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Had some of the morning off so I decided to venture down to have a quick look at the boys. Didn’t stay the entire time and was only really looking for the players in question for round 1. Harmes/Jetta/Garlett/Tyson - Made their way to Gosh’s eventually with the rest of the guys who played the practice match. Obviously a light day today but none of them looked to be limping/strapped/inhibited in movement in any way. I imagine they’ll all play on Sunday being best 22 or thereabouts. ANB/Lewis/Jones/O-Mac - Were all in the main group while I was there and participated fully in the drills I was there for. Oliver/T-Mac/Viney - All in rehab group. We’re all aware of the Viney situation, however at one point I observed a trainer closely inspecting his foot whilst he was sitting on the ground. From there he headed back to AAMI headquarters. So not sure what the situation is or if I’m reading too much into that observation. Oliver had his thigh/knee strapped and Tom was training in runners. The rehabbers weren’t doing much in the way of ‘work’. Light ball movement and kicking drills with Crossy. I may have missed any intense training that took place before or after. But from my limited time there, it seems Oliver and T- Mac are the question marks at this point. Mystery no show was Brayshaw unless I have a vision impairment. Which is a genuine possibility.

PJ has been the recruit of the decade.

Its getting us ready for Gils game. Music and fireworks after every goal a rectangular field no tackling free kick against for last touched time outs 15 minute quarters etc etc. its only about two years away

1.4 million dollar profit, Zurich comes on board closely followed by Infiniti. PJ and co. have done it again and the future for the club couldn't look brighter!

These lapses are the only thing (barring major unforseen incidents) keeping us from becoming a major force. Until then we will be a middle of the road team who can beat anyone and lose to anyone.

Long time reader, first time poster. I thought some of you might appreciate this in-depth analysis of the overall health of the AFL competition, why 2017 felt like a pretty good season overall, and why the 6 prior seasons were actually rather poor (notwithstanding individual team performances). Here's hoping 2018 is just as good (and the Dees make the top 6 at least). Footy!

Kobe Farmer has chosen Melbourne over Freo for father-son rule?

The news will be that we're going on the boot camp after all. Over Easter.

I blame Gil for this or Neeld.

Ok I think it's time to put down the crystal balls and start the footy.

Oliver and Petracca have signed 10 year extensions?

If it is Infiniti - @old dee nailed it back in December: Well done od!!

We never actually traded Jack Watts.

That Melbourne will be participating in the first twilight grand final later in the year.

And hi to Ben if he's reading.

Because Essendon has been so successful? Sorry DL it bulldust. Carlton has 6 night games on FTA I believe. People should stop sprouting that stuff and complain more about the short shrift we get.

Channel 7 is Bomber TV. The pre-game stuff this Friday will be vomit inducing.

Until we start putting runs on the board, arses on seats and eyes on the TV we can't expect any free rides. Success begets success.

you do realise they (tom and clarrie) we kicking on their non-preferred foot

Ablett was always going to play unless he re-injured himself. Lets be honest, if we had Ablett on our list and he had zero pre-season, we too would back him in. He has enough runs on the board to suggest that even on half a leg at FF he will still do a very good job, certainly better than whoever else would be up for replacing him (Geelong has very little depth. I suspect/hope Nev takes him when he's forward of the centre, I think they're a good match up. As for Danger, this is a long season and Geelong are certainly backing themselves in for a top 4 and a tilt at the flag, why else would you get Ablett back? So to risk their best player 2 weeks into a hammy injury, would be sheer madness. Their next game is Easter Monday against arch nemesis Hawthorn, so it gives Danger 4 generous weeks to get himself perfectly ripe. I think they back themselves to win against us without him, and won't take the risk.

"Only Adelaide, Port Adelaide and Sydney won more quarters than the Demons" Goes to show how much those lapses in games really hurt us! At times we really looked like a top 4 team, at others we looked like a bottom 4 team. Hopefully we can bridge that gap and get some consistency.

Danger won't play. Spoke to snr Geelong person today. Said they would be mad to play him if there was the smallest chance he does it badly and misses 6.

This is going well. Good idea, Clint.

Love what PJ and team are doing to grow the club, now come on boys time to deliver on field. As to the good Dr, I do love how he ignores the negative comments about him and responds to other comments, just a little odd. Doesn’t he have a brother who was in cahoots on the ‘ology hostile takeover?

If we are worrying about ins and outs at this stage, you can give up on finals. We played our best footy last year with no Hogan and Viney. Fxxk Geelong, I think we can win this.

Well I just love my footy team and their current administration. Go Demons, make Infinity proud to sponsor us. We have no limits!!

How many bigger companies are there sponsoring AFL clubs than Zurich? That's a big deal. And Infiniti might give us an in with Nissan. Either way, looks good.

Yup, this is it right here. FTA schedule has nothing to do with how good a team is and everything to do with how much Channel 7 can get from advertisers. Carlton draws viewers. We do not. The AFL pays lip service to Friday nights being a "reward for performance" but the Carlton example from the last few years is a clear example to the contrary.

