Older demon

Gee it was humid there this morning and it was exhausting just watching them run up that slope. A lot od the players mentioned as not training rocked up later. Some had been in the gym others in the pool. FWIW I had a chat with Kalani. He confirmed he is 200 cm and can high jump 2 metres. He signs his autographs with the number 34 K White maybe that gives a hint where his loyalties lie. Had a great chat with Trac, I can understand why he was so traumatised by his injury and the confronting environment of an ICU with extremely ill people. and had a lot to do with the trauma unit. He was happy to talk. He is MFC thru and thru and don't believe all the [censored] you have read about him. He wants the best for the club and the players with everyone treated equally and with respect. In his words this group with the new guys are tight and all in. Max was surrounded by fans, Salo looks fit and well and was describing the families new dining outlet, TMac was in sandles having gone for a swim and is awaiting the impending arrival of their latest. May held court until whisked away by the demon Army but was describing his baby feeding exploits in the wee hours of the morning. Last but not least was the chat with Choco, such an interesting character. He is such a great mentor to the young guys and was seeing how they responded to having so many fans up close. He is a beauty

I know Brad, and he has had every treatment known to man on that knee. In his own words, the knee is no good (he did use a different adjective, but you get the idea). He triggered a clause for another year on his contract, which is why he may be moved to the rookie list, but his playing career is under extreme doubt.

There may be a subplot to this. It wasn't that long ago that it leaked out that Draper was not keen on the Crows after the way they treated Rochelle. Of course, he came out denying he said anything, but Houston was never going to leave Port and how did that end up? Maybe he doesn't want to go to Adelaide, and they are looking at Langford instead.

The latest from the Age is Richmond doesn't want to trade their pick-six and is less likely to do a pick swap with North. Most experts believe the Tigers will take Lalor at one, and the North will take Tauru. Carlton traded up to get FOS, and I cannot see Adelaide letting Draper go. Come on down, pick and go for the best Langford, Smith or Smillie. In Taylor we trust.

Can I remind everyone that both Bomba Thompson and Dimma survived external reviews at their respective clubs prior to winning flags? They weren't sacked, but changes were made around the existing coach. I expect the same with us. Whether you like him or not, Goodwin is a good head coach and man manager, but maybe not the best tactician. Yze admitted on his departure that he was coaching from the box, and Goody was on the boundary line managing the players. This was a transition year with, at times we had five new players in the lineup, some in their first season and others having less than ten games under their belt None of us has any idea what the board has set the coach to do. His job description, tasks, KPI's and performance skill set. He reports to the GM or board monthly, so I don't think they will be sacking him now, given they have followed his progress all season. Already, two assistants have gone, and the dynamic will change. Stop worrying about things that we have no control over. The external reviews will challenge the club, but I cannot see mass sackings. Are there ready-made replacements for the incumbents who cop so much vitriol? NO. It was stated elsewhere that Brisbane lost three senior players to ACLs and their ruckman for the granny. This is where they are better than us. Their second side played deep into the VFL finals, and they have great depth. Would Lohmann, Morris and Ah Chee have got the opportunity if not for the injuries? It worked out better for them, and they introduced new blood that lifted. The injured players ( McCarthy, Coleman & Gardner) probably aren't in the best 22 any more. Darcy Fort is an experienced ruck who played his role on Grand Final day, limiting the effect Grundy had on the game and covering McInerny's absence perfectly. Sydney got smashed in the midfield by Neale, Ashcroft, Berry, McCluggae, Dunkley & Bailey The return of Ashcroft mid-season also bolstered Brisbane. Having a Coleman medalist join the midfield mid-season was a pretty handy acquisition. As we saw, the cupboard was bare in our midfield at Casey, and there was no one to replace Trac and later Windsor and Oliver. Brisbane has a much better and deeper list than us and mids who kick goals.

Without checking the list update with Marty Hore signing on for another year staying as a rookie and Melk going back onto the main list. I think that makes 5 rookie spots. I believe AMW has to come off the Cat B list so maybe he is the 6th rookie. Not sure if that influences how many we can draft.

