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Gee it was humid there this morning and it was exhausting just watching them run up that slope. A lot od the players mentioned as not training rocked up later. Some had been in the gym others in the pool. FWIW I had a chat with Kalani. He confirmed he is 200 cm and can high jump 2 metres. He signs his autographs with the number 34 K White maybe that gives a hint where his loyalties lie. Had a great chat with Trac, I can understand why he was so traumatised by his injury and the confronting environment of an ICU with extremely ill people. and had a lot to do with the trauma unit. He was happy to talk. He is MFC thru and thru and don't believe all the [censored] you have read about him. He wants the best for the club and the players with everyone treated equally and with respect. In his words this group with the new guys are tight and all in. Max was surrounded by fans, Salo looks fit and well and was describing the families new dining outlet, TMac was in sandles having gone for a swim and is awaiting the impending arrival of their latest. May held court until whisked away by the demon Army but was describing his baby feeding exploits in the wee hours of the morning. Last but not least was the chat with Choco, such an interesting character. He is such a great mentor to the young guys and was seeing how they responded to having so many fans up close. He is a beauty

Relax y’all… I had an awesome chat with Judd’s girlfriend Lily at last night’s B&F about a range of things (hair and nails and makeup. You know, the important things) and there’s “absolutely no way he’s going back to WA.” Judd came over and we stopped talking but he guessed what we’d been discussing and he confirmed that he’s not interested at all in returning to WA.

You could hardly call it “PRESEASON TRAINING” but it was about a half an hour of running uphill sprints in Yarra Park to the south of Vale Street, East Melbourne with gentle run downs and repeats with varying rates of intensity. Hard to believe it but a few hours later, they would all be upstaged by a 16-years-old track and field athlete who later in the day and 1,400km to the north, broke a 56 year record for 200 metres held by the late Peter Norman, a Demon fan and Mexico Olympics silver medalist in what was one of the most famous sprint races of all time. But the athletics theme was evident back at Yarra Park where recruit and former steeplechaser Harry Sharp who holds the draft combine 2km time trial record of 5:28m (anything under 6:00m is considered elite for AFL) held court. Kozzy Pickett was also looking very sharp himself and anything but homesick (I say that for the benefit of those in the media desperate to recycle yet another baseless “scoop” this week) and he will be an asset once April comes around and he’s served his three weeks for that accidental glancing blow that Darcy Moore fell into in Round 24. Nobody can really replace Kozzy in the first few weeks of next year and the speculation in the crowd of sponsors and coterie members was inconclusive. Maybe, it will be a different type of player like Sharp or impressive tall youngster Harvey Langford who looked right at home with the men including fellow midfielders Jack Viney, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver - all building up to restore the midfield to the top of the tree again. Trent Rivers also looked mighty impressive as well. Though there were no footballs out, apart from the ones held by eager kids waiting for photos with their favourite players, I got the feeling that there is a major sea change coming up among the club’s key forward line up. With Harry Petty going back, JvR and Disco (both looking fit and impressive) will have competition from powerful looking newcomer Aidan Johnson and yet-to-be capped first round draft pick from 2022, Matt Jefferson. I’m tipping JvR will continue to rise in the ranks of AFL KPPs with far less emphasis in him taking on the relief ruckwork. Someone should do a remeasure of his height because he looks taller than his advertised 193cm on the club’s website. Back on the athletics theme, Kalani White, an accomplished high jumper who possibly should have been competing up north because he can cover the vertical 200cm jump which is his actual height, turned up with the Kolt. Kalani needs time in the gym plus several courses of that pasta recipe of Tracc’s nonna and in short time, he will be the next Sam Darcy, Jordan Croft or even better. The good news is that White and the Kolt had just emerged straight out of the greatest stadium on the planet - the MCG. The Gold Coast Suns play their games at a third rate bush track where it’s a struggle to get decent tucker at half time. There’s no comparison and it’s a no brainer for Kalani who needs to forget the GCS Academy. The famous #34 awaits in the locker room across Swan Street (or possibly at the magnificent Caulfield Racecourse a little further down the track). That’s where the future lies! Anyway, we escaped from Yarra Park and the flies after a taste of the Demon Army’s hot dogs and a fantastic cafe latte early and missed some of the club’s veterans. Sorry Max. For the players, it’s back to Gosch’s tomorrow for the last week of 2024 training and then onwards and upwards to 2025 and our restoration to finals glory.

