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Loved this Ted Richards (Swans) tweet:

Watched Kennedy throughout yesterday's training and saw no similarity with Toumpas other than he had two legs and was wearing footy boots!

Well, what a steaming pile that was. For those who didn't watch it, it covered exactly no new ground, and revealed nothing at all that hasn't been known for ages. Holmes read out from a list of prepared questions and regardless of what Hird answered, simply went on to the next question. No followups from Tracey to any question at all. Except for a few minor "how did that make you feel" fluff. Eg. when Hird said that Robinson and Dank were in the high performance unit under Hamilton and he had nothing to do with any of them. But at some point a meeting was held to discuss sacking Robinson and Dank .... at Hird's home. Obvious followup: if you had nothing to do with the high performance unit, why was the meeting at your home? Or when asked about Robinson ... "I think he made mistakes. Big mistakes." Obvious followup: what mistakes did he make? But nothing. Next question. Or when Hird said that he still believes that the players took no banned drugs. Obvious follow up: how do you explain the text from Dank to you talking about thymosin? By the way, the word "thymosin" was not mentioned at all. Hird was careful to use the word (once) "thymomodulin". (The not-banned one.) Most questions were a setup. "James, here was a situation which paints you in an unfavourable light. Can you explain how that was someone else's fault?" And James duly obliged. The first 5 minutes were for Jim to say how sorry he is and how he accepts a measure of responsibility. The rest was open season on throwing people under a bus, or if Holmes placed them in front of a bus, Jim didn't attempt to pull them out of the way. She went through a list of people for James to take a free swing at. (And he did.) Holmes: "The first name obviously, would be ..." (Dank?, thinks I.) "... Andrew Demetriou." AFL, ASADA, CAS ... all happily sacrificed the 34 players on the basis of zero evidence. If any of you played drinking game where you took a swig if "the players", "I'm doing it for the players" was mentioned, you would be in no position to be reading this. You wouldn't be able to turn on your computer. It was Holmes' impression of a hard hitting interview. A failure on that front. A Today Tonight interview would have revealed more.

From Titus O'Reilly Tracey Holmes: Do you ever doubt yourself? Hird: Sometimes I think there are people I've forgotten to blame.

Unless yr the Bombers, that is...

AFLPA have said law suits will follow but are very very keen to settle out of court. They know it can take years for a hearing and a court decision before players see any money. Also, while the players have a case on failure of duty of care as evidenced by the worksafe EFC guilty plea, their case may not be so strong on loss of reputation and loss of earnings given they gave their consent and that CAS found them guilty. Even on failure of duty of care players will need to show that they have suffered some damage/loss and while they have suffered mentally they haven't (yet) physically. For all the noise about suing, players won't want those principles tested in court; the AFL want the saga to go away; EFC don't want anymore dirty laundry aired in public; WADA doesn't allow payment while suspended but players want their coin. A dilemma, yes? Well, no! I believe they will settle out of court asap and player 2016 contract payments will be invisibly rolled into the negotiated settlement. Confidentiality agreements will be signed and who knows there may even be a 'hush money' component to the settlement so 'no talk' clauses can be included. All part of the horse trading to quickly get money into players hands asap and to silence everyone! Will there be a player who cannot be bought and who takes his chances in court? I suspect the AFL going after Hal Hunter for costs, was a strategically timed warning across the bow to any player wanting to break away. Players will be 'paid' (and it will all be swept under the carpet). But players will not get their reputations back.

