It is clear that DB was resting a few players against Geelong, or at least I hope he was. I will be very interested to see who comes back this weekend, it may give us a better idea as to who is fit and who is set for another injury interrupted season.

What do we know about these players:

Bartram

Bruce

Carrol –

Suspended by leadership group, would have been an important player on Saturday.

Davey

Dunn

Frawley

Grimes

C. Johnson

B. McLean

Miller

Moloney

Morton

Neitz

Petterd

Rivers

Wheatly

Whelan

It is clear that DB was resting a few players against Geelong, or at least I hope he was. I will be very interested to see who comes back this weekend, it may give us a better idea as to who is fit and who is set for another injury interrupted season.

What do we know about these players:

Good question. This is my hobbyhorse. I'll take a stab in the dark based on our track record of smokescreening injured players, and the actual time it takes them to get on the field:

Bartram - long term injury list. Upgrade Aussie W. to senior list by round 4.

Bruce - Round 3

Carrol – Next week

Davey - Round 1 at best

Dunn - Round 6

Frawley - Round 1

Grimes - midseason at best. Will be nursed this year.

C. Johnson - Round 6

B. McLean - Round 1 at best

Miller - Next week

Moloney - who knows

Morton - Next week

Neitz - Round 1

Petterd - Round 3

Rivers - Round 3

Wheatley - Round 6

Whelan - long term injury list. Valenti upgraded to senior list by round 1.

Good question. This is my hobbyhorse. I'll take a stab in the dark based on our track record of smokescreening injured players, and the actual time it takes them to get on the field:

Dunn - Round 6

C. Johnson - Round 6

Wheatley - Round 6

Please explain these assessments?

Geez I hope it is better than your assessment.

Please explain these assessments?

This is solely based on what i've garnered from those who've attended training. Also, when I say round 6, that includes 2-3 playing for Sandy in order to get match fit.

Wheatley/C. Johnson - Haven't been involved in any of the physical training, and have been in the rehab group for quite a while. Both players would need to prove their fitness and form before being considered for selection.

Dunn - Recently picked up a soft tissue injury (groin?). I'd expect the club to be extra cautious with any player with a soft tissue injury.

Good question. This is my hobbyhorse. I'll take a stab in the dark based on our track record of smokescreening injured players, and the actual time it takes them to get on the field:

Bartram - long term injury list. Upgrade Aussie W. to senior list by round 4.

Bruce - Round 3

Carrol – Next week

Davey - Round 1 at best

Dunn - Round 6

Frawley - Round 1

Grimes - midseason at best. Will be nursed this year.

C. Johnson - Round 6

B. McLean - Round 1 at best

Miller - Next week

Moloney - who knows

Morton - Next week

Neitz - Round 1

Petterd - Round 3

Rivers - Round 3

Wheatley - Round 6

Whelan - long term injury list. Valenti upgraded to senior list by round 1.

Christ, has everyone got the plague?

I'd prefer to take the stance that DB, whilst not wanting to attract attention to himself too early on in his career thought the new interchange rule was a joke, especially considering how fragile our groins and hamstrings are, and is quietly content in the fact he can play whoever he wants in the coming month, and take them off the ground at any stage without having to think toooo hard about it.

What are your reasons for Chook, and Flash?

This is solely based on what i've garnered from those who've attended training. Also, when I say round 6, that includes 2-3 playing for Sandy in order to get match fit.

Wheatley/C. Johnson - Haven't been involved in any of the physical training, and have been in the rehab group for quite a while. Both players would need to prove their fitness and form before being considered for selection.

Dunn - Recently picked up a soft tissue injury (groin?). I'd expect the club to be extra cautious with any player with a soft tissue injury.

Fair enough, but surely they will get rid of the cotton wool over the next few weeks, and do whatever they have to do to prepare these guys?

What's the point in cotton wool if they don't play till round 6? It would Super "F" ing grim if they can't get up for round one, along with Bruce, Mclean, Bartram, Whelan, Rivers, Pettard, Maloney, Grimes and Davey, who you have stated are questionable for round one.

I can see value in painting a "real' picture of the physical state of the list, but if what you are saying eventuates, then you might as well sack BB right now.

