6 minutes ago, furious d said:

Sorry to be a bit slow but this is my first chance to post for a couple of days. Not going to add anything to yesterdays training reports as it was a very light session but I did get to a members chat/coaching seminar in Seymour on Monday night. Goody, Choco, Richo and Ooze spoke and answered questions for local members and budding coaches for an hour and a half.

The players and coaches did a clinic for the local youngsters right up to under 18's beforehand and with the main oval in Seymour still closed since the flood, the clinic happened at the oval across the road from my place. Didn't know the clinic was there and got a massive surprise to walk out the front door Monday arvo and see Max, Tracc and Clarry running around. I had seen Josh Schache running laps on that oval during the summer break and commented to a fellow local demon that he was the first Melbourne player I had seen running around town since I was a kid worshipping local blokes Russell Richards and Mick O'Sullivan. Just a few weeks later and the whole squad show up. I was more than a little chuffed. 

So anyway, on to the important stuff, what the coaches said.

They said both Max and Grundy will spend time forward but Goody also said Max was knackered at the end last year, he's not young anymore, and they don't think he can play 25 games and still be cherry ripe at the pointy end. Expect to see him "managed" a bit throughout the year. Also talked up Schache"s preseason and improvement in his ruck work, said he'll definitely get opportunities. They also said Clarry and Trac were pretty beat up at the end of last year at hinted at more mid rotation and possibly more bench time to have them cherry ripe for finals. 

Goody is a massive Petty fan and said he could be one of the great defenders of the game, better than Maysie. He acknowledged that was a huge call but all the coaches were very strong in their praise of Petty. They also said great teams start with a great defence and they believed ours is up there with the best in the comp and that is largely due to the big 3 May, Lever and Petty and they aren't keen to break that up to send Petty forward.

They said Van Rooyen will play but not necessarily round 1. Choco was very strong on not only do recruits have to be ready for the rigours of AFL footy but they have to go past the player who has their spot in the team. He said BBB kicked six in match practice last week and TMac is moving really well so there is real competition for KPF spots.

It sounded like Hunter was a monty to play round 1 and they see him as best 22.

They hinted at something being missing last year. Hunger, intensity, desire, the intangibles were off right from preseason. It was something I noticed in games all last year. Our attack at the man and the ball and our intensity just weren't at 2021 levels. They said it is back this year with interest. Also said their analysis showed we were struggling in the back half last year and we weren't any near what is required to win a premiership and there will be more effort to keep the list fresh. Emphasised it was a delicate balance but they ned to give the young blokes opportunities. So I think we should expect to see more changes week to week than last year which is a good thing.

Some of the more coaching related questions gave interesting insights as well. Goody was asked about turning around our culture from what it was when he first arrived and he told a story where a player said to him after they just missed finals in 2020 that the team just didn't have enough players with the will to win. Goody asked him how many he thought had it and he said he thought maybe 12. Goody then asked him how many he thought there was at the club when he first arrived and his answer was 2. Goody said if the 12 of you put in the work and have a massive preseason maybe we'll have 14 by the end of it. Win a few games early and maybe there will be 18 by midseason and 22 by finals. Goody was very big on trying to get everyone on board, inclusion and respect seem to be the major drivers. If players feel wanted, respected and that they have a voice they'll buy into the team first ethos necessary to turn a talented list into a premiership one.

I think it was Choco who singled out one of the young fellas who had been at the clinic and had hung around to listen to the coaches afterwards. He asked the young bloke if he was the one who ran 150 metres when the session finished to thank Goody and the other coaches for their time. Choco said they had all been impressed by that and even the players had mentioned it as a Melbourne thing to do.

Goody was asked at one point how much he got out of study trips abroad and seminars and the like and he said you never know but hope for a few good insights, but stressed to the upcoming coaches that they don't always cost thousands. He said one of the best he ever did was a $60 internet webinar during covid which I think he said was more for business. It was about valuing and respecting your employees and getting better results, "immersing them in the river."

I left feeling the club is in good hands and pretty bullish about the season ahead. Go you bloody demons!

 

Great info furious. Enjoyed your summary with its insights. 
The feedback I got from the folks in the area was overwhelmingly positive. The players and coaches were engaged with the kids and enjoying the moment. Not all Dees fans either. The goodwill created by the community engagement is enormous. You realise that we have a quality group of players. Talented and with great values. All leaders in their own way. Obviously Max, BBB, Vines, Mayzie and Trac standout but they all seem impressive in the way they present and the behaviours they exhibit. Hopefully we will win another flag in the next year or two but if not I will still get enormous satisfaction in supporting such a strong club that is doing everything right in its quest for success. We have great people on board. We have come a long way baby. 

Amazing @furious d..

This is the kind of [censored] I love hearing from the coaches, especially when an opportunity to ask questions etc.

