11 hours ago, alpha33 said:

How long was the scheduled training?

It was scheduled to be from 10am ‘til 11:30am but it started at 9:40am and finished just after midday.

How did Riv and Bison go?

18 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

How did Riv and Bison go?

Both will be in the first 23

I'm gonna put in my rolling 45.

Melbourne

B: Lever, Petty, Jiath

HB: Salem, Turner, Bowey

C: Culley, Steele, Langford

HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, L.Pickett

F: Fritsch, Mihocek, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Rivers, K.Pickett

IC: Lindsay, Windsor, Sparrow, Tholstrup, Langdon

Casey

B: Adams, May, Berry

HB: Howes, McDonald, Taylor

C: Bonner, Laurie, Bergman

HF: Sharp, Johnson, Mentha

F: White, Kentfield, Jefferson

FOLL: Heath, Onley, Edwards

IC: Smith, Lual, Cross, Campbell

INJ: Viney, Matthews, McAdam, Henderson, Moniz-Wakefield

Edited December 1, 2025Dec 1 by WERRIDEE

5 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I called Thomas Matthews “Tommy” and he said he likes being called Tommy and that’s what he wants to go by but he’s not the only Tom in the side. I said it’s all good because the other Toms are usually called Tmac, Spaz and TC. I told him he’ll no doubt be given a nickname by his teammates. Or will he?

Before training started I was asked if I’d met the new guys yet. I said I’ve only met XT so far. Langers said ‘“XT”? I like it!’ Then Salo and Rooey agreed.

Our team’s nickname game is poor 🙃

Was it Nathan Doggy Brown who said every club needed a player nicknamed 'Chook'?

Xavier looks like a guy who should be named Chook.

31 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I'm gonna put in my rolling 45.

Melbourne

B: Lever, Petty, Jiath

HB: Salem, Turner, Bowey

C: Culley, Steele, Langford

HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, L.Pickett

F: Fritsch, Mihocek, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Rivers, K.Pickett

IC: Lindsay, Windsor, Sparrow, Tholstrup, Langdon

Casey

B: Adams, May, Berry

HB: Howes, McDonald, Taylor

C: Bonner, Laurie, Bergman

HF: Sharp, Johnson, Mentha

F: White, Kentfield, Jefferson

FOLL: Heath, Onley, Edwards

IC: Smith, Lual, Cross, Campbell

INJ: Viney, Matthews, McAdam, Henderson, Moniz-Wakefield

Creating best 23's which take into account injured players in December?

You are an unstoppable force Werridee.

I reckon people would prefer a best 23.

I've seen you put Langdon on the bench recently. While there are no wrong answers at this point in the year, I doubt Langdon misses out starting on a wing.

Um, how is Fritta going?

8 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

I'm gonna put in my rolling 45.

Melbourne

B: Lever, Petty, Jiath

HB: Salem, Turner, Bowey

C: Culley, Steele, Langford

HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, L.Pickett

F: Fritsch, Mihocek, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Rivers, K.Pickett

IC: Lindsay, Windsor, Sparrow, Tholstrup, Langdon

Casey

B: Adams, May, Berry

HB: Howes, McDonald, Taylor

C: Bonner, Laurie, Bergman

HF: Sharp, Johnson, Mentha

F: White, Kentfield, Jefferson

FOLL: Heath, Onley, Edwards

IC: Smith, Lual, Cross, Campbell

INJ: Viney, Matthews, McAdam, Henderson, Moniz-Wakefield

Looking at that, it’s clear we lack a small stopper. Not a single one of those options could line up on a Charlie Cameron small forward type. Anyone look likely in this role? Could Laurie or even Chandler fit the bill? We’ve got lots of half forward options already…

Fritta looked classy in the inside drills where you need to get through the pack. Good sidesteps, and strong. I was quietly impressed with Kilani when he did a short stint at FF in the drill where a handball comes out around the 50M line and kicks short and hard to someone leading wide out of the goalsquare. He was quick to lead and had good hands. It was wet and it was a fast tough drill. As he is touted as a back or a ruck I thought he did well although I have to admit, there was no opposition.