Bombers have far more members and supporters than us. It's a no brainer for ch 7. Win games, make the finals regularly and that will change

Having a premiership quality list doesn't mean you're ready to win the premiership. With experience and maturation we do have a premiership quality list, imo.

He's a bit slow with this news isn't he? Michael Voss anointed us the next AFL Superpower 8 years ago!

I bought Gary's house three or four years ago and met him to go over a few things. His career was definitely before my time, but he is still very much a proud Demon. He saw a demon sticker on my car and we chatted for an hour or so about the Demons and where they were headed. Things were a lot more gloomy back then. Seemed to be a ripping bloke.

I thought he was in the rehab group. Is the rectus femoris group a sub-group to the rehab group. Does he have to get out of the rectus femoris group into the rehab group then from there back into the main group. Sounds a long way off to me. Big doubt for Sunday.

Lol surely we are not worrying about rain now, I don’t care if it’s a blizzard I will take a dog sled to the bloody game if I have to

Everybody complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it.

not to worry, Clarry can just pick up 30 handballs and 0 kicks ;-) still get BOG

My take is that Oliver will be good to o for Sunday and TMac will likely miss Round 1. Pederson is a more than capable replacement for TMac so I don't think it should affect the team performance too much. Plus it is meant to be wet on Sunday so as long as our forwards chase and tackle we should be fine.

Ben Guthrie has a different take as to where the bandage was. Oliver copped a knock to his right knee in the club's second JLT Community Series clash against St Kilda and has been on modified duties since then. However, the Demons are confident Oliver, who had his right knee bandaged, will be right to go against Geelong and although he did not join in full training, the reigning best and fairest winner moved well. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-19/light-duties-at-training-for-demons-in-doubt

We all know he threw up on Scully to make sure he [censored] off, to give us pick 1, to get us Jesse Hogan. Gawn is basically a recruiting genius!

I was at Westminster Abbey today in 0 degree weather (Dees scarf around my neck) and passed another fella in a Dees scarf, beanie and jacket. We're everywhere!

I started going to G in 62 was there in 64 Granny as a ten year old best weekend of my young life Was telling someone today how good Barry Bourke was on the day Often misses out because of Cromptons goal

What a lot of whinging about nothing. If it's in one thread it's simple - just don't read it.

Had trouble getting s signal today, so had to wait till I got home. Casey 12 15 87 to Box Hill 4 8 32 Melbourne listed players participating were :- Frost - Solid in defence and in the air. Would love to see him in our best 22, but cannot see whose place he would take. Provides really good run and carry from defence. Jetta - Solid as usual, as we would expect. Provides plenty of attacking opportunities and blankets his opposition. Harmes - Played really well. Took some great marks and kicked at least one goal. Provided plenty of run. Tyson - Played a really good link up role and set up several attacking opportunities. Ready for round one. Tim Smith - Improved as the game went on and was more involved in the game than last week. Starting to find some form. Still a way off though. Garlett - Limited opportunities, but will be better for the run. Even spent some time in the midfield with Jetta. Kent - Played well, but missed out on kicking multiple goals. Using his body well in contests and starting to see his speed. Joel Smith - Did some good things in defence, but didn't see a great deal of him. Looking forward to him getting some more game time and recapturing the early season form he showed last year. Weideman - Kicked 2 goals and took some good marks. Had quite a bit of game time on the ball and I was impressed with his tap work. Competed well. Number 68 (for Whispering Jack) was Kieran Byers - a 203 com 20 or 21 years of age. I saw a team sheet that someone had and had to look him up. Really impressed me with his ruck work and follow up and uses his body quite well for one so young. One to watch I would have thought. None of our young players played today - Spargo, Balic, Petty. King, Filopovic, Keilty (injured ribs), JKH, Baker or Johnstone. Casey Demons dominated the game today in hot conditions.

This happens all the time!! there will be a big crowd at the ‘G next sunday Our biggest problem will be the Australian Grand Prix down the road, not the weather. Thanks Gill

Footy is a winter sport and our home ground is MCG, Melbourne. If rain deters fans from showing up, and players from doing the same, then I don't even know what the point of life is anymore. Besides, who listens to the BOM a whole week in advance? They get it wrong even on the day. My phone app sometimes says it's currently raining when it isn't.

Not fake news but the marvellous creations of Sports Berzerk. Check out his work and help a fellow demon fan out - https://www.etsy.com/au/people/sportsberzerk

If any Dees fans are in Phuket Thailand or Angeles City Philippines next month, come and have a beer with myself and @ding We would be happy to let you buy us a beer. Hoping to catch up with a prominent poster in Philippines. Been a while since our last game in Davao (Dutertes home town)

Try @theheraldsun: http://bit.ly/2pkIHxf

In 06 I ran into someone in London and we started chatting about the game the night before whilst our wives stood around hating us... Good times!