Demonland

2014: THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS by Whispering Jack They say that in biblical times, the worst droughts lasted seven years. The droughts brought with them famine and pestilence and in some cases the desperation was so great that the people turned on each other and devoured their own. Fast forward to the present and I search for answers to the question: what did Melbourne do to deserve its current winning season drought and why, when the magical seven year period of disaster upon disaster came up at the end of 2013, did it not end there and then? After all, according to American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "into each life some rain must fall". Surely, now was the time for at least a shower or two if not a deluge? Melbourne had a new, highly paid and well credentialed coach in Paul Roos, had recruited well in the midfield with Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson and Daniel Cross coming on board and there was stability off the field with new blood at the top and a well-credentialled administrator in CEO Peter Jackson coming into his first full season at the helm. But with a record of only four wins, a slightly improved percentage and a poor finish that saw the team lose its last ten games on end, it could hardly be said that the drought was broken in 2014. By any measure, the final result has to be looked upon as more than a little disappointing and even if we did see an end to multiple defeats of the magnitude of in excess of 100 points, we are kidding ourselves if we place our faith on an improvement from the low base of 2013 when the club was in such turmoil. So what really happened to the drought breaking rain? There were ominous signs already when, early in the new year, so many important players were off the track and involved in some form of rehab. The club seemed to be hit hardest in the big man department where the bulk of its rucks and key position forwards were forced into limited preseason preparation. We saw little during this vital period of ruckmen Mark Jamar and Max Gawn while the three projected key players making up the attack Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes and Jesse Hogan were all sidelined. Clark and Hogan were destined not to play any AFL games in 2014 (Hogan was restricted to one late season VFL game) while Dawes played his first game for the season in round 4. Defender Colin Garland also missed a large slab of the pre season and made a late start to the season proper. The adverse effect of this on the club was felt at the beginning of the year by the absence of so much tall timber from a team whose depth was stretched from the outset as well as at the end when those players ran out of steam due to the lack of proper preparation. It wasn't all doom and gloom early with the Demons winning their opening NAB Challenge game against Richmond at Etihad Stadium on a night when the midfield performance was encouraging thanks to the newcomers led by Bernie Vince and a strong performance from Jack Trengove, now relieved of the mantle of captaincy. The next outing to Alice Springs against Geelong (a narrow loss) was also promising but Jesse Hogan's back injury put a dampener on things. The last of the practice matches was a thrashing by the reigning premier in the heat at Casey Fields with a much weakened side so little store was placed on that outcome. A pall was cast over the season in March with the passing at the age of 47 of former coach Dean Bailey of cancer marking the death of another from the club who departed all too young. Bailey's passing came not long after it was revealed that another former coach in Neale Daniher was battling Motor Neurone Disease. The season opened with a winnable game against St. Kilda. Melbourne dominated the early minutes before kicking itself out of the game with 10 consecutive behinds. It didn't help matters that a team so bereft of big men lost Jack Fitzpatrick and Tom McDonald (who had kept a tight rein on Nick Riewoldt early) by half time. Despite having less scoring shots, the Saints won by 17 points in the end and their skipper, left without a true match up, kicking a match winning three goals to be best on the ground. The Demons had a bad day for their first home game against the Eagles who demolished them by 93 points. With no attack to speak of the hosts were limited to four goals making it a total of 10 in two weeks. The troubles continued into round three at Spotless Stadium when they stayed in touch with the Giants until early in the last quarter. So desperate was the team for marking forwards that James Frawley was moved into attack but all to no avail. The Demons finally broke the ice in round 4 when they stunned the Blues by 23 points with Dawes starring in his return game. He kicked 2 goals as did Frawley, Bail and Watts. The team continued to show improvement but went down in consecutive games to Gold Coast and Sydney at the MCG. Much of the better form was being generated by a midfield in which Nathan Jones was relishing the captaincy and no longer having to play a lone hand with important contributions coming from from Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson and Daniel Cross. The loss of Jake Spencer to injury was offset by the return of Mark Jamar who was starting to show glimpses of his form from 2010. Jack Trengove was also missing from the side from this time on after being diagnosed with a fractured foot. Meanwhile, it was announced that Mitch Clark, who had been unable to shake off the effects of soft tissue injuries in the aftermath of foot injury had retired due to depression while it was becoming less likely that Jesse Hogan's much awaited debut would come in 2014, such was the severity of his back troubles. Despite all that, the Demons really clicked at Adelaide Oval when they upset the Crows to record a win in the City of Churches for the first time in a decade. Jack Viney was involved in a week of off field drama as he successfully fought a MRP suspension for a supposed high bump at the AFL Tribunal. On the following Saturday, the Dees fell at the last hurdle against the Bulldogs but returned to the winning list beating Richmond by 17 points. Melbourne started slowly against Port Adelaide in Alice Springs after the week's bye but recovered to give their opponents a fright, taking the lead in the final term but lacked the composure to pull off an unexpected victory against one of the ladder leaders. Melbourne was becoming known for its ability to apply defensive pressure but still struggled to penetrate opposition defences and that was certainly the story of the traditional Queens Birthday game against Collingwood. In a low scoring game, the team was well in the game but a disallowed goal to Bernie Vince after Neville Jetta played on, followed by a goal given away by an errant kick in defence late in the third term let the Pies off the hook. The Demons had such a defensive mindset that after kicking their first goal within 30 seconds, they managed just two more for the entire day. A week later, the boot was on the other foot when Melbourne wrested the initiative from Essendon late in the game. A brilliant chain of attacking football resulted in Christian Salem's match winner but it also left many wondering for the rest of the year, where the attacking flair had been hidden and where it went after that game. The excitement of the last gasp win over the Bombers who had tormented them early in the previous season should have signalled further steps forward but instead, the Demons went into a shell. They lost convincingly against North Melbourne who broke their defensive spirit with six unanswered goals in the third term and then gave away a big lead to the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium before regaining the lead late in the third term and losing with some poor defence in the last. Two thrashings followed at the hands of Fremantle and Geelong. The team's second venture to the Adelaide Oval could easily have resulted in a boil over with a Jay Schulz goal two minutes before the final siren securing a three point win for the home side. After the bye, Melbourne again threw away a winning opportunity, this time against the Brisbane Lions with some wayward kicking for goal in front of a home crowd. Leading by 14 points into the final term, the Demons were far too defensive and some poor skills allowed the visitors to storm home. By now, even Paul Roos was feeling the strain, somehow blaming the defeat on the tanking saga of 2009. Given that five years had elapsed and the team make up was substantially changed, he wasn't particularly convincing. From there, the side lurched home without much passion or interest and, on the way it put in a disgraceful display at home to the Giants kicking 3.16.34 to 15.8.98. The writing was on the wall for a number of players and a large list of delistings at the end of the season was a foregone conclusion. In the final game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, the shackles were off and the team managed to record its highest score for the season but still lost by five goals to bring its losing streak at the ground to 20 matches. To add insult to injury (Max Gawn's knee), Chris Dawes got himself needlessly suspended for a week to be served in round 1 of 2015. Over at Casey, the Scorpions experienced their worst season since the start of their alignment with Melbourne, resulting in the appointment of new coach Justin Plapp and a recruiting campaign to improve the depth of their VFL listed playing group. The entire football world was shocked on 2 October to learn of the passing of Demon great Robert Flower at the age of 59. To a generation of Melbourne fans after the Norm Smith era, Robbie was regarded as the Demons' only champion; one of the game's true gentlemen, a man loved by all and one who personified extreme loyalty to the club. Off the field, stability was restored at board level under club president Glen Bartlett although some felt he was being a trifle ambitious when he stated he wanted the Melbourne Football Club to be like the New York Yankees. The club recorded a modest profit and located the 1948 premiership flag through EBay even though it didn't know it was missing. Nathan Jones stamped himself as one of the club's greats with his third consecutive Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy, a worthy club champion and potentially outstanding club leader going forward. Newcomers Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince and Daniel Cross all finished in the top five in club voting with a mature and much improved Lynden Dunn finishing fourth after an excellent season in defence. Other improvers in defence were Neville Jetta and high flyer Jeremy Howe who adapted well when moved there early in the season. There was still much work to do after a year in which the club finished next to last, failed to win a "home" game or reach 100 points all year and recorded its lowest average score since 1920. The club had no Rising Star nominees and not a single player in the 40 man All-Australian short list (having produced All Australian players only once in the duration of its now eight year drought). The trade and draft period saw a number of changes to the primary and rookie lists with the majority of the departures being players whose performances were not considered up to scratch or whose careers were marred by injuries and a couple of retirements. James Frawley was the best of those to leave but his best was from four years ago and although he finished in the top ten in the club best and fairest this year, many were disappointed with his contribution as a leading player and most were happy for the club to receive the AFL's compensation for his loss to Hawthorn as a free agent. We still can't be certain as to when the drought will be over but with most pundits expressing approval of the club's off season recruiting and most players getting through the end of year training period safely, we can look forward with a little more optimism at the silver lining behind the clouds that will hopefully bring us some drought breaking rain and a more positive outlook for 2015.

