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Max Gawn has joined in full training now.

Is this a thread about training or car parking?

Great thread. Would read again.

Mitch Clark & Trenners doing repeat sprints. Both look to pull up well apart from Mitch gasping for air. Good signs

[censored] me i thought this was a footy forum???

I think it's unlikely we would've been able to secure Hogan with pick 3, Toumpas with pick 4, Dawes and Barry with pick whatever (13/20) and Viney with pick 27, if Hogan was eligible to play this year. In short, the whole deal we structured was probably based, at least in part, on Hogan not playing this year. This being the case, particularly given the spectre of cheating that seems (wholly unfairly) to hang over this club, I think we should probably just accept what we willingly and knowingly signed up to a few months back. That said, I love the look of the bloke and wholly accept Ben Hur's view that this guy is going to be a superstar, the likes of which this club has not seen for decades.

Have done 5AA before. Rates with my vasectomy as something I will only do once.

Have you been watching us for the past 6 years? I don't even want to watch half the time..............

C&B not sure why you seem so surprised. Television is all about ratings / costs. Who the hell besides a few thousand Dees and Port supporters wants to watch a game as it turns out between both sides seconds. They finished 14th and 16th. Then add in it is being played in Renmark. Any telecaster with half a brain would not cart all their equipment to Renmark for 7- 8000 viewers. If you were running Foxtel would you?

I want to see more of Kent, i think he can push for a role as a forward or a dangerous sub. Tapscott really needs to pick up his game this year.

I'd love to see a win or two before the season proper starts. I'm a big beleiver in going into the start of the season with some momentum. Something we haven't done in probably a decade.

Ok so the following guys have been rested from the trip to Renmark, plus I'll add in Sylvia, Frawley and stay positive that Blease can make it up for round 1, but there's still a few spots up for grabs FB: Garland Frawley ****** HB: Dunn McDonald Watts C: Toumpas Jones Grimes HF: Sylvia Dawes Byrnes FF: Howe ****** Blease Foll: Jamar McKenzie Rodan Int: Viney ***** ***** Sub: ******* Now to me it comes down to a few positional battles. Small defender: Nicholson v Strauss v Jetta v Terlich Midfield depth: M. Jones v Evans v Magner v Couch v ? Barry Small forward/Sub: Kent v Davey v Taggert v Tapscott v ? Bail v ?Evans I think Pedersen is pretty likely to start as the ruck forward but so whilst I've left him out of the team I think we don't need a poll. However feel free to agrue the benefits of Pedersen v Fitzpatrick or possibly playing both or Sellar. So pick your men and tell me why they deserve the spots and whether you are a fan of them for the whole season or just for now. For me I think Strauss' skill and defensive work put him in as a small defender. I like the idea of 7 rotating defenders so I'll go with Jetta as well who can also rest forward and displayed some nice skilled kicking on the weekend. That leaves me Matt Jones on debut as a running midfielder because I think we need run and for the sub I'd go with Evans because he's nippy and can find the footy either forward or through the midfield. Kent is unlucky to miss out.

Viney, Grimes, Toumpas, Trengrove, McDonald, Dawes, Clark, Jones, Watts All strike me as young men with their heads screwed on right and born leaders, each looking like developing into really good footballers, if they're not already. Dawes in particular has blown me away by being just about the most intelligent footballer I've ever had the pleasure of hearing being interviewed. Is it just me or does our long term future appear much brighter this year? Even if we're still due for some more pain in the short term...

The AFL has said over and over, if we want better timeslots an TV schedules, we need to win games and draw crowds. Have we done any of that? At all? Nope. Until we start providing them with some value, the broadcasters will continue to ignore us.

So, it's a choice between Tweets and Twits...??

I've changed the thread title to accurately reflect what is being discussed. If anyone actually attended training and has something to report, start a new thread.

He will blow up half way through the second quarter. He and Trengove will struggle to impact 2013 at all. And mods - change the name of this thread to 'parking advice and fitness expectations.'

The only thing I can say about this article is - Carlton angry salary cap dispensation allowed Sydney to snare Kurt Tippett Chris Judd.

Earl Spalding.

There was a guy last year called Rowe, or Rowie ? He was the most wretched person I have ever heard commentate on the footy.

Well if I was an opposition coach i would be saying its game over already. get his opponent to run him into the ground, provide an extra man downfield and he will be slowly starved up forward. we have to get him back to full fitness then play him. Unfortuntely a bottom side cannot carry blokes.

