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Player summary, part 2: Adams: Evaluating Jed is a bit difficult because, if it hasn't already been mentioned, he looks a lot like Petts! And now that Petts is doing a lot of training with the backs it's even more confusing! When he first came his running was very poor but it's slowly improving. Rather than being a long way back he's now managing to keep up with the slower groups. I'm not sure how much of an issue that is given his most likely position is deep back but it's an area he'll have to work hard on. Encouragingly he's done a full preseason. He's been a bit more involved this PS than others and he's had some good cameos one being a really good pack mark which drew applause from coaches and players alike. His kicking is good and decision making okay but he still doesn't get involved as much as you'd like. I can see why we drafted him but he's a slow burn and being behind Tmac, Lever, May and Petty he's likely got another learning year at Casey. He'll need to show a lot more this year and will be an interesting watch. Hore: He's done what he's always done, all of the sessions in a reliable and solid matter. Marty is what he is and what we've seen in the past is what we'll get in the future. Verrall: Will is an interesting player. The major negative is his running is terrible and in the time trials I reckon he was 20 to 30 seconds our slowest player with one of the fitness staff running with him over the last couple of hundred yards to help him finish. His running issues are nothing new but don't appear to be improving much and that is an issue. He's also a bit of a tweener, not quite big enough for a ruck and is he agile enough to play a KP role. But he has attributes. For a tall he's very good below his knees and once the ball hits the ground he stays involved with some nice skills. But in his primary position as ruck he's outclassed by Tom Campbell and of course Gawny. And tbh I've not seen a major improvement this PS but others have commented that he's "bulked up" and looking much stronger. Campbell: Tom will be a terrific back up for Gawny. He started in rehab doing a lot of running but has progressed into the main group where he's been providing Gawny with some solid competition in ruck drills, something he didn't have last year. He's a neat player, knows the caper and looks to have fitted in really well. Sharp: The kid can run which is a huge advantage as it's allowed him to get to so many contests in the match sims. He's a neat player and his skill level reminds me a bit of ANB in his younger days although he's probably a bit neater below his knees than Nibber was. He does a lot of off ball work from what I've seen and played almost exclusively on the wing, often against Lingers (boy do they cover some ground) and I reckon he'd have learned a lot. I see him as best 22 at the moment but of course it's "dancing with your sister" time so I not overly confident about that. I am confident he'll work his way into best 22 over time and be a good solid player. He'll just get to so many contests and provide so many options and you'd expect him to be very damaging later in games when others are spent. Fritsch: Started in rehab and only moved into full training towards the back end of this period. But he was running freely and quickly from day one and looks to be really fit now. His skills have been on display and he looks a cut above a lot of the time but he always has. If he can get a good run of fitness leading into the season he should be set up for a good year. Sparrow: I hesitate to judge players physiques but it seems pretty obvious that Tom has trimmed down and is looking much leaner and defined than last year. He's in the midfield/wing group and hasn't missed a session. He's having a good PS and will have the opportunity to improve on last year. Fullarton: Again he looks bigger in the shoulders than last year but who knows. He was training well initially but then moved into the rehab group and has been doing a lot of running. On the track Tom looks to have so many good attributes but his challenge is to demonstrate them on gameday so we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully he's out of rehab after Christmas and gets a good run for the rest of the PS. Petty: Well the major news which you all know is he's now officially a swingman as he's trained mainly with the backs but has done some forward work. He's a great competitor at training and he's shown all his well know attributes with positioning and marking. I'm hoping for a better season from him as he's done a full PS to date and hasn't missed a beat. Where he plays will depend on Tmac's form I guess and whether Jeffo takes his chances when they come. Pickett: Just wow, he's dominated training in match sims with his speed, agility and vision. He's training with the mids and if he plays the season there will give us a completely different look. Whether we can afford to miss him up forward will be interesting but he's just looking great. What a bummmer he's missing the first 3 games. Chandler: Fit, tough, involved and running better than ever finishing in the top 5 in the 2k time trial. It's sometimes easy to forget that even more mature players can improve as they move through their middle 20's but I think Chin will do that, just think of ANB's improvement over his time with us. He's not missed a beat this PS and appears to have taken on a much greater leadership role. I've had the pleasure of meeting him, he's a ripper, and leadership seems to be a natural place for him to be. Sestan: I called him "smokey" from day one and he's still one. Couldn't run much when he first got to us and was overweight for an AFL footballer but that has improved significantly now that he's into his third PS. He's got lots of attributes headlined by his kicking which is great but unfortunately he spent some time in rehab missing a lot of match sim sessions. He's playing with the forwards and doing a bit of clearance work and I'd imagine he'll play midfield at Casey but whether he can get fit enough to do that at AFL level who knows. I don't know what role he'd play in the seniors but he's giving it everything and won't die wondering if he could have given more. One of my favourites, I hope he makes it. Mentha: When I think of Ricky I think of a big smile and dancing feet! He loves to dance, dodge, twist and turn. He's about on a 50/50 success rate atm with all that but boy is it fun to watch. He's quick, has nice skills and good vision and if he can find the ball he will become a fan favourite pretty quickly. He's a young bloke on a steep learning curve and it looks like he's loving the journey. Great to have him on our list. Woewodin: Was training well and involved but ended up in the rehab group. I can't really add much because I haven't noticed him all that much so maybe other track watchers can fill in the gaps. Very neat player. Has he improved on last year? I hope so but I don't know. Brown: He looks taller to me but that might not be right. He excels at the running drills and looks better all round to me this year with his strength and agility. He's playing midfield and wing, mainly on the other side of the ground to where I stand but I've got this kid with a bullet this season as I can't see what he hasn't got. He's very clean, agile and quick. His kicking is perhaps his main area for improvement but he's moving solidly in the right direction. Johnson: I didn't really have much expectation when we drafted him given his lack of high level footy but JT has picked a good one I think. He's strong with good pace and ground ball skills. His marking is solid and he stays involved in the game when the ball hits the ground. It will be fascinating to see how he improves in an elite program but I expect him to start at Casey as he'd be behind a lot of our other talls. Kentfield: Luker is big and strong and has done a full preseason to date. He's doing everything reasonably well and he moves very well but he hasn't been all that involved in match sims but it would be hard for him as there are a lot in front of him and the match sims have mainly been ball movement where the tall forwards don't do much contest stuff. Another learning year for Luker but one thing he has in spades is the body to play AFL. Moniz-Wakefield: I really like Andy, he's a bright happy bloke with some really good AFL attributes. He hasn't stood out to me this year at PS as much as I'd like but sometimes I just don't see blokes. I know that sounds silly but there is so much going on and you're trying to take in so much. The good news is he's done all the training and is setting himself up well for the season. George: Roy is in the Ricky class, fun to watch and looks like a really engaging character. Whether he finds a way on to our list I don't know but he's been a lot more impressive than I expected and certainly has some of that indigenous magic. He's only done a couple of sessions so it's very early days. I guess the first step is hoping nobody else picks him up. In summary I reckon it's been a very good preseason simply because so many have done the majority of the sessions. The list looks happy and engaged. Troy Chaplin has certainly brought a different focus to the forward line with what seems to me much more instruction and involvement than Stafford. That's not a criticism of Greg, just an observation. Different coaches have different ways of doing things. When Scotty West was in charge of the mids in the late 00's he did all his coaching on field and he'd have the mids on field when other where looking at vision learning the ropes. But I like the fact that the players are hearing different voices at training and messages delivered in different ways. Observing training my guess is that Chin will take ANB's role and Sharp is likely to take the wing as Windsor moves back. The makeup of the forward line will be interesting with the main query being whether we use two or three KP players. Anyway it appears a fair bit of training after Christmas will be done at Casey which I won't be able to get to. Hopefully they have some at Gosch's that I'll be able to get to.

