Training - Monday 28th January, 2013

[jumbo returns 6,515]

Big call....But I like it!!

I love the way this guy moves, Dan.

He's brave, has elite kicking skills and pace.

Very, very highly rated as a drift pick.

[Whispering_Jack 28,025]

Perspective. That's what it's all about at this time of year. We see them on the park but even when they're doing the really competitive stuff like match simulation, we just don't know the extent of the improvement that must be subsumed and incorporated within the group.

One player who has been mentioned as an improver in despatches is Tom McDonald and I imagined that, at 194cm and 92kg, he would loom large among the players. But when I arrived and saw the number 25 out there early with three others, including Dan Nicholson and Jack Viney, he looked tiny. That's because the fourth player in the early group was Max Gawn who is positively a monster at 208cm and 107kg. That's perspective.

Max put on his GPS and after a bit of a run around he disappeared into the wild blue yonder. I don't know when he'll be ready (it's said he's still on the long term injury list), but I can't help thinking that a bloke of that size who moves so smoothly might be a damn important asset if he can get it all together.

There's no "might" about the other early birds. Jack Viney is going to make a difference and his infusion into the midfield, along with that of another classy mover in Jimmy Toumpas will aid our quest to revive our stocks in this all-important part of the ground. Those two might be young and raw but, of the top ten newcomers out of the draft, they're the only ones with experience playing the game with and against men. And Jack Grimes, who will give a lot of service in the midfield this year, has the look of a captain this year. Now, if only we can get his co-skipper up and running, that midfield might well dig itself out of the third world territory it has occupied for the best part of a decade. There's a bit more run there too with Dan Nicholson and Sam Blease showing a fair bit of toe.

Once I got the other early bird, Tom McDonald into the right perspective, he looked all right too. I'm not putting too high an expectation on him though. He's only 20 and while he did have some terrific break out games last year, he's still got plenty of work to do but along with James Frawley, Tom Garland and Jack Watts (and maybe James Sellar), he will add a bit of class and stability to the back half.

I'm not getting carried away by all means. After all, the team was so much on the nose in 2012 after promising a lot in the pre season. We even belted Collingwood in a NAB Cup game and we thought ourselves at one with the universe until the Big Bang came and hit us on a weekly basis for months until many of us were invoking the mercy rule before midseason. We gained a lot of perspective as a consequence.

I'm not going to rave about the mature age recruits on a little over an hour's exposure but Chris Dawes and Cam Pedersen, despite some detractors from the clubs they left, appear as if they are going to add lots to what was a very undermanned forward line last year, particularly after Mitch Clark fell. While we're at it, Clark ran around a bit and kicked well with his left and is supposed to be on track for a start in the first month of what they call the regular season.

There's been a lot said about the failure of many of Melbourne's early draft picks to develop as quickly as we would like, but less said about the fact that many of them including Blease, Grimes, James Strauss, Luke Tapscott, Watts and a couple of others missed great slabs of what should have been development time through injuries and missed out in previous years on much needed pre season work. Well, they're getting it now and, in doing so, we're ticking that very big box that requires players to be injury free at this time of year. We should see much more advancement, better prospects of development and hence, a greater depth of talent available for selection than in the past.

In that regard, I will nominate my big improver for 2013 as Neville Jetta who appears to be thriving under this new regimen. I reckon Aaron Davey might just be ready to reinvent himself as he goes around for another year: a prospect that some might have thought doubtful when he struggled through games in the past two seasons. Both players are thriving now whereas in recent years, they haven't been on the track.

There were others but it was the first time in a while and I'm still learning new numbers, faces and styles. Sooner or later, I'll get it all in the right perspective.

I won't venture to say how much we'll improve in 2013 but I note the AFL Prospectus has us down with the 13th best list, which even without the prospect of a good draw, a healthier list and more stability at the club, suggests we'll at least double our number of wins. Still, I'm not going to get carried away just yet.

I must add two final points from what I saw. Neil Craig looked really in command at training today and what a great choice he makes in that assisting senior head honcho role? And the kid wearing # 1 looked the goods for a 17 year old, so much so that I might get myself a few extra doses of perspective at Casey Fields this year.

The show rolls on into February but for now ... it's yibbida, yibbida. That's all folks!

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I love the way this guy moves, Dan.

He's brave, has elite kicking skills and pace.

Very, very highly rated as a drift pick.

I'd love a player with Strauss' skills to become a regular, but he is missing one key ingredient, football smarts. I just can't see him taking the next level, even with such good skills.

[DirtyDees DDC 171]

I am disappointed to hear Gawn is again on the long-term injury list. The MFC website does not include injuries so when is he expected to return; is it his year?

