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My thoughts on today. ■ Spencer runs pretty well for a big fella. He is a massive man. ■ Viney has a very solid core. ■ Viney and Michie did some kicking drills after some 60 odd metre run throughs. Michie appears to have a neat kick on him. ■ Clark looks to be going pretty well. Something would have to go wrong for him to not make round 1. ■ McDonald is a great runner. (I know we all know this) he doesn't just lead every run, he dominates them. ■ Trenners has started back very well in the running stakes. The new interchange rules will suit him. It will take the sting out of the pace near the end of quarters. ■ I chatted to Chip, Watts and Dunn when going back to my car. They did the tan and then runs up the Anderson Street hill. For anyone that has done this before it is hard work that hill. They aren't really back until the 18th. ■ Josh Mahoney said that there will be 15 players plus the draftees on this date. He is very positive about the way things are going. ■ Evans is running pretty well. I hope he has a decent run with no injuries. ■ Howe looks very fit so early. ■ Matt jones has a bit of work to do running especially with the new rules. Not saying he is unfit, just needs some work. I guess it is his first real pre-season. I'm hoping all the current mids push hard and push each other. ■ Hogan did lots of running with Viney and Michie. The kid really can run and is a big unit. ■ They did some short ball work but its mostly about running. ■ Tyson ran mostly the whole session. ■ My mate's favourite player Terlich, ran off and did the tan after the ball work while most did a timed run. ■ The run was about 5 minutes as far as they could go. McDonald led easily. Fitzy was about a half lap behind at the end. ■ Nicholson and Hogan did a kicking drill near me. Nicho kicked the ball really well. He obviously has some decision making issues during games which affects his kicking. Maybe Roosy can simplify things for him to help this. I am not a negative person and try to take positives from everything but he will be under the pump under roos game plan if he can't do this. ■ I didn't see Blease go near a footy and he ran the whole time. ■ Toumpas will really benefit from his first preseason uninjured. He ran well and kicks beautifully. ■ Rawlings is everywhere at training. He impresses me. He appears to have a rapport with everyone.

Shut up, Jaded.

I think we've been through all the argy bargy about Liam, his rise and fall and his troubles over the past two years. The bloke's just trying to pick up the pieces and get his life in order. I understand he's been cleared to play his first game with the Tiwi tomorrow. Former Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah set to reunite with Austin Wonaeamirri at Tiwi Bombers Why don't we just wish him well in that and leave him be? I'll be looking for the results and supporting him with the hope that he and his community can all find some peace and contentment.

All of the players you mention above were slow with average to poor disposal. Michie may, or may not make it, but he has good pace and is a better kick than those above. He's also bigger. Add Roos' keenness and Freo wanting to retain him then there's at least some cause for optimism. Naturally, we all want to see him perform or he'll just be like the rest of our duds. Even then, he couldn't possibly be worse than McKenzie. Faster, better skilled and couldn't possibly be a worse decision maker.

My mate is an Aboriginal elder who had never seen the Centre, so he took off and had an extended look earlier this year. Without prompting him, he spoke at length when he returned about how depressed and depressing and clearly dangerous the place was around and in Yuendumu. Surely, we have no idea. I'd love to see Liam Jurrah resurrect his career. If he did, please let it be not against us, and please let it be with us! So he's got problems, he didn't make the choices we reckon we would've. Quite apart from the extraordinary problems of the background he couldn't fully leave, he is also clearly a man with quite extraordinary talent inside him. Talent doesn't conform, often. Beethoven, van Gogh, Leonardo, Mozart, Chopin, Cellini, Picasso, Dylan Thomas, Einstein, Socrates, etc etc etc were all to us weird blokes one way and another, and all certainly made some very peculiar choices. I don't like thugs, but they have their place in a team. I like intelligence, but Ablett was pretty impressive as a footballer. Polly Farmer and Tiger Crosswell and Jeff Farmer etc etc etc had issues. Conclusion: a bit of variety in people doesn't have to be a problem, if you have the management ability to harness it all. In an homogenised and bland club, or one reeling from its own incompetence, you'd run from the thought of another try with Jurrah; but I trust the management team we now have. I think to so authoritatively condemn the prospect of Jurrah possibly returning to AFL is a sad and dumb response to what for-all-we-on-here-would-know could be a real opportunity for something exceptional. I think narrow-mindedness and lack of imagination/trust (or maybe shell-shock, from disasters unrelated to Liam Jurrah) is colouring some posters' thoughts on the distant glimmer of a possible Jurrah return. Sit tight I say, watch and see - Melbourne-supporting is in new territory, the club is in wiser hands...

