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I'm a physiotherapist and essentially (from what it sounds like to me) is that when Jack came back to play, there was no risk of reinjury to his plantar fascia, however because it had only been a short time since he returned, there was still a substantial amount of pain in his foot. This is not a problem in itself however the pain caused jack to adopt a 'cautious' gait pattern i.e. put his weight through different parts of his foot he would not normally load in order to minimise the pain. This unusual loading to his foot resulted in a stress reaction to his 2nd and 3rd metatarsals (the big long bones in the middle of your foot), which is essentially when the bone cannot keep up with the load it is getting and starts to gradually deteriorate. I understand this never reached stress fracture stage (thank god), but it is why the MFC staff took a fully cautious approach and decided to just get him off it completely. With rest and proper rehab, it will be fine and I dare say he would be back into training within no time. Sorry for the ramble but hope this was interesting for people who were wondering! GO DEES

Time to reveal to the footy world that he is a drug addict, serial killer, impossible to Coach, cries in interviews, hates training, is disobedient and forgets people's birthdays.

http://www.standard.net.au/story/5015672/melbourne-goal-sneak-garlett-hoping-for-a-forward-line-friend-from-warrnambool-video/

Late last night i lost my dog. He went quickly and very unexpectedly. Only a couple of hours earlier the vet reported that whilst having a slightly elevated temperature and increased white blood cell count, there was nothing overly remarkable in his symptoms. He was even scheduled to be picked up by me at 10.30 to bring him back home. 2 hours later the vet rings and says that he has collapsed and they were trying to resuscitate him, but could not revive him. He went very quickly, simply rolling over and then.........yeah, gone. The nurse on duty saw it all happen and said that it he was gone very quickly (almost as if he died instantly). Even though he was an anxious dog, he went without being distressed and without pain and without knowing what was coming for which i am truly grateful. As the nurse said, it was such a beautiful way to go, one second he was fine the next he had left. No pain, no fear. Like all people so lucky enough to be allowed to have their life enriched by a companion, he made my life better because he was in it. Now i am left behind and i can't go with him, protect him, care for him, be there for him on his next journey. I don't need sympathy, though i know you all will provide it (we are after all in this together, which i am truly thankful that the MFC provides me with such a community). It does however highlight what is most important in one's life. And i would not hesitate for one second take my Neville's place so his life could continue. Not for all the premiership's in the world. This is now the fourth time i have had to endure losing my best friend.............it never gets any easier, if anything it gets harder. Love those who are closest to you, appreciate them for the joy they bring to your life. Focus on the things that matter most and don't get hung up on trivial things like trades, players and coaches (unless of course they are truly that meaningful to you - then kudos, appreciate it all the more). As i always said to my parents when i let my dogs give me kisses, you just never know when your last one may be. I now do, and i would not change a thing. Even right up to the very end, as what we shared was ours alone and truly unique. I only posted this on here as it is a place i know where i am welcome, for which i am thankful. Neville you were and are a great dog, who enriched my life in ways that i will never be able to repay. May you go to your mother who is waiting for you on the other side, until such time as i come to join you. You gave me so much joy and unwavering love, as i hope i did in return. May i forever be in your heart as you will always be in mine. Gone too soon, but only for the more sooner that we will be together again. Wait for me, i will eventually be with you once more. Loved now and forever, Tom.

I think Oscar's no.1 trait as a 196cm tall is that he's a competitor. As he physically matures, gains more experience and in turn becomes more confident he'll be that steady last line defender you can rely on. There's no elite trait, but he'll be dependable and do most things required by a defender really well.

FFS Saty grow a set! The MFC is not infallible. It is an entity, an organisation. Mistakes will be made - in admin, in drafting, in game plan, in rehab etc etc... Shite happens. It is actually ok to criticise ............... in fact it's healthy. As for the highlighted comment. There are members and supporters who cannot get to training or even games regularly, or maybe never, who value and need this information. They should not be belittled or undervalued. Constant carping and sycophancy is of no value to anyone.

No Mono, I don't think Jack has ever been influenced by Marxist ideology or ever had to do it tough. There were many layers to this novel, but not one that could be a reference to Jack, unless he wanted to market his men's jocks in Cuba or Florida. They might be budgie snugglers but not smugglers. Wattsy and "For whom the bell tolls", I don't think so. I can't see Wattsy as a fighter in a civil war or someone fighting for the communists, let alone blowing up Princes St Bridge Perhaps Jack's footy life could be seen as a metaphor in Farewell to Arms. The love story, the ambulance driver not the fighter, the end of the love affair with the death of Catherine. Now that resonates. However, I never really knew what my novels were about. Critics used to talk about my iceberg novels. There was more meaning to the reader below the waves than in the tip of the iceberg. Well I let that view persist but personally it is all [censored] to me.

