Keepin up with the Joneses

Last time I checked, turnover of $35,000,000 (don't quote me) for profit of $137,000 doesn't scream viable business, and even that's after some amazing people kicked in another 700 large, and some nice accounting (all above board Caro, F%^& off) It's a different game now. Hawthorn has been brilliant in their strategy and are now a powerhouse on and off the field. We play 22 times a year, as long as I get to the g 10 or 12 times, I'm a happy man. As long as my club isn't just 'viable' and can by into the arms race, I'm a happier man. When we win #13, I'm going AWOL for a month! No brainer in my opinion!

B Tapscott, Frawley, Garland HB Watts, McDonald, Toumpas C Blease, Viney, Grimes HF Howe, Clark, Sylvia F Byrnes, Dawes, Trengove R Jamar, Jones, McKenzie IC Pederson, Nicholson, Barry Sub Rodan I'm actually pretty settled on this cept for the position of Barry, which could have been any of 10 other players. No doubt, this might look silly by game time

Good, we need more Jack's!

Made the trip down to have a look this morning. Things of greatest note for mine. Gawn is enormous across the chest. Looks like a monster; fitness pending, I could see him being first ruck by year's end. I was taken by exactly how big Viney is. Was paired with Byrnes in the sprints in the 5th or 6th pair, and was the standout for mine, taking him easily each time. Even when he slipped at the start, and gave up 10m, he chased him down. Was hungry! Dawes was more active than his injury report suggested, i would suggest he would be back with the main group as soon as next week. Hogan did laps with Dawes and Gawn. and then kick to kick with Dawes... there is just something about him. looks commanding with the footy around him. Aaron Davey was a shadow of his former self. I understand the contract situation, but it's sad to watch from my perspective. Barry did some kick to kick lead work late in the piece and looks like a beautiful mover All in All seems like a more balanced list already. Disappointments, 1) Would have loved to have seen the new boys tear it up also, i guess we need to ease them in. 2) Watts and Sylvia seemed to be on slight restrictions compared to the rest of the group. Nothing to prevent ready for round 1, but these are 2 players I'd love to be tearing the track apart all pre season. Whenever expectations aren't meant, resritced pre seasons are always mentioned. Welcome aboard Jimmy, Dean, Dean and Matt! Go Dees!

The number I always had on my back as a kid was #3, and absolutely no disrespect to Barty intended, but I can't wait to go to the MCG again and see a #3 for Melbourne tear a game apart again; whoever that may be... Perhaps Hogan the way things are tracking? Would have loved Dimitri to been given a shot, for no real reason at all

Problem is Visy will be loading wads of cash into cardboard boxes as we speak, and soon, Fev, won't be able to recall anything untoward from his villa in Sorento.

B Strauss McDonald Grimes HB Watts Frawley Garland C Blease Jones Trengrove HF Sylvia Dawes Byrnes F Howe Clark Pederson R Jamar Viney McKenzie IC Wines Tapscott Dunn Super Sub: Rodan Why do I always feel like someone is missing

I believe there are a few positives to come out of the past month. a) Clean out of poor attitude and leadership. (Save for Jared Rivers to whom I wish nothing but success), we have been whipping boys for the whole league for 6 years, so we can sit and debate the merit of the clean out as much as we like, at least we are taking a different approach B) Net games gained - raw numbers suggested we are a mile away for competing for place outside of the bottom 4 if we continue to go down the recruit 8 kids and hope they become stars, line again, we will field a team that averages 65 games experience for the next 4 years; just like we have the past 4 years. c) We might have a chance of winning. We might not be challenging for top 4 next year, but at least we are bringing in experience that might give us a chance of teaching our 'young stars' how to win a game. For 6 years, we've been lucky to put 4 consecutive quarters together... I for one want to make my way to the G thinking we have a chance of pushing some teams d) 24 yr old premiership structural key forwards with 76 games experience dont grow on trees. This time last year, the football world was questioning us sacrificing pick 12 for Mitch Clark... last time I checked, no-one has been regretting that decision. e) All the focus wont be on Wines and Viney; It will be on the older talent that we've supposedly sold the farm for. And our new young talent can come in, and develop without the pressure of the burden of being the sole hope of a Demon revival. Bring on 2013!

I too am sad to see Riv go! for many years early on, I was convinced a fit Jared Rivers would propel us to success... Will always remember his courage going back with the flight into packs, and hope he achieves his success at Geelong (right before we win 4 flags in a row)

Welcome aboard Jack Viney. Was so excited called a meeting at work to announce it to everyone lol. Hopefully tomorrow is as good as today!

I understand everyone's feelings about JRs shortcomings, however I reckon hes worth the 3 years. Has always been a favourite; perhaps I'm just sentimental

Col is a brut when up and running, his biggest weakness is he is a dumb footballer. He rarely takes the right option, never kicks to our advantage and realistically never will. Athletic ability might put him in the best 10 players in the comp, but even that is generous. Football smarts; wont make top 100 long story short, trade now, because he will try and walk as RFA.

It's fine, it's just we are making them think that we think that they think we know that they think we don't know what they think, and that we wont do what we might or might not do what they think we think we might do. Everything will be fine... just fine.

Of course it is... hopefully soon

Imagine Jones in one of the elite midfields of the comp, where he didn't have to do it all himself?