The Red Fox

Interesting, I'd have the four in your backline group training with the forwards. What does that say about them... Or us!? If Maric were in the back six he'd be playing on opposition roving forwards like Milne, Betts et al. You really think he could develop into the best option on our list for those gigs?

One of the keys to premiership success is to have a settled back six and one of the pressing questions is whether the likes of Grimes, Tapscott or perhaps Davey are part of that. Leon Davis has just gone back in the twilight of his career and has just won All-Australian selection. Could Davey have similar success? What is the opportunity cost of the move given that he hasn't shown a great deal while forward or through the midfield of late. Grimes is a natural midfielder but he reads the play so well in the back 50. Which position is best for team structure? I'm torn on where to play those three and to a lesser extent which end is the best fit for Jetta and Bennell.

You're Mark Neeld, pre season is kicking off and you've got to split the squad into forward, midfield and defensive groups. We have a range of one position players, think Jurrah (forward), Jones & Moloney (mids) but there are a host of swing men like Davey or players who are yet to settle into a role. So, where do you develop the following? Bail, Bate, Bennell, Davey, Dunn, Fitzgerald, Green, Grimes, Jetta, Maric, Martin, Morton, Strauss, Sylvia, Tapscott.

And Adelaide are insisting that their first choice is still available. Is it possible that three coaching sub-committees genuinely came up with three different 'best options'?

Surely you're not suggesting, everything else being equal, that Neeld wouldn't have got the gig if he were coming from a bottom 8 club?

Encouraging that we're bringing in staff from some of the AFL's more professionally run powerhouse clubs (Coll, Adel) - bodes well for positive cultural change at the Dees.

Good luck Dees. Let's kick off this new era of dominating the Pies early. Rollo - thanks again for organizing, if you can get a game off the ground post November I'll be back in Aus for a run.

Footy player caught urinating on bar in St Kilda A caller to Triple M said security removed the midfielder after he relieved himself against a bar at a nightclub between 2.30am and 3.30am. A spokesman for Melbourne would only say: "We're investigating the matter." ... Seems pretty out of character... it'll be interesting to see how this unfolds. Disappointing to say the least.

Can you humour those of us who are abroad... what are they doing?

I think the thing to take from this is that the aforementioned players need the kicking/decision-making practice under defensive pressure more than the rest of the backs. What better place to work through their shortfalls than at training. Appreciate the report btw.

An interesting third twist in the latest chapter of this saga... "Scully is poised to break his silence on Friday at a press conference. If the 19-year-old gets through training tomorrow, which shouldn't be an issue, the Demons are likely to give the green light to one of the most anticipated interviews of the year. Scully would have spoken publicly before now, if not for knee soreness that has delayed his start to the pre-season campaign. Melbourne, which plays Brisbane on Saturday, doesn't want Scully to talk until he is ready to play his first game of the year." Herald Sun report Till Friday...

Rollo, Wolf - congratulations on organising what sounds like (lack of opposition numbers notwithstanding) another great day. Hoping to be back in Aus for another run next summer. In the mean time I'll keep trying to get a kick here in China. Go Dees!

You're not going by the photo in the NT News article are you? It's from back in his MFC days...

Apologies for the rubbish ICS feed on smgbb.cn - no idea what was going on with the bushland backdrop. The broadcast looked great on TV over here, aside from the fact that we couldn't get audio from the staduim until half way through the first, meaning we had to commentate from the studio. Jurrah had a field day, 5 goals, half a dozen more chances and he made it all look easy. Really impressed with Col today, broke the lines and kicked long. Always dangerous. They were the standout players. Newton was tried in defense, got a bit of it. Most of the other players drifted in and out of the game. At WJ's request I'm going to try to get a DVD of the game from the studio that we can distribute to you all.

If there's wireless internet at the ICS studios I can post updates to Demonland. Failing that Jack send me your mobile number and I'll text score updates throughout.

Good info Russian. The smgbb.cn link is a choice (and legal) site for streaming ICS abroad. BT is commentating for ICS (should be a good call) and the broadcast is actually being hosted by... yours truly! So tune in for a very biased coverage! If I don't completely crack under the pressure of live TV, I'll see if I can give demonland a bit of a mention. And while I'm plugging myself, check out The Amazing Race: China Rush on ICS tomorrow night at 11pm AEST. Get on the 'Best Mates'.

That photo is from last pre-season. Jack and the boys came along to watch some of the Asia Champs today in Shanghai, he's a tall lad and there's a good frame to build in to. Remember we saw him running around on the 'G seven weeks ago so it's unlikely he's that much bigger. Someone who is bigger on the other hand is Fev. He's carrying a lot of weight...

I believe ICS (a local Shanghai English network) will be covering the game. They showed the AFL Grand Final over there. You can stream ICS online at www.smgbb.cn Use Google Chrome to translate the page if need be. Will know for sure in a couple of days whether they're broadcasting it live or not...

Hmmm, I'm warming to WJ's idea of captain/coach. Rollo you'll be comforted to know that I'm saving the fury for the following week - when I'll line up for the China Reds in the Asia Champs in Shanghai. That's going to get willing...

Rollo, you're cheeky, but you have whatever assurances you need that I will not play outside of the spirit of the game. There were no issues last year... It's only Carlton I've historically had troubles with - and I've received more cheap shots than I've given fair hits from that mob.

Rollo. Brilliant! I'm living in Shanghai nowadays, but as luck would have it I'm back in Australia over those weekends. I'd love a run and can probably bring a few extra numbers. Josh

Fitzpatrick... Spencer... how about a young Jimmy Stynes.

Let's look at it statistically... At the end of the H&A season Brad Green sits 6th on the goal kicking ladder (55 goals, only 7 behind Franklin). Add to that the fact that he rotates through the midfield. He's also taken more marks (also 6th in the comp) than any of the top rated forwards. It reads well... Let's say they select three mid-sized forwards and three talls. LeCras (63 goals), S Johnson (57) and Green (55) should be the mids. Milne is the next best with 48 goals, but he trails Green by some margin in disposals, marks and even tackles. Jamar is a clear second in hit outs (643). Sandilands (686), Mumford (490) and Jolly (480) are the others in contention. Jolly leads the group with goals (21), Jamar & Sandilands (12), Mumford (4). Disposals are pretty equal. I'd give the second spot to Jamar on the ruck work numbers and the fact that he got the better of Jolly both times they met. It's often more difficult to review the defenders statistically, but here's one. Frawley sits third in the comp for rebounds from 50. He's widely regarded as one of the competitions best stoppers, add to that his rebounding work off the backline and his ability to play tall or small and you've got your AA back pocket. All three have a strong argument for inclusion in the 22.

I'm actually flying to Shanghai tomorrow... to live. The Sherrin is deflated and in the suitcase with my boots - first priority is to join one of the football teams. It'd be great to catch up with a few Dees supporters when the team tours in October and outside of that, if anyone is visiting Shanga's, hit me up for a drink and a kick. Josh

I arrived in Shanghai today, over here to participate in The Amazing Race: China Rush www.chinarush.tv/ The club were good enough to kit me and my teammate out with Members polos and we've got a Dees branded footy that'll be on us every step of the way. Here's to hoping we can provide some quality television exposure for the club. I'll be sure to send a few stab passes at unsuspecting locals to see whether anyone has a natural reflexive talent suited to our game. It'll be interesting to see how AFL is received.