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I headed down by bike for first session since last season and as Saty has mentioned, it was primarily a skills session with most of the work divided into 3 groups - forwards, mids and defenders. AFL is becoming a bit like NFL in that you train majority of time with your chosen group. Those of you who have been regulars at training will know this already, but for those of you who haven't been much this year, the conclusions you can draw are: Jordy and Vince are training with defence and will start season down back. Bernie was working feverishly in most drills, so overlook from your Rd 1 team at your peril. The other player to catch the eye was Jake Lever. Gees he moves well and his hands are so clean and given the way he was encouraging others, he's a monte to be part of our new leadership group. Oscar wasn't there today, but all the other keys were - Joel Smith doing running work so not part of the squad today but I'm told by Saty that he has been on other days and he looks mega ripped. Wags also impressive, but boy it's going to be hard for him to get in this year. Both Salem and Angus were training with midfield group, who were practising boundary throw set up with Plappy for a lot of session. Olly was being a bit of a dick, but his push and shove games with Salem, Tracc and Billy are all part of what happens when the real stuff begins, so he was a likeable nuisance. Maynard moves well, but like Wags, he will have to hope for injuries to get a gig methinks. Viney wasn't there and Tyson was another absentee today. But Tracc is training with the mids, so will he play there? Baker getting more tuition than really joining in - same as Petty with defenders. The forward group included Bugg, JKH, Melky and Spargo for those trying to figure out Goody's early mindset. Lots of snaps and goalkicking practice for them and ANB, Melky and JKH were my best workers on a hot day when both Hoges and Jeffy finished up a little early - Jeffy did running drills afterwards so no issues there. T.Mac clearly a leader of this gp and he will doubtless again be in leadership squad with Viney, Jones, Gawn and Lever and then maybe one of the defensive oldies as well - ie: Lewis or Vince. Hannan doing laps/fitness work with Tim Smith, while Weed did more hardcore running. I didn't see Kent. Of all the recruits, aside from Lever, the only one I reckon is a chance for Rd 1 action is Bayley Fritsch - he's mega fit. I suspect he will get a trial pre-season and if he performs, a spot may appear with Hannan playing recovery catch up. Bugg may be preferred to them both though because he can lay a mean tackle, as we know. Postscript: I just realised I didn't spot Harley Balic - help Saty!

I popped down briefly. Not a huge amount to report. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing and went about their business. But I was watching Weideman pretty closely as he was doing his run-throughs / sprints in front of me, lead some of the time by Crossy. He's looking a lot fitter and much more 'AFL ready' compared to last year. I saw him at a similar stage last year and thought he really seemed to look quite heavily running across the ground – almost trudging – but today he really glided along and ran swiftly for a big bloke. Wouldn't want to be standing in his way. Obviously he's still got another couple of years before we see the best of him but I think we might see some exciting glimpses this year. He couldn't be too far away from joining the main group as he looked pretty comfortable running at pace.

Fine scooting weather Craft day So after a few warmup drills split into 3 groups Mids stoppage/clearance/tackling Fwds marking/goalkicking/ crumbing and bringing ball to ground Backs marking/one on one/spoiling They have brought in a tackling coach from the Storm for a bit of technique training Other notes We are taking the AFLX seriously, I asked Clarry is an aggressive sod in the tackling drills Nathan Jones completed whole session without a hint of trouble Some blurry pics on here and Insta today or tomorrow Any questions feel free

I'm quietly confident. I thought we should have finished top 4 last year. We knocked over one Grand Finalist on their home soil, and should have taken out the other but for injuries. Brain farts undid us. Not playing out 4 q's did us. I think, as our list matures, that will get less and less. We have the list and the support... the real question is if we have the cojones .

How many of you guys started having a tug after you watched that video at the thought of being as negative as possible? I read the responses before watching the video and seriously thought he had a major setback. Instead, it's basically the same stuff as before with the caveat being he is a 'line ball' to play Round 1. While I'll be surprised if he does play, he won't be too far away after that. Just calm your farm, guys.

