I ventured out to Gosch's Paddock on a beautiful sunny morning to bring you the following observations from this morning's Captain's Run.

Only Jack Viney on the track with one of the trainers who is belting balls into him at close range. Viney has no strapping on his knee.

May is here. Walking onto the field. Has a slight limp. 

May is in runners and training tshirt (not jumper). Looks like only named players training (Captain’s Run). Will keep you updated as to what May does or does not do. 

Of the 4 Emergencies only Melksham is here. (So far). 

Viney heading back to the rooms. He was doing some longer kicks before he left and he and the trainer seemed happy. Reckon he plays next week. Otherwise Rd 3 vs Swans. 

Yep definitely only Melksham of the 4 named Emergencies. I’d say he’s a certainty for the Sub. 

May assisting with training throwing the ball to players. Not moving all that well. No strapping but noticeable limp  

I can’t see him playing next week but I am not a medical expert. Just my gut feel.

Very light training sessions (Captains Run). Drills are short and sharp. 

May doing some kick to kick with Selwyn Griffiths now. Short and low 25m kicks. Now extended to higher 40m kicks. 

Looks like one of the TV stations camera men are here filming May so I’m sure we’ll see some vision later today. 

Melksham will be the Sub.

May now kicking to Griffith 50m from out of the square. 

They’re finished that now. May appears to be walking very gingerly. Perhaps exacerbated by the kicking practice. A few minutes later he was walking a lot better albeit with a slight, noticeable limp.

You’d assume it’s a strain and not a tear. Obviously not risking him this week. Perhaps he plays next week but I reckon we’ll be more conservative given his age and it being early in the season and perhaps the new conservative philosophy. Again I am not an expert. I have no medical training and am just going by my own observations and gut feel. I have no idea on timeframes nor the severity of the injury. Just reporting my observations. He was able to kick. He wasn’t running. You could tell he was limping but it wasn’t an overly exaggerated limp. 

May was kicking well off one step and then when they finished and were walking back to the sidelines he was walking gingerly with a noticeable limp. I’m no expert obviously but perhaps the kick to kick from short pass then to longer passes slightly aggravated his soreness. He’s walking around the boundary a lot better now. Clearly there is a strain to the calf. It’s by no means a long term injury. 

Team has split up into two separate groups doing the same drill on opposite sides of the ground. 6 on 3 keepings off hand ball drill culminating in kicking to a lone forward in the square. Lone forwards have been Brown, Gawn, Grundy, TMac and Melksham. 

The 2nds have just come on to the field. They’re just on the sidelines at the moment and I assume they are training separately right after the Captain’s Run. 

Salem is in training jumper with his trusty wrist strapping so I assume he will be training. 

Fritsch is in training tshirt perhaps indicating that he won’t be participating in full training. 

I can’t stay for the entire 2nds training but will Report on whether Bayley trains or not. 

Salem definitely training with the 2s. 

Fritsch just having shots on goal. Nailing most of the them. 

That’s a wrap from Preseason Training. 

A massive thanks to all of our trackwatchers over the summer. You’ve lifted the bar for future seasons. 

That’s a wrap from Preseason Training. 

A massive thanks to all of our trackwatchers over the summer. You’ve lifted the bar for future seasons. 

Thanks to @kev martin @picket fence @Slartibartfast @george_on_the_outer @Gator @DeelightfulPlay @DeeSpencer @dazzledavey36 @Nudge @Wizard333 @McQueen @Tough Kent @Yokozuna @Dee Zephyr @Stiff Arm @EMDE @Bitter but optimistic @stinga @RedLegs23 @waynewussell @DemonWheels @Deespicable @old dee @dworship @Tim 

Apologies to anybody I missed.

KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

Gorgeous morning at Gosch's.

They walk to the paddock in separated groups. A mingled splattering of goal kickers and talkers. Goody and Chapman enter, the whistle blows, and they're away.

A tight circle as they hear from Marty (club volunteer) and welcome the debutantes.

They hit their straps in a six station drill, and found their voices in the three players running through the centre, passing and running on.

A slow motion sim, as players under the ball are given time. Though not much space. The coaches instructing as to who would get the stoppage, or would take the ball with a request or call on the lead. Goody pumped a long kick down the corridor. Chocco leading and trying high skill kicking. Other trainers in as well.

McVee hanging with the backline group.

Bowey focused.

Laurie looked completely ready. Had a great training. He backed up his team-mates a couple of times.

Tomlinson is looking fast and tall.

Melky barely missed a goal.

BBB turning well when switching within the triangles.

The park had, Storm with full teams training, and The Victory about to go through their issues. 

GO DEES

Thanks Demonland and KV greatly appreciated. Now on to the real stuff.
Go Dees.!!!

Kudos to Andy for getting along to so much training this year. I've particularly enjoyed the extra reporting from yourself and a special mention to Kev Martin. Thanks also to the others who have ventured out and provided some terrific observations. I think it's appropriate to acknowledge some of the people such as Slart and Hawk, who I have disagreed with vehemently over the preseason, they have still contributed to the reports and I thank them for their contribution. Regardless of my opinions on some matters, I believe them to be passionate MFC people and say simply GO DEES!!

How do i find out when and where training is on?