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Do we really need a "Grgic" award? He was a player who's confidence was significantly effected by the treatment he got from supporters and the whole concept of a "supporter" group voting on a player they don't like seems a complete contradiction in terms. Recently there have been references to the impact that continued criticism would have on Mark Neeld and the fact that he is a "husband and a father". The same respect should be shown to the players who bear the brunt of supporter anger and disappointment and who have no right of reply. Lets dump the "Grgic" award and its tastelessness. I would, of course, be happy to have a "Grgic" award for the worst poster on DL, that could be a lot more fun and at least the person would have the right of reply!

I don't care about the first 5 games as such although we'll know by the end of them whether the optimism of some is vindicated. I'm one who is genuinely optimistic. Where we finish, or how we go, this year will depend on how bad we really were last year. Two wins and a percentage of 54 is about as bad as it gets but I can't get away from the fact that under Bailey, a totally dysfunctional club and a divided footy department we won 8.5 games in 2011. Out of that 2011 list is Bartram, Bate, Bennell, Cook, Davey, Davis, Green, Gysberts, Jurrah, Macdonald, Maric, Martin, Moloney, Morton, Petterd, Rivers, Scully, Sylvia, Warnock, Jetta and Wonaeamirri. 21 from our primary list. IMO only Rivers, Moloney, Green and Bartram are players who really consistently impacted. On are Hogan, Salem, Toumpas, Viney, Dawes, Byrnes, Clark, Cross, Tyson, Michie, Riley, Vince, Barry, Kennedy Harris, Hughes, Nicholson (RP), Clisby, Terlich, Jones, Kent, Petersen and Evans (RP). You'd have to think that Cross, Vince, Dawes and Clark could have the impact of the 4 major players we lost and the balance of players are better than those lost. (I've ignored the rookie list and think I've missed one or two players!) Interestingly I reckon of the players lost only 3 were genuine mids - Gysberts, Moloney and Scully. You could argue one or two others - Sylvia and Morton. Scully and Gysberts played 25 games between them in 2011 and Moloney 22 for a total of 47 midfield games. There are 9 genuine mid replacements - Salem, Toumpas, Viney, Cross, Tyson, Michie, Vince, Jones and Riley. You could argue a couple of others - Evans and Kent. You'd have to reckon that group would play 100 games between them this year. Now if Roos is a better coach than Bailey and we have a better list with much more depth in our midifield - why is it so hard to believe we can improve very significantly on last year and not surpass what we did in 2011? You'd have to think players like Grimes, Howe, McKenzie, Trengove and Watts, who all played some good footy under Bailey, will be better under Roos with another 2 years under the belt. And it's interesting to think that in 2011 Jurrah and Watts were our key forwards - FMD, how did we score (Jurrah 40, Green 37, Sylvia 25 and Watts 21)? Bailey was a lot better than many gave him credit for. Our best team on the field this year is quite capable of being competitive with most other than the top tier. One of the things I'm most please about this year is the players are now in a good environment where they can express themselves. Tynan and Taggert will be wondering what happened to their careers. January really is the time for optimism isn't it!

I have no hesitation in saying there is no chance Watts will be the elite key forward we had hoped for. I have no hesitation stating that he could easily carve out a career and become a high quality defensive sweeper. The midfield role is so full of unknowns that I don't think anyone can ceiling how he will go. What we do know is he himself has said that is where he played most of his junior career and where he felt most comfortable as a junior. We also know he stated that going hard for short bursts and then coming off in the mid field more suits his make up and may see his elite speed (as tested at draft camp) come more to the for. We also know he has some elite attributes in his ball handling and disposal skills. Whether he makes up the numbers or becomes a seriously good mid will come down to his ability find the ball as well as an improvement in his endurance and want to hunt the ball and man. Being under the development of Roos and Stone I would not ceiling him in those aspects either.

