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Well it was nice to ride the bike down to Gosch's Paddock rather than battle the freeway traffic to Casey and there's always a touch of excitement arriving at the start of the new season with all the new numbers and faces. I had to dash off to a meeting in town at 10.20am, so others may have a fuller report, but by then a fair bit of the gp action had taken place and they were into their match sim, so I think I had the gist of it. Firstly I'll knock off the injuries quickly - Angus and Petty were on light running duties - too early in season for me to assess if they are recovering from fun activities in Europe, but clearly both have minor niggles to deal with. Let's wait and see if they are training with the main gp on Monday before we write them off for the season eh. May wasn't there at all. Also absent from the track was Goody, he seemed to leave it to his lieutenants - Reece Conca among them. Chocco was also taking very much a backseat approach as well, preferring to talk to spectators in his floppy hat. Yze, Staff and Matty Whelan were prominent. The only new injury occurred early when Jed Adams seemed to jar his ankle in one of his first run throughs and after hobbling off for a physio check up he returned and was restricted to just run throughs. Adams is listed as 196cm but he looked almost as tall as Will Verrell and the pair were left to do pretty rudimentary running drills when I was there - must have been the most boring session they have ever encountered I suspect. They did have Angus with them for a fair bit, so at least he would have brought a bit of humour to lighten their mood. A quick word on Adams, he is a big boy in the Jake Spencer clumsy mould at the moment - I'd be gobsmacked if he played seniors this year - but he is a big, strong looking boy so who knows down the track. At the other end of the extreme is Jefferson forward who is a light-bodied tall. He seems to be more coordinated than Jed, but it was noticeable that he missed just about every set shot at goal during early goalkicking practice. He was wearing JVR's No.21 as well, presumably he is waiting for his kit to be made with his number. There are always some players who standout at training and ANB again was everywhere when match sim got going. During the drills it was hard not to notice the skill level of Spargs and Bowey and I also thought it worth mentioning that the kicking of Woey's kid was sensational as well - low, flat, hard and direct. Kicking will not stop Taj from making it this year. His ability to win the ball might. Once match sim got going, it was a dreadful mistake to make Olly the chameleon (the player allowed to play for both teams). That meant he not only got the ball 20 times for the reds, but he also got it 20 more for the blue tops as well. But there were a few standouts and the main one was Kozzie who in the highlight play picked the ball up down back, weaved out of trouble, then brushed off a would-be tackler (I think Harmsey) with a don't argue and then proceeded to run for about 30m before sending the ball another 50m deep into JVR territory. Yes if we want a new midfield weapon, then Kozzie is available and I suspect like Trac three years ago, he now has been told that if you are mega fit, then you can join the mids. Trac and Fritter were also prominent and I also liked the work of Melky, who I know we've all written off, up forwar. But I'm sorry it's hard not to also watch JVR move - he will be playing first round barring injury and while he is still a bit of a project tall, he now has ripping Schwarter style arms that means he won't look like a kid when we all get to see him against the Dogs at the MCG on Saturday night. Surprisingly T-Mac was out there training - yes he's a bit overweight but I'm sure his latest diet will sort him out by round 1. Ben Brown also did some light drills, kick/mark stuff, so rumours of his debilitating knee seem to be way off the mark. And Jake Lever did a lot of work, not just with his mouth. He may well be back to his AA form this year.

FINALLY our upgraded facilities came through! Thank you MFC and thank you Vic govt!

I'm off on my holidays. Won't be able to report on training till after the new year. Happy holidays to everyone.

