On 27/11/2023 at 02:29, Hawk the Demon said:

Listed on one site at 186 cms - closer to 183 I reckon.....

188 with the hair included.

Photo gallery is up.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1470139/afl-training-gallery-pre-season-begins?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1470139&playlistSize=10

Jefferson certainly looks like he's added a little bit of weight on.

Sparrow is a pure ball of muscle.

Blake Howes looks like he's put on a bit of weight as well.

Woey looking very fit.

Edited November 27, 20231 yr by dazzledavey36

The Rolls Royce!

  On 27/11/2023 at 05:29, dazzledavey36 said:

Photo gallery is up.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1470139/afl-training-gallery-pre-season-begins?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1470139&playlistSize=10

Jefferson certainly looks like he's added a little bit of weight on.

Sparrow is a pure ball of muscle.

Blake Howes looks like he's put on a bit of weight as well.

Woey looking very fit.

So Petty was there but not training (same as Fritta) - mystery solved.

  On 26/11/2023 at 23:21, Damo said:

Seems strange that Jake M has lost his number because he is a rookie.

I was told it’s temporary. Melks will be back in #18

  On 27/11/2023 at 05:47, Hawk the Demon said:

So Petty was there but not training (same as Fritta) - mystery solved.

Fritta trained separately, one on one with Selwyn. 

He’ll make a mighty fine javelin thrower one day. 😜

  On 27/11/2023 at 02:57, Fanatique Demon said:

Yes, have just noticed that 😝

We all did🤭

  On 27/11/2023 at 05:29, dazzledavey36 said:

Photo gallery is up.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1470139/afl-training-gallery-pre-season-begins?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1470139&playlistSize=10

Jefferson certainly looks like he's added a little bit of weight on.

Sparrow is a pure ball of muscle.

Blake Howes looks like he's put on a bit of weight as well.

Woey looking very fit.

The three that caught my eye today:

1. Woey. On a similar path to Sparrow as someone who for a couple of years (not so much now for Tom) has just come back noticeably thicker. We might have our answer for who can go on ball if we're shorter on depth after losing Harmes and JJ.

2. Rivers. He just looks cherry ripe. Leaner than before without losing strength. No idea how much they'll try him in the midfielder but if nothing else he'll be covering more ground.

3. The 2nd year talls. Jefferson is the obvious one because he was skinny to begin with and isn't now. But KFW  is a unit. Jed Adams looks good. And Verrall for a 199cm ruck is looking strong without losing mobility.

Questions for track watchers:

1) Were the tennis racquets out today?

2) What kind of magnet on whiteboard drills were the coaches practicing?

Fantastic to see Tmac up and and about.

It's worth remembering that this time last year Tmac was still rehabbing his foot injury.

In hindsight they made an error, albeit a very understandable one given a premiership was on the table, trying to rush him back at the end of the  2022 home and away season. 

But that decision stuffed Tmac's 2023 preseason as he struggled with complications for months. 

It's accepted fact that players who have interrupted preseasons struggle to get back to their best that season.

I suspect that was particularly true for Tmac, one because he had a foot injury which would have negatively impacted his aerobic conditioning. And two Tmac has said he needs to a mountain of work to get into peak shape. 

Tmac ended up having surgery last season (2023). I cant recall the specifics, but given it was foot surgery i assume it was likely related to his 2022 injury. He never got back his full mobility and speed over the ground when he came back in but at least it appears his foot was ok. 

A full preseason and no further injuries and Tmac still has a big role to play. 

Similarly, great to see Salo on deck. From memory he had a great pre xmas period last year (and maybe Jan too?) training wise but it all went pear shaped in Feb with his thyroid issue. Another season impacted by an interrupted preseason.

A full preseason and no further injuries and salo will be a critical piece of the puzzle next season. We desperately need him to get back to his 2021 form in terms of his ability to make high risk kicks.

If he can get back to that level it will massively help our transition game, but perhaps more importantly our ability to retain the ball in our back half and on transition. Turnovers in our opponent's half of the ground back cost us dearly in our home and away and finals losses to the blues and our QF loss to the Pies.

An in form Salo also takes some pressure of McVee and Bowey. Ideally both can be get more offensive and take on some high risks kicks too but that's harder if Salo is not at his best. 

