I went down to Casey Fields today to have a look, I took a few photos (I felt like a bit of a weirdo doing so) which I will put up later when I get a chance.

Watch this space.

Might want to change it to Jan 9th

I went down to Casey Fields today to have a look, I took a few photos and video (I felt like a bit of a weirdo doing so) which I will put up later when I get a chance.

Watch this space.

I was there as well and conditions for training were great. I took some photos on my iphone but they're third rate (as compared to second rate when I use a normal camera) so I'm looking forward to your pics and video.

I'll do a proper report later (lunch, then work beckons). There is one on Demonology and George from over there will also post a report and photos (he's got a fair dinkum camera).

Just briefly:

Jack Watts is growing on me. The kid goes all right.

James Frawley and Simon Buckley are looking like big improvers and I have this feeling that Colin Sylvia is going to have a break out season.

It was my first live viewing of Liam Jurrah and he's light and thin, has good height (but probably between the 188cm and 193 cm reported) and will probably take a bit of time to adapt to the rigours of AFL football.

About John Meesen - unless he's severely restricted by injury I agree with Nick48 on 'ology: we must all be missing something. The Russian (with a very short haircut) did him like a dinner in ruck drills.

by Whispering Jack

When St. Kilda drafted Luke Ball with the second selection in the 2001 AFL National Draft, it was understood that the young midfielder would see very little senior football action in what should have been his debut season at the club because of final year secondary school studies. The same occurred with Hawthorn's Xavier Ellis when he was drafted a few years later. I was thinking about this as I watched Jack Watts go through training with the Demons at Casey Fields this morning.

Even taking into account the fact that he has a teenager's body, it's hard not to picture him as a permanent fixture in the Melbourne side this year based on the little I have seen of him since Watts was drafted in late November. He moves beautifully, has great pace and awareness, can kick the pill accurately and over long distances and he looks happy and right at home in this environment. The problem is that I suspect he will have to commit himself to a number of games for Brighton Grammar but that this will not hurt his career in the long term. We don't need a repeat of the scenario where Collingwood overworked Josh Fraser early in his development years and held back his career.

For all that, the situation regarding his availability to play for Melbourne will be a talking point well into the 2009 season although given his circumstances, l don't quite understand how Betstar could have possibly installed Watts as the favourite for this year's Rising Star award.

At the other end of the scale, Russell Robertson cut a lonely figure for a while as players like Sam Blease, Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric, John Meesen and Brent Moloney who were doing rehab work were able to join in some training drills. Poor Robbo was confined to light work and did little other than kick the ball a bit as he waits on scar tissue from the injury to heal. The hope is that he will be ready for the opening round but that might be wishful thinking although he's such a great bloke to have around the club with his enthusiasm and drive. As far as I know, he's not in any reality television shows this year which could be a bonus later on .

The good news is that Jared Rivers is over his groin and joined in most of the training drills. Not only that he's making an impact on the club's emerging tall defenders department with his great skill and football know how. There will certainly be some keen jostling for positions among Colin Garland, Matthew Warnock and the rapidly improving James Frawley who appears to be bigger, stronger and more balanced this year. This seems to have had a positive effect on his confidence levels and he is doing things at training that we've never seen before - like taking opponents on and backing his judgement. It's little wonder that he's being touted as one of the big improvers at the club.

Of the forwards, Brad Miller looks imposing, Michael Newton has bulked up a bit too and Colin Sylvia is relishing the opportunity to be fit and able to train at full pace during a pre-season. Hopefully, this will translate on the playing into the same sort of season that Travis Johnstone had in 2002 after he was finally able to take part in a full pre-season programme. I haven't factored Watts into this group but if he gets his opportunity, then the Demon attack will have far more potency than it has had for a couple of seasons.

Of the newcomers, I was again impressed by James Strauss and his disposal skills and with Bunbury pair Jamie Bennell and Neville Jetta. These guys are fitting in well and I expect them to play a role during the NAB Cup series. Hopefully, they might have the same sort of impact that North Melbourne gained a couple of seasons ago with the arrival of unheralded pair Lindsay Thomas and Campbell who between them are always good for a few goals every week.

I was also keen on seeing the club's Pre Season Draft pick Liam Jurrah. He's tall (but probably somewhere between the 188cm and 193 cm reported) and spindly, moves nicely and I suspect that he has a bag of tricks up his sleeve. Austin Wonaeamirri was there beside him at times as if to signal that the young man from Central Australia has it within him to follow the Tiwi Islander's example from 2008. Jurrah will need time to adapt to city life but he has already spent some time here when he played with Collingwood's VFL team last year.

Meanwhile Aussie's body shape is looking positively chiselled showing the benefits of a full pre-season's conditioning and Aaron Davey is looking fit and sharp after a couple of lean, injury affected seasons. These guys are going to be a real handful for opposition defences this year.

