That's where he will be damaging for us. A nice let out from defence to put it up to Howe around the middle of the ground. He was getting mauled in the forward line this year and not allowed to fly for his marks, up the ground he will be a very hard match up.

he will be damaging for us in any position.......so long as he lifts his game up a notch

i'm confident he can

I know that, however his injury is career threatening and 2014 needs to be the year that he is eased back in. We all want to see Mitch play again, but we need to be patient.

Training the house down.

Yes, but if he's going to be playing he might as well be playing seniors. He's just as likely to get injured playing for Casey.

Roos or no Roos I'm not going to fall into the trap of getting too excited over the boys "looking sharp" and "training the house down" at any point this summer. However, I do appreciate the reports. I have zero interest in the Spring Carnival and the cricket still a few weeks away, so I enjoy any Dees fix I can get. Thanks everyone.

Best bit I've read so far is Roos mimicking Hogan's strut. The kid's made of the right stuff. Can't wait to see him in action.

he will be damaging for us in any position.......so long as he lifts his game up a notch

i'm confident he can

When I spoke to Howie, this is the impression I got, he knows Roos is an admirer but he wants to be more than the 'speccy kid'.........I was with another supporter who goes to training a lot including the very first day and what we both saw was that the last year Howie looked nothing like today, he has worked his arse off in the break

As for training reports what you get from me is facts and optimism but i am also a realist, I just don't bag players, coaches, teams.......will try and get down quite regularly and speak to the players....that way we get a bit of colour in the reports.....next time is 18th when everybody comes back......

This is far more in keeping with what I was told. It was mentioned that Trengove couldn't keep up with Grimes.

No biggie, but the other reports lauding Trengove's running session was at odds with what I'd heard.

To use racing parlance Grimes had both Howe and Trengove off the bit. He really was impressively motoring through the 3 or so repeats I saw of these guys. But it's also 300 or 400m which might be his ideal distance compared to Trengove who we expect to be slower but motoring all day.

So it wasn't so much that Grimes was running away from him but he was pinching a gap and really holding Howe and then back to Trengove off. But only about 3-5m gaps between them. I would've liked to have seen the repeats which I believe had Nicholson in them because that would've put a good guide in because Nicho was our number 1 fitness guy last year.

Either way I'm more inclined to be impressed with Grimes looking fit and leading from the front than I am concerned about Trengove being a small gap behind him at this stage.

In regards to the running grades it's ridiculous to really rate them. If you put Patrick Johnson next to Usain Bolt you'd give him a 5 but he'd still be the best runner in any other room.

Clisby and Jones are two footballers who are not athletes first, it's evident by watching them, but it doesn't make them bad footballers, or bad trainers. For all we know, Roos could be very happy with their effort and disappointed with say a Nicholson who he knows should beat the whole field convincingly. I think running drills are bloody ridiculous to assess, grateful for the guys reporting them but it truly gives us nothing as supporters.

If Clark is running now why would he need more than 4 months to get fully match fit?

This. Full fitness can be well and truly gained from this far out. If it is just fitness that Mitch Clark has to deal with, he will be playing round 1.

No one busts a gut on the first day of training.

From the sound of it however some did try to impress.

Any reports on Blease?

Great to see Grimes there as he is not a 1-4yr player. Same as Clark

When I spoke to Howie, this is the impression I got, he knows Roos is an admirer but he wants to be more than the 'speccy kid'.........I was with another supporter who goes to training a lot including the very first day and what we both saw was that the last year Howie looked nothing like today, he has worked his arse off in the break

As for training reports what you get from me is facts and optimism but i am also a realist, I just don't bag players, coaches, teams.......will try and get down quite regularly and speak to the players....that way we get a bit of colour in the reports.....next time is 18th when everybody comes back......

Just to clarify...do you mean 18 November is the next open training session? Is it correct that between now and then the group who trained today will be doing other training but not out on the field (ie in the gym, the pool, lectures or whatever)?

Thanks for all the write ups and photos guys... its great

When I spoke to Howie, this is the impression I got, he knows Roos is an admirer but he wants to be more than the 'speccy kid'.........I was with another supporter who goes to training a lot including the very first day and what we both saw was that the last year Howie looked nothing like today, he has worked his arse off in the break

As for training reports what you get from me is facts and optimism but i am also a realist, I just don't bag players, coaches, teams.......will try and get down quite regularly and speak to the players....that way we get a bit of colour in the reports.....next time is 18th when everybody comes back......

Saty, can you please tell me how a player can change his body shape in 9 weeks? Especially given he was O/S for at least 2 of it. I appreciate the still have gym's in other countries, but I just don't believe they'd go to a different country and do a solid 3 or 4 hours a day in the gym. I have no doubt they go for runs and do the odd weight session.

