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I was there for about 40 minutes this morning at Casey - overheard a couple of people saying the truck was there to put together some advertising material for AHG, They were doing some filming at Casey then heading back to AAMI park to do some more, truck looks great. I will leave the reports to someone else who spent more time than me there but just couple of quick observations; Hogan - Pounding out the KMs on an exercise bike in the window of the change rooms, looking to be really pushing hard just love his endeavour, dont think he will be sitting out for long Clark - Usual session off running on another oval Tyson - Just looks so comfortable and a genuine smart footballer Viney - Didnt see Viney s- tarting to worry me a bit as last session I went to he wasnt out there either. I think someone mentioned on here before a hip problem at the moment. All the boys were sweating up big time but no one in my short stay looked to be lacking the drive to push through it; cant wait for 2014 to begin just to see what progress we have made from last year! This is the third session I have been to and one thing I have really noticed is that not only is every drill being done with energy but always in numbers, someone always running past for a handball or support, one thing that certainly lacked last year. There was some considerable chatter out there to keep the intensity up, at one point during an in close handballing drill Brett Allison would stop them to start fresh, he would throw the ball to someone not expecting it to get it started, at one point threw it to Jetta who wasnt paying attention, straight onto him about everyone needs to be focused don't let the intensity slip. Last thing, new training tops are awesome I actually like the white one for an alternative strip during the year.

CFA is on standby in case "the boys are on fire"!

Its simple for me. I have to believe that players will improve under the Roos regime. Therefore I am giving everyone a clean slate and lets see what happens. I wont make bold predictions of "xxxx won't be here in 12 months" or " XXX will never make a forward/Midfielder/defender/footballer". I am just going to wait and see who blossoms but my gut tells me that there will be some surprises -we will see some footballers who have largely been written off come good.

It's hard to tell whether Watts was the victim of the hype and the way he was brought into the team or whether he suffered from being in a poor side without the leadership and experience around him. We also don't know what transpired when it came to making that decision to stay but I'm glad that he did. Watching him train yesterday, I was wondering whether we were about to witness a sea change with his attitude to the workload he's faced under the new coaching regime at the club. Will it translate into the player we expected to see when he was first drafted? There were signs during the course of the drills that he's on his way. He competed hard and won more than his share of one on one contests and that's what you'd expect from one who is, after all, one of the most skillful and talented members of the list. But what happens on the training track doesn't necessarily translate into championship football under the pressure of match conditions. The best individual efforts I've seen at this sort of training were from Colin Sylvia in his early days and Tom Scully about three years ago when he blitzed in a session at Casey Fields. Neither of them has to date been able to replicate what I saw in a whole game, let alone over a season or longer. Having said that, he looks in good nick and, if played on a wing, could create havoc if he's capable of running out full games at the intensity that position demands these days. He'll out mark his opponents and if he has hunger for the ball will be good at ground level, linking up and, with his good disposal and decision making and ability to read the play, could be a damaging player. A lot of ifs there but, under a new coaching regimen and with better players around him in the midfield, I'd give him a good chance of proving the critics wrong.

I'm an unabashed Watts fan. What many are forgetting is that the coaching staff we now have will utilize players strengths That in itself will improve our team greatly and everyone's chance to perform. The other is that the players will have a coaching staff that believe in them and encourage them. Watts in particular will benefit from this belief. Why am I a fan? Because Jack stayed at the MFC when he could so easily have chosen the softer option of going to another club and left behind the mismanagement of his career that started with him being a marketing tool (presentation of jumper, leaking of pick one prior to draft, playing first game against Collingwood and the brazen promotion of that debut etc etc) rather than a footballer. He could have opted for more certain success rather than the 5 years of inept performance that has been our club since he was allocated/selected by it. But he stayed with his mates and he stayed with the club. He showed character. I wish him all the best and I think Roos will find a role that he can play very well. Midfield? We'll see. Good luck Jack, you deserve it.

Is that the new "vault"?

How funny does this pic look....Old long arm Westrupp!

"surely the dees will be more competitive" then has us losing to the saints, gws and the gold coast.

Finally real sponsors.

unless it is to escape the heat

It's easy.Since the end of the 2013 season, we've undergone massive changes in our coaching structure and from the senior coach down the changes are significant and will affect the way we train and play, structures, strategies, player and team confidence, mindset etc. We've also turned over close to ¼ of our list and most think the net result is a better list with some much needed added class and experience in the midfield. We can also expect improvement from the young blokes (Viney, Toumpas and Hogan who didn't play last year) and some significant key position talls coming back from injury. There's a fair bit of evidence there to suggest we can expect some change and improvement.

i'm handling it nicely just set the thermostat on 16 and let the 50 horse power a/c unit do its stuff stuff the green house gases

I know one named Olive - she's actually an extra Virgin!

