Caught the tail-end of a very interesting conversation Connolly had with The Ox and friends. He said.....

* Carroll and Brock have had an outstanding pre-season but had broken the code set by the players

* There are no other incidents that the club is covering up re Brock

* Brock has only been suspended and could still become a captain of the MFC

* Green was a person he expected to be on a shortlist for captain when he arrived at the club, but the players had not voted him onto the leaders group. Expected Green to learn what he needed to do to get into the leadership group

* He thought the travelling around from training venue to venue, far and wide, was unacceptable and would be something he works very hard on to fix for next season

* We would have 41 out of 43 going round in some capacity this weekend

* Injured players have been given every opportunity to arrive at round 1 ready to play

* Cheeney has been held back in an ultra-cautious manner

* Bailey has the call on matters related to when players would return to full training etc

* Said questions about McNamee should be addressed to Gardiner

* Indicated that McNamee must be well credentialled because he is on a very short list

* The appointment of the CEO was the most important for the club in 25 years

* We would have 41 out of 43 going round in some capacity this weekend

Does that mean only Bruce and Grimes will be sidelined? Good News!

Chris Connolly may very well be our best pick up over summer.

41 out of 43 sounds great but don't we have 44 on our list?

41 out of 43 sounds great but don't we have 44 on our list?

I think Bruce, Spencer and Grimes will be the ones that miss if that's the case.

41 out of 43 sounds great but don't we have 44 on our list?

Chris actually said 43 of 44 playing, and Jack Grimes was the one they were treading carefully with. That would suggest Bruce is playing with Sandy this week.

41 out of 43 sounds great but don't we have 44 on our list?

I'm guessing injured rookie Jake Spencer is the 44th who is not counted for some reason! Yes the other two must be Bruce (who apparently had a test for this week) and Grimes (Groin/Hip - 6-8 Weeks)

Makes it 21 out of our best 22 for Round 1 if Wheatley, Whelan, Bartram and Rivers can have a good fortnight

Stoked

Chris actually said 43 of 44 playing, and Jack Grimes was the one they were treading carefully with. That would suggest Bruce is playing with Sandy this week.

Even better - thanks Brocky.

"He thought the travelling around from training venue to venue, far and wide, was unacceptable and would be something he works very hard on to fix for next season"

I think this was significant part of what he said.

Coming in as former Freo coach, he would have a fair idea on what should be standard for a top team.

I think Connolly is ideally suited in this role, like Neil Balme is, and given he is happy to be football manager, its a huge plus for us. A Melbourne man through and through.

He could hasve commanded other posts but think we got a great deal to have him here.

lets hope he can find some interim measure to secure consistent training facilities before we get out proper home base.

I am happy if Bruce, Bartram, Whelan and Rivers are starting to play competitive footy. If we can have them up and running in the next month that would be great, whether its round 1 or not I don't care, just as long as they can last the season.

Chris Connolly may very well be our best pick up over summer.

I think you might be on to something.. A very good fit back into the club. Just the sort of person needed. He has red and blue coursing in his veins and he's also seen the 'real world' of football. Undoubtedly he understands what we lack and takes it as a personal mission to do something. Nouse with passion. Wonderful !!

I think you might be on to something.. A very good fit back into the club. Just the sort of person needed. He has red and blue coursing in his veins and he's also seen the 'real world' of football. Undoubtedly he understands what we lack and takes it as a personal mission to do something. Nouse with passion. Wonderful !!

I Heard all that interview yesterday. Conolly is a good man. Iliked what i heard. If we get this training facility sorted there is no excuse for melbourne not returning to where they should be NONE. Conolly and Bailey with the right CEO. QUIET Achievements over summer. The old gyuard had to go. It was a fine interview