But if you're looking at areas where the club can really show some improvement this year, then look no further than the midfield where Scott West has taken charge and is introducing some interesting drills. With the likes of Brock McLean and Brent Moloney back in harness joining a stronger looking Nathan Jones to add some more grunt and Simon Buckley who looks bigger, quicker and a more balanced player, Lynden Dunn doing the run with, James McDonald adding the experience combined with the strong indigenous flavour, this division could surprise by moving out of the third world as far as midfields go and changing the club's fortunes for 2009.

That's how things look at the end of the first week in January. It's still probably a month before they go around in any meaningful sort of practice match and more before the team takes on Hawthorn in the first NAB Cup game in Launceston. It will be another month and beyond that before we can ascertain the level of improvement we can really expect from this new look Demon squad.

Photos generously provided by George from Demonology

Awesome writeup W_J. Only 41 days until Melb VS Hawthorn. Can't wait.

.....................while as players like Sam Blease, Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric, John Meesen and Brent Moloney who were doing rehab work .......

What's wrong with Maric?

.............................With the likes of Brock McLean and Brent Moloney back in harness joining a stronger looking Nathan Jones to add some more grunt ......................

Hope this doesn't mean Jones has put on weight. He needs to lose some (and pick up speed). No joking. In 2008 he looked like a small Hippo, and about as effective; if he turns into a big Hippo, well .......

Hope this doesn't mean Jones has put on weight. He needs to lose some (and pick up speed). No joking. In 2008 he looked like a small Hippo, and about as effective; if he turns into a big Hippo, well .......

Hey don't knock Hippo's, there big and fast not to mention extremely deadly!

Imagine a small hippo running around on a football field!!

Great report WJ and nice photos CB.

Keep up the good work!!

Sorry if any photos have doubled up. Also, my camera doesn't have the best zoom so they are all long-shots, sorry about that. GOTO have close-ups in the other thread.

What's wrong with Maric?

Hope this doesn't mean Jones has put on weight. He needs to lose some (and pick up speed). No joking. In 2008 he looked like a small Hippo, and about as effective; if he turns into a big Hippo, well .......

1. Maric had a hip op at the end of last season.

2. Not sure if he's put on weight but he looks more powerful.

I also suspect that Bails and West have been working on his decision-making and disposal of the ball. In the past he's been guilty of sometimes hanging onto the ball far too long. Today he was looking a lot more slick and decisive with his ball movement. This change could be the making of Jones as a more complete footballer and I hope that others who go to future training runs can check this out to see if it's continuing to happen.

Thanks heaps for those C_B. Fans live for this stuff in the off season haha.

@ W_J. Jones has to be one of the most underrated players on this site, though i can't wait to see him improve next year under the guidance of Scotty West.

Maric is looking like he has bulked up considerably too. Should be in the team as soon as he is fit IMO.

Not sure if he's put on weight but he (Jones)looks more powerful.

I also suspect that Bails and West have been working on his decision-making and disposal of the ball. In the past he's been guilty of sometimes hanging onto the ball far too long. Today he was looking a lot more slick and decisive with his ball movement. This change could be the making of Jones as a more complete footballer and I hope that others who go to future training runs can check this out to see if it's continuing to happen.

This is good news. I hope it holds true.

You guys are fantastic......

Thanks for the effort, the photos and the report.

It is all greatly appreciated!!!

Awesome work guys. Sitting in dreary, friggin cold old London town at my desk for 12 hour days in the office the best way to relax a little is to jump on here and see these reports and pics.

Hearing some of the most recent updates on players gets you a little excited for the coming season, I would love to be back for.

Davey and Aussie look a picture! Aussie especially he has lost that little tire he had round the midriff from early on and would love to see him high kicking it with the fans after bags of goals.

Also it is interesting to see how dry the hill is around the ground compares to the grass. You forget how dry it still is back home compared to over here were it rains so often.

Super thread, much appreciated for the pics CB.

How good does the ground look? Actually looks like a surface to prepare elite athletes!

Poor quality video, the best I can do for the moment, sorry.

cheers CB

enjoyed that....a certain raw charm to it.

nice choice in Killers too

Super thread, much appreciated for the pics CB.

How good does the ground look? Actually looks like a surface to prepare elite athletes!

I was thinking just how much different it is all becoming. I dont think we should undestimate the value in having a HOME. Yes its our summer home..but its OURS !!..the seats are red and blue.. we arent nomads anymore trapsing from foreign turf to forlorne fileds.. Must make a huge difference psychologically.

Its all starting !!

cheers CB

btw, was that watts kicking at goal towards the end?

Great work CB.

With lower petrol prices and great looking ground, players should be pleased.

cheers CB

btw, was that watts kicking at goal towards the end?

nah that was newton

Well done guys with the report and photos

I agree having a home ground is so important... we usually didn't have goal posts until late Feb...