Training - Monday 26th January, 2015

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I'll probably be going out on a limb here, but Tyson could be a player.

that's a very safe bet. no limb.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Good afternoon, fellow attendees, optimists, hair shirt wearers, lemon suckers and innocent bystanders

The other posters have covered most of the drills, some was good, some was sloppy, depends on who and what you were watching, watched one run where the ball hit the deck or missed the target throughout, but it still got upfield

Roos very vocal today

Sad bit, near end of session Alex Neal Bullen was doing some innocuous bag work with Brad Miller and dislocated his knee again, went straight back on, but was carried off on golf cart, not a happy chap.

Got 'tightness' out of Howie for his hamstring and a 'wait and see' from Dave Misson, assume they are still testing/scanning.

Only others missing were King and Trengove.

Spoke to a few players, all said they had been hammered at the camp in Maroochydore, today was light easy session.

Hogan is still on a modified program, hates having to stop, doing the same session as Hunt today, who is also returning from back issues.

Had a good chat to JKH, sadly lacking in confidence NOT, agreed Nev Jetta is constantly in his ear about improving, another one who has not missed a beat pre season.

Bernie Vince seemed to be the only one in rehab, was running laps, got a big thumbs up, so don't think there is a problem there.

Somebody a few topics ago asked about Jordie McKenzie and his fitness, full pre seasons etc, this is not his first full pre season, he thinks, but has never been fitter.

And for a few that have been asking, asked Nev about Jeff Garlett, he is now regarded as one of the best two way runners at the club, sets the standard, absolutely carved them up in match sim at Maroochydore.

Some pics will be on my Twitter Demonpk tomorrow, got other things to do today.

[Demonland 73,875]

This is WJ's report from the ground but he stresses it's not a training report and will make some comments later.

THE GAME IS NOT THE SAME by Whispering Jack

The doyen of Australian cricket commentators Alan McGilvray often had difficulty coming to terms with the changes in the game as it adapted to the realities of commercialism in the era of colour television. He even wrote a book entitled, "The Game is Not the Same" in the wake of the Packer World Series Cricket circus.

I was thinking of him as I made my way to watch Melbourne footballers training this morning on Australia Day, 2015 at Gosch's Paddock. The pre season is already into its third month, having begun in November last year. The NAB Challenge matches are a month away and the premiership season starts in a little over two month's time.

In McGilvray's era, the footballers would have been more than a month away from gathering to prepare for the year ahead with the obligatory first up lap or two of the Tan. There would have been a Test Match in session over in Adelaide with players wearing whites and baggy caps instead of the pastel coloured gear they wore at last night's T20 semi-final between the Perth Scorchers and the Melbourne Stars (I can sense Alan turning in his grave). No tennis across the road at Flinders Park; the Open was played at Kooyong and at a different time of the year. As for soccer, you couldn't get two men and a dog to the Showgrounds in mid winter to watch that; never mind tens of thousands for the Asian Cup.

Footy training began in earnest late in the Sheffield Shield cricket season with balls flying around the MCG and players avoiding injury by staying away from the cordoned off pitch in the centre of the ground. And you might have heard some of the names of your team's recruits from newspaper despatches but you would rarely put a face to those names unless you turned up in late March to a practice match somewhere in the bush or at the G if it wasn't required by the cricketers.

Today, the game is not the same.

We know almost everything there is to know about the team thanks to an exponentially expanded media in this electronic age. We've seen you tube action of our favourite players at training, of the new recruits from other clubs and of the fresh faced youngsters. Not only that but we know how fast they can cover 20 metres from a standing start, how they can leap tall buildings in a single bound and the names of their pet cats and dogs. We've read every report from every training session to date, every drill and every movement at training's been covered including those eleven days on camp at Maroochydore, so what brings us to Gosch's Paddock so early on this Australia Day morning to watch them go around?

I suppose it's because for all of the marvels and wizardry of the electronic age, the film, the videos and the graphics, the game is not the same when you view it that way and it's still better to witness sport (be it practice or the real thing) in person even when it's raining where you feel more a part of the action and you can better gauge the people and the personalities who you come to watch.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

I changed my plans, pics are up on my Twitter, Demonpk, now

[CBDees 3,167]

I changed my plans, pics are up on my Twitter, Demonpk, now

Can you post a link Saty? I am a Luddite with regards to Twitter and/or Demonpk.

p.s. I am following all reports with interest from SE Asia.

