Beautiful conditions both playing & creeping. Got there 10:30, stayed for about 50.

• Kozz & Lindsay sneak away for a one-knee wizz . Kozz more impressive, hurdles over fence.

• Disco running laps - left knee lightly strapped, moving fine. Rest of the lap runners: Shane McAdam, AMW - good pace & pushing. Melk, Lindsay joins in later for some laps with Disco. Moving at a good clip.

• Roo looking super lean & fit. Like the new trim👍

• CJ always looking to move the game forward from the back half. Good energy. Good bounce.

• Heathe’s a specimen. Dont ask me about his footy, haven’t seen him play yet🤷‍♂️

Match Sim:

• Jeffo’s a smooth mover across the ground. Couple nice run & bouncers streaming into F50 from HHF. Settle PF setttllleee ✋ 

• Kozz doing Kozz

• Culley with the beautiful baulk & goal from 40 👏

• Kolt caught holding the pill. Have noticed this a few times with him. Seems to always be when he tries to step or run around a player. Don’t know if his lateral movement is any good? Turn over. Goal the other way.

• Reds now dominating. 49-14, 2nd term

• Max not in match sim. Joins disco for some laps. Looks fine.

• Gee Tmac looks fantastic. Kicking low darts to target all sesh 👏 

• Jai Culley flies high with a beauty contested mark on the D50 arc. Love his aerial game. Someone other than Max for the relieving mark down the flank will be great 👍 

• GAME: red 73 - white 21

Any questions, feel free

🔴🔵

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Gee, a lot of thought must have gone into some of those nicknames, for example Vines, Steely and Sharpie.

We are bottom 4 for creativity, that list is really lacking

Laurie: Bill is a fascinating case. He excels at VFL level and looks impressive on the training track, yet he has had very few chances to show what he can do at senior level. This preseason he is being used as a forward, but for mine there are several small forwards who appear to be ahead of him, including Thomas Matthews, who is still in rehab. It feels like a last roll of the dice for him, and he needs to make the most of any opportunity he gets.

Bowey: Always a smooth operator with the ball in hand. Seeing him on crutches and in a moon boot at training today was a real blow. Hopefully it is nothing too serious and he is back tearing up the track after Christmas. He is very important to the team and I am keen to see how he is used under King and the new game plan.

Melksham: A consummate professional on the training track. He and TMac set the gold standard for preseason training standards. It will be interesting to see where he fits in the new-look Dees forward line, but he will give absolutely everything. He was jogging laps today on a limited program for some reason, and hopefully it is only load management and not some other niggle.

Taylor: Tough nut that reads the ball really well in the air. Has been a bit hit and miss with his disposal at times but I just love that from Day 1 at training he had the balls to not play it safe and to take the game on. As a consequence he bit more off than he could chew and was either caught or put under pressure. I have a feeling he will work his way into Rivers role in defence allowing Trent to play more midfield time.

Matthews: Recovering from a PCL and has been in rehab. I like the highlights I have seen and the fact that he is described as leader. Can't wait to see him in action.

Jefferson: Another interesting case. He will surely need to prove himself at Casey if he wants to break into the senior side. I would love to see a bit more mongrel from him both at training and on game day. He has clean hands and is an accurate kick for goal.Likely the last roll of the dice for him too this season. Luker Kentfield is breathing down his neck.

Howes: Blake is another player I barely notice on the training track, but whenever I do, his disposal is always clean. I am keen to see where King views his best position.

McAdam: Disappointing to see such a talented player still in rehab and likely to miss another preseason block. Achilles injuries are cruel and take a long time to mend. He is another who will need to make the most of his opportunity once his body is right.

Rivers: Given the changes to our midfield over the offseason Rivers must grab this opportunity to make the position his own.

McDonald: Like Lever, TMac is one of the first on and last off the track. A consummate professional. He deserves a place in the best 23, but there are so many tall defenders competing for only a few spots. The Key Defender position might be one of the most interesting positions to watch this season.

Adams: Another player I do not notice much of on the training track. Clean hands and neat disposal I think the true test for Jed will be on the field. Will no doubt start at Casey but must take the opportunity with both hands if given a crack at some point in the year like Petty did in 2021.