Rubbish... let's start with Carlton and we'll work from there Ask the 2016 premiers how their fixture looks for 2018. Tell me why we play home games in NT before crowds of little more than 10,000 In the above thread people keep saying that it's all about TV rights and that attendances and success are secondary. In that case please explain why Melbourne as an up and coming team with a bunch of exciting youngsters gets such abysmal FTA coverage. I know all the reasons why the above occur but I get a little tired of AFL apologists saying it will all get better. The fact is we along with three other Melbourne based teams are simply in the comp to make up the numbers. Luckily the draft and salary cap give us a chance of on field success because the cards are well and truly stacked against us when it comes to financial success.

Boys look good although can't see Viney.Weideman, Hannan and the Smith boys in rehab. McKenna and Vandenberg on the lightest of duties. VDB proppily kicking only with his left foot. Future must be in doubt.

I read an article recently can't remember where but it was about Roger Federer. I can remember with the now great athlete carried on like Nick Kyrgios. The article goes back to this point and the appointment of a new coach that his No1 think he taught Roger was Humility and respect, respect for the game and people with in the game. The coach was in a car accident and died soon after taking over as coach. It clicked with Roger and he worked hard on what this coach had started and made him the player he is today. Every Junior coach of any sport should get this article pin it to the club rooms give it out to parents. If you don't respect the game and your opponent and be humble in both victory and defeat you don't deserve to play the game.

Pretty big office space has just opened up we could use

Sorry Bitter , but Mansfield is the place. Our main footy oval known as the MCG and our secondary oval is Lords. What more is needed?

Im not fussed that the club isn't wasting limited resources pandering to the unending needs of the digital fan base during pre-season. Keep the funds and attention focused on footy, and improving the team, and promoting those teams we have playing and winning (i.e. the Womens Team).

I'll settle for a long sequence of comfortable, routine, unremarkable victories.

I see your point, but I’d rather be the bombers of 2000 with Hird. (I just threw-up into my own mouth whilst typing that)

Why wait?

Yep same here looking forward to it, something different and should be fast paced with lots of goals so I’m happy to give it a chance and pass judgement once it’s finished, I get the traditionalists not liking it, this will be popular with kids just as Big bash is

fixed it for ya aflx is a very strange image

So, they dont want to race Winx without Bowman, who is currently suspended. Winx is out of the Apollo. Market closed atm. I wish i had of thought more about that, because when Bowman got suspended i posted it here, and said watch the market. Ace High was still 26/1. Think it will come in considerably, however you may be able to still get good odds when the market reopens which wont be too long. Winx won the Apollo last 2 years. Ace High is 8/1 for The Rosehill Guineas March 17. Ace High is 34/1 Randwick Guineas March 10th Ace High is 18/1 Caulfield Cup. in from 25. October (will be 9/1 by the end of Autumn) Horse is trained at Rosehill, so that is a definite. Trainer also stated after the Darby win, Ace High will be set for the Melbourne Cup. Ace High, currently 34/1 for the Cup, won the Darby by 2 lengths, so did Efficient.

I spoke to both Crossy and Weed, 2 more weeks in rehab and then ready to go, aim is to build a body that gets on the park and and stays there. Same with Smith x 2 they are in and out of main group now building loads

We don't need to copy the NFL except for perhaps having scantily clad cheerleaders.Which would give young girls proper role models.

I have no doubt a team can be viable in Hobart, especially if the AFL is propping up teams like the GC to the tune of 25mil! You tell me if the image of the AFL is better served by a team playing at Bellerive with a full crowd who is fully engaged (and know the rules), or by GWS playing finals in front of an empty stadium, or the GC playing in front of similar numbers.

There's plenty of space at Romsey. I might even open the doors of The Manor for some special fund raising events.

Posting photos and videos on social media doesn't cost anything (besides the time of staff you are already paying) and it is quick and easy to do.

I'm happy the Maroochydore camp is done as it's always a sign that the real stuff is just around the corner. And thank goodness for that.

american politics is un-understandable (or should that be just standable?)