Training Report I arrived at Casey Fields at the advertised starting time of 9.30am or was it later than that*? In attendance were no players but there were 12 CFA officers there and I assisted them in putting out two bushfires that were threatening to burn the house that the players have been training down. It was all over in 45 minutes and we all adjourned to the pub for a few drinks with Campbell Brown. * can't remember because I'm suffering from a mixture of smoke inhalation and intoxication.

Because for the last six years they have been spot on!

you didn't like it bb? LOL

I don't really get why people get upset about what an unnamed reporter thinks how sides will go in 2014.....It's the 17th JAN....All sides are back in training and there is 1 month before a ball is kicked in anger....It's about now, as match practice begins, that injuries start to come to all sides....Let them say what they like.....on our form in 2013 it would be hard to disagree but then said reporter does not look at training reports from supporter sites.....If he did, then there would be 18 sides in the eight.....Just my look on things.

I'm pouring cold water on that rumour.

The drive to Casey Fields is always interesting. If you haven't been there for a few months, you're immediately struck by the amount of new residential building happening which is of course, one of the main reasons the Melbourne Football Club is out there in the first place. This is one of the fastest growing residential regions in the country and over time, it's hoped that the club will benefit from that growth and develop a much healthier supporter base than it has at present. But all that is of no effect unless the club prospers and grows on the field and that's what I was looking for as I made the trip down the freeway to Cranbourne. I wasn't expecting too much with the temperatures edging towards the low forties and the flies congregating around the small but hardy group of supporters who braved the oppressive conditions. This was compounded by the non appearance of the bulk of the club's talls who are suffering various ailments, none of which are said to be long term in nature. Missing were Mark Jamar, Max Gawn, Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes, Jack Fitzpatrick and Jesse Hogan. That left us to concentrate on a pre season training session in the heat involving many of the club's midfielders which is the area that has caused us so much distress in recent years. Even then we didn't see Bernie Vince or Aidan Riley and Jack Viney turned up but I didn't see him on the track. Even the coach is far away in Africa and we're less than a month away from the start of what used to be the NAB Cup. However, there was enough on display to suggest that the emphasis in off season recruiting on the midfield will pay off. That is not to say that from hereon in the Demons will be elite in that division but rather, that they will be competitive and will perform like the bulk of the midfields in the competition and not resemble a bunch of fugitives from Madame Tussaud's waxworks. This is what I took from training and from what I have seen of the influx of players into the club through trades and the draft. Dom Tyson looks all class, Viv Michie looms as a surprise packet, Daniel Cross has class and experience and we know what (the admittedly absent) Bernie Vince can do. Jack Watts is a classy mover and disposes of the ball well. Jimmy Toumpas looks as if he's going to step up in a big way and we have high hopes for Jack Viney, Sam Blease and a resurgent Jack Trengove minus the burden of the captaincy. Then there's one who impressed me this morning - Michael Evans who deserves a break from injury looks fit and solid and could be a bit of a surprise packet. This will all add quality to our 2013 midfield of one, namely Nathan Jones. The way they trained and ran in the heat was impressive. There were a couple of little blokes who could also surprise by adding pace and skill to the set up in Dom Barry and Jay Kennedy-Harris. And if these changes made by the new coach bring result in a more solid, efficient and reliable engine room, imagine how much this is going to be appreciated by the overworked defence of the past and how the forward line (currently all in rehab apart from Jeremy Howe) will benefit in terms of greater opportunities for scoring. Of course, all this is written in mid January, a traditional time for rose coloured glasses and things could well change dramatically over the coming months but I think we're on the up and up. I remember sitting high up in the gods in our round three match against Richmond two years ago and, realising that our static midfield was bereft of any run and spread, knew we were in a spot of bother. Now, I know that we will no longer be wax figures in the most important part of the ground and that is where I see our improvement in the months ahead.

Is it a reality truck?

That's incredible because I've got Melbourne on top at the end of round 5 - ahead of Hawthorn by percentage.

Why does anyone care? It's just a fluff piece to fill up some AFL inches. Why do people get so tied up in knots about someone else's opinion of their side?

No Montagna (one of their two elites) in this game either. He's out suspended.

I suspect however, that in the case of this subject, it might be the other way around and that the ASADA investigation is being constrained by the ongoing ACC investigation which is looking into the importation and trafficking of illegal drugs. This is a multi-million dollar industry enmeshed deeply with organised crime and a matter of priority for the government. It's been said that these investigations led to the unveiling of the supplements programmes at clubs in both the NRL and the AFL, with Stephen Dank involved with clubs in both competitions. I think the legal and evidentiary complexities involved are the reasons for what appear to be unreasonable delays in the ASADA final reports. It seems as if this has been going on forever and while you can't rule out attempts at government interference, I'm not sure that politics is behind the delays and it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that the AFL and Demetriou are not powerful enough to sweep this under the carpet.

