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On the question of whether we can go backwards, its always a possibility. We can rookie draft a certain former Tiger next week who could influence our cultcha negatively so his teammates end up turning up to games asleep. Half the list could spend the off season belting the living suitcases out of their relatives with machetes. A member of the Comancheros motorbike gang could be elected to the Board at the AGM. Our sponsors could all turn out to be closet Nazis. Somebody might falsely accuse the entire football department of racism. The selectors could drop our ten best players for the GWS game and replace them with untried rookies. The AFL might force us to take Cale Morton and pick 88 back and we could appoint Greg Denham and Caroline Wilson our no 1 male and female supporters respectively. Can we go backwards? [censored] yeah!

As a regular training watcher I can assure the OP that we won't be going backwards. I could mention the improved forward-line - with Dawes and Pedersen complimenting Clark we no longer have a front half of pygmies; I could mention the continued maturity of the defence - with Watts training there all preseason, and Nicholson and McDonald, et al, continuing to gain experience to ease pressure and help release Frawley; I could mention the midfield that has lost nothing, but gained an injection of class with Viney, Toumpas, a rejuvenated Trengove, and the big Kent; I could mention that I haven't seen the main training group this large at this time of year in a long while; but these are bit parts that add to the bigger picture. We will be better because our fitness levels, strength, understanding of the game-plan, and competition for spots will be nothing like last year. Even our running patterns at training, i.e defending and spreading, is far better. When they run to position they run with purpose. They sprint hard and they're more vocal. Our work at the stoppages is noticeably better - thanks to Viney and Rodan helping Jones. The poor fitness levels of 2012 meant that Melbourne struggled to run both ways last year. They couldn't defend, or play Neeld's game-plan because of their poor fitness base. They got sucked into contests only to be burnt on the spread. They'd have an OK quarter against a top 8 team, but couldn't sustain it, which is a hallmark of young sides lacking fitness and match hardening. Things will be much different next year. That's not to say that I don't rate our inclusions, I do, and they serve a really important ingredient to the club's overall psyche. Fitness, strength, and a unified team all backing the coach and his vision does wonders. You can tell at training that everyone is on the same page. And the injection of class and leadership in the club helps foster trust and confidence. With those intangible ingredients you start developing momentum. You get players "buying in". It's all part of a seismic culture shift. And it's happening right now. I don't think we'll make the 8 next year, but I have no doubt that the dark years are over and that we're on the incline. Supporters will notice a tangible improvement next year. There will still be inconsistent performances that send Demonland into meltdown, but there will also be wins against teams we haven't beaten in years and a sense of purpose that hasn't been evident for some time. Some will prefer to not believe, such is their want, but I'm going to enjoy summer in the knowledge that this club has turned the corner.

I believe LJ's behaviour towards the MFC has set back the opportunities for other players like him. Rather than being seen as a hard working committed footballer, he is now seen as a troubled and ungrateful man. The words of Matthew Rendell do unfortunately ring loud and true in this case. Most understand his background and the difficulties contained therein, especially when related to forging an AFL career, that is what Rendell was getting at. He was not being racist, he was accepting that a difficult situation existed and that some clubs would choose not to take the risk, which of course is their right and probably obligation. LJ has not helped that. Leave aside the court case and the violence incident, for the moment and just concentrate on his departure. LJ never thanked the club for its time and effort, in trying to help him become an AFL footballer, in helping his community and in helping him with his court case, nor did he in any way seek to help us get some compensation via a trade. He walked out before the end of the season, a season in which he played one game and was probably paid his full and generous salary without a thought for us. If he is that keen in November to play with Port he would have been somewhat keen at least earlier and we could have done a deal to help him and us, without his football reputation being devalued, as it now has. His behaviour is excused by his mentor on here and if that is the way he was brought up, so be it, there are of course different cultures and we are each a product to some extent of our upbringing. I don't condemn him for that, if that is the expected behaviour of him by his people. That however does give AFL clubs the right to look at the individual and say, he is too difficult to take on. That is is the recruiter's right. If recruiters now see people like LJ as too hard, that is not their fault. They also should not be condemned for not taking on talent that comes with far greater difficulties than other possible recruits. The job is to create the best list they can and if things make that difficult they are not honour bound to go with the hardest task but rather one would assume the easiest. That is where I think LJ has let everyone down. On a personal note I invested a lot of my hope in LJ, went to his book launch, spoke to him when we met, read all the articles about him and was really proud of his attempts to become an AFL player and ours of supporting him. I am personally disappointed in the outcome, but that is life. What I find most disappointing is that his leaving and the manner of it makes me not care in the slightest about LJ the man and that really disappoints me. I suppose many would call that my fault and so be it, but I can't help but feel that LJ has helped foster that feeling. Wonder if he would acknowledge that in any way.

