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Richmond's 2013 membership slogan: "When Brad Miller and Addam Maric just aren't enough".

The Sunday Herald Sun keeps the tanking controversy bubbling over with some words of wisdom - Tanking probe must go beyond Demons, says Ron Barassi Whenever the AFL's ready I'm willing to talk about how a former Carlton board member predicted three weeks in advance of the Kreuzer Cup that his club would end up getting the priority pick it so desperately needed to snare, not only Kreuzer but a big fish from another AFL club that was already committed to the Blues.

Interesting interview on the subject with Mark Neeld on NT news:-

It's pleasing to hear that at least he takes ownership of his own poor form. It's a refreshing attitude from the "it's everyone else's fault except mine" attitude we've heard a bit of on the way out recently. I've never been under the impression that he couldn't play, and wouldn't be surprised if he is able to eek out more of a career if his body is able. That said I agreed and still agree with the decision to let him go; as Ricky said himself in that article, clubs can't wait around forever. Good luck.

Key players if we're to turn around our fortunes = Clark, Dawes, Pedersen, Trengove, Viney, Sylvia, Blease, Grimes, Frawley, Jamar For varying reasons these 10 players become critical to our rise up the ladder. Clark - will now believe he can make an impact in the AFL as a key forward. 22 games from a fit Clark is definitely worth a few wins. Dawes - provides that hard working bullocking long target that makes Clark more dangerous. Will straightens the side up and needs to hit the scoreboard - 35/40 goals. Pedersen - may be as good a pick up as Dawes. Versatile player that becomes a difficult match up for an opposition third tall defender, as well as ruck relief. Averaged 1.75 goals from his last 12 AFL games - 30 goals. Trengove - needs to not only capture some of his better form as an 18 and 19 year old, but surpass those seasons. At 21 the time is now and the ability is there. If he can start to fulfill his undoubted talent it will be huge for our midfield. Needs to happen. Viney - I'm constantly reminding myself to not put too much pressure on, but I won't put any more than he already puts on himself. I see no reason he won't have a 'Toby Green year' and be our midfield general, along with Jones, by the end of it. If he's the player I expect then our midfield will improve overnight. Sylvia - started to show signs in the midfield that the penny may be dropping. 22 good games from this guy would be huge. But it's a big 'if'. Blease - starting to get an engine. His pace and run from a wing really damages the opposition. Could light up the G. These players get a team going. Don't underestimate Jetta's impact in Sydney's flag. Grimes - will have his first preseason with the mids. Needs to improve and play 22 games. Strong over the ball and should get better. Frawley - needs to get back to his best form of 2010. With a better midfield and a developing back-line life should get easier and give him the trust and confidence in his teammates to be more attacking. He's had a lot on his shoulders that has curtailed his run. Jamar - I don't have high expectations, I just want 20 games. Still one of the best tap ruckman in the league and if he can be a big body in the middle with blocking, shepherding, etc. as well as some quality hitouts, it's a strong fillip for a young midfield. There are lots of ifs and buts, but it's about time some things fell our way. We haven't quite emulated North's feat from the short-lived 10 year rule in the 70's, when they went from wooden spooner in 1972, winning a solitary game, to grand finalists two years later, but not many clubs in recent memory have been able to recruit so many senior players from other clubs, while at the same time being able to inject top 5 talent with the likes of Viney and pick 4. Occasionally a club has a year where just about every player improves, and sometimes, as we know, the opposite occurs. For some reason I'm quite bullish about next year and I wouldn't be surprised to see anywhere from 8-12 wins and a strong platform leading into 2014. If these players can have the type of impact I'm expecting then it helps make every other player around them better. And I haven't even mentioned Hogan...

What I find interesting is the way the media has treated certain information relating to the investigation. On the one hand, you have the sensationalist way in which Caroline Wilson and others have dealt with their revelations including bold headlines, the use of emotive language with some inferences drawn from allegations which don't necessarily add up. We had the sinister sounding "vault", secret meetings with shadowy characters acting furtively to ensure that the readership adds one plus one to come up with three, four or five. On the other hand, the revelations countering the "vault" allegation such as that of Dean Bailey not only denying that he had ordered players to toss games but also that the alleged threats about the consequences of winning more than four games were actually part of a 30 second "aside" in a normally scheduled meeting and not a secretly called discussion specifically on the subject, is quietly tucked away in the middle of an article. Similarly with Ricky Petterd's statement that he knew nothing about players being told to not try to win. It seems that it's only the sensation seeking stories that get prominence. But I suppose we knew that anyway.

