The O

I like the idea of playing 3 mobile 'tall' targets in Dunn, Green and Bate (sorry I don't classifly Miller as mobile) but would much prefer Green out of the square to Dunn (with the possibility of rotating Green and Sylvia out of the square). I see Dunn, Petterd and Bate being capable of covering more ground due to their mobility and see them spending time pushing up the ground to create opportunities (in a similar vein to the way Miller plays). Where do you see Petterd fitting in this team JCB, as from his pre-season he clearly deserves a spot starting in Rd1? I'd also prefer Davey to play of the HFF providing pressure closer to the middle to assist in getting the ball deep in to the forward 50 and keeping pressure on the defenders in the 50. I think he'd be much better suited with his elite foot skills at creating scoring shots from the likes of Green/Sylvia/Wona/Maric deep into the 50 and taking his own chances from around the 50. What are your thoughts on a forward line such as: HF: DAVEY BATE DUNN/PETTERD FF: WONAEMIRRI/MARIC GREEN SYLVIA

Talk about scaremongering!

Maric looks like he works really hard for his kicks and was working his but off today but just couldn't seem to find a huge amount of space, wouldn't write him off yet as he does look a lot fitter. Not sure he has a turn of pace though.

Thanks for clearing that up Deeman, however I could have sworn Col played as No 26 for the White team as I overhead Rivers say "lets go Col" as he ran on. Must be my eyes because #26 bore an uncanny resemblance for Col.

Have to say that one of my most pleasing sights today was Col Garland spending some time on the ground. Played a very limited game (around 1/4 in total) for the White team, with some time spent both down back and up front (across the HF and HB lines) during the 3rd and 4th quarters. Whilst almost unsighted, another good step in his recovery.

Many thanks once again to WJ and JCB for their reports on the night. Much appreciated.

I can confirm Scully runs it in around 9.30ish, however Judd's running ability is not in the same league as Scully (or also Trengove who has a very similar running ability to Scully). Whilst most of us know of Scully's running ability, Trengove background is equally as strong with his older sister medaling at the Zatopek. From memory Judd was significantly beaten by the likes of Walker, McLean and a few others in recent time trials.

I agree it's hard to keep the faith, but when professional athletes are training at 100%, you're bound to get some some soft tissue injuries (especially hammies). But the point I was trying to make was that we've had no new "serious" injuries which would keep a player out of training for more than 3-4 weeks, since we finished last season (including Wonna's re-occurence of the hammie). In fact I'd suggest we'd have fewer injuries going into our NAB game than I can remember from previous seasons and within 3 weeks will be close to having a full complement of available players. Unfortunately (or fortunately) depending on you way of looking at point (2) we opted to send Johnson, Jamar and Meeson in for foot surgeries at the end of last season, so whilst they may be unable to participate in full training, all 3 should be close to right to go for the start of the AFL round 1 with Jamar a possibility for the NAB cup.

This response is severly off putting and contains no new injuries (other than Bate recovering from some foot soreness). Jamar, Meeson, Johnson, Davey and Bate are all recovering from post season surgeries, so thus the reason for them to be considered on the "injured" or on the out of action list. Spencer was simply crook/ill. Garland and Wonaemirri have all had some hicups during their recovery, but I disagree 100% with your suggestion that we have far too many injuries at present. I'd content that we're in a better position (injury wise) than almost every other club.

2010 Ladder position and record: 12th - 8 wins B & F Winner: James Frawley Most Brownlow Votes: Colin Sylvia Most Rising Star Votes: Jack Trengove Most Improved: Stefan Martin Our 5 most important players at the end of the season will be: Frawley, Joel McDonald, Sylvia, Grimes & Bate 2010 Premier: Bulldogs to beat the Hawks Wooden Spoon: Fremantle Brownlow: Adam Cooney Coleman: Tippett

Sorry Keyser you're wrong, it does mean he did better than 59% of people completing their VCE. I know that when I did my TER, if I had achieved a score of 59 it meant that I performed better than 59% of other students. Having an aunty who currently sits on VCE board of studies recently confirmed that this is still the case. Achieving a TER of 59 is a bloody good result for T. Scully and he should be very proud of his result. We're not all blessed with the brains to be rocket scientists or neurosurgeon's or achieve a 99 TER, however almost all of us on here aren't also blessed with Tom's athletic and footballing skills. Thankfully Tom's found his way to the Dees! The fact is there are many students who sit their VCE who do not wish to pursue further/university studies. For confirmation you could view http://www.tisc.edu.au/tiscguide/about_ter.html#ter_atar

