ignition.

At the rate this thread is going it will be bigger than the No T$ No B$ thread, because Wines will have many many more excellent games to come. Yes I too find it frustrating we had this kid knocking on our door, certainly his TAC Cup performances and his near Larke medal finish suggested things to come. I also highly doubt Wines regressing (injuries aside), I can only see improvement and increased consistency with years to come. Do I think Toumpas will be better in the long run... no, simply because Wines already posses and shows the traits of becoming "a star", but I can accept that. If you think the opposite you are blind and bias. In saying that I can still see improvement coming from Toumpas and it's far too early to write him off after one season. The point is we selected Toumpas (many of our personal mock drafts had him ahead of Wines at the time - mine included), and we as fans must stick by that and support him. Wines himself appears as loyal as an old dog and I doubt we will ever see him don the red and blue. Let's just hope Toumpas can kick his first premiership season goal and give us some glimpses of things to come that support the reasons why the club selected him at 4.

Does anyone have any insight as to how many games we can expect Michie to play this year (injuries aside)? Obviously this will be performance based but does anyone have any word coming out of the club? Or at least any idea if he will be in the 22 next week? Cheers

The draft itself was considered the worst in recent years. A friend working as a scout/ recruiter for an AFL club told me prior that it was as deep as the top 15 at best and after that clubs were practically guessing (if you get my drift). So as for Taggert, Tynan and Sellar being busts I can't really blame the recruiters on this one. Looking at the draft now the only really good quality picks amongst the vast range of later selections would have been Michael Talia and Lachie Neale.

Damien Barrett gets a kick out of stirring up the Melbourne faithful. He will be having a great old time reading some of these comments, and I can assure you he reads these comments as I figured out (with confirmation) his demonland profile over the last trade period. Prior to noticing some of his comments that felt like I had read them two days prior on here I hated him, although since then and now he along with many journos just stir the pot once and while (some more than others) to get a reaction have have the public talking (about them or their related stories whether they're true, false or exaggerated).

That HUN article is hilarious. I always like reading a journalist's attempt/s to write about molecular science - so idiotic yet written with confidence. I rather like the list of supplements named at the bottom with the addition of their performance enhancing effects. Some of my favorites were "amino acids" (the building blocks of protein), "arginine" (which is an amino acid), and finally "protein". Bum bum baaaa....

I look forward to the match tonight. Geelong are a very unforgiving team who are renowned to capitalize when their opponent has a laps in concentration. I went to the last NAB challenge match and even though there was a vast improvement we still did some very silly errors or allowed Richmond to move the ball up the ground far too easily at times. It is these areas I would like to see improved tonight and I really hope the team can maintain a high work ethic from siren to siren. If I see this win or lose, I will be going into the premiership season very excited. So GO DEES and take it to them

A nice little read. http://www.sen.com.au/inside-football-display-article-2013/Dees-Michie-grasps-job-opportunity/63840

Well said and perfectly summarized. Although his replacement in Gillies was a good move... ow wait <(^^~)>

Yes but while he's in contract he shouldn't be shoved out the door. If he hasn't been up to it physically or mentally by the time his contract expires then he too should realize it is time to retire. EDIT: Besides, it's not the right time to be discussing this anyway. I'm just sick of seeing people wanting to trade him for next to nothing.

Completely agree with you mate. It certainly favours the bigger and more successful clubs and makes it harder for the likes of us to get off the bottom. Let's just hope by the time we rise we can attract bigger name players with a little more ease.

Yes, he was very keen to receive his MCC membership after his "ten years of service".

I would love Ollie Wines at the Dees too, although unfortunately I don't think that trade will ever eventuate. I think we would have to give up something pretty significant to obtain him within the next couple of years.

I agree, as free agency progresses the likeliness of a player remaining at the one club will diminish. Although clubs will only look at initiating a trade if a player appears reluctant to sign or recommit, most likely two years prior to their contract expiring. If the club has a good or "star" player (e.g. Pendlebury, Dangerfield, J.Selwood) on its list it won't want to trade them out of fear of free agency, they will want to retain them above all else. The only way a club can maximize its chances of retaining its free agents (outside of $$$ factor) is by "culture". Create a good environment by winning games, create strong support networks (coaches, friends/ players), and show some form of loyalty to players once they pass their prime - encouraging the younger ones to sign on.