I went down to training today, and have in a few seasons gone past. One thing that stuck me almost immediately was how hands-on and involved Roos is. He was running the drills, he was giving the instructions and telling them what he wanted them to do. During one simple drill where they were running back and forth picking up a loose ball and handballing it off he stopped them all, told them a more effective technique, physically demonstrated it, then had them start again. "Much better" came the call not long after. Saw that happen several times in numerous drills. I don't recall seeing Neeld EVER get involved in anything like that. He tended to stand back and watch everything while the assistants ran the drills. Re the laps they were doing, Tom McDonald smashed them as usual. At the other end of the field, Maia Westrupp was struggling. In the time it took McDonald to do three full laps of the oval, Westrupp managed just over two. The next slowest was Fitzy who was about half a lap ahead. I was watching Clark pretty closely most of the time and like Ruffles mentioned earlier, he looks fine. Running well and kicking great of both feet.

Despite a few departures which are par for the course every year, the Casey Scorpions are looking far more settled than they were 12 months ago. At that time, the club was staring in the face of extinction in the wake of the loss of poker machine licences, had no coach and concerns about keeping their playing list together. Senior coach Rohan Welsh has been reappointed for the role in 2014 but gone from the list will be former skipper Kyle Matthews, vice captain Luke Tynan, ex-Magpie Danny Nicholls and Michael Riseley. That's a large pile of experience but the club has been active in re-signing many of its younger guns who have come through the club's local areas and there will be an influx of this year's talent from the under 18s. Some of the names won't be finalised until after this year's drafts but with an earlier date for the rookie draft, the club will have more time to work on its recruiting for next year. Jake Best, the speedster who was such a revelation this year, is a good chance to be drafted but if not, is likely to be back with the Scorpions. One of 2013's big improvers is Mitch Gent who had also signed on again although he might be a rookie chance. The Scorpions have launched a new initiative - an academy for local area youngsters - From Casey to Fremantle, Scorpions new academy a testament to trailblazer Alex Silvagni. Recently delisted Demon Tom Couch has rejoined Collingwood while former players James Wall and Rian McGough have joined Richmond's stand alone VFL team. Demon fans might recall Ryan Ferguson who once famously refused to be traded to Hawthorn in a deal which would have brought Brad Sewell to the club. He is transferring from West Adelaide to the now stand alone Williamstown. Another name in the news that's well known to Demon fans is Nick Sautner who has been appointed CEO of the WA Football Commission.

I don't know if it's been mentioned here or elsewhere but Billy has been included in the prestigious 2013/4 AIS/AFL Academy Squad along with a number of other highly youngsters who will no doubt figure predominantly in draft calculations next year. In addition, he's been included in Bigfooty on Knightmare's 2014 Power Rankings in tenth place. Here's his top 10 and get used to the names which will appear in phantom drafts in the not to distant future. 1. Peter Wright (VIC - KPF/Ruck) 2. Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF) 3. Jarrod Pickett (WA - Fwd) 4. Alec Waterman (WCE WA - Mid - F/S) 5. Peter Bampton (SA Mid) 6. Jake Lever (VIC - Def) 7. Hugh Goddard (VIC - KPF) 8. Clem Smith (WA - Util) 9. Christian Petracca (VIC - Fwd) 10. Billy Stretch (Melb SA - F/S)

tbf, you need to seek help...........urgently obsessive behaviour disorders are treatable but only if you act quickly

Whilst I agree with your analysis Goodoil, the reason I think Michie will prove to be a bloody great pick up is that: 1. He was a required player at Freo - they wanted to keep him; and 2. Freo has one of the best midfields in the competition. I'll be absolutely stunned if he's not in our best 22 in 5 months from now.

