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Another good September training. Hope this our pattern for the next few seasons. We are looking the part. Counted 36 in the main squad. Great to see so many ready to go at this time of the year. Lachlan Filipovic and Corey Maynard working with Crossy and Oskar Baker walking laps in the rehab squad. Pat Mckenna with the main squad as was Mitch King. The atmosphere seemed to be subdued with focus. Some joviality but mainly the session was taken seriously, by the players and coaching staff. The support crew tell me they are up and about in the “sheds”. The drills were done in the normal way. The emphasis appeared to be tackling then snapping goals and clean ball handling and disposal. The backs were kicking to short targets and moving the ball wide. The forwards were finding the player around the stick men, with some marking drills and leads across the front of the pack. The mids, quick hands, fast ball movement and talk. Plenty of goal kicking practice was done, snaps, sets and one step shots. Also some cumbing drills for our smalls. Noticed some players were encouraged to run hard and fast, linking together and creating fast ball movement through a corridor. During simulations, when the first mistake in offence happened, Goody pulled them together for a chat. As soon as we became a bit ferocious with our tackling the simulations ended (decision to minimise injuries). Watched Alex Neal-Bullen and Bailey Fritsch getting extra instructions at tackling. The marking bags were used by lots of the players as was some contested high balls encouraging spoils and marks. Sam Frost getting some great barrels out of the goal square (hit 5-6 in a row). I thought the players looked in good condition. There is a push for selection with Jay Kennedy-Harris, Bernie Vince, Joel Smith, Jeff Garlett and Cam Pederson training well. I didn't notice any of the niggles in our squad. Though read that others saw that Oscar McDonald and Tom Bugg had something. The crowd was large with lots of red and blue about, thanks for the atmosphere created by the supporters. The staff and volunteers put a good day on for us, thank you for your efforts. Hoping for our best game of the season. Go Dees. From Kev Martin

So, looks like they will go with Gawn in the ruck this week, and not Filipovic... Good call I think.

Just got back. Boys looked sharp. Lots of drills around quick ball movement (unsurprisingly), good talking. Crowd of around 400-500. Very upbeat with coffee carts ice cream trucks etc. Everyone looked pumped but not overawed. Just like there was a job to to do. Bernie looked to be training with the mids. Oscar Baker walking laps - has done his hammy again Same spot as last time. Corey Maynard not training. Will be ready to go for the first pre-season session. Maxy training the house down. Trac slotting all his goals (!) Cheers

Went down today and was trigger happy, enjoy! Flick HD on for a better look

He's been pushed out of his inside role on to a wing and he's just not a damaging wingmen or runner. He's playing a role, but in my opinion he's about player no.22 in the side in that role. He's better as an inside mid where he can pick up 25 disposals, but he's behind others now in there. My gut feel is that it's not Joel Smith who'd take his spot, more-so Kennedy-Harris. I actually think Kennedy-Harris can probably do that link up role slightly better than Tyson. Just an opinion.

From AFL Website: After missing Monday's session to monitor his training loads, Gawn joined teammates out on Gosch's Paddock for the club's main session. Both Neville Jetta and Alex Neal-Bullen, who also missed Monday's session, trained fully and look certain to face the Eagles in Saturday's preliminary final in Perth. During the warm-up component of training, Gawn took the main ruck taps and worked with midfielders Angus Brayshaw, Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver and Bernie Vince, who is pushing for a recall. Although the Demons are not expected to change a winning line-up, Vince and defender Joel Smith are considered to be possible inclusions. Oscar McDonald got some work done on his lower back and youngster Charlie Spargo got his finger assessed and taped, but both returned to training without further concern. McDonald rejoined training and seemingly moved well, but it was then decided by the club's fitness he should leave the session to avoid any further discomfort. It seemed a precaution as much as anything, but one to keep an eye on later in the week. Up to 1000 fans lined the boundary to watch the players train, with merchandise tents, face painting booths, food trucks and a sausage sizzle all taking place for the supporters attending.

Spoke to Clayton for 5 minutes at the Casey match on Saturday and was telling him my lad and I were driving back to Adelaide after the match after making the trip for both finals so far. Clayton "So are you coming to Perth?" Me "Probably not, I'm going to save my coin for the week after" <cheekily> Clayton "Great idea! Don't stress - We got this! See you in a couple of weeks" <with some serious confidence> I don't like Clarry..... I LOVE HIM!

Great session, suns out and guns out Boys looked fast, real focus on quick movement Maxy was awesome, and the mids all looked good Pretty well unscathed, although Bugg off early after some treatment, looks gorn. No one of note started in recovery group at all By my estimate I think closer to 800 or maybe more watching on. All the players hanging around signing and selfies - just great for the fans, and boys lapping it up Go dees!! ?

I rate Dom, seems like I'm in the minority. Thought his footy was really solid up until his arm injury. He stays in for me and good sides will have depth, challenging players to hold their spot.. i have no dramas with that.

