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One of the drills was set up to stimulate two forwards essentially getting the ball almost alone in the forward line and running into an open goal. That's probably an over simplification but it was heavily weighed to two forwards (usual a 2 on 1 situation) getting the ball on a rebound and running into 50. Playing as alone defender with the odds stacked against him Lever was able to get back quick enough to effect an intercept spoil and on another occasion also tackle an opponent and stop a certain goal. He will change our team.

Live training update. "Rehab groups" Garland weideman and hunt McDonald Garlett baker hibberd Hogan Kent Petty and someone else. Running laps. Hogan "appears" to be "limping slightly". Knee lightly strapped. Could just be how he walks. Is not wearing any Freo gear.

Maybe a more pertinent question is: "are Melbourne closer to a Flag without Watts?"

We need an "Oh Sh!t" emoticon for moments like these.

My 92yo father came to the football with me, my daughter and my brother and saw a win just before he passed away. He had not renewed his membership because of his mobility problems however the Club still sent him a scarf. He died thinking we might be Premiering contenders this year.

Some of you are taking this way too seriously. Watts is supporting his new team just like Lever, Lewis, Frost, Bugg, Tyson, Garlett, McKenna, Vince, Hibberd and Melksham do for us now. Double standards abound.

That's a rather unfortunate shot of Baker... or rather, unfortunate positioning of (is it?) Jetta's backside.

Also Oliver is a beautiful kick.

I was at the session, if I was Hogan, after last year, would be totally [censored] off with even a minor hiccup in pre season, hence his body language today If injury was any concern he would have been indoors, woukd say he tweaked it Err on side of caution and send him in He ran quite a few laps before leaving

On moving to Port: “The best decision I’ve made.” Doesn’t he mean “The best decision made for me”?

Had to leave early because I was starting to get burned. Boys trained well. Photos to follow this afternoon.

Jake Lever is an incredible intercept marker. In case you didn't get the memo.

I'm reiterate what every one else has said, Spargo does not miss a target.

I hear Casey settling on 15 players with a top up supplementary group of 5 from local league if injuries mount up. Jack Hutchins to captain again. Mitch Gent, Dylan Gordon, Goy Lok and Angus Scott to remain in 2018. Mitch White returns. Tom Couch as playing assistant coach. Col Garland likely to support as required. Corey Wagner recruited to be another live wire forward and midfielder.

These two guys worked there for 12 and 14 years and were basically told to p-ss off, hand in your pass now and get out of the station immediately. Surely after that long a little more respect is due.

Sets the scene nicely for a gang tackle the next time we play Port

Did it have final tickets for 2018 in it??

He could easily play half back for the next decade and when he's fully fit - which should be easier as preseasons build up - he'll play very well, and if he isn't he might play poorly. I'd say the same about Brayshaw. Both of those guys are getting the challenge to get as fit as they can and to make themselves key parts of the midfield rotation - be it on ball, the wing and then time forward or back. It might be simpler for us as fans to just lock someone like Salem in on a flank but the greater challenge for him and his development is to see if he can make it as a midfielder and get that fitness in his legs and versatility.

Just a note, and discussed this with Mr Demonland today, forget the best 22, Goodwin will pick the 22 he wants each week You have to be fully fit, in form and playing your role

On the injury side, Weed was outside today running and kicking with no discomfort, they have built him up whilst off legs pics on Instagram

Pretty much what you would expect him to say, although I did find the very first quote interesting. "You know who I think is (closer to a premiership), that's why I'm here" Not the first part, more the second part. Wattsy, I think we all no the reason you aren't at Melbourne, and very little of it was your own doing.

100% he left on a golf cart. Shortly before this I was no more than two metres from Jesse and a member of the fitness staff who were in earnest conversation. Bit hard to hear with music nearby but Hogan was indicating discomfort and looked particularly frustrated. He got to his feet, took no further part in training, walked over to the boundary and the cart took him to the rooms for swimming. Obviously there was an ongoing in as his knee was strapped.Hoping it's only minor and somewhat precautionary. Not the best thing to see when one first arrives to training.