 

51 minutes ago, furious d said:

Sorry to be a bit slow but this is my first chance to post for a couple of days. Not going to add anything to yesterdays training reports as it was a very light session but I did get to a members chat/coaching seminar in Seymour on Monday night. Goody, Choco, Richo and Ooze spoke and answered questions for local members and budding coaches for an hour and a half.

The players and coaches did a clinic for the local youngsters right up to under 18's beforehand and with the main oval in Seymour still closed since the flood, the clinic happened at the oval across the road from my place. Didn't know the clinic was there and got a massive surprise to walk out the front door Monday arvo and see Max, Tracc and Clarry running around. I had seen Josh Schache running laps on that oval during the summer break and commented to a fellow local demon that he was the first Melbourne player I had seen running around town since I was a kid worshipping local blokes Russell Richards and Mick O'Sullivan. Just a few weeks later and the whole squad show up. I was more than a little chuffed. 

So anyway, on to the important stuff, what the coaches said.

They said both Max and Grundy will spend time forward but Goody also said Max was knackered at the end last year, he's not young anymore, and they don't think he can play 25 games and still be cherry ripe at the pointy end. Expect to see him "managed" a bit throughout the year. Also talked up Schache"s preseason and improvement in his ruck work, said he'll definitely get opportunities. They also said Clarry and Trac were pretty beat up at the end of last year at hinted at more mid rotation and possibly more bench time to have them cherry ripe for finals. 

Goody is a massive Petty fan and said he could be one of the great defenders of the game, better than Maysie. He acknowledged that was a huge call but all the coaches were very strong in their praise of Petty. They also said great teams start with a great defence and they believed ours is up there with the best in the comp and that is largely due to the big 3 May, Lever and Petty and they aren't keen to break that up to send Petty forward.

They said Van Rooyen will play but not necessarily round 1. Choco was very strong on not only do recruits have to be ready for the rigours of AFL footy but they have to go past the player who has their spot in the team. He said BBB kicked six in match practice last week and TMac is moving really well so there is real competition for KPF spots.

It sounded like Hunter was a monty to play round 1 and they see him as best 22.

They hinted at something being missing last year. Hunger, intensity, desire, the intangibles were off right from preseason. It was something I noticed in games all last year. Our attack at the man and the ball and our intensity just weren't at 2021 levels. They said it is back this year with interest. Also said their analysis showed we were struggling in the back half last year and we weren't any near what is required to win a premiership and there will be more effort to keep the list fresh. Emphasised it was a delicate balance but they ned to give the young blokes opportunities. So I think we should expect to see more changes week to week than last year which is a good thing.

Some of the more coaching related questions gave interesting insights as well. Goody was asked about turning around our culture from what it was when he first arrived and he told a story where a player said to him after they just missed finals in 2020 that the team just didn't have enough players with the will to win. Goody asked him how many he thought had it and he said he thought maybe 12. Goody then asked him how many he thought there was at the club when he first arrived and his answer was 2. Goody said if the 12 of you put in the work and have a massive preseason maybe we'll have 14 by the end of it. Win a few games early and maybe there will be 18 by midseason and 22 by finals. Goody was very big on trying to get everyone on board, inclusion and respect seem to be the major drivers. If players feel wanted, respected and that they have a voice they'll buy into the team first ethos necessary to turn a talented list into a premiership one.

I think it was Choco who singled out one of the young fellas who had been at the clinic and had hung around to listen to the coaches afterwards. He asked the young bloke if he was the one who ran 150 metres when the session finished to thank Goody and the other coaches for their time. Choco said they had all been impressed by that and even the players had mentioned it as a Melbourne thing to do.

Goody was asked at one point how much he got out of study trips abroad and seminars and the like and he said you never know but hope for a few good insights, but stressed to the upcoming coaches that they don't always cost thousands. He said one of the best he ever did was a $60 internet webinar during covid which I think he said was more for business. It was about valuing and respecting your employees and getting better results, "immersing them in the river."

I left feeling the club is in good hands and pretty bullish about the season ahead. Go you bloody demons!

 

Wonderful Report Furious.

Sounds as  though reviews and some soul searching have elicited some missing items in last years season especially in comparison to 2021, not just the fitness freshness angle that stood out. 2021 was always going to be bloody hard to replicate but that's what making subtle changes to the team helps keep all on their tows.

I think their is collective agreement within the A team from last season that we were not as committed and unified as 2021 so it's great to see that this standard is already producing a greater overall standard that will undoubtedly be needed along with some tweaks and I think areas of greater player improvement which will make us a very hard team to beat when the whips are cracking.

Fantastic report on Coaches Forum has me absolutely convinced we have taken our medicine last year and are hell bent on success this season. Can't wait to see us out on the G winning those last halves instead of falling short. 

Go Dees !!! Make 2023 our 14th Flag and rule this extraordinary bloody hard competition again. Love the sound of "The Reigning Premiers" or the written words also!!!

Thanks @dazzledavey36 and @furious d great stuff guys.

How's my man Viney doing?