Christian Petracca marries partner Bella in stunning ceremony Congratulations to Christian Petracca and Bella Beischer who tied the knot yesterday in a stunning ceremony at the Royal Botanic Gardens. There were plenty of Demon teammates on hand enjoying the ceremony. The couple drove off in a vintage Mercedes with a beaming Beischer wearing a beautiful white strapless gown and clutching white flowers ending a dramatic six month period for them after that sickening on-field clash in June. Congratulations and looking forward to a better year ahead, some more flags and Norm Smiths and plenty of father/son and father/daughter player in the future.

This is a slow time of the year so I thought I'd put my thoughts down about our preseason to date. I've seen all but one training session but keep in mind it's one man's opinion and there is so much going on that you see only a fraction of what each player is doing on any particular day. But over the journey you get a fair view of all players. General Comments: Fitness: the players do appear fit and of particular note for me is the great condition our second year players have come back in. Windsor, Kolt and Brown all look really fit and have done almost the entire preseason. I think it's important and it indicates that they may not suffer "second year blues". We've also had the majority of players doing a full preseason. Those in the rehab group are well documented and none appear to have long term recoveries in front of them. Training: the drills have been similar to last year and to my eye there doesn't seem to be much change in the program. There seems to be an emphasis in using the corridor and moving the ball quickly but this is common with previous preseasons. On Wednesday, in windy conditions, when there was a little more pressure put on the ball carrier using the corridor proved problematic with a number of turnovers. Personnel May: he's doing another preseason and from memory hasn't missed a session. JvR: another that has done every session and looks fit and strong. He hasn't shone in the full field drills but many of them don't seem to be designed to allow key forwards much opportunity. He's a leader on the field and trains with high intensity. Salem: Started in rehab from day one with the 1 - 4th years running the boundary and has now progressed through his rehab and is in full training. He looks really fit and his skills and experience really show out in the full field drills. McVee: he's a rolls royce. Hasn't missed a session and is just so composed. He's trained mainly with the backs but has been involved with some clearance work. He's been pretty heavily involved in the drills and his kicking is a highlight. Petracca: well if you had doubts about his commitment you can just put that to bed. He's ripped, he's involved and he's special. Most importantly he doesn't seem hesitant about physical contact and regardless of what happens at the end of 25 I'm sure he's 100% committed to the 25 season. Windsor: Has moved to the backline and is an absolute standout for me this preseason to date. If Judd is a roller then Duke is a Lambo - so fast and with the skills to go with it. It's quite exciting to think what he could do this year coming. Viney: He only knows one way and you know what that is. Things haven't changed and he looks in great shape and hasn't missed and significant training. Lever: Slow laps have progressed to faster laps but he's in rehab and progressing slowly. See the injury update for more info. Spargo: For a bloke that hasn't played since round one last season he's been commented on quite a lot this preseason. Running, running and more running for Spargs as he progresses through his recovery and has now progressed into some of the skills sessions. It's been a long journey to get to where he is and I'd imagine it will take some time to get his touch back but he'll be a great addition to the playing list whether it be really good depth or in the 22. Turner: Another of the highlights for me and has shown some impressive skills and played well in the match play drills. Great hands, good kicking for goal and a lot of involvement when the ball hits the ground. Unfortunately tweeked something later in the preseason and has spent a few sessions doing what they do in rehab - run, run, run. He doesn't look in any discomfort and did the majority of the PS to date. Gawn: He's the best ruck and contested ruck in the AFL. It shows at training. He looks lean and fit. Shame about his injury but if he can still run with it I know what I'm going to be seen in January while he recovers. Tholstrup: the Kolt was a leader when it was the first to fourth years and I'm a big fan. He's hard to place but has been training forward and with the mids. Energetic, faster than I remembered, involved and very encouraging to his teammates. IMO can play and will surprise. Oliver: so much said but in the end Clarrie looks happy and relaxed and to my eye looks very fit. Perhaps not as ripped as in 21 but a different class of fit to 24. His ball handling is back and he's just getting it all the time. And his tackling is back too. I think we didn't really appreciate how much that hand injury impacted him last year. He's so important to us but things look good at present. Langdon: Lingers has been fantastic. So involved, so much running and his kicking is so improved on his earlier years. Laurie: Others have commented on his kicking and skills but I haven't noticed them this PS all that much. Where his running was elite last year (second behind ANB in the 2k trials) he's dropped a little this year. He's neat but there isn't much I can add other than he's done all the seasons and trained mainly with the forwards and some mid work as well. Bowey: Another standout who trained from day one with the young blokes. He looks terrific and his kicking is elite. Involved with high skills in ball handling and decision making. Hoping for a genuine break out year. All the signs are good. Melksham: I had him delisted at the end of 21 but initially in the 25 PS he was looking so fit and involved. He isn't there filling in the numbers he's right in the mix. Sadly he's done a hammy I suspect in the second last session and let's hope it's minor. Langford: Lots has been said and I can't add much. Just looks hungry and composed and "comfortable at the pace". Yes he's been caught a few times and he'll learn from that. Better in PS than in games. His footy IQ is elite, he just knows how to be involved, he works hard and his vision is great. I don't think his pace is an issue but his kicking is a little up and under over the shorter distances and is something to work on. He's a genuine class player in the making. Lindsay: really all I've seen from his is run, run, run and then do it again. He's been involved in a few of the quieter skills drills which are mainly done on the other side of the ground to where I stand so I can't offer much. But as I said to a mate "JT pick Windsor out of the pack and he looks great, no reason XL can't be the same. Jefferson: If you've read the training report, and if you've got this far into this I assume you have, much has already been said and I agree with it. He looks bigger and stronger. He's more involved. He's got very good skills and he's had some really good cameo moments. He's progressing nicely and I'm buying shares but they are slightly speculative. He's also done all sessions with is in sharp contrast to last year when he was on his own program well into February and if you remember he started in the backline for Casey. Howes: he's tall. If he's not as tall as Lever he's not far off it. He's just gone about his business. He makes very few mistakes and he's quietly involved if you know what I mean. He's one of those players you don't notice until you do and once you have you see he's much more involved than you thought. He's trained with the backs and done all sessions. McAdam: look there's been a lot of debate and quite a lot of criticism of him and while he's been in rehab and then absent I think he's looked in really good shape. He's just run so much with apparently no injury and I think they are just trying to do something different with him to get him through a season. So not much to report, make your own judgement but he looks fit and committed to me but I'm a glass half full sort of supporter. Rivers: looks great. Training with the mids and doing all the sessions. He's really powerful through his legs. There's no reason not to hope he picks up through the midfield and just adds to what he showed last year. Tmac: where to start? Well as one of the older statesmen he started from day one and was a standout for a good part of the PS. Perhaps a little quieter in the last few sessions but all he does is so clean and while many deny it, his kicking is very good. He's also extremely fit finishing high up in the time trials. It's hard to see him not in the starting 22 on form which makes it hard to see why Petty is going back. For me you can forget "Petty is the future". That's right but we are playing in the present and atm Tmac is a standout at training. I'll finish the players later and if there's interest. All this is really doing is summarising all the training reports of mine and others. I'd be interested in other track watchers view where they differ from mine because as I say, you don't see everything.

