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Signed with Freo. Confirmed.

Stephen Tingay

Might be time for you to stop putting the glove into Toumpas at every opportunity. He might very well have you eating a picket fence by the end of next year.

I have no explanation as to why but I just really want Toumpas to make it. ( i want everyone to make it but this kid especially)

Funny, but when the IOC suspends drug cheats from competing at the Olympics or who are caught during the Olympics, they don't even entertain the idea of not sanctioning the cheats for fear of what it might do t the integrity of the Olympics. And I would have thought that if players were found to be cheats, then it would reflect poorly on the integrity of the competition if they were not punished.

The one that picked Garlett, also picked Yarran and Betts. Obviously a die hard Carlscum journo.

"Fitness" in the world of biology often means "ability to reproduce." Sometimes being specific is useful. Probably not on footy forum though.

It was a good indicator of Cardiovascular efficiency and V0 max capability without lactic acid levels increasing. Fitness.

I ask myself the question why, if the evidence existed to exonerate a club, its staff and its players, would anyone who had such evidence withhold it from the relevant authorities and the parties for so long? None of the answers that I can come up with would lead me to hold such person in a favourable light.

I would argue that a sign of the times starting to change is seeing a player whose name is not Nathan Jones being recognised by opposition fans as having quality. On BF there is a thread titled "Create a best 18 using one player from each club". Upon opening it I was preparing myself for a list of teams with N Jones on the bench. Instead, this is what I found on the first two pages: FB: Eric Mackenzie (WCE) / Alex Rance (RICH) / Jimmy Webster (STK) HB: Pearce Hanley (BRIS) / Daniel Talia (ADEL) / Dyson Heppell (ESS) R: Todd Goldstein (NMK) / Gary Ablett (GCS) / Scott Pendlebury (COLL) M: Nathan Fyfe (FREM) / Joel Selwood (GEEL) / Robbie Gray (PTA) HF: Luke Parker (SYD) / JESSE HOGAN MELB) / Jake Stringer (WBD) FF: Luke Breust (HAW) / Jeremy Cameron (GWS) / Troy Menzel (CARL) B: Gibson (Haw), Lonergan (Geel), Simpson (Carl) HB: Hurn (WC), Rance (Rich), Hanley (Bris) C: TYSON (Melb), Dangerfield (Adel), Heppell (Ess) HF: Wingard (Port), Franklin (Syd), Crameri (WB) FF: D. Smith (GWS), N. Riewoldt (STK) , Ballantyne (Fre) R: Goldstein (NM), Pendlebury (Coll) , Ablett (GC) Patful (GWS) Rance (Rich) Talia (Adel) Murphy (WB) Taylor (Geel) Yarran (Carl) Goddard (Ess) Pendlebury (Coll) VINEY (Melb) Riewoldt (St K) Franklin (Syd) Gray (Port) Zorko (Bris) Roughead (Haw) Le Cras (WC) Goldstein (NM) Ablett (GC) Fyfe (Freo) B: Patfull (GWS) / Mackenzie (WCE) / Hanley (BL) HB: Simpson (Carl) / Talia (Adel) / HOWE (Melb) C: Steven (StK) / Selwood (Geel) / Heppell (Ess) HF: Martin (Rich) / Franklin (Syd) / Fyfe (Frem) F: Dahlhaus (WB) / Roughead (Haw) / Gray (PTA) R: Goldstein (NM) / Pendlebury (Coll) / Ablett (GCS) B: JETTA (Melb) Talia (Adel) Gibson (Haw) HB: Gibbs (Carl) Taylor (Geel) Ellis (Rich) C: Macrae (WB) Watson (Ess) Harvey (NM) HF: Franklin (Syd) Kennedy (WCE) Zorko (Bris) FF: Wingard (Port) Riewoldt (St K) Ballantyne (Frem) Fol: Mumford (GWS) Ablett (GC) Pendlebury (Coll) FB: Michael Johnson (FREM) ~ Eric Mackenzie (WCE) ~ Sean Dempster (STK) HB: Chris Yarran (CARL) ~ Alex Rance (RICH) ~ Daniel Rich (BRIS) C: Steven Motlop (GEEL) ~ Travis Boak (PTA) ~ Daniel Wells (NMK) HF: JEFF GARLETT (MELB) ~ Buddy Franklin (SYD) ~ Gary Ablett (GCS) FF: Jake Stringer (WBD) ~ Jarryd Roughead (HAW) ~ Eddie Betts (ADEL) R: Shane Mumford (GWS) ~ Dyson Heppell (ESS) ~ Dane Swan (COLL) B: Patful (GWS), Rance (Rich), Mackenzie (WC) HB: Hanley (BL), Talia (Adel), Heppell (Ess) C: Steven (St K), Selwood (Geel), JONES (Melb) HF: Fyfe (Freo), Roughead (Haw), Bontempelli (WB) F: Gray (PA), Franklin (Syd), Menzel (Carl) R: Goldstein (NM), Ablett (GC), Pendlebury (Coll) Hogan, Tyson, Viney, Howe, Jetta, Garlett and Jones. Rewind two years and four out of the seven weren't at the club, Jetta rating a mention would've been utterly fanciful, and Howe would've only been included as a speccy specialist, certainly not on a HBF. Yes, Clark and Frawley would've previously made people's sides. But to have three youngsters in Tyson, Viney and Hogan already being rated highly enough to make these lists is another small sign that things are moving in the right direction and the load is finally starting to be shared around. Some may not give a rats but I found it interesting. It points towards building a list that is cause for some well founded confidence.

