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I went today. I have been to a lot of pre-season sessions but none during the season as we get to see the team weekly during games when it matters and I must say there was a completely different feel to todays session as compared to pre-season. It was very low body contact which makes sense. They were happy to go half pace with a lot of drills. There was a sense of saving it for the main stage. Some good things to note: Alex Neal-Bullen joined in full training and without seeing him in a game where he will be judged by all and sundry he looked good, moved well has a good strong body and competed well in stoppage drills. All players were out there (I think) Obviously we are hoping for extra confidence in what they are doing and it seemed to be there today Hogan was playing around like a big kid in the forward 50 arc and there is no doubt a positive change in his body language since the games have started and he has played well. It must be a huge relief. He looks awesome. Kent looked good. No problem with concussion, he was one of the better trainers, at trainig I reckon his skill level is in the top group at the club and he may be just as good as Garlett in the mid to forward role. He kicked a beautiful goal with ease from outside fifty that just sailed through. They did specific group work backs, mids, forwards. All drills involved movement of the ball quickly. I watched the stoppages on the far side Jamar and Spencer looked good, Jamar especially, Bernie Vince looked ready to go. Tom McDonald looked good. He trained well. He ran and used the ball with confidence. Kicked and handballed well. All the backline group were running the ball out of defence well. Very few mistakes and lots of confidence. In the main full length drill which was about movement from one end to the other match simulation with an emphasis on hand ball, the guys that stood out were Grimes, Matt Jones and Bail. It is good to see them putting pressure on for spots. Grimes was very good. I know a few posters were happy for him to be out but I really hope he improves his game and grabs his second chance when it comes along. His training suggests he thinks he can get back and hold his spot. Bad things of note. They were half pace and a bit sloppy at times. Howe looked a bit sore. Jack Watts was very lethargic. And finally a little rant. Just down the road there were probably 500 plus supporters watching Collingwood. Must have been an organised event. Signage everywhere, coffee cart, face painting etc. The new pavillion they are building will be awesome with a deck overlooking the ground and right next door is their merchandise shop. Well done to them but our little ground has a truck come across the 300 odd metres from our offices with all the gear, there is a kid who has to roll out a 100 metre extension cord and set up (in the weather) a small camera to get footage of training, there is no toilets, no signage, nothing to suggest we are anything but using the ground temporarily, football nomads. Thank goodness for equalisation otherwise we might have to train on Punt Rd when the lights go red. The worst part about this token equalisation is that if any of Melbourne, Dogs or Saints happen to get up to the rarified air of the top reaches of the ladder you just watch Eddie carry on how we are only there out of his generosity!

Only no show today was Petracca Trengove and Hunt rehabbing, including riding a scooter that made me envious Drills were again concentrating on ball movement, inlcuding a length of the field with matched numbers, but no obvious team set ups they kept changing them around Stoppage work, with less defenders and then more defenders Bringing out of defence from half back with less defenders again, picking the right option Interested spectator today Hassa Mann, good to see at the end players get around him Vandenberg seems to think he is the one that will make way for Dawes, asked him about how he was drafted, thinks coach may have spoken to George Stone as he knows him, had a few conversations with Jason Taylor pre the rookie draft Viney got his foot stuck in the turf which kicked up a big sod and went over awkwardly right in front of me, seemed a bit concerned but asked at the end, just [censored] him off he could have been seriously injured at training, is fine Bernie Vince said he was still not sure whether he was going to get a gig Casey will have a few Melbourne players again against Werribee for the last praccy game Pics will be on Twitter Demonpk Any questions feel free

I just want to put this to show that above everything else Jack Grimes is a team man and top bloke, he always says hello and calls me by my first name, I asked him today how he was, his answer "I am fine, and ready to have a red hot go with the Scorps this weekend"

Hopefully Vanders was just talking out of first year/rookie modesty and not out of any actual knowledge. I'd be disappointed if he was left out.

Howe is looking like an All Australian level defender He should be kissing Roos feet for turning him into a legitimate gun rather than an inconsistent forward that kicks a goal or 2 and take a hanger every 2 weeks

That would be disappointing.

You spelt Melbourne wrong.

The Grimes bashing bother me a bit. Yep, his disposal last year was poor and he has some cringe moments in the NAB cup, but he had to lead the club through the Neeld years. Let's not forget before he was made captain he had be injured consistently. I get it, at the moment it looks like we have better options, but no need to kick the guy while he's down. Let's see him rip it apart at Casey and press for a spot. I won't forget the spoil he made on Dangerfield last year in Adelaide. I reckon he can play, just needs to regain his mojo. Keep him at Casey until someone's form in the Senior's falls and bring him back.