P.S. I think the Demons are playing funny buggers, and most of these guys will be up and about by round one

P.S. I think the Demons are playing funny buggers, and most of these guys will be up and about by round one

I hope you're right, but I don't see the point of playing "funny buggers" when you've just come off the year we had, are struggling for membership and sponsorship dollars, and are trying to perfect a new game plan. What better way to sell the club than performing well against the reigning premiers who were near enough to full strength. If anyone should have been playing "funny buggers" it was Geelong.

I thought I'd pose a question to everybody...

Is it possible that some of the players are receiving conditioning work/ training away from the public eye? So that other clubs cannot get insight into the state of their injuries/ condition?

Reason I ask is, I simply cannot believe that what we see at training and what we hear from the club is always the way that it is.

Fair enough, but surely they will get rid of the cotton wool over the next few weeks, and do whatever they have to do to prepare these guys?

What's the point in cotton wool if they don't play till round 6? It would Super "F" ing grim if they can't get up for round one, along with Bruce, Mclean, Bartram, Whelan, Rivers, Pettard, Maloney, Grimes and Davey, who you have stated are questionable for round one.

I can see value in painting a "real' picture of the physical state of the list, but if what you are saying eventuates, then you might as well sack BB right now.

We probably dont know the real facts just where the players are at. However your worst prognosis would not be a good outcome for the start of the season.

On another point, are you saying the injuries to the player are a result of the conditioning program of BB? Is that why you would sack him?

I thought I'd pose a question to everybody...

Is it possible that some of the players are receiving conditioning work/ training away from the public eye? So that other clubs cannot get insight into the state of their injuries/ condition?

Reason I ask is, I simply cannot believe that what we see at training and what we hear from the club is always the way that it is.

Its possible but I would not thought they would do it so early in the season.

I think the big issue is the fluff that appears the Hun, The Age and the website at this time of year.

I hope you're right, but I don't see the point of playing "funny buggers" when you've just come off the year we had, are struggling for membership and sponsorship dollars, and are trying to perfect a new game plan. What better way to sell the club than performing well against the reigning premiers who were near enough to full strength. If anyone should have been playing "funny buggers" it was Geelong.

Totally agree Mo, I wanted to see some sort of "shift" in proceedings on Saturday as well

The Demons have developed a bit of a reputation over the past few years of being very cagey operators. I hope that is what it is in this case

Good question. This is my hobbyhorse. I'll take a stab in the dark based on our track record of smokescreening injured players, and the actual time it takes them to get on the field:

Bartram - long term injury list. Upgrade Aussie W. to senior list by round 4.

Bruce - Round 3

Carrol – Next week

Davey - Round 1 at best

Dunn - Round 6

Frawley - Round 1

Grimes - midseason at best. Will be nursed this year.

C. Johnson - Round 6

B. McLean - Round 1 at best

Miller - Next week

Moloney - who knows

Morton - Next week

Neitz - Round 1

Petterd - Round 3

Rivers - Round 3

Wheatley - Round 6

Whelan - long term injury list. Valenti upgraded to senior list by round 1.

I don't see the point in guessing with this sort of stuff - which is what you appear to be doing. I'd say very few of your prognosis are anywhere near accurate.

I thought I'd pose a question to everybody...

Is it possible that some of the players are receiving conditioning work/ training away from the public eye? So that other clubs cannot get insight into the state of their injuries/ condition?

Reason I ask is, I simply cannot believe that what we see at training and what we hear from the club is always the way that it is.

What's the point of this? We don't play most clubs for over 2 months. And if we don't go into any game with 22 fully fit players, we're likely to get beaten anyway. We're not talented enough to be able to carry players who are not match fit.

Bartram - long term injury list. Upgrade Aussie W. to senior list by round 4.

Have i been living under a rock? Since when is Bartram on the long term injury list? I was under the impression that while it was slow going, they expected him to right by about round 1-2 (match fitness not withstanding).

Plus i would be inclined to upgrade Valenti before Aussie, at least he's someone willing to crash in and get the pill.

I don't see the point in guessing with this sort of stuff - which is what you appear to be doing. I'd say very few of your prognosis are anywhere near accurate.

i think the whole point of it is to try and portray what would probably be a considerably more accurate view on our injury concerns than the daily papers 'injury lists' provide. I think Rivers was listed as 1-2 weeks most of last year. Those lists are a bit of a joke. The MFC websites injury page is usually relevant for June of the previous year, and usually if a staff member of the club gets interviewed on radio/tv/print about the state of players injuries, they usually put a bit of new age spin on the question and never really answer it in true politicians style.