You would hardly think a sane and competent CEO would seek out the EFC CEO role given: 1. The prospect of much of the talent on the books being potentially subject to infraction notices and suspension. 2. The threat of multiple civil actions against the Club and Club officials from those imposed with infraction notices. 3. The potential interest action from the ACC and Workcover and other agencies in the ASADA outcome. 4. Existing wrongful dismissal claims against the Club by Robertson and potentially others. 5. The likelihood in light of the infraction notices that there will be a need to oversee the expensive clean out of football personnel. 6. The potential crisis management of stakeholders from the AFL , sponsors to the supporter/ membership. 7. The lingering prospect that the Golden Boy will continue his untouchable status at the Club which undermines the role of a future CEO. And once this is all dealt there will be a need to work closely with the Board and stakeholders to completely overhaul governance and roles within the Club. A complete revamp of the "anything it takes Then there is the BAU activities of running a club. I am not surprised given the extreme uncertainty surrounding EFC that it would be plausible or sensible in the short to medium term to endeavour to secure a top class CEO. And boy do they need one! From a personal point of view the given the cowardly way EFC scapegoated the last CEO Ian Robson who apparently "did not know" to protect an icon who clearly did know then the CEO role comes with a high level of toxicity. Little is a hard and aggressive operator who might be what EFC need in the short term to ride out this treacherous position. EFC are under siege. I am not surprised Little is so hands on at this juncture. Longer term he should be removed from the Club. IMO, his fractious and aggressive stance toward the AFL, the game and his Club in the protection of Hird has been appalling.

but humour is supposed to be funny stuie

For my Birthday my GF organised a beer brewing session down at Ubrewit in Huntingdale. Was a really fun day, with heaps of different recipes to choose from, with some snags on the barbie and the cricket on TV. Ultimate man-shed Anyway, i brewed a Golden Ale and went back in the second week of Jan to bottle them and have to say i'm really happy with how they came out. There's something about sitting back and enjoying a beer on a nice warm evening knowing you actually made it.... Would definitely recommend it to anyone who's into beer (or cider as you can brew that too)

approx .9 of a metrestick

Well, if the bloke's a Demon fan then he should win. It's outrageous that an insurance policy should be void simply because an owner's a bikie. Next thing you know, they'll be refusing cover for toothless Collingwood fans

I can see us being 1-4, but 0-5 I would be very dissapointed... I really can't see why the writers at the Hun think the Saints will be so capable. They were not very good last year (admittedly better than us) and have since lost a coach, added a first time senior coach months after every other team alledgedly as a result of serious issues in the senior playing group. This has left them a full two months behind every other club in planning and adding Richardson when he had no input on their drafting strategy and trade period. They have lost two quality and experienced players as trades in MacEvoy and Dal Santo and replaced them with young kids and a fringe players in Savage and Delaney. Had Milne, Koshitsche and Blake retire and replaced them with kids. They have the bulk of senior responsibilities in the midfield carried by Lenny Hayes (who is getting on) and Leigh Montagna who won't play in round one. Their ruck stocks are young and inexperienced, their backline looks thin and is largely carried by Fisher who is getting on and Gilbert who is enigmatic at best. Their forward line is completely reliant on Reiwolt, who rarely dominates against us. With guys like Lee and Maister backing him up, which is hardly a scary proposition, especially if our three KPB's play well. As for the mids while Jack Steven is a quality player with the loss of Dal Santo he will now face hard tags and may not have the same impact as last year. While Hayes, Armitage, Jones, and co. are probably a better unit than our mids it is a contest we should be able to break even in and if this happens with a superior backline and forwardline this is a very winnable contest. I think St Kilda are in big trouble this year, injuries to Hayes and Reiwolt will see them struggling to win any games. This is our most winnable game of the year and even with the Etihad curse I don't think the Saints have the cattle, or have had the time for their coach to properly instigate a game plan and repore with the players to win. I've been wrong before but I see this as our best chance and can't understand how the Hun sees them winning two of the first 5.

Dees driving towards 40,000 membersHow good is this mob !! 3 big mobile billboards roaming around, car to be given away.!!! Goodies to ppl who buy cars ( except OD ...bah humbug !! ) Seriously impressed with this crowd.

Sorry but I cannot help myself but is "brake" a pun IDAD?

Nick Dal Santo, Marc Murphy and Dale Thomas were all part of the 2011 AA side. I would not say they give a lot of physical punishment and all have probably been tainted as not being strong at the contested ball early in their careers. Hard to evaluate your last two points when he has rarely been in scenario 2 and hasn't been in scenario 3. Not saying I expect him to reach these heights but I still don't think I can say he won't.

