DeeSpencer

I’m inclined to agree, but Tommy at his best is so important to our ball movement as a link man, and BBB is a proven goal kicker. JVR in theory cover both roles and give more defensively but if he isn’t nearly as effective in attack that won’t really matter. I’d like to know how we think we can get more out of Grundy and Fritsch if we go with the older less mobile talls. Can Grundy truly swap on ball as a big mid allowing both rucks to play midfield as the same time? Can Fritter play high half forward and defend to a reasonable level. One or both of those things would make it far easier for the big talls to do their thing without being exposed defensively.

Not good news but obviously better now than in the middle of the season. Would be pretty miserable trying to complete full training sessions with an overactive thyroid. Hopefully it settles quickly and he’s able to keep good fitness. If he’s not right for round 1 do we go with Brayshaw down back like last year OR do we go for a more like for like replacement in Salem’s mop up and quick short kicking game and go with Hunter at half back? I’d be experimenting with both options in the match sim/ practice games.

Half back Brayshaw makes me feel a little bit ill. Get Bowey and Rivers in. We need speed and flair from half back. Harmes, Sparrow, ANB, Spargo and even Gus and Hunter competing for one less spot in the 22. Left over is the sub. Similarly it’s too tall and JVR, Brown, T Mc and even Grundy are competing for 3 spots. JVR had a great start to summer. Tommy moving well. BBB apparently very up and about in the recent match sim. Grundy settling in. It will be a good battle for spots.

Yep when I said grandstand I meant the racecourse ones. They could host your corporate and dining facilities. Definitely agree that you could sink the oval down a little and run maybe a one story low rise stand along a wing with some seats and weather protection. Some similarities to the Lions new venue. The development area after removing all the trainers is huge. I think they'd appreciate a pool, gym, medical rooms, business shared spaces etc if they could be shared with the community. They could link in with Glen Eira College to help present the case to the government.

Before the redevelopment works - straight in the gate off Kambrook road, underneath the track and park by the BBQ's. Plenty of dog walking space and even some fishing in the lake. Never seen a snake either. All that's likely changed now because it's one big earth moving site last time I saw it. And the next time I'll go there's probably going to be a couple of footy ovals arranged in the middle of the place, whether we are training on them or not!

I had heard rumours of this. The big question is whether it would be large enough to host AFLW games. Probably on non race days (or nights). That would be a game changer if it did. You could have the bare minimum in terms of fan facilities around the oval supplemented by the grandstand infrastructure. Otherwise if it's purely a training facility it still ticks the boxes as it's in the heartland and is a blank canvas for an oval or two and club facilities. That said, pretty sure the Swans tried to line up Randwick before getting their new facilities next to the SCG. So we could just be working on the same game plan.

18 hours ahead of Mitch Clearly. 7 might have to slot you in as deputy chief footy reporter in behind Tommy B

A bit more versatility, free wheeling and enjoyment in the way we play. I love the defensive effort the players give and the joy they have in that but our best footy is fast, creative and brave. It trusts the next guy in the chain calling for the ball is either free or can win a contest. Do that and if the coaches and footy department make enough of the right calls managing the players we’ll be in with a shot.

What’s that extra ‘B’ for?

What picks in the draft were those guys?

If you want another highly unreliable training time I believe the boys are having a game of cricket at Ferndale park tonight

I’d imagine Gresham and Dyl Moore would both be targets (for 16 other clubs too). And every club should make Stengle a big offer just to keep the Cats honest. Same goes for Harry Himmelberg and Ben McKay. Redman would be a handy stopper but probably doesn’t come cheap. Plenth of veterans and previously delisted types. One off broadway option is David Cuningham. He didn’t return at all last year from an ACL but he’s a player I have a little bit of time for if he gets healthy.

I’ve been to Gosch’s several times when training isn’t there. Mostly gambling on unadvertised sessions which is fine, you know the risks, but I think other times have been late changes too. I’ve never once seen media there on the wrong day. Maybe they know to call the media manager to check, but one way or another they are always informed. It hurts that supporters aren’t given the same respect.

