george_on_the_outer

Or even more so the Swiss franc. ....the Swiss weren't silly enough to take up the folly of the Euro. I'm sure they will adopt the same attitude to the Essendon folly.....

The southerly wind at Casey in the winter is a sure recipe for a miserable day. However, on a mild summer day in summer it just made the training session a sheer delight. I won't go into the actual drills, as there is little point in describing them unless you are there, and the important thing is how they translate to match conditions. So for those not there here are the observations: * In the rebab group we have 8 players, and no Jack Watts to be seen today at all. Not a good sign at this time of year for numbers. However, Trengove we all know about. Was really testing the foot with shuttle runs back and forward and lots of drills which put plenty of pressure on that left foot. Despite what was told to others, he is NOT yet kicking on the left. Dawes had a knee strapped, but that has been the case while he has been at Melbourne. Nothing on the calf. He, Weidemann, Trengove, Mitch King, Petracca and Lamumba ran a series of sprints with timing over the middle 50m ( my guess). Most were recording mid 4 sec times, but Dawes topped them all with a 3.6. One can assume he is not too far from being back to the main group. Newton managed to run a few laps before disappearing into the rooms. * Garland has changed his running and kicking style, I had trouble recognising him until later. * There is a real emphasis on moving the ball quickly, and other running to receive downfield. The mobility of Gawn is simply breathtaking for such a big man, and his first real pre-season should see him really break-out in the coming year. His strength is also incredible as he rag-dolled a couple of forwards in marking contests, who thought they had position. * Spencer still can't mark overhead or kick the ball properly after all this time on the list. However, he has learnt to jump off the ground in ruck contests, instead of aiming at the opposition ruck. The result was that he got his hand to the ball nearly every time against Gawn in the ruck contests. Some hope there.... * Neville Jetta is a seriously hard defender to beat one-on-one. He was pitted against Hogan and then Gawn and managed to stifle their opportunities, when it should have been only a one way contest. Still a bit slow off the mark, which can give the opponent space. * Vandenberg is still a beast although a much trimmer version. Bad news for the opposition is that he has replaced body fat with muscle, so he is even stronger than before. He simply ripped a pack apart in the match simulation. * Frost will be another welcome addition to the backline this year, but he is NOT a ruck option in defense. He simply doesn't have the body to grapple against some of the gorillas. However, he reads the play beautifully and took an absolute scorcher of a pack mark during the match simulation. * Hunt, Hulett, Harmes, Kennedy, ANB and JKH all did what they had to do when required, and will get their opportunities as required during the season. It is nice to have all these options in the side now. JKH has spent a lot of time in the gym, and will be able to hold his own much more in the coming season, as some considered him to be too small and light for AFL. Not now! * Oliver still has a lot of work to do. His skills and endurance seem to be OK, but needs a lot more work on his upper body. That will come, as one can see he has the frame that will respond to AFL level training in a big way. * Don't let Jeff Garlett a yard spare, because he cuts defenders to pieces if they do. I guess we all know that already, but he is simply lethal around goal. * Hogan was simply a presence on the field. He demands the ball wherever he is, in front of goal or up the field. Pity the backman this year, because he was simply too mobile and strong for any of ours today. * Bugg is like a blow-fly in the middle. Is very, very capable in and close, so hopefully his addition will make a serious improvement to the mids. I only hope his size doesn't limit him, as I was reminded a lot of James Magner. Hope I'm wrong. * Good to have Kent back and running. His input was truly missed last season, and todays efforts were matching his best from last season. His acceleration opens up space and if the game plan is based on spread and speed, then he is the man. That's enough of the good news. Now that there is more physical contact in the sessions, then the injuries start to happen. I would love to put a lot of them in cotton wool until season opener, but that is not practical. So we saw Jones leave the track very early. Brayshaw came off and had his knee bandaged with what looked like a knock. No ice, and then he went for a run and took the bandage off. However, he too left early. Vince followed, but returned to run some laps. Then Oliver came off. Nothing looked too serious and I think all were just bruises, but the heart finishes up in the mouth when half the mid-field is forced off the track!

I doubt that any top up rookie would play in the seniors this year. However, if there is someone we genuinely had our eye on, it enables us to get 12 months of development into them, and keep them under our wing. It is this development that enables them to be match ready come 2017, as opposed to a rookie selected at the end of 2016.

From the article: "The key take-away point is that Thymomodulin is not a Thymosin. This needs to be kept in mind when it is claimed that the players were injected with Thymomodulin. Mr Dank demonstrated his awareness of this difference, when Mark Robinson from the Herald Sun asked him if he had ordered ‘Thymosin’ for the Melbourne Demons. Mr Dank replied: ‘No. It was Thymomodulin.’" IF we had not dodged that bullet, I would suggest it would have been the end of our club after the tanking saga, and our on-field performances recently. We have seen the effect it has had on Essendon to date, with more to come, when civil actions are brought to the courts by the 34. Our whole history could have been wiped out by this quack.

