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Initial takeaway: loved that Darren Burgess used the word WE when talking about 2019 even though he wasn't there and bears no responsibility.

There are eight spots up for grabs, not two. It's up to us to claim one of them.

Nope. Coaches impressed by Jackson. Maysie to miss 1st Marsh Series match, will play in the second. Gawn progressing similarly.

Favourite line... *Richo looking at a picture of Bennell in a Dee's jumper* "Geeze he looks good doesn't he"

I really liked the bit about the importance of maintaining a positive body language, demeanour when you are totally 'stuffed'. Don't give the opposition an inch .....

It is actually unlikely that all those teams make it IMO.

Darren Burgess is a very very impressive individual. That was a great episode btw!

We were supposed to be certainties this time 12 months ago.

I think we should debate this more

Whilst I pride myself on being a fact-based, logical thinker - the reality is that footy is absolutely emotional and probably completely illogical. I loved Epsiode 2. Cornes can get stuffed. He is not a Demon. He doesn’t know our journey. Not remotely. Geez I hope Harley Bennell makes it.

This was my favourite part too, if you do it at training you will do it in games

Can see Brisbane quite easily not making the 8.

This girl is my favourite female Demon after 1 game.

Not sure what’s the point of this video , to Hell & back signifies that they have overcome adversity & achieved success? They haven’t achieved anything more than any other afl club getting ready for a new season! Stop the fluff & win games of footy, don’t see clubs like hawks doing stuff like this , show this after you run a flag ffs! When will this club Learn to less words & more actions!

I’m an absolute sucker for this stuff. I love this club.

Where we are now, we can fit two Mcg sized ovals, with a little positional adjustment. And some buildings. If permits allow. That means Gosch's is prime... compared to the pies setup, where they only have one oval. What they do have is a real home for footy, and for supporters, in the shadows of the 'G'. That is a real alignment for the supporter base, a feeling of permanence where all are welcome on an equal footing. With creativity and the right design, we have the best setup under our current feet. Right next to the Railway station... which is Key. Big Key.

That was sensational. I could watch hours and hours of that. Such a fantastic insight into the personality and characters of the players, coaches and the club in general. Its amazing really how simplistic it all is. For some reason a big part of me thinks that the club operates like a big corporate and would speak that way but it’s really just a footy club with players and admin that attend and operate 7 days a week.

The depth of work in AVB's rehab is amazing. Even to the extent of individual toe workouts with the resistance bands. Fingers crossed he can play plenty of games this season

i want darren burgess to motivate me every day of my life he's seriously impressive god i want avb to have a decent run of it

I'm so impressed. More please.

Anyone else impatient to see the rest of the episodes?

Agree, bare foot and pregnant should be added. And I can see no good reason why they should be able to vote!

Indeed Macca indeed. I remember when Nature Strip was first running it was always winning on tracks with a bend. The straight at Flemington can sort a few out sometimes, but i think the rain might have also thrown a few as it does. I really liked Gabys run and if you look at the overhead it almost looks like it won. Wrong side of the track maybe? Who knows time will tell. The Australian Guineas in 2 weeks is now looking quite the race with Alligator Blood, Catalyst, Chenier, Super Seth, Flit, Dalasan, Loving Gaby, Shadow Hero & Microphone all nominated.

This is why the AFLW is such a shrewd business idea. Getting more females interested in AFL, which the AFLW is undoubtedly doing, is the easiest market for AFL to expand into - much easier to get Aussie girls and women on board, rather than trying to woo Chinese followers. AFLW is probably the best marketing money the AFL's ever spent. (As an aside, I love that Aussie Rules is exploding in popularity amongst female friends of mine who are playing footy for the first time, and some of the stories are great. I also think that the competition has expanded too much too quickly).

