Slartibartfast

As most of you will know I attended many of Melbourne's training sessions at Gosch's before we moved to Casey as a result of Covid. My main interest was the rehab group, I always like to see who's in rehab and how they are progressing and as a result I watched Harley on many occasions. I'll confess to being hard line when it comes to a failure of individual responsibilities and whilst I welcomed Harley's presence because I thought he had exactly the skills we needed I wasn't sold on him as a person for obvious reasons. But since then a couple of things have happened. The first was reading the story in The Australian of the racism Eddie Betts has suffered over the journey in which things happened that I found hard to believe. It made me appreciate the racism indigenous people suffer in this country. The second was getting to know Harley in a very minor way. He didn't talk to "track watchers" but because I was always near the rehab group he came to recognize me after a while. I'd say hello and he'd just smile, perhaps say a few words, but that was more than many got. I'd watch him casually grab a footy and from the boundary slot a banana goal so easily it seemed surreal. One day he decided that doing this was too easy so he made the shot more difficult and slotted it again. I was open mouthed and he looked at me and had a huge smile on his face. I said to him "it's like hitting a great drive, it never gets stale" and he laughed. For all that has happened what Harley had was a type of quiet charisma. The players clearly loved him and I really liked him to the point he became my favourite player. I didn't really understand why he was but he just was. What has happened is terribly sad but Harley is a product of his upbringing and his past. I'm proud we gave him a chance, sad it failed and wish him all the best for the future. Thanks Harley and thanks for showing me repeatedly the extraordinary skills you have first hand. I'd not have believed them if I hadn't seen them. I hope you find happiness.

Did Dogs go to Cairns today?

Did The Suns travel to Adelaide today?

Oh, the irony.

Sex x 15

Sex

1. Gawn 2. Viney 3. Petracca 4. Oliver 5. Harmes (for his stopping job on Harbrow who hardly touched it) 6. Langdon

Petracca Gawn Oliver Langdon Viney Salem Hunt had 7 possessions and only 3 after quarter time. Lucky he kicked the goals. Rivers was very good first up but Salem was better. Viney was good when we needed him and dragged us across the line, he’s not getting enough recognition here. What a disappointing performance. Bergo, what happened?

Well there you go!! My bad. Having said that the MCC Board is the biggest Boy's Club there is. But he will have MFC sympathies so that's a positive.

I'm with your rjay. I'll remind people of this. Howcroft was terrible this day. He failed to take responsibility of the horrendous state he and the Board he sat on left our Club. I don't like people who don't take responsibility. He was dismissive of the membership that was present that day and displayed a sense of arrogance and entitlement. It's mind numbing to me that he is again on our Board. Hopefully Glen Bartlett explains to him his role and hopefully he does it. But I find it hard to believe we couldn't have found someone better. This smells like "jobs for the boys" to me and why you'd want to remind members who have a memory and understanding of just how poor the Board he sat on was I just don't understand.

It's was sad when these two were drawn against one another in the first round. Both would be in my top 5 or so, both hugely underrated by many MFC supporters IMO. Jones will probably win mainly based on the fact many of the younger supporters didn't see or have forgotten how good Junior was. I voted Junior. IMO he was cleaner, made better decisions and was a better clearance player. He won two B&F's in a period when we had players like Travis, Ooze, Neita, Robbo and others of high standard. Jones won when he had little opposition which is not to suggest he didn't deserve them but merely to point out the greater competition Junior faced. But the clincher for me is Junior's AA. Competition for mid spots was significant. Judd, Cousins, Beams, Pendles, Bartel, Ablett and on you go. Junior was judged against them and was selected AA. Jones has faced similar competition but wasn't. And finally I think Junior was a better captain. It's always hard to tell from the outside but where the captaincy never seemed to sit comfortably with Jones it always did with Junior. Picking one over the other made me feel a bit sick but on an objective measure Junior shades Jones because of his AA and a few intangibles. Shocking situation to have them drawn against each other round 1, both greats of the Club who offer so much more than many others in this draw.

Well well well. Someone, in the opinion business, gets it wrong. Let's call him names, let's vent and let's not recognize that in footy we've all been horribly wrong at times. He had an opinion. He didn't hurt anyone but now we'll start vilifying him shall we??

