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The thing that excites me most about 2016 is just the upside in some of the players that weren't at their best or missed last year Dom Tyson, imo at his best is a genuine A grader, if he gets back to his best next year it is a huge asset for us. Jack Trengove, if he gets anywhere near his best it's another Angus Brayshaw, and the way he's moving at the moment, i'm optimistic Dean Kent, missed a good chunk, but i seriously rate this bloke, hard and tough, line breaker with genuine speed and knows how to sniff out a goal, genuine point of difference. Christian Petracca, could have a Hogan-like influence if his training form is anything to go off Jack Watts, i know alot won't agree with this, but i thought he had an extremely good patch of footy for a about 7 rounds in 2015 where he was hard, tackling, running hard and looked very much a player, i really think we can see that consistently this year and justify re-signing him. Christian Salem, Kids a gun, a strong pre season and some midfield time and i think this is his year. and then the newbies who all show good signs.

Headed to training with my 5 y/o daughter who loved meeting Jack Watt's and getting a photo with Jonesy. Both of those are her favourites, and Jack in particular knows how to win the kids over. Spent most of my time talking to my young one, so can't comment on the training per se, but have to make a special mention on Sam Weideman, who was having a chat when Todd Viney called him away. He went out of his way to come and find me afterward to continue our chat. He comes off as a very articulate, respectful kid who seems extremely happy to be at the Melbourne footy club.

Joel Selwood had a poor year in 2015 to his standards. Considered an elite player and highly regarded captain, no major injury problem but with the demise of the Cats senior premiership players he was being targeted and tagged out of games. What did the Cats do? they recruited Danger to give him a chop out. Jones has never had the luxury of having a team of champions around him, and with a serious injury to contend with in 2015 he really stood up and led from the front. Not a great season but the season of a true leader protecting his younger teammates. Selwood & Hodge have never had to do this. I think you are doing Jones a massive disservice.

Am I right that it turns out this saga has to date cost James a cool $1¾m in legals to get where he is today and now he's having a shot at the club's insurer to recover some or all of it back? He might no longer be a hero in the world of football but to many in the legal profession, he still rocks!!!

Adding WInes would give us the best midfield in the comp in 3-4 years with the current trajectory

Great to see many supporters at Gosch's paddock this morning. Nice shady spots for plenty to see. I started over near the Punt Rd side pocket with the rehab group which included the likes of Dawes, Trengove, Lumumba, Frost, Brayshaw, Tyson, Vince. All looking in reasonable nick. Spencer joined in with Tyson and Brayshaw with Cross for 5mins or so kicking on the run to leads. Spencer did his utmost and did ok regardless of looking awkward - that's just how he rolls. He's a massive unit now. Trengove did some run throughs before joining the others for short sharp reflex work with ball before having some kick2kick with Dawes. His advisor is on hand so he can check with him what he can do. Lumumba assisted without kicking for obvious reasons. There were some ball work elsewhere with various drills from the rest of the squad, I identified a few drills but my attention was taken by the rehab group. Dom Tyson, Brayshaw impressed even though the heat was taking its toll. Rest of the squad soon started drills which ended in kicking for goal. 3-4 handballs to dish to open player on the run for goal. Headed over to the wing with remaining supporters for a feed and drink with my son, managed a photo for my son with Bernie, who remarked on my 7yo sons new hat, thought it was cool and he tried it on, before returning to my son who was keen to get it back. Character is Bernie, very accomodating and great sense of humour. The likes of the rehab group left early while the remaining squad did some push-ups before run throughs around the boundary. All players looked keen to the task and being the last hitout before the break in front of a large group of supporters - impressed in the heat. Took off before they finished, purchased some new merch. Great morning.

Col Sylvia played 157 games and kicked 129 goals for the Melbourne Football Club in probably the worst period for the footy club. (Tanking..Lack of money....Poor admin....Poor team) It is interesting that so many people love to stick the boots in to a player that did not meet their expectations. He also gave 10 years service. People say he was a party boy, lazy, injured, not up to it. It takes all types to make up a footy team or else we should just use robots. It is so easy to sit in the stands or watch on TV and think we are so much better. (usually after a few beers) So.....I say well done Col on your life membership and you are always welcome at the footy club

It was great to see the one and only RDB turn up. Signed autographs and posed in photos.

Dropped into training last morning and the sun was well and truly burning the yard arm. Th guys had a fair bit of sweat going. Its not any better today. Gus and Spencer were wrestling at the opposite end. Goal shooting was happening and they were spread along the arc, Kent was revving the boys. Gawn was dropping them on his foot in a pretty good way, maybe we'll see of that next year. Kent looks fit and happy. The guys look like a team with a good camaraderie. Salem is primed for a big season and without the expectation, should be a good one. It was great to see quite a few people there. You can feel it changing, we are going to smash some teams next year.

