Neil Crompton

I find it frustrating to hear that so-and-so is in the rehab group without knowing the cause (what happened when it happened), current progress and likely period in rehab. As we so seldom get official club reports on injuries during the pre-season, I thought it would be helpful ( well for me anyway) if we could have a separate thread listing the current injured players, what their injuries are, and how long the chat is that they will be in rehab (and no jokes about 4-6 weeks). It would then be easy to look back and get an update. I assume that the most informed of us will be the track watches, and if we could impose on those gents, or others with the info, to please update the list with details, it would be most appreciated. The injured or restricted players that have been mentioned in training reports that I can remember include: KK Petty Hannan Tomlinson Spargo Jones AVB J Smith Weid Bennell Baker There may be others but others can add those.

Picket, I think the only time you are truly happy is when you are angry.

We all have player favourites, and player not-so-favourites, but really I don't care which player gets selected in our team, as long as they are playing well enough to hold their spot, and playing better than an alternative from Casey. If that includes ANB and OMac, then good for them, but more importantly, good for the MFC. Baring injuries, I think competition for spots will be red hot this year, and, unlike last year, if you play poorly, I don't think you will get too many more chances before having to prove yourself again at Casey.

My prediction is that before round 1, a certain poster who we all admire, will try and sneak his “predicted best 22 team” onto this thread.

“And I got all your good advice Never stops me from going through these things twice, I see the knives out, I turn my back, I hear the train coming, I stay right on that track” Paul Kelly, Dumb Things - could have written it for Simon Goodman at the end of 2019 season.

My realisation came when I looked in the mirror one morning and said who the f is that?!!!

I think this pre season is going to be the most competitive we will have seen for many a long year. Assuming our squad is fit, the competition for places in the team will be immense. The selectors must be wetting themselves with excitement, not only at having to choose, but also knowing that if they make a mistake with a player, there are at least 2 players to take his place. Our list is finally looking strong. So if all are fit and firing (in other words a fantasy 22), I’d go for: Jetta OMac Lever Smith May Hibbert Langdon Oliver Salem AVB TMac Petracca Pickett Weid Fritsch Gawn Bradshaw Viney INT Harmes Tomlinson Petty Bennell Apologies to: Melksham Jones Hannah Hunt Hore Pruess KK Sparrow Dunkley Baker Lockhart Jackson , But all I can say is perform so the selectors have to pick you. Posters will have other thoughts, but I’d be happy seeing the above selections on the field at some stage during the season, particularly our grand final team.

My memory ain’t so hot, but when I see the highlights of Jackson He reminds me of a modern day Jeff White, only taller.

I think you need a holiday Kev - i can no longer comprehend your training reports

Pick 3 - Jackson Next pick- Kemp Next pick - Pickett

I’ve only seen the highlights package, so I might be doing the player a great disservice, but I’m not sure there is a lot of upside potential in Green. He is a bull at the under 18 level, as his physical development is more advanced than the majority of opponents, which is his big advantage now. But at afl level, there are many more bigger and stronger players than him, and without the ability to explode from packs, which he lacks, I just think his upside will be limited. Whereas a player like Jackson, while maybe a work in progress, appears to have the attributes that give him a much higher ceiling than Green. For this reason I think we will go with Jackson.

Blair Campbell didn’t play for long, but he left a lasting legacy on our game. He is credited with initiating the boomerang / banana / check side kick when shooting for goal.

Haha I hope the opportunity is never presented ProDee.

Thanks fifty-5, seems I have misinterpreted the meaning of Lyon's quote, and therefore ProDee's post. My apologies to you ProDee.

From some of the video clips I've seen, he's certainly not the Ben Simmons of the NBA.

Ross Lyon is infamously known for a number of rather quirky quotes. One quote he used to describe the comments of supporters, challenging his coaching methods, was to say "let the cobblers cobble". I believe he was saying that he, as coach, cannot control what the supports are expressing on-line. However, when a Demondlander uses the same quote - "I'll let the cobblers cobble" - in an obviously different context, to describe fellow demondlanders, I find to be rather derogatory and quite elitist. I would suggest that we are all 'cobblers" on Demondland - we all have the equal right to comment and be commented on in return, but as equals. Surely someone who has nearly 6,000 posts on this site should not consider himself anything else but a "cobbler" as well, and as such, should be more selective in how he expresses himself - particularly when he usually is such an insightful poster.

We need a new policy. Anyone who gets injured gets dropped!

I'm sure that by now, after 6 pages on here, Demonlanders have recommended /covered every permutation of draft selections possible. So someone on here has probably nailed it. Congrats. Personally i'd keep 3 and 8 and pick the best available. Splitting picks, to me, would generally imply choosing players with lesser perceived ability, or at least players possibly requiring longer periods before they are AFL ready. But I'm happy to leave the selection to our experts, as I am certainly not one. However, I am sorry that we still have about 3 weeks left of this speculation before we are put out of our misery.

looks like he hasn't eaten since round 23. Hope its not anorexia

If he is so good, why are Collingwood letting him go?

I think your point is valid DS up to a point. Most young ruckmen take 3 or more years to develop to a point where they could be worthy of consistent AFL game time, and Max could well be retired by then. Even Grundy took a few years before his stats improved. Under your scenario, if we want someone to assist Max over the next 3 years, then we need a ready made ruckman now. That’s not to say Jackson won’t be a good player. I have no idea on that. But it won’t be for about 3 years hence if he is.

I have a huge bias towards Joel because I think if we can get him fit, keep him fit, and get game time into him, there is just so much upside to this kid. With so much time spend off the paddock, his skill set will take time to develop, so I don’t expect an immediate strong impact once he plays. But he showed glimpses of what he could potentially bring to our forward line this past pre-season. We’ve seen glimpses of his defensive skills and his second and third efforts down back. I also think he could, in the future, have a huge impact through the middle. While I don’t like the term swingman, I think if I had a choice between Smith and Tomlinson, I know who I’d want. Best wishes to him.

If Harley is able to fully recover from his injury, with the talent he possesses, I'm happy for him to take as long as it takes to get him back on the park.

It may have been thin before but its now invisible

You seem to forget that it was the MFC that correctly assessed that Howe was a backman, and not a forward, where Howe wanted to play. The black and white offered him a forward role and he left. He has bloomed in the role we wanted for him, proving our initial assessment. And while I wish Frosty every success at the brown and yellow, I think our decision will also be proven to be the correct one for our team. I think the Club has agreed with your assessment of our medicos, and has made significant changes in that department accordingly. However I fail to see where any of your last 2 or 3 comments has anything to do with the Harley Bennell thread.