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That's quite the bold statement Redleg!

Who was playing on Byrnes?

If you're contending that because Jack doesn't have the same courage as Nick doesn't make him fit to carry his bag you see AFL completely the wrong way. Courage is a great attribute and one I admire greatly, however some of the best had scarce amounts of it. Is Lewis Jetta up to carry Nick's bags?

He kicked 21 goals in that year averaging 10 possessions and 6 marks. In 2011, where Jack wasn't playing back line he averaged 16.1 possessions kicked 21 goals and averaged 5.6 marks per game. Jack has shown glimpses albeit not consistently enough, but to say he hasn't the skill to carry Nick's bags is just comedy. FWIW, for an 'educated' person like yourself, I thought you'd be the first to validate that the biggest laughs come not from the person being trolled but moreso the troll themself. Enjoy your afternoon, Professor.

Such a hero Ben. You've said enough about the past, what kpp player who is naturally undersized would excel in any poor team. Look at someone like Johnathon Patton who comes at the right size and still can't make the grade yet. He's 21 years old, the same age when Nick Riewoldt had his breakout year. I'm pretty confident ill be excited to hear your comments later in the year.

JCB, very sorry to hear the news but proud of your fight and it seems like you're showing it who is boss. Hopefully UF will be a bit more fun for you this year, and every one of us is here for support if you did need it.

Haha god what did he do this time. Can't take a trick old RR can he?!

Apologies RR, Trent Cotchin and Matthew Priddis are my keepers and Jack Watts is my underage. Ill also have Tom Scully as my other but at the moment it's with a star because I want to see how his NAB Cup goes. Is That okay or do I need to lock in now for good?

I have no complaints with either, both systems work. As for your two keepers my money is both will miss enormous amounts of games, Definately just leave them to go back into the draft pool

Apologies all, there was an opportunity to re-create league and in my haste completely overlooked it. I'm happy with the same setup as last year with the same teams but at the same time, we did say we'd adjust people into leagues if they excelled in one and sucked in the other so I'm happy to do that again. Once you sign up for the next year I don't think you can find your score from last year.... could be a concern

I agree with you BH, key is to stay away. Think he's referring to here that the topic is Training Monday the 1st and there's 2 pages of two posters talking Jordie Gysberts. One thing to ignore a topic but when feuds end up taking over every topic it can get brain numbing...

IMO I think this is incredibly selfish of the Herald Sun to make an article like this. I know they're all about selling papers and I'm sure if I was a journalist I'd do it too, but for me it's just so unnecessary. Let's be honest the article isn't adding anything we don't already know.. Yes AFL clubs will drop you like a hot potato if you're no good, and yes Buddy Franklin (sadly) will get favourable treatment. All this has done is open a can of worms for this poor ex-player who will know be hounded down from ex-teammates, questioning his motives. The more I delve into the article, every single quote is given by 'Micks' father and it leads me to question whether he would have even known his Dad was talking about this. In the world of Twitter and social media, all anonymous sources always get found out and I now know who the player is in question. If I've been told I'm sure a lot in the industry would have. I can understand the drugs and depression are the buzz words around the AFL in the off-season and I could be overreacting but I see it as a huge lapse in judgement by this player's father and Mark Robinson has taken full advantage of this bloke's idiocy.

Too bloody right BB, and I also wasn't a huge fan of Magner's work but the club obviously like his training and hardness so for that I can see him getting games. Good to hear in comparison Terlich and Jones you think are better overall players, it's a key for us to have depth in our positions whether they are regulars or play 2-10 games we need as many players to 'AFL' standard as possible! I must ask with 2,000 posts I don't recognise 'Baghdad Bob' are you fresh of a two year ban haha?

Not saying none do I'm saying it is an enormous pool, there are a lot of mature aged players coming into the system and few make it. Last year the success stories were Steve Morris & Dayne Zorko, and than secondary players like Tory Dickson and Sam Gibson . The last 3 really played 10-12 games each and Morris and Dickson are specialized positions. Godspeed to the two of them but I just think the suggestion that Terlich and Jones will both be 'regulars' is ambitious.

