Jaded No More

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.

FMD how young do these guys look. Fresh out of crèche. Feel so old!

Welcome to Melbourne Clayton I look forward to 10 years of Oliver vs Parish threads Buckle up kid, and whatever you do stay away from Demonland

Got mine too. Car stickers sure do need an update. Need to figure out how I can get my scarf if I can't attend the first half of the season. Any ideas?

Is it too late to change my display name to HOGANFORPREZ? What a classic, subtle, non descript username

I [censored] hope not!

I'm already feeling serious FOMO about next season

Bloody brilliant He is the most important person at our club and the best recruitment we've had in years. What he has done for our club is beyond words of gratitude.

You know it's the off season when one Instagram shot of backyard cricket starts a 7 page conversation about batting

Can I please just point out that no matter the colours or logo, the cotton polo will never ever match the polyester jumper. It is chemically impossible for a synthetic and a natural fabric, let alone when one is woven and one is knitted, to match 100% in colour. Even more so when one is yarn dyed and one is screen printed. Especially vivid colours like red. Yes you can get it much better than in the above image, but it will never be exactly the same. Fashion lesson over. Carry on.

In: Viney, McDonald Out: Dawes, Lumumba

I really need to rock that hat It matches nothing I own, but it has to work I am really glad to see that after all those years our merchandise is looking slick and modern. No reason to look like a hobo from the 90s if you feel like wearing footy merch. Whoever is designing the apparel has done a great job. Also if you're reading this, I'm down for a job in June. Thanks.

I love it. Love the logo, love the clever gorilla marketing, love that we are doing something fun and modern and different Absolutely brilliant!

Completely agree He had the balls and the relationships to get the info I actually want to hear. Anyone can go to training and tell me what they can see (not that that isn't appreciated!). Not everyone can go to training and provide inside info.

I dunno what the worry about Brayshaw is Maybe he is on a different program given he missed a lot of pre season last year? Maybe he is focusing on muscle gain first? Or maybe because he played so much more than expected last year, he is on a slower starting program to protect his body.

I doubt it. If the shoe was on the other foot, and Viv was contracted but Terlich wasn't and we cut Viv loose mid contract, he would be a lot more annoyed. We have to honour contracts, I'm sorry that we made crappy list management decisions, but it isn't Terlich's fault. It is the best solution given we need list space for draft and rookie promotions. Viv only needs to speak to Jetta to understand that this is not the end of the world.

I'm pretty sure that even less people want to see me in Lycra riding a scooter with a beard than they do Stye