47 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

 

Thanks Saty.

I would say Hunt is also competing for a spot versus the small brigade you mentioned plus Spargo. Personally, I would have Hunt in front of the pack without having a real understanding of Pickett's AFL qualities.

I could see Jetta being overtaken by Lockhart, who is quicker but does not kick the ball as well. I don't see them playing in the same backline, so it will be an interesting contest. Jetta will get the nod if he can keep up with his man.

I agree that Jordon and Sparrow have little chance of being picked in the midfield and IMO they will need to find another role to get into side. I am a bit surprised they haven't put Sparrow in the Jetta, Lockhart contest.

I think Dunkley will be a good footballer. I am not sure he has the tank to play wing though. I understand he was a mid-season draftee, but he was a long way off the fitness required after half time and wing would be the hardest running position in the game today.

I like Petty and hopefully he and/or Weid can stand up this year.

I forgot Spargo, starting his rehab, after the ankle

Dunkley did a power of work in the break, came back looking really fit, has no issue running out the sessions

Disappointed for Nietschke, was looking good and was another being groomed for a wing

Ha ha good point on Nev, he knows, another who came back in great shape, even after his op

Has actually lifted all his times etc

Surprising what a bit of competition across all lines can do???

@Whispering_Jack  you can get a little excited on Bennell, in a week and a half, gone from walking laps to repeat half pace running and 40 metre kicks off both feet

2 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

I forgot Spargo, starting his rehab, after the ankle

Dunkley did a power of work in the break, came back looking really fit, has no issue running out the sessions

Disappointed for Nietschke, was looking good and was another being groomed for a wing

Ha ha good point on Nev, he knows, another who came back in great shape, even after his op

Has actually lifted all his times etc

Surprising what a bit of competition across all lines can do???

Thanks Saty

It sounds like Joel Smith is really fit, but why have they got him training with the backs after he showed something as a forward in the preseason last year?

22 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Thanks Saty

It sounds like Joel Smith is really fit, but why have they got him training with the backs after he showed something as a forward in the preseason last year?

Perhaps because Petty showed his forward acumen when needed so they have swapped them this year. Joel trained as a forward last preseason (and was playing well even on one leg) before injury struck. Perhaps he can be used as a swing man if needed.

2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Perhaps because Petty showed his forward acumen when needed. Joel trained as a forward last preseason (and was playing well even on one leg) before injury struck. Perhaps he can be used as a swing man if needed.

I am sure team balance has something to do with it. And the arrival of Jackson and the departure of Frost leaves us with one more tall forward and one fewer tall defender. However, I still think Smith will be a much better forward though, as his decision making and skills will be more likely to be exposed in the backline. Even a "good" kick like Fritsch was a liability in defence last year. Then when he went forward, he looked much better.

IMO being a forward is easier in modern footy as the options are generally a) go for goal; b) kick long to a tall option; or c) hit up the leading forward. In defence, there is a lot more to think about and turnovers tend to hurt more.

7 hours ago, binman said:

Watching that  clip reminded me of how few trult elite kicks we have had at the club in the last decade.

' few truly elite kicks,  and few truly elite hard headed players,  and few truly elite defenders going back a bit.  Not to mention few if any,  truly elite small half forwards in the ilk of a 'daicos', 'bosusto', 'bartlett', 'farmer'.?

2 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

@Whispering_Jack  you can get a little excited on Bennell, in a week and a half, gone from walking laps to repeat half pace running and 40 metre kicks off both feet

That's good but how will he go in real match conditions when the brakes are off, both for the player and his opponents ?

Irrespective of the medical diagnosis, anyone with chronic calf injuries knows the problem that accumulated scar tissue means for running. Its one thing to nurse the calves through light training another when you need to extend or go up a gear. 

When you think of the intensity of training and playing a full season, its a huge mountain that Bennell has to conquer.

Lets hope he does, and the club is obviously taking a cautious approach without any promises. All to gain nothing to lose.  

 

16 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Almost at the Christmas break and no players have come close to drowning. We’re winning. 

       but plenty waving arms about, ET.

And remembering fondly of course,  'beamer'.

18 hours ago, jnrmac said:

4 players going up to spoil. So they practice this now?

How Melbourne. No wonder we are good at doing it in games.

They're clearly not all trying to spoil. Those with open hands are trying to mark.

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

That's good but how will he go in real match conditions when the brakes are off, both for the player and his opponents ?

Irrespective of the medical diagnosis, anyone with chronic calf injuries knows the problem that accumulated scar tissue means for running. Its one thing to nurse the calves through light training another when you need to extend or go up a gear. 