Apart from a 2 minute interview with Jefferson there’s been nothing with any of the draftees have they? Not even sure most of them can speak

15 or so people here. Including 3 kids under 5. Imagine hating your fans as much as the Melbourne football club

Henry’s yet to play any role at afl level with success and hasn’t looked up for the physicality. He’s still young and might improve but he’s far from a priority at the moment. His best trait might be his kicking and he might end up a half back rather than a wing or forward. Also I’m all for being pragmatic, if Henry does make Pickett stay then maybe it’s worth it, but it’s a little insulting to Kossie to suggest he’d make a decision purely based on bringing in a friend. Seems to be more common with Indigenous players too. No one was saying we should trade for Trey Ruscoe to get Jacko to stay

The second game will be. The first game has consistently been referred to as unofficial so I’d imagine a club operate stream would be best case scenario

Yes, he’s mostly been stationed at half back from what I’ve seen. He’s worked hard, had a few nice spoils but also a few turnovers

Taj reminds me of another father son in Billy Stretch with his preparation and as you know Stretch was a great influence on Oliver and probably others. I think we're already seeing the influence Woey can have with the way JVR and McVee have come back from their break. My biggest concern with him right now is whether the move to half back is wise. Obviously there's a bit of a log jam on the wing with Hunter coming in and Howes hopefully progressing in addition to Langdon, JJ, Gus, Harmes so it makes sense to move him from the wing. But I thought some of his best footy including the grand final came as a high half forward. He could develop in a mid/forward role and set his sights on being a successor to ANB in that specialist role. He has a lot of good attributes as a half back - fit, quick, good tackler, solid overhead for his size but if his kicking doesn't hold up he'll struggle to make it. Maybe half back is a good stepping stone on that journey and will sharpen his kicking and contesting work up.

My sources tell me the Demons will be at a different local Melbourne park beginning with the letter F on Wednesday night for a social t20 game. I wonder if anyone from demonland will stumble upon it.

I tipped the Chiefs because I didn’t ever want to go against Mahomes at home and he’s just amazing, clearly not nearly 100% and getting it done. And because I thought the Chiefs could get pass rush on the Bengals and they sure did. Still, an amazing job by the Chiefs young secondary and Mahomes did just enough with a receiving corps running out of healthy bodies and talent. I think the reality is Mahomes is going to have to be miraculously healthier and have some receivers outside Kelce or MVS to win the super bowl. With 2 weeks until the game - maybe they can do it

I have some sympathy for defensive players with late hits because they offensive player often flirts with the boundary and then skips out and draws a soft penalty. They love calling them for certain qb’s and not for others and positional players too. But yeah, that one was terrible. They’d both run out and he had to do whatever he could to avoid contact with Mahomes. Would’ve been <7 seconds left and either a 60 yard or so FG or a Hail Mary. Ie. Overtime with the Bengals looking the more promising team in the second half

Niners 20 - Eagles 24 Bengals 30 - Chiefs 31

Preseason is hard but it pays a lot more than being an apprentice chippy? Hunter has moved him down the midfield pecking order by one spot given the spare winger in Harmes/Gus or JJ can compete for an on ball role. Otherwise we haven’t added any other ready to play mids. Maybe Howes but I get the feeling he’s still a year away. He’ll know the game plan and hopefully be given more license to kick the ball if he can do that better. But driving more success at Casey still seems the most likely outcome

Nah not Sestan, think we’ve established it’s Cooper Simpson. Sestan had tape on a knee but didn’t seem too restricted. Got a nice bake from Choc at one stage for getting too easily pushed aside by Grundy in a handball drill. Had a nice passage of play where he marked at half forward, held it up, took the man on the mark on and kicked long right to a leading forward. There’s some class to what he does but he doesn’t get up and back like most of our players. He clearly hasn’t had training in that elite style of football. I don’t think we’ll know until the VFL games start if he’s getting 5 touches a game or 12+ and making an impact. And we won’t know if he can make a two way impact maybe until next year!