Leaderboard

Who was missing Petracca Trengove Garlett turned up about 1 hr into the session Only one in rehab Hunt ANB joined in full session again Mainly stoppages and ball movement again Those who played for Casey didn't train with main group and left early Vince pulled up really well Good solid session again with big numbers on the track, Howe trained strongly again, tested out the hamstring when doing marking with bag work at the end, cocked one up and took a heavy landing, bounced up to much laughter Any questions feel free Pics on Demonpk

Did he push you in the back?

Cheers Sat, and cheers for the ongoing pre-season training reports. Love you, or hate you, everyone still appreciates the effort.

I think we need to stop wallowing in other club's misery. We are no great football team or club ATM and you never know what is around the corner.

I like Nathan Buckley a lot. Never shirks any issue and doesn't dish out cliches. He has every right to be devastated and to show it and have difficulty accounting for what has happened.

I am surprised that he didn't put Hird as #1 ...

I think you would agree there is a pretty big difference between the cause and effect in both matters.Essendon's behaviour before, during and since has been nothing short of disgraceful. ATM I have some sympathy for Collingwood, I have none for Essendon.

A few things... The early WC premierships are tainted with many fans, this one included. They and their media cronies have stomped on anyone who has raised issues with drugs in the past. They tried to do deals with the Essendon problem when they should have stomped it out when they had a chance. Not enough resources are devoted to keeping the sport clean. They are not seriously testing if someone like Ben Cousins can play a career without having a positive test. The 3 strikes policy, I understand the spin and agree to some extent with the idea behind it but with players able to play the system it does't hold up. I know in the main these drugs are not seen as performance enhancing but some are and now the last WC premiership is tainted. The AFL needed to come down harder. When Denham is quoting figures of up to 70% of players using illicit drugs in the off season then we have a problem. I have been told of whole clubs being supplied on mad mondays so I believe the figure is real. I know it's a huge issue in society but someone needs to show the way and the AFL can start. These players are not normal members of society they are payed well above the average kid and should maintain standards. The line is blurred. To me if you want to join the rest of society good for you but don't expect the privilege and advantages of being an AFL player. Gambling is the next big one 'Bob', it's only a matter of time.

Sometimes I don't understand comments like this.Why does leaving him at Casey equate to developing him properly? All players have different areas to develop and will develop at different stages and in different areas. In my eyes, it's our management of first year players in the past that has greatly hindered 'development'. Angus is developing just fine. And if he gets his chance on the weekend it's because he has shown that he is ready to contribute at AFL level. It's how we manage him for the season that will be different. Just as it was for JKH and Salem last year.

This is very bad for football. Very bad.

This is the best news I have heard for......since I can't remember. The week before round 1 and we have only 3 players missing, two of whom are out for the season. What a simply amazing outcome from the fitness and conditioning staff, it puts us in the best possible position in terms of available manpower for the coming season! Misson said he needed 3 years to get the fitness levels up to the required standard, and it looks like he might have done it without breaking the players along the way.

I wish I had turned up to most of our games stoned - would have made them more bearable.

