Training - Friday 19th December, 2014

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

One of the main points is that players acknowledge that there will be serious competition for spots, they have been told there are no walk up starts

All the big men are feeling the benefits of the diet and the training, Jamar and Dawes are fittest they have been for a while, Gawn is back in full training, Fitzy doesn't have a niggle and same with Pedersen

[mrtwister 652]

Toumpas limped off before the 12-a-side games and got looked at. Joined in for the first game and then came straight off shaking his head while he took his training top off.

Just sayin'.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Toumpas limped off before the 12-a-side games and got looked at. Joined in for the first game and then came straight off shaking his head while he took his training top off.

Just sayin'.

Just a bit of tightness, he has had an issue, missed Monday, bit like Jetta and Salem, Nev was [censored] off they had him on light duties again, these are the guys who haven't had proper pre seasons previously, so they get these issues, season starts in April

[rpfc 28,262]

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?

Salem and JKH looked solid, did most things.

Toumpas runs like a gazelle, a heavily pregnant gazelle, but did some really good things until he came off frustrated with what looked to be, and TDI confirms, to be tightness.

Kent looks good, I will be effusive about him. Him and Garlett are the hope up forward for smalls and they both look like footy players. Know where it's falling, good skills, read the kick well, etc.

But again, if you want to get excited about a kid - his name is Hogan. He is a mountain already with a bemused look at training of a bloke that just wants the real stuff to start.

[rpfc 28,262]

And the kids were kept out of the more serious stuff, the 'match sim...kind of' stuff was reserved for those in the mix IMO and for the best players to get some familiarity with each other.

[Sambo06 222]

Salem and JKH looked solid, did most things.

Toumpas runs like a gazelle, a heavily pregnant gazelle, but did some really good things until he came off frustrated with what looked to be, and TDI confirms, to be tightness.

Kent looks good, I will be effusive about him. Him and Garlett are the hope up forward for smalls and they both look like footy players. Know where it's falling, good skills, read the kick well, etc.

But again, if you want to get excited about a kid - his name is Hogan. He is a mountain already with a bemused look at training of a bloke that just wants the real stuff to start.

Thanks RPFC. Didn't ask about Hoges as have been hearing a lot of good stuff about him. He's going to be our W.Carey I reckon. And I don't mean in his extra curricular activities, just talking Footy!!

[What 18,810]

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

Demon draftee escapes serious injury after training mishap

[DeeZee 7,363]

From what I've seen, and assuming Vince and Watts are fit this would be our best line up.

Although a JKH, Frost,Newton,Fitzy, Petracca or Brayshaw could squeeze in for who ever is not quite right.

Grimes Dunn Jetta

Howe Mc Donald Garland

Lumumba Viney Vince

Kent. Dawes. Watts

Garlett Hogan Jamar

Gawn Tyson Jones

Pederson Cross Toumpas Salem

[rjay 24,887]

Salem and JKH looked solid, did most things.

Toumpas runs like a gazelle, a heavily pregnant gazelle, but did some really good things until he came off frustrated with what looked to be, and TDI confirms, to be tightness.

Kent looks good, I will be effusive about him. Him and Garlett are the hope up forward for smalls and they both look like footy players. Know where it's falling, good skills, read the kick well, etc.

But again, if you want to get excited about a kid - his name is Hogan. He is a mountain already with a bemused look at training of a bloke that just wants the real stuff to start.

I was watching Kent early on 'rp' and I reckon his missed virtually every target he was kicking at and wondered what was wrong with him. In hindsight I think he might have been using his non preferred (right foot), anyone notice this, is he protecting a niggle or was he using his left and just that his kicking was a bit off?

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

I was watching Kent early on 'rp' and I reckon his missed virtually every target he was kicking at and wondered what was wrong with him. In hindsight I think he might have been using his non preferred (right foot), anyone notice this, is he protecting a niggle or was he using his left and just that his kicking was a bit off?

He is getting back into it after a quad issue, hasn't kicked properly for about four weeks, next step in rehab

[Wiseblood 24,637]

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...

Easily the best report of the pre-season so far. You should go more often mate! Cheers.

