Chelly

Bayley Fritsch says hello.

Given his history with hamstring injuries, that would be for real.

Melbourne injury list: round nine Dean Kent (hamstring) – 4 weeks Mitch King (elbow) – 1 week Corey Maynard (hip) – indefinite Pat McKenna (hamstring) – indefinite Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) – 6 weeks Jack Viney (foot) – available

According to the club website, Jack Viney and Christian Salem face fitness tests to determine whether they play this week - Melbourne injury list: round eight Harley Balic (platar fascia) – test Dean Kent (hamstring) – 4 weeks Mitch King (elbow) – 2-3 weeks Corey Maynard (hip) – indefinite Pat McKenna (hamstring) – indefinite Christian Salem (thumb) – test Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) – 6-8 weeks Jack Viney (foot) – test Source: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-05-08/viney-salem-to-be-tested-for-round-eight

Melbourne injury list: round four Tom McDonald (foot) – 4-5 weeks Pat McKenna (hamstring) – indefinite Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) – indefinite Jack Viney (foot) – 4-5 weeks

Melbourne injury list: round three Bayley Fritsch (sternum) – available Tom McDonald (foot) – 6 weeks Pat McKenna (hamstring) – indefinite Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) – indefinite Jack Viney (foot) – 6 weeks

North’s hammering of St Kilda was the best thing to happen for us. They don’t want to go into a game overconfident as they did both times last year against them. Their team as above was very ordinary and yet we couldn’t beat them with a 5 goal breeze at our backs.

A different look at the team’s fitness for the week of Round 2 shows that we’re not that far off full strength - 1. Jesse Hogan v Brisbane Lions 2. Nathan Jones v Brisbane Lions 3. Christian Salem v Brisbane Lions 4. James Harmes v Brisbane Lions 5. Christian Petracca v Brisbane Lions 6. Jordan Lewis v Brisbane Lions 7. Jack Viney (foot) but start running outside tomorrow 8. Jake Lever v Brisbane Lions 9. Charlie Spargo v Frankston 10. Angus Brayshaw v Frankston 11. Max Gawn v Brisbane Lions 12. Dom Tyson v Brisbane Lions 13. Clayton Oliver Brisbane Lions 14. Michael Hibberd v Brisbane Lions 15. Billy Stretch traveling emergency v Brisbane Lions 16. Dean Kent v Frankston 17. Sam Frost v Frankston 18. Jake Melksham v Brisbane Lions 19. Mitch Hannan v Frankston 20. Corey Maynard traveling emergency v Brisbane Lions 21. Cameron Pedersen v Brisbane Lions 22. Aaron Vandenberg (ankle) indefinite but doing some outside running 23. Bernie Vince v Brisbane Lions 24. Jay Kennedy-Harris v Frankston 25. Tom McDonald (toe) TBC but start running outside tomorrow 26. Sam Weideman v Frankston 27. Harley Balic v Frankston 28. Oscar McDonald v Brisbane Lions 29. Jayden Hunt v Brisbane Lions 30. Alex Neal-Bullen v Brisbane Lions 31. Bayley Fritsch v Brisbane Lions 32. Tomas Bugg v Brisbane Lions 33. Harrison Petty v Frankston 34. Mitch King v Frankston 35. Oskar Baker v Frankston 36. Jeff Garlett v Brisbane Lions 37. Dion Johnstone v Frankston 38. Tim Smith v Frankston 39. Neville Jetta v Brisbane Lions 40. Patrick McKenna (hamstring) indefinite but doing some outside running 42. Josh Wagner v Brisbane Lions 44. Joel Smith v Frankston 45. Declan Keilty v Frankston 47. Lachlan Filipovic v Frankston

Melbourne injury list: round one: James Harmes (concussion) – available Nathan Jones (back) – available Jordan Lewis (calf) – available Pat McKenna (hamstring) – indefinite Tom McDonald (foot) – TBC Alex Neal-Bullen (quadriceps) – available Clayton Oliver (knee) – test Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) – indefinite Jack Viney (foot) – TBC

Melbourne injury list: pre-round one Jordan Lewis (calf) – available Tom McDonald (toe) – test Pat McKenna (hamstring) – indefinite Alex Neal-Bullen (quadriceps) – available Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) – indefinite Jack Viney (foot) – 1-2 weeks

