Leaderboard

That would be Goody’s influence. Neil Craig made Vince (an average trainer) do everything that Goody (a good trainer) did in the pre-season leading into the 2009 season including all extra sessions etc. Vince won the crows B&F in 2009

Paul Amy reporting that Coldstream's Darcy Fritsch (younger brother of Bayley) is training with the Casey Demons.

Brother of James training at Casey.

2 fritters are always better than 1

Nailed it! From most accounts, he does it with mongrel, too. He is an allegedly great kick but unlike Todd, very accurate in passing to other teammates - and makes allowances for 'receivers' to run into near space.

It could possibly be a plan to have so many guns in rehab or with interupted pre seasons. Can’t pick them if not fully fit ?

Living in Adelaide these forums are great for finding out what’s happening around the club so happy to have been able to give a little something back

The best trainers were paired with the not so, that's my understanding of what was organized for the "break". I'm pretty sure that a player who was a not so good and then nominated someone else as a not so good wouldn't be teamed up with each other if that's what you're asking. I don't mind the idea as I think with our new "togetherness" the better trainers would take much enjoyment out of helping a fellow teammate improve and the NQR player could see what the better trainers did in the down time. From my observations and some of the other comments regarding "pairings" this appears to be a very clear strategy to keep players pushing each other. I think the pairings in some of the run throughs, eg Melksham and Hibberd are pitting mate against mate, in some brother against brother, big ruck against big ruck. I can imagine the coaches going to a really good trainer and saying "look you've nominated x as a not so good trainer, how do you feel about trying to help improve them over the break". I'd think it would form strong team bonds.

Just a note on the time trial, yes 8.30am, not sure of the actual running time they are loathe to broadcast it Also chatted to KK, he thought he had Nibbler this time, but Nibbler kicked away, pleasingly he is determined to get him, should be fun to watch

Don't agree with that at all. He looks like a pro who is on top of the deals to me. They picked McLennan because he wants to go there! Loves surfing, dad from Brisbane.

This makes last years AFLX look like a genius idea. My only hope is that we offer not one player and then Dangerfield does a shoulder and we will see how long this [censored] concept lasts for. Imagine the uproar from Carlton if Cripps gets injured. You can handle injuries, just, if they are playing for your side but to have one in a ‘made-for-tv spectacular’ would be a travesty. My AFLX idea is to get the AFL executive each tied to a X and we could pick players (mine would be Sam Frost) and he can kick torps from 2m into said executive. You score by how close ball impacts nut. Just shows how out of touch the AFL is. This is [censored]!

a group of Thai schools boys could get lost in Maxs' cave.

What about this guy...

There's a few distinct categories here. 1. The Category B rookies: J. Smith, Maynard, Walker Really anything from this group is a bonus. It's not easy finding Irish, American or non footy players. Who knows with Walker, seems athletic and a nice enough kick, but Maynard should be decent depth and J Smith I'm still very hopeful for. 2. The guys we tracked from 18: Fritsch, Hore, Keilty, C. Wagner Jason Taylor confirmed recently Fritsch was on their radar years earlier but they didn't take the gamble with injuries. Hore was someone they looked at when he was 18. Surely Keilty to go to Casey was on the draft radar. Corey Wagner as well. I see these guys as more where AFL recruiting is going, getting guys to your VFL side or monitoring guys who go in or out of the AFL system. 3.Regulation mature age picks: Vanders, Hannan, T. Smith, J Wagner Would be interesting to know how far back some of these guys were looked at. Vanders had a dominant NEAFL season. Hannan a very good VFL year after a strong Ammos year. Not sure how the Bull got to Casey. Josh Wagner rose through the ranks in Queensland to get himself looked at. Interesting they are all guys who had or have had a fair bit of upside, they weren't plodding midfielders or lumbering rucks. Vanders and Hannan particularly are guys who can really turn games. Bull is a bit workman like but that's to be expected for a key forward. Josh Wagner a little more vanilla but the hope was his kicking and smarts could be valuable, who knows, it might still be.

Sorry but I think this comment is overly presumptive, disrespectful and most probably ill founded. Speaking to a regular at training (not Saty, although he would probably agree with my sentiments), the problem is more likely his body type/shape. My friend would like to see him fined down a la Harmes, as from observation Trac struggles to keep at that peak. I had an interesting debate with him because we didn't know if it was possible and what would be given up if it happened. I quoted Tracs current ability to absolutely bust through tackles and we both want to see him able to do it repeatedly but currently after he does this he is like a capacitor that needs to be recharged till he can go again. This might look to your eyes like he is standing around satisfied with himself but I do not agree.