That was analysis,......somehow you have turned two guys battling in heat on the first day back at training against two 'elite' runners into they are not up to it and could possibly have an attitude problem....I understand there are some Melbourne supporters who will always consider the glass half empty..................I 'll put it more politely....that assumption beggars belief....I was there I stood next to Clisby whilst he dry retched at the end of one run.....

I'm not questioning his commitment, more his ability. Oh yes, and dry retching could mean he did not put the work in over the break and the workloan found him out today.

I was surprised how taxing Misson and Roos made it today. Certainly far more for the first session than either Bailey or Neeld.

Edited November 6, 201311 yr by Dees2014

Any reports on Blease?

Great to see Grimes there as he is not a 1-4yr player. Same as Clark

I believe it's 1-4 year players and those coming back from injury.

Thanks to all who not only go and look but then take time to give us their impression.

I appreciate that it is their opinion from a marginal knowledge base but it certainly adds to mine.

Being closer to the action certainly provides a better perspective than relying on media which has too many other often conflicting perspectives.

It is great that Dees supporters give us all a better insight to the developments at our club

keep it up and GO DEES

he will be damaging for us in any position.......so long as he lifts his game up ai'm confident he can

Well from what i saw today i think he has come back in top condition, along with his running mates the two jacks and Nicho.

They were very impressive, and before anyone accuses me of "training the house down" comments, all i am prepared to say at this stage that those who have come back fit and ready to train hard should get recognition. It does NOT mean they are going to be world beaters necessarily, but it is a good start, and one I'm sure Roos will be observing very closely.

I hope not., and so does Howie, spoke to him today, running improvement is all about getting bit more into midfield and wing.....let's not waste him down back......

I know preseason training reports is when you think you shine, but I'd rather not see your name every third post.

Thanks.

I reckon Howe in the back half, will suddenly make opposition bomb-entries putty in our hands.

Yeah, not sure about that. Whenever he's dropped back previously, he can't help but attempt high-flyers. When he drops them we're in big trouble. I think it's too risky unless he develops some self-restraint and discipline. I'd prefer to use him as an attacking weapon. Play him rotating through the midfield and forwardline.

Nicho always comes back in good condition with good fitness. Then thats how he stays and all he stays as.

I find it really interesting on this site that if there is disagreement that the "go to" stance is personal abuse, rather than debate or argument based on information.

I am quite prepared to admit i am wrong, but be buggered if i am going to yield to someone who has no better argument than, what did you say again, "twaddle". Congratulations on you sophisticated analysis

Saty has been known for jumping down the throat of others in the past, but what he said to you here was not personal at all. He just said a couple of your comments were twaddle. I agree with him. Does that mean that I'm personally attacking you too? I don't think so. This is the internet. People disagree. It's not a big deal. You might want to grow a thicker skin, otherwise you won't last.

Saty has been known for jumping down the throat of others in the past, but what he said to you here was not personal at all. He just said a couple of your comments were twaddle. I agree with him. Does that mean that I'm personally attacking you too? I don't think so. This is the internet. People disagree. It's not a big deal. You might want to grow a thicker skin, otherwise you won't last.

Oh thanks for that. I have been on the internet in one form or another since the 1990's in various parts of the world, so i think i can outlast a self-important individual on here. It would be nice though to debate the issues. I live in hope.

Oh thanks for that. I have been on the internet in one form or another since the 1990's in various parts of the world, so i think i can outlast a self-important individual on here. It would be nice though to debate the issues. I live in hope.

Ok, that's enough. You can come down now.

C'mon guys,it's our first day of training and it turns into a sh1tfight everytime.

I'm right-you're wrong

Grade 3 crap!!!

if youre starting at a 10, and you improve 5 points, youre at a 15.

if you start at a 3 and you improve 5 points, you've improved just as much over preseason but youre still only an 8.

All well and good, but rates of improvement in fitness aren't linear, nor are they the same for every individual.

FWIW, Matt Jones played every game this season, but this time last year, as opposed to trying to keep up in 300m sprints, he was working as an electrician. He started pre-season late, and off a low(er) base, but still managed to get to where he needed to be by Round 1.

They have time.

C'mon guys,it's our first day of training and it turns into a sh1tfight everytime.

I'm right-you're wrong

Grade 3 crap!!!

It doesn't get any better than this!

I completely agree, and judging from how seriously Roos was treating it, so does he. At this stage of the year, it is mostly about attitude, and for M Jones and Clisby to return so thoroughly unfit as they appeared to be, I'm sure will not have impressed Roos at all. Big Max (and yes i am a big fan) will also have to improve rapidly if he is not going to to be overtaken by Spencer in the near term.

I know Matt Jones personally he is far from unfit. For someone to even mention that has no idea what they are talking about. He is a great trainer & someone the inner personnel at the MFC rate clearly. One of the very few last yr to follow the game plan.