Early days I know, but it seems to me that we absolutely nailed the mid to late picks with Dean Kent and JKH.

Way early call on that one 'Ron'...

Way early call on that one 'Ron'...

Go drink your half empty glass...

Go drink your half empty glass...

It's not half empty, it's that the water is still running and we're not sure how full the glass will be when it shuts off...

It's not half empty, it's that the water is still running and we're not sure how full the glass will be when it shuts off...

Haha... True.

The negativity around here is getting on my nerves a touch...

Happy to be held to account on this.

And, while we're at it, I'd be very happy to have some distance on the view I expressed previously that Colin Sylvia would win a Brownlow.

From the photos on the club website, JKH looks to have put on quite a bit of muscle over the last couple of months.

Edit. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-11-21/photo-gallery-friday-november-21

What is watts doing with Grimes? It looks like... no, it couldn't be...tackling? Is this the shape of things to come or just a freak photo?

Happy to be held to account on this.

And, while we're at it, I'd be very happy to have some distance on the view I expressed previously that Colin Sylvia would win a Brownlow.

I see your Sylvia Brownlow and raise you;

Sylvia Brownlow into Jurrah Coleman

Edited November 21, 201410 yr by Lace Out

What is watts doing with Grimes? It looks like... no, it couldn't be...tackling? Is this the shape of things to come or just a freak photo?

Except Grimes shoves him aside with ease (according to the photo). I'll take him busting a gut and running to full effort first. That's step one in JW becoming a good midfielder. Step 2 and Step 3 are winning contested ball and tackling.

Thanks for the pics and updates!

JV looking huge. Glad to hear he's got a really big emphasis on improving his tank this preseason.

Stretch looks a decent size for the type of player he is. Really happy to get him with a 3rd round pick. Hoping he could an isaac smith/lewis jetta type to help with sling shotting.

I asked previously, so to allay any fears with George's rather inane comments about Newton and Garland

Garland is on a program, still working the conditioning back after a series of ankle issues

Riley the same after his broken leg

They make it slow and steady, so no string of soft tissue injuries

Garlett, Newton and Lumumba are new to the club, the fitness staff need to gauge, measure etc for week or two to get their programs in place

JKH is bigger, he is being frustrated by a bit of a leg issue

What is it with the toilet?...go before you go, there is one down on the corner of the original oval the team used to train on

I asked previously, so to allay any fears with George's rather inane comments about Newton and Garland

Garland is on a program, still working the conditioning back after a series of ankle issues

Riley the same after his broken leg

They make it slow and steady, so no string of soft tissue injuries

Garlett, Newton and Lumumba are new to the club, the fitness staff need to gauge, measure etc for week or two to get their programs in place

JKH is bigger, he is being frustrated by a bit of a leg issue

What is it with the toilet?...go before you go, there is one down on the corner of the original oval the team used to train on

I report what I see, you report what people say. It can work together. I say IMO Garland is struggling, you tell us he's still working his way back. Fine, good.

I'm fully aware that preseasons are a cumulative thing especially for those who aren't natural endurance runners. So I'm not doubting that Riley has reasons to be towards the back, he couldn't even run this time last year. But I stand by my comments that both him and Newton (who was trailing him) need to seriously lift if they want to make it as players. It's November. Time is on their side. But it's something to watch. How many years did we forgive Sam Blease being towards the back of the bunch in the running with the reason being he was coming back from injury?

The toilets are about the players. I've explained it before. 3 hours + training in heat, they are obviously taking in a lot of water, they will need to relieve themselves and training wont stop for them to run across and back to that loo 200m away. Therefore they attempt to crouch or hide behind trees and bins in an area where there's 360 degree views by others in the park, those on Punt Road and those on the freeway off ramp. I grew up in a family of boys. I have absolutely no problem with going whenever and wherever. If a dog can do it so can we. But these are professional AFL players in a public place often surrounded by photographers and the media. Technically they are breaking the law (which didn't bother the police there today thankfully) but more importantly they are opening our club up for what would could be a stupid news story, but a preventable one no doubt. You must see it happen. What do you think when you see it? Or off goes player x for a slash, no harm there, gotta go when you gotta go. Or do you think it's less than ideal to have well known AFL players crouching behind trees hoping no one looks whilst they relieve themselves?

Way early call on that one 'Ron'...

Go drink your half empty glass...

Haha... True.

The negativity around here is getting on my nerves a touch...