I'm thinking your more the George Bush, John Howard and Margaret Thatcher kind of guy 'Ben'.

This one is my favourite:

Set high expectations, play him in the guts and give him explicit instructions.

he's going to explode in 2013

My optimistic side just jolted out of control and I put $50.00 to win $500.00 via sportsbet for Dees to make the eight.

Given the sorts of players we've picked up so far I'd be amazed if we wasted a spot on the list on a bad egg like Sherman or Reimers. We've shown so far that we're far more interested in moderately talented players made of the right stuff than highly talented flogs who just coast. A spot on the list is nothing to be sneezed at, and while there has been the occasional exception, a lazy player is usually lazy forever.

Wot! No-one pisses-up in Darwin LOL - Pissup capital of the world

I think that Col definitely has the potential to explode in 2013. But he is in need of a full preseason and injury free run up until round 1. He needs everything to be full and perfect. He could seriously be the focal point of our team in 2013.. if he further breaks out. Brownlow potential

Probably in 3 years the same pundits will be fawning over his potential and forecasting his imminent arrival as football champion of the highest order. Yawn Same ol same ol. I await...with no expectations. Always have this sense of deja vu.....followed by annoyance .

You may be being a little hard on him WYL. If the article in todays Sin is correct then Ricky was suffering far more from his injuries than was public knowledge. Also I was impressed by Pettard taking responsibility himself for his poor year and not blaming Neeld/Club. Anyway, good luck to him.

Good luck Ricky...really hope you get a gig.

Yeah. The beer tastes so much better afterwards.

Terribly lazy. Plays on his own terms. Half-hearted defensive chases. Will the penny drop with a new coaching group and his football mortality staring him in the face ? If it does he'll really add to the midfield. I'd have him watch Ryan O'Keefe's Grand Final game 30 times before the start of next season and say this is how hard you have to work.

Old 'You may say I'm dreaming, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one"

Of late ??? lol

Stringer just looks like a player.

From a reliable source (non club) that you can pm me for details if you wish - but I have been informed that Jesse Hogan loves the culture down at MFC, can see lots of young talent on our list and has special admiration for Nathan Jones (who he describes as the hardest worker he has ever seen) and Mitch Clark. He basically cant wait to play for the club. Thought I'd post for some good news about MFC. After the Scully fiasco its nice to know anyway.

We were 14 out of 16 in 1999, and played the GF in 2000.

Yep, sorry. As a general rule, I just don't read his posts. Obviously even when they are being replied to, it seems.

Ah, that time of year when you are deluded enough to think we are a chance to do something good next season. Enjoy it while it lasts. I'm looking forward to the first "sack Neeld" post 5 minutes after we lose a practice match in Albury.

Tim Broomhead would be alright. We need someone with a ridiculous name to sweep up across half back.

I was at the session this morning, loved it, seriously need AFL to start again asap! Plenty of pure footy drills before running around Tan to finish off. Things that were noteworthy: • Strauss is the forgotten man I feel, but his right foot is a real weapon and was the best kick at a windy session today • Pedersen is just real solid in all aspects of his training, could not see a weakness and a good mover for his size • Viney joined in everything, but even though he is a junior star, the rise in class he now faces was apparent • Clark was stalking around, helping were he could. So obvious he was busting to join in. I LOVE the presence and attitude of this guy! • the new navy training strip is a winner • Credit to Spencer, his endurance running was great and he had Garland, Viney and Rodan covered • the whole session just smacks of professionalism, presents well, everything catered for and training on Collingwood's old Gosch Paddock Oval had a better feel, and a fence too! • spoke to man boy Hogan, who did minor drills. Like his strut, his confidence, the first bloke to ever give me a boner I reckon... I recommend anyone who has the chance to attend a training to do so, puts all the media crap out of your mind and you can't help but love how far Neeld, Craig, Misson has taken this group in 12 months.

With on field improvements, even success. Tanking stuff put to bed, stand alone VFL team, settled sponsors (you forgot the sponsor drama of that power mob) , increasing membership, great weather, warm beer and cold pies, beating the filth on QB (Dawsey kicking 7 and giving Buckley the bird). Tell me I'm dreamin' , but I'm looking forward to 2013... Oh, and that witch having to publicly apologise AND face Gary Lyon on TV.

