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It was a glorious morning down at Maroochydore fields. I decided to take my shirt off to get a bit of sun on the rig. I've been doing yoga on the beach every morning so I'm in pretty good shape, it's probably why Spencer was staring at me. The players did some drills with the ball, Petracca looked tired, I told him if he took his shirt off it would be easier. I spoke to Pedo about his weight loss, he said he just stopped eating the freshly baked cookies that Watts brings in to every training session. Hogan kicked the ball at the goals, he used his opposite foot a few times. His stutter wasn't as prominent. I spoke to Macca who said they've put a device on Hogan that electrocutes him whenever he stutters or his body language appears negative. I asked Goody if it was a hard decision to delist Crossy. He didn't say anything and just walked away, he's a bit of a jokester like that. I joked back by yelling out to him that I was going to unfriend him on Facebook. I have to leave now, D & G have a sale on pants, I hope all the 32 regulars haven't sold out.

Final points from today and then I'll sign off from Maroochy headquarters. In hindsight I'd describe today's session as a slow burn. It turned into the kind of training session that not only highlights the training camp but is also one to build the season upon. *Not sure if it was mentioned elsewhere but Jetta was at the camp today training in the rehab group, but Garlett and Johnstone were still away. *More sport specific and game style specific conditioning on display today - I expect our game style to go to a new level of physicality this year, with bodies hitting hard *From the sound and looks of it they have got the endurance running stuff out of the road really early in the piece and now are really honing in on perfecting the details - Already fit enough. *I haven't seen any of the other sessions but the Hulk is really putting his best foot forward this year. Really excited to see what he can do. * All of the ex Basketballer talents emerging in football terms are another highlight for me. * If we can keep most of our key players fit and healthy throughout the year, look out because other teams are going to have their hands full with the Dees - which is nice to be able say for a change. Bring on the season - catch you next year.....maybe.

Great morning session up here in Maroochydore. Watched th opening session and was quite impressed by the skill level and strong desire to find the closest option so as to get the ball into the hands of the speedster Jayden Hunt. Vandenberg almost broke the legs of a team mate when he slid into him for the ball. Trainers yelled at him and and berated him for his lack of awareness. Could be that he is a dumb footballer but he was adamant he was in the right. Spoke briefly to Tyson having watched him slot three majors in the rehab group from fifty with ease. He tells me that he did plenty of conditioning in the postseason so will be right to go first JLT. He convinced me that he is over the worst of his setback and looked pretty slick. Still yet to sight our Queenslanders. Ben Kennedy has acquired a foot injury from what Tyson has told me. more to come

Really good team spirit at the end of training. Very impressed with the efforts to encourage some of the strugglers. A draining session with really good signs for the year. Particularly like the way Weids finished off the session and he is trending really well. He's a lot stronger and fitter a year on

Was there last night as I'm friends with most of the girls and for someone who played and has been involved in women's football for a long time it was a real emotional time for all of us. That atmosphere was fantastic, was packed, people getting right into it. Yeah skills weren't great but I'm sure back when the men first started it wasn't either. Will take time, doubt crowds will be that big throughout the rest of the female season but what a special moment it was for them. Everyone needs to stop worrying about their skills right now and just be happy for them.

Do you think you may have exaggerated a tad with your opening sentence? He is obviously a very good footballer as I have said, but I just don't like the word champion being thrown around, as easily as it is on here. When I think champion, I think of Selwood, Dangerfield, Sam Mitchell, Nick Reiwoldt as examples of some current players and possible future champions such as Bont and Cripps in the younger brigade. Would I like him at Melbourne, of course? Could he be a champion in years to come, of course, if he starts to regularly dominate games and become a matchwinner. I haven't yet seen that with Kelly.

The boys are finishing off the session really well now which is suprising. Really impressed with their grapling and competitive work in drills. Most of them absolutely spent which is good to see. FINALLY

No

Couldn't find a positive Red? The standard will improve and quickly. I think I said elsewhere that I would have gone with a 6 team structure. We don't have the talent yet to meet the high standards of the last three exhibitions games. Did you enjoy those games? That's where we'll be across 8 teams within a couple of seasons and then it will just get better and better. I'll repeat, the best talent in the country is still very young. The pathway has been in place for a few years now. The Auskickers are coming. I just hope people are patient. It was always going to be scrappy. Calling it rubbish, however, is a little disrespectful to the commitment of the girls involved in yesterday's game.

