Earl Hood

I thought the coach crucified him at the Hawks. He is a 183 cm back pocket type yet he was often asked to take on the 196 cm forward gorilla if the hawks were undermanned down back. I think I remember him manning up the likes of Hawkins while they had Gibson running around as third man up doing the easy stuff!

Now that he is at the Hawks he is injury free and I believe his diabetes has been cured as well. Clarko is a genius.

BBO said Earl Hood just a reminder I'm still awaiting information on whether or not you were successful in abusing the 357 visa system to obtain new servants? My maids are refusing to wear the uniforms I supply and was I hoping to find some errr shall we say more compliant employees. This is part of your problem BBO, you have the wrong visas, I may use the 457 visa regulations for skilled migrant workers to my advantage. But I know nothing of the 357 variety you speak of. Now as you know I have offered my consulting services that can help humble, rural small businesses such as your own Uncle. It's not rocket science but you would be astounded by how many times we see small businesses making the simplist of errors, like paying their employees the legal hourly rate, or even paying the 9% super contribution. We even see businesses paying sick leave and long service leave entitlements. I mean it is seems ridiculous in this day and age but there you go. We have consulted to 711, Dominos, all the successful companies. We have the blueprint for success and we can give it to you. Success awaits you, just give us a call!

I am betting Clarko has cured his diabetes!

Nothing about the shirt per se Defrog, I was in fact wearing similar colourful, tropical shirts during my recent I'll fated missions to Cuba and Mexico where such garb is expected. But this is not the case in a place such as Melbourne. Black is more the fashionable colour here in our sub, sub tropical climate. Now Perth is different, I don't know what the fashion is over there, are Hawaiian shirts the in thing in Cottesloe these days?

Biff I thought you might have used your break to update your wardrobe, specifically your shirts, but obviously not. You weren't anywhere near FNQ were you?

Cheap hotel rates in cyclone season BBO? Or are you tenting it, if so watch out for crocs on the move?

Bit harsh on Ronald Dale, I believe his work from 80 to 85 played a large part in setting up our relative success 87 and through the early90's.

Saty that explains the training routine I witnessed on Friday. Before the match sim The Prince was doing this "hand ball only keepings off" routine with Cross, two other coaches and two other players where The Prince and players had to turn their backs to the coach with the ball who would blow the whistle and throw the ball to Cross, who then would try to carry the ball to the opposite witch-hats using hand ball while being tackled by the players. It meant Prince had to blindly turn 180 degrees each time and attack the ball carrier. Later on it was three coaches and the Prince. One coach had the ball and the other two spread out each side and behind. The coach would try to disguise low stab kicks to either target and Prince had to try and anticipate and intercept the pass, another test of his ability to change direction quickly. His ankles looked fine to me and he looks bl**dy fit.

I am flummoxed. Have I stumbled onto some code for a take over of the state?

ProDee we disagree on other non footy matters, as you know but this post nails it for me, in line with my thoughts exactly. Please footy gods, give us a break on injuries and I think we will be causing a lot of pain for other teams. Finals, well we are a chance if we have minimal injuries, just like several top teams manage year on year. We have some talent, we need a game plan that works and maybe we have one, we just need to stick to it and stay with it under pressure.

Good to see a full page spread in today's Age (page 31) on your good self DC, the Ghost Who Walks. What I didn't know and you have kept to yourself, such is your modesty, is that you carried out a special assignment for Prime Minister Hawke back in 1992! What was that secret assignment, to take out Keating?

Yes can't wait for the intraclub match, we usually win that one, it's probably got something to do with our home ground advantage!

Old Rupert and Jerry Hall have announced their wedding celebration for March 5. I thought Jerry was intelligent but I was obviously very wrong. Why would she marry a walking cadaver like Old Rupert, totally ignoring his business history and political legacy for heavens sake. I don't believe she needs money but who knows, it's the only reason surely. They are to celebrate their wedding at St Brides in Fleet Street London on the day. Now if there is a God I am expecting plenty of thunder and lightning over the church on the day and perhaps the odd earthquake. If there isn't, that will settle the higher being argument in my mind.

