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Friday, November 20, 0945 hours Pretty big day for this individual. First of all, my one and only exam was completed yesterday, and secondly, today I find out whether I’ve been nominated for AFL Victoria’s Community Media Awards for the second year in succession, which at the age of 22 I see as a massive achievement. Anyway, I get here missing part of the warmups, as is almost customary for me nowadays, I couldn’t explain properly why that is the case. Anyway as I get here the boys are doing the same drill that they normally do when they start off with their drills for the morning, the handball drill where there’s a defender putting pressure on. In the middle there’s a different drill, where the boys are asked to kick to players in the same team until called to kick to the other team. I’ll probably try to better explain – there’s two teams of about four or five players, one wearing vests and one not wearing vests, plus a couple of players wearing orange for that matter as well, and the coach calls out which colour kicks to whom. If that makes sense. In the meantime, as I walk through to Gosch’s, Terlich finishes up early and walks by me; Smith and ANB are doing some running and I can’t really explain why, and Trengove makes a very welcome appearance. Not entirely sure what he is doing at this point. Vandenberg is having a run around the joint as well. Meantime checking out the personalities around the place Mahoney is hearing watching, as well as King Jackson who’s made himself a dead set legend yesterday by signing on for a couple more years. Top bloke. Next drill is a full grounder drill, two full teams, boys are going hard at it. Brayshaw is crashing into blokes and in one case manages to bring down Maxy Gawn. It’s not quite the full monty yet until everybody else joins the party anyway. In the meantime Kenty is still moving very well considering he hasn’t played for a few months, and Tommy Mc is still showing his versatility whenever the ball goes nearby. Having said that there’s quite a few slip and sliding around due to the wet conditions experienced after last night’s awesome storm. Speaking of storms, an early look at a possible game plan sees the boys storming forward whenever they get the chance to do that. The ball movement at this early stage is noticeably faster and there’s more of an emphasis on players moving positively whenever the chance is there to do so. There is still a bit of an emphasis on switching play – as most coaches probably would. Having said that despite all the positivity, there are still a few disappointing errors by foot. Some of these errors come about as a result of risky kicks, but there are also errors which come about due to poor kicks. Another bloke who’s moving around really well is Dom Tyson. This bloke’s going to be an interesting case in 2016. I think all Melbourne supporters agree that 2015 was disappointing for him but I think we also all agree that we knew he was somewhat affected by injury. Anyway, on the track at the moment, he’s moving around like he’s finding the 2014 silky-smooth movement again, even though that there is still a bit of tape around his knee, which is really good to see. I’m therefore looking forward to seeing what he does when he’s fully fit. More on the drill – the skills have improved markedly since I commented that they left a lot to be desired. Also it seems that there is a lot more confidence about with many players. Probably none more so than Jayden Hunt. He seems to be backing his speed a lot more and he’s also getting the chance to find a lot more space, which is really encouraging. I think 2016 is the year we’ll finally see him get games, and we’ll finally get to see the great #29 grace the field for the first time since the great days of Michael “Juice” Newton. Drill stops and the move to the other side of the ground to do some form of a defensive drill. On the near side of the ground where I am it’s good to see Dunny here a bit early like he normally is, having a bit of fun and having set shots… hold on, he’s a defender isn’t he? On the other side of the ground, it’s really good to see JKH all over this defensive drill, and intercepting a couple of kicks, which is exactly what I want to see. Just hoping that this year was just the classic case of second year blues. The drill stops for a period before the roles are reversed – the team with the vests are attacking and the team without them are defending… but that’s a loose term. Good moment comes when a kick opens up big Maxy 15 metres in the clear, Maxy gets