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I was at training today, will post pics later, 2 things Hogan has modified action slighty, did 15 minutes of goalkicking from all possies including 50 missed maybe 2 and not too badly from my count. Salem starting to be involved with clearance and stoppage work as a mid

We don't owe them anything Franky. We invented the game and gave them the venue .

Just FYI I have been advised that it is agaisnt MFC policy to talk about specific, insider player information on any publicly available areas. However, I 'think' he is really enjoying it, is settling into the workload nicely and already has been involved in some pretty amazing stuff. To be honest I don't think I've ever seen him so happy. He knows he is involved in something very special.

I hear that he's going to build a wall around the MCG and make the Collingwood Football Club pay for it.

Saty, I just found your instagram pics for the first time. You are right the other Joel Smith one proves who his father is. Thanks for taking the time to put them up and also for the training reports. No doubt like many others on here who can't get there in person they are greatly appreciated

The way his upper body is shaped in preparation for the grab is a replica of Shaun's.

Correct I always struggle with people complaining about travel to WA. The WA teams have to do it every other week. When the WA sides have good teams they win a lot irrespective of the travel and when they have not so good sides they lose. If we are good enough we will win. It is more all about the quality of the team not the travel IMO.

I like to hear Stafford is teaching Maxy about handling the additional attention he's bound to get next year. We're going to be a hard team to beat when Max is on fire.

Also I'd like to add, I have seen a fair bit of discussion about he's ability to play at an AFL level comparing to his VFL performance. It seems like a lot of people were forgetting he was working a full time, very physical job, then training at close to an AFL level 3 nights a week for up to 3 hours, which would see him up to 16 hours a day away from home. Despite all this, he was competing on the same level and even sometimes at a higher level then the AFL listed players. In a full time footy environment, and 'touchwood' he doesn't get injured, he will be playing at a very competitive level next season.

McKenzie?

It is interesting that HL has apparently been cleared to play and also feels he can play, yet is not training, even non contact training. They have obviously agreed he will not play for us again and it must be purely a monetary consideration.

I wasn't saying that I couldn't answer that specific question, I was just giving a general warning that my hands will be tied in certain situations

Punishment has come from the club, Clarry fined a 4 figure sum, required to attend road safety education and also organise an expert to come and talk to the group about the dangers of drink driving and the link to road trauma. Well handled I'd say.

They are putting not only a heap of work into Maxy but also Spencer, to ensure we have the cover, both look in top condition, when they were to doing stoppage work the two of them came together with an almighty crash, both just got up and carried on. King is also getting a bit more ruck work into him as well

Thanks mods inherently lazy Me "Jordan, nice kicking today, do you ever miss a kick?" Jordan "Nah" Man crush today some of his kicking is sublime Viney VDB JKH and Trengove started to join in drills Spoke to Goody and Macca they are both stressing the physical aspects of the game, you hit and tackle hard

IMO if we are a good side he is playing with Casey.

I realise from the number of "likes" you have a lot of support. But there's a lot of supposition in your post.

I feel with the Impy precedent, Oliver should get 20 pushups or stand in the corner for 10 minutes.

The consensus seems to be that we have regrettably retained a self-indulgent, petulant, self-absorbed list clogged who is overwhelmed by his innate sense of self-importance. Having purged myself of that alliterative load of drivel, the basic equation is: 1. What does the Club need to cough up to get H to sign a Release & Indemnity and retire post-haste? 2. How soon thereafter can we upgrade one of our rookies?

That is rubbish, he did not come back unfit, he has been suffering from asthmas/hay fever, sent for tests, now on medication

Thanks DS, have to do it on my phone, that is what defeats me, just ask my daughter, I get emojis holding their heads in hands The other player who looks like he is ready to take it to another level is Billy Stretch Spoke to Jonesy as well today, really content as to where the team is at at the moment, looking forward to taking the field again with some of the young talent we have, loving the physicality Goodwin and Macca are instilling

Try that Sat'

S - I understand that he is still (1) a contracted player, (2) medically cleared to play and (3) says he is keen to extend his contract so I would say YES. Obviously at least one of those points must be incorrect - I suspect (3) Maybe he is meditating?

