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I'm really hoping Jack Trengove.... Would love to see him back and firing.

I went down for a short time. It was the second time this pre-season. The notable missing player for me was Aaron vandenBerg. I have seen Christian Petracca and he seems fine, just on a modified program, but I have seen neither hair nor hide of VDB and considering he has been MIA since the Collingwood game in June I hope he is OK.Actually seeing him in the picture above means he is at least around. Hoges was running laps by himself. Looked fine, all limbs in fine working order. They were doing a ball movement exercise when I got there. Split into 3 groups, attack, defence or off. The ball would be kicked down back to an attacker and the attacking team would try to move the ball the length of the ground and score. It was good to watch, lots of running, switching the ball across the ground and fast movement. Sam Frost is back in full training and was good in this drill. Ben Kennedy is possibly the smallest player on our list along with JKH and Viney but he looks very fit and strong and was doing everything he could to impress the coaches and his new team mates. All you could ask at this stage really. Jayden Hunt is very quick. He did a one two with Frost at one point off half back and burnt off his opponent then kicked truly to a leading forward. If they work out how to use his speed there is a chance he can make it. Oscar Mac is taller now than his brother. Looks to have put on height and weight quite naturally, his potential is sky high. The next drill they did was moving the ball the length of the ground via 5 small groups. As you kicked the ball to a player leading from the small group ahead of you you would then run forward to join that group and wait a go before leading, marking swinging on to your left or right and kicking to a player leading from the next group, then running forward to join that group they would eventually make their way down the ground where they would have a shot at goal and then jog back to the other end to start again. About 5 balls in play again there was constant movement. A lot of passes were going astray before I realised they had to swing at least half the time onto their wrong foot. Gus was good on both feet as was Viney. White was pretty good. The highlight was big Tom McDonald kicking on his left. You reckon he's bad on his right foot! Wow. He sort of jumped in the air and would kick the ball with both feet off the ground. Anyway before anyone bags him he was the only senior player there joining in with the newbies so all credit to him.

Not sure about training but good to see a few of the boys getting together to play some backyard cricket once the serious stuff finished. Oscar behind the stumps, Jesse batting, vanders, JKH and Salem all fielding and I think Petracca bowling (out of shot). Pic by Gus Brayshaw.

Jumbo admits Watts is a lemon, Stuie finally calms down Randle McMurphy style, and rpfc comes clean on his "only child" status.

iPhone footage from training.

If Gawn plays every game next year the way he did against the Cats, he'll win the Brownlow, let alone AA honours.

Colin Sylvia ............. With a good preseason under his belt

They dont need new evidence. They just need judges that arent in the afls pockets and have the ability to join dots 3 and 4.

And silence in response. Bit over ppl in this thread saying this person and that person rubbish but not coming up with their own preferred draft sources.

So you consider her a greater authority than our recruiting panel ?

The entire Melbourne Football Club.

Kent, reckon he is going to be a gun.

Do you rate Oliver?

Being a de novo hearing - i.e starting afresh, the WADA team would be trying to introduce evidence in areas in which the AFL Tribunal indicated that the ASADA case failed the test of comfortable satisfaction. If they know how to run a case and want to win, then they will be producing evidence from the Chinese supplier of the raw materials used by Dank. They will also no doubt seek orders compelling some of the main players in the supplements programme to give evidence. The Supreme Court last year refused an application to compel Shane Charter and Nima Alavi from giving evidence at the original tribunal hearing. There have also been suggestions of a substantial body of additional forensic evidence. I'm sure WADA will be well prepared for this hearing knowing the shortcomings in the case before the original tribunal.

Viney and T Mac to be our first AA's for 6 years. If Viney plays 22+ games, watch out AFL. he was our best player in the last month of two of this season smokey: Newton to work on his tank and defensive game and become a regular in the 22.

Hipwood will be a Lion. And don't get angry if you don't understand; the Northern Clubs will now be playing under the paradigm that if they have one or two excellent or very good academy players they will only be able to draft them and have picks in the 60s and 70s to fill their list. It is really the best scenario - they get local kids to grow the game in their area and the game doesn't allow them to continue to profit to the degree they did.

And ProDee/Ben Hur concedes there may be someone, somewhere in the world whose opinion carries as much weight as his own...

