I bowled a long to training for a while. I didn't stay for long so I'm sure others can add more.

A photographer was there as was a cameraman so there might be photos from AFL media and footage on the news (don't know which one).

Players in rehab or being rested:

Dawes, Prince, Spencil, Garlett, Watts, Frost, Tyson, Brayshaw, Trengove, unidentified stick (possibly AFL Academy trainee). These guys did modified training and or ran laps. Trengove was doing some light drills. Good to see him do more than just running. 

Patracca did a good deal of the main training but went off to an adjacent oval when the full ground ball movement work was being done. Garlett (his mrs and kid were there), Tyson and Brayshaw did some 150-ish meter run-throughs at some speed. Brayshaw lagged behind in all but one of the runs (except the last one). I assume then, he's coming from further back that the others. Looks bigger this season.

I didn't really pick out too many of the newbies apart from Oliver, but only because he glows in his pastiness. His kicking seemed OK in the drill I saw him. Looked to be tiring the more each drill progressed - to be expected. So far so good. He, Hulett, Stretch, King (Mitch) and Garland were doing some forward drills. they all looked pretty good - standouts were Stretch and Oliver (not that they were doing a whole lot).

I have read observations that Watts is being very vocal - I concur.

Bugg looks to have settled in very well.

I'll add more as I think of it.

NB. Very hard to spot players with no names on their shirts and in hats.

 

Add Jones and Vince to the re-hab bunch

Thank you Roger, much appreciated 

interesting Garland with the forwards, although I'm not sure where everyone will fit - back and forward. Nice problem to have

Does anyone know what Brayshaw's problem is. He's been in rehab since start of pre season. Clearly has a problem. Did he have any off season surgery or is it something else. Hope its not the dreaded osteo that someone suggested.

19 minutes ago, fndee said:

Thank you Roger, much appreciated 

interesting Garland with the forwards, although I'm not sure where everyone will fit - back and forward. Nice problem to have

I wouldn't read too much into it. He might've been there to show them the ropes.

Cheers mate!

 

I went to one training session this year and in 2013.

The intensity and skill level was like chalk and cheese.

I must congratulate the coaching staff for this change and hope it will translate into wins?

1 hour ago, Roger Mellie said:

 

NB. Very hard to spot players with no names on their shirts and in hats.

 

Thanks for the report, Roger.  I've commented on the numbers thing before.  Would be a nice touch if the Club would go to the effort of sticking numbers on the players' training shirts.  Can't be that hard, and would sure help our intrepid Demonland Reporters!

1 minute ago, Vagg said:

Thanks for the report, Roger.  I've commented on the numbers thing before.  Would be a nice touch if the Club would go to the effort of sticking numbers on the players' training shirts.  Can't be that hard, and would sure help our intrepid Demonland Reporters!

They did last year Vagg. It might be because of the new logo - haven't quite caught up with all the gear perhaps?

Any further comments on Trenners, Roger?

Kicking and agility wise?

cheers

How's Ben Kennedy and Melksham looking?

 

Cheers

There's some photos here.

Popped by for about an hour. Didn't see Dawes, Lumumba, Frost or Trengove. Did see Brenton Sanderson, Shifter and Cal Twomey.

So many drills with different groups it's kind of hard to report on what was happening unless you take notes. 

Certainly nice to see Brayshaw, Tyson and Garlett doing some ball work as well as runs. 

Jones, ANB and Petracca had a bit of kick to kick at the end with Crossy taking turns to shadow defend one of them as they led off. Fair to say Petracca knows how to mark on a lead.

Hulett impressed me of the new boys, good size, lovely kick. Joel Smith was with them for a fair few drills. Weideman kicks well on his left. Nothing wrong with Oliver's physique. Wagner was with the main group.

The usual drills all focused on fast ball movement. A full ground drill featured 2 teams going head to head in non stop footy with no stopping for marks. Vanders was prominent in the midfield, and Viney. Billy Stretch found the ball in space. Bugg got the ball at half back a bit. JKH was involved. The one player who really made things happen was Hunt, using his burst of speed through the middle. But he does seem a bit one dimensional and his kicking isn't fluent, so I'm temper expectations but still he showed a bit.

