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Got there at 10:15 so obviously had missed a bit. Unsighted: Jamar, Spencer, Vince, Trengove, Lumumba, Garlett, Stretch, McKenzie, Riley, Grimes, Jetta. * Big Maxy Gawn doing his customary exit back to the rooms but didn't appear to be a problem * Dom Barry going off as well, did come back briefly later * Terlich just kicking a tennis ball around * Dawes, Garland, Dunn, Fitzy doing some kick to kick and a bit of one on one marking * Watts doing light running * Cross, Tyson, Jones, Bail doing some light clearance work, pretty much just roving a fake tap and hand balling off The rest of the lads were doing boxing. Standard rep stuff but also with the boxing coach and Brad Miller walking passed and giving them taps in the guts as they are boxing, short jabs from the coach, whacks with a spare glove from Miller. Then in the last of the reps it was jabs straight in to your partners abs. The coach instructing them to hit harder and faster. Roos seemed to be enjoying it. Pedersen (looking fit), Howe, Matt Jones mixed in with this group along with the young guys. Newton and Frost part of it. Evans in the group, looking fit but thin. 3 extras - think one was Ed Morris from Casey. Didn't look like Tyler Roos but might have been, not sure. Frost has a reasonable kicking action and it comes out ok, bit mechanical but you expect that from an athletic type. And he certainly looks the build and an athlete. Newton isn't overly tall or built, but he looks solid. Fit as well. Was kicking a lot on his right which is nice to see from a lefty. They did some light skills work before another rep of boxing. Then at 11 headed over to the tan. I went that way myself and it looked like they were going to do some running along the flat alexandra ave section not full laps. Jones, Bail, Garland and Cross were doing some repeat runs along the oval. Garland clear of Crossy but all keeping a similar pace which was good. Garland seems fitter than last year. Dawes, Watts, Dunny doing some as well. Dawes is certainly a different body to shape to the lump who played for Collingwood. Watts is thin. Anyone expecting him to magically bulk up after all these years, it's not going to happen. He'll have a body to suit the style of game he (hopefully) will play. Hogan, Kent,,,, Hunt,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,King stayed to do some running on the oval as well. 1 minute running, 1 minute walking possibly. Fair to say young Kingy is a long way off. Each comma in that ordering represents about 3 metres. Toumpas seems much heavier in the upper body. But not big bulky arms. It was noticeable last year that he came back looking very lean and put in some good efforts in the running. This year it might be that he's filled out a bit and so if he keeps improving his fitness he hopefully he plays with more power. Pedersen looks fit. Harmes looks stronger and more mature in the body, but has a horrible surfer style haircut. Frost is a big athletic unit. Hogan looks good and it's great to have him out there. Overall everyone looked fit really. We have a crazy number of coaches and support personnel. Roos in charge but not pushing anything too hard for the first day. Goodwin taking it all in. Involved with Benny Matthews for some of the midfielders stuff. They look pretty similar. He looks good in red! Brad Miller looking enthusiastic. Toilet watch and Crowd watch can be filled out later. I'll await feedback to see if the demand is there.

Now officially a Demon!! Newton switches Power to join Melbourne "General manager of player personnel Todd Viney said the club had kept a close watch on Newton throughout the season." "He looms as a shrewd acquisition by the Demons." Good to see we are getting players we target during the year (Frost included) and not just those NQR at other clubs (as in our 'moneyball' days). Me thinks we may have had a word in his ear early on so he didn't take up the Port contract. We chose not to trade for him and Port were good enough to delist him to chose his own club rather than force him into the draft. Well done by all and welcome Ben.