I’ve come around to the potential of this group over the last few months. It’s got 21 vibes written all over it. There seems a real excitement within the group to get season 25 underway. We’ve got an excellent top end and an incredibly talented group of youngsters coming through. For mine the fitness of May doesn’t hang heavy as it did last year with Petty going back. We’ve got Langford as the replacement for Gus, Windsor, JVR and Turner with another preseason and the opportunity for Oliver to once again become a midfield great. Throw in a fit Rivers and of course Petracca to the midfield and all of a sudden we’re top 4 again. With Gawn still at or near the top and the likes of Chandler, Bowey, Langdon, Salem, McVee, Sharp, Tholstrup and Spargo kicking into forward 50 there’s not a lot of weak spots in the team. Throw in a fit Pickett, a tweaked game style, an easier draw and a committed coaching line up and I for one am back to being very bullish about our chances. I also think Lindsay will be best 22 and with the extra run he and others bring there’s little to stop us. Time to win one at the G is now. Unleash hell Demons!

Fixed it for you.

I didn’t bring up the subject of him going or staying, he did.

Another great post. Keep them coming.

Good on them. I’ve always been a big fan of Maddi Gay and would have liked to have kept her but it sounded like she thought she needed a fresh start. Maybe we needed to try harder to keep her? Eliza West is just too similar to our existing mids, small. We couldn’t have known Purcell would miss so much of the season. I think she is a more valuable player to Hawthorn than she would be for us. Win-win trade long-term and short term if Purcell didn’t get injured.

This is my favourite!

To hear Trac's commitment to the club is the best news of the preseason. Thanks. Good to hear the group is all in - reminiscent of 2021. Bodes well.

This kind of response comes up all the time here, and it's such a weak, flawed argument - not to mention, confirmation bias.

Two games away from the 8 last year doesn’t sound like that far back

Happy for them both! Maddi certainly looked way fresher in her body than in 2023. Also she was a Bombers fan as a kid, so can never begrudge someone that opportunity. It's hard to see players succeed elsewhere though. But when we see players like this have an immediate impact elsewhere, we can say we're doing our part for the growing and evening out the league. Which is to the benefit of all in the long term. I do note that there's one ex-player who has achieved success but is conspicuously absent in our congratulations. 😂

1st Kate Hore 70 ❤️💙 2nd Tyla Hanks 68 ❤️💙 3rd Maeve Chaplin 67 ❤️💙 4th Eliza McNamara 64❤️💙 5th Sinead Goldrick 61❤️💙 6th Megan Fitzsimon 59❤️💙 7th Shelley Heath 58❤️💙 8th Tahlia Gillard & Alyssa Bannan 57❤️💙 9th Lil Mithen 53❤️💙 10th Sarah Lampard 50❤️💙

Or else Ben King is in for a big surprise!

I didn't know the man, but one of the most influential figures in the development of AFL football in the 1980s and 1990s passed away yesterday. Much of what we take for granted today results from the work he did for the former VFL. For example, he advised the VFL to ensure that football remained accessible to all supporters, rather than following the US model which effectively meant that only the wealthy (the so-called "theatre-goers") could attend home games. If I recall correctly, he also recommended the creation of the Commission which replaced a barely functioning board of directors made up of two representatives from each club who thought their duty was to their club first and the survival of the competition second. The old VFL nearly went under in 1986, and much of the work David Crawford did for the then VFL around that time helped the VFL to survive and subsequently resulted in the stronger, national competition we see today.