Maybe a bit off topic, but I’ve always been confused by the AFL and media and the way they talk about players. Drawing attention to Sheezel’s heritage is just another unnecessary example and it’s not helping. They are trying to stamp out racism (hear hear) but continually draw attention to race. They have the indigenous round, and they champion our (wonderful) indigenous players as All-Stars. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2022-indigenous-allstars-vs-world-team-exhibition-game-plans-date-players-lance-franklin-selection/news-story/27548be066a0bd91e2fe78a983bf4b7f . Meanwhile the media ranks our 10 best indigenous players, https://www.zerohanger.com/marngrook-legends-ranking-the-10-best-indigenous-players-of-the-afl-era-84448/ They tell us our teams’ greatest indigenous player https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/celebrating-every-afl-teams-greatest-indigenous-player-of-all-time-as-australia-marks-national-reconciliation-week-c-7011990 When I was a kid, the media talked unnecessarily about Italian heritage: Barassi, Silvagni, Benetti and co. I’m an old guy and i am trying my best to be a good and fair person. Kosi isn’t an indigenous player to me. He’s a Melbourne player. Sheezel isn’t a Jewish player, he’s a North player. And for that matter, Clarry isn’t a redhead, he’s a champion Melbourne player. Does anyone understand where I’m coming from?

Really? A player achieves something he has striven for all his life and is proud of the fact that he also represents a minority community. So let’s make him the victim and punish him by burying the story and driving it underground, lest the haters are allowed to get their five minutes in the sun. Which is just a few steps away from creating a repressive society that stops its minorities from celebrating their identities and prevents them from conducting activities that reflect pride in their culture whether based on race, religion, gender or the ways in which they prefer to live their lives. Strange how the victims here are mostly law abiding, hard working and loyal citizens but we can’t even tolerate them being out in the open, because they’re different in some way so they can’t even have representative teams. Heaven help us if that’s where we’re heading. As to the nature of humour and how it’s expressed, there is a wide chasm between making satirical jokes in a self-deprecating manner to highlight the stupidity of a subject and jokes that are made specifically to stereotype and highlight untruths. The trope about Jews and money (there are many needy and poor Jewish people in this country) is no different to claims that all Ingenous people are lazy or all Moslems are terrorists - all are ugly, untrue and tend to offend their targets. Attempts to justify their use in the way John from Epping did last week even if unwitting, are unnecessary and shameful. A sincere statement of regret from those involved and some useful and positive learning on the subject are all that’s required. Perhaps something like this one - Radio presenter apologises over racial slur

Harry Sheezel who was drafted at #3 by North Melbourne at last week’s AFL National Draft is Jewish. I am also Jewish - I was his team manager at Ajax where he played his junior footy from the age of 7. He’s naturally talented but natural talent isn’t enough to get you drafted that high. He’s worked hard for years, shown dedication and resilience and copped some racist abuse along the way. Last week, he was subjected to plenty of abuse by anonymous racist keyboard warriors on the Age online newspaper (since taken down) to the point where the AFL intervened and brought in its Integrity Department. Unfortunately, a further instance of antisemitism occurred on Garry and Tim’s SEN breakfast show last Friday in a segment with regular caller John from Epping in which the caller brought out what is recognized as an antisemitic trope about Jews and money. History teaches us that language such as this has caused enormous pain and damage to innocent people in the past. AFL greats Garry Lyon and Tim Watson fail to call out anti-Semitism on SEN Breakfast Our game is rife with racism and intolerance. Just ask Eddie Betts. You can also ask the few Moslem and other minority footballers about what their communities cop from time to time. I hope that we get a swift and responsible response from Garry, Tim, John from Epping, SEN and the AFL on this one. And please take care with your comments.

Think this is incredibly harsh on Garry. Think it was handled as best as it was from a professional manner, especially as it was put right on the spot. He immediately tried to divert the conversation back on his footballing ability which should have been the main topic of discussion all along. Why wasn't there a threaded started few weeks back when Sheezal was called far more horrific names from social media trolls? Can't pick and choose.

Our new gym is getting a workout, established just behind the scoreboard pavilion. Gosch’s surface is pretty good, though it is getting a bit dug up/divots. A suburban team has been training there in the afternoon regularly, the MFC women just finished, plus the local community use it as an off leash dog area (fully fenced area) or personal training place. I don't mind too much, as it is holding up, except faeces possibly being left for us, and that rubbish is usually on the fence boundary. When visiting I always pick it up and bin it. Latest finds on Monday was, three used flares, numerous water bottles(6) and empty beer cans/bottles (8). They actually left a full one for me, which I gave to my partner. Addit: I don't think Collingwood, also having a public space field would have similar problems, as the admin and club rooms overlook the ground. Public use would have to be respectful otherwise the members lurking around would be onto them.

