Melbourne is such a fantastic sporting city. Tonight, it's hosting the Australian Open Tennis, an A League soccer match and the T20 BBL ... and that's after attracting large crowds for the Boxing Day Test and Sunday's ODI!

But tomorrow it's off to Casey Fields to see the city's AFL team prepare for 2014.

It is going to be hot. But I noted channel 7 sports news tonight had film of MFC training today at Gosch's according to Timmy Watson! Had film of Jonesy wrestling someone. Are they making it up?

  On 14/01/2014 at 11:06, The Hood said:

It is going to be hot. But I noted channel 7 sports news tonight had film of MFC training today at Gosch's according to Timmy Watson! Had film of Jonesy wrestling someone. Are they making it up?

It was probably footage from Monday with a 24 hour embargo. Not enough sport happening in Melbourne so they had to fabricate some news out of old footage.

oooh it will be hot at Casey today; I hope they are doing what my guys are doing and starting an hour earlier.

  On 14/01/2014 at 11:06, The Hood said:

It is going to be hot. But I noted channel 7 sports news tonight had film of MFC training today at Gosch's according to Timmy Watson! Had film of Jonesy wrestling someone. Are they making it up?

  On 14/01/2014 at 20:25, CBDees said:

It was probably footage from Monday with a 24 hour embargo. Not enough sport happening in Melbourne so they had to fabricate some news out of old footage.

I drove past yesterday and noticed a fair contingent training. It looked like handballing drills.

I'm at Casey Fields now and it's not only hot but the flies have turned up in their abundance.

Sam Blease is running laps. Mitch Clark is walking with Chris Dawes and there are three groups doing ball work, some with training jumpers and others with yellow-green vests.

It's going to take me some time to work out the new blokes and I hope I do so before I go into meltdown.

  On 14/01/2014 at 22:33, Whispering_Jack said:

I'm at Casey Fields now and it's not only hot but the flies have turned up in their abundance.

Sam Blease is running laps. Mitch Clark is walking with Chris Dawes and there are three groups doing ball work, some with training jumpers and others with yellow-green vests.

It's going to take me some time to work out the new blokes and I hope I do so before I go into meltdown.

Talking of meltdown, does anyone know whether there is (a) anything in the players' enterprise bargaining agreement about training outdoors when it's over 40 degrees and (b) could WorkSafe stop training under these conditions?

  On 14/01/2014 at 22:36, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Talking of meltdown, does anyone know whether there is (a) anything in the players' enterprise bargaining agreement about training outdoors when it's over 40 degrees and (b) could WorkSafe stop training under these conditions?

Regarding WorkSafe - from the Essendon thread one could probably conclude that WorkSafe take little interest in things AFL :-(

  On 14/01/2014 at 22:36, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Talking of meltdown, does anyone know whether there is (a) anything in the players' enterprise bargaining agreement about training outdoors when it's over 40 degrees and (b) could WorkSafe stop training under these conditions?

I'm guessing a reason they have training early in the morning is to avoid the heat peak after midday.

Also (another guess) is that common sense would prevail

  On 14/01/2014 at 22:46, deeko said:

I'm guessing a reason they have training early in the morning is to avoid the heat peak after midday.

Also (another guess) is that common sense would prevail

maybe jimmy t has organised tickets to the tennis ?

There's a young kid out there wearing # 7 but it's not Jack Viney. Slightly built, has a darkish complexion and I think I heard someone call him "Billy". Reckon he's a Stretch. Going well too & doesn't seem out of place.

I'm guessing that the other AIS invitee, Brayshaw is wearing 15 because Mitch Clisby and Max Gawn who don't appear to be taking part in today's training, have gone inside the rooms. No apparent reason - both look fine.

That's Billy Stretch, training with us for a few weeks and a potential father son selection for us at this years draft.

Interesting to hear jack viney talking to jimmy toumpass dad, he said he has an ongoing hip problem that is frustrating the **** out of him, and then toumpass old man was talking about how jimmy is enjoying it a lot more down here now, and had really struggled with the pressure he had put on himself last year.

  On 14/01/2014 at 22:54, Whispering_Jack said:

There's a young kid out there wearing # 7 but it's not Jack Viney. Slightly built, has a darkish complexion and I think I heard someone call him "Billy". Reckon he's a Stretch. Going well too & doesn't seem out of place.

