Its going to be a long hard summer.......

Shape up or pay price, warns Melbourne's Dean Bailey

Good!

If I were Bailey I would've flogged them on the track the whole week after the Richmond debacle. We can't accept that [censored] at Melbourne.

Great article. Bails will be feeling very proud when the matchday performance catches up with the preparation, and we are running out games properly again and pushing finals. I love his 'i'm not accepting anything less' approach, and hopefully this will impress upon the players more this year as well.

Starting Pre-season training in November last year was a bit of a blunder.

Starting Pre-season training in November last year was a bit of a blunder.

Why was that?

I understand that due to operation rehabilitation and legacy injury there were only 20 fit players on the list that could commence unrestricted training. That in itself put MFC behind the 8 ball coupled with preseason injuries to McLean, Bruce and the continual breakdown of Rivers.

I hoping this year is a clearer process with most players having at 12 months under the current regime. There should be little doubt as to what is expected this year.

Good!

If I were Bailey I would've flogged them on the track the whole week after the Richmond debacle. We can't accept that [censored] at Melbourne.

[censored] 'em all summer. Get as many miles as possible in those legs. you can do it colin.

Controlled flogging - yes give it to them. But PLEASE introduce the footballs immediately! They have a lot of foot and hand skill development to do.

Hopefully 2009 will show Dean Bailey''s true coaching ability. Go Hard on them Bails. Get the very best out of every player. Footy is a Brutal sport.

Last year nobocy was fit over pre season (Well almost) 2009 i expect a large improvement. Sorry demand not expect.

Rhinos quite right.. was pointless to consider a start to training any earlier than we did last year.. There was also the point of ..WHERE ??.. Not a problem this year...tfft !! We ought to see many things start and finish better next seaon...Of course..ought and will are different words !! lol

Training a Casey starts in a month according to that article. Which is great news.

Not for me. Was really looking forward to strolling down, getting a coffee in the mornings and watching the boys train over the break that I have.

I will be dammed if iam cathing the train to Cranbourne.

Training a Casey starts in a month according to that article. Which is great news.

which is a whole lot different to the wandering nomads of last year !!

which is a whole lot different to the wandering nomads of last year !!

I'm looking forward to heading over to Casey to watch the team train.

It's a bit of a novelty for me to be able to see the team train, relatively close (well it's closer anyway) to where I'm from.

I guess I was referring to the stability of having a regular training base for summer.

You make a very valid point though. I would think most MFC supporters are inner-east...

yeah I know. I am more than happy to have a stable training ground.

In regards to the MCG as a training ground. What happened there? I kinda forgot all about that. I used to enjoy going to teh G to watch them train.

Were we completely kicked off?

Bails talks the talk, but is yet to walk the walk. 2009 is a very important year for the club. Let's hope both he and the players put in a better performance next season and we make some good progress.

You make a very valid point though. I would think most MFC supporters are inner-east...

why?? this is often bandied about.. but based on what??

There are over 3 million peole in Melbourne..footy supporters come from all over.. why wouldnt Dee supporters ??

Ive never quite understood the notion that we're supposed to be some sort of inner city creature

Why was that?

I understand that due to operation rehabilitation and legacy injury there were only 20 fit players on the list that could commence unrestricted training. That in itself put MFC behind the 8 ball coupled with preseason injuries to McLean, Bruce and the continual breakdown of Rivers.

I hoping this year is a clearer process with most players having at 12 months under the current regime. There should be little doubt as to what is expected this year.

RR, I did say a "Bit Of A Blunder". (link)

But it appears a lesson was learnt from the intense eight-week training block that led into last Christmas – another reason behind the 2009 preparations commencing now.

Bails talks the talk, but is yet to walk the walk.

Couldn't agree more!

Couldn't agree more!

I am prepared to give him 2 more years to weave his magic. I don't think any coach would have achieved much in 2008

I guess I was referring to the stability of having a regular training base for summer.

You make a very valid point though. I would think most MFC supporters are inner-east...

IMHO, a permanent training base and HQ near the G' would be ideal and suit MFC to a tee. ie. Olympic park. I personally dont know how that project is travelling..

A good friend of mine is in charge of events at olympic park so she will be sharing offices with MFC & has the inside up-to-date on whats going on.

She told me a month or so ago, but i was drunk and can't remember.

Another 6 months i think? Nah, i've got no idea, can't remember at all. I'll find out though.

He did say the same, show up fit, line last year

He did say the same, show up fit, line last year

Yeah he did. I was at the 2007 B & F (just after Bailey was signed) where he made a passioned plea for the players to shape up, keep in good nick over the break and do everything they can to impress the coach and their teamates. He alse mentioned the word continuous improvement about 50 times. Bailey would be embarrased by his speech with regards to how the next 12 months turned out.

Yeah he did. I was at the 2007 B & F (just after Bailey was signed) where he made a passioned plea for the players to shape up, keep in good nick over the break and do everything they can to impress the coach and their teamates. He alse mentioned the word continuous improvement about 50 times. Bailey would be embarrased by his speech with regards to how the next 12 months turned out.

He had only 20 players who were fit to undertake pre season training due to injury, rehabilitation etc. How could he be embarrassed by that? Those that could train were fit but were frustrated by pre season injuries to Bruce and Brock.

BTW, given the year we had and the state of the list the focus on continuous improvement could not be more apt.

Bails talks the talk, but is yet to walk the walk. 2009 is a very important year for the club. Let's hope both he and the players put in a better performance next season and we make some good progress.

I totally agree with you there Lord Travis. Bailey needs to realise that actions speak louder than words. We wanna see wholescale improvement from the team next year!

We wanna see wholescale improvement from the team next year!

Well that goes without saying, but do you really think there could have been anything worse than what we saw this year?

Bails talks the talk, but is yet to walk the walk. 2009 is a very important year for the club. Let's hope both he and the players put in a better performance next season and we make some good progress.

For mine he started to walk the walk before he had coached a game when he traded the highly payed but inconsistent Travis Johnstone for Pick 14.

Do ya reckon Vossy would rather have TJ or Jack Grimes on his list?