Chelly

"Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice to Deceive" W. Scott

Two more today. Robert Murphy (WB) out for 8 weeks and Kieran Harper (NM) gone for 6 weeks. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

It's really been a strange preseason. We're reading on an almost daily basis about players going down with injuries. Most AFL clubs are affected and it's going to be very interesting how the different clubs fare with injuries over the year. Dave Misson had a great record with injuries when he last combined with Paul Roos and I'm hoping he can repeat it in 2014 at Melbourne.

Good preparation for the NAB Challenge match in Alice Springs.

What does that mean?

It will eventuate at some time in the next 4 to 6 weeks.

Training Report I arrived at Casey Fields at the advertised starting time of 9.30am or was it later than that*? In attendance were no players but there were 12 CFA officers there and I assisted them in putting out two bushfires that were threatening to burn the house that the players have been training down. It was all over in 45 minutes and we all adjourned to the pub for a few drinks with Campbell Brown. * can't remember because I'm suffering from a mixture of smoke inhalation and intoxication.

... and you have intimate knowledge of how he treated players including the circumstances and all the facts and dates of each incident in which you claim he treated players.Really ...

Where did you get that from?

Twitter @gomvfc captain Mark Milligan has been ruled out for the next four to six weeks after having minor surgery on his troublesome right knee.

True. You don't start looking around to replace blokes when they've reached the end of their careers. You plan ahead. Also agree we should have done more to keep Jolly but we also had Jamar in the wings and White used to go for 25 minutes of every quarter.

Nice report from Roger's correspondent but if he saw Paul Roos at training then he should check his eyesight because I thought he was in Africa or somewhere.

Even when he's not in the test side Monty gets into the news - http://m.ntnews.com.au/sport/ground-announcer-sacked-after-panesar-comments-in-alice-springs/story-fnk0b28u-1226772077510]Ground announcer sacked after Panesar comments in Alice Springs Surely, the ground announcer gets tool of the week?

It wasn't just them that earned the wrath of the coaching staff when I saw them. I'm quite certain I saw steam coming out of Craig and Misson's ears about the condition of some of the older, more experienced types. I think however, this is where preseason training has changed over the years. Back in the day, the more experienced guys used to know exactly what was required of them by the start of a season and they would bludge a bit at this time of the year. It's much more professional today and players have to treat it more seriously.

It Greaves me to think nobody can remember who coached our rucks this year. On the other hand, I'm not surprised.

Can't wait for Caroline Wilson to come up with an article calling for Gold Coast's President and CEO to be sacked over this.

No. Joe played 8 games for the Calder Cannons in 2012 and when fit, was involved in their programme - http://www.sportingpulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192369542&client=1-3020-111723-206344-16804349

I don't know if it was intended that way by Caro or Richmond but I finished reading this piece having a lot more sympathy for Carr and the Martin position than for the Toigs. A player is entitled to have representation by a manager and Richmond have been clearly trying to undermine Carr and the relationship with his client. But even if Caro or the Tigers are trying to send a message to Shane Martin in the article, they probably didn't factor in that the bloke can't read.

The opening round of the finals is only ¾ finished and already Collingwood and Essendon are out on their backsides. Two of the AFL's big crowd drawing teams gone and one more today. Bad news for the AFL's bottom line and that's all that matters.

I presume that Eddie McGuire won't have much to say now about next week's fixturing and that rugby game in Perth on Saturday night?

And a truly remarkable achievement to finish 3rd in the b & f considering he wasn't in the best three for his team more than once or twice during the season. I think it might have something to do with the unique voting system at GWS where they weight the votes by multiplying the score by each player's pay packet.

For sale: 2 tickets to Essendon v Richmond on Saturday night. Going cheap.

Surely, this prediction alone confirms that this must be our worst season ever?

Is Gysberts working harder?