whelan45

Maybe everybody should calm down a bit?

Scott Burns to Pies, just on Trade Week Radio. Apparently all been confirmed. So that's another out of the race

Doesn't it just say in the article Essendon are interested in him? Not the other way around?

You sure about that? I've heard he will be restricted for most of if not all the pre-season? That's great news if he will be good to go..

He's missing most of the pre-season I'm pretty sure with the shoulder surgery he had at the end of the year. Poor bloke, seems to get injured just as he get's a little confidence and momentum. Play him on the wing I think. Was a midfielder as a junior and has spent his whole time here being developed as a back man which he has improved at. We need midfielders, maybe we've got one?

Not sure if I missed it in the article but does it mention his role? Maybe development rather than line coach?

I don't understand why somebody would verbally commit to another team during the season? I just don't see the advantage in it, or why it would occur?

DB said West Coast believe Roos to Melb is a done deal but will still make a call to him tomorrow. DB did not say he thinks it's a done deal and he did not say he thinks it will be signed tomorrow.

I'm not convinced he will publicly say he won't coach because his family were not supportive. Turning it down now would indicate that. I think he would own the decision himself and not refer to the family at all if he rejects the offer.

Channel 7 just said expected to be signed prior to Thursday. Sticking point been Dees want 3 years, Roos 5 years

Minson only picks on small blokes. One of the cheapest blokes running around.

So he said we would announce our coach then. That would mean we have already picked them and may explain the interviewing of assistant coaches to come across as assistants?

What function?

I was under the impression that the reason the players haven't been charged is that there is conjecture on whether the substances they took were banned or not. There is the whole confusion between what advice ASADA has given regarding AOD. At this interim stage, ASADA haven't been able to gather enough evidence to appropriately ban any players. They may still yet, but it seems unlikely given that they haven't been able to 6 in months. I don't think the players haven't been banned due to any sympathy directed towards them. They simply just don't have the appropriate evidence at this stage to make any bans hold up in a court of law

I have been away for most of the year, so haven't seen a heap of the Dees or watched Casey at all. But from what I have seen, our midfield is the worst I have ever seen. Strauss has been groomed as a running defender since he started. Why don't we now play him as a midfielder - from what I know he played his junior footy through there. The guy can run, has good skills and his defensive side to his game has improved from playing down back for 3 years. Terlich and Clisby show a bit down back and are playing the role Strauss was groomed for. I feel we have a midfield asset here that we may not be utilising?

Not sure if you are at the game but working hard off the ball. Running hard for space, a lot unrewarded

Such a good thread...

If we can replace our Etihad home game with a Darwin match this is a real winner I reckon.

How do you do this? I can only stream them at the moment

I went along. Very professional and well run night. A few interesting points that I liked: The gaming revenue generated by the Bentleigh Club and the other club we own (sorry forgot the name of the second one) exceeds the cost of debt, which was pleasing to hear. I think the value of the asset was appox $5mil greater than the debt as well. Schwab said the potential Docklands training base would need to be very compelling for us to move to it. Got a strong vibe that we are very unlikely to pursue it, as we do not want to be separated from the MCG precinct. We are still maintaining connections in China. There is confidence that as we maintain these relationships, they will benefit us in time. A good night. I have plenty of confidence in the group running our club. It is not an easy job, and I think they do it quite well.

Ill bring my one from last season, but this years haven't arrived. Assume that's all good...

Sorry I've never been and I'm planning to go tonight, but is there a dress code?

My mate is an AFL boundary umpire and he mentioned to me that Melbourne are the only club so far to have requested a boundary umpire to attend training sessions. We have apparently got one down 4 times so far, including on a Sunday, which I thought was interesting as it is outside normal field training days. Not 100% sure why we need an actual boundary umpire to throw the balls in for us when practicing throw in stoppages? Ne way thought I would mention it for those who are interested.

I went down there today, got there about 9.50, so a little late. Bear in mind this was the first time I've attended training, so I have nothing to compare on. I'll just jot some points down of things I noticed: Tapscott looks as fit as I've seen him, and has good disposal. Tom McDonald's disposal looked good in a few backline drills that were run, in which there was a significant emphasis on hitting targets (good to see as this area hurts us). At one point he asked Neil Craig whether what he'd just done was better, and Craigy relayed a couple of tips, mainly to make sure he's hitting targets between their eyes, rather than at their feet. I was pleasantly surprised with Josh Tynan's kicking disposal, which I thought was scratchy, however it looked very good in a couple of drills. He looks fit and a great size too. Although Grimes has had some niggles, he looks in great nick. Dunn and Watts (both in some sort of rehab group, although no apparent injuries were noticeable as the drills they were completing still required full body movement) were constantly yelling encouragement to the boys in the main group. It was impressive as they had their own drills to complete. Watts has great disposal, let's hope his competitiveness is getting better as he matures. Blease and Davey were putting in with the running drills. I don't expect these boys to eventually be better than the others at the endurance stuff as I would hope the others are also improving. Blease and Davey are not physically gifted at the endurance stuff, and are unlikely to become better at it than James Magner for instance who in turn is unlikely to become faster at the short stuff than these two. I only expect them to work hard to improve their own PB's. I could not fault their attitude on today. Troy Davis lacks confidence with his kicking. Evans looked pretty fit as well. Does anybody know if they are training at Gosch's paddock on Wednesday? I live close and wouldn't mind having a look.

FB: Tapscott Frawley Garland HB: Watts McDonald Dunn C: Rodan Grimes Trengrove HF: Howe Clark Blease FF: Pederson Dawes Byrnes R: Jamar Jones Sylvia Int: Mckenzie Viney Toumpas Sub: Davey Emerg: Bail Nicholson Terlich