They won't even know our players names let alone bother mentioning any of them...

That will make for a nice unbiased call!

Big call. We're 3 players short of that in my opinion Quality small forward Quality small back Absolute gun midfielder

My team for this week Strauss Davis Sellar Dunn Gillies MacDonald Taggart M Jones Tynon Kent Pederson Tapscott Davey Fitzpatrick Barry Spencer Magner Couch Clisby, Stark, McKenzie, Nicholson, Evans, Terlich I don't care about this game, protect the players that should be playing round one, give some fringe players a chance to stake their claim. Week 3 and 4 go in full strength.

Behind the precinct hotel

Posters should be aware that anyone seeking to respond to Ms. Wilson's work are liable to be attacked for being "childish" and "sexist". It's one way in which people who are too lazy (or simply unable) to respond to genuine criticism of her work deflect the real issues involved with the shoddy agenda based journalism we get from Caro these days.

The game against Port in Renmark doesn't mean much to me because it is still too far away from the season proper, is played in belting heat, and the newbies, young'ns, and rookies will make up the majority of the team. We will get better measures of foot skills, sure hands, playing to instruction etc... but I can't see the game being used to assess whether we can actually win. The NAB cup round 3 game will be more important as we see which players are being genuinely considered and which players have already cemented a spot.

As much as it would be great to see Hoges running around in the seniors this year, I just don't see the need in rushing him. We aren't pushing for finals, so why not let him develop his body strength and conditioning whilst playing at Casey? Everyone could see that Majak Daw had talent, but north have let him develop his game and his body in the VFL and he is now ready to explode onto the scene now. We should have learnt our lesson with what happened to Watts. Sure Hoges appears to be ready and certainly has more agro than Watts did, but he just turned 18, he is still very much a kid. I just don't see the need to risk exposing him prematurely. Just as I wouldn't want Clark or Trengove rushed back into the side for round 1. 2013 will hopefully be a better year than last, but it's 2014 when I think we will start to seriously entertain the idea of pushing for finals. A fit Clark, Dawes and a raring to go Hogan next summer is what I want to see.

Yes it does, it explains it clearly. Just because you can't join the dots doesn't mean that it isn't an explanation. Honestly, your inability to take Logic Point A and Logic Point B, and mix them together to get a reasoned argument still amazes me after 8 years.

No, that would be stupid, a waste of time and resources.

Great practice. If you can play sport, we'll fast track your citizenship. If you're not, you can rot in Nauru etc.

I have maintained throughout that people who were once close to the club undermined it during the course of the tanking investigation. Given that it is now common knowledge that four such people (all former employees) gave their version of the "vault" to Clothier and Haddad that proposition would seem self-evident. The club's interests were undermined by the evidence they gave. That is a fact and not a smear. I am not suggesting they lied but it's clear that others gave different evidence.My information is that at a particular point in time (September/October) the enquiry was going nowhere and was indeed in danger of folding. I have been informed that the "vault" information was voluntarily provided to the investigation by a former employee and the consequences were that the investigators recalled all witnesses and a number of different versions of the vault story entailed. As we know, despite the different versions, both the AFL and the MFC had advice from their respective senior counsel that the "tanking" case against the club had little likelihood of success in court. The "vault" evidence was therefore crucial to the ultimate outcome (convoluted as it was). I was also told that whoever informed the investigation of that story gave that information to Wilson as well. In addition, I know several people connected with the club (past or present) were privy to what Wilson knew and what the AFL knew and that there was a difference between the two stories. This connects Wilson directly to this group of people and the informants to the investigation. One other matter suggested was that the person who "squealed" to Wilson had previously supplied her with information about a different matter which was designed to embarrass the club and which subsequently proved to be untrue. Do you really believe that Wilson came about information which led her to produce her damning opinion pieces aimed at the club, Cameron Schwab and Chris Connolly and suggesting that all would be heavily punished from friendly or benign sources? The story and its back stories ring true with me and suggest there are people with past associations with the club who have continuing grievances with individuals at the club which might undermine the club's interests in the future. Please note that contrary to what you might think, I am not pointing to a specific person or even a group of people: they could come from a number of groups with past associations with the club who might be disgruntled. However, based on what I know, there are more people involved than just the four disgruntled former employees out of thirty witnesses who gave the "evidence" upon which the AFL made its decision notwithstanding that its clear that the club did not breach the AFL's tanking laws which was what the investigation was supposed to be about.

