alpha33

Caroline Wilson was on 3AW last night and her segment opened with discussion on some of the difficulties the MFC is encountering in trying to resolve matters relating to the location of its new home. It's all highly political and involves the MCC, the AFL and the State Government. It's all a hard slog for the club but with resolution there will be a way ahead. I taped the segment and will follow up with more details later.

The evidence at last: DEMONS HIT THE TRACK AT CASEY FIELDS

The November edition of Inside Football is out today and it tips Watts, Naitanui and Hill to go 1-2-3. Incredibly, that means Daniel Rich could slip to 4 or lower!

This list was issued today of unlisted players who have been given permission by the AFL to train with clubs as of Monday November 10: Adelaide Brian Donnelly (Ireland) Brisbane Lions Daniel Dzufer (Brisbane Lions) Phillip Smith (Brisbane Lions) Joel Tippett (Brisbane Lions) Carlton Greg Bentley (Port Adelaide) Lachie Hill (Carlton rookie list) Sam Jacobs (Carlton rookie list) Chris Johnson (Melbourne) Darren Pfeiffer (Carlton) Collingwood Colm Begley (Brisbane Lions) Toby Thoolen (Collingwood) Essendon Tom Hislop (Essendon) Hayden Skipworth (Bendigo Bombers) Fremantle Matthew Moody (Brisbane Lions) Chris Smith (Fremantle) Geelong Nil Hawthorn Nil Melbourne Daniel Hughes (Melbourne rookie 2007) North Melbourne Alan Obst (North Melbourne) Port Adelaide Daniel Boyle (Central Districts) Daniel Caire (West Adelaide) Josh Carr (Fremantle) Thomas Dunne (Central Districts) Nick Fergusson (South Adelaide) Craig Fitzgerald (Woodville-West Torrens) Tom Fotheringham (Sturt) Tom Holmes (Glenelg) Gavin Hughes (Western Bulldogs) Damian Hynes (Central District) George Long (Port Adelaide) Charlie McAdam (North Adelaide) Jessie O’Brien (North Adelaide) Brayden O’Hara (Central District) Jay Shannon (Port Adelaide Magpies) Daniel Stewart (North Adelaide) Wade Thompson (North Adelaide) Daniel Webb (West Adelaide) Richmond Tristan Cartledge (Richmond) Fortunato Caruso (Coburg) Adam Cockshell (Port Adelaide) Matt Davis (Coburg) Fabian Deluca (Port Adelaide) David Gourdis (Richmond) Nick Liddle (Coburg) Niall McKeever (County Antrim Ireland) Connor Meredith (County Laois Ireland) Jon Morris (Coburg) St Kilda Nil Sydney Swans Aaron Bruce (Sydney Swans) Peter Faulks (Sydney Swans) Kristin Thornton (Sydney Swans) West Coast Nil Western Bulldogs Liam Picken (Williamstown)

Emma Quayle was interviewed by KB on SEN today and was quizzed on her top 10 for this year's draft. She did say that it was subject to some possible refinement as the draft nears but this is what she's thinking ATM. I might have a crack at a transcript if my tape worked out:- 1 Melbourne Jack Watts (I know it's a big surprise to everyone but hey, I'm only the messenger!) 2 West Coast Nick Naitanui 3 Fremantle Daniel Rich 4 Port Adelaide Tyrone Vickery 5 Essendon Chris Yarran 6 Carlton Michael Hurley 7 Brisbane Jack Ziebell 8 Richmond Hamish Hartlett 9 North Melbourne Lewis Johnston 10 Adelaide Phil Davis

Melbourne Football Club injury list as at 5 November:- Rivvo (knee) 1 week Nick Smith (general soreness) 4 - 6 weeks

... to open their NAB Cup game with an easy one ... v Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium in Launceston. We seem to be the chosen ones to play the reigning premier away from home in our first NAB Cup game - last year it was Geelong at Geelong. ROUND 1 Saturday February 7 Match 1: Collingw&%$ v West Coast Eagles, Cape Town 12.00 (21:00 AEDT) Channel 7 Friday February 13 Match 2: Western Bulldogs v Essendon, TIO Stadium 18:40 (20:10 AEDT) FOX Saturday February 14 Match 3: Brisbane Lions v St Kilda, Gold Coast Stadium 19:40 (20:40 AEDT) Channel 10 Sunday February 15 Match 4: Fremantle v Richmond, Subiaco Oval 18:40 (20:40 AEDT) FOX Friday February 20 Match 5: Carlton v North Melbourne, Telstra Dome 19:40 Channel 7 Saturday February 21 Match 6: Hawthorn v Melbourne, Aurora Stadium 16:10 FOX Match 7: Geelong v Adelaide, Telstra Dome 19:10 Channel 10 Sunday February 22 Match 8: Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide, Manuka Oval 15:40