Of course they can give that assurance Daisy, as it only means that they have requested zero time bans. Doesnt mean that CAS will submit to their requests. I'm nervous, as I will only be truly satisfied with full 2 year bans for the players, as you cannot allow them time off for the mickey mouse "self imposed" bans they gave themselves, mostly pre-season, in a very obvious attempt to mitigate penalties, while only missing a couple of NAB games that the players themselves described as worthless anyway. They also trained as a group, and had "match practice", while thumbing their noses at ASADA. Fcuk them, hit them with the full 16lb sledge, then ban the cheating programs architects for life. Go WADA. Good luck nailing the cheats, and show the world that this wont be tolerated any more.

And is also from Echuca, if you didn't know.

They don't actually. On the one hand, WADA only need to establish intent, and on the other, they only have to be found to have "probably" taken it (where probably = comfortable satisfaction). What it turns on for me is that WADA would never have appealed unless they were sure they could nail them. End of.

I think Salem will take his game to another level this year. I think he will be like Luke Hodge ... but with more demerit points

I'll back ANB to play round 1 and only lose his spot through injury. I was pretty impressed with what he achieved given his pre and early season setbacks. I like when kids just look like they belong straight up. They don't need to get a heap of it early on like say Gysberts but instead show clean hands, enjoy the physicality and adjust to the pace quickly. Viney, Salem and Hogan have all done exactly that in recent times. I'd add ANB to that list. He just looks a footballer.

Inserting his sort of talent into your midfield is not something that you pass up, regardless of who you've already got.

1. How did you start following the Demons? I moved down to Melbourne from Northern NSW in 2009, vaguely having followed the Swans growing up (but not really, cos i didn't understand the game, more into rugby league at the time). Figured that I should follow a Victorian team (as I see it as a predominantly Victorian game).. Very soon it was out of Essendon, Carlton & Melbourne. Went and saw the Bombers [censored] the Blues one cold night in '09 and felt quite indifferent, hating the arrogant Bomber supporters and Hird.. I then watched a game with the Dees one Friday night and enjoyed their spirit. I also like the history, jumper and that they play at one of the greatest sporting grounds in the world). My passion has multiplied through the past 6 years of pain, soul-searching and occasional glimpses of bright light. 2. Who was your very first favourite player and why? Once I had started supporting the Dees I would say it was Liam Jurrah. Excitement, jump, attack.. Watching him play definitely won me over. Sad how things turned out. 3. Best moment as a fan? As a fairly recent fan, the 2015 season had a few games that I really loved (after the past few lean years).. I attended the Dees v Dogs in April? with my Bulldog-supporting girlfriend and we won, Garlett kicked a goal from the boundary, Hogan came out with THAT comment to Bob Murphy and I had a kick on the ground after.. I also had tears of joy during the match against Richmond, when Jesse played all over Vance and Brayshaw kicked his first goal. I was losing my [censored] in the last few quarters...so happy afterwards! 4. Worst moment as a fan? Hmmm...the tenure of Mark Neeld. A train-wreck. I found myself watching every presser he did as some kind of penance. Those years really hurt. The big loss down at the Cattery the year before he arrived of course too.. 5. Anything else you would like to share? I no longer watch rugby league. I watch a few games of AFL a weekend and every Dees game on tv or the radio. My gf says i've been "footified". I'm on a Dees forum for goodness sake! My love for MFC runs deep now and I am happy that it's something that I have fostered myself, as opposed to having it handed down from family. Which probably shows I've got some problems - haha. Definitely looking forward to the youngsters running amok in the next ten years! Hogan, Brayshaw, Viney, Petracca, Salem, Kent, ND3, ND7, McDonald x 2, Stretch, Neal-Bullen......

funny, i heard crabs were your speciality, bbo

I kind of agree with this. I think the points system has worked reasonably well for a first run. We're seeing Sydney taking themselves out of the first two rounds to secure Mills which is fair. GWS traded away top picks to get more points and will still not have a live pick before the fourth round or so to get their two guys. Some have complained about trading top ten picks for multiple lower picks to get extra points, but I think this is a good thing. It's giving clubs that don't have access to academy picks a better chance to pick up top end talent by trading for those top picks. I was very skeptical at first with this whole system, but it really does appear to be working.

I also took the missus to an ACDC concert on Valentine's Day at Rod Laver arena. There wasn't any smell of Roses that night. Bourbon and pot rained supreme.

