7 minutes ago, adonski said:

Jeffo kick 10?

11

3 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Got down to Gosch's for an hour before the rain set in. Kev has offered some excellent observations so only a few things I can add. I'm usually very positive in general about all things MFC, so excuse me if I note a few negatives on the way through. I was looking for improvement. On that scale, I was impressed with Jefferson's movement, pace and marking up forward. Roo looked good, but regularly ran to a spot on the spread (which was a focus of forward patterns) that was ignored by the incoming ball carrier. Verrall looked good in the ball movement exercises from the backline, agile and clean by hand and foot. Key backs were McDonald (who looked fit and sharp), Howes (who gathered cleanly and created change of direction), Hore (injury free and fit), Judd (Rolls Royce, who was also used further up ground), AMW (I have him in my starting 23 in 2025) & Verrall (on occasions). Woewodin looks fit and balanced with ball movement. 

Things that disappointed (because they were evident during 2024 season)

Tholstrup occasionally gets into trouble with a fumble that allows defender to close him down and tackle.

Brown sometimes holds on to it for too long, kicks under pressure and misses targets.

Bowey seems in two minds with the ball, slows down flow and misses target enough to put the receiver under unnecessary pressure.

Set shots, when taken, were still 50/50 proposition.

Things that excited... 

Windsor continued on his merry way

Rivers looked composed and strong (at one point he ran down Viney and tackled him to the ground in a face plant. No 7 was surprised but not impressed!).

Sparrow is trim and looks to have added a little speed to his movement.

 

 

Wayne, this training report is great. It's okay to have a balance of positive and negative because at the end of the day you're calling it as you see it which is all we ask for. There needs to be more of this. @kev martin and @DeeSpencer when he gets down, do this really well.

The ones that are annoying the most are the million dollar reports where there's been no mistakes made and everything is all rosy and sunshine.

Thanks for the report 👍

38 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

Hearing McAdam is about to call it quits

Not quite sure why you added a laugh emoji to whatsaywhat's post - your record with mail is worse than Tom Morris’s!

7 minutes ago, picket fence said:

If so what a Monumental recruiting stuff up! Essentally Nibbler gone for a possibly gone Mc Adams🤯😵‍💫 How utterly Melbourne!

How utterly un-melbourne like, given our recent record with 2nd round picks. Hibberd, Melksham, Langdon anyone?

Edited November 13, 2024Nov 13 by John Demonic

6 minutes ago, picket fence said:

If so what a Monumental recruiting stuff up! Essentally Nibbler gone for a possibly gone Mc Adams🤯😵‍💫 How utterly Melbourne!

McAdam has nothing to do with ANB, let’s wait and see what happens before we torch the club.🔥🔥

Kentfield is one of the youngest players in the AFL (until draft night), positive he is stacking on size so early.

4 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Does anyone who attended training know who the bloke was that Bill introduced to the whole squad early on in the session?

Think it was Harry Sharp.

1 hour ago, kev martin said:

Laurie and Fritsch 

Didn't see Salem.

Cheers Kev.

1 hour ago, waynewussell said:

One thing I noticed at today's training that I hadn't noticed to the same degree previously... Players immediately ran off-line when they took a mark and wanted to play on. In continuous play, the receiver's first steps were to either side rather than straight ahead. I understand that players who are evasive do this instinctively, but today it seemed uniform practice to get the approaching opponent off balance.

Now that sounds promising...

From today's forward structure in some sims. Looks like they are going with a 4 man set-up. 3 marking players high up, well spaced. One leads back, one leads forward and the other towards the boundary. When the ball transitioned in, Chaplin would call "go", he wanted the energy and acceleration to his system. The fourth (Sestan) was just outside the fifty and central to the game as he became the first receiver from the mids, and became the kicker. Though they only had two defenders in there, AMW and Petty, they stuffed up a few times. Mostly they were supportive. Early on in the stuff ups, a few got serious (Turner and JVR, "basic kicks" needed) and pushed Sestan (who responded well) to get it right. There was also a flood of players (small flankers) into the area after the first entry, often into the straight out and 30 infront, which worked once the ball became a ground ball get. Tough conditions as these sims happened in the rain and wind.

I hope Chaplin has an abundance of plays in his "scrap book", as the players seem to be responding to him, with clear understanding of purpose and intention. Execution on the other hand, may take time. I reckon repeat, repeat and repeat again.

11 minutes ago, kev martin said:

From today's forward structure in some sims. Looks like they are going with a 4 man set-up. 3 marking players high up, well spaced. One leads back, one leads forward and the other towards the boundary. When the ball transitioned in, Chaplin would call "go", he wanted the energy and acceleration to his system. The fourth (Sestan) was just outside the fifty and central to the game as he became the first receiver from the mids, and became the kicker. Though they only had two defenders in there, AMW and Petty, they stuffed up a few times. Mostly they were supportive. Early on in the stuff ups, a few got serious (Turner and JVR, "basic kicks" needed) and pushed Sestan (who responded well) to get it right. There was also a flood of players (small flankers) into the area after the first entry, often into the straight out and 30 infront, which worked once the ball became a ground ball get. Tough conditions as these sims happened in the rain and wind.

