I would much prefer the use of this thread to be for new injuries. The closer we get to the end of preseason, the worse it is for possible heart break. If we can not have foot or knees issues in February we can be very hopeful of a great season. Sorry to be a sourpuss.

Is there a current list I know I know I'm lazy😇

No surprise that Petty is the Melbourne player nominated in this list.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/fit-and-firing-the-comeback-kid-who-ll-lift-your-afl-team-s-hopes-in-2024-20240204-p5f28b.html

Richmond have ruled Lynch out of round 0 and I wouldn’t be surprised if we do the same with Petty. The extra 10 days is just too valuable over the one game in Sydney 

17 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Richmond have ruled Lynch out of round 0 and I wouldn’t be surprised if we do the same with Petty. The extra 10 days is just too valuable over the one game in Sydney 

Good point much as I would like him to be available. 

 

 

Petty and McAdam ruled out of the Sydney game, apparently?

1 minute ago, whatwhat say what said:

Petty and McAdam ruled out of the Sydney game, apparently?

Where did you hear this? The Training thread or officially?

3 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Where did you hear this? The Training thread or officially?

Facebook forum 

they said it was on ch 7

Edited February 7, 20241 yr by whatwhat say what

Found the source  

Melbourne could be forced to field anundermanned and inexperienced forward line against Sydney in its season-opener next month as lingering injuries add to availability woes.

Just a month out from the Demons’ opening round clash with the Swans, defender-turned-forward Harrison Petty is still battling a foot injury and veteran key forward Tom McDonald had a fresh calf complaint at training on Wednesday. 

Petty — who booted eight goals across two games in attack late last season — has had a limited summer due to a Lisfranc injury he suffered last August. 

Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson said last week that the Demons were looking to “up the loads” for Petty and see “how he responds”. 

However, Petty did very little after taking part in some early drills at training on Wednesday, spending time on the exercise bike and doing weights while teammates took part in some modified match simulation.

McDonald was restricted to some ball work on the sidelines, while recruit Shane McAdam also trained away from the main group in a further concern. 

Fellow off-season signing Tom Fullarton (hamstring), key forward Ben Brown (knee) and marking mid-sized forward Jake Melksham (knee) have already been ruled out of the start of the season due to injury.

Livewire small Kysaiah Pickett impressed on Wednesday as he brought some magic in attack, but the 22-year-old is unavailable to take on the Swans after copping a one-match suspension for bumping Carlton captain Patrick Cripps in last year’s semi-final. 

The Demons will also be without Joel Smith — who booted three goals in last year’s semi-final — as he remains provisionally suspended after returning a positive result to an in-competition doping test last August. 

Melbourne is set to face off with Richmond in a seven-period match simulation hitout at Casey Fields on February 18, in preparation for its clash with the Swans at the SCG on March 7. 

OLIVER TREADING LIGHTLY

Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver remains on light training duties away from the main group.

Oliver spent most of Wednesday’s session running laps at Gosch’s Paddock, as well as doing some one-on-one ball work with assistant coach Andrew McQualter.

He had started training doing some roving drills with ruckman Max Gawn. 

The 26-year-old only returned to the track last week, after taking an extended break from the club to deal with personal issues. 

Teammate Christian Petracca had said on Tuesday that Oliver would “integrate soon” with the main group, but no official date has been put on his return. 

Rebounding defender Christian Salem – who has had recent hamstring niggles – ran laps with Oliver after taking part in some drills with the main group to start training. 

Wingman Lachie Hunter (calf) was also part of the rehabilitation group and completed a limited individual program.

This sounds absolutely cooked. McAdam is the most worrying of the recently injured, as i was hoping he’d cover for Kozzie in Rd 1. It is truly now or never for Josh Schache. He must be given an opportunity in Rd 1. 

2 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

This sounds absolutely cooked. McAdam is the most worrying of the recently injured, as i was hoping he’d cover for Kozzie in Rd 1. It is truly now or never for Josh Schache. He must be given an opportunity in Rd 1. 

nah, go small in the forward line at the scg

schache the sub

We really could do with a preseason trade or loan period right about now. 

33 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

This sounds absolutely cooked. McAdam is the most worrying of the recently injured, as i was hoping he’d cover for Kozzie in Rd 1. It is truly now or never for Josh Schache. He must be given an opportunity in Rd 1. 

McAdam isn’t a small forward

I’d take Schache over TMac. At least there’s an outside chance he’ll do something

 

While it is not ideal to have such a decimated forward line heading into 2024 I don't think it's all doom and gloom.

Going into round 1 we will likely see JVR, Fritsch and Schache as our key forward targets, gaining Kossie for Round 2 and then McAdams and Fullarton filtering in during the early part of the season.  I'm not convinced we will see a fit McDonald or Brown back in the side but either could play in place of Schache or Fullarton depending on injuries and form.

I'd anticipate Petty and Melksham to come in after the bye and at that point our list should be at full strength with the next 10 or so rounds to keep improving for September.

The bonus of starting the year without alot of firepower up forward will be the need to use the ball well out of the middle, a skill that will serve us well even when we have our first choice forwards available.

What exactly is wrong with McAdam

12 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

What exactly is wrong with McAdam

Reports mention calf awareness. He was doing a lot of jogging and light running today and to my untrained eye looked somewhat hampered. I initially thought hammy but could easily have been calf which is what is being reported albeit not directly from the club to the membership base yet.

1 hour ago, The Jackson FIX said:

McAdam isn’t a small forward

Well he isn’t a key forward either.

We can settle on midsized one.

19 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Well he isn’t a key forward either.

We can settle on midsized one.

We might have to go mid-sized if we run out of talls again

With a style of play to match it

What we do know is that the f50 entries has been acknowledged but needs to be enacted (both at practice and in the games)

There's a fair chance we'll see a new approach in the 2 practice games

5 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

nah, go small in the forward line at the scg

schache the sub

But have you thought about T.Mac? He may be injured but I think we're on to a winner here. Trust me. 

What is wrong with Jefferson? Is he injured or just not up to it yet?

5 hours ago, The Jackson FIX said:

What is wrong with Jefferson? Is he injured or just not up to it yet?

I can't recall hearing a reason but he has been doing a separate modified program away from the main group for the past few months at training. Over the past weeks he has slowly been integrating into the main group initially for the warm up drills and then doing a modified program when the contact drills began. Yesterday was the first time I have seen him in the contact drills but before the end he left the field (not necessarily because of anything sinister) to ride the bike in the shed.

I have not seen him much in a match situation but from limited viewings at trainings he has a great pair of hands, takes a good grab and has nice skills and a good kick. Can't comment on whether he has any mongrel in him but he laid a nice ferocious tackle at training yesterday. He got a lot of kudos from his teammates for it and I can only surmise that it was the type of congratulations you would receive if it was the type of actions the team wanted to see more of.