It was a slightly shorter session than 12 Dec 2011. Warm-up jogging commenced at 9.30 and the list was broken up into two groups - the main group, and a rehab group of 11 which included all the usual suspects - Tapscott, Strauss, Spencer, Davey, Williams, Grimes, Evans, Jamar, Grimes, Jurrah and Bartram. Missing in action were Gawn and Jetta. The rehab group did handball drills - except Jurrah - still with a protective cover on his wrist.

The main squad then split into 4 groups and did 3 consecutive runs of 2 1/4 laps (with a rest period in between each run).

The first group featured the elites in Jones, Bate, and Trengove, and was led by Nicholson and Tom Mac. Nicho pulled out 1/2 way thru the second run with a slight twinge on the left side above the hip and was treated at the scene by the club massuer.

The main squad then moved to some goal kicking drills at both ends, followed by 3 sets of competitive handball and kicking drills, where pressure is applied to the ball carrier. Some of the main squad such as Howe and Sylvia left before this final session, While Williams came out of the rehab group and took part in this final set of drills. Jurrah ran laps at a fair pace on his own. Training finished for most of this group at 11.30am.

Collingwood were training next door. Very different. The did match play - lots of it - and used the full length and width of their training oval. There was possibly less emphasis on tackling, and more about creating and finding a target. It was a lot more interesting to watch, and most of their top group was involved - Cloke, Swan, Pendlebery and even Jolly.

One quick observation from our training - I'm certain I heard one of the coaches yell out - 'Garland - get to the wing'.

Could this be a sign that Garland is going to make his long awaited move into the midfield?

Thanks DD.

Strauss, Davey and Grimes did the full session on Monday so I'd imagine it was load management. Was McKenzie in the main group?

  On 25/01/2012 at 02:25, Fan said:

Thanks DD.

Strauss, Davey and Grimes did the full session on Monday so I'd imagine it was load management. Was McKenzie in the main group?

No. Still in rehab, and was spotted later riding a bike, together with Grimes and Spencer. Sylvia and Lawrence started in the main group.

Does anyone know where training on Friday is?

  On 25/01/2012 at 02:18, DirtyDees DDC said:

One quick observation from our training - I'm certain I heard one of the coaches yell out - 'Garland - get to the wing'.

Could this be a sign that Garland is going to make his long awaited move into the midfield?

Ha. Maybe, but maybe you're hearing things: -

  On 13/12/2011 at 12:29, DirtyDees DDC said:

B: Rivers, Frawley, J Macdonald

HB: Grimes, Sellar, Trengove

C: Garland, Sylvia, Morton

HF: Watts, Dunn, Jurrah

F: Martin, Clark, Green

R: Jamar, Bate, Moloney

IC: Petterd, Jones, Gysberts, Sub. Bartram

I picked Garland on the wing in the hope that at least one Demonlander would like my side.

  On 12/12/2011 at 03:20, DirtyDees DDC said:

There was about 30-40 people there; men in suits, bikers, young and old fans. There was even one person there who was telling anyone who would listen that Garland should move to the wing! Can you believe that?!

You are persistent. Kudos for putting in a good word for JCB. He'd love that I'm sure.

Thanks for the update.

Jcb just creamed his jeans, hearing that.

  On 25/01/2012 at 03:11, H_T said:

Ha. Maybe, but maybe you're hearing things: -

You are persistent. Ku

  On 25/01/2012 at 03:11, H_T said:

Ha. Maybe, but maybe you're hearing things: -

B: Rivers, Frawley, J Macdonald

HB: Grimes, Sellar, Trengove

C: Garland, Sylvia, Morton

HF: Watts, Dunn, Jurrah

F: Martin, Clark, Green

R: Jamar, Bate, Moloney

IC: Petterd, Jones, Gysberts, Sub. Bartram

You are persistent. Kudos for putting in a good word for JCB. He'd love that I'm sure.

Thanks for the update.

dos for putting in a good word for JCB. He'd love that I'm sure.

Thanks for the update.

how could this team not have Howe?

Pull Dunn from CHF, replace with Watts, and Howe on the HFF

Fixed! (except looking through the list it still misses Tapscott & McKenzie from the team... but then again some players miss out and these guys have been in rehab haven't they?)

why do people automatically have sellar in the team? he hasnt played a game, couldnt get one at adelaide and no one has had great things to say about him in the reports....

I don't expect to see him on the park this year but I'd be interested in people's first impressions of Tynan to all those who have been to our sessions over the last couple of months.

  On 25/01/2012 at 04:31, PRIME said:

why do people automatically have sellar in the team? he hasnt played a game, couldnt get one at adelaide and no one has had great things to say about him in the reports....

