any news?

how are the latrines coping?

has hoges "snagged" a few?

any news?

how are the latrines coping?

has hoges "snagged" a few?

I think we're winning

Just off phone with dad who is there. Said Hoges is going quite well and has been quite impressed with "number 1 with the Italian name"

I will be easily recognisable, I will be in a rather nice lavender lycra bodysuit, complaining about the lack of toilet facilities, bad temperedly kicking the non-existent advertising signage around the fence, and whingeing non stop about Jack Watts and how he just doesn't seem to be trying at traiining

So you will be impersonating BBO,

Thanks for all the reports saty,You are a demon personified and admired by most.

The training info is great, as 99% of us can't attend.

The photos add to the whole scenario being described.

To those that provide the info and photos, thanks. Keep up the good work.

Agree. Great work. My problem is that with all these new blokes and occasional beards etc I can't recognise who is who is a lot of the pictures. When people are commenting on a photo,it would be great if they could say which one it is somehow.

Neal-Bullen dislocated knee cap a few days ago apparently.

Loved the look of Petracca and Brayshaw at training and they way they seemed to interact with each other; also Kent was very impressive. On arrival, it was good to see Gawn and Fitzy taking a few strong leading marks and i was surprised the way King was presenting in front of goal and roosting a few. Hogan will be a legend for us and Dawes won't be far behind, judging from his strong performances today. Not sure about Frost yet as he seemed to be outmuscled but HL and Garlett will certainly add some polish to the team. Jones was doing what he always does so well and why we are so lucky to have him as our leader for the next five years and Tyson is pure class.

Generally, the boys were all very willing in the drills and I am optimistic that the Dees will give it a real shake this year. As one of our past coaches said, we will be the benchmark team that it is the hardest to play against.

where are all the reports dam you !!

where are all the reports dam you !!

now now maggot, talking about dams will get you in deep water with the hipsters

At least a couple of hundred there, Coffee,Santa,Club Mascot, snags on the barbie all good.

I'm not going to say too much, but after being to three or four session this preseason, Tyson is all set for a big one as our number one mid along side Jones and young Viney to step up another notch as well, all 3 got plenty of it in match simulation.

Hogan is absolutely going to tear it up, as he is the real deal, very fit and agile and big and mean...think Lockett and Riewoldt love child.

Kent and Garlett will also be mainstays in the forward line this year as they just look the goods.

Very impressed with Brayshaw, just the way he moves and his foot skills....just going to be a class player for us.

My final mention is Lumumba, he will add good run from the backline and another big body charging it up in the midfield, he uses the full length of the ground and breaks lines.

Really enjoyed watching training today and the14 on 14 mini games were great to see and gave an indication of current thinking.

At this stage there are no major structural moves - Howey is still being viewed as a defender.

There were a lot of players being managed/nursed because of minor ailments.

There was also the kid gloves approach to our young first-year brigade - nothing wrong with this mind you, but anyone who thinks any of our 18yo's are going to walk into the side forget it as they weren't allowed to play the mini-games.

The only one who has a chance is Petracca - simply because he is so well-developed and is freakish and if he plays pre-season games, he is going to press the selectors into considering him as a small forward/sub option ahead of Kent and JKH and Salem and Toumpas.

The other aspect is that Roosy is incredibly loyal to his core group - so Bail and Matt Jones are ahead of others, until the others earn their stripes and force him to reassess.

Frosty played in the second side even with Tom Mc absent, which could have been because he was the only backman left that could line up on Dawes/Pedo/Jamar or it could be that he is another that will have to earn his stripes.

Based on what we saw in the mini-games, the certainties in the side if we were playing this weekend would be as follows:

B: Grimes Dunn Howe

HB: Garland Lumumba xxxxx

C: M.Jones Tyson Cross

HF: Bail Pedersen xxxx

F: Garlett Hogan Dawes (susp - susp Rd 1)

Ru: Jamar Viney N.Jones

Unavailable (regulars not training with main gp): Jetta, Vince, Watts, Tom Mc, Riley, Trengove, Gawn, Spencer plus all first-year players.