It's not about being negative or positive it's about judging a player on performance and what you see going forward. I see some good signs with both players mentioned but not enough to say we've nailed it with their picks yet.

When we got Tyson I was happy to go early on him as in my view the kid was all class, I'm also happy to say we nailed it with Salem. Hogan I think will be far and away the best of the big 3 (Boyd, Patton, Hogan). Does that fill the glass up for you.

I report what I see, you report what people say. It can work together. I say IMO Garland is struggling, you tell us he's still working his way back. Fine, good.

I'm fully aware that preseasons are a cumulative thing especially for those who aren't natural endurance runners. So I'm not doubting that Riley has reasons to be towards the back, he couldn't even run this time last year. But I stand by my comments that both him and Newton (who was trailing him) need to seriously lift if they want to make it as players. It's November. Time is on their side. But it's something to watch. How many years did we forgive Sam Blease being towards the back of the bunch in the running with the reason being he was coming back from injury?

The toilets are about the players. I've explained it before. 3 hours + training in heat, they are obviously taking in a lot of water, they will need to relieve themselves and training wont stop for them to run across and back to that loo 200m away. Therefore they attempt to crouch or hide behind trees and bins in an area where there's 360 degree views by others in the park, those on Punt Road and those on the freeway off ramp. I grew up in a family of boys. I have absolutely no problem with going whenever and wherever. If a dog can do it so can we. But these are professional AFL players in a public place often surrounded by photographers and the media. Technically they are breaking the law (which didn't bother the police there today thankfully) but more importantly they are opening our club up for what would could be a stupid news story, but a preventable one no doubt. You must see it happen. What do you think when you see it? Or off goes player x for a slash, no harm there, gotta go when you gotta go. Or do you think it's less than ideal to have well known AFL players crouching behind trees hoping no one looks whilst they relieve themselves?

Of course a toilet(s) makes sense, but why are you bothering? Do you really want The Satire Inside to answer?

If the players dropped dacks and shat right there on the field he'd say he spoke to so and so and they said it was good for the grass, also instant bowel relief is good for a high performance digestive system, photos on Twitter.

Kennedy Harris looks like he has lived in a gym since our last game.

Fair to say we nailed the draft last year.

Both Salem and Toumpas (even though not draft last year) remain absolute X factor players coming into 2015.

Edited November 21, 201410 yr by KingDingAling

A big question mark Port had over Ben Newton was his running capacity. He has never had a big tank, or any tank to speak of. Let's hope a massive preseason assists him here.

I like what I'm reading about Lynden Dunn who has taken a long time to mature and establish himself as a regular senior player of value to the team.

For so long it appeared that, like so many others who have come and gone at the club, he would never live up to his first round draft selection. He was Dunny, the larrikin with the dumb moustache who had needless scraps with teammates and injured them at training, who suffered brain fades during matches that were costly to the team. Suddenly, nearing the twilight of his career it's as if the penny dropped and he's become one of the club's solid citizens setting an example for his younger teammates not only during the season but in that important time of the preseason when much of the hard work has to be done to ensure a successful year ahead.

Who would have thunk it?

Happy to be held to account on this.

And, while we're at it, I'd be very happy to have some distance on the view I expressed previously that Colin Sylvia would win a Brownlow.

I was of the same view and still believe that Col could have won a Brownlow had he chosen to apply himself and utilize his natural talent to the max. It pi5535 me off to see this when guys with limited talent work their guts out, like Jordie, and can't quite make it.

I report what I see, you report what people say. It can work together. I say IMO Garland is struggling, you tell us he's still working his way back. Fine, good.

I'm fully aware that preseasons are a cumulative thing especially for those who aren't natural endurance runners. So I'm not doubting that Riley has reasons to be towards the back, he couldn't even run this time last year. But I stand by my comments that both him and Newton (who was trailing him) need to seriously lift if they want to make it as players. It's November. Time is on their side. But it's something to watch. How many years did we forgive Sam Blease being towards the back of the bunch in the running with the reason being he was coming back from injury?

The toilets are about the players. I've explained it before. 3 hours + training in heat, they are obviously taking in a lot of water, they will need to relieve themselves and training wont stop for them to run across and back to that loo 200m away. Therefore they attempt to crouch or hide behind trees and bins in an area where there's 360 degree views by others in the park, those on Punt Road and those on the freeway off ramp. I grew up in a family of boys. I have absolutely no problem with going whenever and wherever. If a dog can do it so can we. But these are professional AFL players in a public place often surrounded by photographers and the media. Technically they are breaking the law (which didn't bother the police there today thankfully) but more importantly they are opening our club up for what would could be a stupid news story, but a preventable one no doubt. You must see it happen. What do you think when you see it? Or off goes player x for a slash, no harm there, gotta go when you gotta go. Or do you think it's less than ideal to have well known AFL players crouching behind trees hoping no one looks whilst they relieve themselves?