I hope he is like his father - slow, thighs like treetrunks, couldn't jump - and an absolute champ....

Me too. He looks like a great kid. And I'm absolutely going to enjoy watching the hard core nay-sayers having to qualify/distance themselves from their earlier opinions about him.

Re Garland, he has had (whoops) (edited) major issues with his feet and ankles, lost a lot of condition, he may finish at the back of the group, but he finishes, exactly where he should be at the moment, we asked for a more professional approach, this is what we are getting, Dawes did a lot more today, Gawn rucks yet starts in the rehab group As for Jnr Mc, Jamar disposed of him easily, but spent a bit of time showing him why, which I thought was good, Mitchell White did a spoil in the same drill and put the ball about five metres over the fence, as I said we have done ok there as well Toumpas - It doesn't matter whether he had real opposition. He was out to beat himself. He smashed them.....correct

I'm not on the park just yet

To get a full understanding on how much the Lions realised how much of a gun Rockcliff was - these are the picks in the draft the Lions took BEFORE Rockcliff. Household names such as Keiran King, Bart McCullough and Aaron Cornelius. Brisbane passed on him in their last selection in the main draft and picked him up in the preseason draft ! Rory Sloan was Adelaides 3rd selection - they preferred Shaun McKernan before him. Point well made Autocol.

I am not into fancy diets but I have lost 23 kilos in 12 months.......I was inactive, had a beer gut and was lazy ....drank to much beer....ate all the fast foods I could get because I was too lazy to cook for myself......I then went to the doctors and she told me that diabetes was just around the corner and my blood pressure was about to go off the scale. I then changed my attitude.....I joined a Gym.......Ate a whole lot better(no Macca's No Hungry Jacks) cut down all sugars and breads,.....Started cooking good for you foods.....Walked the dog a lot more(Boy is he a happy chappie now) What I am trying to say Is that "Every thing in MODERATION".....I love pasta dishes but I only have them as a treat now....Instead of ice cream I have yogat for dessert. I am now 88kgs.......and that's not bad for a bloke that 6'3' .....That was my playing weight when I retired at 36....Also only have a beer on Sundays with friends and you know what?.......I feel great....The Doctor is as pleased as punch.......and as I'm in my early 60's, I can look forward to the rest of my retirement in good health....