We will Win it all next year or in 26

Maddi Gay has claimed Essendon’s 2024 AFLW Best and Fairest, bringing a fitting close to a terrific first season in red and black. The 28-year-old took home the award in front of teammates, coaches, staff and fans in at Crown on Friday night, finishing in front of starring runner-up Georgia Nanscawen and breakout defender Georgia Clarke in third place. Gay was a dominant force in defence all year and made instant impact in her move from the Demons this season, named in the leadership group and featuring in every game of a season for the first time in her career. The All Australian half back averaged 20 disposals, five marks and a staggering 453 metres gained per game, all career-highs ————————————————— Hawthorn star Eliza West has taken out the club’s best and fairest award in her first season in the brown and gold. The vice-captain polled 68 votes across the 2024 season, while captain and 2023 winner Emily Bates came in second on 60 votes, followed by young gun Jasmine Fleming on 58 votes. West’s win is the result of her outstanding efforts in an impressive debut season with the Hawks, appearing in every game in 2024. The 27-year-old led the team in average disposals (21.9), contested possessions (14), handballs (13.8), ground ball gets (9.8), tackles (7.8) and clearances (5.6). West was appointed as vice-captain ahead of the 2024 season, immediately earning the respect of her fellow teammates after joining the club in the off-season. The maximum number of votes a player can poll is eight, which West received on two occasions – In Week 5 against Geelong (season-high 16 tackles, 24 disposals and seven clearances) and Week 6 against Gold Coast (23 disposals and a goal).

I've said this before but Chaplin coached the highest scoring forwardline in the comp in 2018, last time he was a forwards coach...

Yee of little faith. If you take last years result and add Petracca, Oliver, Langford, Lindsay, preseasons into Petty, Spargo, a fit Salem, Bowey and May and then add another preseason into Windsor, JVR, Kolt, Turner and add Rivers to the midfield what exactly aren’t you confident about?

Easier draw, a version of Clayton Oliver back that resembles that pre-2024 model, and the younger guys to hit the ground running and we'll play finals

It’s a very even and tough competition Lots depend on injuries and a bit of luck within games Hopefully things roll a bit more our way in 2025

Maddi was actually considering retiring at the end of last season. The fresh start at another club has clearly been a wise decision. I just wish it wasn’t Essendon 😂

After the s..t storm the media have created, I would like to think there would be a bit of fire in the belly. If not, we are stuffed

Thank you OFan 💕 We actually really enjoy everything we do, even working bees which aren’t supposed to be fun but we make them fun. And tonight I get to enjoy the ‘fruits of my labour’ since I scored a free ticket to the Women’s B&F courtesy of a player sponsor who can’t attend. YAY! The W B&F is way more fun than the M. ❤️💙

Then get ready to cop an eyeful… we had so many left over that me and my long-suffering teenager and our chooks will be eating nothing but sausages ‘til Xmas (again). Also brought eight loaves of bread home; seems sponsors don’t go crazy for a snag in bread like we expected. Most of the players also chose not to partake and those who did only had one which is pretty much like having none coz who the hell only has one, amirite?! edit: for the young boys this was their first taste of this type of event. They appeared to handle it well. Harvey looked a little out of his comfort zone at the beginning but soon looked relaxed talking to the sponsors. The sweetest thing though… Ricky literally didn’t leave Kozzie’s side. 🥹

Which one are you? Seriously naive and lazy take. Chaplin is our best line coach and respected in the league and he is coaching leading patterns and ball movement. You don’t need to be a ‘former AFL forward’ to be able to understand them, apply them in a team context, and coach them to blokes to execute on the weekend.

I feel how well we do this season with be the defining factor with a lot of players and contracts, top 4 we make finals maybe go all the way, no one's going to Leave we don’t make finals again it’s going to be grim but I’m optimistic that we can have a stellar year healthy squad and a reasonable fixture surely we got this ❤️💙💗❤️💙

Agreed, No it does not. Being a good coach is more about your ability to build connections and clearly articulate your message. Fages never even played AFL and is now a premiership coach.

I would hope that's the case but Judd and his partner aren't going to tell supporters anything other than he's staying, regardless of his actual intentions

Maybe it’s because our mothers told us if we can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. 🙃

It’s a good place for trades or if you want to work in mining, but limited other than that.

Thanks all Can we afford to be confident re KW34 and CP5? Sound reasonably positive.

Wow, great photo, forget the players, where is that scar tree in the background?

You probably forgot the onions. As a veteran of a number of school fetes etc manning the sizzle, you soon learnt that if you want a queue, fry the onions - the smell attracts the punters like....(insert own analogy here)

I chatted to Langford briefly. When he fills out he will be a massive human. Nice kid. I had a good chat to another youngster and he mentioned that his parents get their gossip from Demonland…. All the players were pretty good and happy to take plenty of photos with kids etc. The running session didn’t reveal much of interest. All the players looked comfortable enough.

