According to the AFL website, North Melbourne's match simulation today has been cancelled due to gastro outbreak.

Meanwhile, Melbourne’s closed training session at Casey Fields is still going ahead today although officials are keeping an eye open for any snakes in the area. If you’re in the area and can assist with any updates, please let us know.

Or snakes with gastro… they’re the worst

1 hour ago, kryton101 said:

Or snakes with gastro… they’re the worst

Skunks with gastro are the worst..

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Meanwhile, Melbourne’s closed training session at Casey Fields is still going ahead today although officials are keeping an eye open for any snakes in the area. If you’re in the area and can assist with any updates, please let us know.

I’m present and have already spotted a snake; Tom Morris is watching on. I’ll shoo him away with a rake.

28 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I’m present and have already spotted a snake; Tom Morris is watching on. I’ll shoo him away with a rake.

His breed (Diurnarious Serpens) is not a protected species. Rake, fence picket, whatever is within reach.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by M_9

2 hours ago, kryton101 said:

Or snakes with gastro… they’re the worst

One b*te and it's sh*te.

Not related to todays training.

MELBOURNE

TRACK WATCH

Latrelle Pickett is making an early claim for a debut come the start of the season, dominating during match sim and general training in his first pre-season. He and his cousin, Kysaiah Pickett, look a class above so far this summer. Jai Culley has been promoted into the No.13 guernsey and looks every bit a best 23 player, rotating through the midfield and half forward line.

INJURY LATEST

Max Gawn is currently limited with a fractured finger in a splint, but he is still completing almost all of training and won’t miss the State of Origin game in three weeks. Jack Viney has been battling an achilles niggle but is not far off full fitness, and Bailey Laurie is limited after surgery on a fractured hand. Jake Bowey has a significant foot injury that will sideline him for the start of the season.

PRACTICE MATCH

Friday, February 20 v North Melbourne at Casey Fields (4.30pm – 4x25min quarters, no time on, 2min scenarios to finish Q3 and Q4)

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I’m present and have already spotted a snake; Tom Morris is watching on. I’ll shoo him away with a rake.

Once watched dad lop the head off a brown with a spade. Just saying

Not related to this thread at all - any reason we don’t seem to get any Irish stars like Geelong tend to lately?

Obviously we have had arguably the greatest of all time, in Stynes, however I can’t recall any since, could be wrong.

12 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Not related to todays training.

That article describes Judd McVee as a "mature-age draftee". Wasn't he traded in from another AFL club? 😊

6 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

That article describes Judd McVee as a "mature-age draftee". Wasn't he traded in from another AFL club? 😊

No, rookie draft

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I’m present and have already spotted a snake; Tom Morris is watching on. I’ll shoo him away with a rake.

If gastro had gastro, it would be Tom Morris.

Spare a thought for the snake which has eaten something so large it had to dislocate its jaw and poke its windpipe out the side of its mouth in order to swallow... and then gets gastro.

1 hour ago, M_9 said:

His breed (Diurnarious Serpens) is not a protected species. Rake, fence picket, whatever is within reach.

Was that a typo - fence picket or picket fence 🐍?

39 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Not related to this thread at all - any reason we don’t seem to get any Irish stars like Geelong tend to lately?

Obviously we have had arguably the greatest of all time, in Stynes, however I can’t recall any since, could be wrong.

🇮🇪 don’t like 🐍

Our 🇮🇪 greats, Sean and Jimmy may not have ever joined us if we were training at Casey those days

Sorry all in Port Fairy at present and went fishing at Killarney Beach and ran into... you guessed it a big Black snake! Training reports will resume in a few weeks!

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by picket fence

Another picture perfect morning down @ Casey☀️👌

Arrived @ 10:15 & you would’ve believe it - THE GATES ARE OPEN!!!🤩First thing of notice, the energy & focus of the boys is super high! 

Rehab:

• McAdam running 100m gaps accompanied by Reece conca. Best i’ve seen him move. Running at 3/4 pace.

• Adams running the boundary resembling a 50 year old - don’t know what’s the go there but moving very very gingerly early.

• Max, AMW, Sharp, Mihocek & Mathews head across to another field with a trainer. 

• Petty not training at all - whats the go here? Bowey & Vines also in attendance with the latter also not training. 

• Chandler no show

Few drills early then straight into full blown match sim with umpires. Here’s what I saw.

1st QTR: 20mins

• Straight off the jump, Jeffo with a lovely contested pack mark 25 out right in front. Nails the kick & the boys love it🗣️ Jeffo with the first two majors for the game. Fantastic start from the young man. Whites up early.