The secret agent had to be clever, about how he was going to get a viewing of the top secret training session, it is so classified that everyone was only told 1 hour before training on its location. I have the coaches phone tapped, the notification buzzes on my phone, I quickly listen into the phone tap, Goodwin is talking to Burgess about the training ahead, what he was saying was amazing and mind blowing, it could be so revolutionary and crazy it could change football for ever. I arrive 15 minutes before training starts I am hiding in a tree, in camouflage gear with my binoculars and my long distance listening device. The first players to arrive are Viney, Jones and petracca, after everyone arrives they all go into their huddle, I can pick up their conversation with my listening device, it's all the usual stuff that players say to each other ra ra ra nothing revolutionary there, Goodwin and all the assistant approach the group, they hold up their whiteboards with the players positions on it, the players were positioned in all different positions forwards in the backline and backmen in the forwardline, May as the deepest forward. Goodwin then gives his speech, it's all about running hard, tackling hard to hurt the opposition, busting your gut and bleeding for your teammates, he says anybody that shirks a contest is going to do 100 push-ups, he wants them to approach today's match simulation like it's a grand final, like their lives depended on it do or die. the three different groups forwards midfielder Backman all go into their own areas of the ground, they do their drills with real intensity, anyone who misses a target does a 100 push ups, I can say Tom MacDonald, Alex Neal Bullen and viney are going to have very sore chest and triceps tonight, the training drills have a heavy emphasis on Quick Ball movement, shepherding blocking and tackling your opponent and burying their head into the ground. After the drills the whole group does 5 laps of the oval, they brake up into 2 teams of 18 players, there are some Casey boys to make up the numbers, at 1 end Oscar McDonald is playing on Tom MacDonald, at the other, lever is playing on weideman. by half-time Oscar kicked 3 goals on Tom and lever kicked six on weideman, Oliver on Viney at the centre bounces was a intriguing contest, it got very heated at 1 point almost coming to blows. Suddenly someone notices me and they are coming my way it is big Greg Stafford, I get out of the tree and run for my life. I come away very impressed with Brayshaw, tracc and lever as a forward. (All parts of the story are fictitious and I mean to cause no offence to anybody)

First-round draft picks Luke Jackson and Kozzie Pickett are firming for round one AFL debuts, with Melbourne development coach Jordan Lewis declaring the pair are on track to be unleashed at the first opportunity. Dees draftees firming for round one debuts

I would not be so certain over Collingwood, Geelong or Brisbane.

Yes it was a great finish Wadda ... the big surprise was 'Gytrash' in the Lightning Stakes ... as was the run of 'Nature Strip'. Another reminder to never take odds that skinny - too much outlay to win a decent amount and thus, high risk) Alizee, Flit & Vegadaze all won in fine fashion at Randwick as well. I had Nature Strip in a couple of multi's although but I backed the other legs to win outright or in exacta's as well (Fabric, God of Thunder, Seemingly Discreet & Dark Alley) And thanks to JJ I ended up in front for the day (he tipped value runners Rivski & Rigalo Di Gaetano) But Gytrash is the story looking ahead ... it's a much imoroved SA galloper although it's Morphettville form previously was very good (running excellent times & winning) It's almost certainly a Group horse now and I'll be following it, that's for sure. JJ tipped 4 winners all up yesterday at Morphettville whilst no one seemed to fair well at Flemington. Even Gator went against his namesake (Alligator Blood) Again, a barnstorming finish between the 2 star 3yo's. Catalyst didn't lose any friends either, just beaten by a slightly better horse on the day. The current crop of 3yo's is quite something too ... Alabama Express, Castelvecchio, Bivouac, Exceedence, Libertini, Super Seth, Darlasan, Flit, Anaheed, Microphone, Lyre, Loving Gaby, Shadow Hero, Warning, Miami Bound, Funstar, Standout, King of Hastings, Tassort as well as Alligator Blood & Catalyst.

I wouldn't even put a Monopoly House on it!

Ban all the women! We must stop them playing sport for their own good!! Someone, please bring them all inside!!

Have to say I like your call on Zanker. Haven't watched the full games, but her highlights have been fantastic. Mithen will add some nice pace and desperation to the side and I always enjoy watching Newman Cant remember the name, but the running with the ball punch forward that resulted in a goal?. Gutsy. Reiwoldt courage gutsy. Great start to the AFLW season. May it continue.

Daniel Kerr had a rough summer That game was classic (was 1990 you're thinking of) Players walked off the ground arm in arm giving the supporters the finger while singing Grand Old Flag (Bennett, Grinter and Wilson being prime offenders from memory). Unfortunately they had the last laugh knocking us out of the semis one month later Collingwood was always my most hated team but Hawthorn and West Coast weren't far behind as a kid. We won the 88 Elimination Final but they knocked us out in 90, 91 and 94 and then again in 2018. I really hate the Eagles, arrogant tossers as well who always get away with the home cooked umpiring and then still have the nerve to whinge

I know that this is not directly MFC related, but I do think it's great to see an AFL player/person come back from a pretty dire situation and making a good fist of it. For Norths sake, I hope he is able to deliver some star performances in a struggling side. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-north-melbourne-intra-club-report-majak-daw-bridge-fall-round-1-ben-cunnington-forward/news-story/904ab94281fd8ed76f1b839498d35cc2

The full moon was last week so there goes that hypothesis.