They all turned up to the chats with sponsors part. Shane Mc and Marty were the only ones not there.

Jail Culley would be a fantastic get for Casey. Watching their games this year, the biggest whole we had on field was midfield depth. Not only was losing Jordon, Dunstan and Harmes a significant hit for Casey midfield depth, but I felt the loss of James Munro was a bigger one. We got Campbell Hustwaite as a replacement but he lasted 5 minutes until injury. Culley would add a bigger mature body in the midfield and take the load off our young players. I am hoping Riley Bonner also signs with Casey just to add some further experience.

What I’ve seen is a workhorse who is willing to play a role for the team which may at times be unrewarded. What I mean by this is he’s going to take a big defender and use his work ethic and power to create space JVR and Fritta. A willing tackler who can pinch hit in the ruck. Think Micocek at Collingwood and that’s the prototype.

Thanks Andy. Hope you're all well and have a safe and fabulous break. We don't say it often enough but you do an amazing job with this site and the podcast and it is hugely appreciated. Good luck Binman with pre festive season loading.

It is unlikely that we will be having an end of season podcast at this stage due to a number of personal reasons.

Surely you meant the ol’ 5-13? So when Harley’s contract ends and he pleads to trade to the dominant Demons, will that cause a conflict? 🤗

Flash Davey’s niece, Tatyana Perry is in the draft crop this year. Was into Dees because uncle Aaron was with us, tipped to go in the 25-40 range. In other drafts she’d probably be well in first rd contention, but this is an especially strong group. Speed and skill is Tatyana’s calling card, good by foot too: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1262682

We actually started frying the onions before folks arrived. The thing is, our marquee was set up in a silly position, the back was facing the gathering. Yes, people could smell the onions but I guess they need to see the actual inside of the marquee. All good though, I was tasked with periodically roaming the area trying to attract customers and was mildly successful. It’s amazing how threats can kickstart someone’s appetite 😁

Messed up his hair😊

Wallbanger!

I went there last weekend, purely for one. Didn’t step foot inside the store.

I've been to all but one of the training sessions this year and I think there is a spot in the best 22 for Harry. He's been very impressive. He attacks the ball hard, he's got good clean hands and makes good decisions. He can run all day gets to the right spots and has been heavily involved in all the full field match sims. His disposal has been iffy at times but the same can be said for most. My view is that Chandler will take the ANB spot, Sharp will take the wing with Windsor playing off half back. That's the initial plan as far as I can see. Jed Adams was impressive today and certainly had a few cameos but he's still 5th banana for a spot down back and even perhaps 6th because Howes is tall, similar in height to Tmac and has been playing the Lever role pretty well. Howes reads the play well and is clean and disposes well. He's also been good in the contested possession drills I've seen and will fight hard to consolidate his spot in the team this year. He strikes me as someone who will mature late but mature well. He's a lot taller than when drafted and it's probably taking a while to adapt to the different role he'll play given his growth. The Kolt just reeks leadership and enthusiasm on field. He goes hard the whole time and he's a 1st round talent. There is a fair bit of competition for spots but he'll be a valuable player this year. He didn't participate in full field drills today and was running the boundary but didn't look impeded in any way. I'm different to many on AJ. He's got to show he's AFL standard before he gets in the team and he won't get in just to be Max's chop out. He hasn't shown me that he's up to that and he's only had half a season of VFL exposed form really. Turner and JvR will be two talls, whether we play a third or whether we look for a different structure I don't know but if Petty is going to play back AJ or Jeffo have to step up. Whilst there have been signs neither has grabbed the opportunity to date. Having said that the match sims don't really seem to give the talls much of a chance to show their stuff so there is a bit of water to go under the bridge. Missing today were Verrall and Bowser although I notice someone said they saw him. I didn't and if he'd been there I think I would have noticed as he's been a bit of a standout to date. As reported Kossie, Clarrie and Windsor were very good and I thought Knuckles played well. Chandler was very vocal today and played his role. I expect him to be part of the leadership group when it's decided. It was also good to see Fritta in all the drills as was Campbell. Lever and Spargo look to be the ones with issues with Lever behind Spargs. Makes me wonder if that explains the "Petty back" decision but that is total speculation.

How to say you never saw Robbie Flower play without saying that you never saw Robbie Flower play.