DemonDave

The highlight of the night for me was the presentation of Stuart Spencer with his 56 Truscott Cup. He said the club told him to keep the night free for a presentation. He went through the checklist with his family - "I'm a Life Member, in the MFC Team of the Century and the AFL Hall of Fame so I dont know what else it could be". The guernsey presentation was also extremely well done, past prominent players were on hand to give over each number as follows: #5 David Schwarz -> Jordan Gysberts #9 David Neitz & Brian Dixon -> Jack Trengove #28 David Cordner -> Joel McDonald #31 Ron Barassi & Paul Wheatley -> Tom Scully #35 Noel McMahon & Antony McDonald -> Luke Tapscott #37 Jim Stynes - Max Gawn #48 Darren Cuthbertson(!) -> Jack Fitzpatrick No other jumper number changes were mentioned other than those already stated by WJ. There were relatively few questions from the floor this year. Bails gave a good, lengthy answer to a query on our seemingly growing injury list. Mentioned we won 21 quarters of football in 2008, and this increased to 33 this year. The average points kicked against us dramatically dropped this year compared to last, but our points kicked remained reasonably stagnant, he said we need to improve our attack this year, and that the more players play together, the better we'll get at this. The night ended with a rousing rendition of the club song led by Brian Dixon & Noel McMahon, arm in arm.

Can any of the fine folk such as KC care to give us an update/overview of all the summer comings and goings down at Casey? There were many rumours of players/staff/coaches being poached by Williamstown to follow Peter German. Given our young list last years season was a very good one, but will be seemingly very hard to replicate. The losses of Silvagni, Valenti et al are significant IMHO.

That makes 3 of us, I won a prize a couple of years ago that never got sent.

At least it doesnt include a certain ex-player who wore number 5, unlike the commercially available calendar currently in the shops, which does. Whoops.

I for one cant work out how you could ban someone from an AFL ground in Australia. Anyone can go up, pay their cash up at the window, and walk through the turnstile. The 'woman' that threw the cup of beer at Brad Johnson last year while bragging about it to a friend on the phone 'banned' herself from Lions games for two years or something didnt she? It's merely a symbolic gesture to be banned from games here. Same with a cricket game, if you get thrown out for playing up during a One-Day game at the G for instance, whats to stop you going around 3 gates further up and buying another ticket??

I dont read our local paper very often, the Maribyrning Leader, but 'er indoors pointed out to me last night there was a big article on a Melbourne player 'named Jack' in this weeks edition. Here's the online version, a good read: Hell of a relief for Demon Jack

I believe the main reason for this presser was to announce Volvo as our new shorts sponsor, replacing The Age. Also, on CC's tweets, he mentioned that historic guernsey numbers, such as Noel McMahen's famous #35 would be symbolically handed over to people soon.

Bucks to be coached by Bucks in 2 years time?......Was a surprise to be sure.

Stable Pony!

According to this story just published on the little papers website, Collingwood will have exclusive use of the old Olympic Park area when it gets redeveloped. Athletics Australia are getting shunted off there to a new complex in Albert Park. Co-incidentally, who is on the Athletics Australia Board, none other than an Edward McGuire. Hmm, something smells very fishy there! So i assume that means we'd be training at Goschs Paddock? Collingwood Get Exclusive Access to Olympic Park Redevelopement

KC, is there any word as to whether James Wall and Peter Faulks are going to be at the club next year, or are the rumours in Inside Football they're going to be poached by Peter German in his move to Williamstown true?

Would you have said that at the time after Cuthbertsons first 9 games though? No, we wouldve all been salivating about the future star forward we had on our hands, saying 'look how good he's been, and he's only played 9 games...'. I dont see how the style of game dictates that a forward who's able to kick bags of goals,take big marks and influence games is relevant?

Will the historical pages show Darren Cuthbertson as a past star of the MFC? No, it will show he played an amazing handful of games at the start of his career, kicking ridiculous bags of goals and taking hangers on a weekly basis. And then just as quickly as it began, it was all over for the man who started his career, coincidentally, wearing the number 48 guernsey in his breakout year. The weight of expectations showed on him, and he will be remembered as an exciting flash in the pan who entertained the crowds immensly while it lasted, rather than a star. For Jurrah to be considered a star, he will have to play a sustained brand of football for a couple of years yet.