I think we have one special man watching over this team. Jim Stynes will get his day in the sunlight were all his dreams for our club will come true. The work this one man has done for all us MFC members will never be lost, and the red and blue family will finally see this start to grow in 2013. God i miss you Jim Stynes your amazing mate. The MFC had a very hard year in 2012 but hungry players like Viney,Jones,Clark,Grimes and Trengove will not rest till this club finish what Jim started. RIP Jim Stynes MFC FIRST & FOREVER

http://www.afl.com.a...90/default.aspx

I kinda like the idea. Seems to be an innovative approach to tough training conditions. I have no idea how it compares to the high altitude training that seems to be the flavour of the month. But, training in Darwin in December sure aint gonna be for the faint-hearted. Has the added benefit of having a real footy oval to train on, as well as the opportunity to grow the AFL presence in the top end -- none of which is achieved by flitting off overseas. So, I applaud the club for trying something a little different. I really hope it has the desired effect.

KAKADU not KOKODA

Having followed the Demons since 1955 I have seen my share of 'downs' though also some 'ups'.You have brought me down from 'cloud 9' with a big thump of reality, passenger.But in a year that has been so horrible in so many ways, you can forgive an old bloke for getting his hopes up, can't you?The professional manner with which Neeld has gone about building the basics for a competitive team is unlike any previous recruiting campaign in the past twenty year, or more.I have faith in what has happened over the past couple of weeks. I am excited that nearly all of these new players will have an immediate and positive effect, around the club, at training and then on the field.I hope I can come back on here half way through next season and say 'I told you so!'

I assumed it was something Neeld had said to him during their discussions prior to his recruitment. I doubt a player would be driving a change in game strategy when he's been at the club for 5 minutes.

Or we'll blow him up .

Need I remind you that we're the Demons? If that doesn't give you a good idea, I don't know what will.

No complaints from an attitude perspective and sincere best wishes for your future career Matt.

Bater was one of my favourite players during the dark times over the last 10 years. I feel he has been poorly coached and deserved much better in the way of reciprocal loyalty and attitude. Other, more-favored players like Sylvia, Moloney & Morton were given endless opportunities for little return whereas Matty Bates was never given a sustained opportunity to cement himself in the team. Another sad end to a bright beginning. Having said that, I'm glad we didn't trade him last year as that woud have been an even bigger disappointment. I wish him well for the future.

This kid is highly rated. it was mentioned somewhere that they expect with a full preseason he will be in our best 22 for round 1.

Changing the rules ,or changing the goalpsots? As group, some young ten year old kids,had the insight (back in the late 60;s) to change some rules for their 'backyard' footy games. Just like in your backyard cricket,caught off the roof with one hand was out. We all had our rules changes for such events. As a kid we would round up as many as we could, pick teams then head down the road to the local school,and hold a game that usually lasted about an hour. We didnt have enough for an umpire, on a good day,we could muster up about 20 kids, ranging from 8 to 10 yrs old. The captains usually picked themselves,then took turns in picking from the group. The elite went 1st then the dregs to fill in. The school footy oval was ideal as it was a bit smaller than your average local football ground, when you dont have enough players, it usually meant more ground to cover,as the 'dregs' were more like statues,then footballers.But numbers was more important than talent. Pugsly was always full forward (everyone has a pugsly) short, stumpy to fat build,couldnt run to save himself, but was like a boulder to move out of the way. A footballer he wasnt. He was more likely to have his head in a superman comic,then playing kick to kick in drizzling rain. Then there was "Stretch", 6 inches taller than anyone else,ran like a 3 legged giraffe,balls skills non existent. he was always full back,he got the job on Pugsly,to try to stop him kicking a bag. Then the others were handy elsewhere around the ground. The engine room was made up of the junior school football team players,they would cover more ground than Burke and Wills. One day we hit a snag, an agruement come dispute erupted, Pugsly fluked a mark, and was about to kick from dead in front, when someone said he should be put on an angle,not directly in front of goal (as a 5 year old, when I went to the footy with my old man (swans supporter,so he didnt have that much of clue, at a Melb game I questioned why one of my players was on the boundary line when he marked the ball in the goal square? He said it depends on the angle of the kick when it went there.I still was none the wiser) After 5 mins of to and fro'ing, what did from then on, to prevent any bickering, we would make it a local rule, that it didnt matter,what angle you got the mark or free,you can kick it directly to goal. None of this lining up the player from the center of the goal posts, If its in the goalsquare or thereabouts you took the kick directly in front. That would have been great for upcoming games we planned, we now had one sticking point solved, about then 20 minutes in, I broke through the middle,weaved and danced around a few, All I had to do as sell the dummy to the 'dregs' and I was home free. I looked up, and the goalsquare is vacant, no-one to kick too!! So I hoofed it as hard as I could. I looked around there's Pugsly and Stretch disappearing into the distance. Seems like when you cant get a kick, interests soon wane ,and a comic book holds more interest. So with numbers declining we pressed on. Then there were days when we did the Tony Greig pitch test, (yes I always copped it, coming home with casual shorts, covered in mud, or good jeans with grass stains) I could have been out breaking into houses, or the like, but nope, it was fun to play a game of footy, but when you are a kid, with big ambitions, some days you cant do anything right. So after a week of rain, we could use the stomp the foot into the turf test, we werent old enough to carry car keys to test the hardness. If your shoe / boot got covered in mud, it was game off, and kick to kick was the alternative. I always looked back to the day when we made a sensible descision about making it easy to solve problems lining up kids in the goal square, when finally the AFL Rules committee finally seen the light and made it a rule if the player is in the goalsqaure kicks from directly in front. Perhaps Pugsly was smarter than I took him for. Did he have a hand it that rule change? If so we need more Pugslys on the AFL rules committe. Dont change the rules for the sake of it, dont do it to justify a job. Dont do it as a knee jerk reaction. Soccer, and many other sports dont change rules every year, nor do they do it, on the run. This flows onto local kids footy, but dad!! we didnt do that last year. There are far too many gray areas in our game and way far too many rule changes. This is one they got right, only took them 100+ years. I can think of a heap other rules, that exist, they dont need to add more, just refine, or fix the ones they got wrong.

