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Alrighty, first off as I type this I'm going to be a little late. Not that it honestly bothers me too much, I had to do a bit of running around this morning, but I wont be missing too much more than the warmup should the boys actually start on time. Perhaps they might be a little bit later than that. Okay, so I get here at 10:00, a tad late with the almost as fashionable entrance that Russell Westbrook assumes in the NBA, laptop bag strapped over my shoulder and all - but Im told I didnt miss much all I missed really is the warmups and one of those six minute runs that the boys do. When I get here the boys are walking around the oval, and then slowly gets to a bit of a jog. In the rehab group on the other side of the oval are Hoges (I was wrong about Monday by the way, it wasnt management, hes got a bit of a finger issue at the moment) and Petracca of course. What it looks like they are doing is that both are running and doing a bit of weaving before marking the footy, and theres also a bit of work to do with some hurdles as well by the looks of things. As we were then with the main leaders leading the way around the oval. McDonald and Viney are up the front, and the boys look like they are changing into their footy boots so that they can start using the ball in vastly different conditions to when I was here Monday the thorough Monday afternoon heat and gust replaced by Friday the 13th cold, wet and breeze. Its not a pretty day by any means but this provides an early season indicator given this will be the conditions the boys will be facing come the 2016 season. The boys go for this weird kind of run around part of the oval. I couldnt properly explain it except for its pretty brief. Afterwards theres a short kick of the footy. Its a good chance to see whos up here and training. Max Gawn is here and hes having a run around in his quest to make Todd Goldstein look like Paul Johnson an ultimately difficult task. Ive already mentioned McDonald being here, dont think Garland is here, while Brayshaw after missing Monday is here too training. The whistle goes the kick of the footy is all too brief. I hear loud noises, including a couple of mentions of over the shoulder as the boys assume positions for the next drill, with a whole heap of cones. This is an interesting drill. Theres groups of four in this drill, with a couple of players weaving around cones, one with the footy and one without, whereas another player comes in to try and tackle said player weaving with the footy. At the moment no one is really missing the mark, thats because the player with the ball seemingly runs straight into the man whos going after him. Again its all too brief and they move around again, this time to the edge of the square. Again this is another kind of pressure drill Theres about three players in vests and another three who go out and run to get the footy in kind of a simulation drill. There isnt a whole lot of pressure from those wearing vests, which is either disappointing or what is expected of them from the fitness coaches, I couldnt tell you which is which. From the ball users perspective there are a couple of handballs which miss the target and their trajectory is poor. Again (and this seems to be the theme of the day) the drill is very brief. Meantime over at the near end of the ground, Jesse up for a kick at the park tomorrow? Hogan and CP5 are having set shots. Hogans run up is even more painfully slower and more edgy than what it was last year with the stutter even more obvious you could make a verse about it in Stutter Rap. Meantime Petracca misses a sitter from about 35 out on a slight angle and hes pretty [censored] about it he knows he should do better. You can notice the higher standards though, maybe in another year, specifically 2013, the boys would have a laugh about it, but you can see the want to succeed now. Anyway, with less jibberish, the boys begin their next drill. The first group nearest is stopped and the coach over there (cant work out who it is from a distance) mentions that it shouldnt be too much of a handball game. There are a couple of average kicks I wont lie about that, especially one from I think Smith who just skids it along the ground, its a true shank. On the far end of the ground the drill is still going and theres a few kicks which are just hitting the mark with authority. There was one such instance where Harmes lead excellently to the ball and it hits him on the chest as he jumps, didnt catch who actually kicked it to him but thats always a good sign looking ahead. Theres a clear difference between the two groups the group nearest to where Im positioned are moving it slowly and with a bit of hesitation, but the group on the opposite side of the ground are taking it on big time. Its a massive difference and the group nearest to us are out to rectify that when they begin again. Rehab Hulk and CP5 are running laps now. CPs endurance has massively improved since this stage last year and hes running with Crossy, whos going to be massive for his ultimate development in being able to run all day. The conditions change again as the boys head into the next drill suns out guns out not quite. Not for me anyway. The drill here is that the boys start off in a circle, then the boys spread out around