Lovely photo of the boys. Good to see Bray', Harmsy, and ANB there!

A cry for 'Help' @Fanatique Demon ? Allow me to assist. See Blue comments: So realistically… Eleven teams are starting 2025 in front of us. Some have had a better draft result (eg Brisbane). Langford is a pretty good result. Some have players coming back from injury (eg Carlton, Collingwood). Petracca and Oliver say 'hi' Some recruited stars from other clubs (eg Collingwood). Houston? 👎 Some had great years but just fell short (eg GWS, Hawthorn). Give you GWS, Hawks, yeah but nah Some have young guns who are ahead of ours (eg Geelong) Ouch! Windsor, JvR. McVee, Kozzie etc ?? And of those below us… One has a gift-from-heaven 2025 draw (ie, the GC Suns). Our draw isn't too shabby! One failed to meet expectations in 2024 despite a good list, and can be expected to bounce back (ie, Adelaide). Ditto the Dees Hope that cheers you up a little! We have the players. If coaches bring and teach a more effective and versatile method we will be playing finals and imv go deep in Sept.

great to see Gus there.

By all accounts it was a small private occasion for immediate family and friends. Much like our home games.

Not just that. Two grounds means one can be the exact dimensions of the G and the other configurable to other grounds and/or permanently marked with things that assists others training drills, eg lanes or grids.

It’s not unreasonable to say results were often worse with the new game plan than the old one. But the evidence from 22, 23 and even 24 (port, GWS games) was that it was falling short against quality opponents. Plus it was hurting crowds and I even think hurting players - both physically and with skill development. The club is right to continue to push towards a more attacking and spread out game plan. I don’t know what the myth is? If people think we didn’t try last year to change that’s a myth. But it’s also fair to see that we regressed at various times through the year and probably played the old game plan about half the time. I do think it was mostly out of necessity and I hope we don’t have to do that this year.

I thin by the end of the season we might be hearing 'How did Lindsay get to pick 11', what a steal.

Good to see Clarrie there,

It’s probably keeping his larynx in place.

I mean the truth is we got smacked in the middle, especially in the 2nd half of the season. This means our backline was under siege and our fwd line was limited. A fit trac and clarry go a LONG way to fixing this on their own.

We lost 4 games against top 8 sides by a kick. We aren't that far away. And that is with just about everything going wrong for us in 2024. The question was "Is this fixable in 1 off season or are we delusional thinking we can make the 8 with aging stars ?" The answer is of course it is fixable. Getting our key players back on the park play their best footy is the first key. The second is adjusting the game plan which is never as difficult as people seem to think. Thirdly we have a pretty easy draw that should see us 6-2 or 7-1. That momentum should see us make the 8 easily. We only play one 2024 top side twice and supposedly have the second easiest draw. If you look at which players improved or maintained excellence in 2024 (excl 1st year players) it is a very small list; Viney, Rivers, TMac, Langdon, Gawn and maybe McVee. There is a lot of upside for many of our players. That we are 14th in flag betting at 26 to 1 is ridiculous. we should be very optimistic about our chances in 2025

Gus. Harmesy. ANB. We still love ya ❤️💙 Boys look all happy. Beautiful memories with mates.

