Bigger pink vest keepings off drill. 

Spargo showing fantastic pressure in pink. 

Maynard vicious in pink. Great tackling. 

Wagner J kicking spot on. 

19 minutes ago, Vagg said:

Hoping none of the coaches spot him?

May well be the brightest boy at the club.

Has my vote.

Goody showing no signs of fame fatigue after appearing on the Ellen Show as Natalie Portman's plus one. 

Forwards and backs split again in same groups as before. Forward and backs doing skill drills ending with kicker having a shot for goal on the run.  

Smaller group of the three forwards in Joel Smith, Weideman and Keilty having set shots at goal. 

There are a lot of Japanese tourists watching Victory and Honda on the oval next door. 

2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

There are a lot of Japanese tourists watching Victory and Honda on the oval next door. 

Go tell them Max is Japanese and get them to come across.

Goal kicking practice not helped by the wind. Some of the backs though have slotted some nice goals on the snap. Salem the best of the bunch. 

41 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Noticed that too but before that seemed to be running without any issues. Assume it's a niggle but I'm wearing my unlucky hat purchased before the Prelim so .... well ... MFCSS. 

That's a banable offence.

2 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

That's a banable offence.

I agree. Also wearing the sunscreen that I purchased at the hotel in Perth and have only worn at that game. 

Remaining players doing run throughs to finish off the session. 

1 minute ago, Demonland said:

I agree. Also wearing the sunscreen that I purchased at the hotel in Perth and have only worn at that game. 

Buying sunscreen at a hotel in Perth?

What'd you pay? $50?

9 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Buying sunscreen at a hotel in Perth?

What'd you pay? $50?

It was either that or getting charred in the Perth Sun. Was not going to buy Eagles or even worse Dockers branded sunscreen. I'd rather burn. 

How hard is the ground surface at Goschs ?

I assume there is a sprinkler system. 

It always looks well grassed but this hot spell must be drying out the ground.

If so, I would be decreasing the amount of time doing hard running sessions. 

 

Before I melt as a result of the rays from the Melbourne sun, I figured I'd jot down my notes of this morning's training session.

A relatively small crowd today (not completely suprising) with many seeking shelter under the trees around the ground. An occasional breeze travels through the air to the delight of those in attendance.

Firstly the rehab group consisted of OMac, Petracca, T.Smith, Hunt, Melksham, Stretch, Harmes, Oliver and Brayshaw, Baker and VDB. Drills were non contact (aside from Melksham who did some work with a marking bag) while each player would take their turn in participating in what looked to be some menacing running drills. Players looked absolutely spent after these.

Petracca, Oliver, Baker and one of the new lads (Nietschke, I think) left early after spending most of the session running in the rehab group. None seem in any real discomfort aside from that of the Melbourne sun.

Moving on to the main group, where the first drill I watched featuted players transitioning from the backline with a couple of spontaneous sets of 20 push ups which looked particularly grueling given today's conditions. Weideman with a nice couple of dead eye [censored] 30 metre passes. Frost also with a nice spin around two players and a short chip pass to Spargo. Lewis was another who nailed some neat kicks while Hibberd uncharacteristicly shanked a couple. Petty was also involved quite a bit as the link man between defense and forward.

Moving to some forward play where a group of five would attempt to move the ball from half forward to a player having a clear shot at goal while contending with three defenders. Those I saw in this drill were Lewis, Maynard, Keilty, Frost, Spargo, Fritsch and Petty (I think). Lewis continued to set the standard with a some sharp pick ups and shots for goal.
Nice bit of play with Spargo with a thread the needle handpass through three defenders to Keilty who passed the ball onto the running Maynard who slotted the goal.

The next drill I watched involved players attempting to nail some 30m passes while under pressure from opposition. Players seemed a little sloppy at first but quickly tightened up their kicking. The Wagner of the Josh variety didn't miss a pass while Salem also looked exceptionally classy. I also really liked the look of Petty here. Looks a good kick and has a bit of toe for someonr of his size.

The final drill I caught before leaving was more of a match simulation. ANB was often leading from the forward 50 with Weideman as the key target. Great piece of running on the wing by Jeffy to receive the ball but unfortunately miss the shot at goal. Exceptional piece of play from Spargo with a brilliant smother, gather and handball to a loose player! Smith also looked at home playing the intercept defender role. Another brilliant moment came courtesy of JKH, with an intercept in the forward 50 and a cracking hip and shoulder.

No Jones, Gawn, TMac, May, KK, Preuss, or many of the new draftees who I think are in the NT at the moment.

Edited December 7, 20186 yr by Demon Jack

2 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

This will be one thorough hat report this morning. Does the No Hat No Play apply to our footy club? 

Bravo to all reporters for heading down.?

we of course like many things  pioneered the hat with the great Jimmy S wearing his hat in a pre season match.

Eminently sensible but much joked about at the time.

There was of course the great out roar when a coach decided to take his players into the shade for the 3/4 time address. It was in Queensland I think.

How times change.

 

Couple of observations:

Melksham wearing tennis cap, so neither forward facing or not.

Counted 32 training staff, 26 on the field, gone are the old days when the coach ran the session.

Using a pace setter for the players who were just running. As Andy noted, how do you advertise for this job?

Keilty and Smith training with forwards. Were used exclusively as lead up link players in one drill.

Young 17 year old academy player (I’m told) will be one to watch. Built like the proverbial brick S...... worked with the mids and held his own.

Good to see Maynard out there in full training. 

 

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

Can confirm that Frosty has this hat in white. 

Excellent ear protection for Frosty!

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Couple of observations:

Melksham wearing tennis cap, so neither forward facing or not.

Counted 32 training staff, 26 on the field, gone are the old days when the coach ran the session.

Using a pace setter for the players who were just running. As Andy noted, how do you advertise for this job?

Keilty and Smith training with forwards. Were used exclusively as lead up link players in one drill.

Young 17 year old academy player (I’m told) will be one to watch. Built like the proverbial brick S...... worked with the mids and held his own.

Good to see Maynard out there in full training. 

We had pace setters a few years ago, from memory a couple were boundary umpires, the others middle distance track athletes.  They are great to use as they understand what pace they need to run at to hit the time targets.

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Couple of observations:

Melksham wearing tennis cap, so neither forward facing or not.

Counted 32 training staff, 26 on the field, gone are the old days when the coach ran the session.

Using a pace setter for the players who were just running. As Andy noted, how do you advertise for this job?

Keilty and Smith training with forwards. Were used exclusively as lead up link players in one drill.

Young 17 year old academy player (I’m told) will be one to watch. Built like the proverbial brick S...... worked with the mids and held his own.

Good to see Maynard out there in full training. 

At the end we had around 15-17 players doing the sprint sessions and I counted 25 MFC staff on the ground or on the fringes. Must have been some very special skill based sprinting they were doing (just kidding!) ... pretty sure I saw Neil Craig talking to coaching staff as well

Edited December 7, 20186 yr by Demons1858

Yes I can confirm that a gentleman matching Neil Craig's description was talking to Todd Viney on the boundary line for most of the session.

Just now, Demons1858 said:

At the end we had around 15-17 players doing the sprint sessions and I counted 25 MFC staff on the ground or on the fringes. Must have been some very special skill based sprinting they were doing ... pretty sure I saw Neil Craig talking to coaching staff as well

I was stunned by the amount of training and support staff at the session. We mean business and aint a two bit club no more.

Adem Yze hidding behind a tree on punt rd side of ground watching training intently.

Hawks finally worried about the mighty dees.