You need to stop the Bulltish about propping up the Dees. Its garbage The AFL has an uneven draw which kills clubs that don't get Friday night games , blockbusters and marquee times. Carlton haven't played at Kardinia park since 1998 I believe. We have been the home team against Essendon twice in the last 10 or 11 years as an example. Stadium deals also kill a lot of clubs. We play the G with 20,000 and we lose money. The cats with 20,000 make $500k. West Coast spend $300k a week more than melb because their stadium deal sees than get all the corprate box revenue, all the advertising revenue and a large cut of the food and bev revenue. The AFL recognise these imbalances because of the nherently unequal nature of the competition hence the equalisation fund. It is NOT proping up Melbourne and anyone that suggests it is should rightly be shot down in flames.

I feel like the worst of the 'unsportsman-like conduct' in AFL comes from the administration. The more commercial AFL gets, the less 'sporting' it becomes. 'Sporting' suggests an ethical, I suppose 'gentlemanly' approach to a contest - at least in my mind. The AFL itself has become so conflicted that it's not consistent with this principle. I think the players, on the field at least, are pretty good as a whole. The administration however is a different beast.

the decontamination cost would probably make it uneconomic, jim

Some good information on 'Ace High' there Wadda ... Winx looks like it will start its Autumn campaign with the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on March 3. Meanwhile, the final field for the C F Orr Stakes is up and it's a top-rate field assembled. I can see at least 4 or 5 genuine chances so it will be some form of multiple trifecta for me. For quaddie punters it's the 3rd leg I believe. The whole meeting is a good one though with a Group 1, three Group 2's & four Group 3's. But I'll be looking at Warwick Farm for my best bet ... I've already picked out 3 or 4 genuine hopes and will finalise my pick tomorrow night or sometime on Friday. As you and @Demon77 will know by now, I prefer the Tri's in the Group races. Here's a bit of info I've picked up about the often run 1400m races at Sha Tin ... they are nearly all truly run races and if a horse hasn't run in the 1:21's (or the low 1:22's) previously whilst carrying 55 - 59 kgs, one can often rule those horses out from winning or even running a place. Nearly all the winners in these 1400m affairs are won with fast times. I picked up another Tri there last Sunday (in one of the later races) using the above information.

The past two premiership coaches have built a structure and a game plan on the resources at hand. We can speculate on our structure and game plan but I suspect that it will depend on the availability, form and fitness of the players. What is different for the dees this year is that, with our flexible list comprising talls and shorts, inners and outers, attackers and defenders, runners and blockers, deliverers and receivers and many multi adaptable players, there are many different combinations that can be tested and used. The final structure for both the doggies and tiges did not become apparent until the finals arrived. Let's be patient and not get fixated on a "preferred" structure and let it evolve. That we will have numerous options and possibilities is a plus. The ultimate goal is to find a structure and game plan that our opposition can't counter.

well since you ask I reckon its the BIGGEST [censored].. and for what..??? sfa ..thats what It's a bastardised format. It's NOT footy..I couldnt care less about it...other..that god help any injuries..

No injuries

And bring back the cigarette girls too. Lets do it properly.

I for one am looking forward to it. More interesting than the jlt pre season games. In terms of injury risk again i point out the aflx fixture replaces one jlt game. Only 14 players ate playing not 25 (with only 10 on the field) mean8ng less playets who can get hurt and more scope for not playing specific players (eg you can rest all talls, something that would be hard in the jlt). Also the games are shorter. So all in all less injury risk.

We'll beat Geelong without Viney.

As Peter Jackson has said on numerous occasions - you earn your own fixture. We no longer whinge and whine about a fixture as a club. Nothing to do with charity - quite the opposite. We should be proud of ANZAC day eve - its a huge achievement. We work in partnership with the Tigers to create a win-win blockbuster. I have no problem with a one-eyed approach or a us against them mentality - but in reality you have to work with the wider AFL community to get the best results for all.

Mix and match, Goodwin wants versatility, seen one drill with Melksham as the tall?