there… but only just. One quintessentially classic panic handball later, the vest team are able to kick a goal having broken open the defensive structure that the plain team tried to implement too easily in the end. This is the same deal when the defensive structure is tried again, with a kick down the corridor breaking open the play way too easily, which is either good or bad depending on which team you want to focus on. After a short micro-break the boys go at it again… and again it’s basically the same deal without the result this time around. I’m looking around trying to work out whether it’s just that the team with the vests have more numbers or that there is a weak link which is hurting the plain structure. At the moment, it appears to be a case of the former. On closer inspection, there’s the same amount of numbers on both sides. Bit of a break, Frost is running laps around the oval, Hogan has seemingly appeared out of nowhere given I hadn’t seen him during the drills (not sure if I haven’t paid enough attention for that one TBH) and is having a few sprints just over a patch of the oval with Viney. There’s clearly a bit of friendly rivalry when they run around – think it’s almost like they have to start line astern with an alternate leader and then they have to make sure that they stay in front. Bit of a similar drill to what’s been going on basically all morning after a short break which is another pressure-based drill with game simulation. Again JKH is performing well when applying pressure, laying another couple of tackles. Really been impressed with his application this morning. As they have another chat all you can hear is the solid BEEP BEEP BEEP noise that the Storm are doing. It’s not entirely a beep test, but (BEEP) it’s (BEEP)in annoying. Thankfully the boys get back into it, coupled with the beeping noise stopping, so that I can focus entirely on the drill at hand and see who’s doing what. With Hogan, Viney and a few others sitting out of main group training for the time being it’s two groups of nine on nine… ahem, AFL 9s. The drill restarts and immediately there is an orgy of players all over the footy. Again, JKH doesn’t give an inch whenever anyone gets the footy, laying yet another tackle, this time on Harmes. Mind you there was about 15 or 16 players within two metres of the footy this time round so laying a tackle was straightforward. There was a bit of solid banter during the drill when Tom McDonald gets the footy and tries kicking it to King… only to have his brother intercept it! During the same passage of play, Hogan (who’s running on the oval) cracks the shits when he has players interrupt his run (as I said before, it’s a friendly rivalry with Viney that he has and he’s trying to better Jack’s efforts). The next time they go about it Harmes gathers from half back and goes for an electrifying run that last until about 20m from goal before he gives out a Joe the Goose to a teammate. I am a bit disappointed he didn’t take the initiative and kick the goal himself because that was every bit as good a run as Phil Manassa’s (albeit this is in training and not in a Grand Final with the game on the line). After that there’s more of a handball drill this time around. It’s similar to the kicking drill except it covers a much smaller patch of ground than the kicking drill which was basically a full grounder. It’s more of a five on five drill than the nine on nine we’ve become accustomed to, with all players basically starting side on. The boys then stop for a bit, have a casual kick to kick and then change into their running shoes. As ever they come with instructions – Press B to run like the wind! (points if you get the reference). Okey-dokes. The running. There’s two groups and one quasi-group which I’m not sure just starts slowly or is part of the other group, I don’t have a clue. First bit of running sees the boys go from the back pocket to the goal posts. Either side. Pleasingly for those who likes seeing epic running battles, Tom and Oscar McDonald are in the same group, which will make for good viewing when everybody else invariably slows down. Pleasingly, for the time being, Dom is up the front. Kennedy, by the looks of things, is up the front of the other group. Mind you, that group has Gawn, Frost, Kent and King in it, so it’s the same running group as when I was last here last Friday. For the time being though I’m really pleased that Dom looks back to his injury-free best, staying up the front the whole time. After a leisurely walk around the oval the boys head off for a spot of lunch, which is what I also do. ​

