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Eleventy-zillion

Not really - its done when Jobe gives back the medal.

Saty at the risk of derailing a perfectly good thread and against my better instincts (as i'm aware you have put it out there to see if you get a bite) but whilst Hogan many be able to kick them from anywhere at training it is no myth that from set shots (though not in field kicking, which suggests a technical issue) he has struggled in matches from anywhere beyond 45-50 metres to consistently get the distance and when he does get the distance he often misses striving for that extra distance. I expect that he won't have this issue if his run up is smoother and he has improved his routine.

Two observations from Friday: 1. It was much less physical than the previous session I saw. 2. Don't worry about Oliver, he was a standout and has the best hands at the club. Lovely to see Trac helping and encouraging him in the repeat 100m runs. You'd just want to play with Trac. 3. Dion can really kick it. Watched him having shots at goal. Long and straight. Waiting...... PS: Welcome back Pro, I missed a week too. Quite therapeutic really.

Some observations delayed after watching a fascinating last hour or so of the cricket last night - I had promised the grandkids a special end-of-school year treat and what better than a late December visit to Gosch's Paddock for the Demons' last training session of 2016? The club laid it on for the large crowd - a sensational BBQ with the smell of snags and grilled onions wafting all the way to the bridge over the Yarra on our arrival, to the flies, to a Satyriconhome-like built Santa, to the flies, to Checker the big mascot and to the flies. Most of the players were there too, with the exception of our now regular absentee Heritier, ANB (patella tendon according to the real Saty) and I didn't see Dean Kent. I worked out that the rehab group (and there were quite a few but none looked seriously injured from my layman's viewpoint) were the ones not wearing numbers on their backs. I saw Cam Pedersen riding a bike on the sidelines and Jake Melksham running the boundary looking like an Olympic middle distance runner and some of the newbies like Flipper and Mitch Hannan getting acclimatised in the foreground. Josh Wagner and JKH were also doing some running and light work at the side. My 14 year old granddaughter who was once a fan of Jeremy Howe came expecting to see Jack Watts' platinum locks but was disappointed at the hair colour which didn't appear as extreme white as advertised in previous photo galleries released by the club. Her two younger brothers didn't last long. After picking out their favourites in Max Gawn and Jesse Hogan (not hard to do as they really stand out) it was off to the hot dog stand, followed by a kick to kick session which soon ended in the obligatory fisticuffs. I broke up the fight by pointing to the players on the nearby ground and telling the boys that they should follow the lead of their team who train like professionals and don't get involved in any argy bargy. It dawned on me then that this is the fundamental difference between the club now and what it has been in the past, for more or less fifty years. A club that intermittently seemed always divided about something with the rifts constantly leaving us unable to reach the professional standards we are last witnessing both on and off the field. The argy bargy is thankfully a thing of the past - the club's nameless, faceless men are now sad and irrelevant fossils. Peter Jackson, Paul Roos, Brendan McCartney and now Simon Goodwin (far more hands on at training than Roosy) have seen to that and a new spirit permeates the club now. You can sense it when watching training even though you can't see everything and you don't know what every individual drill is about. It feels good - I call it "the vibe" but it's much more than the vibe from The Castle. I guess the exception to the rule might be "the Heritier situation" but I think the club has that well covered. One of the work experience AFL Academy players wore #8 on his back in what appeared to be a message that like Heritier's namesake, Lumumba is gone. In all likelihood, he will soon be replaced by the son of Shaun Smith. Jesse Hogan looks and trains like a man ready to grab centre stage on the AFL scene. I heard that big Maxy is about to get a gig in Foxtel's superhero of the month series and I know that I'm prone to making big statements but look out next year because I reckon Jesse will be on that programme in a big way after his next season. He is moving beautifully, runs hard, looks solid and even cracked it for a smile at one stage. The story about extending his contract for a couple of years must be true because he looks like a man unburdened by the contract speculation, one who is now on a mission. Clayton Oliver also impressed me - he just has that something special about him, especially in close pouncing cat-like on the ball and dishing out handballs to players in space. He's one of a number of members of the young brigade ready to move on to a higher plane. Billy Stretch is no longer a skinny kid, Jayden Hunt looks solid and there's something about Sam Frost that suggests he will be one of those who will step up another notch. As the session went on, I couldn't help but think of poor Colin Sylvia recovering in hospital from a broken neck and other injuries sustained after falling from a balcony. If only the place was like this a dozen years ago when he arrived fresh from Merbein, he might truly have become one of the champions of our game. The team moves on to a break of a couple of weeks before it gets really serious. To my eye it looks as if there is great room for improvement and a move up the ladder, especially with the infusion of some seriously experienced talent in Jordan Lewis, Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham. The question is whether, when the battles begin, our improvement can outmatch that of the others.

