Older demon

After today Ah Mu must catch someones eye.

Ryan Shelton now starring in the Toyota ads

Mature age recruits at Casey are Miller Bergman (Kangas) Luamon Lual (Bombers). The academy boys are Coates League under-18s recruits - Stingrays: Toby Sinnema, Tairon Ah-Mu I cannot think of any other train on players, and unaware if we could poach similar guys training at other clubs to cover long term injuries

Article in the Age today with respect to the AO and Craig Tiley's grand plan "Magpies open to vacating nest to help Australian Open keep growing""With the Melbourne Football Club highly likely to relocate this year as at least a short-to-medium-term move to Waverley after Hawthorn’s shift to Dingley, there would be scope for Collingwood to temporarily train at Gosch’s Paddock and potentially use the gym facilities at AAMI Park."

I am pleasantly surprised by Kal White. Playing him up forward, he has kicked goals, looks a beautiful kick and is very athletic. I don't expect him to play this year, but he has all the moves. We may not be aware of it, but with so many first-rounders in the last 2 years and a heap of talented youngsters, I hope our rebuild on the run will bring a lot of success, and I love the way we have changed our game style. None of the pundits have noticed this YET.

And the weather forecast is for a very hot day. Not a nice way to restart training.

Thank you for this superb slide show, and the soundtrack is a masterpiece. Somehow you managed to get a pic of me and my daughters dog with more signatures on his MFC jumper than I thought possible. Merry Christmas

The answer surely lies within the leadership group. Who is last year's leadership group, and look to who is appointed this season? I have a lot of time for Rivers.Lever was until he started to get injured too often and of course Viney is still vice captain.

I think it was Big Bob Johson, who finished his career at Oakleig,h who used to run the "Beef on a Spit" business not Tassis

Jack Henderson has been struggling with a groin injury listed as far back as July this year. For the trackwatchers is there some risk he will end up on the Long Term Injury list and create an opening for a player we have as a train on over summer?

The biggest revelation in this mock is Carlton trading pick 11 for our GCS 1st round in 2026. Giving us pick 7,8 & 11. And declares we take Taylor , Nairn and Lindsay

Where is Ethan when we need him? he has already hinted MFC has a surprise up its sleeve for the draft. Now he has gone silent. Not even a follow up hiunt.

I liked his analysis and not bombing it in. He could easily be the forward coach

And where will we play Geelong?

My condolences to the Whalan and Vickers-Willis families. This is so unfair, and I know her side of the family are mad MFC supporters. I hope the club can reach out and offer some sympathy,

I liked the article and its positivity, especially published in the HS, which hasn't been our fondest supporter. The proof will be in the actions, and I, for one, am not concerned that any of this will come back to bite us. The club has drawn a line in the sand and done a reset. Good. High-maintenance personalities have moved on, and we have welcomed some players of good character. Steele will replace Clarry, and it looks like Trac will be replaced by Rivers, with lots of younger talent entering the club. I look forward to how we will now play. Attacking and scoring freely, and note this is how Brisbane have rulled the roost and played in the last 3 grand finals

For all the doom and gloom regarding a weak draft, the GWS recruiter believes this year is good to about 12 or 13, excluding the academy and F/S kids. In his opinion, it falls away quickly after 15, and they probably won't use any of their later picks. I think Taylor has something in mind for 7 & 8, and I never expected we would have such a dramatic cleanout. In Taylor we trust

Agree, however, I suspect that this is the view Morris has been fed by GC. Given how MFC feel about Morris, I doubt they are feeding him much info. Morris never tells you which side of the negotiation is his source and how much is his spin. Patience, grasshoppers, all will be revealed by next Wednesday.

This is my "What If" throw it out there scenario Clayton has had 2 ordinary seasons by his standard, and let's say he is on $1.3 M a year. If I were Clayton, I would be worried that I am not value for money and may be shipped off for a salary dump. If I desperately want to stay in Melbourne and at the Melbourne Football Club, I would be talking to my manager to renegotiate a pay cut or a new deal. No club is going to tolerate a marquee $1.3 M player playing in the seconds for any length of time. Read the tea leaves, Clayton MFC will pay $ 700K a year for the next 5 years if you go. Why not pay me $700K a year, and I stay and work on my game to get better and even play a different role?

The pen is truly mightier than the sword. So spoke Caro, who today unloaded the best spray of all to the Geelong football club. I have never been a fan of hers, but in today's Age, she has won my admiration for her response to the GFC and their attitude. I was so pleased to see another club cop it instead of us. She is the one journo who has called out their culture. It would appear that a number of cats have gone missing, and Smith deservedly gets most of it. The Stengle incident is mentioned. Many here complained last year that Stengle's medical episode hardly got a mention. It would appear that even Geelong, the masters of rehabbing and resurrecting fallen souls, is being tested by the behaviours of Mr Bailey. If we are the Titanic then I hate to think what Geelong are

Can you trust the media? Reported that Adelaide had to reconsider Trac as an option when he asked for a contract that included his current 4 years plus a 5th at more money. He did say at the B&F that it was a job. Does he think he is worth more than his current contract and should align with the insane money the Saints have offered TDK and Wanganeen Millera. ONe can only imagine what he is asking of Gold Coast. THis may be simple but the options he wants to explore are MORE MONEY!

And tell him to get Ollies number and invite him to preseason

Thereis a lot to like about the way the club has responded. Trac can explore but the club have said for any deal to eventuate the club come first. He is contracted with 4 years to go, is a club icon and a required player. Trac may find himself back at the Dees next season

On SEN, Trac decided Sunday and with the club's permission, to visit Adelaide and test the market. That's all it is atm, but it did slip that Trac has had a chat with Hardwick at Gold Coast. The subtle MFC message, and from Gary Lyon, is that he will cost you, or to quote Gaz, "Pony Up". The message is that MFC want a player in the deal, and if the deal doesn't suit, Trac stays where he is. I have heard 3rd hand that Trac won't go to Adelaide, but may look good in a Suns jumper. It is no surprise that GC states that Humphrey is not negotiable so I guess we know who Melbourne wants, and of course, Flanders may be more gettable. In the words of Sun Tsu, be patient, always hold the high ground and do not compromise

I think this one requires patience. Consider that Trac is mercenary; he said so at the BNF. It's my job! He can explore all he likes with the club's blessing, but he may find it is just too hard, and I don't believe he or his mob will contemplate any reduction in his wage. Can he and his team engineer more money? I doubt it! As Gary Lyon declared recently, "What can Adelaide offer"? I would love to know what Melbourne's trigger is to say do it At this stage, Tom Morris has reiterated, we are not chasing him out or putting him on the market. He hasn't snuck off and been seen having a coffee with Mitchell at Hawthorn. It is a little different to Steven May, where the club initiated the look elsewhere, but if nothing comes to fruition, he stays and plays at Casey a lot.