Training - Monday, 9th March, 2015

[What 18,810]

The official site has always been poorly run and is by far the worst of the club sites so I am not surprised they failed to announce the time change on there.

Not everyone has Twitter.

[beelzebub 22,225]

so ....no one stayed for the training??

[beelzebub 22,225]

I can't help but link this to the Great Membership Drive and the clubs stated goal of breaking their membership record. How many of those families who sat around for an hour waiting and then left again are going to become members this year? I wonder how many of their kids are going to listen to their mates and follow a decent side instead?

All I can say to those who had to leave again before anything happened is please don't just vent on here. Write to the club and tell them about your experience. Let them know that they dropped the ball and they might have a look at the way they are handling supporter activities and do things better next time. Put it in terms of memberships. A supporter telling them that they had planned on buying four memberships today but left disgusted after the team never showed is a quantifiable loss to the club, and if they get enough people saying it they will listen.

yeah...they can kiss 35K by round 1 good bye !!

what a wasted opportunity.

Thought we'd left the Melb of old behind some time ago.......apparently not.

A reach out to those who suspect a few 'fools' are getting their knickers in knots about nought. Consider the idea that you only ever get ONE chance to make a first impression.

I suspect many who may have been venturing down to Goschs, young family in tow , may well have been doing it for the first time, especially in that guise.

Young kids get bored in 5 secs flat. They want it all there. So folks have arrived upon the advertised... No one there it seems, save the snag guys.

Id be interested to know what else was there. Any club liaison ? mascot.... mechandise/membership tent ??..Give aways for the sprouts ??

Again....its no so silly to suggest you either forge , or forget, based on that first attendance.

Much easier to share anecdotes about this kick to that player and see kids smiling with their jumpers signed etc on the drive home than trying to have to explain to Josh and Janey why no one was there !!

[Damo 2,988]

It's disappointing to hear this happened. I wish I had checked because it would have been great to go...

But it's for those who went and had to leave who should vent in this thread.

Channelling others frustration is wrong. Leave it to those who were there to complain.

[old dee 22,840]

It's disappointing to hear this happened. I wish I had checked because it would have been great to go...

But it's for those who went and had to leave who should vent in this thread.

Channelling others frustration is wrong. Leave it to those who were there to complain.

So unless you went it is not wrong?

[Earl Hood 5,788]

Are people still waiting for training?

Calm down about Hogan too... they will be managing him.

Asked one of the trainers about Hogan. He said he had stayed over in Perth for a few days and only flew in this morning. So no need to hit the panic button yet!

[Allen Jakovich 516]

Sorry but this is shocking form after sending emails to members asking them to get along to this training session. I'm really dissapointed in the club.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

not great hearing families with kids had to leave because of parking/timing issues. We must not neglect the little things in our endeavour to strengthen the club. In this day and age, not getting the message out is gross negligence, albeit on a small scale.

Not good enough MFC stop treating your supporters as an afterthought, no club that wants true success will be so absent minded- a group SMS could have avoided this.

[beelzebub 22,225]

So unless you went it is not wrong?

yeah...go figure

as it happened if I had known it wasnt going to start until 2 hours late Id have probably gone.. A midday slot didnt suit me today

would hae been able to make it by about 3.

So here theyve not only stuffed up but doubly so. If managed better they could have actually salvaged something...instead ....

[BrisbaneDemon 1,494]

Poor form Melbourne, i hope who ever is sending in filthy emails addresses them to the Bartlett, PJ and the board. Its honestly not that hard to do the right thing and be on time. PJ said this is a business and our business is football and winning back respect to those who have lost faith. We're getting a hell of a lot better, but still a long way to go.

[Damo 2,988]

So unless you went it is not wrong?

You just keep finding stuff to whinge about! It didnt affect you so why fall in line to complain?

[old dee 22,840]

You just keep finding stuff to whinge about! It didnt affect you so why fall in line to complain?

Your defending the indefensible.

[sue 8,417]

Your defending the indefensible.

I don't think it is unreasonable to suggest that it is best if those personally affected complain to the club. If others do, there is a tendency to dismiss them as serial complainers. Probably a foolish tendency, but nevertheless true in many organizations.

In any case, I trust that the club issues an apology and an explanation.

[Dwight Schrute 16,749]

Anyone see any training orrrr?

