CHF

Sitting half the world away I watched the Dees play the X games. It was good to be able to watch a training run even if it was for just a quarter of the list.

I read the article that has this pic and it states that Geelong's Round 1 opponent is Essendon. Is this for the pre-season games? I do not buy into the hype around these three playing together and I hope that our Team does not either. There is only one ball in play at any one time and we will need to be putting pressure on the ball and the man with it at every contest, no matter who the opposition player is. Let the Cats sit back and fall into the trap of thinking they have it won because these three are going to win it for them. I am confident of a win first up.

Yeah and I now remember that Stretch and ANB were mates as well.

Firstly, a big thank you to all that attend training and send through reports and pics. I really appreciate your efforts given that I am half the world away. Secondly, I have always wondered about the relationships within the playing group and maybe the track watchers could give me a few hints at who is close with who. I know that Jones has a good relationship with both Angus and Harmes is there any one else that he has taken under his wing? Gawn seems to be mentoring the fellow rucks and has a close relationship with Flip. Garlett had Johnstone down the coast over the break boxing. What other groupings are there? I am interested in the dynamics of a group of 50 odd players spending a lot of time together and taining towards a common goal.

Oskar with the cap on looks like he is wearing ginger ear muffs.

From the highlights package this kids looks to move really well. Seems to have plenty of time to get to the right places and knows what to do when he gets there. Will be interesting to see how he develops. If we get a good run with injuries I can see us running deep into finals in both seniors and Casey.

I am not convinced that he will be there. There are a lot of players that will be gunning for his spot in the team and I don't think any player can take his inclusion as a given.

Looking at the list I can see that we have good looking depth in most areas of the ground. Looking at the way the players on the list have presented coming back for preseason it would seem we are looking at a very mobile team. A number of the players look to have dropped a few kgs. and will be looking to get a lot of run in their legs. It will be interesting to see how the players and our game plans develop of the off season. Here is my crack at the team for round 1. B: JETTA, OMAC, LEVER HB: HIBBERD, FROST, SALEM C: PETRACCA, OLIVER, HUNT HF: MELKSHAM, HOGAN, NEAL-BULLEN F: GARLETT, TMAC, HANNAN FOLL: GAWN, JONES, VINEY IC: TYSON, BRAYSHAW, LEWIS, MAYNARD EMG: STRETCH, HARMES, PEDERSEN KENT In defence I will be interested to see the development in Omac and Frost over the off season we do need them to step up a notch. If one of them runs into a patch of bad form we will need to look at who slips back there. Keilty might get a run there or they could swing Pedersen back there. I think we are committed to keeping Tmac forward this next season. This next season our midfield will really be a strength with some emerging A+ players and good developing depth. A lot of players in this team to rotate through there. Oliver, Jones, Viney and Tyson all pretty much pure mids. I would like to see Petracca spend a majority of his time in the middle this season. Rotating through there would be Hunt, Neal-Bullen, Salem, Garlett, Brayshaw, Lewis, Melksham and Maynard. I did like it when I saw Hogan in the center at the bounce a few times. In the forwards Hogan, Melksham, Neal-Bullen and Hannan to be allowed to roam far and wide. TMac to be at the pointy end of the attack with Garlett doing what he does best. in some cases I could see Pedersen in for Hannan or Melksham. Of the others running around I will be interested to see how VdB comes back after last year with his injuries. I want to see Weideman bulk out a bit and start to impose himself a bit more. I like what I have seen so far. Want to see what we have with Balic, as I have not seen anything of him.

just to the SA version.....

History will judge the quality of this decision. I have no idea if this is a good or bad decision. What I do know is that with Jack, it was a buyer's market and there were not that many buyers out there. I think that fact says a lot. In the end, I believe that the FD had a look at the situation, had a look at the offer and bit the bullet. I think there was consideration given to the immediate impact on the club with the players and the supporters and also on the longer term impact on such things as list structure and flexibility with contract negotiations in the next few years. We do have a number of players that we want to retain such as Petracca, Hunt, Oliver, Gawn and Brayshaw. Jack being moved on may be, not just a catalyst for improved player application and performance, but it may also give us more flexibility in the medium term future. For me the interest will be in the reaction of the players. Good win will either have buy in 100% or he will have a very difficult path to walk. Listening to the players talk of Goodwin this season, I had the impression he was looked upon as part of 'the group'. this post season might just adjust a few player's view of him and set the necessary distance between him and the players

I see no evidence that this decision was taken quickly.

