1 hour ago, Mickey said:

I wonder if this might be the perfect week to bring Sam in. A week we are (supposedly) really focusing on the physical stuff. One if the knocks on him has been that he doesn't impact the contest as a big bloke, which is primarily a mental issue. Perhaps having the whole team in such a physical mindset, with a point to prove, might make all the difference.

I suppose the other side of the coin is that, if he doesn't impact, it will be very obvious, given the stage and opponent and following last week everyone will be watching for a response.

He's always been a great contested mark. No stress with bringing him in to contest. It's the chase and defensive side that is the issue.

Training was very vocal, lots of loud calls and encouragement. Plenty of energy. Maybe Dom Tyson and Billy stretch to play. Dom looked good, no errors, making good decision, taking on some leaderships roles. Billy looking quick across the field. Sam Wiedeman moving well, bringing the high ball to ground and then quickly onto it. Tim Smith having some impact.  Some of our ball movement during stimulations was beautiful, very quick through the outside corridors. Our defensive pressure was also good. Goal kicking drills, snaps, running shots. Tackling drills using 8 players, breaking and getting the ball away to advantage. Plenty of splitting the group into there respective forward, defensive and midfield groups. Neville Jetta moving very well. Sam Frost doing mainly sprint work in the rehab group. Tom Mcdonald in the main group on a few occasions, doing the match stimulations. Players and coaches look as though they are ready for a big game infront of the huge crowds.

Edited April 21, 20186 yr by kevin martin

Great news re: TMac and Viney. Viney running and kicking in boots is really good news. Hopefully that means he isn’t pulling up sore anymore. Their inclusion in the side cannot come quickly enough. Both structurally and from a leadership perspective. 

Also good news that Bugg appears to have been dropped. I’m going to have a heart attack or a nervous breakdown one day watching him kick the pill. 

Love your work Kev Martin. Please post reports more often 

On 4/20/2018 at 11:39 AM, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

In the second half of the Hawthorn game it looked like Gawn was mounting a one-man protest. He seemed to be doing things that were not consistent with what the rest of the team was doing, such as tapping the ball to no-one or trying to roost the ball when he kicked it with no apparent method. Given the poor performance of the team, though, it was difficult to tell whether his message was for the players trying to get them more involved or whether it was to the coach to fix something structurally. 

I saw this too.

He was kicking 50m barrels rather than looking for a target. He snapped a shot at goal when he should have passed. He was thumping the ball from stoppages rather than trying to tap to a player.

Whatever he was getting at, as a leader I was disappointed. No way anything he was doing was true leadership.

On 4/20/2018 at 3:43 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

Very astute observations.

He didn't look happy. This is an interesting pic.

From the angle its hard to tell if Max is 10m or 30m from the play.  Maybe Max has run a mile and is exhausted or there are other teammates closer to the play but it looks like Lever could do with some help.  Max looks like he is taking a stroll in the park. 

It's been said, but deserves saying again - this is one of the longest bows, and worst posts, I've seen.

5 hours ago, kevin martin said:

Training was very vocal, lots of loud calls and encouragement. Plenty of energy. Maybe Dom Tyson and Billy stretch to play. Dom looked good, no errors, making good decision, taking on some leaderships roles. Billy looking quick across the field. Sam Wiedeman moving well, bringing the high ball to ground and then quickly onto it. Tim Smith having some impact.  Some of our ball movement during stimulations was beautiful, very quick through the outside corridors. Our defensive pressure was also good. Goal kicking drills, snaps, running shots. Tackling drills using 8 players, breaking and getting the ball away to advantage. Plenty of splitting the group into there respective forward, defensive and midfield groups. Neville Jetta moving very well. Sam Frost doing mainly sprint work in the rehab group. Tom Mcdonald in the main group on a few occasions, doing the match stimulations. Players and coaches look as though they are ready for a big game infront of the huge crowds.

Sorry meant to say; Maybe Jayden Hunt and Billy Stretch to play. (not Dom as he is already in the squad). Jayden looked switched on.

Edited April 21, 20186 yr by kevin martin

10 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Tim Smith is in then?   I called it, and was the only one.  Yes I am bragging.

If both he and Weid come in, this would likely mean Hogan plays in the midfield all game.

POSSIBLE TEAM

B: J.WAGNER, O.MCDONALD, JETTA

HB: HIBBERD, LEVER, HUNT

C: PETRACCA, OLIVER, JONES

HF: KENT, HOGAN, NEAL-BULLEN

F: GARLETT, WEIDEMAN, T.SMITH

FOLL: GAWN, TYSON, SALEM

IC: BRAYSHAW, STRETCH, VINCE, MELKSHAM

EMERG: HARMES, FROST, FRITSCH

On 20 April 2018 at 11:19 AM, Pates said:

I don't know where things broke down but so many of Gawn's taps went to spaces where there were no Melbourne players, he may have "won" the ruck duels but our ball winners were nowhere near it.

Jones busy on mitchel. A soft tag on Clarry?  Taps early straight to Jaeger/Cyril.  Confidence down... Better hit it into open space in our general direction and hope we run onto it instead?