Good Question No. With Cale gone , thats 37 kgs of dead weight we dont have to carry.

My preference is to ask whether we can go forwards in 2013 and I would say "yes" because I don't expect all of the things that went wrong for us both on and off the field in 2012 (all well documented) to go wrong again in 2013. I'm reasonably satisfied that our inclusions will help us improve and that we have a number of up and comers who did little in 2012 due to injury or lack of experience who can help improve of playing stocks and depth. As far as our losses are concerned, I recently came up with the idea of giving each of the departing players a rating for their contribution to the club in 2012 and came up with this: Retired: Clint Bartram - injured by mid season, minimal impact. Rating 2 Brad Green (veteran - outside list) - last third of the season very good but either injured or out of form before that. Rating 3 Unrestricted free agent: Jared Rivers (Geelong Cats) - a good contributor in defence or attack but was no longer important in our defensive structure. Rating 5 Restricted free agent: Brent Moloney (Brisbane Lions) - looked uninterested. Rating 2 Traded: Jordan Gysberts (North Melbourne) - one ordinary game in 2012. Rating ½ Stef Martin (Brisbane Lions) - injuries and ordinary form sealed his fate. Rating 2 Cale Morton (West Coast Eagles) - limited influence throughout and injured at the end. Rating 2 Delisted: Matthew Bate - failed to impress. Rating 2 Jamie Bennell - struggled before season ending knee injury. Rating 2 Lucas Cook - no AFL appearances. Rating 0 Liam Jurrah - a major distraction for the club and one below par game. Rating -3 Kelvin Lawrence (second-year rookie) - no AFL appearances and went home early. Rating 0 Ricky Petterd - season ruined by injury. Rating 1 Jai Sheahan (rookie) * - no AFL appearances. Rating 0 Leigh Williams (rookie) - no AFL appearances. Rating 0 The total of my rating of the departing players is 18½; out of a possible 150, barely above an average of 1 per player. I would be surprised if we can't improve on that with the influx of the new players and improvement among existing members of the list, especially with better fitness and less injuries in 2013. * I liked him at Casey and was disappointed that he was delisted but the FD must have had their reasons.

Apparently it went to Blacktown just to have a look around.

That is a very frightening question to answer!, as every off season the Dee's are hitting their straps in December. I personally believe that we will improve and knock off teams such as , GC, GWS, Bulldogs, Port. I am hoping we could also get over (or it least match is with them) Lions, St kilda and i also believe that Adelaide will have a shocker of a year, like we did last year. All these off field issues really to take effect on a side, (Us this year, St Kilda the year before). I too feel I’m getting carried away with our new recruits: Dawes: not a great year last year Rodan, Brynes, Pederson; could barely get a game with their last clubs Viney, Toumpas; Great expectations which are not warranted to early in their careers I hope this Tanking rubbish is put to bed, and we’re found not guilty and so out team can concentrate on whats important, train the house down and turn up round 1, with a new never give in attitude and ready to have a crack, at the end most supporters understand that we are not going to win the flag, for the boys to have a red hot crack for 4 quarters every week!.

Can we go backwards? Hell no. We are like spaceball one we are preparing the ship for ludicrous speed.

They do this so they can free up a spot on the senior list and redraft them on the rookie list.