Tomorrow is the day we remember the passing of hundreds of thousands of people in the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Melbourne footballer Troy Broadbridge was one of them. Whispering Jack wrote the following tribute on the day in 2005, exactly one year after. It still fits the memory of our red haired defender ... ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Whispering Jack Three hundred and sixty-five days ago the earth moved, the seas split and a wave was sent across the ocean leaving a trail of devastation that took with it a quarter of a million lives across two continents. We were touched by the tragedy; we felt its sadness and then life went on. Soon after, we could have been forgiven for thinking that despite the enormity of the event, the world remained unchanged. Seemingly, nothing did change our world in 2005. People still died whether by natural causes, by natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and hurricanes, by epidemics such as AIDS or by mans own hand everywhere on the planet but most notably in the deserts of Darfur, in the streets of Baghdad and even in the London Underground. "Nothing's gonna change my world" These are the words of the late John Lennon. Perhaps a single individual in a vast universe may feel that there is nothing he or she can do to change our world. But we are not totally helpless - we can make a difference. Trish Broadbridge, the Melbourne Football Club and friends proved this at Phi Phi Island - at the very place where their fallen husband and comrade Troy perished in the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Their persistence and endeavour enabled the building of a school for the children of the devastated island - the finishing touches were applied with their own bare hands. That generations of young Thai children to come will benefit from their labour bears testament to the fact that all of us can make a difference. We can change the world. Please post your respectful tributes here.

The banner will be changing at some point prior to or just after the seasons starts. I haven't given too much thought into who will be on it and it will all depend on whether I can source high quality recent images of players. I will attempt to include Jimmy and Robbie in it somehow. No promises.

http://dreamteamtalk.com/2014/12/17/melbourne-afl-fantasy-prices-2015/ MELBOURNE PRICES & POSITIONS First Name Surname Club Position Price Nathan Jones Melbourne Mid $572000 Bernie Vince Melbourne Mid $539000 Dom Tyson Melbourne Mid $510000 Daniel Cross Melbourne Mid $476000 Jack Viney Melbourne Mid $424000 Jeremy Howe Melbourne Def $419000 Matt Jones Melbourne Mid $418000 Jack Watts Melbourne Fwd $406000 Heritier Lumumba Melbourne Def/Mid $402000 Jack Grimes Melbourne Def $400000 Mark Jamar Melbourne Ruck $398000 Rohan Bail Melbourne Fwd/Mid $393000 Lynden Dunn Melbourne Def $389000 Cameron Pedersen Melbourne Fwd $381000 Chris Dawes Melbourne Fwd $361000 Dean Terlich Melbourne Def $350000 Jack Trengove Melbourne Mid $336000 Tom McDonald Melbourne Def $336000 Colin Garland Melbourne Def $331000 Viv Michie Melbourne Mid $331000 Max Gawn Melbourne Fwd/Ruck $320000 Neville Jetta Melbourne Def $318000 Jake Spencer Melbourne Ruck $307000 Dean Kent Melbourne Fwd $300000 Christian Petracca Melbourne Fwd/Mid $297000 Angus Brayshaw Melbourne Mid $294000 Jimmy Toumpas Melbourne Fwd/Mid $293000 Sam Frost Melbourne Def $268000 Jeff Garlett Melbourne Fwd $262000 Aidan Riley Melbourne Mid $255000 Jay Kennedy-Harris Melbourne Fwd $244000 Jordie McKenzie Melbourne Mid $239000 Jack Fitzpatrick Melbourne Fwd $195000 Jesse Hogan Melbourne Fwd $194000 Christian Salem Melbourne Fwd $193000 Benjamin Newton Melbourne Mid $192000 Alex Neal-Bullen Melbourne Mid $176000 Billy Stretch Melbourne Mid $170000 Oscar McDonald Melbourne Def $142000 Jayden Hunt Melbourne Mid $120000 James Harmes Melbourne Mid $120000 Max King Melbourne Ruck $120000 Mitchell White Melbourne Def $120000 Aaron Vandenberg Melbourne Mid $120000