I agree RPFC There seems to be a united view that those who have left are the main ones who have spoken. As I have previously stated it is hard to tell lies to a professional interogator at an arranged meeting. Stories told may not have been for bitter reasons and may merely have just provided information. It is then twisted into propagander by Wilson et al. I hate the way we are eager to accuse and incite hatred to those that worked for us or served in a voluntary role on the board. Sure some arent happy but that doesnt mean they are working against us. It works against us as a club if we dont let it go.

In the past 5AA in South Australia have broadcast the preseason games from Adelaide but I'm not sure whether they will be broadcasting the game from Renmark. I sent 5AA a tweet but they have not responded. They did respond last year when I sent a similar tweet. If anyone else wants to tweet them the same thing then that would be great. Surely they will reply to someone if they receive enough tweets about it. Their twitter handle is @1395FIVEaa UPDATE: FIVEAA confirmed to me via Facebook that they will be broadcasting the game on Sunday via the afl.com.au website.

We do not want Outstanding young men. We want men with mongrel.

In 2012 we were largely irrelevant Until we start winning a reasonable number of games we will continue to be treated that way.

It would be great to see Pickles get a guernsey. A rough trot with injury has been his only failure and the showing against St. Kilda a couple of years back proves he's got the hunger and skill to get and use the footy. Heart and head agrees the Evans will get his opportunities via the Sub although it will be via stiff competition from M Jones.

Evans is the bloke I think can step up and find a regular game. His run and carry is excellent and his over head marking is good for his size. Don't let jetta's body type fool you. He loves a contest and doesn't mind going body on body with someone. I think he is a defender not a small forward.

Coming from the Brisbane program I would imagine Clark would've had a better fitness base than many of our team pre David Misson's arrival. I'm sure there would be some lingering effects from the ethic he had previously which was demonstrated in him showing up half our team five minutes after arriving.

What's with all this 90%, 100%, 85% malarkey? The guy's not going to play till the coach/s want him to. Simple. Too much maths for my liking here.

Jack Grimes, Nathan Jones, Chris Dawes, Tom McDonald, Jack Watts, Jordie McKenzie, Jeremy Howe, David Rodan, Mark Jamar, Colin Garland, Shannon Byrnes, Lynden Dunn, Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Viney have all been rested. Yes, Allen we are 'talking about practice.' Good luck to the kids.

Sellars is probably 70% the player Clark is. With that in mind, it is smarter/safer to play Sellars at 100%, than Clark at 70%.

I agree, Roost It. Nathan Jones is a quality player, but if he wants to win a flag, he'd be hoping for at LEAST one midfielder a class above him on the team, and probably two.

I can't see the current footy dept recruiting anything other than outstanding young men. At long last there's a system in place and a criteria to work against.

Wines V Viney

I think you need to revise your understanding of the facts. The Gardiner Board took over an absolute "basket case" - remember the PAYG tax bill in s secretary's desk drawer? They got us back on our feet - began the reconciliation with the MCC, solidified our influence at the Bentleigh Club, initiated the AAMI deal - and initiated the Casey alignment. Unfortunately they over-rated our list at a time when Sports Science was making its mark - and we were stuck in a hole at the Junction Oval. This undid a lot of their good work - but strategically ( with the critical additions of fund-raising) they pointed the way to the current board. As I have noted above, the bone is now pointing more clearly at former employees than former directors Anyway ... back to topic. Let's see how wrong Wilson can get Essendon !!!

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/waiting-game-20130226-2f4at.html Perfect example why hogan shouldn't play this year. dont agree with it. Just let him learn his trade, develope his body and strength and get his confidence up and going. I can bet my left plum he will make a sudden impact next year and hit the ground running if he is developed through the VFL this year

Saw "Life of Pi" today and have to say it is pretty close to being the "perfect" film. The imagery, the story, the acting...everything about this film oozes class and has restored my faith in Ang Lee as a director. There are a couple of scenes that didn't quite work so well, but overall it struck all of the right emotional chords without being too melodramatic. Not a violent film, not an action film (although there are a couple of scenes that have you on the edge of the seat) and despite it employing a lot of generated effects, it is not even a film that strikes as being effects laden. I loved it, my partner loved it and my 10 year old son loved it. It's hard to describe and do it justice, but suffice to say that it works on so many levels and it had me wanting to see it again before we had reached home.