Excuse me, but how does tippets manager not even get mentioned here??

Terlich provides run, speed and carry out of the backline as a HBF. Some thing the list lacks. I dont see Garland and Dunn offering the run and carry the list needs I have no idea if Terlich will make it, but his speed is an assett

I completely agree with Tredrea, I think the fact that they took him is a paradoxical indication that they're not ready for him. I simply can't fathom why a professional football club would want to take him on at this point in his life. It's like they listened to all their forum footy experts who said he was worth a punt and took it from there. I think it's irresponsible recruiting myself, but whatever floats their boat.

We looked after him and cared for him because it was the right thing to do. Strong cultures and clubs are built on organisations that are tight knit and look after one another. The fabric we wove to support Liam will, hopefully, hold us in good stead for the future amongst the players that are there now and will come into the future. We didn't look after him in the hope of getting compensation for him should he walk. We did it because it was the right thing to do. Good on us. We can hold our heads up proudly and say that we did the utmost to help a member of our community and a member of our club. His situation away from, and inside of (to a much, much lesser extent), football has indeed been very sad and I wish him all the best in his career and, more importantly, his life.

Someone over at 'ology reckons the Dees are seriously considering 25 yo Ian Richardson, a small forward from Claremont who averages over 2 goals a game...

I've always thought the Age was a crap newspaper; it feeds its prejudice to its readers just the same way as the HUN does to theirs. Wilson is just another hack trying to stand out from the rest by sensationalizing, she may have some credibility with her peers but they themselves have zero credibility so it's a pointless exercise, to be praised by morons, how wonderful.

That makes sense.... The batsmen play poorly so the bowlers decide to bowl rubbish.

Hope on ...

"Pine for the fjords!?" What kind of talk is that?

Of course we can go backwards...but are we going to.....NO!

Yeah, you should bring it up at the AGM! Utter disgrace if we overlook this troubled teenager with a history of application issues. I mean, he was only photographed once under the influence of narcotics. I am sure that was the only time he took drugs. And the AFL will straighten him out. No-one takes recreational drugs in the AFL. And the final thing is we have a Leadership Group that is young and needs all the help they can get - what better experience than to throw this wayward teen at them while they are training hard to make the Dees relevant again. It's a real no-brainer, you know, when you think about it...

The fact is Basset dropped him the year before as he was ineffectual, and then he puts him in the backline and flourishes and ultimately wins BOG in a GF. Let's not eff around on this - give him the role to shoot for and see if he can execute. I really tire of this 'he can be anything' attitude we always have with recruits. He's 22 and was recruited for what he did in 2012. Let's see if he can do at the next level.

There is a saying that approximately 88.35 percent of stats quoted on footy fora are made up :-))

I also felt the same. I asked the question if he was a chance to be re-drafted. I got a firm no. Unless something happened behind the scenes, my gut feeling is he was 82Kgs, and it was asking to much to expect him to stack on another 10-15 kgs. Neeld has shown he wanted solid bodied players. The end of the 'stick era'. We couldnt possibably have an another year,like the one we just had,with all off field distractions. So far from seeing and reading reports, the players have improved on their fitness levels, I dont have available where each players goals need to be. but already there has been a big improvement. Last pre-season they seemed to be shell shocked. this pre-season they are taking it headon,and look much better. There is a noticable upbeat approach on the track. The FD has had a full year, to refine / retune their goals. They, like the players, now know each other better, and how each individual operates. They have a better understanding on player reaction,and weaknesses, and will address those better, they have had a full year to access all the facts. Of all those players WJ listed only 2 will be missed. Rivers (even though I wasnt his biggest fan) he was servicable,but can be covered. His experieced will be missed. Jurrah, (forget this year) his ability to impact a game,if only in bursts will be hard to replace. Having said that its not the end of the world. Like most I am feeling upbeat coming into 2013,but I have been burnt many times, so I am keeeping the lid on predictions. If the players are somewhere near the fitness levels they need to be at, then Neeld is now on a even playing field.He cant use excuses for them not playing out 4 quarters of football,the acid will be right back on him,to get them to fire up. Right from the opening bounce. We'll see if he can perform,in the same way he expects his players to perform.Has he the ability to make moves to win games, or make them after the horse has bolted? He needs to inspire, show us what he is made of. He also put our attacking game on the back burner,to allow a defensive game to be developed. If that is now at a stage where he is happy,then unlease the attack, we have the firepower up forward. Bring it on. My few concerns, Clark, untested thus far. Just hope he makes a full recovery, and it doesnt hinder him. Can the players, take what they are learning onto the ground,then continue to build,or will they crumble when the heat is on. The unknown, INJURIES. they murder us, I would love to none to our most important players, we cant afford the luxury. We will get them,it depends on the duration,and to who. A fit,confident team, with no more disgrunted players,looking like they wanted to be anywhere else but in a Melbourne jumper, we should expect a lot better 2013. (I would like to say we can rattle the eight, but I wont)