11 January, 2014: Alex Rodriguez (American baseballer) banned for season for taking peptides via an anti-ageing clinic. Other players involved, circumstantial case including sms exchanges. 5 February, 2014: ASADA defend timing of investigation saying misinformation and lack of cooperation have hindered their progress. 11 February, 2014: Nathan Lovett-Murray reveals his series of injections began at a Gold Coast pre-season training camp in late 2011. Was injected with unknown amino acids in lower back. Had signed form for AOD-9604 and Thymosin. Reid and Dank in room at the time, Reid saying the injections would be useless. Had 10 over two days. 2 March, 2014: Herald Sun release names of 14 players based on leaked ASADA interim report. Point finger at ASADA for shoddy privacy in publishing names. EFC* also blamed, let players down. 11 March, 2014: Jobe Watson quoted as saying the saga had left the players somewhat disillusioned with the sport. 12 March, 2014: Hird and family leave on a 4 month holiday to Singapore, France, and Russia. 13 March, 2014: on the eve of the 2014 season it is revealed (leaked) that ASADA provided Show Cause letter to Dank, relating to 34 potential non-presence anti-doping rule violations, some pertain to supply and administration to Essendon* staff. Substances include: Fibroblast Growth Factors, Human Growth Hormone, Hexarelin, SARMS and Thymosin Beta-4. May 2014: The Victorian WorkCover Authority announces that it has launched a separate investigation into the matter 12 June 2014: ASADA issues show cause notices to 34 players on Essendon's 2012 player list. If found guilty, the players face infraction notices (sporting sanctions). These have, as a starting point, a two-year suspension, although players that demonstrate they were unwittingly given a prohibited substance may receive a 50 per cent reduction on their penalty 13 June 2014: Essendon chairman Paul Little announces that club executives have launched a Federal Court application "challenging the legality of the AFL/ASADA joint investigative process". Suspended coach James Hird immediately announces he is launching his own, simultaneous legal challenge as to legality of the ASADA investigation of the club 19 September 2014: Justice John Middleton rules that ASADA's investigation is lawful, allowing ASADA to trigger the start of the show-cause response period, which gives charged players 14 days to answer doping allegations against them. Essendon is required to pay ASADA's costs of around $1 million. 1 October 2014: Essendon elects not to appeal the Justice Middleton's ruling; but Hird, acting in an individual capacity, announced that he intends to appeal. 17 October 2014: ASADA issues fresh show cause notices to the thirty-four players. The players are given a two-week deadline to respond before ASADA presents its evidence to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel, but elect not to respond. 31 October 2014: the deadline for Mark Thompson to pay the $30,000 fine he was issued following the interim report passed without Thompson having paid the fine. The AFL later extend the deadline to 20 November 2014. 10-11 November 2014: Hird returns to the Federal Court to appeal Justice Middleton's decision that the AFL-ASADA joint investigation was legal. The hearing concludes on 11 November, but the court's ruling will not be known for some time. 12 November 2014: Mark Thompson leaves the Essendon Football Club. 13 November 2014: following the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel concluding that sufficient evidence existed against the players, the thirty-four players are placed on the register of findings. 14 November 2014: the AFL issues infraction notices to the thirty-four players, alleging that they used prohibited peptide Thymosin bet-4. The players are provisionally suspended until their AFL Tribunal hearing.. 15 December 2014: the AFL Tribunal hearing begins with sittings on an irregular basis right through to well past mid-February, 2015. 30 January, 2015 Full Court of the Federal Court dismisses Hird's appeal. Awards costs in favour of ASADA. The 34 (Essendon) Players: Pursuant to s.37AF of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, the Player Names Document is marked confidential and prohibited from publication until further order (this order is made to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice, the Court having directed of its own motion the list of names be provided to the Court on the basis that they will be prohibited from publication). (Source: Federal Court of Australia - Order - VID327/2014)

