Was Oliver there doing kicking and running?

33 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Shame on those making assumptions about the photo of KK that was posted last week. 

I'll own up, but I won't take the shame. 

The photo was unflattering but clearly looking at his whole body now, he is in good condition, as should be expected. 

One of his assets in his draft year was his running, so it's good to see him doing well.

 

May. Preuss, KK numbers?

May is gonna be that monster we have been crying out for.

Backline is gonna be a real strong point this season.

21 minutes ago, DSP said:

May is gonna be that monster we have been crying out for.

Backline is gonna be a real strong point this season.

But did you see the photo of Preuss monstering him? Wow Preuss is a unit.

Anyone training the house down yet? 

How awesome is it to have training back.  I obviously don't have a life!

Just now, Wiseblood said:

Anyone training the house down yet? 

It's preseason so everyone is. ?

28 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

May. Preuss, KK numbers?

One of them will have #1. My bet is May.

Training report from Facebook:

TRAINING REPORT: It's training time - and what a time of year it is, especially if you're just coming off an impressive year that saw us make a prelim! Hard to believe it's only been around 10 weeks since then, yet so much has changed.

First off - it's quite different going to training knowing that Dom Tyson, Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Bernie Vince and Cam Pedersen won't be there. All five have been mainstays since I was a relative regular at training. At the same time, it's exciting knowing that the likes of Braydon Preuss, Kade Kolodjashnij and Steven May will potentially join us on the track. As is the possibility of Jake Lever also joining us on the track - Lever might have already been with us but his presence was so sorely missed during the back end of the season.

Anyway, the boys show up 20 minutes larer than expected, but a few guys worth keeping an eye on who is here:

-Preuss: Like holy shit he's a big unit. I could tell who he was from the other side of the ground. He is bloody tall and still has a bit of development to do. Exciting times.

-Viney: has returned early, which is good, genuinely wants to set more of a standard which he set during the finals.

-Lever: back up and running and on track to return early in the season if early signs are to go by. Rather light workload at the moment - not that it's much of a surprise - but just a good boost to see him out there. Doing light stuff with Oscar McDonald.

-Jones: Chunk is out there likewise, which again I think makes the younger lads a fair bit more comfortable settling back in with his influence.

-Gawn: Famously set the track alight last year and is back for another go at maintaining his status as the best ruckman in the game.

-ANB: The marathon man is back to set the track on fire again as he always does. As good a runner as I have ever seen in football.

-Brayshaw: Fresh off 3rd in the Brownlow in 2018, he's also here to try and win it from the outset.

-May: On track for the first time in a Melbourne jumper which is fantastic. 

The boys start off with a few running drills - small groups are the order of the day as they just run around the ground, doing small sprints here and there and just general 'keep running' stuff.

A few of the impressive runners early (even though it's pretty straightforward stuff until the footy's come out - which is what I'm generally more interested in seeing who has kept sharp) - Kolodjashnij leads a group of runners, Gawn - in a group including Salem, Jones, JKH and others - stays up the front of his group. In a genuine group of runners, Preuss and May bring up the rear, but when you have an athletic group including KK, ANB, Smith, Brayshaw and the like that's no bad thing. Anyway, say what you like about May being at the back - he isn't here for his long-distance running ability.

In any case - ANB genuinely takes the piss. He stays up front the whole time, before turning the jets on and putting about 40m on second-placed Joel Smith over the last lap alone. He really is a running freak of nature. Never seen anyone like him running around.

Looks like the footy's are out. The first genuine test of pre-season is here (never mind the running) - let's see who is clean. Early doors sees a little 20m kicking drill - it is largely clean save for a few sloppy kicks here and there.

Another drill happens at the other end of the ground - one of the groups has a chain of handballs before finishing with a goal, while the other group does likewise but it's a clearing kick from defense in effect.

Skills seem quite sharp at the moment - all handballs are hitting the target, no loose balls on the ground, the running patterns are flowing and the kicks are hitting their targets on the run.

Keeping a close eye on Kolo for a bit, given his status as a clean ball-user. He shows it early on. His second shoe - off a step, gloriously hits JKH straight on the chest. It's a bullet.

Marking/one-on-one drill going on afterwards. Group nearest to me has Preuss and May in a one-on-one and it's clear that you can see May's one-on-one ability when it's his time to get it as he expertly creates space for himself. He is most certainly going to be an asset.

The group is split into three for more running drills - with the time trial done and dusted, it's clear they split the group into top-tier runners (ANB, Smith, Kolo, Brayshaw, Wagner), mid-tier runners (Fritsch, Spargo, Maynard, Petty) and bottom-tier runners (Weideman, Keilty, Frost, Preuss, May). Meantime, the senior players have made their way off, content with their work.

Running goes to schedule, Nibs leads the way of course, boys are done with their work but it's been a solid session nevertheless.

 

 

13 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Anyone training the house down yet? 

Jack Watts?

On 11/17/2018 at 5:55 PM, ucanchoose said:

Jayden Hunt appears to be in the thickest  jungle so he might be late back for his start...

So, this article says Hunt was in the rehab group, and your post says he's in the middle of a jungle.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-11-19/all-ok-for-kk-as-new-demon-stars-on-the-track

I don't know why I rely on Demonland to form my first opinions.

Anybody have times for the 2km time trials aside from Neal-Bullen's 6:22?

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

 

Damn, the FOOTIES ARE OUT ALREADY !!!!!!!!!!

21 minutes ago, ding said:

Damn, the FOOTIES ARE OUT ALREADY !!!!!!!!!!

I recall years back when Rivers shifted over to the Cats. He said preseason was completely different there, as the onus was put on the players to return in peak condition, so the bulk of preseason was about skills, not getting fit.

I hope this is where we're heading.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

I wouldn't like him playing on me. He is one strong unit and with mongrel.

29 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Gee, he speaks well.

Got a good feeling about this young man if his neck issues are over. Appears fit and ready to go and, importantly, states he wants to win a priemiership with Melbourne 

42 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I wouldn't like him playing on me. He is one strong unit and with mongrel.

As a non-footballer, i could say the same thing about Harrison Petty or Charlie Spargo!

Edited November 19, 20186 yr by John Demonic

Conspiracy theorists start your engines:

The training tops for Neal-Bullen and KK have a huge, blank space on the back with some smaller writing which I can't decipher at the top. The training top for Steven May has iSelect in a prominent location on the back. 

Is this a sign of anything?