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It was a lazy 3½ hour session this morning. Lots of running. Running by itself - fartlek/beep thang. Running incorporated into drills - lead from square to boundary, short double back to 50/drill then double back to square/ full ground ball movement . Running between drills - first station - grappling into sprint along boundary from one end to about 30 metres out, 25 seconds walk/jog recovery into 3 on 3 ball carrier protection then another lengthy sprint to next station ... Players looked stuffed by the end. Brayshaw in the injured/rested group (McKenzie, Terlich, Watts, Spencer +?) walking though drills before running laps with Kent who was keeping them on pace. Dawes ran laps before the bike. Presume cautious prep to avoid calf issues. Max new players did was was complete the fartlek beep test style thing before doing handball drills which was about halfway into session. Toump does look more AFL like bodywise and was cracking into the contests. Shaving his head also helps in the hardness stakes. Garlo was running like Mr Burns but pushed on through. Petracca is a natural footballer, great below his knees and above his head. Hogan looks like the man. Has the swagger and works hard. Should leave a few key defenders gasping for air. Does not come across as your default footy jock type. Watts, Kent and Dawes had long bike sessions. Appears mandatory to take your singlet off before you get on the bike. Roos in charge. Stopped drills when players in wrong position or took wrong option. All coaches strong on positioning and right v wrong options and working hard. Players seemed to pushing their limits physically. Much like the best gigs I was enjoying it more the longer it went. Not sure if the players concurred! Hopefully we can start introducing young mids into the team on the flanks rather than on ball because most won't have the tank to match experienced onballers.

I haven't found Toumpas to be completely deficient at the contest from a physicality point of view. Sure he's no Byron Picket and he can improve but his problem with contests that I have observed is getting to them. He's just been way too slow. And when he has made it to the contest he's a bit like a deer in the headlights unsure of what to do. Rather than instinctive crisp decision making and execution. If he has any fear it's seems more to me about fear of making a mistake and doubting his ability. Not sitting outside the contest scared of body contact. He has gone back with the flight of the ball and been crunched a few times without flinching and marking the ball and getting back on his feet. He has also made some decent tackles when he's been quick enough. But if he is getting his running back up he should make it to more contests and if he gets his confidence up he should do better when he is in them. Encouraging signs.

The Toumpas sceptics need to cut him some slack. He is really only going through his first preseason after a number of injuries including the hip operation in the year he was drafted. He's also had to contend with those constant unfair comparisons to Ollie Wines. Be happy that he's training well ATM and is a chance to have a breakout season in 2015.

Got this off Saty's Twitter.

I knew Angus and Christian were close, but I didn't know they had recently tied the knott.

Preliminary final against the Hawks with a win after the siren when Frawley runs across the mark to give Jack Watts 50 meters and the goal from 35 meters out. F#%kers!

Can anyone report on JKHs biceps for me? I need constant updates.

Naturally. They're Russians and they all cheat. Not like our dinky di, true blue, Aussie footballers. We don't do performance enhancing drugs.

I went along today and arrived during the beep test. On the whole quite a long training day with some pretty entertaining contact/tackling and ball movement drills. Most went pretty hard in the contact drills - it was great to see the competitiveness, though I did cringe with some of the tackles as we don't want any injuries yet..! Jetta got up cradling his arm after one but shook it off thankfully. Other things I noticed include: Garlett struggled in the beep test and some of the running, however in the full length 5 vs 5 (I think?) he burnt off Bail and kicked a beauty inside 50. Hogan's just good at everything ... Gawn did tap to rover work with Harmes for a while, then lots of laps and bike. Also did some running, kicking, marking drills with Kent. Watts, Dawes and Kent also did lots of laps and bike work Trengove was there today with his cast, pushing himself around on some kneeling tricycle contraption. He was shouting encouragement to all the boys out there. Vandenberg is quite a tall, solid unit but being first day might've done half the drills. Too early to tell much. Didn't see White. Dawes looks very fit and lean, probably that diet but I wouldn't want him losing much too much more! Running well though. Petracca is so solid through the legs and hips. In one of the full length drills he had the ball and busted through one tackle and stood up in the second to pass to a team mate. Didn't see much of Brayshaw today, did some laps with Kent early. Hogan, King and Jamar did some speccie marks over a pad. Jamar is also looking in great shape, had a bit of spring, though he did tire during the running. Spencer was there early but then disappeared. Terlich and Vince were continuing rehabbing. McKenzie ran a lot of laps and then did time on the bikes. Bail seemed to be on lighter duties today, not joining in all drills. Neal-Bullen has been impressive with his running. Kept up with all our better runners during the beep test, only beaten by M Jones and Grimes. Toump pushed himself pretty hard. Salem lay some good tackles during contact drills. You can't hold Jones and Viney back either, it's like they're out to hurt their opponents. Garland was struggling to keep up, he's clearly still building up from his low base but hopefully gets a good run at it. There was also a drill involving a ruckman trying to tap to a team mate while another midfielder was tagging/defensive. Tyson was a class above in this drill, read the ball beautifully. Cross hasn't lost any speed, constantly running through all drills. Lumumba also impressive, leading and pushing people. JKH has definitely put on muscle but running really well too. Hopefully we'll see much more of him next season! The new fellas did some ball pick up drills towards the end with Byrnes, who would randomly pass a ball on the ground, low or high around the semi circle. I think the idea was if you fumble you go to the end. Neal-Bullen spent a bit of time at the end ... Stretch looked good as did Petracca.

