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Brock McLean is ready to make amends "BROCK McLean still wants to be a Melbourne captain. Right now, all his coach wants him to do is start thinking like one." Well said Dean Bailey. I like that!

YZE INJURY FEAR MARS DEMONS' BUILD-UP

Thompson is even prepared to flout the rules in the game according to the Hun - We'll flout bench rule: Geelong. Now if those sentiments were expressed by the coach of the Kangaroos, Bulldogs or Demons, you can bet they'd get a "please explain" from Demetriou. Would he try it with the coach of the reigning premier?

True but it wasn't 4 the Sandy seniors - it was their reserves!

Pardon the sauce but it seems true that he's now gorn officially - Harris resigns from Demons' board.

I don't know about the need for official changes but, in a young side, there is always the possibility of players coming up who will stamp themselves as leaders and, as DB has said, he looks upon the likes of Green and Jeff White as leaders anyway.

Melbourne has replaced Craig Cameron as recruiting manager with Barry Prendergast - Clubs on the hunt for brains. Good luck BP!

A newspaper article earlier this week said that we start training again on 2 January but it didn't say where or what time.

The headline - Dee home delights Tiwi rookie - leaves a lot to be desired.

Loosen up man; it's all in good fun. After all, our entire game is built on rivalry and tribal hatred. Have a Merry Christmas!

The 2007 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft will take place on Tuesday December 11 with seven teams participating in selection. Here is the official order of selection. Round One 1. Richmond 2. Carlton 3. Melbourne 4. Western Bulldogs 5. Essendon 6. Fremantle 7. West Coast Round Two 8. Essendon The 2007 NAB AFL Rookie Draft will take place on Tuesday December 11 with the 16 teams making up 62 live selections. Both the rookie and pre-season drafts will be run via electronic link-up with club officials able to remain in their home state to carry out the process. Here is the official order of selection. 1. RICHMOND 2. CARLTON 3. MELBOURNE 4. WESTERN BULLDOGS 5. ESSENDON 6. FREMANTLE 7. BRISBANE LIONS 8. ST KILDA 9. ADELAIDE 10. SYDNEY 11. HAWTHORN 12. WEST COAST EAGLES 13. COLLINGWOOD 14. KANGAROOS 15. PORT ADELAIDE 16. GEELONG 17. RICHMOND 18. CARLTON 19. MELBOURNE 20. WESTERN BULLDOGS 21. ESSENDON 22. FREMANTLE 23. BRISBANE LIONS 24. ST KILDA 25. ADELAIDE 26. SYDNEY - (B Murphy – Ireland) 27. HAWTHORN 28. WEST COAST EAGLES 29. COLLINGWOOD - (K Dyas – Ireland) 30. KANGAROOS 31. PORT ADELAIDE 32. GEELONG 33. RICHMOND 34. CARLTON 35. MELBOURNE 36. WESTERN BULLDOGS 37. FREMANTLE 38. BRISBANE LIONS - (P Hanley – Ireland) 39. ST KILDA 40. ADELAIDE 41. SYDNEY - (J Orreal – non Reg) 42. HAWTHORN 43. WEST COAST EAGLES 44. KANGAROOS 45. PORT ADELAIDE 46. GEELONG 47. RICHMOND 48. CARLTON - (M Shields – Ireland) 49. MELBOURNE 50. FREMANTLE 51. ST KILDA - (K Haretuku – NSW Scholarship) 52. ADELAIDE 53. SYDNEY 54. HAWTHORN 55. WEST COAST EAGLES 56. KANGAROOS 57. GEELONG 58. SYDNEY 59. WEST COAST EAGLES 60. KANGAROOS - (J Wilsen – NSW Scholarship) 61. SYDNEY 62. WEST COAST EAGLES - (R Davis – NSW Scholarship)

