The Brand is the ultimate professional. I’ve absolutely no doubt he’ll perform to incredibly high standards again this year. The difference is he’s had a long lay off, his body should be relatively fresh. He’s also at his absolute prime. I’m expecting huge things from him this year. Think the last quarter against Carlton but on a near weekly basis. He’s going to be pretty damn close to unstoppable in 25. He’s the main reason I’m expecting us to bounce back hard. 

3 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Thanks for the anecdote, GW and I don't doubt a word.

This: "... he looked out at the rest of the players who were coming off the ground and said, “I [censored] love these boys. I love them so much.” And I saw he had tears in his eyes and that quivering bottom lip thing that’s involuntary..."  didn't surprise and made me tear up a little 🥹

What our team has experienced together, the mighty lows and mighty highs can't help but leave an indelible mark and create a special bond.  Sometimes it takes a catastrophe to realise it is relationships and sharing is what matters.  Sounds like Trac is in that space. 

It won't be long before team mates embrace him again and hopefully so do dees fans.

From what I see he’s at a point where he’s been welcomed back into the fold by all (teammates). It appears to have happened in stages because again, they’re human, so some were quicker to embrace him than others. There may well be a couple who need more time but if so they’re certainly not showing it; not like those first couple of sessions where he came over from AAMI to Gosch’s and back again, alone. If not alone, with a staff member. He walked with his head down and you could cut the air with a knife so to speak. It’s no wonder he was nervous.

It will be the same with fans I guess. I’m lucky in that I get to speak with him and that he now talks openly and from the heart. It’s gonna take some time to convince others in the DA who felt the way I did that he’s a changed man. But he’s worth every effort because he’s the bigger person now. It takes a special kind of human being to own his mistakes and strive to atone. 

34 minutes ago, picket fence said:

I think too many on this site are reading tea leaves looking for enlightenment. I'm of the opinion, whats been has gone, time to invest in what is to become!

Special P.F gift awaits to anyone can tell me the song and artist of these lyrics in consignance of my above statement!

"There is no future, there is no past, there's nothing but today, for yesterdays tommorrow is tommorrows yesterday"!

Google wins the prize. 

23 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Google wins the prize. 

Unfortunately not on google that I can see!

23 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Unfortunately not on google that I can see!

did you maybe slightly misquote jonathon larson who said 

"There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. There's only us. There's only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road. No other way. No day but today"

7 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

did you maybe slightly misquote jonathon larson who said 

"There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. There's only us. There's only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road. No other way. No day but today"

I see you 'betrayed' your muse, e e cummings again! 😉

33 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Unfortunately not on google that I can see!

I found similar lyrics but it’s Michael Buble and you don’t strike me as a fan. 

18 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

I see you 'betrayed' your muse, e e cummings again! 😉

not at al, lucil. that was a cut and paste quote. caps key was not touched

Edited December 17, 2024Dec 17 by daisycutter

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

not at al, lucil. that was a cut and paste quote. caps key was not touched

A mere technicality, dc !!!

Who won the bag of slitheras?

27 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

I found similar lyrics but it’s Michael Buble and you don’t strike me as a fan. 

Exactly. Mid 70ts Rythm and Blues with a chunky rock groove! I have been seeking this and a few others by the same group for years but have unearthed zero!🤯

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

A mere technicality, dc !!!

sorry, nice try but no cigar 😁

20 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

sorry, nice try but no cigar 😁

touché

Crazy by Willie Nelson. You can keep your slitheras.

Just had a good chat with one of Liam Jurrah’s nephews at the retreat over a beer

top bloke. workin down here, says he’s making his family proud. no doubt

not training related but there was no random pub chat thread

5 hours ago, DubDee said:

Just had a good chat with one of Liam Jurrah’s nephews at the retreat over a beer

top bloke. workin down here, says he’s making his family proud. no doubt

not training related but there was no random pub chat thread

What a talent he was. Pitty it didn’t work out. 

6 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

What a talent he was. Pitty it didn’t work out. 

