The Chazz

And one more "Al" - the OP asked who would play on Malceski. In your current starting 22 on another thread, you have Watts and Kent on HFF. Given Malceski is a HBF, who would he go to in your team, Kent or Watts?

I also love your method of posting. Question someone's answer/opinion without expressing your own. Interesting behaviour-some would say troll-like.

I was responding to the question in the OP, as opposed to the thread title. I think Watts is capable of playing on a Malceski type. He has the engine to go with Goddard (although let's not forget mckenzie's job on Goddard a couple of seasons back. If the question is about our best defensive forward, that would be Garlett. I don't think my Watts response is taking anywhere near the quantity of urine as those who have said Dawes. Regardless of which question they chose to answer, Dawes is far from the answer to either of them.

Watts if fit.

Slightly off topic (something that rarely happens on Demonland, so I apologise in advance), but can someone explain this to me; WHY THE FCUK DO YOU PRE-BUY NAB CHALLENGE TICKETS??? Back on topic; I hate Essendon. That is all. Thank you.

Our starting 22 based on preseason form would see Vince and Watts not picked. If they are fit and ready to go for round 1, then they are automatically selected. Makes this exercise a little more difficult. That said, I'll presume they will be right to go, so my 22 would be; B - Jetta-Frost-Dunn HB - Grimes-McDonald-Garland C - McKenzie-N Jones-Lamumba HF - Watts-Pedersen-Vince F - Garlett-Hogan-Kent R - Jamar-Tyson-Viney Inter - M Jones-Howe-Newton Sub - Salem Emg - Michie-Gawn-Petracca Notes; McKenzie goes to Ablett When Jamar rests, Pedersen goes to ruck, Jamar to full forward, Hogan to CHF If Watts, Vince and/or Howe don't play; Gawn comes in for Watts Michie in for Vince Petracca for Howe, but starts as sub and Salem is elevated to the bench Happy for JKH and Toumpas to get some form/confidence playing in the VFL.

Was Brock running late to training that day, Saty?

Was it just me, or did anyone else think that article was written by Hairy Thing?

Don't tell the folk of Casey (or Romsey) that - they put their heart and soul in to this sort of activity.

Given you were out at Casey, I'm disappointed that the young mums were wagging school to take their kids to training...

Watched the replay of Melbourne v Port Adelaide (Alice game) on the weekend. Matt Jones was very good against one of the better midfields in the competition. He is a lock for starting 22 come Round 1, and will remain there until someone can take his spot. If that happens, then I know we have made significant improvement. If it doesn't, I don't think it means we are going nowhere/backwards. He could be our "break out year" player. Apologies Old Dee!

The challenge for any young player coming in to the AFL system is that a lifestyle similar to that of Sylvia's, is very easy to live. Come in to a team with poor leadership/culture/etc, and you will get by on potential. Go in to a club where they have higher standards, and you will not be given anywhere near the opportunities, and rightly so. Like most MFC supporters, I'm a little nervous (aka gun shy) about bringing in someone like Petracca. Has a bit of spunk about him, ready-made body, would've found TAC Cup easy. The thing that gives me more confidence is the foundations that have been laid, hopefully ensuring that what we saw with Sylvia, doesn't happen with the likes of Petracca. Wines is a great example of a similar kid coming in to a professional environment with high expectations/standards. To some degree, Dusty Martin, while quite loose, is really heavily managed at Richmond. I often wonder what those blokes would be like if they came to Melbourne over the past few years.

If you don't like Burgo's questioning techniques, perhaps you could get down to training and ask the hard hitting questions you desire, then either report back here, or even start your own blog, which I will happily read initially. Burgo's videos may not be award winning material, but for interstate supporters, I'll take them over nothing. It's about the only way we can feel part of the MFC family.

For us to make finals in 2016, we're going to have to improve a hell of a lot from 2014. Logically, that would mean 2015 will be a significant improvement on our recent seasons. How anyone could say that this year will be a write off clearly has no idea.

Hemingway, I call it the Sunshine Coast effect. In the weeks leading up to the Maroochydore camp, the smart ass Victorian supporters would hang frequent shite on us Qld'ers. In turn, what we saw, present company included, were training reports of the highest quality, and the raising of the bar to such heights that cocky Mexican's soon realised that their standards were quite poor, and to be considered a "decent training reporter", they needed to lift their games. On behalf of all Qld'ers that assisted in this change, to the rest of you I say "you're welcome"!!!

Biggest difference, Cross' career was not done and dusted. Our visually impaired friend, Frederick, could see Cross still had something to give. That same chap could clearly see that Junior didn't. Juniors case wasn't about why the did it, it's about how. For Cross and the Dogs, it's both.