SEN's Francis Leach interviewed former Essendon player Geoff Burdett who is now the AFL's Wimmera Regional Development Officer. Burdett was involved with three of this year's draftees from the North Ballarat Rebels including our own Kyle Cheney who was drafted along with former Warrack Eagles team mate Clayton Hinkley (to Fremantle) and Stawell's Matt Austin (Brisbane). Burdett spoke about the dedication of these players who made long round trips to training each week to play for the Rebels. Their season started last November when they had only a shortish round trip to Horsham but once the lists were finalised they had a much longer trip to Ballarat twice a week. Burdett estimated that the boys travelled 27,000 kms during the year to play TAC Cup football. Burdett said that the players would take a lap top with them and spend the time on their drives to and from Ballarat for training watching DVD's of their games. If Burdett wasn't available to take them they faced even longer trips by train or bus. He said the boys' parents also had to make enormous sacrifices to support their sons who often had little financial recompense for the costs involved in their travel. There is no subsidy from the AFL for these players although Kyle did receive a small amount through the Wimmera Sports Academy. He also added that because of the sacrifices and the difficulties of long distance travel it brings out the best in young players and they are often better able to adapt to the requirements of playing AFL football. He was greatly impressed by Kyle and expects him to kick on once he establishes himself in a club environment. KC was selected on a HBF in the TAC Cup Team of the Year and looks a likely prospect for the future.

The AFL has released its latest permission to train list with several players added to the training track at most clubs after last weekend’s NAB AFL Draft. Last year’s wooden spooners, Richmond have invited several players to train with the club including former Fremantle-listed forward Clayton Collard and Subiaco young gun David Gourdis. There's very little change at Melbourne with Stefan Martin added to the list who were already training with the Demons. The fact that a player is training at a particular club does not rule out other clubs drafting him in the PSD or Rookie Draft. Here is the full permission to train list for all 16 AFL clubs. Adelaide - nil Brisbane Lions - Patrick Garner (Brisbane Lions); William Hamill (Brisbane Lions rookie); Pearce Hanley (Ballanghaderreen, Ireland) Carlton - Michael Shields (County Cork Ireland) Collingwood - Ryan Colbert (Old Xavierians); Kevin Dyas (County Armagh Ireland); Michael Griffiths (East Fremantle); Daniel Nichols (Collingwood rookie); James Wall (St Kilda rookie) Essendon - Jarrod Atkinson (Bendigo Bombers); Ashley Arrowsmith (Calder Cannons); James Bristow (Gippsland Power); Brent Connelly (Gippsland Power); Tim Plummer (Bendigo Bombers) Fremantle - Blake Broadhurst (Subiaco); Ryley Dunn (Fremantle); Kyal Horsley (Subiaco); Keaton McRob (East Fremantle); Calib Mourish (Fremantle) Geelong - nil Hawthorn - James Allen (Box Hill Hawks); Luke Barker (Box Hills Hawks); Nathan Batsanis (Port Adelaide rookie); Brett Collins (Hawthorn rookie); Joel Coombes (Box Hill Hawks); Ed Curnow (Geelong Falcons); Stefan Garrubba (Casey Scorpions); Sam Gibson (Hawthorn rookie); Jackson Hall (Gippsland Power); Adam Iacobucci (Northern Bullants); Tom Langford (Port Melbourne); Andrew McQualter (St Kilda); Lukas Markovic (Box Hill Hawks); Ryan Normington (Murray Bushrangers); Hugh Sandilands (Oakleigh Chargers); Phil Smith (Calder Cannons); Phil Zarra (Sandringham) Kangaroos - Jarrod Bannister (Northern Bullants); David Trotter (Kangaroos); James Wilsen (St George) Melbourne - Daniel Hughes (Melbourne rookie); Alister Neville (Coburg); Ashley Sampi (West Coast); Jonathan Simpkin (Sydney); Peter Summers (Sandringham); Shane Valenti (Sandringham); Stef Martin (Sandringham)   Port Adelaide - Jesse Aish (Norwood); Lachlan Button (Glenelg); Luke Carey (Port Magpies); Tom Carroll (South Adelaide); Ryan Darling (Sturt); Aaron Day (Glenelg); Sam Fairclough (Woodville West Torrens); Nathan Grima (Central Districts); Todd Grima (Geelong rookie); Daniel Havelberg (Central Districts); Matthew Jaensch (Sturt); Luke Jarrad (Woodville West Torrens); Scott Luders (West Adelaide); James Moss (Central Districts); Alan Obst (Central Districts); Steve Wenman (West Adelaide); Ryan Willits (West Adelaide) Richmond - Daniel Boyle (Murray Bushrangers); Ian Callinan (Central Districts); Clayton Collard (Fremantle); David Fanning (Port Melbourne); Joe Gazzo (Coburg); David Gourdis (Subiaco); Andrew Horne (Coburg); Cam Howat (Richmond rookie); Jarrod Silvester (Coburg); Will Sullivan (Western Jets); Chris Varsamakis (Eltham); Chris Waller (Beaumaris); Trent Zorner (Eastern Ranges) St Kilda - Rohan Bail (Mt Gravatt); Michael Barlow (Shepparton United); Ben Woods (Riverview) Sydney - Brendan Murphy (County Carlow Ireland); Matt O’Dwyer (Sydney); Jake Orreal (no previous club); Sam Rowe (Sydney) West Coast - Ashley Thornton (West Coast Eagles rookie); Beau Wilkes (West Coast Eagles rookie) Western Bulldogs - Cameron Lockwood (Williamstown); Scott Meyer (Williamstown); Liam Picken (Williamstown); Patrick Rose (Williamstown); Ryan Williams (La Trobe)