the ground and become targets. Matt Jones scuffs the first kick, one which is wide of the mark to Terlich, which sees the vest team get possession of the footy. In fact the first two times the groups go out, it is characterised by missed handballs and a couple of scuffed kicks here and there. Its a little disappointing but then again the team with the vests are putting on good pressure much the same. The teams change and immediately theres a shift. Where the first team tried to move the ball too quickly, theres more a sense of surety with this team as the boys take a bit more time moving the ball, but not too slowly. The boys assess their options a lot more carefully and as a result, are able to transfer the footy from one end of the ground to the other. The second movement is even more impressive the team with the footy catch out the team with the vests through straight and direct ball movement, which goes nothing short of perfect until the final kick which drifts away late and hits the post. It was delightful to watch and hopefully theres more of that throughout the season as the boys cut through teams like a hot knife through butter. Now thatd be something. The boys, in the meantime, continue their drill, and while the early stages look reminiscent of the boys at their worst (what I mean is that when they handball backwards and they panic mercilessly) whats impressive is that they are beginning to realise that handballing to a bloke under pressure just doesnt work. Ever. Its Terls who sets this one up, sidestepping a couple of blokes and then delivering a good ball. In the meantime, CP5 leaves early. Im assuming therefore that OKC and his beloved Russell Westbrook are playing then. The boys start again. Salem gets the ball and somehow manages to break a Viney tackle. Not too often you get to say that but thats a representation of the standing of the bloke. In fact, every time Salem is getting it, he is using it extremely well and its so good to watch. Just nails almost every kick basically, no matter whether its a long kick or a short one. The boys then stop for a short break, be it either for drinks, to have a chat, or to watch Jesse Hogan walk off. Either one of the three. The boys then split up into groups of three, one with green vests, orange vests and one group without vests. Its two teams at the moment one sits out. Its the team without vests sitting out at the moment, leading to the ultimate See My Vest Cup (Byrnes coaching, anyone? Would be appropriate) which ends briefly after a miscued kick which just skids along the ground. Im assuming that the two just go at it until theres a mistake one which comes in the second game between orange and plain when a kick is spoiled well (to applause and cheers) by Gussy, the ultimate hard working kid. All three teams cycle through and we go again. Green team is unable to penetrate orange teams defensive structure. This time a loose kick is intercepted by (by the looks of it) King. The defensive structure of the two other teams is interesting. Plains defending is manic and high-energy, however some loose defending from Harmes brings their strategy undone, while Green seem to be loose, an ambitious kick into the corridor to Salem is quickly intercepted by two Green defenders. The drill then ends for either a pause or a switch to another drill. As it turns out, its a pause. After a brief restarting of the drill the boys start off again they stop almost as quickly, and then have a lengthy chat. They move down the ground and have another chat? Im assuming theres a bit of set shot work here because of the way this drill seems to be set up. This isnt the case. Instead theres only like four blokes actually having set shots, a big group having snaps and another small group crumbing and running in to goal from about 25-30 out. Meantime nothing has changed with Brayshaw in his training habits, always the prankster and always talking [censored] whenever someone goes past and has a set shot. On this occasion Stretch is copping an earful. Meantime theres a group with Crossy running around King, Frost, Kent and Kennedy. Dunno why they arent with the main group. As to be expected, Kent and Kennedy lead the way with Frost trailing and King a little bit further back in these running drills. This has been the way of the world for about 15 minutes so I have a geeze around and look at the world. While the training gear is somewhat up to scratch for a number of people its not quite up to scratch in other areas. For example, the cloth which covers the pavilion. Im not sure about you but you would THINK for a club which has worked hard to develop its logo that by now theyd have developed a cloth with the new logo on it in preparation for the release. Thats not the case. Old Schwabbolly-dobbolly-wobbollys logo is still taking pride of place. In the middle a beep test being sorted? It doesnt seem to be the case because after a short while with measuring et al, the cones are being taken away. Maybe they are otherwise preparing for it to be done in a future session (Monday?) Regardless theres a few at the moment who are on their way out. Its also my cue to bugger off myself as I look for a spot of lunch and either perhaps get to enjoy some old reruns of the footy or perhaps the cricket coming up as well (although thats not until later).