All good sides have 'at least OK' players in the sidelines pressuring and providing depth, so if BK can even only reach that level on a regular basis then he is contributing. He may yet prove sceptics wrong and do more

No was he supposed to? There were players all over the place, didn't see Garlett or McKenna for starters, Hibberd and Melksham didn't do much

They were fine , craft day today, so lots of small groups all over the field, hard to keep track of The non preferred kicking is getting a lot of work

It's good that there will be some very challenging matches in there against the Doggies and West Coast. The trip to Subi isn't a huge deal when you factor in the weeks break before the season kicks off and it will be good to have another crack at Carlton before the season proper.

Agree. i would say this is potentially the most talented list at the mfc for 50 years, surpassing the team of the early 90s. I think all the players yoy mentioned are potential a graders (with max there and lewis fir that matter and jack v not far off). Oliver is def another with that potential. i dont think kent will get there but that's ok. Great teams have a core of a graders, at least one or two absolute stars (and i think max, trac and hogan will fill this bill), very strong mid field and alot of very good depth players (and almost no players not up to afl)

Perhaps, but I'd like to continue consistently shafting them on the field more.

Especially if you are within the time limit for breath or blood testing.

We are all passionate Demons, and often get caught up in the emotion of wanting the best thing for our club. We all think we know what's best, and often our opinion is quite different to the next person. We all have players we love, players we love to hate, and players we want to hold responsible for us not winning a flag each year. One thing we often forget is that the players that are fortunate enough to play for our club, they are human. They are in a "fortunate" position to have people idolise them, and can really make a difference in the lives of some less fortunate than most of us. While I'm sure all the players are striving to win a premiership at some stage in their careers, I'd have no doubt that being responsible for giving someone an extra bit of hope, especially at this time of year, is just as satisfying. I encourage everyone on here to watch this clip. I'm sure that if it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, that at the very least it will make you appreciate the efforts that our club goes to, to make someone's day. The whole club is doing whatever it can, each year, to make the day of the near 40,000 members, and the however many non-members that barrack for our club, but every now and then it can deliver that warm and fuzzy feeling without feeling the need to lift a premiership cup. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2016-12-05/coach-for-a-day This stuff makes me bloody proud to be a supporter. Go Dees.

Ah, at last a cultured chap on Demonland. Great Polish writer Mr Conrad.

Why is Jarman Whimpey being mentioned in the same column as Clarry Choo Choo?? Mods, needs another thread!! Dont need Clarry being looked at in the same light as Jarman Whimpey!! ????

it's a fair point it. caps would also be better advertising/branding because they are more likely to be worn and therefore seen on more occasions. people wear caps all year round and in many more situations.

I can't believe we are still indulging this sociopath. As soon as he was cleared to play by our doctors we should have told him to report to the club for training in a suitable condition. Failing to do should have resulted in his contract being terminated immediately. I work bloody hard to earn a small fraction of Lumumba's annual income. I deeply resent that a portion of my membership fees (however small) is paying for him to sit on his lazy arse, whilst his fellow players are busting their guts on the training track. It also makes me sick that we turfed a great club man like Grimes so that this bludger can stay on the list.

I'm excited by this development and it's in nearly every drill. Maybe you've riled him up Saty but Dom Tyson even seems to be going out of his way to use his right in drills. I think every AFL player should work very hard on their non preferred to have it at a standard that allows them to use it reliably to get out of trouble and kick to space or in front of a target. But I'm not sure you can create dual sided players out of previous one sided players within one preseason. So when game simulation or games come around I wonder if Goodwin + co will try to reign it in to prevent turnovers. I hope there's a few Goodwin's coaching under 12's, under 14's and TAC teams because that's when you can really make a difference to kicking. AFL players take years to improve steadily but it's very hard to fix the ones who come in with bad habits. The Hawks were way ahead of the pack when it came to tapping the ball on. Helped that they had Cyril and co who could read the play and tap cleverly, move like lightning + pick up the loose balls. Other teams tried it last year including us with some mixed results. I think it's a great strategy when moving the ball forward in space. I think it's a terrible idea under pressure down back!