52 in the regular season. i only went with that cos eleventy billion was already taken.

Pedersen to start Weed by the end

It's official.

Why the sarcasm? Most people know that the majority of goals are scored from around 30m out and therefore match sim drills are tailored to that. Binman was merely stating that having big forwards with the capability to nail long goals can be very handy when the need arises. A perfect example was when Lynch had the set shot from outside the arc to win the game against us this past season. You will recall that it just missed. If Hoges was in the same situation, I wouldn't have felt the slightest bit confident.

Look champ, I thought there was some good ones too but I think you're overrating them a bit too much.

Here are my thoughts on the sides. I've watched most of the exhibition games, so I have a reasonable idea of the top end talent at least. I can't claim to be any sort of expert on the leagues though, so there are probably some players I'm criminally underrating. Still, it was a fun excuse to have a look through the lists and see what's been happening. I can't agree with that. Sabrina would need to improve her mobility a hell of a lot to really be a problem and from what I've seen they have a habit of plugging holes with Tayla rather than letting her settle in one position. She can't do it all on her own. Also, Check out the Collingwood Forwards. Adelaide have made a great move in snaring Chelsea Randall as their first marquee signing. She's an absolute gun and should be Captain for their side. I have no idea how Fremantle let her go to SA, but well done to the Crows for pulling it off. They also have Abby Holmes up forward to provide a quality target. They have a good mix of youth and experience, some quality athletes from other sports and serious goal-scoring power. I rate them pretty highly. Brisbane may have a case for most attractive side in the league, but I think they'll be shown up badly for the first few seasons. Tayla Harris could well be the best player in the league in five years, but she's not there yet. I have a suspicion that Frederick-Traud may struggle with the pace of the game as well. I don't think there is enough midfield talent there to make them a real threat this season. Carlton have gone with bookends for their marquee players. Vescio played for the Bulldogs in their exhibition side, and has good pace and skills. I'd consider her ore of a HFF or FP than a KPF. At the other end is Bree Davey, the former keeper for the Matildas (If we're being honest, she held the spot by default because Williams and Dumont were both injured and Barbieri had retired, but she still represented Australia). Davey isn't the best athlete, but she's always been blessed with lightning quick hands which translate well. They have some quite decent mids as well, with the Hosking Twins among several to have played in the exhibition games. Collingwood have a deadly forward line led by The Great Moana Hope. Quite frankly I'm tempted to put them on top of the ladder just for her sake. She is an awesome player and a goal-scoring machine. Backing her up is Jess Cameron, formerly of the Demons and the Australian Wicket Keeper and opening Bat prior to that. You may remember her kicking five for up earlier this year. Looking at the rest of their list though, I see Helen Roden who just isn't that great, Hutchins I seem to recall being soundly beaten in several exhibition games and Cula-Reid played a few games but wasn't noteworthy. Their second marquee signing was a 19 year old ruck prospect. Given their fairly average mids I hope she's good at getting them first use. Fremantle have a great coach who has had years in a professional environment to refine her craft (Not at all bitter about that). Player-wise I don't really rate their marquee signings that highly, but they grabbed Ebony Antonio as a priority selection and she can do some real damage as a rebounding HBF. They've pulled heavily from the WA leagues, as expected, but I don't see them winning it just yet. GWS have already lost one marquee player to an ACL. Their other Marquee is Emma Swanson who represented Melbourne this year in the exhibition games and as such is clearly an excellent choice. They have cast the net far and wide, pulling in professional basketball and soccer players as well as quite a few West Australians. I'm not really sure what to make of the side though. I don't see any standout names from the exhibition sides in there. The players they do have weren't noteworthy. Either they have pulled some amazing talent from the far corners of our non-square nation, or they might just be a disaster. Melbourne quite naturally signed Daisy Pearce the moment marquee players were available. She has been the face of Women's Football since we drafted her at no.1 in the first ever Women's Draft and represented the MFC with distinction. More importantly, she's the best player in the country. There's no doubt that she'll be our Captain. Mel Hickey was more of a surprise. A 30+ CHB when we basically had our pick of the best talent in the country? I'll be honest and admit that I would have preferred Ellie Blackburn to complement Pearce. Still, there is method to their madness. Hickey is one of the few players in the league who can go with the likes of Mo Hope, Abby Holmes or either of Brisbane's Marquees. She will be the rock holding our defence together. We have held on to several of our players from the exhibition games, but not the best of them. Look for some new faces taking spots from them. I have concerns about our ability to score with the loss of Tayla Harris, Sabrina Frederick-Traub and Jess Cameron. We have held on to Lauren Pearce though, so our ruck is looking quite decent. The Bulldogs saw their chance and snapped up Ellie Blackburn as a Marquee Signing along with Katie Brennan. Blackburn will go head to head with Daisy Pearce in round two trying to prove that she should be considered the top mid in the game. That battle will be worth the price of admission on it's own. I'll say again I wish we'd held to to her instead of Hickey. It would have given us the best midfield in the league to build our side around. Brennan is a good forward, although not in the same league as Hope or Harris, and she can move into the midfield and absolutely dominate with her size and power. They've held on to a good group of players from their exhibition sides as well. I think the gameplan they beat us with in the last exhibition game is what we can expect in the upcoming season. Lots of pace and outside movement. Ladder: Bulldogs - They have most bases covered. Strong Midfield and decent forward line. I think their gameplan suits the new rules too. Adelaide - Like the Doggies, I think they have a really well-rounded side. They don't have the best on any given line, but they have quality all over. Collingwood - Can't go past that forward line. We know that midfields are essential, but they have so much scoring power available to them. Melbourne - We have good experience in the middle and back, but I think we'll struggle to score. Should be some advantage in having the off-field structures set up and running well. Fremantle - They have a great coach but the list isn't the best. Carlton - I'm not buying what they're selling. No real star power or A-grade talent. GWS - I have no idea if this is accurate. Their side is a mystery to me. They have recruited from some pretty weak areas, but are they still weak in the women's game? Brisbane - Maybe in a few years. Maybe I'm wrong. Who knows?

