Redleg

Brown credited the club's revamped fitness staff, headed by (physical preparation manager) Bohdan Babijczuk, as a key to getting through pre-season unscathed. "Bohdan has looked after me really well. I've got a really good relationship one-on-one with him and (rehabilitation and sports science manager) Brentan Parsons and (player energy and wellness manager) Adam Paulo, so I've been doing a lot of work with them off the track as well," Brown said. Above is from an article on the club site - NEW TRICKS FOR AN OLD DOG We now have a Physical Preparation Manager, a Rehabilitation and Sports Science Manager and a Player Energy and Wellness Manager. I wonder if we have a Boot Repair Manager and a Jumper and Shorts Manager not to mention a 3/4 time Drinks Manager. I love progress.

Vandenburg didn't play.

Fair comment.

When you are writing about fitness being added I don't think I would throw in the name Pickett.

Agree with you Fan. We did get on top until 3/4 time when we clearly ran out of legs. However I wish to make one point. If the team is building up to the season proper, which i can understand and by implication and looking at the players we rested as an example, we don't take this competition seriously, I hope I will be forgiven for not attending this crap anymore. As you know I am fanatical in my support of the Dees. I wear my badge in my suit lapel all year, attend all games and practice matches wherever possible and incur the wrath of my wife for yelling out during games whenever I see an injustice done to our boys. If the club doesn't take it seriously why should I ? Why should any supporter ? I understand what they are trying to achieve but I can't recall any flags lately. I would have thought you try and win every competition you are in for the obvious reasons. I am not criticizing Neale and the Coaches and I hope we win the big one at the end of the year, but from now on if I don't care about this competition and don't attend I don't want the club criticizing me or anyone else of the same view. Am I being unreasonable?

How about 3 B & F's for the club in 140 gutsy give your all games for the club. I have pushed for Laurie Fowler for some time now. Stuart Spencer got his for less games I believe. There are also Officials who never played a game. Is that special circumstances?

Don't bet on it.

What time is it ?

No. I think the one you are referring to is where Robbo went crashing to the turf in what looked a nasty incident, but he just bounced up.

A few other points to note. Nathan Jones was fantastic. He was everywhere and tackled hard. He is a ball magnet and looks much fitter than last year. Bate's hair is back to his natural orange and you can't miss him. He didn't appear to be injured and may have just been rested. Byron does not have to worry about being thrown out of a fashion parade for being too skinny. He is probably bigger than me. Michael Newton got out on his own a bit and took some nice marks. Simon Buckley went hard and has developed from last year. He is still quick but went in and got the ball which was good to see from a youngster. Ricky Petterd looks the one who with Frawley is likely to get a go early. He does not seem overawed and shows tons of courage especially one passage where he took a strong mark while the pack was coming from behind. Robbo was in some of the play and Green and Bruce did a couple of nice things. Moloney was back to his form of 2005 coming out of the centre with the big bomb. For mine Brock and Nathan are the two barometer boys, if they play well in the tough clinches we will be in with a big show.

You are joking aren't you? I thought Shanahan was a good player for the Dees and no one could make Big Al look like Silvagni.

But it will surely be replayed on Foxtel. It is an obvious sports " filler".

Top stuff.

Stand By.

You are a marvel Jack. How do you turn an ordinary summer training session into a sporting event worthy of such prose? Demonland is truly very fortunate to have you.

I must say that I thought some of the Bombers' picks were strange this year. I believe they picked a number of small opportunist type players recently, who clearly can't all fit in the one side. Davey, Jetta, Dikk ( the bloody site is censoring his name ), Dempsey and another who escapes me for the moment will have to contest with Lovett, Monfries, Dyson and others for a forward pocket or flank. The Bombers list might become unbalanced with these selections and they may regret it in the future. Then again I could be completely wrong and they could all become stars but I doubt it.

Demon Group: Members Posts: 318 Joined: 24-October 05 Member No.: "Stand by for an announcement. Footy back on Foxtel." Better late than never.

Stand by for an announcement. Footy back on Foxtel.

OK by me.

Agreed. By the way, how come this is your first post? Ha ha !

I need to lose 12.

I think the investment in Smith is a cheap one. He would not be on much money and has developed physically at this stage where he is a 22year old fit, strong, giant, who can take a mark and have a spell in the ruck. They don't appear to be growing on trees. We have other players on our list who may be at the end of their careers, at least with our club, who can be delisted before him, to allow us some draft picks. I would definitely give Smith another season at least, to try and break into the Dees side. I would rather delist a couple of ageing defenders who have not played this year and an angry, slow onballer from another club, who doesn't add anything to our game. White is getting older and Jamar is the only real other ruckman at the club who is ready now. Neaves is a way off and PJ is not really a ruckman, though he could be a handy player used elsewhere. No, keep Smith and give him another season to try and make it, either up forward, in defence or in the ruck.

I am at a loss to see the "commercial" use of material when it is on a "free" fan site.

IMO he was the best I have seen behind Leigh Matthews. Robbie played in poor Melbourne sides all of his career yet when he played State football he was usually BOG. what does that tell you. He was skinny, wore glasses and then contact lenses and was a true ball player. He was brave and had more skill than any player I have ever seen. He could take a great high mark and then baulk three players and kick a goal on his left foot. Incidentally he was a right foot kick but played table tennis with his left hand and I think that is part of the reason he was so skillful, as he could bounce with both hands and kick with both feet. he made goals out of nothing. I recall him running the entire ground at Windy Hill from the back pocket and kicking a goal and doing the same at Collingwood from the half back flank. He was a genius with a football and always remained modest. One of my saddest memories is him trudging off after the 87 Prelim Final which we lost controversially and he was injured and knew as he left the ground that it was his last game. We are allowed a hero in life and he is one of mine.