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I was there from just after 9 to finish up about 10.40. Not many on lookers barely a dozen at the start. First training for me this season and the change in body shape of many is very noticeable esp. Fitzpatrick. Rehab consisted of Watts, Hogan, Vince (I think I saw him once!). No shows were Roos, Riley, King I saw Hogan do a few laps and then he heading in about 9.30. Didn't see Garland at all until the end of training (maybe inside) and I saw Garlett (wearing 33) and I think vandenberg at the start doing short kicks to each other then not seen after that. White appeared mid train but didn't see him on the park. Maybe they were in rehab on the other side of the ground? Forwards did a lot of leading and goal kicking. Mainly Dawes (who looked a bit bored by the end) Gawn, Fitzpatrick, Pedersen, Petracca, Bail & JKH. Gawns leading was good. Jamar & Spencer did all the ruck work. Toumpas was very visible playing the outside receive and runner. Looked sharp but up close he is a small unit compared to the others, same with Michie. It was a light session I feel Last out there were Jamar doing some skills with a coach and Salem doing one on one defensive punching with Rawlings, as well as a few doing goal kicking and yes, Cross was one of them. There was a group of young mums with there kids at the gate and most of the players stopped had a chat and signed jumpers. Very approachable.

Hey Guys, I was at the open training today down at casey fields. Standouts today were Kent, Frost, Toumpas, Newton, Jetta and N Jones Hogan was running laps as were watts, and a few new players but disappeared by 9:30 Wasn't as hot or as windy as it gets down here in cranbourne. No Roosy today, goodwin and miller were running the show. Three groups today mostly, Forwards, Mid and Defence. Feel free to ask any questions

For me it was his endurance, he was constantly attacking the ball and his kicks hit the target, during the contested sessions though he tried to muscle his way into it but to no avail, towards the end he ended up running from the contest towards the forward flank to receive the kick. marking was fair aswell. Interesting as to whether he can translate this into game play this season. He has fortunantly stopped watching the play and is now doing it. Probably one of our top trainers.

Given you were out at Casey, I'm disappointed that the young mums were wagging school to take their kids to training...

some good reports from todays training, I was there for most of the session so just thought I'd add a few things. firstly on salem working 1 on 1 with rawlings it seemed as tho they were trying to teach salem how to compete 1 on 1 without getting stuck in a wrestling match, salem would start behind and rawlings would back back and try and initiate body contact and hold salem out while salem would try and avoid wrestling and either spoil from the side or cut in front to take the intercept mark. this may not have been the exact intent of the drill but that's how it appeared to me and would make sense if they're planning to play him down back. and i think a few of the boys that appeared to be missing today may have been down the road at the pools because as i was leaving riley was at his car changing into a different pair of shorts and trengove had also just pulled up and was heading into the rooms. Any questions feel free to ask but I've been to 3 or 4 sessions over the preseason and todays was probably the lightest I've seen so hard to take too much from it, the boys seemed pretty relaxed.

Sucked in Port, I bet they have no idea how well Toumpas has been training!

I am reading between the lines. I would suspect it is not so much the learning of the game plan as practicing it properly and consistently until it is second nature. The comment that keeps resonating with me is the professionalism of the training that was obviously absent pre Roos. So in training simulations you get the ball and have a maximum of 2 seconds to dispose of it. When your teammate upfield gets the ball you have a split second to decide where to run. In that split second you also have to factor in where your teammate is going to deliver it and where your other teammates are running. So learning the gameplan to me is more about constant repetition until you instinctively take the right option by running to the right places and disposing to the right options. It is so pleasing for me to hear the coaches bailing up ( pardon the pun) the players when they don't take correct options or run to the right places. I absolutely buy that they are "learning" - I read "learning" as drilling in the same ways over and over again.

The thought of Salem rolling off half back and hitting up the hard leading Hogan is enough to give up my search for a meaningful relationship

Fev plays a season at Casey. 5 years later:

Overall looks fantastic, Jamar looks fitter than ever and looks like he can do a couple more seasons, Dunny's endurance has improved massively and would probably able to do a rebounding role as well, Frost looks set for round 1. Midfield looks like a tighter unit with Brayshaw and Petracca looking quite settled, Harmes contesting with Lumumba, N jones and Cross, Got belted but had a go. Gawn looking like holding down the resting ruckman position in the forward line while his goal kicking has vastly improved. No one was really poor but Dawes, JKH, McKenzie and Terlich looked second rate. while the likes of Vince and Bail were hardly noticed. Jones and Brayshaw had their goal kicking contest afterward which Brayshaw hilariously rolled along the ground to put chunk off.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am missing footy more than ever this Summer and reading this doesn't help.

