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Hello chaps, fellow reporters, naysayers, lemon suckers and the general diaspora. Missing in action - Nathan Jones, bad gash from surfing, Misso said he is absolutely filthy with himself, hence no pics on social media. McKenzie has the man flu. Trengove still rehabbing inside. Walking wounded - Hogan, think he had a bit of back tightness, think this issue is similar to Hawkins, can create discomfort but not stop him playing, left track early. Petracca, just tweaked his knee, got it strapped and carried on, so obviously not serious. Kent is fine, still working his way back, trying not to do it again, so on a modified program. Watts, still on his modified program, worked his guts out again. Alex NB, was doing bits, no serious damage to his knee, taking it day by day, no time set for return to full training. Others: Riley, Stretch, Terlich, Vandenberg (whose body shape is changing already), and Spencer, all said they were exactly where they should be. Slightly walking wounded - JKH who had a second look at breakfast after one of the running drills and made the fitness staff laugh by saying that was last time he has bacon and eggs before training. Bernie Vince is nearly back at full training, took part in all the drills, did the 'guns' photo this week to prove he is nearly symmetrical again. Jayden Hunt is being looked at as a project for half back utilising his speed and neat kicking. Nice touch today, Max King, who I think they are trying to kill, was absolutely spent after one running drill, Jamar over to him, arm around him encouraging him on, Jamar is setting himself for a big year, has his game face on. Dom Tyson is absolutely pumped, another session completed, is bouncing around. Most who completed the session today rated it at 7. One interesting thing, Nev Jetta is actually looking faster, asked him, agreed did speed work over the Xmas break. Another interesting point, new friendship seems to be Salem and Viney, last 2 off the track today after doing some extra work. Any questions feel free, pics on Twitter Demonpk later.

Saw first two hours... you could say Roos was flogging them! Have to agree that Newton was a standout when talking new boys. His ability to keep running was impressive, delivery looked very good. It was said he wasn't fast, but he ain't real slow either. He moves ahead of Brayshaw and Petracca for me, even though those recruits worked hard and showed great skill by hand and foot. Petracca withdrew from main group after 90 mins, but continued with a running group that included Gawn, Jamar and one or two others. Lumumba was excellent all round. Grimes is in peak condition and was first back to base on one gruelling repeat exercise. Howe was superb in full ground action with the footy. Jayden Hunt continues to impress, grow and improve. He isn't ready for top 22 yet but has a lot to offer with speed and kicking penetration. Dawes was fantastic in application and endurance at speed. Hogan was also very good until a slight leg injury forced him to shut down. He was still able to run and kick but safety first kicked in. I would still think he would front up in the first practice match. Salem and Toumpas have obviously grown and are ready for big advances in 2015. Gawn was very mobile and good in full ground drills. Fitzpatrick was also impressive with his short passing at full pace. Bernie Vince and Cross continue to be all class in match simulation.

Ventured down today with two boys in tow (got there late, around 10.00 am). From what I could see, the session was quite demanding. Running sprint drills followed by full field running drills incorporating ball movement from one end of the field to the other and back again. Players were rotating around the field as part of the drill, some players providing defensive pressure. This was followed by more running drills (300 metre runs) followed by timed 70 metre run throughs. Some observations (at the risk of duplicating views already logged): * Max Gawn looks great. He moved well although at times slightly favoured his bandaged knee leg. To be expected I guess. I have high hopes for Max, I think he will be very important for us as long as he keeps reasonably free of injury. He appears bigger and more defined around the shoulders. * Newton moved well and seems to do things with a minimum of fuss. * Brayshaw moves very well, at one stage during the game drill he instinctively blocked a defender to allow the attacking player a clear path through. To me, it showed a good awareness of what was around him. He's still a bit slight but moved very well. * Jack Watts ran laps and also looks to have put on a few pounds generally (just looks more solid. * Max King looks ok when he has the ball, but is last in pretty well all the running drills. He puts in but doesn't seem to have the same tank as other players, There were plenty of other players giving him encouragement during the drills. * Generally, the entire group looked fit and moved well (those that were with the main group). A big thanks to the players after training as well. My boys asked a number of them for autographs as they were leaving the area and they all signed happily and engaged the boys in conversation, even after a strong session. It made my boys day and hopefully keeps them engaged until we start winning games on a consistent basis (makes my job of keeping them interested much easier).