5 February, 2013: Essendon self-report to ASADA. Deputy CEO AFL Gillon McLachlan says players were possibly given banned drugs without consent. ASADA begins Project Cobia. Ian Robson, CEO stands down from AFL working group on illicit drugs. Robinson summarily dismissed, frog marched out of EFC. Bombers to be investigated over supplements6 February, 2013: Interview with Kyle Reimers aired. He was told the program was right on the edge. Mark McVeigh replies on radio: Hes a disgruntled player who was delisted who rarely turned up to pre-season in any sort of formevery player knew what they were taking, if you didnt you were probably asleep at the meeting which Kyle probably waseverything I took I know was 100% within the WADA code. I was given Vitamin B and C. 7 February, 2013: Blackest Day in Australian Sport this quote comes from Richard Ings, former Head of ASADA, not government. ACC investigation revealed. ACC Report refers to one AFL club on p.17 of a huge report. ACC informed AFL. 11 February, 2013: Dank on 7.30 Report: Players were given vitamins B, C only, intravenously. No intravenous peptides. We had a well-documented program, with regime for dosages, what time of the day/week. All logged on detailed electronic register on clubs intranet. Coaches were in on it. Two of the supplements were a little bit outside of WADA Code. 12 April, 2013: Extensive interview with Stephen Dank by The Ages Nick McKenzie: The circumstantial evidence about the use of Thymosin beta 4 is further corroborated. He repeatedly talks about giving the drug to players. Hours before publication of this story, EFC told Fairfax Media it would dispute reports thymosin beta 4 was used because player consent forms only referred to ''thymosin'' and it was possible a version of the drug not banned by WADA had been used. When contacted for further clarification by Fairfax Media prior to publication, Dank said he was mistaken in his original on-the-record interview and his references to thymosin beta 4 in fact related to a drug called Thymomodulin. Heres the interview with Nick McKenzie: NM: Thymosin Beta 4 why was that used in Essendon players given there is an opinion from a doctor or researcher and other scientists that its effects are uncertain? (note: The AFL believes it has a strong circumstantial case that TB-4 was used on players.) SD: That's not totally true Nick because, with all due respect, right, there is good data very good data that supports Thymosin Beta 4 in the immune system. NM: OK, why give it to all Essendon players if only some of them had colds and flu? SD: Well, the point is that there is a degree of immunosuppression after a game or a hard training week, right. Often times the ability to back up next week is decreased by the hit on the immune system. NM: Did you see any indications in Essendon players that it actually helped them? SD: Well apart from the fact they won 11 out of their first 14, right, and we did regular bloods [blood tests] . . . at the end of the day I was very happy with the science, I was very happy after working a long time in football, right, that there are periods of malaise which are possibly related to sub-clinical flus and sub-clinical colds, right, which can affect performance. NM: How often were Essendon players taking Thymosin Beta 4? SD: [Explains the dosage level but asks that this be not published]. NM: ASADA has just released on its website that Thymosin Beta 4 is prohibited in all routes and out of competition. SD: Well, that must have just only come in this year and I will get someone to speak to ASADA about that. That's just mind-blowing. NM: Thymosin Beta 4, they must have just banned that. SD: I think they've only just put that in to back up their case. NM: On AOD-9604, let me ask you a specific question. It was not until this year, February, that researchers released the first positive data about its cartilage injury repair possibilities. But you were using it to treat injuries [at Essendon] before that. So how could you be sure? SD: Well, first of all I had a very, very long discussion with the investor/founder of AOD, Professor Frank Ng (he was my Biochemistry tutor in 1992!), who was very excited about the possibility of AOD in injuries, coupled with the fact that we had seen definitive changes in bone density among the obese patients in the previous clinical trials. It comes back to things being used off label. NM: Why are you sure supplements were not captured by WADA section S0 [which bans the use of supplements not approved for human therapeutic use]? SD: Because they were compounded. (note: people can legally access and use drugs not approved for human therapeutic use, including AOD-9604, if they are sourced from a compounding chemist. In some cases, a prescription is needed.) NM: Did James Hird know the names and properties of what his players were using? SD: Yes. NM: Did James Hird know he was taking [WADA-banned drug] Hexarelin or is it possible that he was just told that he was taking amino acids? SD: He was told it was Hexarelin. It was discussed with him at length. He asked me if players could use it and I said no. Mind you, he wasn't the only coach who was a regular user of it. [The AFL has alleged that James Hird was injected with "amino acids" by Dank. "Amino acids" is a generic term for proteins. The AFL has said Hird made no inquiries" about what the amino acids he was injected with were or whether the substance he was to be injected with were banned by WADA or the AFL.] NM: Who else was using it? SD: [Coaching staff] Simon Goodwin and James Byrne. NM: Why were Hird, Goodwin and Byrne using Hexarelin in the first place? SD: Because at the end of the day, they are in very, very stressful jobs, they are getting a little bit older in life, so like a good many thousands of other people around the country . . . they were using something to give them a little bit of a lift, to confront the stresses of their job, and something that they were well entitled to use. Whatever I think of James Hird as a bloke, and you can appreciate it is at an all-time low at the moment, in no circumstances did James Hird do or take anything he wasn't entitled to do. NM: Wasn't that setting a bad example, that you were giving the coach of a footy club a peptide the rest of the footy club couldn't use? SD: Not at all. In no way, shape or form does it set a bad example. How many coaches in their 40s in any country in any code of sport are using testosterone? So how is it a bad example? NM: Everything you used at Essendon and Cronulla, did you get permission, when they were in the grey area, from ASADA or WADA to use them? SD: Yes. (Note: Dank also explained he had witnesses who could corroborate his dealings with ASADA. ASADA has denied it gave Dank formal advice to use AOD-9604, TB-4 or other banned drugs). NM: I have interviewed someone familiar with ASADA. They said that if you got assurances from ASADA, then that is a get-out-of-jail card, but you need to prove you got those assurances and one of the ways to prove it is if you got an ASADA receipt [which is usually given when a person makes an inquiry with ASADA and is given advice]. SD: You only get a receipt number when you ring up or online. I was straight inside the bowels of ASADA. NM: Why don't you think some of the drugs you used breached section S2 of the WADA code [which bans certain drugs that stimulate the body's production of human growth hormones]. SD: Because there is no biological relationship either in terms of mode or structure [between the drugs used and the banned drugs] . . . The only similarity is the end point. And if you are going to question the end point, then you need to ban the squat [a gym exercise] and any other modality that stimulates growth hormone. NM: Did Essendon football boss Danny Corcoran or [former] CEO Ian Robson know about your program and to what extent did they know the details? (Note: Hird and Corcoran have both been charged by the AFL with bringing the game into disrepute, while Robson resigned earlier this year). SD: Of course they did. Danny certainly knew everything as he needed to. He promoted it. Each week he would check in with me, particularly in the early days. To be quite honest, we went to training for a week at the Gold Coast and I remember a discussion before we left that we were to make sure that the supplements went up there. NM: Is it right that [convicted drug trafficker] Shane Charter stuck his head in during that training week at the gold coast? (Note: The AFL has alleged that Charter supplied peptides to Dank that were used on players. Dank denies this). SD: He happened to be staying there exactly the same week we were staying there. He said hello to me because he saw some of the players and realised I was staying there. I think he went and said hello to James for about five minutes. NM: Your critics say you think are the smartest guy in the room and you have a bit of a god complex. SD: No. Quite the opposite. 