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I was only there for a short stint this morning, so by reading some reports I missed most of the running and sprints. What I did see were some of the drills being run by each of the coaching groups and it did impress me. I was fortunate to find a few minutes time and kept an eye on both Melbourne & Collingwood (training on the oval) for a short time. It was good to see Trengove participate in the drills with the midfield group at good intensity - so he didn't just have a light session, he also wore the same compression sleeve he had on in the second IR match. Royal and his assistant (names escapes me for now) were very clear with their drills and organisation with their group. Group consisted of Jamar, Gawn, Jones, Trengove, Bail, Bate (take note rpfc), Nicholson, Gysberts, Morton, Garland (there may have been one other - I think it was Blease). They did some ball movement from mock stoppages, ball movement in groups of 3's with 2 facing them as on-coming traffic, and various skill improvement techniques with picking up a moving ball whilst receiving attention (padded bump) and executing a handball in the process. Brian Royal and assistant were vocal throughout and didn't hesitate to stop or pull aside a player during drill to communicate how they could improve the players technique. Notably Gysberts was spoken to a few times by Royal regarding technique. Viney and Neeld watched on each group by moving around. From a distance I could see the other groups, most notably forwards and backs and observed various drills. I took particular interest in the assistant coaches and what they were doing and how they were communicating. Things that stood out in that short time I was there were Jade Rawlings positive energy and instruction with the backs and Leigh Brown and Satterley with their drills. Brown with the padding was hammering into Howe and the like, really aggressively (but not over the top), which whilst probably just part in parcel of running a drill, I noted the intent to rough them up - which was good. Satterley then had Bartram, McDonald, Nicholson practising kicking to position from various distances. For the most part though those groups were in the distance, so I really can't comment much with those groups other than I did see Bennell with the backs and Bate who was with the midfield group, then spent some time with the forwards with a few drills. (with Watts, Martin, Dunn, Howe, etc). The midfield group mentioned earlier, all looked lively and Jamar and Gawn both looked good. Mitch Clark, as mentioned by other posters continued to run laps. Meanwhile over at the Pies, all I could see was the likes of Buckley, Lappin, Richardson, Hahn, Rob Harvey and other assistants getting hands on and involving themselves in drills among all the young players. Seemed awfully quiet in comparison of communication to our Demons.

I managed to pop in at training this morning. It was a perfect morning to train. I will give a quick run down on all players present. • Bail - Did the entire session, was in 1st running group with Jones, looked very fit. • Bartram - Did the entire session, running with Bennell, was burning him off in the last few. • Bate - Did entire session, running with Watts, even for first 4, last 4 he was beating him by 5-10m, looks fit and determined. • Bennell - Did entire session, running with Bartram, looks quite good. • Blease - Did entire session, running with Gys and Davis, was pushing really hard, has the pace just not endurance yet. All 3 of them were noticably slowing down towards the end. • Clark - Ran slow laps on his own, has very thin legs. • Cook - Ran medium paced laps on his own, was getting lots of encouragement from the players and some technique training from one of the fitness guys. • Davey - Ran medium paced laps with Jurrah at the start, but left him behind. Not that Flash was moving too quick himself. Did some kicking later on in the session but not with the main group. • Davis - Did entire session, ran with Blease and Gys, all 3 were really trying, just not the base of the other guys yet. • Dunn - Seemed to drift in and out as he pleased, bit like in a game! Did not do any of the 150m sprints, but some shorter stuff on the Collingwood side of the oval, once ball work started he was keen as mustard. • Fitzpatrick - Did not see him. • Frawley - Run some laps with Green, Trengove and Moloney. Joined in main session ball work. Looked happy to be back. • Garland - Did entire session, ran with Rivers, was beating him in all the sprints, seemed to be moving very well. • Gawn - Did entire session, ran with Jamar, beat him comfortably over the last 4, really pushes himself and seems to have improved his running style. • Grimes - Ran laps on his own, but at a really good pace. Did quite a bit of short kicking with Petterd. Must only be the fitness guys holding him back. • Gysberts - Same as Blease. • Howe - Did entire session, ran with Martin, they were prefectly matched and pushed each other the whole way. So far more advanced than last year. Looks like he just loves being part of it all. • Jamar - Did entire session, Ran with Gawn. As I said, was drifting behind toward the end, but is moving freely. • Jetta - Did not see him. • Jones - Did entire session, ran with Bail, just loves the hard stuff, its a real credit to him because he does not have the natural body shape or technique that most of the others do but just pushes the hardest! The young guys must look up to him. • Jurrah - Did some slowish laps, never seems to push himself, spent alot of time talking to one of the female training staff, left the track early. (not injured). • Macdonald - Did entire session, Ran with Nicho and these boys both really pushed each other. Like Jones they love the hard stuff. • Martin - Did entire session, ran hard with Howe, looks really good for a big fella. • McDonald - Did entire session, ran in the 2nd group with Morton, they both move well with little effort. A credit to himself how he has presented for pre-season. • McKenzie - Was on the same program as Grimes. Looks very fit. Running his laps hard. • Moloney - Bit like Dunn, drifted in and out, did not do the 150m sprints, joined in the with IR rules guys for a while, then did all skills session. • Morton - Did entire session, ran with McDonald, just needs to keep pushing himself to places he doesn't know exist! • Petterd - Was on the same program as Grimes and McKenzie, running freely and kicking easily. So no concerns. • Rivers - Did entire session, ran with Garland, was falling behind but not through lack of effort. • Spencer - The big guy ran alot of laps! Was kicking with McKenzie at the end, did not join in main skills session. • Strauss/Sylvia/Tapscott - Only out brifly doing stationary handballing drills. Strauss did stay out a little longer to have a kick with one of the fitness guys, was only allowed 10 kicks on each leg though. Seems to be moving really freely considering what happened. • Trengove - Same as Chip and Green. • Watts - Did entire session, ran with Bate, pushed himself, but dropped back a little, no shame as I thought Bate was flying. He looks alot better without the mop of hair he had in the 2nd half of the year. Watched him closely with the forwards, he is turning into a real leader in that group. Punished himself if he missed a target and was always asking Leigh Brown questions. He wants success. • Green - Same as Chip and Trenners. • Evans - The boy ran alot of laps! Did some one on one kicking but did not join in the main skills session. • Lawence - Did not see him. • Nicholson - Ran with JMac, this kid moves well on the track. Like with Howe just loves being out there. Overall I was quite impressed with where the group was at, with only a few guys not doing any meaningful running or kicking.