Spoke to Pedersen and commented on his loss of weight. Put my foot in my mouth when I asked him about the whole Chris Dawes situation last year. He just laughed it off when I told him I thought he had better hands but it got awkward when I said Dawes had a great set routine. I basically got him back on my side when I told him I thought he'd play every game. Called Viney Captain Jack. He loved that. Smith boys sat side by side and told him we needed more Smith's playing the game. Tim and Joel agreed. Nev told me he had family obligations that kept him from Broome but I think Jeff and Dion went up. Declan was charming as was Hannan. Jones was quite staunch as you'd expect and I really gave it to Clarence - McCartney's pet name for Clarry - when I likened him to McKenzie. He told me he gets that a lot and Weeds couldn't control himself laughing. Kent was mopping a bit as he wont be playing the JLT as he is still recovering for rd 1. Personally I think JKH will play round one and Gawn will go solo in the ruck this year such is his fitness.

Training standard slightly better today, although the intensity is only ratcheded up to full gas for a select few minutes. Few standouts for me at this stage are Tracca for competitiveness and polish, Hunt for game breakingness, Viney for mongrel and Hannan for marking. Other guns are a tad quiet so far.

Looking forward to see how some of the newer faces perform today. In particular: - Keen to see if Hannan gets out of the Rehab group for a bit today to see him in more of a game setting. - Keep an eye on how both the past Bombers guys are tracking. - If the indigenous guys are going to make it to training, in particular like to see how Dion Johnstone goes amongst the group if so. - If Kent is doing any training at the moment. - If it's possible to train at 110% intensity in 32 degree heat and 61% relative humidity. - Any signs of greatness.

I spoke to the MFC website and the coaches, they've put in hard work on the app over the summer, re-built it from the ground up, no need to get stuck into it. Sick of this mentality on this site, not up for discussion, leave the website alone, it lost 10kgs this pre-season, first pre-season without any bugs since 2009.

Hey, I know what it's like: 'One thousand and one, one thousand and two ... '.

Not sure what it is I like about Maynard? Hasn't done anything special today but I see he has a bit of a late to start Pendles about him - Watch this space.

I always find this argument amusing. Just because they play AFL level football, doesn't mean they are banned from getting another job after they finish playing. If you are only good enough to be on a list for 3-4 years, why do you deserve "a lot to show for it"? A player strike is rhetoric. The public would hate them for it, knowing how much the salary cap is now.

After the last decade i wouldn't be advising any MFC players to strike for more cash they have already been overpaid

For those that missed it this morning. https://audioboom.com/posts/5565260-simon-goodwin-on-sen-breakfast?t=0 Love the huge wrap on Petracca.

The thing I like best about the quick pace of his draining of the swamp is the perpetually enraged serial protestors can't protest about everything at once. Next week he will likely pull out of the Paris climate agreement. The following the UN will can kiss a large slab of their funding goodbye. Ohh what to protest about.

The best thing to do is take to the streets and rant and rave like a deranged lunatic with a tummy full of sugar.There's nothing else for it. How dare the Americans exercise their democratic rights and not vote for the woman!!!

I love Trump.

My trouble is they alienate and stereotype themselves by believing such nonsense. if they don't really believe it all they should say so but of course the penalty for that is death. Of course I know they can't ALL be hardliners. There is no justification for the recent actions of their brethren and those who have some reason in their heads need to challenge the text or else teach it somewhere else. If I were to preach the things written in that text I would be quite rightly imprisoned.

Dear All, I'm battling by having struggled off the opium den floor with some reluctance. My guide has gone completely insane,spouting gibberish since the last rattan caning that I personally thought was delivered with my usual restraint. But a trader must trade,so in search of precious goods I go! I have obtained a significant amount of bear bile,powdered rhino horn and birds nests,enough to swap for a Harbourside mansion in Sydney upon return. Other aphrodisiacs I must obtain are proving rather difficult amongst the lustful,wanton tribes of Western Indochine. Next stop is Siam who I believe might be seeking a new king.If there is one place a man does not need the title to feel like one it is there.Please forward your purchase requests through the usual channels before I leave western Indochine.No need to request the obvious as I have forwarded a large package of that to West St Kilda,near the old Gat. I notice a travel ban exists in the states which Should free the airport of the riffraff.Timely and wonderfully done by the Silverback I must say . On the G and T front,I have had to head to the Rex in town to partake of a proper one and I'm thinking Raffles might be the safe bet in Pnomh Penh.There are lots of photos of grown Germans holding children's hands in Pnomh Penh which I thought rather vulgar.No need to advertise an economic staple in the modern world. Anyhoo, best be off for a late Tiffen of rare birds- the edible kind ,down at the club. See you very anon. Cheery pip and cheers . Biff.

Agreed. History was created last night. As the trailblazers for the game, the Bulldogs and Demons had earned the right to create that history: to have the First goal kicker, the First win, the First BOG etc. Instead the history was gifted to the big and powerful. The respective captains, Brennan(Bulldogs) and Pearce (Demons) didn't think too much of it either "...Both admitted in the countdown to the AFLW premiere that a Carlton-Collingwood billing hasn't exactly filled them with romance..." Having failed on that the AFL should have the Bulldogs play the Demons tonight giving both teams a chance to have a 'big' game with big crowds . Instead both clubs play i/state teams which won't draw big crowds so less atmosphere etc. At least the Bulldogs get to play tonight. We are relegated to a 5.05pm start the night before school at an outer suburban oval. 5.05pm, really! More respect was deserved by the two teams that worked so hard to even get the AFL to consider an AFLW game. Edit: Just noticed our game is not on FTA TV.

