No sight of the boys as yet although I can see a MFC uniform getting around over by the club rooms or it might just be a bloke in a Bunnings shirt.

Salubrious day here, 32 c with a wif of a southerly blowing straight up the ground. Conditions forecast for tomorrow are similar so it should be perfect weather for both teams to play a nice brand of footy - although let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. The ground looks to be in excellent condition also.

How wonderful it is to park on the fence on watch training from the comfort of your car seat, it feels like I'm watching country footy. I won't be concerned by the authorised vehicles only sign.

Brett Kirk just strolled by.

Still no sign of players of players. Looks like I'll be taking an extended lunch break. I wonder if they're pulling beers over at the club rooms..

Teams arrived and Ross Lyon walks over to greet Roosy.

Roosy jokes "hello Ross, did we just wake you up?" The two of them are have a great exchange in the middle of the ground. Thick as thieves comes to mind.

Billy Stretch doesn't think he'll get on the park and will remain the emergency.

I will bet my left nut that Frost plays forward tomorrow. Spending a lot of time on set shots.

I will bet my left nut that Frost plays forward tomorrow. Spending a lot of time on set shots.

I know he was recruited as a defender, but I don't mind the sound of this at all.

I know he was recruited as a defender, but I don't mind the sound of this at all.

In place of Hogan?, why I thought most wanted him in rd 1 team as gorilla minder, this is just a shake down run after the four hour flight, I doubt whether they will be doing anything except loosen up, set shots are the perfect thing

I know he was recruited as a defender, but I don't mind the sound of this at all.

Yeah nah.

He's okay at anything up to 40 metres. Kicking from the 50m one is atrocious. They just go sky high.

A real timing issue.

In place of Hogan?, why I thought most wanted him in rd 1 team as gorilla minder, this is just a shake down run after the four hour flight, I doubt whether they will be doing anything except loosen up, set shots are the perfect thing

Where did I mention Hogan?

Why play a bloke forward who was recruited as a defender and done 80% of the pre season as a defender?

Hogan, Gawn & Dawes is tall enough thanks

judging by his highligts on the Melbourne website, he would be wasted as a "gorilla keeper", I recon he could own the loose man in defence role. Or I don't mind him delivering it into the forwards either.

Why play a bloke forward who was recruited as a defender and done 80% of the pre season as a defender?

Hogan, Gawn & Dawes is tall enough thanks

No Dawes in round 1. Frost could be a smokey option instead of Pedersen, or just be training with the forwards in case Pedo (or Jamar) go down before round 1.

Long term I hope he's back with the defenders, but if he's not first choice as a defender for round 1 then they can experiment a bit.

I will bet my left nut that Frost plays forward tomorrow. Spending a lot of time on set shots.

What's wrong with the left one - not working?

Not much to add to my earlier dribble. It was literally a 45 minute stretch of the legs undertaken by everyone.

As mentioned, I asked Billy Stretch if he was any chance to get on the park and he said 'it doesn't look like it" and that he'll remain the emergency. I'm sure I'm not the only person disappointed with that but I guess he will play in NAB 2 or 3.

Jesse Hogan is a big lad. At the risk of sounding like someone else, I did have a joke with him and asked that he should just go out and kick a bag. He reckons he'll just be trying to get a touch first. He and JKH teamed up for some bullet passing with a few from Hoges missing by quite a bit. Better to do those today than tomorrow.

The session was made up of a series of kick to kicks, short, long, leading sideways, backwards etc. A few other players were doing some reaction skills and the Toump was pretty sharp returning the pill back to Goody. I look forward to watching him with interest tomorrow night and hope to add some extra comments on his workrate and positioning out of camera view.

It was my first look at Ben Newton in the flesh and fortunately he was right in front of me for the bulk of the session. His kicking is a thing of beauty on both sides of his body and he's a well built fella. Good luck to him for the season ahead.

Lots of goal kicking practice by all and sundry, even the trainers were having a ping. Dawes let a few fly from outside 50 that went through post height - he put one over the back of the stand as well (but not from outside 50). He's looking good.

Frost as mentioned was kicking at goal for the whole session and seemed to be very deliberate in his actions. I would've thought if he was going to be defending tomorrow then he maybe would've been doing other activities. His timing was terrible when trying to kick long goals. Fair dinkum rain-makers although there were a few that sailed through nicley. Another big lump of a lad.

Salem did not have any bandage on his calf and moved freely so that's a relief.

Pedo looked sharp, I reckon this is the year he'll pay dividends but considering Gysberts is no longer on an AFL list I guess he already has.

Vanda needs to pump some upper body weights and he will be a very imposing mid.

Can't wait for tomorrow night even though it's a NAB game.

Go Dee's!

What's wrong with the left one - not working?

Production is fine thanks.

Maybe something I can give more detail on via PM.

Cheers McQ, I must have been right there next to you, because Newton was just in front of me also. I ended up being the unofficial ball boy to that kick of Dawes that went over the net and stand. A couple of other balls went over as well. Had a very brief chat with Dom Tyson (nice fella), Jesse Hogan, Jay Kennedy Harris and Jack Grimes. Missed out on Dean Kent's autograph (my son will be spewing). Got some good photos of him practicing grubber bananas from the boundary with Viv Michie.

I don't mean to sound age-ist but what's with all the silver foxes being ball boys for the team? Surely thats a job for younger crew like myself, how do I get a gig?

Can't wait for the game tomorrow.

