Leaderboard

Mission accomplished: told Staffy huge thanks for everything and he smiled that disarming smile of his. Told him I’d give him a hug except I don’t have the proper footwear for scaling a mountain so he bent down and the hug was very sad. Today many of the partners and kids of the players were there. Chatted with Georgie, Nibs’ partner, that was also sad. Talked to Ruby, Tmac’s partner, that was vey cheerful since pregnancy really suits her and coz Leo was dressed up for Book Week as a surgeon complete with green scrubs, a stethoscope and the cap and even those disposable little slippers they wear. Hashtag painfully cute. The kids were all kicking a ball around on the boundary and of course I got hit in the head but it was okay coz it was Melk’s son Teddy who’d kicked it. 😂 JV7 was JV10 for today coz he couldn’t find a clean #7 jumper. We talked about Staffy and Jack was pretty emotional, as was his partner Charlotte. ☹️ Big hugs for Claz. He told me he missed me on Monday (even though it was him who was a no-show 😅) said he’s feeling well now and as always he was happy and smiling and laughing and a more effective tonic you’d be pushing to find. We said our usual goodbye… me: Loveya Claz. Him: I love you too. Bless his affection little heart. Had chats and laughs with a group of boys from Santa Teresa in Alice who are here for four days and are attending the match tomorrow. Not a single Dees supporter among them. Worse still, Essendon and Collingwood supporters! I let ‘em know exactly how we feel about their teams. If they should decide to forgo the match and instead hide in their hotel rooms it’s got nothing to do with me. 😁 But the biggest and bestest thing was what Kozzie’s partner Ardu told me, after I was done gushing about Bellanie aka cutest lil baby I’ve ever seen in my entire life… and I’ve had three of my own! Anyways, she told me her sister lives near her and is her best friend and there’s no way they’d move away from Melbourne. This was having just told me Bellanie’s not sleeping well atm therefore Ardu is tired throughout the day, and me asking her if she has enough support in Melbourne. So, terribly *sorry Cornes et al, you can stop fantasising about our Kozzie because he’s exactly that… OUR kozzie. End of story * so NOT sorry by any stretch, delusional [censored]-ers

Last training session for (the men’s) season 2024. I’m sure gonna miss chats with the boys ☹️ But before we know it the band will be back together when training recommences in early December and nuffies like me will come outta hibernation and it all starts over again. Today’s mission: a huge thank you to Staffy, a loveable man-mountain who’ll be sorely missed. 😢

Thank you @WalkingCivilWar as always. Your training reports are one of the few truly fun and positive reads on Demonland. And a special thank you from me to you for all the love you've shown Clarry!

On the way to training a lovely young (ie under 50) lady asked me for directions. Went away with a spring in my step. Full turnout of the list except for Sparrow. (I think). McAdam? A group of indigenous men were watching on and got the meet and greet from AMW and Kozzie. Matty Whelan took them under his wing. Viney was wearing nos 10. Tracc and Clarry joined the huddle at the start, where some presentations were made, then did some minor rehab on the boundary. BBB had no strapping on the knees. Roo is a competitve beast and stuck out his elbow when Viney walked past. Luker has the build of an AFL footballer. Did a drill where he ran into goal, with Choco calling the type of kick (left, right dribble etc) and nailed them. Stafford led many of the drills. As usual lots of the players families were in attendance, including ANB, with a very young baby. Maysie and Kolt were kicking for goal from the boundary. Lets just say Maysie knows how to kick.

WCW I dont know what I am going to do now that training is over for this season. Your wit, spontaneity, unassuming nature and of course classic journalistic reporting of our boys training and more importantly the vagaries of Kolts coiffure has kept me sane throughout the year . Your passion for the team knows no bounds, rain or shine you are there for us. See you in October!!❤️💙

Look out for a very handsome young boy running out with the team on Friday night … it’s my grandson Asher💪

Massive thanks for all the training reports @WalkingCivilWar Your passion for the footy club, and the time you invest in training and the DA, makes this place a lot brighter during the winter months. Love your work.

After 16 years of loyalty and dedication a volunteer named Marty finished up today. Max and the boys presented him with a framed jumper signed by the players.