13 April, 2013: Door stop interview with Hird When the truth comes out, I think you will find that I will be in a very good position. 22 April, 2013 WADA releases statement clarifying status of AOD-9604: It is still under pre-clinical and clinical development and has not been approved for therapeutic use by any government health authority in the world. Therefore, under the 2013 Prohibited Substances and Methods List the substances falls into the S.0 category. 6 May, 2013: EFC release the Switkowski Report: A disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented within the club". The attitude of some in the fitness team was that EFCs medical personnel were yesterdays men.the fitness team has a mandate for change, to push the legal limit with formulae which were assumed to be effective and safe, if mysterious. Dr Reids letter is sent by mail and gets sent to the wrong people: "The rapid diversification into exotic supplements, sharp increase in frequency of injections, the shift to treatment offsite in alternative medicine clinics, emergence of unfamiliar suppliers, marginalisation of traditional medical staff etc, combine to create a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged." 6 May, 2013: David Howman (Director General WADA): Its (AOD) banned under S0 and you know, I just dont think the discussion needs to go any further than that. 25 June, 2013: Jobe Watson interviewed On the Couch. Says he believes he was injected with AOD. 26 July, 2013: AFL receives ASADAs interim report. 29 July, 2013: David Evans (runs a stockbroking firm, Bill Kelty and John Wylie on its Advisory Board) quits. Paul Little becomes EFC Chairman. 31 July, 2013: Seven interviews Dean Robinson. Robinson says Hird wanted a black ops supplements program. Mark McVeigh believes players improvements were due to hard work, not supplements. Cameron Ling believes players got too big, too quick. 1 August, 2013: ASADA gains new powers to compel witnesses (first used in 10/13) 1 August, 2013: Zaharakis manager confirms he wasnt part of the program because basically he doesnt like needles. 2 August, 2013: Interim ASADA Report given to AFL: As a result, ASADA will not be providing any further comment on the investigation. This ensures the investigations integrity as well as protecting the privacy and rights of any affected individuals. ASADA has a duty of care to be both thorough and accurate in every step of the process, Ms Andruska said. 13 August, 2013: EFC, Hird, Reid, Corcoran, Thompson charged. AFL had seized 4 servers, 1.5TB data, 4 laptops, examined 16M emails, 177,000 files, 6 mobiles with 98,000 SMSs, 6.8M line entries in their financial system, and 130 interviews of their own. 16 substances listed, one redacted. Each party was charged with engaging in conduct that is "unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the Australian Football League or to bring the game of football into disrepute, contrary to rule 1.6" 21 August, 2013: Hird initiates Supreme Court action to force the AFL to appoint an independent body to hear his case. This begins 6 days of negotiations between Hirds team and Wylie, the AFL conduit. Little also negotiates with Hird to agree to terms, inducement of an outstanding career opportunity, payment of MBA course in France (i.e. not known who will pay for it), two year contract extension. 22 August, 2013: AFL meet with the AFL Presidents and are urged to resolve the matter. 17 other clubs meet and, headed, by Peter Gordon, endorse the AFLs approach to resolve the sanctions. 27 August, 2013: AFL announce they are charging EFC* and James Hird. Hird suspended for a year effective 25/8, EFC kicked out of 2013 finals, fined $2M, EFC banned from first two rounds of 2014 draft, Corcoran suspended for 6 months, Thompson fined $30K. AFL drop charges of bringing game into disrepute. Rather charges of governance issues instead. To the best of the AFL's knowledge and belief, Hird did not promote or encourage an unethical environment within the club; Hird has not brought the game into disrepute. AFL concerned about 2013 finals being legitimate. August, 2013: only time ASADA talks publicly is for Australian article by Jacqueline Magnay, saying there will be infraction notices and life bans. 19 September, 2013: After contesting his charges, Dr Reid has charges dropped by AFL. Takes 4 month leave of absence. Demetriou infers this is punishment. 28 September, 2013: Anthony Daniher: The couple attended every parent information night held by the Bombers during the season. ''It was really sad, because every meeting we went to, we were told the truth,'' Daniher said. ''Which is fantastic, it was the truth, and when you are listening to people like Doc Reid talk of all the drugs they were using at the time, about 98 per cent were legal. The other 2 per cent, no one had a clue about, and no one even knew these drugs existed. 9 October, 2013: Two people arrested over a performance-enhancing drug ring. Operated out of an anti-ageing Clinic. Officers confiscated bags of synthetic steroids, human growth hormones and two pill presses from the Melbourne Sports Medicine and Anti-Aging Clinic. The clinic is owned by Robin James Taylor, 43, a biochemist and former practice manager of Shane Charter's Doctor Ageless Clinic. October, 2013:: Hird returns from now completing a $120,000 MBA course at France's prestigious Fontainebleau business school while serving his suspension on full pay. Hird later independently applied to attend the exclusive Fontainebleau business school in France, passing an entrance exam in Singapore. 6 October, 2013: Ahmed Saad fronted the anti-doping tribunal after pleading guilty. Recently married Saad, 24, took the energy drink "Before Battle" from supplements company Viking Protein, which contains WADA-banned stimulant Methylsynephrine. Given 2 year ban, backdated to August 20 for pleading guilty. 9 October, 2013: Dean Wallis sacked. 11 October, 2013: Thompson announced as interim coach. Robinson initiates Supreme Court action against EFC for breach of contract. 13 December, 2013: AFL find out Hird still being paid, insist he isnt, then agree that Hird is paid out the $1M salary in advance. 13 December, 2013: Outgoing WADA chief, John Fahey I expect there will be several charges by ASADA. Its only a matter of when. Where is WorkSafe Victoria in all of this? How can James Hird be at the helm of the club as the head coach when 4000-plus injections have been given to playing staff, none of which anybody can tell us what it was, most of which we know is not approved for human consumption, and put at risk these kids, and not have WorkSafe Victoria banging on their door that this is an unsafe workplace? Nothings been done there thats the sacred cow AFL is. Its disgraceful that WorkSafe havent been in there tipping it on its head. 20 December, 2013: Corcoran announces he wont return to his role in February.

