The holiday break comes to an end for the Melbourne list on Monday at 9.30am when the team returns to Gosch's Paddock. Training is also scheduled for the Paddock on Wednesday and Friday at the same time of 9.30am.

I'm told that Monday is the day when a number of players who were in rehab or on lighter training regimes come back into full training. The next month will be vital for the coming season - we need close to the full complement available and on the track for the season ahead.

I hope to be able to head down for one session either this week or perhaps the following Monday when the team trains at Casey Fields.

It would be great for all us distant supporters if you can make it down and give us a report.

I think this year holds so much more promise despite the disappointments of the past.

Even the quality and quantity of the training reports seems to have improved with less speculative "tearing it up " style to factual recording of routines and performance. You're right that the next month will be vital for the season which makes me even more grateful for the reports.

Thanks to all those who have provided information every effort is recognised and appreciated.

You beauty, still on holidays and house sitting in South Yarra next week. I'll definitely be there.

I intend to head down at least on Monday.

The start of the season is closer than we think. I was at the Woolworths supermarket in Seaford this afternoon and they're already selling hot cross buns. We'll all be at the snow soon.

39 days until the first pre season game.

Think I remember in a club interview it being said they were doing time trials first week back. Something about testing their condition after the Christmas break. Happens each year I suppose.

Think I remember in a club interview it being said they were doing time trials first week back. Something about testing their condition after the Christmas break. Happens each year I suppose.

Yep 3km time trial. Roos wont be there for atleast a week and a half im pretty sure. On a holiday trip with his family to Africa im pretty sure..

Yep 3km time trial. Roos wont be there for atleast a week and a half im pretty sure. On a holiday trip with his family to Africa im pretty sure..

I know it was likely prebooked and so on but I'm not overly happy about this. We are paying the man close to 50% more than anyone has ever been paid before to coach AFL and he's taking an extra holiday?

Yep 3km time trial. Roos wont be there for atleast a week and a half im pretty sure. On a holiday trip with his family to Africa im pretty sure..

Uh oh.......who's going to run the meditation sessions?

My quote won't work, but I see the Master running off at the mouth again without checking facts, Roos has worked solidly since the day after he signed, it was agreed he could take a break after Xmas, one of the first things he did was to fly to WA to speak to Jesse Hogan's family etc....so he deserves it

I know it was likely prebooked and so on but I'm not overly happy about this. We are paying the man close to 50% more than anyone has ever been paid before to coach AFL and he's taking an extra holiday?

Roos is paid for his expertize, not overtime.

He has experienced assistant coaches who know the game plan and for the life of me I can't see an issue with him not being here for the first week or so in January.

I know it was likely prebooked and so on but I'm not overly happy about this. We are paying the man close to 50% more than anyone has ever been paid before to coach AFL and he's taking an extra holiday?

Yeah because he has done sweet FA all year you know, the travelling from Sydney to Melbourne every week for Fox and then non stop working his backside off since becoming our coach.

Fair Dinkum the guy has had No family time probably all year due to his commitments, and all he ask is a bit of extra weeks holiday to soak up as much family time as possible before he embarks in one of the games biggest challenges I turning this club around.

Write an email to Roosy and tell him what you really think. Im sure he will whole heartily agree with you... Not!

My quote won't work, but I see the Master running off at the mouth again without checking facts, Roos has worked solidly since the day after he signed, it was agreed he could take a break after Xmas, one of the first things he did was to fly to WA to speak to Jesse Hogan's family etc....so he deserves it

And do you think Clarkson and the other AFL coaches have just been resting on their laurels during that period? Good job on him flying to WA but that was what he decided to do above and beyond his normal roles. But usually attending training is a normal role for a senior coach.

You're blind faith approach with everyone seems to have worked so well hasn't it?

Maybe demonland quoting has decided to stop trying to print your drive when you continue to stick up for everything that the club does.

I know it was likely prebooked and so on but I'm not overly happy about this.

And you usually make sense.

I believe he did a tonne of work before his official commencement date.

You're barking up the wrong tree.

