Hells Gates

I'll be there. Will keep you updated.

All I can say is.... Its the supporters who dont show up to games at the MCG who have forced the club to take action. 20,000 at a home game is not even enough to hire the ground. Blame the supporters who dont show, not the club. If it doesnt work out, at least we tried.

Just a little quick research: I couldnt find Hawks but.... Pet memberships at these clubs: Collingwood $42 Sydney $35 Essendon $30 Bulldogs $30 North $30 Fremantle $25 WCE $15 I'm unsure whether they would count but it is extra $$$$.

Alot of Hawthorn & Collingwood's memberships are also "pet" memberships, ridiculous, but an option we dont have!!!

Hi Paul. Too be honest the time they do come up to play is the coolest time of the year plus they play at night, somewhere around 18-23'c - no different to a nice spring down in September down there, plus with little humidity at all and normally a nice cool South Easterly breeze. Theres so much hype from the journo's down south about how hot and humid its going to be but its actually perfect. A little dewy if anything. Good idea with the memberships. I didnt get to footy much this year but I still pay a full membership. Whilst accommodation can be tricky to find and pricey, just shop around. Flights are cheap as chips if people book early enough, we've been Darwin - Melb for $120 each way that time of year. We all know the draw now, like any holiday, book well ahead. As for recovery, I guess thats one of the benefits of this current trip. By the way i'm willing to help any Demon out with accommodation options if I need too

Well said. Also we may only do it for 5 years to get ahead. By that time we should be winning a few games and crowds will be back at the G. Not all doom n gloom. Small sacrifices for big rewards.

Red Emperor? Spangled Emperor?

I will leave this alone and just laugh. "Darwin is a dump", "no money to be made in Darwin". Hilarious. As I previously stated with the airport upgrade a connection to China, a $40 billion gas project approval (Ichthys) with construction already started, a booming offshore Oil & Gas industry in which Darwin will be the major port, a connection with America through defence, booming Mine projects waiting in the wings. The possibilities are endless with sponsorship. This club needed to expand and think outside the square for our future wellbeing & I really applaud them for that. Theres also no reason why they cant still focus on other areas down south as well as Darwin either. The NT is ours and if we want it to work it will be greatly beneficial. Theres so many kids running around with Dee's jumpers like never before, its my resposibility to get them onboard. My word there is some negative people on here sometimes, stand up and support your club and support them for having a go. I love this club & the supporters and I will never knock anyone for having a crack. Theres some quality people at the club who are doing great things. Get on board. Sign up a friend. My focus is now to get an early night and go spend my last day off with the Dees tomorrow, just so I can bring you guys another training report!! If the club has lifted its standards right from top to bottom, then why cant us supporters do it as well. Sayonara.

Darwin will soon become the gateway to Asia with the airport upgrade. Theres a method to the madness.......

Watch this space........... Was just sitting next to Matthew Green – Chief Operations Officer, Ben Groom - General Manager - Strategy, Tom Parker - Strategic Relationship Manager on my flight back from Sydney, fancy that. A Dees social club is high on the priority list and it was talked about most of the flight with some ideas of places. Unfortunately my lips are sealed as to where but the club is being active in this area. They are up here to also do the Kakadu Trek with some business partners.

Glenelg Talent manager actually. Which covers the Adelaide region and also Glenelg's zone is South East South Australia which includes leagues: MSEFL, WBFL, KNTFL.

Nathan's a fantastic kid in that he does everything he can to be the best he can and he's got AFL all over him with effort, want, willingness to learn and preparation. The concern with him is his kicking but he had a really good state carnival where he had some good possessions and he played reserves for Glenelg and played well up forward. He could be a midfielder/forward type and maybe a run with player. Despite the fact he's never played that role I reckon he could do it because hes so strong, so competitive and loves to tackle. - Brenton Hale, Glenelg Talent Manager.

Mitch is a 22 year old who has been with North Adelaide for 4 years and continued to improve. Had another solid year and finished 4th in North Adelaides best & fairest playing as a quick rebounding half-back/wingman who is a very good mid range kick of the ball. Probably upped his draft value with a great finals series in which he had 3 of his better games for the year. - Darryl Wintle, North Adelaide talent manager.

Moves like a young Matthew Pavlich....Anyone else notice that from the highlights package??