1. What's the best thing for the fans: Pro: He's a number 3 pick and isn't Matt Jones/Bail etc, the fans want to see him play -Brayshaw plays. 2. What's the best thing for Angus himself: Pro: He seems a cut above VFL Con: Just in training against Viney and Salem he had 2 head knocks. The bigger/faster bodies of AFL will test him - Another VFL practice match will give him even more confidence. Putting him in the AFL will give him a great first taste. There's no clear answer 3. What's the best thing for the team: Pro: He's clearly part of the future, getting him used to senior team mates is a good thing Pro: He's a ball winner, hard at it, uses it pretty well Pro: He'll bring energy, enthusiasm and confidence to the team Pro: The sub rule is a good way to give a guy a taste Con: He doesn't have an AFL mature body or fitness meaning he's unlikely to perform well in large midfield minutes Con: His best footy is played around the packs and the freedom of midfield, where N Jones, Tyson, Viney, Cross etc will be Con: He doesn't seem as well suited to a wing/half forward role which is probably where he'd play Question 1 is completely irrelevant in picking a side. We all know why! Question 2 is worth considering for all young players before you pick them. You shouldn't pick young guys and set them up to fail. Salem and JKH were used beautifully last year But really I think it comes down to Question 3. It's round 1, we are picking our best side to win. Does Brayshaw on debut, with all of 3 practice matches against men have the form and ability to play better at AFL level than whoever else we pick. Considering we didn't see him in the NAB challenge we are really just projecting based on VFL form on how he'd go up a grade and likely in a different role to where he'll eventually end up. N Jones, Tyson, Cross, Viney, Lumumba, Newton all look set for midfield roles. If Bernie Vince is fit he takes a spot. Howe might be the sub. After that you're looking at 1 or 2 of Matt Jones, Toumpas, Kent, JKH, vandenBerg, Bail for half forward/wing rotation spots in the team. At this stage I'm leaning towards giving 2 of the above names a run knowing (vandenBerg aside) that they have played AFL and played in the NAB challenge, are stronger and have better endurance than Brayshaw and are probably more suited to the role in the team as well. If some guys don't perform then I think Brayshaw will be straight in for round 2 but I'm just not convinced that at this stage just because he's a superior talent that he should be in the team. The team balance, experience and role has to be considered as well. The gap between regular AFL season and VFL preseason is massive.

He is looking forward to playing at Casey this year?

I can't think of one player in our entire affiliation with Casey who has benefited from a prolonged spell in the VFL. Fair enough, players such as Stretch and O.McDonald need to grow into their bodies and spend time playing against men, but Brayshaw is already too good for that level. Most players who go to Casey come back worse, eg JKH last year. Give him a few weeks in the AFL and see how he goes - if he struggles, you send him back to Casey for a couple of weeks to get his confidence up and try again; if he thrives, then everybody wins.

It better to find these drug cheats than to pretend they do not exist.

No that is the one thing we need not worry about, every single player has told me they are the fittest they have ever been, just to see Spencer trundle his now massive frame up and down the ground for 2 and a half hours tells me they are fitter The issue we have with maintaining intensity for four quarters is above the shoulders on most players, when you speak to them this is the one thing that frustrates all of them, they know it is the issue, but it is fixing it that remains the challenge for both them and the coaches, we tend to switch off and get goals kicked against us, everybody from Nathan Jones to James Harmes acknowledges this Hopefully with a bit more experience on the field this year especially in the shape of HL we can stop these lapses, even Roos made mention of it in his presser this morning

Well you have now so the sponsorship is working

Whole team suspension?

The final point is the one that matters, Sue. The Federal Court had no problem with the evidence gathering and sharing processes, which Hird etc attempted to construe as a joint investigation. It stands to reason that the AFL investigators have developed a full knowledge of the case against the 34, whether they were responsible for compiling and presenting it to the tribunal or not. If Gill is ultimately responsible for the actions of his investigation unit then he's entitled to see what they've done (interfering while they were doing it would be a different matter but there's no suggestion of that). I think Ouch is right that the real problem here is Gill's adding to the media speculation. He should just shut up until Old Dee's countdown is finished.

Didn't vandenBerg pick up a knock last week. Thought I read that he was in doubt. Anyway: Massive game this saturday. Gold Coast will likely be a big player this season, but there simply won't be any room for excuses if we get trounced. Usually I'm absolutely buzzing for game day by now, let alone for round one, but after our abysmal performance last week at Docklands I still feel fairly down. I feel like this team owes us unbridled effort every time they pull on the guernsey after the last eight seasons, but I've seen none since the first half vs the Bulldogs. If we turn up at the G on Saturday and are outclassed by a good side: Fine. Conditional upon the fact that what is now a Dees side full of mature bodies throw their weight around and keep the ball moving forward. If we have the ball being kicked over our defenders heads (ala. James Frawley) 20 times and fail to do much our end of the field: I won't accept stuff like 'we missed Dawesy' or 'Gold Coast are a good side' or even 'we didn't turn up'. I couldn't tell you when I was last this blase about round one starting up, and I do wonder whether the flame might blow out if we get done.