I think you'll find it's very good for both (team bonding and also altitude training), with the emphasis on team bonding. I believe Mansfield is any ideal place to hold the camp, as many many of our elite athletes (in fact almost all from an athletics background) use it and Falls Creek for their preperations in the offseason. As identified in Chris Connolly's "napkin" this camp is an intergral part in developing the "RUN" that is going to define our future premiership era.

I take you're point in keeping members informed, however what satisfies one person is different to what satisfies you and is different for each and every member. My problem with this is "how much information is enough"? You can provide too much information. My point is that you can't satify everyone and that forums such as this and 'ology are designed to satisfy everyone's interests. Maybe you could contact the MFC and ask to include an additional item for a "training report" where a different MFC player/administrator writes a weekly report/update on training and news around the club, still I feel that's not going to suffice you as not every player would be mentioned. The MFC (and it seems almost all other clubs) seem to post very limited information in the off-season. I agree that this should be an area the MFC needs to improve, especially considering the push for the youth membership. Thankfully Football clubs are not public companies. FYI it's not the law to keep shareholders informed of "any" changes, only those material to the companies interests.

Why would they bother tell us about Thorp? They haven't posted anything on the website about him training at the club or for that matter McDonald or Tenace. Strauss is still at training and a broken hand is hardly major news at this time of year, considering he'll be right to go after xmas. I think you're clutching at straws JCB. If you're think these are "newsworthy" stories for the MFC especially considering the draft is today, or that the majority of members would be interested about such trivial matters then I think you're deluded. If these matters are worthy of posting on the website, what next? Bailey getting back from his O/S trip? What Jack Watts is doing for Xmas? What Morton's mum plans of feeding him to bulk up? Maybe you'd like to read about Jones' recent surfing trip?

Burgan did mention that we may consider drafting Brock McCauley who is a mature ruckman at 50 who has come recommended to the MFC directly from Jeff White, so wouldn't surprise me if we used picks 11 and 18 more on KPP's, with either 34 or 50 used on a ruckman.

1 Jack Trengove 2 Tom Scully 11 Aaron Black 18 Luke Ball 34 Mitch Thorpe 50 Brock McCauley (although wouldn't mind seeing Patrick or Grimes drafted here, although expect us to take a ruckman considering the interest in Meeson) PSD Joel Macdonald End result is 3 mids, 2 young KPP's and 1 running defender and 1 ruckman

I disagree with you're thoughts on picking Carlisle at 11. I think he's certainly got more potential and has a higher ceiling than Talia and has superior flexibility than the other 2 at being able to play as a KPF or KPB. In saying that I'd personally like to see us take Black over Carlisle and Talia at 11. It's really going to come down to what sort of player we're after at 11 (or more precisely who is left) as we may end up taking another midfield should he be the best available at 11.

1. Jack Trengove 2. Tom Scully 11. Aaron Black 18. Jake Carlisle 34. Liam Patrick 50. Broc McCauley PSD: Mitch Thorp I've thrown up a smokie in Broc McCauley at pick 50, as could have gone for Dylan Grimes but feel that we're ideally suited to someone such as McCauley now that we're rookied Newton and Meeson. Broc is a 198cm 22yr old ruckman, who's played the last 3 years for Southport in the QFL. Like Martin he's a late developer to AFL, who has an elite basketball background and possess's an enormous engine and workrate for a ruckman. Thought very highly of by Jeff White, so wouldn't surprise me if he's taken at pick 50.

Whilst I know there's another thread, and not saying that he's "another Jurrah" I would appreciate comments/thoughts on Liam Patrick's position in the draft. He seems a very talented player, but am unsure as to what position he would best be suited to in the AFL. Is he worth a consideration as pick 34 (assuming that we decide to use it) or does he go in the rookie draft?

