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His chance to start round 1.

This wasn't the part of Luke Hodge that I wanted him to imitate.

Come on, MFC. This took me twenty minutes: Maintains our new branding but isn't a lazy cut & paste.

At the 2015 family day at Luna Park, Brendon MacCartney explained to me that it now takes 5 years to develop an AFL footballer. Even though some might show show great promise in their first and second years they still need the time to develop with multiple pre-seasons and conditioning. In his first season, Clarry has shown that he has the footy smarts to find the ball, dispose of it to advantage and hunt opponents. Speed, strength, tank and conditioning will follow gradually over the years. Do not expect too much too soon - give him time to develop properly. The same applies to Gus, Trac, Oscar, Hunt, Salem, Jesse and Weid who would all suffer under the weight of unfair expectations. They are entitled to expect only encouragement and praise from us.

I just had 18 cans, and am doing 175kph while replying to this. its not like anything can go

I rarely comment on the look of our away strip, but this is bog ordinary.

Titus O'Reily is my spirit animal: http://titusoreily.com/afl-releases-draft-good-bloke-policy/

Exactly this situation is where I expect Simon Goodwin to excel. I have read Goodwin's biography and it's clear he had a setback or two as a young man. He has empathy and will offer Oliver guidance going forward. How Oliver responds is the key. I reckon this will work out ok.

I heard he was actually parked and just waiting for a mate.

Christ, I hope he's a Good Bloke, or this could get ugly.

I think it's a more than valid point that you made and I was a bit disappointed as well. We know Weid's didn't have a huge tank before being draft and he was running well and put a gap to Clarry and never ended up too far from Salem. The trade off for Oliver battling is that big Sam is running well. We also know Oliver had a long season starting the first NAB challenge game and going all the way through until being our best in the Casey VFL grand final in late September. So he's only had about 6 weeks and he deserves a mental and physical break in that time. He can do a lot between now and March to improve and it may have just been an off day. Last year Brayshaw came off a big first year injured and then struggled with more injuries and his weight and lost most of the season really. This off season he got things together and seems to be in far better condition. Hogan is looking fit. Petracca is training instead of rehabbing a foot/knee injury. I think these kids are on the right track and Oliver will get there too.

Out drowning his sorrows. Either that or warming up caps lock and the exclamation point key.

But the dogs essendon roos and crows amongst others wear alternate that isnt white. Making us wear white when not necessary is illogical and stupid.

Pretty convenient time to announce it.

You are over thinking this LDC. If a player is suspended in the last match of the year when the votes are counted the winner is then the next highest vote scorer. That is what should happen here. What may or may not happen in the future is irrelevant IMO.

I'll definitely not buy one. That logo smack bang in the middle would do nothing but amplify my beer gut.

Didn't stay for all that long. Later start to let the ground dry out a bit. Tyson back. In the rehab group doing run throughs with Viney (brief appearance), Vanders, Melksham, Hibberd, Mitch King, JKH, Tom McDonald. Kent and Petracca joined them after the warm up with the main group. Casey young boys back training. They did what looked like a 10 minute run time trial. ANB (in ripping shape) pulled away from Mitch White late. With a decent gap to Smith ahead of Salem. Then Weideman who isn't exactly bulked up but might be a little more solid and has a big frame to fill, he stuck on well. Then another 30m or so to Oliver who batted around unfortunately. Then the same to Hulett. Vince was back and in the main group and moving beautifully. They were doing a lot of in close ball movement drills as always. Gathering the ball under pressure then 6 on 3 getting the ball in a 40 by 40 square over to another coach. Brayshaw looked like a standout, clean below his knees and making quick decisions. Maynard impressed with some basketball style vision on a long looping handball. Watts, Gawn, Garlett, Garland, Pedersen, Lumumba, Trengove the only guys I've yet to see on deck at some stage. Nath Jones the only other who wasn't there today. Edit: And some mature recruit bloke by the name of Lewis. Yet to see him either.

A perfectly measured response. Oliver worked his ass off just to get on our list and then ready himself for competitive AFL where he showed what he's worth. Had a massive first season coming from a long way back. So basically returning for his first proper pre-season without much of a break. Compare him then to other such players. And I don't doubt for a second his commitment to the club and improving his game.

Not sure if grouping Garlett with Garland and Lumumba is exactly fair. Played some fantastic games, consistency perhaps an issue but far from in the gun in my opinion

I've written to the AFL about the inconsistent clash jumper policy because it's one of my biggest gripes in the current game. After repeated emails to a generic address I eventually got a response from Tessie McManus who is the Match Day Operations Manager at the AFL. Her email address is: [email protected] I'd encourage you to make your thoughts known because even though I appreciated the fact that she responded, she couldn't really provide a sufficient answer to my many queries. These included: 1.) Why did we have to wear a white clash jumper against Port when Adelaide wore it's predominately navy jumper in its away match against the Power? 2.) Why were Carlton and Essendon both permitted to wear their traditional uniforms when they met, yet we had to wear white in our away match against both clubs? 3.) Why did we have to wear hooped socks against Gold Coast at Metricon, yet in the return match at the MCG the Suns made no change to their uniform? 4.) Why is Brisbane allowed to wear its Fitzroy themed red, blue and yellow jumper against us, with predominantly red socks? These are just a handful of examples that I can draw upon which points to the confusion and inconsistency surrounding this issue. There are many more that I could point to.

