Thanks FNQ demon.

How on earth do you get down here to watch training?

A bloody marvel!

FNQ welcome back. I takeit that you have a leave pass. As usual a most in depth report. Very much appreciated and so too all of the other reports.

I hope someone is paying FNQ for these training reports. Far and away the best training reports I've ever seen.

Paying for the training reports and his divorce lawyer...

Great stuff FNQ, having been to a couple of session pre-Xmas I have no idea how you note so much down, do much is going on.

Standouts T McDonald kicking was outstanding.

McDonald's kicking during the preseason has surprised me. I watched him very closely one session when he was away from the main group and I concentrated on his kicking and it was excellent - passing and goal kicking. It's been an area of concern, but I left very pleased.

That said, kicking at training under no pressure is vastly different to an AFL game. Or even an intra. But at least it shows that his mechanics are fine, if not the ball-drop.

That said, kicking at training under no pressure is vastly different to an AFL game. Or even an intra. But at least it shows that his mechanics are fine, if not the ball-drop.

Ben, Excellent point, you are 100% correct. We will find out Rd 1.

Anyone heard anything about when the first intra will be.

Great work FNQ! Welcome back to Melbourne!

now thats a report... well done FNQ

You're a star FNQ.

Thx FNQ. Great detailed report

I watched him very closely one session when he was away from the main group and I concentrating on his kicking and it was excellent - passing and goal kicking.

Agree BH. It's something I've noticed at the sessions I've seen; particularly the goal kicking.

Fwiw.

I've also liked the way that he seems to be at the front of the group for everything - moving to the next drill, etc. Leadership by example - we could use a lot of that, and I get the sense that we are seeing more of it now than in previous years.

thankyou all for the updates

mark

Agree BH. It's something I've noticed at the sessions I've seen; particularly the goal kicking.

I'm going out on a limb here, but I reckon Tom McDonald will be the next Nick Riewoldt.

He's got the tank to wear a backline into the ground, and in three years time I expect him to do exactly that.

Great reports guys. Always good to get that sort of information about what's happening with the team.

As always FNQ (and the other intrepid reporters) ta muchly.

Great news.

I am pretty happy to hear about the almost forgotten guys like Evans and Gawn going well.

Pleased to hear Flash looking Flashy.

Injuries negligible/improving.

Skills improving.

Talk improving.

Like a football team again.

Get around FNQ boys, sports taps all round

I'm going out on a limb here, but I reckon Tom McDonald will be the next Nick Riewoldt.

He's got the tank to wear a backline into the ground, and in three years time I expect him to do exactly that.

Some players are far better behind the ball and I suspect that McDonald is one of those. Reacting and negating is far easier than creating. I hope McDonald stays as a backman and is a pillar of defence for a decade.

Besides, with Clark and Hogan up front, along with Dawes and Pedersen, he's of far more value down back.

Some players are far better behind the ball and I suspect that McDonald is one of those. Reacting and negating is far easier than creating. I hope McDonald stays as a backman and is a pillar of defence for a decade.

Besides, with Clark and Hogan up front, along with Dawes and Pedersen, he's of far more value down back.

I think the jury needs to continue its deliberations on this one. That McDonald is a talent is obvious but we have seen little of him yet. "Autocol" may well prove to be correct as McDonald's outstanding running and endurance certainly give him the ability to worry a defence into disarray. Indeed given that we now have some monolithic forwards his mobility might be a necessary balance.

I think the jury needs to continue its deliberations on this one. That McDonald is a talent is obvious but we have seen little of him yet. "Autocol" may well prove to be correct as McDonald's outstanding running and endurance certainly give him the ability to worry a defence into disarray. Indeed given that we now have some monolithic forwards his mobility might be a necessary balance.

He doesn't have the class to be a key forward. He's the perfect defender in my view.

Some players are far better behind the ball and I suspect that McDonald is one of those. Reacting and negating is far easier than creating. I hope McDonald stays as a backman and is a pillar of defence for a decade.

Besides, with Clark and Hogan up front, along with Dawes and Pedersen, he's of far more value down back.

He doesn't have the class to be a key forward. He's the perfect defender in my view.

I guess we don't really know, BH.

He was recruited as a KPP forward, but has only played down back.

Do you remember an AA CHB called Neitz? Was he seen as a champion FF then?

That said, it will depend on team balance and who is doing what where.

He doesn't have the class to be a key forward. He's the perfect defender in my view.

He's only a kid. It's a common progression for a player to start in the backline - in a negating role, as you say - and move forward as they mature. Tom has the perfect combination of attributes to become a monster key forward if he continues along his current path. Tall defenders are a dime a dozen. Monster key forwards, most certainly are not.

Let's revisit in two or three years.

I am quite happy to see McDonald stay down back and also pleasantly surprised at how well Watts has settled in there as well. With Dawes and Pederson (and Bynes) recruited to bolster our forward line alongside Howe and Clark and with Hogan coming on stream next year I think that it would be a mistake to try to experiment further at the potential expense of unsettling what is becoming a strong backline.

I guess we don't really know, BH.

He was recruited as a KPP forward, but has only played down back.

Do you remember an AA CHB called Neitz? Was he seen as a champion FF then?

That said, it will depend on team balance and who is doing what where.

I don't need reminding of Neitz. The game is littered with key forwards that started as key backs.

Tom McDonald has played as a key forward at AFL level. It's where he started. I just don't see the class, or skill for him to dominate there and much prefer him back.