Dee spurs are you a financial investment advisor?

As my Christian Brother maths teacher used to beat into me so often, what are the units, boy? Numbers are meaningless without them!

Agree with that prognosis, it is crucial and not sure why we aren't looking for Tom Mac to play forward but no sign of that in preseason. They must think Frost is a good bet and leave Tom down back as he is a known quantity there. Oscar still learning and I think Garlo is happier Playing back.

Good point Bing when there are no vested interests involved suddenly the science is accepted without comment. Well that is until someone works out that gravitational waves may be detrimental to their global business, somewhere down the track.

Gee interesting chart there DC. I am amazed that there were only 139 bananas produced in 2012 and only 18 bananas exported in 2011, hardly seems it would be worth it. I mean I eat that many myself in a year so thank heavens we produce heaps of our own here in Oz.

Agree Mo that is why I put the longer timeline, 2 to 3 years and threw in the qualifier, " intriguing", that is no guarantees but there is potential there that should be realised in the next 2 years if we get lucky. The fact there are so many of them gives me hope that one or two will work, and that is enough to work in with Hogan, Pedo etc.

Just jogging laps this morning, looked a bit forlorn to me, barely raising a sweat. Either it his day off or he is well off round 1 pace. Not sure which.

Moons, I just want to confirm your point about punctuation!!!

I got there early for a short time and Pedo looked good in the set plays where the mids under little pressure where able to deliver the ball into a forward line with fewer defenders, so yes the defensive pressure is less but he did some good things. In the same drill Watts dropped a sitter in front of goal, reminding me of several episodes last year. Again he dropped it because he was looking for the next move before the ball arrived. He was pulled aside and required to mark 20 odd balls kicked at close range by a coach at speed and duly marked every one of them cleanly. Frost was doing the same up the other end and impressed me with his clean hands, evasive moves and his set up for kicking at goal. Much improved from last preseason I thought. But later on shanked a shot at goal that reminded me of some of my efforts on goal. N Jones, Viney, Tyson all stood out as usual but I do like Stretch I think he will be a starter for round 1, just looks balanced, focused, and a good decision maker. The forward setup in the next few years will be intriguing, we seem to have a plethora of tall options, Hogan, Dawes, (in a month) Pedo, Watts, then options like Frost, huellit, weideman, and the M kings, I can't keep up with these new talls. Surely we can manufacture a functioning forward line out of this and add your shorter types, Garlett, Petracca, Kent, JKH and forward mid options, JT, RVanDenberg etc. etc. but yes it all depends on multiple, fast delivery into the forward half. Roosy was standing in the shadows on the Punt Road boundary line near me and was talking away to himself which I thought odd until I realised he was wired up to the other coaches and was commenting on the match simulation. At one stage B MacCarthy wandered over saying "gee Roosy the play has opened up a bit, but that's not a bad thing you know" but from the animated conversation that followed I am not sure Roosy totally agreed. Other observations, Viv Mitchie looked good and a likely starter. During the match sim a high ball came into the forward half next to me and the pack that formed was very willing, I think Oscar got the fist in but collected Garland who ended up prostrate and holding his head. He got up and cracked the shytes with Oscar who said it wasn't me mate! The pack was big so even I didn't see who got him. The match sim I saw I thought their transfer of play was poor, there is little pressure on so you should try it, but I thought they often didn't transfer when they should and other times they transferred when they shouldn't and turned it over horribly. Do that in a match and you won't take the chance again. Anyway it is only preseason. Forgot to add that early on Trengove looked great in the mid field drills but maybe that was just me so happy to see him competing on the park.

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi81tWfxPHKAhUM-GMKHcMRC1oQFggoMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afr.com%2Fnews%2Feconomy%2Ftrade%2Ftpp-benefits-only-modest-for-australia-world-bank-finds-20160111-gm35og&usg=AFQjCNGviLdJQ_stmrmBKM046W9UA9savQ&bvm=bv.114195076,d.cGc

True DC there is nothing scarier than the thought of President D Trump!