[rpfc 28,262]

Easily the best report of the pre-season so far. You should go more often mate! Cheers.

Love to, but just down for Xmas, I can do a write up for my team's training in Canberra when we get started again?

[rjay 24,887]

He is getting back into it after a quad issue, hasn't kicked properly for about four weeks, next step in rehab

Thanks 'DI', I thought you said something about a leg issue. He definitely wasn't kicking through the ball.

[deeko 952]

Thanks to all for the reports and the photos. Great job and really appreciating it.

[george_on_the_outer 7,576]

Great reports from all and I could only add a couple of points:

1. What a great turnout from the fans! It must be a real filip for the players, when the club which has performed so badly during the past year, turn up to a training session and see a couple of hundred excited and eager fans lining the fence.

2. Am amazed at how fit Jamar looks. I've real concerns given his age about his ability to get on the park, but boy he looks as fit as he ever has.

3. Love the look of Petracca and Brayshaw for very different reasons. Petracca is a real bull and has the body to match. Will be a real addition as a "ball getter". Just don't expect the kid to front up round 1. He might be perfectly capable, but with something this good you don't want to burn him. Brayshaw is a really smart operator. He won't be at the bottom of the pack, but he puts himself in the right spot, reads the ball and the play brilliantly, so he will finish a game with some astounding stats one day. Not ready for consideration for a long time, so don't get the hopes up about him either...

4. Am amazed at how we have suddenly strengthened the backs so much. Frost will be a 10 year solid player, while the new Junior Mac looks the goods, although a lot of development still needed. Good to see the two brothers wrestling each other at one stage, and neither giving quarter. Probably like the backyard for the past 10 years! Nice to see a fit Garland as well, and while HL looks to being recruited to the mids, he could always pinch hit down back as well.

5. Still a couple of seasons away is Max King. He is a natural football and knows how to play. Once he has the body he will be something special as well.

6. Hogan and Dawes up forward with Garlett or JKH at their feet.....it's going to be pretty

[whatwhat say what 22,700]

Genuinely exciting reports guys.

I'm still pessimistic but I'm more hopeful about 2015 than I am any year since 2007 promised so much and begun to deliver such misery.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

Appreciate the efforts fellas, good readin'.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

They get the drift from those leaning over the fence in games anyway...

and from the 'media' who develops its content by trawling sites such as this and presenting it as their own views

[jezhug 54]

Here is the training report from they guy that runs the MFC supporters page on Facebook, always a good read: https://www.facebook.com/melbournefcsupporterspage/posts/679014852196470

TRAINING REPORT: It's packed at Gosch's, lots of people, Demon Army out, but it's my friends and I as well. That's the way it should be.

I get there a little later today, but the boys are doing a set of Billy's as always so I presume I haven't missed much.
Boys do a few short kicks first up.A little game sim, clearance, switch, kick inboard, goal.
Woohoo. Santa's coming here now. I'm still waiting for perhaps Eugenie Bouchard, Sally Fitzgibbons, someone like that for Christmas.
A little tackling drill now. Bit of keeping off in a small space, but with severe devensive pressure.
Groups of three across the ground.
Another match sim drill, similar to the one on Monday with the drill designed to keep off, kick to the forward, out the other side to the other team. Three teams (no bibs, green, orange) and frequent switches. Hoges and Dawes are up both ends, one out.
One of my favourite bits is seeing Dunny give Harmes no mercy whatsoever and throw him straight to the ground. Wow.
Three groups, defenders doing a tackle drill, forwards doing a kicking/marking/agility drill (of sorts), midfielders doing a clearance drill.
Good to see Rack and Braysh working together as besties, Rack hasn't been his flashiest today, few kicks missing the target.
PRACCY MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Da Praccy Match
White's defending is poor off the bat. Garlett easy first goal. After a turnover, Viney kicks a second for blue. White's defending is extremely poor. Dawes is getting away from Frost, and Jamar gets away from King. He misses. The boys even move a contest to White's forward line... only for Blue to take it the length of the ground for Jamar to kick a goal.