• The deck @ Casey looks a picture. Carpet like👍

• Kalani White pegs one back with a goal at the other end. First for the  Blues.

• Latrelle & Kozzy in-play connection is evident & deadly!

• Jeffo with another contested grab along the flank. The most confident I’ve seen the kid.

• Deadset SCREAMER from Kozzy👀🤩 You’ll see that on the socials no doubt!!!

• Come on Kolt. Better than that mate. Couple turn over kicks.

• Kozzy’s been magical with just about with every touch so far. Cant be stopped & just too damn good.

• Jeffo again gets separation & marks on the flank. Kick inside 50, lose ball win to Culley, breaks a tackle who then delivers to Luker. White’s with another.

• Crunching tackle from young boy Reg.  Gone HTB!

• Roo getting busy. Assist in the goal square for Bill. Whites up & about

• Latrelle with the front and centre gather at break neck speed on the half forward flank. Boy he’s gonna be fun. 

• Intercept through the mid from Reg (X. Taylor for those who may have missed it) who takes it on immediately with the forward handball to Kozzy. Streams forward with a couple bounces who hits Kolt out the back just about on the line. Goal blues.

• Jeffo running back inside the F50 pocket as he finds seperation again. Mark. Set shot just misses to the right. Been the dominant forward so far.

• Trelly with the dancing feet, bobbing & weaving through traffic. Chefs kiss.

• Reg gets forward & wins the 1-on-1 free. Kicks the set shot like a true back man. Shanks it from 40.

Qtr time: Blues 3.2.20 - Whites 4.3.27

Heath not in match sim. White bib on & been running the boundary at half pace. Not sure whats the go there.

Boys now break into groups of 4 or 5’s running the boundary at a serious clip

2nd QTR: 20mins

• Beautiful contested fly from Leb across the back flank.

• Nice mark from Luker (playing in defence now), shanks the switch kick across the ground which is intercepted by Mentha @ the top of 50 arc & in full flight runs & kicks truly from 50👏 Goal blues.

• Bailey catches Luker HTB, quickly gets it to Kozzy who runs in for the checkside goal.

• Laurie dancing & weaving who then hits Culley centre mid, Culley darts it to Trelly on the lead who marks & nails the set shot from 45.

• Riv looking solid, so to Sparrow.

• Another pressure soccer goal off the deck to Kozz from the top of the goal square. 

• Lever vocal as heck. Love to hear it

• Low deep dart from a running Riley Bonner through the middle. Aiden Johnson with the lovely contested mark 25 out from Goal. Nails it. Well done mate.

• Stoppage LHS on F50. Contested win from Onley. Quick hands to Langford with the beautiful kick across his body from 45. What a beauty!👏

• You can see why the coined Jeffo the name magician. Bit of flair about him & got 3 or 4 now.

• Roo aerial game getting stronger by the minute. Another mark.

• Trelly is a jet people. Sold candy twice deep in F50 then check sides the goal. Lollllll what an excitement machine we have🤩

• Kalani on the right side of a Shane Warne wrongen which falls into his lap, snaps across his body 25 out. He’s got a couple.

• Luker’s had a couple mares across the backline but redeems himself with a beautiful contested pack mark deep in D50. Nice.

• Pup is all class. Wins a ground ball crumb, picks up swivels & kicks the snap from 15 out. 

• Ball’s pinging at serious pace people. Flow state.

• Mentha growing. Looking more comfortable & doing some nice things.

• Blues making a gap in this game now. 

• Great to see Sinnema out there & not looking out of place at all. Neet left foot.

• Kolt decision making in contested situations is not to the level… yet.

• Kolt again with the shank to the boundary with no pressure. It was all perceived pressure & that was enough to throw him off… not good signs tbh. 

Half time: forgot to catch the scores

3rd QTR: 20mins

• Noticed that the boys have swapped around a bit. Magnets have been flipped all over the place. Jeffo now in defence, Luker now up forward etc

• Off the opening bounce. Riv with the centre clearance to a leading Luker who marks on the top of the 50. Luker’s real good on the eye when in flight. Thumps it home from 50👏

• Bills clearly got talent, just gotta be given a chance I reckon. Kicks another.

• The transition from Kozzy is amazing. It started with him deep in defence with an outlet kick to the HB Flank. 30 seconds later he marks the ball 35m out from goal & of course he goals again⭐️

• May up forward, kicks a goal & celebrates ah la the Duursma bloke

• An unnumbered small HF named crossy? Looks ok. Kicked a couple

• Sinnema gets on the end of one.