Not sure if been discussed but wanted to say well done Ray Chamberlain. Umpiring his last game on Friday and reckon he's been great value as an umpire. Loves his job, willing to put his neck on the line and speak about decisions that he and his colleagues get wrong on SEN, lovely guy and the game will be a little less without him. Hopefully, nobody responds to this by bashing him, just genuinely like the guy. Well done Razor.

@WalkingCivilWar you're officially on Tracc Watch. Is the infectious smile back? Asking for Tom Morris and the Grubby Grubs.

Am I the only one thinking Turner is our version of Waterman?

I really thought he had a chance as he had a great year running off half back. I don't think the opposition coaches rated him and let him run free. That changed after his Brownlow and he struggled with the attention IMO. Was very professional back then to the extent of diet and weighing his food portions etc which not many seemed to be doing. Will always remember this running rippa.

That’d most certainly be one Clayton Oliver. He is keen as mustard to repay the Club for sticking by him when they could’ve Ginnivan-ed him. Also because he’s determined to get back to the player he once was. And a raft of young kids: Sesto, AMW, PuppyDog Brown and PF’s reason for living… Jeffo. LOL - he walked past me today and said, “Still one ninety seven.” I’ve really gotta stop asking these boys their height 😂 Oh and Riv While he’s always trained with enthusiasm and dedication, I’ve noticed since he was moved to the midfield he attacks training with even more vigour. Sounds silly, but he even looks taller and bigger since the change. True story

For those who don't have a dog, may I suggest one of these...

He told me on Monday he was playing and said the same today. 🤷‍♀️

Also @Redleg, I passed on your message to KFW verbatim. He was quite touched by it. He told me he’s spoken to Tommy (I have nfi who Tommy is but I think he’s a conditioning guy) and they want him to gain 5kg over the preseason. Kyah said he personally wants to gain 10kg which would bring him up to 110kg. For the mathematically challenged, that means he’s currently 100kg which we both agreed was not ideal for a giraffe. He said the plan is for him to ‘fill out’ and I tell you what, if he can bulk up, look out opposition of all denominations… he’ll be formidable. 👊🏼

Can confirm I too have a Cavoodle and he is the greatest thing for everyone’s mental health We need to resurrect the dog thread. Now that was a positive thread if ever I saw one!

He has two… Benji and Bobby, two cavoodles, he’s crazy in love with them.

May is playing? The Injury Report said that he was out for the season? This could be the first time there has been a Mystery Return from Injury of the Week.

A huge thanks to WCW, Fritta and Turner and all posters for the in-depth training reports and the wider interpersonal relationships that you have with players, families and footy department. Once the final game is done and dusted it is going to be a long two months. Take care all. ❤️💙

It’s not hard, Jaded. In fact, it would be harder to NOT show him love. He’s super affectionate and really thrives on it. At one point today he called out to little George Gawn to come give him a cuddle. As is a 3yo’s wont George ignored him and walked away. Clarrie turned to me and said, “He obviously doesn’t like me.” He wasn’t joking. I’m no psychologist but what I see is someone craving love and affection. Anyways at the risk of sounding too woke to some on here, I’ll leave it at that.

For his sake I hope he gets a deal somewhere else where he can be best 22. While not a perfect player by any means, he's certainly good enough to play more regularly than he has with us.

Don’t even mention Kolt’s hair. It’s a bone of contention between us. I told him I don’t like the string (it’s not even a headband) and he said, “you don’t like any of my hairstyles… maybe you tell me how I should wear it?” And buggered if I knew what to say. 😅

Nah, they know I’ll show them up.

Coached Aquinas College to winning the PSA this season, dealt with the tragedy of losing one of their players in a tragic car accident. Loved him as a player, ultra professional who got the best out of himself

Thanks for your excellent training reports @WalkingCivilWar. Love how you compassionately personalise the players. Your insights enhance my enjoyment of following the club and serve as useful reminders that our players are just young people making their way in life.

I have friends that worked with her in local government and they said she is wonderful and does a lot of work behind the scenes.

Thanks Walking, I am not a prolific poster but am most definitely an avid consumer of your training reports. You paint a wonderful picture without any pretentions to knowing what is going on inside the club. This to me is what makes your posts so special. Enjoy the Men's offseason and revel in the Women's!!