Heath: A big body and very athletic for his size. Has an excellent pair of hands and clean disposal for a guy his size. Has a nice accurate shot on goal. Not sure what his tank is like and hopefully he can learn a thing or two from Max. I hope that he gets an opportunity at some point this season particularly given the 5 man bench.

Mihocek: I was very happy to trade in Brody. He is just what the Doctor ordered for our forward line. Will provide a nice foil for JVR and will work very well with Fritta. Leads at the ball well. Excellent hands. Very accurate kick on goal.

Campbell: Break glass in case of Emergency.

Sharp: Haven't seen much of him on the track. Runs all day. Does some nice things. Can find the goals. Will be in and out of the team. Good role player.

Fritsch: Fritta looks like a new man this season. I can't quite put my finger on it. Was impressed that he was back almost from Day 1 even when he wasn't required. At the early sessions when most positions weren't back yet and we lacked defenders he was training further up the ground. Now with almost a full squad he is back to the forward line out bodying bigger opponents, taking grabs and kicking snags. Fellow trackwatchers were gobsmacked at the amount of times he was unselfish and dished off the ball when he could have had a shot. He even handballed. Perhaps the message has been received.

Sparrow: Nothing much new to report regarding Spaz. Gets a lot of the footy. Playing in the middle. Wouldn't mind him pushing forward a little bit.

Latrelle Pickett: Love everything I have seen from Trelly. Classy user of the ball, can sell candy, has pace and can work his way up and down the ground. It is a thing of beauty to watch the two Picketts combine. It will set the G on fire.

White: Tall, skinny and athletic. Has a nice pair of hand and a nice leap. I haven't seen much of him but he will take time to develop. A year in the gym will do him the world of good as will learning at the feet of one of the greatest rucks in history as well as the two other big body rucks. I expect that he will cut his teeth in the forward line at Casey.

Petty: Much to the relief of a lot of Demonlanders Petty is back training with the Defenders. He reads the ball so well in the air and has a very clean pair of hands. Having an uninterrupted preseason will be a blessing for him too.

Kozzy: Absolutely sublime. Lock him in as a full time midfielder. He is electric on the training track. You could sell tickets just to watch him practice. Not much more to say about him. Star.

Chandler: Have seen Kade's leadership qualities blossom this preseason. Expect him to play the high half forward role this season.

TO BE CONTINUED ....

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Laurie: Bill is a fascinating case. He excels at VFL level and looks impressive on the training track, yet he has had very few chances to show what he can do at senior level. This preseason he is being used as a forward, but for mine there are several small forwards who appear to be ahead of him, including Thomas Matthews, who is still in rehab. It feels like a last roll of the dice for him, and he needs to make the most of any opportunity he gets.

Thanks for the write ups Mr. Land - this is a curious comment, what makes you feel Matthews is ahead of Laurie in the pecking order?

4 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

If Kolt cannot impress during training, i have a lot of worries for the kid. Geez i hope he can turn it around. If we just saw a few spurts of brilliance we may have a bit more faith - here's hoping.

Won't make it!

11 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

We all know I’ll find out next week’s session deets. 😃

Gosch’s: Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week.

10am - midday (11:30 on Weds)

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Thanks for the write ups Mr. Land - this is a curious comment, what makes you feel Matthews is ahead of Laurie in the pecking order?

Gut feel.

Just now, Demonland said:

Gut feel.

Also on Laurie - I’m curious that he’s been playing small forward as (to your point) it seems like he wouldn’t be getting games at AFL level in that position

But then I guess he might not get games playing midfield either…

6 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Idk if it’s been mentioned already but Harvey sent a brief wave of panic through spectators when he came off to tell Jacob (our doc) that he’d copped a head knock. He was pointing to his cheekbone directly below his eye. Jacob did the how many fingers am I holding up thing and the eyes following Jacob’s finger thing. He had a gentle but thorough feel of Harvey’s cheekbone and it must’ve been all good because he was back out on field afterwards.

Phew

Pit stop

12 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Tholstrup.

Haven't heard much so far and really needs a big year next year.

Hoping to see him take the next step as a half forward, midfielder.

Looks super fit & a bit more dialled-in from what I’ve seen so far!