Edited November 27, 20231 yr by binman

  On 26/11/2023 at 22:50, Jontee said:

McVee

A fair change.. but his number suited him, I get the why, but create a brand son! Pretty good number to get though, despite us not having the best of luck with it.. Chris Sullivan anyone? 

Some vision from training in this news report.

 

  On 26/11/2023 at 23:10, DeeSpencer said:

Kolt 39

Looks like being a gun.  I wonder if he considered Kolt 45.

  On 27/11/2023 at 08:07, Nudge said:

A fair change.. but his number suited him, I get the why, but create a brand son! Pretty good number to get though, despite us not having the best of luck with it.. Chris Sullivan anyone? 

Tony Sullivan. 191 games in the number 4. 👏👏 His son Chris Sullivan was given the number 4 to follow in his fathers footsteps. 

And a few seconds of footage at the end of this report too.

 

  On 25/11/2023 at 23:10, Redleg said:

Would have thought the penalty is back dated to the charging date, as long as the player has started serving that penalty at that time. Certainly that is the way the media articles were reading.

Yep but the problem is they won’t decide anything before the hearing and it’s already been over a month which is longer than the ban should be and no hearing date has been set as far as we’re aware. So the 1 month ban is a joke. 

  On 26/11/2023 at 23:21, Damo said:

Seems strange that Jake M has lost his number because he is a rookie.

 

  On 26/11/2023 at 23:22, Jaded No More said:

Hore might just be wearing this number temporarily for training. I don’t think they’ll take Jake’s number off him!

From @DeeSpencer post on numbers it looks like 27 is still free for Marty Hore to take.  That number has backline pedigree.

Marty's original number 34 is also free so that would be appropriate unless they want to save it for Kalani White in 2026 but that's a long way off.

Edited November 27, 20231 yr by old55

Noticed a video by Tom Mitchell with Jack Viney having a Jiu jitsu session with max Viney. Good to see tholstrup eager to learn and join! 

  On 27/11/2023 at 09:09, Its Time for Another said:

Yep but the problem is they won’t decide anything before the hearing and it’s already been over a month which is longer than the ban should be and no hearing date has been set as far as we’re aware. So the 1 month ban is a joke. 

Think media said likely 3 month ban.

  On 27/11/2023 at 08:11, spirit of norm smith said:

Tony Sullivan. 191 games in the number 4. 👏👏 His son Chris Sullivan was given the number 4 to follow in his fathers footsteps. 

Also the number l believe worn by your good self Norm. Quite an important number in Melbourne terms.

  On 27/11/2023 at 01:54, WalkingCivilWar said:

He’s great. Up until today I was having trouble warming to him. I got the impression he was a cocky little upstart. I even told him this. He said he appreciates my honesty and that he understands how people may see him that way. He’s definitely confident and seems really self-assured but not overly. I’m sold on him. 

good work WCW. Our Dland rep

  On 27/11/2023 at 03:12, The Jackson FIX said:

I agree with Volcano on very little, but I do agree it is a missed opportunity to make a strong statement to your teammates and to your supporters that you’re leaving no stone unturned in overcoming recent disappointments/let-downs. 

 

  On 27/11/2023 at 03:31, pilgrim said:

Agree, but let's spin it the other way. He's taking the time he needs (and has been granted) to enjoy his off season, get away from the city and reset. I'd rather him be happy, healthy and start on time instead of rushing back just to please people. 

Clarry has always been a hard trainer, that's the least his problems.

Agree with 'pilgrim' here.

Would rather see a happy, healthy player with a clear mind.

The only statement he needs to make is when he hits season 2024.

With his teammates, enjoying the game and back at his peak.

All the rest is BS.

You don't make statements in November...

  On 27/11/2023 at 10:30, Redleg said:

Think media said likely 3 month ban.

The Smith's think it will be a 3 month ban also as he took it socially he just has to prove it that's all.

I'll be going on Friday so everyone can look forward to a detailed report.

  On 27/11/2023 at 13:07, WERRIDEE said:

The Smith's think it will be a 3 month ban also as he took it socially he just has to prove it that's all.

He will already have served 3 months by the time there's a ruling. But the club still has to have its 2 cents, so internal consequences (match ban?) coming you'd think.