Leaderboard

Harley’s in town. Currently sitting across from him in the corporate boxes at the basketball. He’s sitting in between May and Jetta. Waters all round for those interested.

This is a first time post. I visited from Adelaide today. I don’t read Demonland a lot other than at this time of the season, and really appreciate those who do training reports. But knowing people involved in the club, this is not the place to spend too much time in season! I thought I would add my bit to preseason, although it’s 3 hours later so I have probably already forgotten half of it and Kev above covered some of it. I arrived at 9.15 and the players were already warming up. I stayed till the very end, which was just after 1pm with the last 3 off the track being Steven May, Jack Viney, and Marty Hore. They finished with goal to goal repeat sprints, which at the end of a 4 hour session was impressive. Even more impressive is May was side by side with Viney doing 22-25 second 170m sprints after 4 hours of training. It was about 80% ball work and 20% running at training. They started in 2 groups at each end doing non contact match sim inside the 50 arcs. The emphasis was on kicking skills. Every turnover was called out loud and clear by the coaching staff, even if was a poor that bounced. While this was going on AVB, Petty, and Bradke were doing repeat 200-300m sprints around the outside. AVB was setting the pace and looked in great nick. When he was leaving training he was saying that if 2019 was different he would have played in the back half of the year like 2018, and he feels he is 100%. From what I can tell he is doing lots of running but perhaps they don’t want to risk a Spargo like step on foot incident yet. After the skills match sim it changed to full oval match sim with the non contact players standing out. Lever, Weideman, Jetta etc we’re not standing around, but doing a lot of explosive agility type work in the unused forward pocket. The match sim was interesting. It would start with a congested activity somewhere upfield with an emphasis on ground balls. The players would repeatable roll the ball into a scrimmage, and then try and pick up and get a clearance and when they did just roll the ball back in. It kept going until the coaches blew a whistle which signalled it was real, and from a clearance they’d try and get it inside 50 to a lead. It was pretty willing, evidenced by Tmac (I think) leading out at full tilt with Hore drifting back and KK trying to spoil. Hore and KK were both flattened. Luckily no major harm although KK left training to get his elbow seen to. After the full oval match sim they broke up into various groups doing different activities. Mainly seemed to focus on skills, although some players would be cycled through activities that looked a bit like trying to work on explosiveness. For example, 3 players would be on their stomachs, and the coach would roll a ball near 1 and call out. 2 would jump up, the closest to get the ground ball and the second to tackle. Seemed to be working on recovery, getting to feet, evading or tackling etc. Another group were totally focussed on kicking to the wing. Others were doing 150m sprints, and other doing stoppages again with ground balls. For the ground ball stoppages, the coaches were continuously calling out for longer handballs to the outside. At one stage, Stafford was working on goal kicking. Hunt and Weideman did a lot of work. Then they setup a spot 40m out and had a camera directly in front and one to the side. Stafford was managing, and had Petracca, ANB, Oliver, Melksham, and Fritsch filmed for about 10 kicks each. No one else. Petracca still has a lot of work to do and I’m sure his routine will be sorted. Was still walking up to kick. The rest looked pretty good, but all seemed to be told to get some forward momentum, or at least compared to Petracca seemed to be accelerating in to kick with pretty good results. Especially Melksham who didn’t seem to miss. Some of the highlights for me overall were Petracca. He is in ripping nick, and ran in a group with Brayshaw and a few others in the repeat sprints. He is in better running nick than ever, was right up the front, and looked to handle it better than Brayshaw. Another highlight was May. It looked like he had to do extra’s, and he did not lag behind in any of the sprints. His group included Max and he was side by side with him the entire way. He also looks in great nick. In one drill, there was a handball chain that ended with a player at 40m running toward goal. May drilled everything. The other was TMac. He has his running legs, and was continuously getting in good positions and marking in the full oval match sim. Viney is doing all the running and more. His foot is not a problem touch wood, and he is loving the program Burgess has given him. Already he feels fitter than ever, and he did the extras. Oscar Mac looks in great nick and to have bulked up a lot. In the inside 50 skills match sim his kicking is really good. I didn’t see him miss a kick, which I probably couldn’t say about most of the squad. Overall, and I don’t have much to compare against as I didn’t see training last year, the squad looks in excellent nick. I did talk to a few of the veteran supporters to ask how it compares to prior years. They all seemed to think it’s the fittest they have seen them.

