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One aspect of the team’s performances that was often commented upon until well into the season was its general inaccuracy in front of goal compared with that of the opposition. This was particularly noticeable in the final quarter for game after game. The Adelaide game was a perfect example but there were a number of examples until the wheels fell off completely in the last seven rounds. I was discussing this with someone from outside of the club who is well qualified and highly thought of in the fitness field. His observation was that he attributed it mainly to lower levels of stamina at the end of games brought on by an insufficient fitness base of the group due to a lack of a proper pre season. Once the tiredness sets in, it also affects the mental side of things as well. This is something that we’ve known for some time but what we underestimated was the severity of the problem. Because so many of our players had limited preseasons it hurt us badly.

I'm responding to you, but it's wasted on you, so it's really for others. What couldn't be replicated by simply running was contested work. In a quality preseason contested work, i.e. bumping into bodies, tackling, competing for pack marks, getting up quickly after you've just been brought to ground, sprinting to tackle when you're fatigued, etc. is all part of the necessary preparation to get you ready for the most brutal team sport in the world. None of our midfielders completed even half a proper preseason and most didn't start any contested stuff until February. It also doesn't provide players with any confidence that they're ready. They know what's required and they also know what's less than ideal. Confidence is huge in footy and most players heading into round one would have had serious trepidation as to whether they'd done the work required. Preseason running to get a fitness base simply doesn't cut it in the modern game, chap.

In lieu of any real training reports at this time of year I can provide a little eye-witness report from this morning. Jack Viney and Jake Lever completed at least an hour of solid and intense running at an oval where I was also doing some group fitness training – so I was able to watch them pretty closely for the 60 mins while I was there (in breaks between my own intense workout of course!). 100m sprints, 50m sprints, shorter and more dynamic agility work, then some kicking of the footy. Was very impressed with the sprinting they were both doing given their recent issues of the last few years. Both looking very smooth and quick, not hampered at all, from what I could tell. Jack especially looked really smooth, fast and lean. Not much else to add but from my perspective they both look in tip top shape and appear to be two very highly driven individuals. On the morning of NYE there was also a slightly larger group with Lever, Salem, Jetta and Weideman at the same ground but they were finishing as I arrived so didn’t see how they went on that occasion.

Bugger. This thread is turning me into Accuracy Cop! Sorry MD but one of the lesser reported elements of the Info Night was that in addition to the interrupted and inadequate pre-season preparation there was one other major factor affecting performance through the season - the weekly injury toll. Every week there were at least two forced changes to the team due to injury or illness. While Brisbane had six weeks with no forced changes, we had none. This related to your points in this way: the football department said they knew we'd be in strife, or would struggle through the first two months of the season. But they hoped to be in a position to build fitness from there. They hoped to win enough games in those first two months to be able to build into the season. As the injuries continued weekly to disrupt the team's preparation and the players had too little time to implement systems within a stable unit this did not happen. From their account they did understand the scale of the problem but the strategy they had to overcome it was never able to be implemented due to the recurring injury toll. No-one has to accept the explanation but that is what they offered. It is consistent with accounts we have heard of Misson briefing the board that the early rounds were going to be a tishfight.

Yep one more shovel and you'll see China.

Throws seed on barren ground. Those that don’t understand now either don’t want to or just never will.

Huh? Of course an opinion can be wrong. For example yours about the impact of injuries on 2019. Facts are facts. Are you aware that there are a growing number of people who have an opinion tbat the earth is flat and others who believe the CIA replaced all birds with robots? And millions of americans have a very strong opinion that God created the earth in 7 days. They truly believe that to be the case. In these example the opinions are wrong. People have every right to have these opinions, as of course you do, but be that as it may they are wrong.

Perhaps the real answer to the ongoing bushfire issue lies elsewhere ... of course, that won't satisfy the rusted on types from all the sides of politics (the right, the left, the Greens etc) They just want their team to somehow win a non-winnable argument. Historical Role of Fire (in Australia) Bill Gammage: Prevent Bushfire the Aboriginal Way Long before the Anzac legend, our national character was forged in the flames of the bush So, can we turn the clock back? Probably not in the current political environment but down the track a more common sense and logical answer will be looked at. But don't hold your breath because we are decades away from going back to the ancient ways. In the meantime, the bushfire crises will go in indefinitely. We are a land of long droughts, fire & floods and low rainfall ... and the original inhabitants had that knowledge thousands of years ago. So they acted accordingly.

People must have run out of things to complain about.

Bushfires have been happening for millions of years. Circle of life and all that. Seeing it being politicized so heavily is beyond disgusting.

