Whispering_Jack

The substance Scharapova has been taking was banned with effect from 1 January 2016. All athletes were warned well in advice. Like the Essendon players she was very careless and like them, she's gawn.

Last night's Open Mike had Todd Viney as the guest and the issue of whether Schwarz might have been as great as Carey but for the three knee reconstructions was also raised. Of course, Carey was an absolute great of the game and we'll never know but it reminded me of an interesting chat I had with his coach Dennis Pagan at a book launch a few years ago. We talked about his coaching career and that was interesting of itself but he got really fired up when I had the temerity to suggest that Schwarz could have been in Carey's league but for the injuries. He naturally stood up for the player who was his main man in the premiership wins but I suggested as hypothetical that he considered how different the shape and face of football might have been if it was Carey who was injury prone and Schwarz who remained injury free. And that's not to mention long term injuries to Garry Lyon, Stephen Tingay, Jako, Paul Prymke and Glenn Lovett - key players of the time. Then there was Todd Viney's own little sojourn into the tennis fitness coaching of Mark Phillipousis. I know you can't rely on the injury excuse but our story of that era shoes that you need a healthy side for success. Ironically, North Melbourne in recent years has has that predominantly healthy side and in the last two seasons made preliminary finals on the back of it.

Demon fans are in for a treat on the Labor Day Weekend coming up. On Saturday, the Casey Scorpions kick off their series of practice matches against reigning premier Williamstown. • Saturday 12 March v Williamstown, Casey Fields @ 12.30pm (Development League 10.00am) Then on Sunday, the senior Demon team is aiming for a threepeat of wins in the NAB Challenge at Etihad. • Sunday 13 March v St Kilda @ 4.10pm And given that we haven't had the opportunity to date to see most of our new recruits, it might be very worthwhile heading out to both sets of games to catch a first glimpse of our future talent.

The Brisbane v St Kilda game has been abandoned. I think I'll call it a draw.

There's a big chance that we could take out the entire competition - ye of little faith Fremantle 2 - - 159 97 163.9 8 Melbourne 2 - - 167 136 122.8 8 Collingwood 2 - - 216 200 108.0 8 Adelaide 1 1 - 215 117 183.8 4 Geelong 1 1 - 234 155 151.0 4 Gold Coast Suns 1 1 - 120 98 122.9 4 North Melbourne 1 1 - 194 158 122.8 4 Western Bulldogs 1 1 - 164 145 113.1 4 Richmond 1 1 - 134 123 108.9 4 GWS Giants 1 1 - 167 164 101.8 4 Sydney 1 1 - 141 154 91.5 4 Essendon 1 1 - 119 146 81.5 4 Hawthorn 1 1 - 86 136 63.2 4 West Coast 1 1 - 103 200 51.5 4 Port Adelaide - 2 - 136 176 77.3 0 Brisbane Lions - 1 - 43 68 63.2 0 St Kilda - 1 - 73 117 62.4 0 Carlton - 2 - 67 148 45.3 0

I haven't been well all weekend and slept through most of the game. It was obviously never in doubt that we would win of course. Melbourne 0.10.12.72 defeated Footscray 1.7.9.60.

The Doggies had a stand out season in 2015 rising from 7 wins to 14 and making the finals. The Demons are aiming to follow suit in 2016.

After the excitement of today's matches, we can only wait in hope and expectation for tomorrow's NAB Challenge blockbuster v the Doggies to see where we're headed as far as our ladder position is concerned:- Fremantle 2 - - 159 97 163.9 8 Collingwood 2 - - 216 200 108.0 8 Adelaide 1 1 - 215 117 183.8 4 Geelong 1 1 - 234 155 151.0 4 Western Bulldogs 1 - - 104 73 142.5 4 Melbourne 1 - - 95 76 125.0 4 Gold Coast Suns 1 1 - 120 98 122.9 4 North Melbourne 1 1 - 194 158 122.8 4 Richmond 1 1 - 134 123 108.9 4 GWS Giants 1 1 - 167 164 101.8 4 Sydney 1 1 - 141 154 91.5 4 Essendon 1 1 - 119 146 81.5 4 Hawthorn 1 1 - 86 136 63.2 4 West Coast 1 1 - 103 200 51.5 4 Port Adelaide - 2 - 136 176 77.3 0 Brisbane Lions - 1 - 43 68 63.2 0 St Kilda - 1 - 73 117 62.4 0 Carlton - 2 - 67 148 45.3 0

Paul Couch's son Tom was recruited by Melbourne in the 2012 Rookie Draft, with pick number 24. He made his senior debut with Melbourne in round 16, 2012, against Fremantle at Docklands Stadium and played 3 games. While playing with the Casey Scorpions in 2012, Couch won the Gardiner Clark Medal as the Scorpions best and fairest. He also came second in the 2012 Liston Trophy and moved back to Collingwood VFL after he was delisted at the end of 2013. Condolences to Paul Couch's family. Information from Wikipedia

Great story but Liam Jurrah now lies forgotten - Three days that made their mark

I have taken the major step of ensuring that I am out of the country altogether when the Bomber fans give their team a standing ovation before the game on 2 April. I do however, hope that after the game, the standing ovation will be for the Melbourne team. That's the main thing that matters.