Some respect please Redleg. It was actually not “former Demon Trevor Korn” at all but his late brother Greg Korn, a fine cricketer in his day. I think Peaky was on radio but not a regular - the other person was our panel operator and compere Brendan Luno who was an amateur footballer. And let’s not forget Derby Dave who dazzled us with his horseracing tips. Finey’s forte was his impersonations and his best was of the uncle of Pakistani right arm leg spinner Abdul Qadir who described giving an LBW decision in favour of his nephew for a ball that pitched a foot outside off stump. We were on 3CR which was run by Bill Hartley and because of his far, far left bent, he had little understanding of our programme which was basically full of bullshit about sport and that description just about matched his political beliefs. Unfortunately, Bill seemed to approve more of programming which included shows like the Rastafarian hour which immediately preceded our time slot so that by the time our show came on air, the studio was full of hazy fumes that definitely affected our output and content. The Rastas also supplied the studio receptionist so we had a few interesting moments with crossed lines on our talk back calls. We were eventually unceremoniously discontinued and replaced by an all female programme the content of which I never understood but I believe had something to do with a Greek island called Lesbos. I think it was 3CR’s loss because we were one of their highest rating shows (which isn’t saying much).

I suppose that after the last two or three seasons when the club spurned the upper reaches of the draft, I haven’t delved as deeply into the draft pool as in the past. I taped the games on Foxtel and watched a limited number of highlight reels which, because of their nature, don’t excite me all that much. I admit that I did watch the Dylan Stephens’ highlights which impressed me and, if available and picked at #10, I wouldn’t be upset. I’ve only glimpsed at Luke Jackson and Brodie Kemp’s highlights, remember Rowell, Anderson and Young from the Australia v Casey game and watched the NAB Boys League Grand Final. So now that the club’s draft position has been clarified and we look like having two picks in the top ten and one close to the middle of the second round, I’ve decided to look more closely at the footage available of the real national championship games to get a feel for those touted to come to us in the draft. I have started with the Round 2 game between Vic Country and Vic Metro shown on Foxtel in early June. The game featured the now Gold Coast bound pair of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson who unsurprisingly were the best players for their team. The former stood out for his dominance in contested possessions - the latter for his classy clearance work and tackling. I don’t think I need say more other than that it’s a pity from our perspective that the AFL changed its tack and decided to go full on with draft assistance for the Suns after burying the Demons when they were just as, if not more, needy five or six years ago. Anderson would have been an ideal pick for us at 2 but that’s enough crying over spilt milk. Despite the fact that the two stars were in the Metro team, the Country boys edged in front just before half time and won an interesting contest by a couple of goals. Their best player was Hayden Young playing off half back who won the possession tally (close to 30) and was excellent rebounding out of defence with his rapier like left foot and strong intercept marking. His teammate Lachie Ash, also impressed with his dash out of defence. Both are definite high end draft potential in the range of our selections. The other player who impressed me was Country midfielder Caleb Serong who also is a top 10 prospect who looks like he could also play as a small forward. Sam Flanders was also a solid contributor who took my eye a bit but I think he’s a bit too much like a number of our inside mids (I wouldn’t discount him but he might have to be in the Patrick Cripps class to sway our recruiters given who we have there). Brodie Kemp also played in the match, mainly deep in defence and didn’t really stand out. He must have improved considerably in later games and before his ACL to have gained his current status. The Metro team had a solid key forward in Josh Smith who kicked a few goals in the first half but faded out later and, on reflection, I don’t think he’s in our top 30 range. I hope to catch up with a couple more games over the weekend and to see if I can work out why we seem so enamored about Luke Jackson ahead of Tom Green and whether Kemp should be in contention.

After further thought... Melbourne don't consider themselves a 17th ranked team, in fact, they think they can win the flag in 2020 (courtesy of a recent lunch Goodwin attended with some supporters). So clearly, rightly or wrongly, they see the list differently to most footy pundits. With this framework in mind, if they see a player like Pickett as the missing ingredient in the forward half with his flair and pressure skills they have a dilemma. They'd recognise that he's probably not worthy of a pick 10 (or 11-12) selection, but they also know through the jungle drums he won't be available at their next selection (28). Do they take Stephens, Young/Ash or Serong, whose resumes read better ? Or do they take the player who's more important to the overall makeup of the team, i.e. Pickett ? They've got guys like Salem, Hibberd, Hore, and now Harmes earmarked for defence, so while Young and Ash would be great there's not as much of a need, and with the addition of Langdon and Tomlinson (hopefully vandenBerg) they can cope without Stephens. They'd love them all, but there's just one pick. You can't use a pick you don't have, so I get why you'd use the only pick you do have. And to add... I think most clubs would have taken note as to how much positive impact Flyin Ryan and Willie Rioli had on West Coast's last couple of years.

