Jaded No More

The only thing I'm interested in now, is how do we keep Melksham fit and ready until next September? Can we pay for him to have a personal trainer which gets specific information from the club regarding a training and nutritional program?

Am currently in Japan. Seems the interview was as predictably uninformative as we all thought it would be. Back to the sumo wrestling.

The consequence of a doctor breaking the rules are slightly more severe than players taking banned substances. And even then it is nearly impossible to get a doctor banned for life from the profession. Murderers don't even get life sentences here. To say that players should be banned for life is very harsh given it was a club driven program

I sort of agree, what not giving Essendon top up players means they can't cover injuries and they put undue stress on their remaining players, who did nothing wrong and don't deserve to suffer as a result. Plus it's a health and safety issue that the AFLPA would never agree to.

Cross is contracted to Melbourne in a coaching capacity. Essendon can't do [censored]. I would be all for giving him the chance to play as the top up player but we have rookies we can promote. I think Michie will get the nod.

I have no emotions I can truly process other than to say I'm thrilled we have a player getting good money who can't even play for us next year because he has been found guilty of doping. I continue not to understand why we took him on. Hardly seems worth it. Hope I'm proven wrong in the long term (and to think we cleared out Cross from the list!)

Not a man. A legend. Tom McDonald taking out the trials is a shock. Not. Wonder how Oscar did.

I think the angst here is pretty justified, because he is coming off one of the most serious injuries a footballer can have, and should be protecting his body. Yes he just broke a toe, but what if all the change of directions caused him to do his knee again? What if his mate stepped on his foot and caused a navicular fracture? Of course players should be allowed to participate in activities they enjoy outside of footy, and of course you can injure yourself doing everyday things that cannot be avoided. However as a professional athlete who is coming off a serious injury, he has to learn to risk manage. I doubt he broke his toe just casually shooting hoops. He obviously had a fairly aggressive game with mates, or played without proper footwear. Both are unacceptable for someone who is trying to get back on the field after a whole year off. Would the reaction be the same if say Garland broke his toe playing basketball? Probably not. Would we be furious if Jones went surfing after his neck operation and hurt his neck again? Yes. What if Hogan injured his back playing cricket with mates? The place would go into meltdown. These are highly paid athletes and their bodies are their tools. Them not being fit impacts the whole team. It's just as disappointing as players who come back from their break unfit, or overweight, or having not followed their fitness programs. The net result is the same, can't train, can't meet your fitness goals, can't play. I don't blame Roos or the supporters for being [censored]. It's not good enough.

Let's hope this isn't a Frost toe. He's young but he definitely needs to learn not to take risks. We pay him lots of money to play footy, not to play backyard basketball with his mates.

I admire anyone who braved the weather to be there I walked to work this morning and it was about 800 degrees at 7:30am. Can't believe they would train in this heat! Looking forward to reading reports and seeing some pics

All [censored] aside, we haven't won as many games in a season since Dean Bailey. Just saying.

I'm just excited when our team manages to kick more than 100 points in a game. Lets start there and then aim for bigger things.

Wouldn't be moving a desk by any chance?

For us to play finals we need 2 things to go right: 1. No injuries to any key player (unlikely) 2. Other clubs around the same mark having a poor season (e.g.- Saints, GWS, GC) I think if we finish 9th-11th it is a good result and still gives us something to work towards the following year. Individual player development as well as improved game day tactics is what I really want to see next year.

Love the new layout. It's amazing on mobile. Haven't checked it out on a computer yet but I'm sure it's good. Peter Jackson approves

It's pre Xmas, lots of players would be on modified programs Saty's Twitter account made mention last week of usual pre-season niggles. I doubt (and hope) there is nothing to worry about.

Jack Watts: OOC Free Agent, likely to be UFA?- I think we'll continue to try to make something of him, and at the same time, be open to offers for him. Being an UFA means we probably missed the boat to get decent value for him. Chris Dawes: Last year of an expensive contract?- Could be a year by year proposition from now on. Has a lot to give off field, but is often an on field liability. Heritier Lumumba: Didn't deliver value, contract may provide protection- Disappointment is an understatement. Needs to improve quickly or his spot will be given away to someone else. Not that we will get rid of him, but if he becomes a depth player, I won't be crying myself to sleep Jack Trengove: It will be some sort of miracle if he gets back- Fingers crossed for him that he makes it back and makes his mark. A great player before injury, and someone who deserves every chance to get back. Here is hoping. Could be the best story to come out of 2016! (If he breaks down again, fair to say he'll retire) Ben Newton: There's a lot of competition for spots now- Good depth option, lots more before him to go. Can't see him becoming a best 22 player unless his tank improves Cam Pedersen: A one year contract- I think this will be his last year Viv Michie: See Ben Newton- Needs to do something pretty special to stay beyond next season Jay Kennedy-Harris: See Ben Newton- Even if he doesn't have a great year, he is a better than average depth option. Kent (who is a walk up start IMO), Kennedy & Harmes will push him for a spot . Would like to see him tried off half back, but competition for spots there is just as fierce. Jayden Hunt: This year it's time to show something- Yep, needs to show something. Maybe he will get re-rookied Jack Grimes: See Jack watts- Agreed that he needs a good season and a decent run of games. He might want better opportunities elsewhere if he can't get a game. Competition now with Bugg, Salem, Jetta Jake Spencer: Back up ruckman is a precarious role- Unless we think we can get an established big man in a trade, or he goes looking elsewhere, he will most likely stay. We need back up for Gawn. Will be interesting to see how we play the 2nd ruck role with the sub gone James Harmes: See Cam Pedersen- Contracted at the end of next year, don't think he needs a massive year, but steady continued improvement will do. Pressure for spots with Kent, JHK, Kennedy Matt Jones: See Ben Newton- Gone. Isn't he out of contract next year? Dean Terlich: Only saved this year by his contract- Gone Max King: Must continue to improve - Low risk option. Maybe get re-rookied

Club kindly said they will mail me out a scarf as I won't be attending games until June I shall be wearing it with pride (length permitting) overseas as I wake up at the crack of dawn to watch us win* *or lose

Good opportunity for him to show that he still has what it takes to make it. We could do worse than have him as a depth player. Welcome back Viv, and all the best. If you do a Jetta I think all of us will be very pleased!

Stop it. I am having so much FOMO right now. Round 1 is going to be exciting. Goosebump stuff if/when Trenners returns to the field.

You will give Jesse as many damn friends as he asks for. Goddammit if he wants a pony get him a pony too. In all seriousness though, just because you have one good tall doesn't mean you don't need backup. His injury history, plus the fact that there are no guarantees that he'll stick around long term, means he/we need a backup plan. Besides, it might mean we don't need to push T Mac up forward, which is a good thing and allows our backline to be more settled. Lets not mention Dawes and Pedders being on their last legs.

The face of a 10 year old, the body of a 30 year old who spends his weekdays pumping iron and his weekends sinking [censored]. Confusing all around. His highlight package though is pretty phenomenal.

All these kids look 12 to me. Also now I'm going to spend the next 6 months trying to learn how to spell Sam's surname correctly #draftstruggles #firstworldfootyproblems

Welcome Sam. Hope you don't mind sharing the limelight with some kid named Jesse May your love blossom for one another and may your date nights involve decapitating key position defenders together.