Never...

Sorry Andy it was the shortest session ever. I didn’t take a single pic or vid. Too busy being sad, then happy, then sad again, and so on and so forth.

All litigation is energy sucking. Doing real President things, we dont need to hear from her about Christian Petracca.

Still Woewodin

https://x.com/thefrontbar7/status/1826231366503051699https://x.com/thefrontbar7/status/1826231366503051699

I reckon there'll be 45K at the game The Pies fans have already started migrating down to Frankston for a holiday

Selecting to win. Go dees.

Thanks @WalkingCivilWar for this and all of your training reports. It's great getting some glimpses into the people in the inner sanctum. Must be mixed emotions this time of year with inevitable departures & retirements, etc. How did May look today?

My 3 word analysis for Asher - Best on Ground

Being checked into Melbourne Clinic. Greif and loss psychosis. Did not arrive by Ambulance but in the back of a Divvy Van. More to come.......

GWS James Peatling. Still unsigned 24yo mid bull

I expect at least 7 list exits at the end of the season - Brayshaw, Hunter, Schache, Tomlinson, Smith, ANB and B.Brown. The good thing there is that they are all senior listed players so that gives us a lot of flexibility for new acquisitions. I hope we retain all our Rookies and give them further time to develop - K.Brown, Kentfield, Verrall, Sestan, AMW (B), KFW (B) and Melksham and Hore who add value and depth. I think we'll be looking to elevate at least a couple of Rookies to free space on that list for more speculation and Noah Yze, Ricky Mentha. I think AMW, K.Brown and Verrall are the elevation candidates.

Lever’s interview put my mind at ease about Trac. Our leaders signed contracts that will see them through to career close. We’ve got premiership players to farewell in ANB and BBB. Despite one of the most emotionally wild seasons in a long time and a lot of bitter disappointment, I’m feeling good right now. It feels like it has all come to a head. Get the job done against the Pies and I’ll end the season feeling content.

Oh ffs Did any of these clowns stop and think that maybe, just maybe, Trac was putting on a happy face and telling his teammates he was doing ok when asked? How many people do you know who put on a smile, while deep down they’re struggling?! It is entirely plausible that Trac felt a sense of responsibility to maintain the upbeat tone that he’s so well known and loved for amongst his teammates. It’s entirely possible that when his mates asked how he’s doing, and of course they did, he said he’s fine. Maybe he wasn’t ready to tell them how badly he was struggling, or maybe he didn’t know himself how badly he was struggling either, until he had time to process.

To be fair, both Eddie and Jeff are narcissistic media Ho’s!! They don’t do it for their clubs, they do it for themselves! I for one are happy Kate is bunkering down and not igniting the flames that are roaring atm. Those who think she needs to answer to them on here are overthinking their importance to this club. Paid up members or not.

I have a particular interest in one player on the list who has missed games at Casey on a few occasions now. The medical reports are scant and on one occasion I attended a club function and asked how he was. No one knew or was reluctant to tell. By accident, I ran into him at the game and he assured me he was ok but got a concussion at training the previous Thursday and was in concussion protocols. Club officials and other players had no idea what was wrong. On other occasions, this pattern has repeated itself. I have concluded that player details or injuries are not shared amongst the playing group. They are so focussed on their own performance and well being they have no time to know all about the others. Maybe this is a strategy to limit information leaking. I have nothing but admiration for WCW attending training so often and keeping us informed. She can keep a secret as well. She is my only trusted source. She posted Monday that Sparrow was in a moonboot with a bad ankle long before the club's medical report. Re Trac, most players only had to read the papers to realise the gory details of his case study but then if I was advising the players I would recommend they don't read the papers. I can understand the leaders reaching out to Trac but hope that not everyone on the list was contacting him. I also read where he turned his phone off. Whatever happens, it will all become obvious in the passage of time so for now I trust the club to tell me what it deems appropriate to know. I stopped listening to SEN, ignore the Sun and all the AFL shows on Foxtel etc.

He should never have resurfaced from his misogyny. Typical AFL boys club mentality still living in this industry

Tracc wants trout?