Jump to content

PRESEASON TRAINING: Wednesday 15th January 2025

Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

3 minutes ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

Slick - quicker footed than Langford - related partly to different body shapes. 

Nice. I get Zach Merrett vibes from Lindsay… not sure if that is accurate

  • Quote
    • Like 4
     

    I thought Lindsay was very impressive. Quick, clean, lovely kick, positioned himself well, was very involved. For someone that hasn’t done much full training for a while he was very good. 
     

    Howes played well.  Used his body well in marking contests and was strong one on one.  Keeps his feet well in contests. He’s a slow burn but he can definitely play. 

  • Quote
    • Like 16
    • Thanks 7
    • Love 1
    • Author

    Not sure if it’s been mentioned already but Taj was wearing the no-contact hat because of some “minor concussion issues” 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 7
    • Shocked 3
     
    4 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

    i take it that howes is training to play more of the '3rd tall' role, a la lever?

    Could be, and Lever still "rehabbing" so might occur sooner than later. Petty played forward a lot today (and did well), but probably because of Turner's absence (also rehabbing), rather than the long term plan?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 2

    Further thoughts on today's match sim.

    Petty is aggressive in contests, even against teammates. AMW spoilt his marking attempts a few times, but when the opportunity arrived, Petty slammed AMW into the turf. He was an effective and physical forward today. A smother while standing on the mark resulted in much applause and verbal support from teammates.

    Rivers was a standout in all activities. He takes the game on at pace and is strong enough to push opponents away.

    Ollie did what Ollie does best... accumulates... distributes... runs all day.

    Langdon is also doing what he has done for years!

    Tholstrup gives 100% but there is still room for improvement in ball handling and delivery. He puts himself in the right places and demands the ball.

    Tom McDonald continues to train at the highest levels. Injury free and reminding everyone that he is a topliner in defence.

    Don't need to look any further than Marty Hore to cover for Rick.

    AJ continues to do impressive things in match sim. It won't be for want of trying if he misses out on early selection.

    Fritsch, also looking to have put injury concerns behind him, is having more involvement further from goal .

    Tom Sparrow is another who gives 100%. I feel he is sometimes underrated here.

    Roy was here and he kept close to Kossie. Didn't stand out in match sim.

    I didn't notice Kentfield or Spargs, and there were up to three others who took part in match sim that I didn't recognize.

    Edited by waynewussell

  • Quote
    • Like 14
    • Thanks 6
    38 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

    Not sure if it’s been mentioned already but Taj was wearing the no-contact hat because of some “minor concussion issues” 

    And judging by the tan he must have spent the entire break on a surfboard in WA! 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 3
    • Clap 1
    • Author
    3 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

    Further thoughts on today's match sim.

    Petty is aggressive in contests, even against teammates. AMW spoilt his marking attempts a few times, but when the opportunity arrived, Petty slammed AMW into the turf. He was an effective and physical forward today. A smother while standing on the mark resulted in much applause and verbal support from teammates.

    Rivers was a standout in all activities. He takes the game on at pace and is strong enough to push opponents away.

    Ollie did what Ollie does best... accumulates... distributes... runs all day.

    Langdon is also doing what he has done for years!

    Tholstrup gives 100% but there is still room for improvement in ball handling and delivery. He puts himself in the right places and demands the ball.

    Tom McDonald continues to train at the highest levels. Injury free and reminding everyone that he is a topliner in defence.

    Don't need to look any further than Marty Hore to cover for Rick.

    AJ continues to do impressive things in match sim. It won't be for want of trying if he misses out on early selection.

    Fritsch, also looking to have put injury concerns behind him, is having more involvement further from goal .

    Tom Sparrow is another who gives 100%. I feel he is sometimes underrated here.

    Roy was here and he kept close to Kossie. Didn't stand out in match sim.

    I didn't notice Kentfield or Spargs, and there were up to three others who took part in match sim that I didn't recognize.

    Luker was there (training with the main group) but his hair has grown and so has he. I almost didn’t recognise him.

    Charles was there. He said his achilles is almost 100%

    Toby Sinnema is likely one of the boys you didn’t recognise. Today was the first time he’s met many of the players. He said he’s stoked about how much they welcomed him. 

  • Quote
    • Like 7
    • Thanks 4
     
    • Author

    Besides Vines, Bill Laurie is another player who’ll be sporting a shiner. He copped an errant Riv elbow to the eye. No biggie, it’s just that the bandaging looks so dramatic. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 4

    Sharp will be a lock on the wing for the first game. His endurance and workrate are exactly what we need on the other wing if Windsor is going to half back.

    On another note, went to watch Essendon train yesterday and out sessions had way more running, match sim and full contact within. We train much harder than them but it may have been a 1/2 loading session in their defence.