Our chances melted away....

I just remember the great joy in watching him play. Will he be back? more than most probably not. Is it a shame? yes. Will he make it back to AFL? the odds are against him, it would take a miracle. They do happen, and I hope it does for Liam but chances are very slim. For a very brief period he was the most exciting player in the game.

The groundsmen are removing the stench of the former tenants. Due to lack of rain it lingered longer than expected.

Went along today, but it's the first one I've seen so hard to make comparisons.. but I'll go through my observations: Kent and Tapscott went back into AAMI after a short while and didn't return. Hogan, Viney, Michie, Nicholson were in a separate group doing running drills and then handball and kicking drills led by Miller. Byrnes was with them early before heading back into AAMI. Tyson did lots of running drills with above group / alone and looked fine, before joining another group for handball and kicking. Have to say, his reflexes by hand are bloody impressive! Frawley, Watts and Dunn went past (not in uniform) doing their own training and jogged across to the Tan. The main Group (Gawn, Spencer, Pederson, McDonald, M Jones, Howe, Toumpas, Trengove, Evans, Terlich, Fitzpatrick, Clisby) did a couple timed runs around the paddock and should be no surprise that McDonald was first each time. Followed by Trengove, Evans, Howe and Toumpas (last 3 pretty close, not always that order). Gawn left probably about half way through. Blease seemed to be on his own program. Did quite a few laps and some kicking drills with Miller. Clark started kicking with a trainer before joining the main group for mark > handball > kick drill and other handball drills. He then did laps with Westrupp, helping the kid out. Clarks running was good and kicking was fairly spot on. Westrupp looks a fair way off but having a good crack. Brad Miller quite vocal, firm and encouraging but having a laugh too - like the way he goes about it. Toumpas going pretty hard and a beaut kick. Spencer struggled with a few ball gathering from your feet drills but was running really well.. even overtook M Jones. Trengove leading from the front. Anyway, nothing too technical but that's what I got out of it.

Well, I tried the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and the Venetian but none of them had even heard of Melbourne Australia let alone the footy club......They were happy to take my money though......Bastards....Also tried Wall St but the same result.....