Paul Roos on Oliver this preseason: “Young Clayton has come down from the country. He’s got a good size AFL body, which gives him a bit of an advantage over some of the first-year players. He looks like he’s going to be a good runner too – he burst out of the blocks in a 300-metre run. But he’s learning good habits, like all of the young kids.” – Paul Roos They're just sifting through Roos critique and putting their own slant on it. They're offering nothing original or new. In other words, it's complete guesswork. The following is what that article says about Josh Wagner: Joshua Wagner: "Knows what he is doing, has a good left foot but needs to improve his running." This is what Roos said about Wagner on the club website: "he’s a nice left-footer with good skills and he knows what he’s doing.” – Paul Roos

Emma Quayle is one of the more knowledgeable writers on the AFL Draft. Recently, her second book was published - The Draftees, a sequel to her first which covered the 2007 AFL Draft, The Draft. This time she covers the year-long journey of five potential 2014 draftees (Isaac Heeney, Jake Lever, Tom Lamb, Clem Smith and Peter Wright) and looks at the issues and the highs and lows involved in being a potential AFL draftee, including the pressures, the disruption to normal family life and education, injuries and a raft of other matters that arise during the course of the season. Interspersed with the diaries of the players are insights about the drafting process from the recruiting team at St. Kilda who made themselves available to Quayle at various times during the year. You get to understand their thinking and the pressure upon them to make the right calls on players. Obviously, from an MFC supporter perspective, the book would have been of even greater interest, had one of Quayle's subjects ultimately been a Demon draft pick, but there have been some interesting snippets so far (I'm halfway through the book). Some examples:- Saints recruiting manager (and former Demon Tony Elshaug) and another recruiter flew to Adelaide in May to watch an South Australian Under 18 trial game and called Glenelg pair Alex Neal-Bullen and Billy Stretch the "two stand out players". Discussion about Angus Brayshaw in the early stages of the Under 18 championships: "Brayshaw was next. 'He was very good. He had plenty of the footy,' said Barnard. 'I don't know if it was planned, but he got more on the outside than the inside, which I wasn't expecting. He's been really combative in the games I've seen previously. He gets caught a few times but his work rate is through the roof.' 'His leadership is very good,' said Elshaug. 'He was always talking to the others. He can't do much more. I don't think he could possibly be playing much better than he is right now. He was best on ground.'" Being a NSW/ACT representative, Isaac Heeney can only play in the second division of the Under 18 championships and expresses his frustration that the new championship format means that he couldn't do the thing that he most wanted: "take on Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca and the other really good midfielders ..." The importance of buildings up a good fitness base when coming back from injury was discussed in the case of Peter Wright, an early draft favourite on his recovery and on Jake Lever who spent the entire season sidelined after a knee reconstruction. Late in the season, one of the Saints' recruiters sat in freezing-cold weather at Ballarat watching Oscar McDonald play well at CHB in a TAC Cup game. "He works really, really hard and he's able to accumulate possessions because of that. He's a smart player, he reads the play well and he's competitive. There's just a slight lack of athleticism that worries me at the moment". I'm just getting to the part where the Saints recruiters discuss the top six draft prospects which included Paddy McCartin, Brayshaw and Christian Petracca - I'll cover that discussion in my next report.

what an insult and abuse of the ethics centre

"James, this saga has taken an incredible toll on your health and wellbeing. Being the target of a worldwide conspiracy to destroy your amazing legacy in the game is something that only happens to superlative human beings. Yet the falsehoods and groundless accusations intended to destroy you and the club haven't damaged you in any way. Can you explain to our audience here tonight just exactly how fabulous you are?" "Thanks Tracey. You're right, it hasn't been easy being a beacon of truth and light against the forces of evil and darkness. I would have spent many sleepless nights wondering just what lies in the hearts of such men, if I hadn't been lying awake concerned about the players. Because everything I've done, I've done for the players. It's a terrible thing that WADA, ASADA, Andruska, McDevitt, Downes, Young, the AFL, McLachlan, Demetriou, Dillon, Clothier, Haddad, Harcourt, Clare, Lundy, Dutton, Gillard, Evans, Little, Switkowski, Robson, Campbell, Lukin, Thompson, Corcoran, Hamilton, Robinson, Dank, Charter, Alavi, Reid ... all people who I trusted, to be let down by every one of them does hurt a little. And the players, who I gave everything to, to be betrayed by them too has been disappointing. But I've got broad shoulders, Tracey. I'd rather take on all the pain and hurt and suffering in the world rather than let the players endure one moment of anxiety, but they did bring it on themselves. As for all the others who betrayed me so outrageously, well, I'm too big a man to let one negative thought about those liars, cheats and backstabbers enter my mind. It's all behind me Tracey. But I will continue to fight. It's my nature to seek truth and justice. Against all the odds, I can't let them win. For the players' sakes." "Oh James, you wonderful man. Take me." "What, here on stage? I thought we agreed to do it back at the hotel?"