Enjoyed the chat on Friday, and yes, the last month has been good for the soul. Quietly confident about DJ. Frost has some amazing athletic attributes, but he still can be a liability with ball in hand. Tyson looks primed. I reckon he'll have his best year yet. Brayshaw also looks very fit. Petracca has incredible scope for improvement and hopefully starts showing more of his marking prowess. Hogan will start dominating games and the competition. I could go on and on. We're in for some exciting times. And goodbye to my Jacky boy avatar, as my six months is up, and hello to my favourite all-time stunner

Following on from what WJ has put, I have been going to training since they moved to Goschs, I was dubious three of four years ago when Misso came on board and said they would have to start from scratch and rebuild the whole fitness/medical/rehab area, there wasn't instantaneous results, but over time the whole standard has lifted and those at the club now are benefiting from the new regime/organisation that was put in place Everybody players/coaches/kit guys/trainers/medicos/media/analysts, me knows exactly what is going to occur during a session and each player knows exactly what he is required to do in that session. The coaches all have earpieces (except Macca) and two way radios so they can talk to each other during the session, to watch Macca prowl around the field, coaching the players, coaching the coaches, a little word here, a gesture there is a treat for the watchers A player has to report the slightest twinge/niggle immediately, it is assessed and a call made on whether they stay out on the field We have the new draftees and rookies training with the main group before Xmas and nearly doing the whole session The guys in rehab are given targets weekly to ensure that if and when they get out of the rehab group they can go straight into everything The morale of the players is the best I have seen,

The answer last year was so very nearly 42.

