Well there's one person happy that Petty is back down back is Picket Fence. I think it will free up Rivers to play predominately midfield and allows Petracca to play more up forward.

B: Lever, May, McDonald

HB: Salem, Petty, McVee

C: Windsor, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Turner, Pickett

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, Chandler

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Sparrow, Sharp, Ja.Smith

SUB: Melksham

7 hours ago, waynewussell said:

It was a matter of timing his (JVR) run. I noted that he wasn't using his voice loudly enough to draw attention. He was definitely being coached on all of this after each forward thrust. The spread by Roo, Turner and Co was excellent. We have to feed Kossie and Fritta into this new dynamic... Exciting times ahead!

One of the things I have been hoping for forever - run and spread.  

4 hours ago, SthSea22 said:

Hearing McAdam is about to call it quits

Would that allow us more late draft space? Not sure how it all works these days. 

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Likely McAdam will win the best and fairest

Mods - can we please have the facepalm emoji back, please. 

5 hours ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

From my exclusive Ghostwriter: 

Despite the weather there were a few regular trackies there today. Training sessions have been cancelled due to the rain, so it was awesome that they not only went ahead today but didn’t modify the session. Again, it was a serious affair, no holding back.

Gotta admit I didn’t see a lot of the session (folks insisted on goddamn earbashing me the entire time 🤥😁).

What I can tell you is that pretty much every player now has runner’s legs, especially their calves. I took pics of such, Kat; hopefully you have enough pic allowance to post them. Another sign that an emphasis has been put on running is that they all seem much faster and have more stamina, unlike last year’s first couple of preseason sessions where there was much sucking in of air following running.

Kolt was wearing #12 but I doubt it’s permanent since he chose #39 for a reason.

Again no SM23 in attendance.  

JA26 ran laps the entire time. Seemed to be moving perfectly fine though.

Fritta hit the track earlier than everyone else, as did Tmac and Vines. 

Pup Brown can run! And run and run and run. Blink and you miss him. 

Same players today as were there on Monday with the addition of Riv and Spaz. 

Luker is definitely bigger now as has already been mentioned, but up close… geez Louise! He’s muscle upon muscle and he’s grown in height. He’s still settling into life in Melbourne, is happy living at Geoff Porz’s along with Kolt. I told him he clearly does gym every day. He said, “I have to.” I said, “But you like it, right?” He said, “Yeah.” I said, “Be honest.” He said, “Yeah nah.” 😅

‘Til next time, Kat 👋 xxx

2 minutes ago, Dee Boys said:

Poor kid sounds incredibly uncomfortable justifying why he has to do gym work.. because you know, that's part of being a professional athlete..

1 hour ago, kev martin said:

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. 

Well I am happy skills, skills and more skills and I hope decision making, I mean instead of just looking straight down the ground approach looking to see who's free inside, across the ground I think you have answered some of that already keep up the good work.

P.S if you can chat to Choco ask him have they tried any peripheral vision exercises for the players.

20 minutes ago, demon3165 said:

Well I am happy skills, skills and more skills and I hope decision making, I mean instead of just looking straight down the ground approach looking to see who's free inside, across the ground I think you have answered some of that already keep up the good work.

Going straight down the alley when someone is defending infront of the lead was a problem today.. 

They often attempt the long get over the back kick, which is good in sims, but is easily defended during a game.

That angle kick seems to be done by the skilled. Some get rushed, others as you say don't see the play, or just not good at this aspect.

Angles are definitely encouraged, as well as kick to advantage by the coaches. Execution is the what makes a genuine star out there. 

 

 

29 minutes ago, demon3165 said:

P.S if you can chat to Choco ask him have they tried any peripheral vision exercises for the players.

I am not that kind of tracker.

Occasionally say gidday to them, not much more. I do barrack and offer my thoughts and support when I see something, with the players. Rarely to the coaches, other than a thank you for the work.

They know better than me what gets the best out of the players.

You could always email the club. Probably get put into the spam folder though.

1 minute ago, kev martin said:

I am not that kind of tracker.

Occasionally say gidday to them, not much more. I do barrack and offer my thoughts and support when I see something, with the players. Rarely to the coaches, other than a thank you for the work.

They know better than me what gets the best out of the players.

You could always email the club. Probably get put into the spam folder though.

I'm sure it would...

7 hours ago, picket fence said:

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

Moving up in the draft to take Oliver

Taking a small underrrated forward well before he was anticipated to be picked Kozzie

Taking a punt on an athletic hybrid in Jackson

Not offloading Goodwin after 2019/2020

Not panicking when 42 points down at Kardinya Park in Rd 22 2021

How utterly Melbourne people see what they want to see and we clearly know what you want but hey you played u19s and coached

7 hours ago, seventyfour said:

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

Size is not an issue for Luka, he’s naturally big and aggressive. If he can build endurance for repeat efforts we have something 

9 hours ago, waynewussell said:

He's 20! Just under 200cms. Well-built now! No slug on the running track! He definitely has time to improve with a little senior exposure. 

