4 minutes ago, rjay said:

Good to see Ronald Dale Barassi has recovered from his recent bout of Covid and is training the house down!

 

42 minutes ago, rjay said:

Before I even scrolled down when I saw Clarry in this photo my mind flashed back to the RDB photo above and thought how close they were. 

It was always my favourite action photo of Barass when It was published after the 1961 Prelim Final we lost to  the Dogs that year.

Now I think  this is also a great photo of Clarry BUT no doubt we will and he deserves it be totally crazy over his one finger salute photo after his vital goal in the Bang Bang Bang trio just before 3/4 time in the GF.

A great photo still excites us just as much these days even with other avenues of memorabilia.

 

Sack that red backline group, they're hopeless! 😁

First bounce dogga loses the tap but recovers to win the clearance. beast

and check out kozzie's rundown of Hunt. awesome

and was that van rooyen with the strong mark on 2.18. good hands

17 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

 

Holy smokes! The Van Rooyen clunk!!

3 minutes ago, BDA said:

and was that van rooyen with the strong mark on 2.18. good hands

certainly was......

They look sharp but I guess they take the best looking plays in a package like that!

AMW seems to be getting a bit of it as well!

It's good to see they've mixed up the first choice team a bit - it's a great motivator for players outside the best 22 to knock the door down.  From memory pre-season last year many of the players said Jordon was a standout on the track and in match sim.

Is it me has Daw trimmed down body wise?

Well that was exhilarating

I come from a land down under
Where Demonlanders flow and weather looks like thunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder
You better run, you better take cover.

Oh! Do you come from a land down under (oh yeah yeah)
Where women and mens teams get set to plunder oh yeah
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder
You better run, you better take cover.

And so it came to pass that I set out with sunscreen, raincoat, steel capped boots, enough insect repellent to drown an army of flying, stinging insects and a slingshot to ward of any slitheras in sight to come down to the smouldering furnace that was Casey Fields. Was it hot?? It was hotter than when I took 9/26 all those years ago. now with the pleasantries out of the way lets get into the training report. as the above song title suggests the players were indeed hard and strong at work.

MODIFIED DUTIES 

Mitch Brown, and later Jake Lever, and Majak Daw

SKILLS, DRILLS AND MANOUVERS

Set 1a

Players were split into 2 groups in group 1 A Players were inside a marked witches hat configuration of about 40 meters x 40 m and were playing a highly energised game of corridor keepings of. The idea was to take possession and before being tagged select best option and dish of.

Set 1b

The other group did 3/4 ground match sims but with the added pressure that the coaches after a set play had been executed or a goal scored instead of returning to the centre the ball might be thron back into play from the opposite forward pocked or ball randomly kicked into play from any position on the ground. The idea seemed to be attack when you have the ball but then just as quickly defend resolutely when you haven't got the ball.

Set 2

This drill reminded me of an army of Cybermen running in formation in an absolute Blitzkrieg wave rolling relentlessly with ball in hand creating multiple overlaps and passing to next group of 4 and either handballing back or bypassing the footy to the next wave of players all surging forward it was a tsunami of beautiful free flowing ball  movement with scarcely any errors. Skills were quick and handball and or kicks were precise and effortless. this was done at 100% intensity.

Set 3

Goalkicking practice from every concievable match sim. There were set shots, corner shots, inside out shots, reverse angle shots inside out torpedo punt shots, the only shots missing were Shot glasses full of a delicious beverage or five!

Set 4

Full on match simulations two quarters of 20 minutes many highlights which I will now speak about under player watch

PLAYER WATCH AND ASTUTE OBSERVATIONS FENCE STYLE

TOMMY MAC Just an incredible performance today in drills and also match sims, he kicked at least 3-4 goals and took some very strong marks

CLAYTON OLIVER EXILLERATINGLY BREATHTAKING. just cannot be stopped and does what he likes, at one stage he was tackled by 3 players got a kick away to TRACC who was again prominant , who then got it to JV ditto just as prominant who got it to SPARGY who Goaled

JACOB VAN ROOYEN Wow is this kid gonna be something!! Took 3 pack marks and moved effortlessly in a forward line chock full of class.

FRASER ROSMAN Starting to get some confidence and did a few nice things and runs hard all day was pitted against Ed Langdon

DEAKIN SMITH will play this year runs to good spots and skills are developing niceley

ANDY MONIZ-WAKEFIELD This kid should also play this year, he zipped into play many times showing a great turn of speed and excellent disposal

BEN BROWN. Gee he was impressive, he is much fitter this year and as a forward roams far and wide. takes sticky fingers marks often

JAKE MELKSHAM Just when a few thought he was cooked he trained the house down and kicked some very classy goals and set up well as a forward.

OTHER RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

The players are extremely fit , quick and hungry, skills are at an all time high and every player knows instinctively the style of play required and also set plays in any match situation. There is genuine harmony within the group and the mantra of selfless footy resonates with this scribe. PF

https://twitter.com/melbournefc/status/1486871278124662784?s=20&t=Crk0zJj5NjfFAn-NfI_FzQ

 

Did Viney just hit a target inside forward 50 against our AA, premiership defence? Surely this video has been doctored :)

1 hour ago, rjay said:

I've thought that in previous pics of Oliver as well, think I even posted I might be dislexic because 13 is looking alot like 31.

If JVR plays like he looks like he will Jason Taylor needs to be formally recognised as the best in the business.

Andy Moniz Wakefield looked pretty classy in that clip also.

Kozzy just seems like he'll go up another level. Couldn't believe my eyes how he easily ran down Hunt.

The Jacob Van Rooyen clunk has me excited. Not only that but his ability to leap over Joel Smith who probably has one of the highest vertical leap at the club. Is it me or did that contested mark remind me of Aaron Naughton? very impressive.

Did I see Jake Bowey playing forward in those clips? Interesting!

 

As for Clarrie, in recent years he has reminded me a great deal of the great RDB. They have the same relentlessness, energy, attack on the game and on the ball, the same ability to galvanise the team.

Scary!

Great work, Pick. @picket fence

McVee has wheels

Great mark by JVR. Also, what was Tata doing in the 2s forward line?

38 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Kozzy just seems like he'll go up another level. Couldn't believe my eyes how he easily ran down Hunt.

He made Hunt look like he had cement boots on, not an easy feat.....

16 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Great mark by JVR. Also, what was Tata doing in the 2s forward line?

Form-based selection. You’re only as good as your last game 😏

31 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Andy Moniz Wakefield looked pretty classy in that clip also.

Kozzy just seems like he'll go up another level. Couldn't believe my eyes how he easily ran down Hunt.

The Jacob Van Rooyen clunk has me excited. Not only that but his ability to leap over Joel Smith who probably has one of the highest vertical leap at the club. Is it me or did that contested mark remind me of Aaron Naughton? very impressive.

Me too. At 194cm Van Rooyen will need a decent leap to be a key forward at AFL level (which is small for a key forward these days) and he looks to have excellent judgement/timing. 

35 minutes ago, picket fence said:

JAKE MELKSHAM Just when a few thought he was cooked he trained the house down and kicked some very classy goals and set up well as a forward.

 

So good to know how hard the boys are training. And your report is a delight to read! In particular, I’m so pleased to hear this about Melks. 

That Training vid was extremely good. 
good skills in January 

The pace of KK Pickett!!

These guys are switched on, ready for hard work