That was an impressive display of dealing with pressure, but the kick that emphasised Salem's skills would be the one he kicked from the boundary to a flat out Bail against PA in Darwin.

Anyone else find it blatantly transparent that Essendon's 3 NAB challenge competitors are the bottom three teams from the 2014 ladder? Saints, GWS and us. The AFL don't even pretend to hide how manipulative they are in an unfavourable situation.

Satyr, you deserve the rest so enjoy it. I read on the Monday training thread that you felt there was an improvement in both the two way running and the kicking at training. The latter is something that will be gauged better when the team plays under the pressure of competition but the former is something that I've been expecting since Dave Misson arrived at the club three years ago. At the time, the fitness staff measured the group's capacity to run and the word was that the results were disappointing. We had too many players who didn't measure up and fingers were pointed at some of them who didn't have the work ethic to get up to the level of the stronger clubs. We were told that it would be a three year project and so here we are at the point where we can expect some results - especially since some of our worse trainers have fallen by the wayside. So I would ask those at tomorrow's session to observe and report on how hard the players are running. Hopefully, we're getting at least closer to the middle of the table instead of down the back where we were three years ago because that's the area, along with improved skills, that can help us move up the ladder.

And then Fletch came back and still played for 2 years.

Alternative view; there is one less mad bomber supporter on the Commission.

i think casey is well past suburbs, hardtack. probably closer to sydney

Yes Hun basically saying there is nothing in it and Pres and PJ have a hand shake deal to continue.

In the Daintree... is it mushroom season up there?

1 - I am really sick of that too. It's football. Pretty much everyone on here has a more complicated job to get a handle of on a daily basis. 2 - Disagree on the grounds of sheer quantity - I look at our list and I see about 16 players I am happy to take into an AFL match with confidence - for the other 6 spots in the side I honestly think we have about 18 'could-be' type players competing for them. Some of them are brand new draftees and others are closer to veteran status. It gives me great confidence that at the end of the day we should be taking a highly competitive 22 into battle each week regardless of who those 'could-be' players are, the ones that outperform the others to earn their spots. It's going to be fascinating to see who is there at the end of year, I think we are in for some big surprises, and no doubt Roosy has some things in store with regard to players in roles we weren't expecting. Can't wait.

1 - when people use the term 'learning', I'm fairly sure you can substitute the word 'practicing' most of the time. Or do you expect them just to run laps until the season starts? 2 - I totally agree. We know what we'll get from Lumumba, and if Garlett has a good season it will assist - but even Newton is an unknown so unless we get some unexpected growth from Toumpas/Salem/JKH or one of the draftees, then we haven't added more than a little bit of depth to our middle. We are still a couple of good quality midfielders away from the standard I reckon.

What im constantly noting is the continued attempts by Essendon to orchestrate timelines. Another ruse in this regard is whereby theres a constant reference to sanctions being firstly discounted severely and then backdated to their last game. The only way a 6 month ban can be served up is whereby conditions are satisfied that WADA would reduce the penalty by up to the maximum 3/4 ( 75%) I.E 2 Years to 6 months. But this only occurs when firstly the accused comes clean, admits guilt, doesnt hinder the proceedings and essentially 'helps' by divulging all. As none of the Bombers ( remaining at windy Hill )seem to have done such I cant see where any reduction comes into play. Also theres the other ploy of referring this fictional backdating back to the last game and this being the concern and butting point for the players and why they wont budge. Well unless I have been reading it wrong all along suspensions get pinged from the issuance of Infringement Notices and that would be Nov. So we see it that time and time again Essendon are trying to pull the wall over everones eyes I cant see how anything less than a Year from last Nov can be given...and thats the BEST case scenario for Essendon !!

Good news for the oldies, the bun is gone.

Heard some interesting conversations on radio this morning: 1. What does NAB think of the current shenanigans by EFC and are they trashing/devaluing their sponsorship? You would think they would have second thoughts when this contract with the AFL expires. 2. 34 players on trial means there are 9 who are not. Like Wunderlich and Zakarahkis there were 7 others who chose not to participate and did not sign the consent forms. This proves the program was optional. So much for the 'duped and doped' argument the players are claiming! They had a choice. 34 chose and consented to doping, 9 did not!

any decent scooters?