That's also what Freo offered him.

So Watts has finally found his niche as an AFL footballer and you want to move him????

When he ACTUALLY hands back the medal. Besides - wait until the senate enquiry or someone sues because they get cancer

3 per game.

One would hope so but doesn't look likely Dawes never stopped trying. Big difference.

In Mfc i trust. There's some method here. The smokey of the decade coming up for sure

28932

Enjoy. P==> https://www.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=LMxKzJ&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=3&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=1&clickable=1

I asked about this last year and was told it had to do with fitting in with the local football teams. By playing at night, the Scorpions would not be taking people away from the local community clubs and vice versa although I note that the crowds at the night games didn't appear to be much greater if at all as a result. With the advent of the Casey Demons and the wearing of the club's traditional colours, I think it might become easier to make out who the players are. This would be helped if MFC players were able to wear their normal jumper numbers irrespective of whether they're in the AFL or the VFL. I hope someone makes the suggestion to Peter Jackson. After all, he's not only our CEO but they've named the "Peter Jackson VFL" after him ?

In the last 4 draft/trade periods since Roos took the helm we've added: Vince, Tyson, Salem, Petracca, Brayshaw, Stretch, Oliver, Weideman, Hunt, Garlett, vandenBerg, Melksham, Oscar McDonald, Lewis, Hibberd, Harmes, Frost, and decent depth players in Wagner, Bugg and Ben Kennedy. That's 20 players who have positively impacted the club. It doesn't include Joel Smith and other very recent recruits. As you say, it's an extraordinary collective in a short period of time. Especially when the likes of Hogan, Gawn, Tom McDonald and Viney were already in place.

Interesting that Casey have so many night games. Astounding really. It's a poor viewing ground already and the lights make it even harder. Perhaps the wind doesn't blow as hard at night. Hope those with younger and sharper eyes can let us know what's happening. Peter Jackson and Josh Mahoney just seem to keep ticking boxes. All power to Peter recognizing Josh's ability. Josh has been with us from day one of the Bailey era. To survive and thrive is quite something.

Gawn just oustanding Spencer looks a completely different player Vince still the same footy playing comedian, hasn't missed a beat or session Smith is developing at an amazing rate Maynard a B class rookie who participates in every drill

And congrats to the Demon Army - you guys do great work for the club week in week out throughout the year.

A quick report card on my observations so far Hogan, content, elite fitness, standout most training sessions Watts, content, elite fitness, standout most training sessions Jones and Viney - what it says on the tin, Jones was driving the standards yesterday in front of the big crowd, joked with Viney about the fence incident from midweek "just thought I would try and get through it" Lewis, kicking is just a joy to watch, his constant talking on the training track a standout, took Clarry aside yesterday for a quick chat Hibberd, solid unit, left foot weapon Stretch, Hunt, Salem, now have men's bodies to go with the skills Harmes, gone up another level with his skills, has obviously worked his arse off on them, starting to look at ease on both feet Tyson, spoke to him yesterday, feeling fitter and stronger than last year, joked the right foot is getting there Garland, Trengove, both looking like they did from a few years ago, both have completed every session and are already feeling the benefit, adding to the competition for spots Brayshaw little hiccup in the last week or so, but looking primed for a big year, just looks more everything Petracca, loves the fact I call him lean and mean on Instagram, primed for a big year, close to marrying the fitness with the talent

Best moments of the day: Nathan Jones running at the back of a group encouraging and physically pushing Angus Brayshaw and another ??? saying, "C'mon, all of us... keep going...all of us..." Great captain's stuff. Col Garland leading nearly every sprint at the end of a gruelling 3 hour session. Jack Viney, Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Max Gawn and others making themselves available for photos and autographs... Yes, Hogan was smiling! General feeling of positivity and camaraderie amongst the players and coaches. Meeting Saty! All in all, a great day. Bring on 2017.

346,000,103

No move required. That is exactly how he played in 2016. That he sometimes ends up close to goal as a finisher does not alter his role. He knows where to go for maximum benefit and sometimes that can lead him to fill gaps in the forward line. He also fills gaps in the backline. That's what a link player does. Apart from the centre bounce he plays no position. He plays a role.