About time someone dished up a little dose of reality as I think there are a few on here getting a little carried away. In saying that, I don't think it is possible to get any worse, and I like the sound of what Neeld is doing, so I think we will improve, just not as much as some are hoping.

Guessing I'm still on thin ice- someone else want to take a shot at this one?

I agree, finally change, but how long until the structure settles and the team gels? For the last couple of years, with an unchanged list, there has been the typical pre-season hopeful "over estimation" of our abilities, when there had been no changes to the list. These hopes were rapidly deflated once the NAB games started, and completely crushed in the home and away rounds. What I want to see, is not even honorable losses, but quarters or halves where Melbourne dominate play. I have not seen a period of play in years where an emerging player took the game by the scruff of the neck, and consistently threatened to tear a game apart. There were glimpses from Mitch Clark last year of "wow" moments, and next year I will be very, very happy to go into work and here people saying things like "Melbourne lost last night, but did you see Toumpas/Viney/Jones in the second quarter?"

My latest conspiracy theory is that Caroline Wilson is actually on the MFC payroll. She's been employed to finish off the outstanding work of our late President. Jim played a huge role in uniting a fractured club and Wilson's public attack on the Dees has seen many of us pull together with a shared enemy as our focus! Maybe Fan knew more than he was letting on when he said, "Keep up the good work Caro".

Tippett got off too lightly IMO, he effectively gets an 11 week paid holiday.

BB I'm kind of with you but like most on here probably the last 6 years have made me very cautious at setting the bar high. My mates have been asking me where we will finish and I am very non commital, because I have been bitten before. I can see 8 wins without a great amount of improvement on last season's output and realistically expect at least 10 because of the trade and draft period outcomes. The 8 is a distinct possibility and a number of factors will come into play and to be honest the ball is really in our court. I have said on another forum I think we can make finals but if we dont it fo rme is not automatically a failed year. if we ended the season around 12th with 10 wins unlucky to lose 8 (by unlucky I mean within a goal) never beaten by more than 4 goals ran out games strongly showed hardness throughout the team clear indicators the youngsters were stepping up for sustained improvement That for me would be a pass, all I want by the end of next season is no longer having to be optimistic about when and where the improvement were coming form but for it to be obvious it was upon us

Got off very lightly in my book. I am not suprised. The AFL don't want 2 basket cases in South Australia.

No, but if you can foresee our next premiership that would be a big help.

I'm mocked annually in March for my optimism and pitied in July-Sept. I agree this looks like a solid dawn... shhh

While I voted for us to finish 10-13 next year.. I do think we will be one of the most underestimated teams. And will surprise a LOT of outside people. On other sites, most other supporters have us finishing bottom 4... We will be much better than a bottom 4 side IMO.. Top 8 seems unrealistic in contrast to this year.. But definitely not impossible..

What a load of crap. Liam comes from here: http://goo.gl/maps/dyTfa You can't tell me that growing up in one of the most remote communities in Australia and growing up in the suburbs of Melbourne are the same thing and expect him to just toughen up. It's worlds apart.