Oh please someone sets up going through a stop sign then refuses a drug test loses their licence for two years and then has a record to manipulate the Draft! Beggars belief.

Was there also Tas Great report I spoke to Trenners and wished him well. He appears to be moving and running very easily looks pretty fit for this stage of his recovery. Also Jones was with the rehab group and looked to be moving and participating in kicking and marking without problems. The whole group seemed to be in great spirits and lots of banter could be heard. Hogan is such a competitor its scary!

clayton oliver - 1 vote - now i wonder who that could be....................

I used to talk to Cameron Schwab at the the footy, and while he undoubtedly left us in a very bad state, I doubt I've met a more passionate MFC person, apart from Jimmy. So yes he [censored] up, we know it, I'm sure he knows it and I'm willing to bet he was as upset about it all as we were. We're in a better place now, we should probably enjoy that and move on.

What a [censored]. Got no respect for [censored] who think its ok to drink and drive.

Trenners ran full and half laps at various speeds, as said before he looks good and running easily

McKenzie, Valenti, Stark, Oliver OR S Burgoyne, Rioli, Deledio, Parish. You choose which type MFC should pursue.

I was at the club's trade and draft evening with Jason Taylor and Todd Viney and while there was a great deal of discussion concerning a variety of the matters relating to the club, I don't think anyone went away any the wiser about who the club is drafting at #3. We were shown highlight tapes of six players who the club presumably considers would be available within its range of picks #3 and #7. They are: Charlie Curnow, Aaron Francis, Wayne Milera, Clayton Oliver, Darcy Parish and Sam Weideman. I would suggest then that we will draft two of those players next Tuesday night and while the club has made up its mind as to who will be taken at 3, nobody is telling. Nor are they telling the player involved because they want the player to enjoy the occasion. So, the suspense continues although watching the highlights passage and combined with the more detailed games I've seen in the past, confirms in my mind that Darcy Parish is our best pick. My next two would be Aaron Francis and Charlie Curnow ahead of Clayton Oliver and Wayne Milera. I don't believe Sam Weideman is for us. Anyway, we'll know soon enough.

Going by Jeff's comments on the MFC website he is really enjoying himself at his new club. We all know that he had a personal off the field incident whilst at Carlton but that is all behind him now. I do not know him personally but he appears to be a really pleasant person on and off the field. He is a good sport, is not dirty and is quick to acknowledge good play by his teammates. He wants to kick 50 goals next season and reckons it is possible. He also showed a good sense of humour when he said that he hates crumbing alongside Jess Hogan. Why? "Because he always marks the ball!" Let's hope he can realise his 50 goal ambition.

essendon now bound to take him - ideal fit

He's back. Quigley's Draft Rankings He'll get some wrong and plenty won't agree, but he has an exceptional eye for talent.

Either way, he's just demonstrated that he's not be the sharpest tool in the shed...?

I appreciate your sentiments Wiseblood. After reading what Bruiser has to offer in this thread, I appreciate not wasting my time reading warped views of what goes on in Maroochydore.

I'm sure they don't as they are my sentiments, not everyone else's. There is no need to act like a belligerent child who will take away a few training reports because we don't agree with your theories. You're acting like a 6 year old. But I'll also point out that you completely ignored my question about the info or proof you have that this is a conspiracy. I take it you don't have any.... ?

Good grief Roosy. You've lost the plot mate.

Surely you're joking. I hope so

So a club told him to go out and get drunk, take the P's off his car and deliberately drive through a stop sign in the proximity of a police car. Then refuse a breath test. So he slips down the draft order. Sounds pretty realistic. What if he had've hit and killed someone? He has made a few terrible decisions in an instant as a drunk 18 year old. I'm sure we all have. However, you have to question the intelligence/common sense of the guy to put himself in this situation only 4 days out from the biggest day of his life. It is a poor display and on top of his rumored laziness issues it gives me more reason to hope that we steer clear of him. This feels like Colin Sylvia repeating itself.

With all due respect, what any of us or our mates may have done as 18 year olds is just irrelevant. None of us were on the verge of lucrative careers as professional athletes. He's in the system, and has been for some time. He knows what's involved. Beggars belief.

Have a look at the bloke in your profile picture. Weight means far less than whether they can play.

Tyson - Mate of mine spoke with him at the B&F. He got a knock on his knee in the R4 game against Richmond. Played through pain for the remainder of the season. Trengove - Has been doing distance running only to see if the injury can sustain the workload. All good so far. From what I have heard the about the amount of running he is doing no wonder he looks fit.

A kid willingly giving himself a criminal record just to play with a certain club (when he can just be traded after 2 years anyway) is possibly the most moronic conspiracy theory I've ever heard. If it were true, the depth of his stupidity has no ceiling.

Geez I love how these boards go in to meltdown after the tiniest skerrick of information. I've got a mate who's been done drink driving, and I would trust him with my life. If the club liked Charlie, then I would have no problem with him at the club. If the club DOES end up drafting him, for gods sake guys please give him a chance to show who he actually is before launching in to him like you are right now.

LOL He refused his breath test "in a state of panic." Which is such a normal reaction for a sober driver to make. That's all every sober driver does when pulled over by a booze bus. Someone has consulted their lawyer handbook.

Jack Darling thread

based on these highlights, I have made the decision to re-draft Jordie McKenzie at pick 3. smooth as silk on the run and very good goal sneak. highlights don't lie people.