Think it was against Essendon in Rd 10 of 2012. He kicked two or three. It was a low scoring game and our first win of the year. I think Essendon were 8w & 1L at the time and either top or close to. We started their decline, which may have been co-incidental with the PEDs starting to backfire. What a magnificent win that was. What is incomprehensible is, we beat them in 2012 and 2014 against the odds, but lost in 2015 and 2016 when we were big favourites. Hopefully that is the past.

After the siren to win the game

Time for The Demonland Drone. The DD...to members shhhhh.

Infinity.

Given the fierce competition for spots, I don't see games being gifted to anyone just to get them more experience. I think Weed and Pedo will be competing on form. Vanders, Trac or Trenners are also options as mid-sized forwards who can play tall and that choice will likely depend on team structure and form as well. Going with 3 talls is really only an option because Watts is so versatile. If Garland hits some form again, I wonder whether he might be another possibility. He didn't do too badly there when he was inch hitting a couple of years ago. He can certainly bring some defensive pressure.

60+ including September

Further maths, Maths methods, Specialist maths

Clearly he's going to be playing further up the ground based on training. I believe he'll be far more damaging and still kick 60+ goals.

Hopefully he's ready to crack 50 but in a lot of ways I expect him to play further up the ground - it's not about one, it's about the team

nor does it really apply to the fans I would think

I mentioned it the other day, the stutter is not as pronounced, it's still there but runup is smoother, he is still kicking them from anywhere, contrary to the myth As for BenKen, another who is ticking all the boxes, training as a small fwd when they break up into groups, hasn't been near the midfield

Agreed. I see Watts being a far better player in a better team.

He definitely has the raw ability to. It's all mental for Jack. There are reasons it took him 8 years to silence most of his many critics. I'm told he hasn't always been the greatest "listener". Combine that with self doubt and it explains a bit. I expect his 2017 to be even better, as it should be, but I have doubts he'll reach the consistency required of AA. Not fussed if he doesn't as long as he keeps improving.

The 2017 VFL fixture was announced last week and I also dealt with in the AGM thread. We will now be the Casey Demons and to conform with the new identity, I will be appropriately changing the title of this thread to "Casey Demons 2017 News". "Jackson said the club had been in discussions with VFL affiliate the Casey Scorpions about playing as the Casey Demons in 2017. Casey is expected to wear Melbourne colours in the VFL next season. 'We've been in discussions with the Casey Scorpions to amend out alignment agreement with them, which was a 10-year agreement that runs until the end of 2018,' Jackson said. 'We expect in 2017 that we'll change the name of the VFL team to the Casey Demons and play in the Melbourne jumper.' Demons CEO Jackson earns contract extension And in other news, former small man Mitch Gent looks like returning to the fold in 2017.

There are upto six fwds supposedly on the field at any one time, the forward pressure exerted by all of them was non existent in some games, If we hope that with better service Garlett can become our Eddie Betts, I certainly do, with Eddie being rated as the best small fwd he is not exactly renowned for his defensive pressure

Very well stated. I hope that CS recovers well but he had his chance. However the club wasn't run as it is now and Col is part of the unfortunate past. I've been a part of this since '64. About every 20 years or so we rise... but this is different. Everything from the board, admin, player welfare, coaches & assistants, support staff (oh abtw the current talented playing group) is on the same page. And yes the smokie will appear

Ha ha, the danger of using the rhetorical device in argument! Put it down to the exception that proves the rule? That was stunning viewing, by the way.

ANB as you know has an issue with his knee in the past, got a hit on exactly the wrong spot, nothing major, that was from Ben Mathews JKH did his finger Jeff Garlett got a belt on the nose Dean Kent tweaked his calf on the run at the beginning Jack Watts just a bit of tightening in the back, had it loosened up, from Jack No Nev Jetta or Col Garland, Melksham, Wagner and Brayshaw on light duties I finally got ask to Weed about his size, put on 4kg now at 94kg, they only want him to play at 95kg, matter of building a rig now, his words First up today 6 min run, Tommy Mc (of course) Hogan then Bugg