george_on_the_outer

...plus the sponsorship dollars when the sponsors realise there are 20% fewer Melbourne members to sell product to.....

I’m convinced Fullarton will never get a game until Demonland posters can spell his name correctly!

Having missed out on @WERRIDEE running around training with only a fig leaf to hide the nether regions I was hoping for some more interesting options for this week!

Down by about 7,000 to date from last year. Based on previous years ( except 2021) that will be much the same by year end.

Andy, how to access chat room for the podcast?

I have to agree. It is becoming obvious, that Hoyne's thesis is correct. "Getting it in there" means more opportunities. Even if it is turned over in the 50m, it is better than a turnover upfield where you get nothing, because at least you had a chance. Hawthorn used this tactic extensively in the Carlton game. Long kicks into the forward line almost every single time. Forget about the short possession/territory game, just put it in there and take your chances. The percentages will win it for you, if you have more chances.

More to come in terms of taxpayer dollars for the Kitties. KP Trust wants to add more concerts, etc to the venue, so they will have to move the Cats to a new training base, area.....guess where the money will be coming from with a State election due next year? https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cats-or-concerts-there-s-a-battle-brewing-over-geelong-s-kardinia-park-home-20250312-p5lj2v.html ..."The Cats and other community sports are also lobbying the federal government to build a shared multi-purpose indoor training facility alongside GMHBA Stadium. They have already invested heavily in new rooms for their women’s team inside the stadium and upgraded their football department and gym inside the venue." Will absolutely guarantee they will get it up and running before we even dig the first sod at Caulfield

If I remember correctly Mark was given the name “Russian” by Nick Walsh an Irishman on our rookie list. Mark kept calling him “paddy”, and his response was “what would you know you great big Russian”.

And a reminder to everyone that this site isn’t free to run. Take out a subscription, make a donation …..that way @Demonland’s kids will be able to eat this week!

Gave up on that 20 years ago. No access during Grand Prix period, including the weeks/months before and after while all the infrastructure is moved.

Unfortunately we are down about 4-5,000 already from last year, and based on the trend from previous years, that will be maintained until the end of July when the count stops. People just do not "jump on board". Their commitment seems to be based solely on the performance of the club in the previous year.

Where can I get tickets? Probably already sold out to people who want to go to watch football!!!

...except when they are worth four 1st round draft picks e.g 2 this year and 2 future. Or is pick 16, 17 and 18 something that would be acceptable as first round picks? As a seller you don't tell the buyer what price you will accept until negotiations are near complete. Certainly not before any bidding has started.

Too late:

Does Green realise nearly every club has 3 first round picks to trade this year?

...Brute Bernard?

More trouble for Port with the collapse of their major sponsor GFG: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/affiliates/kayo/millionaire-sanjeev-gupta-pulls-rug-out-under-david-koch-as-port-order-new-guernseys-to-ditch-gfg-logo/news-story/1f0b3e956f759de1c9c7b19e037bc990

Only with good Grace…

For me, he has to learn to jump. Haven’t seen it last season, and still no evidence of it so far at training this year. Weid had the same problem. These days as a forward you don’t get the ball straight to your chest too often. So you need to be able to compete aerially, not with the feet on the ground. JVR is the gold standard.

The AFL will be dragged kicking and screaming to update the rules around concussion protocols. And we the fans will have to accept that our favourite players will be missing for more than the paltry 12 days at the moment. Here are the rules around boxing…..yes boxing….with a 30 day minimum for non contact after concussion. If that “sport” is doing it right now, the the AFL will be forced to catch up, through various legal action , no doubt. https://djsir.vic.gov.au/combat-sports/contestant-safety/non-fight-periods-and-return-to-fight-strategy#:~:text=Contestants with a diagnosed or,for at least 30 days.

There will be a lot of trade movement this year with the advent of 2 year forward trading. GC already has 5 first round picks, Essendon 4 to offer other clubs already. There weren’t too many players who didn’t get to where they wanted last year, contracted or not. Those like Petracca couldn’t because others didn’t have the trade capital, especially late in the trade period. Every list manager at every club will be clearing salary space and working how to accumulate picks for this trade period. There will be a lot of big names mentioned in the lead up, ones people think would never be an option.

He has only started back in the main group. Yes, he looks likely, but then so do the vast majority at training. It looks like he can kick and can read the play, but he is very slight, especially as a newbie. Woewodin as contrast after 1 season looks like the Hulk next to him. I wouldn't expect to see him play this year as there are too many others of his type and position....AMW, Windsor, Sharp, Woey, Lawrie, Chandler, Salem, Tholstrup, Bowey, Spargo, Billings, Sestan, Kynan Brown...

I have been to a number of training sessions during the off season, and the one player who impresses me is Langford. Normally you cannot expect much of a first year player, they don’t have the body, are overwhelmed by where they are, and take a good amount of time to “learn the ropes”. Not with this kid He has the body, and is already mixing it with the mids. He knows what to do to get the ball, and most importantly knows what he is going to do with it, and where it is going, before he gets possession. He has similar vision to Oliver. He may not be given a shot early on, but it won’t be long until he is mixing it with the best.

…plus Viney and Laurie …. Lots of heavy match simulation all session

Disco about a week away from joining main group