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Gees some of you miss the point... I don't think anyone was suggesting ANB or Bugg are walk up starts now they've finished top 3 in a 3km time trial... Merely pointing to the fact they've come back in good shape & have obviously worked hard during the break to give themselves the best shot at being the best player they can be aswell as earning respect & a spot in the best 22 ....

"Don't worry. That guy with the scooter is always asking questions. He's harmless."

"It's ok. We can learn to kick together"

3km time trials should basically be used as individual benchmark for the players. To suggest that ANB will make it because of a top 3 finish ignores the reality. Being a great runner doesn't make you a great footballer - just look back at some of past players who were great in the 3km time trial but fairly average footballers . What it does show is that ANB is in the best shape he has ever been in since his arrival and that gives him the best chance of making an impression.

Jordan Lewis does not run around a track. The track revolves around Jordan Lewis. And Jordan cannot be held responsible for his actions if the track does not revolve at a suitable pace....

How many pick 61 players kick 69 goals in their first two seasons at a club? That pick 61 ended up being pick 60 after academy picks and Carlton used it to get Clem Smith who was just delisted.

When you read the headline it is implied that Melbourne were negligent in looking after his safety. To read that he is allegedly upset that they were being too cautious is laughable.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-11-23/melbourne-register-third-consecutive-profit Financial results extracts: Revenue grew by $3m up from $44.5, due to membership, sponsorship and gate takings. Membership grew to record levels: 39,255 Strong home game attendances, which saw over 330,000 people attend our home games – an increase of 72,000 Football Department spend grew by $635k during 2016 Our overall debt position reduced by $561k in 2016, with debt reduction since 2013 totaling $2.7m. The Club received an additional $528k in AFL funding in 2016 I am rapt with this result. Especially when compared to some of the 'power' or 'successful' clubs who are making losses or just tiny profits. For example it staggers me that Richmond with 70,000+ members (double the number of mfc) can't make a profit! We are a very well run club and in 3.5 years Jackson has seriously turned us around. Soon the AFL will not be able to ignore us and will have to start giving us some decent venue, prime FTA time slots and large Vic teams as home ground opponents. That we have been able to turn the financial around with all the 'fixture' disadvantages is nothing short of a miracle! Great work by PJ and co!

I am old ( fact of life ) and cynical but I am constantly surprised Vagg. The most surprising thing is that I am still surprised. e.g. That a new clash strip thread every year gets double figure pages.

Wow, just wow. I have defended this guy many times, but no more. We have been extremely sensitive to his well being with his concussions, not to mention his other....traits, and he decides he's going to sue us because he knows he's not in our best 22 next year and will fail to gain his trigger clause. For someone that has claimed honour, integrity, and moral high ground in the past this guy really has some nerve. Fight this [censored] Melbourne, Gus and Viney would be happy to stand up and tell the world about our cautious concussion management.

Dawes was always full of quality and had plenty of character and team spirit, his body just let him down.

I ask " who is the fittest guy in the club" They answer "Buggy" Best I can do

I want to google this to find out what it is, but I feel like it will end badly.

Sorry - can't agree old dee. Garlett is very much a required player. Slightly poor season this year, but he was absolutely sensational the year before. I reckon he's a gun. Just love his work when he's in the zone - he needs to chase harder without the ball though - both in attack and in defence, otherwise he tends to go missing for chunks of the game.

Nice pick up 2803. Problem, where was the photo taken? Was it with 100m to go, or 50m past the finish line or was it at 10:19am?

Dan Nicholson would've been a triple Brownlow Medallist by now if the time trial was an indicator of form on the football field in 6 months time...

Good to see ANB and Bugg doing everything possible to improve and get into the 22 ANB might surprise a few

If we are interpreting his case correctly... it is genuinely laughable. He's claiming a grand conspiracy between the club and medicos against him to keep him under a certain amount of games..? I have been a defender of his, even in his time at Collingwood, but this is making a mockery of player welfare. A sad end to a career.

