Nasher,

Thanks, I'll go and throw some lamb on the bbq. I'll be back after dinner.

Jack Viney needs to lose his superman cape and learn he can't take on the world. Nathan Jones had the same issues until last year hopefully he can help Jack through this.

Having only seen Viney for the first time today I thought the exact same thing.

Mind you, that was the only knock I could find from what I saw. At the start I couldn't work out if he was left or right-footed as his kicking in short was so good.

Does anyone know how to upload photos to a thread? WJ doesn't know and the mods aren't talking. I've attached a sample file to see if it works

001A6653.JPG

nice work six6six

He better get rid of that ball McKenzie is coming to gobble him up. Love it!

Barry, Kent, Viney, M. Jones, Terlich and Toumpas are all reliable kicks, but we're yet to see their skills under AFL intensity and pressure. I definitely think we're on the right track, but it will take time.

I'm looking for someone to really step up on a HBF. It may be Watts, Strauss, Terlich, or someone else, but until we get a couple of distributors who can consistently use the ball coming out of defence like Suckling, Guerra, Birchall, or Malceski and Mattner we'll struggle. That and getting a quality midfield are our two main deficiencies.

I know you're not a fan BH but I strongly believe Watts is the man. He lacks in some attributes but his decision making and disposal is first rate. I have been a vocal supporter of his but he must step up this year.

Pick number 53 too, still can't get over that! If he was in next year's draft he would have to go top 10. We do better with our later picks.

For those that have been to training what is the synergy like between Dawesand Pederson- do they look like a combination that can provide enough scoring opportunities until the big Mitch returns?

I don't think BP had a clue what he was getting, either. A bit like Freo with Fyfe.

Tommy played mostly as a short ruckman, and looked earmarked for a Leigh Brown type role, or maybe like a Jason Blake at St Kilda.

McDonald is far too valuable to waste in the ruck now.

This is great stuff, how are our new boys going...Viney Toumpas and Hulk Hogan.

Just told the missus to put her panties back on because I have live training reports to read...

I am in awe of you JVF. Such commitment. (Is your partner's name Judy? Please, make it so, in order that I can say commitment over and above the call of Judy) To think I once questioned your haircut. A man who can knock it back. Our club will surely prosper with supporters of this ilk.

He better get rid of that ball McKenzie is coming to gobble him up. Love it!

I'd be more worried about the "mini hulk" Rhodan.

Does anyone know how to upload photos to a thread? WJ doesn't know and the mods aren't talking. I've attached a sample file to see if it works

001A6653.JPG

I'd say you nailed it there.

I don't think BP had a clue what he was getting, either. A bit like Freo with Fyfe.

Tommy played mostly as a short ruckman, and looked earmarked for a Leigh Brown type role, or maybe like a Jason Blake at St Kilda.

McDonald is far too valuable to waste in the ruck now.

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 went down for an hour and was surprised to see Dunn playing in Rivers old role as the loose man in defense. I would have expected Watts to be groomed for this role.

Jetta stood out with his pace, attack and disposal and seems a ready replacement for Bartram.

I really liked what I saw of Dawes. Although he doesn't mark everything he times his leads to perfection, does repeat running and controls the space in front of him better than most. He will bring others around him into the game and give confidence to our midfield when delivering into the forward line.

Shannon Byrnes was shorter than I expected but impressed me with his positioning and read of the play.

Finally I thought Garland looked in top shape. Physically he is much bigger and solid than I remember and with his pace brings valuable versatility to the team.

I might drip feed a few of these until Nasher gets back.

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

Geez steady on sloonie. You've gone awfully early there.....

Like to see him improve his kicking for a start.....

Wow the surface of the ground looks outstanding in the photos....

Here's a link to some photos I took today. Hope it works....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92646374@N05/

I might drip feed a few of these until Nasher gets back.

Even just from a photo you can see that is a textbook kicking action and ball drop.

Compare that with a poor ball drop like Scully:

Here's a link to some photos I took today. Hope it works....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92646374@N05/

Good work, Snow Commando...

Thanks for the training reports.

Good to c the sun is shining as there not much of that in Brisbane at the moment.

By all training reports everything seems to be going really well.

While I am glad to hear all is going well I will reserve my judgement until the season proper. Probably got to do with the previous six seasons of crap we have put up with.

Would be nice for a change if the kids could be excited about the Dees after round one is finished.

