Harvey Wallbanger

OK - the 19th was the word from Gussy boy - we'll report back to the DL crew.....Saturday the 13th is the Christmas Open Day, right?

Jed Adams the only absentee. Further to the other reports Viney, Henderson, Matthews and McAdam in what I would describe as "full rehab". Matthews getting special treatment related to his knee, so perhaps he is the furthest away from playing. Given Viney and McAdam are both achilles - hard to say about return dates. Henderson also hard to predict. Bowey running laps (but does not look far away) and Jeffo in and out as described above. JVR got a knock to the lip - went back to AAMI for some patchwork - and after that resorted to running. Pleasing aspects for me - Mihocek, Heath and Steele did the entire session unhampered and CJ did most of it. Trelly Pickett is a gun - not just his skills - but the running capacity, confidence and willingness to join in. Pencil him in for Round 1. Windsor everywhere, when the ball needed to be moved. I reckon Taylor will take a little while - in defence. Early call, but maybe not a lock for Round 1. Onley a good size and moved smoothly - all the draftees and CJ did quite a bit of running towards the end - obviously still building their bases. AMW looking better and better - let's see if he does full sessions from January. The word is that they will stay at Gosch's through until Friday 19 December. Training was scheduled for 10 am but they were out early and finished up around 12 pm. All the old boys doing good old boys' stuff, i.e. including TMac and Melky in that group. Lever moving freely. May - an interesting watch.

Our women rarely train at Casey - mainly Gosch's.

We might get a better idea of exactly what role he will have as they crank up the match sims. Geelong provides a good blueprint though with the way they use their paciest player, Holmes....let's see.

So far Caleb has participated fully in all training sessions - we'll get a better glimpse of them all this week as they are at Gosch's MWF .....

AMW has told us that he can only return to full training in the new year. His knee was pretty much mangled in that tackle at Arden Street last February, so whilst he has clearly done a power of work he may still be a watch re availability for Round 1 - more "boxes to tick" as they say. Jack Henderson seems still to be struggling with his groin at training and has not joined any of the main sessions. There has been nothing natural about his running form - also definitely a watch. Jack Viney also seems a bit sore at the moment - maybe an achilles? Photos from Bright show him working with Henderson. Not aware of anyone coming off surgery. Lever seems unhampered. Mihocek has to recover from his toe injury, but seems to be progressing well and CJ seems to be in and out of training drills - not sure what is going on there.... No update on Matthews coming off his PCL from last year - will get a look at him when they are back at Gosch's.

Almost nailed it - except that Latrelle took 33 (and Matthews took 20).

Go to Club, Governance and Governance Documents - the 2025 Annual Report is there.....

Thanks TU - yes it is attached to the AGM notice. They haven't yet added it to the list of Annual Reports in the Governance section.

You're correct - it is not up on the website yet. It was attached to the letter to members which included the Notice of AGM. Maybe the Demonland Administrators could put it up here?

I don't think Kosi would think his salary for the next 9 years is "variable". Yes, the contributions to Clayton's contract are indeed settled.

Yes, a combined operting profit of $1.5 million, but an actual combined loss of $6 million (includes Gus, Simon and Clayton)

Jon Ralph touched on this in his article today - he just reiterated that under AFL rules, there is a 90% cap exemption in the year after he is medically retired - then 75% in year 2 and 50% in year 3...I think this (i.e. the salary cap effect) would have been sorted out when Angus got paid out by the Club.

That's a $200,000 operating loss for 2025 they have highlighted - $1.7 million operating profit last year....

So Matthews should push out to 2028...

Thanks R&BF, Taylor and Pickett get 3 year contracts, but Matthews only 2?

One thing that really annoys me about our draw this year. In the first 15 rounds (where we have match days set), if you put aside our first game against St Kilda (who play in Opening Round) we have only one game where we have a longer break than our opponent - that is against the Bombers going into Gather Round. And only 4 games where the break is the same number of days as our opponent..... Surely we should raise this with the AFL when they consider the remainder of the draw for 2026?

Still 15 years to run on our Casey deal, so it is an integral part of the future plan. The women will still play most of their home games at Casey (no stands allowed at Caulfield). So will the Casey men and they will also train there. The interesting question is whether once Caulfield is up and available whether the AFL men will ever train at Casey? The AFL women rarely train there.

Different project, but the same players.... This is closer to the reality - there is no way we can raise $100 million from members for the enitire project. More like Club/AFL $25 mil and the MFC members $25 mil. Government will be involved. For example, if it is the CRRT that will be resposnioble for completing the two ovals proposed, then government money would go straight to another government statutory entity (CRRT), and not to the MFC. At the end of the day those ovals will be community assets and the MFC will get the 15-20 hours agreed we need as part of our lease agreement with them.

That's a huge project if there is not government funding. Both State and Federal governments have partially funded all other AFL ground developments in Victoria. That's why we have to wait....

Because we are committed to paying a portion of Clayton's salary through until 2030, and the amount was material, we are required to recognise that expense immediately, even though the cash payments will be made in later years. Given the immediate recognition of the expense, our player salary payments will run at a lower level through until 2030, i.e. the next five years'expense will be 100% of our salary cap MINUS the payments related to Clayton.

Actually it is not up to the Club to pick a time about an announcement on Caulfield. They will not be able to say anything meaningful until the State Government says they can. This has been the position for as long as the project has been worked on. Yes, it is getting closer, and yes it is entirely appropriate to update members at the AGM, but any defintive announcement will only emerge when the State Government says it can.

Based on his Instas Riv still honeymooning. Steele also not present today....

Yep, small but very important thing. Culture! The men are working around the women's long-scheduled programme not the other way around. Poor leadership.

Note that Cal Twomey did not make any changes with his "late mail" update. He still has us taking Farrow and Nairn.