First running about a dozen 400s in 3 groups based on running capacity - although Cale was inexplicably in group 2. Jones and Bail leading in group 1, Sam Blease in the rear of group 3.

Then the non-rehab players split up into their areas for minor ball work which provided some insight - notables highlighted (I think I've got it close to right - corrections welcome):

Forwards

========

Watts

Dunn

Martin

Howe

T.McDonald

Blease

Fitzpatrick

Backs

=====

Bartram

Bennell

Morton

Garland

Rivers

J.Macdonald

Davis

Mids

====

Jones

Gysberts

Bate

Viney

Moloney

Gawn

Jamar

Bail

Nicholson

Rehab

======

Clark

Sylvia

McKenzie

Petterd

Grimes

Cook

Tapscott

Davey

Jetta

Spencer

Lawrence

Strauss

Evans

Absent

======

Frawley - International

Trengove - International

Green - International

Jurrah - unofficially reported delayed by Qantas action

Newton - unknown

Wonnaeamirri - officially delisted

Interested to see which group Grimes, Petterd and Tapscott slot into when out of the rehab group.

http://www.facebook....&type=3

Anyone see this photo.....

Look who isn't paying attention...

Who?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150453808672317&set=a.414317157316.209227.285839797316&type=3&theater

Anyone see this photo.....

Look who isn't paying attention...

Is Cale day-dreaming.... Is that what you're implying?

Do I get a prize?

Looks more like Cale is look at the clipboard in Missons hand... nothing to see here zzz move along folks

good stuff

Thanks to your contributions, here's our Demonland summary of Training Day One:

TRAINING - 31 OCTOBER 2011

It was a tough first up training session for the Demons under new coach Mark Neeld but you came away feeling that it's going to get even tougher. 

This was more in the nature of a meet and greet with plenty of 400m runs, several faces missing for various reasons ranging from international duties, the Qantas strike and impending delistments. There was also a large rehab group doing limited work. Neeld has indicated that he is less than impressed at the general state of the players' fitness so tough times are looming for this playing list.

Austin Wonaeamirri was a no show and by the end of the session, he was confirmed as a delisting after 31 games and 37 goals, to be joined later by rookie Michael Newton who tweeted from Calgary. For him, it was the big freeze - career seemingly over after seven years mainly of unfulfilled promise.

 

Melbourne's 2011 skipper Brad Green, James Frawley and young gun Jack Trengove were on the Gold Coast preparing for Friday's international rules game v the Irish and Liam Jurrah was stuck somewhere between Alice Springs and Goschs Paddock courtesy of Quantas. The rehab group included Brisbane Lions recruit Mitch Clark. 

The others in this group whose work was limited were Lucas Cook, Aaron Davey, Michael Evans, Jack Grimes, Neville Jetta, Kelvin Lawrence, Jordie McKenzie, Ricky Petterd, Jake Spencer, James Strauss, Colin Sylvia and Luke Tapscott. 

For the more able bodied, the initial running was done in groups that appeared to be determined by aerobic capacity with the elite runners led by Nathan Jones, Rohan Bail and Clint Bartram. To the surprise of many, Jack Watts was in this group but Cale Morton (looking his usual thin self) was not. 

Future father/son Jack Viney looks every bit a part of the playing group although his 2012 season will be spent between school and the Scorpions. He is not tall but is well built for a 17 year old and didn't appear to skip a beat with the men. 

The big blokes were in the last lot of runners together with Jordan Gysberts and Sam Blease who trailed off badly and was first of the group to vomit in this pre season. He looks destined for a long, hard summer.

The work continued under the myriad eyes of the expanded coaching and fitness group but now the players were divided according to what appeared as playing ranks:-

Backs: Clint Bartram, Jamie Bennell, Troy Davis, 

Colin Garland, Joel Macdonald, Cale Morton and Jared Rivers.

Midfielders:  Rohan Bail, Matthew Bate, Max Gawn, Jordan Gysberts, Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Brent Moloney, Dan Nicholson and Jack 

Viney

Forwards: Sam Blease, Lynden Dunn, Jack Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Stefan Martin and Jack Watts.

A few surprises there but it is early days and the session had no special feel as yet with plenty of water to flow under the bridge. 

It is obvious that the club's football operations department is undergoing a seismic change - one that is much needed after the turmoil of the latter days of the Bailey regime. 

Neeld spoke to the media after training and reiterated that it was too early for major changes in the group to be noticed. After all, it was like his first day at school. The entire leadership group is up for grabs and won't be finalised until March.

A smaller group of players from Neeld's former club, Collingwood, was training next door. 

The 2011 Magpies were several classes above their Demon counterparts in most aspects of the way the game is played these days and, while it's true there were no major differences discernible among Neeld's charges yet and we were still in the same month as that in which the neighbour's lost their recent tilt at a premiership, there was a definite impression that before too long the gap would begin to narrow.

