Chelly

By my calculations that makes it - Bayley Fritsch (hip pointer) – available Nathan Jones (hamstring/back tightness) — available Jake Melksham (hamstring) – available Aaron vandenBerg (foot/ankle) – available Jack Viney (ankle) — available Joel Smith (groin) – test James Harmes (dislocated finger) – 1 week Braydon Preuss (adductor strain) – 1 week Tim Smith (calf) – 2 weeks Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) – 2 - 3 weeks Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – 3 - 5 weeks Mitch Hannan (knee) – 7 - 11 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – 11 - 15 weeks Jay Kennedy Harris (knee hyperextension) – 12 weeks Guy Walker (shoulder) – TBA Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

So this appears to be our current injury list Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) 3-4 weeks Jeff Garlett (shoulder) 4 - 6 weeks Mitch Hannan (knee) 8 - 12 weeks Jake Lever (knee) 12 - 16 weeks Aaron Nietschke (knee) season

The “outs” and how they appear to be tracking:- 1. Stephen May (hamstring) — due to return to full training shortly. 2. Nathan Jones (hamstring /ba ck tightness) — should be fit to start the season. 6. Jordan Lewis — rested? 7. Jack Viney (ankle surgery) — should be fit to start the season. 8. Jake Lever (ACL surgery) — hopefully will be back training with the main group in about a month. 12. Toby Bedford — not selected. 16. Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) — available to play Round 1 but more likely in the VFL. 18. Jake Melksham hamstring) — due to return to full training shortly. 19. Mitch Hannan (knee) — return in the middle of the first half of the season. 27. Aaron Nietschke (ACL surgery) — season 35. Oskar Baker — not selected. 37. Kade Chandler — not selected. 38. Tim Smith — left training early on Thursday. 43. Guy Walker (shoulder surgery) — return date not available. 46. Austin Bradtke — not selected.

On my reckoning, 20 MFC listed players did not take part in yesterday’s game:- 1. Stephen May — hamstring 2. Nathan Jones — hamstring/back tightness 7. Jack Viney — ankle surgery 8. Jake Lever — knee surgery 12. Toby Bedford — not selected 13. Clayton Oliver — double shoulder surgery 16. Kade Kolodjashnij — adductor 18. Jake Melksham — hamstring 19. Mitch Hannan — dual knee surger 20. Corey Maynard — hip surgery 23. James Jordon — not selected 25. Tom McDonald — knee 27. Aaron Nietschke — knee surgery 31. Bayley Fritsch — selected for AFLX 33. Harrison Petty — not selected 35. Oskar Baker — hamstring 37. Kade Chandler — not selected 43. Guy Walker — shoulder surgery 45. Declan Keilty — not selected 46. Austin Bradtke — not selected Hopeful that most of the big guns are out on the track in the next week or two and are ready for Round 1.

What. No father/sons again? http://m.afl.com.au/news/2019-02-06/2019-fatherson-prospects-whos-eligible-for-your-club

Misso is back at last with a Pre-season injury update and reports on the rehab list which consists of 8 players at the moment:- Oskar Baker coming back from a hammy and “due to do some training on” the club's forthcoming camp. Mitch Hannan doing some running after a “double knee scope”. Nathan Jones is recovering slowly from some back and hamstring issues he had before Christmas. Jake Lever (ACL) - over a few pre-Christmas issues and “starting to put in some really consistent training.” Jake Melksham another one a hamstring issue and “taking a little bit more time with it.” Clayton Oliver - both shoulders were operated on and expected to be in full training by “the end of camp.” Jack Viney is going really well and will be back from his foot issues in full training after the camp. Guy Walker had a procedure on his shoulder over the Christmas break “which is going to be a reasonably slow recovery.”

