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Lovely morning for the captain's run. The bonding appears to be high, they are supportive and encouraging towards each other. A good family club is not just words. At one time a mini number 25 ran to the boundary from the tent and gave Max a note, he read it (smiled) and tucked it into his shorts. Such nice interactions. Joy reigns supreme at the moment for the club. McAdams was down before the squad. He was wearing his normal training top (blue one with his number) and gear. Being put through a more intense training regime than previous. He appears to be moving freely, as smooth a gait as I have seen. I can imagine, he gets a test at the next session, and will join the main squad if he passes. The main squad came out in drips and drabs. All the emergencies were with the team, 25 altogether. Partnered up for and kick to kick, until all were on, and then the whistle. BBB in runners, probably will be managed the entire season with his personal program. They went straight into drills with two stations. One, short kicks and runs, the other, handballs, quick step evasive moves, and low ball gets. Then all the squad drilled together, kick and run in a large square area to the four corners. They ran structural sims that had fast down the corridor plays. Finished the session with some goal kicking. Choco spent time with Fritsch, Chandler, and Tracc as they snapped. Plenty were getting it right. Petty was also trying to hit some from outside the 50 arc, not too successful, though when he brought it in closer he was nailing them. Kossie was the standout, with Windsor not far behind in the 'beauty of kicking'. Goody is standing back a bit today, seems it is Choco's time to take it. Yells out "precision", or was that Lever (loud all session). Goody runs off to AAMI immediately the session finishes. The atmosphere feels special. A trainer mentioned that a Captain's run from the Casey Squad, will be there tomorrow Saturday about 9.45am on Gosch's. We had a lovely group of 6 D/Landers, shooting the breeze, chita chatting. Thanks for that, I'm feeling part of something big. Go Dees. Addit: The Victory had a practice match on the other side of the paddock. A great morning for me, fully entertained, Woo-Hoo.

Definitely not Photoshopped

Tonight’s game. was it anyone on here? Legend

Was running very well at training. You wouldn’t know he has had any issues with is toe/feet. Was leading and marking well albeit with no opponent/pressure. Kicking for goal from 40-50 directly in front was bang in the middle.

Yep, replay definitely shows it was out of bounds.

Ben Brown doing his own program. I suspect it’s all part of the plan to get him through as many games as possible this season particularly through the next block of games.

CoLLLingwood 😍

When create meme's sometimes the simple classics are required and apt

They're the second weakest premier of this century, only the Bulldogs of 2016 were weaker. Fact. The pies won their 3 finals by a cumulative total of 12 points. That was with some extremely lucky umpiring decisions going their way. They started the season well but by the end they were a middle of the road team and were possibly the luckiest premiers in my lifetime. Zero chance of a "dynasty". Hopefully they crash and burn for the sake of all Australian society and the sport. Pathetic wretched scum.

How good was the way they used Wanganeen-Milera as much as possible. Watching him kick is like watching a Federer backhand or a Warnie leggie. Skill and execution just sublime. Not to the same extent, but I'd be keen to see McVee freed up a little bit to be getting that kick from the back half into the forward half. But we seem to be trending in that direction anyhow.

I just listened to McRae's presser. Rohan Connelly explicitly asked about the shorter preseason and whether they are behind the 8 ball fitness wise. McRae categorically denied that was the case. In fact he went further and said they were the fittest they had been in his time at the club and lauded the high performance team and the work rate of the players. If you take McRae at his word then that points to even bigger issues (their reliance on players over 30 being just one). They simply did not work hard enough last night, you could see it - particularly in terms of all team defensive running and covering the Sant's spread. If that is attitude not fitness they are in big trouble. It was a weird presser. McRae was speaking in metaphors and struggling to maintain his positive vibe schtick. Asked about being the first premier in years to have started 0-3, Mcrae was quick to correctly point out that the cats lost their first 3 games last year. To which the reporter (Connelly?) quickly responded to note the Cats didn't make the finals last year. Nice little drive by from McRae that i'm sure Scott will highlight when the Cats play the Pies. On Connelly, its great he has been gong to the pressers for the last season and a bit, he asks excellent qs and isn't dismissed by the coaches like the less experienced reporters often are.

mcadam is nibbler's mum? 😮 cool, that's so fluid

This just in from AFL Headquarters: If Collingwood lose to Brisbane next week and to a Jack Ginnivan-led Hawthorn the week after in Gather Round, they will be granted exclusive draft access to Nathan Fyfe's twin boys as compensation. If that happens, expect to hear a lot about Collingwood, Owen Fyfe and Norton Fyfe.

