SaberFang

Does everyone else love the hell out of that room? The perfect three personalities to bed with Petracca, each with contrasting and admirable traits. Really curious about which 3 players they put Brayshaw with.

Today was their last day in QLD, so might not mean much. Maybe you just didn't see the other players or they were on a separate flight?

Outstanding reporting RB. Muchos grazious! Let's hope the boys repay you with some strong wins and get the year underway on a high!

I've theorised that when Roos realised what Clark and his manager had been doing since his "retirement" (shopping him around to other clubs, using MFC fitness guys to recover with no intention of coming back to the MFC), he instantly became persona non grata. MC transparently used this fact as an excuse to fans asking why he left ("But.. but.. I wasn't wanted!"), despite the fact this was a direct result of his and his manager's actions. I doubt the club had much interest in forcing him to stay after he showed his true colours (not dissimilar to GWS offloading Boyd after his manager pulled that stunt with the Bulldogs). Plus, as evidenced by yet another calf injury last week, he's not a durable player. Roos likes durable players. Does anyone here actually think MC would come close to completing this year's MFC pre-season? Roos consistently talking up Mitch as our best player was likely just a strategic ploy to ensure we weren't dudded in a trade. If he'd come out calling MC a snake who betrayed us, etc. other clubs would've offered jack shizen in return.

This photo really does speak a thousand words about what we're dealing with here. No doubt Little was over the moon when Abbott took power (thanks to the Murdoch hate-campaign against Labor), considering he's the most buyable politician in Australian history. Donate enough money to the Libs and they'll invent any policy you ask! Certainly don't have to look long at his list of "achievements" so far as PM to see who actually comes up with his 'policies' (here's a clue: the billionaires who want to keep more of their money and want us to keep less of ours.)

Foxtel, a Murdoch company, have an obvious stake in the AFL's prosperity. It's easy to see why all Murdoch media is aggressively pro-Essendon, pro-Hird, anti-ASADA. Rich men have rich friends, and it's an intimate circle at that. Being "in" with rich media contacts is invaluable if you're running covert, illegal drug operations (you know, in case someone finds out and you need a positive PR campaign by the media to discredit the prosecutor). Plus, one of the senior editors at the Herald Sun is a high-ranking member of the Essendon FC, I believe. Believe me, if this whole scenario occurred at a lowly, poor club like us, Saints or Bulldogs this would've been a whitewash and finished years ago. Essendon's board are incredibly powerful with high-ranking connections in politics and media. It's why their aggressive campaign against ASADA has actually been successful convincing so many that Hird is innocent. They've successfully manipulated every corner of the AFL market, even getting Sam Newman to constantly discredit ASADA on The Footy Show. And we all know the demographic of people that still watch that [faecal matter] show.

Kochy is a pragmatic guy. I could easily see Port sweet-talking Ryder by reiterating how he could be the difference between Port winning a premiership or not. Intimating that if an opportunity presented itself to save yourself the embarrassment of year-long bans, it would be worth taking. That Port have taken a huge punt on him to "save" him from the Bombers, and that he could do them a huge favour in return by negotiating with ASADA. That he'd be provided every ounce of support he needed. Blah, blah, blah, etc. etc. etc. Bulldogs just seem too incompetent at the moment to accomplish anything similar.

Loving the reports RB, refreshingly matter-of-fact and pragmatic. Also great for DL'ers who can't make it up to QLD. By the sounds of it we've unearthed two Jason Taylor gems in White and Vandenberg. Shouldn't be surprised, but the club's recruitment being so competent is a strange feeling. Also loving that the coaches left players to coach themselves, under the watchful eye of Jonesy and the LG. Another excellent tactic to improve player communication and uncover some more natural leaders amongst the group.

I'm inclined to think the Port duo, Monfries and Ryder. They are comfortably in grand final contention after their 2014 season. Would they really want to miss that potentially once in a lifetime opportunity if your lawyer said he could negotiate a two match ban? Players and their lawyers would know after ASADA's presentation how likely suspensions are. Screw going down with the ship like the rest of the rats at Essendon. They could be the heroes of the AFL by coming clean and helping ASADA prosecute the rest. Yeah, the players at Essendon will hate you for life, but they'd have no foot to stand on.

I really, really hope the Saints passing on Petracca proves to be one of the great drafting flubs in history. Sorry McCartin!!

Saints fell into a hole because of Ross Lyon. Just as Fremantle will fall into a hole in 2 years once they lose their senior blokes.

Great write up DeeMfc. I'd say, based on that write-up, at least 2/3 of the team is already drafted in Roosy's head. Seems the senior brigade have really stepped it up this preseason, and the young'uns are finally developing properly underneath them.

I think this was an angle ASADA's been pushing for a while. They couldn't prove the players were injected with TB4, but could prove a trail that puts the drugs at Essendon HQ. Realising this, Dank claimed the drugs were destroyed at a lab with a forged letter from the lab pharmacist. ASADA followed the trail and discovered the lab had no record of destroying the drugs, leaving Essendon with the burden of proof the drugs were disposed and not injected. Unfortunately (boo hoo) they have no evidence to prove that, which is enough for players to be charged under doping law. This again reiterates why Hird is so desperate to have the case nullified on a technicality. Even more disturbing is the undying loyalty of Dons supporters to their golden boy, despite the fact he's wasting millions of their money thanks to that convenient multi-year contract extension Little gave him (likely fully aware it would never be fulfilled, but merely an under-the-table means of paying Hird's legal costs for a prolonged court battle).

Great pics GV. Loved seeing Tom and his brother running side by side. Newton looks beastly, and JKH & Viney seem to be developing very nicely alongside one another. Just great to see so many of the boys in full training for a change. Refreshing!

Great news before bed. Should sleep much more soundly now!

Is there another training session between now and their return to Melb? Someone mentioned the trip being for 10 days, so that has them returning on Wednesday.

Uh, nah, haven't changed my tune. None of the excellent posters who've contributed training reports have abused others for having opinions about MFC players. Maybe you should know what you're talking about before attempting ignorant smartass comments.

These training reports are AWESOME! Huge thanks to everyone for giving their time up the coast and posting such thorough commentary. Sucks there's no QLD games for the Dees this year. Typical fixturing rubbish from the AFL.

Great to hear that leadership. Dunny seems to be pushing hard for a potential co-captain role.

He needs to eat a steak once in a while.

Any sign of Brayshaw/Petracca/Stretch? How they holding up?

Sensational reporting mate, keep it up! Really appreciate it.

Where there's smoke there's usually fire. The constant chatter about an "incident" with MC at the club, timed with his peculiar retirement, indicates a man running away from his demons rather than confronting them. It seems increasingly clear to me that he orchestrated a 'retirement' with his manager purely to usurp his contract and get to a more successful club. To assuage himself of the creeping guilt for screwing the MFC he then victimised himself to supporters by claiming he was "unwanted" by the club without an explanation why. The explanation seems increasingly likely it was actions of his own doing. Having dealt with depressed patients for many years, this is a typical blame deflection tactic; to blame others for ill will that you have caused, relying on the ignorance of people to prevent a backlash and keep yourself painted in a positive light.

So Jamar looks like he's holding his own? He had no preseason last year so I'm excited to see what he can do in 2015, but cautiously optimistic given his age. Definitely a good sign that so few players seem to be harnessing injuries this year. Must be at least 10 extra fit players compared to this time last year... although plenty of time left until April.

You're a legend RB, great reporting! Saturday definitely sounds like a big session with player photos, etc. Hopefully a big crowd gets down.