In the herald sun today (sorry if already posted), Sam Landsberger runs his eye over Champion data rankings and has assessed when the players may be selected in the top 30 (i have summarised key info for the top 15 and any other name ive heard us linked to - if you cant access it and want what they say about someone else listed let me know and ill edit it): Jacob Hopper (no.1 @ championships for contested footy, clearances and 3rd for meters gained) Callum Mills (ave. 30 disposals, 12 contested, 5 I50's & 4 clearances in NEAFL as a bottom age player in 2014) Josh Shache (24 goals greatest ever at champs) Jacob Weitering (9 intercept possessions and 4 intercept marks a game in TAC cup - unheard of at AFL level) Darcy Parish (elite for meters gained & above average for contested/uncontested possessions) Aaron Francis (ave 5 intercept marks - No1 & appears suited to defence) Ben Keays (ball magnet ranked No.2 for disposals at national champs with pinpoint kicking) Ryan Burton (if didn't miss 2015 could've been a top 3 pick, Ave 3 goals & 105 super coach points as a bottom age player for south Aus in 2014) Mathew Kennedy (TAC cup numbers is an elite midfielder who hits the scoreboard > 1 goal a game). Eric Hipwood (No1 ranked key defender at the championships, leading disposals and meters gained) Charlie Curnow (rated elite for contested marks in the TAC cup & kicked more than 2 goals a game) Rhys Mathieson (the best inside midfielder, winning an elite 10 cont possessions & 5 clearances for vic country - ranked no1 in div 1) Jade Gresham (attacking mid rated elite for disposals, meters gained, clearances, goals and score involvements) Sam Weideman (Small TAC cup sample showed he can win the ball in the air and at ground level, ave the second most ground ball gets inside 50) Kieran Lovell (No1 ranked player of the championships, leading disposals, meters gained and uncontested possessions) Mitch Hibberd Ryan Clarke Clayton Oliver (ave 14 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 6 tackles and a goal in teh TAC cup) Riley Bonner Harley Balic Wayne Milera Ben Crocker Luke Partington Callum Ah Chee Darcy Tucker (rated above ave for intercept possessions and meters gained - looks suited to defence) Daniel Rioli Bailey Rice Brayden Fiorini Kieren Collins Josh Dunkley Also they state (in regards to tall forwards): "A recent Champion data case study showed star spearheads franked their junior form. Tom Hawkins, Taylor Walker, Jack Darling, and Jack Riewalt all averaging 100 supercoach points and 14 disposals before they were drafted. Schache joins that group". Cheers

Please give us your top 20 then with summary. I'll be fascinated. I'm sure others will too. Thanks

Salem will surprise the comp, barely anyone has heard of him but his silky skills and composure will come to the fore. With the help of Bugg, and Kennedy in the middle I can see Tyson being freed up more and having a great year reasserting himself as a great up and coming player. Bernie may also get off the leash more and have an even more outstanding year than he did, especially as Jones will hopefully be free of the neck injury which kept him back last year.

The most obvious admission of guilt is the actions of the EFC, dragging the saga out, turning over a huge number of players, they're trying to make sure even if they're found guilty they don't lose 3/4 on the team. First appeal was a blatant attempt to get off on a technicality rather than prove innocence James Hird might still be appealing something, he is that far off the rails.

Geez, I thought I entered the wrong thread dc Until this post.... thanks for the laugh dc. I've read the last few pages, and would just like to thank everyone for their contributions. Because it's made me none the wiser. I prefer the Master's countdown tbh.... Although I will contribute with this. Taking into account the very unfortunate news in France, it angers, saddens me and I dearly wouldn't want this to happen here in the world's most liveable city. But when I really think about it, you've heard the saying, "it only takes one peanut..." ... I just find it inevitable that one day this will happen in the town, country that I love. One day. I don't want it to, but knowing what happened in Sydney, now this.....there's a very real possibility it will. 'Touch wood', it doesn't. However I fear for my children - and down the track my grand children - for the world they will one day live in. Theatres, restaurants and sporting facilities. Three targets that our very own town has in spades and dearly loves. All it takes is one twisted coward. It really saddens me for those that were lost. And reading the last few pages of differing opinions and bitter views towards one another whether it be religions, beliefs.......I mean, why can't we all just get along? Not just in here, but as a world? There's so much negativity in this world, social media, politics, etc Everyone needs a shot of positivity. You only live once, let's get along FFS.

