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PRESEASON TRAINING: Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter
in Melbourne Demons

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Thanks to all the trackwatchers this preseason! Loving the reports in all shapes and forms. Every year I say I'll have a break from footy content over the offseason, but every year by December I'm back reading about us training the house down and it's largely thanks to the top-notch reporting here. Kudos to all!

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    In the training reports there has been a lot written about recent large forwards and ruckman that have been added to our list. I have read little about Fullarton. With all the additions where does that leave Fullarton? Or is he out injured. Either way it looks like his chances of getting a Senior level game are low. 

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    20 minutes ago, old dee said:

    In the training reports there has been a lot written about recent large forwards and ruckman that have been added to our list. I have read little about Fullarton. With all the additions where does that leave Fullarton? Or is he out injured. Either way it looks like his chances of getting a Senior level game are low. 

    I personally have him 6th in line as a forward behind JVR, Turner, Jeffo, Johnson and Petty as a swing man.

    He’s very much depth in my mind.

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    4 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

    I personally have him 6th in line as a forward behind JVR, Turner, Jeffo, Johnson and Petty as a swing man.

    He’s very much depth in my mind.

    (and T Mac!)

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    Just now, DistrACTION Jackson said:

    That would be a really break glass…. Hope not 🤣

    Moot point, Jeffo kicking bags 

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    5 hours ago, Beetle said:

    I’m not sure what we are talking about anymore….

    I think a sausage is a goal.

    Or it it could be a player, who acts the fool - silly sausage. 

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    7 hours ago, Go Ds said:

    Yes, STAFF call him Chin. I just don't have any involvement with staff. On TV he's just Chandler. Obviously there's plenty of things you'd expect almost any Melbourne fan to know. But sometimes it's easy to forget some things aren't.


    BTW I found this. All it needs is the new recruits to be added. I think someone called Xavier Lindsay 'Francis' (which again I had to work out). I can only guess the rest.
     

     

    Apologies for calling Lindsay Francis. 

    I can assure you that's not his nickname - ive just got some weird version of football dyslexia and he's my new Swallow.

    To avoid calling Lindsay Francis I usually call him X if that helps.

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    6 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

    The poor bastard groans when he knows we’ve got a sausage sizzle coming up, but the groaning was next level because two sausage sizzles in three days = bigger than usual sausage overload. 😂

     

    Buy less sausages 

    Edited by Roost it far

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    4 hours ago, Pinball Wizard said:

    We celebrate our players - that’s a given and should never be underestimated. There are, however, many other heroes of the Melbourne Football Club. 
     

    IMG_8210.jpeg

    You've managed to snag ( 😉 ) a great photo of some of the best of the DA!

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    A question for the track watchers if I may.

    Clarry is obviously in very good shape going into '25, but as unfit as he may have been last year I don't think that was his biggest issue. Far more of a hindrance for him was his dodgy hand.

    His handball game was way down, and his tackling was basically ineffective.

    I'm wondering what observations have been made on those 2 aspects of his game. Is his handball game 'back', and how effective has his tackling been during training?

    Appreciate any and all info.

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    4 hours ago, adonski said:

    (and T Mac!)

    Not for defence really but maybe depth as a forward. 

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    17 minutes ago, BigBadBustling said:

    A question for the track watchers if I may.

    Clarry is obviously in very good shape going into '25, but as unfit as he may have been last year I don't think that was his biggest issue. Far more of a hindrance for him was his dodgy hand.

    His handball game was way down, and his tackling was basically ineffective.

    I'm wondering what observations have been made on those 2 aspects of his game. Is his handball game 'back', and how effective has his tackling been during training?

    Appreciate any and all info.

    His handling....and his tackling at training has been fine. Both aspects looking back to normal. And yes, we all remember some of those occasions last year where he was clearly hampered by the hand injury - most obvious to me in his tackling.

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    20 minutes ago, BigBadBustling said:

    A question for the track watchers if I may.

    Clarry is obviously in very good shape going into '25, but as unfit as he may have been last year I don't think that was his biggest issue. Far more of a hindrance for him was his dodgy hand.

    His handball game was way down, and his tackling was basically ineffective.

    I'm wondering what observations have been made on those 2 aspects of his game. Is his handball game 'back', and how effective has his tackling been during training?

    Appreciate any and all info.

    I think late last year there were some posts talking about how his hand is finally fully healed and that it has made a big difference to his ability to use it (in both football and life, given it was quite a bad injury)

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    13 hours ago, binman said:

    Apologies for calling Lindsay Francis. 

    I can assure you that's not his nickname - ive just got some weird version of football dyslexia and he's my new Swallow.

    To avoid calling Lindsay Francis I usually call him X if that helps.

    Old Man Good Job GIF

    Edited by BLWNBA

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    10 hours ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

    I think late last year there were some posts talking about how his hand is finally fully healed and that it has made a big difference to his ability to use it (in both football and life, given it was quite a bad injury)

    I don’t think you can underestimate the hit your confidence takes when you’re playing with a badly injured hand, especially as an onballer.

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    Just now, adonski said:

    Think we can say with certainty thay Clazz is in good nick

    image.thumb.jpeg.8fd16d09e9ad5f93e382ce445ecae1e3.jpeg

    This is going to be an even bigger comeback than JC 2025 years ago...

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    13 hours ago, Roost it far said:

    Buy less sausages 

    And run the risk of having to tell folks we’ve sold out? That’s a big bunch of hell no. It’s bad enough when we run out of onions. 😭

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    Thank you so much to all who bought snags in bread and/or drinks at our sausage sizzles, or who just donated. We TRULY appreciate it.

    Dees supporters are SO generous as well as being awesome people coz… Dees supporters. ❤️💙

    Every $ goes to the Demon Army so this year look out for a lot of new props in the cheer squad. (I’ve been nagging for ages for a giant Melky head. Hopefully this is the year!!!)  🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

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    11 hours ago, BigBadBustling said:

    A question for the track watchers if I may.

    Clarry is obviously in very good shape going into '25, but as unfit as he may have been last year I don't think that was his biggest issue. Far more of a hindrance for him was his dodgy hand.

    His handball game was way down, and his tackling was basically ineffective.

    I'm wondering what observations have been made on those 2 aspects of his game. Is his handball game 'back', and how effective has his tackling been during training?

    Appreciate any and all info.

    Nah it had an impact but it was the lack of 2 way run, which killed him 

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    On 22/01/2025 at 22:33, Deemac said:

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

    I think he's got assets to do a more attacking version of that role, remember its NOT the same role as Nibbler, the gameplan has changed and having Fritta further afield helps him score more easily running towards goal & losing his opponent and brings his kicking back into play in a more damaging sense. 

    You have got to look at it as more of an offensive ball-movement type role, not defensive, those elements get covered by others like Sharp, Sparrow, Spargo when fit and others - Whereas Fritta/McAdam might be more link-up types which is DEF something we need if our ball movement is going to improve in both speed and efficiency.

    I'm 100% with @binman at the moment, there i bs just so many exciting points about the upcoming season, putting aside Premiership aspirations etc (that'll come if we are good enough, have some luck, gameplan change turns for better etc) but the incredible amount of player excitement is epically poised: Clarry redemption, Petty back/swingman, Lindsay/Langford are super exciting, Kos poised for a HUGE year imho once he returns, JVR poised to breakout big time, Jeffo on the prowl, AJ looks like a true bolter, Adams learning from his comrades & taking a step fwd, May looks & shares he feels fitter than EVER, Windsor giving me some total Tulip vibes so I am trying to tone that down.. but honestly kid is SPECIAL!!! Kolt looks like he is going to be a 200-gamer, Trac looks invested & seems much of what went on was perhaps a little column B, C & D rather than being what many thought it was & then there is Rivers, McVee whom both could be ready to go from exciting to STAR level.. I cant recall a time where there was so much potential growth in our list -- Other teams may improve more & a new gameplan might take time, but I am extremely excited to see how these players can go in 25' and beyond... No guarantees but I could name 3-4 more I think have significant growth in them, Sparrow turns out was hampered much of LY, I think Ed is going to be a better player this year, McAdam I haven't given up on.. 

    I can't remember a year I have had nearly as much as this to look fwd too, so I'll take that & if it corresponds to finishing top 4, even better but irrespective I think our list is sitting in a good spot as it stands right now with some luck on the injury front etc it is exciting times!!!

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    11 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Nah it had an impact but it was the lack of 2 way run, which killed him 

    Yep i'd agree -- I'd say it hampered him quite badly esp his handball game which impacted confidence & dare, but the 2way running alongside losing his explosiveness in bursts from stoppage is predominantly what hurt him most & seeing flashes of that in pre-season is huge, as we did not see ANY of that LY he was completely one-paced & could only impact defensively, this pre-seaon he is breaking away, handballing fast again AND getting fwd more to impact hence the 2way running factor.

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    11 hours ago, BigBadBustling said:

    A question for the track watchers if I may.

    Clarry is obviously in very good shape going into '25, but as unfit as he may have been last year I don't think that was his biggest issue. Far more of a hindrance for him was his dodgy hand.

    His handball game was way down, and his tackling was basically ineffective.

    I'm wondering what observations have been made on those 2 aspects of his game. Is his handball game 'back', and how effective has his tackling been during training?

    Appreciate any and all info.

    His handballing, run-receive-dish off, receive, game is back! Tackling is also there!

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    16 hours ago, old dee said:

    In the training reports there has been a lot written about recent large forwards and ruckman that have been added to our list. I have read little about Fullarton. With all the additions where does that leave Fullarton? Or is he out injured. Either way it looks like his chances of getting a Senior level game are low. 

    Good point, The other MIA is Luker Kentfield. Is he out on the park or injured? I never hear his name mentioned

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