Diamond_Jim

Given the permitted crowds... say one third of usual.... there's no money in it for the arenas or the clubs

I suspect this has something to do with the absence of the VFL. Not really in favour given 16 minute quarters

Cannot help but notice that in the match simulation sequence where Bennell got several touches that the final kick inside 50 by the player to whom Bennell gave it off to (not sure who it was) was not to advantage. The clip doesn't make it clear exactly what happened between the attacker and defender.

so true..to use that cliche.. shovel ready projects will be prioritised Push the AFLW and VFLW angle together with the elite medical centre etc etc and you're ready to go. The great thing about Casey is that the long lead time facilities such as the ovals are already there. Indoor training centres gyms etc are relatively simple things to construct. The land is there at the Berwick goals end. Yes I know we would all love to be at the MCG but this is there now !! IMO we should have a space at the MCG itself for our memorabilia. That is our home.

I was wondering if we were the only club whose principal training ground was not capable of being closed off from the public. North at Arden street sprung to mind.A long time since I've been down that way. The ability to close the oval is perhaps going to be a problem with any redevelopment of Gosch's paddock

no criticism of you and much appreciated. Just missing the objectivity and detail we have become used to in comparison to the puff coverage from the club (mind you I would expect little else)

must say..the faux training reports are in keeping with season. Never thought I'd miss the training the house down versions from our usual followers. Tis a strange world

Not sure whether it was McLure or Healy last night that made the excellent point that he had never heard a fan calling for shorter quarters. It always came from football commentators who they thought were simply bored with the game. Eddie was given a special mention. Frankly this year was one for normal length quarters plus shortened quarter and half time breaks. No need for food/toilet breaks for fans this year.

couldn't make the practice games and without VFL his season is almost finished. If we see him it means the season is over for MFC and we are simply going through the motions. A real pity as we all like him as a player. Training must come hard for the fringe players. I would like to see the Melbourne teams pair with another club so that their fringe players could have a match each week. It would give them some hope.

it was a long weekend in the UK and the US the photos of the crowded beaches etc are amazing.... Wonder how long it will be before the Govt's lose the bulk of Australians. The fear message was simply too harsh in light of what happened. Once you have community football going again in July(?) why would the AFL even bother with all the player isolation stuff.

I prefer to remember the 2018 game Optimists keep telling me that 2019 was an aberration

love to host them up there. The NT govt would pay millions. Would prefer Alice. It would be bigger than QB as a national event

the oval last year was a quagmire due to broken drainage and the facilities are okay but nothing great. If it has a gym for example it's rather basic. It does however have space and expansion capability going for it plus it is located in a large area zoned for high performance sports

The irony is that if the power clubs travel interstate this year they will be compensated next year by home games with massive dollar paying crowds. A wonderful pea and thimble trick

Weideman has one chance against Carlton IMO and then it's give Jackson a go. Lose the first two of the next four and the season is over Playing him in the ruck in the practice game is now looking like a major error as it denied him an opportunity to get his forward play working. With 16 minute quarters I am tempted to try Bennell earlier rather than later on the assumption that his game time is limited to 50-60% for the first few games. The rest of the team will just have to cover. TBH I cannot see us getting our act together in the first few games but one never knows...the other teams may be just as bad. I do know that if we had played Richmond GWS and the Pies in our next three matches we would be 0-4.

which turn into increased sponsorships

if you don't want to buy one of the better android boxes (around $200) there's lots of cheaper ones available online that you might like to consider. For example Kogan has them for $85 and if you can wait for one from China even cheaper again. You really need one of these to maximise your TV use these days as streaming is becoming more important by the day. https://www.kogan.com/au/deals/android-smart-tv-box/?department=connected-home&category=media-players-set-top-boxes&order_by=Default&view=grid&price=%2C100 I have an Nvidia shield 2017 model.Took me a little while to get used to the remote but after a few days I loved it.

will definitely answer a lot of questions. Going into 2019 we would pencil all those games in as wins. No excuses especially with Geelong at the MCG. Of course we have got such an easy draw because we are not worthy of a marquee game. (every game a twilight game !!) Let's hope we start well as we could with luck see some real prime timespots against big opposition if we were to win the first four.

the surface should be at its best and the game will be unaffected by wind and rain. A perfect opportunity to see if we have come to win this season. 60 point win would be nice.

Interstate travel

think about it.... if all the Qld games before round 8 are away games then even if they are stuck in Qld their remaining "home games" will be in Qld.They wont have to travel. It's a guaranteed win. Same for the SA teams if they get a similar ruling. Will the AFL allow it... who knows..... but the Eagles football manager was quoted as saying that was his understanding of how it would work. "The Eagles are ramping up their preparations for their month-long stint at the Gold Coast high performance centre, with no players so far making themselves unavailable for the trip. Vozzo said he understood the games in Queensland will all be considered 'away' games for the Eagles." https://www.afl.com.au/news/435737/eagles-apply-for-special-dispensation-for-more-staff

I posted this on another thread but if the WA and SA clubs get away with calling all games in the Qld hub away games the impact is dramatic.... "If Eagles etc have only played away prior to Round 8 they will have played away 7 times. At most they will need to play away two more times and of course one of those away games could be against Freo in Perth. It will then mean that following Round 7 Melbourne teams will on average be playing interstate once every two weeks while the likes of Crows and Eagles will not travel again. The Eagles will have their revenge not to mention a massive home ground advantage. It is lucky that Brisbane are an okay team or we could quite likely see the Eagles going 8-0 and then having 8 or nine games in Perth."

That gets you to the end of round 8. If Eagles etc have only played away prior to Round 8 they will have played away 7 times. At most they will need to play away two more times and of course one of those away games could be against Freo in Perth. It will then mean that following Round 7 Melbourne teams will on average be playing interstate once every two weeks while the likes of Crows and Eagles will not travel again. The Eagles will have their revenge not to mention a massive home ground advantage. It is lucky that Brisbane are an okay team or we could quite likely see the Eagles going 8-0 and then having 8 or nine games in Perth.

AFL site is reporting the Eagles Football manager Craig Vozzo as saying that all games in the Queensland hub will be considered away games for the Eagles. If this holds true for Freo and the two SA clubs the number of interstate trips required by the Melbourne clubs will jump. Add to this that teams will be flying up and back on the same day for interstate matches on chartered aircraft and it makes road trips particularly difficult. Eagles have played the AFL sympathy card well and are looking good for a top two finish is my bet. "The Eagles are ramping up their preparations for their month-long stint at the Gold Coast high performance centre, with no players so far making themselves unavailable for the trip. Vozzo said he understood the games in Queensland will all be considered 'away' games for the Eagles." https://www.afl.com.au/news/435737/eagles-apply-for-special-dispensation-for-more-staff

Has potential Neil. I see the nearby Knox Regional Sports Park got $140M for facilities upgrade in 2018