PRESEASON TRAINING: Wednesday 22nd January 2025

[DirtyDees DDC 190]

Thanks to the club for a great day today. Free gifts, cheap MFC goods, great snags (especially the onions), and nice to see the players mixing with the fans after a top training session. 

Clarry is showing the benefit of a full and proper pre-season. He looks well (maybe another coaches award this year?)

There were other add-on players today (as well as Noah Yze and Roy George).  One was a stocky guy - often in a white top, and another was a slimmer taller long haired kid..in a cap.

Anyone know them?

[DiscoStu17 806]

2 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Yes and No

Are you saying that you cannot confirm your sauce?

Journalista?

[Older demon 2,791]

6 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Happy New Year everyone.

A slight cool wind but after the last days heat a welcome relief.

GhostWriter putting in a solid performance at the sausage sizzle. Dominated at the till.

Players out on the track at 9.30.

Didnt see Sparrow, Kozzie and Kentfield.

Kynan doing rehab then joined in with the main group.

Chin has a troublesome right arm/shoulder but can still run

Spargo, TMc, McVee, Kolt in rehab doing handball drills. After, Kolt ran with Chin.

Max aint getting any quicker.

Jeffo trained like he thought he belonged. Confidence is up.

To me some players at training seem to be invisible but today I give a nod to Adams, Sesso and Howes.

May has an incredible physical presence. Intimidating.

Mentha and George looked good, quick to turn the other way.

Fritta trained in a yellow vest.

Kids love Tracca and lots of them were there.

Obviously we are looking for quick ball movement with one of the drills being to move the ball on in 3 seconds.

If the vibe of the group is anything to go by then some of last years issues have dissipated.

Steven Smith in attendance.

I ate 2 sausages. 

Great report, thank you. Sparrow was there, in civvies. In the player area  in a black hoodie and dark sunglasses. Steven Smith was there and he caught up with Kelly O'Donnell whom he would have played with. Had a chat and found out he will be away for a few months in Europe for that family holiday. He loves this club.

Also a shout out to Ghost writer, the snags were excellent.

[Older demon 2,791]

47 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

I call him Ollie, obviously!

Of course but the players all call Ollie Sestan "Ollie" 

[BC_1718_DC 1,471]

24 minutes ago, DirtyDees DDC said:

Thanks to the club for a great day today. Free gifts, cheap MFC goods, great snags (especially the onions), and nice to see the players mixing with the fans after a top training session. 

Clarry is showing the benefit of a full and proper pre-season. He looks well (maybe another coaches award this year?)

There were other add-on players today (as well as Noah Yze and Roy George).  One was a stocky guy - often in a white top, and another was a slimmer taller long haired kid..in a cap.

Anyone know them?

Stocky guy sounds like Mitch Hardie (ex Geelong). Tall long haired sounds like Jai Culley (ex West Coast). Both signed with Casey. 

[Fritta and Turner 4,594]

23 minutes ago, Older demon said:

Of course but the players all call Ollie Sestan "Ollie" 

or Sesso

[chook fowler 19,657]

1 hour ago, BC_1718_DC said:

Oh no, it’s gqngrene

[binman 44,130]

This is an incredibly positive article about today's training (big chunk about claz, but covers multiple players):Star midfielder set to explode again in 2025; gun duo take big step in rehab - Dees Track Watch

"It was during match simulation where Oliver came into his own and showed he is ready and raring to go for a monster 2025 season.

But it was his work rate that really caught the eye. Oliver worked hard all session getting to as many contests as possible and running hard so that he could become another option for teammates.

He tackled strongly and corralled when necessary, but it was the multiple diving smothers that were most impressive, Oliver literally throwing everything he could at the footy."

[Lucifers Hero 40,423]

7 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Anyways the training observations are all well and good but I’ve got the most interesting news… I sold Mr Petracca Senior a snag in bread for his granddaughter Bella (Tracc’s niece) and boy, is he a lovely person! This is little Bella…

 

Not bad for a supposedly Pies supporting family.

I've always been in Trac's corner and never thought he would leave us.  Now I'm certain he won't. 

[No. 31 1,352]

Still on holidays from work and looking after my son before kindergarten resumes for him next week so I took him to the training session this morning as he complained to me recently that he misses football.

He enjoyed the outing and watching the players train and scored a free Viney drink cup when we bought some snags from the DA stand.

Events like this will be much better when a real home base (hopefully Caulfield) can be established as there you can have permanent established facilities like a fan shop, cafe, club museum etc.

I couldn't catch much on the field as I was looking after my son but Clarry did stand out and was looking good. Tipping him for a big year.

 

[waynewussell 6,556]

1 hour ago, Older demon said:

Of course but the players all call Ollie Sestan "Ollie" 

Well perhaps you need one of the players to file a training report so that you can understand it!

[Beetle 4,688]

So another sausage fest at your joint for you and your long suffering teenager for next few weeks @Ghostwriter?

[Deemac 139]

9 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Marty Hore making a starting back spot his own. Seriously impressive. 

