The Devil Inside

To answer a couple of questions Dawes is still around the 100k mark, he told me, just doing a full pre season has got him fitter A mark is a good mark if it sticks, the technique doesn't matter, Fitzy couldn't do something normally if he tried, now his shoulders are fixed, in all the training sessions I have been to, I have seen him only put one down. same with Dawes, this is a new season forget the past, if they are both dropping marks in June, then you can whinge and I'll join in Other questions Pedo is another who hasn't missed a session, his running and speed are getting better each session, spoke to him pre Xmas is feeling great, looking to earn a place in the team and knows it will be competitive Harmes is back in full training, and looking ok, another who just does everything without fuss, only a rookie but another one to put pressure on for midfield spots As for the photos, the media staff are on Xmas break, hence no photos, if you need a fix go to my Twitter account Demonpk, that's where Georgywho got the Fitzy pic

Again what mishandling, he has had nothing but bad luck, I asked him, he blames nobody except his foot, he was shattered when he went for the scan pre the trade talks and they found the foot had not healed like it should. At least you can see the point re the tightness, if that is all Hogan said he felt, then with no past history the 'correct' decision was made. Hindsight is wonderful thing

As I posted previously, Nev Jetta is working on bettering his time by 20 seconds, and yes it looks like the time trial will be on Friday

Its not the physios who diagnose, they treat whatever they are told to by the medicos, if Hogan said he was feeling a bit stiff in the back and not much else, what would the medical specialists on Demonland diagnose

I have mentioned him a couple of times, just completely professional in everything he does, slotted straight in, does extra running with anybody that requests it during or after the session, this time it was Cam Pedersen, he and Garlett are really good signings. Garlett is willing to have a laugh at himself, during the pure running drills, he looks like he doesn't want to be there but does them, put the ball in his hand and completely different beast, I asked him today whether he enjoyed the 'running' today, said "every second". Back to Lumumba, think he is grateful for Roos giving him the chance and wants to repay it, not very vocal during the drills but you can see he has earned the respect, leads by example

The physios will have checked it out, but I assume there wasn't a scanning machine available at the ground, yes I agree maybe there was a mistake made with the diagnosis, but his reporting of the issue was not ignored. Have we thought that maybe an 18 year old wasn't articulating what he was actually feeling

I asked about that, that is not part of the problem, it is more to do with his whole physiology, Jayden Hunt has had similar issues and he is on an individual program as well, and is progressing with the occasional blip, but because he is not Hogan this is not noticed

That is different to being ignored. My point is they have been working on getting the players to report any issue, so it won't be a "mistake" by the medical staff, a bit of credit is due, there were only 3 players who didn't train today to some extent, 1 is crook, 1 had a self inflicted wound and the other is Trengove, so they must be getting it right

Can you clarify that? Or is it just yet another Demonland myth, as far as I know he reported the issue after the Geelong game?, and it was immediately dealt with, I am not "pollyannerish", I am repeating what the players have told me, unlike some I prefer to ask

I wouldn't worry, they are working on it, he was fine through most of the session, the way we are looking after the players now is completely professional, if he is feeling a bit of discomfort he stops and they check it out. Any players who does not report a subsequently discovered problem is in serious trouble, they have to report anything the minute they feel it

Hello chaps, fellow reporters, naysayers, lemon suckers and the general diaspora. Missing in action - Nathan Jones, bad gash from surfing, Misso said he is absolutely filthy with himself, hence no pics on social media. McKenzie has the man flu. Trengove still rehabbing inside. Walking wounded - Hogan, think he had a bit of back tightness, think this issue is similar to Hawkins, can create discomfort but not stop him playing, left track early. Petracca, just tweaked his knee, got it strapped and carried on, so obviously not serious. Kent is fine, still working his way back, trying not to do it again, so on a modified program. Watts, still on his modified program, worked his guts out again. Alex NB, was doing bits, no serious damage to his knee, taking it day by day, no time set for return to full training. Others: Riley, Stretch, Terlich, Vandenberg (whose body shape is changing already), and Spencer, all said they were exactly where they should be. Slightly walking wounded - JKH who had a second look at breakfast after one of the running drills and made the fitness staff laugh by saying that was last time he has bacon and eggs before training. Bernie Vince is nearly back at full training, took part in all the drills, did the 'guns' photo this week to prove he is nearly symmetrical again. Jayden Hunt is being looked at as a project for half back utilising his speed and neat kicking. Nice touch today, Max King, who I think they are trying to kill, was absolutely spent after one running drill, Jamar over to him, arm around him encouraging him on, Jamar is setting himself for a big year, has his game face on. Dom Tyson is absolutely pumped, another session completed, is bouncing around. Most who completed the session today rated it at 7. One interesting thing, Nev Jetta is actually looking faster, asked him, agreed did speed work over the Xmas break. Another interesting point, new friendship seems to be Salem and Viney, last 2 off the track today after doing some extra work. Any questions feel free, pics on Twitter Demonpk later.

