Pinball Wizard

Came up for the day from Brizvegas and found the conditions hot and humid at Maroochydore where the Demons are holding their pre season camp. I stayed around for a while but must confess the temptation of the surf got to me in the end. I was very impressed with both Max Gawn and Braydon Preuss who both stand out with their height and imposing physiques. If the powers that be decide to play both in any given game, they are certain to cause a lot of grief to opposing ruck combinations and their defences when one of them is resting up forward. The club’s midfield is highly touted but many of them are still in rehab - Jack Viney, Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw. No doubt the club is being conservative but it’s amazing how quickly the season comes upon us ... There were others in the group - Jake Lever, Steven May, Kade Kolodjasnij, Jay Kennedy Harris, Charlie Spargo, both of the clubs category B rookies Bradtke and Walker and a few others notably Mitch Hannan and Jake Melksham were no shows. This gave a few players the opportunity to impress - Alex Neal-Bullen, Christian Salem, Christian Petracca (to the relief of many Demonlanders), James Harmes and the two key forwards Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman. Joel Smith was good as was Bailey Fritsch who looks like he will be taking a wing. And of course, Neville Jetta’s work was simply immaculate. Of the new players I liked Toby Bedford (a live wire), Tom Sparrow (strongly built for a kid) and Corey Wagner (gets a bit of the ball). Apart from the large numbers in rehab, I came away with optimism for the year. Oh ... and if the way Viney attacks things while in rehab, heaven help the opposition if and when he gets back going full bore.

We played Port Adelaide at the MCG in Round 1, 2013 and were humiliated. I’m not talking about revenge but it’s time to put them in their place.

People have been asking that the thread be closed from as far back as page 2. Probably a good thing the mods didn’t listen back then.

Tony Sheahan also reporting that Collingwood is working to secure May and also looking at a deal for Beams.

Also beat the Cats last week in the VFL and if Box Hill wins today then we play them in the Prelim next week. First the Cats and then the Hawks, both in the National and the State comp.

Keep it coming

Those two picks might turn out to be champions or they might have fathers who weigh more than 200kg. You can't walk out on us now.

One of those Under 16's picked up Voldemort last night and even tackled him one or two times. Things are going well out there at Bleaktown.

OK but I would prefer we're given until at least Wednesday because I'm doing something on Tuesday.

NSW/ACT SCHOLARSHIP-HOLDERS Adelaide: Sam Martyn Bris Lions: James Brain, Jack Lawson Collingwood: Scott Reed, Nick Perry, Thomas Young Carlton: Joshua Fenaroli, Jake Pianta Essendon: Benjamin Simon, James Webster Fremantle: Matthew Long, Max Wilson Geelong: Kale Temple, Ranga Ediriwickrama Hawthorn: Michael Johnston, William Sierakowski, Trent Stubbs, Thomas Kickett Melbourne: Teddy Strudwick Port Adelaide: Jordan Johns N Melb: Lachlan Pryor Richmond: Harrison Lee St Kilda: Joshua Duncan, Kane Murphy, Blake McGrath Sydney: Ryan Bottin-Noonan, Jay Lewis, Matt May West Coast: Anthony Stubbs Western Bulldogs: Braedon Jones, Chris Ogle, Daniel Lloyd I notice that we are one of the few clubs that has only one scholarship holder on its books and that Strudwick didn't even make the cut off for the NSW team for the championships. Another good example of our recruiting capabilities over the past few years.

I don't think Melbourne embraced the whole NSW scholarship thing under CAC and now that there's going to be another team in Sydney I doubt whether it's going to last much longer. Some other clubs already have NSW players on their lists while others have players who are doing well at the Under 18 championships. It looks like another area like overseas recruiting where we've missed the boat because we don't have the finances, the imagination or both to get involved.