11 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Interested to see where the line up Sparrow and if King is going to waste Windsor on a HBF again next year like he was wasted this year. (if they do match sim sort of drills)

Will be a mid.. 💯

11 hours ago, Demonland said:

He is there. Missed him in number order as I haven’t been practicing my jumper number exercises.

Wouldn’t worry mate you’d think ppl would just read the no-shows to make it a bit simpler but 🤷🏻‍♂️ lol

9 hours ago, deelusions from afar said:

Out of interest, have we done any simulations regarding final 2 minutes and need to score / need to protect the lead.

I appreciate ball movement is probably more important but do remember when Macrae came into collingwood, they apparently did these drills from day 1 (they had a lot of ball movement work to do as well with the slow moving buckley style being replaced with Macrae's approach).

That comes a bit later mate ie def post Chrissy

Berry: Obviously a project player. First Category B player that I think we've selected that looks like a natural rather than someone that needs to learn. Needs to build a fitness base for the elite level. Will be a better for the preseason and a season under his belt. Looks like he has decent skills.

Mentha: Has skill and some nice tricks, but not the same spark the two Picketts have. I had hoped he might work his way into the senior side at some point in 2026, but the drafting of Latrelle has probably made that task a little tougher.

Onley: Big fan of Onley. Tall for a midfielder at 195cm. He is the same height as Lever and has the body for senior footy. Will no doubt start at Casey but I have a feeling he will play senior footy in 2026. Just another gut feeling.

Johnson: Still a back up forward and ruck that can pinch hit in the seniors if required. Will most likely play footy at Casey.

Henderson: Has been in rehab most of the preseason. I see him as a very good VFL player. Can also pinch hit in the seniors as a role player but I see him playing most of his footy at Casey.

Kentfield: Very impressed with this kid. Saw a little bit of him in the back end of Casey season and he impressed with his marking and goal kicking ability. Has no preseason due to illness last year and has come back to the club this preseason looking fit and trimmed down but still a good size. Could be the surprise packet up forward for us some time in 2026. He may even be ahead of Jefferson. Like Jeffo the ball is in his court to earn that spot and keep it.

Moniz-Wakefield: He is itching to get out of rehab and join the full squad. If he can stay fit I think he will resume his role in the backline. I'm predicting a big year for AMW.

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

Laurie: Bill is a fascinating case. He excels at VFL level and looks impressive on the training track, yet he has had very few chances to show what he can do at senior level. This preseason he is being used as a forward, but for mine there are several small forwards who appear to be ahead of him, including Thomas Matthews, who is still in rehab. It feels like a last roll of the dice for him, and he needs to make the most of any opportunity he gets.

I hate this. He's not a forward. They should be pushing him into the middle as a skillful inside mid. That's where he plays his best football. If they stop trying to force him into a role he's not suited to, we might actually see what he can do.

11 hours ago, Demonland said:

A lot of Pickett to Pickett action. Love to see it. 

Hopefully the connection between yhe Krakeur brothers is bettered with our "Pickett line".

4 hours ago, RedLegs23 said:

• Kozz & Lindsay sneak away for a one-knee wizz .

• Kozz more impressive, hurdles over fence.

• Disco running laps - left knee lightly strapped, moving fine. Rest of the lap runners: Shane McAdam, AMW - good pace & pushing. Melk, Lindsay joins in later for some laps with Disco. Moving at a good clip.

• Roo looking super lean & fit. Like the new trim👍

• CJ always looking to move the game forward from the back half. Good energy. Good bounce.

• Heathe’s a specimen. Dont ask me about his footy, haven’t seen him play yet🤷‍♂️

Match Sim:

• Jeffo’s a smooth mover across the ground. Couple nice run & bouncers streaming into F50 from HHF. Settle PF setttllleee ✋ 

• Kozz doing Kozz

• Culley with the beautiful baulk & goal from 40 👏

• Kolt caught holding the pill. Have noticed this a few times with him. Seems to always be when he tries to step or run around a player. Don’t know if his lateral movement is any good? Turn over. Goal the other way.

• Reds now dominating. 49-14, 2nd term

• Max not in match sim. Joins disco for some laps. Looks fine.

