Leaderboard

I got down to training this morning. There were a fair few were out on the track but I believe Clark, Sylvia, Tappy, Spencer, Pickles, Viney, Jurrah, McKenzie and one or two others were in the rehab group. Viney and McKenzie did a fair bit of running, Viney really put some quick 300m sprints in and Jordie looks almost ready to rejoin the main group. Now that I've seen the whole group back training in the new year I can honestly see that physically we're a bigger team. Bigger bodies, frame and height. The new draftees have a good build, Tynan in particular. He impressed me and I think he may get a game this year. Plenty of warm up drills and short kicking etc, then some contested handball work with one or two players applying pressure, with quick rotations and fairly constant intensity throughout. Then they did a fairly basic drill, kicking the ball through the wing to running players without any opposition pressure. It required well weighted kicks and timed leads etc. A few did well (Watts has a well weighted kick on him) and others did not. Poor old Cale Morton gets slaughtered on this site, but he was fairly poor I must say. He made the most clangers I saw out of anyone today, seems to be low on confidence, plenty of dribber kicks etc. Although Cale looks to have put more weight on than last year, he is still one of, if not the skinniest in the whole team. For quite a while after this they did some match simulation, but it was quite hard to follow. Royal would randomly kick or handpass the ball to someone in the mid group, where they would then make up to 5 handballs and then kick it long into the forward line. But what was strange was that the forwards seemed to let the backman mark the ball at ease rather than contest. Then the backman would rebound from inside 50 almost straight away, so it was quite focused on getting the ball out of the backline. This meant there wasn't much time to rest between plays, which was good I guess. A bit of goal kicking pratice as well, then I had to leave. Cheers

It only appears to get further away to you who somehow thought it was closer in the first place

I often use this as a method of getting back to sleep in the middle of the night, name my best 22 in the old fashioned way, ie."from the backline", "League Teams" style. It's quite effective and I'm often asleep before I've sorted out the forwards or the interchange bench. Some players, like Frawley, Jamar, Clark etc., pick themselves in their positions. Others are more difficult. There are others who I think "how could I possibly leave him out?", like Jordie McKenzie, Petterd etc. Even Green! They're are too good to omit, but for example, how do I fit Jurrah, Watts, Howe, Clark, Petterd, Green, Martin and Davey all into the same forward six. Or How do I fit Trengove, Jones, Gysberts, Bail, Moloney, Mckenzie, Bate and Sylvia all into the midfield. Or how do fit Frawley, Garland, Rivers, Grimes, Tappy, Bail, Bartram, Bennell all in the back six. In my mind all of these players are certain starters, but so far that's already 23 players. I haven't been able to fit in the next tier, who I think will all play important roles when injuries occur. They are Blease, T McDonald, J MacDonald, Dunne, Jetta, Nicholson (I know he is still on the rookie list but I suspect he may climb into the group above), Sellar and Strauss. Then there is the development group, some of whom may demand a game, and some who are probably still a way off. Davis, Cook, Tynan and Taggart. Then we have the rookies and unknown quantities. Magner, Couch, Evans, Lawrence, Williams and Sheahan. The whole picture is very good and makes the "best 22" or "Round 1 22" really almost impossible to pick. One would think that training track and NAB Cup form will throw up a couple of surprises and that the pressure on the players to keep their spots will be better than ever. It's a very healthy situation, both for the Dees and for my sleep patterns.

Striker, I think you'd better adjust the Poll selections. The compensation rules say different. > The AFL's ruling in full http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=123360 The AFL has delivered its ruling on compensation picks... "THE AFL wishes to advise that four clubs - Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs, the Adelaide Crows and Fremantle - were each today formally notified of the compensation national draft selection(s) they would receive in return for having had an uncontracted player elect to join the newly-formed Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants Football Club". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Melbourne - Round One selection (Tom Scully) The selection for (Tom Scully) may be activated by Melbourne after its round one selection in any one of the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 NAB AFL Draft Selection Meetings. The selection will be immediately placed behind the Round One selection of Melbourne in that particular season. (I.e, should Melbourne earn the right for selection 12, the compensation selection would be number 13, if Melbourne earn the right for selection four, the compensation selection would be number five etc.). Melbourne - Mid-Round One selection (Tom Scully) The selection for Tom Scully may be activated by Melbourne at the middle of round one, after the round one selections for those clubs that have missed qualification for the finals in that year, and before the round one selections of those clubs that have qualified for the finals in that year, in any one of the 2012, 2013, 2014 or 2015 NAB AFL Draft Selection Meetings. The club (Melbourne) has the right to on-trade its compensation selections to another club. If the club on-trades its compensation selection/s to another club, the selection may be used in that year's NAB AFL Draft Selection meeting, or in any other year up to the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.... Ii hope this helps.