You misspelled "God".

I have this feeling that perhaps Liam's decision to walk away might have resulted not only from his personal situation but also as a consequence of discussions that might have taken place as to what the club required of him if he were to remain on the list. This is just a hunch but, whatever the case, I wish him well in the future with both his trial, his community and family life and his football career. Apart from the personal and community issues that continue to cause so much grief, I find it sad that his mission of being a role model for indigenous youngsters coming out of desert communities had been so severely compromised. Hopefully, he can find a way to resurrect that part of his life as well as bring some harmony back to Yuendumu and the lives of its people. The football should come second to that.

No she's coming of her own accord. Boom boom.

Are you serious, There are plenty of kids out there who get up at 5.00am to take a 1 -2 hr hike to work get home around 7 play amatuer sport so train and I'm sure quite a few use drugs on their days off but others don't. And they would give away a limb to be have the opportunity to play AFL. AFL is just another part of society no different to others so they should be afforded no more slack to anyone else, life is hard for most of us but to condone drug use is wrong. With 17 years experience in the Police I have seen many heartbreaking stories from drugs, it kills, tears families apart and makes people do things they normally would not do. n top of that it curtails numerous talented sporting kids aspirations You will never stop them and the 3 strikes policy is about saving face for the AFL nothing else. So in a nutshell it is a problem it's like thinking you can drive because you have only had a few beers, you may be able to function but your reactions will be affected a bit. As for your comment about the hard life these players face, we all chose what we do in life, some of our choices are limited due to talent, ability, genetics and education so please don't take me down the track of how difficult it is. Yes I have done pre season's may be me but I love pain so had no effect on my state of mind made me fitter and sharper. Train hard play hard and enjoy a drink that was me in my younger days but that was a different era, never though did I ever dabble in drugs. Whilst the money is great and the buzz of playing in front of big crowds is attractive it is having such an affect on your health you are becoming depressed and using drugs then like teh rest of us in the workplace you need to be mature enough to make the decision to walk away for your long term benefits. Being in the AFL system did not create the situation for these players, their make up and characteritics were in grained well before they were drafted and is due to their parents, mentors, family and friends. All the AFL drug policy allows is for someone to be able to take the risks without fear of being subjected to public scrutiny or loss of employment that many of the rest of us face. In closing if you feel drugs are not harmful find a kid around 11 to 12 years of age who is a beautiful fun loving child and a bit of a larican, handsome, fit and full of life. Due to circumstances out of the kids control he gets in with the wrong crowd and mum and dad are to pre occupied to care or notice change, a couple of beers and smokes at 13/14 turns to Cannabis you meet the kid a few times over the years, he still seems the same on the outside, lost a bit of weight but seems to be still a bit of a lad. You try and discuss the Cannabis use affects ever person differently and to tread carefully. At 15-17 you realise the kid is out of control, he now looks 30, black circles around the eyes, clothes falling off him and he has no care for his appearance. You meet with the parents and they tell you they cant get through to their kid and he fell in with the wrong crowd, they try their best ( but in your heart of hearts you know they haven't). You offer advice and try and help the best you can. Then one night your working as a cop and you get the call to a collapsed person in a park. You attend and in the freezing cold is a skinny 18 year old up against the wall of a toilet block and a syringe and other drug paraphenalia beside him. You look at him and recognise him and realise this is the end of the line for him, you drive to his parents house and you think back to the 12 year old fun loving kid you met all those years ago. You have to break the news to his parents and there is no eay way to do it you comfort them as best you can but whilst there is no longer the constant worry for them they have lost their only son and you have your first son on the way and know they will never recover. So Tonotopia that story happened to me between 1999-2005 and I still think about that kid and see his face at 12 and the deceased face at the toilet block. It is one of many kids and adults I have seen go this way. I also still see some of the "wrong crowd" he got in with and some have got on with their lives for various reasons. All I'm saying is drugs are harmful no matter what you may think, the harm goes far beyond the user and IMO you need to think a bit more before posting such comments. Garlett does not need an AFL career at this stage, Garlett needs a wake up call, play WAFL for 12 months and realise the chance he has and the choice is his, play 4 good years of WAFL or take the opportunity you have been given, get your finger outof your arse and make them take you next year with no questions asked

Drugs are an issue of society not just the AFL as Newspaper articles would like us to believe. Until drugs are made legal and REGULATED the problem will continue to thrive...