Top draft prospects: Midfielders Trent Cotchin – Northern Knights, VIC, 185.6 cm, 79.5 kg, DOB 7/4/90 Rhys Palmer – East Fremantle, WA, 181.4 cm, 79.8 cm, DOB 13/2/89 Brad Ebert – Port Adelaide Magpies, SA, 188.2 cm, 85.4 kg, DOB 2/4/90 Chris Masten – East Fremantle, WA, 179.6 cm, 77.3 kg, DOB 2/5/89 Cale Morton – Claremont, WA, 191.5 cm, 78.7 kg, DOB 18/1/90 Patrick Dangerfield – Geelong Falcons, VIC, 186.9 cm, 82.8 kg, DOB 5/4/90 One to watch: John Williams – Morningside, Qld, 188.4 cm, 82.5 kg, DOB 8/10/88

Top draft prospects: Tall forwards Robbie Tarrant – Bendigo Pioneers, VIC, 195.9cm, 90.1kg, DOB 25/4/89 Tony Notte – Swan Districts, WA, 194.5cm, 71.5kg, DOB 15/4/90 Jarrad Grant – Dandenong Stingrays, VIC, 192.4cm, 76.7kg, DOB 6/7/89 Lachlan Henderson – Geelong Falcons, VIC, 195.5cm, 91.5kg, DOB 14/12/89 David Gourdis – Subiaco, WA, 192.4cm, 88.9kg, DOB 14/3/89

Top draft prospects: Tall defenders Alex Rance – Swan Districts, WA, 192.3cm, 87.6kg, DOB 9/10/89 David Myers – Perth, WA, 190.7cm, 86.2kg, DOB 30/6/89 Tayte Pears – East Perth, WA, 190.1cm, 91.8kg, DOB 24/3/90 Tom Collier – Tassie Mariners, TAS, 192.3cm, 83.7kg, DOB 25/3/89 Chris Kangars – Geelong Falcons, VIC, 193.1cm, 84.9kg, DOB 1/8/89

The club will announce a small profit an the demon's off our logo says Paul Gardner.

According to today's Hun Brennan still wants to join Essendon. My bet is that he ends up staying with Brisbane but his new contract could put extra pressure on the Lions' salary cap situation and one or two of their players might face the chop.

Before the Under 18 Championships held in mid year, it was the Victorian talent that was all the rage. That changed when WA demolished all of the other states to win the championships hands down. Read about their talent here Vics set to swoop on young guns. Impressed by this fellow - "Swan Districts best and fairest Luke Miles set tongues wagging yesterday when he shattered the draft camp’s 12-year-old sprint record set by former Docker Steven Koops. The 20-year-old defender ran the 20m in 2.72sec. to obliterate Koops’ time of 2.79sec." In the past he would have quietly found his way to the Eagles or Dockers rookie list. I wonde?