Still unemployed, so was there again Another top session, only one missing today was Terlich Rehab group as such, Riley, Spencer, Kent, McKenzie, Trengove, Vandenberg, Stretch, Watts and Harmes Bernie Vince and Howe did bits of rehab but also the drills Spoke to Jack Trengove, next scan this week, jealous of the guys being able to train, but head in a good place, doing lots of work in the gym, did handball drills using his trike, , pic will be on my Twitter Demonpk, along with some others Chris Salem along with being devastated by Arsenal's loss at the weekend, tweaked his quad a bit at training but it is fine Asked Angus Brayshaw how he is going, he is feeling it, goes to bed no later than 8pm, already learning so much Spoke to PJ to get definitive answer on lack of advertising around the ground, it is not allowed in the lease, also tried for some of the Punt Rd edge but Vic Roads vetoed, also congratulated him on the profit for the year, his answer paraphrased "we have to get the supporters trust again" Big Pencil Spencer has a good mate diagnosed with Leukemia back in Nth Qld, so used his 'fame' and shaved his head to raise money for him, he raised $8000, the human face of footy Highlight in the full field drills today, Lumumba, Garlett, Tyson, Toumpas and N Jones For all the optimists, Jimmy Toumpas again killed them in the running drills, streeted his group by 30 metres, drill was start in goal square, run around to halfway, run across the field and back to goal square and then down to other end Any questions feel free.

gotta have something to keep you going while you support this club of ours

The drill would be rather stupid without footballs. Imagine Lumumba kicking this imaginary ball to Toumpas who marks this imaginary ball then handballs this imaginary ball to Bail then takes off to......think before you write

Not wishing any malice at Donland, but I really hope.. 1 Players found guilty get 2-5 years AND if this is the case 2 Hird gets a well deserved Flick and never ever is seen in football again 3 That all associates in this thing also get their come upperance 4 That this Club almost almost folds as result! Integrity of competition is ultimate, damn everything else, even those "Head in Sand" supporters who still are faithfully Blinded I hope I haven't gone overboard with this coz as I have said, NOT wishing any Malice

Is that why we haven't seen the segment of Misso's report on the club website for a couple of weeks, they just figured to tell you instead?

!!!!! A decanter, if you don't mind dc!!!!

Brett had the wonderful ability to find space where there was none. Surrounded by four opposition players, deep in the back pocket, and Father Time slow generally meant the odds were heavily in Brett's favour. Bit of a hip shimmy and out would come a perfectly weighted handball to a running Melbourne player. Along with Sean Wight one of my all time favourite players As others have said another Demon team featuring Lovett, Stretch and Viney can only be a good thing

Don't think many of these would struggle B: Whelan Hughes Wight HB: B. Lovett Spalding S. Febey C : Tingay Wilson Flower HF: Yze Schwarz Lyon F: Farmer Jakovich Neitz R : Stynes G Healy G Healy Int: Johnson Stretch Viney Sub: Yeats Em : Green White G. Lovett

dank never had any intention of appearing lucifer. he only said he "might" if it was public and as usual he remains the darling of the press whilst he provides them with copy they are too frightened to ask him the hard questions in case he clams up to them

Exactly - particularly given whilst he might have an axe to grind with EFC on more than one occasion he has sympathized with the players. But leaving that aside what about the moral duty? it was his program (and the players blind faith) after all that has exposed the players to these charges. Beggars belief. As does his pathetic threats to sue all and sundry (where are all those defamation cases at?) and fatuous claims he would only appear in the safety of a court - hold that the AFL tribunal is ok, but only if it open to the public. Because of course no one can be trusted and this all an ASADA/AFL conspiracy. Pathetic. As is Hardie. A legal academic my arse. And you can throw Chip Le Grand in for good measure. I heard him on SEN the other day ('breaking'the story ASADA had considered offering Charter a job - which the article actually noted after checking with Vic pol they dd not proceed with - some scoop) and that numskull Mark Allen said something along the lines of thank god for Chip who cuts through all the rubbish and makes sense. Are people for real? Chop again reiterated that the case will get thrown out next week because the players lawyers will successfully argue ASADA do not have sufficient evidence. If it doesn't will he admit his error? Of course not. Just as Mick Warner made no comment about spectacularly wrong he got the outcome EFC appeal. How he could return to journalism after his ridiculous and 100% wrong cricket score analogies is anyone's guess.