I really cant see the likes of Matthew Whelan being anywhere near fully match fit for at least the first half of this year. Even at this early stage we clearly have the biggest injury list of any of the other clubs already, its quite alarming. But getting information on these injuries from the club is like pulling teeth.

What's the point of this? We don't play most clubs for over 2 months. And if we don't go into any game with 22 fully fit players, we're likely to get beaten anyway. We're not talented enough to be able to carry players who are not match fit.

Perhaps the reverse of your thinking.....

That other clubs won't know how "good-a-nick" that our players are actually in. In that our guys might be going a lot better than what they are letting on... shhhh! Don’t tell anyone.

That could be the case right now, because they have everyone (including you) believing that we are screwed injury wise for the start of the season, even more so after Saturday’s result. Do you think that could be a reason for doing it?

Macca said it beautifully last Thursday – That he thinks we will sneak under the guard of a few clubs this year

It would mighty hard to sneak up on clubs if they think/perceive that we are flying at the moment?

COME ROUND ONE – WE GO BANG!

Have i been living under a rock? Since when is Bartram on the long term injury list? I was under the impression that while it was slow going, they expected him to right by about round 1-2 (match fitness not withstanding).

Plus i would be inclined to upgrade Valenti before Aussie, at least he's someone willing to crash in and get the pill.

This is just my guesstimates. Bartram is not on the long term injury list, but I can't see any player who hasn't participated in any match simulation after 4 months of pre-season, being fit by round 1-2.

And yes I did upgrade Valenti ahead of Aussie, but as Whelan's replacement.

And Grazman, I hope I am wrong. But DB did say that he'd only play players in the NAB Cup who were 90-100% fit. If that's the case, we had 16 players underdone (Carroll excluded). That's a concern for mine considering we've been in training since October.

Also, my guesstimates assumed that all players would need some sort of gametime at Sandy before playing in the seniors.

Even at this early stage we clearly have the biggest injury list of any of the other clubs already, its quite alarming.

This is what has me concerned too.

We all know that we don't have the depth to cover out injuries.

Good question. This is my hobbyhorse. I'll take a stab in the dark based on our track record of smokescreening injured players, and the actual time it takes them to get on the field:

Bartram - long term injury list. Upgrade Aussie W. to senior list by round 4.

Bruce - Round 3

Carrol – Next week

Davey - Round 1 at best

Dunn - Round 6

Frawley - Round 1

Grimes - midseason at best. Will be nursed this year.

C. Johnson - Round 6

B. McLean - Round 1 at best

Miller - Next week

Moloney - who knows

Morton - Next week

Neitz - Round 1

Petterd - Round 3

Rivers - Round 3

Wheatley - Round 6

Whelan - long term injury list. Valenti upgraded to senior list by round 1.

This is what has me concerned too.

We all know that we don't have the depth to cover out injuries.

Good, then our strategy is working!

And Grazman, I hope I am wrong. But DB did say that he'd only play players in the NAB Cup who were 90-100% fit. If that's the case, we had 16 players underdone (Carroll excluded). That's a concern for mine considering we've been in training since October.

Sure, but what's the alternative - rush their rehab? From what I saw in Canberra and considering they played the practice match the following are ready to play now: Carroll, Moloney, Davey, Miller and Frawley. That they didn't is because the club is being conservative - Bailey wanted to look at the players he hasn't seen before and that's fair enough. In the Age the other day he said Riv would probably be 100% by this coming weekend and in Canberra said that if Morton does everything right then he's in line to play about week 3 or 4. The only players I have doubts as to their ability to recover for the season are Whelan and Grimes. Neita will be fine and they are just rapping him in cotton wool, Brock and Ricky will be fine for rd 1 and so will Bruce probably. Bartram is pretty much training at 75-85 % now. CJ trained strongly in Canberra and had a bandage on the next day so I'm assuming it's nothing more than a precautionary measure for a slight niggle as he's moving freely. The only players I'm unsure of in terms of injury are Dunn and Wheaters.

Alirght, my turn, here's my estimates.

