Lord Nev

Maybe that's what they're saying? "To hell and back.... to hell again."

Great insight into the whirlwind that these young blokes go through, as well the maturity and professionalism of Luke himself. "We were also fortunate enough to hear from (former Port Adelaide and Carlton ruckman) Matthew Lobbe, (former Fremantle and Gold Coast midfielder) Michael Barlow and (former Victorian and Australian cricketer) Bobby Quiney on their different pathways and athlete journeys. The stories and insights they shared with us put into perspective the journey we’re about to embark on. Our careers won’t always go according to plan and, for some others, their first year might not be as successful as they had hoped, but I think it’s about making sure that you’re working hard, embracing the challenge and utilising the resources around you. Hopefully I’ll be able to apply the lessons they spoke about to my own life and career." Jackson ready to embrace the challenge

Really good from Zurich. Zurich to match players’ donation to bushfire crisis

Consistency. In team lineup (as much as possible), game plan, effort, energy and performance.

New Era on board. Seems like some innovative thinking and a good get with a quality company. Melbourne partners with New Era

Not entirely true mate. Be careful what you read these days. It states pretty clearly on Celeste Barber's page where the donations are heading, but on top of that Shane Fitzimmons (RFS Commissioner) has already stated that due to the size of the fund they will distribute the funds. There's more complicated explanations, but they are able to do that, so some funds may go to victims, some to other states etc etc. Hopefully one of the things that is learned throughout this is about the mass misinformation going on in social media as well as mainstream media so often and without consequence.

The city is a city. The council is people.

Councils are temporary, and our association is with the city not the council members. Plus, we're only 11 years into a 30 year agreement with the City Of Casey.

Interestingly I heard Jordan Lewis talking yesterday about how the Hawks based a lot of their principles on the Spurs.

Showing my age a bit here, but as a Pistons fan I can more than attest to the value of structure, roles and 'playing the right way' (credit Larry brown) and seeing teams, who are in no way the most talented, have the highest success by value of coaching, leadership and identity.

I see what you're saying, but I reckon Gawn has played enough with our blokes and is hardly going to fall behind in connection by missing 1 game. Plus, he may get some insights from players from successful clubs. The point I was making was about all those complaining about the injury risk, which is absolutely no different.

No they didn't because they were rating talent, and talent doesn't guarantee performance. See what I'm saying?

"Champion Data have rated Melbourne’s list as the best in the AFL. And if you look across every line it’s clear to see why." Melbourne Demons’ best 22 for 2019: The list every team will be out to beat

Drafting isn't flawed as such. It's a rating of talent, not a fool proof predictive tool. That is why 'talent' will never overtake development, coaching and culture as the key ingredient in a premiership. Were the Bulldogs of 2016 the most talented team in the AFL? Hardly. And I don't understand how you can say "drafting is flawed" and 'talent on a list can be overrated' whilst still maintaining talent is king? Seems inconsistent to me. We had the number 1 rated list in the comp last year. Judged by the premier sporting statistical agency using in-depth methods. I don't mean to pick, but I think they would have a better method for determining such a thing than 'Macca from Demonland'. While I agree that often coaches can cop an unbalanced amount of blame for poor performing teams, if you watched the game comprehensively over the last 30 years you just simply could not devalue the importance of good coaching. Maybe you're from the glory days where the coaches job was to bench players and give half time rev ups, but they control so much of what happens now compared to them. 'Soldier in, soldier out' and 'play your role'. How many times do you hear that from the successful teams now? Talent is not the main reason we have not won big. It's a far too simplistic look at the situation that the MFC has been in.

While I agree there can be an overstating of the importance of the draft, it's literally the most "talented" players in the country in order. Kinda goes against your argument that talent is king tbh.

If the media announcements so far today are correct then it's going to be played on the 28th Feb, which is the same date as round 2 of the preseason comp I believe. So Gawn (likely our only representation) will just be running around with different players but still doing the same things.

This isn't the only thing they're doing.

Surely out of all teams' supporters WE should have learned that talent isn't the be all and end all. I don't want to open the 'development' can of worms again, but to suggest talent is the only factor seems pretty strange IMO. Sure it's not an exact science, but we were rated as the most talented side in the comp last year, and how did that end? And if you look at the premiership history of the AFL, it's not the most talented team that wins it every year.

Apparently confirmed for the 28th Feb. https://twitter.com/TomChadwick_7/status/1215063877290868736

The AFL has already made a statement saying they will be looking at ways to support communities long term. They also mentioned they're engaging their corporate partners and engaging with the relevant bodies to determine how else they can help. The SOO game is just one thing they're looking at doing among many. Why do people automatically think this is all that has happened and will happen? It's not cutting cynicism, it's just chest-beating naivety of a kind. Many AFL players, clubs, officials and corporate bodies have already donated. Many more wouldn't have been publicly known to. The other part of it that has been publicly spoken about, and maybe you guys just missed it in your rush to be edgy, is the acknowledgment of all who have worked so hard through the disasters so far. That would be a key part of this game should it go ahead. And as far as injuries go, the proposed date is the same as the second week of the preseason comp, so the very same players would be having the very same competitive hitouts anyway. Honestly, the automatic boohoo responses here are embarrassing sometimes.

Storm are moving back into pokies just 1 year after exiting, in a typical location for the industry. Melbourne Storm dives back into pokies with plan for gambling venue

I'm failing to see what that has to do with the point I was making about the fact that in 2016 we had a kid, with less than 50 games to his name, leading review sessions of first year players. I didn't say he was a poor leader, I said that that particular point raises an issue which I believe still exists with his leadership; which is trying to do it all himself. I disagree it's "skerricks" of information, the information is pretty clear. The year was 2016, Viney was 21 and had 49 games to his name when that season started. It was his first year in the leadership group. We had more senior and experienced leaders at the time. All straight ahead I would have thought.

Fair point. We did have a few young ones that year with Gawn coming in and TMac, but we also had Vince, Garland and Jones, who while not being in the conversation as all time great leaders; they surely could have taken on the instructional sessions rather than have a kid teaching kids.

Personally I'd prefer more experienced players instructing our first year players, rather than a 21 year old with less than 50 games under his belt. I'm potentially the odd one out here, but i think it's actually poor leadership to try and instruct others when you haven't fully made it yourself yet. As a member of the leadership group he should have brought it up with them and had more seasoned leaders take the sessions, rather than try to do it all himself. And we wonder why our midfield has such deplorable delivery forward.

So what you're saying is he may have copied some of a journos info, or he may have heard the same things that a journo did? If the info is correct then it's a pretty decent chance different people will hear the same thing.