Not in a position to comment on last night's game but the ladder is looking remarkably even: Fremantle 2 - - 159 97 163.9 8 Essendon 1 - - 95 35 271.4 4 Adelaide 1 1 - 215 117 183.8 4 North Melbourne 1 - - 117 73 160.3 4 Western Bulldogs 1 - - 104 73 142.5 4 Melbourne 1 - - 95 76 125.0 4 Gold Coast Suns 1 1 - 120 98 122.9 4 Richmond 1 1 - 134 123 108.9 4 Collingwood 1 - - 131 123 106.5 4 GWS Giants 1 1 - 167 164 101.8 4 Sydney 1 1 - 141 154 91.5 4 Hawthorn 1 1 - 86 136 63.2 4 West Coast 1 1 - 103 200 51.5 4 Geelong - 1 - 123 131 93.9 0 Port Adelaide - 2 - 136 176 77.3 0 Brisbane Lions - 1 - 43 68 63.2 0 St Kilda - 1 - 73 117 62.4 0 Carlton - 2 - 67 148 45.3 0

Speaking on SEN this week, commentator David King praised Melbourne's more attacking style against Port Adelaide under Simon Goodwin. David King applauds Dees but questions Roos King also questioned Paul Roos' emphasis on defence in his two years at the helm although it's true that Roos always stated that the team needed to work on that aspect in the first instance. How do you think this will play out in the transition season and will the more attacking style of game lead to further improvement at Melbourne in 2016?

A mildly exciting contest out in the wild, Wild West saw the Eagles fall in at the end by 3 points. The battle at the top of the ladder is intriguing:- Fremantle 2 - - 159 97 163.9 8 Essendon 1 - - 95 35 271.4 4 Adelaide 1 1 - 215 117 183.8 4 North Melbourne 1 - - 117 73 160.3 4 Western Bulldogs 1 - - 104 73 142.5 4 Sydney 1 - - 81 60 135.0 4 Melbourne 1 - - 95 76 125.0 4 Gold Coast Suns 1 1 - 120 98 122.9 4 Richmond 1 1 - 134 123 108.9 4 Collingwood 1 - - 131 123 106.5 4 Hawthorn 1 1 - 86 136 63.2 4 West Coast 1 1 - 103 200 51.5 4 Geelong - 1 - 123 131 93.9 0 Port Adelaide - 2 - 136 176 77.3 0 GWS Giants - 1 - 73 104 70.2 0 Brisbane Lions - 1 - 43 68 63.2 0 St Kilda - 1 - 73 117 62.4 0 Carlton - 2 - 67 148 45.3 0

The 2016 free agent list Melbourne: Restricted free agents Jack Grimes Jack Watts Unrestricted free agents Neville Jetta Jake Spencer

So much for playing our best team throughout NAB1-3.

The gap between the start of the AFL season and the start of the VFL season is becoming a problem. Now that we've started the NAB Challenge matches it would be handy for those who don't make the cut to have a practice game at VFL level but unfortunately, that option doesn't become available until NAB3. I appreciate that they can do simulated match play at training but there's no Casey game this weekend so the likes of Jack Trengove and Christian Petracca can be eased in with say half a game at that level. As I said above, it would have been handy.

The news all over the Twitterverse is that Jesse Hogan (not to be confused with our Jesse the key forward) has suffered a stroke. He is also an avid Demon fan and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Unacceptable Mr McLachlan Banned player Brent Prismall no longer working at Bulldogs after ASADA intervenes

The next group of players from the latest edition of Football Almanac and I must say I find the player comparisons somewhat amusing. Poor Peter Ladhams would have felt on top of the world until he was compared with Robert Warnock who was dumped last year by the Blues and couldn't find a suitor anywhere despite being a very tall man. Dylan Clarke Midfielder Victoria Plays like: David Swallow Big bodied inside midfielder, who won 10 or more contested possessions in six of his 13 TAC Cup games last year. Jordan Gallucci Forward Victoria Plays like: Devon Smith Dangerous playmaker, averaged 14 disposals and one goal playing across half-forward at the 2015 Under-18 Championships. Peter Ladhams Ruck South Australia Plays like: Robert Warnock A 202cm ruckman, impressed with his tap work at the 2015 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, recording a hitout win rate of 54% - ranked second. Harrison Macreadie Defender NSW/ACT Plays like: Harry Taylor A member of the GWS Academy, Macreadie averaged seven intercept possessions and two intercept marks per game in the TAC Cup. Andrew McGrath Midfielder Victoria Plays like: Jack Macrae Played seven TAC Cup matches with the Sandringham Dragons as a composed midfielder, averaging 23 disposals and five tackles from his final four games. Harry Morrison Defender Victoria Plays like: Michael Hibberd Successfully returned from an ACL injury to play the final seven games for Murray in the TAC Cup, averaging five intercept possessions and one intercept mark per game. Brandan Parfitt Midfielder Northern Territory Plays like: Jack Steven Rated elite as a midfielder for metres gained and score involvements at the 2015 Under-18 Championships. Has played five SANFL games with North Adelaide.

They trained at Goschs Paddock today but I would hardly have noticed but for this article on the club website - Oliver tackles his tackling technique

If it's true that Prismall is still working at the Bulldogs with the AFL's permission then it's not only regrettable but a clear indicator of the AFL's arrogance and its contempt for the WADA Code. The rules simply don't allow it.

Sad to see a great talent destroyed by injury and illness. I really believe he was on the verge of something great when he came down with that debilitating Lisfranc injury. What followed was a tragedy for the player and the club. I don't think you can say we ended up "dodging" a bullet because we went to great lengths and invested heavily in Mitch and lost out badly as a result of his long running injury and the mental problems that followed. I hope he recovers and gets some enjoyment from the tail end of his career. He's had a pretty wretched run.

What did she expect when we have such fine upstanding supporters as BBO, Earl Hood and Biffen?