What I liked about Salem and JKH was that, certainly only in patches, cameos if you like, they both looked like they belonged and thought in a mature manner. Neither seemed to appear to be pressured by the big time. Sure, neither were physically ready for full games for a full season and neither were expected to. More consistency and endurance will be expected of them in 2015, and beyond. I, for one, am looking forward to see their progress.

Rubbish! But beautifully articulated.

I was there the day that last happened. A guest of a mate who is a member, sitting behind the goals amongst Sea of Blue and White. I flew down from Sydney just for the afternoon. Best flight home ever. In order of satisfaction: Collingwood, I'd like to burn that stupid gold lame jacket. Hawthorn, with Hogan booting 6 on Frawley. GWS at Homebush, I go every year and just want to smash the smug little sods.

Beating Geelong at Geelong.

Watching Jack Grimes absolutely obliterated the field in that running test was inspirational to watch. 40+ crowd and all the players and staff giving him a round of applause. What this drill showed is who has heart,who is willing to push through the pain and also who is actually in the best shape right now. I was skeptical about Grimes in the side in 2015 but if I was a player I would walk prouder knowing he is next to me in the side. And I know Roos will have him in the best 22 in 15.

Sergeant Peptides - By Jobe, I've just seen the light!I now understand the meaning of these words from "A Day in the Life" off the same album. I've Hird the words a thousand times before but they only make sense now:- The holes were made by needles!!!Danks a lot for the information.

When they do the full field drills, the normal suspects in Hogan, Pedersen, Dawes and the rucks (including Fitzy) are forward, the rest are all over the place, I asked Howie where he would be playing this season and the answer was "hopefully somewhere in the 22", yesterday they had Garlett in midfield. As far as I can gather, the 'serious' stuff re positioning will be after Xmas, but as I have said before, Roos has 2 backs locked in, 2 mids and a ruck and 2 forwards, the rest he wants to mix and match, you can pick your own for who they are To answer the rookie question on upgrading, it depends, KIng is a beautiful kick and there wouldn't be a problem playing him forward if the need arises, Harmes is a good inside midfielder, started to look settled at VFL level towards the end of the season, doesn't look out of place during the drills, Vandenberg is 8 weeks from a shoulder op, so same as Bernie Vince so will probably be eased into it, White looks raw (hence the rookie spot), need to see more of him

Dunny's come a long way........IF he becomes VC as some suggest. I say, good on him - he's stood up and works hard.

Smithy, I agree with you. The way it's turned out, he wasn't such a loss and we're not taking a rap for another failed early draft pick. Imagine if we could have found a way to keep him at the MFC on a 3 year contract? He would have cost us $700k a year plus $150k as our ambassador to protect the ozone layer. His old man would have woofed up the majority of the food available at club functions leaving nothing but scraps for the rest of us and we would have missed out on the Hogans, the Vineys, the Tysons and the Petraccas. He would have been delisted by Roosy in October/November along with his mates Bleasey, Straussy and Tappy leaving us an extra draft pick to select another shmuck like him but much cheaper with pick 83. Yeah ... I'm over it, contented and at peace with the world.

