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hopefully we get more information once its declaseified.

I just took a call from T-Mac and asked him about the blood clot rumour. He said Oscar even rang him to ask if he was okay. Apparently there was a young Casey fella in the B game that looked a bit like him who got taken to hospital with a blood clot after the game. Someone saw him at the hospital and confused him for T-Mac.

Declase to add some Dee class?

Signed today

Some nice impartial commentary as he lines up for his 9th for Montmorency - 'sucked in Hurstbridge'.

Do you believe in Footy "Miracles"?? I don't, but I do believe that hard work, a good game plan, personnel, that can carry out the plan and a smidgeon of luck can quickly turn into something potentially satisfying lets say..... Success at MFC!! Welcome to training today from the magnificently manicured CASEY FIELDS. Although the obligatory 6 seasons in one day reminded me of Science Fiction type inbalances between an EL NINO event and a LA NINA Cross, training today was very very good! NO SHOWS Didn't see Rosman, Kysiah still interstate I would imagine and Obviously Aaron Nietschke with his latest tragic ACL, Sam Weiderman also no show ON MODIFIED TRAINING BEN BROWN ( More on him later) Jake Melksham ( Jack Viney almost normal training along with Hibbo) DRILLS , SKILLS AND MANEUVERS After obligatory warm ups I saw 4 drills being executed today. ALL drills had the essential elements of the following game type events A Choosing correct options to create overlap and positive disposal accuracy B Being able to execute skills under pressure C Creating space from turnovers thus turning defence into attack and break line running DRILL A KAMIKAZE TARGET SELECTION ( BY HAND OR FOOT) This consisted of players in 6 groups zig zagging fashion giving handballs or kicks to best option standing in criss cross formations firstly from 15-20 m away increasing to 25-30 m away. This was a very good drill which showcased positive decision making and pretty good skills by hand and or foot to best options DRILL B HUDDLE BREAK OUT PINBALL WIZARD This consisted of what to me was a very intricate set play where player would get the ball have options to pass but was placed under enormous pressure by players with those battering foam mats who acted as harrasers trying to stop the player and or smother the ball in transit. This meant that players needed to not only pick correct option but also execute with precission and value. The pinball element presented as the flippers of a pin ball machine similiar to the foam battering mats used by the players. Players would huddle and then give of corect option quickly. DRILL C OVERLAP AND LINE BREAK DRILL Consisted of players in precision timing a run and creating a target getting the ball giving of calling for it back if in correct position and feeding it of to presenting player. Player then had a shot for goal or gave of to another option in rotational work similar to creating options of the back line DRILL D GOAL KICKING DRILL Simply throwing ball in air turn pivot and kick either for goal or to target depending on judgments POSITIVES BEN BROWN On modified program but worked with physio on exercises , strengthening and being able I would guess to go through movement range pain free. Looked unhampered MAJAK DAW WOW On what I saw today there is not a shred of doubt he will be on the list. His agility was exceptional for a big man he moved well, hit targets and looks to be not that far of fitness for AFL. Looks like he belongs and plenty of hand taps between players for him JACK VINEY Was impressive on todays performance looks fit and was not hampered in any way that I could see with his foot. Did some modified training at end but looks on track for round 1 HIBBO DITTO JV report as above VANDERS I worry that he seems to get injured at the wrong times and then has to refind form and fitness. Today he looked good and completed all drills OF INTEREST Someone was in rehab with Jake Melksham wearing Kossie Pickets no 36 I have no idea who he was!?? Just to reiterate as above header suggests; Do you believe in Footy "Miracles"?? I don't, but I do believe that hard work, a good game plan, personnel, that can carry out the plan and a smidgeon of luck can quickly turn into something potentially satisfying lets say..... Success at MFC!! Have to say all players were interested, involved , you could sense the Camaraderie and purpose skills and pace at execution were good today and so who knows, with a largely injury free list continued hard work, let the year unfold.The blend of mature, maturing and young players just seems to be gelling very nicely! PS In one of the Drills Max gathered the footty and on the run from outside 50 ROOOSTED a GOAL. AND DIDN'T HE LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT IT GREAT STUFF Cheers PF

Melbourne will finish 3rd and win the Premiership

Pert just said vehemently that we will not be budging. Highly unlikely that our game will be moved.

It’s Clary’s 100 game. Both he and we deserve to celebrate that milestone at the G. FO Essendon.