Edited December 1, 2025Dec 1 by Damo

13 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I called Thomas Matthews “Tommy” and he said he likes being called Tommy and that’s what he wants to go by but he’s not the only Tom in the side. I said it’s all good because the other Toms are usually called Tmac, Spaz and TC. I told him he’ll no doubt be given a nickname by his teammates. Or will he?

Before training started I was asked if I’d met the new guys yet. I said I’ve only met XT so far. Langers said ‘“XT”? I like it!’ Then Salo and Rooey agreed.

Our team’s nickname game is poor 🙃

My wife's family already had a dog, so when they picked another of the same breed off the street they named it "Extra."

8 hours ago, BAMF said:

Was it Nathan Doggy Brown who said every club needed a player nicknamed 'Chook'?

Xavier looks like a guy who should be named Chook.

You rang?

How did maysie go? Keen to see if he’s got some movement back

I agree with @WERRIDEE save for a JvR as a back-up ruck.

I can't see how we can possibly progress his forward craft if we're pulling him away from his position for 20% of game time.

Surely Heath or ? can step up to take that 5th bench spot?

9 minutes ago, M_9 said:

I agree with @WERRIDEE save for a JvR as a back-up ruck.

I can't see how we can possibly progress his forward craft if we're pulling him away from his position for 20% of game time.

Surely Heath or ? can step up to take that 5th bench spot?

There’s little value burning the 5th bench spot on a back up ruck, especially with a young side that needs every possible rotation.

Heath has to impact forward and it probably requires Gawn finally relenting some ruck minutes and taking spells forward too.

If both of those things happen they might play 2 rucks, but then the question becomes which 2 key forwards are the best combination with a big ruck?

Mihocek is a lock at CHF, then we’ve got 1 if not 2 more natural full forwards on the list. For JVR it might be back up ruck or Casey.

Every side will play 2 rucks this year, because of 5 on the bench, and the change to ball ups. No nominating from 100m away, rucks will have to run a lot more than in the past.

9 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

There’s little value burning the 5th bench spot on a back up ruck, especially with a young side that needs every possible rotation.

Heath has to impact forward and it probably requires Gawn finally relenting some ruck minutes and taking spells forward too.

If both of those things happen they might play 2 rucks, but then the question becomes which 2 key forwards are the best combination with a big ruck?

Mihocek is a lock at CHF, then we’ve got 1 if not 2 more natural full forwards on the list. For JVR it might be back up ruck or Casey.

Sorry, but if not JVR, who are the natural full forwards? Assume by “natural” you are not referring to backman turned forwards.

11 hours ago, BAMF said:

Was it Nathan Doggy Brown who said every club needed a player nicknamed 'Chook'?

Xavier looks like a guy who should be named Chook.

Nah he’s more of a leopard than a Chook.😁👍

5 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

Looking at that, it’s clear we lack a small stopper. Not a single one of those options could line up on a Charlie Cameron small forward type. Anyone look likely in this role? Could Laurie or even Chandler fit the bill? We’ve got lots of half forward options already…

AMW.

Just out of interest, can anyone recall last year, when exactly did Lindsay get into full training?

Fancy MFC being lucky enough to have two Picketts playing for them.

1 hour ago, BigBadBustling said:

Just out of interest, can anyone recall last year, when exactly did Lindsay get into full training?

This Training Report from the 15th of January 2025 makes mention of Lindsay now being in full training.

3 hours ago, Bay Riffin said:

AMW.

Thanks. I thought he seemed more a rebounding back flank type. Would be good if he had scope to become the back pocket lockdown instead.

We’ve got enough rebounding flank types, especially with recent draftees like Lindsey, Windsor, Taylor all likely to spend time there alongside Bowey, Salem, Rivers etc.

If we are looking for new nicknames then maybe Riley Onely could be "Roy" "Onely the lonely" Orbison.

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

This Training Report from the 15th of January 2025 makes mention of Lindsay now being in full training.

Thanks for that, very interesting.

So realistically, given he thinks he'll be into full training before Christmas, Tommy Matthews isn't coming from as far back as Lindsay did last year?

32 minutes ago, BigBadBustling said:

Thanks for that, very interesting.

So realistically, given he thinks he'll be into full training before Christmas, Tommy Matthews isn't coming from as far back as Lindsay did last year?

Isn’t Matthews only just starting running before Christmas? There’s no way he’ll be in full training