  • Quote
    • Like 9
    • Thanks 3

    They were going hard at each other. The sims were in two 15 minute blocks. The second block finished a few minutes early, they gathered and had another 7 minutes at it. I think they were asked to compete, as they would play against an opposition. There was plenty of niggle, between some of them. At the end of the contest they supported each other with a of bump and slap. Some heavy collision occurred, biggest and worrisome was Clarry and May both aerial and front on, into each other. A minute on the deck and up. Heard some calls of, get up. May with a back niggle, Clarry back in. McAdam in a hit, and had a delayed reaction, as he went to ground. Talked with the trainer, did some stretches and got back into it. Tmac appeared to limp after a clash of legs in a tackle. Vines and Laurie also in hard hits.

    Rehab had, Woey in the light green cap (my guess would be concussion protocols), Fullarton running extensive laps, Tracc and Turner working together early on, Lever and Max. No Jefferson. There were two run-on players. Spargo still in runners and not with the main group.

    Good to see Melky in full training, did extra laps, the same with Salem. Fritsch in full training now, appears happy. Four wings during the sims had Billings and Langdon matched, and the other side had Sparrow and Sharp. Petty played forward. Adams had to look after the backline as the tall for a few plays and did really well. Johnson is looking good. Lindsay is in full training. He is something of a ball magnet, had plenty of involvement, moves well to space and has a lovely pass. He attempted a few long kicks which didn't come off, fell short. Langford was not as prominent today. McVee looking good, as is AMW, and so are Bowey and Rivers. Kossie had plenty of the ball, though got caught a few times. I think they have given him the licence to do whatever he wants. Mentha did the same thing though shrugged the tackle and delivered a long pass with precision, afterwards he was encouraged to handball when initially tackled.

    They separated into backs (looking low in numbers) and the forwards with the mids. Chaplin continues to enforce the structures he wants. Many of the forwards are talking and encouraging each other about positioning and what the intention is. Even when a play goes well but not to what Chaplin wants he voices his expectations. JVR was making good leads into small spaces. The smalls working hard to create mismatches and blocks. McAdam playing high forward and being used to deliver. Missed a few hit ups, got intercepted, or made the wrong decision. He is not having any trouble getting the ball.

    Edited by kev martin

  • Quote
    • Like 9
    • Thanks 17
    18 minutes ago, inanunda said:

    Sharp will be a lock on the wing for the first game. His endurance and workrate are exactly what we need on the other wing if Windsor is going to half back.

    On another note, went to watch Essendon train yesterday and out sessions had way more running, match sim and full contact within. We train much harder than them but it may have been a 1/2 loading session in their defence.

    Sharp has some great burst speed and agility too. It's a handy combo with his endurance running.

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    • Thanks 2
    26 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

    Luker was there (training with the main group) but his hair has grown and so has he. I almost didn’t recognise him.

    Charles was there. He said his achilles is almost 100%

    Toby Sinnema is likely one of the boys you didn’t recognise. Today was the first time he’s met many of the players. He said he’s stoked about how much they welcomed him. 

    Any idea who the taller, well built train-on with the longer hair is, GW? I thought the players called him something like "Jai" in the match sim.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    40 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

     

    AJ continues to do impressive things in match sim. It won't be for want of trying if he misses out on early selection.

     

    He is doing any ruck work in match sims?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    1 minute ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

    He is doing any ruck work in match sims?

    Almost no ruckwork in these sims. A backman is selected by coaches to kick back into set plays.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    4 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

    Almost no ruckwork in these sims. A backman is selected by coaches to kick back into set plays.

    I see. Cheers

  • Quote

    9 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

    Almost no ruckwork in these sims. A backman is selected by coaches to kick back into set plays.

    One more question! How did our ball movement etc look in the sims?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    59 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

    Tom Sparrow is another who gives 100%. I feel he is sometimes underrated here.

    Because he under delivers

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Thanks 1
    • Thumb Down 4
    • Sad 1
    4 hours ago, waynewussell said:

    Campbell has legs like tree trunks and is very fit. Handled the ball well and was good by foot in the wet weather. Standby for round 1 debut!

    Had him in my starting team yonks ago. He will provide not only solid backup for Max but is a very good ruckman in his own right!

  • Quote
    • Like 6
     
    4 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

    welfare check for P Fence

    Jeffo’s not here. 

     

    WHAT?? Cmon Ghosty, its up to you to find out why??😵‍💫

    Edited by picket fence

  • Quote
    • Haha 5
    36 minutes ago, old55 said:

    Any idea who the taller, well built train-on with the longer hair is, GW? I thought the players called him something like "Jai" in the match sim.

    Jai Culley. Former West Coast player. Number 1 pick in the mid season draft a few years back. Signed with Casey. 

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Thanks 4

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Essendon

      As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the  Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measly 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie? 
      Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG. Unfortunately, performances like these went against the grain of what Melbourne has been producing from virtually midway through 2024 and extending right through to the present day. This is a game between two clubs who have faltered over the past couple of years because their disposal efficiency is appalling. Neither of them can hit the side of a barn door but history tells us that every once in a while such teams have their lucky days or come up against an opponent in even worse shape and hence, one of them will come up trumps in this match.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Thanks
      • 257 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 05

      Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Thanks
      • 17 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Thanks
      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All