Thanks to all the reports ppl (vanlo, webber, ding, mdemonski2) - all enjoyable to read. Appreciate the feedback.

Thanks heaps for the reports guys !!

It is no surprise that there is less running and more drill work. This was mentioned by David Misson in training updates pre-Xmas that after the break the focus would turn to game plan and ballwork rather than miles in the legs (focus pre-xmas).

Thanks guys. Brilliant.

You don't know where training is on Friday by any chance?

From MFC on twitter:- The next open training session will be at Gosch's Paddock - Friday 6th January - 9:45am.

It is no surprise that there is less running and more drill work. This was mentioned by David Misson in training updates pre-Xmas that after the break the focus would turn to game plan and ballwork rather than miles in the legs (focus pre-xmas).

Ahhh...the penny's finally dropped atthe MFC...the game's called football....not the marathon !!!

Really enjoyed the reports ppls.Thanks

From MFC on twitter:- The next open training session will be at Gosch's Paddock - Friday 6th January - 9:45am.

Ahhh...the penny's finally dropped atthe MFC...the game's called football....not the marathon !!!

.....but you have to be fit enough to (I) beat your opponent to the ball, or run him down, (ii) see out a game, and (iii) see out a season!!

It is called planning!

.....but you have to be fit enough to (I) beat your opponent to the ball, or run him down, (ii) see out a game, and (iii) see out a season!!

It is called planning!

Its all well and good to be supposedly running around but if you cant kick , cant mark, cant break a tackel ..in simple terms if you cant play bloody footy it aint worth sh!t !!. The prioritites were ALL wrong.

Melbourne spent a lot of needless time running on the field last year.... they were chasing the opposition who HAD the ball !!

Can't captain from the medical room. Has missed two thirds of games so far in four years, no chance at this stage.

Irrelevant.

Ahhh...the penny's finally dropped atthe MFC...the game's called football....not the marathon !!!

So you can't have training that establishes both a solid fitness base and good skills?

Can't captain from the medical room. Has missed two thirds of games so far in four years, no chance at this stage.

Some younger players take a few years to build a body that withstands the rigours of AFL football. Too early to write Grimes off yet.

Irrelevant.

Why? You really do love yourself dont you? The guy had a sensible opinion.

Edited January 5, 201213 yr by Hells Gates

Irrelevant.

No it wasn't.

Its all well and good to be supposedly running around but if you cant kick , cant mark, cant break a tackel ..in simple terms if you cant play bloody footy it aint worth sh!t !!.

If you aren't fit enough to run out the game, being able to kick, mark and break a tackle isn't worth sh!t either.

I was at the session, for the eniter time, however my dogs were not as interested as I was, so I was a bit distracted!

Not more to add than what others have said.

In regards to some of the missing players, Grimes, Sylvia and McKenzie did the warm up laps and some skills work with other rehab players and then went in after half an hour. Jamar was out there in that group and then ran laps. Did not see Green, Moloney, Frawley, Garland, Bate, Davey, Dunn, Morton, Petterd or Rivers.

I was happy with the session and most liked seeing the physical/pressure put into the drills, not just skill work.

Also liked the way they did the running at the end of the session, as they would have already been slightly fatigued (despite the easier session).

Also, Gysberts was in the second group, which was an improvement from what I have perviously heard on here. Another to impress in the running is Joel Mac, always in the top group and looks very comfortable. Unlike some others, I think he has a place in the team, especially if the team is more structured and he has a role to play ( just look at the battler captaining the pies and how much people rate him!!)

I am also looking for huge things from Howe this year, think he can be one of the steals of the recent past.

Its all well and good to be supposedly running around but if you cant kick , cant mark, cant break a tackel ..in simple terms if you cant play bloody footy it aint worth sh!t !!. The prioritites were ALL wrong.

Please refer to Hawthorn in 2011 Preliminary Final.

They have all the skills in the world but their low fitness base meant they couln't finish this game out.

Classic case of ran out of legs.

The fitness and running is pivotal in today's game. Especially against classy outfits like Collingwood.

Gippy

Ahhh...the penny's finally dropped atthe MFC...the game's called football....not the marathon !!!

I'd expect this comment from an elderly MCC member with a blanket covering their knees. One with an affinity for players numbers as opposed to surnames; not a long-time contributor to a football forum.