I'm hoping Prodee we hold the pick till draft night, to see who slides, there's always one. I'm certainly not in favour of Pickett at 10. I see picks possibly going 1. Rowell Suns 2. Anderson Suns 3. Jackson Dees 4. Young/Ash GWS 5. Green GWS matching Sydney's bid 6. Flanders Swans 7. Mcasey/Ash/Young Crows 8. Robertson Freo 9. Stephens/Ash/Young Freo 10. Henry Freo matchin Blues bid 11. Kemp/Serong Blues 12. Who do we take from the possible slider if it's Serong Ash or Young there's no question we take them. Stephens whilst outside fills another need as a Gaff type. Kemp I like and I'd take him at this pick but if we're foucussed on others I think the Cats will look at jumping ahead of the Hawks and be open to a live trade, which could be worth looking at. I've seen a fair bit of Elijah Taylor and really rate him, with plenty if upside. I think he, Jeremy Sharp or Trent Rivers could be available at 28. With Sharp the least likely I've seen a fair bit of them all and whilst they are all WA boys, it's where I live so see these boys the most and think they can fill the half back flank or small forward we need and I'd be inclined to target whichever one (position) we don't take at pick 10

Told by a source who I trust. Was told about Jackson before it came out in the press. The club, from what I can understand, are leaning to Jackson, but are not 100%. They are also undecided on who they would prefer from that next bunch of players, and seems as though they are happy to gain any number of them, thus the pick swaps, but they seem to think that stephens will be the one available then for whatever reason. They do want a small forward and rate both weightman and Pickett highly, but I can’t see them taking Pickett at 10, possibly Weightman.

I will put what little money I have, and although I know the recruiters are excited by the prospect of Pickett, there is no chance we are taking him at 10. I have been told Jackson’s 3, they believe Stephens at 10 (or someone who slides) and possibly Pickett at 28.

You mean he's going to make an immediate impact, develop beautifully, remain injury free and play 200 plus games?

If you don't like the thread then GTFO

If we played Gawn as a key forward, he wouldn't be in the top 30 forwards in the league. If that's our grand plan may as well begin the rebuild.

Drinking seems legit. But you probably shouldn't be Demonlanding so much if you're on a cruise.

Suggestions in the press that we should not pick up Jackson or Pickett at 3 and 10 because rucks and small forwards get picked up later than those picks is the 'Gamblers fallacy' at work. Ie, 4 spins show 4 consecutive reds. You base your call on the next spin on those past spins ie you think red is on a big run and will continue or its time that black turned up. The reality is that every spin is completely independent of past spins. Each draft pick is independent from other picks, each player is different and each assessment by recruiters will be different. So Taylors call will be based on player assessment alone with a tiny pinch of needs maybe thrown in especially at 10. Whether rucks or small forwards at high picks have dudded in the past will not be a consideration. An example is Grundy slipping. High end talent but clubs were scared/worried about wasting a high pick on a ruck in case it turned up a dud. Whereas each player should be assessed independently. Luckily our recruiting staff are well aware of this. They were keen on Oliver when he was not talked about as an early pick. If Taylor and recruiting staff after expert deliberation consider those 2 players are the best available at those picks then so be it. Pickett has loads of speed, goal sense, reads the fall of the ball well around goals and has great forward defensive pressure. He is likely eventually to play as a mid or be a mid option. He can worry opposition in the air as well. The big thing Pickett has got going for him is that he has those close to goal skills that no one at the club has. We get the ball inside 50 and it comes straight back. Players like Pickett have the ability to intercept those ground balls inside 50 and create headaches for the opposition. Jackson can play forward as well as ruck and maybe high half forward. He may even be able to pinch hit later as a mid. As a ruck he may be almost an extra mid. He offers some insurance against ruck/forward injuries that may occur. Best of all he has bucket loads of talent. I am not qualified to make a call but if Taylor calls their names at 3 and 10 I will understand the reasons behind it. They have done all the groundwork.

Right now, honestly who knows what we will do but i have my concerns if its Jackson at 3 and Pickett at 10. I believe Pickett is a player we need, we need quick players in teh fwd line, but him at 10 v a Kemp or an Ash.. im not sure. But can remember saying Oliver at 4 is a bad move so what would i know. What i do know is the minute they are called out by us i will back them in 100% and they will be Melbourne Football Club players and i hope part of the elusive success we are craving.