Memorable kicks... well had the extreme good fortune to see Tassie Johnson, Brian Dixon, Don Williams, Johnny Townsend, Bryan Kenneally and Doc Roet, all premiership players from the club’s last golden era still grace the ‘G. Only memory of RDB was at Princess Park, but sadly playing for the all navy blue. Agree that John Tilbrook was a magnificent kick, (a bio-mechanical marvel to behold on the run) but unfortunately his on field performances never matched his almost mythic legendary pre-arrival hype. With the exception of a cameo performance, when he briefly illuminated the ‘G with a what could has been. One Saturday afternoon during his debut season, with three goals from the half-forward flank. Lou Richards mischievously labelled him as ’Topaz Tilly’. The late Max Walker could hoof them too, for a big bloke. Resplendent in the # 1 long sleeved jumper, he kicked a magnificent drop kick towards the Jolimont goal, back in the post-halcyon days. Gary Hardeman was also a penetrating kick of a football from centre-half back. Enjoying the ‘series’ Demons 3031!

To any Demonlanders caught in these horrific bush fires. My thoughts and prayers are with you, I hope you all come out of it safe and sound. A house can be rebuilt, a life can't

Melbourne have all too often known how to beat themselves in recent years, without any more input from Richo ?

That's true enough, but not like this they haven't. Those of us from the bush haven't seen fires this widespread in our lifetimes. Bushfires are a part of life, and something we plan for each summer. We've had plenty of bad fire seasons before. But without wanting to sound melodramatic, the scale of these fires truly is unprecedented. Much of the Australian bush and fires go hand in hand, but areas of temperate rainforest that simply aren't meant to burn are currently being torched. These areas have been unaffected by fire for quite literally millions of years - in terms of both natural and human-caused fires. These ecosystems simply do not evolve in the presence of fire. This is not normal. Sadly, the fact that the debate quickly turns political is only natural when people are angry and looking for someone to blame. But managing fires and fuel loads is far more complicated than most people realize. It's easy to point the finger at a lack of planned burning, but in reality, this isn't the silver bullet that some people make it out to be. Under some circumstances, planned burns can actually lead to thick re-growth and make the situation worse. Further, burning is only possible when conditions are just right - it's simply been too dry to burn safely in many areas. Fingers crossed for rain!!!

Thx Tarax.. some wonderful contributions from Demonlanders bringing back great memories of players and what they brought to the game and our club. Thanks to everyone who has shared!

No one has mentioned Fred Fannings 116 yard drop kick in 1939 too long ago ? was in a reserves grand final

Best wishes to your friends and family hardtack.

I think what is happening is you are trying in vain to defend your total misreading of where we were at the start of 2019. You're digging a deeper hole, just let it go and admit you were wrong, everyone who has an opinion is sometimes, you'll feel better and be free.

In seriousness I'm super pleased we have Richo onboard and feel really positive about 2020. My key takeaways were that the players are fit, have got a good conditioning block in and will focus alot on footy and how we play when back from the break, and that Richo's focus is that the players understand it instinctively.

Surely it was obvious it was going to be a fluff piece by the title. Why read it if it’s not your cup of tea?

rubbish, l went to training and quickly realised we would not achieve the heights of 2018 after a couple of sessions and posted a few times accordingly. all you need to do is count the number of starting 22 players doing match simulation / match practice to realise we were stuffed. would be great if that stat was/is in each of our training reports

Saty they weren't ready physically. If what you're suggesting is right nobody would consider practicing. Tennis players, golfers, cricketers and the list goes on. They'd do a few running and gym sessions and not lift a bat, racket or club. We all know that's not the case. They practice what they do before a game. They hit ball after ball after ball This is important in an individual sport but doubly so in a team sport because not only do you have the individual skills that need honing you have a game plan to mesh with 21 other players that needs hours of practice. In 2019 we didn't have that and it showed in every facet of our game. People often use Oliver as an example of someone who "didn't need a preseason to have a good season". Rubbish. 2019 was a shadow of his 2018 and if your assertion is correct it should have been better given his age and the natural progression that should have taken place. People are focusing on the injury toll but it's the preseason. The skills practice so many missed out on. The game plan execution so many missed out on. The match fitness so many missed out on. It's been reported that the PA players went to the three quarter time huddle knowing we were shot physically. All they had to do was keep running. They did and they won easily despite the game being in the balance at that point. We weren't physically ready and we were not "ready to go". It's quite simple really.

KK is unproven as a winger. Played his best footy for Suns at half back.

Another update, again not great news. Shae Sloane and Kat Smith will both miss the season due to ACL injuries. Same knee as last year for Sloane. This is apparently Smith's first serious injury in 13 years of footy, so new territory for her. Best of luck to both for a smooth recovery. Not sure if replacements can be added for season-long injuries like this. As always, the silver lining is this does open up some opportunities for new players who, especially in the case of Smith's position, might have struggled to break in otherwise. A month to go!

