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Ok, as promised, a few photos from Monday's session. These are more me being a little self indulgent playing around during the editing process, so they end up being more studies of the players rather than action shots. Also, please don't get your knickers in a twist over the colours of the jumpers etc... I just amped up the saturation settings, so the blues (in particular) have become much more vivid. One more thing that I would appreciate... if anyone feels they would like to share any of the photos here or on other sites (Facebook, Twitter etc), I have no problem with that... but could you please at least acknowledge that the shots were taken by me (that is, attach my name to the post - Tim Fleming NOT Hardtack). Thanks. Hope you like them regardless...

Here's a quick summary: Still loves Adelaide, didn't want to leave but Melbourne offered too much money Hopes Tom McDonald plays forward because there isn't enough room for them both in the backline Admitted that he wanted West Coast to win in round 23 because he was hoping Naitanui would be fit for finals (loves watching him play) Grew up a Carlton supporter so was upset that he didn't get a chance to play with Gibbs at Adelaide Thinks Melbourne are a few years away from playing finals, hopes we can get some high draft picks in the next couple of years He thinks Port Adelaide are the team to beat next year with Watts and Trengove After his first training session he couldn't believe how unfit his new teammates are If anyone actually listened to the interview and can fill in the gaps, that would be great. * obviously a fake accounting of the actual interview.

Username checks out.

Absolutely nothing. Sorry. They are a commercial entity not a charity. I await the howls.

Great player? I must've missed his B&Fs, All Australian, Brownlow's. In all seriousness I wish him well, he put up with a lot of scrutiny throughout his career at Melbourne but I can definitely see why he was traded. Time to move on now.

Lever yesterday at training " I want to help this club become great again." Today on Sen " I spoke to Collingwood but it was always Melbourne due to the age demographic." Good on you Jake!

2017 games against Melbourne-based clubs at the G this year: 85,657 v RIC 46,727 v CAR 38,693 v HAW...most of their supporters had already jumped ship for the season 33,18 v NOR...norf had no ship to jump off 70,926 v COLL 53,114 v STK 51,223 v COLL And despite having games in Darwin and Alice Springs, we still came in 8th for attendances in 2017. So I think it's a myth that Melbourne cant pull a crowd.

Did I read the TMac is in the rehab group due to his ankle clean ups? With Jesse slimming down, I'm salivating at the sight of TMac leading out from FF and slotting his straight kicks, while Jesse runs them ragged as a big, strong half fwd. Tommy has such good aerobic strength I can see him getting back to full training as soon as his ankles are up to it. As big Kev would say, I'm excited!

He's already making us pay. Am I wrong, or are we not contributing a portion of his salary?

The bounce is here to stay!! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-21/the-bounce-is-here-to-stay SEN is also reporting it will not be reviewed next year or in the near future. Pleased to see an icon of our game will remain.

By reports, and photos, the slimming down of both Max and Jesse strikes as quite dramatic. To the point where it's not just a case of being super-fit (surely they haven't arrived at this ideal shape through sheer hard will while others in the past haven't put in enough) but a deliberate different re-direction in body-shape. Both you'd ordinarily think could do with retaining some extra heft in their usual respective roles. I think something is on the cards re. our game-plan/their respective roles. ?

Any chance Jones owns a small, baby cow and he somehow hurt it?

It's career ending, worse than simply a calf, he's now missing a lower right leg. WARNING, look away if you are of weak stomach: (Photo courtesty of Hardtack)

Please. After all that's been written, give us a break. Its all been said, written about or thought about. We must have other things to discuss. Please.

If he works harder at Port and does try and make us pay,we'll know how unprofessional he is!!!