I tend to agree but hope we're wrong. I asked Tadgh Kennelly last year about what impact Roos would have at the Dee's (pre trade/draft) and he expected that the hidings will stop but the losses will continue. As you've pointed out above, the recruits aren't the elite players required to cause the dramatic turn around we want to see but they're surely capable of making us a considerably tougher team to win the ball from.The obvious difference which you've missed is the forward line. Regular appearances from Clark, Dawes, the inclusion of Hogan along with Howe back in the forward half along with a few more F50 entries will be telling on the scoreboard. Success breeds success in this sport and whils we don't have midfield stars like Port Adelaide do (that helped their amazing year) I expect to see a completely different team this year. It's all about a fit, best 22.

Some of the fine reporting at the time. Working the tanking investigation in to a story that's a nothing story in the first place. And newspaper wonder why no one reads them anymore.

poms [censored] defeat from jaws of victory lol - sn@atch is banned

Some critics were saying that Watts would never make it. They're the ones who I was suggesting he would prove wrong if the new look Watts succeeded in the midfield under Roos.

Watts has had plenty of criticism in his short career. Some of it has been justified but any criticism?You have made such a broad sweeping statement that if you think about it, you would realise that it is totally absurd.

James Faulkner - never in doubt.

Is it a reality truck?

Is that the new "vault"?

Finally real sponsors.

How funny does this pic look....Old long arm Westrupp!

CFA is on standby in case "the boys are on fire"!

Another week of summer training beckons but this time it's back to the big city action and close to the epicentre of world sport around Melbourne Park and more specifically for us, Goschs Paddock. Still, it won't be easy topping the past week; foggy conditions greeting the players at Cranbourne on at the start of a week of scorching heat, a refrigerated truck at a training session on a day when nobody was quite sure where or when it was taking place, a couple of minor injuries at training, a missing coach (reports put him anywhere between Africa and Hawaii) and a bit of hype about a #1 draft pick whose ascendency to the top has been a long time coming and about who there is renewed hope - Demons' Jack Watts ready to take on elite And ... as the playing group builds up to full fitness with those NAB matches around the corner, one of our main concerns is always the health and well-being of the playing list so I've compiled this list of players who reports have indicated were missing from training since the new year return or had injuries during training (some appear to be minor). Those players have asterisks next to their names and the injury if known is in brackets:- 1. Jesse Hogan * (jarred knee) 2. Nathan Jones 3. Christian Salem * (ill) 4. Jack Watts 5. Jimmy Toumpas 6. Chris Dawes * (recovering from knee surgery) 7. Jack Viney * (hip - but trained 20.1.14 & apparently concussed) 8. James Frawley 9. Jack Trengove 10. Shannon Byrnes 11. Mitch Clark * (foot/hamstring) 12. Dom Tyson 13. Jordie McKenzie 14. Lynden Dunn 15. Mitch Clisby * (?) 16. Dean Kent * (patellar tendinitis) 17. Sam Blease 18. Daniel Cross * (nose) 19. James Strauss 20. Colin Garland 21. Cameron Pedersen 22. Viv Michie 23. Bernie Vince * (? but trained 20.1.14) 24. Jay Kennedy-Harris 25. Tom McDonald 26. Daniel Nicholson 27. Aidan Riley * (fractured right fibula) 28. 29. Jayden Hunt 30. 31. Jack Grimes 32. Michael Evans * (bumped into #7 at training 20.1.14) 33. Dom Barry 34. 35. Luke Tapscott 36. 37. Max Gawn * (hamstring) 38. Jeremy Howe 39. 40. Mark Jamar * (hamstring) 41. Alex Georgiou 42. Jake Spencer 43. James Harmes 44. Rohan Bail 45. Matt Jones * (calf) 46. Dean Terlich 47. Max King 48. Jack Fitzpatrick * (?) 49. 50. Maia Westrupp [if anyone can help clarify the nature of the unknown injuries please let me know and I'll update the list] If anyone's thinking "why us" let's not forget that while it's not ideal for players to have restricted pre seasons, none of those injuries appear likely to derail anyone's season at this stage, some players are on specially formulated modified programmes that should have them back at their peak at the start of the season and every club has them anyway. In the past week, we've learned of fairly serious injuries to Nathan van Berlo, Zac Clarke, Tom Bellchambers, Steven Motlop and now Lewis Jetta.

