PRESEASON TRAINING: Wednesday 4th December 2024

[Whispering_Jack 30,316]

We’re already a month into the MFC preseason (if you started counting when the younger players in the group began the campaign along with some of the more keen older heads) and in less than a few hours’ time, most of the list will be hitting the track for another grueling session at Gosch’s Paddock.

If you haven’t been following our training threads, today’s Herald Sun article Demons ponder big man reshuffle to fix forward funk by Jay Clark has a crack at bringing you up to speed with the goings on at the club. In the hard paper edition the article is on page 63 and it’s entitled “Dees go for Petty change”. 

Clark writes that “Melbourne could make footy’s first big positional switch of the summer and return Harrison Petty to a key defensive role next season”.  This is not an official call for Petty who struggled to have an impact up forward last year - Clark says he will be trialled in both forward and defensive roles over summer. He adds that this opens up some scope for “marking targets Daniel Turner, 2022 first round pick Matthew Jefferson and VFL recruit Aidan Johnson to partner ace goal kickers Jacob van Rooyen and Bayley Fritsch”.

Clark also points out that it’s a crucial year for the club in fighting off possible poaching efforts for Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver after they explored moves to leave during the trade period but he confirms the gun midfielders “have put those issues behind them”. 

Accompanying the article which also mentioned the team-building exercises at last week’s camp in Victoria’s high country are the following pointers to highlight some of the preseason moves at the club:-

“Harry Sharp on the wing

With running dynamo Alex Neal-Bullen heading to Adelaide, the Dees recruited Brisbane grand final emergency Harry Sharp to add run to an ageing midfield. The 21-year-old showed his aerobic prowess on Monday when he decimated his new teammates in a 2km time trial and he is likely to be given first dibs on the opposite wing to Ed Langdon.

Caleb Windsor to defence

With Sharp and potentially No.11 pick Xavier Lindsay joining the Dees’ wing stocks, second-year Windsor is likely to move to a running half-back role used to great effect by Fremantle’s Jordan Clark. The club is aware that with Steven May and Tom McDonald both on the wrong side of 30 and Jake Lever often copping knee niggles, having pace around them is essential.

Midfield reboot

It’s not just the arrival of No.6 pick Harvey Langford that has the Dees excited. Both Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver set tongues wagging at Gosch’s Paddock on Monday. After a horror 2024, Oliver seems to be keen to re-establish himself as one of the league’s best tacklers, while Petracca looked fully engaged instructing the first-year players.”

Well … that’s your history lesson about the preseason so far.

Of course, most of the above has already been covered in our own preseason training threads.

Now it’s over to our track watchers to fill us in on today’s action … 

[12345_54321 1,232]

22 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

We’re already a month into the MFC preseason (if you started counting when the younger players in the group began the campaign along with some of the more keen older heads) and in less than a few hours’ time, most of the list will be hitting the track for another grueling session at Gosch’s Paddock.

If you haven’t been following our training threads, today’s Herald Sun article Demons ponder big man reshuffle to fix forward funk by Jay Clark has a crack at bringing you up to speed with the goings on at the club. In the hard paper edition the article is on page 63 and it’s entitled “Dees go for Petty change”. 

Clark writes that “Melbourne could make footy’s first big positional switch of the summer and return Harrison Petty to a key defensive role next season”.  This is not an official call for Petty who struggled to have an impact up forward last year - Clark says he will be trialled in both forward and defensive roles over summer. He adds that this opens up some scope for “marking targets Daniel Turner, 2022 first round pick Matthew Jefferson and VFL recruit Aidan Johnson to partner ace goal kickers Jacob van Rooyen and Bayley Fritsch”.

Clark also points out that it’s a crucial year for the club in fighting off possible poaching efforts for Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver after they explored moves to leave during the trade period but he confirms the gun midfielders “have put those issues behind them”. 

Accompanying the article which also mentioned the team-building exercises at last week’s camp in Victoria’s high country are the following pointers to highlight some of the preseason moves at the club:-

“Harry Sharp on the wing

With running dynamo Alex Neal-Bullen heading to Adelaide, the Dees recruited Brisbane grand final emergency Harry Sharp to add run to an ageing midfield. The 21-year-old showed his aerobic prowess on Monday when he decimated his new teammates in a 2km time trial and he is likely to be given first dibs on the opposite wing to Ed Langdon.