From what I have seen at training, we are still probably a year away, 6 or 7 wins for me, and Frankie, ruck stocks are the least of our worries

No sorry Boxing Day was a day off, although myself and the lady scooted from Collingwood to Malvern and back today, does that count? Did not sight Angus Brayshaw anywhere, obviously bludging somewhere, he was wasting his time anyway, Roos doesn't like or use Twitter or Instagram Each player has a program THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW, over the break, so he would not be alone

No, it is counteracted by the hat I am wearing, it is a specially designed aerodynamic harris tweed playerdeerstalker

nah, can't do it, can catch him, mine is faster and more manoeuvrable

Do you want to explain why?

Just an interesting bit on training, spoke to a few of the players, one of the issues we had in the past is stoppages, if our top liners were not there, ie not on the field, couldn't get there in time etc we got killed, Roos wants the whole team to be able to participate in stoppage work, hence the emphasis at training, where you see forwards and backs doing stoppage work

That's interesting, was having a chat with a couple of the coaches, they thought a front 6 of Hogan, Dawes, Fitzy/Pedo/Gawn, Garlett, JKH and Kent would be a top line up, obviously have a different opinion of Kent than you, think I prefer theirs

You don't have to rush in and risk a suspension, you just go down the other end and score, we are not back in the 70's, you are not a hero if you retaliate, just reiterating the message from Roos, was ropeable with Dawes As for Vandenberg, he is a decent size, just arrived from semi pro footy, looks like he can develop the body quickly though, similar in size and shape to McKenzie

And in the modern game get a few weeks for it, and lose your place in the team, that is why we don't see it these days, I know for a fact a couple of players have been warned to cut out the stupid suspensions, Roos is not a fan of the biff, he is teaching them to tackle legitimately to hurt

I sometimes wonder about them myself when you see two players who are supposedly different heights standing next to each other, from what I can gather by speaking to them, surprisingly a lot of players have no idea what their real height and weight is, they rely on \the fitness and medical staff, when you ask you get "I think', either that or they don't really care as much as we do

Somebody asked about the new recruits playing this year, my thoughts, with Neal Bullen out for now, think Brayshaw will get first crack with Vandenberg the smokey, Brayshaw just looks to be a footy player, everything with the minimum of fuss Billy Stretch, Oscar Mc and White will get time to develop, all are still growing, so the emphasis is on not breaking them Spoke to the fitness guys about Petracca's running style, he joins the one or two others who look horrible, they are going to work with him on it, he wastes a lot of energy, this would impact him running out games Roos has a completely different approach to young players than we have seen in the past, in the NAB cup expect Harmes will be given the chance to show if he is worth elevating and I reckon Hunt and KIng will be given a go before the new guys. We also have Salem, JKH and Toumpas. He will also want to see what Newton can bring to the table and Frost (who I think will be this years bargain pick up) Spoke to Dean Kent about the size increase, definitely bigger and stronger in the body, thinks he may have grown slightly taller as well, they do more testing after the Xmas break

If anyone is interested, it is a Razor Street scooter, it folds up, don't own a car use this or walk everywhere, also have a smaller wheeled Ninja scooter that is good for speed work, my lovely lady rides another Melbourne badged Razor with red handles, saving up to get a Micro Cruiser which has larger wheels and navigates rough terrain and pubic forums better. I told Six it was ok to post the photo, as if I care what anybody on here thinks of me, only close family matters and my eldest daughter gave me up as a lost cause years ago, first time I met my now son-in-law, was on scooter, wearing cam shorts and a Sid Vicious tee shirt Trenners let me try his, didn't think much of it, it had a brake, the wuz

Gawn is back in full training Lumumba won't play midfield, I asked him, he may appear on the wing now and again, what they are practicing is different looks at stoppages, with him on the outside, he will be looking at floating at half back and doing what he does best, intercept marking and then setting up play

He is getting back into it after a quad issue, hasn't kicked properly for about four weeks, next step in rehab