Injury article on AFL site says Kossie is back on Sunday.

No one tipped us for the spoon. this is above average for the Demons

AFL just said it won’t happen full stop

I'd much rather take a punt on a tall than yet another dwarf-sized forward.

MFC has come out and said its not happening, People calling for it simply to be swapped are really just being narrow minded.. lost of prep has gone into our first game at the G, corporate and activations. Great to see us holding firm.

Some footage highlights as well.

F... the greater good

These predictions are so dull. Most basically picking the same top 4-5 teams as 2020. The crazy Covid short quarters, 17 rounds, dont know where you are playing the next week - is hardly the prefect form line. Port came 10th in 2019, they have been shown to be very inconsistent season to season. If Dixon goes down they could miss finals. The Tiges I believe will start to dip from their amazing 4 years of form. Cotchin 31, Reiwolt almost past it, etc. Freo, Carlton, GC could easily go on a run and make finals. I believe the Demons will make finals and quite easily. The maturity and quality of Oliver, Trac, May etc will turn the wheel

I'm moderately surprised at the lack of love for the Dees ......... but at least reading these predictions won't provide a lot of bathwater for our boys to drink.

I respect your opinion on this, and I consider myself someone who is pretty civic minded and supports fairness, but in this instance i couldn't disagree more about moving. In addition to the points I have made previously I'd at the following ones: Its our home game at our home ground. The bombers are talking about moving their home game from their home ground. Makes no sense at all. The bombers made a decision to make Docklands their home ground. IIRC they had the option of making the G their home ground but chose the Docklands because with the deal they brokered they thought they would make more money there. Erroneously as it turns out They chose the Docklands over the g knowing that full well that with a capacity of 50k there would be occasions where their fans would be disenfranchised and no be vale to secure tickets. IIRC this was the cause of a fair bit of angst from bomber's fans and comes up as an issue whenever the ground is likely to sell out - and has come up again for much the same reason The docklands is the bomber's bed. A bed they sought out for profit. They can lie in it. How would people go with the idea of the Cats asking for a similar swap away from Kardinia park? We are the oldest football club in the word and have played at the G for 140 odd years. History is important. In reality how many extra fans would actually be able to attend? We might get say 35k people to the game if it is played at the G. In that scenario only 15k extra people would be able to attend. The MCC members should be factored into the equation. It is their ground. And the majority of members are dees fans. Why should those members be disenfranchised? (note: i'm not a a member) Grand finals are played at the G. not docklands. Our record has not been great at the G in the last few years and we need to take every single opportunity to play games there The Docklands is a soulless, rubbish venue that most fans hate going to. I certainly do. Why should i and other fans have to have a lesser experience because the bombers want to play their game at our home ground The AFL should recognize the fixturing rubbish we put up with last year and shut down the talk about a move Why is this only coming out now - two weeks before the game? Surely the time for the bombers to address this was prior to the fixture being announced, or if not then soon after (ie last December). People, businesses, the MFC, the MCC etc etc have made plans based on the fixture. It is just not on to make any changes this late in the day. On the above point, like many fans, the thing I missed the most is watching the dees play at the G. And have been waiting a long time for this day. I have made plans. I have been waiting with keen anticipation. Now two weeks out the bombers want to mess with this because they couldn't get their act together to advocate for the change three months ago? I will be furious if there is a change and we have to play docklands. Furious. And I suspect I wont be the only MFC fan to feel that way. If the club does a deal that fury would directed at the MFC and in addition to causing reputational damage would very likely impact on membership sales, offsetting any financial benefit a 'deal' might bring us. No likely financial deal or any compensation would offset the impact of a move Who knows what might happen this year. What if there is another wave and the clubs have to go into another bubble? Say the wave comes after round one. And we don't get another chance to play at the G all season. Bird in the hand. Fury magnified. Football is tribal. And if there is one club i have no desire to 'help out, it is the bombers who were guilty of the most comprehensive, systemic program of cheating in the history of our sport.

Chocco is behind this.... thats a good thing!

How about Essendon go [censored] themselves!!??

As Demonlanders' have suggested in other threads that Kye Declase has been invited to train. Here's a recent article about him Kye Declase shows his class to kick-start the thread.

With Baker as the other option I can understand why we are still looking...

