1 minute ago, gawnbeatsnerds said:

29 yep. big big boy

He's a beast, looked good in what I saw.

WALTZING by Whispering Jack

The so-called 'match simulation' at Casey Fields today was more like a casual kickaround with the lids off. With State of Origin stars missing, injuries galore, and players coming back from rehab, the Dees even had to dig deep into their VFL squad. The result? Not exactly a thrilling high class spectacle, more like a waltz with your little sister.

But that's not the point – the focus was not about putting on a show but rather, on shaking off the rust, getting match fit and testing out the way the players were adapting to the new regime of play under new coach Steven King.

I caught the game livestreamed on the club website in three 20-minute stanzas, plus time on, but it was a bit stop-start – truncated by periods where play was halted for coaches’ instructions and, bizarrely, a power outage meant that we missed a four-goal blitz from the Blue team.

The primary discussion points of the preseason have centered on the potential impact of the departures of two key premiership midfielders, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, as well as the recent surgery for Jack Viney, on the team and the new style of rapid ball movement introduced by the coaching staff. In many ways, these factors are interconnected.

Today’s display showcased better ball movement at pace, with an emphasis on continuous play. Although the performance wasn’t spectacular in the open conditions at Casey Fields and it was still a waltz with sis, it came at a faster tempo than at any time in the days of Simon Goodwin (apart from Q4 of the 21 GF). This accords with the way the game is evolving and the full effects of the change will become apparent over time. The development appears to be a compelling shift that will undoubtedly have a profound impact in the medium to long term.

The stand out performance came from speedster Caleb Windsor in the midfield. He was fast and elusive as he cut his way through the midfield like a hot knife through butter. Former St Kilda skipper Jack Steele was his foil bringing his strength and presence into the mix, while Harvey Langford thrived as the tall body on the ball. With Kozzy and Riv back from State duty, the Demons' engine room could well become a potent weapon and might be silencing some doubters yet.

King's pace gambit also involves utilizing half-back run, exemplified by the presence of youthful, classy recent high draft picks in Xavier Taylor, Xavier Lindsay, and Koltyn Tholstrup, who were all active in spreading quickly across the field of play, facilitating numerous forward movements.

The beneficiaries were forwards like Matt Jefferson, Jacob van Rooyen and newcomers to the team in veteran Brodie Mihocek and the untried Luker Kentfield who also rucked against Max Heath who was channeling the other Max in the ruck. Jefferson was in fine fettle early and showed his growth in confidence with some big grabs before coming to grief with an injury after a big mark. Latrelle Pickett showed plenty of zip up forward and there were some promising moments from Thomas Matthews. The best of the taller defenders was the much improved Blake Howes. Paddy Cross and Tairon Ah Mu were the pick of the VFL players and were busy booting three goals each.

BLUE 8.4.52 13.8.86 16.12.108

WHITE 2.2.14 4.7.31 5.13.43

GOALS (per melbournefc.com.au)

BLUE Jefferson, van Rooyen, Langdon 2, Windsor, Fritsch, Melksham, Laurie, VFL Top Up Players 6

WHITE Sharp 2, Mihocek, Windsor, VFL Top Up Player

Spoiler alert re VFL Top Up Players who kicked goals - it’s believed that they were Cross, Ah Mu 3, Bonner (maybe 2 but … )

2 hours ago, BigBadBustling said:

I for one would love to see Rooter and Muter in the forward line together

Rooter & Muter should have been the name of Dennis Denuto's firm in The Castle. Muter's in the back room trying to unjam the photocopier. Rooter's in the High Court stating that it's "just the vibe of the thing." Their office is above the laundromat. They have one legal textbook between them and it's missing Chapter 3. The Constitution? Never heard of her. But they'll give it a crack.

Sorry if this has been covered, just finished work and haven’t had the chance to catch up - is there a YouTube video or similar of the match we can watch for those who missed it live?

2 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Sorry if this has been covered, just finished work and haven’t had the chance to catch up - is there a YouTube video or similar of the match we can watch for those who missed it live?

5 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Would be good to hear from Kingy post this intraclub.

He hasn't done a lot of media which is fine, there probably hasn't been a lot to say but I think it would be good to hear his thoughts now.

Radio interview with Kingy on club app now under the video section.

2 hours ago, adonski said:

Jeffo......

Whoa. Windsor looked like he had 55 disposals based on those highlights.

Loved the quick handballs. Something we rarely did well under Goodwin.

