DubDee

so you can be banned from a sport for taking drugs and then make money off it in the media while you are banned? wtf

that the Hawks are even considering Fitzy as a replacement for Roughy just shows what a massive hit it is for them (no offence Fitz) i imagine they will just play two rucks, mcevoy and ceglar and Fitz will only get a run if more injuries occur good luck to him. but he had chance at the Dees and this was in years when we had amazing forwards lines including Rivers, Garland, Frawley

So, not one plausible reason listed yet. The lack of respect shown to a club champion is embarressing. The thread from last week was full of it. He was reluctantly talked into helping the club appoint the coaches. I would give my right nut to have a player such as Lyon to play in the current team with hoges. Great leadership, such skill, some of the best kicking for goal ive seen. rewatch 1994 final against dogs if you don't recall how good he was. Ten goals in 3/4s. He and the Ox were on fire! Gaz is one of my all-time favs.

That's why I mentioned our best players didn't get injured. We should be able to cope with injuries to our mid-level players. We should have greater depth of senior players this year. My other point is that people saying we'll improve as Frost and Salem should play a full season. This doesn't make sense to me as other players will no doubt get injured obviously I agree that the less injuries you have the greater the chance to win

I think we need to stop using injuries as an excuse or a reason we will improve. Several teams had a worse run last year like WC, lions, Suns, pies. Aside from Viney none of our top 5-7 players were injured eg vince jones t Mac. Injuries happen every year and although we had a fair few injuries we need to be able to cope with this. Like it or not we will have 5 or 6 injuries at most times from round 1 as it is the nature of the game.

I'm so torn on this season. We will certainly improve but nearly every other team will also improve. Anything could happen which is exciting in itself and we couldn't have said this in years gone by. We could win anything from 6 to 13 games IMO. the season is so short that it makes the afl so unpredictable. I have port and the pies 100% in the 8 as much as I hate to say that. I reckon the eight could change this year more than any other year.

This is a blow for us if he can't play much this season. If pedo gets injured as he tends to do then we are very short in the KPF area. I am hoping frost can turn himself into a decent fwd but I am not convinced on the little I've seen. Looks more of a natural defender. Poor kicking for goal and average marking. Again this is all based off 3 games so I'm hoping he can do better. Looks loke The Weed and Hulett will get chances. With the sub going as well maybe we will see Gawn and Speno playing together more

Man it was enjoyable to watch that Geelong win again. So many great games from our youngsters. Viney, Gawn, brayshaw especially. So hard at it Can't wait for the season to start!

This could be the year when we prove a lot of people wrong and after the past decade of agony watching us play, by God it will be sweet. Essendon will be lucky to win 3 games for the season. There will be distractions galore with law suits and players thinking of leaving. Eg hooker free agent. They have picked up players that not one of the 18 teams wanted even on their rookie list and suddenly they'll be good? Seriously. Why would these guys give a rats. It's just a pay check for kelly, stokes etc. i hope the Dons and Carlton stay on the bottom for years.

Got plans this weekend? You do now if you've got Foxtel or have a dee supporting mate that does. From midnight on Friday night for 24 hours it is nothing but Melbourne games. A few from 2015 and a few older ones. In true Foxtel form they don't give the year of the games just the teams and round. I assume they will all be wins ? so tell your other half to take the kids to see the grandparents, buy a slab and enjoy some footy. Ive been hanging to watch some old matches as I've got a newborn and am up all hours with nothing to watch. And Foxtel have only had that guest programming on which is basically the same finals played over and over. Don't get me started. Anyway, thought some of you might not notice that this was happening.

All we can do is hope Toumpas turns it around and becomes the better player

There is no option but to let them top up. If they get 12 injuries which happens sometime and suspension or two, they cannot field a team. That would be an even bigger farce. Relax. Top ups = rejects, retirees, players that can't get on a rookie list. And the 32 squad players won't be invested. Why should they?

I agree this is a major issue. The last few years our season is over by round 5, let alone round 11. you wait all year for the season to start with the sole goal of making finals to have a chance to win the flag. Then half way through ~6/7 teams are no chance at all. what are they playing for? to improve/game plan blah blah. a footy game without a real reward or goal is pointless. I can certainly see a new draw in the coming years where each plays each other once and then it splits into 3 groups with rewards for each.

the draw is compromised every year. playing essendon twice is no different to playing carlton twice. we've had a very easy draw handed to us for years but it hasnt done us much good

Id take the 2nd rounder even if he wasn't banned for 2016 as I dont rate him highly and never have

they are missing their 7 best players (based on champion data). midfield smashed and key positions in tatters. if we can't win comfortably, we have not improved. lift the veil of negativity!!

the 2nd and 3rd quarters from that north game were our best 2 quarters for the year i reckon. we played unbelievably well and I think and hope it was a glimpse of what we are aiming for with playing and moving it quickly. carn the Dees! (Im excited too apparently)

guilty but no bans i reckon. think i wont happen? this is the AFL/WADA it dont have to make sense!

Vanders is starting to look like the Russian from Rocky 4 and Viney needs to stop doing squats or he wont be able to walk properly! thanks for the photos!

Can someone cut and paste the herald article on the time trial please? Sonething about the young guys doing well especially Mitch white

who does he think he is? Nic Nat?

he is never going to have great hands and he didnt at the pies when he won a premiership medal his injuries stop him from getting to enough contests, from pressuring, making space from his man on a lead etc

I reckon Dawes should sponsor the Rehab group. Will he ever get his body right? must be so frustrating for him. I think if he was fully fit he would be a decent player but these injuries/niggles get rid of whatever agility he has. He hasn't ever been fully fit since he joined us

thanks for the live updates Wayne

I really think Watts will do very well when we are a good team playing to a predictable structure. i liken him in some ways to Gaff/Sheuy or even Rioli. how good were Gaff and Sheuy when the eagles were doing well a few years ago? the eagles struggle and they struggle and now they look great again. how much would people talk about Rioli if he played the last 7 years with the Dees? Watts is a finisher - he will never be more aggressive then he is now but finishers struggle in bad teams i cant help but hold out hope Watts will become a very important player for us.