I agree with this, to me is is there purely to replace Warnock on our 4th or 5th tall defender.

  On 25/01/2012 at 04:31, PRIME said:

why do people automatically have sellar in the team? he hasnt played a game, couldnt get one at adelaide and no one has had great things to say about him in the reports....

I think it is because of the seductive repercussions ie. Frawley being more attacking, Frawley going forward.

  On 25/01/2012 at 03:47, olisik said:

how could this team not have Howe?

I think i picked that side based on height, weight and games, but yes ...Howe would be a certain starter. Interesting that he had a short session today. This could just be a good example of load management by the MFC.

A couple of other quick observations:

James Magner was running in the elite first group. He has endurance as well as strength.

Clark shows promise. His kicking- short and long - looks a feature of his game, and I remember him nailing a goal from the angle outside 50m against us in a pre-season match last year. He also marked against Leigh Brown in the one-on-one duels. I know we paid a lot for him, but he could be a bargain.

  On 25/01/2012 at 04:35, 1858 said:

I don't expect to see him on the park this year but I'd be interested in people's first impressions of Tynan to all those who have been to our sessions over the last couple of months.

He trained with the main group and did a 3 way kicking drill with Tom Mac and one of the coaches at the end of the session. He's just a kid at this stage, but that haircut surely needs work. It reminded me of one of the Hobbits.

  On 25/01/2012 at 04:31, PRIME said:

why do people automatically have sellar in the team? he hasnt played a game, couldnt get one at adelaide and no one has had great things to say about him in the reports....

Very good point, if my memory is correct he was delisted by the Crows.

I cannot believe how a lot on here are raving about him.

The guy was a marginal player at Adelaide.

We must have a poor backline if he goes straight in!

Are we training on friday?

  On 25/01/2012 at 05:16, gOLLy said:

Are we training on friday?

According to the MFC web site there is no "open" training

  On 25/01/2012 at 03:18, Lutz said:

Jcb just creamed his jeans, hearing that.

Totally correct, told you so early December.Garland will make a competent wingman. The best report ever-DDC-even better than mine.And by the way,if Garland does play a NAB cup game on the wing- I'll stick it up many of you and in particular Dorothy from Canberra & R.R.

  On 25/01/2012 at 05:35, jayceebee31 said:

Totally correct, told you so early December.Garland will make a competent wingman. The best report ever-DDC-even better than mine.And by the way,if Garland does play a NAB cup game on the wing- I'll stick it up many of you and in particular Dorothy from Canberra & R.R.

NAB Cup is the Claytons comp. You can try and stick it up in the H&A.

  On 25/01/2012 at 05:41, H_T said:

NAB Cup is the Claytons comp. You can try and stick it up in the H&A.

Fair point, but to those who think that Garland playing on a wing is stupid, it shows that the new coaching staff think my point is sound.

thanks for the info guys

  On 25/01/2012 at 04:47, DirtyDees DDC said:

Clark shows promise.

Thank Christ for that.

  On 25/01/2012 at 05:15, old dee said:

Very good point, if my memory is correct he was delisted by the Crows.

I cannot believe how a lot on here are raving about him.

The guy was a marginal player at Adelaide.

We must have a poor backline if he goes straight in!

One would have to assume that Craig knows Sellar's strengths and weaknesses extremely well: perhaps there was one if those 'club culture' things or other factors that has been assessed as 'reversible' or 'correctable' by Craig et al.

You would have to think that if he were clearly a lost cause, Craig would know that and he wouldn't be here now.

But not being able to get much game time at Adelaide is a concern. Wait and see.

Sellar is over the problems that beset him at Adelaide. Mentally he is in a different place, and I hope that means he's where he was as an under18 - happy and enjoying his footy again.

  On 25/01/2012 at 08:14, monoccular said:

You would have to think that if he were clearly a lost cause, Craig would know that and he wouldn't be here now.

Maybe not a complete lost cause but we didn’t exactly sacrifice much to get him on board did we?

My hypothetical version of the conversation between the interested parties prior to picking Sellar;

Neeld – I’d like to get a big bodied defender on the list, whether its on the rookie list through the draft

MFC recruiters – What about James Sellar, delisted by the crows?

Neeld - What do you think Craigy?

Craig – He fits your bill, big bodied and a defender, maybe through the rookie draft?

MFC recruiters – by the time our last pick comes around there will only be [censored] house, skinny kids and Fev left, why not use that pick on Sellar?

Neeld – yeah, go on then, why the F#ck not, we’ve got nothing to loose, we’ve got enough skinny kids anyway

Craig – don’t blame me if he’s a dud!

Basically if he turns out to be any good we've jagged one, and if he doesnt Casey will have a good enough VFL player