Notwithstanding that VC didnt win the game...I don't mean any single moment, as great as that kick was. If moments are your go, Regan Clarke from WA is who we should draft, as he kicked WAs winning goal (after Jackson tumbled it to him). When I say watch the game, I mean the full game. Then decide who played the greatest role in helping the winning team win. Then watch other Vic Country games (perhaps the ones that they won), and determine how big a role Young plays in those wins. I have done this and my opinion is that he is not a particularly influential player. A nice player, who could 100% be a good cog of a premiership winning team and an elite level HBF, but not a difference maker. At a pick like 3, I'm looking for a difference maker; the guy who consistently puts the team on his back and wills them to win, or at least someone who has shown a propensity for it more than once. From watching all the U18 championship games, there is a small group of players who do this most consistently: Rowell, Green and Robertson. Anderson can do it by all accounts, but did not in the games I watched. Flanders likewise, though I am flat out not a fan of his based on what I have seen. There is another group of players who made a difference in those games less consistently, but still helped their team to win or go close to winning: Kemp, Weightman, Jackson, Henry, and even less consistently, Pickett and McAsey. For what it's worth, the game in question was won by the work of Deven Robertson, Liam Henry and to some extent, Jackson.

Vic country didn't win the game. WA took it straight down the other end and kicked a goal.

I have as much clue about Stephens as you mate and probably being slightly provocative, but he appears to be a soft outsider with neat skills. I don't see the love for him and his SANFL stats of basically 18 touches a game doesn't do much for me. I'm probably a bit burnt by Trengove and Toumpas, whose experience in the SANFL failed to translate to the top level. Once again, if our guys rate him, I'll trust them, but he doesn't seem like a 'Melbourne' player to me.

Kossie at 10 seems a stretch but I don’t mind a bolter. The top 10 rated kids going into the draft are never the top 10 players a few years down the track.

Particularly as we'll most likely have a plug and play in Green or Jackson at 3. It enables us to select best available at 10.

SWYL, I simply cannot fathom why you don't just put Saty on 'ignore' if he upsets you so much. That way, you don't have to read what he has to say and we don't have to suffer your vitriolic responses.

Lever was very heavily considered here due to Paul Roos rating his leadership ability. Roos compared him to Paul Kelly and Brett Kirk in terms of leadership and his ability to have a huge influence in terms of driving a positive team culture.

When someone puts forward Young, Ash or Stephens suddenly all these questions come are asked.... : Picks up cheap kicks, won’t have that kind of time and space at AFL level, question mark over his disposal under pressure. Yet for some reason it’s an iron clad lock that Jackson will dominate the game. How many players already at our club, that have been in the system for years still struggle with kicking the footy, whether it be in general play or set shots on goal. The list is pretty big. How many players can use their kicking to put a teammate into space and set up attacking play. I mentioned earlier in the week to have a look at GWS and their ability to effortlessly move the ball from one to the other by elite precision kicking. Surely our need for quality ball users outweighs the need for a potentially great player in Jackson, and if Kemp is the next Bontempelli I’d be looking at him too before Jackson.

I'm kind of hoping Carlton pick Serong, based on their want for another small ala Papley. That would potentially leave us with our choice of Stephens/Kemp.

I'm pretty sure Redleg has got them mixed up here. I think someone may have mentioned here that Bennell is staying with May for a few weeks before he starts training with us. On his first day here he was hanging out with May.

Anyone serving up this load of cobblers deserves the boot.

Reiwoldt wasn't in the Judd/Ball draft.

Don’t believe we will pick him at 10. Seems massive overs. We prob have 4/5 options for a split where we could pick him and another player. 10 makes no sense.

Feels like an overpay and that we're getting sucked into draft trends. Small forwards were undboubtedly undervalued at the draft a few years ago and now teams are rushing to pick them early. For example Gryan Miers went pick 57 a few years ago despite kicking 7 goals in a TAC cup grand final. Can't believe we didn't pick him up. Pickett averaged less than 12 touches a game this year, kicked only 17 goals, is tiny at 170cm, yet we are thinking of picking him at 10?