Sure, I'll try Moonshadow. First I think its great that all bar long term injured were out there today. Roos had a fit team at the Swans when they were good and this is the 'most available' list I've ever seen at training (touch wood) Secondly I think the players not in the first 22 were the best trainers and seemed to me as if they had fairly clear directions on areas of their game they needed to work on. Pedo worked one on one with Brendan McCartney for a while below his knees then on a signal had to pick up and kick at goals off two steps. I like watching Goodwin take a small group. All his drills are to do with around the stoppages an area we need developement in and if we do hopefully improve in that area I'd put that down to Goodwin. All his work is about creating and then protecting space around stoppages and then quick movement out to runners. I've watched him with most of the mids at some stage. Some of the one on one battles are great. Nat Jones hates getting beaten. Goodwin had Neal-Bullen, Stretch, Tyson and Bail today just doing drills to grab the ball and present your bum to the contest and hold the ball so as to keep your hands free. Pretty simple stuff but still good to practice and re-inforce. Michie trained well but like Bail lacks "presence". I noticed him having shots at goal with Vince and Tyson from the boundary line and he was good. Max Gawn is struggling a bit with not being the main man and was shouting random instructions at anyone who would listen. Melbourne's ruck trio are interesting, they had a bit of training together with Frost, King and Fitzy joining in. As I said earlier Jamar was terrific, as good as I've seen him train, he's up against a great ruck this week in Mumford so hopefully he goes well, Spencer was good and strong he ragdolled Jamar once but Gawny wasn't switched on today, and he let it show. As I said earlier Grimes and Matt Jones trained really well, both had a great attitude and Grimes and Jordie stayed late doing kicking practice with each other. I'm a little confused with the half pace training of some of them. I have no experience how a good side trains during the week. I'm sure there is a good balance between saving it for the game and making sure there is no complacency. I expect Melbourne to win on the weekend and hope they come out firing.

Barrett had the "exclusive" that there was an "incident" (a popular journalistic term to exaggerate and incite something of little consequence) involving Hawks players sledging Clark on Monday. It was never stated that the sledging was depression/illness related, but Barrett left it vague for people to draw this conclusion. Could just as easily been sledging for the way he royally [censored] us over, but the bleeding hearts all defended Mitch while Sam called a spade a spade. Never agreed more with Newman in my life but he basically said "fair dinkum, why don't we just ban players from speaking? Will that solve the problem? If he put himself out there after doing what he did then he leaves himself open to criticism on the field." Then Selwood waffled off some rubbish, clearly rehearsed line about how much Clark has brought to their club, and that their culture allows them to protect and nurture Clark through issues like this (geez, thought he got over those just in time for trade period!). Gibbo claimed ignorance but danced around the issue and seemed mostly unapologetic. They aren't soft at the Hawks and there's a reason they're such a good team. Gibbo would dish it out as good as anyone on the field to throw off his opponent. In summary, Clark knew this would follow him after what he did and can't cry foul now. Zero sympathy for him. The fact that he went and cried to the club about it just reflects how narcissistic and toxic he is. Everything's all about Mitch and he deserves the red carpet to be rolled out. Classic attention seeker.

If he ends up being that childish then he is welcome to leave.

Reported that the Hawks were sledging Clark about his "issues." Horrible if true, and I love it.

Just a few comments from deespicable me post Watts is fine was taking it easy, as instructed, Howie is fine as well, had a chat to him Kent is ok, thankfully just got a bit of a bruise in his eye and a cut underneath, cherry ripe to go I have already had a chat to Frost, he doesn't care where he plays, enjoys the physical side of the game (surprise, surprise), thinks his kicking needs work As for the rant, the team needs two sets of goals and an oval shaped ground that is well maintained, all the rest is workable

I can't see any of them smiling... obviously trouble in paradise.

What a wonderful thing - there is agreement, comradeship and even love on Dland tonight. I imagine a balmy day, a green field and Dlanders in flowing feathery robes wearing garlands of spring flowers. C and B and Wiseblood dancing around a maypole, embracing. Saty sitting with his friends (well alone). Stuie on the sidelines trying, but not quite being loved. Ahh the beauty of it .............

Awesome.

It's about keeping it simple. TMc is our best key defender, Cameron is their best key forward. They match well with height, weight, size, etc. If TMc can play like he did last week, it will make Cameron accountable, which I think can be his biggest weakness.

Let this be a lesson, MFC supporters, adopt a couple dozen pets and sign them up.

We'll make a play for more GWS midfielders long before we throw over $1M at Dangerfield. Can't think of a more irresponsible use of our salary cap. For a few hundred thousand extra, you could probably land two far younger mids with as much potential.

If that's the case, then a certain GWS player can look forward to a generous serve of free advice come Saturday.