It appears that these days a player can run riot and still have the support by the AFLPA and be entitled to full pay even when his actions amount to a breach of his contract - Wayward Demon Nathan Carroll wants to move to Moorabbin Talk about bringing the game into disrepute.

And there's a fair bit of handwringing over him being delisted. Here's what Wisbey wrote about him:- HISLOP, Tom (20 Essendon) [10] Aggressive powerhouse. Plug n play. Versatile bullish onballer/flanker who can play small or above his height, has fairly good pace, takes no prisoners, always gives a contest and gets a lot of contested ball but currently doesn't look for, take or hit the right option often enough - too often kicks long instead of looking for short options (hand or foot). Other main concern AFL-wise might be over-aggression. Main selling points are physicality, competitiveness, courage, intensity, overhead, endurance, balance, strength, consistency. Trademarks are (1) Hardball get, then hurried disposal, (2) Crunch a pack or an opponent, perhaps taking a very strong mark that he has no right to take. Often clean, especially at ground level in "static" situations (although not "routinely: clean overall). If not for the somewhat high number of blind and other inaccurate kicks, I would rank him about #5. I love his competitiveness and aggression at both man and ball but he must start getting better return from his possession tally. Kicking was better in VFL than at U18. He is not a bad kick per se. Good depth and dual-sided. The issue is reliability. Kicking style needs work. He tilts to the left, which limits your error margin over a short distance, and his arm movements need work. IMHO it is important for both arms to work virtually in sync, helping your body stay balanced, both laterally and vertically. Hislop's arms are way out of synch and affect his centre-of-mass transfer and his ability to kick directly through the ball. Left arm often spends time bent at 90 degrees upwards then comes forward and across his body, while his right arm stays back, hangs down and does nothing. By the end of his kick he is often off-balance. Those faults should be fairly "easily" fixed and will make a big difference to his kicking reliability. Hislop and Armitage are similar types, age, great endurance and both are virtually plug 'n play. Both courageous hardnuts with good work rate and both with sub-optimal disposal. Hislop has more pace, is a bit physically stronger, and is the better kick. Hislop arguably has greater impact too. I would definitely take Hislop over Armitage, much as I admire Armitage. Jetta is X-factor vs risk but is a very quick, electrifying magician and is capable of being a quality user (not that he is yet). Hislop is none of those but he will deliver for you every time, whereas Jetta will switch on when it suits him. Jetta's pace, daring, flair and disposal makes him potentially much more of an impact player. Hislop is more a player who stops the opposition having impact through his hardness at man and ball but he too can turn a game. Likes to take opponents on and carry the ball and is often, although not routinely, judicious. Astute in corralling an opponent but usually prefers the bone-crunching tackle or bump. I have been impressed re how very switched on and intelligent he is at the 1/4, 3/4 huddles. With ever-increasing sophistication of team game plans, being able to be on the same page as the coach is more important than ever. Exceptionally strong overhead for his size, especially the big screamer from behind but can mark from any angle/position and attacks his marks / hits the pack like there's no tomorrow. He is on the slower end of the "quick midfielder" scale rather than the quicker end of the "slightly slowish midfielder" scale. Probably best suited to HBF or onball but, despite being only 184cm, is versatile enough to play anywhere down the flanks. Could be exposed by a very quick or very tall opponent but, even then, is likely to be at least mainly competitive, such is his ability to play tall yet also have enough pace and smarts to know where to run, how to cut angles and how to pressure both aerially and at ground level. Has the motor and competitiveness to become an excellent run-with (in time) and that's the role in which I possibly favour him. Hmmm ...

It seems we are drawn to open the season with an early fixture on the day of the Grand Prix - a Sunday. I'm happy with that. North skipper Adam Simpson had some unkind words to say about Melbourne after our last clash. Time to stick it up him and his team.

More importantly, get it done right.

