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I don't post often... Freo finished 4th last year... They had a percentage of 130 It is 32 in Perth We finished 17th With a percentage of 68 We haven't won in WA since 2004 (?) Let's not hang ourselves in March

Give it rest FFS!!

Signs you're a Melbourne supporter #134 You [censored] bricks over a NAB Cup game, with the quiet chant of "please don't suck" running through your head on a continuous loop hours before the game.

We should go to Brisbane, watch it an hour earlier!

Not much to add to my earlier dribble. It was literally a 45 minute stretch of the legs undertaken by everyone. As mentioned, I asked Billy Stretch if he was any chance to get on the park and he said 'it doesn't look like it" and that he'll remain the emergency. I'm sure I'm not the only person disappointed with that but I guess he will play in NAB 2 or 3. Jesse Hogan is a big lad. At the risk of sounding like someone else, I did have a joke with him and asked that he should just go out and kick a bag. He reckons he'll just be trying to get a touch first. He and JKH teamed up for some bullet passing with a few from Hoges missing by quite a bit. Better to do those today than tomorrow. The session was made up of a series of kick to kicks, short, long, leading sideways, backwards etc. A few other players were doing some reaction skills and the Toump was pretty sharp returning the pill back to Goody. I look forward to watching him with interest tomorrow night and hope to add some extra comments on his workrate and positioning out of camera view. It was my first look at Ben Newton in the flesh and fortunately he was right in front of me for the bulk of the session. His kicking is a thing of beauty on both sides of his body and he's a well built fella. Good luck to him for the season ahead. Lots of goal kicking practice by all and sundry, even the trainers were having a ping. Dawes let a few fly from outside 50 that went through post height - he put one over the back of the stand as well (but not from outside 50). He's looking good. Frost as mentioned was kicking at goal for the whole session and seemed to be very deliberate in his actions. I would've thought if he was going to be defending tomorrow then he maybe would've been doing other activities. His timing was terrible when trying to kick long goals. Fair dinkum rain-makers although there were a few that sailed through nicley. Another big lump of a lad. Salem did not have any bandage on his calf and moved freely so that's a relief. Pedo looked sharp, I reckon this is the year he'll pay dividends but considering Gysberts is no longer on an AFL list I guess he already has. Vanda needs to pump some upper body weights and he will be a very imposing mid. Can't wait for tomorrow night even though it's a NAB game. Go Dee's!

Too much negativity already - I saw some good shite tonight!!

Surprised we won that quarter considering we took Toumpas over Wines.

Oh my God, how the eff does Matt Jones get a game. Every disposal a clanger & all his tackles were sloppy & poor. Turnover merchant to boot.

A 3-goal defeat in the heat against quality opposition, no injuries, and plenty of positive indications from Hoges, HL, Frost, Newton and Vandenberg. Thumbs up from me.

Matt Jones is complete tripe. Jumping on blokes backs when they on the ground. Fumbling. Stumbling the ball out of his own team mates hands. Butchering the footy and [censored] weak at the contest. He has to go. I don't care how weak we are in the outside mids we will just have to play more youngsters and half forwards and rotate them through the wing. Grimes is also playing for his career. If he saves it, it's probably because Garland is just as bad. And Lynden Dunn wasn't given the vice captaincy to keep missing targets and offer little as a defender. Thankfully the new and younger guys showed a bit and we can roll on with them instead of the same old same old from more experience types who have learned nothing.

footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy footy

Just no injuries .... PLEASE

Project planning morning at work.

I liked that Toumpas tried to actually have a dip. That is all we ask for. I don't care if he gets caught, just back yourself in Jimmy.

Darts.

Oh look, it's the same old hogans_heroes.

Have got this recording the wife won't give up the tv because of my kitchen rules, looks like it's time for a divorce

Every sophisticated society rejects the death penalty. Medieval rednecks love it.

Cool story.

The Wona game on. Told my 7 year old son that I watched this whole game with him as a baby sleeping in my arms and nearly threw him with excitement. He thought that was hilarious. Feels like yesterday, where the hell is the time going?

Good job on the training reports you two. Training reports are like crack to me.

TDI spoke to Hogan and Hogan said you mentioned him.

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/tongues-awagging-kiss-may-perform-at-afl-grand-final-20150305-13vph3.html Kiss may perform at this year's GF. Now, I'm in my 60's and was into Kiss in the 70's, but even I'm not so stupid as to think that they have any relevance to the 2015. When will the AFL realise that we older folk are not the majority and that we should not be the main target when it comes to such things as entertainment at GF's. Put on some decent contemporary local talent rather than wasting vast sums of money on imported hacks for christ's sake!! Rant over... (take deeeeeep breaths)

You also did point out and raved to us that Grimes Mckenzie and Matt Jones had improved their kicking skills out of sight.

I have not read any of this thread so this is my own thoughts immediately after game. No injuries is the best outcome. Good fightback and one bad 15 minute patch. Newton, Frost (when back) and Vanders showed enough to me that they are givens for round 1. Grimes, Garland and M Jones are very limited footballers and need to be pushed out of side by mid season if not earlier. Add some polish with Watts, Vince and Howe and teach Toumpas and Salem to find more ball and our movement will be alot better.

No injuries = win

Goalless quarter for Freo- write them off for the year then.

