Tim

I was there for a little while. Some observations, and conclusions therefrom: Tom McDonald impressive in the running, also looks stronger; Bate back a bit, which suggests some of the others may have improved their fitness, given that he was apparently leading the way early on. Cale looked to be working hard in the running, but had more in front of him than I would have thought, given his "big engine" reputation - perhaps looks a little stronger in the legs. To my eye, Gys also looks stronger in the legs. I was impressed with the pace at which Strauss was reeling off his laps - he was going at a solid pace for what seemed at least half an hour. Troy Davis looked good as a key back type in the clearance drills winning some one on ones; JRiv backing into packs as usual. It's my second look at training this season, and the intensity of effort is light years from what I had seen in previous years. Hopefully a virtuous circle, with intensity building on itself.

I think it was Campbell's grab for glory - blazing away from 40, with a one-armed Robbie in the square alone. This is all like a recurring nightmare, I don't know why I'm feeding it.....

What I've always found interesting about this reply to Tony Charlton's question are the words "at this stage"

I heard it on good authority that the boys were "in and about", Jack.

As I recall, actually after the siren - in his first game. Sheesh!

Back on topic - the very same H.Mann, having done the above in the penultimate H&A game, takes a mark about 15 metres out straight in front late in last quarter of GF to put us in front, only to fluff it with a shocker. Fortunately, soon after, an even worse field kick from Brian Dixon fell into the arms of Neil.....and we drift off topic again.

I was there for a while too, and also in Canberra. I used to puzzle about this rationale, as the beaches in the winter were not particularly well patronised, for good reason - water was cold. I thought their non-watching was due to their major winter sport being carp, compared to Aussie Rules.

LDC, there have been a lot of posts on other threads potting JF for that Port game. I was at the game - call me a glass-half-full kind of guy, but I was quite taken with what he DID do in his first game, rather than wanting to sack him for his bloopers. The mistakes showed a lack of composure in the face of his first exposure to a packed house at the highest level; on the other hand, I was quite excited by what I could see in his capabilities, including how he put himself into contests, and the way he moved around the forward line. Exciting prospect!

Equine killing machine. Bradman on 4 legs. 16/16.

Bingo! I've given up arguing with people who say "yeah, but he had 27 possessions". And his role, and the damage he inflicted (net of his opponent's output)?

I took a slightly different emphasis from what he said Lutz - I had the impression he has worked out what he wants to do, and will be telling them Monday as you said. I don't think we are going to be bemoaning lack of direction with this coach and his colleagues. It was an event that made me feel better about our prospects. I know that one would hope that a new coaching group would give off a positive vibe, but just talking to some of them I got the feeling that they are very energised because of the clear support that the board is giving to the coaching dept in terms of resources. Seems like a good reason to feel positive, particularly since the facilities are cutting edge (as said by Neeld and Craig), and the playing group provides a lot for the new well-resourced coaching group to work with.

The night before, King was saying at one point that with pick 12, Melbourne had paid over the odds for someone who had not consistently performed; minutes later, he said that Brisbane had only picked up pick 12 for Clark in a weak draft. Both clubs losers, apparently. Analysis for the attention deficit disordered. Also, apparently last night he was banging on about "how could Melbourne delist Maric, with his elite kicking". Suggests King's in depth knowledge of the number 19 was limited to the page from his media guide with the highlight of Maric's alleged 85% conversion rate in the U18s. Lazy.

G'day BS - is the clue in "Favourite player: Chopper Carroll", or your initials....????

Back to the topic with Mr Denham's positive prediction re us in 2007; also at start of 2007 Caro had us playing off for the GF that year. Unfortunately, we ended up only being the runners-up in the MK Cup (M. Kreuzer). And please don't start on Caro, she's a good journo....

I would certainly prefer to see more there. Just a couple of years ago, when Carlton were struggling, they only attracted about 16,000 against each of Port and Freo at the G. Not too much was made of that at the time. Yet they have a much bigger supporter base than we do. Collingwood's lean patch mid-decade brought attendances down. Sustained success with some glamour players will bring us a wider supporter base, which will consist of new passionate ones and new soft ones. My hopes for this have been raised with the events post-season at the club. Btw, I remember a million years ago as a schoolboy, where most of the class were Melbourne or Collingwood; some Essendon and Hawthorn (school was in that area, success was not a lure for them then). While my class-mates may have not jumped off, or may have just "cooled off" their support, their kids would have jumped into Essendon, Hawthorn, Carlton etc. A demographic hole built on years of MFC sub-mediocrity.

We have fewer members and supporters than these other clubs, so our ones not turning up are softer than their's who don't turn up....? Btw, I'm a Legends member, and usually sit in the MCC section, so our seats would be empty. Come to think of it, for whatever reason the paid-up seats are empty, at least people were passionate enough to cough up a significant sum of money for them.

Way to go! Imagine how good Juddy, Luke Ball and Mike Fitzpatrick could have been if they hadn't spent so much time developing some of their wuss-like characteristics.

All of the above. On field, a true great. B&F twice in premiership teams that are acknowledged as high among the best ever; also leading goalkicker in one of those years, and missed out by one goal in the other. As a rover. Kicked 5 in his last game, a winning GF, in which he was probably the "pre-Norm" winner for BOG. Certainly put the number 12 on a high pedestal, along with Jack Mueller and Todd Viney. Off field outstanding contributor also, to the club and as a person. Remember seeing him at Princes Park one frigid Saturday arvo in the nineties; small crowd, we were being done, and at half time he was standing at the bar with some mates in that freezing tunnel in the outer on the northern wing. Thought it was a good look - genuinely supporting the club, not sitting behind glass getting freebies.

Brilliant! Btw, like your avatar, in the context of this thread. On a different note - why don't we consign Jack to the same bin as those other early Demonland-proclaimed duds Col Garland and Rohan Bail? Jack has shown enough to indicate that he is well worth further substantial investment of time on our part.

I don't think so Jack! For a start, Scully's a left-footer, and Jack kicks with his right. I think they would have spotted that. Sheesh!!!!!

Funny you should mention that JJC - I know the episode you mean, and wanted to see a replay of it, as it looked that way from where I was sitting (he was running directly away from me), but didn't want to "hang him" without another look at it.

Don't sit on the fence - what do you really think?

At least Big Bob didn't usually have to extend his aerobic capacities beyond running more than about 10 yards from the goal-square, or putting on a bravura acting performance for the umpire. On the other hand, Froggy showed himself as ahead of his time by having an effect at both ends of the ground... And, as indicated in an earlier post, so did Barry Bourke (No. 14) on the evidence of the tape.

I'd put money on it being the boy Crompton, with Tassie Bob at his right shoulder, and Hassa to his left. Btw, how good was Barry Bourke in that video - he was everywhere.

T Mac - improved 2nd half