Yours might have...mine were from Cornwall on one side and Scotland on the other. They probably didn't see 40 degrees in the bath (if they actually bathed...never can tell).

I think CAS verifying information from the players is a necessary strategy. If CAS ends up with a finding which is unfavourable to the players, it avoids the argument that the players were not given a chance to present their views first hand (even though there are lawyers at 20 paces representing them). Conversely, if CAS finds for the players, CAS can say the case presented by WADA was not sufficient, but in order to try to fill the gaps missing in the WADA case, CAS also sought first hand information directly from the players. I know if I was sitting on the CAS bench it's what I would want to do, even if I found the case open and shut, either way.

Wines. Both of them have shown the ability to be a force in the midfield, but Wines comes without the injury baggage.

It makes perfect sense to me!

Not sure where to put this but the AFL site has 7 mins of highlights from the Geelong victory http://www.afl.com.au/video/2015-12-19/geelongs-best-win-classic-at-the-cattery Love it. Very much

Now 'bub' you don't know what the CAS are buying and it would seem obvious to at least bring some EFC players in for questioning seeing as they are the ones being charged. I think there is a little too much over the top comment on here not based on any real evidence that would rival what goes on a the Bomber site. We can't talk about them being delusional and then go making stuff up ourselves.

Jack.....you are assuming he has paid his bills!!

it certainly clashes with good taste, but

I know the point you're making and agree with it, however, it's most unfair on Yze and Robertson to be mentioned in this conversation. Over a 4 year period Yze had the most kicks in the entire AFL, he won a B&F and made AA. He'd occasionally frustrate me, but he had a fine career in anyone's language. And Russell Robertson also won a B&F, should have made AA when he kicked over 70 goals, and was 4 times leading goal kicker. He's also known as one of the games great high marks. For a player who was ultimately demoted and came back through the rookie draft he too milked the most of his God-given talents. Both players achieved 200 game milestones.

It was great to see Viv out and about today on the track. He seemed optimistic and I really hope he will have a great season! Go Viv!! U.D.

We've officially arrived as a club if we can trade in Prestia while re-signing Hogan and Tyson on long term deals in 2016.

It's was bloody hot. I had a mare and paid $2.50 for a pepsi max from the coffee bloke instead of $2 from the club BBQ. Sorry guys. I got there maybe half way through and it was mainly relaxed skill work and a lot of goal kicking from then on for the main group. Spencer, Brayshaw, Tyson working with Crossy playing kick to kick. Spencer yuck. The other 2 looking good. Particularly Tyson must be close to rejoining the main group. They finished with sets of gruelling half ground runs around the boundary. 3 groups divided in to best, middle and lesser running ability and therefore the top group had the furthest distance to cover from cone to cone around half the boundary. The 3rd group (let's call them the C graders) featuring the new boys, Dunn, Garland, Kent, Pedo, Gawn actually stayed together as a group. Dunn took up his customary role up the back pushing along the new boys, mainly Hulett. Weideman wasn't exactly flying but didn't drop off. Tommy Mc led the A grade group. Petracca really tired from the B group and Goodwin showed good leadership getting those at the front to encourage those who were dropping off towards the end. So Petracca led the B group on the last run and then pushed him along. No surprise given his build and missing all of last year that his endurance need some work. Ben Kennedy actually ran well in the 2nd group. Lowlight of the session was on the way home seeing the Pies boys doing hill sprints up Anderson St. Hopefully they get stress injuries from the pavement. We did that last year. Pendles had ice on his outer shin/calf. Unfortunately they have some serious size as a team and maybe they just looked bigger because they were shirtless wearing their sports bras but looked to me like they had some big boys and were running good time up and down the hill.

I went along this morning with my two kids, so didn't get to watch too many drills. It was bloody hot! The players did a 'round the world' goal kicking exercise, which most players were pretty accurate at. They did some 400 run throughs as a group at the end (impressive as it was given the heat). Vanders to me was right up there, and pushed himself right to the end and was very vocal. Best part was my kids getting some signatures, the players were more than happy to chat to them. My daughter even told Hogan that we have a dog named Jesse, which he joked about, when I told him it was a Staffie he was more than happy with that. One thing of note and someone might know, the players were in a huddle in the middle and a big cheer went up. I don't know what it was about - maybe Jones' award last night???? Well done MFC, great morning for everyone!