With the recruitment of Newton, in bringing in Frost, Lumumba, Newton and Garlett, we have used the trade and FA period to strengthen every line. Bringing in Newton gives us another left footer to play in midfield alongside Salem and Viney. If we add Brayshaw, who is very good off both feet (predominantly kicks left footed in general play, right when lining up for goal), that’s a nice little group that we can bring through in a similar vein to Hawthorn. The other plus in the Newton signing is that it helps make up for our missteps in the 2010 draft. Whilst we missed with the Cook pick, we have now added Michie and Newton in addition to Howe and McDonald who have established themselves as regular senior players. If Michie and Newton become regular contributors, our list profile all of a sudden looks a hell of a lot better. Especially if the majority of our picks from 2012 (Toumpas, Viney, Kent, Barry) 2013 (Hogan, Salem, JKH, Hunt) & 2014 (Stretch + picks 2 &3) are developed well under the current regime. 2011 was a complete write off for us, but at least we’ve ended up with Tyson and now Frost from that draft year.

He was on all evidence 'picket' just like McCartin now who you are pushing for. This is where the recruiters should earn their money. For me Toumpas was a steal when we got him, his performances in his first under 18 year in the SNFL where more than good. Like most I have been disappointed with his step up to AFL, given his previous senior experience I expected a lot more. Now here is the but....often it will take a kid a few years to settle and I think 2 things have really hurt him as far as D-Landers go and that's Watts & Wines. Wines has been an exception, Watts has been the one we have been waiting for and it hasn't happened. If we look at the history of our coach in waiting it really wan't until his 3rd & 4th years that he became a regular player and went on to being a multiple AA, club captain etc. If Jimmy doesn't really start to show it next season, his 3rd, then I will concede he is a bust as far as being an A grader, I'm not prepared to concede that just yet.

...until he has a bad game and he becomes a total loser.

Spent a little time there from 10am on the way to the shops. There were a couple of groups at that stage, one of senior players kicking and marking and a large group of presumably the 1 - 4 year players doing boxing among other things. Among the senior group were N Jones, Dawes, Dunn, Garland, Bail, Cross, Tyson, Fitzpatrick. Terlich did laps and Watts rocked up later on and also did mainly laps. Among the large group were McDonald, Frost, King, Hogan, Hunt, Salem, JKH, Michie, Evans, Howe, Harmes, Kent, M Jones, Pederson, Toumpas and Viney. I think I saw Gawn across the oval at one stage but no sign later on. There were three players I didn't recognise though. I'm assuming one was Ben Newton but have no idea who the other two were. I'm pretty confident neither was Stretch but perhaps one was Tyler Roos? Garland, Dunn, Fitzpatrick and Dawes spent some time doing 1 on 1 marking and later on did laps and timed runs at a good pace. The main group also spent some time doing drills like ground ball gets, marking while being hit by a pad and just mark then kick rotations. Actually I saw Barry at one stage too, though I don't think he was out training most of the time. Roos was there with Goodwin along with most of the other coaches. The best thing was seeing Hogan getting amongst it!

Bernie Vince was seen trotting slowly around the track. Apparently he didn't break into a full gallop.

Does it? The club losing the player did the right thing by him, at their own expense, when they didn't have to. I haven't given this any more than a second's thought so I'm open to you smacking me down with logic, but this is a case of the system working I think. And I reckon PAFC deserve some credit in their handling of this.

Good afternoon, I was there for the whole session, Ruffles has covered the attendees, will be putting some photos on my Twitter account Demonpk, if anybody wants a look. There were four ring ins, I asked Todd Viney "they are Casey guys that have a lot of upside, we want them to experience AFL training", you can read whatever you like into that. A few observations, Frost is huge, Roh Bail told me he is also very strong, so has made a good impression already. Dave Misson is very impressed with the standards. The amount of ball work first up surprised me. The absentees were Grimes, Jetta, Garlett, Lumumba, Vince, Jamar, McKenzie, Trengove, Riley, Spencer. The session went for 2½ hours, including a Tan run for the 1 to 4 year players

The question for me is whether he'll offer midfield depth in the same way Michie, Riley and M Jones have or is he going to be a step up from them. Anyone seen enough of him to know or at least guess?

Can I just say that when you put actual names in inverted commas it doesn't read well.