Doesn't the ABC have to explain why it agreed to such an interview? Why was the interviewer not someone from an AFL background? Why not have a panel of interviewers? Why no follow-up questions? The ABC has given JH a platform, that is not its role. I would like an explanation.

The more he talks, the more Hird is trashing his legacy. A friend of mine who works as a writer and researcher in sports media, including footy, told me his view on the outcome of Essendon's doping saga was "nothing's changed". Meaning that the people at the top who should be banned and heavily fined have got off scott free, in most cases with substantial financial gain (eg. Hird $1 mill + paid o/s study when under AFL ban) or having moved on in their field of business (Robson, Evans, Bomber, etc) without penalty. He wasn't dismissing the guilt of the players, but pointed out they are the most vulnerable party in this debacle and are the ones being penalised. Even Dank can move on and make some money from the public speaking circuit.

Haven't been reading for a while so catch up with posts, I have spoken to the players about this season, everybody has been told there are no guarantees whether your name is Nathan Jones or Clayton Oliver, over the pre season and NAB cup games, you have to grab your chance, the 22 picked for game 1 will be the fittest and in form, no more players carrying injuries or getting games on reputation, if Oliver looks good enough he will get a game

Toumpas is a pretty good runner. BenKen is a poor runner. Toumpas' kicking under pressure is disappointing. BenKen's kicking under pressure has also been disappointing at AFL level. Toumpas has average to poor pace. BenKen has average to good pace. Toumpas has terrible lateral evasive ability. BenKen has very good evasive ability. Toumpas is hopeless in contests. Despite being small BenKen is tenacious and holds his own in contests. Toumpas was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level. BenKen was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level. Toumpas has played as an outside runner/link player at VFL level. BenKen has played as an inside mid at VFL level. Toumpas lacks penetration in his set shots for goal. BenKen lacks penetration in his set shots for goal. Both are usually reliable field kicks. Toumpas had injury issues with hip operations early in his career. BenKen had injury issues with compartment syndrome in his calves early in his career. While some of their deficiencies are similar, they are both very different players. Notwithstanding his height and propensity for a goal, BenKen is hard at the contest and has played his best footy at VFL level as an inside mid. Toumpas is not hard at the contest, in fact, it's his biggest weakness, and is more suited to an outside running role, notwithstanding disappointing pace.

Ben Kennedy will be the surprise packet of 2016. Watch this space.

As I said earlier, Tyson was free of all tape (apart from regulation ankle strapping). He took part in all the drills and is looking fit and ready to fire!

"Unhinged" is not really an issue on Demonland Jesus H. It's a bit like marrying your sister if you live in certain parts of Tasmania or obscure backwood towns like Hopping Dicks Creek - compulsory.

Summed up beautifully....!! my first question would have been the Text Message "Get me the Good Stuff We are playing Carlton this week" did you send that to Stephen Dank...??

She would have been disappointed

gee luci, you like going out on a limb don't you? lol

From the article: "Claims the AFL sought a pragmatic early solution to the Essendon drama in the first half of 2013 were denied by CEO Gillon McLachlan on Tuesday night's AFL 360. Yet Aurora Andruska, the CEO of the Australian Anti-Doping Authority through the first 15 months of the saga, is on record as saying: "Their [the AFL's] objectives and ASADA's objectives are almost at odds with each other's. They are about protecting their business, protecting their brand." Andruska, it should be pointed out, was specifically lauded by Justice John Middleton of the Federal Court, in September 2014, as a "truthful witness". I can't get behind The Australian's paywall but Chip Le Grand also took up this issue in an article yesterday. He documents how Gil went to Canberra and the 'deal' they wanted. He was quite dismissive of Gil's denials on AFL360 and flippant references to Andruska's notes as 'just bits of paper', even tho they were accepted in court and he knows it! Looks like Gil can also play fast and loose with the truth.

