In person Stark is a lot blonder than Clisby.

I was also told Jason Talyor is now onboard. I dont know if or when that was made official. If it was i missed it.

Perhaps we should give Sylvia the benefit of the doubt regarding his continual membership of the rehab group. Someone mentioned that his back hasn't been the same since he broke it in the NAB game last year, so he may need to be on a managed programme...

Just something i did notice. I am still on the fence in regards to Lynden Dunn, probably a bit lucky to still be on the list. But good luck to him for surviving.I hope he has a great year. He walked past me, close enough to almost high 5 him. He is a monster. Solid as a brick outhouse.

I hope every Demon on 99 games gets his 100th. Lynden will in his first game this year. He is versatile and worth his place on the list.

Christ, they could be brothers. I hereby reserve the right to just refer to them both as "Stisby" (or "Clark", if I feel like being extra confusing).

I heard one of the coaches call out "Gawn, Stark, Sylvia and Toumpas" when assembling the rehab group. So Stark it is.

Is Viney in the top level of fitness at our club?

Is Viney in the top level of fitness at our club?

He came 8th in the 3km time trial and the last time I was at AAMI he was in the best group for repeat sprints. It was a group of about 7/8.

Trengove would have beaten him in the 3K, but clearly he's top 10 for endurance.

As of March 1st the Pies will start training on their own ground next to the Westpac centre. We'll have exclusive use of the oval at Gosch's.

That ground is one of the biggest missed opportunities we've had. At least we'll have Gosch's (I suggest a rename!) to ourselves.

Just wanted to add my thanks to the guys that went. If like to get down at some stage but work commitments seem to get in the way.

To everyone who gets down to training and writes these reports, keep up the great work. I honestly don't know what I'd do without the updates - they make the footy off season in Perth bareable!

Can't wait for season proper!

Anyone have any info on intra club, praccy games before the nab cup? I wanna see them play and see if all the training can be transferred into match day or am I gonna be feelin the same come round 8 this year.

A question for those who have seen a few sessions - how do they think Blease is tracking?

Obviously he's fitter than he was last year but is it a worry that he's still seemingly running with the last group?

Can we expect him to run as hard and fast when he's chasing as he does when he's got the footy?

In person Stark is a lot blonder than Clisby.

One of your more astute footballing observations big man.

Any news on Nathan Jones' tatts?

A question for those who have seen a few sessions - how do they think Blease is tracking?

Obviously he's fitter than he was last year but is it a worry that he's still seemingly running with the last group?

Can we expect him to run as hard and fast when he's chasing as he does when he's got the footy?

The last training session @ Casey during a match Sim, Blease was very impressive,he was the link man from defence. He used the ball very well.

Barring any setbacks I can see him having a big year. If he can get into the game more, we could have something special.

As for chasing, all the players are expected to run both ways. Personally I dont think his tank is there yet. Not through lack of trying. he always looks knackered.

Personally I dont think his tank is there yet. Not through lack of trying. he always looks knackered.

Thanks DV - I wonder how long it's going to take ..

Great reports folks.

With all this competition for the starting 22 and so many players looking to be fit and available for round 1, does anybody know the link to the Casey Scorpions playing list as not many of them might get a game with all the MFC guys seemingly available?

To answer some of the questions, as I have been to a few sessions.

The drills they are doing a starting to use the whole ground, but they are still working on all rolling up or creating forward pressure. The defenders are working their way through the zone and pressure, and I dont think there is a particular instruction to not go into the middle of the ground.

Blease is working his butt off. He was in the last group in the sprints today, but I think he would be able to run in the middle of the second group. That all being said, his endurance will improve, but it is his speed and line breaking we need.

Clarke is not relly doing any running in front of people, but he is doing heaps on the bike and other cross training. Along with Gawn and Sylvia and Toumpas, they are taking extra precautions and going slow.

Viney was in the top fitness group, he struggled bad in the 3rd sprint, but with true grit, he pushed closer to the front in the next one.

This could be really off the mark, as I'm relying on the observations I read here, but Viney reminds me of Ben Cousins (sans the fever gear) - hard trainer, gut runner, good skills, nice reader of the game, wins own ball but is a decent user of it, fierce competitor, big tank, etc.

I'm really excited about the mids we drafted during this post season, in particular Viney, Toumpas, Barry and Matt Jones. Probably Kent too.

Viney and Toumpas could very well be elite in four years from now.

This could be really off the mark, as I'm relying on the observations I read here, but Viney reminds me of Ben Cousins (sans the fever gear) - hard trainer, gut runner, good skills, nice reader of the game, wins own ball but is a decent user of it, fierce competitor, big tank, etc.

I'm really excited about the mids we drafted during this post season, in particular Viney, Toumpas, Barry and Matt Jones. Probably Kent too.

Viney and Toumpas could very well be elite in four years from now.

Could be close to the mark 'Ron' it's a good comparison. Apart from the other things you mentioned expanding on his gut running and competitive nature, he is not a natural endurance runner but he just wills himself to get there.

What is actually wrong with jimmy toumpas? from what I have heard he has hardly done any full training just been in the rehab all summer. And I know that he is even over his hip complaintment. On the other side I hear Ollie wines blistering the training track over at port..

I was also told Jason Talyor is now onboard. I dont know if or when that was made official. If it was i missed it.

Told by whom?

This is the collingwood recruiting 2IC that they had us hold off a year for contractual reasons wasn't it?

What is actually wrong with jimmy toumpas? from what I have heard he has hardly done any full training just been in the rehab all summer. And I know that he is even over his hip complaintment. On the other side I hear Ollie wines blistering the training track over at port..

I'll trust the club to have him on the programme they feel is right. Good luck to Ollie seemed like a nice kid but any chance we can for once not go down the line of the guy we didn't pick is doing this.

Edited January 21, 201312 yr by Pennant St Dee

Tweet from Mitch this afternoon.

@MitchClark11: Big day today. Progressing well. Thanks so much for all ur well wishes guys, it means a lot. #rehab #bestfollowers

What is actually wrong with jimmy toumpas? from what I have heard he has hardly done any full training just been in the rehab all summer. And I know that he is even over his hip complaintment. On the other side I hear Ollie wines blistering the training track over at port..

Didn't he have hip surgery late last year?

Thanks again for the reports.