There's a very good summary of the draft camp activities in today's Sunday Age written by Emma Quayle: THE NEXT BIG THINGS. Only thing is there must be about 20 players in the top ten draft picks!

TWICE-BRIDESMAID BRUCE WINS TRUSCOTT CO-CAPTAIN WINS, BUT BROCK MCLEAN STORY OF NIGHT Fully aware that there's been another thread in which the usual suspect are having a field day but, having been involved in coaching football at a junior level (and with different outcomes in terms of success), I fully understand the meaning of awards such as these. The winners aren't necessarily always the flashy types but the ones who earned the tag of "champion" because they followed the coach's instructions and were disciplined and unselfish in their play. For a player to execute what's required in any given piece of play it's a lot more difficult in a lowly team that has lower skill levels. Sometimes you have to sacrifice your own game to help a lot of the kids who are coming through and who might be struggling out there on the ground. Cameron Bruce stood up in what has been a horror year for the MFC and he earned the votes. He deserves our congratulations for winning the "Bluey" in such difficult times. TOP 10 CAMERON BRUCE 75 Brock McLean 60 Brad Green 57 Matthew Warnock 47 James McDonald 46 Brad Miller 40 Cale Morton 40 Clint Bartram 39 Paul Wheatley 39 Austin Wonaeamirri 39

Cats to get tougher 'blockbuster' draw

Walker is on Adelaide's list. He was drafted under the NSW scholarship player rule - the one that Melbourne hasn't really embraced much at all because of the costs involved.

Apparently can play football as well.

Might be worth going down to Visy Park tomorrow to see the TAC Cup Under 18 Semi Finals starting with Dandenong Stingrays (Ashley Smith) v Gippsland Power (Nick Heyne) at 11.10am followed by Murray Bushrangers (Kade Klemke, Dylan McNeil, Riley Milne, Tom Rockliff, Steele Sidebottom, Caleb Tiller, Sam Wright and Jack Ziebell) v Oakleigh Chargers (Dan Hannebery, Jordan Lisle, Luke Shuey and James Strauss) at 2.10pm.

List of attendees - according to afl.com.au includes one Jack Watts of Sandringham Dragons as a tall forward. Tom Allwright Tassie Mariners TAS MM Mitchell Banner Western Jets VIC SMM Dayne Beams Southport Q MM Sam Blease Eastern Ranges VIC SMM Jarrad Blight Swan Districts WA MD Matthew Broadbent Eagles SA TD Ben Bucovaz Geelong Falcons VIC MD Paul Cahill Sturt SA TF Bryce Carroll Western Jets VIC MF Ayce Cordy Geelong Falcons VIC R Aaron Cornelius Tassie Mariners TAS TF Lance Daly Swan Districts WA TF Phil Davis North Adelaide SA TD Matthew DeBoer Claremont WA MM Taylor Gilchrist Sandringham Dragons VIC MM Michael Gugliotta Nightcliff NT TD Chris Hall Eagles SA SMM Dan Hannebery Oakleigh Chargers VIC SMM Hamish Hartlett West Adelaide SA MM Nick Heyne Gippsland Power VIC MF Stephen Hill West Perth WA SMM Tom Hill Northern Knights VIC R Taylor Hunt Sandringham Dragons VIC MD Michael Hurley Northern Knights VIC TD Neville Jetta Swan Districts WA MF Lewis Johnston North Adelaide SA TF Jordan Jones Geelong Falcons VIC TD Liam Jones Tassie Mariners TAS TF Kade Klemke Murray Bushrangers NSW MD Zach Ledin Geelong Falcons VIC SMM Jordan Lisle Oakleigh Chargers VIC TF Tom Lynch Sandringham Dragons VIC TF Matthew Martin West Adelaide SA TD Bart McCulloch Tassie Mariners TAS R Sam McGarry Sandringham Dragons VIC MD Shaun McKernan Calder Cannons VIC R Dylan McNeil Murray Bushrangers NSW SMM Riley Milne Murray Bushrangers VIC TD Steven Motlop Wanderers NT MF Nicholas Naitanui Swan Districts WA R Rhys O'Keefe North Adelaide SA MD Clancee Pearce Swan Districts WA MD Jarrad Redden Eagles SA R Daniel Rich Subiaco WA MM Ian Richardson Claremont WA MF Mitch Robinson Tassie Mariners TAS MM Tom Rockliff Murray Bushrangers VIC MF Jordan Roughead North Ballarat VIC R Ryan Schoenmakers Norwood SA MF Zach Sengstock Sandringham Dragons VIC TD Charlie Sharples Darwin FC NT MF Jamie Sheahan Murray Bushrangers VIC SMM Luke Shuey Oakleigh Chargers VIC MM Casey Sibosado Northern Territory Thunder NT TD Steele Sidebottom Murray Bushrangers VIC MD Tom Simpkin Geelong Falcons VIC TD Tyson Slattery West Adelaide SA MD Rory Sloane Eastern Ranges VIC MD Alistair Smith Perth WA SMM Ashley Smith Dandenong Stingrays VIC MD Rhys Stanley West Adelaide SA R James Strauss Oakleigh Chargers VIC MM Nick Suban North Ballarat VIC SMM Tom Swift Claremont WA MM Caleb Tiller Murray Bushrangers VIC MF Jackson Trengove Calder Cannons VIC TF Adam Varcoe Central Districts SA MF Tyrone Vickery Sandringham Dragons VIC R Michael Walters Swan Districts WA SMM Jack Watts Sandringham Dragons VIC TF Sam Wright Murray Bushrangers VIC MF Chris Yarran Swan Districts WA MF Will Young North Ballarat VIC TF David Zaharakis Northern Knights VIC SMM Jack Ziebell Murray Bushrangers VIC MM Table: SMM = Small/Medium Midfielders MF = Medium Forwards MM = Medium Midfielders MD = Medium Defenders TD = Tall Defenders TF = Tall Forwards R = Ruckmen