3 QTR time: Blues 10.3.63 - Whites 12.8.80

Now some team running in between the arcs - aim is to get there within 10 seconds. Rest for 10 then back at it again. Over and over again. Boys are gassed.

4th QTR: 10mins

• Stoppage corner F50. Roo in the ruck who body’s his opponent, quick hands to Kozzy at pace, breaks one tackle, avaids and weaves, snaps from 40. Taking the absolute [censored] now ✋ 

• So impressed with Roo today. Another contested mark top of the RHS 50 & bangs it home. Got 3 or 4 now. Looks in rippling nick, hardened & covering the ground beautifuly. 

• Scores level now 81 apiece and the few in attendance are being treated here this morning. 

• Liking what I’m seeing from Bill. Very creative, balanced. Surely he gets a good go at it this year under King.

• Fritta with consecutive goals now.

• In game scenario - 4mins left and a goal up. Aim for a more controlled / tempo game.

• Jeffo got a bag now. 5 at least👏👏

• For a nice looking kick, Xlindsay has missed a few kicks he would usually nail.

• Another one to Roo

Thats time: Blues 17.3.105 - Whites 15.10.100

It’s now 12:45pm & the boys are still out there busting a gut, but thats me done. 

🔴🔵

Thanks for the great report, not great reading for Tholstrup 😬 Jefferson looks really good in the video the club uploaded, a few may have gone too early on him (Including me) !

I was at training today. Couldn't believe how long it went. From 9.30 till after 12.45. Didnt spot chandler. Also absent was bowry of course. Campbell only walking in a neck brace. Rehabbers were viney gawn melky matthews mcadam adams heath mihocek sharp petty hendo( not sighted) I have no knowledge on their availability Was quite a few fill ins

Defenders in the match sims i noticed were 1 8 10 14 19 22 25 42

Mids 4 5 6 9 12 13 15 16 24 31 32 33 36 40

Fwds 2 21 42 44 A lot of mids rotating as fwds as well

Rucks were 34 42 2

Overall the vibe was good Lots of talk especially Lever . May instructing a lot.

Stand outs: Roo was great Lawrie did well! Culley was great Kosi exceptional

Was awesome to see Stephen King stop plays to instruct groups of players clearly . Was a lovely morning!

Lots of flexibility with players Big improvers in Roo, culley and jeffo ( at one stage was marking very well and kicking quite a few goals)

In the match sim..it was on the website & YouTube ..it was Monday …I think JVR kicks to maybe Jefferson & Petty pulls up & does a little hop but it’s obvious he felt something. However he played the last few minutes so Ithought he was ok. However he has now missed the next 2 sessions so maybe it is something. It looked like his foot ..very easy to spot if you watch the footage

3 minutes ago, The analyser said:

I was at training today. Couldn't believe how long it went. From 9.30 till after 12.45. Didnt spot chandler. Also absent was bowry of course. Campbell only walking in a neck brace. Rehabbers were viney gawn melky matthews mcadam adams heath mihocek sharp petty hendo( not sighted) I have no knowledge on their availability Was quite a few fill ins

Defenders in the match sims i noticed were 1 8 10 14 19 22 25 42

Mids 4 5 6 9 12 13 15 16 24 31 32 33 36 40

Fwds 2 21 42 44 A lot of mids rotating as fwds as well

Rucks were 34 42 2

Overall the vibe was good Lots of talk especially Lever . May instructing a lot.

Stand outs: Roo was great Lawrie did well! Culley was great Kosi exceptional

Was awesome to see Stephen King stop plays to instruct groups of players clearly . Was a lovely morning!

Lots of flexibility with players Big improvers in Roo, culley and jeffo ( at one stage was marking very well and kicking quite a few goals)

Roo was fantastic today wasn’t he! As was Jeffo. Concur with Laurie. I mean what more can you say about Kozz. Blessed to have such a talented young footballer that will excite us at the footy for many a year to come.

Anyone putting 2 and 2 together re @picket fence unavailable and gates open all of a sudden?

Sorry Picket, love your work, couldn't resist.😂

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

INJURY LATEST

Jack Viney has been battling an achilles niggle but is not far off full fitness,

That's PR spin. His fitness has to be impacted.

5 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I’m present and have already spotted a snake; Tom Morris is watching on. I’ll shoo him away with a rake.

Ahhh, so in summary ...

No Roos.

Faux p**s.

Bad snakes,

Sad fakes.

5 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I’m present and have already spotted a snake; Tom Morris is watching on. I’ll shoo him away with a rake.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Go Ds

Jeffo seems to have bulked up - now quite a unit.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by John Demonic