With our recent additions in Oscar and Frost and the new & improved Dunn guessin that he wouldn't be high on our agenda. Rather keep an eye on the Dangers, Selwoods and other quality mids in the the world

If they are so sure they are innocent they should just play!

Essendrug losses: Their current. Premiership window An (at the time) elite coaching panel Season 2013, 14 (15 &16) Premiership window (13-15 and any chance before 2020?) Potential hundreds of current members Potential thousands of new members Potential hundreds of thousands of sponsor dollars FA recruiting Respect (what little they had) from the rest of the competition Working relationship with competition custodians 100+ year legacy Decade long (at least) tarnished name and reputation Current players/administrators/ supporters mental health. Essendrug gains: Better training recuperation time. Have I missed anything? :)

I am sick to death hearing about the Essendon 34 and their right to privacy. Stewart Crameri, Patrick Ryder, Angus Monfries have openly stated that they received notices. Strangely they don't appear to be bothered that the information is out. If as is leaked to the media the 34-3=31 less delistings etc now reported = 17 are innocent pawns in this sorry saga why not come out. Mark Slobinson named them. But now it is a secret. The 17 are not the victims they would have you believe. If you are innocent hold your head high, look people in the eye and say so. This is not rape or murder the spin doctors would have us believe they were duped, but the duplicity is painting a different picture for me. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.

Yep The rest is dancing with your sister

we know hardtack, if bob is the silver bodgie then you must be the silver hippy - lol

the only time i hear about the afl is 2nd hand and it is about them trying to do some secret deal or other

From what I observed today, We can run one way alright (depends on the player) but not the other way. To often in the clearance drills the ones involved in the actual clearance would slowly move up the ground with no urgency. I reckon the coaches are trying to get certain players to move all the way up the ground when we have a clearance from a ball up or ball-in. Chunk was one of these players where he would help the clearance pass it to Toump on the wing and run to get it back around CHF to deliver into the fwd 50. But the players doing that would walk back to the reset which doesn't bode well if we turn it over at CHF. For me Tyson or Viney can fit this role with the other midfielder moving up to lock it in our forward 50. Overall the running is ok, we aren't overly quick but we have much more endurance now.

I like the silence from the AFL. Imagine what Essundone supporters are going through. The angst, I love it. Finally its is dawning on them that this is real and it is happening. And it is happening now. ASADA and the AFL must be sitting back thinking we told you so. The silence before the guillotine drops is palpable.

he'd be laughing his head off, bub think the afl board is long overdue for a major rehaul

Yes, yes it is possible, just repeat the phrase "2000 grand final" five times . . . . . . there you go, how easy was that!!

Yankee Bartlett heads for the door before PJ. I'm sure PJ is difficult and autocratic - I'm sure he doesn't refer to the President or Board for decision making - but who cares - he's landed Roos & Goodwin, major sponsors, AFL special funding and turned a profit this year - best CEO I think we've ever had - and he doesn't spin or sugarcoat anything. If Bartlett stuffs this up members should call for his head.

How on earth are they not bringing the game into disrepute with this childish and embarrassing behaviour? Why the hell are other teams constantly forced to suffer due to the illegal decisions made BY ESSENDON, BY HIRD, BY THE PLAYERS? Farcical. And oh, so typical of the AFL to do absolutely nothing about it. Where's Eddie when you need him? He'd be absolutely ropeable if his team had to miss out on a practice match just because of Essendon's pathetic behaviour. I say the entire team, and every player participating in the boycott, should be fined the absolute maximum allowed under AFL rules. Exactly the same as if a team boycotted a home and away match.

We will kick better this year. For one, we are fitter and fitness makes a big difference for most players in terms of their kicking. But more importantly, fitness and trust in your teammates and the game plan mean that your leads get honoured, players present more options and they are drilled better in what to do. Remember often you don't have to kick to a target but kick to the right space. A space is much easier to hit and if the teammate is running to the space as they are being drilled then it will look a lot like they are hitting more targets.. Already this year at training we have seen much more match simulation and practice like it was a game. Players are practising under match like conditions and will have confidence their stamina and game plan will hold up in real matches. They will be confident that when they have the ball in hand, a teammate will present an attacking option and another will present a defensive option etc. We clearly have yet to see this in games but i do have a lot more confidence in the way we are training and that it will translate into games.