Based on 2013 though - Complete rubbish at Etihad (there goes round 1) - no good on the road (GWS game is gone) - Spanked by West coast, Carlton and Gold Coast at the g Obviously it's a new year and 2 home games against interstate teams as well as St Kilda and GWS (two teams predicted to finish down the bottom) is a cushy draw. But how can anyone predict change before we see some on field improvement

Predicted half way through January, based on last years efforts. St Kilda without Mcevoy and Dal Santo and Milne looks winnable even at this early stage.....I would say 3-2 not 5-0

Who the hell is the human gnome? I hope it's not Stuie or Moon - I wouldn't like either of those effers in my front garden.

Left, right, left, right...yo left, yo left, yo left, right, left.. I think anyone who is deemed "left" should be ordered to wear an "L" around their neck, preferably one made out of a heavy metal. They can be pelted with tomatoes in the street for basically being the root cause of all that is wrong with society, including corrupting our children and producing a generation of lefty, brainless scum.

Also popped down to training today and I'm a bit half glass empty, points to note include:- *Casey Fields looks good * Watts - hasn't bulked up in body, has in arms. Will never be a star in the midfield as won't win enough contested footy but will be damaging on the outside. Those comparing him to Mundy are off the mark, Mundy played mid for years and has a strong inside game. I think we need to get our head around he will be an average to good player, not a star. Also wouldn't be that fit compared to most mids so be interesting to see if he can gut run defensively the way Roos likes, history and his attitude say unlikely * Cross' wage is paid off by his training standards, was disturbing that he was last on the track - where is everyone else? * JKH was impressive * Blease is frustrating, don't think he will make it as a mid, small forward due to his tank and he isn't fit enough to run defensive in the Roos game plan * reality is we have some issues heading in to the season. Viney, Clark, Dawes, Jamar etc all in best 22 and haven't played or trained much in last 12 months - ages away from being a good fitness base for all of them. for mine we have too many on reduced programs and am worried about that * Spencer is huge now, shame he can't kick or mark that well. Will always provide a contest * Howe is a great athlete, looks in top nick as does Dunny and Garland (underrated and should be VC, will provide great support to the captain) * Trengove is slow but you just want him to make it as he is a leader and great trainer, fingers crossed * Nicolson and Cross were practicing kicking, no surprises there * No Roos as yet * Michie an impressive size, think he will play a flank /mid position *Tyson moves well, looks good. Hard to tell how fit he is but just moves so well * Salem looks like he is not fit enough and has minimal muscle tone; dont expect him to play in 2014. Young mids need a full pre season and he stood out with his lack of physique * Toump looks good, future leader if he can play well *Pedo is fit, whether he fits in the gameplan will be interesting * Hunt is impressive, will be good in a couple of years That's about all I can remember.

Training pictures at Casey today including an action sequence of young Billy Stretch ==> http://www.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=36047047&AlbumKey=ccGjHn

There are no last tangos in Romsey DC.

I think we've milked this joke enough . It's getting udderly ridiculous.

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on some firm teats Jazza-if you're throwing in beers then I'm there.

54 celsius in the crotch 6 million flies in the dairy daughter and partner gone to beach no change on horizon 32 beers tonight all volunteers for helping with milking,get all the beer needed dont knock me over in the rush

remember stuie, your differential is only as good as your mainshaft

Report from Matty Thompson aka [censored] Dees swelter through training

Be very careful dd the traditionalists will fall upon you like rabid dogs. Thanks for the info on training PS love your avatar

maybe the Indonesian Police officers & some Indonesian Army personnel, who get money for tickets to a sailing adventure on a leaky boat sent southwards, should stop their Xploits,,,,,& just maybe some of those {fares} charged, by those officers, are finding their way 'kicked back' to some Indonesian Politicians. the normal procedures would be to send those who aren't real tourists trying to enter a country such as Indonesia, back to their origin country. to deny them entry on their visa, into Indonesia at the Entry point... either at the Airport they flew in at... or at the Docks, when they disembark from the Ship they sailed into Indonesia on. the only reason they wouldn't is because the Indonesians want to get their hands on these peoples money first. Or possibly they want to increase the numbers of Islam in the Australian continent? .... either way is wrong on their part at their countries entry point where these people Fly in to Indonesia. I think we should be taking good Buddhist people who are political refugees currently locked up in Indonesian & Malaysian jails. ..... instead of those who want to short circuit our refugee plans of the past, by paying fares to come across the skies & seas to, & then from Indonesia towards our sovereign shores, & then to force us Via media embarrassment to give them Visas. I don't like much the Libs try to do, but I agree we should choose who we accept as refugees onto our shores. what is wrong with these people from North Africa & the Middle East going to India, a close neighbor of their homelands, & global powerhouse, rich enough to have their Own Nuclear missiles.