This could be the best news we've had at the club for a long while ... Dons fitness duo off to Dees and and there's more

Aaron Davey (heel) - season Chris Johnson (groin) - season Paul Johnson (hip) - season Brock McLean (ankle) - season Tom McNamara (hamstring) - test John Meesen (ankle) - season Brent Moloney (shoulder) - season David Neitz (neck) - retired Jared Rivers (groin) - season Russell Robertson (achilles) - season Jake Spencer (glandular fever) - season Trent Zomer (elbow) - test

I wonder what's going on there? I read recently that Justin Westhoff was injured and unlikely to play again this year but he's still selected. I wouldn't be surprised if Port Adelaide pull a couple of late replacements as they did last week. I smell a Melbourne upset and will definitely back the Dees at the odds on offer.

No doubt a tough gig but Campbell Rose faced even greater mountains at the Western Bulldogs and has enhanced his reputation immeasurably as a result. The successful candidate will of course, have to have a thick hide because the critics will not hesitate to come out of the woodwork if he puts a single toe in the wrong place. Schwab has consistently followed the line that he has other interests to fulfill while Fox was offered the top job at a stable club when Cook retires and that was his preference. Good luck to him. Waldron would be the wrong fit IMO. We shouldn't be in a hurry to make the appointment which seems to have been a mistake made and repeated in the past. David Schwarz seems to agree with this view. Writing in inside football this week, he wrote:- Irrespective of who gets the job, it's important that he gets every opportunity to settle in, to show us what he's made of and whether he can impart success on the club.

FOXTEL takes total to $2.6 million Congratulations to the Melbourne Football Club on this fantastic achievement. Let's knock off $3,000,000 by the end of the month and kick on to $4,000,000 by the end of the year.

The season ending injury list is expanding at a great rate. Here's our official list - Daniel Bell (hamstring) - test Aaron Davey (heel stress fracture) - season Colin Garland (hamstring) - 1 week Jared Rivers (abdominals/groin) - season Paul Johnson (hip) - season Brock McLean (ankle) - season Brad Miller (hamstring) - test Brent Moloney (shoulder) - season David Neitz (neck) - retired Russell Robertson (Achilles) - season The smart thing to do at this stage of the season is not to bring back any of those hamstring injuries too early. If we remember back to last year, we brought players back too early and, in the end, we were severely embarassed in the pre season with too many players not coming up right even after several extra months of recuperation. As a result, a lot of our players were never 100% and we had a shocking start to this season and never recovered. We can't afford that next year, so give the boys time to heal properly before throwing them into battle. My motto for this week at least is: Don't test - rest!

Well, now the melbournefc.com.au site says he might still play this week despite the fact that he is facing surgery some time soon - Johnson set to have hip surgery.