waynewussell

6 - Viney 5 - Watts 4 - Pederson 3 - Gawn 2 - N Jones 1 - Frost

6 - Gawn 5 - Viney 4 - Vince 3 - Oliver 2 - Watts 1 - Jetta

Enjoying all this love for ANB! Billy has had a full pre-season. ANB has not had a full preseason... is recovering well from injury... Next!

The clubs commentary about "when they're ready" is directed primarily at draftees coming straight out of the underage comp. Blokes like Vandenberg, and in this case Wagner are referred to as "having a body that is ready". There is some confusion here between 'mature aged' and 'raw-aged'.

I added an interesting snippet between McAvaney and Roos after our big win in the 1998 Qualifying Final

Wagner will be 22 in June, almost Frost's age, not a kid... recruited to be able to step straight in.

This must be one of the few games that Lyon, Schwarz, Neitz, Farmer & Robbo started in the same team.... as well as Jeff White and Jimmy in the ruck!

Mitch White looked good at training this week. I think we should be celebrating the fact that the list has depth in many areas (not all), rather than bemoaning the fact that we can't play them all!

part 4 leading up to half time is now up.

Form at Casey doesn't mean flicking the switch after one good showing in a VFL practice match! Otherwise Petracca and Trengove would be in the team before ANB. He is a promising young player who is on the comeback trail after an interrupted pre-season. He will get his chance. Next....

I expect Grimes, Stretch & Frost to be the emergencies

Dunn, Grimes, Wagner, Frost, Stretch in 25

Garland & Brayshaw out

Just looking at Roos' demeanor this week, I expect more than 1 or 2 changes!

I thought Wagner looked good in NAB games, with the exception of first part of Etihad v Saints. By the way, he rebounded very well in that game. He gets his hands on it and looks courageous. He was drafted on the back of size, endeavour and foot skills. Not timid on the field and I expect him to do well when given the opportunity. At this stage we do not know for sure that he is in the 22.

Josh Wagner to debut for Demons on Sunday. I've liked the look of him for some time, "Another who seems to have the size and speed to play senior footy is Wagner" - from my training report on Wednesday. I'm pleased to say he has been sitting on the bench in my Dreamteam!

Dawes was trying to do everything at training on Wednesday. He really competed. As time wore on though, he did seem underdone. I think what we have been missing is a 'fit' Dawes. He has been restricted for a long time with that calf injury. I don't think he is fully fit yet, and I agree with the coaching panel, he needs to be as close to 100% as possible before we bring him back. Still three weeks off if all goes well!

Crossy took Tyson aside for some short kicking to a lead up and he hit Crossy on the chest everytime I looked. Can do it, just different under match pressure I guess.

Part 3 now up.

On the mudlark theme, the players missing from last weeks team that played last Anzac Eve were Michie, Newton, JKH, Jamar, Howe, Dunn, Dawes and Cross. Newton would be a handy addition in heavy going but he is not ready. Dunn seems a certainty for Sunday. H and Garland weren't sighted at training today, but H wouldn't get the flick after one game back and will hold his spot unless injured. I could see Dunn coming in for Garland and I know Oscar is also available. I don't think Harmes will be dropped given the necessity for 'head over the ball' players in poor weather.

Going to be cloudy and a little wet in Hobart on Sunday. Very timely that our session today was in wet conditions. Hopefully it pizzes down and negates some of their big-man advantage (remember last Anzac Eve). Any mudlarks will be welcome.

Garlett an absolute "will definitely play" according to Misson. That negates any of my replacement suggestions

I'm pleased to hear that Garlett injured himself today and it wasn't a carry over from the game on Saturday. When I first saw the discomfort he was showing today I thought he had little chance of fronting up against Kangaroos. However, realising that the injury happened just minutes before I arrived, I think he may still get up after treatment. If not, Stretch, ANB and JKH may be forward options. On training form I would opt for Stretch.

Arrived 45 minutes late, stayed for an hour... steady rain throughout! Oliver trains with the same intensity he shows in the real thing. He is eye-catching, even in a training drill. Needless to say, it was very wet under foot. I was impressed by the intensity shown by all. Jeffy G was walking the boundary and seemed really sore, possibly left leg/ankle. Didn't notice Garland, Lumumba or Max King. Spencil walked around, Brayshaw, Vandenberg & Viney were on reduced duties, mainly kicking routines with Crossy. Brayshaw had one ankle bandaged. I was pleasantly surprised to see Newton do full training, as well as Dawes, who seemed ok in one on one contested stuff. Great to see Petracca and Trengove do everything. Both impressed with their footy smarts. Dunn looked fit and trained in his normal, full throated manner. I watched him slot a 45 metre goal effortlessly (while Hogan settled for several of the 35 metre variety) and was reminded of his ability to play forward. With Oscar seemingly fully fit, could Dunn be a CHF option? He certainly can score from outside 50, and can also pin-point a leading player by foot. Stretch's breakaway speed was good. ANB reminded selectors of his prowess in the packs. Mitch King was the only opponent for big Max in the ruck contests and he struggled. During this session I was reminded of the worth of White, Grimes and Terlich, particularly in the heavy going. Another who seems to have the size and speed to play senior footy is Wagner. I left with renewed confidence in our ability to rebound from Saturday's debacle. We have depth and it is being developed by a very good group of coaches. The main objective should be to keep this group together. I am sure we are looking at a climb up the ladder on the back of the current list and coaching panel. It will probably take longer than we had hoped. No predictions on how long, but Bernie was right when he said "We know where we are as a team and we're sure we are on the right track"!