Caleb Windsor to defence

With Sharp and potentially No.11 pick Xavier Lindsay joining the Dees’ wing stocks, second-year Windsor is likely to move to a running half-back role used to great effect by Fremantle’s Jordan Clark. The club is aware that with Steven May and Tom McDonald both on the wrong side of 30 and Jake Lever often copping knee niggles, having pace around them is essential.

Midfield reboot

It’s not just the arrival of No.6 pick Harvey Langford that has the Dees excited. Both Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver set tongues wagging at Gosch’s Paddock on Monday. After a horror 2024, Oliver seems to be keen to re-establish himself as one of the league’s best tacklers, while Petracca looked fully engaged instructing the first-year players.”

Well … that’s your history lesson about the preseason so far.

Of course, most of the above has already been covered in our own preseason training threads.

Now it’s over to our track watchers to fill us in on today’s action … 

Funniest part of Jay’s *original* article was that he made 0 mention of Bayley Fritsch at all in its first release. I guess he got the editor to put him in😂

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,822]

35 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

We’re already a month into the MFC preseason (if you started counting when the younger players in the group began the campaign along with some of the more keen older heads) and in less than a few hours’ time, most of the list will be hitting the track for another grueling session at Gosch’s Paddock.

If you haven’t been following our training threads, today’s Herald Sun article Demons ponder big man reshuffle to fix forward funk by Jay Clark has a crack at bringing you up to speed with the goings on at the club. In the hard paper edition the article is on page 63 and it’s entitled “Dees go for Petty change”. 

Clark writes that “Melbourne could make footy’s first big positional switch of the summer and return Harrison Petty to a key defensive role next season”.  This is not an official call for Petty who struggled to have an impact up forward last year - Clark says he will be trialled in both forward and defensive roles over summer. He adds that this opens up some scope for “marking targets Daniel Turner, 2022 first round pick Matthew Jefferson and VFL recruit Aidan Johnson to partner ace goal kickers Jacob van Rooyen and Bayley Fritsch”.

Clark also points out that it’s a crucial year for the club in fighting off possible poaching efforts for Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver after they explored moves to leave during the trade period but he confirms the gun midfielders “have put those issues behind them”. 

Accompanying the article which also mentioned the team-building exercises at last week’s camp in Victoria’s high country are the following pointers to highlight some of the preseason moves at the club:-

“Harry Sharp on the wing

With running dynamo Alex Neal-Bullen heading to Adelaide, the Dees recruited Brisbane grand final emergency Harry Sharp to add run to an ageing midfield. The 21-year-old showed his aerobic prowess on Monday when he decimated his new teammates in a 2km time trial and he is likely to be given first dibs on the opposite wing to Ed Langdon.

Caleb Windsor to defence

With Sharp and potentially No.11 pick Xavier Lindsay joining the Dees’ wing stocks, second-year Windsor is likely to move to a running half-back role used to great effect by Fremantle’s Jordan Clark. The club is aware that with Steven May and Tom McDonald both on the wrong side of 30 and Jake Lever often copping knee niggles, having pace around them is essential.

Midfield reboot

It’s not just the arrival of No.6 pick Harvey Langford that has the Dees excited. Both Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver set tongues wagging at Gosch’s Paddock on Monday. After a horror 2024, Oliver seems to be keen to re-establish himself as one of the league’s best tacklers, while Petracca looked fully engaged instructing the first-year players.”

Well … that’s your history lesson about the preseason so far.

Of course, most of the above has already been covered in our own preseason training threads.

Now it’s over to our track watchers to fill us in on today’s action … 

Going off that article our side should be in a nursing home….

[binman 43,240]

Sharp to the wing?

Can't see that personally.

The more likely role I would have thought is a direct replacement for  nibbla.

The wing role is very similar in terms of arc to arc running, but is much more offensive, particularly the opposite wing to Langdon, who has been more defensive than most wingers.

If Sharp went to the wing he'd be replacing Windsor, who was much more offensive than langers and was an important element in our attacking transition and how we entered our 50

Does Sharp have the right set of skills to replace Windsor?

And if there's any thought of XL going to the wing when he eventually comes into the side it doesn't make much sense for Sharp to warm his spot. Better for him to play HHF from the get go and make the role his own.

I suspect, given Bowser told me at training that he might get some wing time, he's a more likely candidate to play on the wing in the first third of the season.

[Lord Travis 10,758]

I'd wager Sharp plays high half forward similar to Nibbler in previous years. Has the running capacity and pace to do damage in that role. We'll rotate a few through the wings this year.