I'd expect this comment from an elderly MCC member with a blanket covering their knees. One with an affinity for players numbers as opposed to surnames; not a long-time contributor to a football forum.

young whippersnappers like you aught to be taken out and flogged until you learn some respect

by the way I don't remember a Ben Hur, what was his number?

I'd expect this comment from an elderly MCC member with a blanket covering their knees. One with an affinity for players numbers as opposed to surnames; not a long-time contributor to a football forum.

Glad you have enjoyed watching a group of skinny 'good character' types waddle around the park displaying skill level similiar to those of the Auskick kids. Our 'Game Plan' and foot skills have been off the mark for 5 years, that is why we haven't won games. The talent is there, it just needed to be harnessed. No point having the next Craig Mottram running around if he can't kick the ball!

young whippersnappers like you aught to be taken out and flogged until you learn some respect

by the way I don't remember a Ben Hur, what was his number?

Agree DC, the lad, number 31 who once played with and coached the club, would be very irate at such behaviour and would probably bring BH to heal. I will see you at the first game, complete with tartan thermos, tweed jacket with elbow patches and as BH points out, the obligatory tartan rug over the knees. By the way, how's the prostate old chap, not to mention the haemorrhoids?

Don't forget to turn up the stereo----- type. Your hearing aid isn't as good as it was.

Cheerio

No it wasn't.

Yes it was.

The guy won the leadership award last year from the sidelines.

Injury is a non-issue; that is the sole reason for having the vice captaincy.

Yes it was.

The guy won the leadership award last year from the sidelines.

Injury is a non-issue; that is the sole reason for having the vice captaincy.

Fair crack though. That means he has leadership credentials. But given he a young kid who hasn't played that much footy because of injury, and therefore hasn't had much time to be an on-field leader, it can hardly be irrelevant whether he gets on the park.

I will put it this way. He would possibly be captain in 2012 if he had played 70 games. But no chance for 2012 now. So, not irrelevant.

Yes it was.

The guy won the leadership award last year from the sidelines.

Injury is a non-issue; that is the sole reason for having the vice captaincy.

You believe it is irrelevant if the captain actually makes it onto the field?. The idea of having a non-playing captain is one of the strangest that I have read, it's not Davis Cup, I doubt anyone in the football world would agree with you.

Our 'Game Plan' and foot skills have been off the mark for 5 years, that is why we haven't won games.

Our game-plan has been far too skewed towards attack rather than accountability and a strong defence. Combating the press was also a weakness due to a lack of preseason focus and substandard fitness. The inability to win contested footy stemmed from a lack of A grade midfielders and physically under-developed players.

Last year our list was the second youngest in the competition and the third least experienced from a games played point of view. The club embarked on a policy of securing the best picks it could at the draft table so that when the inevitable rise up the ladder came we'd have a core group of 13-15 highly talented players. This policy ensured a lean 5 years, but also gives us the best chance of securing the only success that matters. The side will only be strengthened with Viney and at least two first round draft picks in this year's Super draft.

Clearly our fitness base has been considerably below par to match it with the more mature teams. To an extent this has been understandable. In part it's due to the youthful age of our list and the associated highly regulated training loads and partly due to a club that was behind the better teams with regards to elite training programs.

Your reference to Craig Mottram is a little eyebrow raising. As I'm a kind individual I'll resist further comment.

Edited January 5, 201213 yr by Ben-Hur

Fair crack though. That means he has leadership credentials. But given he a young kid who hasn't played that much footy because of injury, and therefore hasn't had much time to be an on-field leader, it can hardly be irrelevant whether he gets on the park.

I will put it this way. He would possibly be captain in 2012 if he had played 70 games. But no chance for 2012 now. So, not irrelevant.

Irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

I said Grimes could be our next captain, that doesn't necessarily mean 2012.

Injuries are only an issue if you expect them to continue chronically.

This is not the case.

You believe it is irrelevant if the captain actually makes it onto the field?. The idea of having a non-playing captain is one of the strangest that I have read, it's not Davis Cup, I doubt anyone in the football world would agree with you.

No.

Grimes would be the captain when fit, the vice captain would take over when not.

Like all captaincy arrangements. Not complicated.

Why would you expect Grimes to not play games?

The idea of a player being injury-prone is a simple concept for simple people.