Craig Hutchison of SEN has just issued this statement to the chair of the Anti Defamation Council on behalf of the broadcaster:- Thank you so much for the conversation today. I would like to extend a personal apology on behalf of SEN for any inadvertent offence caused regarding the segment on SEN Breakfast from our regular talkback caller, John from Epping. As mentioned, hosts Garry and Tim recognised the inappropriate nature of the comment and made a judgement call that it was best handled and discussed with John off air. This conversation with the caller took place prior to the program ending, such was their desire to address it. They’ve spoken to him in fact several times since. We are pleased with their intent to address it directly with the caller, but we do acknowledge that it could have also been addressed on air. Garry and Tim have always stood for an inclusive show for everyone. As a business, we pride ourselves on our standards and respect for all communities and acknowledge our role in the sports industry as leaders in this space. We appreciate you taking the time to discuss the matter today and once again apologise for the unintended offence this has caused, and your leadership in addressing this with us and with me directly. Kind regards, Craig

Has this leave been approved by Demonland? Seems odd that you're allowed time off during what is traditionally your peak season.

Time to shut down this thread. Not hypothetically, but really. It is no longer serving any purpose.

No.... people since the Ancient Greeks about 500b.c. new the world was round, not flat, simply observed from sailing ships going over the horizon. They even had a good go at trying to calculate the circumferences, quite accurately as well considering the technology. The idea that the world was flat is from an early modern play in London that was taken seriously (Human ignorance nature doesn't change, does it). Copernicus big breakthrough was placing the sun at the centre of the solar system, not the Earth. Know back to the topic :). Yes they didn't directly address the comment, but according to the article did explain how good the kid can be for the club.

Bit harsh to single out Garry and almost imply he is complicit with the racist remarks. I don’t see the role of a radio person to be the moral police for every moron that calls in. should he have said something. Yeah I reckon but the issue here is with the caller

It seems like Garry tried to get back on topic. Then the caller was cut from the air. Having lived in Australia my whole life, i see Aussies as getting better/more aware with racism, but by no means is it stamped out, and likely to never be entirely. Ignorance is not an excuse these days. While we still have powerful people like McGuire who make casual "jokes" about king-kong, it is going to be a long drawn out battle to eradicate. Nobody is inherently born racist as far as i know. My own parents don't believe the stolen generation actually happened. Have had so many arguments over the years on the subject, and they are far from ignorant people. They seem to have a train of thought that acceptance on the matter implies they were condoning it in some way. When Kevin Rudd said his sorry speech, i applauded it. Again though, the folks thought it was just a grab for money down the track, and they were not the guilty ones again, so they had nothing to be sorry for. Trying to educate people who are late into their life lives is almost impossible....But we do stand a chance with future generations of being much less toxic or accepting when it comes to all things racist. Acceptance seems to be a term thrown around a lot these days...We all need to get better at it, regardless of colour/race/religion/sexuality. The world will become a better place the more we stamp it out.

Could mount a case that even this is the wrong hypothetical. A husband beating up a wife has nothing to do with race, it's a general society concern as a whole which is a completely different topic of discussion.

The behaviour you walk past is the behaviour you accept. And for those that are trying to argue that ‘comedy is where we need to be able to say anything’ - ok then. But radio prime time isn’t ‘stand up’ or a ‘sitcom’ and if the ‘joke’ misses the consequences now reign as they should. The Australian cultural twinge of “why are you making a thing of it?” In reaction to reaction is an archaic albatross around the neck of our immigrant-built and indigenous-guarded country.

I just rewatched these two highlights clips purely for their marks, for someone who apparently shows no physicality Jefferson seems to not only throw himself into marking contests, also reads the flight of the ball well and uses his leap and body to protect the ball drop and take countless contested marks. Cadman also takes some nice contested marks but doesn’t seem to have the leap or aerial attributes that Jefferson does. They are clearly two different types of forwards. I will be watching both careers with great interest.