Was a six man LG: Jones, Grimes, Clark (lol), Garlo, Trengove, Frawley. Of that lot I would only retain Jones. 2015: Jones ©, Dunn (VC), Cross, Dawes, Vince, Viney I'd have players who lead by example and these are the ones who meet that description. Obviously Viney's name is the one that sticks out and many will disagree. I personally don't think we should be too gun shy about placing him in the LG just because of past traumas in placing leadership honours on the shoulders of younger players. He screams leadership material moreso than anyone else on the list. He's someone to admire and follow into battle, and the fact he will be 21 doesn't alter that. Ziebell is vice captain at North and he's 23. I think he was elected to the LG at 20. If you've got it, you've got it. I'm certainly not advocating him being anything more than part of the leadership group, but this fella is a future captain of the MFC. We all know it. I'd have no problem with starting to mould him, but similarly I would understand if I'm in the minority based on past experiences.

Plus I remember reading that they have been doing a bit of recruiting for their VFL team in preparation for any "doomsday scenario" Players will be banned, the AFL and the Drugs are obviously hoping to avoid such doomsday scenarios, but preparing for it is admitting theyre expecting it. The only group that will be blind sighted by such an occurrence are the supporter group- the poor, stupid and gullible supporters who think they've done nothing wrong, ASADA and the AFL have it in for them and the sun still shines out of Hird's arse. I can't wait to see the shock on their stupid faces when come round 1 their team will comprise 60% VFL players, and the rest of the footballing community lay the boots into their smashed egos as their arrogance turns to hubris very quickly.

Luke Ablett. Geez. He's so sanctimonious he makes Tim Boyle look good. You don't hear swimmers or cyclist or any other Olympic athlete complain so much about 'sacrifices' and lots of them have to do it very tough not just interstate but overseas, with limited financial resources and having to work to support themselves. AFL players don't have to fit in time in their life for footy training, exercise or playing a game of footy on the weekend. They get paid to do all that. So they can use their day off as well as all their other spare time to study. He says they miss their adolescence. And sure they have to be professional about their bodies and professional for the 40 hours a week they spend at the club. But in other ways they get a prolonged adolescence. Which other job would let you and 5 mates go stuff around in target filming a charity video? And don't complain about missing overseas trips. Footballers go on as many of them as most young people. Sure they don't get a whole endless summer in Europe, but the boys made it to Octoberfest just fine a couple of years ago. First year draftees are pushed not to worry too much about study or future job prospects, which is fair enough as they need to adapt to AFL. After that every player is encouraged and if they aren't doing something they have no one to blame but themselves.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/interview-transcripts-a-key-to-ruling-in-essendon-court-case-20140915-10h8tp.html From an AGE article Hird believes if the show-cause notices are allowed to stand, and these turn into infraction notices, his position at the club will be untenable. I think I recall hearing Hird actually say this but then my memory is hazy with all the cr apola that has gone on with this case.

Grimes has been shackled by so many things at this club: the club feuding, the playing group, his on-field role; his off-field role. This is the first year of his footballing life that is not this way. I have my doubts that he can make it. That said, nothing would make me more pleased than to see his cut the game apart. And if there is a single player on the list with the character to do so, it's Jack Grimes.

Watched Petracca in the running drill and then kicking, marking as they started ball skills. He ran pretty well, clearly not yet in the shape of some of the boys but didn't drop out real early like Jamar, Garland and King. Frost also out pretty early. Petracca seems to have magnificent hands, the ball just sticks, no fumbles. He attacks the ball hard also. He would be a very handy forward pocket; reckon we might see him play 10+ games deep forward this year and be used as a marking target. Other things I noticed: as some have said before, Frost is huge. Viney seems in ripping shape. Gawn and Harmes were doing a lot of ruck tap to rover vs Stafford and Miller. Plus every couple they would have to sprint to the goal square after a centre tap. Clearly a lot of repeat effort running. Gawn looking really good. Mackenzie running fast laps, Dawsey also. Watts, Bail, Stretch, Spencer doing very little.

Jack Grimes just smashed the beep test running session, Followed by M Jones and Neal Bullen. Next group of guys Hogan, Viney and Toumpas. Jamar, Max King and Garlett all struggled.

I definitely think we should leave anyone under 23 out of the leadership group. That's not saying they aren't capable, it's just better for their development. For me it should be: C- Jones VC- Dawes and Dunn Leadership group- Lumumba, Vince, Cross That should be enough, maybe add Grimes and Garland if not.