Sorry to pick out just this comment but JTs game sense and footy IQ are exceptional. He is/was absolutely a match winner. Not in the Jeff Farmer sense but you may recall his match winning efforts for Sturt prior to getting drafted or his match winning effort to win a match against Port in Darwin a few years back. I think people only remember the version of him hampered by his foot, moving slower than Brock McLean and not the inspirational, quick minded, determined, reliable player he was before. Sadly if he remains restricted by his foot as he has over the past couple of years he may not have a place in the team. However if and yes that's a big if, he can return to full fitness, then he is absolutely in our best 22.

Boycott games after afl offers solutions = bringing the game into disrepute, breach of contractual agreements, I'd expect punishments to be fairly harsh

A radio rumour - maybe PJ has said he wants to move on. Failing to consider possible replacements would be negligent.

Throw the club out of this year's first and second rounds of the draft if they boycott the nab challenge. Punish them harshly for showing disrespect to the league and the 17 other clubs.

So the number of players left at Essendon from the 2012 doping saga is down to 17: Essendon 34 won't play in NAB Challenge The funny thing is that a number of those players have already been named publicly by Mark Robinson in the Herald Sun so why the big deal about protecting the anonymity of the players? Essendonsupplements saga: Ironies abound as Bombers resist pre season solutions

Who knows if PJ wanted to extend beyond 2015. The only public comments I have read from him since he started indicated his view was he was going to be short term. I thought it was a relief we got him for this year. Maybe that was his choice and GB is looking at his successor. This would be a storm in a tea cup if that's the case and he's sounding out Cook because PJ doesn't want to stay long term. PJ has certainly talked about a succession plan for the CEO.

Rawlings is just happy he is spoilt for choice, again from what I have seen at tranng, think Dunn, Jetta and McDonald are locked in then the rest is open, through form, coming back from injury, new etc Grimes, Garland, Frost, Terlich, Oscar Mc, White, and any number of half backs, Lumumba, Salem, Toumpas, Brayshaw Neither Watts or Vince need skills training, they have watched enough sessions to know the game plan as well, assume if they are fit they will get a run, both have done miles and miles around the oval, both said they feel, apart from the injury, the fittest they have been Reckon Vandenberg will get a run up forward in the NAB Cup, from what I can see, we may have a forward line that consists of Gawn/Jamar/Spencer, Dawes, Hogan, Pedersen/Fitzpatrick, Petracca and Vandenberg, just so Roos can see if it works, that is some serious size there Think they want Vandenberg to build his engine before he gets into the middle, although will probably see him there in stages if it is at Casey No Dawes doesn't do ruck work, but they have the big guys competing against each other in drills one on one, poor old Oscar Mc who is they youngest and lightest gets thrown around a bit, but he hangs in there, drew praise from McCartney the other day for doing exactly what McCartney had told him after he had pushed out of the way by Dawes All the rucks look really good, Jamar will have a fight on his hands this year, they also have them rotating through the forward line

I recall hearing last Sept/Oct that the delay in PJ's contract extension was related to the contract term. If PJ is signed up for only 1 year then it may be true that he wanted longer but didn't get it. I was surprised at the delay because Paul Roos had extended to 2016 so I thought (hoped) as a minimum PJ would do the same. I hope Bartlett consulted the AFL before he renewed PJ for only 1 year. Afterall they wouldn't want to see us go downhill again in a few years. Barlett is yet to establish his own credentials, IMHO. His first foray into the public domain (remember the Melboune will be the like the New York Yankees interview) was less than an auspicious start. He was ridiculed a fair bit in the press over that one. Now something like this (if true) has been leaked. ATMO Bartlett has no credits in the bank, IMHO and if it was a choice between Bartlett vs PJ I would take PJ every day of the week!!

Seriously we are high if we don't stick with Jackson. He has been the single greatest thing to happen to this club since 1964. I would be totally shocked and disappointed if we went down the instability route for no reason.

Thanks to Ruffles, Caligula and Tux for the spot on training reports. Always a succinct read guys and free of stuff no-one wants to read. Cheers fellas.

Happy to play a intra club televised on Foxsports. McCartney can coach the blues, and Goodwin the reds, Roos can do special comments, at half time 100 lucky members of the crowd will ritualistically [censored] Dwayne Russell with wooden paddles. No Essendon required for some wholesome entertainment.