Gator

I was there at Dallas Brooks Hall in 1996 and the amount of people locked out with no merger signs was incredible. They never got to vote. The emotion in the room is something I'll never forget. It was overwhelmingly anti merger. The vote was close - 4,679 to 4,229 - and this would have been challenged in the courts if needed. The process was a sham, including Billy Guest getting employees who didn't even support Melbourne to sign up and vote pro merger. A dark period that thankfully we're well past. But I don't thank Hawthorn supporters one bit.

Over 30 metres May would still be faster than 90% of the list. He should easily have 2025 covered if the mind is willing. At the end of 2025 he'll be 7 months younger than Tom Hawkins is now.

Hunter is a far better wingman. Hunter is a better outside link player with better delivery inside 50. It's not close. I suspect Jordon is a far better inside midfielder, because that's not Hunter's go. Jordon has done well to showcase abilities that probably don't best suit his skillset. With Petracca, Oliver and Viney earmarked to play less ''inside'' minutes Jordon and Sparrow should get opportunities that better suit their attributes.

The players were given the ''day off''. Obviously some wanted to do some training.

This is an incorrect assertion. The VFL changed its name to the AFL in 1990. As the AFL, formerly the VFL, expanded with new teams, ie Port Adelaide in 1997, those entering the competition knew it had derived from the VFL. They also knew their premierships from the SANFL had no currency in the expanded VFL. Any additional premierships have no bearing whatsoever on Port Adelaide or any other clubs that entered the new competition post 1990.

Viney trained, but wore a different number (24).

They trained at Casey this morning.

Don't know dollars. Contract expires end of 2029.

I noticed 46 at Casey on Friday and Monday and also had no clue who he was.

It's pretty obvious that we recruited him because we were confident he was over his personal issues and that we were recruiting an historically very good player. Afterall, he's only just turned 28 and is smack bang in the middle of his prime. I've watched plenty of Hunter over the years and his ''normal'' is one of the best wingman in the league. An A-grade wingman. It's hardly a stretch to think he plays to his normal in a new environment where he feels refreshed. Having seen the last 2 training sessions he's been the standout along with Pickett and Viney. My eyes are confirming what commonsense tells me.

On Friday, a supporter by the name of Gus, who's now either a volunteer or on the payroll and helps out at training, said next week's (now this week) training was at Casey on Monday and Friday and Wednesday was at Gosch's.

All in all, I thought it was a pretty sloppy training session. Inferior to Friday. Mainly poor kicking. Jefferson and Farris-White both took great contested marks, which earnt them praise from the players. The highlight for me was there not being any wind the last two times I've been there. Extraordinary.

Lots of targets missed in the modern day circle work pre match sims. But it was pretty frenetic and there were some great passes too. Match sims: Standouts were Petracca, Viney, Pickett, Hunter, and Salem is moving like Salem of 2021. Spargo was very involved also, while Grundy got better the longer it went. He isn't a great contested mark, but he'll pluck them occasionally and he fights tooth and nail once it hits the deck. Don't write off Hibberd. He's moving well and contested strongly. Schache took one good mark. He played as the red team's alternating ruckman, along with Farris-White. Does he compete like a big man? The talent is there. Oliver looked good. He's physically looking imposing. Brayshaw played in defence. It was a ''high'' back role. After match sim the fwds, backs and mids all did extras within their own groups and Brayshaw stayed with the defenders. Of the younger brigade Woewodin was great early, Kye Turner really impressed me, Rivers is looking strong and intense, JvR kicked a couple and took one excellent mark. He turns 20 one month into the season, so he's not some skinny 18 year old who'll take a long time to contribute. He'll be good in 2023. There's something about McVee also. He's a really nice kick and has footy IQ. Disco Turner took a nice grab but had to be helped off later after a marking collision. I'm not sure if he came back on, but I don't think there was much in it. Bowey was busy. It's going to be a tough team to crack. They finished off doing 100 metre sprints, then 80 and I think 70. They were still going when I left. Some were doing it tougher than others but Sestan was doing better than I expected. Unfortunately, I barely sighted him during match sims. He found it hard to get involved. But those sessions happen, especially with a young player. And he may have got more ball than I realise. When they've got caps on, like he did, you miss things. He lined up at HF. Chandler was OK. He tries to do a bit much at times, but is clever. I can't get excited by him, but I appreciate why others expect him to get games this year. All in all it was a good session with a few of the young guys impressing. I wouldn't take much notice that a few senior guys were in red. They have to balance it out from a competitive point of view. There was plenty of good play and plenty of turnovers, but that's what happens when you play yourself and both sides know what each other is trying to do. Adams, Verrell and Burgoyne did a lot of boundary running. Jake Lever was in good spirits. He was repeatedly walking up and down the outside steel steps in front of the pavillion before heading over to a stationary bike. Once or twice he was vocal in his encouragement to those training. No doubt he'd prefer to be out there, but he was walking freely and seemed in good spirits. Gawn ran off at good speed and I didn't even suspect an injury at the time. He didn't return. We've all seen players hobble off by two trainers after bad hamstrings, so I expect it's not severe. Let's hope at worst it's a regulation hamstring with a 21 day recovery.

How people can not think Hunter is a lock staggers me a little. He's exactly what we've been missing. He's one of the best gut running wingman in the competition who knows how to hit a target inside 50. This was perfectly demonstrated yesterday when he laced out Fritsch. He makes the side better.

I can confirm Monday & Friday are both at Casey. A few of us were lucky to get in today, as the gates were shut. After being shut out for about half an hour they were kind enough to let us in. No guarantees.

I saw Gawn run off. He ran at a good pace without showing discomfort. I'd be shocked if it's a bad hamstring considering how he left the field. I'm guessing a minor twinge or a regulation 21 day recovery.

You're a scr.ote. I have no interest in conducting any type of conversation with you. Ever.

I'm not interested in your opinion.

Gawn's contested marks this year were at a higher average per game than any other year in his career (2.5 - compared to next best 2.3 - which was last year). I'd say he was about on par with 2021. He was the second best contested mark in 2022 behind Tom Lynch, who was easily the best.

What am I missing here ? WC give up 2 and Rioli for 8 and a potential first rounder next year in the teens. How are WC better off ?

I'm struggling to believe this. He hasn't got a competitive bone in his body.

There's always posturing at the beginning of trade week. Freo offering two firsts is predictable and a reasonable start. It will progress. I really do think Lever's body has let him down and stopped him playing the football he's capable of. At his best he's fantastic in his intercept role. Clubs spend a heap of time trying to combat the Lever/May duo. Lever has many years left and if he can overcome these persistent niggling injuries he'll show his worth again.

How the memory fades. Fritsch.

Hunter has had some well documented recent issues, but his body of work is impressive. He's a fantastic two-way runner. A new environment can often work wonders. Let's not forget, he's a premiership player AND he won a Best & Fairest at the Dogs. Nothing to sneeze at.

You won the internet that day.