• Gee Tmac looks fantastic. Kicking low darts to target all sesh 👏 

• Jai Culley flies high with a beauty contested mark on the D50 arc. Love his aerial game. Someone other than Max for the relieving mark down the flank will be great 👍 

• GAME: red 73 - white 21

Any questions, feel free

🔴🔵

Is that like a White Russian? (Seriously what is it?)

11 hours ago, Salems Lot said:

How do you sleep?

Maybe he could imagine sheep in Melbourne jumpers.

8 hours ago, hardtack said:

I hope he didn’t get that nickname because of his like for a certain film.

That's why i think we should spell his nickname as Sailo or Sale-o

9 hours ago, adonski said:

Where were you on the 120 Games of Salo

And the Irish would say, Faith and Gomorrah!, as they disembarked at Epstein Island.

9 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Now for the most important news… nicknames update!

The names in red are the updates:

1. Steven May - Maysie

2. Jacob van Rooyen - Rooey, Roo

3. Christian Salem - Salo

4. Harvey Langford - Bison, Harves

5. Xavier Lindsay - X

6. Caleb Windsor - Leb

7. Jack Viney - Vines

8. Jake Lever - Rick

9. Jack Steele - Steely

10. Daniel Turner - Disco

11. Max Gawn - Maxy

12. Koltyn Tholstrup - Kolt

13. Jai Culley - Culls

14. Changkuoth Jiath - CJ, Seej

15. Ed Langdon - Langers, Lingers

16. Bailey Laurie - Bill

17. Jake Bowey - Bowsa

18. Jake Melksham - Melky

19. Xavier Taylor - Reg, Reggie

20. Thomas Matthews - Tommy

21. Matthew Jefferson - Jeffo

22. Blake Howes - Howesy

23. Shane McAdam - Shane-oh

24. Trent Rivers - Riv

25. Tom McDonald - Tmac

26. Jed Adams - Sauce, Larry

27. Max Heath - Moose

28. Brody Mihocek - Checkers

29. Tom Campbell - TC

30. Harry Sharp - Sharpie

31. Bayley Fritsch - Fritta

32. Tom Sparrow - Spaz

33. Latrelle Pickett - Trelly

34. Kalani White - Whitey

35. Harrison Petty - Petts

36. Kysaiah Pickett - Koz

37. Kade Chandler - Chin

38. Oscar Berry - Bez

39. Ricky Mentha - Ricky

40. Riley Onley - Ron, Ronnie

41. —————————

42. Aidan Johnson - AJ

43. Jack Henderson - Hendo

44. Luker Kentfield - Luker

45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield - Andy, Monners

No, I don’t know why Jed is called Larry and that’s because he doesn’t know either.

Terrible. Immediate thoughts without the required thought:

May - notsie

Salem - witches

Langford - Bison is great

Lindsay - needs some thought…

Windsor - leb stays

Viney - extra work required…

Lever - rick stays

Steele - hattori hanzo

Turner - disco

Gawn - gottim

Tholstrup - got nothing. Kolt it is

Culley - slaughter man

CJ - every team needs one

Langdon - Karl

Laurie - can’t improve on perfection. Bill stays

Bowey - bowsa (unoriginal but works)

Melksham - any variety of milkshake is your favourite (I’d call him chocolate)

Taylor - Reggie stays

Matthew’s - Lewis (hughie Lewis)

Jefferson - Thomas/thommo

Howes - that

Mcadam- shano is ok for now

Rivers - run deep

McDonald - TMac is ok

Addams - sauce (every team needs one)

Heath - moose - like it

Miohocek - moose - good

Campbell - TC is fine

Sharp - texta

Fritsch - pineapple

Sparrow - spaz works

Pickett - trelly is good

White - blackers

Petty - trivial

Pickett - kozzie will never be changed

Chandler - chin - like it

Berry - strawbs

Mentha - needs work

Onley - fans

Johnson - AJ is needed

Henderson - enrage (Scottish/ welsh version is macenraig)

Kentfield - chooka (haven’t got one yet and is needed)

AMW - money

this list still needs work but hopefully is a better start than our current bottom 4 ranking

10 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Now for the most important news… nicknames update!