12 January, 2012: Charters documents recommended dosage/frequency for Thymosin Beta-4. They correspond exactly with player consent forms. 13 January, 2012: Reid aware of oral Tribulus and injected AOD-9604. 15 January, 2012 Hird emails staff saying the program must not harm players. Robinson develops protocol for Reid to approve new supplements. -17 January, 2012: Dr Reid writes letter to Hird and Corcoran: “Dear James/Paul I have some fundamental problems being club doctor at present. This particularly applies to the administration of supplements. Although we have been giving supplements for approximately three months, despite repeated requests as to exactly what we are giving our players and the literature related to this, have at no time been given that until last Sunday [15 January 2012]. Last week the players were given subcutaneous injections, not by myself, and I had no idea that this was happening and also what drug was involved. It appears to me that in Sydney with Rugby League the clubs do not answer to the governing body (e.g. A.F.L.). It seems that their whole culture is based on trying to beat the system as are close to the edge as one can. It is my belief in A.F.L. that we should be winning flags by keeping a drug free culture. It is all very well to say this is not banned and that is not banned but for example, the injection that we have given our players subcutaneously, was a drug called AOD/9604, is an Oligomeric Peptide. This drug is derived from the growth hormone. This molecule has been constructed so it has removed what we call IGF1, which is part of the growth hormone that causes muscle and organ growth and bone length and photosynthesis. It is at the moment used for fat metabolism but also bone strength in children and may have some side effects that may be beneficial in bone growth. This to me just seem ludicrous at this stage where the only trials I have got are on how to lost weight and fat around the abdomen. If we are resorting to deliver this altered growth hormone molecule, I think we are playing at the edge and this will read extremely badly in the press for our club and for the benefits and also for side effects that are not known in the long term, I have trouble with all these drugs. I am still not sure whether AOD/9604 is approved by the drug authorities in Australia at this stage. Just because it is not classified as illegal, doesn’t mean that it can be used freely in the community, it cannot. The other interesting thing about AOD/9604, is that its market in America is in body builders. This also should raise a red flag if we are worried about perception. When it comes to Actovegin, this has been used around the world for many years. There is some flimsy evidence that it may help in speeding up the healing of tendons when they are damaged, though after speaking to radiologists, the recent opinion is that platelets and one’s own blood, probably does a better job. We are claiming that we should use it as a recovery agent. To me it seems ludicrous that a few mls of calf’s blood spun down, is going to give you a concentration of growth factors and other factors that would speed up recovery. I am very frustrated by this and now feel I am letting the club down by not automatically approving of these things. I need to collect my thoughts as these drugs have been given without my knowledge. I am sure Steve Danks believes that what we are doing is totally ethical and legal, however, one wonders whether if you take a long stance and look at this from a distance, whether you would want your children being injected with a derivative hormone that is not free to the community and whether calf’s blood, that has been used for many years and is still doubted by most doctors, is worth pursuing. Kind Regards, Dr. Bruce Reid, M.B.B.S., Senior Medical Officer” 18 January, 2012: EFC billed by Como $9,860 for 26 vials TB-4 and 7 vials Hexarelin. 30Janaury, 2012: Hird to Corcoran: “other clubs are a long way ahead of Reidy and us at the moment”…..“we need to organise a meeting with Danksy, Weapon, Reidy and you the day you get back…Reidy has put a stop to everything which is frustrating….need to use your United Nations skills”. February, 2012: Dank checks with WADA the status of AOD-9604. The chemist Alavi sends Essendon another bill for $9400 worth of Hexarelin and a “peptide Thymosin”. February, 2012: Reid approves use of AOD-9604, does not follow protocol established the previous month. After discussing with Dank, never saw supposed letter from ASADA that Dank says he had (although now he says he has no documents to give ASADA). Reid later says he only approved its use for players recovering from bone fractures or at risk of osteoporosis and arthritis. 8 February, 2012:: Dank announces to the players that they would be receiving injections of drug AOD9604 at a volume and frequency far greater than that of any other clinical trial. Obtains consent forms from 38 players for AOD-9604 and Thymosin Beta4. Also includes Colostrum and Tribulus the last three not approved by Reid. Hird nor anyone else at the club appeared to check on the potential safety effects in players before allowing this to proceed. 8 March, 2012: TA-65 (anti-ageing tablets, not registered or approved by TGA) administered to a player, not approved by Reid. Costs $1,450. April, 2012: Dank SMS to Hird: “We’ve [Metabolic Pharmaceuticals CEO, Mr. Kenley] financials ready for you and David [David Evans] for AOD Project. These financials cover all possible revenue streams where project applies”. April, 2012: Injecting of 34 players at Hypermed clinic begins. Substances include unspecified amino acid sourced from muscular dystrophy patient in Mexico; Cerebrolysin; SARM-22; AOD-9604. 21 April, 2012: Essendon beats Carlton by 30pts. They are clearly a different team that were played 8 months earlier. Carlton coach Ratten fuming that Essendon players were so much bigger. Hears rumour about Alavi. Alavi is a Carlton supporter who previously had approached Carlton to offer what he was preparing for EFC. CFC officials meet with Alavi and secretly record the meeting. Come away choosing not to engage him. Destroy tape? May, 2012: Dean Wallis asked to maintain a database of injections taking place, by Corcoran. Doesn’t get it done until 27 June, 2012, and is poorly organised. May, 2012: Suki Hobson, EFC Sports Scientist, alerts management including Hird to Dank storing Hexarelin on-site knowing it was against WADA code. Not followed up by Hird, Corcoran, Thompson. May, 2012: Meeting with Dank, Hird, Corcoran, told by Thompson that the injecting of players is to cease. No one informs the players. Program ceases 5 August 2012. 7 June, 2012: South Yarra chiropractor Mal Hooper provides Dank with pages of information on Cerebrolysin and an anti-Parkinson's disease drug, apomorphine, from their Austrian manufacturer. 15 June, 2012: Dean Robinson emails Hird, Thompson, Corcoran, Dr Reid and other senior officials a document titled Supplements till GF 2012. Under Robinson's plan, players are to receive 16 supplements orally or via injections during the week and on game day. One of the drugs to be injected fortnightly two days before a game is the anti-dementia drug Cerebrolysin. EFC never seeks the rationale for this substance, which is being reviewed by WADA to determine whether it should be banned. The drug is not approved for use by Australian regulators. August, 2012: EFC end supplements program, 10 month program. Cronulla program was 3 weeks, Gold Coast 2 months. September, 2012: EFC receives a $61,000 bill from the HyperMED clinic (South Yarra Clinic) for hyperbaric and vacuumed treatments and 112 injections. This development prompts Reid to write a letter to Hamilton, Football Manager. Hamilton reads letter and discussed contents with CEO. Reid’s concerns not taken to Board. Letter goes missing. 4 September, 2012: Dank’s employment with EFC ceases. September, 2012: Dank interviewed by ACC in relation to criminal gangs and importation, trafficking of banned drugs. October, 2012: Club doctor (Brendan de Morton) writes to Robinson querying their idea to bill Medicare for 100 heart diagnostic checks (44 ECGs and 40 echos) costing $10,000 believing it would trigger a Medicare fraud investigation. Tests were carried out to possibly measure supplements efficacy program, and were carried out on-site by Cardiologist and Equine Heart Specialist Adam Gay who had “appropriate referrals”, ie. a GP referred him. 11 October, 2012: Corcoran moves on from HyperMed (Hooper) to Nima Alavi. Corcoran wrote: ''Thanks Dean … HyperMed is now done and dusted! I spoke with Nima and I reckon he can help down the track!!'' Two Sydney doctors, including Dr Khan, provide Dank with pathology referrals to have players’ blood tested. Clinicians associated with Dank’s rejuvenation clinic provide the results. Dr Khan has been accused of injecting Sandor Earl with CJC-1295. Earl was suspended 12mths for doping and trafficking. EFC also billed $15,000 by cosmetic surgeon Paul Spano whose clinic was across the road from Windy Hill. His clinic was also used to deliver intravenous supplements. AHPRA is investigating up to 5 doctors associated with the program as well as a Medicare fraud investigation. December, 2012: Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd submit patent application for AOD. Includes case notes of four EFC players without their consent to be research subjects. Dank had been involved in drafting human trial protocol for AOD-9604 for Metabolic.

