Demonland

You are indeed correct about Tim Smith. Dees website needs to be updated too.

With 4, 8, 9, 20, 27, 31, 33 & 41 Vacant. What numbers do Jake Lever & Harley Balic get? Do any current players get an upgrade?

I was not there. The report was taken from this guys page on Facebook.

Taken from a post on Facebook: Jack Viney, the consummate professional that he is, is here. I wouldn’t blame the bloke if he wanted to go overseas for a bit and enjoy some time off. However, he looks like he’s a man on a mission as he walks into the café. Gave away the game by deciding he’s wearing shorts and wants to get rehab off to a strong start. Likewise, Cam Pedersen and Dean Kent show up. Full kit training gear, maybe doing their own thing but also maybe training. Can’t confirm as yet. After an hour – boys finally make their way over. Little media here so if something happens I’ll be breaking it. Good areas, personally. Park myself at centre wing for this one, might go over elsewhere and keep looking for more spots. Here today: Hunt, Hannan, ANB, Harmes, Oscar, Stretch, Clarry (third season, remember???), JKH, Johnstone, Balic, Maynard, Keilty, Brayshaw, J Smith, McKenna, T Smith, Vandenberg, Weideman, Petracca, King, Salem, Filopovic, Wagner, Frost The absolute photography king, Wayne Ludbey, is here taking photos. He’s the main source of media right now. Few run-throughs to kick things off. Petracca and Brayshaw leading one group through, Balic and Nibbler leading another. There’s three separate groups here. One is doing handball drills on the Swan Street end, a small group of six (including Hunt, Hannan (I think) and J Smith) are seemingly doing light running drills, whereas there is also a main group consisting of roughly 15 or 16 players. Run-throughs decidedly light as I kinda expected. Can only imagine the slog this pre-season will be like this year to be honest with the way we finished off 2017. Main group doing running straight away. It’s not a pace that takes down the surrounds of the Coles Express across the road just yet and the reason for that is the boys are running more than just one lap. Early going has Nibbler leading the way from Stretch and Oliver, however the latter starts to fall behind a little bit after one lap. JKH assumes third, while Frost brings up the rear of the field, falling away a little bit behind the rest of the group. Nibbler is motoring. Third lap of the oval and he has a solid 20m gap on Stretch. The gap that covers the players by the end of the second lap is roughly 80 metres. Harley Balic is second last in this field, locked behind Keilty and King, who’s about 15 metres further up the ground. Four laps of the ground done. Nibbler looks super impressive with his running pattern – something to monitor throughout pre-season, absolutely smacking the field. Footballs are out. Let’s see who has the most capability here to genuinely bring down the entire state of the houses around the Richmond area. First drill is a casual kick around drill which lasts around two minutes, and then the boys go into a zig-zag formation in two groups. One group is doing slightly different work – the one nearest to me actually screws up the drill on the first kick which is… yeah. Lot of kicks from here which are short, which is what you kinda expect at this time of season considering that they haven’t picked up a footy for a little while. Just getting the rust out by the looks of things. Crossy working the rehab group pretty hard. Likes of Hunt and Hannan getting their monies’ worth with the footy. In the main group, there’s a lot of faster, frentic ball movement going on. Most players are spending not much more than half a second with ball in hand. The patter is literally mark/pick the ball up and use it, either by hands or by foot. Few contest-based drills in front. One thing that’s noticeable (perhaps because of the matchup) is Gussy’s upper-body strength matched up on Harmes. If he doesn’t win the footy, he’s making it hard for Harmes to win it. Another group is doing some loose-ball get work, while the group on the far side of the ground are doing contests while the ball is on the ground… if what I said just makes sense. Think the most pleasing thing – even if it is only the first session – is seeing Gussy just be so clean every time the ball is around. Looks composed and looks ready to make a point about making 2018 his year after such a tough run. I think every Melbourne supporter wants to see him not only be on the park consistently, but put in a huge season as well. I expect him to play off half-back at the moment, be a bit of a ball carrier and creator, while also pushing Hunt a bit further up the ground. That’s my expectation, anyway. Next up, boys swap their footy boots for running shoes again. In one group – Nibs, Stretch, JKH, Clarry, Maynard and Gus; in another – Pedersen, Keilty, Kent, Oscar, Frost, King; in the third group, Harmes, Salem, Trac, Johnstone, Balic, Wagner. Meantime, rehab group currently consists of Hunt, McKenna and Smith doing some reasonably-paced running, while Filipovic is doing some work up forward along with Hannan. Mitchy seems to have had a bit of a change of hair colour since our last correspondence in Round 22 (let’s be honest here). Yet again Nibs looking very good in the running drills, constantly leading the way. Something to keep in mind a bit later on, especially if he has a good pre-season.

13. Allen Jakovich, Adem Yze, Clayton Oliver

That's my pick for Lever.