Melbourne goal sneak Jeff Garlett is working closely his Demons teammate Dion Johnstone during an off-season visit to the south-west. Can someone put up please a link to a Warrnambool Standard (the local rag) article last Saturday about Jeff Garlett and Dion Johnstone training here in bool . Couple of good photos in the two articles in the paper as well. Thanks. Reads very well.

Frog, the well of personal issues would be too deep and sinister for Uncle. No amount of rehab would ever work because Uncle would need to admit to his problems and face his demons. Remember that Uncles "normal" is not anyone else's normal. The only rehab that has worked for me was dealing with alcohol, and then to borrow a line, "I had to do it drunk".

Has Viney’s foot injury flared up or is DL just becoming outraged over nothing?

I’m glad Hibberd didn’t bag out Lever.

'Old Melbourne' would draft this guy. That's because we had a rubbish list and would take anyone who smiled nicely at us. We've moved past guys like this. We'll play a high brand of pressure again next year and with talls in Hogan/McDonald and excellent marking mid-talls in Petracca, Hannan, Balic and vandenBerg we don't need this guy. Harmes marks pretty well too. Two talls and high pressure smalls and mid-talls is the go. Let North take him.

Yep spot on. A good assessment of where he is at i reckon. I'd add that he is smart and a pretty good kick. For a big young defender he is tracking really well (better than his brother at the same stage of his career) and as you say he is a competitor, which Goody has made clear is his number one KPI. Plenty of upside, which is exciting. Like his brother, he will work super hard over the pre season on his strength and fitness and on aspects of his game he needs to improve. He'll put on at least 5kg from last season (and he might even still get a bit taller) and be the key defender we need to free up Lever to play the role we have recruited him for and allow his brother to go forward, as noted in this article (if it doesn't work just do a search on the title of the article and it will unlock it).

Brian Lake disagrees.

We're all supporters of the MFC, Uncle. Who are we to judge others on the degree of their support?

The club was adamant that the second injury was not related to the first. It makes sense to me but others may have a view. The plantar fascia is a pretty simple affair once he had undergone the op. Don't think there is any conspiracy aroudn this and if there was any doubt the news would be out. You can't keep that stuff quiet in melbourne for such a long period.

That comment makes zero sense. There's an entire media/social media team employed by the club on a full-time basis. It's a pretty simple thing to update. It looks very ordinary and only adds to what is already a fairly vanilla website compared to other clubs. I just looked at Collingwood's and they've updated theirs. Pretty easy.

Hibberd? Lever? Anyone????

Speaking for everyone on here, we feel better for knowing you'll feel better about Oscar this year.. best news ever!

Well, I don't remember that one incident or those other incidents, and I remember my own incidents and in the reverse. Hence, disagreement. Doesn't mean he would be a good, bad, or indifferent coach though. Moot City.

Why not? At his best, Garland was an excellent backman. Couple that with his intelligence and I think he could be very well suited to the coaching game.

As if that would happen!

‘Not impossible’ ’it takes work’ ’get them in to do what they can’ All of that, yet my view that one is ‘likely to remain a bad kick if you entered the AFL as one’ is ‘rubbish’? I am not going to sit here and read posters thoughts about getting a kicking coach in as if that will have a wholesale effect on the team. It won’t. A coach will help a couple of younger ones but over time and possibly to their immediate detriment as they reconstruct their action. But, yeah, rubbish...

Interesting. But answer me this: If the above was the case, why on earth would the medicos have given Jack the green light to play knowing that he was doing so in pain, and therefore at risk of developing a stress reaction or even fracture? It seems mind bogglingly stupid if you ask me.

Please not another player just for leadership. Lewis won't be in the best 22 if or when this team is challenging for a flag unless (touch wood) we pull out something special this year. He should still have value on and off field but the best players need to become the best leaders. I think it's getting closer to the time where you bring in a risk-reward player like a Stewie Dew or Brian Lake, who could do nothing but also could fill a specific need in September. I'm not sure Crameri could be that kind of player but he has some things that work in favour. He can kick a goal, at his best he was a superb athlete with a rare combination of endurance, speed and size and might be able to play different positions.

Would love to see them play PSG in the Champions League at some stage, goals galore.

C'mon Uncle, surely you attend every training session and know every face. What kind of weak supporter are you (despite contributing around $1000 per year to the club and attending games regularly, incl interstate)?