Stevo, our resident draft guru of recent years is taking a sabbatical from the elite under 18 scene but did get to see some games at the end of the season. Here's his take on some players of interest. POINTS OF DIFFERENCE by Stevo With less than two weeks to go before this year's AFL National Draft I have to confess I am far less familiar with the pool of players available for selection than at any time in the past twenty or so years. I watched all of this year's televised national championship games but that's not the same as watching them in the flesh so to speak. If you really want to assess a player you need to see what's going on when he's out of shot and not on screen. I recently ended my association with the Under 18s competition and went back to coaching local junior football so I didn't get much of a chance to see the elite youngsters until my team's season was over. Only then did I manage to catch a couple of late TAC Cup rounds while following a relative with the Murray Bushrangers. Fortunately, that took me to see games involving a few of the players named among the list of players who could be selected by Melbourne at selection 9 and, at Demonland's request, here are some of my impressions: The Sandringham Dragons traditionally have a high number of APS players on their lists and consequently suffer when school commitments take precedence. This year, they failed to make the finals despite comfortably beating two finallists at the end of the home and away season. I saw them demolish the Bushies in Round 16 at Victoria Park. Brighton Grammarian Josh Kelly dominated in an outside midfielder role, running at will, amassing 36 disposals and kicking two goals. The son of former North Melbourne star Phil Kelly, Josh should go top three which became out of reach for the Demons once they traded selection two to the Giants. However, the Dragons had three other stand out potential AFL midfielders that day (little wonder that they dominated) and it's mids that Melbourne wants according to every man and dog this side of the black stump, so let's look at them. Haileybury College student Nathan Freeman, known for his athleticism and explosive bursts of pace, was in fine fettle picking up 30 touches but he was wasteful in front of goal with four behinds although scoring on the day was difficult because of the difficult cross wind. The performance wasn't enough to give him votes in the competition best and fairest (he didn't poll at all in 2013) but if his electric performance can be translated onto football's biggest stage and if he's drafted by Melbourne as many of the pundits are suggesting, then he will certainly provide a point of difference within the team's on ball division. Another mid size player who caught my eye was slightly built Zach Merrett whose brother is on the Bombers list. Merrett is even more "outside" than Kelly and had close to 30 disposals. While he won't come under consideration at #9, is a chance to be drafted around the Demons' later pick at 40. Paul Roos is looking for bigger bodied players but in what they say is a "shallow draft", beggars can't be chosers and given time, this young bloke might develop into a very handy winger and that is such an important position on the MCG. Kelly's schoolmate, Christian Salem is a strongly built player with great kicking skills on either side of the body and he exudes confidence and is tough. It would not surprise if he was ready to move early into AFL ranks wherever selected in much the same way that Nick Vlastuin fitted in at Richmond this year. Salem kicked a couple of goals and efficiently used his 20 odd possessions. Christian Salem The following week, I headed off to Wangaratta where the fifth placed Northern Knights lost a see saw battle by three points in an exciting game that saw the Bushrangers cement their place in the final eight. But it was the form of two visiting players that I was looking forward to on the day. A week earlier, Marcus Bontempelli, a tallish player with great athleticism had blitzed with five goals, This time around, he played well but his disposal was somewhat erratic and he was overshadowed by a teammate who I had seen playing as a high forward in the national championships. Ben Lennon was on fire in the final round of the season and was now in the middle collecting 37 touches and going forward for a goal. If you're looking for a pure footballer, this bloke is the way to go. He's 188cm, is a beautiful long kick, has good hands and is all class. How could I finish without mentioning a couple of Bushies players? Jarman Impey is a smallish, dynamic forward line crumber with some real indigenous excitement about him. If you want a little bloke (he's 177cm) at pick 40 who can tear up the forward linear the feet of your tall forwards, he's your man if available. Also within that range is teammate Nick Holman who was good in the win over the Knights (he missed the week before). Don't let that shock of blond hair fool you. He's tough and strong, has footy smarts and impresses as exactly the type of midfielder who would fit well into the Roos mould. He capped his season off playing in a premiership with Kyabram and we all know who the last Demon champion was to come from there. Nick Holman I also attended some TAC Cup finals and my report on the preliminary finals is here but on what little I saw of the TAC Cup this year, the player who impressed me the most was Lennon who I also saw star with three goals in the first week of the finals. Like Freeman, he's a point of difference player. FOOTNOTE 1 After providing the impressions above, it was brought to my attention that there had been criticism of Lennon in some quarters, partly because he apparently tested poorly at the Draft Combine. I don't know what the fuss is about. He plays a solid brand of football and if, in the early days of his conversion into a midfielder, he has achieved such strong numbers then he can only improve more with the right sort of training and a couple of years in a full-time AFL system under the likes of Roos, Misson and George Stone should see him end up a more accomplished footballer than the bloke he might be replacing at half forward/midfield in the Melbourne line up and held the same position for the better part of a decade. The other main contender, Freeman, is quite different in one respect in that he is a pure athlete who plays an explosive brand of football. Which one will the Demons chose? Or (noting I haven't seen much of the interstate contenders) perhaps it will it be someone else? FOOTNOTE 2 Three of the players mentioned above as being in line for selection at #9 made the AFL Prospectus Top 25 draft prospects. Here are their profiles:- Marcus Bontempelli​ Northern U18 midfielder, 188cm plays like Scott Pendlebury Between school commitments at Marcellin College, Bontempelli played nine matches at TAC Cup level for the Northern Knights before breaking his