[Ethan Tremblay 31,274]

Thanks again Saty, great photos.

Spencer always was a big unit but he's looking bigger and fitter.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

@Demonpk

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Cheers to 1964, Clint, Wayne, WJ for the reports today. Good to see there are some differing views in terms of skill level, just goes to show that the boys can miss some targets, but it's also clear we have some true depth in our list for the first time in a decade. The skill level is lifting, the confidence is growing and we seem to be training at an AFL standard.

Also good to hear (touch wood) that so many of our list are training. Puts further pressure on each player to train hard and perform for a spot in our best 22, rather than getting it through injuries. Can only be a good thing.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Thanks again Saty, great photos.

Spencer always was a big unit but he's looking bigger and fitter.

My lovely lady attended her first session today, first comment was about how all the players looked fitter, said Spencer has grown into his body, he should not be discounted when discussing the team, but then again I am glad all four rucks Jamar, Gawn, Spencer and Fitzy did the full session today

Got her picture taken with HL which she enjoyed

First time my lovely lady saw Spencer was when they still trained at Junction Oval, she watched him from the old stand in his first session, and said we had drafted a baby giraffe

[bjDee 1,249]

Appreciate all the reports guys. Thanks for going to the trouble to keep the rest of us informed and entertained.

[Biffen 12,949]

Appreciate all the reports guys. Thanks for going to the trouble to keep the rest of us informed and entertained.

And also to Saty.

[dazzledavey36 55,992]

Sad news about 'nibbler' Neale Bullan..

Lets hope for a speedy recovery from here.

Viv Michie anyone know how he went? Seems to go a bit quite this summer.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Fitzpatrick is still far too skinny and awkward to play as a key forward, Dawes consistently outmuscled him (however he too struggled with his marks).

What concerned me was still the training of kicking the ball sideways. Yes, there is a time and place but our forwards are going to struggle if Melbourne consistently move to ball forwards too slowly (as we have for the past seven years).

Having said all that, the positive from this was the composure showed by Grimes off half-back.

I've spoken a lot about Toumpas, but he really needs to show something because I just can't see a spot for him. Interestingly, while watching on the sidelines Terlich seemed to make mention of Toumpas' lean-back kicking action which has concerned me from the start.

Oscar McDonald has a red hot go too, and while he will take a while to physically develop, the early signs for him are positive.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Sad news about 'nibbler' Neale Bullan..

Lets hope for a speedy recovery from here.

Viv Michie anyone know how he went? Seems to go a bit quite this summer.

I noticed Michie once, but that doesn't mean much because he's just that type of player and I was probably looking in the other direction every time he did something.

[Whispering_Jack 31,299]

I don't think it's been possible to hide away from the controversy that's been dominating discussion at Demonland over the selection of Jimmy Toumpas two years ago ahead of Ollie Wines.

This year, our first two picks are big bodied midfielders Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw, both in the Wines mould and the questions being asked by some were whether they are the man child types who dominate less developed kids and will they prosper at AFL level?

They both looked good to me today - they ran well and moved smoothly. Along with the SA brothers in arms ANB and Billy Stretch they showed a fair amount of skill for newbies. I missed ANB's mishap at the end and I'm not so sure that any of our young midfield recruits are going to be instant successes.

Petracca impressed me the most. You can see his basketball background shining through and he reminded me of the old Beatles number - there's definitely something in the way he moves.

If you want a comparison with a past player, then it's probably Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto.

[whatwhat say what 23,638]

Toumpas continues to sound like a concern.

[rjay 25,354]

If you want a comparison with a past player, then it's probably Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto.

That's a good comparison 'Jack'.

Toumpas continues to sound like a concern.

Not really, some will make it some won't. We have enough quality kids on the list now, I still think he will make it though. Let's wait and see how his season pans out and we can get a better view of where Toumpas sits.

[Demoneyes 562]

The difference this year is that the pressure is not on the Toump to perform. He has other newbies so to carry the load. look out, look out The Toump will be up and about!

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Fitzpatrick is still far too skinny and awkward to play as a key forward, Dawes consistently outmuscled him (however he too struggled with his marks)....he is nearly 98K now, Fitzy tends not to involve himself in wrestling when playing, he uses his speed and agility to get free, he has not scored many goals as yet, but check out the vision of the ones he has, you don't want 3 or four guys wrestling their opponents in the forward 50

Toumpas continues to sound like a concern.

