hemingway

which makes me want to see him down the back half particularly given his height, run and carry (and his relative inexperience). Still team balance is the issue and the coaches will make that call.

On Viney, I agree that he needs to make it as a mid. Other comments a bit harsh particularly for a 20 year old. As mentioned on another thread, I see Viney very much in the mould of his old man. You know what you get. Its about attitude, effort and never say die. Would rather have a guy who may not have the silky skills but will play until he drops rather than the other way round.

Unfortunately criticism and negativity will continue until we have some sustained success. When we do start winning games the mindset of demon supporters, the football public and the media will change. The top sides have lots of issues going on within their clubs that could be viewed negatively, but winning footy games protect them from close scrutiny. Like wallpaper, winning games of footy papers over the cracks. The footy media are like a bunch of hyenas.

We want to win but NAB games are practice matches and a time for experimentation. It is going to take time to settle our side.

Peter Jackson and his team quietly and professionally going about their business. And our young guns signing on. Confidence building

I assume SEN is a radio station. My old wireless only gets 3AR and 3LO. I think I can do without this new station unless it has literary reviews and interviews with avante garde writers. Does it cater for modernist writers or free exchange of radical or revolutionary discourse?

Perhaps true Ron, definitely poorly coached and pushed from pillar to post. Don't know about the contract negotiations but I suspect there were a number of reasons for Rivers decision to move and as we know the lure of playing in a successful side at the end of your career after years of soul destroying thrashings is very strong. Think Alves, think Wells, think Frawley. You cannot blame the player despite supporters call for loyalty. No-one wants to play year after year in a losing side. That's what makes Jones exceptional but I suspect he has been very well looked after in his recent contract negotiations. Also prefer we don't expunge this period from our history. Important to learn from history and ensure we never go back there.

a little harsh old dee ?

oh beezle I love your work and am enlivened by your positivity but why do I feel depressed thinking about the outcome?

Like father like son. Not silky smooth skills but effort, intensity, and guts cannot be questioned. Never say die. We need a team of jack vineys or at least 21 others with the same attitude.

prodee your last sentence is the most telling and summarizes the Garland dilemma.

I am a fan of Joeboys post and accept them on face value understanding that they are opinion. they are a quick easy read that give you an immediate viewpoint of players performance. my humble suggestion is that all posters should comment on other posters as if they were addressing the other person face to face. its just to easy and almost cowardly to throw mud around from behind a keyboard. so often posters get derailed due to bruised ego's and really what amounts to childish indignation. personal slanging matches are just tiresome and take away from the good information and opinions provided on this site.

Inconsistency and lack of ruthlessness tells us that we have a developing side. A developing side also means an unsettled side. Inconsistency will remain whilst we have an unsettled side. When we have a settled side it will mean that we have the talent, experience and confidence to consistently win matches. All top sides have a critical mass of stars or match winners. There is still a big gap between our best players and our worst players. As we all know, we have few if any star players, Nate Jones aside, and we still have too many fringe players who would not get a game with a top side. Currently, the team does not have the evenness in talent, capability and experience. This year will be a work in progress. However, the acquisition of players like Lumumba and Garlett, together with our young talent gives me more optimism than I have had for a long time. But it will be a bumpy ride in 2015.

agree RB. starting to worry that this has become a chronic injury. bit of a concern given his age and footy years. he is going to be underdone when he returns despite the amount of running done over preseason. a really important player for us but better that he return mid season than return too early and suffers a recurrence. a difficult balance to get right. management so far suggests a conservative approach by the medical staff which has to be good thing.

Sorry Curry, this is a massive generalization that creates a false impression. If this is what your GP does , then change your GP. The diagnosis of depression will be determined by the GP taking a case history (unless you are already well known to the GP, asking relevant questions, and in some cases using a questionnaire. In the latter case, the questionnaire is used as an additional tool not as the determining and sole means to diagnose the condition. In cases of doubt, the GP will refer to a specialist (psychiatrist) for a psychiatric assessment. This is what a capable and experienced GP will do.

i have learnt more on this thread about the EFC saga than anything I have absorbed from the news media. says something about the informed analysis on this thread compared to what we get from the news media. The differing opinions and interpretations about the process have been fascinating. What a saga......an it continues on.

true nasher, very true. lets just say at the moment we definitely have more options in the midfield. We will get a sense by mid season whether we have good depth.

The aim of NAB matches is for teams to work on their structures &game plans and implement some of the plays they have been working on. It's a time for coaches to experiment to get some sense of how far the boys have progressed and likely line-up for the early matches. I am looking to see improvment as well as future potential. Do we have greater depth, is our ball movement quicker, do we have a forward line that can kick goals A win is a bonus but really the NAB must be seen for what it is. And I always hope like hell we get no serious injuries.

Very elegantly stated Beezle.

Pig if only it was that simple

Amazing discussion going on here. Pedantic but interesting.

Spot on Dub. A hip flask of brandy or whisky is essential.

Agree that food and drink prices have always been extortionately high but same could be said for most entertainment venues. Over recent years, the MCC has done a good job of understanding patrons food preferences via surveys etc and introducing more food options. For example there are now vegetarian options. No-one can complain about the number of food outlets and bars. The MCC is listening to patrons and doing its best to improve both food options and prices. They should be congratulated.

no just allows me to drink more whiskys over a longer period. no longer a young man. need to look after my body now. my days of straight whiskys are over.

These training reports provide a reality check for the season ahead. Well they do for me. Perhaps TDI's prediction is close to the mark. Improvement but no exponential rise. Thanks for the reports, observations and insights. Interesting to read the differences Nice balance to the reports. Great work chaps. Whisky and soda time.