I'm pretty sure he was already "injured" as he came out with the rehab group early and was running laps with them before he left the track. Looked like he was jogging fine but then when he walked he had a slight, very slight, limp. As I said early it could just be the way he walks.

Flying under the radar is good for the start of the season, although we can rabbit on a little amongst ourselves because the Dees are an unfavoured team, by most accounts - certainly in the media and certainly by Sam 'the brainless' Newman. I don't mind if they all (the media) have their rogers growing out of their foreheads in blind prejudice - because it is another indication that they 'cannot see for nuts'! Outside the supporter and club groups, I would doubt if our best 22 were fully known in the media's mindset. Still, nice to come into a match as an unannounced underdog and cream their dreams by quarter-time - and we will do it, this coming season with some massive victories across many games. 'Carna Dees! Remember the Crows game at Adelaide Oval in 2017?

I wouldn't say it's the beginning of the end for SEN, as they are probably already on that track, but with Hutchy now pulling the strings, I can see this heading south quickly. Pathetic treatment of two loyal servants. Always liked the ox, a genuine bloke, whose love for the dees has always been evident.

Interestingly so is Salem, he is finally free all injuries/ailments etc and did a heap of extra work, wants to show what he can do, hasn't missed a beat up to now, his running has gone to another level

Rehab group

Not sure about the angst at this point. Haven’t we proved ourselves financially solid in recent past ? Be surprised if PJ didn’t get the job done.

I won't believe that we're close to a flag until we're 15 goals up in the last two minutes of the Grand Final. Even then, I'll have my doubts.

Brayshaw's head has surely been photoshopped on, right?

He will be the nicest guy not picked for their Grand Final side.

Spargo also in rehab group. Hibberd has joined the backs in a drill.

It was copy and pasted directly from the official site. Take it up with them.

If I go into work tomorrow morning and give notice, I'll get 4 weeks pay + my entitlements, escorted to clean out my stuff, then escorted off the site. It's a pretty common practice across all fields. It's not that they think you will sabotage the place, it's that in those 4 weeks you can gather some pretty good intel to take to a competitor. And you add that to a booting... well, it's a lot safer to pay them out than have them around. It's a sad fact, but a true one, that business is not run on feelings. It's run on what is good for the business, and feelings be damned. People come and people go, but the business lives on.

Rjay if they are setting up Spud Frawley, they are struggling surely? Or am I misjudging the audience? Maybe it is me but Spud is a not very interesting relic of the 70's and talks like he is still in the change rooms from when he played. Very cringeworthy at times, blokey talk about not getting enough from the missus, [censored] ups with mates etc. And importantly not much analysis of the games when he is supposed to be talking about it rather than him so what is the attraction?

Id really like a FM station that had Francis Leach and say, Bob Murphy doing drive time radio. I like the Ox but I find the whole station 90% driven by dumbf##ks. Being in touch with my grump side, I can normally only last 20-30 minutes till Marko sh!ts me. I dont think it has to be dumbed down that much but a smarter (more grown up?) take on sport couldnt go wrong.

I still have a number of Foxy Footy Superstar month 'Max Gawn' episodes from 2016 on my IQ which I refer to for inspiration. Had Max remained uninjured and retained that sort of form 2017, we play finals. I actually think much of our compeditiveness and 2016 finals chance came more via Max, than it did season 2017. Really hoping that Max 16 + rest of MFC 17 = Demon Finals 2018.

On Friday I used my Canon 5D mk 3 with a 100-400mm mk2 lens Gallery ==> https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-G2FGnW?mobile=true

Just not true (read his interview, many of his issues flowed on from being long-term injured), but even if it is, so what? It takes a lot more mental courage to be honest with yourself about what your emotional needs are than it does to just plow on regardless, toughing it out because "that's what real men do". This is the kind of BS that leads to the suicide rate amongst men being X3 that of women.