Would kill to be there. Something nice did just happen though, my team leader was just heading out to a site and called me to say he was driving down Punt Rd past our training. Said he could see Max lining up for goal and then I could hear him yell out the window "Go Maxy!". Was a nice gesture, not bad for a Swans fan!

Exactly. He wasn't involved in the play, so went should he have to defend himself by bracing? The idea that it is his responsibility to keep his feet when someone sprints at him 60m of the ball, just so the game looks tougher, is ludicrous.

After reading the ins and outs thread a majority of people thought Dom Tyson should be on the chopping block. The word coming out of the club is they really rate Joel Smith and he is pushing for selection. I imagine Dom Tyson would be in danger with that selection as a specialist midfielder who will never be in front of Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw or even Harmes for midfield time but is not really a back flanker. I watched the replay paying particular attention to Dom after the negative comments on Demonland and I struggle to see what he did wrong. Infact, he created two goals with his kicking into the forward line. Am I missing something and Dom had a shocker? Please tell me where he went wrong. Is it Demonland groupthink? Or is he just the last player picked of a very, very good bunch?

Razor has been pretty good to us. Obviously loves Gus. Nicholls is the sort of turd you can’t flush.

Beautiful morning down here All 22 from SF2 are present and accounted for

I would cry like a baby. 2015 my First son Jack was a still born, heading to the footy and watching the boys was my escape. Watching the boys improve year on year since 2016 has been amazing to watch and to see Co Captain Jack come back from injury and dominate brings a tear to my eyes.

At the game on Friday I had my binocs on the players at 3/4 time (they looked buggered) and after the game ... after the game they had a shining beatific look. Like joy, but deeper and more spiritual. And after training today they spent considerable time signing autographs, taking pics with the kiddies, chatting. The looks on some of their faces! It was like Football Christmas for them. Weid in particular looked like he was having the time of his life. Surely they were thinking, this is what it's all about. Gee it was great to see them getting some first hand reward from the fans for their efforts. Long may it continue. Incidentally Tracc was slotting his goals but boy he looked tentative doing it. As long as they go through, Tracc! GO DEMONS!!!!!!!

He braces and bumps back and they keep niggling and getting stuck into him off the ball all game. He lets the bump knock him to the ground and he gets a free and they stop harassing him and he can play footy

We are essentially the landlord of the MCG, the original owner of the land and the stadium (in addition of course to the the traditional owners, being the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) peoples of the Kulin Nation). It’s about time we showed some of the current tenants (i.e. Richmond and Collingwood) who actually owns this ground. I’m a little surprised this hasn’t been discussed, but, when we last won the flag, this was our home ground to the exclusion of all other clubs. Since then, we have shared our home ground with several other clubs, and have essentially been shown no respect or gratitude for this. It’s time to show these squatters who owns this ground. Let’s bring this ship into port - the landlord is back in town.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-09-17/former-player-michael-young-passes-away Aged 59. Too young. Condolances from the Melbourne fans

I'm just saying if i was an ump and the crowd kept booing me it wouldn't make me favour them. Maybe that's the kind of person i am.

Another little tidbit JKHs session was excellent, really sharp and running hard and fast My view is that JKH will be the spare small, and J Smith the spare tall Can't see Vince or Hunt being considered seriously and can't see the justification for another change

Can you please update your username to 'Maybe this year' until we know otherwise. We need everyone pulling in the same direction. TIA.

Anyone who has done a bit of boxing or indeed been confronted by some aggressive drunk should know that if your opponent has a parallel stance instead of a spread/ braced stance they are at a disadvantage. Clayton doesn't dive he has been in the wrong stance when shoved thus ending up on his back. A free should be paid for putting a player on their back off the ball. If you are too dumb to recognise the player is not braced then that is the perpetrators problem.

Sorry to hear Philthy. I think I’ll be a bit in between of beyond happiness joy and tears. The old man was a mad Dees man, our last game together was the 2000 grand final before cancer got him in Jan 01. He’s been top of my thoughts the last 4 weeks in particular.

I've always said: It's our home, the other's are all tenants.

You must be looking at a different Hannan than I am He contributed to several goals as well as his own and FWIW I can’t see him being dropped

As an aside, I couldn’t be prouder of the Club in how they’ve reached out to all the fans - the lady post heart attack, James Harmes with the disabled boy, the kid who was overjoyed getting finals ticket. I’m not sure I have seen any other Club do it as well. I hear a lot of it has been driven by Goody and so massive cudos to him. He has brought grass roots front and centre, as it should be. So, whatever happens on Saturday we have been winners.

