What a glorious winter morning, the sun’s shining and there’s not a breath of wind. Still [censored] freezing though.

There’s only three out on the park at the moment… kicking a (cue the Jaws music) soccer ball around. Yep, Rmac, Bmac and Lmac aka Tmac’s fam. 🤪

The boys have just come out from AAMI. All looking very refreshed and happy. The mood is great.

Leb, Spargs and Marty rehab. Marty said he copped a corky.

Ricky Lever, AJ and TC not playing soccer, they’re participating in a handball drill with Sesto feeding the ball to them.

The boys have split into two groups: orange bibs vs no bibs. Let the game begin! The soccer game that is 🫣 My money’s on no bibs because Clarrie is on that team and he’s easily the keenest out there.

Goal kicking practice. Y’all happy now?! 😁

I feel like no one really gives a fat rat’s about training anymore, which is fine. I’m still gonna attend and although I’ll probs end up talking to myself in these threads, it’s all good, I talk to myself in real life, too 😅

PS: Spargs has been told if he gets through Thursday’s training he’s good to go for Saturday.

PPS: Fish (WV28) was particularly buoyant today and when I said I hope to see him running around in the seniors soon he beamed and said, “You never know, right?” And if I’m not mistaken, he winked. I read that wink to mean You will see me out there soon! Or he could’ve just had an itchy eye or something.

45 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

The boys have just come out from AAMI. All looking very refreshed and happy. The mood is great.

Leb, Spargs and Marty rehab. Marty said he copped a corky.

Ricky Lever, AJ and TC not playing soccer, they’re participating in a handball drill with Sesto feeding the ball to them.

The boys have split into two groups: orange bibs vs no bibs. Let the game begin! The soccer game that is 🫣 My money’s on no bibs because Clarrie is on that team and he’s easily the keenest out there.

Goal kicking practice. Y’all happy now?! 😁

Maybe. Which shaped ball are they using to practice goal kicking? 😁

6 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

I feel like no one really gives a fat rat’s about training anymore, which is fine. I’m still gonna attend and although I’ll probs end up talking to myself in these threads, it’s all good, I talk to myself in real life, too 😅

PS: Spargs has been told if he gets through Thursday’s training he’s good to go for Saturday.

PPS: Fish (WV28) was particularly buoyant today and when I said I hope to see him running around in the seniors soon he beamed and said, “You never know, right?” And if I’m not mistaken, he winked. I read that wink to mean You will see me out there soon! Or he could’ve just had an itchy eye or something.

Thanks G, I appreciate anyone's bit of information. There are obviously blokes who are seeing the coming weeks as opportunities and I'm fully in support.

If we are really lucky we could crack this thing wide open.

12 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

PPS: Fish (WV28) was particularly buoyant today and when I said I hope to see him running around in the seniors soon he beamed and said, “You never know, right?” And if I’m not mistaken, he winked. I read that wink to mean You will see me out there soon! Or he could’ve just had an itchy eye or something.

i have been critical of him in the past but he has earn his opportunity now, give max a rest for one game and get him and tc in. both could not just play on their own they would need each other

Just now, jaydenh10 said:

i have been critical of him in the past but he has earn his opportunity now, give max a rest for one game and get him and tc in. both could not just play on their own they would need each other

Will was tall and skinny three years ago. Now he’s tall and so muscly, he’s really filled out. The transformation is incredible. I’d love to see him get a go.

Re TC… I’d be surprised to see him in anytime soon. Maybe if Max cops an injury or a suspension, but other than that, I’d be very surprised.

Good on ya' Ghosty. A few other hardy track-watchers in attendance - we expect Kev's views shortly.

All present and accounted for today, other than AMW and Shane McAdam (unsurprisingly).

Re rehabbers - Spargo was doing some serious grappling work so, as Ghosty said, it looks like he is close to a return from that shoulder.

Hore and Windsor did their warm-up work together. Hore carrying a corkie makes sense. Windsor then did a number of laps solo.

The foursome of AJ, Campbell, Lever and Sestan did simple handball work away from the soccer. Lever and Campbell often avoid the soccer, rumour is that AJ has "a little ankle" and the Club has advised officially previously that Sestan re-injured his hamstring.

So possibly all (other than Sestan) available for selectionthis Saturday in the two games on the Gold Coast.

I reckon that's the smallest injury list in the AFL?

The session itself was soccer, then some run-throughs then goal-kicking practice. Very gentle. Interesting to note Max trying some "around the corner" shots from short distance, Sam Draper style. Maybe that's the answer?

Barely a MFC fan to be seen on this beautiful Sunday morning. The regulars, some passer-by's and dog walkers. Plenty of brown leaves on the surface, which are possibly a problem.

The same system, soccer, and then 15 minutes of goal kicking. Williams in-charge of the kicking, shouted a few things, then sat back as they concentrated on their job. They were successful, getting a high percentage through. May was particularly invested, and straight.

The vibe was cheerful, and they had a fair bit of enthusiasm and run when soccered.

They also had a late start (possibly an hour later then the posted start time), presumably they talked about a reset for the season. What the aspirations and expectations may be, and how and what they will get out of the remaining games (purely speculative).

1 minute ago, Kev said:

Barely a MFC fan to be seen on this beautiful Sunday morning. The regulars, some passer-by's and dog walkers. Plenty of brown leaves on the surface, which are possibly a problem.

The same system, soccer, and then 15 minutes of goal kicking. Williams in-charge of the kicking, shouted a few things, then sat back as they concentrated on their job. They were successful, getting a high percentage through. May was particularly invested, and straight.

The vibe was cheerful, and they had a fair bit of enthusiasm and run when soccered.

