Leaderboard

"But it's also having that competitiveness to win and not be beaten. "I hate letting people down. Whether it be my family or my teammates, I hate looking at their faces and realising that I've done something wrong. "My teammates believe in me and trust me to do the job, so that's what keeps me driven." http://afl.com.au/news/2018-01-31/picture-this-demon-wants-a-life-sentence

Nice article which reinforces Nev's standing as one of my favourite players. Not born with abundant talent, he has reached his present high standing in the competition through high principles, hard work and an unyielding never-say-die, team first attitude. It's great to see him starting to get some of the recognition he deserves in the wider AFL community.

Oh ffs...

Are you suggesting the players are not completely candid when they talk to random supporters? Surely not. Calf injuries, particularly in older players, is becoming one of those injuries that never seem to go away. Like foot injuries.

Love Nev. Another key quote from the article: "He is ranked No.1 in the AFL from 2011-2017 for the kick-rating stat, where Champion Data measures how well a player kicks the ball compared to the AFL average taking into account pressure, field position and intent." Wasn't that long ago that people lamented our lack of foot skills, but clearly we are aquiring and importantly developing elite talents in this important area of the game in many parts of the ground. I say developing, because I don't think Jetta would have been viewed this way early in his career. I think it also has something to do with overall team improvement as players now have that bit more time, space and confidence to dispose of the ball better than in the shambles our team was when we were getting smashed. Full credit to Nev though too, because clearly he has really knuckled down and developed his game since being delisted. Also an illistration of great determination and resilience to survive both being delisted and our era of depression.

BILLY Stretch's ability to push from end-to-end and transition quickly between attack and defence made him the standout during Melbourne's main training session at Maroochydore Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-01-30/billy-stretch-the-standout-in-match-simulation-drills

No injuries

before the last round of last year we were paying $11 to miss finals and now we are similar odds to win the flag before the seasons starts (I don't have a point, just the first edition of 'DubDee's OddSpot')

It’s not a toomor!!

Maybe they wanted to keep him away from the boxing drills?

Do we think this race is too short for Ace High? It has won over 1400m and came 2nd at 1100 in his first start...Orr Stakes is looking harder by the day.

Update on Santos. Randwick barrier trial 29th Jan. Keep your eye on the widest barrier, yellow jacket. Dan Zephyr was our summer horse, Santos might be our Autumn horse. http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/VideoResult.aspx?MeetDate=2018Jan29&VenueCode=MzI4NjYy&RaceNumber=16&MeetingCategory=Trial&VideoFileType=Last400m

Thanks Wadda. I was prepared to go with Brave Smash, thinking he could redeem himself but the list above is a little different to the market I saw last night. It looks like they have added some serious horse flesh in the current market. Neds is currently offering $12 for Brave Smash. I might have to play the waiting game for now and start concentrating on the Expressway Stakes.

I like Tosen Stardom although Thronum won the lead-up race last Friday night (The Australia Stakes) ... Mr Sneaky ran 2nd and Brave Smash needed the run (apparently) and ran 5th. I was impressed with the run of Tshahitsi on Saturday but it looks like the horse has been withdrawn. Hartnell & Johannes Vermeer have real claims too. And then there's Humidor and a few others! It's a multiple trifecta race for mine. I've had a bit of a look at the Expressway Stakes (the Ace High race) and 'Goodfella' is at good odds (9-1) .. the horse ran a 1.5 length 2nd to an ultra impressive Pierata in the Gold Coast Guineas. Race time 1:21.0 for the 1400m. Early doors but it might be a go for the place although I reckon it can win. Australian Group & Listed Races

Defcon 5

Tosen Stardom 4.50 Black Heart Bart 5.00 Hartnell 5.50 Mr Sneaky 7.00 Brave Smash 8.00 Johannes Vermeer 9.00 Single Gaze 11.00 Thronum 11.00 Humidor 13.00 The Taj Mahal 15.00 Global Glamour 17.00 Lucky Hussler 17.00 Mighty Boss 17.00 Theanswermyfriend 21.00 Dollar For Dollar 26.00 Burning Front 34.00 Gailo Chop 34.00 I Am A Star 34.00 This is ladbrokes market, theres a few more but i couldnt fit them all in, (pardon the pun). Seems Voodoo Lad has disappeared? Maybe thats why he was 26/1...Black Heart Bart won the race last year. Any early thoughts??

A man above the maelstrom.

i tried in vain to seduce one of his beautiful daughters .She would have none of it.The least i can say is he taught his child common sense.

It should be up, if there is a horse problem, then it should say betting suspended. The Commonwealth games has 4 events up......The Doncaster is up and thats in April. If they sell tickets to an event, the market should be up. Wake Up TAB>. I like getting on early, and putting the ticket on the fridge with a magnet! Its fun.

You're right Wadda, the odds were up when I had look at the Tab app last night. I just had a look again and no Orr market in the futures.

Well i went down to the TAB to see if i could get on The Orr Stakes, and it wasnt up. I thought it would have been by now surely? TAB up to their usual shenanigans already?.....one day ill go get a bookie!

Gamble Responsibly !

Gotta admire his determination and resilience. I can see him going to another level this season. Level 7.