Thanks to the preliminary reports thus far, now c'mon guys, give us poor folk who couldn't make it a real in depth write up.........

Wow can't believe all the hate, I love the training reports I think TDI does a great job keep it up, this will end up like the guys who used to post the trade rumors (chilliboy??) got shot down every time in the end gave up I hope this doesn't turn out the same

It's only from a few bozos.

For the overwhelming majority of us, the training reports are a godsend.

Howe is still playing back? I thought he would have been more valuable up forward given our lack of targets, and our many defender options.

Really enjoyed watching training today and the14 on 14 mini games were great to see and gave an indication of current thinking.

At this stage there are no major structural moves - Howey is still being viewed as a defender.

There were a lot of players being managed/nursed because of minor ailments.

There was also the kid gloves approach to our young first-year brigade - nothing wrong with this mind you, but anyone who thinks any of our 18yo's are going to walk into the side forget it as they weren't allowed to play the mini-games.

The only one who has a chance is Petracca - simply because he is so well-developed and is freakish and if he plays pre-season games, he is going to press the selectors into considering him as a small forward/sub option ahead of Kent and JKH and Salem and Toumpas.

The other aspect is that Roosy is incredibly loyal to his core group - so Bail and Matt Jones are ahead of others, until the others earn their stripes and force him to reassess.

Frosty played in the second side even with Tom Mc absent, which could have been because he was the only backman left that could line up on Dawes/Pedo/Jamar or it could be that he is another that will have to earn his stripes.

Based on what we saw in the mini-games, the certainties in the side if we were playing this weekend would be as follows:

B: Grimes Dunn Howe

HB: Garland Lumumba xxxxx

C: M.Jones Tyson Cross

HF: Bail Pedersen xxxx

F: Garlett Hogan Dawes (susp - susp Rd 1)

Ru: Jamar Viney N.Jones

Unavailable (regulars not training with main gp): Jetta, Vince, Watts, Tom Mc, Riley, Trengove, Gawn, Spencer plus all first-year players.

Many thanks Deespicable. Great insight to where the players/team is at.

Astute observation about Roos's loyalty to players...anything in particular you noticed on this? Cheers.

Howe is still playing back? I thought he would have been more valuable up forward given our lack of targets, and our many defender options.

Thing is though, there isn't much room up forward with Hogan, Dawes and Pederson. Big tall forwards with Kent, Garlett and Bail picking up the crumbs. I think even though he is better as a forward it is much better balanced with Howe in the backline. Plus, there aren't many in the team that can take those intercept marks.

Many thanks Deespicable. Great insight to where the players/team is at.

Astute observation about Roos's loyalty to players...anything in particular you noticed on this? Cheers.

No, he was pretty positive when players made right option or ran to make right option - Viv Michie was manning Tyson and when he got Dom with a great tackle and then delivered a great pass to a leading forward he got singled out. Dom was everywhere though and him and Nat Jones were clearly the two with the ball the most and the ones who kept getting free for the short spot-up.

The loyalty issue means that Bail, Matt Jones and Grimes - three of whom many here don't rate - are going to be backed by Roosy until someone else delivers or they fail to deliver or get injured etc.

I forgot to mention that Kent was in the partially injured list and therefore not in 14-on-14 game, but he looks like he's ready to go based on early non-competitive work and a series of sprints he did solo as part of his recovery.

I was a bit surprised that Salem and Toump certainly aren't in the mix at this stage - even though they are obviously significantly fitter than last year.

Was my first session for a year at least, as much as they change, they stay the same.

The major drills:

Offence 'out the back' from half back - this is a standard one but does give a window into how we will move the footy. Essentially, unless you are Jones and you can break through a stoppage chest going forward, you have to hand it back and then look across CHB for a short switch as first option, if that instant kick isn't there, run 10 and kick it to the other HBF/wing and run it through that side of the ground and hit a target.