The club needs to let him retire as a Demon. It's time the club supports its older players and stand by Jamar - showing him the same loyalty and respect he has recently shown us. If the club keeps trying to discard the older players when they begin to lose form to receive weak draft picks or other forms of cheap Chinese made "kitchen knives" what kind of message is that for our playing list? An older player like Jamar will aid the development of the young rucks even if it's his final season before retirement. Having him chaired of the ground in the red and blue portrays a far better message and just might help the likes of Frawley re-sign at the years end (or others in the future). On that note, would any of us like to see the loyal Grimes and Jones treated like mutton when they hit their thirties? I certainly hope not.

Adelaide - Hate crows fans within the MCC. Brisbane - Don't show any emotion towards them, currently bad but had a good 3 years in the early 2000's. Carlton - Supporters claim to be top 4 every pre-season, have their hopes crushed by round 10. Collingwood - Like all of Australia - not a fan and hate them. Essendon - My most hated team by a country mile - pack of co**y knobs. Fremantle - Nothing against them. Geelong - Have large amounts of respect (except hated being on the end of their thrashings). Gold Coast - Too early to call, just hope they end up more successful than GWS as long as it's not at our expense. GWS - Hated during the $cully turmoil, have began to not mind them over the trading periods. Hawthorn - Like their culture, hate their president and CEO. North Melbourne - Like them and support them as my second team due to family relations. Port Adelaide - Nothing against them... yet. Richmond - Envious of the Tiger army roar. St Kilda - Once liked, now disliked due to one big sook (a key forward) and their player culture. Sydney - Rather like, although frustrated by their salary cap advantage and academy/ zone selection program (Tippett, Franklin, Peris). West Coast - Nothing really against them. Western Bulldogs - Don't mind them, unless if I'm sitting next to their fans in Eticr*p stadium.

Put me down too if allowed, been playing SC for a few years now this will be the first time in a Demonland comp. Team name: Barassi's Bike

In all honesty I can see why he wants to see the direction of the club before he re-signs. Each and every year he gets a solid workout down back with little midfield support. I find it perfectly understandable. I hope for ours and his sakes the club has a good year and that he enjoys the atmosphere and enjoys playing. If it all goes well I can see him re-signing.

My guess: Captains: Grimes and Jones. Vice Captains: Clark and Trengove Others in the Leadership group: Garland, Cross, and Frawley (potentially also Dawes).

Thanks for the update mate. Glad to know it doesn't seem as bad as I intentionally thought it could be.

Excellent photos again 666 and Robbo, thanks for sharing. By any chance can you elaborate on Terlich, looks like he did his knee in a Cross tackle.

Why open the thread then when it clearly says "Training photos"... simple as that.

Hahahaaa....

I've been informed it will be changed for the 2015 season, that is the likely reason why it's hard to purchase. The club and New Balance will have it designed and submitted by May this year - the cut off for 2015 designs.

Every club during every pre-season tout their first draft pick as tearing up the track with no significant weakness. They all say how well they are improving and making in roads, they are building a good exciting environment... etc etc etc.

I don't think we'll ever see him as a Scott Pendlebury, SP was always a midfielder and a highly rated one at that. Simply because they are both tall and have basketball backgrounds is not a good enough comparison for me.I don't like doing player comparisons, but if I am to do one I believe his role will be more of a poor mans Nathan Fyfe [for 2014 anway]. Hopefully he can cement a position and role sooner rather than later so he can focus and build his game for seasons to come. See Fyfe was also drafted as a forward. He too never really crashed packs, but had very clean hands with a nice leap to mark above or around them. He also had/has excellent technique with the endurance and athleticism to match. Making him able to get around the ground or into open spaces like the forward line (while on the offensive) with ease. So there are many similarities I see with Watts, and I believe it's Roos' plan to make Watts into a big bodied and somewhat dynamic midfielder with the ability to push/ wonder into the forward line while on the offensive.