This thread is designed to discuss newly observed and released innovations by the Melbourne Football Club. I have chosen to initiate this thread on the back of their most recent, that I found to be both highly intelligent and cost effective. With the sweltering 40+ degree heat wave, the club employed a large refrigerated semi-trailer [truck] to cool the players post-training exercises so that they could maintain a higher intensity over the course of the session whilst minimising the risks of heat stroke and physical trauma. Not only was this beneficial towards the training session, it was also beneficial towards memberships as it gained positive media attention from the likes of Matt Thompson's report to Facebook's "AFL Simpsons related quotes" page. As for the price of hiring a refrigerated semi for the day and printing the canvas, I'm sure it will pay itself off. So my hat goes off to you MFC - keep the cost effective ideas and innovations coming REFERENCES: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-17/ice-truck-saves-demons https://www.facebook.com/AFLSimpsons

He may not have even read your post as he doesn't appear to have acknowledged it in any way at all.. it was simply a podium on which Hannibal could rest his soap box. Funny that the name Hannibal was associated with one of the greatest known refugee rescues (Operation Hannibal), yet this keyboard warrior would rather send the refugees back to what they are running from based on some misguided belief that the bulk are coming from a safe environment.

Most illegals arrive by air as valid holiday/working visa holders from places like the USA, China, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, European countries and so on. Assylum seekers are NOT illegals. Can you prove a single thing you have said regarding "most" not fleeing persecution and throwing their papers away? There are plenty of sites where you can find stats regarding illegals (overstayers who hide from the authorities), but please feel free to show us the irrefutable evidence for your claims. YOU buy the spin that the Hansons, Howards (Hanson reinvented) and Abbotts of this world sell to you. These people would not be taking the risks that they take unless they were desperate... and I think even you might realise that.

Depends on the number and size of the brown paper bags it was carrying.

Go for it OD. They should know that MFC supporters are taking heed of the partnership. If you don't want the package of Demon goodies on offer to customers (guernsey, cap and junior MFC footy), I'm sure it would make a great give away to some youngster whose folks read Demonland.

Peter Fitzsimons writes a mean column in the Sydney Morning Herald and I only just caught up with his piece in today's edition which starts off with a tribute to our up and coming young tennis stars Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis (he could have also included Ash Barty too) - THE FITZ FILES Fitz finishes off with this well placed whack at the golden haired boy -

I don't think modified programmes are necessarily the ogres that many people might think. These days sports medicine recovery programmes are scientifically based so that players actually derive great benefit whilst on them and this is particularly so in the off season. Generally, during the season a hamstring injury might mean missing three weeks but why take risks during the off season? You can afford to be more conservative and keep players off the actual track for longer while, at the same time, give them programmes to aid long lasting recovery. This means we don't see them out there at training and think the skies falling down when the opposite might be true.

Let's not knock Romsey which was in Melbourne's old country zone and spawned player John Reid who played for us briefly in the early 70s before crossing to his father's old club Footscray. Reid's younger brother, Bruce, was an even better player who Melbourne sought keenly in the mid 70s. Bruce Jr. eventually was cleared to play for the Bulldogs and ended up at Carlton and played over 100 games in total.His sons are Ben Reid (Collingwood) and Sam Reid (Sydney) which goes to show that we should have treated Romsey with a lot more respect and simply refused to let the Reids out of grasp all those years ago as it would have given us a couple of ready made key position players under the father/son rule as well no doubt, as a herd of alpacas.

I share your optimism but have to disagree with you about the first 5 games. It's vital after what's happened in our recent past that we get off to a good start. Early wins breed confidence and with that comes momentum and once young teams learn how to win, it removes all the self-doubt among individuals and within the team. I think we need early wins to help get us out of the rut.

He's insured a brothel with a company that has specific business. It's hard to feel sorry for either side. The real winners are the lawyers.

