Tarax Club

Cheers ‘Big’ Kev top trackside coverage! Your top end correspondent intends to be in attendance at training in Darwin prior to the Dockers clash so will try reciprocate with some local colour next week. Are Harrison Petty’s ball handling skills up to par? Frostie had a shocker here last year couldn’t handle the dew.

Jones - flew the flag Viney - best game back T. McDonald - took a hit Hannah - needed more support Melksham - creative catalyst stymied Salem - contributed positively overall Harmes - blooper turnovers hurt O.McDonald - had a go Jetta - full of courage Hogan - mojo majorly missing Lewis - brave dynamo waning Fritsch - star is ascendant Petracca - start stop finish Oliver - combative inside contributor Tyson - better for run Vince - jury is out Smiths - not quite there Gawn - influential in play Brayshaw - radar off beam Neal-Bullen - lacked meaningful impact Hibberd - bring back 2017 Umpires - three blind mice

Max now has a weekly column for the competition to the Fairfax rag? That may explain his omission. His 2016 form from a limited sample from afar at the 'G' v woods and tigers Anzac Eve in succeeding weeks. Gawn absolutely monstered the opposing rucks and dominated the midfieldbattle like a colossus. Best individual ruck performance I can recall from an AFL ruckman. May his star status be re-ascendant 2018.

Cameron Pedersen great foil for Big Max, has a positive track record as a forward against the Hawks and loves a dry, fast track in the sunshine at the 'G' ! Weather forecast for Sunday?

1. Christian Salem decking "Magic Door" after Eddie went apoplectic about his bump on Jordan Lewis. 2. Jeffy Garlett's picking the pocket of North's McDonald and kicking a terrific opportunist goal. 3. The unheralded Josh Wagner's blue collar (red vee) performance in defence.

1. Resilience shown by the team in very trying sub-tropical conditions particularly after half-time. It appears that visits to the top end have ‘toughened’ up the boys! 2. Lions are definitely an improving side on Saturday nights performance and made the game a good contest, but lacked finesse and meaningful firepower up forward. 3. A number of ‘unsung’ players some much maligned here made a positive contribution to the result at different stages of the match.

A few comments, to add to the other reports from Friday’s training session. Considering the trying conditions, strong northerly wind and high temperatures the standard of skills exhibited was quite high, stamina and fitness levels overall were very good. Agree with positive comments made by a number of observers/posters here re: Bernie Vince, Max Gawn, Dom Tyson, Dean Kent, Billy Stretch, Christian Salem, Alex Neil-Bullen,Christian Petracca, Tom MacDonald, Jesse Hogan all were noticeable for a range of attributes from their physical conditioning through to their determination and skills exhibited during the training drills. Impressed that most participants maintained an admirable intensity throughout the session which was intelligently managed by the coaching staff. Observed numerous rotations to allow for recovery and plenty of opportunity provided for maintaining hydration levels. Of the new recruits Bailey Fritsch moved with poise and purpose, looked very neat skills wise, was able precisely pass the footy by foot and appears accurate over an extended distance despite the conditions. He judged the flight of the ball superbly and marked confidently despite the strong gusting wind. Close by he is deceptively strong around the hips and upper thighs. After all the training drills were completed and most players departed for what one assumes was a cool shower. Josh Wagner, Jayden Hunt and Neville Jetta did some extra-curricula work competing in pairs for the high kicked incoming ball. Their positioning/bodywork to spoil or mark the ball was terrific. Jettta despite giving up “inches” was the obvious master. Observations on the possible ‘game plan’ for the coming season. Competewith strength around the packs, gain possession and clear congestion by handball and reminiscent of Hawthorn maintain possession by short passing allowing forwards time to lead into space to receive an accurate footpass. Well at least that appears to be plan A. Final thought as a visitor to the centre of the footy universe from the top end, conditions were much tougher for footy than ever experienced in the ‘cooler’dry season evenings in Darwin. Ok will acknowledge pre-season training is not a fixtured AFL game. But training intensity and duration appear to mimic something of game conditions. In anticipation of a continued positive trend on Goody’s team performance graph for season 2018. Adios from your northern correspondent.?Go Demons!

Some may say supporting MFC is like bearing a cross may the karma bus collide and the curse of old 65 cease to exist. When many of us would honestly wish for the team to bloody well consistently lift the whole season through. Auld Lang Syne cherish the best trash the rest! Bring on 2018?