[Maldonboy38 5,846]

I just got back from the training. I stayed until about 3pm and enjoyed myself but I have to admit it was a messy and clumsy PR exercise.

Step 1. Heavily promote 35K members by round 1

Step 2. Promote and advertise open training session on a public holiday.

Step 3. Change the time by an hour but provide information only to Twitter people with no information about the time change on the official website

Step 4. Attract heaps of members and their kids (and there were a heap of kids) and leave them doing kick-to-kick for 1.5 hours. Many leave before players arrive.

Very poor business and promotional effort MFC - I thought that carp was behind us.

Anyway, to the training...

This was the first training I was able to get to this pre-season, but also probably the sharpest training session by MFC I have seen in a long time. I came away feeling positive about quite a few things.

There was some standard warming up followed by short sharp kicking drills.

The first drill was hitting targets in a full ground drill, hitting up a forward who was running toward goal, and then actual goal scoring on the run.

The main focus was definitely ball movement off half-back. Starting on the HB flank with 5 defenders on 3 forwards, so it was simulating when we get more numbers to a contest than the opposition. A handball pattern getting it free, a kick to a loose player, and then a further kick at 45 degrees across to the other HF flank amid heaps of players spreading everywhere, and then to goal. I remember Michael Voss talking about spreading forward at 45 degrees being the best way to spread an opposition defence, and it did look effective.

Highlights
Brayshaw is simply a beautiful mover. Takes the ball at the highest point, has a long loping running style but covers a lot of ground. Great to watch. However, at this early stage his kicking is definitely a liability.

Toumpas, Watts and Salem - their kicking on the run is sublime. All three sprinted hard and could still hit targets.

Salem. Quickly becoming my favourite current player.

Lamumba is seriously focused when training. Strong vocally, and trains like it is a game. I came away very impressed and can see why Roos went for him.

Garlett might just be one of the recruit of the year. On the run at full flight beautiful to watch.

We have a heap of players to rotate through the midfield, all of similar size, but with a variety of body shape and skill set. From huge bodies like Jones, Kent and Vandenberg through to outside runners like Bail, Hunt, Stretch, and everything in between. Our issue this year will be getting the ball and keeping it: Once we have it I reckon we are looking OK with our midfield mix.. A real fight on for for midfield positions

Lowlights

Both McDonald boys can't kick.

JKH was probably the worst on the track from where I was today. It just wasn't coming together for him. Lots of errors.

I would love to see some competitive marking drills. Most of the aerial work today was very easy and low pressure, not helping Dawes, Fitz, Pederson the practice.

No Hogan. A friend next to me asked about Hogan and was told he was left in Perth to catch up with family after NAB round 1.

Howe and Vince still doing rehab.

That's about it

[T-34 409]

Was this the training or the complaining about training thread ?

[Rob Mac...... 605]

Great to get a training report Maldon

But i was complaining..

If MFC could send a bulk emailing to tell members about the event, they could have sent another bulk emailing and/or bulk sms to inform everyone it was running way late.

Also they should have sent someone to Goshs's to personally apologize, hopefully with an explanation.

I really adore what PJ, Roos etc are doing with the "football" side of things now. It wouldn't take a huge tweek now to improve the club member relations side of things, which seems to have slipped since Schwab left.

The fans ultimately pay for the club.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,154]

Thanks for the report.

Anyone know if Watt's is a chance to play against the Bullies?

[old dee 22,840]

I just got back from the training. I stayed until about 3pm and enjoyed myself but I have to admit it was a messy and clumsy PR exercise.

Step 1. Heavily promote 35K members by round 1

Step 2. Promote and advertise open training session on a public holiday.

Step 3. Change the time by an hour but provide information only to Twitter people with no information about the time change on the official website

Step 4. Attract heaps of members and their kids (and there were a heap of kids) and leave them doing kick-to-kick for 1.5 hours. Many leave before players arrive.

Very poor business and promotional effort MFC - I thought that carp was behind us.

Anyway, to the training...

This was the first training I was able to get to this pre-season, but also probably the sharpest training session by MFC I have seen in a long time. I came away feeling positive about quite a few things.

There was some standard warming up followed by short sharp kicking drills.

The first drill was hitting targets in a full ground drill, hitting up a forward who was running toward goal, and then actual goal scoring on the run.