Great post and agree with the sentiment entirely

He should play this season well overweight. & work hard on the track building his engine, to the detriment of his weekends. overtrain.

I used to read such predictions --- now I don't bother. Most of them talk either rubbish or cliches (or both) and end up with a minor permutation of the previous year's results. Nothing to see here!

Romsey, where unicorns roam the fields and men tremble

Wash your mouth out bbo, you appear to have lost your way yet again, consult the good book for guidance

Faith,Lordweaver. As the apostles once said Screw the NAB cup.

Nixon'sChicksU18s... ready to make some more bad choices!

you didn't like it bb? LOL

The big yardstick...The Scoreboard.

Actually......who gives a rat's what a bunch of anonymous sports "journalists" put out. Only time will tell, so just sit back and relax and enjoy that fact that we are all 0-0 right now.

Nah. I'll have better things to do. Like celebrating a 5-0 start to our year.

Are you for real , those stats are terrible!

The 120 is a trial for 80 I believe. So the increased fitness is in preparation of that. As for Ross Lyon he's had 3 grand finals. I don't buy the 4 grand final stat, it's inflating it to make him look bad. You don't draw the 3rd you dont get a 4th. And the Geelong game they were so close and really a Matty Scarlett toe poke changed that game. The Collingwood game they drew (in a game where both teams were built on defending first and forward presses) and a lot of their lack of goals in this most recent game was because it was very windy and they kicked (at goal and in to the forward line) so poorly in the first half. Fyfe nails 2 first quarter goals and their score is more reasonable and they are every chance at winning. Plus as someone at the game I think it was a great grand final. Freo had a few players overawed by the occasion that gave a dominant hawks side a lead but through some great play by Mundy and Sandilands and others they clawed it back and it was a tight fought contest in to the last quarter. Every game plan requires huge amount of running. Just look at North who ran out of legs at 3/4 time in all their games because their super attacking game plan was too tiring.

Most people with that kind of dough cut it into small lines on a mirror and then snort it. Is there anyone in Perth who isn't filthy rich?

There is a lot of hysteria around the limitation on rotations Last year the average rotation per club was around 135 per game. This year it will be 120 plus any you have at the breaks. That gives you around 130. So in effect there is a limit that is very similar to the average last year. The coaches annoy me with their continual complaints about the interchange limits. They say that with less the players are put at risk. The only person putting the players at risk is the coach who demands they adhere to a game plan that requires huge amounts of running. The whole idea of limiting interchange is to open the game up, generate more one on one contests, increase long kicking and hopefully the return of some more contested high marking. These are all the things that made our game great. If I was Mark Evans I'd just reduce the rotations to 80 or alternatively reduce the bench to 2 + 1 sub. I think you can obviously go to far with this sort of thing but when you consider the success Ross Lyon has had at both Freo and Saints with very defensive game plans and lots of contested footy (which requires the players to run and fill space and crowd the game) it's here to stay if nothing is done. Freo were pretty successful but just terrible to watch with the GF one of the worst I can remember. In his 4 GF's as coach he's lost all of them and his teams have kicked a total of 32 goals - just 8 a game. And he should really have won 2. But the point of the post is to point out that there is really little if any change to the interchange limit for this year.

It's all about ladder position. But as North found with Luke McDonald this year it's not always a case of finishing lower on the ladder meaning you'll get better value for your F/S selection. I have a hard enough time picking what exact order I'd draft kids when it's a week before the draft and we have film, physical measurements and media commentary on all of them. It's way to early to declare Stretch a steal if we got him in round 2 or a waste if we have to use a first rounder on him. All I know is that father sons can be great value and are also good for the footy club and supporters as a whole. What I will say is that we are in the Paul Roos era of development and the Jason Taylor era of recruiting. It's about time we give up this idea that skinny kids are no good. Fyfe, Wingard, Lewis Jetta, Kieran Jack, Mundy, Gunston, Michael Walters, Brad Hill I could go on and on. With the rotation cap coming in players around the comp are shedding weight this preseason. And it might not be a coincidence that the two teams who were in the grand final (Hawthorn and Freo) are probably on average leaner than the two teams they beat in Sydney and Geelong in the prelims.