This looked good, and the guys look to have committed to the 'out the back' release as I will touch on with Viney later.

Hands across the ground (rucks and fwds worked on technique) - this was basically a hot potato across the ground to goals that teams had to hand pass through from point blank. This was a bit of a mess with all the kids giving some questionable hands, but they played it pretty hard. While this was on Stafford too the rucks in technique and competing when the ball hit the ground. There was a bit to this, simple but good habits. Dawes and Hogan were pitted against Miller in a series of one on ones where he got them to lead different ways; drop back, hold ground and push sideways, lead up and out, etc. This was excellent.

Bring it back from half back or make a stop - this is another simple drill, almost like keepings off with the goal of bringing it back down the other end of the ground or stop the other team doing that. They split into three teams to do this and it was tough to get through. Sometimes it is hard to know whether that is a good thing or a bad thing... Viney got stuck into Harmes (I think) for not giving it out the back of a pack once, he hesitated slightly and Jack got into him, it was good to see that it is so much of a focus that it is the point of the drill.

Fitz got falconed in kick to kick...

Centre work with spread/fwds leading/defenders roll out and competing - the centre work was pretty simple but confident and played in good spirit... The forwards were learning how to lead straight, push-off opponent turn-around lead, lead toward goal, and lead fat side one after the other. Another impressive yet simple drill that I was pleased to see. The defenders get the crappy drills... Roll out ball, two teams competing to bring it back to coach with hands... Boring.

Match sim...kind of - first choice mids and fwds vs the rest but the rest included 3 extra players. And Tyson, Jones, and Lumumba were beating the the team with three extra by themselves... It was a bit frustrating to Roos who exclaimed to the White team that they had three extra players 'think about it'... Tyson was running rings around whoever that it was actually good for the mindset of the rest that Michie caught up with him at one point and buried him - he deserved it...

Apart from the running to finish that was what I gleaned.

Random thoughts:

Lumumba will play midfield from the sets he was looking at.

Watts is fit but looked a bit pained, hope he gets over his groin issue for next year. Rehab boys were doing a lot of work. Trengove the outlier.

Howe likes being a forward...

Like Miller as a coach.

Hogan looks like he is a 5 year pro.

Dawes looks so much thinner, still strong, but his knee will have to carry less weight now. Very fit.

Goodwin torped one 70m. He should be playing...

Goschs in great nick, it was good to be back in the greatest city on the planet, go the Dees.

Really enjoyed watching training today and the14 on 14 mini games were great to see and gave an indication of current thinking.

At this stage there are no major structural moves - Howey is still being viewed as a defender.

There were a lot of players being managed/nursed because of minor ailments.

There was also the kid gloves approach to our young first-year brigade - nothing wrong with this mind you, but anyone who thinks any of our 18yo's are going to walk into the side forget it as they weren't allowed to play the mini-games.

The only one who has a chance is Petracca - simply because he is so well-developed and is freakish and if he plays pre-season games, he is going to press the selectors into considering him as a small forward/sub option ahead of Kent and JKH and Salem and Toumpas.

The other aspect is that Roosy is incredibly loyal to his core group - so Bail and Matt Jones are ahead of others, until the others earn their stripes and force him to reassess.

Frosty played in the second side even with Tom Mc absent, which could have been because he was the only backman left that could line up on Dawes/Pedo/Jamar or it could be that he is another that will have to earn his stripes.

Based on what we saw in the mini-games, the certainties in the side if we were playing this weekend would be as follows:

B: Grimes Dunn Howe

HB: Garland Lumumba xxxxx

C: M.Jones Tyson Cross

HF: Bail Pedersen xxxx

F: Garlett Hogan Dawes (susp - susp Rd 1)

Ru: Jamar Viney N.Jones

Unavailable (regulars not training with main gp): Jetta, Vince, Watts, Tom Mc, Riley, Trengove, Gawn, Spencer plus all first-year players.