Apologies if posted by others. In the distant past, we had one umpire bouncing the ball not only at every centre bounce but every ball-up, unless they were required to throw the ball-up when the conditions were exceptionally wet or muddy. From what I remember, when the latter occurred, the umpire threw the ball up a lot higher than the pathetic little ball-up practiced today. As others have said, a variable bounce was accepted by players, coaches and spectators. It became one of the variables that made the game interesting and when reading the bounce and the play became an important attribute of ruckmen and rovers (remember that term). The ""luck of the bounce" was a term commonly used by commentators and spectators. The same thing happens with boundary umps. In the old days, a crook throw-in was again part of the game. Now, if the ball is not centre metre perfect, back it goes and we try again. The attempt to perfect or standardize all manner of things obviously makes things more predictable and perhaps fairer, but as a result we lose some of the flow, spontaneity and unpredictability of the game. Talented and experienced players and coaches created opportunities out of the luck of the bounce. Even today, good players and good teams make the most from mistakes or an unpredictable bounce. Remember when the term "lucks a fortune" was commonly used by commentators. Changes often bring improvement, no doubt, but often the improvement comes at a cost. We always lose something and often that thing becomes lost forever.

So I should. I surprise even myself sometimes. I was 100% taking the mick with my post, although if they offered it I'd love to have someone like Dean Kent doing my lawns as it might teach him to at least walk and jog both ways.

I'd give the club some dollars if they sent a player round to do my lawns once a fortnight.

1. I'd far rather another runner than a another tall. You're aware Richmond used Grigg as a second ruck in 2017 ? Pedersen won't be played in addition to the incumbent talls. Pedersen was reserves bound all year until Gawn and then Spencer went down. He did a great job, but he won't be part of the 22 with a fit Gawn, Hogan and McDonald in the forward-line. 2. Tyson and vandenBerg are not competing for a position. vandenBerg is competing with Harmes, Hannan and possibly Balic.. 3. Harmes v Neal-Bullen is more like for like, but Neal-Bullen's pressure ensured 11th position in the B&F compared to Harmes 17. I have both in my team, but certainly Neal-Bullen deserves to be picked first. I wasn't a fan of his this time last year, but he walked the walk.

Players just arriving now. they took the first 30 minutes off just like in round 23

I suppose it's what we already discerned. The fact that Hinkley recruited both Watts and Trengove suggested he was looking at the positives rather than the deficiencies. Clearly Melbourne and all the other clubs looked at the deficiencies. Trengove's comments confirm the differences in coaching philosophy between Hinkley and the others. Taking a positive but realistic approach is more likely to build a players confidence to take on the game. In my modest sporting career, I experienced both coaching approaches and there was no doubt that the positive approach was far more effective for both the individual and the team in regard to both training and competition. We will see what happens in 2018. It will be interesting to see if the Hinkley approach translates into better outcomes for both players.

Oh no, absolutely not. I've given 25 consecutive years of my life to this football club, of which only 7 have seen them make finals (28%). There is no mystery as to what came first, my support or MFC success. Dare i say it must be the case for 95%+ of our members. It's about time this football club finally started vindicating our ongoing support. Until such time, i see no reason to give more than what i currently do.

Troll gonna troll.

I agree and think people can get carried away with the Draft, unrealistically hoping that each draftee will make it when we all know from experience that is not going to happen. Unless you have a very poor list, it is nearly impossible to find more than 2-3 top 22 players each year.

Paul Amy reporting that Noble Park fullback Ryan Morrison is training with the Casey Demons after two outstanding years in Eastern ranks.

Realistically it is highly unlikely that all of those you mention will ever reach what is hoped of them, but even if half do, yes, exciting times ahead.

Could work well. Ad some titalation to his game plan.

nice to see this thread convinced the afl powers to keep the bounce

"Last month the Andrews government announced the next round of gaming licences in 2022 would be granted for 20 years, double the current agreement, and also moved to allow clubs to double the number of pokies they operated in their group to 840, allowing AFL clubs to increase their market share." That's the only part of the article that is relevant. When the AFL stops accepting money from betting agencies and Crown and stops the incessant gambling talk on its broadcasts and at grounds and when they create a fair and equitable competition then maybe we'll listen. Until then they can get stuffed.

And from AFL headquarters of all places. This Steve Hocking may be a breath of fresh air. If the AFL made their umps professionals, it might be more attractive to ex-players of all standards as a viable way of staying in the game.

