Jaded No More

1. West Coast 2. Fremantle 3. Melbourne (my optimism astounds even myself!) 4. St.Kilda 5. Sydney 6. Adelaide 7. Bulldogs 8. Geelong 9. Richmond 10. Port Adelaide 11. Collingwood 12. Essendon 13. Hawthorn 14. Brisbane 15. Kangaroos 16. Carlton

Very happy to hear Bartram is now at full training, and a possibility for Round 1.

Thanks for that. I'm really worried about Sylvia. It's February and he still hasn't started his pre-season. Not a good sign!

Never been snubbed by any Melbourne players. In fact, I've seen most of them out and about and from my encounters, they've behaved really well. This is in stark contrast to quite a few footballers from different teams who I used to see regularly at my old job. I agree with above sentiments regarding Robbo as well. He's a great ambassador for our club, and the nicest footballer you ever hope to meet.

I'd thank you not to speak for me.

Thanks RR. Saved me two minutes of typing exactly what you just said. DN, I'm a Melbourne supporter, and therefore I love and respect everyone who wears our jumper, but I'm also not blind to the players' faults, and Yze has plenty of them.

Yes, at this stage of Sylvia's career, it should be a no brainer, but it isn't. That's the whole point. His stats don't even match those of a guy who most of us never want to see play senior AFL games again. He isn't a lost cause, but he's certainly a worrying one.

Great article, even greater kid. It makes sense that they'd ask him to lose weight, as he really did struggle with his endurance. The fact that he mentions that he hasn't lost any strength, that's the main thing. If he can still hold his ground, but at the same time run up and down it a couple hundred times, that's how he'll become an elite player. Once the real Junior retires, I'm going to call him Junior... Brock Junior. :D

I expect him to win the B&F in that case BTW, he isn't in competition with Yze. The only one competing with Yze, is Yze. Besides, Yze should never be allowed anywhere near the backline, where he is both lazy and unaccountable and makes my blood boil :D

Well if it's just a precaution, that's fine, but the fact that he is still struggling with it after so many years, is a real worry. If he isn't back into full training very soon, I guess we could wave goodbye to Sylvia being in the 22 come Round 1.

Depends who we were playing against. Are we playing Sydney? If so, Godders Are we playing West Coast? If so, neither will be much help. With Godfrey, you know what you get. He'll run all game, he'll put his head over the ball, he'll do a fairly average job of tagging and an even worse one with the pill. Sylvia is still very much an unknown. He could tear it up in the middle and kick 3 goals, or he could do nothing. Grand Finals are damn hard to come by, if you happen to get there, you don't want to take any chances with unknowns. Sylvia hasn't yet proven himself to be someone who is worthy of Grand Final selection. Mind you, Godfrey hasn't either (and not from lack of trying). Bottom line is, if we need Godfrey in our squad on GF day, I worry about a repeat scoreline from 2000. As for Sylvia, he's still a nobody in terms of AFL achievements. The fact that he was picked up at number 3 in the draft, means absolutely nothing three years on. Potential won't win you a flag.

No worries. Bruce is looking too skinny IMO. As it is, he isn't the strongest player going around, so I hope this sort of conditioning will help, not hinder him. Not worried about Jones though. He was carrying a bit last year, and came off the ground looking buggered after a short period of time. As long as he maintains his core strength, losing the extra puppy-fat may help his endurance and reduce the stress on his body. I can also confirm that I saw CJ about a week or so ago, and he was looking much bigger in the upper body.

I like the sound of that. The fact that Bartram will be missing from, at the very least, the NAB Cup games, means that we'll need a tagger (I assume Junior will not participate). Jones can learn a lot by playing on some of the game's best inside midfielders. Also very happy to hear that Neaves is going to get a game. Might give everyone who is down on our ruck-division, a more positive outlook. As for Biz, I have serious doubts he'll be getting regular games in 2007, but good luck to him!

Try going to www.gettyimages.com Then do a search for 'Melbourne Demons' under the sports category. All those photos should come up for you. Jared Rivers is looking bigger. Excellent!

Happy (belated) New Year to everyone who write, read and contribute to our site. Special thanks to anyone who has tried to make this pre-season less boring. Hope everyone had a nice NYE, and recovered well. I shall second the post above re: this FINALLY being the year we see a premiership! :D

First training session back is on Jan 3rd. No idea about times or venues.

I was getting angry, then I saw that the review was written on AFL.com. The AFL website and its vast majority of 'journalists', has as much credibility as the homeless man who sings to me everyday on the way to work. We were the best Victorian team in 2006. I don't see how anyone who can read an AFL ladder (before or after finals) could argue against that. The Doggies are everyone's 'second favourite team'.... for some reason, that translates into 'best Victorian team' to some.

Geelong people.... they blame it on the water.... what can you do?! I can think of 100 players I'd have ahead of Baker. And Judd is clearly the #1 player in the AFL.

Not really fussed who plays where, but this is who I want to see play: -Buckley -Frawley -Petterd -CJ -Sylvia -Bell -Newton -Warnock -Dunn -Bate -Jones -Jamar -PJ (if fit) -Neaves (are rookie eligible?) This is who I don't want to see, unless we make the final: -Neitz -Brock -Rivers -Whelan -Bruce -White Got to protect our 6 most important players, all of which are injury prone.

Agreed. I lasted 10 minutes (felt like an hour)... never again!

Agreed. Best football moment of 2006. I could watch the bit where he intercepted the kick, then received the ball back, 100 times. Confirmed his potential 'star status' as you say. Also, Neita's big milestones, the thrashing of Collingwood, and Bate's first goal. Lowest moment of 2006, was our second loss to Carlton, confirming we haven't really changed at all. Disgraceful! :angry:

Anyone who has lost someone they loved, would know that the pain never truely goes away. I just hope that Trisha and Troy's family take comfort in the fact that he died a happy man, and that his memory will always live on with those who were lucky enough to know him. RIP Troy.

That's the spirit!

Merry Christmas to everyone and an early Happy New Year! Enjoy the festive season, your presents, the cricket scores and the sales on Tuesday (I know I won't! ).

Man, you've really depressed me! Think I can take a sick day from work, on grounds of such horrible depression? As I said, everybody has strenghts and everybody has weaknesses. We need absolutely everything to go right for us to win the damn thing, and just because we're never the lucky ones, doesn't mean things aren't about to change.... I have hope... but I vote 'no' because I refuse to be disappointed again