I arrived at 9.15am to find the match sims well underway and I imagine they started early to allow them time to get organized for the community camp at Yea.

On the rugby oval adjacent to Gosch's a few are the boys were doing some gentle drills.  Clarrie, Nibbler, AMW, Jefferson and Melk were doing a bit of keeping off, handball drills and some running.  I only watched as I made my way to the main oval.

J Smith and Verrell were doing running around the boundary and as far as I could tell the only no shows were Salo and Lingers.  All the rest were involved in the match sims including Gawny and Jake Lever.  Goody would throw the ball in on the wing and the white and blue team would contest from there.  Brodie got a lesson from Max over the journey but Brodie was good around the ground and did some good ruck work on the odd occasion when he got the better of Max.  JJ was playing inside mid in the absence of Clarrie and was doing very well.  He was very clean and won a number of clearances.  Kyah Farris-White was playing as a KPF with Brown and TMac and really didn't get into it but it's interesting that they see a bit of KPF in him.  May was in everything and a real standout on the day and Max was marking very well around the ground.

JvR continues to impress.  On one occasion he was involved in a marking contest at FF with the ball bouncing away to another player who was 15 metres away but he then pressured and tackled the defender drawing applause from Goody and the players.  He's very competitive when the ball hits the ground and I'd hate to be the match committee selecting the KPF if all the boys are fit.  In another piece of play the ball was cleared from the centre wing throw in and was kicked forward.  JvR took the bouncing ball at full pace and instantly handballed to Spargs who kicked beautifully to Fritta.  It was a fantastic piece of play again drawing applause from Goody and the staff.

After match sims they broke into three groups and did craft training.  One was marking practice and on one occasion Kossie sat on his opponent's head and took a screamer.  When he landed he jarred his knee and went to get some medical attention but returned and completed the running at the end of the session.

The session finished at about 10.40 and the players all headed off together.  I imagine it will be a pretty relaxed skills session at Yea tomorrow with a lot of meet and greet particularly if the advertised training session is on again at Gosch's on Wednesday.

Edited February 6, 20233 yr by Whispering_Jack
J Smith

Thanks @Slartibartfast. Now that the season is getting close the prospect of Gawn and Grundy playing together is certainly building the excitement. From all your and others reports it sounds like they're very competitive against each other. They showed a Pies/Ess match from 2019 on TV the other day and I forgot how good Grundy was back then.

Thanks @Slartibartfast. I thought the team was off to do Community Service today?

This means training today, tomorrow (Yea) and the Open Session at Gosch's on Wednesday. I hope the Wednesday's Advertised Open Session isn't moved or cancelled again.

So Clarry is officially on the injury list. And so is Nibbler it seems.

Good to note that Max, Lever and Spargs have returned to full training.

31 minutes ago, Demonland said:

So Clarry is officially on the injury list. And so is Nibbler it seems.

Good to note that Max, Lever and Spargs have returned to full training.

And now Salem

 

1 hour ago, Travy14 said:

And now Salem

 

Nice report SBF.

Interesting to see JJ get a shot at the inside. 

10 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

That’s a bit of a worry because I have a feeling that Salem might have had thyroid issues early in his career. 

2 hours ago, Slartibartfast said:

Smith and Verrell were doing running around the boundary and as far as I could tell the only no shows were Salo and Lingers. 

Question - which Smith?

7 minutes ago, The Third Eye said:

Question - which Smith?

Both have been in rehab of late. I thought Deakyn had returned to full training so I assume the Smith referred to here is Joel. @Slartibartfast will no doubt confirm.

24 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

That’s a bit of a worry because I have a feeling that Salem might have had thyroid issues early in his career. 

My recollection, too, WJ (welcome back, btw). Can anyone track down the contemporary reports? And how long he was out?

Just now, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

My recollection, too, WJ (welcome back, btw). Can anyone track down the contemporary reports? And how long he was out?