Seems many posters don't have a starting spot for Garland which I agree with. I'd be very interested in knowing how many free kicks he gave away over that NAB challenge period. To me that says he is down on confidence. The other thing that worries me about him is his lack of intensity when in and around the contest. He just doesn't seem desperate enough. I'd be starting Frost in defence and Gawn starting in the goal square. Howe and and Vince get a game regardless of 'game time' they've missed. I'd be happy for them both to be managed minutes wise and I think they can both play HB with stints forward, one of them perhaps starting sub. Brayshaw gets a game also based on his form over the last three games. Perfect sub candidate too. Start him half forward, give him a few centre bounce starts and sub him off. Those three players will give us something that a handful on our list still don't give us. 'Meaningful possessions and disposals'. I don't care if they don't accumulate many possessions, but as long as Vince splits the game open with his kicking, Howe saves some counter attacks forward for the GC with his marking and Gus' smart decision making, contested work and ability to kick a goal then I'll be happy. That is much better than having Bail running around not being able to 'impact' on the game, or Garland playing a defensive job giving away free kicks to his man and not contributing to any attack from defence etc. We need quality decision makers and players who can really impact on games even if they don't see much of the ball. We're playing a highly skilled side so we need to make the most of every inside 50 entry. Players who can't find targets by foot will be found out against GC. And no Saty, I don't mean being able to hit a sideways target 20 metres on their own. I'm talking about attacking, proactive kicking that is executed properly. Which reminds me, Kent gets a game too. So Ins: Howe, Vince, Brayshaw and Kent. Outs: Bail, Garland, M Jones and Pedo. B: Jetta Dunn Frost HB: Howe McDonald Salem C: Lumumba Tyson Kent HF: Watts Hogan Brayshaw FF: Garlett Gawn JKH Foll: Jamar Jones Viney Int: Cross Toumpas Grimes Sub: Vince With Garlett, Salem, Kent, Salem and Toumpas all having the ability to rotate, it should be enough to cover the managed time of Howe and Brayshaw whilst they're on.

Regarding Dank's claim that "Thymosin Beta 4 is not on WADA banned list", I carried out a little test today, based on current data although I believe the same applied in 2012.I went to the WADA website ~ http://list.wada-ama.org/?submit=Search&s=Thymosin+Beta+4 and typed in "Thymosin Beta 4". I received a message which says: I then went to the local Anti-Doping Organization (ASADA) website https://checksubstances.asada.gov.au/Details.aspx?prodid=&subid=-219&resultid=499D166B-A583-4F01-822D-44F776C2A9AE and typed in "Thymosin Beta 4". I received a message which says that it is "prohibited" with the following additional message: The site referred me to the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC).ASDMAC is the Australian body that gives approval for athletes to use prohibited medications for legitimate therapeutic purposes, in addition to other functions. There has never been any evidence that the Essendon players received an exemption from ASDMAC for use of TB4 and therefore Dank is as usual being disingenuous when he claims the substance is not on WADA's banned list. It is a banned substance and if the Tribunal concludes to its comfortable satisfaction that TB4 is the "Thymosin" ingested by the players it will have to find them guilty as charged.

I know it's the start of a new season but I'm not sure my apathy is because we have been so bad or the game of footy is just plain boring except for a few highlights Ever since Wallace brought in the Flood which in turn turned footy into a defensive slog in most matches. The Swans vs WC grand finals whilst tough uncompromising affairs took the sparkle and joy of watching a game of footy for me and the trend continued....No coach was game enough to take the game on I used to enjoy watching other teams play and watch replays of most of the games but now I just look at the results.....It seems to me that the coaches are afraid of attacking...Payers are hobbled out of playing their natural game all in the name of defence first... High marking is just about a thing of the past as defenders block the run ups It's like a game of chess which I enjoy playing but it is so boring to watch. I miss games where the score line was 19.15 to 17.13....It is not allowed by coaches these days. Anyway.....Good luck to us this year....I will try not to doze off.

I would say it's more a matter of wanting to make big changes in a short time. Misson came to Melbourne and said that the players weren't fit enough and it would take him three years to get them into shape. Three years later and we have only three players not training on the eve of the season and all of those are long-term injuries not attributable to fitness. Hird took over the Bombers and noted that they needed to be fitter and faster and tried to do the job instantly with the help of supplements.