The names in red are the updates:

1. Steven May - Maysie

2. Jacob van Rooyen - Rooey, Roo

3. Christian Salem - Salo

4. Harvey Langford - Bison, Harves

5. Xavier Lindsay - X

6. Caleb Windsor - Leb

7. Jack Viney - Vines

8. Jake Lever - Rick

9. Jack Steele - Steely

10. Daniel Turner - Disco

11. Max Gawn - Maxy

12. Koltyn Tholstrup - Kolt

13. Jai Culley - Culls

14. Changkuoth Jiath - CJ, Seej

15. Ed Langdon - Langers, Lingers

16. Bailey Laurie - Bill

17. Jake Bowey - Bowsa

18. Jake Melksham - Melky

19. Xavier Taylor - Reg, Reggie

20. Thomas Matthews - Tommy

21. Matthew Jefferson - Jeffo

22. Blake Howes - Howesy

23. Shane McAdam - Shane-oh

24. Trent Rivers - Riv

25. Tom McDonald - Tmac

26. Jed Adams - Sauce, Larry

27. Max Heath - Moose

28. Brody Mihocek - Checkers

29. Tom Campbell - TC

30. Harry Sharp - Sharpie

31. Bayley Fritsch - Fritta

32. Tom Sparrow - Spaz

33. Latrelle Pickett - Trelly

34. Kalani White - Whitey

35. Harrison Petty - Petts

36. Kysaiah Pickett - Koz

37. Kade Chandler - Chin

38. Oscar Berry - Bez

39. Ricky Mentha - Ricky

40. Riley Onley - Ron, Ronnie

41. —————————

42. Aidan Johnson - AJ

43. Jack Henderson - Hendo

44. Luker Kentfield - Luker

45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield - Andy, Monners

No, I don’t know why Jed is called Larry and that’s because he doesn’t know either.

10 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Chin’s baby is due in late March. They’ve decided not to find out the gender until the birth, or as Chin put it… “I’ll know if it’s a boy or a girl when I catch it.” 😅

You’ve just reminded me of that old joke about a woman and her child who were standing at a third floor window, calling for help as fire engulfed the building around them. It looked hopeless as help seemed like it would not arrive any time soon, when all of a sudden, Ron Barrassi appears out of nowhere, shouting:

“Fear not, I’m Ron Barrassi the greatest VFL player of all time!! Just throw your child from the window and I will catch him/her.”

So, after considering his suggestion and unable to think of any viable options, she decided to throw the child in Ron’s direction. Well…Ron runs and launches himself with one knee in the back of a tall bystander, takes an absolute screamer, plays on, bounces twice and shooooooooooooots for goal!!

Yes, an oldie but a Goldie!

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by hardtack

@Roosiah mileage will vary how much people care about this. 🤣

Anyway some more ...

May - Wint (almost winter)

Salem - Lot, Slot, Cat, Sabrina, Citrus (lemon)

Lindsay is hard? So not Lohan? He's XL so Jumbo, Spreadsheet, App even Strive or Prosper.

I don't mind Leb but Duke would suit Windsor too

Viney - Creeper, Grape, even Gilbert

Steele - Remington or Rob (steal)

or by going from saint to demon something like Lucifer or Judas or plain Bad

Turner - disco

Tholstrup - Buya (as in Buy A Vowel in Wheel of Fortune

Culley - slaughter man (I'd prefer Shooter)

Melksham - any variety of milkshake is your favourite (I’d call him chocolate) (or Dairy)

Matthews - New-Leigh?

Jefferson - Prez

Howes - that (or Zat or Zing)

Mcadam- Tea or Golf (caddy).... or Shack. Nut?

Rivers - Nile or Delta. Darling would be amusing . Flow?

Campbell - TC is fine (No, We've had one before in late 80s). Soup? Warhol?

Sharp - Blade

Fritsch - Magnet

White - Wong

Petty - Cash or Crime or Crim

Berry - strawbs (or Goose or Cackle or Digga (bury)

Mentha - Butter or Cigs

Henderson - as an 80s child .... Kids , or maybe Cluck or he could be the Chook

Kentfield - If he's Clark then the Kenterfield confusion will disappear

AMW - how about ..... B?