Their start proves to me once again that I was right all along, and they are a middle of the road side who snatched a flag via umpiring bias, AFL help, vile fans and a piece of [censored] thug who took out a key opponent in a final. They did not deserve that flag and nobody will ever convince me otherwise. There were at least 3 sides last year who were better and deserved that premiership more. Steven May, YOU WERE RIGHT!

Someone please call the RSPCA …

But taunting Brisbane fans that they've only beaten the bottom team would be a perfect two-flavoured ice cream.

Geeeeepers I love Fritta and everything he does, but I think maybe even I take him for granted! Genuine A-Grader in our forward line.

Listen to Ross Lyon pregame on Fox He knew exactly who to target, and where to do it. I know a lot of people don’t like Ross, but he is extremely sharp in his strategies

Fritta nailing them all. The duality of Trac. Nailing one and spraying the next.

Sure the Pies had a bumper start to the season last year but they fell away at the end. In reality they just snuck home with three iffy finals including the gf. They beat us in a final by 7 points when we had an absolutely depleted fwd line and were a man down. Just beat Gws by a point. And we're lucky in the Gf with the soft advantage call and just snuck home again by a kick. They were not a glorious flag team by any standard. Look at our 21 finals campaign. That's how it's done. Pies won't make top four and rightly so.

The umpiring standard was horrendous and it's the first time I enjoyed it. And if any Pies fan should stumble upon this post..... That goal from the boundary line ....the ball was definitely out of bounds.

Collingwood losing is always Good News Week.

Browns knees are cactus. He'll need to be nursed through the season. Reckon being named sub is just part of managing him while also giving some gametime to Petty.

Don't worry, Kev. I'm in a very forgiving mood after seeing Collingwood get rolled last night. You just keep those great training reports coming. We all appreciate the time and effort you put in.

He would be a great customer at Baskin and Robbins trying out a different flavour each month.

I'm old enough to remember the pictures of Oliver before he was drafted and we all thought he overate.

i swam 2km before work and spent the whole time fantasizing about steven may cleaning up ma***rd.

I like the old school push ups for a mistake.

Very interesting. Seems like they were practicing tactics for stoppages and in particular using a spotter off the contest communicating the oppo numbers around the stoppage. That’s what it looked like to my untrained eye.

Squad: McVee May Howes Rivers Lever Salem Langdon Petracca ANB Sparrow Brown Pickett Fritsch JVR Chandler Gawn Viney Billings Windsor Oliver McDonald Hore Petty Laurie Fullarton Woewodin Rehab: Bowey McAdam

I can't see hore being sub. Not flexible enough. Was thinking petty, swapping out for bbb, but perhaps you're right and he starts. Thinking about it, petts could play the melksham role and run with Sicily to negate his influence. We have missed such a player. Stretches the hawks defence and means fritter, who had the dogs best defender for company, and/or bbb get the next best key defender. Might free up fritter too to play his own game. Leaving Windsor as sub to come on in the third to inject some run and dash, with petts coming off if need be. Good management of a young player. If petts did come off, the forward line would then be the same group as against the Dogs. Goody said before the season last year they planned to use the sub in two ways - tactically or as part of their load management strategy. That jags with their use of it thus far. Playing the longer game for sure, and there is no doubt it is a calculated risk. But it's all about winning the war not the battles. The game has undergone a massive transformation in the last 10 years. It is so much more aerobically challenging for the whole list its crazy. And every team now needs 10 plus elite runners of the nibbla ilk. It's why Lyon loaded up on athletes and runners (by the by, seems crazy to have let billings walk given he is also a great kick, which Lyon has also targeted). Leaving aside injuries, the fittest of the real contenders (IMV dees, giants, swans, lions, pies) come finals will win the flag.

I'm not the guy in the pic but I was also at game in my Melbourne gear, cheering the Saints on. Collingwood fans are hilarious and I'm convinced half have no idea what they are watching. Also particularly enjoyed when they went the early crow not once but twice with their stupid chant, only for half on them to be on their way out the door a few Saints goals later. Re Higgins' goal... looks in to me! 😎

Early days but loving the fact they have traded out their first round pick to freo and won't get a consolation prize if their season goes completely belly up.