#joyride

This fellas doing a lot for a bloke that died last year, must be some weekend at Bernie's style handlers that he has

Recent scenes a Gosch's give cause for optimism.

The good thing is that today's date is 20 December 2024 and they play the Grand Final on 27 September 2025. If I remember correctly, we weren't great at any phase of the game on 20 December 2020 either.

Perhaps the second oval will have Kardinia Park's dimensions and that's also why we could easily fit both inside the racetrack.

I think the idea is that during the winter months the ground can suffer from too much use. Being able to switch to a different oval would give them time to recover, meaning training conditions won’t be effected.

four teams use them

Congrats Tracc and have a great honeymoon and and then onto our next flag.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14215413/AFL-Christian-Petracca-marries-Bella-Beischer-Melbourne.html The journos must be on holiday. Where is the story listing all the Demon players who are not in the photo and speculating stating their absence shows MFC is in chaos.

Isn’t that the point? We could only be ‘in’ games when we played an unwatchable, unsustainable to win big games, style. I applauded the attempts to get that going but it was sputtering and not universally embraced across the team. Give it to Judd and Trent and we were off to the races, but nothing slowed us down more than if Lever and May got the footy. And that is damning on a level isn’t it? Anyway, I hope and expect Chaplin to get them all on one page like he has previously.

Pfft. What would Goodwin know.

They resume training at 10am on Thursday the 9th of January at Casey Fields. The schedule thereafter has yet to be announced. If you and your kids are here for most of January there’s these sessions… At this stage they’re set to commence at 10am.

Has the Premiership winner always been great in all phases of the game. Or just great in one, and pretty good in the others? Or even pretty good in all three?

For those that need the explanation; there are 3 phases. With the ball, without the ball, and in dispute/contest. With the ball we were slow and boring and stilted and bottom 4. Without the ball we are much better but still allowed sling shot goals when we overcommitted forward in the press. Top half but still not as good as we have been. In dispute we have been chaotic. The red mist was back when we did get it and there wasn’t much time or reason for how we would move it. And there were also times when we would get flogged in contested possessions and clearances for quarters at a time. Probably middle 6 ranking for that. So I think it tracks. But you might want to put a link in.

Paul Amy has updated his article to include additional players signed since it first appeared:- Riley Bonner What a boost for the Casey backline. Bonner played 19 AFL games for St Kilda in 2024, taking his tally to 112 in a career that began at Port Adelaide in 2016. "His exceptional kicking ability and football IQ will be invaluable in providing drive off the backline," the Demons said after signing Bonner, who will take up a role in Melbourne's NGA. Mitch Hardie Former South Australian Hardie, 27, is a superb addition to the Demons. His efforts for Geelong's VFL team last season were exemplary, winning the best and fairest after averaging 29 disposals per game (he had 20 or more in all 19 of his matches). Unsurprisingly, he was a VFL team-of-the-year pick. Mitch Kirkwood-Scott The sweet-kicking defender was part of the 2024 Sandringham Dragons premiership team, having 21 possessions and 10 marks in the grand final. The former Haileybury College captain averaged 16.8 disposals from 13 Talent League appearances.

McHale played 261 games for Collingwood from 1903 to 1920, a huge number for that era. He won one GF as a player, one as playing Coach and seven more as Coach. 191 of his games were consecutive, which was the VFL record at the time until broken by Jack Titus in 1943. As we all know, Jim Stynes then became the new record holder with 244 but will likely be passed in 2025 as Collingwood's Jack Crisp needs only eight more games to take the mantle.

lovely now give us lotsa father-sons&daughters

#Demonland myths #I wonder at times if I'm watching the same game I agree we were borderline unwatchable at times this year - when we couldn't effectively implement the fast transition game we were trying to implement or defend it. The latter was one of two most important reasons (the other being fitness) we regularly had opponents scoring 100 plus points and/or beating us by big margins up for the first time since 2021. Ironically, we were often at most effective when reverting back to our slow methodical, predictable, clearance focused and down the line game plan.

