Deeoldfart

I absolutely agree, but if he doesn't come up trumps he'll still be in for a good deal of bashing around here, as will Barry P for selecting him.

Maybe that's because no one's interested in GWS and there's nothing much else going on. But it certainly doesn't hurt with us getting a bit of media coverage at this time of year.

Hmm. Well spotted caddypgt. Makes you wonder doesn't it (?), or maybe he's on annual leave with his family.

The 'Red Fox' should be required reading for every Melbourne supporter. I was a (much younger) Dees supporter during the glory years of the 1950s and 60s, and reading the biography made it all seem like yesterday. Comprehensive and beautifully captured by Ben Collins. Given that it's the off season, and the Rookie Draft is still 12 days away if Redleg's calculations are correct, I thought I might indulge myself, and perhaps a few others by quoting the poem 'SMITHY' written by former Demon Ray Groom in 1963, which is at the front of the book. "OK,in ya go" The door slams fast and we all know We're in for a blast Smithy's in a ripe old mood Red hair and that stare he stalks his brood "OK Quiet" We wait for his word not a sound is heard "You've got one opportunity only one! If we don't take this one, we're done! Talk boys talk never shirk or baulk Forget drop kicks use the punt And remember fellas stay in front Hassa, keep movin' round Bluey, drop in short And scout Barass. Don't just talk, Shout! Fellas be proud to wear the red and blue and don't blame others it's up to you! Fortune favours the brave ya' know so get out there and put on a show" We're all psyched up ready to go jump'n and chatt'n urging and patting The crowd gives a roar as we crash through the door then dash down the race at one heck of a pace On the hallowed turf of the MCG we twist and turn excitedly Norm's words ring out loud Despite the wild crowd "Fellas it's do or die so try, try, try!" Makes me ponder, could Mark Neeld be our Norm Smith of the new millenium? Just dreaming, but there seem to be similarities beyond hair colour.

..................... or insufficient rum in the banana daiquiri perhaps?

Probably had more news 'scoops' than most of the others. I respect him for that.

I wholeheartedly agree with you old dee. Jack has a wonderful way with words, especially when he's in a nostalgic frame of mind. I thought he might have mentioned the late Bobby Davis though, the third of the 'three wise monkeys'. (can I use that expression in these modern times?)

Enjoy!

Speaking of which, I guess you would have had a celebratory champers last night old dee. Three draftees, apparently none of them bean-poles!

Never mind ..... the quality of the training obviously made up for it. Seems like the boys are working like they've never worked before ....... even on match days for some of them.

A lot of players really have to step up in 2012, because we may have to shed up to 6 players at the end of the year (up to 3 rookie upgrades - Nicholson, Evans and Lawrence, plus Viney and probably 2 compensation picks). Fascinating season ahead.

That's a correct observation in at least one case Pates. I live interstate, but purchase my reserved seat membership each year: as a way of supporting the club that I love; and to guarantee access to finals tickets whenever the Dees make it that far (I'm sure our day will come!). Sadly, the travel involved means that I usually only get to about half a dozen home games per year, so my reserved seat is vacant for the rest of the time. Geez, I wish I lived in Melbourne ............. and thank God for Foxtel. Edit: Corrected spelling of Melbourne .... Bloody hell!!

Indeed it is a great article DD. Wouldn't it be great to be a 'fly on the wall' at the workshop, and then follow it blow-by-blow on draft day?

Thanks for that rpfc. It's something I certainly wasn't aware of.

Yep.

Thanks for the chronogy HT. 2000 up on this time last year, after the on-field disappointment and turmoil of 2011, is really good progress. 40k for 2012 look achievable.

Good post Robbie. It's an excellent set of criteria, and clearly there is no obvious standout for our next skipper. For some reason I have a feeling that Neeld won't go with the cautious joint captaincy option, and that he means exactly what he said about the LG currently being a 'blank canvas' in his eyes. For me the front runner is Trengove, but I'll be comfortable with whoever gets the nod in March. One thing that I really like is the apparent move away from the Leading Teams model for selecting the leaders. It sounds good in theory, but imo our playing group does not have the necessary maturity or experience to have a major role to play in the process.

Sounds like it to me too Daisy. Anyway, my point is that most probably, injury played a major part in Luke's career never getting off the ground, and it's grossly unfair imo, to say he was a terrible pick. Through no fault of Luke's (or for that matter Craig Cameron who selected him), sheer bad luck meant that Luke never had a decent opportunity to show us what he had to offer.

I think Redleg is auditioning for it right now.

That's not correct Don. Luke broke his leg so severely below the knee that when he put weight on it, it crumpled underneath him and for a time his knee and foot were side by side on the ground. This was mid-way through his first season. When he was on the come-back trail in his second season he injured his knee (I don't think it was ACL) and busted his collar bone. He was delisted and subsequently rookie listed, but his infant career never recovered from the injury setbacks. It's grossly unfair imo, to state that the "writing was on the wall that he was a terrible pick". Who knows what might have been if he hadn't suffered the injuries?

Correct. For example, the Saints have already signalled their intention to redraft Jason Blake with their final pick on Thursday.

Great. Thanks for that J-Riv.

I'm thinking we will need to move it along so it can be included on merchandise etc. for the new season, but I guess Schwabby has it well under control. He usually does.

I agree Paul, but geez, I'd like to see a second major sponsor signed up soon.

Many thanks Maldonboy and Fan. These reports are greatly appreciated, especially by interstaters who can't get to training very often. Some very interesting insights on today's session.