Anyone have information as to time or venue of training?

PART ONE - THOSE WERE THE DAYS “Change can be good for a player — and good for the game too.” Michael Hibberd speaking of Jake Lever's move to Melbourne during the trade period - Having changed AFL clubs himself, Melbourne defender Michael Hibberd has no issue with Jake Lever being a Demon Of course he would say that given that Hibberd will be playing alongside the talented young defender over the coming few years in what will hopefully be a successful period in their club's history but the recruitment of Jake Lever represents something very fresh and new in the modern landscape at Melbourne. It's very clear now that the dream of making Melbourne a destination club in the AFL is finally a reality and a welcome change after years of frustration when the traffic in players went the other way. Lever is the consummate young defender with the world at his feet - a young man who was keenly chased by at least four Melbourne-based clubs — the Demons, the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Hawthorn — before deciding on Melbourne. That decision might have upset Adelaide and its skipper Tex Walker but it's something Demon fans have been exposed to for some time. They were told then to suck it up, grin and bear and move on while some of their best were stolen from them. Those were the days and they're over. The price was high given that the club gave away two first round draft picks to get their man but the Demons believe the cost will be justified in the long run. The exchange period also saw Melbourne acquire a little known Fremantle player in 20-year-old Harley Balic who only two years ago was touted as a potential first round draft until a wrist injury saw him fall to 38 in the AFL National Draft. His career with the Dockers was soured by surgery for his serious scaphoid injury, homesickness and a hamstring tear. The former Sandringham Dragon is now back home and happy to be a Demon. * * * * * * * At this time of the year, each AFL club is well into changing its list for the coming season. It's well worth reflecting for a start on the Demons' playing list as it stood for season 2017:- PRIMARY LIST: Angus Brayshaw Tomas Bugg Sam Frost Colin Garland Jeff Garlett Max Gawn Mitch Hannan James Harmes Michael Hibberd Jesse Hogan Liam Hulett Jayden Hunt Neville Jetta Dion Johnstone Nathan Jones Ben Kennedy Jay Kennedy-Harris Dean Kent Mitch King Jordan Lewis Heritier Lumumba Oscar McDonald Tom McDonald Pat McKenna Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Cameron Pedersen Christian Petracca Christian Salem Jake Spencer Billy Stretch Jack Trengove Dom Tyson Aaron vandenBerg Bernie Vince Jack Viney Josh Wagner Jack Watts Sam Weideman ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Lachlan Filipovic Declan Keilty Tim Smith Mitch White ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Corey Maynard Joel Smith The club's two trade inclusions have been offset by the usual number of players who leave for various reasons, the most controversial being the trade of former number one draft selection Jack Watts to Port Adelaide for a second round draft pick. In a much earlier controversy, Heritier Lumumba retired last September while the other retirement came more recently when Colin Garland decided to hang up his boots after missing 2017 due to ACL surgery. The club has delisted Liam Hulett, Ben Kennedy, Jake Spencer, Jack Trengove and rookie lister Mitch White. The club's former basketball stars were also promoted from the list of Category B rookies. Joel Smith has been elevated to the senior list while Corey Maynard has been elevated to a category A rookie. The club's playing list after the free agency and trade period:- PRIMARY LIST: Angus Brayshaw Harley Balic Tomas Bugg Sam Frost Jeff Garlett Max Gawn Mitch Hannan James Harmes Michael Hibberd Jesse Hogan Jayden Hunt Neville Jetta Dion Johnstone Nathan Jones Jay Kennedy-Harris Dean Kent Mitch King Jake Lever Jordan Lewis Oscar McDonald Tom McDonald Pat McKenna Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Cameron Pedersen Christian Petracca Christian Salem Joel Smith Billy Stretch Dom Tyson Aaron vandenBerg Bernie Vince Jack Viney Josh Wagner Sam Weideman ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Lachlan Filipovic Declan Keilty Corey Maynard Tim Smith With the the trade period now finished, every club knows exactly what draft picks it holds ahead of the national draft. For the Demons, three of their four selections will be in the second round of the draft meeting later this month.