Pies got crucified by the umps. Free kicks were Saints 30 Pies 15. Higgins goal from the 3rd row was a nail into the pies hearts. Umps were shocking. Pies were massacred by the umps. It was beautiful to watch 🤣🤣😊😊🤣🤣😊😊

The ferals losing the first three. Up against Brisbane next game. Surely they can’t make it four 🤞

My hatred for Geelong has subsided with the rise of my pure unadulterated hate for the Pies. Geelong are insufferable, the Magpies are a dumpster of hellfire

Significant move at the Doggies James Harms out Oskar Baker in Make of that what you will!

Oscar Van Dam Height: 188cm, Weight: 83kg. D.O.B: 20-04-2005 It turns out that North Launceston was coached by Casey’s current coach Taylor Whitford who steered them to back-to-back premierships in 2018-19. Oscar Van Dam was a member of the Tasmania Devils Under 18s team in 2022/3. They were pretty strong last year and he was rated just outside that upper echelon that included high draft picks Colby McKercher, Ryley Sanders and James Leake. He He performed exceptionally well in the preseason, highlighted by a 6.10 two-kilometre time trial result. One match report from the Under 18s said that “the half-back brought plenty of dash and flair to the game with his willingness to take proceedings on. He looked clean below his knees, even when under pressure by the opposition, and made sure to be closely checking his opponent when the Knights looked dangerous inside their forward 50. Despite getting the ball at near top speed, Van Dam kept his composure more often than not, putting the ball out in front of his teammates and giving them the best chance at taking possession.” Sounds promising. Does he get picked for Casey this week?

CODE SPORTS has an online feature by Paul Amy previewing every VFL team for 2024. This is the excerpt for the Casey Demons:- VFL 2024 club-by-club preview: Paul Amy's guide to how every team is shaping up for this season by Paul Amy (link to be provided) “CASEY DEMONS Coach: Taylor Whitford (second season) Last year: 11-7, wildcard round, elimination final The state of play: No team finished last season more disappointingly than Casey, which went into the elimination final against Footscary at Box Hill with a depleted line-up after Melbourne made a string of players unavailable. That the reigning premier suffered a 79-point drubbing was no surprise. Not even VFL champion James "Moose" Munro could lift the undermanned and overwhelmed Demons. The three-time best and fairest and 150-game player left the club a few weeks later, to coach Cora Lynn in country football. The Dees also lost the experienced Matt Buntine and George Grey in the off-season. But they made some key signings in clean-kicking former Saint Leo Connolly, Footscray tall Caleb Lewis, Frankston onballer Mitch Szybkowski and Box Hill Hawk Kai Windsor, as well as Kobe Shipp (Dandenong Stingrays), Brayden La Planche (Eastern Ranges) and Riak Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays) out of the Under 185. Late February brought an outstanding addition in Collingwood VFL co-captain Campbell Hustwaite, who trained with the Magpies for an SSP listing. Oscar Van Dam, who made his senior debut for North Launceston at the age of 15 in 2021, is another signing for the Demons. Put the recruits with returnees Mitch White, Tom Freeman, Roan Steele, Ryan Valentine and Harvey Neocleous, and there's more than enough talent to blend with the Melbourne contingent and reach the finals again.” It’s always hard to predict results of games at this level early in the season but Casey’s practice match form has been anything but outstanding while I believe that Box Hill was impressive against Essendon last week. So I’m tipping the Hawks.

Extremely wise move by the club to not head back home between the Port and Adelaide game. Last year they looked really flat on the second leg of the Perth-Adelaide double and arguably should have flown from Perth to Adelaide and spend the week there prior to Gather round. Interesting that they're heading to Adelaide 3-4 days prior to the Port game which would mean about 9 nights in Adelaide in total?? Hopefully some good bonding takes place. Really hope we can win at least one of the two SA games.

why no media chit storm over elliot's first goal from a no-mark bump ball?

Windsor as sub?? Yeah right, just reward for his first 2 games that have been sensational! Just what message does that create??🤮

If only the Pies could get relegated..

A crows win over the cats tonight would set the weekend up perfectly.

Considering the last 3 flag winners, we've still been the most consistent one.

He means that Lingers was right and that they were all duck, no dinner, but he's mixed his metaphors.

That guy is my hero. I love it was caught on TV. I stood and applauded with him.

I hope they never win another match.

Brisbane next week. Zero and four? Dear god…..🙏

Forgot about our old mate Howey. Their system is shot to pieces after 18 months of the luckiest football i can remember ever being played. Whilst we have gone out in straight sets in the past 2 years luck with injuries, composure in front of goal has cost us dearly, our core system has not broken down completely to this extent. We seem to have added a couple of extra cogs this year to revitalise our strategies, but no one has ever completely broken them down the way Collingwood have been dismantled in 2024.