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I think people need to let this one go.

Alex pulled out of the AO with an injury before the tournament began. How Melbourne is that?

Sheesh, the ball girl just gave Sandgren a corkie during the changeover. Definitely a Demon this bloke.

I’ve already renewed everyone in my family, irrespective of whether they actually support (or have heard of) the club. A good mate of mine just had a son two days ago. My mate’s a passionate Blues supporter. There’ll be an MFC Baby Dee membership on its way to his house for little Leo within the week. Got to get em early.

Probably been planning this injury for 12 months. Takes time to organise a decent injury.

Hardtack put the muzz on him.

Sandgren now down a break in the 5th after having 7 match points in the 4th set. This guy is our spirit animal. If Bennell's calf doesn't come good, sign him up!

Here’s a link to Liam’s photos from today’s session, on Facebook. @Demonland, can you please do your magic and host them in this thread? https://m.facebook.com/tim.fleming.75/albums/2831695143532417/?ref=bookmarks

Thanks mate. We’re both into photography and for the most part do just as you’re suggesting. On this visit to Melbourne we drove down the Princes Highway via my brothers’ places and sister’s place in the Bermagui area (they were all evacuated at one point), passing through the burnt out villages of Mogo, Cobargo and Quaamar and from there to Melbourne we had to divert along the Snowy Mountains and Monaro Highways due to East Gippsland being closed off. The devastation in the Snowys National Park was truly horrific but made for some amazing photo studies. In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like it. We didn’t photograph much of the damage to people’s houses/personal property, as that felt uncomfortably voyeuristic. Thanks for your advice though... I will pass it on and thoroughly support your suggestions. Here’s a couple of my shots from the Snowys...

Then round one ...

Actually, back in the day, all songs performed on TOTP had to be re-recorded at the BBC studios. Musician's Union rules at the time. The vocals were then done live over this re-recorded backing. Sometimes, BBC engineers were known to slip off to the pub during these "re-recording" sessions, which would then miraculously end-up sounding identical to the record/vinyl.

I too attended yesterday, The only benefit of the lack of some of the senior boys being at Melksham’s wedding weekend was that it made it easier to focus on some of the lesser lights. As far as standouts, Jetta has his step and bounce back and is far from spent. Smith and Lever both looked great until they had to kick to a target (heart in mouth stuff). Dunkley did not appear about (unsure if I missed or anything in it) but of those pressing Sparrow was just fast and clean in everything he did and has a nice mix of inside and outside carry. ANB has the pressure forward spot sewn up unless we play two (not unlikely) and Petty would be my first choice to partner TMac (not that Weid or Brown were bad). Other than the above Salem and Viney were in everything and Fritsch and Petracca did things on a different level than the rest on show.

Media reports that said calf injury is not as bad as that reported by media. I'm glad we cleared that up.

Credit where it's due. This tournament he took down # 8 seed Berrettini, #12 seed Fognini, former #11 Sam Querrey, and took the GOAT to 5. For a bloke ranked #100 in the world, that's a fair run.

He’s cooked... about to lose the unloseable...done a Melbourne!

Alex De Minaur has a surname that sounds like 'Demon Awe'. All the omens are at the tennis, obviously.

The question I'm about to ask may seem esoteric but is not intended to be. It's a genuine question: Can a team "overachieve"? A team is made up of inividuals each with a maximum potenial (or achievable level of performance). The coach's job is to convert those talents into a coherent peformance. If the players don't perform to their best or if the coach fails to maximise that potential, the team will not do as well as it might. That is, it underachieves. But if every players does his best and the coach does his job, hasn't the team shown what is achievable. In other words, and in a less esoteric expression, wasn't 2018 an example of what can be achieved, rather than an "overachievement"? I accept there are differences between the 2018 team and the 2020 team. Some players have retired or otherwise left the club. Some players may be past their peak while others are just moving into their prime. Essentially, though, it's the same team. I refuse to accept the we "overachieved" in 2018. Rather we showed what was possible and what should be possible again in 2020.