Maynard is a former NBL player (point guard) so he is very agile for his size.

Wattsy is looking like having a ripping year this year. Strong chance to lead goal kicking IMO.

Falcons 34 - Patriots 31 Matt Ryan MVP (Freeman a smokey)

The NFL doesn't look after nor promote the various projects as does the AFL. Call their bluff. Young turks with giant egos. Then instruct lil Johnny and Janey " see them...they care more about the car they drive than footy ! More about money than you" Kids big and small idolise these faux heroes but can be shown they have misplaced reverance without too much effort. There is mischief here for sure. Easy to spot the Mainchancers. Call them on it. Let them strike. ( They won't )

Hang on. Nazis are patriots? Right. Okay. Matter of opinion there. They don't represent my country. My country is a place that welcomes diversity and has been enriched by it and strengthened by our difference. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. We are the lucky country. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want to change aspects about it though. You have a racist opinion, don't sit on the fence. Own it. Or do you know it's not acceptable in a democratic society to champion white supremacy? Just because you're in a democracy and there is freedom of speech, doesn't give you the right to be a racist. It's funny how the Right are quite happy to dish out their racism, but the moment someone questions their views they think they're being 'quelled' or attacked. And the Left is referred to as soft. FCS. FCS. It was only these guys then, was it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan If I had a festering hatred of individual liberty, I wouldn't be for things like gay marriage or immigration. I'd say the definition of individual liberty would be... individual liberty. Liberty meaning "the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life". Or is the New Oxford American Dictionary fake news as well? Yiannopoulos' sexuality had nothing to do with why they tried to stop him from appearing. They protested, which is within their civil rights, to stop a sexist, racist, homophobe from sprouting his hateful views. Just because he thinks homosexuality is 'aberrant', doesn't mean everyone else does. But it's not surprising he believes homosexuality brings homosexuals 'pain and unhappiness', given how self-loathing he is and so apparently brainwashed by the conservative media that he's consumed. And this is the problem with the Right. Like crazy little Tomi Lahren's, all you see is difference. Whereas the Left welcomes difference, hence its support and advocacy of marginalised and targeted communities and groups of people. What I don't like from the Left is the assumption that because someone is gay, for example, that they should share the views of the Left. That is prescriptive and only ends in reinforcing those views in the person, however nonsensical they may be. I'm not a fan of religion. I'm atheist, so I don't agree with any religious chapter that doesn't allow a person to be out. But if you want to be religious, that's none of my business. It's when religion gets prescriptive that I have a problem. For example, why aren't we talking about the ridiculous and ineffective conversion therapy championed by Christians? Or is this just bash the Muslims day? And I am a feminist, who's been dating the same woman since the second year of University. I don't feel like I'm being attacked because a woman is allowed a choice over her own reproductive rights and I don't feel any less a man because I believe a woman shouldn't have to pay more for her tampons, while I suffer no tax on condoms. As long as you don't sprout ignorant and hurtful abuse at people, I won't have a thing bad to say about you. Unless you mock my football team or support the opposition. Then you're in trouble.

The fact the Filth got smashed isn't good. The fact that it was the Blues and Pies and not a game with either the Dogs or Us is a [censored] disgrace and testament to how pathetic and gutless the AFL are, not to mention how ridiculous the amount of conflict of interest exists in the corrupt cesspool know as AFL house

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/sydney-defender-alex-johnson-resigns-with-swans-for-2017-20161029-gsdq3y.html JKH, as Redleg has stated, is rated by the club, just hasn't managed a clear run, they have rebuilt him from the ground up, only time will tell whether the rebuild has worked

I plan on going tomorrow.

Something about that Paul Marshall character that screams shitstirrer to me. The Players would benefit from looking for a less divisive figure to negotiate for them.

Who wrote the MFC player bios? For the likes of Melksham and Hibberd the opening lines draw attention to their involvement in the Essendon supplement scandal. Understandably it's factual, but these two are here for a fresh start and it just doesn't seem right for our club to post this considering it occurred elsewhere. I've checked and no other club seems to do it and I presume neither player would like their new bios stating it. Likewise, the opening lines for some others are negative facts (e.g. Kent and Trengove regarding injury). Shouldn't a player's bio state the type of player they are with reference to their positive traits (on and off the field). Then lead into their achievements or alternatively challenges they've faced (like injury) and how they've been overcome? Rant over, sorry for my negativity, but I think the first two mentioned should be fixed.