Match day experience? Bring back the bloody reserves! When I go to local footy, I'll get there at half time of the reserves, watch the rest of their match, then all of the seniors. Was exactly the same when the AFL used to have them on as the curtain raiser. Also, the infamous bugler. Let me explain, I've been to probably 3 MCG games in the past 4 years. The first time I heard the bugler, I loved it, and from where I was sitting, a number of supporters loved it. As soon as they heard him, there was a cheer (not one from the Bronx), and clapping along started immediately. I was actually disappointed that he wasn't there when I last went to a game. Can I just say with the bugler, FCS people, the Club are trying to do something that ISN'T commercialised, they are trying to do something that is recognisable when the MFC play at the MCG, why don't you just support it and make it a hit? Nothing new that gets introduced will get off the ground when supports shite-can everything. Look at Port as an example with their raising of the scarf pregame. Very few of their supporters bitched and moaned about doing it, the majority took it be the scruff of the neck and now it's a fixture before their game. Something that I think may work would be getting one or two large jumpers that are held up by certain bays in the crowd. It's probably a bit soccer-like, and it's generally something that the AFL do before the Grand Final, but I'd be quite happy to be part of a bay that held up one large jumper as the team runs through the banner. I'm in my mid 30's, and would find this an exciting part of the pre-match experience. I would imagine what it'd be like for kids in the 4-18 year old range. I'd also think the players would like seeing it too. In regards to the Demon Shop (off topic, but has been spoken about), the current location is crud. Either shift it to where the MCG Sports Tours start/finish from, or find a shop front that is more accessible. At Christmas time I was in Geelong. My wife barracks for them, and part of our stay in Geelong was to visit the Cats Shop. I was bloody jealous that she could access it so easy, and bloody peed off that the day I spent in Melbourne, I didn't go to the Demon Shop, due largely to its inconvenient location. I can assure you, I would buy something every time I go there.

I'm happy for Howe to extend his preseason, so that he can play the last 15 games at full fitness and play well, rather than his previous history of having a full preseason, playing 22 games of the inconsistent stuff.

Not sure if he was ever Vice Captain, was definitely in the Leadership Group at the time, but I recall Corey McKernan plastering Matt Capuano's nose across his face during a training drill at Norf. Two rucks vying for the one spot, the old bull "teaching" the young bull how to give yourself the best chance of obtaining said spot. I have read it on here about Dunn tackling Bail when he was off-limits - can someone who was actually at training that day back this up? The story with kneeing Viney - would Viney want it any other way? Not a Dunn apologist, but as with a number of things on here, I am taking it with a grain of salt. FWIW, the training session I went to at Maroochydore, I stood at the fence within arms reach of a group of players during one drill. Was good to hear them talking/encouraging/instructing during a drill - stuff you don't get to read about on DL or see on TV. This particular drill, Jetta was scrapping the hell out of each of his opponents, probably 30 metres or so from where I (and the group) were standing. At least four of the players were yelling out to Jetta to stop it as it was deemed a "non contact" drill. Terlich, who was in the group, explained that Jetta does this during a game and never gives away a free kick so he keeps doing it. The talk went from a few players yelling at Jetta to stop the contact, to yelling at his opponent to "fcuking punch him". A member of our 2015 Leadership Group was among those yelling. In regards to the LG, I think it's a great group. They are a group of mature bodies who, I hope, reagardless of the game status (ie on the line, we're getting smashed, or god forbid, us smashing someone), none of them will put the cue in the rack, and will play "team first" footy, rather than worrying about individual KPI's and trying to impress (and earn the respect of) fellow teammates, something that younger leaders often feel obliged to do.

I think Dom will be our most important player in 2015. Other than hopefully taking his game to another level in 2015, it'll show that our development program is getting it's shite together. Spoke to Dom at great length while they were up here at Maroochydore. He is an outstanding young man. Standing next to him I realised he is also just a kid, a very mature, well spoken, polite, respectful kid, but a kid none the same. I look forward to season 2015, but I'm salivating at what his 2017 will look like (hopefully!).

OD, there is no one hardly done by if you just have Jones. He's the official captain and official current club champion, he's the unofficial heart and soul of this team. By leaving off Flower and Stynes, then RDB isn't hard done by, or Norm, or any ex-champion/legend of the Club. Keep it simple, keep it current. Nb. To be perfectly honest, even if it was Jones on his own, I'd barely look at it anyway. I just scroll straight down to the threads, so it's almost an irrelevant requirement for me.