collarbone in Round 15. He is a medium defender/midfielder with a raking left foot who breaks the lines and has good endurance. For the Knights he averaged 16 disposals, seven contested possessions, nine uncontested possessions, three inside 50s and three tackles per game. Ben Lennon (Northern U18) 187cm, utility plays Like: Brendon Goddard Since the age of seven, Lennon had captained every junior team he has played with Macleod. We first saw him at the 2011 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships where he had elite averages of 17 disposals, 11 uncontested possessions and 106 Champion Data ranking points playing with Vic Metro. Strong overhead and a well-balanced right foot kick, he played mainly across half-back for the Northern Knights at TAC Cup level in 2012 where his elite averages included 18 disposals and five intercept possessions. At the 2012 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships he played three of five games, averaging 12 disposals and an elite six marks per match, with his performance against NT the standout, finishing with 20 disposals, 10 marks and two goals. Christian Salem​ (Sandringham​ U 18) 182cm midfielder​ plays like Jordan Lewis. Salem is a hard running midfielder who battled injury for most of 2011, managing three matches at the 2011 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. In 2012, alongside school commitments for Brighton Grammar, he played 10 TAC Cup matches with Sandringham and three matches for Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. He played predominately on the wing and across half back for the Dragons in 2012, averaging 21 disposals, 12 uncontested possessions, five marks and five tackles, while at state level his averages included nine disposals and three marks, rating above average for applying pressure and score assists. And I would be breaking with tradition if I didn't share the Inside Football special edition's pen pictures of the players I mentioned as being within the club's range at picks 9 and 40. Heights and weights are as supplied but these might have changed as a result of measurements taken at the Draft Combine: Marcus Bontempelli Northern Knights 24/11/95 H: 191cm W: 83kg Bonts is the cousin of Nick Dal Santo and also Liam Hunt. He broke his collarbone last year but has really come on after the past 12 months. When he came into the midfield [after the national championships] he was sensational. He's got a big motor and he ran well in the 3km trial and did well in the beep test. He is a very good, penetrating kick on his left side and will turn into a big-bodied midfielder like Jobe Watson and Josh Kennedy. He was probably a top 25 pick at the start of the year, but he's really jumped up in calculations now and will probably go in the top 10 - possibly as high as pick six. - Northern region manager Peter Kennedy DRAFT RANGE: Top 10 Nathan Freeman Sandringham Dragons 16/6/95 H: 182cm W: 85kg Like Josh Kelly, he took the combine by storm not only with his testing but with his personality he was up and about all week. His personality is a bit like the way he plays its up and about and sometimes a bit in your face, but in a good way, but I think hes exciting and we are going to be talking about him in the next few years at AFL level taking the game on and doing really well. Hes got that electric burst of speed but has also worked very hard on his endurance and has firmed right into a possible first round pick chance as he plays football for the current day AFL like a Luke Shuey or even a Daniel Kerr. - Sandringham region manager Ryan OConnor DRAFT RANGE: Top 10 Nick Holman Murray Bushrangers 29/5/95 H: 187cm W: 79kg Nick is another ripper. He's come a long way - he was more of a key forward at Under 16 level and only played a few games last year but this year he was vice captain, inside midfielder in round 1 at the first centre bounce. He won Vic Country's MVP at the nationals and his speed, endurance, work-rate and application are as good as anyone going around. He's good at winning his own ball in close but can run and carry the length of the ground. In terms of his training and professionalism, he is outstanding and he also played in the Goulburn Valley senior grand final this year kicking three goals. - Murray region manager Andrew Carson DRAFT RANGE: 2nd/3rd round Jarman Impey Murray Bushrangers 9/7/95 H: 177cm W: 78kg This kid has something that a lot of people haven't got - he's got speed, he's got vertical leap. Aerobically was his biggest deficiency, but he's worked super hard in that regard. He's missed the past two pre-seasons so he's come in under-done, but his evasive skills are enormous and he has raw speed. Jars is a competitive kid and has great skills so he can play as a small forward of back, but down the track he will develop into a midfielder we hope. He will be one of our first kids picked. - Murray region manager Andrew Carson DRAFT RANGE: 2nd round Ben Lennon Northern Knights 5/7/95 H: 188cm W: 78kg Ben has had a terrific season even though he only played seven games. At the start of the year he was away with the AIS, then he had school football and Vic Metro. When he came back he went into the midfield, which was really good for him, as he had always played as the high half forward. His point of difference is his kicking - he really is an elite kick. He's got good vision and footy smarts but going into the midfield added another string to his bow. His area of improvement is his tank - he's always been a burst-type player but he's an excellent mark for his size as we saw in the nationals. In his first two games in the TAC Cup as a 16-year-old he kicked four goals in each, which is pretty rare! - Northern region manager Peter Kennedy DRAFT RANGE: Top 10 Zac Merrett Sandringham Dragons 3/10/95 H: 178cm W: 73kg Zac's the brother of Essendon's Jackson. He's a Cobram boy who boards at Melbourne Grammar so we only had him for a handful of games this year but he has great footy smarts and awareness and is a beautiful user of the ball by foot. He has good pace and agility and can really break the lines with the ball in his hands and is dangerous around goal. At the moment he is more of a half forward than a midfielder, but in a full-time system he can build his tank. - Sandringham region manager Ryan OConnor DRAFT RANGE: 2nd/3rd round Christian Salem Sandringham Dragons 15/7/95 H: 183cm W: 81kg He's one of the excitement packets who can play just about anywhere and even showed that he can play as an inside midfielder after some time in a full-time program. He's been played predominantly outside as people have wanted to make full use of his elite kicking, but he seems to have handled the microscope pretty well he revels on playing on a big stage and when the chips are down he is the one to really lift. He should go pretty early, we would think. - Sandringham region manager Ryan OConnor DRAFT RANGE: Top 10