Burgoyne

Woewodin looking like an Adonis Schache has put on a heap of size

Jeffer has already gone from 76 to 84 kg now and is 195/6 cm. May be Behind Cadman now but I don't think there will be much between the two when both are another pre season. Both have enough natural ability to develop and use their skills early in their careers and Jeffer will be playing with some classy other forwards snd Cad's mates at Notth aren't too shabby. MJ should get more opportunities when he breaks into the AFL team due to our superior mids and team stats. Meanwhile this MJ hype is allowing JVR to start to build up nicely and quietly without any pressure yet. L

The coaches hadn't stopped it except for a couple of frees paid so in that sense it was like an intraclub, but there were still cones down the side of ground, so it was corridor stuff, so I think I'd call it match sim to be honest.

Wow, if correct, we are going in hard right off the bat. My guess would be the same Nev, red/blue training jumpers and a scoreboard, what else would it be.

That will be released during a world cup game tonight LH.

They were in the blue squad and red squad jumpers too, so potentially some kind of intraclub today maybe?

Injured or waiting for parole? I can't keep up 😜

Is that a more eye-catching hypothetical? Threads like these divide opinions constantly and the only way we're going to get through the racial challenges we face in society is with education. I ask this kind of question to the forum to gauge opinions and seek many different points of view. With more education and understanding of different backgrounds and the issues they face, we will hopefully know how to handle these situations a lot better as they arise. It's all well and good saying that Garry Lyon should have blasted the caller but there are still many grey areas where people are confused as demonstrated in this very thread, we need to be doing more about the learning that happens prior to the moment and calling it out (or expecting others to call out). Will leave it at that.

Maybe they can throw in pick 7 when we steal him away?

I should hope that some of us would have realised exactly what was happening and called it out.

There were different people in different parts of the world, building upon a network of ideas and thoughts that were shifting all around the place. The first one to try patent the telescope was a bloke from the now German-Dutch border region, named Hans Lipperhey.

This topic should calm down and focus on footy only, not anyone's background. Harry is a potentially great footballer. Let's leave it at that and wish him well.

Freo bottom 5. Ominous. #deathride

When talking about Sestan’s fitness it should be fair to note that he is not coming from an elite pathway program where the fitness base is already there. Also just because he came last in a 2km time trial against other draftees from pathway programs and AFL footballers who are on off season programs doesn’t mean he is “unfit”. It just means he doesn’t have the AFL base that is expected at this time of the year for players or elite draftees. It also does not mean that he cannot achieve this now that he will be given a fitness program to follow. Considering that training with an elite AFL club was probably not on his radar I think he can be cut some slack.

FFS, might as well release the rounds every Thursday night along with team selection.

If true look at the upside which goes something like this. Each new season at least 2 new teams finish in the 8. Logic says one in 2023 will be the Blues. BUT, if they fail, it will be there to see in all its glory and the anti-Voss chatter commencing in the public glare. I'd like to see that!

An excellent insight into the wheeling and dealing of the first round draft night. While not much happened there was a lot happening behind the scene. trades-that-didn-t-come-off and unsurprisingly we were in the thick of it! I wonder who we had in mind for GWS's (initial) pick #19? There are few unknowns between the clubs at draft time. Sydney's bids and trades were the only interesting aspect of the whole draft. . While Twomey had a fair bit of the info before the draft, I'm guessing the finer details have been provided to him in the last week. Fascinating reading.

I don't think he was stereotyping 'Aussies' as beer swilling wastrels - just making the point that such people are often in the front line of racists, blaming anyone else for their situation and being jealous of success in any migrant group. Migrant and refugee families tend to work very hard - that's usually the reason they came here in search of a better life, especially for their kids. Just after WWII it was possible to become well established here if you worked hard. Sadly, there are many racists who are not beer swilling wastrels. SEN should act.

John from Epping is an [censored]. Lyons perhaps could have been more forceful. But no need to stereotype "Aussies" as beer swilling wastrels. Generally very fair people who have done quite a bit over the past 250 years. I'm over and out.