Pointing the finger at Casey for poor showings in the finals is way off the mark. Look at the MFC for that problem. Peter German walked out on the club for this very reason. If we continue to not allow our players to be available, Casey will never win a flag, if we continue this practice. Yet Neeld and Co this draft recruited players that came from a winning and successful clubs. But then deny our players to be a part of a probable flag in a VFL team. I would have thought any finals experience is valuable. The old addage, wanted them in asap for surgery, or cleanups so they will be ready next season. Thats fine, if someone has a leg or an arm about to fall off. Every bit of finals experience they can get will benefit not only the players but both clubs.The priority being Melb players, they get a winning feeling and share the glory with team mates,and know what it feels like to be successful. Thats is something they wont get sitting on the sidelines with their finger bandaged. Always play the best available (in any comp).they carry a niggle all year at some stage. I hope this doesnt continue, that we strive to be the best team(s) with no exceptions. I'll add in the NAB Cup, we should be striving to win that as well. It all helps in the long run. BTW: Your favorite listed players... is spelt Sylvia (not Silvia) and Mitch Clarke? Spelt Clark. You may want to amend both.

FNQ Demon Report – Wednesday, 28 November 2012 Arrived at training about 0905 the ground support staff were setting up Gosch’s Paddock for a gruelling session; and gruelling it was. Dave Misson arrived with his team at about 0935 and they commenced the set-up of some different training areas designated by small coloured markers. The rehabilitation area was also set out at the same time. Coaches arrived at approximately 0945 and a couple of minutes later the players arrived. Jack Watts and Max Gawn headed the group chatting and laughing to themselves, Jack Viney the new recruits and Rodan all together talking and near the end were Mitch Clarke and Chris Dawes again talking to each other. Nathan Jones and Daniel Nicholson were very vocal in encouraging the boys to train hard and do it for each other. Missing – Jack Grimes, Jack Trengrove and Colin Sylvia. The team placed their bags down and went straight into warm-ups. All players were wearing all blue training tops and all others (new recruits and rehabilitation group) wore red and blue singlets. The team broke into two Groups: Group 1 – Modified programme. Mitch Clarke, Chris Dawes, Max Gawn, Michael Evans, Jesse Hogan, and Tom Gillies broke into some of their own stretching and walking around the oval. MN and Jesse Hogan walked a whole lap together talking and at the end JH looked pretty happy. JH was walking very slow deliberate laps. It looks like everyone is on an individual programme. They walk laps together, conduct individual stretches and break off to do their own thing and come back to do their walk around the oval. It is all under the guidance of Dave Misson's team and it is very structured, deliberate. I get the feeling there could be some sort of brief prior to training and each discussion is just to re-enforce points and conduct some minor tweaks. I spoke with one of the trainers and he said they were all coming along perfect and looking good to get back into the main group. I asked him (on behalf of all of us) to take it easy with Mitch and he did say Mitch would be a while off full training. I spoke at length to Mitch and he said he felt really good after Monday and all doctors and physio are telling him he is coming along really well and they are sticking with the programme and time lines for return. He said he will be back. Group 2 – All other players (including recruits) conducted a lap and then some stretching, another lap and more stretches. They also conducted some ball work (half pace) as part of the warm up. This was all conducted by Dave Misson. Very structured warm up and Dave Misson had them eating out his hand. Noticeable is the way the boys react to words of command. It was almost military like. No back chat, got straight into whatever was required; they look like a very disciplined team, Especially the backs. They look like a very tight group. After warm up’s they moved into tackling practice led by one of the Melbourne Storm tackling coaches. He was very vocal and pulled everyone up for grabbing around the chest during the tackle, he reminded them (in no uncertain terms) that was not the way he had taught them and they were to get down low and drive up with the legs through the chest area. WOW, did things change. Most notable – Luke Tapscott, James