It will be my next read. What i found very eye opening was a quote from James Cook on observation of the Indigenous people during his exploration of the east coast "They live in a tranquillity which is not disturbed by the inequality of condition. The earth and sea of their own accord furnishes them with all things necessary for life. They covet neither magnificent houses or household stuff. They live in a warm and fine climate and enjoy wholesome air". Looks like no one took much notice of Jimmy's observations !

Hmm so don't hold your breath I guess is your advice dc?

i believe it will be restored by the moderators when the mfc win another premiership

There's some at Albert Park looking for a job, Biff. Can your Aunt drive a bus? If so, tell her to do a quick lap of the lake, pick up any of them that are filling out Centrelink forms, and drop them off at AAMI Park.

I reckon the Tiges went pretty much 1-5....Jack was often the only tall and they used a medium like Grieg as relief ruck. Wouldn't be surprised if we went 2-4 at times and maybe varied it a bit through the year depending on match ups and form...

For many of us, its a sideshow and stunt. It's just another example of the way the game is now managed. Increasingly, changes are introduced due to the massive TV and media deals that demand ever increasing advertising revenues and money flowing back to the footy industry. We see a game that increasingly is being influenced by marketing, media, merchandising and branding issues. Everyone wants a piece of the action and a piece of the financial pie. You really do wonder where it will end. I suspect that the women's game is heading down the same path and that the freshness of the game and the joy of the players will soon disappear as the AFL and media squeeze the lemon to extract every last drop. From a playing viewpoint, I can see no upside In regard to the AFLX, Just greater demands on the players and their bodies. We see every year during the off season that it takes many players months to recover physically and mentally from the grueling past season. I fear injuries and the risk that poses for the season proper. I want a team injury free and fresh to go at the beginning of the season.

Time we had a post camp injury update from Misso, with some direct questioning from Burgs. Did Jack suffer a setback at the camp? What is the realistic timeframe for his return?

Hi Nut thanks for the Richard Broome reference. I will follow that up. May I also recommend Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu. You may have read it? It looks at aboriginal society pre 1788 based on archeological studies but mainly on the observations of those who had first contact, the writings of the explorers, surveyors and first squattors. It paints a fascinating picture of pre European life here, a varied society that farmed, hunted, built stone houses and had permanent settlements. What was going on here for nearly 60,000 years was unique and needs to be further explored, studied and celebrated. But don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen when the 40,000 year old bones of Mungo Man could not get government funding for a dedicated rested place in Lake Mungo recently.

With all due respect AF as a former local government auditor, I do not believe your 1 line comment on the position of Council is correct. Having inspected the 2017 accounts the City finds itself well cashed up with burgeoning coffers helped by development fees and new ratepayers. With capital assets in excess of $2.1b and an operating 2017 surplus of nearly $30m, City of Glen Eira is well positioned, should they be pre-disposed to, contribute a handsome amount to a 50 year capital asset, assuming the largesse of our benevolent current premier remains.

Even though I didn’t think it at the time, it’s possible that 2017 is the year we had to have. A finals birth is absolutely there for us in 2018. And not a mere position in the 8, we now have the list, the coaching group and the experience to make an impact. In short, it’s ours to stuff up this year. For some reason, I don’t think we will - I definitely see us playing finals for the first time since 2006.

Take heart, Doc. This is THE YEAR when when we either make the 8, or completely f*** it up somehow.

Pity...we used to be able to keep ourselves entertained quite easily.

Who will listen to radio coverage of the Super Bowl? Bizarre decision.

As he said himself, looking for wins to get to finals he came back too early. Now this really does beg the question. Who has the final say as to whether a player is fit or not?? I would suggest that the Medical Staff and fitness people should always have final say. Jack Viney played and the rest is History. I reckon the discussions then and now would make fascinating listening about this injury and the rehabilitation, not to mention possible ramifications for the future of complications or setbacks. As Jack Viney says the latest injury is located in a different part of the foot. However, as I have seen in the past injuries like this have a habit of leading to other injuries because of the overcompensation effect. Just my opinion!