What they're saying in Weagleland. (From bigfooty.) As for who we face in the prelim, I'm expecting Melbourne, and if so I feel we'll get in done in another thriller. Gotta neutralize Gawn and the rovers somehow, we got smashed by the Pies in clearances, but managed to recover. I feel with enough polish and experience we can beat them. Expecting Melbourne in the PF, and think we'll use fresh legs to overrun them in a close game. Don't want to meet Melbourne At our best with our current line-up the only area they've clearly got us is in the ruck. Our forward line will kill them. i will be honest, im s*** scared. Much more nervous than if Hawks would have won. Melbourne nowhere near as good as they think they are, getting the win put up em, think they know finals after 2 home game vs soft opponents. Beat us last time so we are ready for them. They think what they brought last time is anywhere near whats needed this sat. 29 degress forecast. Hate to keep bringing it up but it’s extremely frustrating and sad how much we’d be dominating with all our guys out there. We’d be wiping the floor with all these teams and taking it right up to Richmond. Would be a clear top 2 teams (still really should be). Weak as [censored]. Melbourne are the VFL's latest lovechild. Luckily we give zero f**** about the VFL and will fly the flag for WA yet again. I'm convinced we'll go all the way and will be hated for it, like the arrogant campaigners we are. To be fair they have played in front of ninety thousand the last few weeks. They won't [censored] the bed this will be a dog fight ! watching the Dees the other night and seeing Gawn running amok,he reminds me of Dean Cox.dominant and athletic.but i think he is on the soft side and my No 1 priority on Saturday would be for every man and his dog to get stuck into him.bumps,elbows and abuse.Lycett cant jump with him but he can soften him up. Be afraid, be very afraid my WA brothers. The Victorian fairytale is gaining momentum. Please on behalf of all non Vic side supporters and smash the Demons on Saturday. My gut has now told me this. The Dees see to be talking a HELL of a lot. Whereas we’re getting on with it, besides the usual media appearances. This tells me we’ve got some nervous nellies coming here lads. Yeah they’ve a right to be confident due their past 3 performances v us here (2 wins and a close loss) but something tells me we’re coming out hard. If West Coast don't lose, I reckon they will smash Melbourne. Melbourne are a team that breaks games open or gets broken. It may be the cynical tin foil hat side of me but I can't see us smashing the dees purely because I don't think the umpires will let it happen. They'll simply stop calling 50/50 calls for us and start calling them for the dees - below the knees, incorrect disposal have become very handy tools for them in influencing the game.

I never understand why people exaggerate like this. It's just a stupid comment. He's not "prolific" or particularly damaging in his wing role, which is the issue. As an inside mid he's quite serviceable. He's been pushed out by Brayshaw.

Dom Tyson is a very solid player. I also dont understand the hate. Perhaps because he has a bit of that laconic swagger and never seems to spint 100 percent with ball in hand. No changes for me. If Fritch has been trusted to play in the backline until now i dont know why we would bring im Smith for the prelim

Considering they're on the same network 6PR and 3AW having a feud has about as much legitimacy as a WWE match. They would have cooked this up the moment Melbourne - West Coast was confirmed. These Western Australian muppets should boo themselves for being sucked in by such obviously artificial outrage.

Throughout the match you could hear the umpires repeatedly warning Hawthorn players about making contact with Oliver off the ball. They chose to ignore the warnings and got pinged.

Mentioned on the AFL podcast today that there will be 2,300 Demon supporters heading over from Melbourne. If you think that doesn't sound like many, its the most ever. Not even the Pies have ever had that many Vic fans travel West.

But we have 18 players that have never lost a final.

Anyone else just gazing at their screen in disbelief after registering? Wow, one win away from the big dance.

What about Roughead in the last qtr. Grabs the ball, stops running and gets carried to the ground for a free. Watch Reiwoldt if he gets under the ball he just stops running and any contact he goes to ground. F#ck me thats just selective f#ck'n journalism. If Clarrie got half the frees of these so called superstars he'd be even better. The number of times he had to go for the ball on Friday night with only one hand coz Shiels had hold of the other one and there was no free. They can all get f#cked, especially f#cking Richo, his Tiger mates are the worst. They've always got their hands in the air appealing for the free.

More a fall than a dive but Clarry was out there minding his own business and Mitchell ran at him from 10meters away and crashed into him for no reason 50m off the play. Fork the hawthorn dogs ..... The free was there.

I dont think so. The contact was there. He just let it happen. He could have braced. You dont know the difference ? Lol. No mention of Burgoyne or Gunston for exaggerating contact on the below the knee frees? What about Selwood grabbing his forehead when viney hit him in the chest?

Better to be on the snow in Victoria than the ice in WA

Which bit? "Tom Morris reporting"?

Can we still consider every team that came in after 1897 an expansion team?

Registered. Now let's book a spot at the dance.

Official notification of success in the ballot is Monday Sept 24. If we win credit cards of successful ticket recipients will be charged on Sat night or Sunday. So rather than wait till Monday check your credit cards on-line for early advice. Come on, Demons!!

After numerous phone calls since last Friday trying to sort out my son's barcode after it was discovered that they had applied both of our GF Guarantees to my membership only, I have finally managed to get us registered. Why they (at the club) wouldn't have noticed the error in the first place is beyond me, as being limited to one ticket per member, any club membership can only have a single GF Guarantee attached... I only noticed it because the letter my son received in the post stated that based on his membership, he was a priority 2 member (I didn't even receive a posted letter for mine). After all of that, they owe me a win on Saturday ?

The umpires need to beat the crowd

You're with us or against us. I'm with Oliver.

The Junction Oval was rocking on the Thursday before the 2000 GF.