12 hours ago, picket fence said:

Chook, I hope Weeds can make it but, although showing snippets of form, still cant quite impose as he probably should given his 4 or so years in the system. Did some nice things though🙂

Weeds has that one factor missing at this stage and it's the C word in him to demand the ball to impose himself so to speak, if he can change that he will have a shot.

Watching the vision of training, the Demons are just so quick and sharp, move the ball so fast and lower their eyes going into F50!

It’s still hard to believe it’s our MFC, even after that magnificent GF win, after years of average skill to watch our elite ball movement is bl..dy fantastic! 
Can’t wait for the season to start!!

It's amazing I am so calm about season 2022. First time in living memory I feel confident and no need to study the team in detail. We are in good hands on and off the field. Just awaiting the season start.

Edited January 28, 20224 yr by old dee

1 hour ago, old dee said:

It's amazing I am so calm about season 2022. First time in living memory I feel confident and no need to study the team in detail. We are in good hands on and off the field. Just awaiting the season start.

Old Dee, I can see that you have travelled along the road to Damascus. Things will never be the same. Can we ever be that pessimistic again as we were prior to the flag. 

Fancy looking beyond pre-season to the full season ahead without that veil of negativity. We no longer remain sad about whether we will see a flag before our last hurrah. Before the strains of the GOF waft into the ether. 

17 hours ago, monoccular said:

vide supra 

Reminds me of the one time Laurie Mithen took my Latin class. Wrote on the board 'Mihi Caesar es ergo. Forte dux in ero.' Which he translated: My eye, Caesar, here's a go. Forty ducks ion a row.'

....... and thanks for the training report. Much appreciated from one who wimps on the hour journey to Casey.

Edited January 29, 20224 yr by Olgreybeard49

Medical room

A fully fit list kickstarted Melbourne's journey to the premiership last pre-season and a similar situation is unfolding this summer. The Demons have had nearly full-strength squads on the track for every session on either side of Christmas, with a host of players looking like they're raring to go.

Time trial king

Look out for an exciting year from Charlie Spargo this season. The speedy small forward has returned to pre-season training in super nick and has lit up the match simulation drills with his pressure and smarts around goal.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/698397/where-s-your-club-at-injuries-time-trial-king-pre-season-star

 

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

Old Dee, I can see that you have travelled along the road to Damascus. Things will never be the same. Can we ever be that pessimistic again as we were prior to the flag. 

Fancy looking beyond pre-season to the full season ahead without that veil of negativity. We no longer remain sad about whether we will see a flag before our last hurrah. Before the strains of the GOF waft into the ether. 

Ernest do your avatar proud!

In my youth read a number of Hemingway's short stories and novels. Despite the contemporary mania for revisionism, with Hemingway described as being a chauvinistic misogynist or worse.  He remains a great writer and character IMM  who had vast experience of life spanning the tumultuous early and mid twentieth century.

According to this anonymous source "In most of his novels, his heroes are seen charged with high intensity of optimistic attitude which provides them energetic strength to strive with calamities"

May I refer you to your back pages  in The Old Man and the Sea where despite the vicissitudes of alcoholism and old age his 'imagination of optimization' shines through.

 

  "Have faith in the Yankees Demons my son.  Think of the great Joe DiMaggio Christian Petracca."

 

 

Edited January 29, 20224 yr by Tarax Club
A moveable feast time for lunch

Who owns the Bernese Mountain Dog (ref. hill climb video). Beautiful, friendly animals they are.

10 minutes ago, Dee Dee said:

Who owns the Bernese Mountain Dog (ref. hill climb video). Beautiful, friendly animals they are.

Viney I think

1 hour ago, adonski said:

 

Brilliant another MFC "leader" activity to keep us on the edge and at the TOP.

Thank you families for also embracing this on a Saturday our flag etc is our reward !! 

1 hour ago, Tarax Club said:

Ernest do your avatar proud!

In my youth read a number of Hemingway's short stories and novels. Despite the contemporary mania for revisionism, with Hemingway described as being a chauvinistic misogynist or worse.  He remains a great writer and character IMM  who had vast experience of life spanning the tumultuous early and mid twentieth century.

According to this anonymous source "In most of his novels, his heroes are seen charged with high intensity of optimistic attitude which provides them energetic strength to strive with calamities"

May I refer you to your back pages  in The Old Man and the Sea where despite the vicissitudes of alcoholism and old age his 'imagination of optimization' shines through.

 

  "Have faith in the Yankees Demons my son.  Think of the great Joe DiMaggio Christian Petracca."

 

 

Brilliant Tarax, you have the gift. 

2 hours ago, adonski said:

Medical room

A fully fit list kickstarted Melbourne's journey to the premiership last pre-season and a similar situation is unfolding this summer. The Demons have had nearly full-strength squads on the track for every session on either side of Christmas, with a host of players looking like they're raring to go.

Time trial king

Look out for an exciting year from Charlie Spargo this season. The speedy small forward has returned to pre-season training in super nick and has lit up the match simulation drills with his pressure and smarts around goal.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/698397/where-s-your-club-at-injuries-time-trial-king-pre-season-star

Who's flying?