Main group consisting of 36 players and 2 big B#$%stards from the AIS Chunk missing as mentioned. Trenners not there of course. All the Pre Xmas Rehab group is now on legs. Alex Neal Bullen had a slight mishap in the gym. He has a small bandage on his knee but nothing too serious. He is training with the rehab group as is Stretch. Tom McD was grabbing at his lower spine and Left Hip. He continued with the session. Jamar is looking great. Ben Newton did some nice work in the circle work Dunny was very vocal and moved from set groups to set groups trying to encourage them to keep it up. Grimes was impressive (yes I said it) Petracca was really putting in and is now understanding the training routine. Fitzy is making all posts a winner. He knows what he has to do to get a game. Toumpas has turned his good running into a great link man running off the HBF and delivering the ball to HFF other side of the ground. Very impressive. Saty will do more reports along with pics.

got to see my first session for the year. Awesome numbers on the field. Definitely 35+ in the main group. Looked like Riley, ANB, Stretch, Watts, Terlich, Spencer, White in the rehab group. Lots of effort and emphasis on and spread - push forward from the main group. Hopefully that leads to more natural attacking flair. I was impressed to see the fitness gains from last year pre-season to now. It's weird but I stood there impressed as a whole yet struggled to find standouts .........and I probably think this may be due to a more even spread of quality across the list and that the gap from weakest link to strongest is closing. (well i hope). Michie works hard and continues to go under the radar. As does Newton. (I'm kind of expecting Newton to have a year similar to Tyson from last year). Smooth mover that gets to contests and links up well. Petracca ball use early was solid until he tweaked his knee. Hogan just looks super strong and fit but then innocuously seemed to pull up tight by the looks of it and a longer ball movement drill. (he came off near me and was getting high hamstring/lower back loosening. He completed his run throughs after that but I think caution took over and off to the rooms). Interesting to see training partners learning good habits and bonding. Toumpas /Cross, Jetta /Garlett, Newton /Tyson. Anyone know where Wednesday's session will be held ?

That article is just a Demonland myth.

Popped down briefly this morning. Noticed a couple of outstanding moments. Watts "Nice gear" to a pass from stretch in the rehab group. The weight, the speed and the sit of the pass brought a smile across his face. He saw the smarts and the skills. A not so subtle difference to the rib cage smashing monsters that Vandenberg was sending down. Although, his skills seemed sound. If he gets his fitness up, he will be a monster through the mid field. Brayshaw firing a rocket like handball 20m. So fast in comparison to some of the floaters being passed around. Salem, using both feet with sublime skill. Getting the player to where 'He' wants him. Not where the player feels he wants it. Can't wait to see him start to influence games like that. Liked a Grimes/Petracca pairing. Saw them finish first in a running/push-up/sit-up drill. Then Grimes get down and do more push ups, Petraka thought he was done, realised and smashed out some more while others still finished. Grimes looked,dare I say it, quick. Albeit, a little thin. Liked Hogan and Dawes constantly going over their leading patterns and advising each other every time. Their awareness of Garlett is exciting. Only there for a short while, but, good to see a few there. Can someone tell me who was in the yellow boots. Very Tall. Should know, couldn't pick it.

Would that qualify as regicide?

I wouldn't worry, they are working on it, he was fine through most of the session, the way we are looking after the players now is completely professional, if he is feeling a bit of discomfort he stops and they check it out. Any players who does not report a subsequently discovered problem is in serious trouble, they have to report anything the minute they feel it

I haven't mentioned some of the regulars we take for granted. Viney was Viney! Bail trains well and is super fit. Matt Jones gives his all and won't be steamrolled by the younger brigade without a fight. Jamar looked very fit and trained very well. Jeff Garlett was also a standout with speed and kicking skills.

