the Coast.

One thing I've noticed is that there's absolutely no sign around here that the NAB Cup games are on at the local stadium.

I suspect we're going to struggle to beat the low attendance figure from last weekend's matches at Bleaktown.

[Sir Why You Little 34,645]

Whats going on up there?

Swimming lessons!

Hot as buggery in melbs today...!

[Demonsterative 2,003]

The state is mourning Krudd being sent to the interchange bench

[Very Old Demon 8]

The state is mourning Krudd being sent to the interchange bench

No will be dropped-------like Punter

[diesel 420]

It's still drizzling here on the Coast.

One thing I've noticed is that there's absolutely no sign around here that the NAB Cup games are on at the local stadium.

I suspect we're going to struggle to beat the low attendance figure from last weekend's matches at Bleaktown.

Big challenge to beat Gold Coast United's crowd of 1050 last week!