The article is not saying the real science is flaky. The real science is sound, but the problem is real scientists didn’t get involved in sports and so stuff that was published and used was flawed. If you read the article, real scientists are getting involved and pointing out the problems. The organisation’s that started following real science got a leg up. Boston Red Sox say hello. It’s also kind of indicative that sports nuts who didn’t have the science background got into data analyst roles and came up with the fads probably to justify their jobs. I’d not be confident that they know what they are doing and use data to confirm their biases. Clubs like Liverpool FC employed real scientists that knew nothing about soccer, and the data they come up with is unbiased and valuable. It played an important part in their champions league win.

So? Ever considered that you’re placing too much value on his kicking ability? Yes, he looks to be a very good kick. Is it really that valuable? I think the issue is making sure the majority of your side, if not all, are at least good kicks; not to use early picks on a great kick as if that one player will completely change your side’s ability.

I love watching Pickett play and would love to get him, but pick 10 is WAAAYYY to high for him. Even if we love the kid, we have to objectively rank the kids and select accordingly. My hope now is that we split pick 10 on the night and use an appropriate pick to get him whilst getting something else in. The market for a player like McAsey may allow that to eventuate, but that's impacted by Adelaide's selection. If they pass, Geelong may pounce to get ahead of Hawthorn.

I'm not sure whether we'll pick him or not. Taylor does rate him highly, he said so in the Road to the Draft interview. If we think he'll be the best long term prospect at our pick then we'll take him and the fact that he won't play next year is irrelevant.

Do I have to travel to Ohio to collect on the bet?

I can assure you that Goodwin is aiming for top 4 and very much sees the opportunity for a flag in 2020. He said so at a recent lunch in South Yarra with a group of influential supporters.

Now that Green is a realistic option at pick 3, he is my preference. If we land Green then my preference at pick 10 would be Young/Ash if still available or Kemp/Stephens if both are gone by then. Taylor or Pickett with pick 28.

But Ruprecht, what professional sporting organisation in the world foregoes having a game plan ? Being super fit with your best 22 gives the greatest opportunity to implement the game-plan to its highest and most skillful degree.

I gave Finey his first break on radio, on a Sports Show I did with WJ and former Demon Trevor Korn and the Lawyer Steven Peak is a mate and partner in a racehorse with me. I had to push the dump button and erase several swear words from Finey. He did know his sport however.

Ok, you got me, for you dazzle ( small d) and that great intellectual SWYL, lets go through this shall we ( that's a statement not a question). You have both missed the sentiment of this thread haven't you? Oh, the irony! "What a great thread" Well the intent was admirable, but then it got highjacked by exactly the people it was (I believe) supposed too hold a mirror up to ie go have along hard look at yourselves. "Hypocrisy" everywhere. Well that's accurate is it not? Oh, I get it some of you don't understand the word. Definition; "a situation in which someone pretends to believe something that they do not really believe, or that is the opposite of what they do or say at another time". I don't think that fits Saty does it? He has been boringly consistent in his support for the Club even while occasionally asking some tough questions of it in a respectful manner. Conversely, look up the word support or supporter definition and I see a number of people here who are not supporting the Club/Players but are active in voicing an opinion that is derogatory, abusive and disrespectful. Tell me where does that "hypocrisy" finger really point. It's a forum and you can express an opinion, yeah right, absolute bollocks. Sorry Saty you can express an opinion just watch out for the supporters who don't like scooter riding Poms with beards. By the way I do have a beard (not as resplendent as Saty's) You can express an opinion and as long as it agrees with a small noisy minority on here you won't get trolled or abused from behind the anonymity of a keyboard. See above, ...... I do think small and minority is an over use of the same descriptor and in voicing your opinion Saty I would hope you stick to annoying only one group at a time. I'm starting to worry I may be targeted next. When will this Stop. (I'm a an older, white, heterosexual male but not a Pom, but I do have an opinion ) But you can post unfounded rumour as if it was a proven fact. Don't think I've ever seen Saty post a unfounded rumour, I've seen him post some things based on what he has been told and occasionally that has been incorrect. At least that has been based on something. I've seen many posts on here that are opinion based on the posters feelings/intuition and lack any connection to facts You can also put the same sentiment expressed in different ways in every thread to bore the [censored] of everybody. What can I say, this is so true of lot's of posters on here ... one of you is Ian aren't you! Ok, Saty is guilty of this sometimes as well. You can also disparage any person remotely connected with the MFC, again from behind the anonymity of a keyboard. This is a big one, you are really trying to point the finger at Saty for this one? Come on get serious, if your not Ian you must be his brother. You will never have the ability to laugh at yourself. Now I don't know Saty well enough to say I've seen him laugh at himself but I think I've seen him come close. As for the rest of us I can say I have the ability to laugh at myself and will no doubt, when I read my own post tomorrow. Some of the people here will likewise remain humourless and probably clueless. This is the truth of a public internet forum. Is he wrong? For those of you who have difficulty understanding some of the bigger words I've used here, please use the internet in the first instance but feel free to PM me for interpretation of any nuance.