I think people are reading too much into Brown ahead of Weid. Weid probably didn't train for a week or so with his ankle. They want a very fit team for today and so Brown gets the nod. Brown wasn't picked ahead of Weid for the Hawks game and Weid did okay in that game, he actually brings the ball to the ground better than Brown who is more lead and mark. Weid also is a good chop out ruck. I think Brown was picked because he was fitter, not better.

I'll be happy to watch anyone...

Interesting photos, Smith and Petty wearing there numbers kit. Those in rehab usually don't wear numbers. But it's Casey so who knows. Again it doesn't mean much but no Weid, Bedford and Vanders.

Nothing happening at Gosch’s this morning.

Maynard, Stretch and JKH didn't add depth because they weren't really up to AFL standard with is why they are no longer on any list. We have more depth now as Petracca is a genuine mid, Jordan and Sparrow are better now than last year and are as good or better than Maynard, Stretch and JKH. As for wings I've been impressed with Baker both at training and at NM. He's got some real attributes for a winger. The other is Bedford who I think could play there. He has the tank and he has speed, skills and is competitive. Most importantly he now has some belief.

Very sad to see that those who bring so much to the site totally ignored - the forgotten track watchers!

Sorry Diamond but this sort of self pity and woe is me post really gets up my goat. 1987 12wins and a preliminary final 1988 13 wins and GF 1989 14 wins 1990 16 wins 1991 13 wins 1992 7 wins 1993 10 wins 1994 12 wins and a preliminary 1995 - 1997 a wipe out 1998 14 wins and PF 2000 14 wins GF 2002 12 wins 2004 14 wins 2005 12 wins 2006 13.5 wins and then it turned to crap which corresponsed to a period of terrible governance. So yes, from 2007 to now we bee awful but from 1987 to 2006 we were pretty consistent and did plenty right, unless of course you want to play the victim and say we "didn't win a flag". We played finals in 15 of those 20 years. That's pretty consistent. I get so sick of people wanting to feel sorry for themselves.

With Lockhart there was no indication of a pec, he pointed to his bicep, nothing more. Hannan is running quite freely but I've seen players do the same rehab routine as him and do it for 4 or 5 weeks (Tomlinson) so it's really hard to tell when he'll be back.

I went today and don't have time for a full report nor is it needed given the excellent coverage by others. I can only reiterate the comments on Harley who is fast becoming my favourite player. His skills are exquisite and today he thought he'd show off taking one hand marks - about 6 in a row. His kicking is fantastic, he never fumbles and his vision excellent. Fingers and toes crossed. The really good thing is he seems to be at peace with everything. He's clearly well liked and he's just following the instructions of the rehab staff to the letter. He's quiet but seems to be enjoying it. The only concern today was the non appearance of Salem and the injury to Lockhart. He went to tackle Vanders and immediately went off holding his arm. It was his bicep which was hurting, not a shoulder or elbow so hopefully it's just a corky. He was in everything in match sims and did the injury late. It may well be nothing. As reported Dunkley, Petty, Hannan, Smith, Preuss and Chandler made up rehab. Chandler is still protecting his wrist, Smith did some gentle kicking on his right at one stage but nothing serious, Preuss looks fit and ran without a bandage or limp but was wearing a protective shin guard but did no rucking, Hannan is looking good and Dunkley ran very well. May and Gawn did all the running and every drill so I expect them both to play Friday. It was a surprisingly long session today, about 2 hours and the standard was good and everyone was upbeat.

Bedford was second only to ANB in the 3K time trails and not by all that far. Fitness isn't an issue I don't think.

I was impressed with him too George. For mine I thought Spargo isn't getting the love he should, he was very good today and smart. I have commented on Bedford in my track reports and it was great to see him put it into play today, he too was very good. I thought Baker, who hasn't had much of a preseason, showed some good toe today and Lockhart is AFL standard. Sparrow and Jordan worked hard, Rivers was very impressive and Fritsch and Gus worked into the game well. Brown spoilt his game with some terrible set shot kicking and the Wagners were solid. But the takeout for me the last two games is how well we've run out games, it really has been impressive. Last year we looked slow and tired all season but today we bounced. Great to see. With Gawn, May, Hannan and hopefully Smith not far away we look in pretty good shape.

You still owe me a dinner don’t you? Frost on a wing........

Only because he wasn't training. We'll see.