No, this is a few pages back where one of our posters keeps a list of the contracts, their length, etc. It is the most up-to-date synopsis of the club. Lucifer's hero used to manage it, but she handed it over to Red and Blue forever.

I checked the latest list after Tomlinson went, and it is 32, and Joel Smith's name is not on the list. So, 32 seniors, six rookies & 1 Cat B rookie. On the latest list Mcvee is already upgraded. The 6 rookies are Melk, Sestan, Kentfield, Brown, Hore & Verrell.

But it is what we all want to hear! The club and manager smoke the peace pipe and the leaking stops. I am amazed but not surprised how much conjecture and rumour are treated as fact. Why are we all so impatient when there is a deadline soon when we will all know the outcome? I don't like the way the media shake the tree and try to be predictors of the future. I cancelled my HS subscription years ago because of the opinion pieces rather than researched facts, and I am trending the same way sick of McClure and his fortunetelling. I spoke with Clayton at the BF, and we didn't discuss any of this trade stuff. I asked about his hand as the last time we spoke at a club function, he was fresh from an op, and his hand was so swollen. The good news is that he can now shake his right hand; it is still swollen, and he had a very long metal plate in there all season. I am amazed he could play! The club prefers he plays as he doesn't cope well without the structure and training. Listen to Gus and how much he has struggled when he no longer had his ordered highly planned football career and loss of his sense of purpose.

Ollie is coming along nicely. Spoke with him at the B&F. On Insta you can see a group photo with Kolt, Howes, Windsor, Woey & Brown, the young Brigade. He is as tall as Howes. He had a monster pre-season this year and shredded all the puppy fat. He is doing all the right things and, after a European holiday, will be back into it. He certainly has the passion and desire to make the grade. The team manager at Casey speaks highly of him and agrees that Ollie is a natural footballer who needs to improve his tank. He ran 4th in the Casey B&F and when in the midfield at Casey was great at clearances. He is one of WCW's favourite young players

What role? He was on the GWS board. Is he looking for a post on our board? Is he a possible presidential candidate? If Green is pres then does Bartel fill Green's old board role by looking after all of the club football?

I suspect, given the timing, that the last straw was his disastrous interview with Fagan and potting David King. King responded and wasn't happy, and Fagan was a gentleman and could have had a red hot go at King. King denies the accusation and called Robbo a liar.

I read this as well, and now the club regrets doing so, as Clarry has been happy to exercise his rights to look elsewhere. If Pert did do this, I would like to know on whose authority. Any wonder MaClure stated that Clarry was feeling like he wasn't wanted anymore. It will be an interesting B&F Friday night. Pert wasn't there last year. I wonder if he will attend. If he shopped Clarry around he should be sacked on the spot.

This goes back to Andrew Mackie stating earlier in the year that Geelong had a list of targets, and Clarry was one of them. In his day, Mackie was the best sledger and mischief-maker going arouns. He isn't much better as a list manager hoping to be the new Dodoro. This will almost certainly have emanated from him designed to excite the press. A simple solution is to tell him to go away or ask about the availability of Holmes and/or De Koenig.

Surprised the Cats delisted Mitch Hardie. made the VFL team of the year is young and has some talent. Maybe they will rookie him.

It is the only portion of the night worth watching. So much emotion, which I am sure is shared by the other medically retired players. I am looking forward to the B&F and hearing him speak. I noted that Riv got BOG in the next two games after the speech.

Taj is excellent but has dropped down the list since he tore his ACL a few months ago. He wouldn't be ready for most of 2025 and not sure if he is prone to ligament injuries

Pardon me but I am already there.

Now is not the time to change the head coach! The forward coach has been let go once out of contract. McQualter may well get the West Coast job so another assistant to replace. If you believe the press with Pert running the review then the footy manager is in the spotlight. If Richardson is let go then there is another new face. Too much change already so leave the head coach where he is and do better at assistant level.

I am unsure if the AFL have a deal with Epworth given its proximity to the G but I cannot remember a case where an AFL player has been taken to a public hospital from a game. Certainly, players land on the ED doorstep if they have an incident at home. You are correct that the ambo's determine where you go. They know what the wait times are whether a hospital is on bypass and base it on their assessment of the patient's condition and any medical handover. With my last ambulance adventure, the ambos assessed me and asked if I had private insurance and if I have a preference. I suggested the Alfred and thought that wasn't a good idea as it was at capacity and stretched to the limit. They strongly advised a nearby private hospital which is where I ended up.