Thing I notice straight out is the ball movement is quicker and more direct. Pressure isn't fantastic, and I'm not surprised for a praccy, but the fact that ball movement is quicker is fantastic as that was the one gripe I had last season.This was the case for the first half. I really liked the way the blue side in particular were moving the ball nice and fast, it really cut open the white side (who admittedly had a lower quality side than the blue side which was evident early on with a few changes later on).

The second half, then, was a little disappointing from that perspective. Much of the pizzazz from the first half was gone, and the second half saw the kind of ball movement that we saw last season - the ball movement was a lot more static and it allowed both sides without the ball to be able to get their defensive structures in place. As I said, our ball movement was the biggest gripe I had in Roosy's gameplan last year, as it allowed well-organised teams the chance to get their defense together and it made it much harder to score. When we move the ball quick, as blue did in the first half, it was really good to watch and blokes like Frost as the tall defender was helpless to stop his man from getting on the end of excellent delivery.

A few players I kept an eye on:
-I didn't see Brayshaw and Petracca too much, unsure whether they were playing or not.
-Hogan didn't have too many touches but he did get on the end of a couple and slotted a couple of goals.
-Tyson looked really good
-Newton was hard at it, there were a few things which were a little disappointing, including running into his own teammate in defense which lead to a blue goal.
-Nat Jones was being Nat Jones as usual
-Jamar played forward a bit and served a bit of a reminder of how far Max King has to go, getting away from him with ease.

The boys finished off by doing a bit of running, at this point the very irresistible urge of having a kick of the footy with mates was too good to ignore. What I did see was a lot of continuous running, as well as that drill which saw running across the boundary line a quarter of the way, cut across the ground, run another quarter of the ground and then run the length of the ground. This time around they had a tennis ball in their hands and certain players weren't allowed to run until they had the ball in their hand. Cross, Viney and Bail were impressive in their runs.

After seeing them for a fair while the challenge now is to find a Round One 22. That's something I'll be working on over Christmas for this page. I've already posted a couple of iterations on BigFooty but I'm going to allow for injuries and blokes who've been largely affected throughout pre-season. Watts is on a limited schedule (running laps), Kent has been on a limited schedule for what seems like forever, Vince starts contact work soon, unsure about Terlich and Vandenberg yet (looking forward to seeing what the latter can bring, however).

That's the first part of training done.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I was there for about an hour.. all I'll add is that I am so pumped to see Hogan out there on game day - he really looks like something special. Saw him slot one from 45 or so out, very casually on his way to a drill, straight through the middle and the smiles of folks around me were something to behold!

I was very close to Spencer doing a 1on1 boxing drill with a trainer and the kid has become a monster - should be interesting to see how this affects his gameday performance as he will not be shoved aside easily by anyone

[dazzledavey36 54,285]

Loving the look of Big Spencer. Does have some serious serious size on him.

Been very critical of big Jake but I really do hope he makes it. If Roosy rates him that highly to give him a two year contract then im all for it.

[1 red eye 1 blue eye 771]

Loving the look of Big Spencer. Does have some serious serious size on him.

Been very critical of big Jake but I really do hope he makes it. If Roosy rates him that highly to give him a two year contract then im all for it.

The classic slow developing big. Apart from his size, his attitude alone will keep him on our list. My feeling is his upside could be significant.

[chook fowler 19,446]

Jake just needs to learn that those big mits of his are designed to clunk marks.

[DeeSpencer 25,477]

Here is the training report from they guy that runs the MFC supporters page on Facebook, always a good read: https://www.facebook.com/melbournefcsupporterspage/posts/679014852196470

"I get there a little later today, but the boys are doing a set of Billy's as always so I presume I haven't missed much."

Well I guess now I know why we've been struggling for so long. No wonder the boys are on the high fat diet after a few hits of ganja before training.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,359]

RPFC - If The Prince is playing on the wing. How did the first choice backs set up? Although our defence improved last year we still lack class. Is now the time to groom someone at half back. Salem or Toumpas.

Highlight packages can be deceiving but I like the look of Frost. From the training reports Howe is still in defence, I personally would play him forward.

Jetta Frost Dunn

Salem McDonald Howe

Garland is 26, allowing for injurys he's been good without being great. Grimes is another interesting one. We need to be better than good if we are to climb off the bottom.