Do the crime do the time, Liam's done that and can strive for whatever he pleases.

He was a good communicator that Neeld.

Wishing people well is the opposite of wishing people ill. You don't need to approve of someone's crimes or lifestyle to wish someone well. Not sure where in WJ's post you got the message that those actions were perfectly fine. I've known a few indigenous men who have been ratbags in thier younger days to then become good elders and leaders in thier later years trying to steer young blokes in the right direction. The hate has to stop somewhere.

Nice win by the Vikings yesterday but it was no real surprise. Washington have underachieved this season but so have the Vikings (both teams made the playoffs last year) Ponder had a good game after a scratchy start and AP is getting back to his best form. Cassel did ok when he replaced Ponder (they're saying that the injury is not a major one - he may be back next week) As an aside, the Packers will almost certainly need Minnesota's help in order to have any chance of make the playoffs. As for the Packers ... They might be having a look at Matt Flynn but it's doubtful it would make much difference between Flynn, Wallace, Vince Young or any other back-up QB who is not already at another team. You're effectively replacing one of the League's best with another QB who can't even get a back-up role at 31 of the other teams. In other words bringing in a QB ranked in the 70's or worse isn't going to help much (especially in the way Green Bay are set up and with all the other injury concerns) Rodgers just can't be replaced - it's as simple as that. As for having a QB with the team since before the start of the season, they did have Vince Young in that role but there were most probably some major issues with him as well. Besides all that, he's not that good a player. Most of the teams that the Packers are up against in the next 6 weeks have underachieved to varying degrees this season. These teams are almost sure to want to notch up some wins in the last half of the season. Green Bay's improved running game is all that needs to be curtailed in all reality (Lacy is no AP!) Can't see Rodgers returning until at least week 14 (more likely week 16) so it's going to be a colossal ask to win enough games without him. This is apart from any replacement back-up QB having any real effective targets - apart from Nelson. Even with Rodgers playing, the lack of effective targets was always going to be an issue going forward. I suppose there's always hope Anyway ... here's Bill Simmons column from 'Grantland' ... The 18 in Limbo