The Herald Sun has had a crack at producing injury lists for all club’s in this article - All the latest injury news at your club ahead of Round 1 FWIW, this is Melbourne’s list: MELBOURNE Jack Viney (foot) Jordan Lewis (calf) Dean Kent (shoulder) Aaron vandenBerg (foot) Oscar McDonald (back tightness) Joel Smith The Demons have conceded midfielder Jack Viney won’t be fit for their season-opener against Geelong. Viney, who has battled a persistent foot injury, could still line-up for Casey in a VFL practice match against Box Hill but the Dees have already ruled him out for Round 1. “We have decided that to give Jack the best preparation for the full year, he will not be available for selection for Round 1,” football manager Josh Mahoney said last week. The Dees, however, are optimistic Jordan Lewis will recover from calf tightess in time for the Cats clash. The ex-Hawk missed Melbourne’s second JLT match with the issue. Defender Oscar McDonald was Melbourne’s only injury concern from last Thursday night’s match against the Saints. And for good measure, Geelong’s list: GEELONG Gary Ablett (hamstring) Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) Rhys Stanley (calf) Stewart Crameri (knee) Sam Menegola (calf) Scott Selwood (ankle) Lachie Henderson (knee) Patrick Dangerfield will have scans on his injured hamstring today to determine the extent of his injury after pulling up short while kicking against Essendon in Colac on Sunday. The star immediately left the field and sent a major scare through the Geelong camp. The Cats won’t take any risks with the star and will likely make sure he is fit for the majority of the season rather than rushing him back for the season opener. The Cats could be without two of their star midfield trio with Gary Ablett racing the clock to be fit for the clash with Melbourne with his own hamstring issue. The Cats said initially Ablett’s hamstring was only minor but he didn’t feature at all in the JLT Series and given he has a recent history of hamstring problems, it is a concern. Rhys Stanley is also in significant doubt for Round 1 after hurting his calf, while Nakia Cockatoo (calf), Stewart Crameri (knee) and Sam Menegola (calf) are also racing the clock to be fit. Scott Selwood and Lachie Henderson have all but been ruled out of Round 1 with ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Reminds me. Time for my first phantom draft and it’s no surprise that a few South Australians figure very highly. From the POV of the Dees, we are unlikely participants in the top 10 of the draft which is fine by me since we have Jake Lever instead. However, that said, this year’s batch of players coming into the system is looking very strong. My top 10:- 1. Izak Rankine – West Adelaide (SA) 2. Jack Lukosius - Woodville West-Torrens (SA) 3. Max King – Sandringham Dragons 4. Connor Rozee – North Adelaide (SA) 5. Ben King – Sandringham Dragons 6. Sam Walsh – Geelong Falcons 7. Ian Hill – Perth (WA) 8. Jye Caldwell – Bendigo Pioneers 9. Jack Bytel – Calder Cannons 10. Matt Green – Sporties Spitfires (NT)

Dave Misson’s December pre-season update “Nathan Jones: Nathan is back in the main group, after he just had a minor calf. It wasn’t quite a strain, but we’re pretty precautionary in pre-season, but he joined in [with the main group] on Friday. Dean Kent: Kenty had that shoulder [injury] after the Darwin game [against the Adelaide Crows in round 17, this year]. He’s pretty close to starting some contact. He’s done a lot of running and is pretty fit. Tom McDonald: He had surgery on each ankle and is going very well. He’s done a lot of running and is starting to get into some pretty intense agility work, and football work. He’ll probably jump into the main group after Christmas, but he’s going well. Harrison Petty: Ten days ago, Harrison fractured his elbow, tripping over a wire fence, so both of those guys have got a little bit of time in rehab. Bayley and Oskar are going pretty well and they’ve come in and they’re pretty sharp. Joel Smith: Joel’s towards the end of his rehab, with that fracture he had with his knee. He’s looking like the Joel Smith of old – really athletic and dynamic, so [we’re] pretty pleased with how he’s going. Tim Smith: Tim had that navicular stress fracture. He’s done a couple of weeks of running outside and is going really well. He’s started to do run throughs and a little bit of agility. Charlie Spargo: Charlie had a shoulder reconstruction during the year and he’s not far away from getting into some contact. Aaron vandenBerg: Vanders has been a little bit slow, just with that foot [injury], but he’s probably had his best week in rehab this week. We’re really hopeful that he can start to progress a little bit quicker. Jack Viney: Jack’s going pretty well, as expected with the [foot] injury that he had. He’s starting to do more, and more on his legs, and being Jack, he’s working really, really hard off legs and in the gym. Sam Weideman: Weids had ankle surgery in the off-season, so he’s progressing really well. He’s doing some good running on the AlterG [Anti-Gravity] Treadmill and he’ll start running outside next week.” As long as we don’t get them between March and September.