No he is not, his kicking is fine, he hardly misses a target, watched every session since November

Michie

Has done nearly every session, never hear Roos pull him up for anything, good solid soldier

Here is an interesting bit on the mindset of the players at the moment, Nev Jetta had gastro the day before the 3k, still ran it, so as not to fall behind everybody else

[Demoneyes 562]

Agree TDI. And just love The Fitz! Hope he has a break out year!

[redman 28]

Was able to get along to my first training session today, and thought it's only fair to report my thoughts after all the good work by others keeps me updated each week!

How the detailed reports are done I don't know, with all the players covering the full length of the ground it certainly is a challenge.

The main overarching theme to training is Transition. The majority of the session revolved around drills that had each group working on moving the ball from the backline at pace, taking the best/first option as quickly as possible. Coupled with some contested clearance type work (at least on my side of the ground) it was good to see as it meant in my opinion we were focusing on two of the biggest weaknesses we had last year.

After some warm up drills, they broke into a full ground drill, a person would start in the pocket, dodge some stationery metal characters and hit a leading target on the back 50. The lead would have quick hands to another person running the opposite direction out of the 50 and launch a long ball over the square to a player entering the forward 50 whom will run in and finish. Good kicks that enabled the finisher to not break stride were Neal-Bullen (same to hear about his dislocated knee), Salem, Watts, Toumpas and Newton.

Next main drill was also full length drill with the same focus, It was more match simulation in feel and the group split into 3 groups. 2 groups would be on the ground at once. One team would need to move the ball again from the pocket taking the short options quickly as possible. Once the ball made it into the forward line the group on the side went onto the ground and some in the forward line would come off and jog around to the wing to wait. Each time a group went onto the ground, Rawlings would say 6 v 8 etc and they would change tops to work it out. Grimes, Jamar and Jones as you would expect were quite vocal, yelling at the team on the field. Petracca has some swagger and was also vocal, while Brayshaw was very reserved so the early comments ring true with those two.

Next drill, was split into what appears to be forwards, mids and backs to some degree. In front of me (on opposite side to main crowd), we had a small group of the young mids, Toumpas, Salem, Riley, Brayshaw. Petracca and a ruckman who rotated through with the other group of older mids who were doing a larger scaled version. The ball would be lobbed in and one team had to get the tap, and clear it out of the surrounding area.

Lastly, it was a match simulation, split into 2 teams. The ball would be kicked up into a teams back pocket and they would move it from end to end. If a decent mistake was made then Roosy would stop play, instruct and then it would reset and start with the same player down back to start again. There was clearly more a direction to switch the play quickly where possible. Newton was good here, he made space a couple of times and hit good options. Petracca was hesitant, but on one occasion when struggling screw a kick around and hit his target 30-40 metres away on the lead which was impressive. Grimes was good, other than that errant left footer.

Left once the group was brought in.

Call outs:

Newton - was the stand out for me, he is ready to go – no doubt, knows how to find the footy consistently and users it well and didn't see him waste possession.

Toumpas – thought he trained well, not sure what everyone expect every single player to stand out each week. He was energetic and encouraging whichever drill he was in and used the ball well from what I saw. But agree with not seeing where he will play but haven't lost belief he can develop into a good player.

Hogan – most of his work was away from where I was but I did see him clunk a few after pushing his opponent out convincingly.

Riley – most disappointing, wasn't clean at all, would fumble and mis-kick but followed up so hoping it was an off day.

Michie – was tidy I thought, didn't see a lot but like his games just goes about his business quietly and before you know it has 20 possessions.

Harmes – like his spirit, after reading the weekly updates I had the picture that he was progressing well and I can see it. Fights for everything and has good hands to clear. He and Hunt look so similar so hope it was him! Haha!

Jamar – will be no.1 based on today, dominated Gawn and Spencer and looks in great nick as all previous reports have stated.

Happy to comment on anyone else if anyone is interested.

End novel.

[chook fowler 19,735]

Well done Redman - very informative

[Demoneyes 562]

Nice one Redman! Have had 2 reds while reading it though!

[Biffen 12,949]

It's a fine analogy WJ, but McGilvray was aware of the differences between Football and cricket.

Football was a game invented to keep cricketers fit in winter.

[dee-tox 4,835]

Anyone know whether ANB's knee is pre-existing condition? Bad news for the kid.