“I believe the calf is not as bad as some doomsayers are suggesting and that he may be running as early as tomorrow,” he (Garry Lyon) told SEN Breakfast. “He’s still got a lot of work to do obviously, he’s a mile away from getting back into it. “There were reports when he did the calf that this what it and it was the end and all that sort of stuff, but it’s my understanding that he could be running tomorrow.”

Great photo which sums up the world today. Notice how three of the adults in the background are more interested in their digital devices than the live action itself.

Agree, but what did you mean by 'Convenient wedding'? Odd. Players get maried to hide their injury from Demonland?

I don’t know how serious it was (if at all), but at one stage it got a bit willing between Salem and Jetta with them slinging each other around by their jumpers; Jetta’s yellow vest eventually being ripped off. Immediately after they stayed well clear of each other.

Thanks guys, great photos. Correct me if I'm wrong but those players appear to be enjoying themselves....is this permissible?

Love your work Liam

Lovely photos guys keep them up.

With so many best 22 on wedding duties it seems, it was interesting to watch the rest, in particular the newbies. First thing I was looking at were general ball-handling skills. For mine, the clear standouts are Salem, Jetta and Fritsch. A gap, then Petracca, Oliver, OMac, Petty, May, Lever, Hore (all just natural ball players). A negligible gap to the rest, and nobody stood out as being below par for an AFL list. Skills were very pleasing, but then today’s conditions are perfect. Work-rate, or just general effort, I would say Viney, Petracca, Nibbler, Jetta, Jordon, Sparrow (keen as), who all seem to push that bit harder for longer. Again, no player was lacking in energy or output. Most pleasing difference to last year is seeing Vanders at full tilt, same for Lever, OMac as most physically impressive of the big boys (aside from Tomlinson), Preuss looking ripped, Viney out front of every running drill, Weid seeming to own his size, the effortless, innate ball skills of newbies Jackson and Rivers, Spargo looking sharp and slippery (until he departed), the easy pace of Langdon, and a general sense of competitive urgency, despite that it was only training. A fit, available list is the primary essential for success over a season, so we’re looking in very good shape for the opening. Fingers crossed. Dr. D Training Report Dee Zephyr Training Report

Despite this set back I still want us to recruit him as a rookie.

Quintessential internet moment.

In which case, all is forgiven.

I was there yesterday, my 2c, Jackson is FAST....glides across the ground he looks something special, small for a ruckman at this stage at least though....presents more like a big midfielder.

OD... at least he was true to his word; he said he’d get us Neeld and he did! ?

they're all posting on Demonland!! ?

I'll take Garrys word over some of these 2nd rate journo's who were carrying on about this over the weekend.

A forward line.

He’s expecting the Pies’ year to be THAT bad?

Good story on Joffa moving to a remote village in FIJI to live, in yesterday's Sun.

Get him to sneak down to Swans or Giants and take some action shots. With his quality the local press might pick em up, as well as providing us Dlanders with some comparative physique development examples. Also on the trip back some chance to hone skills on some fairly modified environment. A friend who is a local professional photographer has entertained me with some of the best photos of local footy. One shot the best I have ever seen, seven players in the contest (no photoshopping) with really sharp detail, all in focus etc, spectacular. He also shows many shots of birds in flight which are just as difficult to capture as sports shots he says. He has some magnificent shots of the high country devastated after fires. The contrast between the burnt out blackened trees against a scorched earth are really fantastic. He has always said it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time. It's not luck, it's research and always having his camera with him and being alert to the surroundings and the circumstances.