Yes, it's true that my overall tipping wasn't great but that's a reflection of how things can change in 12 months at this age level in light of injuries, loss of form and other players coming over the top. My point is that Spargo is one of those players who slipped off the radar to a great extent during 2017 but my mail on him has always been that he's potentially a much better player than a mid second round selection in the draft might suggest. Now, I'm off to do my 2018 version.

Albury star Charlie Spargo drafted by Melbourne at No.29

In all modesty, I nailed the first choice for Jason Taylor and Demonland almost 12 months ago.

The thread for injuries in season 2018 starting with a pre season update: Dave Misson’s November pre-season update from melbournefc.com.au Lochie Filipovic: Lochie is pretty close to running flat out, coming back into the group [after a hip flexor injury suffered in the 2017 season]. Dean Kent: Kenty, with his shoulder, has been able to do a fair bit of running work, but still needs to improve that strength and range in his shoulder. Tom McDonald: He did some agility work on Tuesday, so he’s probably likely to join in the football program before Christmas, which would be good. Touch wood, he’s looking really good [after having surgery on both ankles on separate occasions]. Pat McKenna: Patty’s going well. He’s up to 90 per cent. He’s still working in and around some things on his hamstring. Joel Smith: Joel is doing some really good work, on and off the track. He’s improved his strength work, in and around that knee. Tim Smith: He had his first run out on the grass on Monday, so he’s done a fair bit of work with that foot and a fair bit of work on the AlterG treadmill. He’ll run again Friday. He’s pulled up well, so we’re pretty excited that the rehab is going according to plan. Hopefully he’ll be out towards the end of January, early February training with the group. Aaron vandenBerg: Vanders has been a little bit slow since that [heel] surgery. We’re just trying to improve his range in that ankle and get his calf strength up. He’s started running on the AlterG treadmill on Monday. Jack Viney: Jack’s away at the moment. He came in last week and did a little bit of work. He’s still got to work on getting his range in that ankle back. We’re not going to rush him back into football work. We’ve got plenty of time and we just want to make sure we get it right and get some miles into his legs before he starts football.

You're not suggesting the AFL would defer putting the changes into effect until after this year's draft when there are so many players who otherwise would be eligible for its $20m per annum love ❤️ child, are you?

The AFL has ruled that its love child the GWS will keep areas of NSW such as Albury which have been traditionally AFL regions as part of their "development" areas. Another free leg up when it comes to draft time later this year.

Tried that and got hit by a ? firewall

GW$ have been given more time to prepare their defence in the Whitfield farce saga. Likely outcome is a wet lettuce delivered over the holidays when everybody's looking away.

In that case, you can start spewing now RTG because I've thought long and hard to come up with my first 2017 Phantom Draft. 1. Charlie Spargo (Murray Bushrangers) GWS Academy2. Darcy Fogarty (Glenelg SA) 3. Jarrod Brander (Bendigo Pioneers) GWS Academy4. Jaidyn Stephenson (Eastern Ranges)5. Connor Ballenden (Brisbane Lions) Brisbane Lions Academy6. Sam Hayes (Eastern Ranges)7. Hunter Clark (Dandenong Stingrays)8. James Worpel (Geelong Falcons)9. Jack Higgins (Oakleigh Chargers)10. Jack Powell (Canberra) GWS Academy That makes three early picks available to GWS through the academy system assuming their zone isn't changed to exclude the Riverina District which isn't really being "developed" by the Giants anyway (and note where my picks 1 & 3 are playing). Here is an article about the GWS Academy that might be of interest.

A timely reminder for me to start working on my 2017 Phantom Draft.

Glacial in comparison to the way it came out immediately on the day the CAS judgement was made in January and announced its contingency plan to top up the Essendon list with players and confirm that in the event that their weakened team finished last, it would still have first pick in the draft notwithstanding the CAS findings.

I heard him on SEN this afternoon suggesting the AFL should move our game v Geelong to the G to get a bigger crowd. Nice try Chris.