Good to see he and business partner Matty Jones are sticking together on field as well as with the tables! Good luck to them.

Nothing to do with our training, but it was nice to see that Roughead is back training with the Dorks...hopefully that is an indication that he is winning his health battle.

Impossible to get a staight answer around here at Demonland comics lounge.

I do not understand why Vanders is remotely a whipping boy. He was an awesome pick up by the club. He's like a T Rex roaming around the half forward line. He kicks important goals, tackles with intent, has good skills, has a solid team focus. Injury concerns just restricted his output a little last season.

Surely Max is one of the big stories of 2016 for the Melbourne Football Club? With his knee reconstructions and other injuries, it took him a long time to become an overnight sensation but that's exactly what he became in 2016. Of course, I could be biased because I happen to be one of his sponsors and have been from the very get go after he was drafted. I even went out to Casey Fields to watch him play in his first game on comeback from his first ACL sustained in a TAC Cup game in 2009. Here's my picture as proof:- He's come a long way since then culminating in selection as 2016 All Australian ruckman and becoming a very popular and polished media personality to boot. Not many people know about his coaching prowess but I can tell you that whilst recovering from injury, Max took up coaching and during 2014 and 2015 he co-coached Ormond's Under 16 and 17s where he had under his wing a young convert from basketball in Lachlan Filipovic who moved on to the Sandy Dragons this year and was drafted as a rookie to Melbourne last Monday. Max also did some ruck coaching with him whilst at the Dragons. I also have a little anecdote about Max's coaching. As his sponsor, I invited him to a training session at my grandson's Under 12 team on the eve of the finals. The coaches were a bit wary at first thinking an AFL player might be a bit of a distraction on the eve of their first finals game but they were gobsmacked when he took over the training drills and ran them like a professional. He had the team and members of some of the other teams training that night, eating out of his hands. The boys won their final easily and needless to say, our ruckmen dominated (unfortunately, the lost narrowly in the grannie). Anyway you look at it, Max is a real gem and one of our big stories for 2016.

Great stuff drunkn. you have become the most liked dl poster ever. when dec gets his crack at afl level dl should coordinate a celebration at the game - perhaps a limited edition kiel tee shirt

I think you'll find it relates primarily to concerns about giving away sensitive information, such as player injuries. It will also be linked to integrity concerns. Remember when Nick Maxwell told a family member that he would be playing in the forward line? That family member, or perhaps a friend of that family member, then placed a bet on Maxwell to be the first goal scorer of the match. While there's a big difference between specific information being disclosed and a general comment on how a player is finding the jump between grades, it is much easier for the club to issue a single instruction not to share any information rather than explaining to players what's allowed to be discussed and what isn't.

I've had the opportunity (blessing) to be on the other side of this from time to time, i.e., seeing/receiving these kids. I remember one time, a kid came in, must have been in November/December, and in chatting to him someone said "so, what's Santa going to bring you for Christmas?" There was silence, and eventually his father lent over and said "he's not going to make it to Christmas". Something you never forget. Great work by the club and the players, though I'm sure this goes on more than we're aware of.

One of your influences ,Joseph Conrad,wrote a Novella renamed 'Children of The Sea". The theme was about the effect of a Malingerer on a "crew" in sail.. The term "cast adrift" was used as you guys tend to do.

I've got a better chance at predicting tonight lotto numbers

Don't be a dick. The bloke just got cleared to play after the risk of life threatening cancer.

Pretty sure that is great news regardless SWYL...... a lot more to life than Football.

Jack Viney's dad might be underselling himself. I have the team of the century hanging up in my office.