Obviously a hot morning at training; I went down and had a bit of a look around. Without going into detail a few things of interest to me were... Jack Trengove looks in great shape and was doing a little bit of short kicking, fingers crossed for 2016. Bernie Vince doing some hard half ground running whilst his finger heals, looking very fit is Bernie. I think some might forget that he had little to no preseason last year and despite getting the golden pass won the Bluey. A fit Vince will be even better for us in 2016. Not sure what's wrong with 'H' but he didn't seem to be doing any kicking and kept handing the ball off to Trenners. Maybe he was there as the ball boy. Dom Tyson drew the recovery short straw and had a running session with Crossy (so happy he is still around the club). I remarked a week or so back that it looked like he had a bit of a calf problem so they are handling him with care pre the break. Weideman at this stage looks like a kid, he is. I will be interested to watch his progress as we move into the new year and start of the season, his intensity is not there at the moment. If the teams were selected now he would be a way off, March could be a very different proposition. I wouldn't be as complimentary on his kicking as 'DemonTux' but I might have just seen a few of the bad ones & as I say his intensity is not there yet. Petracca is a gun, yep I know he hasn't played a game but he will do what Hogan did in 2015 and take the competition by storm. Apart from his ability he is a real character out there on the track. Oliver is another that seems to have a bit of go about him, doesn't like being beaten and seems to have settled right in.

After the siren: Wines leaves Port stranded on third base. Ashley Browne may just be trying to ruffle some feathers, but it's interesting nonetheless ... From everything I've heard with Ollie, he's a happy camper in the South-West but this will certainly spark some enquiries. Wines at Melbourne and Toumpas at the Power? #howitwasmeanttobe

The last for this year. Have a Merry Christmas and I'll be back in the new year. Enjoy ==>https://www.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumKey=jW7wbz Mobile==>http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-vWmhGZ

I rate Michie. He showed some really promising signs towards the end of the season. Was actually surprised they knocked him off the main list. Glad we were able to rookie list him though.

Just another "nothing" story.

Sorry to throw footy in here, but I was thinking that a good year for us, will put us in a strong position to grab a FA or two next year, so that we don't have to rely too heavily on the draft, with our fairly young list.

Offer them a 3rd rounder.

Actress in a Bond movie and now others. Very attractive.

Good question. i may be wrong but I think Yze's 200+ consecutive games, one sided glove and precision kicking can be explained due to Adem being part robot Robbo was born in a small country town but had a love for the big stage, wore his heart on his sleeve and was, I believe, part Peter Allen Hope this helps

Thanks Ultimate', I only get to a few sessions each preseason. I'll get to some more after the break. I'm not connected with the club apart from being a lifelong supporter and member. It gives me the opportunity to combine a couple of passions in photography and the Dees and happy to share. Hope you and your family have a joyful Christmas as well. And a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Demonlanders DCLXVI aka Six6Six

[censored]. utter [censored]. And i don't say that lightly. I can't believe the hate for Col. Bizarre. 150 games for our club. 150 games. More than 10 seasons playing in the red and blue and he deserves vitriol because he didn't reach his potential and was a party boy? he cheapens life membership? Really? Adam Yze, Russel Robertson and Travis Johnston. All life members. All players who it has been argued could have got more out of their talent if they worked harder. All party boys apparently. Do they cheapen the life membership?

All three deserved their life membership. It's for ten years of service and it would be churlish of the club to decline giving the award because players left to play elsewhere. Fittingly, Rivers and Sylvia get their awards when they've retired from the game. In addition, if anyone has a problem with either of the two who finished elsewhere then consider that they were products of our club and, as a result, we might have contributed to their failings or perceived failings in some way.

And they get the recognition that they deserve.. but we are not talking about Volunteers.. We are talking about players that represented this club for 10 years. And for your information Col did a lot of behind the scene work with Royal children hospital and would give up his own time to go in and cheer up sick kids and spend quality time with them. In fact he won some off field award at the Best and Fairest for his charity work through the club. Yet people are too quick to sink in the boots about his off field behaviour.. Nobody is perfect.... ....unless your Jessie Hogan

Thanks to all those who made it down to Gosch's under extreme conditions. It was a great day for the supporters and the Club. Great to see so many kids there despite the heat. Just a note - one of the last to leave the ground after being mobbed was "Grumpy Boots" himself - Jesse Hogan. He looked more than pleased with the attention he was receiving and was very generous with his time. All of the players were great with the kids and supporters especially after a gruelling session. A very nice gesture by our fearless leader to come over to the BBQ and thank those Volunteers and Demon Army members for operating the BBQ. He declined our offer of a sausage though!

150 game is basically the criteria that gets you a life memberships. Regardless of what these player did in the past some of the comments are a bit uncalled for and silly. 150 games is still a mighty effort in AFL footy especially at one club now days. Well done to Riv and Col and looking forward to seeing these guys at the past players bar barracking for us in the near future.