Age article makes no sense. How can he sue us for preventing him from triggering a 4th year on his contract while at the same time sueing us for not taking care with management of concussion? Clearly he has played his last game. Let's pay him out before the draft to free up another spot for a late pick ( or to elevate Mitch White - and create a rookie spot) Hate to say it - but looks like Buckley got it right when he pushed him out the door. High maintenance player plus ... He's certainly confused The Age!

irony

If it's done right there should be a happy ending.

Damian?

I always thought the spirit of 26 referred to our 2nd flag as well as the year we went from Fuschias to Demons - however I think it was Checker who gave us that moniker which wouldn't have been until the 30s. I always sing the second verse when I sing the song to/with my kids. My wife thinks I'm a massive nerd for knowing it but I don't care haha

according to hun. watson, heppell and carlisle are yet to get their millions. maybe these drawn out negotiations are affecting his 'passion'? and talking of passion but not moving on, bomber's chairman, lindsay tanner, continues to poke the bear by again declaring yesterday that "former coach james hird was welcome at the club at any time". how long can this club continue to wallow in denial?

hmmm....stop making sense Jack !! This is Demonland in the off season after all.

I remember having a VFL miniposter on my bedroom wall as a boy with a list of all our premierships and runners ups. At the time in 1971 it seemed like our last premiership was ages ago! Underneath it was the club song with both verses. Still sing it today as does my 12 year old! Back then I thought that the "spirit of 26" meant that we played like we had 26 men! I did not say that I was a bright child!!!

But back to CS Lewis, who fell just 10 months short of being on this earth for all 12 of our premierships and seems to have been, from afar, a Fuchsias/Demons fan: his writings foreshadowed what it would, but now might soon, be like for Demons fans for the 60-odd years after his death...'A Grief Observed', 'The Problem of Pain', 'Surprised by Joy', 'Miracles' and, finally, 'The Business of Heaven'.

'He spent the off-season working through a tailored program with personal trainer Tom Couch' It would appear that the program consisted of running from the local bakery to KFC and back. Perhaps it's a typo and 'Tom Couch' should read 'The Couch'

Even if he was right to play he wasn't good enough to deserve a spot in the team.

doctor shopping?

Recently re-watched the 2016 Anzac Eve game against Richmond and Jeffy was fantastic and yes the crowd seemed big to me....vickers was hopeless.

I got brave and looked it up. To summarise in genteel words it is to control a males arm by holding and moving the forearm while they have a grip on their most private of areas.

What hand cream do you you use, your fingers are so silky smooth?

Yes some idiot left the back door open.

Don't believe it was 10:19am (the photos were posted on the website at 9:25am. Looking at the other photos, I'm thinking it was just as they were crossing the finish line.

Feminist

Pretty sure the target is to break the 10 minute barrier for the 3km time trial. With that in mind, and going by Gus' watch, he's closing in on that mark, and you'd expect with another preseason under his belt, that in 18 months time we should expect him to break that barrier. It'd be interesting to know where Gus did actually finish, and how far behind those in front of him he was.

Pull my finger.

"You're clearly a very sensitive guy, and I respect that. But, I just wanted to make one thing VERY clear. Miss another short pass like that, and I'll punch your lights out!"

So you mean we shouldn't be offering Craig Mottram a Cat B Rookie spot?

ANB sounds like he is training the house down. Well done to him!

Bugg won it, Jones 2nd, ANB 3rd.

I learnt the second verse as a little tacker in the 80's due to this even curiouser old book! Can only remember the first 2 lines of it now!

For the price we paid he has been excellent, it's all about opportunity cost with drafting and trading and so far we are well on top.

Ditto. I grew up with that book as one of my first readers.

So are they redefining their rules re avoiding drug tests? Open season awaits for all who can find somewhere to hide. FAIL, ASADA, FAIL!

In the event that the decision is made on H's retirement at any time over the coming months, then the solution for the club in terms of what to do with its list would be simple. Replace him with Joel Smith by way of an upgrade from the Category B rookie list. We won't be found short of a player and have additional space to find other Category B rookies.

The team played fine in '39... used to sing that in the old members stand after John Northey wins... good days

Their list is putrid. You don't win finals with 1 gun defender, 1 gun midfielder and a bunch of mediocre mids. And tying up 8% of your salary cap to one midfielder is idiotic beyond belief.

Thank you STMJ - a great and thoughtful report.