The girls are out here right now. Unofficial training, preseason starts on May 11th. You wouldn’t know it’s optional since the whole side is here. Yeah the girls 👊🏼

Roo and Kolt first out then TMc

Culley no sleeve

CJ says he’s looking at two weeks. He said maybe even next week. Methinks he’s wishfully thinking.

No Luker this week. They’re holding off until his knee is 100%. Richo said he watched Luker closely on the weekend and noticed he was a little proppy at times but Richo also said we’re four days out from the match and the situation may change. Luker’s got the knee bandaging on again but he said it’s just precautionary

Hendo’s injury to his hand happened during the scratch match on the weekend. In a contest his hand was trod on in such a way that the webbing between his thumb and forefinger was torn, requiring six stitches. Remarkably he’s playing this weekend.

Kolt, Kingy and I are the only ones wearing our Jim’s Game caps.

Do better, Melbz 😅

Rivers training with the main group and seemingly unhindered

7 minutes ago, joeboy said:

Rivers training with the main group and seemingly unhindered

I spoke too soon as he’s taken aside for some stretching work

7 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

CJ says he’s looking at two weeks. He said maybe even next week. Methinks he’s wishfully thinking.

No Luker this week. They’re holding off until his knee is 100%. Richo said he watched Luker closely on the weekend and noticed he was a little proppy at times but Richo also said we’re four days out from the match and the situation may change. Luker’s got the knee bandaging on again but he said it’s just precautionary

Hendo’s injury to his hand happened during the scratch match on the weekend. In a contest his hand was trod on in such a way that the webbing between his thumb and forefinger was torn, requiring six stitches. Remarkably he’s playing this weekend.

Didn’t CJ get sent to Germany/Middle East/somewhere to try to fix ongoing issues with his hamstring at some stage in the past with his former club?

It might have given him the skills to know when his hamstring is okay again, but methinks you’re right.

2 minutes ago, DiscoStu17 said:

Didn’t CJ get sent to Germany/Middle East/somewhere to try to fix ongoing issues with his hamstring at some stage in the past with his former club?

It might have given him the skills to know when his hamstring is okay again, but methinks you’re right.

Right now he’s running around like the German/Middle Eastern thing worked a treat. Methinks he might be the one who’s right 😁

Lindsay didn't take part in full training and first back to the sheds. Rivers doing stretching on the side line.

Me and my fellow trackies smell a debut in the air.

XAV TAYLOR COME ON DOWN??

6 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Me and my fellow trackies smell a debut in the air.

Thanks for reminding me I need to wash my trackies. 👍

15 minutes ago, picket fence said:

XAV TAYLOR COME ON DOWN??

How has he been doing in the 2's so far? havent been keeping tabs at all this year.

27 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Me and my fellow trackies smell a debut in the air.

Like as in a first Melbourne game (Heath) or a bona fide debut (XT or Luker)??? The suspense is killing me!

Almost certainly Taylor will be debuting this week, judging by his defiant and imposing training performance this morning.

On another note, Heath is such an imposing size and seriously made JVR look puny when standing next to each other.

For those concerned about Fritsch’s fitness for this week, he was training unhindered with the main group, as was Bowie, though it’s unlikely the latter has the conditioning yet to be considered for senior selection

It makes sense to play Taylor when you consider none of Bowey, Jiath, Salem or Rivers are available. Go well young fella.

17 minutes ago, Swooper1987 said:

It makes sense to play Taylor when you consider none of Bowey, Jiath, Salem or Rivers are available. Go well young fella.

Jiath was training fully with the main group

Just now, joeboy said:

Jiath was training fully with the main group

Quick comeback for a bloke with a history of soft tissue injuries. If he's ready to go our medical team have achieved something extraordinary.

1 minute ago, joeboy said:

Jiath was training fully with the main group

He just said he’s a cert for ANZAC eve.

How's AJ tracking these days?

4 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

How's AJ tracking these days?

He ran laps today.

Methinks 'methinks' is Word Of The Day.

And me thanks to trackies (washed).

Absent today: Salem, Viney, Melksham and McAdam.

Clearly still rehabbing: Rivers and Campbell

Managed: Lindsay did very little and left early. Fritsch moved to runners and ran with Riv bit and also left early - no match sim - (would still expect him to play). AJ also in and out of training so managing something.

Henderson had a glove on and was using his hand (see Ghosty's post re stitches) so should be available. CJ did most of the segments of training, including match sim. CJ's injury was a calf, not hamstring.

Camera crew there said they were focussing in on the debutante - given it seems it is not likely to be Kentfield (just yet) we agree it seems Xavier Taylor will debut.

Outs: Salem and Melksham (definitely), Lindsay (probably).

A big cheer for Bowey towards the end - given the injury and duration of his break from the game we reckon that reaction means he will play minutes in the VFL on Sunday. He participated in the full session, including the match sim.

46 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Like as in a first Melbourne game (Heath) or a bona fide debut (XT or Luker)??? The suspense is killing me!

I’ll give you a clue: XAVIER TAYLOR

Of course no one will confirm it but everything points to it. Reg himself said he doesn’t know and that if it is to happen it won’t be announced until Friday’s training session at Casey. He said he’s excited just thinking about it.