I coached my nephews U16 side last year with a parent from the Brighton Grammar side where Jayden and Christian Salem played. He said that Christian was an absolute blinder and a great pickup. Also that Jayden could be anything and maybe even better than Christian, but for the injuries which never allowed him to get on the field, and also be picked for the Sandy Dragons squad. If his body responds, then we could have another talent from that draft. If it doesn't then it will be yet another tale of "what could have been...."

That would have been enough to cause this site to go into meltdown!!!

Should have flown Calgary direct to LHR. 3 services a day. BA or Air Canada.

January sessions may be at Casey due to Australian open.

Jack.....you are assuming he has paid his bills!!

Nearly there......only $164 until we reach the target of $2,000. A bit more would be nice so that Andy and Nasher can make further improvements without having to dip into their own pockets.

$941 so far.....who is going to get us to the target ????

I'm starting this thread because Andy is too much of a gentleman to ask for some help to run this site. Everyone of us has benefited by the the conversations, banter, humour, despair, joy and excitement of being part of this site. What else would we be doing during the off-season without our daily dose of Demonland? To the point, the site costs money to run. You have all seen the value of the new software that Andy and Nasher have installed. And guess who paid for that? What everyone doesn't see is the extra time and labour and tweaking which then has to be done to make it all work. "Demonland is a Melbourne Football Club fan site powered by fans for the fans. There are many costs associated in bringing you this site. We offer Lifetime and Annual subscriptions so that you can contribute to the running of the site but we are also aware that there are people who want to contribute but can only afford a little bit or have already contributed and want to again. If you would like to make a donation to Demonland it would be greatly appreciated and will go towards running and maintaining this website. " So without Andy having to ask, perhaps we can all show our gratitude and thanks by tipping in a little toward the target of $2,000. EDIT: Changed the target to $2,000 which is what it cost Andy to purchase the new software. Here's starting it off with $100 George

Both went to Whitefriars College.

Titus O'Reilly: http://junktimeafl.libsyn.com/

Final siren footy stats page: http://www.finalsiren.com/

Another year of "being in the black" is only a positive. I will reserve judgement about how this was achieved until the actual financials are produced, but based on last year it would appear to be genuine. Unlike some other clubs, whose financial reports must be the basis of a comedy sketch at the annual accountants dinner. However, our situation is still dire in terms of income. If we make more money on a single day against Collingwood on QB or Alice springs or Darwin, than we do for the rest of the season, then there is something seriously wrong about the fixture that allows this to happen. Equalisation as touted by the AFL is inadequate. Give us $500K in cash or give us a home game against Richmond, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood etc. Which would you prefer as a supporter? But no...these type of clubs get to play each other twice, and when we play them it is usually as an away side. It just kills us financially. And it goes on year after year after year on the basis that we don't win enough games. In 2016, Essendon get Hawthorn, Richmond, Carlton and Geelong as home games. Cartlon get Essendon, Geelong and Collingwood. We get Richmond and Collingwood. Remind me where these teams finished last year? Each of these " lack of games" would cost us $500k in revenue. Don't give us "handouts" just give us the same opportunities as given to others. Having said all that, it is a truly creditable effort to make a profit after such an ordinary season. Cartlton lose $2M after getting 5 or 6 Friday night games, and home games against Geelong, Essendon and Collingwood.

Will be de-listed at the end of 2016 when his contract runs out. No-one else would take him during this years trade period. Couldn't make the 22 for the last game of 2015, and wasn't missed.

For both parties: we value your opinions...but not about each other. Posts deleted

The AFL already has a suitably opaque policy around the provision of Priority/compensation picks. The only example they have given is following the death of a player. It doesn't take too much to extend that scenario to a player unavailable for 2 years. nudge...nudge...wink...wink.....

There might be, but it would be stolen....

Go to this page: The Run Home: http://www.sen.com.au/programs/the-run-home#lYjqT8GP46drAdip.97 select latest audio.....for Josh.....

Absolute ripper deal! The pundits are saying that this is a weak draft.....beyond the top dozen. We now have 2 picks from the strong options. We have to amass good talent today. Not next year or the year after. As SWYL said...we have to start winning games! And if we do start winning in 2016 the pick we have forgone next year won't be as valuable.

SEN reported this morning Carlisle has been offered $600-650K for 4 years at the Saints. ( makes our deal with Melksham look more than reasonable!) Hawthorn couldn't come close to this with their salary cap, so Calisle wants to get to Saints. However, Essendon want pick 5 which the Saints won't provide, as they have for the past 2 season traded players ( Goddard, McEvoy, Dal Santo) for picks. The won't give up high picks, so they won't reverse that policy now. Both need a 3rd party involved

I have been wondering if there hasn't been a shift in the climate at Essendon because of this. I cannot recall them EVER wanting to trade out players like they have this year and last. They have always been notoriously difficult to deal with at trade time. Ryder & Crameri gone last year, Fletcher & Winderlich retired. Carlisle and Melksham supposed to move this year. Leuenberger in?. They have been clearing out the 34 suspects quietly and replacing them with non- affected players. Even if WADA hit them hard, they will be able to put a reasonable team on the park post trading and draft period this year. Maybe that was the AFL's backup plan?