In Michie, Riley & now Newton, we've gathered 3 fringe players from clubs with better midfields, in the hope that one of them will step up like Josh Kennedy. I suppose you could put Tyson into this category too. And the 4 of them have all spent a lot of time injured, which has hindered them being able to show their true potential. We don't get them because they'll continue their current standard and just provide us another fringe midfielder; we get them for their potential to become A-grade. And there's at least as much chance of one of these becoming A-grade as there is of Lever or Laverde or Duggan etc. So it's a shrewd & sensible way to build a list.

The idea of free agency, according to the AFL, is to afford players not getting the opportunity at their current clubs to move to a club that does give them an opportunity. Now the RFA and UFA model will never achieve that because of the amount of time players have to wait - very few players survive on a list for 8 years (or whatever it is - sorry) without getting much opportunity. The only way the system works in this case is the DFA. Players who aren't getting an opportunity generally aren't going to whizz off to a strong team; that's just gambling with your own future because you couldn't be sure the new opportunity will be any better than the old one. The bottom line is these guys want to play; it's why Membrey is now at St. Kilda as a DFA and Newton is at Melbourne as a DFA. I don't mind this model because I think in 90% of cases, the player is going to choose a weak team; it would be counterproductive not to. I don't see why you have to force him to go to St. Kilda through the PSD. Realistically he's probably going to choose St. Kilda, Melbourne, Footscray or GWS anyway, and he ain't going to choose Hawthorn. You might as well give him the freedom.

Note the way this memo lays the groundwork for MFC Facebook page users 30 years later by butchering his name twice. Not sure whether Kerry and "Larry" (presumably Les) Bamblett moving in together is being spoken of as a good thing or a bad thing.

During the period 2008 to 2011 we took 90% kids , kids and more kids. The nett result of that was our poor list of the last three years when we had bugger all experience and the majority of the kids did not come on. IMO we now see a more reasoned selection of experienced players and kids. Sadly the imbalance is going to take a further number of years to correct. This year we are seeing the selection of players with at least a couple of years in the system. If we only have two draft selections this year then so be it. Again IMO the MFC cannot afford to wait for a large number of kids to develop. We need experience in 2015. I am happy with the way we are selecting players this year. Time will tell if we have chosen well but I believe in 2015 we have an improved chance of winning games.

yep...no probs!! She'll be apples !!!

I have a simple solution to anyone who did not like his joke.... Don't laugh! He broke no laws, he hurt no one, he stole nothing, he punched no one, he did nothing wrong in the eyes of the laws of this country. A young man, senior player or not he is a young man, who said something stupid like a hundred thousand other young men did to today. None of them made the news. He owes us nothing and has no responsibility to act or behave in anyway that pleases anyone other them himself. It's societies own fault that we put sports people on the pedestal above people who's opinions actually matter. Footballers are nothing more then average young men with a very specific skill set that involves running around with a ball for our entertainment. Anyone who expects anything more from a footballer then an on field performance has only themselves to blame for expecting anything more. I guarantee every single person here who has a crack at Bernie will completely forget this the moment he kicks his first goal in the red and blue next year. That is the only thing bernie is paid to do is play football. He, like me or anyone else is free to say or do what ever he likes in his own time and has no recponcibility to only say things that please the easily offended. Shiit joke Bernie, but does not deserve the ridicule being dished out.

FFS get a grip. Bernie made a lame joke and I hope he had a few beers because it was ordinary. He's a country lad and I daresay is way more desensitised to this than city folk. I doubt he would've posted it had he seen the anguish of the owners, strappers etc It's sad for the horse and connections but [censored] happens.

Bazinga !!!!! Newton is a very good acquisition... ready to play.

