Whispering_Jack

A lot of people have been complaining about Casey games not being televised but in their last two ABC matches they've been flogged mercilessly. The previous Casey game shown on the ABC was last year's elimination final when Collingwood had a massive 100 points plus victory. I reckon losing a final that way was the worst result of any MFC alliance team in this competition (although they only had one MFC listed player that day in Michael Newton).

I've always preferred the conference system that guarantees you a fair draw (as long as they get the relative strengths of the conferences right). Eight teams in the finals (top four in each conference) is enough.

It was a very sad and nostalgic night at the Mates of Melbourne function held at the Junction Oval last night. Unfortunately, the players rooms and gym were locked so we couldn't wave goodbye to the rats and the possums but it was a fun experience anyway.

Juice injured a calf muscle against Box Hill Hawks two weeks ago.

What a revelation? I never thought anyone was ever supposed to win!

As much as we would like to see players like LJ, Sam Blease and Luke Tapscott coming back early, we have to be aware that they've all been out for a while and there are certain rules that should apply to players undergoing rehab and how quickly they can return to the rigours of AFL football. Given the way the AFL and VFL fixtures work with the forthcoming byes I wouldn't be expecting any quick returns. There's a suitcase load of difference between looking good at training and playing under full match conditions with the bumping, tackling and general crunching. My son played amateur football and came back after a shoulder reconstruction too early only to find recurring problems with the shoulder. I know he wasn't a professional footballer who had constant access to physios and state of the art technology but the lesson was that a conservative approach is best for a player's long term interests. In this case it means these blokes won't be back playing any form of footy until the first week of July at the earliest. Even then it is likely to be a slow process starting in the VFL reserves and building up to a full game in the seniors before getting a gig in the AFL. If LJ has recovered from his injury and plays next week, it will be no more than half a game with the Casey twos and then he would have two weeks till his next hit out. I'm not sure something like that is going to work any better than if he was held back another fortnight and came back more or less on schedule.

Thanks to all of you who have been so kind as to support Team Lou in our Walk/Run for MS today. Your generosity has helped us to achieve the top spot among the teams in terms of donations collected for this extremely worthy cause. In a couple of hour's time I'll be taking part in the 5km walk (a cold held back my preparations for the run and shattered my hopes for a last ditch palce in the Commonwealth games team). It's still not late for you to contribute - please visit my online fundraising web page and help us reach our goal. It's quick and easy and takes no time at all. You can donate securely online using your credit card by clicking on the link below: http://register.mswa...bourne/jchrapot You will receive a tax-deductible receipt via email automatically when the transaction has been completed. Thank you again for your support. It is greatly appreciated.

Was he as pissed as he was a few years ago when he was with Nathan Carroll in Greece and later in Germany during the off season?

It's drawing a long bow to suggest that a player's mere presence at a Gold Coast VFL game indicates that he's on the verge of signing up with the new GC17 team. I went to a game there earlier on in the month and they weren't even prepared to let me have a training run with them.

I feel like a parrot. Fox Sports News has a news alert bar saying that Folau will sign with GWS as early as tomorrow!

Mike Sheahan announced on On The Couch that it was a strong possibility that he was going to join Kevin Sheedy at GWS.

Jake's Twitter:

A message from the MS Events Team: Just a quick note to congratulate you on reaching your fundraising goal for the 2010 MS Walk and Fun Run. Your support is greatly appreciated. But why stop now? Keep up the great work! Log-in and increase your fundraising goal today. Remember - the higher your goal, the more incentive there is for people to sponsor you to help you achieve it. Thank everyone for your support. Of course, just because I've reached my goal doesn't mean others can't contribute. I believe our team is leading at the moment among the various fundraising groups and, although that wasn't our dream at the start, it's good to be out in front. Thanks again for your support and keep the pledges coming ...

The forecast tomorrow is for more rain so I guess that's also going to work in Geelong's favour given their skill advantage and their harder bodied players. Should still be an interesting test for us.

My guess is that unlike Scullgove, Jordie will probably be given a run in the VFL and is therefore technically not being "rested" like the other two. He did miss a game earlier in the month so he probably doesn't need a rest in the same sense as the other two but will be kept match fit at Casey. No doubt he will be back next week.

That one's got me stumped because even last year we started at $9.00 when we played them at Skilled. We're a better side this year and surely we have more motivation to win a fifth game for the season?

This came in a few days ago from the MS people. Thanks to those who have supported Team Lou so far by donating or joining in the walk . We're running second in the teams. The fundraising competition is heating up with $349,177 raised so far! Entries are rolling in with over 2,300 participants and 225 teams to date! With just under 2 weeks to go until the event, we are working our way towards another record-breaking year of support for more than 20,000 Australians, their families and carers, who are living with MS. Your help in contributing to our fundraising target of $750,000 is much appreciated. Make your place in this year's Walk and Fun Run count by jumping on board and actively fundraising. We are here to assist you and give you all the tools and the help that you need to ensure you reach your fundraising goal! Thank you for your continued support. Please take a moment to view my online fundraising web page and help us reach our goal. It's quick and easy and takes no time at all. You can donate securely online using your credit card by clicking on the link below: http://register.mswalk.org.au/MS-Walk-and-Fun-Run-Melbourne/jchrapot

Shame on you! How could you have overlooked the fact that he's become our latest 426?

The stupidity of some footballers never ceases to amaze me. After the fiasco with Richmond players at their Sydney hotel earlier this year, you would have thought that players would pull their heads in while on interstate trips. But no, the latest travelling idiot is Daniel Motlop who has been suspended for a week by the club after breaking a curfew while in Darwin last weekend. They never learn!

This was just our first home and away game in the Top End and our second overall when you consider the Wizard Cup we played against the Bulldogs in 2006. I'm not disappointed with the crowd of 8,800 because the game was a success. Not just because we've maintained our unbeaten run at TIO Stadium but because it engendered enormous interest up there in the Melbourne Football Club and added to our connection with the Northern Territory that we've already established through Aaron Davey, Liam Jurrah, Austin Wonaeamirri and before them Matty Whelan. Our correspondent from Darwin this week was Pringle who noted in his match report that he saw young kids converted to supporting the club. As a club we're doing things for the community up there. Aaron and Liam are ambassadors for the campaign to stamp out the terrible disease trachoma that causes blindness among many indigenous people. Members of the club visited Snake Bay and Yuendumu. Throughout all this, there's a theme and it's something I mentioned when I wrote about the Long Journey evening for the Women of Melbourne at the MCG last year - "From Little Things Big Things Grow" (thanks to Paul Kelly). So as our team grows and our club grows, you'll find we'll get more support up there in Darwin and more members and perhaps even more sponsors. And next year we'll get 10,000 and the year after 12,000 and one day we might fill the ground to capacity (they might even have to build a bigger ground one day). There were a few fleeting shots on my TV screen of the elation among the crowd when the siren sounded. We're winning people over with our young team and, though it's still a long way to go, I think we're going to win over more hearts around this country as the side develops. We're on our way!

Bendigo Bombers coach Shannon Grant stood down for two weeks

running jogging 5km at this stage (subject to getting in a few training runsjogs.

Last time Beamer was suspended he didn't make any contact at all with Jimmy Bartel. At least this time he made some contact with the other player's side so one week is fair enough, especially in light of the MRP's decision when Colin Sylvia's jaw was broken when the ball wasn't within 10 metres.

Thanks to both Demon2 and Number 5 is alive for your fantastic contributions!!!

Thanks to our latest donors, George on the Outer and Little Goffy for your generous donations. Cheers