the fork

Heard Buckley speaking on ABC radio prior to today's game. Said he and Mitch had met a couple of times and the Collingwood we're currently doing their 'due diligence' on him. He really went out of his way to sell the whole 'Mitch has been advised that a new club/environment to give himself the best opportunity to recover' pitch. As upset, frustrated and angry as I am at Mitch I do believe this approach to be the right one for him. Nothing surer he's off the Pies.

I'm an old Wang boy, living elsewhere now, but good on you for taking the initiative. Hope to move back to the old country one day. Best of luck!

Geez Bub, you must know you're in trouble when you're liking olisik's posts... ... do you?

Rather than announced, Bezelbub actually used the word "pronounced". I'm not sure what he means in this context so go easy on him, you never know it might possibly be quite characteristically profound...

Hell of an insight that. You just cruising for 20000 posts?

A few observations: A solid effort tonight and just to put things in perspective we had a rookie listed teenager rucking toward the end of the night! Dom Barry just had no idea where to be tonight. I was at the game and watched him closely and he just floated into spaces where no-one wanted or dared kick it. Give him time to learn the structures and he'll be a better player. He also looked very nervous in front of an expectant home crowd. I also watched Jimmy Toumpas very closely and while he made mistakes and lacked intensity on occasion this bloke knows where to be to receive the ball. A natural footballer who will take time. The Matt Jones turnover really put us out of the game. Cross was pure class tonight. I must admit to wanting to shove his two classy performances right up Damien Barrett. Wasn't sure about Vince, but gee whizz he is responsible for a good portion of the group confidence going on at the club. Love Hogans argy bargy, he intimidated a few this evening. It amazing how our new midfield has highlighted the deficiencies of a few of the players on our list. They who shall not be named will not have a place on our list at the end of their current contacts. There were some passionate Dees supporters there tonight, we hope a few more of you make the trip during the season proper.

We have a pretty good cheer squad behind the goals. No such thing for the catters. Good crowd building, we take our time here in the NT.

Dees have had heaps of coverage locally. The town is pumping at the moment. My wife just witnessed a flock of people from Nyirrpi (who wear our colours and are Melbourne FC through and through) walking toward the ground covered in red and blue (hair included). Going to be a huge night for us loyal local supporters if we can snare a win.

5:40pm Alice Springs time = 7:10pm Melbourne time

Great turnout yesterday, heaps more than Monday, a great vibe around the ground I thought. Great to have a closer look at some players. Had a chat to JKH, really friendly, intelligent young man. Loving the club, training and busting to get a game in his first year. Watched Hunt closely. Beautiful field kicking, speed and not scared to give a few instructions to team mates, which I thought was a good thing. Same could be said for Harmes also. Great kick of the footy and a genuine intensity around the ball.

A few observations from today, some of which is merely to confirm the comments of others: - Good to see a few supporters there, spotted a few Demonlanders I think. - Conditions were blustery and bloody cold (compared to what I am used to). - Caught Salem early on. Beautiful kicking style, hitting the target effortlessly, time after time. He hit the weights early which was a shame as I was loving his natural kick of the football. - There's not much to Jayden Hunt but he was having a crack today. Really pushing himself in the running. His speed was good, but tired toward the end of the session. - While the intensity was down I thought the players were given a reasonable amount of running today. As I mentioned earlier, Toumpas I watched closely and I was impressed with his speed and intensity. He is one player I will watch with particular interest this year. - Viv Mitchie and Dom Tyson just look like genuine footy players and while it might not be this year, these two will make a big impact on our midfield in the years to come. - Reily and Kent ran laps, The former looking like he has a way to go, our expectations should be for him to be pushing for spot late in the season. He is a great size. No doubt about it we are a much bigger sized team now. - Dawes looks fit and lean. If he can stay fit and so too the players around him, he will prove his worth this year. - Although Gawn was a part of the rehab group he looked fit today also. Ran laps early on with Dawes and then by himself. - I think it was Matt Jones or maybe Clisby who was a part of the rehab group also. I observed a drill which saw him stand in the middle of two coaches, probably 100 metres apart and he had to mark/collect the ball, hand pass it back then turn a quickly do the same with the coach at the other end. It was a brief but intense little session, which made me feel tired just watching. - I though Barry looked great today, has very muscular legs and can run. We may see him enter the side as a specific role player, perhaps initially as the sub. Could be our next Aaron Davey...? - I though Byrnes looked pretty exhausted running laps with Viney today. I hate making quick observations such as this and people jumping to extreme conclusions, but it was obvious and disappointing. He was bought in to set an example. - Speaking of which, Daniel Cross was moving smoothly today. He seems to have toned down a little, perhaps to maintain his pace? Looked great on the track. - Giorgiou I watched closely. Whilst he doesn't seem like a natural kick of the footy I thought his skills today were good in the conditions. - Was great to see Max King putting in to the point he did. Had a big spew and carried on. Great also to see the support the players offered (along with a few grins). - Clark had a very light session and then went off to the gym. Looks toned, must be champing at the bit to get playing. - Had a quick chat to Chip who is a hell of a nice bloke. Said he'd had a good break back in Ballarat. More than happy to stop and chat to a number of supporters. - FWIW I thought Pederson was looking is great shape, 100% on where he was at this time last year. - Mc Donald starred in the running, unbeatable it seems. Toumpas and Jones never far away. - Good to see Evans in good shape, a forgotten part of the puzzle that could be a contributor. - Howe full of banter today, he and Vince seem to have formed a close connection already which was good to see. Vince looks sharp, pretty much no nonsense from him today, trained/ran well. Happy to answer questions, but really more running than anything today so hard to draw any firm conclusions from today. Might head along on Wednesday also.