Just to reiterate... Hogan was training as free as a bird for well over an hour, as he has been for at least a month by all reports. He did not signal a back issue. He pulled up and limped a little after a lead and subsequent kick at goal, then trained at pretty much top pace for another 15 minutes. He came to the boundary line and seemed to report stiffness in the RL, upper hamstring. The assistant coach/medico then put him through a series of stretch and push off quickly exercises. He did not appear to be limping, just a precaution I reckon. This all may be back related, but it didn't look like it.

Just shows what a thoughtless [censored] Frawley is. Could have at least acknowledged the kid's letter. FMD. But good work from the club in the way they handled the matter.

I know it's been said... But the significance of early season wins for our club cannot be underestimated. And by that I mean winning rounds 1, 2 and 3 against beatable opposition. There will come a time in which our longest serving players will have a mind-shift and an enormous shot of confidence and adrenalin. That will come from early wins, because they've been starved of them for so long. The players I'm speaking of are Jones, Grimes, Dunn, Howe, Watts, Jamar etc. If these guys get a taste early on, many of them will look like completely different players. You'll notice the shift, and they'll be riding a wave. Much of our list has been turned over, but winning consecutive games at the start of a campaign could be the catalyst for the rebirth of the Melbourne Football Club. The belief will return. The younger players will play with greater confidence. It becomes a snowball effect for the entire club. Players, staff and supporters. It's our time. Imagine the feeling at the G in round 4 against the tiges having come off three straight wins at the start of the home and away season. Get it done Dees.

Toumpas/Cross If its one bloke Toumpas could learn off in terms of work ethic and experience its Daniel Cross. Loving this.

Pointless comparison as both players went before 23. The only way to really compare is to look at who was still there are 23 and who was picked around that pick. GWS used pick 23 to get one of the biggest shocks of the draft, Patrick McKenna the Captain of the Aus U19's Cricket Team. Not a big background in footy. Good luck to them if their punt works but it wouldn't have been our pick. Pick 24 was used by GWS to get Jack Steele. He was developed in their Academy and as far as I'm concerned at this stage certainly doesn't show any more than ANB. I'd be confident that most pundits would have picked ANB ahead of him. Pick 25 North Daniel Nielson, who looks like a reasonable prospect as a 193cm defender but is going to take 3-4 yrs to develop whereas Frost already has that development and has shown he can perform at this level. I'd take Frost over Nielson any time. Pick 26 Bulldogs Toby McLean a 179cm midfielder. We don't need any more short midfielders. This is just the first few picks around the mark. It's no wonder several of the Phantom Drafts in the press had ANB ahead of these players. So starting with Frost who also looks better than any of them especially as a potential ready made replacement for Frawley and then getting ANB and Oscar looks like a no brainer, to the extent that every pick in the draft is a gamble, these picks look outstanding results. There's really no point in saying we'll only know in a few years because that is irrelevant to the decisions that had to be made in the here and now in the trade period and the draft. Was the decision to make the trade the right decision at the time. Surely you'd have to say yes. Any of the single players we would have picked at 23 might be a fail but as others have said to get the three we got is spreading the risk so it's likely at least one or more will be great pick ups.

I recall reading something about this some time ago but I just stumbled upon this article in "The Rip", the Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale magazine. Love your commitment Isaac! Also good on the club for sending him the jumper!

Hawthonr.

As frustrating as Dawes can be at times with his inability to take a mark that isn't a chest mark, his leadership and guidance alone make him worth every bloody penny we spent.

The Terlich comment just proves AGAIN your lack of general knowledge on certain players and the game itself. An unbelievable comment.Name me the 20 players please.

I'll defend Dawes becuase he was always recruited as second forward to compliment Clark. Whilst there is room for improvement I'm not too concerned by his output so far.

nothing personal tsfka but that particular line is becoming very tiresome, even cliched

sorry, I must have missed the post that said he "broke down".

I asked about that, that is not part of the problem, it is more to do with his whole physiology, Jayden Hunt has had similar issues and he is on an individual program as well, and is progressing with the occasional blip, but because he is not Hogan this is not noticed

Salem will be the surprise packet, has it all. Most complete young player we've drafted in a long while.

You're

Let's not go there. Memories of our performance against an undermanned Saints in round 1 last year are still clearly etched In my mind.

Such a simplistic generalisation and you know it! When's the last time we had a competitive mid field? When's the last time we had 2 or 3 tall forwards to rely on? Leave him alone.

??

To be fair mate, if he did hold the club responsible at all, there is no way he would mention it to a supporter

Gee, that's a bit rough DD36!... looking at him I'd say he's only about 12 years old.

How about: Thanks mate for your great support. I really appreciate what the club means to you. Hopefully there are good times ahead for the Dees. Best Wishes Chip

The boys trained really well all flying, over heard some of the boys from Collingwood boys at cafe saying how HL told them that the Dees are really flying and not just what clubs all say, but that he has never seen so many players flying that time of year, said that watts is more competitive then what most people think, all so said Tyson reminds him of a young Dame swan.

Can you paraphrase the article? IMG_0914 (960x1280).jpg - Size: 429.25KB

Oh! H looked great. Great vision, great focus and attack on the ball. Didn't hear him say much, but, he doesn't need too. His actions speak volumes. Think he will reward the trust with his best season ever. If only to stick it to $

Wouldn't be surprise if its only back spasms by the sound of it.I know the physios do a fantastic job but they got the Hogan one wrong last year and it cost him a whole year. Should have just rested him. It was only NAB cup. Im sure they will be extra cautious with him this summer.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-10-01/hogan-aims-for-round-one-debut Quote: Hogan said his back injury came to a head when he played for Melbourne against Geelong in the club’s second NAB Challenge match in Alice Springs, back in February. “It was a bit sore going into the game, but the physios insisted it was just tightness. I was training as though I was feeling OK and I was a bit aware of it, but it affected me during the game in the third quarter, when I tried to kick it,” he said. “My whole body seized up and I’ve gone ‘this isn’t tightness’. I basically couldn’t run in the last quarter and then I woke up the next morning and I was basically the same – I was just stiff. “I couldn’t really walk and I sat on the plane for four hours and got up and was no good. Then I finally got the scan and was told that it was going to be four to five [weeks] depending – but everyone’s body is different. It seems being told he was ok to play, playing on in the 4th qtr, then sitting on a plane for 4 hours doesn't signal good medical management. Hopefully, they listen more carefully these days. Also, I recall a few posters noted in preseason training reports last year that Hogan appeared to have a back problem...vaguely recall someone jumped into his back accidently at training. Anyway, the past is past. The extra year off has helped him mature and good for him. Call me a naysayer if you wish. No doubt he will be a champ but right now, I would like to see him get thru a string of VFL/AFL games unscathed.

I really don't know what this means. When was it unprofessional? Prior to Misson? Prior to Roos? Hogan himself said he felt the back problem before the Geelong game. I'm not suggesting the medical fitness staff got it wrong, just responding to your question. With Dawes, however, there was an admission that he was rushed and came back too early (I think in 2013). It's all an inexact science, so I'm not sure why we need to pretend that because "it's all professional now" there won't be mistakes.

On a side note, it seems like Melbourne have built up a pattern of not just doing well for themselves, but also offering genuine win-win deals that other clubs are quite pleased with. - The Tyson/Kelly scenario would have been a welcome one for GWS, no doubt on that. - The deal for Frost was sweetened with GWS' picks they were never going to use anyway, but which were a handy asset for us. - Carlton only used one of the picks we gave them for Garlett, but considering they were looking to offloading him, possibly just delist him, they'd be happy to have moved a pick a round up the order. - The Clark-Varcoe-Lumumbu circular trade probably made everyone happy. All three players, all three clubs, would have felt that was the best plausible result. - Adelaide might have been sad to lose Bernie Vince, but we gave the bona fide best offer without any dodgy 'only this club please' announcements. Let's just say they'd probably rather deal with us again than a few other clubs at the moment. - Fremantle got a pick for a player who was going to be moved on one way or another, with 54 for Michie. And it's not our fault they wanted Sylvia. So, in these last two trade periods, we've made a lot of astute trades without ever putting anyone in a position to hate us or mock us.

Thanks for the reports!

It's interesting you should raise the issue of the Press's Phantom Drafts versus KnightMare and Paige Cardonna. I was thinking this very thing a while ago as I didn't know why so many people on here rate KM & PC so highly and refer to their comments about prospective picks and predictions. So after the draft I had a look at their Phantom Drafts versus Emma Quayle and Callum Twoomey. Emma Quayle picked 9 out of the top 10 in the correct order and 19 out of the top 20 but not all of 11-20 in the correct order. I had a look at KM and PC and they were way way off the mark in the top twenty or so picks. Not to say I won't still read the info they post as it's interesting to get any info but I won't be relying on their predictions over EQ. It's not really a bash of them as she is paid to work on this stuff full time and makes a lot of her predictions on info she gets from her recruiting contacts inside the teams. They obviously give her more than they give anyone else. So I know who I'll be relying on in the future. I agree you should look at all picks from 23 to 52, so go for it. I don't have the time. I just picked the first few as a comparison of what actually happened. The fact, not a theoretical, is the Saints got Membrey as a delisted free agent so they had pick 1 in the PSD live and would almost certainly have used it to get Frost. How stupid would our recruiters look now if they'd gambled on that and lost like with Hannath. A 21 yr old with a handfull of games can't say he won't go to the no 18 team because he wants to go to the no. 17 team and have the no. 18 team not take him. Just wouldn't happen. And yes, I am looking at it from the draft point of view because in the whole trade period there wasn't a better trade that went through that we could have got if we'd traded pick 23 to someone else and we would have lost Frost for sure if we didn't use the pick. Could we have used a later pick? We didnt' have one. It was a great result. Move on. KPP's with a few years of development under their belt, who are physically ready to go and have proved they can play at the level are worth gold as far as I'm concerned. Way more than a gamble on an untried 18yr old at pick 23. Frost might end up being mediocre, we don't know yet but some of his highlights are outstanding. Pick 23 without the other two might prove to be a steal. It might not but that's not the point.

don't use hogan and back in same sentence please

The two AIS boys are Josh Schache who is from my way. He is the son of late Lawrence Schache who played for Fitzroy. 196cm 90kg key forward who is expected to go top 10 in this years draft. An exciting prospect. One to watch. And Kieran Collins from Dandenong Stingrays. 192 key forward or back.

Don't worry ... Saty's on hand to bring you all the in depth interviews with players, trainers and medical staff. I'm sure we'll know soon enough.

Viv Michie

c'mon all you wannabe footy scribes last chance for a couple of weeks get on your scooters tomorrow and scoot down to gosch's paddock looking forward to all the gos

Dont give it to saty.We cant afford him to be sick,his reports to vital.

Unusual to see a post suggesting that Casey is too close to the CBD to attract new supporters !! As I have said above the biggest problem with Casey is the continuing perception that it is a wobbly alliance - that Melbourne will walk away from as soon as it has the finances to do so. Hawthorn has complete on-field control over the Box Hill Hawks ( formerly the Box Hill Mustangs).Do we aspire to have total on-field control over Casey ? If so we need to bury the unhelpful history of the Springvale "Scorpions" and lock in our claim to the growing gateway into Gippsland through a long-term investment in the Casey "Demons". "What's in a name?" many of you may ask. In this case, I'd suggest quite a lot . Given a say in the matter why would Melbourne want its overflow players to play for a separately- badged club - and why would it use the logo of a separately-badged club as an entree into a community ahead of a jointly-badged option. The Casey Scorpions website needs a bit of maintenance - but everything about it - including its Board - suggests that it retains control over all key decisions - including the brand. Although the Casey FC has struggled to survive we didn't have the financial strength to impose our own conditions on the alignment when it was first established. Is that still the case? If not - launch the Casey Demons.

Better still, why not mosey across to Collingwood's training and give them a dose?

We will know in about 4-5 years how good or bad the trade was... It is funny to think of the hand-wringing on here right after that trade - now some look at it like a master-stroke. Who will be right?