I have such admiration for this player. To have come out of the last ten years at this club the player he is is an incredible feat. At the time of his delisting he could have been forgiven for running for the hills to get as far away from this shambolic club as possible. But he didn’t. He knuckled down and won the respect of his coaches, teammates, the opposition and now the whole footballing community. He’s a great role model for every player in the league.

Armstrong will just sit back and polish his premiership medallion while all this reminiscing is happening...

"Okay. I've found the steering wheel. Now, where in blue blazes are the accelerator and brake pedals??!"

If Billy can step up and play a Gaff like role (that's his go) for us this season then that will be a huge bonus and a key component in how far we can go.

my products are sold in tin foil or small plastic bags dc.The micro distribution issue I leave to the government of the day and the consumer .

The entire Hawthorn Football Club catches the Ebola virus ,

Beating North Melbourne in JLT 1 would be an unprecedented experiment.

Petracca and Maynard playing most of the time in the guts. Spargo and Dion J getting time up forward, and assessing their defensive skills. Lever Having a first look at one of our backup ruckman. Seeing how Keilty looks, and maybe a decent run for Tim Smith.

I hope he does go up a level. He fell away last year. I would love to see him be a bit more aggressive with his kicking and running. Take the game on a bit more

Who cares who's out? We come out to play and it doesn't matter. Bit over "Ooh, look who's out" stuff. Fire in the belly Demons!

“Ian’s brother Greg...” ”Yes he’s here....”

By the look of Vines in that training shot I would expect a few more will pull the pin rather than come up against that beast.

Agreed ... unless we win.

We wore our traditional colours in 2013. Shannon Byrnes, Tom Gillies, David Rodan, Tom Couch; Dean Terlich and Matt Jones finishing top 5 in the Bluey. Mark Neeld's twitchy eye. Those were the days.

We wore those colours in the mid 80's . Zantuck, Giles,Healys,Battiston, Wacko etc when we stunk it up big. Barass throwing tantrums. Those were the days.

Interesting. Made me have a quick look at Zurich's sponsorships. While I haven't found a list I came across this story which claims that Zurich's US division was one of the 122 biggest sponsors in the US in 2015. It's in the group within that 122 which spends the least (US$15-20 million per annum), and being alphabetical, you have to scroll right to the end to find their name, but I draw comfort from them at least being considered to be a "big sponsor". Reiterates that it's a great get for us.

Hell's Bells seems to work well but could always go for some Sabbath or Led Zep

Love the royal blue for clash games. Retro is back in style. Perhaps some 1970s music as we prepare the games. Dragon? Simon and Garfunkel?

Inequality is another virtue signaling buzzword of the left. if your neighbour is a billionaire he/she is probably a much greater contributor to society than the other 9 people in the street. it's likely he/she employs people, payes more taxes and donates more to charity. Capitalism is brilliant in part because of its reward system. Some people will become disproportionately rich but for every billionaire there will be a large multiple of people who are dragged into a better life. We can embrace the greater good or dwell on a small minority who's only crime is to make lots of money. Jealousy is a curse.

Adelaide (mostly navy with some red and yellow) fair enough to wear light blue Carlton - fair enough Essendon - black with red - fair enough Freo - purple which is pretty close to navy blue - fair enough Port - black - fair enough Saints - black and red and white. Fair enough. No problem wearing the light blue v any of these teams. And no, just white shorts doesn't really cut it anymore. You've gotta be able to tell teams apart at a quick glance at 70/80m away. Thats what the players have to do so i have no problems with distinguishing clash jumpers. I remember seeing a dees player handball to an essendon player in about 2001 because they just saw the flash of the jumper in traffic. Im more than happy to wear this kit v these teams. Makes a big difference having this one which is good instead of the horrible ones weve had in the past. Think I'll get #2 on mine haha

Had about a million disposals in the last quarter. Almost pulled us over the line for a win. After that game I was excited to have him in red and blue. I was naive.

This is my favourite clash jumper ever. If we have to have a clash strip this is it. This is a Melbourne jumper, in fact it's the Melbourne Jumper I fell in love with as a little kid. I fell in love with it because it's the jumper Robbie Flower wore. When I drew Melbourne jumpers incessantly as a kid, this is the jumper I drew, I didn't use the dark blue texta. I was in my teens when we reverted to Navy, I love the Navy and that's our strip, always will be. But this clash is unmistakably Melbourne. Our Jumper is blue with a red yoke, not the other way around, not white, not silver, not a logo or picture on the chest. Well done to the club, can't believe nobody thought of this sooner. I hope we keep keep this and the redback jumper for our clash strips for a very long time and put this argument to bed forever.

But if I recall correctly we handpassed to them and kicked it to them and the umpires did not have even one effective disposal. No for me it's back to white you maggots.

great pic, ethan. i'd forgotten they were also clever enough to have navy shorts as well......f'wits

Neither Hate nor Love it ... But I loathed the white jumper the red was OK far better than the white. I didn't think we clashed as we are now and the Royal blue does bring back images of Robbie Flower, my 2 bobs worth...

If the players give a stuff about what is said on field then they don't deserve to be out there. Who cares about the boot camp? Worry about the scoreboard.