Easily the best trade (excluding free agents) from last year in terms of what he cost and what we got in return.

Too late

I thought I might return to the earlier days of this thread to check out where some of the players were ranked and it's interesting to note how highly fancied Aaron Francis was around May/June before the Weitering/Schache combo became set in stone for picks 1/2. Francis was at his height of popularity and in good form then, playing mainly in defence where his marking power was outstanding. Since then, he's dropped in the rankings after some so/so performances in the later Under 18 games and I believe he was injured later in the year. Now, as you know, I'm not a big fan of the highlights reel but at last night's trade and draft meeting, the vision that was shown of him was mostly as a forward and mightily impressive. That was from the game against WA which was fairly weak this year but it certainly required a bit of a rethink. Still, he was pretty much towelled up by the stronger defenders of SA in their game. Charlie Curnow's highlights were most impressive as well but we know he also went quiet after his injury. Which all leads me inescapably back to Darcy Parish. Some have said that there's no point of difference with him but I disagree - there's not a player at Melbourne who I can compare him to - he is one of those who instinctively knows where to be and his ability to get to the fall of the ball ahead of opponents is exquisite. He is one player I can see Roos/McCartney/Goodwin building on what he already has and moulding him into a real footballer.

Went with Francis, really think he'l play over 200 games for which ever cub drafts him. I think well take Parish and will be very happy with that selection also. After seeing a few pictures of a scrawny 18 yo Nat Fyfe, cant wait to see Darcy grow in the red and blue.

Back to Curnow... Doing such a thing three days from the draft is clearly not ideal and reflects incredibly poorly on the bloke's intelligence. It seems strange that so many on here believe we'll be taking him given the way our club now recruits. It's been fairly well publicised that one of the more important attributes we look for in a player is their character and personality and I find it very difficult to believe we'd take a player like Curnow at pick 3 or 7 because he lacks in that particular area. I am not doubting his talent as a player, although I don't share the 'hype', but again, if you look at the state of our list and the type of players we're bringing in who will eventually become the fabric, Curnow certainly doesn't fit the bill for us at a top 10 pick. Still hoping Parish and Weideman will be the ones.

Firstly, this thread is about Charlie Curnow. The bloke made a big mistake overnight and Roosy's Bruisers made the claim that it's some sort of conspiracy and got his knickers in a twist when we disagreed. I asked him for proof of this conspiracy and he ignored it. I'm just asking him to answer the question. Secondly, he doesn't need any help from me to embarrass himself. And thirdly, it's little surprise that your only contribution to this thread is to take a thinly veiled swipe at me, which is ironic because you cry about it when others do it to you.

I'm yet to speak to a Carlton supporter who isn't filthy about us picking up their 'Jeffy'. It's fantastic.

They'd know this kid like the back of their hand by now. If they were committed to using P3 or P7 on him this incident won't change things. If he was 50/50 with another player they may go the other player. This incident doesn't phase me and I won't be judging his character on one reported incident.

Legislated BBP, 2 years is the minimum.

Good point...this year they learnt from their mistake and went after Yarran. The difference: Garlett - pick # - who knows... Yarran - pick # 19 It will never cease to amaze me the bargain Garlett was for us. His comments echo the good vibe coming from our young brigade. I know 'words are cheap' etc but good attitudes are infectious and I have a sense this team will work for each other on and off the field. A long, long time since players worked for each other. Can't wait to see Jeff kick 50 and watch our team develop! The ball is their court...they are the only ones that can make their premiership dream come true!!

To be honest, the one I really want is The Demons. I'd be thrilled if they turned out to be the big surprise packet of 2016.

FCS - this is a thread celebrating Peter Jackson's commitment to the future of our club. Yet, somehow, it has in inevitable style, been hijacked and become bogged down in history. Can't some of you just enjoy something good for a welcome change?

Schwab may have done a [censored] job, but Schwab is a Melbourne man who did what he thought was best for the club he loves. For that he deserves to be treated with respect. The way he exited the club, turning up to training to support the players despite being recently sacked, and never rubbishing the club or the people demonstrates a level a class as well, that deserves respect in turn. He will be alongside us celebrating our return to glory, and he'll be welcome because of it.