CHANGES 2017 by The Oracle PART ONE - THOSE WERE THE DAYS “Change can be good for a player — and good for the game too.” Michael Hibberd speaking of Jake Lever's move to Melbourne during the trade period - Having changed AFL clubs himself, Melbourne defender Michael Hibberd has no issue with Jake Lever being a Demon Of course he would say that given that Hibberd will be playing alongside the talented young defender over the coming few years in what will hopefully be a successful period in their club's history but the recruitment of Jake Lever represents something very fresh and new in the modern landscape at Melbourne. It's very clear now that the dream of making Melbourne a destination club in the AFL is finally a reality and a welcome change after years of frustration when the traffic in players went the other way. Lever is the consummate young defender with the world at his feet - a young man who was keenly chased by at least four Melbourne-based clubs — the Demons, the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Hawthorn — before deciding on Melbourne. That decision might have upset Adelaide and its skipper Tex Walker but it's something Demon fans have been exposed to for some time. They were told then to suck it up, grin and bear and move on while some of their best were stolen from them. Those were the days and they're over. The price was high given that the club gave away two first round draft picks to get their man but the Demons believe the cost will be justified in the long run. The exchange period also saw Melbourne acquire a little known Fremantle player in 20-year-old Harley Balic who only two years ago was touted as a potential first round draft until a wrist injury saw him fall to 38 in the AFL National Draft. His career with the Dockers was soured by surgery for his serious scaphoid injury, homesickness and a hamstring tear. The former Sandringham Dragon is now back home and happy to be a Demon. * * * * * * * At this time of the year, each AFL club is well into changing its list for the coming season. It's well worth reflecting for a start on the Demons' playing list as it stood for season 2017:- PRIMARY LIST: Angus Brayshaw Tomas Bugg Sam Frost Colin Garland Jeff Garlett Max Gawn Mitch Hannan James Harmes Michael Hibberd Jesse Hogan Liam Hulett Jayden Hunt Neville Jetta Dion Johnstone Nathan Jones Ben Kennedy Jay Kennedy-Harris Dean Kent Mitch King Jordan Lewis Heritier Lumumba Oscar McDonald Tom McDonald Pat McKenna Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Cameron Pedersen Christian Petracca Christian Salem Jake Spencer Billy Stretch Jack Trengove Dom Tyson Aaron vandenBerg Bernie Vince Jack Viney Josh Wagner Jack Watts Sam Weideman ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Lachlan Filipovic Declan Keilty Tim Smith Mitch White ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Corey Maynard Joel Smith The club's two trade inclusions have been offset by the usual number of players who leave for various reasons, the most controversial being the trade of former number one draft selection Jack Watts to Port Adelaide for a second round draft pick. In a much earlier controversy, Heritier Lumumba retired last September while the other retirement came more recently when Colin Garland decided to hang up his boots after missing 2017 due to ACL surgery. The club has delisted Liam Hulett, Ben Kennedy, Jake Spencer, Jack Trengove and rookie lister Mitch White. The club's former basketball stars were also promoted from the list of Category B rookies. Joel Smith has been elevated to the senior list while Corey Maynard has been elevated to a category A rookie. The club's playing list after the free agency and trade period:- PRIMARY LIST: Angus Brayshaw Harley Balic Tomas Bugg Sam Frost Jeff Garlett Max Gawn Mitch Hannan James Harmes Michael Hibberd Jesse Hogan Jayden Hunt Neville Jetta Dion Johnstone Nathan Jones Jay Kennedy-Harris Dean Kent Mitch King Jake Lever Jordan Lewis Oscar McDonald Tom McDonald Pat McKenna Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Cameron Pedersen Christian Petracca Christian Salem Joel Smith Billy Stretch Dom Tyson Aaron vandenBerg Bernie Vince Jack Viney Josh Wagner Sam Weideman ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Lachlan Filipovic Declan Keilty Corey Maynard Tim Smith With the the trade period now finished, every club knows exactly what draft picks it holds ahead of the national draft. For the Demons, three of their four selections will be in the second round of the draft meeting later this month.

Some more press with video and audio of the Exorcist Goal. https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/the-day-melbournes-allen-jakovich-overcame-the-exorcist-to-kiss-his-eagles-brother-glen-on-the-mcg-ng-b88645807z

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/richmond-goes-from-afls-secondeasiest-draw-to-secondhardest-while-collingwood-gets-dream-run/news-story/3402a919643eaab388715b312b99ce0f Draw difficulty Ranking (hardest to easiest) Club 2017 ladder finish (post finals) 1 Fremantle 14th 2 Richmond 1st 3 West Coast 6th 4 Hawthorn 12th 5 St Kilda 11th 6 GWS 4th 7 Melbourne 9th 8 Adelaide 2nd 9 Western Bulldogs 10th 10 Essendon 8th 11 Carlton 16th 12 Brisbane 18th 13 Geelong 3rd 14 Sydney 5th 15 Port Adelaide 7th 16 Gold Coast 17th 17 North Melbourne 15th 18 Collingwood 13th * Draw difficulty as assessed by Champion Data

Today I renewed 14 family memberships and signed up 3 new family members. You can add 17 to the 2018 tally.