Not really sure but that's just my take Pates.

On 20 April 2018 at 6:28 PM, Pates said:

They were to little effect last Sunday, don’t misread what I was saying, I was placing him in the same category of all his teammates where he had a bad day. Most of the time his taps are to our advantage, I would imagine he was well down on his usual “taps to advantage”. 

That is clearly down to poor communication between him and the likes of Oliver, Jones (who was too busy marking Mitchell), and the other midfielders. That also comes down to poor coaching by Goodwin and co as they did not correct the problem. 

Can only hope they fix that for Tuesday night. 

Jones not tagging anyone would be a nice start.  Blocking for Clarry also if he has a tag etc.  Not having Vince trailing behind his opponent (if he is picked) into the middle contest under little pressure etc.

Will be devastated if we lose the clearance count in a fashion similar to Sunday this week after that effort.

Get well soon Jack!   We need you mate.

7 hours ago, kevin martin said:

Training was very vocal, lots of loud calls and encouragement. Plenty of energy. Maybe Dom Tyson and Billy stretch to play. Dom looked good, no errors, making good decision, taking on some leaderships roles. Billy looking quick across the field. Sam Wiedeman moving well, bringing the high ball to ground and then quickly onto it. Tim Smith having some impact.  Some of our ball movement during stimulations was beautiful, very quick through the outside corridors. Our defensive pressure was also good. Goal kicking drills, snaps, running shots. Tackling drills using 8 players, breaking and getting the ball away to advantage. Plenty of splitting the group into there respective forward, defensive and midfield groups. Neville Jetta moving very well. Sam Frost doing mainly sprint work in the rehab group. Tom Mcdonald in the main group on a few occasions, doing the match stimulations. Players and coaches look as though they are ready for a big game infront of the huge crowds.

Thanks for the arousing training report. 

On 20 April 2018 at 10:17 PM, pineapple dee said:

If Viney is announced as a 12-14 week lay off, I will go on a 12- 14 week scotch whiskey drinking binge. I will need to get a couple more bottles in, I only have six un opened ones at the moment. Looks like it will be Johnnie Walker now 

Pineapple If it has to be a Johnny make it a blue.  Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

6 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Pineapple If it has to be a Johnny make it a blue.  Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Drinking with Johnnie is so much better shared cos then you get to remember it.

On 19/04/2018 at 3:51 PM, hemingway said:

Question: When players are having shots at goal (ie Maxy, Bugg and Melksham) are they supervised? Is there a coach nearby watching them and providing advice or demonstrating technique?

Sorry for no reply Hemingway, I've not logged on for a while.

When I've been to training I've rarely seen a coach with a player as he's practising goal kicking but others would be better placed than me to answer as I'm an infrequent observer.

1 hour ago, Vogon Poetry said:

Sorry for no reply Hemingway, I've not logged on for a while.

When I've been to training I've rarely seen a coach with a player as he's practising goal kicking but others would be better placed than me to answer as I'm an infrequent observer.

The usual goal kicking practice involves the whole squad kicking all at once. They rotate through different areas and sometimes use a metal man on the mark. Coaching staff seem to be assessig the kicks but rarely offer any advice on the field during this drill. It all becomes chaos as staff chase balls behind goal to send back out. I've seen some individual goal kicking with a players and a coach, though not often. The coachs often instuct as to what style of kick to use in general play. Most of the time the coaches are instructive, constructive, very encouraging and positive. The rehab squad get plenty of attention from Crossy (who is a beautiful kick) he expects high standards and has a great rapport with the players. He is always there and giving feedback to the squad.  I've seen other players assisting each others routines and style. But, I believe we need a specialist goal kicking and kicking coach. I also believe a specialist athletics coach to help with running would be handy so as to gain more speed and endurance.

Edited April 25, 20186 yr by kevin martin

5 minutes ago, kevin martin said:

The usual goal kicking practice involves the whole squad kicking all at once. They rotate through different areas and sometimes use a metal man on the mark. Coaching staff seem to be assessig the kicks but rarely offer any advice on the field during this drill. It all becomes chaos as staff chase balls behind goal to send back out. I've seen some individual goal kicking with a players and a coach, though not often. The coachs often instuct as to what style of kick to use in general play. Most of the time the coaches are instructive, constructive, very encouraging and positive. The rehab squad get plenty of attention from Crossy (who is a beautiful kick) he expects high standards and has a great rapport with the players. He is always there and giving feedback to the squad.  I've seen other players assisting each others routines and style. But, I believe we need a specialist goal kicking and kicking coach. I also believe a specialist athletics coach to help with running would be handy so as to gain more speed and endurance.

I'm picturing the training ground of the future for the wealthier clubs... a gutter or similar behind a special stand alone goal kicking area that collects the football and returns to the kicking area via a conveyor system. Marked positions on the field and the requirement for players to maintain 85% accuracy or start again. Add in crowd noise machines and perhaps a wind machine or two and you have the big club training facility of the future.

Like the bowling/pitching machines for cricket and baseball.

Wonder if one could invent a virtual machine?