BangkokDemon

True, teams (probably all of them) have won flags with "ordinary human members" in their ranks. It was not "wise" for them to chose Bay 13, but I guess that's up to them. The major point to me, is if they got blind drunk (not that there is any indication of that, yet) it would have an effect on their training when they return next week. It would not matter if they did that at a BBQ at Frawley's house or on a fishing trip in Tassie with Jeremy. A couple (or more) of well managed beers (light or not) could in fact be beneficial, particularly to their mental well being. The "new" culture Neeld, Craig, Misson etc are building is not about be goody goody, puritanical wowsers. It has to do with being professional athletes, in a very demanding sport, in 2013 and beyond. Maybe what they did, shows there are still players where this new ethic is yet to be ingrained. The good to come out of this will likely use of it as a "timely warning"...no harm done - yet.

So are you saying Bay 13 is the place where the "real common man" goes ? What about the other parts of the MCG ? And what about the "real common woman" in this day of "enlightenment" ? To me Bay 13 is no more a place where you can show you are not a blazer wearing MCC member, than most other stands. But, it does have a reputation which rubs off on those who chose to sit there. And, these guys being in the media spotlight as they are, do not help the club very much.

In relation to my post about the effects of heavy drinking Dave Misson is quouted in this Herald-Sun piece ...which of course has to drag out the tanking issue as well... Perception and association are easy for lazy journalists. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/melbourne-demons-players-in-hot-water-over-boozy-mcg-eviction/story-e6frf9jf-1226544258408 {Melbourne players were banned from drinking alcohol on their nine-day pre-season camp at Robertson Barracks in Darwin this month. Dees fitness boss David Misson said the players had been given strict training programs to complete over the break. "The sessions that they're going to be asked to do are going to be solid," Misson told the Melbourne website. "The days in between the training sessions are their own, so it gives them a chance to relax with family. "But the sessions are pretty structured, and they're going to have to send through feedback from those sessions, as well as reach some targets when they come back. "We're going to know who's done it and who hasn't."}

In the context of this thread - yes, they could have. But when you are elite athletes such as these guys there is a difference between getting totally rat faced and a few beers. The effect of such abuse on your body can quickly destroy any good work (such as Darwin) you have done. I takes at least 72 hours for alcohol to totally leave your body. So, if you make a real mess of yourself, training will be affected. I know from my fairly high level days as a marathon runner and am not a wowser. But, when you are being paid a six figure sum there is a responsibility.

I think you're correct in calling it a "storm in a teacup", but as has also been pointed out on this thread, it's not a "good look" and so the media will use it to further beat us up. I do not agree that because they are on holidays they can do stupid things. Since I was a young lad (and that was many years ago), Bay 13 was what it still is. It is notorious because it attracts louts and bogans. So, why would our boys go there ? There is the entire BIG MCG for them to choose where to see Jeremy's cousin. Winning the Mark of the Year has made him a "face". Howe of all,should understand this. But, so should the others. These guys get recognized even when they go to buy the newspaper at the local shop - especially if they are on the front page. They cannot avoid it. So, going somewhere like Bay 13 is like throwing a match on a petrol spill. They should know that. As for the drinking, I hope they weren't trashing themselves. Otherwise much of the good work they did in Darwin could have been compromised. They went there to ensure this year they got fit not fat in the pre-season !

Not really. Weare not alone with this sort of thing. And on a scale of 1 to 10 this is probably worse. But so what? Our guys did something stupid. It might not in reality be any worse than Sylvia and co being photographed in Vegas with that hood. But theyare both timely lessons to these young guys, that in this day and age, there's not much which goes un noticed if you're a star...as our team has the potential to be. The lesson to be learnt....THINK.

I would think Mark Neeld And Neil Craig will have quite a lot of hard but sharp words to these guys when they return from holidays next week. These guys have probably and unfortunately shown just how far we have to go, before the "elite" mindset takes hold. I know othe clubs including the Maggies have similar problems with some players. But, that is no excuse. In a cricket way, remembe what the black eye in Kings Cross did for Ricky Ponting and more recently what a transformation appears to have taken place with Michael Clark since he learnt to think more with the head on to of his shoulders rather than the one between his legs. This minor infingement wil hopefully give reason to pull these guys back into line without too much damage.

Living in Bangkok and rarely getting to games, I need to close all the doors and windows and power up the air con if I want to wear it...

Thanks for the Google links. As you were there (China) I'm sure you notice the difference just from reading the club reports from Matt Bergin. The Darwin trip, ain't no "package tour" or "goodwill mission"!

Agree the expectation that Jack might one day be up there with Robbie is a big ask. Robbie was unique and so to just be a carbon copy would mean Jack was not as good. Jack Watts needs to be Jack Watts - Melbourne Champion - if that is what he is to be. The good thing, it appears he is responding very well to the new environment at the club. And looking at the videos posted by the club in the last couple of days, it is obvious there is a great new spirit in play. So, there is hope not only for Jack, but for the rest of the guys as well. Like your song reference, too.

