Salems Lot

Is he a defence coach at the Blues now?

I remember Bate's first game - kicked a goal with his first touch IIRC. He seemed like an inspired draft selection with a ready made footy body. It is amazing how when you strip away the relative class that was around him that day - Neitz, Robbo, Yze et al how ordinary he starts to look. I think this is the sad comment on the way the club has recruited over the past decade - there are no game changers around good ordinary players like Bate to help them to look more at home at this level. Look at Cheney - complete spud in Red and Blue but seems OK at the Dawks. Depth of playing list makes such a difference to players of his ability. Most of the league is made up of Matthew Bate type players but unfortunately he has the misfortune of finding himself playing in an extremely ordinary side that only exaggeratesd his short comings more. A really sad state of affairs and the blame goes way back!

I've been on him for a while- "cough" username "cough"

Melbourne supporters got roasted for cheering an injured Didak off at the QB. What will the papers say about the filth jeering Simpson off?

fabulous stuff

I just don't get the connection between a player trying to "shop himself around" and not trying on the footy field; it is a bit like not tidying your house on the day of the auction - . Surely if he is trying to secure himself a higher contract at another club he should be playing out of his skin to impress other club's recruiters. He is not exactly hot property at the moment.

Howe could I not agree!

Only 34

I am just about to go out for dinner...poor form... but I would be interested to know if anyone is going to try the optus tv now deal to see if it works ok.

I learnt a valuable lesson about time keeping from a strict boss a long time ago; hopefully Sam will learn it too. That is all...no perfection here; just ask my wife!

Agree

Not at all but when I started my apprenticeship 33 years ago my boss explained very clearly to me that if I was a minute late he would dock me an hour. It made an impression then which I have carried through life. The boss was an A-hole but he taught me a valuable lesson about what was expected. I was never late after that. Go Dees

Disappointed in Sam; we all know that there are very few times in life when being late is truly beyond the individual's control. Go Dees

I have found the media in general to be fairly underwhelmed by the whole affair creating a "who cares" feeling throughout all concerned. It is a pity that we can't eke back a couple of weeks at the business end of the competition to add on to the season proper. It would extend the home and away season out to a couple of extra rounds reducing the number of teams that are only played once which to me would be a good thing. I want to be excited by Saturday night but like a previous poster I really just hope that we don't get any major injuries. Go Dees

My new username says it all; love the look of the guy!! Glenn Honey's Dud Brother no more!!! Alert the press

At the cricket on Friday night I was chatting with an MCG attendant; it transpires that she went to school with him and said he is a fantastic fella.

went to the T20 last night; as Marsh trudged off after his 2 ball duck my 7 year old leant over and said " dad...Marsh is in a world of pain" loved it, totally unprompted and on the money. He is like Chappell G without the superb career that had gone before.

Nice report FD - Thanks

I have found these sort of comments interesting over the last month or so of training reports; it appears there is a perception that what we see on the training track fully encapsulates the training program. Reading how Neeld describes his working week he is clearly across and involved in every element of the training regime. I base this on no first hand experience but I am positive that by the time the players get out onto the track everyone knows what their respective targets are. This leaves him to oversee rather than actively participate; after all that is exactly what his myriad coaches are there for. Go Dees

Morton was not present today

Dunn

Hi All, My 7 year old and I went to our first training session today (managed to dodge the downpour expertly) The following are a few observations but please understand that as my first session it is hard to compare. So in no particular order: Jack Watts looks significantly bigger than last year and more importantly is developing a bit of confidence about himself Col Sylvia was training with the main group, I don't know if it is a first for the year but he looked totally switched on in the skills session I love Jeremy Howe, he must be the pick up of last year for us, he has a touch of class about him with whatever he is doing Chin looked huge up close Stef Martin has a totally wacky hairdo at the moment (he was also looking good in the ruckwork i saw) Tom McDonald seemed a little off pace today - was given push ups at the end of oner of the sessions No LJ; apparently he was inside on the bike Jacks T & G were in the rehab group, according to one of the trainers they are managing their load. JT then proceeded to do a heap of laps at a good lick. Mitch Clark has great touch below his knees Kelvin Lawrence looked extremely keen No sign of Morts Cook is a beanpole We timed it till 35 minutes into the session before anyone kicked a footy - not a complaint, just an observation, all of the skills training to start the session was fast movement of the ball through traffic via hand. I was impressed how slick they looked but do take that with a pinch of first timer salt. Sam Blease was excellent in the close in work, extremely fast and accurate with his disposal. Nathan Jones is a training machine We left after about an hour and they looked to be moving into a game simulation but maybe someone else will have further insight. By the way there was heaps of parking on Swan Street east of Punt for anyone interested in heading down Go Dees.

How appropriate that the Bulldogs have a player from Labrador training with them.

Better change the signature VVVVV

I have had an extremely productive weekend. We are putting on a new room to the rear of the house and I have had a fantastic clean out of builder's waste as well as hanging the back doors and shingling the bay windows. My wife's quote today was "you haven't left anything for the builder to do!" My reply.."erm...we are paying him by the hour......" deathly silence after that. 1 week to lock up and 4 weeks to moving in...a fast reno is a good reno leaving me free to concentrate on the Dees next year!!!