hemingway

Different personalities and diversity of views make this an interesting site as long as the egos and personal sledging does not detract from the information provided by track side watchers. So far the varied reports this pre-season have been great but let's make sure the standards remain and that mutual respect prevails.

It's the feeling bit that worries me BBO.

The Christian Bros that explains a lot about your behaviour or to be more diplomatic BBO your eccentricities! Perhaps marriage guidance counselling may be a little dangerous, not for you of course but those upon whom you inflict your advice and treatment.

This will be an interesting year for Petracca. We are all physically or physiogically different. Some stronger some weaker and our biomechanics of muscle and limbs, our balance, our weight to power ratios all vary enormously. Success in any sport depends on many attributes, but one of the most important is that under the duress of training and competition , the successful athlete can avoid injury. The continuity of training every day over not a season but multiple seasons is paramount. A friend of mine became a triple Olympian and a household name not because he had more ability than others but because he was able to train every day and compete over many years without injury. In AFL terms, Nathan Jones is a prime example. Gary Ablett is another. It is very difficult to make it if you are prone to injury. Sometimes injury catches up with players. Wayne Carey is an example. Starting a career with injury problems and an inability to train and play week in week out makes the job very difficult. Give me the guy with the resilient body over the gifted but injury prone athlete or footballer any day.

Don't worry let it be turned into apartments so that when the bubble bursts and the property market truly crashes in this banana republic we live in and the greed stops, those that live life differently free from material desires which includes the rich tapestry of life that inhabits The Gat. will inherit the vacant apartments.

So I'll throw out your books along with Hunter S,William Boroughs,Kerouac,Miller,Mailer and any other decent American writer from last century. Don't worry about the meek-they'll inherit the earth later.

Insightful comments Earl. It has made me think beyond the obvious and think about the impossibility of his two environments and the fracture within and between. There is always more than one meaning or reason. We are limited by our limited insights at times.

Great comments Dee-lauded. An unforgettable talent and I feel privileged to have seen him play. However a member of the footy department told me at the time in cold hard terms that he would ultimately not succeed because he had no defensive game and no amount of coaching or training was ever going to change that fact. He told me that no top club would be interested in him for that reason. That he was a luxury that no side, in particular, Melbourne could afford. However, I went to games with a sense of anticipation and excitement at what magic he might perform. And he created some great memories that few footballers can do. He was a light that shone briefly but brightly for a speck of time. His story post footy is a tragedy.

Agree, he will do me. A warrior for the club and the best man for the job. Has been our best and most consistent footballer for many years. Proud that he is our Captain.

Christ almighty ManDee (apologies to those of a religious persuasion as against a spiritual one, that latter which I favour). However, you are quite right of course and I take it as a backhanded compliment. One Ricard to many I am afraid.

Agree with is in part but his personality and style meant that ultimately within the club he was very divisive and got too many people off side. Great in a fight but not a bridge builder.

And in the off season when all is rosy we can dream.

There mates no doubt. Who knows what the business connections are but my suspicion is that they are there. There are always mates clubs and the AFL and its member clubs are one big mates club. They all have a finger in the pie of mutual need, giving, receiving, and self congratulation. Ask a non footy person who has been involved in footy clubs and the ones I know are very disparaging of the culture of stratching backs that goes on within the inner circle both within clubs and between club heavyweights and the AFL. The AFL is hopelessly compromised. They should not be but that is the way. The only thing one can enjoy is the purity of the game itself but even that is being devalued by commercial need and demands by the TV networks.

keep this friend, he has a strong moral compass.

Milo would be proud of you Earl.

Time will tell Ding I hope you are right, but there are a lot of dodgy blokes in gyms giving poor instruction and in some cases damaging bodies and careers. I have seen so many footballers muscle up with poor weight programs with detrimental results to their speed, agility and game.

No lessons learnt. No recognition of past wrongs. No accountability for a coach that has caused so much damage to the game, the club and individuals. No moral compass. No new beginning for a once great club. As you say Comrade, the mind boggles. Presumably an attempt to get the Hird faction back on board. However, you can't heal the rifts without accepting the wrongs done to the game, to the club and to so many individuals. It's like welcoming Gordon Gecko back to Wall Street. Except this is real.

This seems a ridiculous weight and pressure on knees and back. We are developing a footballer not a weightlifter or weight room junkie. What are they doing?

Sorry Old Dee I missed your reference to the LNP. Also look out for Cory Bernardi and his conservative revolution!

I suspect that Comrade Earl would deal with anyone. Indeed in my experience, Commos are an honourable lot compared to their capitalist counterparts. Earl's behaviour has the touch of Milo Minderbender. Our very own Milo on this site. I am looking forward to hearing of further outrageous trades involving Earl or Milo.

In fact one could say quite simply that if it was a novel it would be fair dinkum unbelievable.

"gilding the lily" BB, these days known as "spin"

There is method in Tanners comments. He is a shrewd political operator. However, have to think a misguided purpose.

They may be morally bankrupt but Gill and his henchmen are laughing all the way to the bank. His salary is prodigious. Unfortunately in this capitalist dog eat dog world capacity to earn has nothing to do with worth. I much prefer those simple souls who earn a lot less but are actually helping others. I do not include writers who are self absorbed and neurotic with a tendency toward addiction.

All joy Biff, all joy. I love that floral shirt or is that an old photo of you in your heyday.