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I think so, one of the best players I grew up playing footy with was convinced every week he was going to get dropped. He'd kick 3 and have 20 and worry at training whether he'd keep his spot. Some people are just like I guess. I'd be more than disappointed if we left AvB out, he's currently epitomising what I've wanted this club to stand for for 10 years- hard work, 1%s and perseverance

That's good to hear Stephen. Reading all of these it seems on the whole the players were generally pretty good. A lot of the time we all forget they are humans like the rest of us and aren't all outgoing, funny, naturally socialable people just because the club says you're required at an event. Glad to hear you enjoyed the day though, I may have to pull myself out of bed next year

It was only a stretch when he insinuated that's why Hawthorn are at the top. Delaying trainings doesn't stop premierships but it does show the gulf between the best and worst run clubs. On today's training, the delay of precedings wouldn't particularly phase me, but the sad part is the stories of kids leaving disappointed. There are excuses for the reasons behind delaying the event, but there are no excuses for not sending out an official or player to get around the youngsters who made the trip out early. If Hogan wasn't training today, send him out with a pen for 30 minutes with Petracca and set up a photo table from 12.15-12.45 to pass the time. At absolute worst, the lack of a senior official not making themselves available down there to explain the delay is beyond reasoning. Either way, as a football team, good results will always override bad PR and I'm hoping this year that will be the case. Training seemed to be reasonable and I'm excited of the progress of VDB, Newton and some of the younger guys. Pretty excited to see how we go against a Bulldogs side whom I feel we should match up with strongly against this weekend.

Whilst I agree in principle that he's a better player than these other young key forwards, I hope most also keep reasonable expectations on Hogan. The chance that he backs up a 4 goal game with another is low. He might rag doll a veteran opponent a few times, but probability shows that these veteran defenders will embarrass him a few times as well. Tom Hawkins who right now is arguably the best pure power forward (over Cloke, Schulz, Riewoldt, Tippett etc) couldn't have looked more out of his depth for long periods at the beginning of his career. Geelong had good players that took that pressure away and supporters didn't bay for blood because they were winning. There is a fair chance Jesse won't have that luxury. Remain optimistic but don't expect rising star nominations Round 1 and 50 goal seasons while teaching Josh Gibson a lesson. He's a mature teen with not a minute of match experience. I think he could be a once in a decade forward we have on our hands but let's be realistic.

Glass half full approach, he's going to be mighty cheap for my SuperCoach team next year..

Arrow is in again!

Good on you Choke, keep up the good work

I'll give you a tip for life. If the circle of people you hang around with think beating depressing requires a bucket of cement, it'd be in your best interests to find a new circle. Depression is an illness affecting and potentially killing as many people as cancer and there's a large chance it affects many people in your own group that you probably treat with the exact attitude that only exacerbates their own feelings. Read up and you might save someone's life

That is exactly right chook. In a listed company, we get the chance to vote for change. I would have no interest in telling a CEO he's useless, nor would I ever say it to his face. It doesn't mean I go to water, it means I'm following the protocols that allow me a say. A football forum is similar in a lot of ways. My say may only make .001% of difference just like my vote but I'm absolutely entitled to say X,Y or Z is pathetic and should be delisted. Whether anything gets done about it is out of my hands, but it doesn't mean I'm not entitled to discuss it. Those who feel that because we support them we shouldn't criticize them are absolutely off the mark. If anything we are far more responsible for holding them accountable for their performance. I look down on those when the criticism goes to a personal level but as long as it is football related for as long as I'm a member of this site I'll give my honest thoughts on every player and I don't care much for people who tell me I shouldnt.

I know, what a stupid thing to say that you'd respect the ones who could say it to their face. They play a professional sport that is funded by supporters who make them more money the more the game is discussed. They have a choice to give it in if they're uncomfortable with being judged on their performance. They're paid handsomely to compensate for the fact we get the chance to critique. As a stakeholder in my team, and this game as a whole I will continue to press forward my opinion on each and every player with no consideration for whether another poster/person 'respects' me. As long as I'm financial backing this team, I'm also entitled to that say. By TDIs reasoning, if he's a shareholder in a company, any of the bosses who rock up to work and try their asses off, he won't say a bad word about. They can suck but we, as other shareholders can't vote them out because none of us have ever done their job so god forbid us comment on their ability. It doesn't take Einstein to work out which one of us is misguided.