No, but I run every day with a group of mostly Thai friends in a park on the northern outskirts of Bangkok. We start around 5:30am - because of the heat. One of the nice things about Thailand is the way they organize what we in Melbourne call "fun runs". There is a very extensive calender of events nearly every Sunday. Thais call them "mini-marathons" which are around 10km (1/4 marathon). Now it is a little cooler (known as "winter"...hahaha) there are several full Marathons, including the Bangkok Marathon, each November. The most enjoyable aspect of the runs in Thailand is the after run "party". Sometimes these can be quite bizarre with girl groups (ala K-Pop style) and local bands performing at 7:00 am ! There's also lots of free food and drinks (not usually alcoholic any more though!!). Everybody gets a meddle and a shirt. And in keeping with the atmosphere, sponsors often supply some pretty decent prizes, apart from cash. I won a fridge at one event. Comes in very handy for keeping the beer cold !!

Thanks for jogging my memory OD. Here in Thailand it is a public event where the kid has to go up and pick a number out of a box - like a chook raffle. As someone whose stepson went through it, I can tell you it's even more nerve racking than going to the letter box to see if you missed out.

Yes, I am glad my son in Melbourne (now 37) didn't have to go through the draft. They have it here in Thailand. My stepson had to try his luck a couple of years back. Although they are not being shipped off to please Uncle Sam here, it is quite a disruption.And, like you I think the Kakudu hike will be great - team building stuff.

My marble was odd, or was it even can't remember, so was not an issue for me.But I embarked on a career of sex and dugs and rock an roll and didn't take up running until I was 29. I quickly found alove for it; was quite good at distances. Since then have travelled the world. Lived in Thailand since 2000 and still runnearly every day. I have run in the heat of the Middle East, The humidity of Hong Kong and Thailand. So, I know the effects strenuos exercise has in hot climes like Darwin. That is why I fully support this program the club is doing. I like to think that Neeld and Missen are ahead of the curve.

But when the other team wasn't out on the turps and these days other things the night before or even the week before, no matter how good you are you're gonna get smashed by the opposition.The days of a champion player having a liquid lunch and a couple of pies before the match and playing a blinder are over.

too late to think but what it is upposed to is make the blood travel faster WHEN you get back down to a lower altitude.

I remember the Sunbury course and Point Cook for the Vic Marathon. Those runners plus Derek Clayton were at the top of the tree.It would be great to see our young runners back up there, but these days money plays such a part - which is why so many line up to play football and its various codes. But it's good to see training programs from other endurance sports, such as distance running, are being adapted for our brand of football.

I was in a group who did that in the 80s when this sort of stuff was just starting. Ferny Creek was more the hills and rugged terrain than altitude if I recall. But in the summer time people such as the great Robert deCastella Chris Wardlaw and the then young Steve Monagetti would go to Falls Creek, not just for the hills, but also the altitude. I did this once myself.The concept behind the altitude thing is that when you are up in the mountains your red cells increase as Old Dee mentioned. Then when you get back down to sea level, within a certain period of time the increased red cells are still present, so the flow of oxygen is better. Deeks won the world champioship in Rotterdam doing this. Rotterdam being below sea level...or at least much of the course.

That's due to the lack of training programs such as those being carried out by the guys now. If they lose some more puppy fat and replace it with good fat and muscle, a few recreational Darwin stubbies (not too many of course) should actually help...

Hahaha! I'm far from single and if I was to do that, I'd be looked upon as a "dirty old man"....remember I was there in '64 !!! But yes. there are far worse places to live and far worse women to marry than those from Thailand!! Go Dees!

If we could afford it, both would be beneficial. But, as we don't play too many games high up...except for Max Gawn (joke) but will play several in quite hot weather, this is a good decision.

And they'll get to eat the best ramen in the world and have lots of local Asahi to wash it down...won't get spoilt like that in Kakadu !!

I understand that. I am also not sure at what height the training camps are at. But Falls Creek has been used for many years by marathon runners as an altitude training venue during the summer months. Anyway, my point is that what we are doing is new and we are not following the leader, as we have done in the past. It might not work, but we won't die without knowing... Go Dees !!

I think a lot of you miss the conditioning aspect of this trip. Heavy exercise in climates like Darwin take a bit of getting used to. Not all our football is played at the MCG and several games are played in tropical or semi tropical cities (Darwin, Brisbane, Gold Coast). So when we play in those cities the team will have a better idea of how to deal with it. But, I know that as I train/run daily here in Bangkok (tropical/humid) and come back to Melbourne (miserable cold winter) and run, I have benefited from exercising in the tropics. It might sound silly, but no more silly than the rather expensive trips to be trendy and train on the top of an American mountain (could gain the same benefits at Falls Creek - just about as high). And they are not silly...just cost a lot more than going to Darwin. The point is that radical climate change brings a lot of long term benefits when you come back "down to earth" (or in this case, the MCG). I am not a doctor or a sports scientist, I just know from my own experiences, that it works. And, if also helps bring about wins in Darwin, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, because the team is more able to cope with the heat, you might find more Melbourne teams might be doing what we are doing in a couple of year's time. Melbourne being at the cutting edge of training is not something we are used to.

Good work - thanks for your dedication to the site. For an overseas Demon like me, Demonland is invaluable for keeping me in the community. So, even small improvements to the look of the site are great to see. Must agree the banner will be greatly enhanced with the inclusion of a few of the new recruits. Thanks