I hope Chaplin has an abundance of plays in his "scrap book", as the players seem to be responding to him, with clear understanding of purpose and intention. Execution on the other hand, may take time. I reckon repeat, repeat and repeat again.

Im loving these reports from all the watchers

It’s refreshing to see some real change in method!

Hopefully it continues

Thanks Kev and fellow track watchers

Edited November 13, 2024Nov 13 by BW511

7 hours ago, Slartibartfast said:

Sparrow and Rivers trained today. Seston and Windsor stood out. Kentfield is a really big unit. Adam’s doing lots of running and not looking in any discomfort. 

Is Adams turning a corner to match fitness, to readiness, to being a really valuable asset? It seems as if the football world is waiting patiently to elicit his alleged talents - is this possible, y'reckon?

Likely McAdam will win the best and fairest

24 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Likely McAdam will win the best and fairest

Yes a real chance at Manangatang this year.

Kentfield has a very good set shot for goal, though his marking was on and off today, especially when the rain came. Though he wasn’t alone. The one who stood out marking in the wet was Disco

1 hour ago, kev martin said:

From today's forward structure in some sims. Looks like they are going with a 4 man set-up. 3 marking players high up, well spaced. One leads back, one leads forward and the other towards the boundary. When the ball transitioned in, Chaplin would call "go", he wanted the energy and acceleration to his system. The fourth (Sestan) was just outside the fifty and central to the game as he became the first receiver from the mids, and became the kicker. Though they only had two defenders in there, AMW and Petty, they stuffed up a few times. Mostly they were supportive. Early on in the stuff ups, a few got serious (Turner and JVR, "basic kicks" needed) and pushed Sestan (who responded well) to get it right. There was also a flood of players (small flankers) into the area after the first entry, often into the straight out and 30 infront, which worked once the ball became a ground ball get. Tough conditions as these sims happened in the rain and wind.

I hope Chaplin has an abundance of plays in his "scrap book", as the players seem to be responding to him, with clear understanding of purpose and intention. Execution on the other hand, may take time. I reckon repeat, repeat and repeat again.

Good to hear they are working on the forward line like that, be interested to see how it goes when the mids get involved and their decision making, but least that's a positive start.

3 hours ago, SthSea22 said:

Hearing McAdam is about to call it quits

Have you seen another cover letter SthSea?

21 minutes ago, demon3165 said:

Good to hear they are working on the forward line like that, be interested to see how it goes when the mids get involved and their decision making, but least that's a positive start.

I thought the same thing.

Looks like Chaplin gets along well with Goody. Last Monday they were seen walking off into the setting sun together, or at least crossing the Yarra from the Paddock. It is a Goody/Chaplin team at the moment.

Be interesting to see how the "oldies" adapt to the new methods.

Seems like Chaplin will also have a fair bit of say in how he wants the mids to deliver the ball. It was the group he was hanging around with when the forward structured sims begun. He would talk and instruct the forwards after the action.

Edited November 13, 2024Nov 13 by kev martin

2 minutes ago, kev martin said:

I thought the same thing.

Looks like Chaplin gets along well with Goody. Last Monday they were seen walking off into the setting sun together, or at least crossing the Yarra from the Paddock. It is a Goody/Chaplin team at the moment.

Be interesting to see how the "oldies" adapt to the new methods.

Seems like Chaplin will also have a fair bit of say in how he wants the mids to deliver the ball. It was the group he was hanging around with when the forward structured sims begun. Then he would talk and instruct the forwards after the action.

Thanks for that.

Was Charlie Spargo there? I'm interested to see if he can get in a preseason after his Achilles dramas last year.

3 hours ago, binman said:

Not quite sure why you added a laugh emoji to whatsaywhat's post - your record with mail is worse than Tom Morris’s!

tom gets it right more often than not

scoops manure, on the other hand...

Edited November 13, 2024Nov 13 by whatwhat say what

They had the scoreboard out and running today. They used it during full sims. It seems the score is based on more than just goals and behinds. There is also a reading for possession of the ball. Today the possession percentage in the first 3 minutes was 6% bibs and 65% non-bibs (some time in dispute). Bibs came back at them as the sims continued. Amazing that they are getting their competitive juices flowing early.

This pre-seasons training is similar to when they are in home and away mode. Skills, structures, and processes are emphasised. They are doing very little running, and seem to have come back in great shape. Perhaps they all had a running program during their break. 

Edited November 13, 2024Nov 13 by kev martin

Huge thanks to Kev, Ditcha, waynew…….., Katrina & Ghost writer, Hawk and all other posters, greatly appreciated so much going on at training it’s a veritable smorgasbord loving the detailed reports and snippets of info. The boys have really come back ready to roll.👍👍👍

I’m not reading much into “positions” yet as there aren’t enough for a proper sim where players can play their usual positions. It’s still a wait and see for me. 
 

Im usually not into “he’s noticeably bigger this year” as I’m not convinced you can notice that much development over 8 weeks but Verrell looks very fit and strong. Kentfield is a beast, what a bonus if he succeeds. 
 

Seston is another where his body looks more defined. I find it hard to see where he fits in but he’s got some real AFL traits. Very strong in the clinches and a great kick. His ball handling is solid. One to watch I reckon. He looks very focused this year and comfortable in the group.