I would personally love it if we played at Prahran. I would go to most of the home games there.

Not wishing to start another huge debate but........CS and the board at the time also had a lot to do with the debt demolition For all his short comings CS did a few things right.

Thanks ... and fixed. As you can see, I'm working on turning the club around from the house divided scenario to one big happy family theme. It must be working!

Q30, I may have missed something in your arguments, but why do you think Hird's potential to sue the pants off EFC is relevant? If the AFL throws him out for being a drug pusher or whatever, who does he sue? Not the EFC. And on what grounds could he sue the AFL? It would be like a convicted criminal suing the court for loss of earnings while he is in jail and loss of future income because no one will employ him afterwards.

Geez BBub,You of all people should know it's easier for us to beat the Filth in Grand Finals than to beat them Q Bday

And given that you haven't read one word of that contract your speculations remain no more than that and not particularly useful ground on which to try to assemble such byzantine arguments.

Oh dear, sorry but it is very relevant. He was re-signed on a 3 year multi million $$$$$ contract to coach for 3 years during 2013 in the middle of the drugs saga. Its ironic that he has hardly coached during that period!!! So his sacking cant be for his performance as Coach!! Given the contract was negotiated and signed when the heat of the drugs saga was on and there was already pressure on Hird to quit by the broader football public, I strongly doubt he would have left all the aces in the pack on the other contractual parties hand. He would have enshrined some watertight exit clauses in his contract. He had the whip hand at the time as Little needed Hird to rollover and accept the AFL suspennsion. The contract and situation under which it was negotiated between Hird and Little was unusual and contrived. It was not the normal situation under which a coach is normally engaged or extended in his tenure. And given it was the Messiah I doubt whether it was a standard contract that applied to other coaches. And from what we have seen from Hird it would have included special protections of his situation especially given he was already under siege for the scandal. I am not sure he has a winning case for damages to reputation or career. I didn’t think he or EFC had a viable case to challenge ASADA through the Courts. But has that stopped him in any way from vexatious and litigious behaviour??? Hmmm…….. And Blind Freddie can realize that if he is removed from EFC he is finished in football and has no future in the football world. The messiah is finished. However he wont see it that way and I believe will take aim at EFC and AFL and argue any potential loss of income. He has shown if he is going down he will take all and sundry with him. He will try and maximize his exit. Aside from writing a book about it I am not sure how he will leverage any future benefit from his ungracious fall from grace. All the other coaches you have spoken of have been able to find future sustainable work in the AFL. Hird wont. Hird’s contract conditions and its $$$ size, the extent of the reputational damage of the scandal on his future and the fact that he has not actually coached the side under this current contract makes this unique. A question you might like to ask yourself is given the interests of EFC and James Hird appear to have diverged and given there have public strains between EFC/Little and Hird, why hasn’t Hird then been terminated? How do you explain the unusual flip flop behavior between the treatment and retention of Bomber and Hird? I believe the Board are prepared to jettison Hird but Little’s diamond crusted contract with Hird has severely limited their power to do so and that when they have sought to move on him, Hird and his advisers have clearly reminded them of whats at stake. And the Board would have an impossible case to sack Hird on the basis of the drugs scandal given there was no clear roles and accountabilities for any EFC executive at that time in regard player welfare, they have since endorsed Hird by giving him another more expensive contract.

That wasn't my point. I said that our financial problems weren't confined to the one administration but to successive administrations and that relates to the one from which Schwab took over which left a $5m black hole and the one before that when a previous CEO was said to have left a substantial unpaid tax bill in the drawer of his desk. The other point was that throughout these periods we were a house divided which is a condition that leads you to debacles like the tanking investigation, the collapse of our playing list from 2006/7 onwards, on field failures, poor recruiting, player development and coaching. Much of this is being neutralised at the moment and that's good but we're by no means out of the woods and remain reliant on the largesse of the AFL and, after a decade of disaster, our future is now dependent to a large extent on the improvement of our on field performances.

PJ has held up his end of the bargain Now its time for the players and coaches to do the same. Once we start winning the money will roll in

Sambo it is the off season. I mean every footy related post from now to late March is absolute conjecture, fantasy thinking, hope, whatever you want it to be. Until we actually play a few games next year we are guessing about Hogan and co. So do you now understand why topics might go off course at this time?