Yes, a big factor.

Only TIO stadium & Palmerston oval I think.

G'day mate. Nev hasn't stood out to me but to honest I haven't even seen him. Like all players though you can definitely notice a difference in the whole group. A bit delayed but the answer to your question months back is yes, Savannah Hi longsuffering. I only spotted Dawesy a few days ago when I was watching the Tiwi v St Mary's game, I did post on here from memory that he looked a bit stuffed due to the heat, but that's not unusual. I'm heading to training today and tomorrow so will report back to you about Dawes. Also, on behalf of everyone here and Melbourne supporters I thanked Matt Burgan for everything he's doing. I had a very long chat to him, basically he does the writing but there's 4-5 guys that do camera work for him and they're fantastic. Matt said he's employed by the club now after being seeked out by the club when he was working for the AFL. Matt was born a Demon and is a proud member also. So don't worry I've thanked him heaps on behalf of you all. He was quite appreciative of what I said.

We just need to start winning, then a few more will come out of hibernation mate, all will be good. But yes the club are very lucky they've had a committed bunch of members year in year out, the club is well aware that this won't last forever.

Club is hoping for 20,000 before the Xmas break and 40,000 for 2013. They're also hoping that a few wins early could get us to 45,000. Will need a committed buy in from everyone though.

G'day all. I apologise for my posts being a bit all over the place but I was in a rush yesterday and nearly missed my flight due to posting on here! Here's some more info for everyone. Neeldy was fairly quiet during drills compared to Neil Craig who was very active and vocal along with Jade Rawlings and Leigh Brown. Players were screamed at by Rawlings and Brown when they missed targets by foot during drills "not good enough" they would say and all of the group would have to do sprints before re-starting the drill again. Sprints looked to be 3 x 50m. There's definitely no love lost between Rawlings and Joel Macdonald. Rawlings was into him non stop, at the end saying "you love me don't you Joel", "I'm easy on you aren't I Joel" and the best was Rawlings asking him if he wanted to be business partners. Jade said "we will start selling balaclavas and you can be the model". Joel didn't say much, probably terrified that anything he did say would probably result in sprints. Neeld was also into Jade about not getting up before the players to go to the gym, obviously the FD is also trying to lead by example. During the match simulation young Jack Viney had his top ripped to pieces, I said to Neeldy I think that's going to be a common occurrence isn't it, he laughed and said "he's just a terror, he terrorises everybody, even us, he hates losing"! I will say again he's a solid bugger, no fear, the year at MFC has obviously been instrumental in him being ready to go for 2013. I'd like to think this will be the same for Jesse Hogan, who was absent at training along with Mitch Clark. Misson joked and said they're back in the pool at the barracks having a cuddle. Players were calling Jack Watts "silky" all session, but honestly between Barry, Strauss, Tappy, Toumpas and Kent you couldn't pick a fault in their foot skills. There were cameras set up remotely all around the ground and all players obviously had GPS's on, I was sitting next to one of many laptops where all data from all players was outlayed and you could see who was hot, who's putting in, distances, temperatures, who's slacking off etc. Lots of ball drills, which has been a common theme and not normally this involved at other clubs before Xmas. I think in previous years balls didn't come out until after January 5th so it's great to see they're getting their hands on the ball as well as building a great fitness base. Where our fitness stands with other clubs I'm not sure but it's only a matter of time and patience before it all clicks. Also great to see a team culture and great camaraderie between players, where if someone's down a bit then another player will lift to cover him and help out, something I've really noticed this year, no selfishness between anyone. Other than that Sells & Mags wanted me to take them fishing. I was first to report about Neeldy's knee-still no answer! Without trying to get everyone's hopes up it is the fittest I have seen the players, ever. Everyone looks ripped, especially Howe. Also it's the sharpest I've seen our skills since the late 90's. And we look to have some pace out there too. Anyway I'm off, I'll report back soon.

As I mentioned there was a lot of match simulation so yes he ran and made space well, kicking beautifully. Was one of the top GPS results too which the boys were stirring him up saying he's old etc but can still run.

I agree mate. Those boys were standouts in match simulation. Kent played on the wing and owned it, fast and accurate, was great to watch. In fact the skills have picked up remarkably.

