Ghostwriter

That’s how he explained it. He made it sound so simple (how it should be) but you know, the AFL loves them an MFC shafting. I didn’t say that to him though. The poor boy’s so young.

I was introduced to Toby this morning. He’s 16yo and lives in Hampton Park. His mum is Chinese, his dad is Dutch. He’s hoping to be picked up by us in next year’s draft. He loves training with the boys, they’ve made him feel really welcome and he loves how far the coaches push them during training. He’ll be training again this Friday and again “a week after the holidays” which might mean on the 9th of January when they all resume or maybe he means the week following that one. He’s a well-spoken, friendly and polite kid.

Yet another reason we’re poorer without Gus. He was the resident creator of nicknames.

He said we haven’t got any spots of any kind left to fill on our list but from now until sometime in February (I think) if anyone gets an injury we can have him. Richo talks fast and it’s difficult to take it all in. Also, what he said differs a little to what JT said on Monday. JT says we plan to cat. B rookie him. 🤷‍♀️

Clarrie done for the day.

He’s one on one with Keith, a physio. Running laps. Now he’s practicing set shots. Just spoke with Shane. He’s on the stationary bike now. He’s on an individual program which focuses on fitness. Purely and simply, fitness. Building his tank.

Ricky Lever is on a stationary bike on the boundary absolutely barking at the top of his voice at the boys. He’s even scaring me 😅 Nicknames: Aidan is AJ, Xavier is X, Shane Mc is Shano. Someone was up all night thinking up those creative masterpieces 😂 Clarrie’s body… his words: “nah I’m not in good shape, I’m a fat [censored]”

Yes I do know what’s going on with him but understandably I can’t discuss it unless one of the staff talks about it in which case I could quote them.

He’s training with the AFL Academy today & Friday. He’ll be back here at Gosch’s next Mond, Weds and Friday.

According to Richo Roy can’t train with us because the paperwork which was expected to be completed by today isn’t as yet. Also we in fact DON’T have any list spots remaining. The only way Roy can play for us is if someone gets injured. The ‘paperwork’ actually is signing up for Casey, necessary for him to train with us. Richo said some clubs have two picks, some have one, some might wanna try to pick him up in the midyear draft. We are “very keen” to sign him.

Kozzie says no Roy Boy today 😭 I hope he’s mistaken.

YES!

That photographer wanted to know whose child Leo is and commented on Clarry’s cute interaction with Leo. I told him it’s been that way between them since Leo was a baby. Earlier, this same photographer asked me if I know the players’ numbers. He wanted to ask about a certain player. I said sure (expecting him to say Ricky M or AJ or one of the new boys). He said, “What number is Christian Petracca?” I said 5. He said, “Can you please point him out for me.” 😳

I’ve met Roy before. Twice interstate at the airport, both times he was with Kozzie. Yesterday I didn’t recognise him so when he came over to say hello he reminded me that we’ve met before. Therefore I just thought he was that goofy cheeky friend of Kozzie’s. I didn’t know he was a player himself. Richo came over and shook his hand and said “all good for this week?” They chatted for a minute then Richo said, “ we’ve just gotta finalise the paperwork and that.” Richo walked away and Roy looked at me with that raised eyebrows look that says it’s all happening. I said “is Richo adopting you? Is he gonna be your Dad?” We laughed and that’s when he explained the situation. There definitely wasn’t any ‘Casey vibes’ about it.

We have one Category B rookie spot left. He clearly qualifies as a Cat. B rookie otherwise Richo wouldn’t be talking about “getting the paperwork finalised” and JT wouldn’t have said “We’ve invited him to train this week. But nothing’s sorted yet.”

Yeah, maybe this is the plan and they’ve talked to him about this.There’s definitely something that’s driving him, something to work towards. He actually said (without being asked about it) “I’ll definitely be up for round one.” When I told my non-DL track-watching bestie this she said, “Maybe he meant round one with Casey.” This is why I didn’t mention it on here.

This is what I think as well. Today Max wasn’t as big a presence as he usually is. If someone watched the session not knowing the team at all and was asked who they thought was captain I reckon they’d name Ricky Lever or Vines or even Kolt before Max. There’s a discernible shift, for want of a better word. You were there today, right? Idk if you saw when Chin held court. Goody told everyone to “gather around Chin” which they did and Chin explained the drill that was to follow (video below). They did this at another session but on that occasion it was Spaz who took the floor. I’m not implying they were ‘auditioning’ or anything, but it’s not something they usually do. https://streamable.com/xzarn4

Yes. But he added that nothing is sorted yet.

Spaz (and pretty much every OG player) looks lean and perfectly toned, muscly but not bulky, sorta ‘streamlined’ and in general, agility has improved. It’s incredible how markedly different some of them look compared to this past season. Even players like Vines and Melks who have been in amazing shape all along are looking in the best shape of their careers. Honestly, it’s astounding how incredibly fit and toned they are. Even Bowser’s rocking an impressive six-pack. According to one of the Club physiotherapists it’s due to the conditioning program and a focus on increasing stamina. And it’s clearly paying off because when they run to the boundary for drinks between drills there’s no apparent signs of excessive fatigue; no one struggling to suck in air, no one grimacing, no bloated red faces and no vomiting, which would be forgiven and even expected such was the intensity and length of the session coupled with the relentless heat (the sun went behind a tiny cloud only once giving a whole 60 seconds of relief 😅). Shane Mc is also in amazing shape. He’s been training “full on” since preseason started, not with the main group (as we know) but just as strenuous. He’s in a really good place mentally as well. Definitely the most confident and upbeat since he joined us. Methinks our psychologists are killing it.

We have one cat. B rookie spot remaining. Idk under what criteria he’d qualify but according to JT that’s how we’d pick him up.

His own words: “I’m exactly 200cm… today. They measured me this morning before we came out.”

My favourite observation today… Ed coming up behind Clarrie (while he was slapping on a year’s worth of sunscreen), and without a word spoken by either of them, applying roll-on sunscreen to the back of Clarrie’s neck. 🥹

This is Roy George (not to be confused with the pop icon of the 80s, first name Boy). No, he doesn’t have a ‘TEXT’ face tattoo, that’s just me trying to caption the pic in the blinding sunlight. He was at training to support Koz. They’re either very close friends or possibly related… cousins(?). He’s gonna train with us on Wednesday and/or Friday and is hoping to get a contract. Richo is finalising the “paperwork.” Doesn’t necessarily means it’s a cert. Roy trained with Freo but it didn’t end well coz he “stuffed up.” He was living in WA but now lives in Melbourne. Kolt introduced himself to Roy, he welcomed him and they seemed to get along really well. Kolt is a future captain. Speaking of Kolt… he has the flu, so if it’s just track-watchers in attendance on Wednesday and no one else, we’ll know who to blame 😅 Anyways, Roy confirmed what we all know and what some of us knew all along… Kozzie was NEVER going anywhere, it was never a consideration. His little family is happy and settled in Melbourne.

Kalani is exactly 200cm. He was measured this morning before training.

Kalani is exactly 200cm, was measured this morning. He’s still growing but is happy enough that he’s taller than his dad which was his goal. 😁 His younger brothers are coming along well. They’re both playing for a team, I can’t remember the name of it but it’s up in QLD, of course. Kalani’s training indoors tomorrow with the boys but won’t be training with us Wednesday and Friday because he’ll be training with the AFL Academy. He’ll be back at Gosch’s next week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.