I've bold-faced the players I think are unlikely for round 1, as you can see at a glance, it's not so bad as it seems at first.

Bartram - is running but not doing any complex or heavy training. Some time off, but not a dead loss for the season.

Bruce - will be good for round 1, but won't be risked for the Nab Challenge

Carrol – Suspended by leadership group, would have been an important player on Saturday.

Davey - Just sore, rested.

Dunn - nothing serious, round 1, maybe even next week for a run.

Frawley - Omitted? Rested. No noted issues.

Grimes - Managing the back issues. Some time off

C. Johnson - Minor hamstring strain. playing maybe even next week, but might be rested for one more.

B. McLean - 'A knock to the knee', available round 1, may play earlier.

Miller -

Moloney - just rested, managing the groin for 100%, could play anytime the club feels like it.

Morton - skinny 17 year old? No noted issue, could get a run any time.

Neitz - just letting the old knees take it easy. Available to play.

Petterd - I'd expect him to be up for round 1 - it's all a bit softly softly when your lung explodes, y'know?

Rivers - Possible round one, wouldn't bank on it, but he's doing from what I see/hear. Again, softly softly.

Wheatly - good old fashioned strain, definate for round 1, probably will play earlier.

Whelan - See Bartram.

Sure, but what's the alternative - rush their rehab? From what I saw in Canberra and considering they played the practice match the following are ready to play now: Carroll, Moloney, Davey, Miller and Frawley. That they didn't is because the club is being conservative - Bailey wanted to look at the players he hasn't seen before and that's fair enough. In the Age the other day he said Riv would probably be 100% by this coming weekend and in Canberra said that if Morton does everything right then he's in line to play about week 3 or 4. The only players I have doubts as to their ability to recover for the season are Whelan and Grimes. Neita will be fine and they are just rapping him in cotton wool, Brock and Ricky will be fine for rd 1 and so will Bruce probably. Bartram is pretty much training at 75-85 % now. CJ trained strongly in Canberra and had a bandage on the next day so I'm assuming it's nothing more than a precautionary measure for a slight niggle as he's moving freely. The only players I'm unsure of in terms of injury are Dunn and Wheaters.

I'm not saying rush their rehab, but the fact that we have so many in rehab is a worry. We're continually told how important it is for a player to have a full pre-season.

Sure, but what's the alternative - rush their rehab? From what I saw in Canberra and considering they played the practice match the following are ready to play now: Carroll, Moloney, Davey, Miller and Frawley. That they didn't is because the club is being conservative - Bailey wanted to look at the players he hasn't seen before and that's fair enough. In the Age the other day he said Riv would probably be 100% by this coming weekend and in Canberra said that if Morton does everything right then he's in line to play about week 3 or 4. The only players I have doubts as to their ability to recover for the season are Whelan and Grimes. Neita will be fine and they are just rapping him in cotton wool, Brock and Ricky will be fine for rd 1 and so will Bruce probably. Bartram is pretty much training at 75-85 % now. CJ trained strongly in Canberra and had a bandage on the next day so I'm assuming it's nothing more than a precautionary measure for a slight niggle as he's moving freely. The only players I'm unsure of in terms of injury are Dunn and Wheaters.

Sorry Graz, I dont believe that Dean Bailey would have sent those young blokes out on such a forlorn mission if Moloney, Davey, Miller and Frawley were available.

If these players(or any other senior players) could play and he didnt play them, it stinks.

As KB said today it was over within 60 seconds. It is unbelievable to me that we would have TRIED to put that team on the park.

If that is genuine though, then I wonder if the strategy "we will sneak under the guard of a few clubs this year" is something that is being considered. Im pretty sad either way but i would prefer to believe our injuries are to blame.

Why would you be resting a developing, young guy like Frawley? Surely he has to play every senior game possible this pre-season to further his development. I can't buy any excuse about him not playing other than he's injured. Same goes for Lynden Dunn and Morton. If they're willing to risk skinny guys like McNamara (who was easily the most impressive of the draftees) and Cheney, then why not Morton? Dunn is also still learning the craft really.

The selected team was puzzling, 4 ruckmen (White, Jamar, P Johnson, Meesen) and a whole swag of talls (Holland, Martin, Warnock, Zomer etc etc).

The team balance was all wrong, and we were always going to get slaughtered out of the midfield...