Smokey

Haha yeah I guess so @Win4theAges's comment resonates with me quite a lot - we had a serious year for injuries last year. Perhaps the players identified the pre-season camp had something to do with that? You can hire all the coaches and sports scientists in the world - they will never understand the player's bodies quite as well as the players themselves.

I'd be lying if I said your sentiments hadn't crossed my mind, because they indeed have. And me 2+ years ago would've thrown my arms in the air and cursed them in a similar vein. But I honestly believe we are past our bruise free footy days. I hope for all of our sakes I'm right, eh? I'd hate to be proven wrong on this (but am, as always, prepared to be).

I didn't do "camps", training like this was done most days before work. I don't use that as a basis for necessarily agreeing with what they did - more so giving them the benefit of the doubt that they took a certain course of action for a legitimate reason. I can see the work the boys have put into their bodies before the pre-season - and that's all I need to have faith at this stage. I'm a glass half full guy. Each to their own.

You do realise that your ridiculously long winded comments don't actually hide the fact you never seem to address the questions people ask you, right? Show me proof of what your saying - or dare I say it, is this just more know-all rhetoric?

Feel free to read my previous comments - I already identified the fact I didn't know what the training schedule was. I only offered my opinion from somebody who has done plenty of this style of training myself. And 20 minutes of this style of training can be enough to break you. Trust me. I have the MRI's to prove it.

I'd take your comments more seriously if we weren't, as always on here, speculating on trash news articles with little facts to base our opinions on. Know-all rhetoric? Bloody hell, who took the jam out of your doughnut today Turkish? This comment was (quite obviously) not a matter-of-fact statement. Interestingly enough, you've taken it for that for some reason. For your benefit, I'll make it simpler for you - the players should be entitled to enjoying a Christmas break without being physically broken. While we are at it - please provide proof of this incredibly tough guy comment: "our timid show pony playing list ran like pre school tattle-tails to big brother AFLPA to usurp the coaches." I will accept verified transcripts of all conversations had between players, coaches and the union only.

I think you missed my point completely. Being judgemental about how a group of athletes go about their preparation is meaningless when it comes from somebody who wouldn't know the first thing about pushing themselves physically, which I believe to be the case for a few on here. All of these things that people comment on so flippantly are much easier said than done.

It's time to move on mate Look to 2018

I'm not convinced that was the intent of the players. They are entitled to seek advice from their union.

Sure, but it takes more than cranky old armchair critic on the internet to understand what these players go through physically. The guys are entitled to enjoy a Christmas break without being in a wheelchair.

Its really hard to say without having seen the training program they had scheduled - all I can really say is my body is permanently shattered (feet and back mainly) from doing this style of training regularly over a few fun years. I'd have a guess at saying the players perhaps didn't like the drills involving heavy weight carried in awkward form factors in difficult environments (such as running for km's in a small team with a very heavy log on your shoulders on soft sand). Make no mistake - training like this is designed to break you down physically and mentally. I can see the advantage in this from the mental perspective - but I'm not sure its worth breaking them physically to achieve it. There has to be a better way in the modern era. Whilst I do find this situation to be a bit strange - I'm not concerned about it so much as I've seen the shape the boys have come back to pre season in. They all look as fit as they have ever been - so I guess I trust the fact they made this decision for the right reasons, not because of laziness or anything like that.

I reckon half the blokes here judging our players as soft over this probably couldn't complete 20 good push ups or even finish the time trial run without dying I trust the players made the right decision here. Don't let a slow news week get the better of you guys.

Ex SASR member here Smart decision from the playing group

The AFL hates us The umpires hate us The players and staff lie to us Blah blah blah ... Yawn

"I'm absolutely confident I'll be right come game time" - Jack Viney "Nope, not convinced he'll be right" - Demonland Any chance some of you people's MFCSS will ever be cured?

Yeah I think it might be. Especially if we have a crack in September. Love the bloke to bits but he's slowing down a little bit, which comes at no surprise since he's been carrying the whole team on his back for so many years (Hope I'm wrong)

> Hogan kicks 70 > Petracca breakout - club champion and top 5 Brownlow > Lever to absolutely shut the naysayers up > Tyson a regular feature in VFL > Win a game in September, a fitting farewell gift to to Nathan Jones

As opposed to what? The long list of 17/18 years old's available at that point that we're somehow built like men and are ready to play 22 games in 2018?

Gee whiz there's a lot of people in here giving themselves a pat on the back for some reason lol

Well, if they are precious enough that being told what they need to improve on to get a game as professional footballers was too much for them to handle, perhaps we are better off without the both of them. Although I think the more likely scenario is that this means absolutely nothing and we are simply short of things to talk about around here currently.

Bent over by the AFL once again Can't say I'm surprised however. Can't understand why St Kilda get 3 night games and we get 1. Baffling.

To the people still crying about Watts, saying your not sure if you'll go to the footy next year etc - we are honestly better off without you and I hope you take up a membership at PAFC. Footy isn't a f$%*ing popularity contest, real fans are hungry for success. Great trade period, achieved all our objectives, top 4 in 2018 if we want it bad enough.

I'll never forget the interview where he said "success wouldn't mean anything to me unless it was with Melbourne" Fantastic clubman and a great role model. Good to hear he is pursuing the coaching path with the MFC. I wish we had more like him. Cheers Col

Dear Norm Smith, Please stay the hell away Hibbo during this ridiculous game. Sincerely, Demonland

Actually, no they don't. It's their list and they can do whatever the hell they want with it.