I think that the change of the head coach position since that contract was signed explains that. I think it is clear that Goodwin would not have supported that contract. As I understand it, not all on the coaching panel agree with giving jack the option of looking for other options at this stage.With something like this, within any group, you will get a range of opinions.

I disagree. I think there is far less than is being made of this by the media. A serial under performer for the 9 seasons he has been on the list and the club has said, best you have a look at other options. If we can get value in a trade that you agree to, we will take it. Since that time I think the club has been mainly very disciplined and consistent in all that it has said. Jack will either stay or go. Whichever it is, it is up to jack as to how he responds. I think that the AFL media has made a mountain out of a molehill. In my opinion, if you strip away the media hype, the football club has handled it well whatever the outcome. I back the football department to make the right decisions.

oops... here...have a couple of extra 's's to fill in where they should have been.... one tacked on to the end of 'report' and the other in the middle of 'desert' along side it's mate...

Have there been any report of suicide by desert spoon yet?

Maybe ya gotta be there............

oh dear....oh dear oh dear.....

I might bring the Pacos over next year and offer to do the music.... we do a great Latin Guitar version of A grand Old Flag. has to be be better than the yodeling banjo player that is there now.

A thought: not a rumour. It appears that there is an increasing number of players that are looking to move within the trade period and that has been the result of the push by the players association. What will be the impact of this over time? Will it mean that the clubs have to re-think what they offer and what they ask for? With the increasing number of trades that are looking to get done I believe it will have the impact of lowering the value offered and asked for. In my opinion, the AFL should shorten the trade period to 7 days and allow the negotiations to take place for 24hrs of those 7 days and that those 7 days should be immediately prior to the draft. I think this would concentrate the minds of the footy departments in the clubs. Any club that is not fully staffed and working towards the evolving nature of the draft/trade scenario and is not showing flexibility and imagination in this area will be left behind. I believe the trading period is much more important than the draft as the trade period gives a club a chance to make immediate structural changes to the list rather than wait on the development of youngsters.

How about 10, Neal-Bullen and a swap of next years second rounders for Lever? Wonder if they are prepared to back themselves for next season.

Had an email from friend who said that within the club there was a difference of opinion on the best course of action was with Jack at the end of the season. While there was agreement on what was initially put out there, there is a bit of dis-satisfaction about how it has so far run its course and the framing of the perception that he is out the door and it is shut behind him. I think the relationship between the Club/footy department and Jack is not completely ruptured and there is a fair chance that Jack will be in Red and Blue next season. I have been told it is 50/50 at this stage. Staying or going will be dependent upon how the trade period unfolds, what might be offered for Jack and what deals and opportunities might come our way. I think it will be a very fluid situation with jack the whole way through the trade period and the longer it takes to do a deal the more chance there is of him remaining. As to the Lever situation, would Neal-Bullen added into the equation some how swing it? not sure how it could be worked.

Club divided? Give me a break! A difference of opinion about a player....hardly any sort of deep rift or division....

I think that there is a very clear understanding in the market of the position Watts is in at the moment. The club do not need to 'shop him around' or put him on the table but they would listen to any approaches that were made. I believe that they have a very clear idea of the ambitions they have for this trade period and how to achieve them. As to what is the value of Jack Watts I think that is a very fluid concept dependent upon the perception of the club making the offer and the way that the trade period unfolds over the ten days. Circumstances might dictate that we need a pick in a particular range to close a deal. In a case like that we may take a deal to close a deal that we thought would be to our long term advantage.

oops... sorry I will not do it again...promise....

I sit half a world away from the Melbourne Football Club but regularly exchange emails with a mate of mine that is much closer to the club. The latest mail says that Hogan is no chance to leave the club at this stage or in the foreseeable future. Watts is a different story. Discussion on a possible trade will only be entertained if we get value for him. Currently, MFC would prefer to keep him on the list and see how he responds. MFC will look to get in Lever plus a 23-25yo mid to build the list for a real tilt at the flag over the next 4-5 years. Take this in any way you wish and keep in mind this is a trade rumours board and that is exactly what this is, a rumour.