Yes please ... if his name's Jarman then it's about time even if he's not related to the Jarman brothers! I can remember coming home from work in the mid 80s and picking up the afternoon paper (yes, we had them in those days) and reading about Melbourne's interest in a young gun centreman from North Adelaide named Andrew Jarman. In the VFL national draft we picked his brother Andrew at #55 but neither of them came to us and the rest is history. Somehow Hawthorn convinced Darren to come for a few years before he went back home to join Andrew in the new Adelaide Crows. It's not far fetched to think that had we convinced those two to cross the border and come to us then our teams of the late 80s and the first half of the 90s might have given the flag a shake. Jarman Impey sounds good to me. Perhaps with Dom Barry they might form a dangerous combination at the feet of our tall brigade on the forward line?

WJ you are being anything but fair on Michie. You saw him play one and half quarters of football. In his first game of AFL. Against Geelong. At Geelong. Yet you think "he struggled to keep up with the tempo of the game" and isn't an automatic selection in our best 22. Christ...

It's a bit of a shambles when it comes to the QB at Minnesota. Freeman gets one week to get used to the offence, gets a game and plays poor. So it;s back to Ponder while until yesterday the only QB with a win is our 3rd stringer. Washington had all the play and possession. They should have won. Vikings secondary is really ordinary and injuries don't help. Our pass rush is still pretty good with Kevin WIlliams still going well and first round pick Floyd going ok with Robinson and Jared Allen on the edge all day Washington started to give up sacks at important parts of the game. Skins can still win the division though. Hell the Giants might get up. As you said the skins had the same record last year. Loved the story about Alfred Morris refusing to buy a new car because he still fears getting cut. He is driving around in a 1991 Mazda.

The irony of your post would be quite something if you happened to be using a wi-fi connection.

It's possible to have compassion for his background and circumstances and still not want him anywhere near your footy club.

Thanks for the reports. It's much appreciated by those of us who can't ever take time off to attend training. I'm cautiously excited about Clark!

Yes there is a glimmer, isn't there. I feel better coming in to this season than I have since 2007, but that lasted for about a quarter. Hopefully this will last a bit more and for the first time since swooper I think we are in good hands. I know Neale got us to a GF but I never thought we had a chance of winning it.

I could understand your employers encouraging you to take time out of the office.

Great write up DS. Please attend training more often.

No play caller ever says go long up the middle to 2 deep safeties. It's Ponder's inability to either read the defense pre snap or vision to see the play. Whatever you make of Ponder's accuracy, mobility, heart, arm strength it's his lack of vision that is his greatest undoing. Misses open receivers and then throws in to coverage.

We all know and acknowledge the importance of stoppages. One of the main players in a stoppage is a ruckman. And Jamar averaged the same amount of kicks in 2010 to 2013, 4 more handballs in 2010, nearly 1 mark more in 2010, half a goal more in 2010, 1.3 tackles less in 2010, and 4 HOs less in 2010. He didn't do much more around the ground at all. An extra goal every two games and 4 handballs a game from his one extra mark. He got AA for his work with Moloney that was so publicised, and because of the dearth of good ruckmen. I have had a look at the past few years and the MFC is rarely out of the top 8 when it comes to HOs, but we are always the outlier when looking at clearances. The AFL average (minus the MFC) in clearances has been 37.6, 37.9, 38.1, and 35.1 in the past 4 years. The clearance average of the two teams above and two teams below us (in the HOs) is 39, 39.8, 38.8, and 36.2 in those years. The clearance average of the MFC has been 32.5, 33.9, 36.6, and 34.2 in those years. So the teams around us in hitouts have won 6.5, 5.9, 2.2, and 2 more clearances a game than us in those years. We should be doing better with the HOs we have been getting but we have not had the midfield to maximise the advantage the way that other clubs have.

