Robbie57

Jade Rawlings is a straight shooter. Very impressive.

Said Cale was unhappy with his form of the past two years. Was working hard to fit into the backline. Said that the backline initially had some trust issues with Cale (I took that to mean whether they could rely on him to fulfill his role) but that they had worked hard to deal with those in a constructive way and were looking very positive.

This is a great insight. I suspect the issue with Morton has been confidence and looks like that is being addressed. Hope it pays off.

He also said that the Demons had taken the view that players should shed weight whereas Essendon were of the opinion that they should bulk up; once again it will be interesting to see if one is right and the other wrong or if both methods have their value.

I think that is an oversimplification of whats happening. I was surprised to see a photo of moloney the other day he clearly has trimmed down. Jones in todays article said he had been asked to shed a few as well. Against that its clear others have put a few kgs on. the photo of Watts by the pool shows he has bulked up.

What we are getting is the benefit of targetted training for each player.

Quite a few years back i was invited to a Swans match and pre game lunch. I recall discussing the Swans ability to go through season largely injury free and the long a detailed response i got about how they had very carefully tailored programs for each player which measured just about everything.

What we are seeing is micro management of every aspect of training.

I am excited about this year not because we will leap to the top of the table but because we will have not left anything to chance.

Neeld and co are not going to die wondering.

I don't know if it's been mentioned before but I reckon this tweet is all class.

It's from Brad Green:

Well played Brad and let's hope you're back to your absolute best in 2012.

I was just going to like this but it bears repeating. Very classy. He deserves our support and it's time to dwell on the positives in the past and those ahead.

Well played indeed and thank you.

Congratulations to the Jacks, and to the leadership group.

Personally I am looking forward to more of beamers on field leadership as well.

What do I win ?

Missed a few there I think.

http://www.melbourne...31/default.aspx

Full story on Website saying Trengrove was the real number one:

"Trengove was originally selected at No.2 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft - although many believed it was a flip of the coin between him and former teammate Tom Scully for the No.1 mantle."

i am just copying the tweets:

Neeld says he and their team mates couldn't split the two Jacks and they're outstanding young men who will be outstanding captains.

Leadership group: Clark, Bartram, Garland, Jones, Frawley and Jamar.

Mark Neeld has named Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove as Co-Captains.

ok SEN say its captain announcement

any radio coverage?

Giants' ground worries

Moving to Olympic park, not so much the Greater Western Sydney as the Inner western Sydney who live in the Southern sydney by the water.

Interesting story about risk of losing players already due to facilities.

Photos would be good to see if Schwabby has bulked up in the pre season on too much chinese.

Anyone reporting live?

Thanks Jimmy, words are not enough to express our gratitude.

Hmmm I think its in the Russians best interests not to say anything else.

Has Beamer lost bulk? Or has everyone else gone up a step? In the first photo he doesn't stand out the way he used to.

my prediction for today was wrong.

Oh well.

Maybe for the family day, just how long can they leave this up in the air?

Must be summer....

As they say, if you hear hooves beating, think horses, not zebras.

Unless you are in the Serengeti.

I watched the last part of this again and it was instructive.

I dont think we were that good, the aints were not good and injured.

What i noticed was:

how poor our ball movement was

Col Sylvia being Col (potential)

Davey losing it (confidence player...but very useful around the goal)

Bate (not bad in the middle)

Neeta (creating havoc in the goal square, what the world needs now....)

Trapper (magic when he was on)

And Mr Fumbles himself (how did he hang onto Pia).

Really quite instructive.

I sadi elsewhere I thought we would go co captains and its looking tht way.

Trengove Frawley Clark

If Chinese can't be done until after new year cleaning out the old year then bringing in the new.

Just a couple of things... in what way is Jan 25 an auspicious date on he Chinese calendar? I am currently in Shenzhen and after reading this asked my friend what was so special about the 25th, to which I got the response "nothing". The 23rd however is special, because that is Chinese New Year. Also, not that it matters, but I am just wondering how a Guangzhou to Heathrow route puts China Southern in direct competition with Qantas; does Qantas run a route to London via Guangzhou? (I would have thought they would be trying to raise their profile as a budget carrier for flights from Australia to China)

As far as China Southern goes, I can recommend them... I have used them on my last two trips to China and although they don't have all of the bells and whistles that other carriers have (in seat video for example was non existent on this flight), they are efficient and friendly and very reasonably priced.

The Date was off the web as an auspicious date so i could be wrong, referred to in a number of places.

Direct competition because at the moment China Southern dont fly to Heathrow from Guangz so you choice would be Melb Sing LHR on Qantas or Melb Guangz LHR on China southern.

I believe the ailrines see this as direct competition like going to LHR through Dubai etc.

Trust me I am no expert on this it was just a thought....

My wild guess,

Wednesday 25th January is an auspicious date in the chinese calender.

Southern China Airlines announced a route from Guangzhou to heathrow which puts them in direct competition with Qantas, eithad, singapore and emirates on the the route to Europe.

They will want to back up the announcement with exposure.

They are mentioned above and Cameron S spent a lot of time in Guangzhou. Can we expect an announcement next Wednesday?