I think a huge factor this season will be aerobic fitness. And it is a factor that works in our favor. We were super fit coming into last season. Unfortunately the 20 min quarters took away our comparative advantage. I think it is a reasonable assumption that we have at least maintained, and hopefully improved our fitness. If this is the case we will be well prepared for the change back to 30 minute quarters. 20% more game time, 10 minutes a quarter of 'red time' and a reduction in interchange rotations will make a huge impact. You could see it in the tigers practice game how the game opened up at the end of each quarter. And just as was often the case last year, even with the shorter quarters, we were at our best late. I thought the Cats would do ok last year, in large part because the shorter quarters would mitigate against having such an old team. I predict the converse will be true this year and they will be found out big time. I don't think they will make the eight.

We burnt a lot of Journo's in the last two years so they have gone off us just when they should have got on us, in my humble opinion, if this doesn't rankle our players I will be surprised lots for the coaches to use. Still tipping top 4 finish.

A few more information. https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/sport/kye-declase-shows-his-class/ https://www.werribeefc.com.au/football/player-profiles/item/15-kye-declase

But this isn't politics. This is football. Football is passion.

I could have saved myself 20 minutes of writing .....

I pay an MCC Membership each year as an MFC Supporter (and Member) if our game is moved, from a fixture that was already finalized by the AFL, i will be furious. Docklands is Essendrugs home ground, they signed the original contract. stand firm MFC. Shut your Cake ? Hole Whately

I really hate autocorrect. It's become my worst enema.

Essendon = entitled.

He virtually single handedly changed the Australian music landscape forever, both locally and internationally... a sad loss, taken way too soon.

Having a good game last Friday probably game him a little bit extra leverage.

Because we now are 4 players short on our list, with the 2 list gaps and now Neitschke and Hore out for the season. They have had a good look at Deakyn Smith and Farmer....perhaps they have decided they won't be offered a spot. Better to look at further options, even if Smith and Farmer get spots, we still have 2 holes to fill.

the mfcss is strong in you, young padawan

Fantastic

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith really is a Melbourne Football Club name.

Most surprising thing is they don't all have North as the wooden spooner's. Lock it in Eddie.

If we allow this move to happen it will show how weak we are. How Bartlett or Pert haven’t already came out saying in no way will they agree to this baffles me. They should have smashed this down from the first moment. dont allow this to gain momentum.

Moves extremely well for a tall fella.

I rang Whately this morning and made a suggestion similar to Dr Gonzo's yesterday. 1) Move GWS V St Kilda to Saturday night 7:25pm 2) Move Essendon V Hawthorn to Sunday 3:20pm Everyone's a winner: Essendon and Hawthorn get their MCG wish GWS and St Kilda get some Saturday night exposure Channel 7 don't miss out as both games are on channel 7 regardless Melbourne keep their MCG game as is, and Freo get their one and only MCG game for the year. Whately called the idea "pragmatic."

The debate should start and end in the same place: Essendon should [censored] off. They made their bed when they moved to Marvel and signed apparently a 25-year deal to do so, they can lie in it. If the AFL is going to allow the request, the only fair thing to do is to play a double-header that day without touching our game (or at absolute worst, bring our game forward to 1.10pm to allow a bit more time between the two). Moving us to Marvel, or shifting our game to Sunday, or swapping Essendon-North with a Sunday game, creates unfairness for everyone else, as a result of a problem of Essendon's and the AFL's doing.

If they were smart they would use Daisy Pearce more. IMHO One of the most perceptive commentators I’ve heard.

Recognition at last. Thank you.

That little nerd should stick to horse racing

Sorry buck, but the MFC should not even entertain any discussion at all. In fact pert should take the opportunity to publically shoot this down today. Go on the radio or whatever and make it crystal clear there is no way we will move. Doing so would sene a message to members that club understands the importance of this game, the first live proper game we can go to since 2019, being played at our spiritual home. The message should there is more important things than money. As all the members who didn't ask for a refund last year know.

Game time when underdone is the fastest way to get injured too! A solid block of training before his first hit out helps prevent injury

If I can add more weight to this arguement. I was super impressed with him today for all reasons provided above. One other factor is that given his rehab from serious injury he doesnt have any associated gait issues, which often will put pressure on other parts of the body. He looked confident, has really good skills set, and was excellent below his knees. For a Big man that's a plus! He would be the "Ultimate" big man back up and maybe, just maybe might play more than we all think! I would be astounded if we didn't pick him up based on what I saw today!!