Agree with above comments regarding Blease. This year will make him or break him.

Max King had a running ralph, then 50 metres on he had to crouch down for another. To his credit he jumped up and kept running. Players very supportive. Guy doing laps with Kent was indeed Riley. According to one of the officials Hogan was present early but they are taking it slowly with him, so he headed in for weights. I'm really unsure about the accuracy of this as we were there early and I was specifically looking for him and did not see him. Salem headed of early for weights, obviously taking it slowly also. Toumpas was running very well, beating Jones early, then Jones' endurance stepped up toward the end of the session. He's looking great. Hunts running also a highlight.

I agree. I still get happy chills when I see Roos in the red and blue. Laphroaig is a bloody great whisky.

From Russell Jackson from the Guardian: "I am going to go hard and go early on this; I can’t understand how Salem went as late as nine. He kicks it better than half of the senior players on any given AFL side."

Just watched his highlights and have to say his pace is electric. Love that we have taken a genuine punt. Speed was obviously the trait underlined on the recruiters whiteboard this year.

I want Salem but think he'll end up with the Pies at Pick 6. They know they can more than likely snag some midfield height in Bontempelli at 10, which leaves Freeman for us at 9. Not sure about Freeman but he gives us speed. We snag Freeman and Nicho will go, we don't, he might be given a one year deal. All just my thoughts.

Bub, I've never taken you for a fool, but you are one. Carry on.

Pathetic. Is that the absolute best you can come back with? Straw argument? You are contradicting yourself. You admit we're not 'overly' profitable, you admit we are suffering from poor decision making, you admit we are struggling with payouts but you still wont concede that selling home games is a part of our solution. Look at the evidence. Why is Hawthorn flying? Anything to do with selling home games to Tassie? Any reason why North, Richmond and St Kilda are all selling home games?

Well you mob down there are doing a wonderful job turning up to games. Answer this simple question (which you continue to ignore): How do you suggest we pay for Paul Roos if not by selling home games interstate?

Geez Bub take a breath, a tad irrational from you I think, I get that your [censored] but stop and read my post. WE NEED THE MONEY MATE! We are in DEBT. Blaming the AFL?! Mate they just bailed us out big time. I think you'll find that old mate Schwab got us into playing in the NT and I think you'll also find its PJ making the most of it. How else do you expect to pay for a coach like Paul Roos, buy packing out the G against Port on a Sunday afternoon? I've never read such a cynical [censored] post from a well regarded regular.

As an Alice local it's disappointing to read the negativity on here with regards this endeavour. I do understand that some members in Melbourne who are upset due to the fact that these are home games you've probably budgeted to be attending at the G. The fact is our club needs the money and given the NT Governments track record it won't be for peanuts. PJ wouldn't be doing this for kicks, it's a short term measure to pay for our new football department no doubt. We can't all scream for a bloke like Paul Roos to come along and not have to work to pay for it. In a couple if years when were up and flying I'm sure these measures will not be neccasary, but for now they are, especially when there are so few Melbourne supporters bothering to turn up in Victoria. For those that are interested I'll be sure to hook up with a few local supporters and organise an event with the club here and hope that some of you make the effort to attend. It's a stunning time if year to visit the centre of Australia. If it's a day game it'll be sunny and mid-twentys, if it's a night game it'll be as cold as Melbourne but without the rain, so you can stop your sooking and come see the Dees up close on a beautiful footy ground.

There are very few players I have 'inside' knowledge on, Greene is one of them. It's a no for me, a profound no. Not now, not ever. Dare I say I'd rather have Scully back than run the gauntlet with poor Toby.

Just saw Tyson's press conference and I am mightily impressed. Well spoken, composed and would not surprise me if he becomes a leader at our club. Good bloody get!