Playing level of football in my opinion does not equate to ones ability to assess football or footballers. Personal experience tells me that of the teams I have played in those who display the greatest ability to read what is going on does not equate to the standard of player in the team. Through the years of following football and enjoying discussions with countless over the years similarly illustrates the same point. It is a totally different activity of the brain than physical ability and intuitive reading of the play.

Ultimate Footy Time again at last Time for redemption in 2012 Looking forward to the draft also DL7 & RR Cheers OMR

Hmmn, lookout for Carltoon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykY8_Ttogjk & the Essendon Zeros http://en.wikipedia....ero_N712Z_1.jpg

Just so everyone knows my status on Cale: Impartial. Hope he shows some serious improvement this year. Specifically his desire to chase, tackle and WANT to win the ball.

Wrong, the reason why Morton cops it on here is he has been extremely disappointing and if he wasn't a first round pick he would have been delisted on his form over the past 2 years. As an underage footballer Cale was rated extremely highly and over his first couple of seasons he showed enough to indicate he would make a reasonable AFL footballer. I don't know what happen but he has became a shadow of the player he was when he arrived at the club. Hopefully he can gain confidence this year as show some form.

The only reason Morton is continually criticised on this forum is because he has been, and still is talked up so much. There would be not nearly as much criticism if people didn't jump out of the blocks stating he would be a 'star'.

Not sure who's trolling who anymore, though given the time of year perhaps a few could be left for the keeper? (dont fret, Haddin out, Wade in)

Old I don't necessarily think that those examples are particularly relevant to our current circumstances. Firstly, Reid and Fisher are not their respective sides' best tall defender. As for Tarrant taking the most dangerous opposition forward as opposed to Reid, well I think that's because Tarrant is a more experienced and (currently) better key defender than Reid. He also has the body to match the number one opposition tall. If you were coaching Collingwood, who would you select as your number one tall defender? Sam Fisher to me is not really a one-on-one defender. He has always played as an attacking backman, a player who likes to peel off and take intercept marks and then rebound with excellent foot skills. He defends more like Rivers than Frawley. I don't think he's ever been regarded at St Kilda as their 'go to' tall defender and rarely (apart from injuries) has he been asked to be the primary tall defender. As for Scarlett, I think you're only looking at the last few years when Scarlett has been the wrong side of 30. For 10 years he was the number 1 Geelong defender, regularly picking up the big names. I remember going down to KP on a number of occasions during the 2000's and watching Scarlett towel up Neitz. He plays a different role now but I don't think it should be ignored that for the majority of his career he was the number 1 tall back at Geelong who played on the number 1 tall forward. I also think that Scarlett and Fisher kick the ball better than Frawley and are more dangerous offensively. I understand that Dawson and Lonergan are no more than 'adequate' tall defenders and have done the job for their teams on the number 1 forward. But Dawson was playing in a side that pushed numbers back to support and played a defensive brand of footy as good as any in recent times. Lonergan too is part of a team that has one of the best midfields and backlines in recent times. Using Dawson or Lonergan as our number one tall defender last year would have been a very different story – IMO they would have been terribly exposed. At the moment our team is not strong enough in midfield or defence to afford an 'adequate' player as our number one tall defender. Hopefully if we can develop a midfield and backline as good as Geelong's or a defensive capability as strong as St Kilda's then we can afford this 'adequate' defender. It's a luxury I'm not sure we can afford at the moment.

Always a great night. The formalities these days are quickly disposed of and then it takes the form of a fully fledged info night . It seems it is Demonlander protocol not to blow your cover to anybody save family and close friends when being introduced to people . I used to say " i' m Ian but you may know me as Dee-eee ". This is a guaranteed conversation stopper !

