FireInTheBennelly

And you can rest assured when things finally start looking very rosy in the Chinese relationship, the AFL will decide to start international zoning for clubs - and give China to Hawthorn and Essendon.

I don't think McCarthy would get a huge contract, and has probably already been told he'll be second fiddle to Hogan, who they're undoubtedly desperate to sign. That would be enough to get McCarthy. FWIW I think Freo's about to slide. Weagles have gone past them and are recruiting better. Freo are not a destination club, despite their relative success. I think Hogan will stay and put MFC back firmly in the centre of the map.

Was Visy involved though? Perhaps Judd handed over his brown paper bag. We don't seem to have the 'advantages' of a lot of other clubs.

Yes that's definitely the issue with Sheed. With all the vests last year they either think he did enough to start in the midfield this year, or they recruited those guys because they think he's not ready. I'm not sure which way to go. Franklin, very hit 'n' miss so a definite gamble.I wasn't going to touch him but the training reports swayed my judgement. As a Dees supporter, I should perhaps know better..... I'm thinking Riewoldt is about to slow down so not touching him at that price. His biggest weapon is his engine, and age will weaken it eventually. When it happens it could well be very sudden. I'm out on that basis - purely from a SC perspective. Great player.

Scenario: Daisy leads MFC to premierships, and more importantly plays 100 games in a womens comp. Jesse however, does not play his 100 games for the club - for whatever reason (I'm not trying to say anything sinister here). Purely hypothetical obviously, but would the second coming of Jesse be eligible to be drafted by MFC as a Mother-Son draftee?

Yes true, VDB should definitely score some good points this year. Don't know about Wells though, too injury prone for me. For now I've slotted in Dom Sheed, thinking he might get decent midfield minutes, but will be flipping the coin on him and VDB perhaps. I also have Buddy - going off the training reports, but haven't locked that in just yet.

Thanks Ruffles, I already have Bird, definite midfielder this year. Will have a look at Martin, good pick-up

Barring injuries prior to season I'm pretty happy with what I have. One spot left to fill though. A starting forward for <$400K. Thoughts?

I'm running with 2015 technically being Hogan's 2nd year and the results were due to the syndrome. Expecting far better output from him this year

I've had a well-known crack at Saty previously, for other reasons, but I think your comment is a little out of line PD.

If said player is suggesting he withdrew prior to TB4 injections, he obviously knows when they occurred. Which leads to the only conclusion - that TB4 injections happened. Guilty, bang, see ya later. If he had this evidence he should have produced it when requested - which would have closed the case 12 months ago. Now, at best, he's an accomplice. Just as guilty.

Let's make it happen! As for trophy design, that's tough. Care to throw up a suggestion?

I love Big Maxy, dead set legend. He's going to have a massive year, and kick on from there. I am disappointed though, that he hasn't been awarded a retrospective MVP award for 'convincing' a certain little turd to run off to GWS.

Correct, and I understand he's coaching a youngsters team, which would most likely be them in the pic. He'd mentioned weeks ago that he was keen to get the kids to one of the sessions to have a look.

Wow, so now the President of the Bulldogs suggests he knows the facts about the drug program where nobody is able to say exactly what was injected (except that it was legal and cures cancer - of course). Get over it Gordon, they are guilty. If you feel aggrieved I suggest you go and have a chat with your Essendon counterpart and discuss some form of compensation.

Haha, very good. Thanks heaps for following up, much appreciated.

Really looking promising for Hunt, he's one a few have been itching to see in the firsts, including myself. Just another question on him though, his back problems, are they done and dusted i.e. caused by growth spurts, or are they going to be an ongoing concern with constant management?

Hi Deevoted, Was in the R. Barassi league last year as The Golden Tickets. We were [censored], but still keen to go around this year.

In regards to Ben Kennedy, how often has Roos traded in an experienced player for that player to not be in his best 22? I would say it's fairly rare, but stand to be corrected. On that basis I'm going with all of the new experienced players as being best 22 and will most likely be picked round 1. From there it comes down to performance. Apart from Melksham obviously.

You forgot Zaharakis. I have my suspicions that the truth will eventually come out, and he's the mastermind

Thanks Saty. To me this is the most telling factor in how far we've come as a football team, and a real indicator of positive things ahead. I've been cautiously optimistic at the start of recent seasons, but this year I'm all in. It's going to be a fun year for MFC supporters.

Thanks WW. Good work, much appreciated.

A question for anyone that attended this year and last year. The commentary coming from WW seems to suggest the session is mainly skills and match simulation, whereas last year (memory ain't what it used to be) was all about fitness. Does there seem to be a greater emphasis being placed on skills now that the fitness levels are up to par?

#gravity

So does this mean the players that weren't charged were quite possibly receiving the same things, until they were asked to sign a consent form and refused?