His always been a good player he just needs to keep on the park 

[Deemac 139]

9 hours ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Sure appears that way.. Richo said as much on RSN.. Looks like R1 team may have 3-4 new faces at this rate which is extremely exciting when you consider outside Kos, Spargs, maybe Rick, we should be full strength!

AJ now ahead of Jeffo in many eyes, in terms of R1 that is.. Fritta playing HHF role leads to the suspicion he may fill much of Nibbler role, with it changing along with gameplan to be a more attacking role as opp to LY where it was more defensive & allowed Trac to roam fwd. Sharp to take the more running/def HHF role perhaps, Chin also appears to be in that mix. 2ng wing contest hotting up as well, Bowser, Billings, Spaz, Sharp, Lindsay, Langford (more HF/Mid role seems likely there) -- With Windsor behind the ball I think it might take a while to figure out who gets that role.

McAdam def firming to play R1 in Kos absence maybe in more of Fritta role in prev years, other smalls up fwd appear slim ie only Chin, Mentha & Spargo when fit filling that pure small fwd role, but Melk/McAdam/Fritta/Langford are all that good hybrid option..

Exciting times ahead...

I could not think of a worse person then fritch to fill that roll

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,548]

Is it just me or does Steven May look the fittest he has since joining the club? He looks supremely fit in the photo gallery.

[bing181 9,335]

10 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

He also lit up a training session on Aust Day last year.

There's something there but he just can't quite put it together at AFL level.

Yet.

He wouldn't be the first to take a few seasons to find his feet at AFL level.

Can only be a positive if he does.

[Whispering_Jack 30,894]

The Herald Sun’s story on yesterday’s training session has already been posted and updated in a couple of incarnations. It started out as “Mega track watch: Daicos bros latest, Saint shines, where’s Kozzy?” with the writer intimating that his absence might somehow be connected to speculation in WA of an impending move to WA.

Of course, Alan Richardson had dispelled that rumour already, most recently on a Tuesday radio program but it was deemed worthy to raise the issue again … until a later version published today (also confirmed in some of the above posts) stated as follows:

“The Demons have confirmed that Pickett was back in Melbourne on Wednesday, after missing Monday’s session to head home to WA for personal reasons. However, he missed midweek training due to an infection in his leg.“

Mystery solved - speculation doused until next time. We know there’s always a race to get the news out these days but I wish that journalists would do their job and go to the clubs for comment before rehashing old news. 

[Whispering_Jack 30,894]

26 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The Herald Sun’s story on yesterday’s training session has already been posted and updated in a couple of incarnations. It started out as “Mega track watch: Daicos bros latest, Saint shines, where’s Kozzy?” with the writer intimating that his absence might somehow be connected to speculation in WA of an impending move to WA.

Of course, Alan Richardson had dispelled that rumour already, most recently on a Tuesday radio program but it was deemed worthy to raise the issue again … until a later version published today (also confirmed in some of the above posts) stated as follows:

“The Demons have confirmed that Pickett was back in Melbourne on Wednesday, after missing Monday’s session to head home to WA for personal reasons. However, he missed midweek training due to an infection in his leg.“

Mystery solved - speculation doused until next time. We know there’s always a race to get the news out these days but I wish that journalists would do their job and go to the clubs for comment before rehashing old news. 

The rest of this article was informative and in many ways reflects what many of our trackwatchers here were thinking. 

A summary:-

• Harrison Petty was in the backline in match simulation. Alan Richardson quoted: [Petty’s] “versatility can be a real weapon for us” and the plan was for him to spend time at both ends. 

• Players “ripping it up” included ~

* a leaner Clayton Oliver prominent in match simulation, showing clean hands and involved in many chains working up and down the field,

* “smooth-moving runner Caleb Windsor in everything, finding the footy on the outside,

• Blake Howes, Bailey Laurie caught the eye and Jake Melksham and Bayley Fritsch lively in attack and Shane McAdam taking some nice marks on the lead. 

• New faces Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay managed in a lighter session, taking part in warm-up drills before doing some work on their own, along with rookie Ricky Mentha Jr who also impressed. Ruckman Tom Campbell dominated as Max Gawn sat out and athletic mature-age forward Aidan Johnson impressed as a target in attack.

• taking it easy. Captain Gawn (larynx) and star midfielder Christian Petracca (ribs) are in non-contact training and did some warm-up drills before joining the rehab group which includes Jake Lever, Tom Fullarton, Matthew Jefferson and Kynan Brown who later joined the main group. Koltyn Tholstrup completed his own light training, mostly running laps while defenders Tom McDonald and Judd McVee spent time on exercise bikes before leaving training. 

• wounded soldiers - Tom Sparrow was in civvies and sporting sandals a nasty bruise and cut on his cheek that needed stitches. Charlie Spargo (achilles tendon surgery last July) did some light running on one side of the ground and Kade Chandler ran laps for most of the session with strapping high on his right arm. Late in the match simulation session, Daniel Turner was winded in a marking contest.

[Freddy Fuschia 748]

10 hours ago, binman said:

This is an incredibly positive article about today's training (big chunk about claz, but covers multiple players):Star midfielder set to explode again in 2025; gun duo take big step in rehab - Dees Track Watch

"It was during match simulation where Oliver came into his own and showed he is ready and raring to go for a monster 2025 season.

