PartyBoy

I believe Hayden Skipworth is on the radar. Currently looking after the midfield at Essendon

Today's Whisper in the Herald Sun "Which small time manager is set to make life difficult for one Melbourne Club over a promising young key forward, given his new contract demand has a seven at the start of it?" Weideman is a promising key forward, from a "Melbourne" club and has small time manager Ben Williams from players ink. $700k per year.... it must be an early April fools joke.

Went down for a look this morning. List of things I observed in no particular order. . - Maynard and Balic completed their 2km time trials... Maynard finished about 200m in front. Both were well and truly spent at the finish. - One particular drill was just focused on the "Dustin Martin don't argue". Picking the ball up off the ground and pushing off a bag/opponent with the hand. - Jones, Weid, Kent, T.Smith in rehab. Ditto Viney and Joel Smith but they were running lap after lap rather than the balls. - Brayshaw had his thigh taped up and at one point removed himself from the main group to complete some run thru's. He joined back in soon after. - I was most impressed with Dion Johnstone. Put on some muscle and his skills on both side of the feet was a highlight. Crumbing off the forwards and kicking them from all angles. - Lewis certainty entrenched in the back-line group. Vince also down there. - Omac looked noticeably bigger in the legs and arms. - Trac also looking fit without any strapping on the knee.

Reminds me of 2004 when Scott Thompson requested a trade to SA. Reluctantly we accepted pick 12 from the Crows and he went on to be an All Australian and play 300+ games. There's the precedent.

I'm told he has put his hand up this for the first time this week.... in 2 years. Pretty big news, but I am not to know what happens at selection. Whether it be this week, next, or the week after, you better have the defibrillator handy.

Sorry old sport, I'll stick to writing about our backline and boring opinions like your 9,943 posts....NOT I've been told he has put his hand up, I wen't out on a whim and said "I'm hearing he might play" Would've thought I murdered someone.

I'm hearing JT will return this week..... #9

Jesse was spotted ripping in to some red rooster in Geelong yesterday. Obviously after a big session at Winkipop. We can bank the 4 points now.

I was up at the GC last week for the game and intended to catch up with a player (who I won't name) for a few beers afterwards. Not long after the thumping win I got a text through saying a few other players would be joining us. However, Jones wanted none of it and told the group they were bound to the hotel and an extra early morning recovery was called. This was on the back of Melbourne's dismal record after a win and turning the focus to next week. Whilst I was personally disappointed not to "get around the boys" it was pleasing to see a great show of leadership.

I hope you're right.

As a supporter, I was lead to believe Jesse’s decision was around the club’s prosperity and win’s/losses. However, in one little interview grab this seems to have changed “it’s not my thought process at all. It’s not really a money thing, it’s just (about) where I want to be” Let’s hope that’s Melbourne but we need to be well prepared if it’s not. I propose the club goes to Jesse at the end of this year and asks if he’s in or out. We don’t want another 12 months of it dragging on and the distraction. Should he play the homesick card we get on the front foot and deal with Fremantle. Request their first pick this year (top 3 you’d suspect) first pick 2018 and Lachie Neale. Then pass on Freo’s 2017 pick to GWS for Jon Patton. We get a ready-made replacement, a young gun midfielder and a round 1 pick the following year.

Time will tell. But, I'm pretty sure I broke the news about Goodwin becoming senior assistant too.

Goodwin will be head coach in 2016. Roos to take on a mentor role for players and coach before his 3 year tenure finishes.

The amount of Ex Footballers turned "expert" commentators is alarming. Queens Birthday Match: Example 1. Players walking to position - Tim Watson "Jetta going to Elliot, that's surprising. I thought Garlett would have." Example 2 Brayshaw avoids Varcoe and kicks a goal on none preferred. Nick Maxwell "Varcoe needs to be better there, he should have known Brayshaw was a left footer" 'On the couch' has been ruined by Brown and Dunstall. The viewer wants to be educated with strong & controversial views. Rather than "back in my day Jase" In saying that, I'm looking forward to watching them all tonight.