This is priceless wisdom. You have skirted any 'political' digs yet you have nailed the crux of what's at issue here: namely that in our history the scale and unseasonality of the fires is unprecedented. I have travelled and spent much time in all of the areas affected - apart from the fires in the South east of WA - and just about every name which comes up brings back a personal connection, right down to the fires in the back blocks of Corryong, or the fire between Portland and Nelson. Binna Burra, Beechmont, Peregian, Guyra, the fires around Laurieton, Cudlee Creek, Woodside, Mallacoota where I spent a 1980 honeymoon in the adjoining Croajingolong Park, Cobungra, all places I have been to and or stayed at. More than many people I understand the significance of these dreadful events, events made more puzzling and significant simply because they have and are occurring not only on an unprecedented scale - yes, I am aware of the '39, 1897 and other catastrophes - but at a time of year not imagined possible before. I can't help but add that there are and were scientists who forecast the scale of this catastrophe thirty years ago - a catastrophe which is quite probably ( heaven forbid) in its infancy as we speak. God help us all, is all I can say, because the politicians we've voted for are doing sweet fungoolie all about it and the so-called man in charge has re-defined the Peter Principal..

No argument from me. But blaming arsonists (who should be locked up for life IMO) is missing the point. Most of the current fires started from lightning, but yes, a small percentage were deliberately lit. But we've always had arsonists lighting bushfires. It's not new. Fires are always going to start, no matter what. Whether its arson, lightning, farm machinery or power lines. Each summer, hundreds of fires will start. It's inevitable. Usually, you won't see them on the news though, because they can be quickly contained before they spread. Right now, containing fires is virtually impossible.

I am not wanting to be personal here but I must ask: were you not at the information night? If you were there, or if you know what was presented, how could that not change your opinion?

Norf won the flag in 96 when the www really took off, that's worked well for them hasn't it.

What exactly did we do wrong in 1965 that is relevant to TV? Did our players wear the wrong make-up?

hopefully the new game plan referred to is dealing with the weaknesses that st Kilda under Richo found so easy to exploit and therefore us so easy to beat. Happy to have him on board

Of course he is going to say that. He is employed by us. Imagine if he came out and said I AM UNIMPRESSED!!

I saw those players and agree. But as I remember it, Tilbrook was the longest kick. He lined up from near enough the wing and people laughed at him. He put it through, though. One of his early games. Well, that's my memory of it, and I always trusted him to kick it no matter how far out. But he charged past the pack as the ball came off hands, so many times, just on the wrong side of the pack. He just couldn't get the rhythm of it in Victoria. For odd kicking style, Warren Dean had his way of holding the ball from underneath - that looked weird. Good kick generally though. Greg Parke got odd results.

Most players were ready to go 1st round, physically So, we finished near bottom ‘cos we’re tish. Now that’s a more worrying assessment to entertain going forward than the alternative.

None of those things are "the same things over and over". They are all different things. The only same thing over and over is your obsession about what happened in 1965 affecting our performance today.

That's extraordinary really. I have been saying for years that the biggest determinant for success in the AFL is a strong preseason preparing the whole team properly in terms of the required fitness and injury (which includes factors such as who is injured, when they are injured, how long they are out how long to get back to fitness etc etc). This has never been more the case than now. The silly soldier out, soldier in, never blame injury mantra is a weird cultural thing where real men are stoic and teams overcome injury with sheer mental strength. Stupid. The bombers are having a horror run this preseason with many players rehabbing from surgery and injury. Watch them struggle. When they do It is worth noting that their numbers in rehab and missing sessions is not even in the same ball park numbers wise as what we experienced in the 2019 preseason.

At the forum, they had all the GPS stats up and only 2 players did more than 50% of the loads required last preseason. Max was the highest, at 80% from memory. The issue was only mental to the extent that players quickly had no confidence in anything due to their poor conditioning.

here is uncle's merc parked outside the manor ready for a spin around the paddocks

Saty always thankful for your training reports but this is not your finest work. Given the overwhelming amount of detail the Club (President, Head of football, Coach, conditioning staff etc etc etc) provided about how unready physically the players were this is a bizarre post. It's worse than that, it's actually insulting the players to ignore everything the Club has said about the impact of physical injuries and suggest it was a mental problem. Disrespects the effort players who missed a pre season put in to nevertheless do their gut busting best.

I note plenty of room for the wine casks in the rear.

Uncle's new chariot

A better question might be Tomlinson or Baker.. Tomlinson obviously for now, but we should be blooding some experience into Baker this year too. Does he have to add more forward and defensive strings to his bow to get an op on the wing?

It's currently a moot point really. Whether positioned on a wing or not Tomlinson is the only one likely to play a consistent part in our 2020 campaign.

Tomlinson is not really proven as a winger either 'brfe'...he was the bits & pieces man at GWS. Hopefully being able to make a position his to settle into will give us what we need and help him realise his potential.

Tomlinson. I see his role as a cut-out tall supporting outlet from the back half and offering contested marking power on the way back being really important to our structure.

I'd take Tomlinson. Durable, a better mark and more versatile. KK might have been anything before his concussion issues and still may be a useful contributor, but I rate Tomlinson. He'll prove to be a valuable acquisition.

He's a strange bird that one

How good is Glenn Richards!

When TMac kicked that goal, I ran the length of the house, jumped and fist pumped like an idiot, and when I went to run back, I slipped and put my heel through the plasterboard in my hallway. It always brings a smile to my face whenever I see my slightly off colour patch up job.

Great news! Sign of confidence in MFC.