A touch of class from Juice on twitter -

"I would like to thank everyone at the @melbournefc for the support & opportunity to play for such a great club. Good luck boys in 2012"

Edited October 31, 201113 yr by Mister Ed

There were 3 running groups doing 400metre runs. They did about a dozen or so. From what I remember (and I may be missing names if someone wants to help fill in gaps) they were:

Jones, Bail, Watts, Bartram, Martin, Moloney, Bate (otherwise known as the 'Group of Death')

Of this group, it was usually a battle between Jones and Bail, with Jones usually getting the choccies. Bate was strong also. Watts kept up until the last 3 or 4 laps, but looked like he hit the wall late. No disgrace in that, considering this group contained our best midfield runners.

Am I reading this right? Out of our current list of 40 odd players, there are only 7 who are in the elite training group?

That's not great. I'll excuse the 3 guys on international duties, and highlight Watts who stepped up to have a crack at the top level, but gee we want to be competitive next year. Surely Bennell and Morton - guys with 3-4 full pre seasons under their belt - surely they should be in the 'group of death'.

Once again Sylvia and Davey are in the rehab group, along with too many teammates. I read somewhere that most of the rehab group are not far off full training. I should hope so. I think they're in for a shock from Misson and co.

Am I reading this right? Out of our current list of 40 odd players, there are only 7 who are in the elite training group?

That's not great. I'll excuse the 3 guys on international duties, and highlight Watts who stepped up to have a crack at the top level, but gee we want to be competitive next year. Surely Bennell and Morton - guys with 3-4 full pre seasons under their belt - surely they should be in the 'group of death'.

They had 3 groups with roughly even numbers - someone had to be in each group - Morton was going very well consistently 3 wide in group 2.

There were 21 in the elite group, no-one in the 2nd group and Blease and Gysberts in the 3rd group. Happier?

Edited November 1, 201113 yr by old55

Am I reading this right? Out of our current list of 40 odd players, there are only 7 who are in the elite training group?

They're just being grouped roughly by their levels. Everyone can't be at the same level as everyone else; even with everyone at their absolute peak, some are always going to be better than others. Don't think of it as "the elite group", think of it as the "strongest" group, the "middle" group, and the "least strong" group.

Someone needs to give Morton some weight training and correct nutrition education. Seriously.. he always looks so skinny!

Who?

Morton....

They had 3 groups with roughly even numbers - someone had to be in each group - Morton was going very well consistently 3 wide in group 2.

There were 21 in the elite group, no-one in the 2nd group and Blease and Gysberts in the 3rd group. Happier?

What a surprise that he was out wide

They're just being grouped roughly by their levels. Everyone can't be at the same level as everyone else; even with everyone at their absolute peak, some are always going to be better than others. Don't think of it as "the elite group", think of it as the "strongest" group, the "middle" group, and the "least strong" group.

Thanks for the clarification. Be interesting to see who joins this group in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully Clark, Grimes and Jurrah.

Thought the same thing.

Expect reports that certain players are "training the house down"

They usually all put lots of muscle on because this is when they do weights!

It's when the aerobic stuff starts that a lot like Morton can't keep it on. That's why most need 3 or 4 pre-seasons to build up gradually..

They're just being grouped roughly by their levels. Everyone can't be at the same level as everyone else; even with everyone at their absolute peak, some are always going to be better than others. Don't think of it as "the elite group", think of it as the "strongest" group, the "middle" group, and the "least strong" group.

Can't believe their 'levels' are so different. They have been off work for 4 or 5 weeks and would you imagine be training all of this time. Also imagine you'd want to come back fit to impress the new coach. Maybe being first day this was a sampler but boy I'd be dissapointed if they weren't all firing after two weeks or so.

BTW Where was Davey???

Can't believe their 'levels' are so different. They have been off work for 4 or 5 weeks and would you imagine be training all of this time. Also imagine you'd want to come back fit to impress the new coach. Maybe being first day this was a sampler but boy I'd be dissapointed if they weren't all firing after two weeks or so.

Nathan Jones is very a different athlete from Sam Blease. They didn't do 40m sprints. And Nathan Jones has got about 6 full pre-seasons versus Blease's zero.

Where/When is the next training session? Where do I get this info?

Thanks.

We usually find out a few hours after the session's over.

Where/When is the next training session? Where do I get this info?

Thanks.

ring or email the club. Could be anywhere this time of year. Season proper is a bt more regimented.

ring or email the club. Could be anywhere this time of year. Season proper is a bt more regimented.

Thanks Beeze,

Did that. Rang the club. You're right, all over the place. Apparently at this time of year we just have to watch the club website.

From the website - hopefully correct - The next open training session is: Gosch's Paddock - Monday 7th November - 10:00am

From the website - hopefully correct - The next open training session is: Gosch's Paddock - Monday 7th November - 10:00am

bugger, dentist's appointment at 9.30

Might wait til my sister finishes school then go

I like the Gysberts' fitness is exposed. The kid is hard at it, tall, has quick hands and can take a grab. I think he'll be the pick of all our midfielders in a few years. The all star fitness team just need to turn him into a machine. It has begun.

Like a lot of our midfielders it is really time to show their worth.Gunners will not be tolerated by Neeld.