Wonder if can Rooyen is enjoying playing on fringe AFL players or is going to prove me wrong and become a really solid big forward.

Ah-mu showed today that he could be a very good player. Definitely need to see him develop at Casey. Has the size and skill. Dees might swoop in and give him a chance if a list spot frees up.

5 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Wonder if can Rooyen is enjoying playing on fringe AFL players or is going to prove me wrong and become a really solid big forward.

Still don’t see it to be honest. Looks better this year, but something about him, he just doesn’t have ‘it’ to my eye. Think Kentfield will be a player

35 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Ah-mu showed today that he could be a very good player. Definitely need to see him develop at Casey. Has the size and skill. Dees might swoop in and give him a chance if a list spot frees up.

I’d be putting Viney, May and McAdam on the LTI and giving 3 young, fit and keen guys a spot. Ah-Mu and Cross potentially in the mix

How did AJ go?

8 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

I’d be putting Viney, May and McAdam on the LTI and giving 3 young, fit and keen guys a spot. Ah-Mu and Cross potentially in the mix

You could add Kalani and Campbell to that list

Edited 54 minutes ago54 min by Roost it far

If we part ways with May can he be replaced?

If we part ways with May can he be replaced?

I know its way to early but i think we might have nailed our recruiting and drafting this year, i think we were extreamly lucky X Taylor slipped through to our first pick he is exactly the type of player we needed and needed now , the only player i can think of on our list who has similar attubutes is steven may and with not only may but also mcdonald likley to retire next year and with ? On adams abilty , hopefully we will be thanking richmond and essendon for leaving him for us also to the GC for the exact pick we needed to get him. We seem to be very light on genuine goal kickers and with melksham also likley to retire next year L Pickett also hopefully fills a much needed need going forward , i like that we then doubled down and added another goalkicking small in matthews. We also lacked speed and all 3 have genuine speed as does another player we got via trade in jiath who by all reports can also lockdown and stop dangerous forwards he also becomes even more handy with bowey injured . Max Heath is another i like and we got him for nothing which makes it even better , another type we really needed to add to the list who is both young and srtong with plenty of upside and with the potential to become our next first ruck . Although im not impressed by not only losing oliver for nothing as well as having to pay him aswell he also left us with a now new hole we nedded to fill in our list with imo a contested ball winning mid short, which is why getting J Steel for nothing made sence , i am a bit concerned stkilda shopped him around to clubs for next to nothing with only us very late taking him , but the fact we got him for nothing and he seems to be doing well in preseason and also fills a need he so far looks like a good pick up. Mihochek i honestly dont rate but he does know where the big sticks are and another free hit as a free agent

Evidently the AFL asked clubs to comment on a muted change to allow Samoan background kids to be draftable as Academy players.

The reason is that those Islands are Rugby strongholds and we want to encourage kids to our sport.

To late for Ah Mu but he has a younger taller brother who can play and is rated.

20 minutes ago, Matt Demon said:

If we part ways with May can he be replaced?

If he retires I think we can

22 minutes ago, zoe1617 said:

I know its way to early but i think we might have nailed our recruiting and drafting this year, i think we were extreamly lucky X Taylor slipped through to our first pick he is exactly the type of player we needed and needed now , the only player i can think of on our list who has similar attubutes is steven may and with not only may but also mcdonald likley to retire next year and with ? On adams abilty , hopefully we will be thanking richmond and essendon for leaving him for us also to the GC for the exact pick we needed to get him. We seem to be very light on genuine goal kickers and with melksham also likley to retire next year L Pickett also hopefully fills a much needed need going forward , i like that we then doubled down and added another goalkicking small in matthews. We also lacked speed and all 3 have genuine speed as does another player we got via trade in jiath who by all reports can also lockdown and stop dangerous forwards he also becomes even more handy with bowey injured . Max Heath is another i like and we got him for nothing which makes it even better , another type we really needed to add to the list who is both young and srtong with plenty of upside and with the potential to become our next first ruck . Although im not impressed by not only losing oliver for nothing as well as having to pay him aswell he also left us with a now new hole we nedded to fill in our list with imo a contested ball winning mid short, which is why getting J Steel for nothing made sence , i am a bit concerned stkilda shopped him around to clubs for next to nothing with only us very late taking him , but the fact we got him for nothing and he seems to be doing well in preseason and also fills a need he so far looks like a good pick up. Mihochek i honestly dont rate but he does know where the big sticks are and another free hit as a free agent

paragraphs are useful. Just saying.