After 500 pages the saga is nowhere near at an end but we now move on (at least for the time being) to this thread The Essendon 34 on Trial.

The AFL Tribunal hearing of the Essendon 34 begins on Monday and we've decided to put the long running Bombers scandal thread to rest for the time being and to start anew with this thread. We found a timeline of the events on Talking Carlton which we reproduce here over the next few posts with information brought up to date via various media and Wikipedia:- 2000: James Hird suffers navicular stress fracture of the foot. Radical specialist treatment in the USA allowed him to return in 2000, career ending for most 2003, 2004: James Hird, Shane Woewodin and Luke Darcy receive dietary advice Shane Charters, Biochemist and eventually convicted drug importer. 2004: Charters charged with possessing 100,000 pseudo-ephedrine labelled Vitamin B. October 2010: Stephen Dank begins working for the Suns, alongside Dean Robinson. Allegedly supplies substance (CJC1295 peptide growth hormone) to Nathan Bock, coming back from LTI, without club doctor approval. Robinson, who received the peptide from Dank, claims Dank had approval. Bock allegedly injects himself with CJC-1295 supplied by Robinson/Dank when at the Suns. February, 2011: Dank kicked out of Gold Coast. Joins Cronulla Sharks. Robinson joins EFC* for their pre-season. 27 March 2011: Hird coaches his first game as a coach, senior coach, after coaching Prahran Under 10s. May, 2011: Dank leaves Cronulla Sharks having administered CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 there on at least two players. August 2011: Hird makes inquiries about peptides at a conference and with WADA. AFL hears about this, and the AFL Integrity Officer, Clothier meets with Hird and Corcoran warning them against the use of peptides. 23 August, 2011: Hird inquires about Lactaway with his Performance Dietician and Recovery Coordinator, Benita Lalor. She comes back negatively about it, minimal benefits, may even add to muscle damage. Hird immediately forwards her email to Corcoran with: this is what we are dealing with. Corcoran replies: Time to move on! 23 August, 2011: Dank SMS to Robinson: Dont forget how important Thymosin is. This is going to be our vital cornerstone next year. 25 August, 2011: Robinson begins employment with EFC, after Mark Thompson pushed for him. 11 September, 2011: Carlton defeats Essendon by 62pts in an elimination final. October 2011: Hird injects himself with Melatonin II via Dean Robinson who sources from Dank. No health check or warning of possible side effects. No record of injection. Hird suffered side effects (libido affected?). 4 October, 2011: Robinson suggests changing name of supplements given to players from peptides to amino acids. 4 November, 2011: Dank begins employment with EFC. 1 December, 2011: Dank SMS to Robinson Collingwood is on TA-65 and Im with Alavi. We are planning something much better. Late 2011: Hird has a chance meeting with Charter in Gold Coast. December, 2011: EFC at pre-season camp in Gold Coast where injections begin (according to Lovett-Murray). Hird, Dank, Charters allegedly meet at the Mirage, Surfers Paradise to plan program. December, 2011: Dank arranges for private blood testing of players, referred by a doctor (not Dr. Reid) outside the club. Possible abuse of Medicare. Players blood was analysed for IGF1 (prohibited). Possible testing to avoid presence of substance at detectable levels. 2 December, 2011: Shane Charter returns to Melbourne with raw material for GHRP-6, CJC-1295, Thymosin Beta-4, and IGF1-LR3. That same month he orders from China, via email, on behalf of Dank: GHRP-2, GHRP-6, CJC-1295, Hexarelin, Thymosin Beta-4, and Mechano Growth Factor. These substances were delivered to Alavi (Como Compounding Pharmacy, in South Yarra).

Photos from training. With thanks to Gid.

No.EFC were sanctioned by the AFL in August, 2013 over governance issues and not for violating anti-doping rules. This was made quite clear at the time. If two or more Bombers are found guilty then they are potentially liable to go down on the basis of 11.2.

The Gidstar was in attendance this morning and provided his report and pictures (to be loaded shortly) It is the subtle glance around his shoulder, after kicking an incredible, inside-out banana from the boundary line that gives you the impression that Jeff Garlett is going to be our next Jeff Farmer. He hides in the shadows of Dawes and Pederson and produces the extraordinary. He is going to be an entertainer and will hopefully bring some much-needed excitement back to the Dees. The Wednesday training session is the lightest session of the week but this didn’t prevent the usual hard nut suspects in Dunn, Cross, Jones and Kent from putting in a hard session. Kent was boxing, giving and receiving some serious body blows, hardening up and shaping up for a big season. Dunn takes everything seriously and seems has adopted a new nickname – Gerbil. Some really exciting signs from Jesse Hogan who spent most of the session with the other big men in Jamar, Fitzpatrick and King, battling in some contested marking. Hogan won most the marking contests quite easily but maybe that’s more of a comment about his opposition. He certainly looks like he will play round 1 if he avoids injury. Out of the new boys in Patracca is the clear stand out. He is explosive. He is confident and he is strong. Most importantly, he kicks set-shots under pressure. Although Roos likes to ease them in, I reckon he is a shoe in for round 1 match. In comparison, young Angus Brayshaw, Billy Stretch, Oscar MacDonald and Alex Neale Bullen seem a bit more timid on the track. They certainly have loads of ability but I think they will take a bit more time to mature. Jack Trengove was in a moon boot hobbling around in a mobile device and Jack Watts was running laps. Didn’t quite know what to make of his joking and smiling demeanour. I would have preferred to see the look I saw on Heritier Lumumba’s face who looked like training was dead serious business. Mitchell White and Aaron Vandenberg already look like they are part of the furniture. Both bring a level of seriousness. If I had to put a bet on it, I would place my money on White to play before Vandenberg. While is was a only a Wednesday training in December, and as Melbourne supporters we all like to get excited pre Christmas. But the team morale and culture, led by Paul Roos seems to be in tact. There is a pleasing balance between a hard work and sense of enjoyment that gives some confidence about the MFC as a group. Lets hope we take it into 2015.

FWIW, it's the anniversary of Pearl Harbour today. Other than that there are still stories about footy in the media even though it's December and we're on the cusp of the Test series:- The 20 young guns set to light it up in season 2015. Who is your clubs young gun? Melbourne to tread carefully as excitement surrounds key forward Jesse Hogan Your club's best 22 for round one, 2015