Hi All. I just went down to Dees' training this morning at Gardens Oval. Conditions were obviously hot and humid but there was a nice breeze coming through, it would help that this oval is close to the ocean. They trained for a good three hours or so this morning. Training consisted of many full match simulation drills, including what looked like a full match of 10 minute quarters. Standouts in this match included Dom Barry - this kid is something else, smooth mover and beautiful kick, dominated, got the best GPS results out of everyone, very high numbers ... he reminds of a young and better version of Aaron Davey. Others included Nicholson - by geez he is quick and didn't stop running, Jeremy Howe, Jimmy Toumpas, Rory Taggert, Aaron Davey, Tom McDonald , Chip, Colin Garland, Dean Kent and James Strauss. Jack Watts' skills were outstanding however, he left training early and when I saw him last he had strapping around his shin/calf? I'm a Watts fan but he looks skinny - maybe suited to a wing than a backman's role? There were other full ground drills where there were stoppages on all four flanks then it turned into two balls going each way then Neil Craig would yell out and there would be only one live ball which had to get down the other end for a goal, hard to explain! Lots of ruck/midfield drills, one after the other. At the end guys were doing repeat 50m sprints, taking in turns, Nicholson dominated this not slowing up once. I had a long chat with Howie who with Dom Barry absolutely killed the GPS results, up and over 20km for a training session. Howie looks so fit!!! Davey, Nicholson and McDonald also did well here. They can't get away with anything with video cameras everywhere, getting tracked up to the second with GPS through laptops around the ground. I was asking Howie, Tom McD and Sellar how they were handling the heat and they just laughed and said it's different. Howie looked spent. Tom Mc said the benefits of training in humidity were not to do with breathing but to do with muscle stamina, kind of like they push there bodies to max out here in heat then in the cooler weather they can cope for longer at a time due to their core temp - something like that!! Tom Mc also said that some players have lost 5-6kg in a 40min session through fluid loss. A big chat also to Matt Burgan in the shade, seems quietly confident but doesn't let up much. I asked Dave Misson how the players were coping and he said Friday was tough but they've acclimatised much better, they've had to re adjust the program slightly due to the humidity. I met Jimmy Toumpas - bloody lovely kid. Would like to keep him as a pet!!! Just a great happy easy going guy and is absolutely loving being a part of the MFC. Players have been great to him and he loves living with the Vineys. He's had a good time up here, not liking the heat too much but said they've eased him into training which has helped. He too come off early, as did Jack Viney. You will laugh at this - I told Jimmy Toumpas don't you dare do a Scully on us or I will hunt you down!!!! He laughed and said we don't need to worry, he couldnt be happier! Also said he's looking forward to the 38km Kakadu trek. Jones trained all morning then while everyone was having ice baths he just kept doing laps!!! Freak. Sylvia looks very clim & trim, had a decent back rub before leaving. Anyway guys I'm off. Got to fly to Sydney but I'll be back Tuesday so will hopefully get one more training report to you before the Dees fly home on Thursday. Dark horses for this year: Taggert, Tynan, Dean Kent!, Barry. I must say our skills are the best and sharpest I've ever seen.

Funny you should say that, no smirk today though. He looked like this today also.

Just been to the ground with the boys, watched the first game then everyone, except flash took off at 1/4 time in Tiwi v St Marys game which Aussie is playing. The guy still has all the skills but just not the fitness. I was only there for an hour sitting with flash, Mitch, Dom Barry & Rodan. Flash was so happy to be back home, havent talked to him much before but hes a very nice fella. Who looks fit: Grimesy Frawley - Looks ripped Jamar - Fittest Ive seen him Tom McDonald Taggert - I dont know if spotted the wrong guy but god he looks big in the chest & arms, definite midfield role looms if injury free. Tynan Dean Kent - not sure what his numbers are but hes a ripped young lad, barrel chest & a swagger to go with it. J Viney - hes a solid kid. Rodan. I didnt see Jonesy anywhere, probably went for a run the freak. Who looked unfit: Bare in mind the heat. Watts - looked stuffed & skinny, also been ill. Sometimes I want to wipe that smirk off his face. McKenzie Matt Burgan Neeldy had bark off his knees, I asked him what happened & he just laughed. Dawesy looked a bit tuckered out. Anyway not much just a little info. A lot of new faces, will get around to meeting them all soon. Dees did a training session with kids between games.