Ben Kennedy moved well to get in to space. With at one stage Grimes refusing to handball to him until it was late enough to be a hospital handball. That said Jack did kick nicely a couple of times. The thing with BK is every now and then he misses a kick or fumbles a handpass. I wonder if it's just confidence and belief, because he does have good skills. I think he needs to just relax and slow down a bit.

Melksham was very impressive running and using the ball well from half back.

 

2 hours ago, McQueen said:

Any further comments on Trenners, Roger?

Kicking and agility wise?

cheers

Afraid not Steve! He, Prince, Frost and Spencil were doing a handling drill where Player A and B would hand ball to each other rapid-fire (using two handballs) while player C and D would push player B from either side. Just a bit of shooting out handballs under pressure. He may or may not have been kicking shortly afterwards but I couldn't be 100% sure (lost in a sea of blue). All I can say is he moved well.

Agree with GGRM on Hunt. He was quite prominent in the full ground stuff. When he got the ball, about 15 players would shout at him to keep running and break away. He did, backing it up with a dinky nothing kick - needs work! 

I went down there around 10 until the end of training.

I must say I had a little boy with me who his fav player is garlett as both aboriginal  and after a couple of photos with him found out by Brayshaw that Garlett is his fav player got a trainer to bring him back his hat signed. very grateful.

Also Christian Petracca had a conversation with my child (5) and called him mate then girl then man and as Tom Bugg and Ben Kennedy came for a chat he then realized and said, "I just realized I called him a girl ( mind you he looks nothing like a girl) and they proceeded to say he will be a ladies killer and he has hair like Harmsey.

Moral of this story I love how much these guys put time and effort into talking to people and children. Hogan was great with him.

Anyway back to training!

I saw Trengove and Harry O at about 10.15 heading towards AAMI so they were down with that training part.

I really love how Harmsey goes about his footy. Super fit and tackling machine. If he stuffs up he backs himself to keep trying. Does not give up on himself.

Garlett, Tyson and Brayshaw just running and hand balling to each other nothing to much for them
Spencer and watts were running laps all day

Tom McDonald leading the way with running so was Harmsey. Viney looked to struggle at the back also last one off the track kicking for goals but unsure if he was abit sore or not today didn't look 100%
Only time I saw Vince was when he was walking off.

Unsure who it was, I am 95% sure it was Hunt but if so this kid looks good! Gets himself into good positions and doesn't mind taking on people. Jetta was tackling very well.
JKH running was ok but seemed to drop off a lot as time goes on. Tries to take on to many people when there's better options and gets tackled.

Hogan this kid I swear is a beast! No one can get past him. Moved well and only had eyes for the ball.

As for Melksham he did alright but may be trying to impress a bit to much. Did a few things wrong that should have been easy but better now then during a game.

Stretch moved well and got into space very quick and he likes to get the play moving.

Weideman looked wrecked at the end but hey so would I!

If I remember anything else I will post

great to hear reports guys;I might try to get down next week too

Thanks guys! Love your work!

Thanks all. Yet again, great to get different perspectives.

And if anyone puts you down because it was all too positive ... just ignore 'em!

22 minutes ago, Akum said:

Thanks all. Yet again, great to get different perspectives.

And if anyone puts you down because it was all too positive ... just ignore 'em!

Totally agree Akum, Also anyone who bothers to attend training and then report to the rest of us deserves thanks. Pretty selfless stuff.. Sure let their be questions but not criticisms. So far the training reports have been great and provide interesting observations devoid of ego. Well done guys and thanks.  

Great reports guys. Much appreciated. 

Does anyone have any info on why Brayshaw is in rehab group? Heard someone mention OP a while back. Is that the case?

30 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Great reports guys. Much appreciated. 

Does anyone have any info on why Brayshaw is in rehab group? Heard someone mention OP a while back. Is that the case?

It's in every Melbourne players contract that a promising first year must be followed by a year injured.

7 minutes ago, Biffen said:

It's in every Melbourne players contract that a promising first year must be followed by a year injured.

All joy Biff, all joy. I love that floral shirt or is that an old photo of you in your heyday. 

This is a photo of Jim Norton.

An extremely disturbed American comic.

Here's hoping that Hunt makes it thru a full pre season without injury. NAB challenge beckons. 

Really keen to get a look at him at senior level.