OD does not give any room for player development no matter what age. Granted we can make an opinion but really it’s not helpful in a Club as all players are there to be developed. The ones that do ie McVee and AMW are good samples and are now looking AFL standard. 

Each player on our list is on a journey and to rule out at 20 yrs or in their early years at the Club is premature IMO.

Having said that some D/Lers are of the opinion that we give players too long to make it. That is OD ie 2 years is long enough. We would have no Gawny on this time scale and no Joel Smith. 

I believe 4 years can be too long depending upon circumstances ie injury and team strength in the relative position ahead. 3 seems a good average in the real world of AFL. Bill Laurie is in his fourth  year and no doubt is in the last chance stage. Some others are also on their last chance I guess. 

 

8 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Well there's one person happy that Petty is back down back is Picket Fence. I think it will free up Rivers to play predominately midfield and allows Petracca to play more up forward.

B: Lever, May, McDonald

HB: Salem, Petty, McVee

C: Windsor, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Turner, Pickett

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, Chandler

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Sparrow, Sharp, Ja.Smith

SUB: Melksham

And allow for Jeffo to replace Chandler, Also Pickett suspended first 3 games!

Surprised to pick up the paper this morning and not find an article on the back page blasting the club for the absence of some of our top players from training and speculating that there are open rifts and cultural issues connected to anonymous tip off the writer received from a bloke in the toilets on Oaks Day.

6 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Size is not an issue for Luka, he’s naturally big and aggressive. If he can build endurance for repeat efforts we have something 

I watched him playing for Casey, he would have been in shock playing in his first game and as a forward and spent more time in the backline by chasing his opponent there than in his entire short career, the kids got some agro and some smarts now it comes down to application and time but he is worth a risk.

Petty in the backline. Dear God yes

Given there were only 24 players training yesterday, I wouldn’t get fixated on where they played in the exercises yesterday. I.e. if they want to test out Jeffo, Disco, Roo and co, somebody had to play back. They were also rotating about 6 players at a time, with many more on the attacking side, so many times the forwards had no opposition. Once they are all back we might get a better idea of which group they are all training with. Petts seems to take a while to get up to speed even when running laps, perhaps it is just his gait. Riv seemed to be his ‘pacemaker’ in terms of getting a little in front of him. It was all timed by them both though.

Given Tomlinson is gone it would make sense for Petty to go back to the backline, as we are pretty light on for key talls there now.

Key forward depth- JVR, Disco, Jefferson, Fullarton, Verrall and Kentfield

key back depth- May, Lever, Petty, McDonald and Adams 

If we take Riak Andrew as a rookie then he would essentially be key back depth, but don’t think he would realistically be an option for 2025.

Marty Hore is another, but he is more of a medium/tall rather than key position size.

17 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Likely McAdam will win the best and fairest

Well, that satisfies my enquiry ... I just do not happen to believe it - great sense of humour. I'd reckon Max will be the hottest rock on the planet in 2025; nearing his sunset onfield, he is going to come out cementing his excellence on the field of dreams that will shut the gate for so many other hopefuls on the road to immortality. In one of our darkest media hours, he Captained to perfection, so he deserves all the accolades now due. 

On 13/11/2024 at 17:00, 12345_54321 said:

The Ox said during the week he believes Petty will be going back to the backline 

Lol. He also said "take it to the bank", dusty will play for GCoast.  I do hope he is right this time.

On 14/11/2024 at 10:28, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Given Tomlinson is gone it would make sense for Petty to go back to the backline, as we are pretty light on for key talls there now.

Key forward depth- JVR, Disco, Jefferson, Fullarton, Verrall and Kentfield

key back depth- May, Lever, Petty, McDonald and Adams 

If we take Riak Andrew as a rookie then he would essentially be key back depth, but don’t think he would realistically be an option for 2025.

Marty Hore is another, but he is more of a medium/tall rather than key position size.

Whilst I dont have a problem with Petty going into defense, we have no other forward close to 200cm.  He cant replace Thommo as he was only insurance for regular key defenders.  TMac Lever and May are enough in our regular defence  for talls.

4 minutes ago, stinga said:

Whilst I dont have a problem with Petty going into defense, we have no other forward close to 200cm.  He cant replace Thommo as he was only insurance for regular key defenders.  TMac Lever and May are enough in our regular defence  for talls.

Verrall and Fullarton are 200cm.

I don’t think you need to have a 200cm player, it’s a nice to have. Jeffo is apparently 195-197cms but if he has a big leap  then not much difference 

DOnt want to be a Debby Downer but I also heard today that McAdam is contemplating his future.

11 hours ago, Demonland said:

From the photo background  it looks like a rebuild is underway 😮