Out theme song is awesome. One of the best i the league. It shouldn't be touched.

The other songs are shocking, they base their points around where they are from and how good at football they are (supposedly). No different to a rapper. Melbournes song doesn't need that, it works on sublte references "grand old flag" (oldest club) "high flying flag" (classy club / passionate supporters) it's the emblem for me and for you (it's an awesome club that I and you support / it's an awesome club that I support, and it seems like it'd be a good fit for you, if you haven't picked a team yet) It's the emblem of, the team we love (die hard passionate truth) The team of the RED and the BLUE (don't know if anyone else picked up on this, but it MIGHT be a nod of the hat to the club colours, just saying...) Every heart beats true for the RED and the BLUE (deep down everyone knows Melbourne is the best, reinforcing the passion with another sublte nod of the hat to the colours) Compared with everyone other jerks second rate anthem: "We are / we are from *insert club name* and we *generic metaphor for being good at footy*, We always win, you don't want to mess with us, we play in this area where are club is, something something no class, just make sure it rhymes with the tune we are basing the theme on" Less is more. Ours is much better, hope they never EVER change it

I did spot a certain bearded, scooter-riding correspondent on his way to Gosch's this morning, so hope for some Saty gold through the afternoon. Thanks for the report.

I agree with you on Parish but the way I get there is different. I think we will look at the difference in ability of the talls we would get at 3 and 7 and the difference in mids we'd get at 3 and 7. We would then factor in the risk associated with each type. For example if we believed there was little difference in the mids we'd pick up in each position but a huge difference in talls we'd probably go tall and then mid. But we'll factor in risk. Talls are risky so that might mitigate any perceived difference in them. From what I've read none of the talls available are "locks". Therefore it's Parish at 3. But if we think there is a lock at 3 for a tall and we'll also pick up a good mid at 7 then we might well go that way. I think in this case "best available" means a combination of both, not each individually. I've got no idea which way we'll go.

What do I win?

maybe we could squeeze in like "girt by melbourne" somewhere

What the hell is wrong with you ??? You should pretend to know everything about under 18 football like every other poster on here.

So many people saying play Tmac forward... He is our only true defender. Dunn fills in, frost... Jury is out, whose next...

(Retired) UFC fighter Forrest Griffin in town for UFC 193 is on the bandwagon.

touch the song and may the fleas of a thousand dead dogs crawl up your [censored].

Even attempting to change the song would have Bartlett out on his arse in a flash. DO NOT TOUCH IT! Not sure I can make it clearer.

Postage stamps in England do not mention that country because they invented the system. Websites in the US do not finish with a ".com.us" because they invented the concept. We invented football. We don't need to put our name in the song.

The only footy anthem that makes no mention of the name of the team in the song. I love it either way, but I have no issue with adding the word "Melbourne" to the chorus. Don't forget, the main objective of this 'makeover' is to attract an entirely new generation of supporters. No-one really gives a stuff about old farts like me.

Do not touch a word of the song Not a word. Flags were won with that song Leave it alone...

Top tall forwards these days are most often taken in the first round (excluding academy picks, F/S, etc.). We don't have a first round pick next year. Mids can come from anywhere. We are starting to build a deep, talented, young midfield and we most likely have Parish coming in, with Prestia a strong chance in 2016. In terms of tall forwards, we have Hogan, daylight, Dawes, Pedersen, daylight and King. Dawes and Pedersen are older and aren't world-beaters. King is speculative, although the signs are reasonably good. Pick 7 should be used on a tall forward. My preference is McKay due to his capability of being a 2nd ruck and his ceiling may be higher than Weideman due to his age and lack of development.

WHOSE?

Great job tasman. The reports have never been better. Cheers.

Hands off!!!! The song must never change.

It ain't broke so don't Fix it.

I would be in favour of adding two words: It's a grand old flag, Melbourne's high flying flag" and "It's the emblem of the team we love, Melbourne's team of the red and the blue...." Simple changes that don't change the rhyme or meter of the verse yet add the name Melbourne in appropriate spots.

The fact that "Melbourne" is not referenced in the song and yet everyone knows it is about Melbourne is what makes it so special.

Adding "Melbourne" to the song won't ignite any more passion than it already does. It's perfect as is. Leave it be.

WOMEN'S football has received another boost with the establishment of a Victorian state league competition aligned with the VFL for the 2016 season. I reckon this is fantastic.. Reinvigourates footy in the burnbs etc. Fends off those other silly games in a fashion. A building block Should work well in conjunction with the new Womens National League Go you good girls Go Dees

I confess to missing the start of #demonbracketclassic And now I see that Andy Goodwin didn't even make the main draw...can I vote retrospectively (and often)? It's an outrage...Andy was a cult hero, a hero, my hero in his time at the Dees. I used to arrive early to watch the twos from the top deck of the Southern Stand when he was playing...no-one was there so you could hear the players swearing, and the thump of fist on leather as Andy repelled attack after attack with his stoic defence. One day he was 40m in the clear on the half back flank, Southern Stand side at the Punt Road end, a high floater approached and he proceeded to use the double-fisted punch to send it about 25 rows back! All on his own, classic. No-one was at the ground yet (except me and my sister in the top deck) so it took an attendant about 5 minutes to find the ball and return it to the boundary umpire. One day after another punch from behind some other bloke (top deck, Southern Stand) stood up and bellowed "ANDY"...I like to think he's a Demonlander. Years later I modelled the defensive aspects of my game in the Murrumbeena twos on Andy's play. Always team first. I was just like a shorter*, fatter, slower, less fit, less skilled(!) version of Andy Goodwin. And now I missed my chance to vote...shattered. Please Supermercado...add one vote to his score * I might actually be just taller

Yes, he used to play for Melbourne.

I think I've made my mind up. I rate: Parish - for his clean skills, relentless energy and great run Oliver - for his hardness, burst and ability to kick a goal Milera - for his evasive skills and slick skill in traffic and space I'd be happy with either of those three at pick 7. There's two pretty gifted key forward talents in this draft who will be available at pick 3. Both have concerns but both have significant upside. If we don't rate them then that's fine. Pass on them. But if we rate either of them as really good prospects them we take the one we like at pick 3. The midfielders available simply aren't good enough to take ahead of a key forward who you rate.

Racist

I can't keep up with you oilslik. Didn't you say 'best mid' about Matheison and Parish weeks back?

Went down to the kick to kick and had really good time. There was something for everyone really, within the bounds of kick to kick. Plenty of cameras, and once the kick was well underway with about 20 on each side, the players could talk to the kids and parents a bit. Jesse came around and said goodbye when he was off, which was a nice touch. Daisy and Robbo stayed till the end too. Jack left early, but did most of the kicking after every camera was pointed on Hogan and nothing on him. Think the club nailed it today. Hope this is the start of us stopping feeling sorry for ourselves and pulling ahead of the pack.

"By last year the club's debt – famously eliminated by the Jim Stynes-Don McLardy-driven foundation heroes campaign – had swelled back to more than $5 million" (C Wilson). Isn't it time once and for all that we lay to rest the myth that the Stynes/McLardy Board eliminated debt and in so doing "saved the Club"? This myth originated with the Club itself, was readily embraced by supporters and continues to be perpetuated uncritically by the likes of Wilson. For the record: The debt at the point of Stynes’ ascendancy to the Chair was $4.78 million comprising net asset deficiency of $3.179 million as at 31.10.07 plus forecast operating loss for fy08 of $1.6 million. In the 5 years 2008-2012 according to the audited financial accounts, the Club booked $6.335 million in revenue attributable to the Debt Demolition campaign and its offshoot the “Foundation Heroes” campaign. Almosthalf this amount was p****d up against the wall when the Club recorded a trading loss of $3.1 million in 2013. In 2011, without fanfare, the Club brought onto the balance sheet the Bentleigh Club asset at a conservative valuation of $6.691 million. The Bentleigh project had its origins in the late 1990s under then CEO Hassa Mann and incoming Chairman Joseph Gutnick. The Bentleigh project was carefully nursed along by successive administrations and Boards (including Stynes') supported by MFC-friendly Bentleigh Club boards on which sat some MFC Club legends. This courtship of 15 years' duration culminated with a formal merger and the incorporation of the Bentleigh assets onto the MFC books. This - not Debt Demolition much of which was shamefully squandered - "eliminated debt". The Bentleigh asset is today worth in the vicinity 0f $12-15 million as a property development play. It is the family silver. It represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to "football proof" MFC finances if prudently invested in income bearing investments. The Members must remain vigilant wathching for any sign of future Boards or administrations selling off the family silver in pursuit of the discredited strategy of buying a premiership.

That's about what i am hearing as well, huge riskvreward factor there, if it comes off he is the perfect foil for Hogan and potentially a gun forward for 10 years, or it could be a total bust. Harry Mckay imo is a far better option, he will be there at pick 7, Parish and Mckay or Oliver would be great imo

He is definitely not out of the question at pick 7 mate.Will he be the best mid? Time will tell.. Personally he has enormous upside due to very little exposure at elite under 18 championships. I compare him to a taller and quicker Luke Parker.. He is an absolute maniac at the contest and prides himself on his agression and hardness.

The training jumper is putrid.

Nothing wrong with being a curmudgeon- I've been one for years.

Quality bump

I don't. They are in desperate need of quality mids, and they already have a highly talented forward in Daniher. I'd be staggered if they didn't take 1 mid.

To expand on my above comments, I do not believe the actions of ASADA/WADA/CAS throughout this sordid and scandalous episode has primarily been about the players. The objectives of mcdevitt and ASADA, backed up by WADA, has always been to nail the perpetrators, and in this case it was primarily Hird, and his acolytes in the club who went along with his illegal and cheating plans to gain an unfair advantage over th rest of the AFL competition. But in the first instance, they had to establish that cheating took place and that means illegal drugs were administered to the playing group, therefore infraction notices had to be sent to them in order to establish that. The CAS hearing is all about establishing that fact. From there, if that is established to the satisfaction of the court, then a number of things flow. Initially, I have no doubt a number of infraction notices will be sent to coaches and officials from that era by ASADA, and as a result Hird and Doc Reid will both be rubbed out for life from all sports. Then ASADA will go through most of the other coaches and exercise scientists (including unfortunately Goodwin) and they will get a variety of sentences depending on the level of proof of their involvement and knowledge, but most will be suspended in one form or another. Then they will closely look at the board, and whilst this may may not result in direct penalties by CAS, their intention is to comment unfavourably on their behaviors with the aim of influencing WorkSafe to act against them. As we all know, Worksafe has the power to impose criminal sanctions against Board members who oversee unsafe work practices in their workplaces. This I think helps explain why Worksafe has held off until now to act. Finally the players. As I have stated many times on here, the AFL, ASADA, and the Evans led Essendon, worked out a settlement in 2013 to the satisfaction of all concerned which looked very like the Cronulla deal and involved the players admitting guilt but crucially also called for Hird to fall on his sword and resign. This of course he wouldn't do, and instead he rolled Evans, supposedly his best mate, bought in Little, and the two of them went on this three year orgy of obfuscation, obstructionism, litigation, and often straight out lying. This of course has got them nowhere because fortunately people of integrity, notably McDevitt and certain crusading journalists like Wilson and Smith, decided this was so outrageous they would not let them get away with it. And they haven't but it has been a very close thing. The players are the pawns in all this, but without them at least admitting guilt and getting at least some penalties even if at least some are backdated, the rest of the scenario doesn't fly. It is crucial that guilt is established first and foremost with the players. What do I think will happen to them? I think the players will be found guilty, they will admit guilt and receive mostly two year sentences, with some backdating, although personally I find it illogical that there can be backdating when they have still been playing over the backdated period. The overall effect is that most players will be back on the field for the start of the 2017 season. The longer term damage though will be huge and I have no doubt the legal fallout will go on for years. Hopefully, Hird and Little will fade away in disgrace, never to be heard of again......

Roughead, Pav, Stringer even Buddy at times...

I really need to rock that hat It matches nothing I own, but it has to work I am really glad to see that after all those years our merchandise is looking slick and modern. No reason to look like a hobo from the 90s if you feel like wearing footy merch. Whoever is designing the apparel has done a great job. Also if you're reading this, I'm down for a job in June. Thanks.

Me too. Today's events and promotions were a 10/10 in my book. They absolutely nailed it, especially the multi-pronged bombardment thing - with billboards here, coffee there, water, the Jones mural, school visit, the kick-to-kick - rather than putting all your eggs in the one basket. Is this the same club that made a complete balls-up of a family training day last year?

that's what i want Paul. It is quite weird the fact that so many on here want Roosy to walk out the side door quietly after Round 23 next year!!I want Roosy to hand over the Baton in front of at least 85,000 people in September....

I think our guys want Parish, plus one of Curnow or Weideman. So it goes like this. If we don't take Parish at 3, he'll go to the Bummers at 4. If we want Parish at all, we'll have no choice but to take him at 3. And if we take Parish at 3, it's very unlikely that both Curnow & Weideman will be gone by 7. Bummers likely to take either Curnow & Weideman, but not both as they're both tall forwards. They're far more likely to take one, plus someone different, probably Francis. Everyone seems to think that GCS are more likely to take someone like Milera, rather than who's left out of Curnow & Weideman. But if the unlikely happens & both Curnow & Weideman are gone at 7, we're then likely to take another tall forward, probably McKay. It will be a much harder decision if both Curnow & Weideman are available at 7, and we have to choose between them!

It probably looked better in my head, but you get the idea.

He may well want a buddy up forward to help him but it may help if we have the midfield to get the pill down to them too. IMO pic 3 middy and pic 7 forward.

This is what worries me the most.

Another year of "being in the black" is only a positive. I will reserve judgement about how this was achieved until the actual financials are produced, but based on last year it would appear to be genuine. Unlike some other clubs, whose financial reports must be the basis of a comedy sketch at the annual accountants dinner. However, our situation is still dire in terms of income. If we make more money on a single day against Collingwood on QB or Alice springs or Darwin, than we do for the rest of the season, then there is something seriously wrong about the fixture that allows this to happen. Equalisation as touted by the AFL is inadequate. Give us $500K in cash or give us a home game against Richmond, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood etc. Which would you prefer as a supporter? But no...these type of clubs get to play each other twice, and when we play them it is usually as an away side. It just kills us financially. And it goes on year after year after year on the basis that we don't win enough games. In 2016, Essendon get Hawthorn, Richmond, Carlton and Geelong as home games. Cartlon get Essendon, Geelong and Collingwood. We get Richmond and Collingwood. Remind me where these teams finished last year? Each of these " lack of games" would cost us $500k in revenue. Don't give us "handouts" just give us the same opportunities as given to others. Having said all that, it is a truly creditable effort to make a profit after such an ordinary season. Cartlton lose $2M after getting 5 or 6 Friday night games, and home games against Geelong, Essendon and Collingwood.

Well, Parish is out. He's a Collingwood fan. Only Dees fan was Weitering so we'll just have to take him. Unlucky Carlton and Brisbane.