Time for my 2019 Phantom Draft - I hope I haven’t gone too early with this one ? 1. Matt Rowell 180cm 70kg 1/7/01 Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers Midfielder 2. Cameron Taheny 184cm 72kg 3/8/01 South Australia/Norwood Forward/defender 3. Noah Anderson 189cm 84kg 17/2/01 Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers Midfielder 4. Mitch O'Neill 181cm 69kg 21/2/01 Tasmania/North Hobart Midfielder 5. Dylan Williams 185cm 78kg 1/7/01 Club: Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers Forward 6. Tom Green 188cm 85kg 23/1/01 GWS Academy/Marist Forward 7. Lachlan Ash 186cm 77kg 21/6/01 Murray Bushrangers Shepparton Bears Defender 8. Jeremy Sharp 185cm 72kg 13/8/01 Western Australia/East Fremantle Defender/midfielder 9. Caleb Serong 177cm 80kg 9/2/01 Vic Country/Gippsland Power Half-forward/midfielder 10. Sam Flanders 183cm 81kg 24/7/01 Gippsland/Power Moe Forward

I put the list in alphabetical order for easier reference. Not included in the list but referred to in recent training reports as being in the “rehab” group are Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Jayden Hunt and Aaron vandenBerg who I presume weren’t considered by the reporter as being injured enough to make the list. The disconcerting thing from my perspective is the par on Jake Lever. Before his latest setback, I thought he would be right to go early in the season but that’s now a “mid-year return”.

And based on the article from afl.com.au MFC End of 2018 Injury List Oskar Baker: Suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury in September and the Demons are ensuring he has enough conditioning under his belt before starting him in full training. James Harmes: Another to undergo post-season shoulder surgery. Harmes is running but won't be in contact drills until after Christmas. Marty Hore: The mature-age draftee had an ankle operation before he was picked by the Demons with pick No.56 in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft. He and Melksham have been running laps together. Neville Jetta: The defender had shoulder surgery in the off-season. Running laps, but won't join in contact work until after Christmas. Jake Lever: Underwent more surgery on Wednesday after scar tissue around his reconstructed left knee left him in discomfort. Had started running before the setback and is hoping for a mid-year return. Oscar McDonald: The key defender had a post-season arthroscope on his hip and therefore has been on a modified programme. Jake Melksham: Melksham had an arthroscope on his ankle at the end of the season and as a result has been in rehab as he builds up his training load slowly. Clayton Oliver: Had surgery on both of his shoulders and, like many others, won't get into work with the main group until after Christmas. Running and moving well in rehab. Christian Petracca: Went in for a knee operation at the end of the year and as a result is in the rehab group. Running laps, but won't resume contact work until after getting back from the Christmas break. Tim Smith: Coming back from a stress fracture in his foot. Smith is running laps and will be eased slowly back in to training. Billy Stretch: Running laps at decent speed after having surgery on a stress fracture in his toe in July. Will build his training conservatively. Jack Viney: Had surgery on his troublesome foot at the end of the season and is on a modified program. Will look to build his training post-Christmas.

Tweet from Mark Stevens @7NewsMelbourne Can reveal Jake Lever having a procedure on his reconstructed knee today to ease issues with irritation to scar. Been troubling him in recently. Dees stress it is minor and he will be back on track on Monday. Frustrating by-product of surgery. Knee itself fine.

The thread for injuries in season 2019 starting with a pre season update. *** If you are new to this thread the latest injury information will be on the last page CLICK HERE *** Based on reports from training the following players have been rehabbing (this doesn’t suggest anything serious with these players):- Oskar Baker Angus Brayshaw Mitch Hannan James Harmes Marty Hore Jayden Hunt Neville Jetta Jake Lever Oscar McDonald Jake Melksham Clayton Oliver Christian Petracca Tim Smith Billy Stretch Aaron vandenBerg Jack Viney

There’s no doubt about where his father’s loyalty lies after last night. Here he is in the crowd celebrating after last night’s win.

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.

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.

T20 Mickey Mouse stuff.

No offense to the people who live there but it's a bit of a way down in the world from Toorak to McKinnon, isn't it?