I feel similar. I find it hilarious, though, when Jaded talks about being KotD.

Gawn looks like a monster! Far out! Looks like Watts has put on a bit of bulk too! Morton looks like Morton lol, someone give that guy a hamburger and a dumbbell!

Max Gawn looks absolutely terrifying.

Maybe he was combining those two singers, one famous worldwide, and one from our own club - Robinson Caruso?

It's not absurd, it's fairly common practice with senior management. You give him the opportunity to resign, and if he doesn't then you sack him. All parties come out smelling of roses and no blood is spilt. I strongly disagree with your assertion that he would not resign if given the opportunity. He would do so knowing that the "choice" to resign isn't really a choice at all.

The call to end it wasn't great, but the idea that we should have asked him to resign is absurd. Do you want him to no longer coach your club? If it is a yes - don't patronise the man with an opportunity to fall on his sword. We are holding the sword!

I absolutely agree. Doing by phone was poor - especially from Stynes. Here's a bloke who by his actions and manners sets pretty high standards and sacking a bloke over the phone who had done club dirty work was well short of standards that Jimmy and the board should have set themselves.

Come on, surely people aren't trying to argue that a phone call to sack someone is appropriate? I'm starting to see what some around here mean when they say people will just defend the club over everything no matter what. This is as black and white an issue as I've seen for a while.

By the way, it's 'you're sacked'

November 2011: "I know my future's here and I anticipate I'll be here for the rest of my career." March 2011: ''I'd love to end my career and say I was a one-club player, and anticipate that will be the case" Pure drivel from a money-hungry cripple with a bad haircut. I was foolish enough to take him on his March press conference for much of the year too, as were several key figures at MFC. Anyway he's their problem now. Good player but its money down the toilet.

I attended the GWS annual corporate lunch about a month or so ago. I have to say, I was pretty impressed. There were about 850 people there, and it was really well organised. The stadium and the facilities look good, and their membership base appears to be tracking well. Everyone was giving me carp about GWS landing Scully, to which I said to all - you can have him - I just wish the MFC didn't waste our number one pick on him. Left a bad taste though. Amongst other things, Sheedy spoke to the audience about the club's recruiting. Tongue in cheek, he kept saying the recruiters did a great job and they didn't really let him know who they'd recruited. It was 100% clear that the Scully deal was sewn up a very long time before he 'officially' signed the contract. What really p1ssed me off was how smug they were about it all. As an aside, I was in NYC last week and had several beers with Andrew Mackie (Geelong player). Good bloke. He said that, in his opinion, it was not such a bad result for the MFC in losing Scully, as the Dees would've had to have paid stupid money to keep him and that would've stuffed up our list management completely. He seemed to suggest that a lot of players were offered ridiculous money to go to GWS (as you'd expect), but he didn't think it would be good form to take the dough, leave your team mates and your club. A future leader of the club wouldn't do that - unsurprisingly, he really rated Jack Trengove. He also said that Mitch Clark is the one of the hardest players to match up against - hates playing on him. Rated him very highly, but said he's still a bit inconsistent. In short, reckons he was a top get for the club and that his best years are still ahead of him. Also said that he's close to Ken Hinkley, and the feeling amongst the coaches was that of all the clubs looking for a new coach this year, the MFC was the club to land. It has a young talented list with an enormous upside that hasn't been realised yet. Thought there was a big leadership vacuum at the club though - but, given the relative youth of the list, it's a very malleable list that can be moulded really well. Reckons Neeld will be a really good coach, and we could see a very different team in the next few years. Need to change the club culture, and he should be able to influence that. All pretty obvious stuff I suppose, but thought some of you may be interested nonetheless.

I don't understand coroporate behavioiur or decision making processes. 31 goals is 31 goals. You cannot ritually [censored] the players but christ knows they deserved it. So you ritually [censored] one bloke. Immagine week after week the joke we would ahve been made out to be in the media: Melbourne, the only team to tolerate 31-goal losses. Imagine the atmosphere at training with the dead coach walking. Cauterise the wound.

So the order is Jones, Bail, and Nicholson and then no-one knows and it is just speculation, extrapolation, and postulation? Glad we cleared this up for everyone.

186 ring a bell? 31 goal loss in the AFL.....31 goals....in the AFL! He had to go. Typical HUN piece, full of emotive analogies. Rubbish.

not having a go at you, but my sister was a nympho and it didn't help me at all

What a surprise that he was out wide

The Hawks one looks awful. Emblems should have something to them, details that you are not sure of the meaning of. With a shield and some ribbon - bit of style. Case closed.

Bennell is small back for me - good defensively, line breaking run and a nice kick - he did some great work down there last year. Davey, Wonna and Lawrence are the candidates for crumbing forward currently on the list - its a tough role but absolutely vital, especially in big finals - tougher and even more vital. Jurrah, Howe, Sylvia and Watts are all threats when the ball hits the deck too - there's going to be some fun times ahead.