Here's a link to some photos I took today. Hope it works....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92646374@N05/

Nice work. Thanks to all. We're spoilt!

Somebody asked about the tackling, John Muggleton was showing them another method today said as far as I could hear "Collingwood are practicing dropping the shoulder to bump off the tackler , so use this if it looks like they are doing it"

Clint.....try speaking to Col Sylvia, he is totally aware he has stuffed up in the past, but he has also had a rotten run with injury and fitness, he desperately wants to shove it up people, hopefully this year will be it

As for Strauss, he is nearly back to where he was pre broken leg and he is looking really confident and he has done the full preseason

It is the same with Jetta and Davey that is why both a looking completely different, my man Nev is my pick for the biggest improver this year

By the way Jade Rawlings spoke to a guy he knew and said there were 41 on the track today, he had never seen that in his whole career in January

The only one I did not see today was Terlich

And as for Neeld he hides under cap and watches, lets Craig and the other coaches run the drills, best way I reckon

Edited January 28, 201312 yr by Satyriconhome

Players to impress me were Blease who's run and carry is genuinely exciting. Once he's running nobody can catch him. Matt Jones is a very big midfielder and did some good things. Wasn't a fan of Tynan but like some of what he did today. Toumpas will be a favourite, exquisite skills and finds it a lot. Nicho will frustrate unless he can sort his kicking. Taggert is a big boy too but I didn't see him do much. Didn't see Terlich either which was disappointing as he'd been good the last two times I'd been to training.

All in all a good fun day but the intensity is only about 80% of match day and still the skills disappointed on occasions. I find it hard to compare with last year and it's just dancing with your sister stuff. Rohan Bail didn't train with the main group, hope it wasn't because of Dunn's brain fade at the last session.

Terlich was back in Adelaide - family issues. Bail was training with Trengove, Clarke and Gawn. I think he has a niggle but nothing serious, however Gawn is on the long term injury list.

Neeld was there for the first part of training, then left.

It was great to see so many players in the main group. That was the good news. It was such a long session ( at least 2 1/2 hours with match play and smaller drills) and I know mistakes will be made, but we have to get better at hitting targets and marking the ball. Nicho was in a three-way with Viney and Tom Mac, and dropped at least 3 uncontested marks in a short opening session. His kicking can be good, and he has a rare combination of speed and endurance, but he suffered from lapses in concentration today. To his credit he was one of the first three on the park this morning. A credit to Sam Blease too - omg he is quick.

Clint.....try speaking to Col Sylvia, he is totally aware he has stuffed up in the past, but he has also had a rotten run with injury and fitness, he desperately wants to shove it up people, hopefully this year will be it

I'm not talking about his commitment as such, I just don't think he has the football nous to really take the next step.

If you compare him to someone like Dane Swan, physically Sylvia should be streets ahead, but Swan can easily rack up 40 disposals while Sylvia struggles to get 25. As I mentioned, he's a back seat player, he needs to be more proactive and less reactive, often it's split second decisions but they really stick out and always have.

Even just from a photo you can see that is a textbook kicking action and ball drop.

Compare that with a poor ball drop like Scully:

"Spirit fingers"..?

I've been to a few sessions since new year and with every session we see the intensity increase. I actually thought Sylvia was one of the better players today. One thing that stood out is the players we have that can hit targets and the players we have that can't. When the ball was moved with our quality players it looked good, but we still have many players that just miss targets. Blease may have looked great with his speed but let himself down with his disposal.

Last Friday was 1 quarter today was 2. The speed was a stand out and the ability to maintain that speed through the 2 periods is the biggest improvement from last year.

Jack Viney needs to lose his superman cape and learn he can't take on the world. Nathan Jones had the same issues until last year hopefully he can help Jack through this.

Watts played on Dawes and actually held his own on the lead, if he gets confidence early in the season, we will all be reminded in how good he is.

To me the main spots up for grabs is the small midsized forwards and backs. Two spots forward and two spots down back. Early doors I would have Jetta and Dunn down back and Davey and Blease up forward with Tappy not to far behind.

A lot can change in 9 weeks, but we will beat port by 10 goals

I like your choices for the small / mid-size forwards and backs.

Terlich was back in Adelaide - family issues. Bail was training with Trengove, Clarke and Gawn. I think he has a niggle but nothing serious, however Gawn is on the long term injury list.

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?