So, is there a "permission to train" list for non-listed players at this time of the year too?

Reason I ask is speculation about the reason for the "permission to train" list prior to the draft period each year. One suggestion was the need for proper insurance to cover non-listed players in case of injury. Presumably if that's the reason then (and I don't know if it is) the same logic should apply now.

  On 14/01/2014 at 20:26, How?Jeremy Howe! said:

oooh it will be hot at Casey today; I hope they are doing what my guys are doing and starting an hour earlier.

current > http://www.weather.com.au/vic/cranbourne/current

current > http://www.weather.com.au/vic/melbourne/current

For those about to slash their wrists over our #1 draftee, I can report that you can relax. Christian Salem's out there training as are our other two Nation Draft selections (I think the rookies are out there too).

JKH and Dom Barry look fast and impressive.

I'm assuming that Brayshaw and Stretch don't require permission to train because they're the official AIS invitees this week and training is part of their work experience.

There's a fair amount of cloud cover and a few drops of rain as the majority of the group go inside. A small group have stayed on the ground and are kicking balls around to each other. I'm not sure if that's it for the day.

Jeremy Howe just came over and asked me if I was holding out and I told him I'm fine.

The last three left now are Pedo, Crossy and Salem.

  On 14/01/2014 at 23:02, Whispering_Jack said:

For those about to slash their wrists over our #1 draftee, I can report that you can relax. Christian Salem's out there training as are our other two Nation Draft selections (I think the rookies are out there too).

JKH and Dom Barry look fast and impressive.

Dom Barry from the sounds of it is doing everything right this pre-season, he has the tools to be an AFL regular. He has the speed, endurance and skill just the question is his competitive stuff.

  On 14/01/2014 at 23:23, Whispering_Jack said:

There's a fair amount of cloud cover and a few drops of rain as the majority of the group go inside. A small group have stayed on the ground and are kicking balls around to each other. I'm not sure if that's it for the day.

Jeremy Howe just came over and asked me if I was holding out and I told him I'm fine.

The last three left now are Pedo, Crossy and Salem.

Not sure why I am asking WJ but did you see Jamar?

Any idea what is wrong with him this year?

I did a Satyricon and spoke to Cam Pedersen as he came off. That's it for the session at Casey Fields but they then go to AAMI Park for leg work and gym sessions before knocking off at 4pm.

I didn't see the Russian but I'm due to give him a call over the next day or so and I'll ask how he's travelling.

I'll also try to do a little report later.

Most of the spectators have left and the players are now in the rooms.

The only two people out there now are my son who posts as Blistering and my grandson who's wearing the famous #31 and playing under 10s this year. Needless to say, he's training the house down.

  On 14/01/2014 at 23:35, Whispering_Jack said:

Most of the spectators have left and the players are now in the rooms.

The only two people out there now are my son who posts as Blistering and my grandson who's wearing the famous #31 and playing under 10s this year. Needless to say, he's training the house down.

Where was he last year when we needed him?

  On 14/01/2014 at 22:59, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

So, is there a "permission to train" list for non-listed players at this time of the year too?

Indeed there is

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-13/clubs-early-talent-test

  On 14/01/2014 at 23:35, Whispering_Jack said:

Most of the spectators have left and the players are now in the rooms.

The only two people out there now are my son who posts as Blistering and my grandson who's wearing the famous #31 and playing under 10s this year. Needless to say, he's training the house down.

So i guess i need to do the typical follow up comment to this and say, "the kid is going to be elite."

  On 14/01/2014 at 23:29, Whispering_Jack said:

I did a Satyricon and spoke to Cam Pedersen as he came off. That's it for the session at Casey Fields but they then go to AAMI Park for leg work and gym sessions before knocking off at 4pm.

I didn't see the Russian but I'm due to give him a call over the next day or so and I'll ask how he's travelling.

I'll also try to do a little report later.

So they train at Casey to avoid the tennis crowds then head straight back to AAMI anyway, seems a bit strange? Is there really much disruption to the oval on Gosch's where we train? Or is this just a convenient excuse to fulfill our training commitments with Casey whilst we can.

I don't buy the poor players having to drive to Casey for training crap if they only do it sparingly but I don't really like them going to Casey then back to AAMI, isn't the gym at Casey up to scratch?