For those interested. Fahey on the aunty

why would clubs be advertising who they want to pick. it's not in their interests it is more in their interests to obfuscate and lie i don't place any credence in these "rumours" except perhaps for the top 3

Here's a comparison... AFL Games: Neitz - 306 Hogan - 0 I'm excited as anyone, but let's let the kid play.

Out of all you've said, this is the one thing I disagree with. I might find a close mates actions vile and reprehensible, but when they made their biggest mistake, or needed me most I'd like to think I'd be supportive. And my support would in no way condone their actions.

Toady, your bar is set very low.

In 2013 a B&F winner in a 4th tier comp would have been a walk up start in our midfield. I'm going to stick my neck out somewhat and say that barring injury, Michie will be picked before McKenzie, Bail and Evans in 2014. Having said that, the decision to select a player each week is based on far more than just comparing them to their peers.

Joe Daniher turned his back on the Swans and I bet he kicks himself every day. What a move, lol.

I wouldn't say it's wrong, they're his mates. I wouldn't visit my mate in prison if he belted a woman, that's just me.

Thankyou for the update KC There were many weekends this year where keeping track of Casey games was infinitely more rewarding and interesting than Melbourne ones. I'm hoping next year the Scorps will benefit from having a host of fully fit Demon players pushing hard for spots in the winning senior side

Cool?

I think its time we talk about that get together again. I suggest we should have one either just after the draft or the rookie draft. Any thoughts for those who live local in Melbourne?

My take on Michie. Roos and FD arent likely to be recruiting bench warmers. They are looking to kickstart the midfield. They must reckon he goes ok and 54 was probably a bargain . How many of this years list would even get a game with Freo ? I think if fit he'll develop into a very handy solid B grader. Thats ok by me

In the end Ponder really made some clutch plays before he went down. Great win for your guys even though the Skins are having a hard time as well. I share your frustration with play calling

I think that if Neita had stayed in the back line he would have been one of the all time greats; as it is he had to play up forward when Ox went down and for most of the time, had to carry the whole forward line. If he was a bit more selfish he probably would have done better, but he is without doubt one of the nicest guys and least egotistical player we have ever had. It beggars belief that after all the time he spent at the club some can only put [censored] on him.

I think the OP might have been overdosing on the film Zulu.

This sort of ignorant dribble is so depressing... Kids that have grown up in a desert community such as Yuendumu are born into poverty and some of the worst housing conditions you will see anywhere in the world and are exposed to disease, murder, suicide, rape and domestic violence from nappies. Every family has found a teenager hanging from the rafters, lost a sister or aunty to domestic violence murder or had to confront sexual abuse, if not all three all of the time. If kids have not succumbed to untreated mental illness and the criminal justice system during their teenage years, the only high education and employment options available are 1,000s of kilometres away in places that are completely foreign and isolating to someone from a remote community. Then when the next inevitable family tragedy occurs these young people feel they have no choice but to pack in their course or job and return to their country to mourn with their family. Yet people still insist Liam chose to destroy his AFL career the day he threw a can of Emu down his throat. It is a shame that all the media around Liam's background that was all the rage when he was kicking goals seems to have been so quickly forgotten.

No the dream is over.

I... hope... so? No, that's not right...

I'm willing to predict our 1st rounder will be early in 2014 so only a very few clubs will be able to force us to use it.