I had a chat to the Bionic Man, as Gus called himself, doesn't seem to overly concerned with the setback, still running

The training session was pretty cruisy. The first thing i noticed is how slim all of the players are. Obviously forgoing strength for a gain in speed which was necessary as we were slow as f$%k last year. jetta looks in great shape, as does Petracca. Everyone else just looks slim. One of the drills was the players doing 4 or 5 backwards somersaults on the ground then getting up dazed to tackle a player. I thought it was a stupid drill and at what point in the history of our game has a player been required to do that. Oliver was basically passing out from either lower blood pressure or being dazed. not a good look i front of all of the kids but more importantly a stupid drill. Could have spent that time doing goal kicking practice. Rivers, runs well but his kicking needs a lot of work. Jackson was unsighted in all of the match sim stuff so we need to temper our expectations on him. Joel Smith was playing defence. Personally i think he is better forward but regardless he needs to be in the team as we are simply too slow otherwise. Dee Zephyr Training Report

Harley Bennell will get that list spot. No doubts at all.

The Demons have so much potential upside this year, we can only hope they deliver: - Better drawer - Better pre season by miles or km’s for youngsters (getting to practice drills with a full team makes a significant difference in connection) - Appears Burgess is driving them to a new level of fitness that is better suited to our style of play, plus greater running endurance, leading to strong 4th quarters, rather than fadeouts - Fingers crossed, seemingly few injuries amongst our top 20 players, then depth looks a whole lot better, totally different team - Hopefully a settled back six of Jetta, May, Lever, Salem, Hibberd, (OMac or other), only Salem didn’t have serious injury issues last year - Oliver, Viney & Brayshaw in the middle, all having full pre seasons relatively injury free, Petracca better tank to spend more time in the middle. Max is max, and Preuss getting fitter as backup! - Langdon speed, ball winning & distance gained, Tomlinson endurance & coverage - Harmes providing flexibility and backup for backline, mids, wingers & even forwards - Forwards with TMac full preseason, Melksham & Weideman the same, starts to look very different, add Fritsch full time in the forward line, Petracca cameos - Then just as bonus, VDB, Smith, Jackson, Rivers, Pickett with hopefully players like ANB, Hunt getting back to their best, and possibly Jones having impact off the bench - Richardson joining as a coach will help improve our game plan, as he so easily picked us apart Maybe as a long long time Demon, I’m overly optimistic, or just thinking eventually things must turn, but it seems we have a massive upside. 2018 showed we could do it, from round 5/6 we played some exhilarating football smashing teams for 6 weeks, then the last 6 matches including two finals wins aside from the horror prelim, we had some terrific wins! The other factor is our star players Max, Clarry, Petracca, Viney, TMac & May are getting into the 24-28 age bracket, aside from Clarry at 22/23, that their bodies are strong enough they know what footy is about and should be ready to roll! Look at when the Tigers broke through, Rance, Martin, Cotchin, & Riewoldt all were over 26yo, look at Eagles as well, the Hawks threepeat, our time is coming Petracca will have a breakout year, so will May being fit and TMac will be closer to 2018 form, and who knows how well Viney will play after having an injury free pre season, his first for many years, even Clarry had the two shoulder ops at end of 2018, will be in better shape 2020 an even year, an Olympic Year, my prediction - a hugely improved year for the Demons! Top 6 maybe even top 4, memberships for family locked in months ago. Go Demons!!!!!!

Absolute best thing for Harley will be when season starts and fans and media are not interested in him and he can just get on with it.

I would have thought that if we had any notion of signing him up, he should be going to Maroochydore. One of the great aspects of the Qld training camp is the bonding that occurs - and IMV would be worth going for that alone.

I hope his own opinion of how he is going is helping decide about the camp. Could he possibly have a trip home to WA? He missed Christmas at home(WA) in his positive attitude to get back onfield and give it his best shot. I just hope he feels fully embraced by the club as he goes through the highs and lows of recovery.

Nothing serious with Gus. Only minor according to training staff member.

Be that as it may he was not physically competive enough at the end. Which is why they delisted him. And why no other club picked him up.

Lead our tackles inside 50 for 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2019. 2nd in 2016.

Chess piece number 1 Mitch Brown now in place