You can comment on the fixture in The 2018 Fixture Thread. This is the Poll thread because I can't seem to add a poll to an existing thread anymore. So are you happy with the draw? 2018 Melbourne fixture Round 1, Sunday, March 25, Geelong Cats, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 2, Saturday, March 31, Brisbane Lions, The Gabba, Away, 6:25pm, Foxtel Round 3, Saturday, April 7, North Melbourne, MCG, Home, 2:10pm, Foxtel Round 4, Sunday, April 15, Hawthorn, MCG, Away, 3:20pm, Seven Round 5, Tuesday, April 24, Richmond, MCG, Home, 7:25pm, Seven Round 6, Sunday, April 29, Essendon, Etihad Stadium, Away, 1:10pm, Foxtel Round 7, Sunday, May 6, St Kilda, Etihad Stadium, Away, 3:20pm, Seven Round 8, Saturday, May 12, Gold Coast Suns, The Gabba, Away, 4:35pm, Foxtel Round 9, Sunday, May 20, Carlton, MCG, Away, 1:10pm, Foxtel Round 10, Sunday, May 27, Adelaide Crows, TIO Traeger Park, Home, 2:50pm, Seven Round 11, Saturday, June 2, Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium, Away, 1:45pm, Foxtel Round 12, Monday, June 11, Collingwood, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 13, Bye Round 14, Friday, June 22, Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, Away, 7:20pm, Seven Round 15, Sunday, July 1, St Kilda, MCG, Home, 1:10pm, Foxtel Round 16, Saturday, July 7, Fremantle, TIO Stadium, Home, 7:10pm, Foxtel Round 17, Saturday, July 14, Western Bulldogs, MCG, Home, 4:35pm, Foxtel Round 18, Saturday, July 21, Geelong Cats, GMHBA Stadium, Away, 7:25pm, Seven Round 19, Saturday, July 28, Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval, Away, 7:10pm, Seven Round 20, Sunday, August 5, Gold Coast Suns, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 21, Sunday, August 12, Sydney Swans, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 22, Sunday, August 19, West Coast Eagles, Perth Stadium, Away, 1:20pm Seven Round 23, TBC, GWS Giants, MCG, Home, TBC, TBC

Only 1 Friday night game (Away) - Carlton & Saints play 4 6 day break after one NT game No Etihad Home games 7 Interstate Travel games and 1 trip to Geelong Play twice - Adel, Geel, Port, Haw, Coll, Freo Essendon Away again for the 8th time in a row No Bye after either NT game Only 4 Six Day breaks (and one 5 after ANZAC game) 11 games at the G

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-10-31/melbournes-2018-fixture-announced 2018 Melbourne fixture Round 1, Sunday, March 25, Geelong Cats, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 2, Saturday, March 31, Brisbane Lions, The Gabba, Away, 6:25pm, Foxtel Round 3, Saturday, April 7, North Melbourne, MCG, Home, 2:10pm, Foxtel Round 4, Sunday, April 15, Hawthorn, MCG, Away, 3:20pm, Seven Round 5, Tuesday, April 24, Richmond, MCG, Home, 7:25pm, Seven Round 6, Sunday, April 29, Essendon, Etihad Stadium, Away, 1:10pm, Foxtel Round 7, Sunday, May 6, St Kilda, Etihad Stadium, Away, 3:20pm, Seven Round 8, Saturday, May 12, Gold Coast Suns, The Gabba, Away, 4:35pm, Foxtel Round 9, Sunday, May 20, Carlton, MCG, Away, 1:10pm, Foxtel Round 10, Sunday, May 27, Adelaide Crows, TIO Traeger Park, Home, 2:50pm, Seven Round 11, Saturday, June 2, Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium, Away, 1:45pm, Foxtel Round 12, Monday, June 11, Collingwood, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 13, Bye Round 14, Friday, June 22, Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, Away, 7:20pm, Seven Round 15, Sunday, July 1, St Kilda, MCG, Home, 1:10pm, Foxtel Round 16, Saturday, July 7, Fremantle, TIO Stadium, Home, 7:10pm, Foxtel Round 17, Saturday, July 14, Western Bulldogs, MCG, Home, 4:35pm, Foxtel Round 18, Saturday, July 21, Geelong Cats, GMHBA Stadium, Away, 7:25pm, Seven Round 19, Saturday, July 28, Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval, Away, 7:10pm, Seven Round 20, Sunday, August 5, Gold Coast Suns, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 21, Sunday, August 12, Sydney Swans, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven Round 22, Sunday, August 19, West Coast Eagles, Perth Stadium, Away, 1:20pm Seven Round 23, TBC, GWS Giants, MCG, Home, TBC, TBC

You can watch the draw being release LIVE here (well what hasn't already been leaked): http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-31/watch-it-live-afl-to-reveal-full-2018-fixture

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

Michael Hibberd talks about Jake Lever leaving Adelaide and joining the Dees. “Jake’s a super player — easily one of the best intercept mark players in the league,” Hibberd said. “And a young player with a lot of upside and a lot of footy to play. “As I’ll be spending a lot of time with him in the same part of the field, I’m looking forward to teaching him a few things — and also to learning from him as well.”