The thing that gets me is that there are a lot of young people who die through accidents, illness, and other means. and they are all tragic.......How many footballers or other sportsmen and women have died at their respective sports? Does their game change because of it??....No I have found the media reports about Phil Hughes death over the top It is a tradedy but so are other young persons deaths who do not get the same coverage or reverence because they didn't play for Aust.

Agreed. Sad thing to happen, but they should move on by now iMHO.

But it was never meant to be a business model. It was what had to be done to get us out of debt and in that respect, it was successful in getting us out of the red and into the black. We might well have gone on and flourished but for our well documented failures suffered on the football field. Most clubs that are successful on the field end up making money. Clubs that have 186, sack their coaches and have ordinary playing groups rarely do.

...and Hogan yet to play a game. I'm with you 'P-man' the tide is slowly starting to turn. Let's hope a few of the other new boys can join the list in the next couple of seasons. The one that picked Tyson is a good judge mate.

Is it just me or does anyone else think the cricket faturnity are going on a bit . Will they move on before the end of 2014?

Thanks for stating the superficially obvious, Barry Prendergast. For a start, certain people at the MFC did think Rockcliff would be good - he was training with the club at the time and many rated him highly. The point with each of those players I mentioned that the club overlooked is that the club had committed to them PRIOR to the draft, ie, if they were available at certain picks, we would pick them, ONLY for the club to then go against its word and pick someone else at the last minute. Unprofessional stuff. And it's cost us. Big time.

These training threads are my favorites. Many, many thanks to those that go and post. Fantastic.

Lumumba did stoppage clearance with a group that included Brayshaw, viney. jones, Salem, michie.Lumumba was great at the defensive aspect of stoppages, but viney was so brilliant at getting the ball, whether it was defensive or attacking. They did some drills taking the ball from the defence to the forward line, without the opposition touching the ball. The first few were really good, when someone got the ball, the team mates spread briliantly. As the drill went on the players slackened off. Rawlings called them in just to reinforce that they look a lot better when they spread. Toumpas is quick,but he does have an awkward action, high knee lift. It may suit him, it just looks funny. Brayshaw is a better trainer at this stage than Petracca. ANB looks really good, great tackler. Tommy Mac. Did some great passes coming out of defence to the wing and hit them on the chest. Garland looked slow. Harmed was given a couple of wake up shouts by ROOSY for doing something wrong. I didn't quite catch what it was for, I think it was for not taking the correct option.

Jimmy Toumpas trained very well again this morning. His running is a real feature. He would receive a pass deep in the backline, kick it at full speed to a target, then run and run and receive it back at half forward. Not many players were so conspicuous. Obviously time will tell whether he can replicate this in a match. But if he is that fit he must be able to do it. Roos once again exhausted them with hard running followed by match simulated drills. Obviously with the intention of maintaining their disposal skills at the same efficiency when they are fatigued. Understandably the foot skills did drop off on some players, notably Nat Jones and Dunny. Garlett shanked a couple as well. That said, the standard was still high. Far different from this time last year. Lamumba moves beautifully. He was another standout in the end to end ball carry drill. He even addressed the whole group at one stage for a brief minute in between drills. The player I have been watching closely over the past week is Mitch White. Boy he has a raking left foot that can regularly cover distance over 60m. He doesn't miss a target at 30m. They have him working with the backline group where they are teaching him how to spoil. There was a big session on this today. Grimes was a standout. If White makes it he will be a dangerous customer if he can fire 50m passes to our half forward. It still a big IF.