[dazzledavey36 55,130]

I see Roy George was with Kozzie yesterday doing a boxing and cardio session according to his insta.

Sharp to a wing isn't all that big of a surprise. It's clear Goodwin rates the wing position and to play that role, you obviously need greater running capacity to grind up and down all day long. Shape has this in spades.

The only thing I will question this is whether Sharp has the football intelligence of Langdon in being able to execute the role as good as he does.

Edited 12 hours ago by dazzledavey36

[ManDee 7,164]

18 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I see Roy George was with Kozzie yesterday doing a boxing and cardio session according to his insta.

Sharp to a wing isn't all that big of a surprise. It's clear Goodwin rates the wing position and to play that role, you obviously need greater running capacity to grind up and down all day long. Shape has this in space.

The only thing I will question this is whether Sharp has the football intelligence of Langdon in being able to execute the role as good as he does.

Shape has this in space?

Where are the proof readers when you need them? 🙂

[Colm 2,168]

Windsor to defence?? Is this something that has been picked up by our track watchers?

Also seemed to think XL would be more likely to play wing than half back. Interesting if true. 

[dazzledavey36 55,130]

10 minutes ago, ManDee said:

Shape has this in space?

Where are the proof readers when you need them? 🙂

Fixed

[BAMF 4,363]

7 minutes ago, Colm said:

Windsor to defence?? Is this something that has been picked up by our track watchers?

Also seemed to think XL would be more likely to play wing than half back. Interesting if true. 

It's been reported by track watchers that he has done some drills with the defenders 

[demon3165 2,740]

46 minutes ago, binman said:

Sharp to the wing?

Can't see that personally.

The more likely role I would have thought is a direct replacement for  nibbla.

The wing role is very similar in terms of arc to arc running, but is much more offensive, particularly the opposite wing to Langdon, who has been more defensive than most wingers.

If Sharp went to the wing he'd be replacing Windsor, who was much more offensive than langers and was an important element in our attacking transition and how we entered our 50

Does Sharp have the right set of skills to replace Windsor?

And if there's any thought of XL going to the wing when he eventually comes into the side it doesn't make much sense for Sharp to warm his spot. Better for him to play HHF from the get go and make the role his own.

I suspect, given Bowser told me at training that he might get some wing time, he's a more likely candidate to play on the wing in the first third of the season.

Now that's an interesting one about Bowser.

[mauriesy 7,308]

Maybe working with the defenders is a way for someone in a wing role to better understand the transition out of defence.

[picket fence 17,199]

Meanwhile back onto the thread re Wednesday Training??? 

[mauriesy 7,308]

This is the pre-training discussion. Training doesn't start until 10.00. 😛

[Red and Blue realist 2,054]

50 minutes ago, Colm said:

Windsor to defence?? Is this something that has been picked up by our track watchers?

Also seemed to think XL would be more likely to play wing than half back. Interesting if true. 

I suspect they might want Windsor to do a similar role to Brayshaw, playing both wing and half back as required. XL might be eased in on the wing but be interchangeable with Windsor, but he might also take a little longer than the Duke to get ready for the main team.

[picket fence 17,199]

9 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

This is the pre-training discussion. Training doesn't start until 10.00. 😛

Pre training discussion??? First time EVER! It's like what snake repellant to choose before venturing out to Casey Wilderness!!

[waynewussell 5,921]

Gawn and Melksham first out, closely followed by Tholstrup

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,192]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Fixed

I've still got 10 minutes to observe...

Not quite.

You still need to shape shift Shape to Sharp?

😊

[Ghostwriter 392]

Kozzie says no Roy Boy today 😭

I hope he’s mistaken. 

[dazzledavey36 55,130]

Just now, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

I've still got 10 minutes to observe...

Not quite.

You still need to shape shift Shape to Sharp?

😊

And now I've missed the cut off editing time.. 🙄

[waynewussell 5,921]

I’ve counted 42 out there at the moment

[waynewussell 5,921]

Haven’t seen Boy George this morning

[waynewussell 5,921]

Fritsch is not kicking in the short pass to lead activity. Salem is running with him and he hands it off 

[waynewussell 5,921]

Campbell has a slow, loopy pass

[waynewussell 5,921]

Lever, McAdam, Spargo & Lindsay in rehab

Edited 10 hours ago by waynewussell