The main focus was definitely ball movement off half-back. Starting on the HB flank with 5 defenders on 3 forwards, so it was simulating when we get more numbers to a contest than the opposition. A handball pattern getting it free, a kick to a loose player, and then a further kick at 45 degrees across to the other HF flank amid heaps of players spreading everywhere, and then to goal. I remember Michael Voss talking about spreading forward at 45 degrees being the best way to spread an opposition defence, and it did look effective.

Highlights

Brayshaw is simply a beautiful mover. Takes the ball at the highest point, has a long loping running style but covers a lot of ground. Great to watch. However, at this early stage his kicking is definitely a liability.

Toumpas, Watts and Salem - their kicking on the run is sublime. All three sprinted hard and could still hit targets.

Salem. Quickly becoming my favourite current player.

Lamumba is seriously focused when training. Strong vocally, and trains like it is a game. I came away very impressed and can see why Roos went for him.

Garlett might just be one of the recruit of the year. On the run at full flight beautiful to watch.

We have a heap of players to rotate through the midfield, all of similar size, but with a variety of body shape and skill set. From huge bodies like Jones, Kent and Vandenberg through to outside runners like Bail, Hunt, Stretch, and everything in between. Our issue this year will be getting the ball and keeping it: Once we have it I reckon we are looking OK with our midfield mix.. A real fight on for for midfield positions

Lowlights

Both McDonald boys can't kick.

JKH was probably the worst on the track from where I was today. It just wasn't coming together for him. Lots of errors.

I would love to see some competitive marking drills. Most of the aerial work today was very easy and low pressure, not helping Dawes, Fitz, [Pedersen] the practice.

No Hogan. A friend next to me asked about Hogan and was told he was left in Perth to catch up with family after NAB round 1.

Howe and Vince still doing rehab.

That's about it

How does a player get to be a No.3 draft pick who is a poor kick ?

or was just having a bad day.

When I saw him three weeks ago he looked ok

[Gorgoroth 12,308]

Those who were put out by this stuff up should contact the club.

It's only by feedback will the club get better and stop making rookie mistakes.

At least they should have said why it was put back and hour and then why the players took 30 more minutes to appear.

It didn't affect me as I did not go, but if I had I would have been [censored] off.

[rhaz 342]

I can't help but link this to the Great Membership Drive and the clubs stated goal of breaking their membership record. How many of those families who sat around for an hour waiting and then left again are going to become members this year? I wonder how many of their kids are going to listen to their mates and follow a decent side instead?

How many families who take their kids to training aren't already members? It's only the really keen fans who do it, and they're likely already members.

Delayed training isn't going to suddenly give us thousands less members. No-one will care or remember about this a week from now.

Edited March 9, 2015 by rhaz

[Maldonboy38 5,846]

How does a player get to be a No.3 draft pick who is a poor kick ?

or was just having a bad day.

When I saw him three weeks ago he looked ok

I don't know if it was just a bad day, but Brayshaw made multiple errors quite close to where I was standing. Some shots did make targets, but too many were out beyond the leading player's reach, or they had to stretch to the limit to get it at knee height. Someone next to me said "he has to be considered for round 1" but I could not see that today. Having said all that he moves really well and seems a natural footballer.

[daisycutter 28,484]

The official site has always been poorly run and is by far the worst of the club sites so I am not surprised they failed to announce the time change on there.

Not everyone has Twitter.

how would you know it is the worst run of all the club sites?

do you actually follow all 18 web sites?

or do you just make this shyte up?

[What 18,810]

how would you know it is the worst run of all the club sites?

do you actually follow all 18 web sites?

or do you just make this shyte up?

I have popped in to the other clubs sites from time to time, yes.

[old dee 22,840]

I don't know if it was just a bad day, but Brayshaw made multiple errors quite close to where I was standing. Some shots did make targets, but too many were out beyond the leading player's reach, or they had to stretch to the limit to get it at knee height. Someone next to me said "he has to be considered for round 1" but I could not see that today. Having said all that he moves really well and seems a natural footballer.

From what I saw a couple of weeks back he look like a kid now in the Adult big league.

Looks ok for a first year recruit but I saw nothing that suggested he would be in Round 1.

Again my opinion is based on one training run But I would think he will spend most of 2015 at Casey.