How did Newton and Michie go?

How did Newton and Michie go?

It's hard to judge how players go at training, both did some good link play in drills with neat skills but if you were a neutral you would see Jones, Tyson, Lumumba, Hogan and the rest...

It's hard to judge how players go at training, both did some good link play in drills with neat skills but if you were a neutral you would see Jones, Tyson, Lumumba, Hogan and the rest...

Also, the problem with judging players at training is that they are only "playing" against other Melbourne players.

I'll answer the last post first

Michie and Newton are like peas In a pod, they do everything asked without too much fuss, the perfect Roos soldiers

Bad news Alex Neal Bullen dislocated his knee during an indoors wrestling drill, was going for scans today to check out the peripheral damage, hoping not too bad, nice touch of his mate Billy Stretch making sure he is ok, I asked him was Billy fussing around him, he laughed and said yes

Congratulated Nathan Jones for his new contract, he thanked me hanging tough and said "don't worry we will get you success soon", a class bloke

The majority of the midfield group did at least 15k today, the rest between 13 and 14, so Roos was not joking about the 'hard' pre season

Another nice touch, Brayshaw was off from main group doing a drill with the other newbies,, seemed to tweak his foot, Shannon Byres noticed this and checked with him, seemed to brush it off, Byrnes still went and got the medico so it could be checked out

The last training before Xmas and last off the track again, Daniel Cross

Pics will be on Twitter Demonpk

Any questions feel free will try and answer, spoke to a few this week

I'll answer the last post first

Michie and Newton are like peas In a pod, they do everything asked without too much fuss, the perfect Roos soldiers

Bad news Alex Neal Bullen dislocated his knee during an indoors wrestling drill, was going for scans today to check out the peripheral damage, hoping not too bad, nice touch of his mate Billy Stretch making sure he is ok, I asked him was Billy fussing around him, he laughed and said yes

Congratulated Nathan Jones for his new contract, he thanked me hanging tough and said "don't worry we will get you success soon", a class bloke

The majority of the midfield group did at least 15k today, the rest between 13 and 14, so Roos was not joking about the 'hard' pre season

Another nice touch, Brayshaw was off from main group doing a drill with the other newbies,, seemed to tweak his foot, Shannon Byres noticed this and checked with him, seemed to brush it off, Byrnes still went and got the medico so it could be checked out

The last training before Xmas and last off the track again, Daniel Cross

Pics will be on Twitter Demonpk

Any questions feel free will try and answer, spoke to a few this week

Thanks TDI. As it is the last session can you just post what you gleaned from each and all of the players you spoke too. Thanks

I'll answer the last post first

Michie and Newton are like peas In a pod, they do everything asked without too much fuss, the perfect Roos soldiers

Bad news Alex Neal Bullen dislocated his knee during an indoors wrestling drill, was going for scans today to check out the peripheral damage, hoping not too bad, nice touch of his mate Billy Stretch making sure he is ok, I asked him was Billy fussing around him, he laughed and said yes

Congratulated Nathan Jones for his new contract, he thanked me hanging tough and said "don't worry we will get you success soon", a class bloke

The majority of the midfield group did at least 15k today, the rest between 13 and 14, so Roos was not joking about the 'hard' pre season

Another nice touch, Brayshaw was off from main group doing a drill with the other newbies,, seemed to tweak his foot, Shannon Byres noticed this and checked with him, seemed to brush it off, Byrnes still went and got the medico so it could be checked out

The last training before Xmas and last off the track again, Daniel Cross

Pics will be on Twitter Demonpk

Any questions feel free will try and answer, spoke to a few this week

Hi TDI, thank you for your reports and efforts. Please don't let the few that bag you get the better of you. 99% of us appreciate what you do.

How did some of the young fellas go today...Salem, Toumpas, JKH and Kent?

Awesome write up rpfc. Cheers.