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Matthew Lloyd has also provided some insightful commentary on us, via 3AW with Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell. "Melbourne won't play finals, Gerard. You just can't trust them" - Matthew Lloyd, Monday Feb 19 (before JLT 1) "I tell you who's a real smokey for top 4, Gerard. It's Melbourne" - Matthew Lloyd, Monday Feb 26 (after JLT 1)

Beautiful morning today, dropped the car off for service in Docklands and walked along the Yarra heading for Gosch’s paddock. Watched a bit of the Moomba water skiiing, the tricks had started, then on to Gosch’s and watched the Rebels training until the JLT squad appeared. Routine session that went for about an hour, emphasis on ball skills, kicking etc. They broke up into groups and I watched the mids exercise, Gawn and Pedo in the ruck ball ups but taking it in turns to tap to the nominated mid who would call which side to tap the ball. The mids were Jones, Oliver, Tyson, Salem, Angus and Maynard. Watched Fritsch, he doesn’t do much wrong, clean hands and hits most targets. They did a few of the torpedo bombs out of the goal square and boy can some of them roost it, Pedo, Hunt, Vince all kicking it past the centre it seemed. Not sure of the length of Gosch’s but I hope to see a bit of this from our kick outs. Jetta training well. No TMac, Viney, AVB or McKenna. Lewis and ANB doing laps. Non JLT players came out later and trained on their own, including Harmes, a probable omission.

November 1963 he had an accident of sorts......

Well what a wide sweeping statement without the appropriate research, thought Blight was better than that. 1993 Flag Essendon : 7 with 100 games, 7 with more than 50 games, 6 with less than 50 games (total 20 players) 1997 Flag Adelaide : 5 with 100 games, 9 with more than 50 games, 7 with less than 50 games (total 21 players) 1998 Flag Adelaide : 8 with 100 games, 7 with more than 50 games, 7 with less than 50 games (total 22 players) 2008 Flag Hawthorn : 9 with 100 games, 10 with more than 50 games, 3 with less than 50 games (total 22 players) 2016 Flag Bulldogs : 6 with 100 games, 7 with more than 50 games, 9 with less than 50 games (total 22 players) 2017 Flag Richmond : 11 with 100 games, 4 with more than 50 games, 7 with less than 50 games (total 22 players) 2018 Demons at end of home & away : 10 with 100 games, 10 with more than 50 games, 2 with less than 50 games (total 22 players) Difficult to really make a valued argument that the Dees wont have the experience to make finals on the above comparisons.

Given you’re not employed at the club, you’re in absolutely no position to be commenting on whether or not the poster should be sharing the information. It is his and his only to share. We have no idea who his connection is and so the risk is his to take if he decides to share it. It’s the same with any of the posters on this forum who have connections at the club and share information from time to time. Whether it’s trade news, injury or anything else. The risk is theirs. I suggest you put him on ignore, like you have with everyone else who rubs you the wrong way on here. It’d be beneficial for you, but more importantly everyone else on here who is sick of you bobbing up anytime a poster shares something that you’re not privy to.

I have us romping it in for the flag. Get stuffed, Blighty.

For those who haven't seen by now. So yes, he had a stroke, but it was relatively minor and caused by a not uncommon congenital heart condition and he should make a good recovery from both. Stroke awareness is a very important message. FAST.

Said it in this mornings press conference, just played on SEN. Viney on limited minutes this weekend...

Hey mate, I’m just a supporter who was given some info about an injury. I wasn’t told to keep it in-house or under wraps. I’d love you to show me where you’ve gave me the same feedback last year??? Don’t worry. I won’t share anything on here anymore. I will leave all club news to you Saty, considering you are best friends with all the playing group.

And of course this.

Awesome. Ask Nev to blink twice if he feels he is in danger from any stalkers at training.

JLT squad trained first this morning, no TMac and Harmes trained with the reserve players who came out later. Lewis, ANB running laps and 400m semi sprints. ANB looks to be moving ok. No Viney either.

I think we should invest in more pokie machines. They seem to be a pretty decent money spinner.