They also had a late start (possibly an hour later then the posted start time), presumably they talked about a reset for the season. What the aspirations and expectations may be, and how and what they will get out of the remaining games (purely speculative).

You’re right, Kev. They had an impromptu meeting, everyone included. Idk what was discussed but I like to think we didn’t freeze our arzes off in vain 😁

Zero injuries and we are 5-9

i thought i couldn’t feel any more depressed

The track watcher reports are always appreciated. I might’ve ridden down on the bike myself for a look if I’d known about the session today. It’s just a bit demoralising to read about how we’re shooting the lights out during the week only for the Keystone Cops to turn up on the weekend.

Good reports folks and in well ahead of time. I'm with DubDee, 5-9 and virtually no injuries, that's simply nowhere near good enough. I'm presuming that we're holding back the likes of Lindsay, Langford and Windsor from midfield roles until they're strong and fit enough. There's literally no world where I'm playing Oliver, Petracca and Viney in the same midfield. Petracca plays the rest of the year forward and is told he needs to learn to embrace the physicality of the game again. Oliver is no longer allowed to kick it unless he absolutely has to and Viney is played as a small forward. Oliver, Pickett, Rivers, Langdon, Langford, Bowey can all run through the middle. I do really hope we use the rest of the season to try new possibilities even if it means losing winnable games.

36 minutes ago, Kev said:

They also had a late start (possibly an hour later then the posted start time), presumably they talked about a reset for the season. What the aspirations and expectations may be, and how and what they will get out of the remaining games (purely speculative).

Very important that we use the second half of the season wisely.

I'm not interested in the win/loss ratio as such but I'm interested in dominant quarters that can be replicated and of course player development.

To play Max in all games would be madness. Same for May and probably Lever and Salem.

This is one of the main problems with the club, we practice soccer instead of investing in skills which we have shown time and again to be deficient in being able to achieve on match day. FFS BAN SOCCER BALLS AND SOCCER DRILLS/ GAMES ENTIRELY!

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by picket fence

26 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Good reports folks and in well ahead of time. I'm with DubDee, 5-9 and virtually no injuries, that's simply nowhere near good enough. I'm presuming that we're holding back the likes of Lindsay, Langford and Windsor from midfield roles until they're strong and fit enough. There's literally no world where I'm playing Oliver, Petracca and Viney in the same midfield. Petracca plays the rest of the year forward and is told he needs to learn to embrace the physicality of the game again. Oliver is no longer allowed to kick it unless he absolutely has to and Viney is played as a small forward. Oliver, Pickett, Rivers, Langdon, Langford, Bowey can all run through the middle. I do really hope we use the rest of the season to try new possibilities even if it means losing winnable games.

Agree re Clarry. look at Tom Greens first Q. 1 kick 9 handballs 100% efficiency

5 clearances, 4 tackles

He should model his game on this. play to his terrific strengths

Handball it to Langford and Kozzi!

Yeah as others have said we’ll never get a mid season injury list this healthy again and we’ll probably be 5-11 to show for it after the Adelaide away game.

Not acceptable.

1 hour ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

Re rehabbers - Spargo was doing some serious grappling work so, as Ghosty said, it looks like he is close to a return from that shoulder.

I believe this is what has sped up Spargs’ recovery…

Because a good hug fixes everything. 🤗

2 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Goal kicking practice. Y’all happy now?! 😁

What u don’t think we need to G.

From what Kev said it’s was only for 15 mins. IMO should be for 60mins minimum and after skills training has been completed.

A bit of an extra overtime after training for the players to fix a glaring deficiency in our game wouldn’t be a bad move.

Just now, DemonOX said:

What u don’t think we need to G.

From what Kev said it’s was only for 15 mins. IMO should be for 60mins minimum and after skills training has been completed.

A bit of an extra overtime after training for the players to fix a glaring deficiency in our game wouldn’t be a bad move.

The fact that they were kicking accurately this morning tells us that it’s kicking for goal in-game that’s the problem. And that’s a psychological problem, not physical.

40 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

The fact that they were kicking accurately this morning tells us that it’s kicking for goal in-game that’s the problem. And that’s a psychological problem, not physical.

Or ...another posit.... they do some( practice ) ...go ok....then.in their minds they've done enough.

Until game days when we know otherwise

2 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Re TC… I’d be surprised to see him in anytime soon. Maybe if Max cops an injury or a suspension, but other than that, I’d be very surprised.

I am sure Michael Christian will try his best, maybe the week before our next outing v his Magpies. 😡😡

19 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Or ...another posit.... they do some( practice ) ...go ok....then.in their minds they've done enough.

Until game days when we know otherwise

But goal kicking practice is almost WORTHLESS unless a complete appraisal of technique, biomechanical appraisal, open and discreet analysis is done. Otherwise the same mistakes will occur until remedied!

Big shout out to Ghostwriter, Harvey Wallbanger and Kev Martin greatly appreciated also all posters and special comments. Agree with GW hope that Will Verrall does get a run, he frees Rooey up to do what we recruited him for, also hoping to see Riv and Spaz get a lot more out of themselves over the next 9 games. Great to hear the boys are back out in the track.

3 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

Big shout out to Ghostwriter, Harvey Wallbanger and Kev Martin greatly appreciated also all posters and special comments. Agree with GW hope that Will Verrall does get a run, he frees Rooey up to do what we recruited him for, also hoping to see Riv and Spaz get a lot more out of themselves over the next 9 games. Great to hear the boys are back out in the track.

W.V had his best game last week but is still quite a way of, Rivers was subbed out and be lucky to hold his spot, Sparrow is playing average football, Viney was as bad as I have ever seen, Lever is a liability and Petty was Putrid. Having said all that just watch for minimal changes as per usual this week!