I'd be happier with the below version and only in games where there is a genuine clash (not just every away game). And yes I'd be happy to sign a petition for almost any variation that didn't include ghastly white domince. I hate the white with a passion and there are few things more sacred to a footy club than it's colours. I feel violated every time I see us in a poxy white piece of crap jumper. The Brisbane Lion supporters lobbied hard and won their battle against the Paddle Pop Lion jumper - time Demons fans took up arms to fight for our own jumper. The AFL has clearly set numerous precedents allowing other clubs away jumpers much closer to their regular home and away jumper, so the MFC should have reasonable grounds, particularly as we are the oldest club in the comp. Is there someone here on Demonland that can set-up such a petition?

here are some alternatives i have saved over the years from places like here and big footy. no reason we couldnt be in any of these - or even have 3 (blue/red/white) i feel sick this has actually turned me off the AFL in a big way ffs 158 years and we have to wear THAT next year? jfc

I thought that this years one was pretty good........If we have to wear white, which all clubs have to, I would've stuck with this years.

it's nasty looking. As someone else said, looks like we spotted a fake jumper in Bali and copied it. The last one wasn't my favourite, but it was better than this.

It looks more like a training guernsey than a game day design.

I am 30+ white person, so I comfortable in New Balance gear. Very comfortable...

In an article last week Chip Le Grand wrote that in the evidence Jobe gave CAS he said his injections ceased in May (later changed to maybe early July). It is interesting that Jobe received 26 of his 30 votes in the first 13 rounds of the 2012 season. Of the last 9 rounds (ie after the injections stopped) he polled only 4 votes in just 2 games!! Now, I have no idea what Dank gave him or whether Jobe knew what he was getting but it sure looks odd that once the injections stopped his form fell off the cliff. So yes, the 2012 voting looks tarnished and removing Jobe's votes (as they would any other suspended, ineligible player in any other year) does not and should not deny Cotchin and Mitchell their right to the medal. The AFL fear giving them the medal as to do so it effectively accepts Jobe's suspension was as a drug cheat; that he won it unfairly. It enables them to maintain some pretense about legal necessities and window dressing ie some anonymous, international body 'forced' him to give it back, we didn't strip him of it, we did not suspend him etc. Until they award it to Mitchell and Crotchin - Watson will remain the notional winner. That cannot stand in the record books.

I think we should do what Collingwood does and just ignore the requirement. "Our clash jumper is Blue body with a red triangle on a white background. What, you can't see the white? That's a shame!"

I notice that the Demon Shop link is now inactive. Regardless I've written to the club this evening outlining my displeasure with the new uniform. I said that the club only needs to look at social media posts and club forums to gauge instant feedback. I've pointed them to Demonland's poll whereby nearly 80 per cent of respondents claim to 'hate it'.

Should've stuck to 'Claytons'!

If he is driving over the limit, which is .00 for a P plate driver, then he's an idiot. He doesn't deserve to be dragged over the coals for it or have it held against him in the future, but with everything we know he's still an idiot for doing it.

Good on him! Not easy to 'get back on the horse' so to speak. Wish him well and look forward to seeing him talk footy again.

Mitchell and Cotchin are now the joint 2012 brownlow medal winners.

Unfortunately, the sponsors and corporates don't know the words.

FFS I maintain if Gold Coast can wear red against sides who have dark coloured jumpers I see no reason why we can't wear red with a blue yoke, white shorts and red socks. We are red & blue

Phew! So, it's not just me?!! Thanks, Daisy! When I see it, I see squirrels!

Yes, I am also in the group that liked the old demon logo. However, this is my supporter bias and the importance of tradition and linking with the past. These decisions are not based on the whims or views of supporters.

There's nothing we can do about the white, the AFL will just never give a [censored] about our heritage colours unless we become one of the "power" clubs (aka overflowing in money). But just slapping that logo on a white background is beyond hideous. It's lazy, looks cheap, and is such a huge step backwards.

Surely they are extracting urine? That is hideous if that is what they went with. Not quite as bad as the Hawks Power Rangers top but not far off. I agree with someone's comments earlier- the first thing I thought of was a cheap Bali knock off!

I love our new emblem however this jumper is an abomination. Looks like a singlet you'd buy in Bali.

Yep, much prefer this year's. It looks like a 5 minute job and while I get the branding intent here, perhaps they could've got in a professional.

Oh God here we go again. We have to have a basic white and this is ok at least it says MFC. When the team wins 14 games in 2017 I won't care what they are wearing.

actually I would be the same

i wonder how d'landers would feel if cotchin was nate jones?

No argument on that from me. The AFL obviously believe, they can't have a significantly diminished EFC in the competition, for the reasons you point out, but they can say bugger the likes of us .............. well, until PJ came on the scene.

It's a disgrace, but it shows the AFL are in Essendons corner rather than neutral and their priority is revenue rather than integrity or respect in the sporting world, in my opinion a sign of poor leadership

I have always said, as a club, the EFC got off very lightly on this, so in my view yes. I still can't believe that as a club, they get the first draft pick in 2016, in less than a year of serving their sanction. I don't buy, the they have served their time, get out clause. Regardless of the rights or wrongs on Watson's individual case, the outcome for him personally, will affect him for life. While slightly off topic, I think GWS should also get slammed, over the Whitfield affair.

I dont think Olivers tank or lack of has anything to do with his will. Its just not natural to him, as long as he continues to improve year on year that is enough for me.