You're probably not really missing it ... it's that our footy department and player development runs rings around that of 5 years, 10 years ago. Once upon a time, ANB would have had his cards marked already. O Mac would be vice captain at Casey, mentoring younger players earmarked for bigger and better things than Oscar. Hunt would have been turned into an inside mid and then delisted. Our current FD is clearly giving Wagner his best shot to shine. I agree with what you say, he doesn't look like he'll make it, but he won't die wondering, nor will the FD. Most here would have had ANB and OMac delisted by now. I have tucked what tail I have left between my legs and am prepared to back our FD in with whatever their plans are for Wagner and all the rest of the fringe players.

He also has 14 teams missing out on the top 8.

I thought he died years ago.

When he went back to the Rookie list - give us the details around that time of his career. Who or what event turned it around for him to get back on the senior list? What does life look like after AFL football? Back to WA? Coaching? Other? Has he ever had any offers from other clubs? Was he tempted. If there was one player from any other team in the league He could pick to come to the Dees - who would it be and why?

Just passing on what I heard. Please put me on ignore. Why don't you just focus on loitering behind the players' tent after training and sending them invasive posts on their private Instagram accounts that they never respond to.

There was a thread on Robbo last week, now one on Blighty. If we're going to start a new thread every time a commentator casts doubts on our finals credentials, we're going to fill the main board pretty quickly when the predictions start coming thick and fast over the next two weeks. The fact of the matter is, as good as our list is shaping up, the eight is going to be very, very tight this year. There are strong, young up-and-coming teams, there are declining powerhouses with some strong top-up talent. I think we'll make the lower half of the eight, but it's going to be tight - and I can certainly see why people think we may miss out again. We're sound a little bit needy for affirmation...

I'm starting to think Frost is a bit overrated around here. Not saying Wagner will be the next Steven Silvagni or Matthew Scarlett, but apart from the odd exciting dash since he's come over, is Frost really a better option than Wagner? The match committee have really fallen out of love with him and I can't see how Frost will be anywhere near the round 1 side.

Titus put it best... https://www.facebook.com/Titusoreily/posts/1574531739251066

Harmes has had a great preseason and I suspect he'll play round one. But I also seem to recall someone saying he had a niggle a week or so ago. After playing AFLX and JLT1 he doesn't need another game if he's coming off a minor injury. And it gives the coaches the opportunity to look at someone else, i.e. Stretch.

Clearly we have no respect or recognition from any players in the league and I'm indignant at this. Am I doing it right? For the record, I expect Oliver, Hogan, Viney, Petracca, Gawn, Lever, T McDonald, Hibberd, Jetta and Jones to be in the Top 10 when it's released.

I can only claim 53. My dad first signed me up after the '64 flag. Not that I have much memory of that, as I was too busy picking up the old steel beer cans to stand on, rather than watch the game. But at least I can say I was there. From that point on my sanity has certainly been tested. In 65 I was inconsolable after watching Tony Charlton interview Norm Smith just after Doc Duffy sacked him.

Going for the K-Pop look. Jacknam style

Not only did Blight say this, SEN chose to highlight it as an important quote. Genuinely one of the stupidest things said in AFL media and it's a strong field.

I renewed on 21/02 (after the Coll crap I didn't think I would) and paid thru the MCC. The footy club acknowledged my payment and advised that my card & scarf would take around 4-6 weeks. When I chased them on that they said they need to get the monies from the MCC and from then it may take 2 to 4 weeks. Mind boggling. P.S. This is my 59th year as a member MFC.

Jeremy McGovern offered $7m for a 6 year deal. Very good player. Kudos to the club for locking up Lever on a very good deal.

I love stats too, but Blight is being lazy. It's all numbers and zero analysis of the personnel. In his myopic world Oliver doesn't win a B&F as a teenager with less than 40 games and Hogan doesn't kick over 40 in his first 20 games. This is not a knock on Blight, because I agree that numbers paint a picture, but they won't tell the whole story. I don't think we'll win the flag in 2018, but I do believe it's possible. 2019/2020 is far more likely. !0 of our best 22 will pass the 50 game mark this year injuries permitting. The future is bright.

How many 100 gamers did the Hawks have in 2008? Crawford, Croad, Dew....