Had a good look at Tynan yesterday> He never stopped talking to Hogan during their drills with Evans.They seem like mates already. Josh has a good developing upperbody but has sticks for legs at this stage. Hogan oozed confidence with a slightly bow legged swagger that some might say borders on cockiness. A combination of Allen Jackovich and Ross Dillon I hope. Or a current day Jonathon Brown. Could be really good this kid.

The lot of a coach is that they need more notations in the 'W' column than the 'L' column, otherwise they'll be fodder for disgruntled supporters, as well as a target of derision for opposition fans, as well as the media. On face value it's easy to understand posters such as StuieS12, as all they can see is a side that seems to have gone backwards, but on closer analysis, it was the one or two steps back that was needed to give us any opportunity of having genuine success; as well as a complete culture change of the organisation. Bailey's team played one-way footy. They'd been doing it for yeas. It stemmed from Daniher's days. There was enough talent that when they were "on" they could rip a team to shreds, especially interstate teams that had a poor history at the G. But it was fool's gold. Any time they were up against a well organised disciplined side, that had any semblance of a defensive mindset the shutters were put up pretty quickly. They couldn't counter the press, because the coach had misread where the game was going and they didn't have the fitness base anyway. When you don't have strong defensive attributes as a team you don't have a backbone. You've got nothing to rely on when things get tough. This was never more evident than in round 22, 2010. We lost to North by only 10 points. We played some exciting footy that day. Jurrah kicked 5 goals, as did Green, Dunn had one of his cameos up forward with 3 and Bruce, Scully, Sylvia and Morton got plenty of it. I reckon if you looked at pure talent we had North covered reasonably easily. We had 9 first round picks playing - I think North had 3, plus some seasoned campaigners. But they were coached differently. And while North had some trouble stopping Melbourne's attack and flair, they had a hard-nosed approach that was lacking with the Dees. That game really exposed Melbourne. They played some of their most exciting footy for the year, but still couldn't get over the line against a side that wasn't playing at home and didn't make finals. North had nothing to play for in round 22 and were nothing more than a work-horse team, but they still got the job done. The 8.5 wins of both 2010 and 2011 covered cracks at Melbourne about as well as paper mache. Yet some supporters still think we were on the right track. When Neeld and Misson arrived they were pretty shocked at Melbourne's level of fitness. And while it may have been enough when they only had to run one way, it was never going to stand up over 22 rounds and deliver in finals. Not when defending takes more out of you than running ahead of the footy. Pretty quickly Neeld got noses out of joint. Most of the senior players, who loved Dean and even decided to cancel the odd training session under their mate, felt disenfranchised under a no nonsense Neeld. These players thought pretty highly of themselves and had lived a pretty comfortable existence for some time. Most were stripped bare of leadership status and the inevitable followed. As is sometimes the case when you're learning something new and worthwhile there's a tendency to over-correct. Hell-bent on becoming a defensive team they lost their spread. They lost confidence in each other. They didn't trust teammates to win contests and got sucked into those contests only to be burnt on the outside. Combined with poor fitness levels the whole side looked and was as slow as treacle. And disenchanted senior players felt vindicated in their displeasure at what was going on at the club. That's what happens when you're thinking about your own lot. Some supporters were also wondering what the hell was going on. Things were better under Bailey. But Bailey's way was actually now coming home to roost. It was staring the club in the face, even if supporters didn't realise it. The players are getting much fitter, stronger, learning to play defensive finals footy, doing drills to spread better, looking to take the game on and when things turn around it will happen relatively quickly. Just as importantly, when they do come good their brand of footy will hold up. I genuinely believe that the club is finally on the right track. I believe we'll see some real inroads as early as next year. And I'll wager that we'll beat a couple of Victorian sides outside of Richmond and Essendon for the first time since 2007, even if finals are a couple of years away.