To quote Binman 06/12/2017 on an earlier preseason training thread ... "Surprise, surprise stmj is worried tmac's younger brother won't make it. Quelle horreur! Well i'm not. I can see what the fd can. Like he has been since first selected he is a lock for our starting 22 (yes, yes, i know he was dropped. Once). I have argued the fact he is picked week in week out is proof of his standing. Some - well one - have argued his selection is down to luck and fortituous timing (there are no other options!). The latter argument is moot this year with lever coming in. There are options for the fd if they think he is not ready. So when he starts in the side round one and remains in all year, injuries notwithstanding, it will be crystal clear, even to his most trenchant of critics, how highly he is rated by his coach and the fd. By the happy to bet the above scenario will come to pass." Objective evidence of a player's performance independent of an observer's emotions or imagination reflects the pre-eminent role modern sport science has at the pinnacle. Objective aces Subjective every time. Odds on for Oscar to replace Jack as the Demonland whipping boy next season

As an amphibian and prone to desiccation demonfrog you must have moisture to survive ideally water not swan lager! After the deluge spring showers seem best ‘September The Grand Finale’ is strongly suggested☔️

As a loyal paid up member of the Dee's Diaspora based at Darwin. I'm perfectly at ease with the round 16 fixture (must be the territory life style). Shall be in attendance at the match v the shockers basking in the 'Dry' season climes again for a 9th consecutive time god willing! Encourage some of the more financial melbournecentric followers to support the club by putting their money where their mouth is by purchasing fly in package. You never never know? Its a great footy experience here in the top end.

Witnessed the Jayden Hunt torpedo from the Marrara grandstand that night. Told my missus "he won't kick this" . Confounded quite a few of us, including crowbot ruckman Jenkins who got an almighty shock and rushed to the goal line in an attempt to spoil. The ball sailed metres above his head closer to top of the goal post. While not a 'classic' torpedo punt (ball spin was out of whack) a very long kick nonetheless. From memory the goals at Marrara have nets so the final length of the goal kick may well have been impeded.

Blast from the past! Recall Willo's match winning performance Round 10 1988 v Pies at Waverley. Sitting in the concrete 'cauldron' outer, a reflection of the crowd's (60,000+) involvement not the wintry conditions. All the initial first quarter momentum with the opposition three unanswered goals. The ferals about were going apeshite, this was a top of the ladder clash. The demon supporters subdued and mostly hushed. The Colliwogs were running rampant, Darren Millane doing as he pleased until Ted Fidge infamously interjected. Brian Wilson led the MFC response in a brilliant individual and team lifting fashion scoring the first Dee's goal late in the first quarter and going on to kick five inspirational goals in total. A skite, show off, show pony call him what you will, but delivered as a champion footballer in spades. Postscript post demons 'retirement' Willo the joker in the Saints pack '91!

Will be celebrating with a couple of 'frosties' up at the Rocks post-match Saturday evening! Black label lemonade of course!

Will be celebrating with a couple of 'frosties' up at the Rocks post-match Saturday evening! Black label lemonade of course!

Re: umpiring performance yesterday at the 'G'. Here's my two bob's worth, as a neutral observer of the Hawks v Kangaroos game in Tassie. A young woman Eleni Glouftsis, at the commencement of her career as an AFL umpire adjudicated the match with more aplomb than her more senior colleagues did earlier in the day. Her bouncing of the ball at the centre bounces was also markedly superior. The other bob; sackcloth and ashes for Saint Kilda another preseason of penance ahead!

Re: umpiring performance yesterday at the 'G'. Here's my two bob's worth, as a neutral observer of the Hawks v Kangaroos game in Tassie. A young woman Eleni Glouftsis, at the commencement of her career as an AFL umpire adjudicated the match with more aplomb than her more senior colleagues did earlier in the day. Her bouncing of the ball at the centre bounces was also markedly superior. The other bob; sackcloth and ashes for Saint Kilda another preseason of penance ahead!

Max Gawn Neville Jetta Bernie Vince Jordan Lewis Corey Maynard Michael Hibberd Christian Salem Clayton Oliver all having a go. Rest of the team need to lift their performance.

Max Gawn Neville Jetta Bernie Vince Jordan Lewis Corey Maynard Michael Hibberd Christian Salem Clayton Oliver all having a go. Rest of the team need to lift their performance.

Après-ski!

Just returned to Jimbaran from the (snow sic mud) ski slopes of the Ijen volcano in time to do likewise!

Marc McGowan's erudite report at afl.com.au Sell-out likely as big time footy hits Top End may help!

Your top end correspondent was in attendance at yesterday's Dees 'training session' at TIO stadium. Which was more akin to a stroll in the park basking in the warmth of the dry season sunshine. Add a little goal kicking practice at the Michael Long Academy end and coach Goodwin leading a whole team rehearsal of what seemed to be positioning for a forward half of the ground defensive press. Goody cut a dashing figure out there radiating confidence and if the clock could be turned back a decade could join the dynamic demons midfield this evening in a blink. Mingling with the kids and players at the end of the 'session' where autographs and selfie snaps were sought after. If one die hard long term demons supporter could be indulged a moment of reverie here in the arcadian fields of Marrara " If you build it they will come " .

josh wagon wheels playing a ripper!

Uncle Bitters re: " Soi Cowboy" was that a casual bring your own six gun, put on your ten gallon hat, plus spurs and where are your 'chaps' night out or was more formal evening attire jodpurs and a malacca cane de-rigueur? pip pip!