Harvey Wallbanger

Yes - Wardlaw has done a hamstring. We have the Roos Round 2 at Marvel. Kingy said "you don't want to face the Roos early in the season!"

McVee seemed unhindered in rehab - perhaps precautionary. Tholstrup also not limping or showing any other discomfort - just doing very little. Pure speculation, but perhaps concussion protocols, or illness, or management...not too worried about these two. Chandler's shoulder maybe a couple of weeks away and the timeline on Spargo is unknown...maybe we will get an official injury update this week, particularly with 7 or 8 not training today...

All in attendance today except Luker Kentfield - hasn't been seen for a while? Roy George, Mitch Hardie and (I think) Jai Culley "train-on" players. McVee, Trac, Spargo, Tholstrup, Sparrow, Fullarton, Chandler in rehab. Verrall seemed to be in and out of it. Viney threw his strapping away and joined the main group early. Petty continued to train down back, Disco up forward - interestingly they seem to be trying Sestan down back (and he looked OK). As per other comments, Clayton, Rivers and Windsor looking great through the mid-field in match sim. McAdam (very lively again), Johnson and JVR normally deepest with Fritter playing a lot more upfield - maybe just to get more work into him. Max back to full training and Campbell was making him work. Campbell looking like he will be a capable (if not like-for-like) replacement should he be needed. Still no sign of JVR or Johnson doing any secondary ruck-work (who will it be?). Lever back into the main group and he and May doing their usual thing - TMac also down back - does he fit in with Petty also back? Other random observations - Howes continues to look good, Adams seems to have discovered a bit of spark. Salem used a lot in the yellow vest (overlap) player in the match sim.

A short anecdote which sums up Neale and the Daniher family's efforts. It was around 2014 or 2105 shortly after Neale had been diagnosed with MND. A "Sacked Coaches"" event was held at the Reggio Calabria Club on Brunswick Road. I believe the special guest was Terry Wallace. Proceeds from the event went to the newly formed Fight MND and Neale came to our table and shared with a close friend of his that the cheque was for $2,000. Whilst obviously appreciative of the donation, he said "Gee it's going to be a long, hard road to raise any serious money at this rate". Whilst the beast has not been defeated the rest, as they say, is history. The leadership, effort and organisational skills he has shown are truly remarkable. Hats off Neale.

His handling....and his tackling at training has been fine. Both aspects looking back to normal. And yes, we all remember some of those occasions last year where he was clearly hampered by the hand injury - most obvious to me in his tackling.

The only public announcement is that Mt Scopus has signed an option to buy the land. I would expect another announcement when the actual acquisition occurs. Details of the option details were not made public. The only other public statement from the school referred to signing enrolments at the new campus in 2030. Might that be the MFC's timeline for completion too? We'll know more perhaps we see our next Strategic Plan?

He sprained an ankle just before Christmas. Haven't heard whether that is still the issue, but he still wasn't back with the main group doing match sim last Wednesday at Gosch's. He was running freely with the other rehabbers, so hopefully a cautious approach being taken at this stage. Not sure what he did last Friday at Casey?

As mentioned before you will probably still see Petty forward at training until Turner returns. Petts, the ultimate swingman - even at training.

Did you say 22, and not 23 deliberately? Sneak him in as the 23rd man? Or back in AJ for Round 1? - nobody seems to want JVR doing the relief ruck work....

The grab I saw from Albo's presser also indicated that the Federal commitment to the Tassie stadium was a fixed figure ($240 m) so (1) not a surprising comment and (2) throws a large issue back to the Tasmanian State government. Instructive for us as the Caulfield project develops - assuming there will be a sizeable (much smaller than Tassie of course) contribution from the Feds?

Could be, and Lever still "rehabbing" so might occur sooner than later. Petty played forward a lot today (and did well), but probably because of Turner's absence (also rehabbing), rather than the long term plan?

Interesting you ask - complete speculation but I reckon he has been told that he has to play back to make the best 23 - and therefore needs to win more of the "one-on-ones". He played a lot on JVR today in the match sim and we noted his aggression both at the man and the ball - perhaps he fills the role Tomlinson did last year. Versatile back, can play on tall or small?

Slick - quicker footed than Langford - related partly to different body shapes.

Re Lindsay yes - but then finished with moderate run-throughs. Not unusual for the first year's, controlling the loads and considering he had that PCL pre-Christmas. In match sims he seemed to line up on the wing and in the mids' contested stuff was positioned "outside". Building nicely, but Langford probably ahead of him as he has been able to do the full program so far. Let's hope they have years together in the engine room.

Might depend on what sort of peaking (or peeking) you will be doing behind that fence. 😀

Good to see we won the toss! I wasn't worrying about it - just straightening RiF up on the fact that access to our new building would not be the existing road tunnel that takes you to the infield... The players will either walk across the track from the planned building, or perhaps a pedestrian tunnel (more cost) under the race tracks - two tracks now of course since the new Caulfield Heath went in....

That tunnel takes you INSIDE the track, potentially to the ovals. The planned building, gym etc.. are on the other side of the track, so you need access from Booran Road.

We just have to make sure we have clear access from Booran Road, through the Mt. Scopus site, to where our new home will be.

By the two gorillas I mean the MRC and the MFC, not Mount Scopus...

I think Farmer's point is that the MRC can stir up trouble if they think it is in their interests - see the VCAT comment. The CRRT clearly wanted two gorillas to deal with, rather than one - if the CRRT were ever to get funding to develop the space they are responsible for. The CRRT were never going to get significant funding out of the MRC. The question is whether the two gorillas can live on the same turf, or will the old gorilla fight the new one....?

I agree - but at least there is a plan; we'll be at Casey/Gosch's for the next few years. Good news for Kev! Maybe we will get more clarity when the Strategic Plan is "revealed" to us......?

My understanding is that would be like a regular Balanced superannuation fund portfolio that many of us have (a mixture of fixed interest, equities, etc..,) hence a bad year to 31 October 2023, but a good one to 31 October 2024. It's run by Morgan Stanley. What about a bit of transparency? Just let the members know what the investment guidelines are and give us quarterly updates on the performance. I mean if the Club goes bankrupt (unlikley) we all have to tip in $5 each - how hard it is to let us know how our "nest egg"is going; more often than once a year.

And nothing the year before! 8% p.a over the last 2 years - not too bad. Markets go up, markets go down. That warning was given to us by the COO. And how prescient he was. Dow down 3% last night...

She is recovering from an ACL....

Spargs did a bit of match sim today - got a round of applause from the handful of track watchers. Great to see.