TWIN PEAKS is back after 26 years on a cliffhanger, this April. Cannot wait. Will be getting Stan just for that, although they've started to amass a really good catalogue, by licensing most of Amazon's catalogue from them, making their entrance into the Australian market pointless. I cancelled by Amazon subscription and got refunded as they literally have three drama series on the Australian catalogue and hardly any of their big shows. As for other shows, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE season 3 is my most anticipated show of 2017. Finished season 2 a couple of weeks ago and boy, is that show getting good. THE FALL season 3 was forgettable, should have stopped at 2. THE AFFAIR's season 3 was all over the place. They should have stopped at 2 too, but it's been renewed for season 4. BOSCH season 3 will be back this year as well, while GAME OF THRONES should be interesting in its second last season.

Agree Ted. Be no strike. Someones having a lend of themselves bigtime trying to marshal the lads. Wont Actually Need Knock ing

Would that be considered derailing the thread if we did?

From a purely selfish point of view we can't afford our player to strike. We are a young developing team and need as much footy as we can get and we need it with our senior leaders on the park standing up showing the way. Let Pendles and the old timers from other clubs take their eye's of the ball and carry the can on this...

Yes it should have been the Dogs and us. ...but I think they've gone early. The standard in nowhere near good enough to base a national competition on yet. Will be interesting to watch the TV and game day numbers over the next few weeks. My bet is they will drop off after the hype settles and reality steps in. I know there will be many with rose coloureds but the footy was very average.

Women's league off to a good start, Collingwood getting smashed. Tell you what, Daisy Pearce is a pretty good commentator too.

You are free to have your opinion, but as a supporter of nearly 50 years i don't feel i have got great value for money on most of those years Robbie Flower aside

YES I would prefer "Alternative Facts" as "The ex-Bomber was denied a fresh start after he was one of 34 former and current Essendon players banned from playing in 2016, after being part of the ill-fated 2012 supplements program." AND "Hibberd was one of the 34 past and present Essendon players who received a season-long ban in 2016 for his involvement in the club’s 2012 supplements program." are irrelevant to the M.F.C. Such "Alternative Facts" may include their playing styles, strengths, or reasons why the club targetted them. What would you prefer?

You would prefer "Alternative Facts"?

Not too sure what they can say. All the bio's are quite matter of fact and low key. I doubt the club has any hidden agenda. Even Jones' bio starts off with his shoulder surgery last season. Macca's preseason reviews gave a good picture of where each player is at and their prospects for 2017. On the club website if you missed them You mean this on current mfc website: vs this:

I've seen Pendles walking his stupid little white dog through the rough streets of Middle Park.His humble little shack overshadowing the neighbourhood. I often wonder how he can go on. Meanwhile at Auskick they beg,borrow and steal from the community to feed it back into the AFL system. Mark Jacksons comments"On the Couch" about Queensland footy are playing out in front of our eyes . but 2k a week for an honest tradesman is too much? Tradesmen don't ask for a cut after the house is sold for a massive profit. Luke Ball et al can go take a flying at a rolling donut.

The average AFL player's wage is 300k. Enough said.

The players can go and get nicked. Fat chance I'm driving from Pakenham to Footscray in week 1 of the JLT just to see a bunch of overpaid over privalaged people sit on the grass while the umpire bounces the ball. If they're not happy they can always get a depressing 9-5er job paying 70k a year like the rest of society.

The aflpa are fwits. The ess* saga proved this. Strike? Go on. There are heaps of other players who would take your places in a heartbeat for nix. The 2 things that should be changed are rookie payments (should be reasonable instead of the 40k they were on last i checked) and removal of the minimum salary cap payments. Stuff paying someone 800k cos they were the worst team in the comps b+f even if they rate 600th overall in the afl

Who cares if they strike for the pre-season practice matches? While the players deserve to be well paid, the AFL should never agree to a revenue sharing model. Revenue does not equal profit and most of the AFL’s revenue is generated by a handful of clubs. The AFL is already propping up half the clubs at the moment and such a model could potentially put clubs in danger of folding in the future. The AFLPA are being short term in there thinking and their demands will benefit the best players but could also result in job losses among their union.

Diametrically opposite view Redleg on AFL. However, I understand your view point, For me, it can depend on the sport. I retain a strong interest in Women's Olympic Sports. However, I am not very interested in Women's Road Cycling compared to the men. Cricket similarly. However, I suspect that if I had a daughter or daughters that were top sportswomen I would follow that sport with great interest. Perhaps attitudes can depend on the culture and history of a sport together with the marketing or lack of. Bullfighting comes to mind! However, the AFL women's comp has definitely got me interested as I think their skills are terrific. Also a women's comp just seems the right thing to do given their involvement in the sport particularly as spectators since the early games played in Yarra Park.