No surprise here, but Christian Petracca is tracking beautifully. The reigning Norm Smith Medal winner looks just as big, strong and powerful in the contest after returning this summer. It's a scary thought for opposition sides, but could he take his game to yet another level in 2022?

4 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Who's flying?

No surprise here, but Christian Petracca is tracking beautifully. The reigning Norm Smith Medal winner looks just as big, strong and powerful in the contest after returning this summer. It's a scary thought for opposition sides, but could he take his game to yet another level in 2022?

I left that bit out...thought it was common knowledge 

Feel like Big Benny Brown is in for a big year.

He has already justified the trade on the back of his work in 2021. Heck, he justified it on the back of the Grand Final alone. But quite often, he'd dominate early in games before drifting out. I put that down to a lack of conditioning. 

Now, he's had a year in our system, has a full pre season to build miles in the legs, and is approaching the sweet spot of his career (29 y/o is absolute prime for a key forward IMO, particularly for one that started his career a bit later). He basically guarantees us a goal every time he takes a set shot.

60+ goals isn't out of the question in 2022. 

6 hours ago, demon3165 said:

Weeds has that one factor missing at this stage and it's the C word in him to demand the ball to impose himself so to speak, if he can change that he will have a shot.

I don't think he has the competitive mindset to succeed at this level. Would love to be proven wrong but I'm not counting on it.

23 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I’m up on the Gold Coast and had dinner in a restaurant last night where there was a table of three young blokes, one of them, the Suns’ gun recruit Mac Andrew. I’m no expert but he doesn’t look as if he’s put on any weight. 😀 But we were in a pasta joint so that’s a start!

How’s he doing up there?

4 hours ago, hemingway said:

Old Dee, I can see that you have travelled along the road to Damascus. Things will never be the same. Can we ever be that pessimistic again as we were prior to the flag. 

Fancy looking beyond pre-season to the full season ahead without that veil of negativity. We no longer remain sad about whether we will see a flag before our last hurrah. Before the strains of the GOF waft into the ether. 

Pessimism and MFC went hand in hand for decades Ernest. 

Of course I want to go to a very large number of victories over the next few years but now that we have broken the Premiership drought I feel very content with the world of sport and particularly the MFC. 

1 hour ago, loges said:

I don't think he has the competitive mindset to succeed at this level. Would love to be proven wrong but I'm not counting on it.

Fair enough. He seems a terrific kid and someone who you would love to see playing consistently in the ones.

Weeds problem irrespective of form is that we have our premiership players then a list of guys queuing for a spot. Speed, agility, running hard both ways and hardness at the footy and opponent are now ingrained in our way of playing. We have a team of guys who play for one another and do the one percenters. We have a group who based on 2021 form have maximised their talents and gone beyond, including players who used to be seen as not quite good enough or fringe players.

For Weed to get a game he will have to rely on injuries and outstanding and consistent form for Casey. Even then he may get an occasional game but unless there is dramatic change I just can’t see him cementing a place in the 22. 

1 hour ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

How’s he doing up there?

Don’t really know. The Suns don’t get much publicity up here and whereas a few years ago, when my nephew was Gold Coast’s club doctor and I was able to visit a closed Suns’ training session, the opportunity is no longer available. He’s now with another club. I’ll make some enquiries.

3 hours ago, hemingway said:

Brilliant Tarax, you have the gift. 

Thank you Ernie, admittedly have been an admirer of your often erudite contributions here. Long may that continue. After all we have done the hard yards. Time to hopefully bask in a golden period for the club.

5 hours ago, adonski said:

 

I was told last year that Selwyn would be fine once Burgess had left. 
This small video enhances that feeling 

 

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Don’t really know. The Suns don’t get much publicity up here and whereas a few years ago, when my nephew was Gold Coast’s club doctor and I was able to visit a closed Suns’ training session, the opportunity is no longer available. He’s now with another club. I’ll make some enquiries.

The word from one supporter up here (and you won’t find too many) but this one has a son in the junior football system here is that Mac Andrew is coming along very quietly but is impressing local track watchers who like his vertical leap, his elusiveness and ability to out run opponents. The Suns also recruited Mabior Chol from the Tigers in the off-season and since he’s about 6 years ahead of Andrew, he’s expected to make the side ahead of him. They’re also trialing former Collingwood and St Kilda speedster Nathan Freeman as a supplementary selection. That’s it - I’m done with the Suns.

6 hours ago, adonski said:

 

So good to see some families at the end of the session, we’ve come a long long way.

7 hours ago, loges said:

I don't think he has the competitive mindset to succeed at this level. Would love to be proven wrong but I'm not counting on it.

I don’t think it’s about competitiveness tbh, he wouldn’t make it this far if it was lacking. It’s probably a combination of factors that are just a bit off. Footy smarts ie body positioning, when to lead and when not to, where to lead and where not to, reading the play, adjusting personal game plan to create opportunity for other forwards . I’ve also said in the past that it was a bit of mongrel and grit too but that’s hard to judge from afar. 

I personally don’t have much expectation of Weeds - not everyone that should make it does and we just have to accept that. With the many other options we have i think the expectation of having him in the starting 22 will be put to bed (if it hasn’t been already). If he matures and has a break out year then great for us and great for him, but we should look to developing Van Rooyan as our future CHF, FF ahead of Weeds from this point forward.