CHANGES 2014 - The final word by The Oracle From day one, the Paul Roos recruiting mantra has been predominantly about the midfield; the engine room of the game and the most important part of the ground where the gaining of control normally has a major impact on the outcome of a game. When the dust settled over the trading period in late October, a look back at the Melbourne Football Club's recruiting was not suggestive that this was the case. It's acquisitions to that time were a forward goal sneak, a running defender and a big-bodied key defender. There were suggestions that Jeff Garlett and Heritier Lumumba could be brought into midfield play but the fact remained that the club's need to strengthen its inside midfield stocks had certainly not been fulfilled. So out it went and recruited 22 year old Ben Newton from Port Adelaide as a delisted free agent. The 183cm, 84kg left footer had four games with Port in 2014 but rejected a contract offer to seek more opportunity after just missing out on a spot in their finals team. The acquisition of Newton left only two available places on the club's list with its third round national draft selection already reserved under the father/son rule and another pick required for Neville Jetta's upgrade from rookie status. The situation changed however, when young Dom Barry suddenly announced his retirement citing a desire to pursue other things in life. When Michael Evans was delisted a few days later, the Demons had four live picks in the draft - 2, 3, 40 and 53. The long wait for draft day ended on 27 November and the club's first two picks were determined after St. Kilda surprised by nominating key forward Patrick McCartin as its first choice, leaving two potential long term medium midfielders as the obvious next picks. Here's how they were described in Inside Football:- The drafters had to wait a while before calling out the next name but we're pleased to go with stoppage extractor Alex Neil-Bullen from Glenelg, a close friend of Stretch and the player who led the clearances at this year's national under 18 carnival. Soon after, the formality of the father/son naming was completed. The next choice was also a surprise. Tom McDonald's bother Oscar had been one of the leading tall defenders in this year's TAC Cup competition and was expected to be taken before pick 53, ironically the same selection as that which secured his sibling four years ago. This left only two rookie spots to fill and the recruiting team continued on with their now established trend and went for two medium sized versatile types who can also play in the middle of the ground. Aaron Vandenberg was the smokey who didn't make it into Inside Football's list of over 200 players who were given pen pictures in its November edition. A 188cm, 90kg onballer, Vandenberg has won the Ainslie best-and-fairest for the last two years. This year, he dominated the NEAFL possession counts and finished off up forward with 20 goals. He was second in the NEAFL best-and-fairest and was also selected as a midfielder in the NEAFL 2014 Team of the Year. Melbourne Demons pick Ainslie's Aaron Vandenberg in AFL rookie draft The club's last selection at # 20 was another left footer, Mitchell White from the Dandenong Stingrays who joins former teammate James Harmes on the rookie list. The playing list for the Melbourne Football Club as it faces 2015 is:- PRIMARY LIST: Rohan Bail Angus Brayshaw Daniel Cross Chris Dawes Lynden Dunn Jack Fitzpatrick Sam Frost Colin Garland Jeff Garlett Max Gawn Jack Grimes Jesse Hogan Jeremy Howe Jayden Hunt Mark Jamar Neville Jetta Matt Jones Nathan Jones Jay Kennedy-Harris Dean Kent Heritier Lumumba Tom McDonald Oscar McDonald Jordie McKenzie Viv Michie Alex Neal-Bullen Ben Newton Cameron Pedersen Christian Petracca Aidan Reilly Christian Salem Jake Spencer Billy Stretch Dean Terlich Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Dominic Tyson Bernie Vince Jack Viney Jack Watts ROOKIE LIST: James Harmes Max King Aaron Vandenberg Mitchell White

CHANGES 2014 - The final word by The Oracle From day one, the Paul Roos recruiting mantra has been predominantly about the midfield; the engine room of the game and the most important part of the ground where the gaining of control normally has a major impact on the outcome of a game. When the dust settled over the trading period in late October, a look back at the Melbourne Football Club's recruiting was not suggestive that this was the case. It's acquisitions to that time were a forward goal sneak, a running defender and a big-bodied key defender. There were suggestions that Jeff Garlett and Heritier Lumumba could be brought into midfield play but the fact remained that the club's need to strengthen its inside midfield stocks had certainly not been fulfilled. So out it went and recruited 22 year old Ben Newton from Port Adelaide as a delisted free agent. The 183cm, 84kg left footer had four games with Port in 2014 but rejected a contract offer to seek more opportunity after just missing out on a spot in their finals team. The acquisition of Newton left only two available places on the club's list with its third round national draft selection already reserved under the father/son rule and another pick required for Neville Jetta's upgrade from rookie status. The situation changed however, when young Dom Barry suddenly announced his retirement citing a desire to pursue other things in life. When Michael Evans was delisted a few days later, the Demons had four live picks in the draft - 2, 3, 40 and 53. The long wait for draft day ended on 27 November and the club's first two picks were determined after St. Kilda surprised by nominating key forward Patrick McCartin as its first choice, leaving two potential long term medium midfielders as the obvious next picks. Here's how they were described in Inside Football:- The drafters had to wait a while before calling out the next name but we're pleased to go with stoppage extractor Alex Neil-Bullen from Glenelg, a close friend of Stretch and the player who led the clearances at this year's national under 18 carnival. Soon after, the formality of the father/son naming was completed. The next choice was also a surprise. Tom McDonald's bother Oscar had been one of the leading tall defenders in this year's TAC Cup competition and was expected to be taken before pick 53, ironically the same selection as that which secured his sibling four years ago. This left only two rookie spots to fill and the recruiting team continued on with their now established trend and went for two medium sized versatile types who can also play in the middle of the ground. Aaron Vandenberg was the smokey who didn't make it into Inside Football's list of over 200 players who were given pen pictures in its November edition. A 188cm, 90kg onballer, Vandenberg has won the Ainslie best-and-fairest for the last two years. This year, he dominated the NEAFL possession counts and finished off up forward with 20 goals. He was second in the NEAFL best-and-fairest and was also selected as a midfielder in the NEAFL 2014 Team of the Year. Melbourne Demons pick Ainslie's Aaron Vandenberg in AFL rookie draft The club's last selection at # 20 was another left footer, Mitchell White from the Dandenong Stingrays who joins former teammate James Harmes on the rookie list. The playing list for the Melbourne Football Club as it faces 2015 is:- PRIMARY LIST: Rohan Bail Angus Brayshaw Daniel Cross Chris Dawes Lynden Dunn Jack Fitzpatrick Sam Frost Colin Garland Jeff Garlett Max Gawn Jack Grimes Jesse Hogan Jeremy Howe Jayden Hunt Mark Jamar Neville Jetta Matt Jones Nathan Jones Jay Kennedy-Harris Dean Kent Heritier Lumumba Tom McDonald Oscar McDonald Jordie McKenzie Viv Michie Alex Neal-Bullen Ben Newton Cameron Pedersen Christian Petracca Aidan Reilly Christian Salem Jake Spencer Billy Stretch Dean Terlich Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Dominic Tyson Bernie Vince Jack Viney Jack Watts ROOKIE LIST: James Harmes Max King Aaron Vandenberg Mitchell White

here's another photo:

I'd say there is a good chance it is either photoshopped or a really really really bad angle.

Grimes steps down as co-captain MELBOURNE's Jack Grimes has stepped down as Co-Captain of the Club. Grimes informed his teammates of his decision at the Club on Monday afternoon.

It worked for him.

The results so far.

Just in case you are too lazy to click on a link, here are the new jumpers.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-17/the-no1-number-one-vote-for-footys-ultimate-top-draft-pick?utm_medium=RSS Who's going to win the Jack Watts v. Tom Scully grudge match?

Yze heads back in big coaching step forward Well done Ooze and good luck to him in his new role. I'd love to see him back at the Dees one day.

Mark Thompson Quits Bombers

Axed Demon Sam Blease joins Cats