Jonesy said it perfecty, Vanders is hungry for the contest. Watched him blossom in the NEAFL last season and was in the best every week, was rapt when we called out his name. He will only get better in an AFL environment and seems a really natural footballer. Exciting

It's a professional sport. We pay money in memberships for our players to be professionals. We don't pay for journo's to win us a flag.

Stupid comment

C'mon Deees fans. I've signed the five human beings in my family and the cat ( whose heart really belongs to Geelong). Get on board and back your team. Let the good times roll!!!!!!

Let's hope that Grimes and the others get rewarded with a Casey Premiership medal.

A nice video showing Roos telling vandenFyfe that he will play his first (of at least 200) games.

I've never been a huge fan of McDonald's. This has been because of his pretty poor decision making in the past, as well as his very poor disposal. Having said that, he has always had a very good tank for a big bloke and been a good mark. If he can show improvements in his 2 downsides, he will fast rise up the key-defender ranks in the AFL. His game against the Suns reminded me a lot of Rivers, he took a lot of releaving intercept marks, which was more than handy!

BBO, you're now selling tickets to spoon with you? This forum's just getting creepier and creepier.

I think the collective noun is a Hawhouse.

No idea why you would be a member of a club with 80 000 members. They could not all go to a game. IMO when the club gets that big being a member is just a waste of money as the benefits are far out weighed by your inability to use them. Crazy stuff.

I don't know how we will handle the pressure of 4 people booing us it will be immense.

It's a website where people post photographs of their breakfast and coffee.Or am I confusing that with myface or tweeter?

Comments like these reinforce the creepiness of your photo FD.

I think it makes our defenders look a hell of a lot better when there is spread, so they actually have options. Someone on here said the other day there's a huge difference between kicking it to someone under pressure bang on the chest, and kicking it into space where if you are 2-3 metres off either way it doesn't make a difference. They were bang on, and I think we'll see Tommy Mac being one of the biggest beneficiaries of this all season.

I said preseason that if any Demon player makes AA it will be T Mac Heres hoping I get something right for the first time in my Demonland posting career

Theoretically if both Selwood and Aish wanted to come to Melbourne, getting one wouldn’t cost the other as Selwood is an RFA and Aish would likely need to be traded for. If you asked me to pick between the two I’d choose Aish as he has more years ahead of him and a tonne of class. He has the potential to influence games on a regular basis. That said I think the best midfielder who figures to be on the market at this stage is Treloar. Would take him over Dangerfield. Shiel would be high up on my list as well.

b708c9e3cd6c7603ffbc205f9dfd2e13 "> NEWS: Defender Tom McDonald received the maximum of 10 votes in the AFL Coaches' Association Player of the Year award... Posted by Melbourne Football Club on Wednesday, April 8, 2015

He's on that much is he? Wow I've been wondering why he chose us and that is a fair enough reason. When thinking about recruiting high priced players there is 1 bloke that we have to consider and that's the bloke that wears No 1 at Melbourne. If teams are willing to pay 1 Mil a year for a player that is useless at ground level what are they going to pay a key forward that has it all when he comes out of contract? Can we afford Hogan and another high priced recruit and not lose any key players?

I was 8 back then as well Sign that kid back up!

The MFC has 71,080 likes on Facebook. Considering the demographic of our members (the oldest in the league - less likely to use Facebook) we should have a lot more than 35,000. If we keep the wins coming, we should be pushing 50,000 within 2-3 years.

He just looks professional - in the same way Buckley looked professional. When Vandenberg has the ball I know he won't waste it. The fact that he pushes forward, loves a goal, and is an accurate shot of goal - makes him a very dangerous player. This guy is exactly what our side needs, a big bodied, goal kicking midfielder, can find the pill, play a variety of roles - due to height/strength/balance/hardness and smarts.

Don't agree. Technically poor. Decision making ok

Hey guys, This weeks podcast is up. We look at the big win, talk about next week and sit down with Daniel Ward who chats to us about his time at the Dees and actually has some things to say about Demonland.com! Let us know what you think! LISTEN: http://bit.ly/1NBcjJ7 twitter and facebook pages Cheers, Go dees!

And he deserved them!!!

Peter Moore did ok. Four seasons, 77 games including a Charlie. With all due respect Dees2140, but I really dislike the term 'gun for hire'. They are just players trying to make the most out of their short AFL career. I'd love Danger for 5 yrs at $1mill pa because in a couple of years of SC increases $1mill will not seem unreasonable for an A grade out and out star. That goal he kicked on the weekend was freakin amazing! I'll trust Team Roos to make the right call on that though. Some might argue that Lumumba on $600k pa is a gun for hire (urghh...) given that he's one of our highest paid players. Not me though.

Dylan Shiel - yes please.

That's where I would be looking 'Chaser', and I think we will be.