It will be interesting to see how Liam's physical conditioning holds up after a full pre-season, this year he will be susceptible to more wear and tear, given he will have been in the system and faced the rigours of training for over 12 months. Clubs will definitely start to niggle him more as we saw in a couple of games already this year to try and mentally put him off his game, it will be upto some of the other forwards around him to ensure he keeps his focus. The possibilitys for this guy are endless and totally unknown. He could turn out to be an absolute superstar, to rival Adam Goodes in excitement and impact on games, or he could turn out to be another Adrian McAdam, lets hope its the former...

Just beat me to the full list swampy! It can be found here: Davey Wins his First Truscott The summary also shows: Other award winners were: * Norm Smith Memorial Trophy (Coach's Award) - James Frawley * Ron Barassi Jnr Trophy (Leadership Award) - Brent Moloney * Harold Ball Memorial Trophy (Best First Year Player) - Liam Jurrah * Ian Ridley Memorial Trophy (Club Ambassador Award) - Shane Valenti * Heart and Soul Player Award - Aaron Davey * Troy Broadbridge Memorial Trophy (highest votegetter by Melbourne listed player in Casey Scorpions best-and-fairest) - Shane Valenti

"Tanks for the draft picks, but this year we've come for the Cup"

Who am I? -I was picked in the Top 5 of my draft. -I am very good at clearances. -My pace is considered questionable for AFL football. -I average one of the best posessions per minute in the league when on the ground. -I am approaching what they call 'the prime' of my career (generally regarded as when you're 24-27), yet many say my best football is behind me. -I was very popular among my teammates. -In this years offseason I requested a trade to a high-profile club. A ) Luke Ball B ) Brock McLean C ) both of the above

The minimum I believe you have to draft is 3 from the National Draft. So far we have 4 free spots on the list. Therefore we could only draft 1 more (pick 18) if our list remained as is. This would mean no PSD pick, and no promotion of final-year rookies Spencer and/or Valenti (pending possible rookie list changes tbc). You'd think they'd not pass on pick 34, would promote one of those two rookies and would take the best uncontracted in the PSD (as has been noted on Schwabbys tweets), therefore at least 3 more players will go.

You were personally involved in the contract negotiations? How could you possibly know this as fact??

2008, the season Buckley finished 21st in our Best & Fairest? This guy is seriously overrated by a lot of people on here. Yes he can run fast and 'break lines', but his use of the ball is still very questionable. He's now had 4 years on our senior list and still has 'potential' to show for it. If we keep him on any longer he'll be a list clogger. If Carlton offer a 2nd or 3rd round pick for him, I wish him well playing alongside Chris Johnson at the Bullants next year.

Great to see the old demon workhorse Luke Norman sa coach of Sturt nowadays. Anyone else remember his last game for us, the fateful merger match against the Hawks where our coach decided he'd be a good matchup on Jason Dunstall at full back? Dunstall went on to kick his 100th that night, unsurprisingly...

Is the club sticking by its recently instigated policy of giving draftees high numbers until they've 'earned' the right to a lower number? The exception of course was Watts. If they do, expect a whole bunch of last years draftees to get lower numbers (Jurrah, Bennell, Jetta etc) and this years crop to be given mid-30s/early 40s numbers. Will one of the indigenous boys be symbolically given Wheels number?

I cant believe how many of these teams dont have McDonald in them. Did none of you see his last half of the year? Or is it because he's not 21 years old, and therefore you dont care about him? The story in the Age today clearly shows that Junior wants to and will be Captain again next year. There needs to be experience in our side, or we'll get flogged more often than not. McDonald, Green and Bruce add that nice balance of 'veterans' to our emerging talent. I think we'll find Junior being a back-pocket specialist for most of next year and that '10 will be his last season.

haha just beat you to it RR!

Bring back Rod Keogh! (didnt Kavanagh, son of Croswell, wear 13 WYL?)