Perhaps I have been blinded by the Blight. Most seasons past, I would have been (at best) 55% pessimist and 45% optimist. However this year, I am more 40% pessimist, 60% optimist. I see these ahrse hats calling out a single thing (resilience, not enough hundred gamers, or whatever) as a reason we will fail. This year I see something different emerging. I believe we have more talent, depth, star potential players, focus, game plan and focus than I have seen in 20 years. I will disagree with commentators like Blight, but remember all the years the Dees looked good and screwed the pooch. I believe we will make the 8, and may have a crack at being a serious player in the finals if things go our way. (Please......)

That's the most stupid thing he has ever said, that does not guarantee you won't win, does he know we won more games then the hawks last year! makes his comparison look stupid

yeah..... but he's a [censored] and no i didnt bother reading it.... just going off the headline!

Found this on youtube, his groundwork and the time from taking the ball to kicking is unreal.... enjoy. Plus he can take a grab

Poor Saty really cant handle when someone gets the scoop ahead of him.

I'm not sure if you're aware that Membrey only stands at 188cm. Wagner is 189cm, Hunt is 187 cm and Hibberd is 186. Height is simply a non-issue but it seems to be the opposite on here at times. One reason it's a non-issue is because of the way in which we defend as a side. We are constantly zoning dangerous space and tend to press up the ground in a very aggressive formation. Our entire backline unit relies on unrelenting defensive pressure from our half-forwards and midfielders so that opposition entries are both limited and/or of poor quality. Any forward-line will be a threat if our system breaks down further up the field. This is hardly news to many. I don't understand your comments. Frost may well get a run, although I wouldn't bet on it. I reckon it's obvious to see that we'll be running with two talls only in our back six for round 1. Re-visit the North game. Brown and Waite both had limited opportunities due to pressure from our midfield and half-forward line. The aim will be to again replicate that intensity and defensive pressure to limit opposition scoring opportunities.

If we're complaining about the type of letter we get in our membership pack then we are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. Get your membership card? Good. Supporting the club? Great. The rest is totally meaningless.

I hear he impressed a lot this preseason so they'll give him a few chances before dropping him I suspect

Lol, $7.25(P) currently. Juicy odds.

Hi Wadda, current odds for Ace High in the Guineas. $11W $2.90P. In the Australian Derby 2400m (April 7th Randwick) he's the $6 favourite.

Blighty is trying to give the boys a wake up call. That's right, we do. He's trying to aid us. Cornes wants us to be complacent and over ego'd, thinking ahead of the season proper. And wants us to fail.

“Pretty important this. Melbourne only have eight 100-game players, Hawthorn have 17. “That is a massive difference. “It doesn’t mean you can’t win but I’ll guarantee you, you won’t.”

If you look at what he sais, it’s that we lack the experience compared to other sides - only eight 100-game plus players compared to Hawks’ 17 for instance He’s not wrong that experience counts, but whether that puts us outside the 8 at the end of the season remains to be seen

Yeah, and probably thinks GCS will win the flag....

One of the things I like about Hannam is that he accelerates into contact and uses his body to impact the opposition. For some reason his movement, snaps and leap reminds me of Gary Ablett Snr... which can only be good.

Hasn’t the wheel turned full circle - we used to hope for players to come, now we hope the ones we’ve got will stay. This is great news.

Notable absentees: Billy Longer, Jack Lonie, Josh Battle, Hugh Goddard * Riewoldt Big loss for the Saints, will struggle without him this year...

Foxtel, @ 7pm EST Thursday https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Live-JLT-Series-Melbourne-v-St-Kilda/92290605 Got it booked for two avid fans, all to ourselves.

This is possibly a case of 'ignoring the obvious' because of their own disturbed outlooks.

Gosh the attitude of fairwater and success chasers disgusts me. “Make the finals, then I’ll renew”. Glad most people aren’t like that. It’s not only about winning all the time. Sometimes you just have to go on a cold muddy day, against a top team, knowing full well you’re going to lose. Why? To support your team. Not just support them if they’re successful. If that’s the case, you may as well jump ship and find a team that’s likely to win the premiership if that’s all that football means to you. I was there in the 80’s. I know pain.