Great to have the whole offseason together in one place, I like how it sounds. We do this every year but I'm finding it easier than usual to get excited about our chances next season. Firstly, we're still a long way off. I don't have high expectations in terms of ladder placement next year. I hope we go up but it will be a win if we're competing for a finals spot in round 15-18. We have to find a way to score consistently. So much of that rests on Hogan. Hopefully he's ready to contribute but I'm nervous about that. So much pressure on a guy who hasn't even played a game yet. Clearly Mitch Clark couldn't handle the pressure, hopefully Hogan can take it. I just hope he stays healthy, that's all I want to see. If he's healthy, other teams will be tempted to send multiple defenders at him and that will free up Dawes. I actually really like Dawes as a 2nd or 3rd tall. Garlett is the wild card. I absolutely agree that he's worth taking a punt on. Hopefully he can settle his life outside of football and focus on getting his game right. With him providing a legitimate option as a leading and crumbing forward below Hogan, and if Hogan is what we think he is, they will be our no. 1 and 2 option in our inside fifty. The group will have to learn how to play winning football and turn around the corrosive lack of belief. Hopefully some leaders step up. In time, that leadership may come from Brayshaw or Petracca, but right now we need another couple of guys to join Jonesy, Viney, Tyson, Jetta, etc as on-field leaders. Heretier despite his off-field quirks is a great footballer with finals experience and toughness. He stood tall for Collingwood. We've added another General to our back line in Lumumba. A break out from Michie, Reilly, Newton, JKH, Salem, Kent, Frost or Toumpas is essential for next year. Hopefully all of them take a step up but we need more toughness and leadership. I'm talking fist pumping enthusiasm, and a desire to lead the charge as we crush our opposition into the ground. My pick here is Salem. I like what I've seen of him. Not afraid of the contest and very clever around the goals. If he can cement a place in the side as a forward I will be stoked. Newton looks like a fiery competitor but I don't know anything about him besides a 4 minute clip some Geelong fan put together when he thought they might pick him up. A lot of ifs in there, not to mention the biggest one of all - if everyone is healthy - but that's what this time of year is all about. I'm pumped for preseason. Can't wait to see what we've got in all of our new recruits. Which players are we most excited / optimistic about?

I must say that I do find referring to any player who has made it to an AFL list a "dud"or a "spud" particularly offensive. Sure many (at all clubs, not just ours) never really make the grade, but they have got a hell of a lot further than most if not all of the posters on this site. And even the most "timid"appearing in my view show great courage just venturing out onto the field. I wonder how many of the keyboard warriors would have the guts to go out there on match day?

"it all goes well for the future" . This was a magnificent linguistic [censored] up. It came from augurs well ( like the future looks good) not augers well (which is like drilling a hole). Illiterate footballer after illiterate footballer would confidently claim "it all goes well for the future". The coodabeens got years out of this.

I hear there's a kid called Jake somethingorother who might be worth a look. You might have heard of him?

Arent you interested in who we're going to pick with selection 18 next year?

Nice try.

You wouldn't know whether these journos have done any decent research or as you say have pulled names from their ring. Still, nice to see the 4 kids on the list, gives us something to look forward too and don't we need it.

One interesting bit from training and I assume it is a decision made, they had Jayden Hunt training with the backs, assume they are looking at developing him coming out of the backline with speed As for Toumpas, he is just back to where he was when a junior, great burst speed but also endurance

I hardly think he's some patron saint of gentrification though. I mean if he hadn't renovated the glass house eventually a building sitting right in the middle of the sporting precinct between what was always likely to be some upgraded rectangular stadium and the tennis centre would've found a use. It could've been converted to the third roofed tennis stadium and saved having to build the new Margaret Court Arena. Or used for tennis players as a gym/facility etc like what they've now build across the road from Gosch's. The Melbourne rebels or Melbourne City could've used it. Good on him for getting that facility. I wish we did at the time. But what exactly did he do for the Olympic park precinct that made advertising part of his deal and not ours? And once he did get what was originally the Lexus centre as a Pies venue he then should've excused himself from the board of the Olympic Park trust before any decisions were made about packing up athletics at Olympic park and taking over a historical venue for his clubs use as a training ground.

I joked with him at end, when he was in front of the runs he looked over his shoulder as they turned for home, asked him was he tiring, answer was no he wanted to wiin!!

Hogan is the obvious choice, with Toumpas not far behind. I actually can't wait to watch Toump next season. The training reports have got me excited. Two Neeld acquisitions. Hopefully by season's end it will be two more reasons to say "thanks Neeldy". That is currently a short list.

You've left out Dangerfield.