I found this on another site so played with it a bit. I'm bored with the Pre Season, so I thought I'd throw it in somewhere, & I thought you would mind the least. I wanted it out there so it's not lost to the site. it is interesting, just a little, isn't it? Bring on the real stuff, Please.

My pray list is getting a little long wyl! not sure I have time for one after - Davey returning to form - Green back to 2010 form - Grimes and Tappscot staying healthy - Fitzpatrick firing up - Clarke being worth the dough we are paying - you know who getting more than 4 touches a game - Cook getting a game in the Casey seniors - losing by less than 10 goals at Geelong and the dees having a game plan that they can implement. Not sure my knees are up to too much more time beside the bed.

Thanks for responding Billy, cant say I agree with you but I cannot see this debate going anywhere from here. Lets just hope most importantly that some time soon we actually have a second sponsor to announce regardless of when it happens.

I have to agree with this right now sadly...i do not think we have a new major 2nd sponsor yet. It has been too quiet.If we had one it would have been announced so that all would be in readiness for Round one...i do not believe the Tennis has anything to do with it. If i am wrong and a sponsor is announced at the AGM i will be stoked....but i aint holding the breath.

Blame Bailey for this one. We were just too meek and nice under his reign. I love the fact that Neeld said "stuff this, we're getting Mitch Clark and nothing is going to stand in our way"

Not quite true! A skinny person can put on weight with a diet - and weights program- geared specifically to weight gain. But that means no long distance running - and the sacrifice of endurance and flexibility. The "Morton is too skinny" sentiment that has run from thread to thread for the last couple of years is getting a bit tiresome. Cale needs to make better use of his assets - height and running ability- by developing cleaner hands and crisper ball use. . Neeld started with a blank sheet of paper. We should do the same - and give Morton our support.

I agree about things getting personal Macca. Avoiding that is good. It really should be my new years resolution! I'm not so sure we are so far apart. The issue for mine is whether the board can functionnally by-pass Jim. In the paper's before x-mas Jim was pretty clear that he was awfully close to dying. It is unreasonable to expect any man or woman to work effectively under those pressures. I hope the board is picking up the slack. My concern is that they were not pre-186. Why...I don't know - and as you nicely put, hard to know without being there. BUT we had rumors of Schwab being sacked, bailey been given an extension and then 186 led to to cam being given a 12 months extension and bailey being sacked. Don spent time interviewing players before the 186 match to figure out what was happening. Jim sacked Bailey over the phone (which still bemuses me) and then the resurrection of the club was handed to a mate. Now, all of this might end up working out. I think you can mount a decent case that the board was was functionally AWOL before 186. I hope to hell that they've recognised that and done something about it. So, I guess that I see Jim and the board's part of 186 and surrounding events as worse that 5%.

I think i read somewhere Cale hired a personal trainer on top of his training with the club. If thats true he obviously is improving his off field application and is trying to turn things around. If anyone has a breakout year, i hope its Cale. He has massive talent.

Cale has started putting on weight over his slim frame only after he stopped growing. Like Jack Watts did. Jack is younger but Cale may have stopped growing only a year or so back. How tall is Cale Morton now?. His profile says 192 and 87Kg. I reckon he may be taller than that and heavier. He has just turned 22. Cam Bruce (for example) is 190 and 86, so he will be a fair bit bigger than that. Im sure some will turn on Brucey but he has a 13 year AFL history so IMO it isnt a big issue.

That's quite wrong. Geelong needed a KPF because of the Mooney/Pods/Hawkins issues I explained (IMO they still do), Gold Coast needed KPFs, Carlton needed a KPF - all needed KPFs and particularly needed ready-to-go KPFs at least as much if not more than us. And 3 very experienced recruiters with excellent records passed on Darling in multiple opportunities to take him. It's impossible to say whether any of them would have taken Cook - Gold Coast took Day and Lynch and I suspect if they hadn't we would have taken one of them ahead of Cook and Darling. Carlton and Geelong couldn't take Cook because he was gone, but they didn't take Darling who wasn't.

Here's a novel idea: pick the best leader(s) as captain(s) every year. If there are consecutive years of the same captain(s) then so be it, if not - then grow up.