While there's some handy names on the list, it's refreshing to see all have an optimistic outlook.

Mitch and Trenners listed as 3-5 is nice to see, although 3-5 could just be the new dreaded 4-6...

McDonald a minor ankle injury, so everyone can breathe out.

Round three NAB Cup injury list

Good news. The best I can recall at this stage of the season for many years. Without wanting to jinx us, we've more than earned a long and sustained period with Footy God's smiling in our direction.

Arguably, 6 of our best 18 are on that list. That's 1/3 of the team!

Sylvia and McDonald should rest this week.

Arguably, 6 of our best 18 are on that list. That's 1/3 of the team!

But the positive is they all SHOULD be back very early in the season if not before.

But the positive is they all SHOULD be back very early in the season if not before.

Providing we get through the next 2 mock-games unscathed, then by Round 1, the only best 18 players missing should be Blease, Clark and Trengove. If that happens, I'll be happier, but at this stage, I'll take it 1 day at a time!

While there's some handy names on the list, it's refreshing to see all have an optimistic outlook.

Mitch and Trenners listed as 3-5 is nice to see, although 3-5 could just be the new dreaded 4-6...

McDonald a minor ankle injury, so everyone can breathe out.

Round three NAB Cup injury list

After mentioning seeing him, I spoke to a mate of mine who is pretty sure McDonald won't be playing Round 1 and said it was the same frame as Blease's injury 4-6.

Clearly Melbourne aren't choosing to mention that will be interesting to see whether they're doing smoke screens or my info is off.

Round three NAB Cup injury list

Rohan Bail (concussion) – 3 weeks
Sam Blease (ankle) – 3-5 weeks
Mitch Clark (foot) – 3-5 weeks
James Frawley (eye laceration) – available

Max Gawn (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks
Tom McDonald (ankle) – test
Colin Sylvia (ankle) – test
Jack Trengove (foot) – 3-5 weeks

After mentioning seeing him, I spoke to a mate of mine who is pretty sure McDonald won't be playing Round 1 and said it was the same frame as Blease's injury 4-6.

Clearly Melbourne aren't choosing to mention that will be interesting to see whether they're doing smoke screens or my info is off.

How would your mate know?

alot of foot n ankle injuries

be good to see gawn back, we need a good young ruckman as they could overtake Jamar in the next 12 months

I'm always worried when I see a player with a knee reconstruction has a hamstring injury. My admittedly rudimentary understanding is that the graft to replace the cruciate ligament is (sometimes? always?) taken from the tendon at the top of the hamstring muscle. If I recall correctly, the hamstring tendon in such cases can sometimes become problematic. Let's hope that Gawn's hamstring problem is nothing more than the standard strain. (Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me can confirm or debunk, as necessary.)

And a shortened injury list may not just be due to good luck but to good management by David Misson and his team. i think it's generally accepted that players with better base fitness levels are less inclined to soft tissue injuries. But fitter players also get to the right position more often and kick the ball to position more regularly. Too often players get injured because they move in an un-natural direction to reach a ball which should have landed on their chest without them having to deviate.

Round three NAB Cup injury list

Rohan Bail (concussion) – 3 weeks

Sam Blease (ankle) – 3-5 weeks

Mitch Clark (foot) – 3-5 weeks

James Frawley (eye laceration) – available

Max Gawn (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks

Tom McDonald (ankle) – test

Colin Sylvia (ankle) – test

Jack Trengove (foot) – 3-5 weeks

I think we can scare the Saints to death with that face.

While there's some handy names on the list, it's refreshing to see all have an optimistic outlook.

Mitch and Trenners listed as 3-5 is nice to see, although 3-5 could just be the new dreaded 4-6...

McDonald a minor ankle injury, so everyone can breathe out.

Round three NAB Cup injury list

Is 3-5 weeks one week better than 4-6? I certainly hope so!

Is 3-5 weeks one week better than 4-6? I certainly hope so!

It normally is, it's just the MFC have a bad track record with injuries that are listed as "4-6 weeks" turning into season long ones...

Neeld reckons Clark is a chance for round 1, provided he has no set backs.

Probably the best source to get an idea is to listen to the interview with Misson on the Clubs phone App He sounds quite optimistic that we might see both Mitch and Trenners for Round 1.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-03-05/trengove-clark-update

I haven't managed to get to more than one club pre season session this year but I wandered over to the local park late yesterday afternoon where my grandson's under 9 team was having its first session for 2013. It's probably light years away from a senior AFL team training but one thing that struck me was the fact that the ground was rock hard. Now if you imagine adult footballers recovering from a Lisfranc injury, a navicular stress fracture or an ACL/hamstring then you really wouldn't want them running themselves to the ground on hard tracks too early. No doubt, Mitch, Jack and Max have spent a goodly part of their rehab doing work away from hard grounds and the fact that they're out on the track now provides room for some optimism. I'm sure that the club's medical and fitness staff have their recoveries under control and let's keep fingers crossed for their early return.

I remember the last time we had close to a full list - it was 2006 and we made the finals. Not saying that we're capable of that this year but I'm certain that one of the factors that helped North finish ahead of St. Kilda, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond in the battle for that last place in the top eight was it's very small injury list for most of the season.

go dees, would be exciting to have them around

Jamar, Pencil and Gawn. Three into two does not go, or perhaps three into one. Once all are fit and ready, who gets the main gig? None have set the world on fire for quite some time.

Jamar, Pencil and Gawn. Three into two does not go, or perhaps three into one. Once all are fit and ready, who gets the main gig? None have set the world on fire for quite some time.

Gawn by a mile.

Gawn by the length of the MCG. When he plays he influences games if and that's only if he can get over his injuries then I truly believe we will have an absolute weapon on our hands.