He was one of the only reasons to turn up during those dark years… 

On 16/12/2024 at 17:36, binman said:

If i was to compare the pair at the same age and stage id have to say Harvey is more mature than i reckon Tracc might have been in his first year.

Tracc stuck me as a big energetic kid, like an Alaksan malamute puppy, whereas Langford is more a Doberman pinscher pup.

From what I've heard Harvey is more mature than Tracc now. 

58 minutes ago, Its Time for Another said:

From what I've heard Harvey is more mature than Tracc now. 

easy to forget that trac was a bit of a loose cannon in his early years, and far from as fit as langford appears to be

not to mention he missed his entire first season with an acl

On 16/12/2024 at 14:42, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Oh boy.. sorry but that’s just speculative cap as my kids would say  

You have possibly misunderstood or misinterpreted my comment but it is true (generally)if you can’t train ( before a game) you really can’t be fit enough to play.

Many would say in a Thursday night is the time of reckoning. 

That’s what I was inferring. 

9 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

easy to forget that trac was a bit of a loose cannon in his early years, and far from as fit as langford appears to be

not to mention he missed his entire first season with an acl

And he injured his back playing basketball in his back yard (with some mixed info about exactly how).

Am I right in thinking tracc has never been in the leadership group?

That said, everyone matures at different rates and perhaps tracc has some personal growth opportunities.

Tracc is a natural on field leader, both in terms of his voice and actions

I wonder if having an infusion of young gun mids might help tracc develop his off field leadership, something that can only be a positive for him and his teammates.

Edited December 17, 2024Dec 17 by binman

25 minutes ago, binman said:

And he injured his back playing basketball in his back yard (with some mixed info about exactly how).

Am I right in thinking tracc has never been in the leadership group?

That said, everyone matures at different rates and perhaps tracc has some personal grorh opportunities.

Tracc is a natural on field leader, both in terms of his voice and actions

I wonder if having an infusion of young gun mids might help tracc develop his off field leadership, something that can only be a positive for him and his teammates.

Trac had a range of issues in his early career, think it was actually a broken toe from playing basketball that caused him to miss a chunk of the preseason.

He also had a fairly underwhelming start to his career and would drift in and out of games. He has been on record as saying he wasn't acting like a professional at times, however from 2020 onwards he has been an absolute professional.

It was one of the reasons I was disappointed with him last year, he seems to have forgotten the amount of time and work the MFC have put into developing him into the player he is today. Yes, a lot of it is due to his work ethic now but the club definitely helped him to work through issues early in his career.

51 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Trac had a range of issues in his early career, think it was actually a broken toe from playing basketball that caused him to miss a chunk of the preseason.

He also had a fairly underwhelming start to his career and would drift in and out of games. He has been on record as saying he wasn't acting like a professional at times, however from 2020 onwards he has been an absolute professional.

It was one of the reasons I was disappointed with him last year, he seems to have forgotten the amount of time and work the MFC have put into developing him into the player he is today. Yes, a lot of it is due to his work ethic now but the club definitely helped him to work through issues early in his career.

Yeah, you're right, he broke his toe playing basketball in his backyard.

Harvey probably completed a risk analysis of all non football activity when he was 12 and long ago ruled out backyard basketball.

Edited December 17, 2024Dec 17 by binman

57 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Trac had a range of issues in his early career, think it was actually a broken toe from playing basketball that caused him to miss a chunk of the preseason.

iirc Roos wouldn't select him for his carelessness delaying his debut game and (I think) Trac played at Casey. 

Discipline/standards/tough love?  It was a bit of a lesson I suspect. 

1 hour ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

It was one of the reasons I was disappointed with him last year, he seems to have forgotten the amount of time and work the MFC have put into developing him into the player he is today. Yes, a lot of it is due to his work ethic now but the club definitely helped him to work through issues early in his career.

I think he'd probably argue he's paid the club back in spades, given his Norm Smith winning hand in our premiership. No matter what Champion Data say, I still consider him the first player to have had 40 disposals in a GF (plus 2 goals).

I was also disappointed with how he handled things last year, but not sure he owes the club that much anymore, except for ensuring we get the best return for him if he still wants to leave.