I'm out of town at the moment so I'm hoping to hear from those Demonlanders who can make it to training, if indeed there is a training session today.

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Looking forward to the usual high standard of posting from those lucky enough to have the time to make it to wherever training is taking place.

Arrived a few minutes early to see Brayshaw and Nev warming up with Crossy... also 7 in what looks like rehab and seems to include Kent and Hulett... ANB, Filipovic, Hannah, King and DOM!!!!

Both Kent and Dom doing slow run throughs now and looking stiff

Edited January 22, 20178 yr by waynewussell

Speaking of training, i wanted to some information on the intra club practice match and laned on the MFC events calendar.  http://www.melbournefc.com.au/Team/events-calendar

Under the Melbourne Football Club Events listing for 10 February it has the following information:

4:30pm - 6:30pm
Men's Team Open Training
OLYMPIC PARK OVAL

I assume that is the intra club practice match.

Dom and Kent training as a duo away from the main group, both seem to be moving pretty well. 

Oops, didn't mean to contradict Wayne, perhaps they've loosened up ?

Yes, they looked much better after the warm up!

Haven't noticed JKH or Kennedy yet an Brayshaw may have gone in

Pat McKenna also doing rehab stuff with a trainer

Main group in short kicking in pairs routine, Lewis and Petracca is a nice grouping for the future. McCartney carrying a bucket of sand, filling in divets, to which Nev has a quip. "Yes, Nev, not in the job description, but that's what happens when you get old and silly".

Edited January 23, 20178 yr by waynewussell

Into 4 groups now for kicking and handball drills. It is surprising that Petracca struggles in the very short foot skills tasks. It seems to be a wobbly ball drop leading to a soft floater. He excels when punching the ball 45+ using full strength

6 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Into 4 groups now for kicking and handball drills. It is surprising that Petracca struggles in the very short foot skills tasks. It seems to be a wobbly ball drop leading to a soft floater. He excels when punching the ball 45+ using full strength

has Moloneyism !! 

Should have mentioned, its hot out here. Whole group just completed repeat 60mtr sprints. Garlett and Hunt had a real go, with 'honours' split... proof that Jeffy is still quick! Vanders gets Chunk on the final run, Joel Smith also quick. 

Full ground 10 v 10 now, one team given ball at HB, tries to break the lines. Max just missed a snap then follows up with a missed set shot

Viney nails a rocket pass to Garlett in the square... goal

13 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

has Moloneyism !! 

Trac has good vision, just has a technical issue with his kicking that means he can spear the ball over 50m unlike many players but doesn't have touch on his short kicking. As long as he keeps working out in he won't become the long bomb king!

5 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Trac has good vision, just has a technical issue with his kicking that means he can spear the ball over 50m unlike many players but doesn't have touch on his short kicking. As long as he keeps working out in he won't become the long bomb king!

My murky point was Beamer only had one power setting.. Trac needs to be taught"finesse"

Just now, beelzebub said:

My murky point was Beamer only had one power setting.. Trac needs to be taught"finesse"

Yep I agree, but I think he has it, there was one spot up kick to Kent this year I think that was beautiful. His technique needs more work than his vision, which is good, because that's a lot easier to fix.

Trenners just snapped a beauty from 45. Spencer doing well with run. Goes for a pass but intercepted by Viney. Alarm goes and teams change over. Did I say I have to go now... parking issues

Hunt to Lewis, handball to Billie going past, plays on and... and... have to tear myself away! Cheers

Thanks WW

7 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Hunt to Lewis, handball to Billie going past, plays on and... and... have to tear myself away! Cheers

And then.....AND THEN!!!???

Thanks for the dedication WW.

1 hour ago, waynewussell said:

Into 4 groups now for kicking and handball drills. It is surprising that Petracca struggles in the very short foot skills tasks. It seems to be a wobbly ball drop leading to a soft floater. He excels when punching the ball 45+ using full strength

Lucky he can handball 45m. Shouldn't be a problem.

39 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Trenners just snapped a beauty from 45. Spencer doing well with run. Goes for a pass but intercepted by Viney. Alarm goes and teams change over. Did I say I have to go now... parking issues

Many thanks for your updates ww.  This one made my heart skip a beat. For a split second I thought the last word might be achilles or something just as horrific.  That's what comes from being a Melbourne member for so many years, I guess.

Got to training about 10.50 to find the rehab group working hard with run throughs.  New addition was Jetta who looked anything but happy.  Tyson and Kent looked good to me, particularly Tyson who had no bandages on either knee and was moving freely.  Lateral movement wasn't an issue so I'd say he is well on the way to a full recovery.  Disappointing to see ANB still in there but he was running well.  Didn't see Brayshaw or JKH. Hope JKH is ok, would hate him to lose more time from the preseason. Liam Hulett was running quite well so that was good news after what appeared a nasty injury last week.

Main group didn't arrive until about 11.30 and did the usual warm up drills - run throughs, short kicking, stretching and a bit of agility work.  Then the main part of the session (until I had to leave for parking issues) was the 10 v 10 WW has referred to.  Seemed a step up to me as there was much more contested stuff and poor old Declan Keilty copped a couple of nasty one and was running laps when I left.  Stand out for me were Jake Spencer who was in everything and Billy Stretch.  He's a lock for R1 the way he's going. Poised and clean, quick and a good decision maker and disposer of the ball.  He's a favourite so I might be overstating it!

Oliver was struggling for the whole session but I think it was just the hot weather and hay fever as he came off for his puffer and then returned and did some 10 on 10 work.  Others to stand out for me were Garlett, Jones, AVB, Lewis and Watts.  Joel Smith was also good and looked comfortable. Hunt is looking stronger and more assured and took a very good contested mark at one stage.  Looks to have stepped up from last year which will strike fear into the hearts of the opposition.

Looked like a significant ramp up in intensity and contact stuff today and as a result there were more turnovers than other sessions I've seen.  Also of interest was that during the 60m run throughs the only players that I noticed bouncing and carrying a ball were Hunt and Frost.  Hunt was bouncing it as he went while Frost not so much.  There was a continued emphasis on non preferred kicking at one point in the early drills.  The other thing that struck me was the use of Spencer and Gawn  as targets when going forward.  The way Jake trained today I'd be surprised if he didn't get a go in the ruck in the practices matches with Max to see how we go with two recognized rucks.  It's never been something that's appealed but if Jake can genuinely step up it could work.

Any questions ask.  I left well before the end I'd imagine so others will have more to add.