Why did I waste my time?

Now, I don't intend to disparage anyone else's report (all of which are appreciated) but this is probably the best, most-informative report I've read over many years. Stay a bit longer, by all means.

What are you doing on here then? Dead set honest question? If you are so concerned with the dribble you just spat out, then surely for your own sake you'd stop posting on an online forum. Everything you just wrote down is exactly what you do on here. You do know that right?

You're weary? i just read the [censored] thing

I've highlighted the word "durability" in your post because that is a word Burgess used at the forum. Everyone needs to understand that Burgess is the one behind everything that is different and being done this preseason. None of this is by chance it is all by design. Burgess has been consistent that training will replicate game day. That doesn't mean reckless attack on the man. I saw a great example on Wed during the handball only drill where they use the "goal" posts (about 2m apart) at each point of the compass played within the centre square. Pig had received the ball and was steaming in to score when Petracca mowed him down and put him to ground. The initial contact was loud and forceful like you would hear at a game. However, instead of continuing and driving Hibbo into the ground Petracca took him to ground but eased off the last bit ie; not reckless on a teammate. The learning (god I hate new age speak, what's wrong with lesson?) was; why did none of Pigs teammates not warn him he was about to "wear" one. For Dee Spencer: If your about to be seriously tackled (when it's you that has the ball) wouldn't you like your teammates to shepherd, warn or block for you. It's difficult to train/ instill this behavior, if the threat is not "real"

After watching a few games of the u18s champs, the first bloke i took notice of was jackson, stood out like a becon , has so much upside, the next bloke i liked was weightman, classy and skillful, easily kicked the most goals through the champs. Others that stood out through my eyes were gould, green, kemp, henry, ash,al and roberton Seen a clip of Jackson playing basketball on you tube , wow, so much agility, skill and aggression, i get a sence he wants to be the best, and has that i f...ing hate losing mindset Big yes for me

Havent see one piece of evidence or a solid argument for Luke Jackson being a capable forward.

normally by this point most of the top 10 is reasonably settled but this year is so fluid. sure things in their positions 1. Rowell 2. Anderson 3. Jackson/Young/Green 4. Jackson/Green/Ash 5. Flanders 6. Young/Ash 7. Robertson 8. Serong/Ash/Young/ Stephens 9. Serong/Ash/Young/Kemp/Weightman 10. Serong/ Ash/ Stephens/ Young/ Weightman/ Kemp

I asked the guy who did the phantom drafts why he didn’t get into recruiting, and he said it’s because he actually isn’t that good at spotting talent, he was good at talking with recruiters. Recruiters will ask the prospects who what other teams have talked to them, how often etc. The recruiters see the other recruiters at an APS game, or the club nominates a player for a state combine. That all gets married with the likely draft pick order at the time to work out who is interested in who and when. You are spot on that my friend did this pre-live pick trading days, and I suspect as a result the clubs need to scout more players harder now so they feel confident to assess any opportunities presented. That adds more complication and would significantly muddy the waters on who likes who where. It will be interesting to see if phantom drafts become less accurate now as a result.

This is my public declaration that I no longer care who we pick. There's nothing to be gained from an emotional investment over something I know so little about. Either I will be (meaninglessly) disappointed or happy on draft night. Then in a couple of years be wrong, feel pointlessly vindicated, or carry a grudge/regret. It took me years to get over us selecting Toumpas ahead of Wines. Mid-field explosions! I then sat out the 2015 draft build-up (after briefly backing Parish) and that worked out okay. I desperately wanted Petruccelle in 2017, but I'm pretty chuffed with Fritsch. Let the cobblers cobble I say, and Welcome to Demonland . . . Whoever.

I had the privilege of a pre-draft meet with the club some years back and we looked at Rohan Bail's QAFL highlights ahead of drafting him. It was a long reel and he continually hit targets or kicked long to advantage like he was Nathan Buckley incarnate. Fast forward to AFL pressure ...

Has there been any announcement on the club astrologer yet? The autumnal equinox falls on the same weekend we play in Perth whilst Mercury will be in retrograde. They still haven't reviewed the spring equinox debacle over there in 2018.