Slide Show==> https://www.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=kdH4vW&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=1&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=2&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=2&clickable=1 Link== > https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-pHBdt8

his recruiting whilst not great wasn't too bad. nothing like the Pendergrast years

Love his 3rd nickname. Darcy Fritsch Playing number: 35 Nickname: Fritta, Fritdog, Bayley’s brother Playing Position: Fwd D.O.B: 29-01-1999 AFL Team followed: Collingwood Pre Game Rituals (if any): Alone time in the toilet. Which team mate would you most like to have as your wingman (or be the wingman too) & why? Definitely DV cause he would reel in the hot chicks with his looks and they would jump straight onto me once they try and have a conversation with him and he makes it extremely awkward! Player Sponsor: New Balance

Improvement this year will come from Weid, Fritsch, Hannan, Spargo, and vanders I reckon. Bonus will be a fit Viney and Lever, and the additions of KK and May. Lewis and Jones to decline, hopefully Nev and Hibbo can have another good season at their peak.

long wait but at least the line-up will come out in 98 days!

If it's any consolation it is only 80 days until the JLT and even less days until the revamped AFLX spectacular.

After your 50th Birthday 100 days goes by really fast...

Please stop this rubbish. Nobody wants it or needs it. A topline player will get injured sooner or later. For what purpose?

I’d back in Sparrow to be as good or better than Jez McLennan

Not a man-bun (or a tat) to be seen!

I'll be back in the New Year. ☺️

True, his development last year was very significant. His challenge is now to sustain that and keep improving. I was personally a bit worried when he took JW's number that things may not have gone the way they did - don't ask me why it was just a feeling - anyway very pleased it played out well for him. I know it is easy in hindsight but I always felt James Harmes would be a good player perhaps not quite to the level he showed late last year. I have also had the same feeling about Jayden Hunt so I'm hoping that he can replicate Harmes' 2018 form rise in 2019

Another highlights video for new demon Tom Sparrow

Yes I would think the only thing lower is Metho!

Craig is a nice guy and did his best for us.

Vanders from when Taylor was at Collingwood.

He is General Manager - List and Strategy. If I worked there I would expect him to lead on draft night.

Yeah come to think of it I think he said something like he'd seen him play for NSW in the under 18's. Probably the same for Josh Wagner and QLD 18's. This is just a guess but I'd imagine in any draft year they look at something like 300+ maybe even 500+ kids who come through various pathways and then keep track of where they end up. It's a little arbitrary but the guys who come out of juniors and end up at Casey I see a bit differently and I include Corey Wagner in that because he went straight from AFL to Casey and back.

2004 I think we had a spot wrapped up after Round 18. Did not win another game.

Yeah, ooops, ok, my mistake. Let's hope he's a mature minded underage player then. With the elite sporting background of his parents, that's probably a fair bet too. We could have ourselves a real bargain in this instance given that we have the opportunity to put some good development into a great athlete whilst he's still effectively an underage player, prevent him from going into the draft. Effectively as I understand the rookie promotion selection (which isn't very well) we could pick him up with our last draft pick providing he is nominated for such prior to the draft? Really does go a long way to explaining why we didn't go for any project ruckman in this year's draft.

I'm going will post a report later in the day.

14-16 wins for H&A season depending on injuries. Come finals time I think we'll bow out in Prelims to the eventual premier again. 2020 is the year we will peak and win 17-18 in H&A and land that elusive flag.

Check out the C part of the MCG name, heavy use during the season would prevent us using it then,

Lever looks in ripping nick on that bike.

I like Fritsch's performances so far that also have a bit of a way to go in terms of improving onfield presence. He is very capable of these positive outcomes as he continues to 'settle' as a team regular. At the same time, I really like Hannan's efforts when his confidence is high - he does some magic at times and is close to being highly reliable before goal. Vanders is a gutsy player who contributes well to our needs for attack and defensive pressure in the forward line. Thus, for me: 1. Fritsch 2. Hannan 3. Vanders. I would also like to state that Joel Smith gives me much confidence as a developing player of major impact to our game in the relatively near future.

Austin is only 17. Year 12 at Haileybury. Not quite mature aged.

IMO clubs who have adopted family values over pokies should be rewarded by the AFL, as otherwise the clubs like Hawks, Blues and Bombers have an advantage in income, derived from gambling, which is so harmful to so many.

My guess Punt is that coming from north of Albury, you are a bourbon and coke drinker or beer drinker. If not, I think you may need rehab.

Actually have listened to quite a few expert opinions from AFL fitness gurus off season & they would probably disagree with you ....if they are not getting the running into their legs then you have a valid point so Lever will be def having an “interrupted pre season “ but other than that and as most are players with 3 or more preseasons under their belts ...we are not looking too bad...I am happy to take the opinions of posters that are actually at training & will reserve my judgement until I see the players “up close & personal” ...until then I can’t see the point in continually deriding certain posters ...I mean what is the point ....don’t read them or get down to training yourself & post your “first hand” opinions...just saying !!!

I must be drunk ( well actually I am). I fully agree with your post Red.

After almost 7½ years, it appears that the mystery of the numerous intersecting issues raised in the No T$ No B$ Thread are finally being unraveled. I heard about the bananas in the fridge trick a little while ago so I tried it and in the end, my bananas didn’t turn black but rather, a deep brown color with the inside turning yellow. Now which AFL player who we can’t name in this thread will, if he gets over his injuries, be wearing a guernsey in those brown and yellow colours this year? The penny is dropping at last.

Melbourne premiers 2019

I would def upgrade Joel Smith.