Magner, Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, James Frawely. This was a very aggressive and positive session, all players encouraging each other. They then moved into a hand ball drill where you have three defenders and three attackers and you have to get the ball over the opposition line. This was fantastic to watch, lots of talking, encouragement and skills. Most Notable was “FLASH”, he was quick, elusive, skilled and putting on some hits (one especially against Frawley). The next drill was kicking drill in a triangle group to group; I was impressed because the ball hit the ground twice in the whole session – Best Kick, Jetta, Watts, T Mac, Davey, Garland. They then moved into some stoppage drills/clearance drills. This was run by Neil Craig. The boys split into FWD’s MID’s and BACK’s each wearing different coloured tops and then conducted the drills against each other whilst one group rested. It was quick, high intensity footy. There were coaches all over the ground with MN in the middle and they were very vocal barking instructions and getting the plan in place. This went for a while and was very intense. The game plan looked like it took the ball wide and then cut into a running CHF, FF. It also looked like the MID’s were doing a massive amount of running, because the alternate game plan looked like short, quick continuous footy. It was very quick and looked good (from my perspective) there were a couple of sprayed kicks but nothing too bad. Nearing the end of the session, Taggart and Watts had a slight clash; Taggart went to tackle Watts and slipped off him. Watts accidently heeled him in the face and Watts delivered a beautiful kick to Colin Garland and then pulled up lame. He was holding his ankle/back of calf area. He went off with the Physio, however returned for the some of the last (gruelling) session. He did leave earlier than everyone else and I spoke with him and he said it was nothing, he just didn’t continue because he was still getting over the illness and he did look tired. Most Notable – Jetta, he ran all day, chased, tackled, beautiful kick. He was impressive. The last session was punishment. FWDs MIDs & BACKs under the guidance of Misson. He punished them with various times jogging and then timed sprints. Notable – Nicholson, Jones, T Mac. Strauss copped it bad from MN and most of the other coaching staff. He was slower than FLASH. I also have to mention Sam Blease, although not the quickest he was putting in harder than anyone, it was a great effort. END of Training. I spoke with Aaron Davey who said he is feeling fantastic; his knees are the best they have ever been. The patch on his knee is due to a grass burn that has got infected. He admitted he is not as quick but feeling fantastic. Again, he trained really well. MN was taking with his constantly and his field position, kicking was excellent. The players continue to use him a lot. I spoke at length with Mark Neeld; he is very happy where the guys have come in 12 months. He said the recruits would join the main group in Darwin. The current training is putting down a base level of fitness prior to Xmas, and then they will really step it up. He is very happy with what was going on and the attitude of everyone. Overall a fantastic session. FNQ Demon

This is my take on it. I couldn't care less about him.

NBA, NFL and NHL are a goldmine for outrageous tanking. Even the NBA lottery doesn't stop teams rorting the system and playing utter hacks to try and maximise their chances of getting pick #1.

I reckon Port are nuts for taking him on at the point he is at in his life, personally. Anyway, I'm not hurt, disappointed, it doesn't leave a bitter taste in my mouth and so forth. I said at the time that I was relieved that this had ceased being our problem and my view hasn't changed. With my human being hat on I feel sad about how this panned out and disappointed it wasn't the fairy tale we thought it might be. With my Melbourne Football Club supporter hat on I'm completely non-plussed.

It just occurred to me that this could be greatest loss of Intellectual Property in the history of mankind

Doesn't drink or smoke enough

He would obviously get most of the money, it is about clearing a spot for a player who may be able to contribute.

Go read the 4 pillars thread and you'll see why he's not for us, he only meets one requirement. The harm could be a lot, keep banging on with nonsense all you want but he won't be in red and blue next year, not gonna happen. I don't understand where you lot get the idea that we have a culture strong enough to pull blokes like Garlett into line, we haven't even got there with Sylvia yet.