Summary
* Membership tracking as planned.
* The Fighting Tiger Fund is a campaign to aim for $6m over a whole year but we're expecting a sizable chunk of the amount we are aiming for to come at the gala tomorrow night.
* Board meeting last night and people still working hard and working phones to make Thursday night a special night and everything go right.
* As well as the gala there will be other functions and raffles throughout the year as part of the FTF.
* Yes we can beat the Blues. Practice matches are just that. Testing players in positions etc. We wanted to give guys in the last two drafts a chance to put their hands up for round 1. No panic from us unlike what the Age article implied. Trialed various aspects of the gameplan and seen what has worked and not worked. Not going into round 1 trying to reduce past margins against Carlton. We are going into the game thinking we can win.
* Miller - recruited because we've got a young group and we've lost a fair bit of experience. We didn't want to expose Griffiths who is coming back from two shoulder ops too early in the season and we wanted to take the load off Jack with some physical presence having that mature body. Whether he was recruited as insurance or not, he's put his hand up for round 1.
* Jack - moved really well and played 2.5 - 3 quarters against Adelaide. Was jumping and going for marks and kicked a couple of goals. He got through no problem.
* Foley - put him in your dreamteam as he's injury free. Pre-season has been steady as he's tested out his body. A lot better last weekend as he's gained confidence in his achilles and ankles. Expecting by round 1 he's ready to go.
* Cotchin - had a terrific preseason. Best he's ever had. We rested him last week as he had general soreness but he Would've played if it was a proper H/A game. Don't want to put too much pressure on Trent but we're expecting reall good things from him this year.
* Martin - well documented that he came back to preseason not in good as a condition as we would've liked but he's worked really hard since and is actually lighter now than he was same time last year so he's good.
* Deledio - Had a bruised heel during the preseason but has played the last 1.5 matches so he'll be right for round 1. We're expecting big things from all three: Cotch, Martin and Lids.
* Major sponsor - Not his area but won't surprise him if there's something just around the corner. KB said with a chuckle in his voice that it may be announced tonight (Thursday night) as though he knows it will be. Cameron replied you never know it might.
* No we haven't thrown in the towel in answer to KB saying the Age article was negative about our chances in round 1. Craig said there's always a big build up to round 1 but it's no more important than the other 21 rounds. We are going into the game to win. Last weekend was disappointing and things may have be said in the heat of the moment like "soul destroying" but in the end it was just a practice game where we are practising our systems etc to get them right for the season and round 1.
* No rumoured intra-club this weekend. Only underdone players are allowed with permission to play with a club's VFL affiliate. We may do that this week with Tom Derickx who has missed the last couple of weeks. Other than that AFL rules and CBA don't allow a intra-club.