Yeah because he has done sweet FA all year you know, the travelling from Sydney to Melbourne every week for Fox and then non stop working his backside off since becoming our coach.

Fair Dinkum the guy has had No family time probably all year due to his commitments, and all he ask is a bit of extra weeks holiday to soak up as much family time as possible before he embarks in one of the games biggest challenges I turning this club around.

Write an email to Roosy and tell him what you really think. Im sure he will whole heartily agree with you... Not!

I'm not trying to argue that the guy is lazy. You don't become a premiership coach, 300+ game player etc etc by being lazy. I'm just saying that he's already started this job why take time off already?

I'm not convinced he had a super busy year just because he traveled to Melbourne for Sundays and Mondays and coached a part time academy at the swans. There would'e been plenty of time off in all of that and he's just had 2 weeks over Christmas break

The decision is made and done I'm not going to waste anyones time sending emails. Hopefully the players turn up in good shape and train well without the main man. If they don't then I think Roosy will regret his extra holiday.

And do you think Clarkson and the other AFL coaches have just been resting on their laurels during that period? Good job on him flying to WA but that was what he decided to do above and beyond his normal roles. But usually attending training is a normal role for a senior coach.

You're blind faith approach with everyone seems to have worked so well hasn't it?

Maybe demonland quoting has decided to stop trying to print your drive when you continue to stick up for everything that the club does.

Interesting to know when they take time off. Given that they have to work on list management, draft and trade at the end of the season when do the other coaches take a break. My guess is there would be no ideal time, some may miss the first few weeks at the start of pre season which wouldn't have been an option for Roos. Anyone know what the other coaches have done?

Also remember Roos was not just doing "On the Couch" last year, he was still working for Sydney.

I thought part of the Roos philosophy was putting the onus on the players. We already know he may be with us for as little as two possibly three years. He is putting the building blocks in place then it's up to the players to enforce the culture and pass it onto new recruits at the club. Doesn't matter who's coaching, if the players aren't unified it's game over before it starts.

Didn't his son just finish Year12? Fair enough if he wants to take his kids on a holiday - he won't get to until next Christmas!

Interesting to know when they take time off. Given that they have to work on list management, draft and trade at the end of the season when do the other coaches take a break. My guess is there would be no ideal time, some may miss the first few weeks at the start of pre season which wouldn't have been an option for Roos. Anyone know what the other coaches have done?

Also remember Roos was not just doing "On the Couch" last year, he was still working for Sydney.

I presume those who miss finals get a couple of weeks holiday in September which then added to the 2 over Christmas is their 4 week break.

For those who play finals I think there is usually time between the end of the trade period (1 week before the end of October) and the start of preseason and draft (which is usually a week in to November for finals teams). They'd just have to plan their preseason during the weeks post finals in trade weeks and so on.

And you usually make sense.

I believe he did a tonne of work before his official commencement date.

I reckon hes been unofficially working for us since about April.

I like the fact Roos will be away. This will put pressure on the other coaches to manage the players. It will be a test for the players to see how committed they are to improving under the other coaches without Paul Roos being there.

The result could be a big positive when the pre-season matches start.

It was booked well before he became coach and the MFC honoured it FFS.

Enough of the speculation

Paul Roos not at training in the first week back in January?

Meh.

That's weather channel stuff.

If he goes to Wimbledon for a couple of weeks in late June, I'll fire off a protest letter.

Had lunch with a St. Kilda supporter who knows the family of one of our draftees. Said Roos has told them how hard they need to work to secure a place in the side in their first year and there are certainly no illusions about expectations for many games in their first season. Notwithstanding, he says that Roos is spending a lot of time with the younger players and has been pretty hands on with the players so far.

I'm pretty sure Roos knows what he's doing and his support staff is well equipped while he's hunting rhino's (real ones) or recruiting African players during his break & good luck to him.

Roos talks about his trip to Africa with burgs in the second part of the interview on Deetv. Basically says trip was long planned and club agreed to allow him to go. Was very cool about it all, basically said he trusts the players to come back switched on and there are good coaches on deck.