could someone please buy clarry a comb, ffs

I take it as contest, defence and offence which are the “3 phases of the game” that Goodwin often refers to. I am glad he has said we aren’t great in any areas and he is right, fact is we have gone backwards. I think this club review could be the best thing that has happened to the club and may help save Goodwin from himself. Our game plan and style especially our ball movement was slow, boring and borderline unwatchable at times this year.The lack of solution to the mid to forward connection and functionality of our forwardline over the last few years has held us back. Granted we have had some personnel issues but I am firmly of the belief that our issues were more around method because I still think we had enough talent on our list to be better. A few home truths have clearly been told during the reviews and I am incredibly buoyed by the off season moves made so far. I love the move of Chaplin to forwards and also the addition of Bassett and Jones to the coaching group. I think that we have drafted incredibly well with the quality of players and the areas we have drafted for. I am loving the training reports from the Demonland regular track watchers for which I am grateful for that say in match simulation there is a focus on quick ball movement, honouring the switch of play, kicking to advantage of the forwards who are working on their leading and running patterns. Love the addition of Campbell that knows his role is purely as a back up to the Goat in Gawn. It appears that our players are having more clarity around their roles and hopefully we get back to being a more selfless team. We have been too defensively minded and conservative, I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water but if we can put more emphasis and focus on putting the ball through the big sticks then defence will take care of itself. I thank Brad Green and Darren Shand for the review because it is the kick in the [censored] that we needed. I have confidence that we will see change and I think we will do some serious damage in September next year because of it.

Yes we are both Dees fans and I did attend RDB’s Memorial Service last year flying in and home from Brisbane on the one day. There is no one in the AFL that is greater than our RDB. He stands above in credibility performance and loyalty to a cause.

very much looking forward to part 2 and 3 based upon what you've seen, curious to see who you see as changing positions - other than windsor to the backline, petty potentially the same - or roles really strong write ups for the former, tholstrup, turner in particular i thought

We played Turner, jvr and petty in the same side last year. Jefferson could replace petty

That is outstanding. Gillard has the potential to be the premier key defender in the comp. And the girls on 2 years are all ones we want to hold on to. Here is a link to the source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1706290/emerging-guns-re-sign

Thank you for that extra bit! Eight re-signings just announced with Megan Fitzsimon, Grace Beasley, Saraid Taylor and Georgia Gall on 2 year contracts, and Denby Taylor, Jacinta Hose and Alyssia Pisano on for one year. Fantastic news is that Tahlia Gillard has signed on for 3 years! Woohoo!

Who wants a training base in the middle of a rain belt?

The comment from Goodwin should end the rationalising on DL that finishing 14th wasn't too bad because ....... fill in whatever excuse people want. The ladder doesn't lie. But that was last year. I am quite confident of top 4 this year and a smokey chance to take out the GF.

I went to my first MFC AGM some time in the 1960s and I can tell you that nothing's changed. You always had a few people eager to get on their soapbox and some were even inebriated before the post function drinks, sandwiches, party pies and sausage rolls were trotted out. And it wasn't confined to supporters because I remember one club president was blind shicker when he left the meeting (in our elevator). If you think this was ever just a Melbourne Football Club thing, I have friends at Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon who used to tell me the same stories about their AGMs and from their descriptions of recent such events, nothing's changed either. My favourite person from club AGMs was the bloke who got up every year during the period late in Jim Cardwell’s reign as club secretary and who was obviously from the bush and outfitted by R. M. Williams complete with boots and driza-bone and a leather face to match. I used to call him Clancy. Clancy would ask Jim the same question every year – “can yer give us a run down on recruitin’”. Jim would rattle off the names of prospective players including one or two who he guaranteed might become champions, we would note down the names and come March when pre-season started, we would wonder what happened to most of the names who never came to the club. That was long before the internet when AGMs were fun. These days I don't attend but I might have a look at the proceedings during the summer break.

Doesn't get much of a run on Sky News then.

I was amazed when I read Ryan's article (someone must have put him up to it) - but not so much to do with the reservations others have expressed. I have SFA good memories of VFL Park. Hell hole as far as I'm concerned. But this is the issue for me . . . The climate conditions there are f@#&*d. The wind is atrocious. We can't hit a target on match day now. How the hell can we train for target hitting on a ground that was/is notoriously infamous for it's horrendous cross winds and appalling winter weather?

He will make 44 friends at the Dees instantly, when he joins them as a Demon player.

rookie me central has a rundown of the allies 2025 squad, and why they should be looked at as a big chance to claim the national champs 10 of the 28 of the national squad are tied directly to northern academies, with 4 tied to the suns, including kalani white