I think it's great to see Dawes being able to use a football in the preseason full-stop. Since his arrival at the club he's been restricted running laps at training over summer due to injuries. This will (fingers crossed) be his first preseason in a long time and I can't wait to see him running round next year fully fit rather than being forced to play catch-up. Thanks for the training reports too everyone who's contributed... my excitement is BUILDING! (again)

I just can't agree with this when the evidence is so blindingly obvious. It is absolutely universally known amongst the footballing world that we are the team with the worst midfield. We are the team with the least amount of skill and depth in regards to our midfield and we have little skill coming off our halfback-line. By skill, I mean footskills. You cannot match teams in contested possession during a game but lose the inside 50 count by 15-20 and believe that it's purely because our mids have nothing to kick to. It is a fact that we have players who have below average skill and decision making skills that play throughout our midfield and backline. These blokes either turn the ball over, or don't have the confidence to hit up easily visibly leading targets because they simply don't have the skill. That is the number one reason we take so [censored] long to move the ball from our back-half to our forwad-line. Roos has also introduced an *actual* game plan meaning that he expects us to hold onto the ball and spot up free leading targets rather than Neeld's 'bombing down the line' approach. It is clear when we get the ball in the hands of blokes who can actually kick like Watts and Vince that we have no trouble getting the ball moving forward and being able to penetrate our forward-line effectively. Look at any successful team's midfield. Look at their skill level. Look at how much more functional the forward-line looks when they have players who can execute the most important skill required to play the game. We need to draft two mids who can see ball, win ball and kick ball and do all of those three things well. Adding another KPF is the cherry. Hogan, Dawes, Pederson with Gawn rotating will do just fine for 2015.

Would happen and does. In practical terms Trengove going to the rookie list is likely to make no difference to the player. He will be paid the same. He would just be providing an opportunity for another player to play football for MFC, which in his current state he is unable to do. It makes sense for both parties and neither party loses anything.

Pure coincidence. 1 in 60 chance.

Let the kid do his exams....

Thanks for that. I was having a brilliantly ear-worm free day...

Really, we get Frost, Garlett, Harry O and Newton, 4 players that will most likely be in our round 1 team, plus we still get pick 2, 3 and Stretch . Frost and Newton are young, Garlett has 5 years left. To me we have the right balance, bring in players that will improve our side for 2015 plus get 3 all Australian U18 players and have no requirement for them to play if they are not ready. It is all about balance, we are recruiting for now and the future rather than a 5 year plan based around U18 kids.

I'm talking specifically about fringe 22 players. I'm not talking about Mitch Clark leaving because it was all too hard at Melbourne, or Jono O'Rourke leaving for... whatever he left for. I'm talking about players outside the best 22 who are leaving for more games elsewhere, like Newton or Membrey. I wonder what might have happened had deals not been able to be brokered for Mitch Hallahan, Kyle Cheney, Luke Lowden or Viv Michie? I agree that the system has a number of undesirable outcomes, but I don't think this particular scenario is one of them.

I know we will have to pay his contract out but i'd rather get pick 40 and pay out a Evans.

Pick 3 being our last live pick doesn't sit fantastically well with me I've got to say. I hope Newton and Frost add something long term to the club, as they are essentially our second and third round picks. Taking non-22 players from other clubs at the expense of the draft seems risky, though I accept that the draft is risky too. Interesting times.

good get! probably means we will go tall with pick 3 now.

With the recruiting of Ben Newton confirmed the club has decided that: - Ben is better than anyone at pick 40 and we will go to the draft with just picks 2 and 3, or - We will use pick 40 if a really good player is still there and we then delist a contracted player. Either way a really good result for us.

I can't resist making snarky remarks in response to Blease's recent public sooking. "Five coaches? I can't remember more than three coaches at Casey in the last few years." "Five coaches? So tragic that not one of them explained the need for endurance, defensive accountability and team awareness." "Five coaches? The way Blease counts them, we have five right now; Roos, McCartney, Viney, Rawlings and Goodwin."

I think that we will take McCartin if we sign Ben Newton. We need another Tall Forward to compliment Hogan and Dawes. We will fulfil our needs for a back with Frost, a small forward with Garlett, a Half Back winger with Lumumba and 3 mids in Newton, Stretch and Brayshaw. All together that looks like a complete draft period for pretty much every part of the 22, except of course for a Ruckman which I think will be a position that we look to fill next year.