The first game! Haven't had that joy since I was in nappies!

As someone who has serious doubts regarding whether Toumpas can make it as a above average afl player, these reports are super encouraging. We really need the likes of he and other high picks over the last few years to come on in leaps and bounds over the next 3-5 years. It's the difference btw us being a 'good ordinary' side and a very good side. I still maintain you get your 'stars' with your high picks.

Toumpas not only shirtfronted Nev but threw him to the ground slightly hurting Nev's shoulder. Jetta went off for about 20mins for treatment. It was pretty serious stuff out there today. Dunn's "tackle" on Viney was a bit crude and would have come under notice from the MRP if it happened in a game. What I liked about this particular incident was that Viney did not retaliate but just pushed Dunny away and continued on with the drill. With regard to Toumpas, he is doing everything right and is leaving nothing on the park to achieve the level of fitness required to be an above average AFL footballer. There seems to be a heavy focus on improving his defensive skills which was one of his weaknesses last season. His two-way running has been quite noticeable. He's been my best performer this pre-season.

Thanks to all who contributed to the reports on training. Much appreciated.

The pies on Queens Birthday for sure as my office is full of Collingwood supporters. Though I do want the team to get a win at Etihad.

The obsession with Scully is alarming, get over him ffs.

nothing better than beating Essendope but we do it so often these days its become too easy its time to smash the Collingwood filth the win over Carlton last season was amazing

Complains about Melbourne's professionalism and culture. Melbourne now have Paul Roos. GWS have Heath Shaw and Toby Greene.

Good afternoon interested supporters, including those interstate and overseas, the PC Police and the lemon suckers I was there again, most have covered the drills and observations already, including Grimes' win in the beep test, which I didn't think was unusual as he is one of best trainers when fit A point on Garlett, there was another instance were he was running across field to the right, turned on a sixpence and put a ball down somebody's throat, didn't catch who, on the left, how he saw him I have no idea, leading to Roos shouting 'great vision' The kicking and movement drills seemed very good, but Ben Mathews told me the coaches thought they were 'ordinary' today and the players were told as much, so high standards Interesting bit in one of the contested drills, Dunny put his knees into Viney on the ground and then scragged him, was just about to get interesting when Jack Grimes stepped in to separate them, some of the hits today were meant to hurt, Toumpas got Nev Jetta a beauty as well The new rookie Mitchell White is another big unit, did bits and pieces of the training Aaron Vandenberg, the other new rookie, only arrived late in the morning, brought out by Shannon Byrnes obviously just to get a taste, didn't do anything There were some new toys on display today, a camera on a pole, so they can get above ground vision, Roos showed a bit of interest before training started, there will be pic on Twitter Demonpk, later There was also some strange looking devices being trialled, they are like an oven glove you put on your hand, helps lower your core temperature somehow, looking at using them in Maroochydore and Darwin, pic as well Spoke to Max King, who is a really good kick, got him fit now, weighs in at about 94k now, they want him eventually up around the 100k mark, thinks he is still growing height wise as well Jack Trengove was out there as well, with his trike, pic on Twitter later Spoke to Chris Dawes to confirm he is on an individual program for him, answer is yes, being slightly older and 100k they are doing it slightly different Any questions feel free

Doesn't cop nearly as much as he should in the media for being a 6 million dollar dud.

Go watch him train. He's involved, in amongst it, up and about, loving the drills, having a go......already so much more than Sylvia ever did at training. Petracca will be nothing like Col.

Had a quick peek towRds the end of training today. They started doing full end to end type drills with defensive and attacking switches between teams. Petracca getting involved which is good to see. One thing I did note was the value of Hertier to the younger guys in the drills. Pulled Petracca over a coupe of times with some quiet words of advice (it appeared more to do with where to run/positioning). Might prove to be a strong leader for us i reckon. Skills in the end to end very sharp and (having seen previous years preseasons) there is not the drop off to the end of the sessions that used to occur. Very early days though and with so many new players they seem to still be learning each others style of play.

I'm with you. But I want to see Grimes and Tmac win the kicking drills, Watts the boxing drill and tackling drills and Howe win the involved in the game for 120 minutes drill.

Not based on last year he wont. M jones gets the pill and moves it on unsung performer. Jimmy T will have to lift his game and work his arse off