PRESEASON TRAINING: Friday 22nd November 2024

[Scoop Junior 3,472]

Went down a bit later and most of it has been covered.

-Two main drills that I saw were 1) stoppage at various parts of the ground where someone would collect the ground ball and then the focus seemed to be on spreading and moving the ball out of the area and eventually to the forwards. 2) kick from half back on the Punt Rd side of the ground where the kicker would try find a teammate to hit up. It was very difficult as the defensive side was playing a hard one-on-one style meaning it was difficult to find a free player. Also, the play seemed confined to the Punt Rd side, so the option of switching the play to the fat side was not there. It was essentially trying to pick a way through on the skinny side of the ground. Lots of turnovers but I don't think any team finds this an easy thing to do.

-Rivers was with the mids in the stoppage drills, as was Bowey. While Bowey does tend to go to the back of stoppages as a half back maybe this was an indication of spending some time further up the ground?

-Great to see Trac and Clarry in the stoppage drills. Trac just looks in sensational physical condition and his burst and lateral movement looked like it hadn't missed a beat. Clarry to me seems in better shape than last year but he does look a bit thicker through the upper legs than the others. Not sure if that's just his shape but he does look bigger through there than what he did 3-4 seasons ago. The key for him is whether he can get that burst out of congestion back that he was missing this year. That's what elevates his game to the next level.

-Lindsay is not built like Langford but he is definitely not a bag of bones as some draftees are. He has some upper body size and at about 6"0 has decent height for a mid. Certainly a stronger build than say Windsor had at the start of his first pre-season last year. As for Windsor, he is such a beautiful mover. In the stoppage drill, when he got the ball he just burst away and they struggled to keep up with him.

-Langford has that prototype big-body midfielder frame. He still has some filling out to do but the frame is there to really develop into a powerful unit.

-The amount of running they do under the sun in 30 degrees is really quite incredible.

[kev martin 9,951]

The heat is on and the players didn't take a back step.

Goody ran them hard, especially after a sim completion from the back to forward area. They had to sprint back up the field. Tholstrup felt it.

JVR was pushing high, though became the last man forward in the non action area. Looked a bit bored, am worried about his training and application. Previous preseasons, he was the aggressive one, only seen him attack it once. Hope it just a bit of being lackadaisical during the early parts of preseason, and he starts getting into it.

Some ball movements during the sims were very quick. There was room for a few of them to have multiple bounces down the wing, Windsor and Rivers took my attention.

A couple of pressure moments caused them to rush and miss the target. Forgot who the defenders were.

Chaplin continues to make his mark on the forwards. We definitely have a “front and centre” more prominent. They are also doing more short passes within the 50 to a dynamic group of leads.

Harry Sharp looks a player to me. Well-rounded in his skills. Finding separation and has confidence in his disposals, he was linking out of the halfback area.

Johnson looks and moves like Petty.

Unsure how Jed Adams is going. Trying to keep it simple, but just not executing well at times?

Clarry was being extremely playful out there. Last year he kept his head down, low profile. Now he is back to being stress-free and engaged.

Tracc was nervous as he entered the field. Had a longish chat to Goody, then got down to work. Disposals have improved.

Fritsch was in boots for the first time. Joined in a couple of sims, outpointed a tall defender with ease and skill. I reckon he is building for a big year.

Salem also in boots and in a few sims. He has trimmed down since his first pre-run, and is pushing himself hard in the boundary runs.

Lindsay has a mentor in Spargo. Appears to know the routines, and appears well coached through his developing years.

Langford, first impression is that of an enforcer.

N.Jones had a bib on in the sims. Hasn't lost much, closing speed and surprised a couple of them, then doing beautiful clearing kicks to hit the mark. Leading by example and being humble about it. Put him on the rookie list😄.

Edited November 22 by kev martin

[Sir Why You Little 37,052]

Fantastic Reports and photos 

Thanks

A lot of work has been done between now and last season, on many levels at the Club 

I think today just showed we mean business in 2025

[waynewussell 5,768]

41 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

You’re not going anywhere, Tracc! Don’t even think about it for 7 years!

Edited November 22 by waynewussell

[gs77 4,254]

48 minutes ago, Forever the pessimist. said:

Isn’t Daniel Larusso the Karate Kid?

is that because  Jeffo is doing the crane kick in that picture? 

You got it 🤣

[Sir Why You Little 37,052]

Aiden Johnson could be a fantastic get in the draft 

he could change the whole dynamic of the Forward Line if he can play regular seniors. 
 

The Club wanted to get in a bit of “mongrel” after last season….

[gs77 4,254]

48 minutes ago, Demonland said:

@gs77

Great shots. I think I saw you taking photos today.

Thanks @Demonland, happy to contribute some pictures to supplement the fantastic writeups many on here provide.

(you may well have seen me - I was the one in the MFC polo with the white wide brimmed hat, camera with white lens, mostly hovering around the fence not far from the players' area).

[Demonland 72,230]

1 minute ago, gs77 said:

Thanks @Demonland, happy to contribute some pictures to supplement the fantastic writeups many on here provide.

(you may well have seen me - I was the one in the MFC polo with the white wide brimmed hat, camera with white lens, mostly hovering around the fence not far from the players' area).

Photos were awesome. Feel free to post them anytime. They really compliment all the reporting that the fantastic Demonlanders provide. Best time of the every footy year.

[12345_54321 1,204]

6 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Thanks @Demonland, happy to contribute some pictures to supplement the fantastic writeups many on here provide.

