Tolstoys Nudge

Cheers George, I can’t wait to Feb and get back to seeing the boys train in a location I can viably get to! I actually am not worried about fitness or health — Petts is coming along and so really only McAdam, Clarry, Salem, Billings likely best 22 at present & unless BBB somehow overcomes his knee issue, and their guys are all short-term outs bar Clarry! I’d heard Laurie, Viney & Chin were the standouts with Rivers being the standout all pre-season thus far so good to hear vindication - somewhat - of those assessments. Our midfield without Clarry LY statistically was far better, so whilst I’d love him to be firing, I am not sure we should be too worried about him not being there until the halfway mark, ergo time to be fit for finals as that’s what really matters, let’s hope it is much sooner though! TMac as a backup defender is fine, he’ll get games when Lever, May are out or need a rest or when we need versatility and are light on either-end. But it does mean if one goes down we have some experience, and like other defenders whom are poor by foot the plan will be to hand-off go long or hit wide-open targets! I'm so sick of this Nibbler can’t kick nonsense, go look at our statistics for kicking LY anyone, and come back to me with an apology, (yeah right) — It was wet as hell & we have FAR bigger worries than ANB’s kicking blv you me!!! Billings I really look fwd to seeing in Feb, could really be a missing link i50 both himself finishing or hitting a mark — McAdam has really impressed thus far & his only query is health continuity or consistency. Great to hear Adams Disco & Howes are looking to push, but I’m a little sad Rovers isn’t playing with the mids, but Pickett being there more is exciting as is JVR, he’s gonna be a SERIOUS fwd this year and beyond the demon peeps and media have absolutely NO IDEA how good this kid can be.. Laurie is another who excites me, lateral movement is strong, as his his kicking in tight situations, he will be a R1 Starter for sure. Spaz should be fine glad he was running full pace, he’s another who will cont to build and be a sleeper mid bull again. Verall is one for me that could be a leapfrogger this year, raw sure but wild and bouncy with a bit of mongrel, I like him a lot!

Without a shadow of a doubt. Probably never been more confident and what’s more — many many ‘experts’ have us tipping out if the 8, which in Melbourne history is just the thing we need. In all seriousness I genuinely think the players are Uber-focused and there is a genuine bite in the group atm many are sensing is much more venomous than felt before! Playing group couldn’t be in better spot health wise, Clarry aside. Fwd mix is MUCH better with recruits and actual forwards playing (we didn’t even have roo vs blues and many forget this).

Agreed! His speaking is in copacetic order tbh way for sure… Maybe a few too many “umms” but I’d take that over the aforementioned & it’s really not a word more of a half acknowledgment. As I said draft night, I think we’ve really got a JT Super Special here 🔥🔥🔥

Brilliant as usual mate, thanks so much for your work. I’m absolutely ensorcelled in your player note and their sagacious insights! Like I’ve been saying for a while now, JT is best in the business and Hore, McAdam, Billings & Fullarton are all pick-ups that add to the 22 mix & will help optimise our best 26 in a big big way without giving up much at all. Really encouraged by AMW, Hunter, Laurie & Rivers reports so far this pre season as well. Let’s hope it all keeps coming together, but tempering my expectations by knowing 17 other clubs have similar reports.. even though we know ours are more accurate 😊

Good luck tonight boys, for some reason knowing this is on tonight brings back all the pain & angst I had from knowing that last goal was coming… but I remain optimistic about 2024 despite being crushed about that crazy 90s costing us a flag, likely will never get that one out of my head. What changes are you most excited about? The Mcadam is flying talk, the Kolt39 hype? Fullarton looking sharp, Briwn fitness? for me, it’s the Billings i50 entry work we’re already seeing. Might call in with my youngest, she’s 10 but already a bigger demon-maniac than dad. She’s LOVE to chat to you guys. Either way, can’t wait to hear each of your voices & it warms the cockles knowing you’re back for a night! CMON DEEEMONS 🔥🔥🔥

Great work guys! I’m lookin fwd to Monday sesh just hope it’s not all running.. Terrific slots and updates, really like the vibes coming out of club atm, and I think current crop of standouts bodes extremely well & Marty Hore is NO surprise, ppl will be eating words he brings much of what we need & this is what JT etc understand that many ill-informed DL neggers do not! So I love the masses of positivity here, great work all. McDonald down back makes perfect sense, he’s gotta go somewhere & it can’t be fwd without some major inj updates. Need depth down bk!!! Sestan, MJ, KOLT, Laurie, Adams, Fullarton & Howes all seemingly on right track and that’s what we need pushing through, already 4-6 names in totality that could be in mix even if squad is fully fit and that is where the improvement needs to come from, not the top 6-8 players, but the others moving fwd & releasing those top 6-8 workloads so they can be more efficient and make better decisions thru having more support. Super excited about this season. It’s gonna shard to be up there again but if we can convert better we’ll definitely be a show and that’s something!

What a bloody TERRIFIC training report and group of positive, near effusive, comments!!! LOVE the positive vibes.. kudos to all. As for Matty J, we know what he is, and he’s also in his 2nd pre-season. He’s not JVR and we DO NOT want him to be, he’s more of your BBB OR Daniher type, or a Gunston with Height & a leap. He got him to contrast JVR & the club is absolutely RAPT with how he’s come back, his size etc so let’s stay positive & I think he’ll be a player bit it’s gonna take time. McAdam also doesn’t surprise me, sounds like exactly how I’d imagine, he’ll get more fit as we go but he’s never gonna be the fitness king, he’s a burst, magical type player that’ll provide plenty of fun and likely win us a few games from thin-air if he’s around 4-6yrs. Also continually getting vibe Billings is gonna be an epically important i50 player in 2024, hearing right now, all 3 new AFL recruits are in frame for R1 so that’s a great sign if we improve that much by adding 3 1st 22, likely 4-5 if you consider Howes Is also gonna push for a claim, KOLT perhaps can too. God I hate it being so far away, but I can’t blv im this excited buoyed by fact media and punters have jumped right off us, this bodes VERY well indeed.. Promised myself after the loss I wouldn’t get this keen again, boy that one lasted all of 2 training sessions!

Great work Andy, as always! The great man has to be one of the best to get imho, and to all the MH haters, it was greys to hear JT mention Marty & how much he deserves his shot after being cruelly cut due to list size diminishing, hope he plays another 50+ games & shows his skills to all those numpties fuelled by negativity.

His statement will be made and made boldly, come R1.

Hahaha yes I dare say it was that one shot on news, but don’t mistake skin for fat, he actually trimmed down some bulk deliberately to have a frame more conducive to repeat efforts!

A fair change.. but his number suited him, I get the why, but create a brand son! Pretty good number to get though, despite us not having the best of luck with it.. Chris Sullivan anyone?

Well said!

Agreed, Disco def ahead of MH 💯 but Marty offers depth, kicking, decision making & helps sure up stocks well. We’re extremely thin down back esp in that mid-range size so he fits A need & we don’t give away list spots for fun so again, I defer to JT & his team above ANY of you fine specimens, which is why — for me — I’m wrapped cus if we’ve added him it means he’s up to it & for a guy that hasn’t had a lot of luck, I rkn that’s a great thing! So no, not my brother — but he’s a demon I like due to his assets, they offer something different we don’t have a surplus of! So relax a little & lighten the hell up, such a group of grumpy sods on here. Bloody hell it’s exhausting

Ummm… wow!!! 👀❌

Welcome to Demonland, Kynan Brown 🤑 🤩 😮‍💨 and yes, I’m 💯 manifesting, have been all night 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

100% what we are thinking. PLUS, you really can't have too many pressure fwds these days, will put pressure on Chandler/Spargo pretty quickly i'd rkn.

He is closer to 189cm atm apparently, with a lift in his tank, through 2-3 pre-season's worth of work, he could genuinely be ANYTHING! But before then, he will be a pressure fwd that can finish, yes pls!!!

A GREAT pick, unsure which I am happier with as we need a Windsor, best kick in draft, FAST as all hell in 1st 20m (where it counts) and makes smart decisions under pressure on the run (continually looks sideways, at angles etc) -- but KT could genuinely be the steal of the draft, with many insiders feeling he has a ceiling like few others (maybe only Harley aside), so if he finds that roof, boy.... somewhere between a Heeney and Trac!

And what you’re proposing is TOTAL lottery even if draft was deep which it ain’t, it’s the shallowest talent wise in decades according to the peeps who’d know. Even if we pick em, it’s 200%’ore likely they’re a Blease or Tapscott than a Fyfe or Bruce

This draft is extremely shallow mate, we did right thing getting picks we have and had a crack at a generational talent and will now end up with 2 young gun needs based players so maybe entrust the guys whom built the best lost around a little more that’s all I’m saying

Will see how quickly you laud Mcadam, Billings & Fullarton when MIN 2/3 they come off in a big way.. Hunter no good? Crikey the nuffies is contagious, I’m sure you’re not one but perhaps a temporary case of them I hope.. silly thing to say without context behind it mate! JT & Lamby 💯 considered BEST IN SHOW Comp wide, ask around!

Draft mate! He’s an SSP, how many great running mids you Think will come from post draft SSP’s champ? 🤦‍♂️

Perfect Hibbo replacement indeed! Had looked really good in the VFL, improved his spoiling and marking out of sight

Can’t express how Happy this news made me today when I read the story on AFL website — SOOO good to have Marty back! Was shattered for him when the Roos didn’t pick him up when he trained with them but it’s all worked out. Even avoided draft so we’d be certain to get him, what a bloody good story & I rkn he’ll get a good look in too with his foot skills, perfect third tall or 4th small etc and a lovely humble guy! 14 Games only but someone I’ve always hoped would come back & had that weird feeling he would and here he is, finally a feel good story… Let’s hope the tides turning on that front now and next is 2 Steals at the draft alongside Kynan Brown!

Not true, yet! If north wants to up their offer then they’re paying overs 💯 As it stands our offer is superior! Over to the Roos it is.