3 in a row... stop slashing wrists, it's premiership time!

That's how I feel when you pull out your 'golden ticket' champagne comedy gag.

I must be too mentally scarred because I feel a sick, nervous sense of overwhelming dread

A few stats worth noting ... We nearly broke even in clearances (28-31) but we did win the centre bounce clearances 10-5 Inside 50's in our favour (43-37) We won the tackle count 67-49 (although that stat can sometimes be misleading) Clangers 44-36 in our favour Lachie Neale had 9 clearances for them whilst our best was Tyson with 5 (N Jones & Cross both had 4 each) Our 4 leading uncontested possession winners were Lumumba (14) N Jones (13) Tyson (11) and Cross (11) ... no real surprises there but those 4 were the best at creating options. N Jones (10) and Tyson (9) led the way with the contested possession count but we need a half a dozen of our players around the double figures mark in order for the team to win games consistently.

The thing is, players who offer more and who have excellent abilities in other areas of their game will be let off. You're right, Tyson did miss a few too many targets tonight. However he also did a lot right and was damaging I other areas. There's a reason the 'same names' are brought up. Do you really believe all supporters just enjoy hanging [censored] on those particular players? Seriously, man. I will not raise my eyebrows at these same players. Im used to it. However, what is exciting is that all of our new recruits showed more and offered more than these 'same names' we've been talking about. Which says to me, our list is again slowly getting better.

1. We 2. Didn't 3. Get 4. Handed 5. Our 6. Ass 1. We 2. Are 3. Still 4. Sketchy 5. As 6. [censored]

N Jones had a pretty easy 22 disposals, looked like he was going at about 70% to me, set for a massive year.

Did I see the much maligned C Dawes take a few one grab marks?

C'mon guys, it's only the NAB Challenge. Wait 'til they play us in the regular season!

Newton has easily been the biggest positive so far. Hogan has had some good moments up the field. Lumumba has been solid. But one feels it's going to be another long year seeing familiar faces making their familiar mistakes. Why was Grimes taking a kick out? We have some skilled players back there (Dunn, Salem, Lumumba) and it was obvious he was going to stink it up. Matt Jones, Bail, TMac etc.

It would be better to go at quarter time so you can warn them about what's going to happen, take advantage of this time loophole

Is there a penalty for duping players? I would presume that if the players are shown leniency for being duped the guilt is transferred to those who did the duping. I would accept the players rubbed out for six months if the club got 2 years. The players would be free to enter a special draft and be dispersed amongts the other clubs or another club created with no reference, connection or mention of Essendon or the Bombers. The club could not be in Victoria. Edit: How would the dynamics change if the above outcome was made known? Would the club dump on the players? Which way would the supporters lean, club or players? If guilt exists someone is guilty. Duping does not remove guilt.

Great thread, well done to all.

When is a practice game not a practice game? http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/collingwood-president-eddie-mcguire-believes-st-kilda-would-be-filthy-about-essendons-training-session-with-williamstown-20150305-13vy4d.html "Radio station 3AW revealed that Essendon have invited Williamstown to their Tullamarine base on Friday night for a joint training session that would involve "match simulation". The session has been reportedly been approved by the AFL. The 25 players still at Essendon who were on the club's list in 2012 are sitting out the AFL's pre-season circuit to protect the anonymity of the provisionally-suspended players among them who were caught up in the supplement scandal. Essendon have stressed that the session would not serve as a practice match – if it did, the Bombers would risk having the backdated period for potential suspensions to its players - from the anti-doping tribunal - begin on Friday night rather than September 2014." This beggars belief! Are there any more ways in which Essendon and the players can give ASADA the "up yours' all with the AFL's blessing. There is no way these guys deserve backdating penalties for any reason let alone for 'co-operation'. Arrogance personified! Edit: I wonder if they play 3 'match simulation' sessions coinciding roughly with the 3 NAB games whether ASADA will then deem them to be practice games anyway. Knowing how cunning EFC have been they will probably skip one to avoid this inference.

At the risk of popping into the top 10, whether this is a bigger story than the change in cricket is neither here nor there. It is a big story. But of course, compared to that day in the Colosseum in 26BC it is a storm in a teacup.

Quick note re Frosty. A Wesley old collegian who played as a key forwarding the juniors. Played front and back at GWS he is a genuine swing man and very athletic. No surprise to see him play up forward initially. Don't know of any quotes where Roos said he was recruited as a backman. If replacing Frawley, remember Frawley played up forward last season.

truth be told, more nervous about playing the mock bombers in two weeks time

I did not see Spencer today. I don't reckon he travelled.

Have you been watching my fantasies? This is weird.

They'll have the last laugh at our faded curtains...

From tomorrow night onwards Salem will become everyones top 5. I've always thought this kid is the best kid I've seen us draft. There are no flaws in his game, I've watched him since juniors and he has a blend of polish and toughness - a rare blend.

A response like that only confirms your emotional attachments to most players on our list due to the time you spend at training and talking to them. This is a football forum where people, (whether you like it or not) have formed opinions on players based off form during AFL *games*, not training sessions. If you so claim to not having emotional attachments/bias toward players on our list, then why may I ask do you even take the time of day to respond to posts like the one you've responded to which to me clearly looks as if it's offended you?