Return to Glory

So did the Ashcroft boys though

Stole my thunder Binman. Run and gun is hard to sustain for a whole season

Hawthorn have gone from underrated to a tad overrated imo.

P Cripps...................3 votes 😁

You may be right SWYL, but you have a whole group of top end talent coming through and leadership and it might come about through this

This team will improve very quickly imo. They'll be humming (unfortunately) by 2027

Gut feeling is that we will have a better than expected year. Our two 'new' recruits just happen to be in the top 10 players in the league and we're introducing some young top talent. In short, start engraving 'Melbourne Premiers 2025'

Could possibly be better in the first year, particularly in regards to where he may play

That's ok. It's good.

Perspective: Practice match in hot conditions in the West with some key personnel out and a couple returning from injury. Already an improvement upon the touch up they gave us last year.

Genuinely, there's been enough to be relatively pleased with today. Bit of a hiding to nothing match. Lindsay looks good

I really want to disagree with you but can't help thinking that you may be right. I'd really like to see Jefferson impose himself on a game a great deal more. You don't have to like him but I think of players like Tom Lynch. When he was up and about, there was an energy, as you say 'wanting to be the man'

Only Randy Andy if he has a condition where he doesn't sweat Dub Dee

So Andy's nickname is Andy. Nice

Great to have you back! I'm incredibly excited to have Xavier Lindsay in the team. Not like for like but does remind me a little of Jack Gunston.

I've read two comments indicating Harvey Langford may lack pace. I'm a wrap for Harvey but is this a genuine concern or about adjusting to a quicker pace?

Looking at the two squads, ours looks considerably more depleted. But a golden opportunity for fringe players

Here's the slightly less positive spin from Chat GPT: The Melbourne Football Club’s Doomsday Training Run at Casey Fields February 19, 2025. The once-proud Melbourne Football Club, now a shadow of its former self, staggers onto the training grounds at Casey Fields, where even the bright sun seems to shy away from the looming clouds of despair. The air, thick with tension and dust, mirrors the state of the team as they face an unrelenting onslaught of injuries, misfortune, and dwindling hope. The training session begins with a faint attempt at match simulation, but the players seem distant, their minds haunted by the growing list of absentees. Jack Viney’s laps are slow and labored, an eerie reflection of the team’s decline, a reminder that the once vibrant energy of the squad has now been replaced by a palpable sense of dread. Even the simplest drills seem like an impossible task as the atmosphere grows colder, more foreboding with each passing moment. Shane McAdam’s Achilles injury—an ominous sign—looms large over the club. He’s been sent off for surgery, leaving the team without another key player as they hurtle toward the abyss of an injury-ravaged season. The whispers of discontent grow louder; every player feels the weight of the world on their shoulders. There’s no respite. In the background, the arrival of Jack Henderson feels more like a desperate attempt to fill a void than a true solution to the ongoing crisis. The club’s future seems uncertain, and each training session feels like one more nail in the coffin. The fans, once hopeful, now watch with growing unease, wondering if their beloved club will ever rise from the ashes or if this is simply the beginning of a long, drawn-out fall into obscurity. As the session winds down, the team retreats, their energy spent. The future of the Melbourne Football Club appears bleak, a far cry from the glory days that now feel like distant memories. No one speaks of the premiership dream anymore. In the shadows of Casey Fields, all that remains is the crushing weight of reality: the end may be closer than anyone dares to admit.

I asked Chat GPT (as well as requesting a positive spin): The Melbourne Demons hit the track at Casey Fields today for an intense and focused training session, giving fans a glimpse of their preparations for the 2025 AFL season. The team worked through a variety of drills, honing their skills, refining strategies, and pushing their fitness levels to ensure they’re in top shape for the year ahead. A standout moment was the inclusion of new recruit Jack Henderson, who seamlessly integrated into the squad. His energy and determination were on full display, and he’s already showing great promise as a valuable addition to the team. While Shane McAdam will unfortunately miss the season due to injury, the team remains united and determined, with players stepping up to fill the void and drive the club forward. The Demons are rallying together, showcasing their depth and resilience as they prepare for a strong campaign. The club has shared a training gallery from today's session, allowing fans to relive the action and see their favorite players in action. With the season fast approaching, the energy around the club is electric, and excitement is building for what promises to be an exciting year for the red and blue! Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to back the Dees in 2025! 🔴🔵

You mean the same group that stitched us up with Mac Andrew so that they could bolster GC? The same people who allowed Phat Phil Scully to have a recruitment 'job' within GWS's salary cap? Those people? The ones that allowed Judd's $400 000 Visy ambassador salary to be signed off? The same one's who allow Cotton On to be an extension of any offer to Cats players and family? Not for mine rjay

How's Gavaskar suggesting that both of them will be reported!🤣

Ingenious.

Surely Nick Daicos will win it

Hi Colm, I get what you're saying but I've always found this an odd concept. It suggests you can somehow quantify the unknown. I'm willing to be corrected, but I footy is full of those who have far exceeded what was thought possible and visa versa.