When you think of the intensity of training and playing a full season, its a huge mountain that Bennell has to conquer.

Lets hope he does, and the club is obviously taking a cautious approach without any promises. All to gain nothing to lose.  

 

geez, ernie, did you have to bring reality into this dreamtime

let the punters have their jollies until march

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

That's good but how will he go in real match conditions when the brakes are off, both for the player and his opponents ?

Irrespective of the medical diagnosis, anyone with chronic calf injuries knows the problem that accumulated scar tissue means for running. Its one thing to nurse the calves through light training another when you need to extend or go up a gear. 

When you think of the intensity of training and playing a full season, its a huge mountain that Bennell has to conquer.

Lets hope he does, and the club is obviously taking a cautious approach without any promises. All to gain nothing to lose.  

 

The diagnosis in the article posted by Webber doesn't indicate calf tearing soleus muscle injury and associated scar tissue. It's suggesting friction induced inflammatory tendinopathy which sounds quite different. I'm not sure you can draw a line between Bennell's prognosis and "standard" repeated calf tears.

Edited December 19, 20195 yr by Fifty-5

On 12/18/2019 at 5:34 PM, Demonland said:

Unless he's undergone a radical procedure then no.

hi all, Deakin Pereira is my son. He stands around the 201 cm mark. He has just turned 17 in september. He takes a size 18 shoe. He has not touched a footy for nearly one and a half years. We were blessed to come to Train with Melbourne for 3 days and Deakin really enjoyed it. He is a basketballer and there have been numerous offers to play bball in the US. At present we are waiting on offers to go to a prep school in the USA. Deakin really enjoyed the challenge at Melbourne and time will tell if he sways back to AFL. the above photo is not him.

4 minutes ago, kylie pereira said:

hi all, Deakin Pereira is my son. He stands around the 201 cm mark. He has just turned 17 in september. He takes a size 18 shoe. He has not touched a footy for nearly one and a half years. We were blessed to come to Train with Melbourne for 3 days and Deakin really enjoyed it. He is a basketballer and there have been numerous offers to play bball in the US. At present we are waiting on offers to go to a prep school in the USA. Deakin really enjoyed the challenge at Melbourne and time will tell if he sways back to AFL. the above photo is not him.

Thank you for the clarification. All the best for Deakin. It would be a great opportunity if he can make it playing Bball in the US. He's always welcome at the Demons.

30 minutes ago, kylie pereira said:

hi all, Deakin Pereira is my son. He stands around the 201 cm mark. He has just turned 17 in september. He takes a size 18 shoe. He has not touched a footy for nearly one and a half years. We were blessed to come to Train with Melbourne for 3 days and Deakin really enjoyed it. He is a basketballer and there have been numerous offers to play bball in the US. At present we are waiting on offers to go to a prep school in the USA. Deakin really enjoyed the challenge at Melbourne and time will tell if he sways back to AFL. the above photo is not him.

a basketballer, you say? get around him cos that's the perfect prep for a future afl career!

very exciting to be waiting on offers from the states - good luck to your boy

3 hours ago, hemingway said:

That's good but how will he go in real match conditions when the brakes are off, both for the player and his opponents ?

Irrespective of the medical diagnosis, anyone with chronic calf injuries knows the problem that accumulated scar tissue means for running. Its one thing to nurse the calves through light training another when you need to extend or go up a gear. 

When you think of the intensity of training and playing a full season, its a huge mountain that Bennell has to conquer.

Lets hope he does, and the club is obviously taking a cautious approach without any promises. All to gain nothing to lose.  

 

Burgess and a couple of the guys who have arrived with him have experience with other sports, particularly soccer, where the issue Bennell has occurs more often

I think one of the reasons Bennell chose us is because of this, he had at least 4 other offers on the table

I wander around to rehab every time he appears, after any drill, there is also a lot of discussion, before moving onto the next bit, assume he wouldn't be allowed to progress if there was any discomfort

They do know what they are doing

 

10 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

a basketballer, you say? get around him cos that's the perfect prep for a future afl career!

very exciting to be waiting on offers from the states - good luck to your boy

He should hang around #5 who happens to be best mates with a handy professional basketballer who is playing with the Philadelphia 76ers at the moment.

4 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

Thanks Saty

It sounds like Joel Smith is really fit, but why have they got him training with the backs after he showed something as a forward in the preseason last year?