Why not just Nathan Jones as the central figure. Absolutely no disrespect to those that have recently departed, all of them were my favourite players at some stage in my childhood, but can we just start 2015 with just our current captain and club champion, and no departed champions on it? None of us will ever forget the legacy that Stynes and Flower left behind, but we need to move on. 2015 should be the year that change is obvious (it could be argued that it was obvious in 2014), it's time we look forward to the next chapter forward of this great club, not backwards. I wouldn't be against a couple of background images of "in play" moments featuring some current team members.

Don't be so reckless, Redleg.

I also attended training yesterday. Was a fantastic day, bloody hot, but considering we didn't have a Qld game last year or this year, it was worth the red skin that I'm now plastering with aloe vera. Thought I'd add a few of my observations. Please keep in mind that the last time I attended a training session I was wearing the number 43 on my back because my favourite player at the time, Andrew Ford, was still running around. Needless to say, that was at Junction Oval. I was extremely disappointed that I didn't get a chance to meet Saty. Thought he would've made the trip - given he wasn't lurking around the main group I'm presuming he was granted an extended Christmas break by the club. Individual players who impressed or otherwise (apologies for the doubling up as some other posters have said similar); Colin Garland - looks super fit. Having a full preseason could see him return to the form we expect. He provided good run off half back in some drills, and his disposal was pretty good. I think he will be in for a good year. Jack Grimes - looks a totally different player. I'm often quite critical of Jack, but I think this year we will see him go to a different level. Fit, competitive, stronger, looking forward to his season. Ruck division - Jamar is still our number 1 ruck, simple as that. Maxy is coming on, and I was really impressed with the improvement in Spencer. But Jamar, providing he can stay fit, is our most dominant ruck option, many times he would win the tap in a contest against his opponent. Max King - I don't hold much hope here. I know he is a project player, but he is a long, LONG way away from making any impact. Jack Fitzpatrick - could this be his break out year? I think it might. He was leading most if not all of the running drills. Now, that's not to say he was always beating Tom Mc or Jimmy Toumpas, but whatever group he was running in, he was always pushing himself to the front. I'd like to think he gets a handful of consecutive games where he can feel he belongs. Other players get that luxury, so hopefully Jack can. Perfect forward who can ruck option. Oscar McDonald - will be a beauty. I think he'll be better than his brother. Ben Newton - was used as a go-to man in one drill, and I thought he looked bloody good. Given that Watts was another "go to" man, and I couldn't recoginse the third of three, I'd be expecting Ben to be lining up in Round 1. Think he will be a good addition to the midfield. Matt Jones - he cops a fair bit on here, but from what I could hear from Roosy and co, Jones is doing everything they want. He's probably our 5th/6th rated midfielder, but I can tell you one thing, it'll take some pretty strong form for someone to dislodge him. While some won't like what I'm about to write, I think if we see Jones playing at Casey this year, we will play finals in the seniors. I expect him to play a lot of senior footy again. ANB - hard to make a call given I didn't see him pick up a footy. That said, he's a beautiful mover - is really light on his feet. Not sure why, but I think he'll be a very good player. Am I basing this just on his running? Not sure. I'll just call it "the vibe". Some other key points; * I loved how they trained in quarters, just like a game. They'd do drills for 20-25 minutes, then running drills for the last 5 minutes. Often talked about as red-time drills, making sure they run the entire session out. No doubt this is a big focus, given the amount of goals we let through in the 20-30 minute mark of each quarter in 2014, especially if the last quarter. * In game simulation drills (ie more pressure) we still managed to make basic mistakes. We are getting better, no doubt about it, but it is frustrating. * Further to my previous point, I still think there is one decent list cull left. I think 2015 will be the final year of "who's not up to it", then we will focus on finals. * As someone mentioned, they did an extra running session after training finished, player/leadership group-driven due to a drop off in the final "quarter". I loved how Petracca and Brayshaw were leading this (they were the old fashioned suicide sprints from point post to goal posts, etc). Later yesterday evening, I was thinking to myself how the first year players could be leading this at the end of training. I would've thought first year players would be busting their gut during "normal" drills. I'm not saying they aren't/weren't, but I would imagine the coaches would know how they are tracking... 2015 will see more frustration. I think we will starting beating sides, not just winning. We will still lament the games that we could've won but didn't due to silly mistakes. I think 2015 will set us up for a reasonable crack at finals in 2016.

Regardless of what we call him, can someone tell me if he is any f-ing good? I have close to zero expectation that he will make it, yet he's still on our list. Can someone alert me to what it is I'm not seeing? (Nb - not a "clever date" post, just trying to work out what this bloke is about).