I would hate it if we took O'Rourke and he turned into Morton and Wines became Dangerfield. I think Wines has more to him than "hard working mid". I would personally choose O'Rourke but dont think we can lose either way. Both will be deserved of top draft positions.

Great neat file there for us to refer to, cheers WJ! I certainly hope we dont draft Membrey, for the sole reason of not wanting to cheer on someone with such fugly bogan tattoos!

Gysberts will be a very good player. I don't think we should be too cocky about letting him go just yet. That said, I'm really happy we landed Pederson.

Just back from the track. There were basically 3 groups today. The main group of about 27 (excellent numbers for the first official week of training) included Strauss, Grimes, Pederson, Taggart, Jetta and Davey. Also fantastic to see Jordie Mac in the main group from week one. That must be a first. Two small groups plus Mitch Clark made up the numbers. Jones, Byrnes and Tapscott were set aside for sprint work. Terrific to also see Tappy having a good start to the pre-season. He's been doing some running work with Jonesy over the past 4-5 weeks and should be ready to join the main group on Monday. Again this is another great sign from a guy who has never done a full pre-season with the main group. He said a number of players are well ahead of last year and they are doing a lot of explosive work plus a fair amount of endurance stuff. Their training sounds like a killer - pre season starting after the GF, and now they do endurance and football work in the morning; weights in the arvo, then lectures, pilates and finishing at 6 on their training days. Thank god they also get a fair bit of recovery time. Another group consisted of Tynan, Evans, Sylvia and Hogan. They basically walked a few laps and finished early; a couple did the handball work on the mini- trampoline. Colin was back last week but has been ill and spent a bit of time saying hello to the coaches and Byrnes.. I gave Tynan the points for the most improved body. He has definitely built up around the shoulders - his delts are bigger and have more definition. Earlier this year he was a skinny kid who ate pizzas after club functions. Now he's ready for a calender shoot. Mitch Clark was there too. He did some left foot passing with one of the trainers, and walked around the sidelines for a while. I think he desperately wants to get back in the main group and i like guys who injured but still show hang around the training and encourage the team. Those absent included Dawes (still o/seas), the Russian (on a honeymoon) Gawn (possible twinge in the hammy on Monday according to reports) and Fitzpatrick (modified program). The main training group finished about 11, then 5 unfortunate guys had to do 8 two minute runs to build up their endurance. Spencer, Rodan, Davey, Viney and Garland were the victims and it was hard work. I believe most of the main group did this session on Wednesday. Two highlights: Spencer attempting to kick left foot. Seasoned training watchers said they had never seen anything quite like it. Leigh Brown joining in the 8 two minute runs and encouraging the others. A kind person might say that Leigh has only added about 15kgs since his playing days, but he was running with the pack, and...luvving it. They did a lot of ball work today, by hand and foot. Lots of burst stuff - run hard - get the ball - and hit the target. It was fabulous to see so many faces on the park, and they are clearly well ahead in fitness compared to this time last year.

What about Garrick Weedon from WC?

Stupid these kids can't play next year. Hogan has finished school. They're only 4 months younger than the others Will be 18 by time season starts and are allowed to train with club all year and play with men in vfl. If they're up to it let them play

How some have soured on this deal to the extent they don't think we should have been in the MD at all. What crap. This kid is going to be a star and I don't care that 13 turned into 20 - we would have got Dawes with the pick anyway. We need stars and the kid above will be just that.