CJ's going on the club's trip to China next week. I hardly thing he's going anywhere other than there and then back to resume his career with the MFC.

The father/son bidding has landed Darcy Daniher to Essendon for its third round draft pick (currently pick No.39) - Daniher goes to Bombers There were no bids for Adam Donohue and Jaxson Barham so they will be picked up with their respective clubs' last draft selection.

2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp results - Day 2 3km time-trial 1. Joel Smouha (10 minutes 23 seconds) 2. Rhys Palmer (10.25) 3. Cale Morton (10.32) 4. Hugh Sandilands (10.42) 5. Nick Murphy (10.48) 6 eq. Scott Selwood (10.49) 6 eq. Patrick McGinnity (10.49) 6 eq. Matthew Lobbe (10.49) 9 eq. Matthew Kreuzer (10.51) 9 eq. Tony Armstrong (10.51) 9 eq. Chris Kangars (10.51) Vertical jump 1. David Gourdis (81 cm.) 2. Lachlan Hill (74) 3. Patrick Dangerfield (73) 4. James Mulligan (72) 5. Levi Greenwood (71) 6 eq. Matthew Lobbe (70) 6 eq. Steven Gaertner (70) 6 eq. Simon Starling (70) 10 eq. Robbie Tarrant (68) 10 eq. James Polkinghorne (68) 10 eq. Mitchell Farmer (68)

2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp results - Day 1 20-metre sprints 1. David Gourdis (2.83 seconds) 2. Steven Gaertner (2.88) 3. Clayton Hinkley (2.88) 4. Jarrad Grant (2.89) 5. Brendan Whitecross (2.91) 6. Aaron Joseph (2.91) 7. Tayte Pears (2.92) 8. Patrick Dangerfield (2.92) 9. Jarrhan Jacky (2.93) 10. David Zaharakis (2.94) Agility 1. Aaron Joseph (7.91 seconds) 2. Lachlan Hill (8.05) 3. Clayton Hinkley (8.07) 4. Tom Collier (8.22) 5. Jackson Hall (8.26) 6. Andy Otten (8.29) 7. Scott Selwood (8.32) 8. Brendan Whitecross (8.36) 9. Callan Ward (8.38) 10. Steven Gaertner (8.39) 6 x 30m repeat sprints 1. Chris Kangars (23.59 seconds) 2. Patrick Dangerfield (23.96) 3. Cyril Rioli (24.01) 4. Lachlan Hall (24.08) 5. Haelen Kay (24.17) 6. David Gourdis (24.22) 7. Levi Greenwood (24.22) 8. Brendan Whitecross (24.25) 9. Chris Mayne (24.37) 10. Joel Smouha (24.48) Shuttle run (aka beep test) 1. Cale Morton (15.2 – Level 15 Shuttle 2) 2. Joel Smouha (15.1) 3. Brendan Whitecross (14.10) 4. Clayton Hinkley (14.9) 5. Rhys Palmer (14.8) 6. Nick Murphy (14.8) 7. Scott Selwood (14.7) 8. Chris Kangars (14.5) 9. Patrick McGinnity (14.4) 10. Matthew Lobbe (14.3) 11. Scott Simpson (14.3) 12. Andy Otten (14.2) 13. Robbie Tarrant (14.2) 14. Matthew Kreuzer (14.2) West Australians Morton and Palmer among the stand outs in the beep test. Both are top five draft candidates and these results won't hinder their prospects. The Tigers are said to be interested in both he and his brother Mitch who wants out of the WCE.

Does anyone speak English around here? Anyway, it's back up!

According to Greg Denham in the Australian [Dogs' interest turns to Robertson] Russell Robertson has attracted the interest of the Western Bulldogs. At 28, going on 29, and wanting a three year contract it's going to be a tough call for the club. No-one's immune from trading and if the Doggies want him they'd need to be able to offer us something worthwhile in a trade for someone of Robbo's stature at the club.