Thanks for that.

Looking forward to your reports. Wish I could be there.

Apologies if people were expecting a report from me but I had to compensate for the free morning with a late shift and we've only just finished cleaning up.

I didn't take notes but there was a good little crowd out there today although conditions were not as sunny as I was expecting. The simulated match practice was interesting and entertaining, especially given that it's four weeks to go before the first intraclub and several players were either absent or obviously still doing rehab work.

I had great difficulty picking up who were the newer players so I will concentrate on the one newbie who I did recognise immediately and that's Mitch Clark. There have been some unfavourable comments from Brisbane suggesting he won't make it as a key forward but I think he will make it. He looks more solid than he did playing for the Lions where he was shaded by Jonathan Brown and Bradshaw. I disagree with JumpinJeremyHowe about him being a bit slow. He moves alright and he has soft hands in the marking contest. If you think that JumpinJeremyHowe is biased because of his namesake then forget it. He could become something special in a very strong forward line. Where will they fit them all because Petterd was good and Liam should also be important up forward. 

Stef Martin also continues to improve in leaps and bounds. He proved he was a good back up ruck last year and I think he'll go better again in 2012.

The midfield will improve if the training is any indication and I agree 100% that Moloney will be important but Gysberts could step up as that ball gatherer who not only gets it out of the middle but is creative once he's in the clear.

Some people have suggested that Neeld delegates to assistants. He looked pretty hands on to me and he's designed a training routine that is so much more intense than I've seen in the past. All that means nothing if they can't prove themselves when the real thing starts.

  

Good stuff JumpinJH and PF.

Back to Gosch's next week.

I hope there won't be too much of a clash with the tennis crowds at that time of day.

Went down to Casey this morning. Great turn out plenty of supporters i thought. Happy to answer any questions on my observations but of particular note:

• Spent the bulk of the session doing match simulations in regards to setups and stoppages. Neeld would yell out “ball up on the 50” or “centre bounce” or “boundary throw in forward pocket” and have players run this way and everyway to get to the stoppage and set up correct. The second the stoppage was won then – BANG – off the run 50 metres to the next stoppage. AFL umpires in attendance to coordinate it all and award free kick if needed. Involved a lot of match related running and quick thinking about YOUR role for the team in every situation. Never seen this happen before, thought it was a smart and brilliant way to combine fitness while testing player’s knowledge. Gysberts excelled at this drill, our best clearance player behind Moloney and his slight frame would be the only thing that could stop him from a big impact this season.
  

Enjoyed my morning very much. In honestly don’t recognise my Club anymore. And i am wrapt!!!!

We are prepared, have talent but also the structures to ensure its not just potential. Whether the Club wants me to or not, i have Top 8 expectation this season now.

Great report, JJH. What you have described in the first paragraph is music to my ears - it sounds as though we now have an experienced, battle hardened Green Beret (Mark Neeld) at the helm of this club, and he is preparing these boys for the type of combat where lives may be lost. Bottom line - they will be a well drilled unit this year.

For years I've said to my mates at the start of each season, "watch out for the Demon Express - we'll be in the mix", only to see us turn out pathetic performances for the entire season and end up in the bottom four.

Even though I have absolutely no credibility with my MFC predictions anymore (partly because I told everyone to put their house on Sylvia for the Brownlow last year), I reckon we will be finals bound this year - and I'm going to put my zero credibility on the line with my mates (once again) and tell them to watch out for the Demon Express in 2012. When they dismiss my predictions, I will simply give them the type of smug look back that says, "I have inside info - I know what I'm talking about".

I feel certain we'll make the top 8 this year. Major Neeld won't settle for less.

I feel certain we'll make the top 8 this year. Major Neeld won't settle for less.

Nor will I.

McQueen - the rucking was just jamar and martin as gawn is injured and spencer in rehab. fitzpatrick came in for jamar a bit to rest him up. They were pretty even in battle

Thanks for the update Dees - from a Supercoach 2012 perspective are there any that I should have my eye on at Demon land?

Wow. These reports are great.

I haven't been to a training session since DB days over summer and have always complained bitterly about our lack of 'real life' drills with the footy. DB hardly ever got the footy out until about February. To paraphrase Todd Viney from the time " we'll build up their bodies and then worry about the game plan". Absolutely infuriated me and demonstrated clearly the club was treating these guys like kids.

In contrast it sounds like an unbelievable change under Neeld. Hard, intense, game drills with accountability all over the place. We'll see the results in due course but I suspect we won't be seeing the same "deer in the headlights" results when the heat is on. They players will have a routine, game plan and understand exactly who does what, where they must stand and defend etc. I have been shouted down in the past for expecting no less but I have to say I am genuinely excited about our ability to compete this year.

With 4 rds to go we were something like 1 game out of the eight so I would expect a good improvement from that. Particularly with our favourable draw. They might run out of gas mid year but our frustrating first half last year was dispairing and if they come out of the blocks firing and fade I won't be unhappy.

It sounds like we are finally n the right path.

Yeah, I'm starting to get excited.

We are all getting excited at this time of year but lets hope we are still excited come August, would be a nice change.