Pleasure reading a thread that's predominantly about football.

You know what Red?Given a choice between another Club suffering and us.. I'll take them !!

I've always admired lawyers and will rejoice in their good fortune.

well one thing would be to increase the number of tests from a current average of <1 per player per year hardly a serious amount of testing

I'd rather see Brayshaw debut than watch Viney's pin point passing to the opposition or Bail's dropped marks that an under 12 should be taking or even Toumpas's out on the fulls under no pressure despite being touted as an elite kick.

Even if he hadn't played well, the rest of the midfield - bar Jones - have played him into round one with their [censored] poor form.

Yes Vlad knew when to pull up stumps.

if the AFL were serious more players would be getting caught. I've always wondered why until now no one has been done for banned drugs.

I have always been against on field zones but I am wondering whether it is time to have 3 players from each team in each half at all times to break up the slog or potentially reducing number of players on field to 16 now that we effectively have 14 on ballers from each side instead of 6.

Watch them try to produce plane ticket stubs to Mexico and claim they ate bad beef.

I think it ebbs and flows across the league as teams evolve. Scoring in excess of 100 points is always great but doesn't always mean it's a great contest.

Could hardly come at a worse time for Essendon.

Always used Haymes paint. Best on the market. Stayed on longer than other brands and always looked better. A quality product. Good to have them on board.

He is safe DA There is not much in there to damage.

I've been banging on about this for years but I hate all the players being in one half (forward line even) of the ground. I still don't see why coaches don't leave one or two players in their own forward line and see if the opposition are brave enough to leave them unaccounted for.

Afraid I disagree Ouch. Convening a tribunal is not sufficient grounds for knowing what is happening at it. If anything, having convened an enquiry or whatever, a convening body should stand well back. For example, the government convenes the courts and is effectively the prosecutor as The Queen vs Hird (I'm looking ahead ). If the proceedings are 'in camera' as these ones are, it is not appropriate for the government to know what is happening. And as we seem to be agreed, it is definitely not appropriate for the Attorney General or the PM to publicly state during the proceedings 'I have seen the evidence and I think xxxx'. But as I said earlier, if the AFL is actually present at the Tribunal then Gil is entitled to see it all, but then the problem is Gil's going public with his opinions based on 'what I know and you do not'.

Agree with your sentiments but you've left out Lamumba. Toumpas would be the swap there and I'd move Brayshaw to sub and start Vince.

Please, Watts was just a boy, brandished around for marketing purposes. Hogan has almost three years, about 20kgs, and a very different mindset to the boy Watts was in 2009.

we are very close to full strength. Just missing one first year playter and JT who got dropped last year, and would not be automatic first 22 No excuses. we are in better shape that 80% of other teams regarding injuries

"AFL boss Gillon McLachlan revealed on Friday he had read the majority of the evidence from the anti-doping tribunal and closing submissions." Very independent tribunal.

To be played on China Southern Airlines flights to Melbourne? That is where i would target this I like it. We must represent our City.

Some more from last Friday => http://six6six.smugmug.com/Training-Friday-27-take-2/n-Gbhn2G/i-4zfzZBF/A Last pre season session for me for the year. I'll be back next pre season but for now go Dees. Full Gallery, Enjoy ==> http://six6six.smugmug.com/Training-2732015/n-WhKXRf/i-zFBXcb6/A Salem's Run ==> http://six6six.smugmug.com/Salems-run/n-ZrNKWc/i-vbMf8LL/A

Stats should be used as a drunk uses a lamp post for support not illumination. Go back and look at Judd of 2002 to 2006 love Dom but there is no comparison. I witnessed Juddys one and only game Round 1 2002 WAFL season Quite simply one of the most awesome WAFL displays I have seen and I saw Rioli, the Krakouers, Winmar, Wiley, Peake, Steve Michael, Melrose and many others

Is he somehow more or less lilkely to play than he was yesterday?

So 3 yrs after he conducted his frankenstein experiments he is now making selective comments through selective media. Yeah, we believe you Dank you moron. Had plenty of time to clear the air and the players.