monoccular

Presumably that refers to Abblett senior? After all, we wouldnt want a little frail battler like Jnr .

One would have to hope that there would be far more careful consideration given to the scheduling of the games following any overseas match than has been shown for the physically arduous games played in Darwin and in Cairns. Travel time alone would one presume go into at least 24h - jet lag factors etc. I guess any club taking this on would be well advised to chat with the Rugby guys who play regular games anywhere from South Africa to New Zealand. Still, if it offers a first in the door genuine $$$ opportunity to get onto the world's biggest and growing market, and does not have any detrimental effect on football performance especially at the tight top end of the table where we hope and indeed expect to be --- let's go.

An unfortunate terminology, magpie legs. Any other bird maybe, but not the dreaded enemy surely, not even the much maligned Cale Ibis? Flamingo? Brolga? But not filthy magpie.

And you ain't, as they say, Robertson Caruso on that mate. I was a great fan of one but not the other.

And a few (hopefully celebratory) wines, bubblys or beers will do the same, but then again, unfortunately for those of us blokes old enough to remebmer "the glory days" the ageing prostate can do the same on it's own accord unaided!

Au contraire: My understanding is that the blood actually gets thicker not thinner, (hematocrit rises), but carries more O2 thus increasing performance NB endurance, much as the (illegal) use of erythryopoetin does. Now I have no idea how long an exposure it takes nor what sort of altitude is needed to make this actually effective, and I would doubt if it carries on six months down the track - maybe, just maybe, it is all psychological, a sort of "bonding" and sharing adversity in a strange environment thing cf Kokoda walks. Is there anyone actually qualified in excercise physiology who can enlighten us all, please? Maybe even Mr Craig

I notice a few posters mentioning a guy called Maloney- is he one of the permission to train people?

Agree with Deez Nutz - the number doth not make the man; the man maketh the number. Nothing wrong with a high number. Who was that big Crown dude who wore 50 or maybe 52 throughout a successful career. And a fair few #1s and #2s don't get far

I know nothing of the actual facilities or the altitude, but if the Chinese Olympic teams are training there one would presume than no expense has been spared, and particularly if we were to gain a local sponsor could prove less expensive as well as compared with the US facilities. And just a logistics matter - those of us who have done it know the transpacific flights really knock the stuffing out for up to a few days each end, which can't be good for maintaining full fitness and alertness. On the other hand, traveling via KL (8.5 hrs) to Kunming - only a further 3.5 hours - and a time zone change of only about 5 hours can only compare favourably with Arizona or Colorado provided as I said the facilities are right. Sounds exciting. PS: 1,900 metres above sea level cf Denver 1,500-1,700

Interesting that the most recent was Andrew Obst - would have been ? early 1990s, and as I recal a mature aged recruit. I guess it just shows what a bloody hard game it is to break into.

Maybe the China trip will end up being beneficial in many ways. Sponsor Altitude training Expelling a toxic influence

Bloody disgrace, Dumbitriou.......stuff the footy public once again just for a few bucks for your pocket.

Sounds unlikely if not impossible Besides, we don't want someone who chokes in Grand Finals, do we? I guess that scenario of course would involve getting to a GF first, so we could drop him from the 2012 GF team. ;-)

If Clark can play in as many Premierships as Laurie I am sure we would all be happy - well, maybe not Bluey from Demonology.

Thanks to all for their various opinions and clarifications. I was almost a Schultz - "I knew almost nothing"

Interesting juxtaposition of observations. If Morton has lost weight, how in the hell could you see him? Gysberts malnourished - meaning I presume skinny all over. Surely not skinnier than the old, let alone the new, Morton. Do you therefore envisage either being able to stand up to AFL?

I thought that we have just signed up for the 'state of the art' facility at Bubbledome, and the Gosh's Paddock was regarded as an excellent training oval? And we have the commitment to Casey, though I am not sure how long. Won't this just spread our brand thinner, and add to the concept of us as a nomad club, as was Fitzroy in its declining years? Surely there must be some super financial deal to get us to move from the current arrangement to another stadium in that soulless part of town, Is it another move to shift our home games away from our true home?

I particularly like the Ingerson analogy - if he turns out anything like Anthony it will be a massive coup; if not pick 54 in a weak draft isn't a disaster- skeptics please name some names of those taken after him who you think will turn out as guns. As I have mentioned elsewhere, Craig knows the guy pretty well, and presumably knows just why he couldn't get a game; hopefully he also now knows how to correct that fault. If he thought that he was as some have posted a "hopeless spud" would he tarnish his reputation at a new club by not just ignoring the guy? That would be the easy way out and the new MFC doesn't tolerate the easy way out!!! Maybe it was 'cultural' : hell, who would really want to play in Adelaide?

I guess anyone could have a terrible season, and any of those "on the chopping block" could turn out to have a blinder, but as of now. Would see the following as having to put in above average (and I don't mean above their average, but just a really good consistent solid contribution to the team plan) seasons to be retained: Bartram will have to use the ball a lot better. Bate will have to find a place and be consistempnt in it - I believe he could be the hard strong mid but if not, arriverduci. Bennell likewise needs to find a spot and make it his own but? Where. Morton just has to toughen up and be a regular contestant- I doubt if MN will put up with and perceived softness Dunn - trouble is, what will be his role? Can he focus all year and all game on a specific task? Tends to lose focus. Rivers - depends a lot on young McDonald if played as a back, and Davis; also Martin if used as a defender may squeeze him out. JoelMacD - looks as if he will be a depth player, a fill in defender and must be on borrowed time. Davey needs to get fit and put in consistent hard efforts: like Morton, perceived softness will not be tolerated. Spencil- currently well behind Jamar, Martin if ducked, Gawn, Clark and (mental block the new guy from Adelaide) and lacks the versatility of Fitzy. Lawrence will need to display application, interest and get some games into him. That's about all - I know that ALL players are under scrutiny and reassessment all season (or at least should be now under the new regime, unlike apparently in years past) but these are the ones I would pay special attention to.

Well 8 would have to be Neita Would 9 be ? "3 fingers" Dooley Mueller I think a FF in the 40s 10 wouldn't be the Ox I suppose

I guess we have all forgotten what at least I see as the most bizzare draft selections of all time; I can't remember if it was late Balme or early um, et, umm Daniher ...... that is of course the Cockatoo-Colin's twins, a pair of galahs if you ever saw them ( which was pretty rarely). Does anyone remember who was the recruiting manager at the time?

From the thread title I thought that dear Mr Dumbitriou was about to make an announcement: " the rules committee has decided that this year's medal votes will be determined on a new exciting advanced scientific analysis, made by myself and Mr Anderson, on what would have been the most likely voting on any given day had all potential players been available. Now we must emphasize, before there is any speculation, that this decision was made before the unfortunate injury to this year's favorite, namely 3votes, C Judd, Carltank. "

I thought that was our esteemed leader, JuLiar.

They did just that...the club that wrote the salary cap rules, (at least prior the the fabrication of the two new artificial franchises).

This implausible story will surely earn him 3 Brownlow votes for originality! And remember the old proverb: Always doona unto others what you would like them to doona unto you.