Here's another site that has the same figures but an easier and bigger break out. Adelaide tops or near tops many areas. For example its revenue from games played is 22M against ours of 7M. It's 4th in the sponsorship stakes and doubles us in that area. http://www.footyindustry.com/?page_id=2946 The revenue from pokies has the affect of skewing the figures in the sense that the profit margin relative to turn over on pokies is low. It doesn't need to be high as the real measure is return on investment not turnover. The writing is on the wall about AFL and pokies. Only takes some pressure from the big sponsors and clubs will be forced to give up that little earner. Port Adelaide only gets a small pokie revenue (probably goes to the local Magpies) but other than them no interstate club is on the pokies spiral.

Common sense has prevailed.!!!!

Au contraire, ernest...I thought your point on the 'luck of the bounce' was very relevant. It reminded me of the 2010 drawn GF when the 'luck of the bounce' denied the saints a second flag. The 'luck of the bounce' in all its facets is what makes our game interesting and unpredictable. And I like your posts - one of the more reasoned writers on here.

You eat pieces of [censored] for breakfast?

DaveyDee, you are extremely dedicated to the Dees. Are you saying that we can't win a flag unless we throw a heap more cash at our Football department? Didn't we already get a truck load of cash chipped into our club by loyal supporters Foundation Heros?

I was standing next to Mark Stevens about this time last year during a training session and he was dead set trying to turn players leaving the field to get a rub down into some newsworthy injury. "Zoom in on <player> over there <cameraman>, I reckon he's done a hammy. Yep, yep, he has. He just touched it. Get a close shot please" Nek minnit... Player runs back on and resumes training.....

Wasn't sure where to put this, but here's Brett Anderson's SEN Mock Draft: https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/11/20/brett-andersons-2017-afl-mock-draft/ Interesting he has us taking Oscar Baker. I'm expecting some left field picks from Taylor as has been the case in the past.

maybe that's why Port Adelaide are flat track bullies and downhill skiers only worrying about the positives and not addressing their deficiencies.

No Tyson, no Neal-Bullen, who was top 5 for forward-line pressure in the AFL in 2017, plus you've included Pedersen instead of another runner when McDonald can pinch hit in the second ruck role. Fair to say I don't like the team.

man those line ups have me fired up! how long til round one?!?!?!

FB: Jetta - Frost - Lever HB: Hunt - Oscar - Hibberd C: Lewis - Viney - Gus HF: ANB - Hogan - Trac FF: Garlett - T-Mac - Pedo R: Gawn - N.Jones - Oliver I: Harmes - Melksham - Tyson - Salem E: Vince - Hannan - Weideman Next in line to come in with injuries: Maynard, Stretch, J.Smith, Vanders, Bugg That's a pretty solid unit of 30.

I like Charlie Constable. He has an arresting personality.

I would think the players anxiety rises every time they run out on the ground and see that Ray is one of the umpires...

As some note nominating the ruckman is a cause of delay, some stupid free kicks, looka silly (like orimary school kids putting their hand up) and helps create congestion because in addition to the delay the third man up cant knock it clear or to an outside runner. Now that is a stupud rule change.

Yes very much looking forward to a AVB this year!

The back 6-7 shapes as being pivotal in 2018. How will we structure up ? I had a conversation with my lunatic Brother the other day and he agrees with Terry Wallace and would NOT play Oscar, Frost and Lever. I said Frost is quick and reasonably agile, so can play small pretty well, but he was having none of it. Despite Frost recently signing a new 2 year deal he doesn't have him in. Wallace said he'd have Hibberd play the third tall, which would allow us to have 4-5 runners. Wallace noted we played our best footy with this structure in 2017 and I agree with that observation. Most sides listed in this thread, including mine, have the 3 talls picked (OMac, Frost, Lever), but will we go for a more mobile back 6-7 notwithstanding Frost's pace ? Like anything, it will involve gameday matchups, but I do see merit in only having two talls and using Hibberd as the third. How many forward-lines running around require 3 194cm plus defenders ? Wallace rightly pointed out that we chopped and changed and were never really settled in the backline, which is another valid point. We need to settle on a structure over summer and it will be interesting to see which way they go.

Missed far too many goals that cost us dearly. If he stays on the list, he HAS to fix that part of his game.