But it was his work rate that really caught the eye. Oliver worked hard all session getting to as many contests as possible and running hard so that he could become another option for teammates.

He tackled strongly and corralled when necessary, but it was the multiple diving smothers that were most impressive, Oliver literally throwing everything he could at the footy."

Agree, it was a very positive article but why do they highlight it with an video interview with Eric Gulden?

[Go Ds 2]

12 hours ago, waynewussell said:

OK... in all future posts I promise to include Christian name, Surname, player number, date of birth as well as favourite Band!

I've been enjoying the training reports for a couple of years and ultimately you track watchers have the upper hand on whether we get to read them. But there have been times where I've had to go check the Melbourne FC website to work out who Chin or Disco or, say, CS is (or hopefully in the subsequent posts).

As I was getting at, you guys give and us readers just receive. So thank you, thank you, thank you. But it would be nice if it was always obvious which player is being referred to (so just the obvious nicknames like Trac, surnames and perhaps acronyms for the triple-barreled names such as Moniz-Wakefield's would be an improvement). For the sake of typing a few extra letters suddenly nearly every Melbourne supporter would recognise, say, it's Chandler you're talking about , rather than having to scratch their .... chin. (Oh and these days I'm guessing most players are into that hippety-hop stuff and I'm not sure there's now many NWA's, Wu Tang Clan's or Public Enemy's  alongside the Kendrick Lamar's and Drake's. And would every player's favourite film still be The Shawshank Redemption. I haven't looked at a Record in years. :) )

[waynewussell 6,556]

12 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

I've been enjoying the training reports for a couple of years and ultimately you track watchers have the upper hand on whether we get to read them. But there have been times where I've had to go check the Melbourne FC website to work out who Chin or Disco or, say, CS is (or hopefully in the subsequent posts).

As I was getting at, you guys give and us readers just receive. So thank you, thank you, thank you. But it would be nice if it was always obvious which player is being referred to (so just the obvious nicknames like Trac, surnames and perhaps acronyms for the triple-barreled names such as Moniz-Wakefield's would be an improvement). For the sake of typing a few extra letters suddenly nearly every Melbourne supporter would recognise, say, it's Chandler you're talking about , rather than having to scratch their .... chin. (Oh and these days I'm guessing most players are into that hippety-hop stuff and I'm not sure there's now many NWA's, Wu Tang Clan's or Public Enemy's  alongside the Kendrick Lamar's and Drake's. And would every player's favourite film still be The Shawshank Redemption. I haven't looked at a Record in years. :) )

Please be aware that I am typing comments as the action unfolds. They are brief comments so that I don't miss what is happening while I look at my phone. Abbreviations are essential to bring a sense of 'as it happens' reporting. As far as I can see, I used "Ollie" once when referring to Clayton, my bad! I'm not offended by being checked on this, just having a bit of fun with a few fellow posters! 

[leave it to deever 17,542]

How is Turner travelling?

He may be a surprise package this year.

[Brownie 6,004]

13 hours ago, binman said:

Like any passionate football fan I've seen any number of uber talented players accross all teams over the years.

With no exaggeration in my 50 plus years of watching footy, claz is in my top 10 in terms of pure football iq and talent.

From 0.56 of the vid above suggests we should all be very excited about claz this year.

A reminder just how bloody good he is - and what a bounce we'll get having him fit and firing next season.

He'll be like adding a ready to roll number one draft pick straight into the side.

One of the main reasons I kept Foxtel for so long over Kayo was the quick rewind feature worked so much better.

When Clarrie was on fire, there'd be multiple times in a match I'd have to stop and rewind to watch they way he'd just weave through packs and dispose of the ball.

Faster than the human eye that bloke.

Such good news to hear he is humming again.

Being interstate, it was great to see some extended footage too.

Caleb Windsor is going to be a club champion for us one day I think.

JVR is now becoming a huge presence up forward for us too. Hope we get that super fast centred delivery into an open f50 going for him.

Thanks for all of the reports folks.

 

[Go Ds 2]

21 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Please be aware that I am typing comments as the action unfolds. They are brief comments so that I don't miss what is happening while I look at my phone. Abbreviations are essential to bring a sense of 'as it happens' reporting. As far as I can see, I used "Ollie" once when referring to Clayton, my bad! I'm not offended by being checked on this, just having a bit of fun with a few fellow posters! 

It's all good. I know ultimately that if people feel like their reports are not appreciated they could easily not bother.

[Neil Crompton 5,707]

I wouldn’t have thought that there would be too many posters on here who didn’t know who “chin” or “disco” were. We’ve all made the effort, though constant reading of posts, to learn the nicknames of the players. Our track reporters don’t need criticism for using this shorthand while posting.  @WCW even posted a list of all the nicknames last year I think. Perhaps her better half, @Ghostwriter, could repost that list. A new poster I can understand not knowing, but for someone who has read training reports for two years, these nicknames should be second nature I would have thought.