My challenge to Tracey Holmes would be for her to explore Hird's relationship with the club doctor, Bruce Reid a little more deeply. There's an article in the Australian (protected by a paywall) in which Hird accuses the club doctor of "downplaying his own knowledge about what the players were taking." "Players told Bruce exactly what they were getting." Hird claims. Reid's response: "The players didn't even know what they were getting, let alone speak to me." A good interviewer should be able to extract some illuminating insights into the relationship between the coach and the club doctor and the apparent conflict between the two men on this issue along with some deeper understanding of Reid's letter outlining his concerns about the supplements programme and Hird's emails to Danny Corcoran which suggested that he wanted to keep Reid on the sidelines as much as possible. "No stress but need to organise a meeting with you me Reidy, Danksy and Weapon (Robinson) the day you get back. Reidy has stopped everything which is getting a little frustrating. Need to get your United Nations skills back into action." Perhaps Hird could also explain why he and the club didn't simply issue a directive to the players to first consult with Reid as club doctor and obtain his authorisation before taking any of substances by injection or otherwise?

Interesting article on Lovett-murray. While he's getting his own lawyer, the in itself it no the interesting bit: its one piece of information I find interesting. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-drug-ban-banned-bomber-nathan-lovettmurray-enlists-own-counsel-20160116-gm77zj.html "One agent has suggested the overall compensation bid may be for more than $30 million. Bombers' chairman Lindsay Tanner has said the club has insurance to help guard against any hefty pay out, should that eventuate." The insurance company, a few questions. What was the premium and excess and would it now turn around and say that the actions of the club were illegal and therefore we won't cover you? As insurance companies love their clauses and guilty verdict points to activities by the club that could be found in breach of a policy.

Agree entirely BBO. Little question that Martin's a first class [censored] but the speed in which the 'victim' was interviewed by her employer, made one think it was being milked for all it's worth. For mine, it' was just another chance for news services to lead in with, 'social media erupted today when...'. And perhaps I just don't get it (entirely possible) but public opinion as reflected in social media appears to now be driven by feminazis and poonces with little room for alternate opinion.....lo and behold a twitter storm erupts ([censored] hilarious)

Turns out he wasn't coach at Essendon anyway... Ha ha http://www.theshovel.com.au/2016/01/15/james-hird-denies-ever-being-coach-at-essendon/

Signing off from Maroochydore. Great effort by the players to stay out and sign hundreds of autographs after such a exhausting training session. My (new) player to watch in 2016 is Ben Kennedy. The second year group have stepped up a notch, expect big things from Brayshaw, Stretch & Harmes. Kent & Salem appear to be in great form. Special mentions to Viney, Gawn, McDonald, Grimes, Garlett & Garland look to be on track for a very good year!

I was very disappointed to hear Garry Lyon raise the MFC Tanking hearing, on Footy Classified on Tuesday. There was absolutely no need to, during a discussion of the Bombers player suspensions and it just put some more Sh- t on the club, for absolutely no reason. Couldnt imagine MFC Officials would be thrilled.

It's a pretty free for all James Hird fap-a-thon. He's thrown everyone under the bus, except the players. In fairness, his support for the players has been consistent. "We saw photos, we saw a spreadsheet of Thymomodulin. "Why did we have to prove that we were innocent?" Well, because that's the way the drug code WORKS, Jim!

Turned it off already. She might as well have her hand in his pants.

And that is so good to hear. I think those of us who read the training reports over this pre-season have noticed that more than in previous seasons. We seem to have a larger group who are training at a consistently high level and we aren't seeing just the usual players doing it. Another terrific aspect is that we aren't hearing much about the first year guys - not because they aren't training well, but more so because our list is so much better than it has been in previous years that we don't need to rely on them to come in and make an impact.

