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.

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!