He is doing some rehab work. It's not as though he is on crutches or is just walking laps, but he appears to struggle to get his body right for the rigors of training. They are hoping he might be ready for round 3 at Casey.

[Whispering_Jack 28,025]

He is doing some rehab work. It's not as though he is on crutches or is just walking laps, but he appears to struggle to get his body right for the rigors of training. They are hoping he might be ready for round 3 at Casey.

One assumes that by putting a player on the LTI early, it might also give the club an opportunity to elevate a rookie if one of them shows the goods to the point where selection in the Melbourne team might be warranted.

[Nasher 33,133]

I've uploaded Six6Six's photos. There are *lots* (great work Six6Six!), so we don't flood the thread I've only posted the first 5. The rest can be found on this link: http://demonland.com/training-28012013-six6six/

[rjay 23,970]

I've uploaded Six6Six's photos. There are *lots* (great work Six6Six!), so we don't flood the thread I've only posted the first 5. The rest can be found on this link: http://demonland.com/training-28012013-six6six/

How do you do this 'Nasher', I've got a couple of Toumpas' kicking style I would like to show in comparison to Scully.

[jumbo returns 6,515]

I'd love a player with Strauss' skills to become a regular, but he is missing one key ingredient, football smarts. I just can't see him taking the next level, even with such good skills.

How so? I think that in 20 or so games he'll get his rhythm and timing back and it could spell curtains for Joel Mc.

[deeko 937]

Just wanted to say thanks for the reports as always and a special thanks to six6six! Great work with the photos mate, love your work.

[Whispering_Jack 28,025]

Agreed on the pics & thanks six6six.

You've hit a few sixes with them!

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

How so? I think that in 20 or so games he'll get his rhythm and timing back and it could spell curtains for Joel Mc.

Honestly, it's just gut feeling. More than happy to be wrong, he just doesn't look to have it for me.

[Biffen 12,385]

Strauss has kicking skills.

He will hold down a regular spot when he gets a solid run.

If he manages to stay fit we will get to see some class.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,044]

"Spirit fingers"..?

More like 'time to do the chicken dance' for mine ...

[waynewussell 4,092]

Magnificent pics six6six! A great record of summer training and a reference point for supporters to identify the newbies. Thanks for taking the time.

[jumbo returns 6,515]

Honestly, it's just gut feeling. More than happy to be wrong, he just doesn't look to have it for me.

Yep, fair enough....it's just that he reminds so much like an early Tommy Mac.

[dee-luded 2,958]

I am disappointed to hear Gawn is again on the long-term injury list. The MFC website does not include injuries so when is he expected to return; is it his year?

??Is he readmitted to it, or is it, he hasn't been removed from it, Yet??

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Is it just me or is Jack Watts looking a lot more a man than a boy these days? He's certainly got the size to play with the big boys now.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Honestly, it's just gut feeling. More than happy to be wrong, he just doesn't look to have it for me.

He plays like a smaller Frawley with a better kick.

Strong through the core.

I guess you could sorta say chip doesn't have footy smarts, but I'm not sure it's correct.

[angrydee 842]

Thanks to all the reporters and to six6six for the pics. We who can't attend are truly grateful to you all.

[Dan Fantastik 50]

I doubt he knew also, because if he did he would have gone before 53 rolled around. Either way he is our late draft pick jem- our Swan or Hird.

I think when this kid matures he is going to be the greatest player this team has seen in my life time. Huge call I know, but he has most of the tools already.

Probably shouldn't set my expectations too high, but f it, that's what pre-seasons are for lol

I Laughed at this

I hope your right Sloonie!! He is probably the player that I am most excited to seen again this year!

If he continues to improve he will be a star!

[Guest José Mourinho]

*Tom Garland?

[Roger Mellie 3,568]

Excellent pics 6!

[Left Field 313]

What stood out in the photo's to me.......

Jake Spencer has complete control of almost every contest with Mark Jamar.

Is Jake Spencer set for a break out year (seems unlikely I know) or is Jamar in decline?

[Dee Dee 1,048]

Great pics 6 but who's the 15 year old kid pictured with Mitch Clark? Our new team mascot maybe?

[Satyriconhome 9,993]

What stood out in the photo's to me.......

Jake Spencer has complete control of almost every contest with Mark Jamar.

Is Jake Spencer set for a break out year (seems unlikely I know) or is Jamar in decline?

Jamar is not in decline, but the big Pencil is finally growing into a ruckman, Jamar knows he has competition, Jamar is getting around the ground a lot more as well, think he knows he has to

It was interesting also to see both Pedersen and Fitzpatrick taking the ruck work in the fwd 50 during yesterdays training, think this is what will happen in the games as well