How's job hunting going Sat? Any nibbles in your field of work?

Furthermore to that, is it a shock horror that the coaches said something positive about a player in preseason. They're not going to be telling the Demonland scribe any plans they have. No offence to TDI, but he's like the media to them, they have their weekly interview where they roll out the company line and say lots of words that have very little substance. I take the player conversations with far more credence. We bought in a stay at home forward called Jeff and the other small forward will be some mix of JKH, Kent and potentially one other. I'd imagine they'll rotate through wing, hf and fp.

Oui. Cut the beard since the last time I saw him though

A bit of a fluff piece article this, but a good read nonetheless. He certainly seems to be loving the footy club. There was one sentence in their though, that has me lost for words for how lucky we are to have Dom Tyson. 'He did not miss a beat for the rest of the season, showing toughness to play 22 games after suffering a finger tendon injury in round nine. He even resisted an offer to finish his season early, when surgeons suggested he have a season ending-operation on his finger after round 18. After checking there was no risk he would do extra damage, Tyson said thanks but no thanks, preferring to play every game, proving to himself as much as others his resilience.' This is the exact type of player we've needed. The season was over, there was little to play for but he wanted to press on for the jumper. I really liked him before, but this reinforces how much a terrific player he is. We didn't just trade in a good footballer, we traded in a good person. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-12-14/tysons-wobbly-start-with-dees

Good point. But lets not forget that for two years insiders at Melbourne have told us half the list is training the house down

I would trust Bill Clinton with my unborn daughter more than I'd trust your sources. Whoever at the club is suggesting an undeveloped 18 year old rookie is about to overtake a 20 year old pick 4 midfielder after one week of training rivals you for the most stupid opinion ever.

That's exactly the point Old Dee. Paleo diet on a basic level is low carbs and minimal sugar. Too much carbo has and always will be a negative in a diet. In short terms the process behind Paleo is that instead of burning carbs all the time during exercise it teaches your body to burn all your fats (natural fats on a Paleo Diet) as a primary source of energy. If you can teach your body to use fats as an energy source it allows you to go much much longer and restrict your body from needing to 'carb load'.There are no obvious downsides to a Paleo diet, however if you are not exercising the benefits of such a diet will likely diminish.

Incorrect. They earn more via match payments than a listed player but promoting them and not playing them doesn't financially benefit them unless they play in the seniors.

I'm a huge fan of Saty's work and I'd be lost without his training reports. On the same token, especially this week we've bought in 4 kids who are just 18 years old and have dreamed about footy their whole life. They've got media in their face all week, club officials wanting photos to throw out to us, the members to give us some hope and I imagine they'd be hammered by family and friends giving their two cents on how their following months will play out. My only concern was your new draftee is your classic 'yes' man just doing everything and anything because he's not sure what's expected of him. I'd hope supporters would give these guys a few weeks to acclimatise to AFL footy before we start taking pictures and asking them about their playing weight. They are simply young kids about to go on their dream journey, I don't see the need for us to hound them for quotes. I've just started a new job recently and the first few weeks are daunting as you often are in no position to say no.. you just want everyone to like the work you are doing whether you're snowed under for weekends of pointless work or not. I think there is a fine line between being supporters of the club and having an expectation that as soon as they come to the club who reads out their name, that they're available for pictures at our beck and call. There is an interesting case in the NFL at the moment where a popular running back Marshawn Lynch keeps getting fined because he's uncomfortable speaking with the media. He's just an awkward as hell guy who doesn't like it so he chooses not too. The NFL have responded by fining him $100,000. The sad truth is these athletes now have to speak to us so it doesn't surprise me when the players never say no to a chat or a photo.. The industry they're in doesn't allow them to get supporters offside especially in an era of social media. You say no to the wrong person and Twitter goes bang. I hope when Sat reads this he doesn't take it as a personal crack, it's more a general look at the sporting industry as a whole. It may be good money to play the game you love but there's far more to it than just football these days. God, imagine being a Collingwood player and dealing with their fans.

His social life which I've witnessed personally is a brilliant reason I don't want him anywhere near this young list.

Petracca is 26

Two!!Teach me your ways.

Hahahahahahah! We win! What a night for the club.

Dear god.