Jnrmac has already outlined the issue with 'their role players are better than our role players' argument. As for the best teams and where they get their forwards: Kennedy with WC, Roughhead with Haw, Pavlich with Freo, and Stringer with the Dogs are dominant forwards taken in the top 10. They have created functioning forward lines with their 1 talented forward, by finding role players (of varying talent) lower in the draft, or in trades, or FA. And to mirror - jnrmac's last line - it's not that we are accusing each other of reaching past talent for a mid or a tall - it is this notion that our midfield is locked and loaded and ready to go. It isn't, and we know mids win flags - so all things being equal - the affirmative action of 'Best Available' must be toward a midfielder at both early selections.

Libratore was a coach at Carlton and admitted it... Just sayin....

It would be interesting to add an option of "no idea, just praying the club gets it right".

This is a line in the sand moment in our sport - give an inch and unscrupulous people at unscrupulous clubs will stretch it big time. The players ARE ultimately responsible and must be punished: unfortunately 2.5% of our list may be part of it. But the big losers must be those who planned and executed the scam, all of whom must have lifetime bans.

Love this guy. Thanks, Carlton.

Hogan can't do it on his own. ...and to mangle an 'Old Dee' saying you can't make a silk purse out of Dawes and Peders... Hawthorns lesser talents are a damned sight better than Dawes & Pedersen, there's a reason Freo can't win a flag, Mooney is a lot better than what we have as a role player and you forget Stevie J was a forward and Ottens also spent time there. St Kilda didn't win a flag, a great midfield, solid defence one of the all time great forwards but not enough goal kicking power when it mattered. The good teams haven't found their top forwards later in the draft or as rookies, that's just not true. As for trades, they have been very hard to get as Freo found out this year. Franklin and Boyd could both be a bust, Fev was and WC were lucky to get the trade they got for Judd returning home. For all their trying clubs couldn't move Cameron out of GWS...Gunston is probably the only real success story. Yes ruckman have come from later in the draft, trades or the rookie list but that's a whole different story. I'm not talking about reaching for talls or a KPF, I don't know where you keep dragging this up from. A lot are still saying mids, mids and more mids and this is reaching. If there is a good KPF available (not reaching) and he is seen as the equal or better than the mid available at the same pick then we take him. edit: I still think we will take Parish at 3 by the way.

Grow up. This thread is about Jonah Lomu not your need for point scoring. On reflection, I might as well add this, despite risking that it concedes to your efforts at thread-jacking: if you knew your Hobbes you'd also know that it's the social contract that in fact stops the condition of human life from being 'nasty, brutish and short'. The social contract and all its possibilities couldn't save Jonah. Comparing his death to those entirely preventable deaths of self-indulgent 'stars' is no more than insulting. RIP big man.

I would like to add a thank you to the invisible one, Glen Bartlett. I have seen him bagged several times on here, but the good decisions just keep rolling since he has been here. If Glen was the controlling hand in this, he has my eternal thanks for a job well done.. Jacko, thanks again, and I second dings comments. Thanks for sticking around. I hope you can taste ultimate success with us in the near future..

I get the same feeling. A straight shooter with integrity is a formidable force in the long run. His ego doesn't exist until called on. Like a hero should be.

That list is awful. It doesn't support your point at all because your have been disingenuous with which names you included. For example you included Matthew Richardson, a father son prospect who was 197cm, ran like the wind, and took 21 marks in a single Teal Cup match! You also included midfield/forward Stevie J, Matthew Lloyd, who was a 16 year old pre selection and was considered to be the 2nd best 16 year old in the country behind Steven King, Fraser Gehrig (who was a first round selection), Sumich (a WA pre selection), Carey and Longmire (NSW 16 year old zone selections .... drafted in the 1980s!), Tredrea (ha!), zone selections Neitz and Brereton, Richard #^*#ing Osborne (a 182cm small forward/midfielder recruited in an era without drafts in 1981!!!), Alistair Lynch (drafted in the first draft pick in 1986, when nobody knew how to draft). The only names you could use to argue your point are Daniel Bradshaw, Cam Mooney, Brendan Fevola and Adam Goodes (whose draft placing was artificially low given that clubs could only draft one 17 year old at the time, but I grant you that he wouldn't have been a first rounder). Four names, two of whom were 'workmanlike', one was a nutcase and the other a superstar.