Rookie selection at best for me. He wasn't invited to draft camp. Has averaged 2 (yes that's right) 2 posessions a game this year. I feel he's still got a very long way to go (possibly another 3 or 4 years at least in the system) to be developed into an AFL standard ruckman. Whilst he's raw, mobile and is a feel good story, I feel that he's best left to the rookie draft.

If we're serious about getting a ruckman out of this years national draft, I hope it's Vardy at Pick 18 otherwise I think it'll be a waste of time. He's miles ahead of others in consideration. I'd much rather see us rookie 2 talls (ideally one being a ruckman who can be used elsewhere) and hope that we stay well clear of Daw who has been severly over hyped (due to his background and not his abilities). Whilst he's extremely raw, I'd much rather pick a mature age ruckman with some size (ie 20-24) from one of the state leagues. As I believe Spencer isn't up to the grade to play senior AFL, and Johnson hasn't shown enough progress. Whilst Jamar showed good progress in the later part of the year, and Meeson showed some of his potential we appear severly lacking in having a ruckman capable of playing good, consistent football.

With regards to pick 6 - Broc McCauley. For what it's worth I've seen Broc McCauley's development first hand and actually played a number of games against him. I would consider him a similar player/development to Stefan Martin. He's a ruckman who is extremely agile and mobile. Spent 2006 playing top level basketball and would have played for the GC Blaze had he pursued basketball, also played Soccer for Qld Roar 2nds in 2006 and AFL for Southport Sharks. He has an outstanding leap (due to his size and basketball background) and for a big fella is surprisingly quick (thus his ability to play as a key forward). Recorded a 14 beep test during the 2007 preseason which I would consider to be very good for a ruckman. Broc played AFL for the first time at 16 and really only full time at 18 (in 2006) and for the last 3 years has played at Southport. He took the spot of Jeff White in the QAFL game representing Queensland against the NT this year. He has outstanding natural ability, is a 202cm mobile ruckman who has kicked a number of bags of 6 at Southport this year. I'd love to see him picked up as a mature age rookie with our no 1 pick in the rookie draft, but feel other clubs may have already taken notice after passing him over in the last years National draft. I'd go as far as saying if we end up using our pick 34 in the National draft, he would be an ideal pick up as a 22 yr old ready made ruckman, who with some further AFL development could become a very good AFL player.

Old Xav you've just completed the picture for me here. The fact that you're best friends with ROK makes you a [censored] via association with such a dropkick. The fact that you're a pies supporter who follows other clubs forums says enough. ROK was a [censored] during his school days and still is.

I believe that Green should be played up forward (full time) with absolutely no time spent in the middle. I think he's the ideal person to play FF out of the square and provide some leadership, advice, support and size to Jurrah and Watts. I see Green being used as a mentor by Watts, Jurrah and Bate to assist in their development. You could also argue he could help Newton with his kicking for goal and positioning around the ground. I also see Bruce and McDonald playing a similar leadership role across the backline, aiding in the development of Strauss, Grimes, Bennell, Cheney, McNamara, Morton etc.

B: McDonald Warnock Martin HB: Rivers Frawley Bruce C: Morton Trengove Grimes HF: Jurrah Bate Sylvia F: Watts Green Wonaeamirri R: Jamar Moloney Davey I: Meesen, Scully, Jones, Bennell E: Blease, Strauss, Jetta, Miller, Cheney, Maric Inj: Garland I tend to believe that we'll structure the team along rpfc's thoughts. I'd expect both McDonald and Bruce to play across the HBF and BP along the lines of the roles they played in the latter part of the year, with them spending no time in the centre and play a leadership/development role with the likes of Bennell, Strauss, Cheney, Morton and Grimes. I think we'll see Blease, Jetta, Grimes and Morton to be rotated across the wings, with Jones, Scully and Trengove to be rotated thru the centre. I feel Trengove is the more ready of the top 2 picks to make an immediate impact and would like to see him in the guts in rd 1 (in lieu of Jones) and see him being rotated with Sylvia across the HFF. I think we're very likely to see Green hold down FF in 2010 for the majority of games. Not only providing support and a foil for Watts (with Miller used sparingly), but also to assist in his development. As a leading forward from the goal square, I believe Green has the potential to kick 60+ goals and coupled with his accuracy makes him the ideal forward mentor for Watts and Jurrah.