 

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

Perhaps because Petty showed his forward acumen when needed so they have swapped them this year. Joel trained as a forward last preseason (and was playing well even on one leg) before injury struck. Perhaps he can be used as a swing man if needed.

Joel Smith is training with the backs

He had OP,  he wasn't on one leg, that was explained at the forum

6 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

@Whispering_Jack  you can get a little excited on Bennell, in a week and a half, gone from walking laps to repeat half pace running and 40 metre kicks off both feet

Keeping the lid on it Saty. ?

5 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

The diagnosis in the article posted by Webber doesn't indicate calf tearing soleus muscle injury and associated scar tissue. It's suggesting friction induced inflammatory tendinopathy which sounds quite different. I'm not sure you can draw a line between Bennell's prognosis and "standard" repeated calf tears.

There you go,  my thoughts as well Fity5.

6 hours ago, hemingway said:

anyone with chronic calf injuries knows the problem that accumulated scar tissue means for running. Its one thing to nurse the calves through light training another when you need to extend or go up a gear.

Where has it been said that he has had repeated torn calf muscles.?   Maybe its just been tight calves that just won't release enough to play.?

On 12/18/2019 at 7:22 AM, whatwhatsaywhat said:

This Deakin Pereira?

https://www.meltonbasketball.com.au/copy-of-carl-davis

Fancy being 201cm at 17 years and still not the tallest teenager named Deakin Pereira living in Melbourne . . . 

I thought we were being cat-fished - but I think that dude's name in the link is Dau Akol and the photo has been mixed up. 

And that Mrs Pereira was incorrect in stating that Deakin P wasn't pictured above (overlooking the wider shot). 

Now I can sleep peacefully. Except for the remaining question of why everyone is now named Deakin . . . 

 

8 hours ago, Skuit said:

Fancy being 201cm at 17 years and still not the tallest teenager named Deakin Pereira living in Melbourne . . . 

I thought we were being cat-fished - but I think that dude's name in the link is Dau Akol and the photo has been mixed up. 

And that Mrs Pereira was incorrect in stating that Deakin P wasn't pictured above (overlooking the wider shot). 

Now I can sleep peacefully. Except for the remaining question of why everyone is now named Deakin . . . 

 

Deakin is a better name than RMIT, Skuit. You've been out of the country too long! ?

On 12/18/2019 at 6:57 PM, DeeSpencer said:

A new diagnosis that we all hope is the solution but could easily not be. The plantaris is gone but even if it was the cause he’ll still be susceptible to calf injuries given how many he’s had. To my untrained eye he looks round shouldered and hunched and not all that comfortable running. I think he’ll be a very slow build up. 

I am not an orthopod or a physio but the plantaris is a tiny muscle amongst some big company.  (I tore mine once and it hurt like hell for a few weeks but hadn’t bothered me since, not that I run or jump much.)  But as I understand it its tendon can somehow irritate the big boys around it (soleus and gastrocnemius) without causing them permanent damage. The theory behind the surgery seems to be that removing the irritant allows the main muscles to go on unhindered. 

On 12/18/2019 at 7:42 PM, Satyriconhome said:

Trac easing his way through traffic 

 

Kossie’s tackling technique, around the hips, looks great and will cause a good deal of grief especially for those with less core strength than CP5. 

On 12/18/2019 at 9:33 PM, Deeman said:

Thanks for that. One of my favourite pastimes is reading about midportion Achilles tendinopathy and this has just made my day.

Deeman. I had hoped to do just that but the link to the article wouldn’t open. 

On 12/19/2019 at 7:25 AM, PaulRB said:

On the Bennell hunched back thing, it reminds me of this bloke...

Sure. Nice photo, but was that guy ever any good?  After all didn't the Hawks delist him? ??

Edited December 20, 20195 yr by monoccular

3 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Deakin is a better name than RMIT, Skuit. You've been out of the country too long! ?

The latter may be true - as I'm currently in Morocco where Ahmit is a perfectly acceptable name. 

19 hours ago, Skuit said:

Fancy being 201cm at 17 years and still not the tallest teenager named Deakin Pereira living in Melbourne . . . 

I thought we were being cat-fished - but I think that dude's name in the link is Dau Akol and the photo has been mixed up. 

And that Mrs Pereira was incorrect in stating that Deakin P wasn't pictured above (overlooking the wider shot). 

Now I can sleep peacefully. Except for the remaining question of why everyone is now named Deakin . . . 

 

hi all we spoke to Melton bball and they were sorry about putting up the wrong picture, if you check it again Deakins picture is there. their measurement of Deakin is 203 cm