Just confirmed on the MFC site:-

Injury Update | Christian Salem

9 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

My recollection, too, WJ (welcome back, btw). Can anyone track down the contemporary reports? And how long he was out?

Here is an article from June 2016 when Salem was edging closer to a return from a thyroid issue. The article refers to him going back on medications he took in 2014 when a similar problem surfaced.

I assume the club and his doctors are on top of it.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/40227/return-edges-closer-for-ill-demon-christian-salem

1 minute ago, Demonland said:

Here is an article from June 2016 when Salem was edging closer to a return from a thyroid issue. The article refers to him going back on medications he took in 2014 when a similar problem surfaced.

I assume the club and his doctors are on top of it.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/40227/return-edges-closer-for-ill-demon-christian-salem

Thanks, DL. I'm responding further over on the dedicated thread.

 

 

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Here is an article from June 2016 when Salem was edging closer to a return from a thyroid issue. The article refers to him going back on medications he took in 2014 when a similar problem surfaced.

I assume the club and his doctors are on top of it.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/40227/return-edges-closer-for-ill-demon-christian-salem

Unfortunately he only played 1 more game that season after this article and it was the final round

5 hours ago, Slartibartfast said:

I arrived at 9.15am to find the match sims well underway and I imagine they started early to allow them time to get organized for the community camp at Yea.

On the rugby oval adjacent to Gosch's a few are the boys were doing some gentle drills.  Clarrie, Nibbler, AMW, Jefferson and Melk were doing a bit of keeping off, handball drills and some running.  I only watched as I made my way to the main oval.

Smith and Verrell were doing running around the boundary and as far as I could tell the only no shows were Salo and Lingers.  All the rest were involved in the match sims including Gawny and Jake Lever.  Goody would throw the ball in on the wing and the white and blue team would contest from there.  Brodie got a lesson from Max over the journey but Brodie was good around the ground and did some good ruck work on the odd occasion when he got the better of Max.  JJ was playing inside mid in the absence of Clarrie and was doing very well.  He was very clean and won a number of clearances.  Kyah Farris-White was playing as a KPF with Brown and TMac and really didn't get into it but it's interesting that they see a bit of KPF in him.  May was in everything and a real standout on the day and Max was marking very well around the ground.

JvR continues to impress.  On one occasion he was involved in a marking contest at FF with the ball bouncing away to another player who was 15 metres away but he then pressured and tackled the defender drawing applause from Goody and the players.  He's very competitive when the ball hits the ground and I'd hate to be the match committee selecting the KPF if all the boys are fit.  In another piece of play the ball was cleared from the centre wing throw in and was kicked forward.  JvR took the bouncing ball at full pace and instantly handballed to Spargs who kicked beautifully to Fritta.  It was a fantastic piece of play again drawing applause from Goody and the staff.

After match sims they broke into three groups and did craft training.  One was marking practice and on one occasion Kossie sat on his opponent's head and took a screamer.  When he landed he jarred his knee and went to get some medical attention but returned and completed the running at the end of the session.

The session finished at about 10.40 and the players all headed off together.  I imagine it will be a pretty relaxed skills session at Yea tomorrow with a lot of meet and greet particularly if the advertised training session is on again at Gosch's on Wednesday.

Thanks for the report "Blaster" Is anyone else concerned that Clarrie obviously is still hampered by the Thumb injury caused by that ( Censored ) Sellwood??

Track action. 👌 pic.twitter.com/28Tdw4utSP

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) February 6, 2023

3 hours ago, The Third Eye said:

Question - which Smith?

At the risk of prompting another Dazzle "why did we sign him up for 2 years" I have to advise it was Joel.

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

Thanks for the report "Blaster" Is anyone else concerned that Clarrie obviously is still hampered by the Thumb injury caused by that ( Censored ) Sellwood??

yes

5 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

That’s a bit of a worry because I have a feeling that Salem might have had thyroid issues early in his career. 

.... and recovered very well

17 minutes ago, monoccular said:

.... and recovered very well

....albeit very slowly