Just like Tom Couch last year? These players who come from the VFL very rarely step straight into regulars. I agree they are training well but we just have no inkling into how good their game smarts are or how well they can play to Melbournes game plan. Couch averaged 30 touches and a goal or two in the VFL and played one full AFL game.

I think this whole tanking investigation is obvious. Vlad could never seen to be wrong, therefore his statement that tanking doesn't exist in the AFL will always ring in his ears. By milking this investigation out for as long as humanly possible it takes away people like Caroline Wilson from than writing articles saying he's trying to sweep it up the cover. Longer the investigation goes on the more information it appears they're going through but really they're just biding time so it looks like every avenue has been explored. At the end of the day not guilty will be the verdict.

My one qualm is that in the minor finals series no one other than me and JLH, plus Robbo really put in. I finished 16th but won the consolation finals IMO because no-one gave a carp about consolation finals, nor did I but I did post my best teams. I think the Top 8 should be the order after the finals series because everyone put in... But in my case 'anti-tanking' will've cost my average list 6 draft picks and it seems unfair to me.

In, and hoping this year is more successful for me both on the ladder and in reducing fights within the group. I'm happy to lock up some of the rules before the start of Feb thus to allow time to debate etc...

Who gives a toss now. Lets hope they're [censored] bricks in 2016 when we're there and thereabouts the top of the ladder. Geelong 10 years ago were the joke who couldn't close and now they're a 'dynasty'. Lets bump in a few years time!

Hmmm alot of excuses. I never saw people justifying Ben Cousins drug addiction, and further the line that I can't understand what he is going through is one of the biggest cop outs in life itself. Liam is a Australian person with regular problems, he also had a perfectly regular life until he turned his back on Melbourne and the AFL and was allegedly potentially involved in a stabbing. Too many 'excuses' are given for this human and it's bloody bloody lucky he didn't kill or injure someone. Yes there are facets of Aboriginal life that are different, but this sweeping under the rug due to 'non-native' "not understanding" what they have to go through is BS. People lose loved ones and have [censored] days, weeks, years and don't commit crimes.. There is no excuse for driving .27 and that is all it comes down too.

Don't risk it, bet him Mitch's goal average per game will be higher. Guarantee you that'll win as at least you won't be [censored] yourself when he gets rested for a finals

There's no way they run 185m in 18 seconds after 3k. It takes Usian Bolt 18 seconds to run 200m fresh, after a run like that, that distance would take 30-40 seconds. The club sets goals for the players, and the 3km time trial is far more comparable to other teams, than running 3.183kms.

I'm not 100% sure on this I think the actual Princes Park course is about 3.2- 3.3kms but Melbourne run a 3km time trial. So the record time being 9.49 is over the extra 200-300m so technically Dan's is no record.

Haha I didn't say no Sylvia because I'm sick of it I just sometimes like hearing about talk of the lesser likes. Great to hear Jetta having a ripper preseason, with no Davey and Jurrah we really lost that aboriginal spark in the team. The way that type of footballer plays really does bring a spark to both team and supporters and hopefully Jetta can do it for us. In terms of young players also I really like Kent. Obviously he's not been stuck in VFL but at his pick he wouldn't be expected to do much season 1. Him and Tapscott are very very similar so for mine I think one of the two will make it... God knows which one.

I always keenly observe the 'Most Improved' threads to see who DL fans will see coming on for Melbourne this year. What I'm generally finding happens is the conversation remains on Colin Sylvia or another older player not playing to his talent. For this I'd like to try and find a player who's plied his trade in and out of the team who will now move on to a regular spot. For example, my selection is James Strauss. Think his foot skills will be paramount to our success, from the training reports seems to be holding himself to a high standard and now what 2 years on from his broken leg has no excuses. My downfall for the year is I think Dan Nicholson will have a down year. Anyone have any predictions for our outside players...