Thanks for the reports mate. Its good to be able to keep up with everything even though I live on the other side of this land.

Thanks RB. Top job.

The best back handed compliment ever?:

* Get the feeling Garlett does his best work in games.

Thanks mate, didn't think my reports are that good.

Can I come down to Goschs to report??

A few things come to mind:

1. I don't want to make Burgs too jealous because he's obviously reading my material - Thanks Matt

2. If someone wants to pay for my airfair & accomodation each week I'll happily provide an ongoing coverage.

3. I'll happily talent scout for the MFC up here in qld in a part time role - Thanks Todd & Jason, I know your reading this too.

I can provide accommodation close to the "G" and Goshe's Paddock if somebody (or the Club) can trump up the airfares!

Burgos Diary Day 4:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/melbourne/news/2015-01-16/day-4-hot-dees-train-hard-on-camp

These are my "highlights":

Training is again held at the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex. And already it’s a hot one upon arrival. It ends up being a sizzler. Oh, which reminds me, I saw a television commercial for Sizzler last night – I didn’t realise they’re still around! Upon searching on Google, I discover there are 26 restaurants in Australia – including a whopping 18 in Queensland. New South Wales and Western Australia make up the rest. So there you go …

It’s a great call from the coach, although I was thinking the Joker (minus the red -lippy) or Marlon Brando from the much-loved 1996 remake of The Island of Dr Moreau on some of the players.

Thanks RB. Top job.

The best back handed compliment ever?:

* Get the feeling Garlett does his best work in games.

All teams have these guys - one in my team infuriates the hell out of me at training but as soon as the whistle goes the switch is flicked...

All teams have these guys - one in my team infuriates the hell out of me at training but as soon as the whistle goes the switch is flicked...

tony lockett?

All teams have these guys - one in my team infuriates the hell out of me at training but as soon as the whistle goes the switch is flicked...

I read somewhere that Gary Ablett Snr and Shane Warne were like that.

I can provide accommodation close to the "G" and Goshe's Paddock if somebody (or the Club) can trump up the airfares!

How easy I am cast aside, the Cat Stevens song starts the chant and the crowd joins in, he would have to get past me

RB where is the interaction with the players haha and the guns photos

On Garlett, he loathes the running drills, but he does them, I asked the fitness staff about his numbers, they are where they should be, put the ball in his hands and the switch goes on

How easy I am cast aside, the Cat Stevens song starts the chant and the crowd joins in, he would have to get past me

RB where is the interaction with the players haha and the guns photos

Not with me saty

This town is big enough for two scribblers.

This town is big enough for two scribblers.

Or More

How easy I am cast aside, the Cat Stevens song starts the chant and the crowd joins in, he would have to get past me

RB where is the interaction with the players haha and the guns photos

I'm very disappointed that you didn't scoot up to Maroochydore Saty!

I've read a few interesting articles on player development in soccer, the general premise is that young players do look better because of the coaching. The idea behind this is that in soccer player talent is identified very, very early (under 10's) so a player who receives 10+ years of elite coaching will look better than the guy who's had none.

An interesting point put forward is that players born towards the start of the year are more likely to make representative teams, this is due to the cut off date for age groups being December 31 ...

Good post.

Just re soccer: My son was in a junior group for kids who were 5 and 6. At the end of the second year, many were left with no future path as the local clubs were very choosy - and demanding - about who they'd take. Even at that age they were creaming off the most talented, and leaving the rest by the wayside. (this is in Europe, where it's more dog-eat-dog, none of this "sport for fun" nonsense ...)

Re age groups/DOB: Oh so true. Same son turned out to be a handy tennis player, but being born in Oct, has struggled the whole time against kids who are simply older and thus bigger, stronger, quicker etc. etc. It's not so much that at the end of the day he couldn't end up at the same level, but along the way he misses out on opportunities, and his confidence takes a whack, which then feeds back into him just not doing as well.

(sorry .. somewhat OT ...)

How easy I am cast aside, the Cat Stevens song starts the chant and the crowd joins in, he would have to get past me

RB where is the interaction with the players haha and the guns photos

Well Dawesy gave me the Death Stare across the fence the other day. Maybe next time I'll say I'm your mate and he'll calm down a bit.

No need to worry about me - I'm more of a player critique r than befriend er.

Good post.

Just re soccer: My son was in a junior group for kids who were 5 and 6. At the end of the second year, many were left with no future path as the local clubs were very choosy - and demanding - about who they'd take. Even at that age they were creaming off the most talented, and leaving the rest by the wayside. (this is in Europe, where it's more dog-eat-dog, none of this "sport for fun" nonsense ...)

Not just European soccer bing. I know a kid who plays footy for Calder Canons and he told me about half the list were let go in his age group at the end of the season. Something about identifying talent early and continually searching for new talent to replace old. Not uncommon in TAC apparently, but someone on here that knows more than me can add further to this. He was kept on and made VC and considered himself one of the lucky ones. Very humble kid, very talented footballer too.

Not just European soccer bing. I know a kid who plays footy for Calder Canons and he told me about half the list were let go in his age group at the end of the season. Something about identifying talent early and continually searching for new talent to replace old. Not uncommon in TAC apparently, but someone on here that knows more than me can add further to this. He was kept on and made VC and considered himself one of the lucky ones. Very humble kid, very talented footballer too.

Well that makes more sense as TAC is all about finding guys with draftable traits and by the time you're 16-17 if you don't have it athletically or skill wise they don't really owe it to you to keep you on. It's their job to then move on to new prospects and try to get new talent in. They've been guys drafted from 1 or 2 TAC cup games when they lobbed in late in the season, so I understand that.

The thing about soccer, like tennis and many other sports is that as such a highly skilled and popular sport you need the hours of training and muscle memory and that has to start very early.

Elite foot (and hand) skills are important in footy but not as much. Physicality is vital, as are the athletic traits that can improve from training but I'm not sure starting a 10 year old on a weights program or fitness program is really going to do a heap of good long term. Neither will bashing them up to toughen them up.

There probably is a gap in the AFL market for elite academies for 8-15 year olds.

There are a number of knock off versions of these for soccer around Melbourne yet alone around the world. I actually read about Ange P and how when left between jobs prior to his A-League gig he started what sounds like an ethical and successful one of these set ups to keep him busy. Yet it sounds like their are heaps more fleecing parents.

I guess the question is what benefit would these have for the AFL compared to cost? I like the idea of kids being kids and parents not shelling out big bucks just to heap pressure on kids, most of whom will fail. That said there's more than a few AFL players who would've benefit from proper coaching at a younger age even pre TAC.

I think the first step is to try to get more players out of QLD and NSW as well as remote Indigenous talent before the AFL invest or support any programs for younger kids in addition to existing ones.

Well Dawesy gave me the Death Stare across the fence the other day. Maybe next time I'll say I'm your mate and he'll calm down a bit.

No need to worry about me - I'm more of a player critique r than befriend er.

If you went near him before lunch, that's your own fault, once he has been fed he is a lot nicer, seriously, off the field he is a lovely guy, bit like Jones and Cross, game face on from Day 1 of pre season

Top reports by the way, just good straight dot points, no waffle

Gotta say, as much as some (including me) might whinge about Saty's self-indulgent waffle in training reports, Burgan's camp diaries eclipse his efforts.

Just... woeful.

Doesn't he realise people read it for the footy content?

I'm finding them unreadable.