After a complicated pre-season draft that saw Shaun Burgoyne go Hawthorn, Luke Ball go to Collingwood and Pick 11 go to Melbourne for Brock McLean we still somehow got stuck with Fitzy as our mature age rookie. So, start doing your stretching, limber up and handball the footy to each other in a small circle ‘coz it’s time to run out for another jam packed season of bumps, baulks and bad haircuts.

Dave, Mick, Lehmo, Andy, Ryan and Sam have done the hard yards over summer. They’ve survived the rigors of the Kokoda trail, high altitude training in New Mexico and numerous Carlton player functions to condition themselves for what promises to be a massive year.