Was there any ? is listed on the MFC site as scheduled

The reports are always appreciated from those of us unable to make it on those days

cheers

Yes, it was on. I drove past and saw them out there around 10am. Hoping the great Tasman got down there.

Where on the website have they hidden the info.

I went on a clicked on Training Times and it came up with the full fixture.

Admittedly I went on with my IPad,

Website > 2016 tab > Training times

(Fixture is just to the right, so maybe clicked on that by accident?)

Not sure about training but good to see a few of the boys getting together to play some backyard cricket once the serious stuff finished.

Oscar behind the stumps, Jesse batting, vanders, JKH and Salem all fielding and I think Petracca bowling (out of shot). Pic by Gus Brayshaw.

Website > 2016 tab > Training times

(Fixture is just to the right, so maybe clicked on that by accident?)

No I tried several times. So I went and typed training times in the search area.

Sure enough it came up this time.

Thanks for your trouble.

Not sure about training but good to see a few of the boys getting together to play some backyard cricket once the serious stuff finished.

Oscar behind the stumps, Jesse batting, vanders, JKH and Salem all fielding and I think Petracca bowling (out of shot). Pic by Gus Brayshaw.

Better than them making beer snakes!

I went down for a short time. It was the second time this pre-season.

The notable missing player for me was Aaron vandenBerg. I have seen Christian Petracca and he seems fine, just on a modified program, but I have seen neither hair nor hide of VDB and considering he has been MIA since the Collingwood game in June I hope he is OK.Actually seeing him in the picture above means he is at least around.

Hoges was running laps by himself. Looked fine, all limbs in fine working order.

They were doing a ball movement exercise when I got there. Split into 3 groups, attack, defence or off. The ball would be kicked down back to an attacker and the attacking team would try to move the ball the length of the ground and score. It was good to watch, lots of running, switching the ball across the ground and fast movement.

Sam Frost is back in full training and was good in this drill.

Ben Kennedy is possibly the smallest player on our list along with JKH and Viney but he looks very fit and strong and was doing everything he could to impress the coaches and his new team mates. All you could ask at this stage really. Jayden Hunt is very quick. He did a one two with Frost at one point off half back and burnt off his opponent then kicked truly to a leading forward. If they work out how to use his speed there is a chance he can make it.

Oscar Mac is taller now than his brother. Looks to have put on height and weight quite naturally, his potential is sky high.

The next drill they did was moving the ball the length of the ground via 5 small groups. As you kicked the ball to a player leading from the small group ahead of you you would then run forward to join that group and wait a go before leading, marking swinging on to your left or right and kicking to a player leading from the next group, then running forward to join that group they would eventually make their way down the ground where they would have a shot at goal and then jog back to the other end to start again. About 5 balls in play again there was constant movement. A lot of passes were going astray before I realised they had to swing at least half the time onto their wrong foot.

Gus was good on both feet as was Viney. White was pretty good. The highlight was big Tom McDonald kicking on his left. You reckon he's bad on his right foot! Wow. He sort of jumped in the air and would kick the ball with both feet off the ground. Anyway before anyone bags him he was the only senior player there joining in with the newbies so all credit to him.

The highlight was big Tom McDonald kicking on his left. You reckon he's bad on his right foot! Wow. He sort of jumped in the air and would kick the ball with both feet off the ground. Anyway before anyone bags him he was the only senior player there joining in with the newbies so all credit to him.

iPhone footage from training.

Great report DM. Funny you mention about Oscar Mac because pretty sure i read somewhere that he is actually 198cm tall now and had a bit of a growth spurt when he arrived at the club. Next time if anyone can get a chance of oscar standing next to his brother he actually towers him a bit lol.

iPhone footage from training.

Still a better kick than Jordie McKenzie

Great report DM. Funny you mention about Oscar Mac because pretty sure i read somewhere that he is actually 198cm tall now and had a bit of a growth spurt when he arrived at the club. Next time if anyone can get a chance of oscar standing next to his brother he actually towers him a bit lol.

Tom is 194cm.

Oscar is listed at 196cm, currently.

Not sure about training but good to see a few of the boys getting together to play some backyard cricket once the serious stuff finished.

Oscar behind the stumps, Jesse batting, vanders, JKH and Salem all fielding and I think Petracca bowling (out of shot). Pic by Gus Brayshaw.

Wait a moment, Hoges bats left handed!

Actually, he could be one of the new breed that deliberately bat goofy so their dominant hand controls the bat.

Wait a moment, Hoges bats left handed!

He can bat both left and right handed. He can part the seas, stop time, walk on water...........he can do it all!

Wait a moment, Hoges bats left handed!

Actually, he could be one of the new breed that deliberately bat goofy so their dominant hand controls the bat.

This doesn't surprise me.

I've not read it elsewhere, so I'm claiming it as a first (Stu), but Hoges nearly always bounces the ball left-handed "Robbie Flower-style". Having a son who bowls left-handed, bats right-handed and plays tennis left-handed I recognised this with Hoges early on.

It doesn't surprise me that he's a good left-foot kick.

iPhone footage from training.

I cannot stop watching this. Thank you.

I cannot stop watching this. Thank you.

I've got video of my young bloke when he was 3 yeas old doing the same.

21st birthday material.

AVB was training last Monday, so it is interesting to know he was MIA this week.

I hope he is okay. Does anyone have an update?

I think you'll find throughout the pre season training period that some players will have the odd day off from time to time - like rostered days off. Nothing sinister at all.

The thing that pleases me is that they seem to be working on more than just fitness. In seasons past they would wait till Christmas before putting a footy in anyone's hands. Is this indicative of improved fitness or just a change of training methods...

Great report DM. Funny you mention about Oscar Mac because pretty sure i read somewhere that he is actually 198cm tall now and had a bit of a growth spurt when he arrived at the club. Next time if anyone can get a chance of oscar standing next to his brother he actually towers him a bit lol.

Can he play forward?

This doesn't surprise me.

I've not read it elsewhere, so I'm claiming it as a first (Stu), but Hoges nearly always bounces the ball left-handed "Robbie Flower-style". Having a son who bowls left-handed, bats right-handed and plays tennis left-handed I recognised this with Hoges early on.

It doesn't surprise me that he's a good left-foot kick.

Dad, is that you?

The highlight was big Tom McDonald kicking on his left. You reckon he's bad on his right foot! Wow. He sort of jumped in the air and would kick the ball with both feet off the ground.

I wrote something similar early this year.

Dad, is that you?

twins? surely not!

Not sure about training but good to see a few of the boys getting together to play some backyard cricket once the serious stuff finished.

Oscar behind the stumps, Jesse batting, vanders, JKH and Salem all fielding and I think Petracca bowling (out of shot). Pic by Gus Brayshaw.

Nice big backyard, clearly not in a new estate/house!