The AFL report addresses the issue of suspected internal injuries " AFL Doctors Association boss and Gold Coast club doctor Barry Rigby is also an intensive care doctor. He runs the yearly briefing over rib and internal injuries for AFL and AFLW doctors so they can better diagnose broken ribs or internal trauma. He said on Monday it was almost impossible for club doctors to diagnose whether ribs were bruised or broken without a complex CT scan, with even MRI scans or a simple chest X-ray often not detailed enough. Rigby said the AFL was satisfied with the current procedures for caring with patients with rib damage. “The priority is clinical assessment but it can be quite difficult with blunt force chest trauma. You can have significant pain, but you might not have fractured a rib,” he said. “Chest X-rays are often not that good at picking up chest fractures, and they can miss a small pneumothorax, which is a contusion which causes air to escape from the lungs. “To do a CT scan, which continues a significant amount of radiation, for every player who has a bump to the chest, isn’t a practical approach to the problem. It gets back to the clinical assessment for club doctors and it can be very difficult. Clinical assessment is still the best way. There is a duty of care not to bombard players with unnecessary X-rays, that could lead to another can of worms in later years in players developing cancers. Not to mention having a CT scanner at every AFL venue with support staff just in case will come at a significant cost. As for pain relief in the photo with Trac heading off to the hospital I thought I saw him with the magic green stick which provides instant pain relief. A fair comparison is with Steven May who broke ribs against the Dogs. He didn't come off immediately, eventually was subbed off and taken to hospital. Thankfully there was no internal damage.

Caro is on the wrong line here. She and the AFLPA think they know more than some of the most highly credentialled trauma doctors in the business. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Don't they believe the reports saying he got the best of care? What are the terrible stories emerging and where did they come from? I read the report and have no reason to doubt it. The closest hospital to the MCG is Epworth a highly reputable hospital and an AFL footballer gets immediate service to a private hospital. He is cared for and only later when his Haemoglobin levels drop they suspect internal bleeding. The Alfred Trauma centre and the Royal Melbourne are the only level 1 Trauma services in the state. Once the Epworth have him in their care he is no longer under the care of the MFC medical team. Just as when he is transferred from Epworth to the Alfred because his condition deteriorates having suffered the same a blunt force trauma a car accident victim endures. Again just down the road and given the very best medical care available. I worked at the Alfred for a long time in a support area for the Trauma service I trust their medical opinion over Carolines horror stories whispered to her. Trauma management isn't for the faint-hearted. A naive public may be shocked as they have no experience of what goes on behind the scenes. Everything that has been written publicly sounds textbook. Once the bleeding spleen was discovered it was acted on immediately and procedures to stem the bleeding were successful and his spleen saved. I wish journos would stick to writing facts and leave the innuendo and opinion to gossip columnists Maybe it was a shock to Trac and his family and their expectation unrealistic with how it was handled. But he got the very best medical care available

The best news this morning is Caro has dished the dirt on Collingwood and the huge bust-up between Wright and Kelly. Not all is happy at Pie land. So good to have a story that isn't about MFC. Where are Maclure, Morris and Warner when there is a carcass to feed on? I also expect the carrion to attack Bevo & Hinkley after 2 finals floggings.

I liked Max on the radio yesterday with this quote. It sums up Maclure and Morris perfectly "I missed the memo when you could write on gossip. I thought you had to get facts."

I know the rest of the comp think he is good but only those of us who know what he does both on and off the field and have followed his career trajectory can truly understand his greatness. Multiple knee reco's and in his own words only a bad hammy or knee injury away from retirement. He get attacked every week bu just shrugs it off and gets on with the game. He is the finest captain I have seen at the dees and I have been watching since the 60's. He defends his club and love his quote on radio this week, I am sure directed at MaClure and Morris : "I missed the memo when you could write on gossip. I thought you had to get facts."