I'm impressed by the shape and fitness of the boy's in the photos being shared, I also love a lot of mongrel determination, Viney comes too mind, hopefully he has got some backup. Thx all for reports and photos, I love this site and ALL it's characters. We are Demon supporters all wanting the same FLAG!

I'm praying to Mary right now ... hail-mary's

Don't mind Mccarthy's 4th down attempt... Not sure what the cards were thinking by throwing on that 2nd down! Yeah if you score the TD it's over but surely just run the clock down get the FG and back your D in to stop Rodgers with 1 min on the clock!!

I suppose so, Macca, but I find the dreaded Baker and Mackenzie are usually on the ball. I suppose even a hard-hitting investigative reporter would have trouble getting information out of a medical centre (patient confidentiality and all that). i bloody hope Hunter succeeds in his action. Surely he should have some rights. Having to take legal action to find out what you were injected with.....? Jeez. And his mother is a doctor, I noticed - no wonder the family is concerned. (anyway, I suppose they've always got Bomber's assurance that whatever they took, it could cure cancer)

Fire Dawes

Interesting post, as always, Whispering. Was as talking to my wife about it. Says one thing she can't understand is why nobody has approached the clinic where the injections were given, even taken legal action against them to uncover the truth. (She is a midwife in a major hospital. Assures me nurses only allowed to give injections under a doctors orders, and detailed records must be kept. )

I was watching training a couple of weeks ago, and the new boys were told to put some real effort into their tackiing, poor old Mitch King was buried by Mr Hulett, also believe the boys try not to box with him

It makes you think, if we tanked thinking "everyone else does it and gets away with it so why don't we". What's to say that was the same state of mind the EFL had with there injections? Who are we to know how many clubs have tried something like this which was swept under the AFL houses rug before WADA got hold of it considering the number of players that have been court for doping since this investigation on the EFC has started. There was a team who won 3 in a row in the early 2000 who's midfield looked freakishly bigger then any other club in the AFL. Is whole issue kinda makes me question a lot of past clubs now.

I find it funny all the Dons mates I have laughed or said what a bad move it was in getting PJ mainly based on the Knights scenario when that has ended so well for us and so poorly for them.

James spotted today at dress rehearsal for tomorrow's interview.

I'd love to see him interviewed by the BBC radio guy who runs "Hard Talk" interviews (serious ones, not Tom Gleeson). When someone waffles on he interrupts and says, "Please answer the question I asked, not the one you'd like to answer".

i love that we still have Crossy on board. Such a legend.

Lets hope we can also be the last to kick a goal in 2016

I have heard so many people draw the analogy that when you go to your doctor and he says take these - you usually don't question - you expect everything to be on the up and up and you trust . I agree however..... As soon as I get outside and someone asks me 30 times if my doctor gave me something I don't reply " nothing........he gave me nothing"

FireInTheBelly... You're spot-on, big emphasis on fitness last year... Major focus on match-play this year

The one bit about the punishment I don't understand (and this goes for everyone, not just Melksham and the other 33), is the complete separation from the club. I can accept not training with the other players and not being around the clubrooms. But I'd like to see the penalty make an exception for club-supported and funded mandatory counselling. I expect many young professional sportsmen to struggle without being able to pursue their profession. I fear that someone somewhere who is the subject of a ban of this type will take some form of horrific action against themselves or someone else. Apart from anything else, the counselling should enable players in denial to come to grips with what they've done wrong. I realise that counselling can be externally provided. But I think it would be more effective if organised by the club as it reminds the player that he or she hasn't been truly forgotten.

Probably the most ignorant thing I've EVER read on Demonland. Martin is now the victim and was feeling intimated. FMD.

Another solid business opportunity for you BBO. Or why not a Essendon FC drug cheat Councillor?

I'm younger than Rupe OD and I can't attract a flash sheila like her. What's old Rupe got that I haven't?