10 years at the footy club. Yes they all deserve the life membership. Hopefully Rivers does some development coaching at the Pies then comes back to the Dees

If there is any clash then I am quite happy for the home team to wear all white and we will just wear Red and Blue on account of the fact that we invented the f**king game itself and started the competition in it's entirety .

I doubt and hope that the MFC would not be considering this when deciding which players to target. That is the AFL's problem to solve, not ours.

Demon supporters wouldn't like it if there are rumours about our young players going to another club next year or the year after. What is wrong with young people who get picked up by interstate club with the view of pissing off when their cotract is up? Perhaps they miss their mummies!!!!. Going to another club doesn't always guarantee them getting a game and with more young talent available each year compitition for spots become more difficult. Milking clubs like GWS,GOLD COAST and BRISBANE will not produce a truly national comp,Rugby will be the biggest winner. Someone said that GWS still have a lot of good talent,this may be so however injuries to key players will hurt them dearly.

The EFC should be required to have a mosaic of white needles on their sash.

Given that the demon shop shows only the white jumper and it is listed as 'Away Jumper' it seems the red jumper has been binned. We only wore it once last season. The AFL have rules for some and rules for others. No surprises here. interesting to note that when they designed the logo they were keen to avoid any white in the logo, yet we roll over on the white jumper. That irks me. We should be allowed to invert our jumper and wear with white shorts. It won't happen though

George Orwell was right. Rewrite yesterdays papers.... 1984

I love the Collingwood comparesment, they have a black jumper with white stripes or a white jumper with black stripes. If you actually look at them next to each other they are different in how dark they look especially with black or white shorts. So collingwood do wear a white away strip. It just looks close to their Home due to its only reversed. and seriously other than some Melbourne fans, who gives a fruitcake that we are the oldest club??? No one. Wouldn't even cross their minds. also, what was our original jumper? What was our original name? How about the jumper I grew up following? All changes we made.

Methinks you are overthinking this. I think Roos gives you the chance to play football his way - if you don't and he doesn't see the value in you, you are gone. I think Roos played him because he was ok and there was no one knocking the door down for his spot.

Hey! Everybody chill. I posted the picture because it was JT and this is the JT progress thread not the free hit at Saty thread. Get back on thread. Keep this crap up and I'll think twice about posting pictures at all.

Hawthorn – Offence is the new black, am scared they are going to become the greatest side since WW2 (no smiles), really hoping someone finds some Kryptonite. Pies - The big improvers, as much as I hate to say it, I reckon they won’t have the same lapses after midway through the season, expect them to play a bit like the Crowbots used to. Sydney – I think this side rejuvenates as well as the Cats, and still have some serious talent. Haven’t worked out how much they are going to miss Pike/Goodes, they will be a little lighter around the packs. What is keeping them up is I expect Buddy and Tippet to finally be the weapons we have always feared. Am curious to see if Buddy is marking out in front of his head or on the chest, will be a big sign of how they are going to go I reckon. West Coast – Can’t see them dropping that far, you don’t accidentally get into a flag, I do however think they are limited. Bulldogs – A good solid season, I reckon they have found their ‘A’ game, play really good team footy, like their recruits and with a bit of luck Libba comes back (hope he doesn’t get played back into form against us) and stretches a few sides, really like the coach. Port – Tempted to put them lower, really couldn’t understand how much they had lost the way to play as a team, think its terminal. Happy to be wrong I like their running game. Freo – I agree Pav is cooked, I think like Hamill and Gehrig, the injuries will cruel his season and Ross hasn’t got a winning score tucked up his sleeve from anyone else. They will however torch bottom eight sides all year. Geelong – 3 to 7 don’t have daylight between them, recruiting keeps them in the 8, but not much more. I actually think Selwood is done. Adelaide – No idea, but I reckon they should have stuck with Camporale. I reckon last year was about emotion. Melbourne – 10 wins but the 8 is a tough gig, will only make it with our best 22. Am really nervous about who is going to step up into cross’s role, his sweeping intercept defense really kept us in a few games last year. Richmond – reckon they’re mentally fragile, can’t keep barnstorming the back end of the season and easy to work out. Must admit a bit down on them with the latest Martin incident, what a drongo. GWS – Could easily be in Adelaide’s spot. 9 to 12 a crap-shoot. Saints – No clue but Riewoldt has got to be done too hasn’t he, Carlisle to be a big distraction – he will be the Fev of St Kilda. Brisbane – Don’t really know. GC – Culture issues have been exposed, the kids rule the roost, Ablett not able to fix it the culture issues and I think he has lost a step, still going to do amazing things though. Carlton – I rate Bolton (I can’t even hate Carlton as much with his as coach) but this is ground zero. (smiles). Essendon – So glad we didn’t get Worsfold, can’t see him standing up to all the vested interests around the club. The hubris of the EFC board will also see their angst continue (more smiles).