Surely even a simple "tent" type structure from Bunnings, only worth a handful of bucks, would be better than finding a tree in a crowded place.

A simple call to Kenny would solve the Loo crisis

Hope they don't eat curries

Edited November 21, 201410 yr by chook fowler

I like what I'm reading about Lynden Dunn who has taken a long time to mature and establish himself as a regular senior player of value to the team.

For so long it appeared that, like so many others who have come and gone at the club, he would never live up to his first round draft selection. He was Dunny, the larrikin with the dumb moustache who had needless scraps with teammates and injured them at training, who suffered brain fades during matches that were costly to the team. Suddenly, nearing the twilight of his career it's as if the penny dropped and he's become one of the club's solid citizens setting an example for his younger teammates not only during the season but in that important time of the preseason when much of the hard work has to be done to ensure a successful year ahead.

Who would have thunk it?

Amazing the maturing influence fatherhood has.

Amazing the maturing influence fatherhood has.

Dunny's certainly a changed man.

And as for fatherhood,

It didn't do Martin Pike any harm either!

Dunny's certainly a changed man.

And as for fatherhood,

It didn't do Martin Pike any harm either!

Martin Pike was a loose cannon at Melbourne, wasn't he. Just ask Balme's PA at the time!

Happy to be held to account on this.

And, while we're at it, I'd be very happy to have some distance on the view I expressed previously that Colin Sylvia would win a Brownlow.

If a Sylvia brownlow blunder is the worst you've called then you are doing OK Ron

Personally i have a problem with seeing a players best game and assuming that standard will become the norm. Hence i have called future champions in Glenn mcLean, David Cordner and Brent Grgic. I think most thought Morton would be pretty good but I got so excited i took to calling him "Robbie'. Talk about wanting some distance.

If a Sylvia brownlow blunder is the worst you've called then you are doing OK Ron

Personally i have a problem with seeing a players best game and assuming that standard will become the norm. Hence i have called future champions in Glenn mcLean, David Cordner and Brent Grgic. I think most thought Morton would be pretty good but I got so excited i took to calling him "Robbie'. Talk about wanting some distance.

Words fail me.

I like what I'm reading about Lynden Dunn who has taken a long time to mature and establish himself as a regular senior player of value to the team.

For so long it appeared that, like so many others who have come and gone at the club, he would never live up to his first round draft selection. He was Dunny, the larrikin with the dumb moustache who had needless scraps with teammates and injured them at training, who suffered brain fades during matches that were costly to the team. Suddenly, nearing the twilight of his career it's as if the penny dropped and he's become one of the club's solid citizens setting an example for his younger teammates not only during the season but in that important time of the preseason when much of the hard work has to be done to ensure a successful year ahead.

Who would have thunk it?

Dunn has always been competitive and has always been good one on one. I think his brainfades have probably been when he has tried to manufacture something and tried to do too much. I remember Roos comment on Dunn's Torp v GCS and he said something along the lines that while it was the wrong play his intention was there and he did it to try and win. He is probably the sort of guy to benefit from knowing his role and playing it.

I think he will finish his career as a true clubman and be recognised as someone who played an integral role in improving our clubs onfield success.

I'm fully aware that preseasons are a cumulative thing especially for those who aren't natural endurance runners. So I'm not doubting that Riley has reasons to be towards the back, he couldn't even run this time last year. But I stand by my comments that both him and Newton (who was trailing him) need to seriously lift if they want to make it as players. It's November. Time is on their side. But it's something to watch. How many years did we forgive Sam Blease being towards the back of the bunch in the running with the reason being he was coming back from injury?

Having thought it was probably a good pick up getting Newton, i'm starting to think Gillies all over again.. Hope im wrong, But agree completely with you (Riley too). Unless purposely holding back (which the report doesnt seem to indicate), how will either keep up with any of the elite midfielders in the comp (or better yet out-run)? He would be a liability to Roosey's two way (fatiguing) defensive running game...

Does anyone know if he has any speed at least (we don't really want slow and fatiguing players)?