george_on_the_outer

It's not surprising we have more in rehab given we went deep into September. We haven't seen this problem for years and we are not accustomed to it. Having said that, it is still not good to have so many players in that situation. But as Andy noted, the ones who were in the rehab group weren't losing fitness. Lever is probably the only one who has to come back from injury fitness wise. Every year I note this, ( and there is no scientific basis for it, just years of observation): For every week after the new Year that a player is not in full training, you can subtract a week from when they will be available in season proper. Or to put it another way, players need 3 months of full pre-season training.

Couple of observations: Melksham wearing tennis cap, so neither forward facing or not. Counted 32 training staff, 26 on the field, gone are the old days when the coach ran the session. Using a pace setter for the players who were just running. As Andy noted, how do you advertise for this job? Keilty and Smith training with forwards. Were used exclusively as lead up link players in one drill. Young 17 year old academy player (I’m told) will be one to watch. Built like the proverbial brick S...... worked with the mids and held his own. Good to see Maynard out there in full training.

How true that is, on both counts. Jeff's other major problem is that the game has changed. And that is why he needs to become the footballer he NEVER has been. Clubs changed their defensive structures last year, and the small "out the back" type players ( Garlett, Puopolo, Betts, Rohan etc) dropped off with their goal output. So unless these players bring a defensive side to the game, in the same manner as Rioli ( RIchmond) and Butler( Richmond) there is no role for them to play. Betts and Puopolo have a regular slot in their sides. No defensive side....Rohan traded, Menzel traded, Garlett VFL.

We would not be trying to move them out of the stadium, it is their occupation of the training areas in Gosch's paddock which restricts what is possible. They don't train inside. In the same way we don't train on the MCG. So like us, they have piecemeal training and administration facilities. IF...IF something better was offered to the other tenants, it would mean WE could develop ours in proximity. OR we have to move somewhere else which can accomodate an oval, which means we will not be in proximity to the MCG.

This is probably one of the answers that avoids all of the other problems of trying to put an admin/training/club building on postage sized pieces of ground in and around the MCG/Gosch's or over roads/rail/tram lines at extraordinary expense. IF Melbourne Victory, or Rebels/Storm were to vacate to bigger and new facilities themselves, then one of the two training fields that are currently permanently set up for Rugby or Soccer is free. Voila!..... room to build something right in Gosch's, alongside Olympic Boulevard without massive cost, tree removal or locals getting their knickers in a knot. So where could they be convinced to go? There is space down alongside Docklands-Marvel that we were rumoured to be interested in some time ago. Would be more enticing to certainly the Soccer crowd, especially with games played regularly at that location.

The Yarra Park proposal was always going to be problematic, and a compromise particularly for Office and Admin space. I don't understand why we have not been mentioned in association with the Caulfield racecourse development..... https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/guy-first-out-of-barriers-with-pledge-to-open-up-caulfield-racecourse-20181007-p5089l.html More space, no limitations on use, community involvement, part of the Demons heartland.... And it could make ProDee doubly happy if his mob get up.

...another good reason why this stupidity should not be given oxygen. Victorian side v WCE in the GF. First final in Perth. Victorian side send a 2nds team for the first game, knowing the next 2 are in Melbourne. Who will be the first to be accused of "gaming the system"?

What would the fans prefer: 2 extra weeks for 2 teams or 2 extra weeks for every team during the season? Heaven forbid....that could make the FIXture less of a fix and more of a draw....

....came from GWS? Then SoS will definitely pick him.

I hope someone goes to Italy to check out this, Calcio storico which roughly translates as" historical football":

How small was the crowd for an opening game of football? Shows the game of AFL has come a long way in terms of attendances since then.

I want to know how in the hell this was approved by the AFL. If the player is delisted, he should be in the draft. That hasn't happened yet. Every other club should have had a chance to draft him. Or has the trade period now been extended to 365 days a year!

At least the brains trust at AFL haven't slotted a team to play in Alice Springs in the middle of summer at 5pm, and off a 6 day break like they did to us last year. Probably cost us a spot on the ladder in the end, and probably a GF position. 9.35pm for Adelaide v Freo, in Darwin is half sensible, but why a game needs to be played there at all is beyond me.

NO more. Locked

Before someone changes it......

Darren or Craig?

...and they shut access to the place down for a couple of weeks at Grand Prix time. i.e just before the season starts.

Has Jeff Kennett joined us?

I didn't know Jake Melksham had changed his name......

Look at the time stamp....

After 200+ pages, ain't this the truth about what is holding this process up. As Ouch has pointed out the CEO....the CEO!!! is doing the negotiations in the public domain......imagine PJ coming out during trade period saying we will or will not accept XYZ for a particular player! Bell is Football manager and now he is doing the negotiations after being there for 5 minutes! It's all well and good for everyone to surmise what will/will not be a good/suitable trade, but if you don't know who you are really trading with, it makes the job almost impossible. To top it off Freo has pick 6 at the moment. Their next pick is 80! There is no way they can improve their position for next year, so asking for their next years first rounder may be a piece of true inspiration.

WIth the change to the goal square next season, it will almost become necessary to have 2 talls( rucks) on either wing at kick ins. It will be a bonus if one of them can play forward as well. Once the ball goes down one side, the opposite will have to work hard to get back to provide an additional target, or go the other way and defend. Either way you will need 2 really mobile talls( rucks). One Max will not be enough to cover the whole ground and provide a target as well as actually ruck. The important thing is to get someone like Preuss, as he fulfills all the NEEDS for the next season, as well as a backup ruck role. Mumford, Roughead and Casboult don't have the tanks.

Special K

Don't give up yet. The existing seat holders have a limited time to renew if they are not on automatic rollover. There will always be people who don't renew, so get your name in.

Tally up now. Final number for 2018 was announced as 45,000. Perhaps we have to wait for the annual report to find out the exact number. Off to a good start though. The automatic renewals are up 4K on last year.