Cheers McQ, I must have been right there next to you, because Newton was just in front of me also. I ended up being the unofficial ball boy to that kick of Dawes that went over the net and stand. A couple of other balls went over as well. Had a very brief chat with Dom Tyson (nice fella), Jesse Hogan, Jay Kennedy Harris and Jack Grimes. Missed out on Dean Kent's autograph (my son will be spewing). Got some good photos of him practicing grubber bananas from the boundary with Viv Michie.

I don't mean to sound age-ist but what's with all the silver foxes being ball boys for the team? Surely thats a job for younger crew like myself, how do I get a gig?

Can't wait for the game tomorrow.

Beige coloured cap, trick handball into the fence rail and over?

I was a bit further up from you but was also watching the grubbed goals. Dean Kent was slotting some rippers and Michie was not far begins him.

I don't mean to sound age-ist but what's with all the silver foxes being ball boys for the team? Surely thats a job for younger crew like myself, how do I get a gig?

Re living their youth, it would appear leucopogon. AFL version of mutton?

Thanks to McQueen and yourself for the reports.

In place of Hogan?, why I thought most wanted him in rd 1 team as gorilla minder, this is just a shake down run after the four hour flight, I doubt whether they will be doing anything except loosen up, set shots are the perfect thing

You should hit the club up for a job doing training reports. I mean, surely you must be getting sick of telling your fellow supporters and forum posters how to suck eggs? Go and tune up Matt Burgan, let him know that he knows jacks hit and you're the man.

Peanut.

So what do all those hangers on do besides collect balls? Must be nice being part of the MFC entourage.

I'm absolutely pumped for tomorrow's game, can't wait.

Thanks to McQueen and Leucopogon for the great reports.

Sadly wouldn't be a training thread without the usual suspect turning up to put all the attention onto themselves. God forbid some other posters try to contribute something without the high horse rolling in to inform them their opinions are wrong.

Leucopogon, maybe you could get Kent's autograph for your son after the match? I think they're getting the red-eye home so they'll probably be leaving the ground fairly soon after the match.

Thanks to McQueen and Leucopogon for the great reports.

Sadly wouldn't be a training thread without the usual suspect turning up to put all the attention onto themselves. God forbid some other posters try to contribute something without the high horse rolling in to inform them their opinions are wrong.

Leucopogon, maybe you could get Kent's autograph for your son after the match? I think they're getting the red-eye home so they'll probably be leaving the ground fairly soon after the match.

I don't mind you making the topic about you

You should hit the club up for a job doing training reports. I mean, surely you must be getting sick of telling your fellow supporters and forum posters how to suck eggs? Go and tune up Matt Burgan, let him know that he knows jacks hit and you're the man.

Peanut.

I was just concerned you were risking a gonad on Frost playing forward, the whole team practices goal kicking, seemed a rather large risk, thanks for the peanut love em not as much as lemons though, if I had a spare would give you one to suck on, enjoy the game darling

I have a yarn to Burgo all the time, he loves the feedback from supporters

Edit.....isn't it terrible when posters personally attack those providing training reports tsk tsk whatever next

Edited March 4, 201510 yr by The Devil Inside

Cheers, but I think I blew my golden opportunity. Has anyone else noticed that cocksuredness Kent oozes? Like most here, I'm hoping like hell he becomes a genuine A grader.

I wished Ben Newton the best of luck on what is going to be a big year ahead for himself and the team. He seemed like a good down to earth bloke, as did Viv. Chris Dawes and Col Garland were having a right old laugh about something during the stretching. Jones is all class, his set shots are timed so well, all his kicks just ping sweetly off the boot. Hogan was looking deadly from anywhere inside 50 and from all angles, slotting set shots, snaps, the works. Dean Kent and Jeff Garlett likewise

Didn't get a great look at Salem or Lamumba as they were mostly training up the other end from me. Aaron Vandenburg looked nervous out there, hope he's not overwhelmed by the enormity of the opportunity that's in front of him.

Dunn was kicking torps from 70-80m out at the end of the session, one made the distance...just. Impressive, maybe an NFL punting career beckons.

That's about all the random observations I can recall.

Cheers, but I think I blew my golden opportunity. Has anyone else noticed that cocksuredness Kent oozes? Like most here, I'm hoping like hell he becomes a genuine A grader.

I wished Ben Newton the best of luck on what is going to be a big year ahead for himself and the team. He seemed like a good down to earth bloke, as did Viv. Chris Dawes and Col Garland were having a right old laugh about something during the stretching. Jones is all class, his set shots are timed so well, all his kicks just ping sweetly off the boot. Hogan was looking deadly from anywhere inside 50 and from all angles, slotting set shots, snaps, the works. Dean Kent and Jeff Garlett likewise

Didn't get a great look at Salem or Lamumba as they were mostly training up the other end from me. Aaron Vandenburg looked nervous out there, hope he's not overwhelmed by the enormity of the opportunity that's in front of him.

Dunn was kicking torps from 70-80m out at the end of the session, one made the distance...just. Impressive, maybe an NFL punting career beckons.

That's about all the random observations I can recall.

Hey bloke if you really want Kent's autograph for your son, PM me with your address and can get it anytime and post it to you

Edited March 4, 201510 yr by The Devil Inside

Thanks TDI, I'll see how I go tomorrow at the game.

Thanks TDI, I'll see how I go tomorrow at the game.

Will be interested to see your thoughts watching it live, the TV can be a bit different, first big test against a decent team