I think people misunderstand the academies a bit, the players are rated so highly because they have been through that program, they're talented players, not necessarily as talented as what this draft position may reflect, but they've been under intense AFL training programs with development coaches, it's like if we got Parish at the end of last year and gave him a year under Roos and McCartney, i guarantee he'd be rated as the number 1 or 2 pick now It's a huge advantage, we got to use it on Hogan and Viney

The problem with Issy is that he wont -even though his career did.

Stuff the tapes, stats and recruiters opinions, that's all I need!

I'm not necessarily expecting it but I'm hoping Max King comes on with a few leaps and bounds. We know he has good hands and neat kicking skills. At 200cm he can fill in that important mobile tall forward cum 2nd relief ruck role. If, and yes it is a big if, he could become a vital cog in our next finals side (nice thread too)

tend to agree although i'd say grossly over-rated rather than useless, at least as a means to grade players

Chris Dawes to have a break-out season with 26 goals.

I think Harmes will be a gun next year, after seeing him in that last game against GWS clunking those big pack marks , and just his aggression and appetite for the ball and the contest....reckon he could be something special.

Another reason I'd like Parish is that he's exactly what we need. He complements our midfield perfectly.

Milera ahead of Parish ?The Quayle possibly risks being a goose.

This version is much better from someone at BigFooty.

personally, i'm not totally wedded to the words of the theme song we don't even have a grand old flag, and there are other oddities i'd be conducive to minor improvements to the wording

He is one of the best recruits that we've had in a long time. He kicked 40.31 this year, which, as you said,is an incredibly high number of scoring shots for a small forward in a poor team. Compare that to some of the best small forwards in the competition during the season (no finals): Jeff Garlett: 40.31=71 scoring shots Chad Wingard: 53.27 = 80 scoring shots Eddie Betts: 58.24 = 82 scoring shots Hayden Ballantyne: 15.13 (only 15 games, but with that average over 22 games he would've kicked 22.19) = 41 scoring shots Luke Breust: 45.17= 62 scoring shots Mark LeCras: 41.25= 66 scoring shots When you factor in the Inside50 stats for each of these teams, it only makes Garlett's stats more impressive. If he can sort out his accuracy, he's got the potential to be the most productive small forward in the game.

I am here in 11th District with my girl-friend and our 3 mth old MFC supporter. We were in a restaurant 300m from the Bataclan attack when it happened and had just driven past the venue in a Uber. Was super impressed with Parisians, shops open this morning, even across the road from the theatre, life going on, people sad but not cowed. French Police, etc, were amazing last night, very calm and professional, all doing their job. Love this place. Was here for a party for the weekend 1st trip since new supporter was born... Also was sad to see scooters and bikes locked to fence outside theatre, obviously belonging to people who can't collect them.

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

I hope they do cop bans. If its Milkshake as well more fool us.There has to be some rules and then abidance of them otherwise it's sporting anarchy.

Picks 46,50 for me are like... So I threw a dart.......James Parsons interests me for speed. Played with Vic Metro.

My info on this is that Jesse's manager is doing his job, well aware big offers are going to come, wants jesse to put in another really good year and then squeeze out the best possible deal for his client, could sign for 5 years at a million right now and then find out 12 months later it might have been 8 years at 1.5 when the MFC were a bit more worried. all indications seem to be that he'll stay with us, but he still has 2 years to run and an extension isn't a priority. He's looking at potential forward partners from the draft, headlining the clubs re-branding, very much becoming the face of the club, you don't do all of those things if you aren't interested in hanging around.

We have to own the city of Melbourne and the club made a great job of the launch yesterday. Similarly we have to make melbourne a destination so that Jesse and others want to stay and gun players from other clubs will want to come to us. The reality is we haven't been able to attract the Dangerfield's of the comp to Melbourne. Success, a high profile in melbourne and and a great group of core home-grown talent might get us there. Its no 5 minute fix but like most things PJ does it is a long term sound strategy being built piece by piece. People ridiculed Glen Bartlett with his New York Yankees talk but the idea is the right one. We owned the town yesterday and we need to do it on a more consistent basis. We need to own it during footy season and there is no quick fix.