2 Nathan Jones 3 Clint Bartram 4 Jack Watts 5 Jordan Gysberts 6 Matthew Bate 7 Jamie Bennell 8 James Frawley 9 Jack Trengove (c) 10 Cale Morton 11 Mitch Clark 12 Colin Sylvia 13 Jordie McKenzie 14 Lynden Dunn 15 Ricky Petterd 16 Jack Grimes (c) 17 Sam Blease 18 Brad Green 19 James Strauss 20 Colin Garland 21 Lucas Cook 22 Brent Moloney 24 Liam Jurrah 25 Tom McDonald 30 James Sellar 34 Stefan Martin 35 Luke Tapscott 36 Aaron Davey 37 Max Gawn 38 Jeremy Howe 39 Neville Jetta 40 Mark Jamar 41 Troy Davis 42 Jake Spencer 43 Rory Taggert 44 Rohan Bail 46 Josh Tynan 48 Jack I don't buy the excuse of the past anymore. The 2012 list above has been significantly turned over and we've added experience and young talent. Of those remaining, some are our best players, some are our leaders, some didn't even play on Saturday. It's the supporters that bare the scares, time Roosy started to look for a different excuse. If we break up the list and excuse, Captain: Jones VC: Dunn 2015 All Aust: McDonald Most Improved: Jetta At season's end we delist or trade the remaining. Watts Grimes Garland Howe Jamar Spencer Bail Fitzpatrick Gawn* Trengove* Mckenzie* *did not play Saturday. In the mean time, play the young kids and stop blaming the past!

There were up to 17 AFL players from different clubs at the St Kilda Fest house party. 15 dodged a bullet.

Sheil will be at Hawthorn next year.

This is not going to come as a huge shock to most, but when Sylvia was suspended for 3 weeks in 2013 he basically went on a bender. I know of one such occasion when he arrived at the club on a Saturday to do a mandatory bike session and then had to sit in the box with Neeld. All the while on zero sleep and under the influence... Good riddance.

I couldn’t agree more re The Demon Shop. The location is terrible. No parking or foot traffic what so ever. Although the city option sounds good, it would be a huge extra cost, considering our current location is incorporated with the office’s upstairs. I’d like to see it at AAMI Park alongside the storm and rebels. It’s easily visible, available parking (although not great) and next to our training oval. Can anyone tell me if it’s busy on match day or do the mobile vans suffice? If so, there is absolutely no benefit of being at the MCG. Of the times I’ve visited during the week, I have never seen anyone else there.

Rashid is his identical brother.

The boys didn't do a lap of the tan this morning. Rather, run thru's from the bridge to the horse shoe and back - followed by runs up the Anderson st hill. Most pleasing was Toumpas up the front and looking very fit. Also sporting a very short shaved head and beard. Rashid Amla look a like. My general observations whilst I was there. - Today was a big running session - Jesse Hogan and Watts not there - Huge difference in condition from the new recruits and 1st year. Salem looks the part now. - Petracca IMO looks like he could play senior footy tomorrow, others are just kids. (which they are) - Jamar and Dawes look the thinnest I've ever seen them - diet working - Gawn running round with Vince kicking/leading. His skills would be the best of any one that height. - Garlett in a running group with Big Mac, Garland and Bail. He's bigger in stature than what I thought. - Lumumba getting round the boys with encouragement. - Roosy joined in all the running at the tan

As an absolute hypothetical - IF Frawley had stayed meaning pick 2 only and MCaartin went pick 1 Who would we choose?

I am just highlighting how much luck is in recruitment - timing, injuries, when kids develop, how they play in a particular carnival etc. Trengove's domination in the SANFL finals meant he became an instant top 2 pick Jack Watts took a clutch mark and goal to win the Championships which was possibly the difference between pick 1 and 2 Bontompelli had a huge last month and went from a pick 15 throughout the year to 4. Tom Swift was the best junior in the land for a number of years, fell down to pick 18 and was retired by 21. Darling was regarded as risk - feel to pick 25. Selwood had dodgy knee and fell to pick 7. Judd 2 shoulder reco's and went 3 You get my drift.....

It was interesting to hear that Brayshaw was only 7 days too young to be drafted last year and if he had, would of been a pick in the 30's. Funny how we're pinning our hopes on this kid being an absolute jet, whereas, had he been a week older, a club would have had him on their list as a 3rd round pick and not alot of expectation.

One McCartin/Brayshaw positive is they clearly like each other, if there twitter is anything to go by.