Jnr, I agree that a few more arrows in the quiver is useful, however, given our recent much publicised delisting, the ability to "make it to a contest" appears to be very highly valued at the club.

Good God no I want the club to improve... i have watched rubbish get paid for decades...

Did you just open a post containing your opinion by first telling us all you have a very astute eye?

TMac is one of the drivers of the work ethic for this team. He, Jonesey, Viney all drive the team standards. He lets himself down with some decision making and execution but you can't fault his endeavour and willingness to do what it takes for the team. Was dirty on missing finals and is driven to make amends for it. It's no surprise to me that Watts is out of the team as his attitude and work ethic are polar opposites to the leadership group. They had their say on the matter and are now demanding complete buy-in. Thats a good thing.

We already have enough players who couldn't hit the side of a barn by hand or by foot

Agreed. A massive pick up. And Omac is still a kid. Give him 10kgs and 50 games and we have a very, very good backline in the making. Backs don't win Norm Smiths, but they do win most flags.

I hate to burst your bubble - you can become a neater kick over time but there is no 'kicking coach panacea' out there. If you ain't a good kick when you enter the AFL, you are likely to remain so.

There is a reason why we always play as the away side v Essendon and it all has to do with clash jumpers and the failure of the afl to make essendon have a real clash jumper

Understand completely PF but I would go a little further. This year should have been the 8.... next year has to be 6 with a chance to push for 3 or 4. Tired of the mediocrity shown by this club. Not sure the Pollyanna's on this forum understand the damage done to this club by the late season fade out. It simply must not happen again. Remember with five games to go we could have gone top 4 and instead we won 2 out of 5 with almost our best 22 on the park. Moreover 4 out of those 5 games were against teams that well and truly missed the 8.

Happy to back Jason Taylor in the draft. He could weave some magic with so many second rounders.

Failure to establish at two clubs suggest to me it's an upside that is unattainable. Would rather we focused on new players than waste our time, resources and a space on the list on this type.

I think he can be a very capable player, but what position? A high HF with not much desire to pressure? A mid who doesn't get much footy? He has a got a decent left foot but needs to own a role. Nowhere right now.

So it's all good then. I recon Vines would still play for us with a nearly detached foot.

Had a long talk to him in the Mahogany Room prior to the B&F and had normal shoes on. Was really pleased Lever was joining us and looking forward to training with him. Will bring a lot to the team. I never broached the "Jack" topic with him. He really understood the anger and frustration from the supporters (well me anyway) with the late season fade out. A real gentleman and displays a real love of our club.

Im with you re Crameri. Insurance if Hogan has more injury concerns. But how the hell is trading for a AA 21 yr old Key back trading for instant gratification!? Geelong with Ablett is instant grat... but Lever has 10 years in front of him. So.... Im hoping to be gratified over and over again Biffen. Instant... and long term :-)

Based on the fact he's had 5 seasons at AFL level where he's kicked over 30 goals in a season - numbers that Harmes and Bugg could only dream of. Put him in a training singlet and you'll be drooling over him in no time.

Soon enough he will be 'training the house down'..... We have had no news out of the club except that he and TMac will have a delayed start. It is a great question - do we know anything more? Nate Jones is out running - are there any instagram posts or anything about what Viney is up to? BTW, I reckon a few posters should sign off from Demonland for a few weeks. Honestly, every thread is full of how bad everything is, how poorly we manage the players, how underwhelming our coaching staff is, how player X is a spud, how we mishandled Watts exit, how we paid too much for Lever... Did I miss anything?? Fhark me! Sure we had a crap end to the year. But time for some of you to let go of your little hobby horses and engage in the damned conversation at hand. (I suppose this is my hobby horse!)

Quite happy to start rotating it. Thanks Collingwood for letting us have it while we were sick. We're better now.

How funny though - we get told on here about how the players were spewing and we'd see the fallout - nekminnut Watts' best mate at the club extends forever, when the old contract still had a year to run. Lol! It's one of those things though that probably originates from a partial truth. Most likely some of the players were upset and disappointed but understood why it happened, but in the great game of Chinese Whispers, it became "the players are upset".

The only thing that I can see that's in any way defamatory is the suggestion that I almost breached Demonland's rules about defamation.

But the real issue is that jack was wide open and all alone on the insta-lead and Trac just didn't have the vision to see him right there in space on the friend's-list. #it'snotjacksfault

My #1 wish is for a bye after Darwin. Secondly, no string of 6 day breaks. It was admirable how the side coped with it this year at the time but eventually it took a heavy toll

Well, that makes sense then. Thanks!