I watched the post of Garry Lyon's 10 goals in the 1994 final. (and saw it live). Looking at the talent that day such as Lyon, Stynes, Tingay, Lovett (B and G) Ox, Febeys, Obst and Neitz (the best CHB Carey played on he said.) Wight Viney etc,... says to me the current list is nowhere near as good as that one, nor the 1998 finals list for that matter. I just think our list IS overrated at present, as shown in some pundits lists of A Graders - we only have 1 legitimate - Big Max for example. We are still in re-build IMO talent-wise

Do you know how much I would've loved to play footy when i was a kid/teenager? Because I'm female I didn't play ANY, it just wasn't an option. It annoys me so much when you all bag out AFLW. Something that's always been an option for men is now just opening up to women. Get behind it instead of trashing it.

Your scenario on page 1 was feasible but this is fantasy land. If I'm the player I demand you pay me the money when I'm old and useless. It's a contract, I'm fine with spending 3 years in the rehab group on full pay. You can delist me but you have to pay me out the full whack.

There’s no reason to put him on the LT injury list until we have someone we’d like to place onto the main squad instead. Its bloody frustrating when you have a club like Richmond who just won the premiership continue to have the mostly blessed run of injuries that they’ve had for a while. Send some luck our way footy gods!!!! ?

Great win! I've loved both games from Zanker this year. She's got a great future in this comp. Size, pace, good decision making, overhead marking and kicking; what's not to like? (You may recall the set shot goal she made last year as a teenager from 45 out on the boundary late in the 3rd against the Bulldogs.) Also liked the games of Shelley Scott, Kate Hore, Shelley Heath, Maddie Gay, Aleisha Newman, Meg Downie and Libby Birch. It's been a great start for us given the loss of three key players with season ending knee injuries before round 1 (Lauren Pearce, Katherine Smith and Shae Sloane). Add to it that Bianca Jakobsson decided to join the police force just before season start and Lily Mithen is still yet to play. The structures and game plan seem good this year. There's a clear to plan to put our leadership strength to halfback (Paxman, O’Dea and Daisy Pearce). Highlight was Zanker's contested give to Paxman for a right foot snap. Can't wait for Hore to kick straight and Newman to get some still, dry playing conditions. Sad news for Ainslie Kemp for her third long term knee injury.

You watch Clubs will back end a final contract to an older player, and extra cap will be available for the following year. the Power Clubs will rort this black and Blue

Daisy playing with and organising the backs could end up being an inspired move. The Luke Hodge of the AFLW.

A real shame for the kid, I wonder why it seems players with concussion issues attract even more head knocks like there's a target on their skulls? Pure bad luck or something else....

All good mate, its a weird one, these teams often get overlooked when talking about All Australia reps, essentially the same thing. Anyway to make a team as a CHB for 2 years in a row, then 3 years as a HFF shows what a player he was.

1989 & 1990 he was named CHB in the team of the year, in 1991 it was renamed All Australian. 1989 B: A. Johnson, C. Langford, G. Pert. HB: B. Lovett, G. Lyon, G. McKenna. ? D. Pritchard, P. Couch, G. Brown. HF: N. Winmar, S. Kernahan, Gary Ablett. F: B. Stoneham, J. Dunstall, A. Bews. Foll: S. Madden, M. Bairstow. Rover: J. Platten. Inter: T. Daniher, T. Watson, M. Bayes, G. Williams. 1990 B: A. Collins, S. Silvagni, J. Worsfold. HB: B. Lovett, G. Lyon, G. O’Donnell. ? D. Millane, A. Shaw (capt.). G. Wright. HF: P. Daicos, S. Loewe, Gary Ablett. F: S. Kernahan, J. Longmire, S. Russell. Foll: S. Madden, C. Lewis. Rover: A. McGuinness. Inter: M. McGuane, M. Thompson, A. Liberatore, M. Tuck. Coach: L. Matthews.

Lyon is streets ahead of Barry Hall in my opinion. I don’t remember Hall ever firing in a final? He blew up against us in 98 and had a few poor ones with the Swans as I remember it.

A beautiful kick, and a versatile player. All Australia forward, All Australian defender and played in the middle against Essendon one day and turned the game. He should be in the HoF i have no doubt, he Captained his team, BnF winner, long time state rep and Captain, Coached Australia amongst other things he has done in the footy community. If players like: Chris Grant, Barry Hall & Warren Tredrea (all fine players) are in, i would argue that Lyon is the equal of any of them.

I'm puzzled by the strange game plan - players lowering their eyes and kicking to a leading forward who goals. Weird.

We had the side to win it that year it’s a shame we had to play the eagles in the heat over there, I always wonder what if Schwarz and jakovich stayed injury free we really could have pinched a flag imo

Nice touch with Brian Stynes presenting the jumper.

Or they can restructure some contracts to front load them into this year giving them a war chest to splurge in October.