Spoke to a mate who is involved pretty heavily at the Falcons and Geelong footy today, and he said that one of McCartin's strengths is that he can play "deep forward, high forward and even CHB if you need him to". Mentioned that he has been given the deep forward role over the last two years but is definitely more versatile than some realise. Also said he probably should go number 1 because of St Kilda's needs, but that was pure speculation.

I hope Bernie's unfortunate remarks don't upset Heritier.

Horse racing is such a joke of a 'sport'. What a great idea racing horses against their will for the thrill of some braindead humans,

Hmm - not seeing a trend here.. As Sherlock Holmes said "Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth.' We have recruited - talls,shorts, pace, plodders, insiders and outsiders and pretty much every player recruited has got to mediocre at best. Whilst players have to take responsibility for their own output and development ( Nathan Jones) they just don't . The one factor that is evident is all these recruits were drafted into the MFC system. With Roos and Co ( and now the appointment of a good development coach in BM) I have some optimism that all this may change.

More good reasons for raising the draft age

It was probably unfair of me to lump Michie and Riley in with the much older Jones. Michie and Riley hopefully have much improvement in them. If two of Michie, Riley and Newton can become regular B grade mids we've done well.

This guy could be a sensational pick up for us. Viney's comments make him sound really promising.

As demonlanders, only a very select few know something about who we are looking at, and even fewer in this world know who is a lock for 2 and 3, the rest is just speculation off what the MFC/PR/JM release. One thing we do know is PR isn't waiting for 3 years to get results, his main priority will be to pick the best available who can make an impact in the next 6-24 months. Of course, talent is the next, but we can be sure he wants a kid who can push for selection early next year. To do this, they need maturity, weight and the size to do so. So, top 5/6? Petracca = looks like he will make an impact early in the year Brayshaw = looks like he will make an impact straight away McCartin = some impact this year, but needs a few seasons for proper FF impact Lever = knee reco, light, probably needs a few seasons for proper impact Wright = already heavy enough, but ruckman take time Laverde = probably needs 2 preseasons in the gym before making an impact Going on body size and maturity alone, Petracca + Brayshaw + McCartin. If all 3 are available, Petracca and Brayshaw

Horse racing industry is pure exploitation and run just for profit. If there was no money in it how many in the industry would care about horses? 125 horses died on Australian racetracks over a 12 month period - thousands more are also sent to the knackery when no longer profitable. Today added two more casualties to those statistics.

Does there really need to be a thread on this? U can tell it's the off season.

Young Dawes? The guy can take a good pack mark. Yet to see that with Dawes. I think people are underrating by McCartins kicking. He actually has a good kicking action and just sometimes get the yelps. Bring him into a AFL environment and he will iron those out. Comparing him to Dawes is laughable.

Horses are magnificent animals and I for one was upset with today's events as I was in 1979 when another cup favourite died during the running, the mighty Dulcify. Stupid comment Bernie but not a hanging offence.

You don't know that.

You do realise these horses are actually bred to race???They are look after exceptionally well and are often treated like a member of the family. Very occasionally, and very sadly, these beasts do meet an unfortunate end. But the same thing happens in pony clubs and on farms every day.

Probably the most cared for animals on the face of the earth. Who told you they are forced to race against their will? I have raced and bred horses for 30 years and I have never seen animals given more love and care. Talk about a brain dead human.

I find it truly hard to fathom the nasty comments aimed at Sam Blease on this site. Finally the inside word from a player who is confirming everything we have been speculating on. Yet some of the very people, who I am sure have previously acknowledged the exact same faults of our club and recruiting, are getting nasty just because it comes in the form of a player who speaks his mind. Suck it up you pack of princesses! Don't shoot the messenger. It hurt to read his comments, it tasted bitter and foul and it made me angry, but I believe they were true words, spoken by a young, naive lad who, despite his faults, has stated publicly what we all know and are too embarrassed to acknowledge beyond the realms of an anonymous online football forum. Since Sam was drafted we have been a basket case. Full stop. No arguments. A flat out basket case. It's time to tip your hat to the truth and accept that we have become a different club now. That was the past, let it go and lets move on.

We will get no draft or list help from the AFL, as they believe we will win the flag this year.