Thanks so simple really Now what does ca-piche, cap-iche mean????

Are you sure? Under the photo is says 16 Jan. When I saw that I assumed that meant it was from Wednesday.

wonder if they wouldnt mind dropping it off at my place after ....got to be cooler than my office currently

Would have liked to have been down there with water guns filled with ice cold water for the boys today..

Off to the tennis tomorrow. Will report back if I spot Toumpas there smiling and enjoying himself after just 2 wins last year

"To whom," Jack. "To whom."

That training guernsey really is out of this world.

I just got back from training. It was a quick hour on the track for the players. That being said, it was not an easy session. Most were blowing bubbles very early and were stuffed at the end of the session. Not only was the humidity hard for the players, but the drills they did were bloody hard work. It seemed that they were working on some more pressure, 2 way running and some tactical stuff in the drills today. The first drills were 3 separate games of 5 on 5 after a tap down from the ruck. They had to run the ball to an end to score and then the other team got the ball. The focus was on picking up a man when defending, cutting your opponents space and blocking/ hitting their bodies to make it hard for them. Tackling was also full on here. By the end of this they were already knackered. Harmes was dry reaching and done and King was battling to move. Next they did a drill focusing on carrying the ball out of defense and once on the HFF it reverted to carrying out of the HBF and hitting a lead up from CHF who quickly played on and hit a lead up FF. Was really happy with the skills on this drill and the voice. Last drill they did was the hardest work. It was a full ground drill which started with either 5 on 5 or 6 on 6 in the middle and a FF at each end. They played around with quick hands in the middle until a coach called out a team who had to work the ball up to their FF. If they got it to the FF then the game swung around and the forwards became defenders and vice versa. The team then had to try and take the ball up the other end of the ground. Tackling, pressure etc. was full on and any mistake etc. was a turnover. There were 2 sets of the 6 on 6 and each group worked for 3 or so minutes and then came off to swap. They did this probably 5 times each and each time they came off they were all stuffed. During this drill you could here them focus on running to space, 2 way running and more importantly the defensive pressure, especially blocking ot getting a body on someone so they could not run to spcae. Overall they trained really well, under the circumstances. I have written on other training sessions, so you will probably know who I have rated so far, but from today the best trainers were: * Barry - fast and skilful and pushed really hard running both ways * Tyson - just silky and running is improving * Dunn - I am not a huge fan of his but he is working hard and he has a beautfiul kick * Pederson - worked his butt off and his defensive pressure on more nimble players was really good today * JKH - continues to look really good * Hunt - has speed to burn but I watched his skills today and he kicks the ball better than I thought * Michie - I watched him closely today and he is really composed and strong over the ball Did not see Vince, Jetta, Fitzy at all today while Viney, Dawes and Clark did some running/riding. Was great to see all the players in their training jumpers with their real numbers, does make it easier for people who dont watch training so much. And yes, Stretch was wearing 7 and Brayshaw 15. Also had a good chat to a mate of mine who works at the club, and he was telling me about some of the players. He does not pick the team, but if he did, he said JKH would be his smokey this year and says that Tyson is an absolute gun and a steal !!! He also said Dawes is close to resuming full training as is Clark, but they are being very cautious with them both so they are ready for the start of the year. He said Clark only twinged the hammy but they are being very careful. Also said seeing Hogan hurt his knee, you would have thought he did an ACL, but only a couple of weeks, so we are bloody lucky !!! Also said Salem was quite sick before Xmas and they are just taking it easy with him as he will be a very good 10 year player, so there is no rush this year. Any questions I am happy to try and answer.

Will the Carey school bus be renamed the reality bus?

So how bad does that make the selection committee? You cant really have a go at someone who accepts a challenge in the work force that hind sight tells us was not the right fit/achievable. When standing next to Mick Malthouse and telling the MFC representative on the phone that they need to confirm his appointment because he has another offer, I cant really blame him.

Dees when will Worksafe become involved, as has been discussed before if this was happening at the company I work for... they would be in here in a flash.

And because there is a prima facie case to suggest they neglected their director duties which requires them to protect the health of their employees, Worksafe and the ACC will become involved and there may well be criminal prosecutions from worksafe, and prosecutions of directors for not fulfilling their professional obligations. The penalties are these days severe for Directors who do fulfill their professional obligations. Don't be surprised if we see some of the most powerful names in the AFL ending up in the dock.