(you may well have seen me - I was the one in the MFC polo with the white wide brimmed hat, camera with white lens, mostly hovering around the fence not far from the players' area).

Echo what Andy said about the photos. Bloody awesome.

 

thanks to all for the reports too. Full squad back Monday, can’t wait! 

Edited November 22 by 12345_54321

[seventyfour 1,142]

If Oliver and Trac keep this up, we'll have a draft haul like Richmond at the end of next year!

[old55 23,625]

2 hours ago, Vitamin Dee said:

Ok, I've read enough:

 

 

I'll get a piece of that $31 for the flag - that's way over.

I see Hawthorn is second favourite at $8.50 - madness!

[Whispering_Jack 30,239]

A few bonuses from attending my first Melbourne training session of the preseason:-

• I had heard in the media that most of the players drafted over the previous two nights would not be attending their club training sessions this week but would be joining in next week to give them a break before the start of the hard work of the preseason but it was gratifying to see all three MFC draftees in attendance. We’re not pussies!

The two young guns look impressive. Harvey Langford looks a big unit, strong and very much at home with the group having worked with them a year ago as an Academy train on player. I sense that like Clarrie back when he started, Langford is a chance to make his debut in Round 1. Xavier Lindsay is closing in on his recovery from a PCL incurred on the eve of the Coates Talent League finals and ran sprints on the boundary with Charlie Spargo - both ran well and look to be well advanced in their respective recoveries. Aidan Johnson was a surprise attendee given that he was only drafted 12 hours earlier. It seems that not long ago, he was your typical country big man, carrying a bit of weight (and throwing it around) who trimmed down a bit at Werribee on the way to a VFL flag. He wasn’t drafted to continue the journey at Casey but is seriously on a trajectory to continue his physical build up to do what the two young draftees are planning - to be playing AFL football regularly at the elite level. 

• Christian Petracca was present on the training track with his club for the first time since the Kings Birthday debacle. It took no time at all to show the small group of Demon faithful and his teammates that he has lost none of his class and ability. He’s almost back in town.

• And if he’s closing in on town, then Clarry’s in the CBD for the first time in almost two years, give or take a bit of work needed on his blisters. He’s certainly looking determined to make up for lost time and backing that up with a fitter and trimmer body shape than he had at this time 12 months ago 

• The first weeks of preseason are reserved for the players in years 1 to 4 with Caleb Windsor, Jacob van Rooyen, Daniel Turner and Tracc’s understudy Koltyn Tholstrup with the rockstar looks, standing out.

• Despite all the bonuses of the day, I made the big mistake of forgetting the Aerogard and the combination of flies and heat made it difficult to concentrate on each individual training drill. I therefore defer to our regular track watchers who are more onto the ins and outs of today’s preseason training session than I. However, what I can say is that after a tough twelve months for the Demons, I can see plenty of blue sky coming up in the season ahead.

[Jaded No More 68,966]

This has to be the most positive thread we’ve had on Demonland in months. Great read and thank you to everyone who made the effort to attend and report. Kept me busy while I spent the last 24 hours in hospital with my better half. 

[Whispering_Jack 30,239]

6 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

This has to be the most positive thread we’ve had on Demonland in months. Great read and thank you to everyone who made the effort to attend and report. Kept me busy while I spent the last 24 hours in hospital with my better half. 

I hope all’s going well with both halves and that you can get to see the boys in person when they return from their country trip.

[Blistering 541]

Where was Max?

[Dee Boys 638]

1 hour ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

Harvey and Kolt look set to be a new dynamic duo, it's fab to see!!

[12345_54321 1,204]

8 minutes ago, Blistering said:

Where was Max?

Max and Ed are in Qatar on a cycling trek. 

[DeeZone 9,879]

20 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

This has to be the most positive thread we’ve had on Demonland in months. Great read and thank you to everyone who made the effort to attend and report. Kept me busy while I spent the last 24 hours in hospital with my better half. 

Best wishes to you both Jaded No More.👍💕

[Sydney Pennski 296]

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

@gs77

Great shots. I think I saw you taking photos today.

Yeah - reckon the camera was a shade better than the one on my iPhone.

[Blistering 541]

Nathan Jones looked in reasonably good  nick as well. I was thinking it might be worth rookie listing him but I understand we don’t have room.

[Roger Mellie 4,037]

Thanks for all the pics @gs77. They're rippers and much appreciated!

[Mickey 4,685]

Just on the blisters thing. Clarry is on record as saying he has the softest feet in the world, and always gets blisters. I wouldn't put it down to him having to get used to training big loads again; it's an ongoing issue for him

[picket fence 17,179]

4 hours ago, gs77 said:

Here are a couple of pics of Jefferson from training today.  Slotted some nice goals, and got really encouraging advice from Turner at one point - absolutely fantastic to see from Disco.

Here's a snap of Daniel Larusso as well for good measure...

 

 

BOOK THE "JEFFO JUGGANAUT" IN FOR ROUND 1 DEBUT🤩

[Satyriconhome 10,879]

52 minutes ago, Blistering said:

Nathan Jones looked in reasonably good  nick as well. I was thinking it might be worth rookie listing him but I understand we don’t have room.

I spoke to Chunk before training started, as others have observed still looks fit as.

Looking forward to working with the full midfield group, like most of us already likes the look of Harvey Langford.

 

Edited November 22 by Satyriconhome

[whatwhat say what 22,783]

4 hours ago, gs77 said: