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Got there at 9.30 passing Dawes on bridge as he was heading to tan with a trainer. A few Casey players and a few Dees out there warming up. Bulk arrived 20 mins later, warming up together, JKH hardly did anything but some goal kicking, saving himself for tomorrow. The session consisted of a hell of a lot of ball work and the skills were very good, though a perfect day for it. Bernie Vince was sublime, excited to see how he goes this year. Roos very involved, chalk and cheese to what I saw last year. On a similar vein, was not impressed with Pedersen during preseason last year, didn't think he worked hard enough, was very impressed with what I saw of him today, worked hard the whole session, expect him to start the season up forward with Howe and Fitzy. Georgio will probably play his role down back till our tall forwards return. At the end of the session, him and Howe practiced providing multiple leads over and over again. Those playing tomorrow left after roughly an hour, hopefully some posters get to tomorrow's game and give us report. Tyson and Mitchie will be great gains, was impressed with Salems size, beautiful kick as well. Overall, the team are looking much stronger than I remember for a long time, talking of strong, can't wait till we see Riley, he looks a tough unit. Another difference to last year was the constant movement, it made it seem much more realistic to the workout they would get during a game, last year I felt the players were stationary too much in drills. At the end of a very long session which included a lot of match type simulation drills they then put the boys through a number of short repeat sprints, something that must have hurt considering GPS reading were showing they had already covered similar ground at a similar pace to what they would have if they played a match. Looked like the club had a number of players families there, showing them training and then a tour of facilities, not certain they were the new players families, but got that impression. Will be on and off today, will try expand later, my 6 month old preventing me writing more now as he tries hijack the ipad.

Then we'd have a 4th injured key forward

RGRS, that's the last time you stand next to me at training, you took all my best lines, especially the GPS data What RGRS said, session started at 9.55 and finished at 1245 Couple of Roosisms heard "That's better, that's what AFL footy looks like" "it's the last quarter, you don't stop running now" He is really on Viv Michie's case Hogan was over the far side of oval with Garland and Dawes before rest of squad arrived, did a few exercises with one of the physios, a couple of slow laps and then left, Round 1 a mystery Dawes did the same exercises and then as said left for the tan Garlo reckons he is two weeks away, was running at full pace with no obvious discomfort No sign of Clark The other wounded warrior, Riley, did nearly the full session, asked him and he said was right on track for Round 1 VFL or 3 AFL JKH only kicked the ball around for about 15 minutes, asked him if everyting was ok, said he was on light duties and saving energy for tomorrow Asked Lynden Dunn the same thing as he was only walking laps, said he was old Definition of tough asked Chip Frawely about hit on Saturday, after he had completed full session me "how the hell did you survive the hit on Saturday" Chip "caught me right down the middle, coughed up a bit of blood, bit of a bruised rib, but she's sweet now" RGRS forgot this bit, I asked the GPS guru why the long session, answer Roos thinks teams playing this week will have advantage in work done, so he wanted to emulate the amount of running etc the players would do in a game Walked in to Bernie Vince and Daniel Cross on leaving, Vince the comedian, obviously overestimating my influence at the Club, told me to tell Roos, no more hard sessions like that Any questions feel free.

"Exclusive! Future coach known in the future."

Peter Jackson is the most important "player" at this football club. No. Bloody. Doubt. About it.

Anyone who has a go at peter Jackson's comments here should be barred from demonland. This bloke is working around the clock to prevent us from being the "next" fitzroy. 12,000 members not resigning is massive. If you include those that have an affiliation with the mcc that don't get around to nominating Melbourne as their club of choice then we could possibly reach 50,000 members. Considering hawthorn who was in a similar position to us many, many years ago are almost cruising to the70,000 mark, it is no coincidence that their success comes on the back of high membership numbers (plus the fact they got their coaches right earlier then us). You can't disagree with anything Jackson has said here. If people are struggling with the idea of membership this year because they want to see how the club goes, ask any past fitzroy fan if they'd like to renew their membership.

Table 30 & there's a big crowd in tonight. If we ever win a flag they'll have to put tables on the ground itself. Players on my table Max Gawn and Bernie Vince. They haven't arrived yet. Bernie's about 2ks away stuck in traffic

most overrated player in history

BB has said he knows one of the Bombers player's family and has heard of the distress this saga has caused them all. I was thinking of that and I just can't help but feel utter disgust for the behaviour of the club Doctor during and after this saga. Additionally the fact that he is back there, is a disgusting reflection on this club's administration. Imagine being a player involved and having as your club Doctor, a bloke, who let you be injected regularly in the stomach, with substances that may be harmful and illegal. You would feel like dropping him.

Paul Roos introduced with a montage of clips, mainly from On the Couch, dating from mid 2013 on the subject of whether he would coach Melbourne. Went from "no" to 50:50 to him being appointed.

Just met RobbieF. Baghdad Bob, Rhino & Old 55 are at the next table with Tim. Absent is Mitch Clark - probably taking photos or running the tan.

I would think it will be determined on the form and fitness of Michie.

prolly had photo class to go to

At the risk of repeating myself, any successful gameplan requires constant movement and repeat presentation of options to the ball carrier. Sounds simple but our major problem has been that over the last 3-4 years we have not worked hard enough and presented options by constantly moving. We have bemoaned our kicking out from full back but I have pitied the kicker as he looks down the field and sees concrete statues wearing the Demons jumper.

not as simple as that

50% of teams lose in round 1.

I am concerned re the being mentored by Byrnes comment...

Just released from Peter Jackson: Dear former members and supporters I am writing to supporters and former members of the Melbourne Football Club who have not renewed their membership in the last year or so. If you have recently joined, or you intend joining this year, then I thank you for your support. This letter may still be of interest to you however. You may have picked up some comments I made at the Clubs Annual General Meeting in early February that were reported throughout the media in relation to supporters who have not renewed their membership in recent years. I referred to the Club breaching your trust. If you are interested, the link to my address is link to website. What I meant by breaching your trust is that the Clubs overall performance, on and off the field, over the last few years has not met members expectations or more importantly, the promises made to members. Members were told the football team would improve. Members would also not expect the Club to have to deal with some of the off-field issues that it did. I expect out of absolute frustration, many members gave up believing in the Club and allowed their membership to lapse. This may not have been the case for all members who have not renewed in recent years. There may be other personal reasons for members not to continue with their membership. If that was the case for you, I respect that, and if those reasons still exist, I understand you cannot join. However, I suspect the reason for the vast number who have not renewed, because there were 12,000 members over the 2 years 2012 and 2013 alone who did not renew, is a lack of trust in the performance of Club. It is understandable. I came into the Club as CEO in May last year with a mandate to make some changes so the performance would improve. We have done that, with wholesale changes across the board, management and coaching panel. The highlight obviously is securing Paul Roos as Senior Coach, however the changes are much deeper than just Paul. We are focusing on the culture of the overall Club that is, the standards and behaviours that drive this football club. Our Number 1 priority is to get the football team performing. That is our core business and that is what members expect and demand a sustainable competitive football team. I am not going to try to tell you that all the work is done, and that we are already on the road to success. Youve heard that before. I do know though that in a very short time, the club has changed and is building the sort of culture that is necessary to succeed in an elite professional competition as tough as the AFL. I cannot tell you when that success will come, but it will come. I am encouraged by the growth in membership this year that has come with the changes we have made. We look like improving our overall membership from the unacceptably low number of about 33,000 last year. We may well get to 37,000 this year. However, that is still way short of the number of members we need if we are to realistically compete on the field with the bigger clubs. Membership is the lifeblood of all AFL clubs and is the biggest source of funding for the Club to ensure a competitive playing list and a high quality coaching panel. The saddest part of this that there are sufficient supporters to achieve the number of members we need if we had only met our promises. If just two-thirds of those members who have lapsed in the last 2 years still believed, we could be looking at 45,000+ members right now. This letter is not a call to arms to lapsed members. I understand youre not going to jump back on board as a member just because another new regime at the Club is promising things again. You need to see proof that things will improve because Im sure you couldnt face more great disappointment. I am asking you though that you give us a chance to prove ourselves. If you were once a member then clearly you have a passion for the Melbourne Football Club. Please keep watching. At least come to some early games and decide for yourself. And if you then think you can trust us, please jump back on board, because the Melbourne Football Club does need you again. If I could also ask you to forward this letter to any Melbourne supporter you may know who hasnt joined for 2014, I would appreciate your help. Thank you in anticipation. Peter Jackson Chief Executive Officer

Hmmn exactly, a good start from PJ, but he should remember to stay this course. thats what I said. no more sweet talk. just brutal honesty for the supporters/members... so we can all start to believe in the words emanating from this club again. one season opener letter isn't enough to do it TSFKA... we need a few years of brutal no hints language; the sort we might have heard back in the 50's & 60's...... .

The Filth are being thrashed. Glorious night.

No, there is a bloke at GWS being paid Ablett money, who wins that by a country mile.

That's pretty much what his letter says...

Less talking more winning...

In this case there's not much wrong with his article. But he's such a muppet. Look at his sliding doors segment for this week. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-14/sliding-doors-round-one Um maybe. But his just one piece of their midfield. What if he returns at week 7? Why do we have to absorb that slowly? It's not that amazing. No and highly unlikely. Fyfe after a great season all of a sudden becomes a long way better than Ablett and Pendlebury? Not to mention Dangerfield, Mitchell etc etc. And even the best small forwards with pace and quality ability to crumb goals don't kick 50. Bartel will always rotate positions but even if he didn't he'd be up the ground as a forward. 40 goals would be huge yet alone 50. I could go on and on.

Ground breaking journalism there Damian. As per usual.

just went to our site.................feel dirty now...............need a shower

Titus O'Reilly has tweeted: "Melbourne wanting to have a successor in place for Paul Roos by the end of the season, is consistent with their normal timetable."

You didn't read what I wrote. I disliked his politics but he was the consummate politician. For all those "ills" you highlighted - how many of them stuck ? How many cost him politically. He could sense what the majority of Australians wanted ( understanding that a good majority in political terms is 55%) and respond to it . So you are only half right in saying that he backing of his party - he also had the backing of the majority of Australians. He managed to make some rather unsavoury policies saleable. I never voted for him but you cannot compare the buffoon that is Abbott to John Howard.

Everyone would enjoy playing with Wines - he has shown plenty - what does that mean ?

Yeah, no worries mate. Glad I could provide some info for you.

Holy crap... Jesse Hogan smiled!!! It's gonna be ok people. It's gonna be ok.

When interviewed on SEN, Greg Swan was confident Frawley would stay at Melbourne, when asked whether Carlton would chase him. Said that was the latest info that clubs had been receiving re: Chip.

As a complete aside...its amazing what you hear of people doing as their livelihood. Making long bows and training actors to use them!! My squeeze has a cousin who travels around Europe cleaning statues and then has the sole rights to a little device that he attaches to them - sends a mild electric current through them to stop birds sitting (sic) on them. He has enough work for the next 100 years.

No! I really must get better at communicating, damnit! What I am saying is: 1. You could specify key areas of proficiency (e.g., skills, response to authority, leadership, preparation, adherence to rules etc); 2. Then you establish how you actually measure these things; 3. Then you figure out how you predict their performance i.e., which tests predict what behaviour in this environment); 4. Then you screen every draftee; 5. Then, once you pick one, you know exactly what needs to be targetted. So, you might pick a bloke whose skills are excellent but whose confidence is low - coaching targets that; You might pick a bloke whose confidence and aggression is excellent, but whose kicking needs work - you target that; You might pick a highly skilled player but one who has never needed to follow a coach's instructions - so you target that. You might pick a bloke who is an innate leader, but as a player is a bit of a utility - you target general game sense and "winning" his position, while you let his leadership just evolve as his proficiency improves and he gets runs on the board. What I am saying is that you pick blokes based on what is prioritised and then address the gaps - whatever they might be - and THAT is development. The advantage to such a system is that the whole coaching and recruiting team all agree of what makes up a good foorballer, all call it the same thing, all the players are measured against one set of standard and it is a fair, balanced and specific set of criteria normed on the AFL environment. I hope that makes more sense! Otherwise I'm going to start to worry.

you lost me at Aeroflot....

Frawley gave an off hand remark a few weeks ago to that affect. It was a joke but a revealing one. I don't even think Roos has to say 'I am coach' - I think if he comes out and says 'I am at the club in some capacity indefinitely' he would satisfy a great number of people, let alone James Frawley.

Have flown both short and medium (connecting) flights on Vietnam Airlines, always pleasant, and got some good help and patience from ground crew during a minor crisis when Noi Bai airport passport control computer systems crashed just as I was about to go through. So there at least is a partner airline I can respect. But regardless, China Southern is indeed a growing airline of significant size, so, yay for having another solid sponsor. Plus, the announcement will encourage others, of course. Edit: Mind you; 4 years... that's a long layover.

For years now I've read that "we've failed to develop our players". I've been one that's said it. Our youth just doesn't seem to improve in our system and in fact some seem to deteriorate. I know that "development" means "improvement' and going from being a promising junior to a competent AFL player but what is the process and what does "development" entail? I fail to believe we've haven't committed the resources to player development. In Bailey's time we had Viney and Kelly O'Donnell in charge of development. In Neeld's time we had head coach, line coach and assistant line coaches. We've had player welfare managers and sports psychologists. We've had specialist running coaches and kicking coaches. We've spent the money but haven't developed our players. Why? Is there anyone on this site who has experience in "player development" that can tell me what it involves. And can you give any insight into why, despite committing the resources, we appear to have failed so badly at this aspect of football. And further, have we got it in place now? Like everyone I trust Roos knows what it looks like and how to do it but I reckon the term is thrown around without any real understanding of what is involved. I'd like to hear more from those that know.

They haven't called him in to give evidence, that part is - it seems - finished. What they've done is issue a "please explain" … …. issuing the sports scientist with a show-cause letter in relation to his controversial supplements program … It's understood the notice alleges there were 34 anti-doping breaches by Dank during his tenure at the Bombers. Dank's legal team is now expected to respond and ASADA will then determine whether an infraction notice should be issued.

They are on there as part of a draftee segment... Give it a rest people

Bah, I have watched 2 mins, Crawford already makes me want to shoot myself and I've muted it. I can't even stand it on mute. Please tell me what was said or link that segment if available.

What is this crap!? HOGAN is injured and SALEM hasn't even played a game but yet they're WASTING THERE tik tik tik on the TELE!?!? WTF111?

See myself more as forward flanker than a winger.

Would love to hear that Viney, JKH and Clisby were the 3 best on ground and all players got through with Gawn and Salem impressing. That's the dream.

They are paying us money so shhh

I thought Dawes was fantastic in the games I saw, given he was being fed by a non existent mid field. His work rate was inspirational. He would run to the wing on a lead and then run back chasing a kick. He is a genuine power forward and provides leadership through example. His injury is a worry but I am confidently anticipating big things from him given our new midfield. Any two of Dawes, Clark and Hogan on the field at once will give us targets we haven't had for years.

hope 's not getting into photography

I can't believe the number of people who've posted along the lines of 'it's pretty much just been poor drafting'. The concept of development (yes, a pretty nebulous word) is so much more than just sitting around a table and picking good players. You can bring in as much junior talent as you want. If there is no leadership, no genuine culture about the club, no setting of standards, and (comparatively) poor coaching, you are not going to reach whatever potential you have. We haven't had a feel, a culture, whatever word you've wanted, since, well, who knows. We haven't had genuine leaders, either on or off the field, since Neitz and McDonald (one of whom we kicked out the door). We haven't had players who set examples on the training track until recently. We haven't had coaches who are were industry-standard. We've pushed players into retirement when we shouldn't have, we've asked players to play so many positions they become a jack of all trades but master of absolutely nothing (Dunn is a perfect example, Cale Morton too). We reportedly went from being far too lenient on players to being far too tough on some players. We also put our players through the 'tanking phase' (whether you think we tanked or not, or whatever, that period was nothing other than a negative for the club). There are so many things that have been below 'par', if you will, with this club. Drafting was one of them, but there is so much more. It's just crazy that so many people on here, who you would think would appreciate the situation we've been in (and are still in) could wave it all away and put it down to drafting alone.

I disagree.. We picked project players when we desperately needed solid kids. Picks like Gysberts, Cook, Morton and Toumpas. These are the last type of players we needed, we simply can't even get ball - so why the hell did we want skinny project types. Luke Parker, Tom Rockcliff, Rory Sloane were all players I was shocked that we overlooked - we needed these players, they gave their all even in under 18's. I agree with you that we lack leadership and have for years, I threw the remote at the TV when we overlooked the Vic Metro captian in Shuey at 17 - once again in favor is a project type player in Blease.. We've missed players with late picks that suited our needs - and apparently we burned Sloane, lucky for him I guess. Then, after all this, we still do not learn... We go on to take Gysberts at 11 - who wasn't rated a top 20 pick by over 15 sides - and was a project player, speculative pick at best. On performance, certainly not anywhere near 11... As baffling as the Strauss pick. I won't get started on taking Lucas Cook.. This is why we are in the current state that we are in... Because we have drafted terribly, If I tried to draft worse - I couldn't of. I cannot stand how development is even spoken of.. Club simply cannot develop spuds.... Spuds will always be spuds - because they were spuds to begin with. GOOD PICKS will help turn this ship around... NO DOUBT.

maybe, but it does weaken the player's claim of accepting "professional" advice when their own doctor was against it we are led to believe that not one player sought any outside independent advice and they even signed a waiver....quite an amazing display of innocence contrary to what some posters say at least quite a few of these players would have been very knowledgeable about wada/asada protocols ....and a lot of these players were not "kids".