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Went to training today and agree with previous reports. ANB and JKH running fast laps. Heard Watta say "if only I could run like that" as they powered around. ANB doesn't look to be injured to me and in fact the five in rehab didn't look inconvenienced at all. Was standing right near Trenners and Misso as Trenners was being put through what looked like "burst from a standing start" drill. He did this drill in straight lines and then breaking both left and right. He had one of our blokes hold him back with a exercise band making it harder to burst. Good to see they are working on his specific weaknesses. In general practice he looked good but of course it wasn't contested crowded situations. Unlike Saty I didn't think Hogan was a standout and actually thought he was blowing a bit of dust out after missing last week. No real standouts for me today other than perhaps Stretch but really they all looked pretty good. What really pleased me was when they were running 220's in pairs Harmes was leading Jones in the front pair and AVB and Melksham were really powering just behind. Hogan and Petracca were jogging behind so I don't know what the story was there. Oliver didn't seem out of place in the running which is pleasing and Salem did the full session despite reports of a head knock before Christmas at the camp. The only disappointment for me was Petracca's kicking which missed the mark a bit but he might just have been having an off day. Apparently they had a gruelling session on Saturday which finished with 3 x 1km runs. Trac was so exhausted he caught the cart back to AAMI! All in all they looked really good today but of course it's just training. Good to see so many on the park. Edit: the other one who impressed today was Nev Jetta. His kicking was very good indeed in all the drills and he was heavily involved.

And here is one for all the Jayden fans Me "Jayden, you know you will be more of a marked man this season, opposition teams will try and rough you up" Jayden "they can try, a couple of them tried it last year, looking forward to it"

Selfish.

Very good session today, I thought. Fast ball movement, run and spread seemed to be the emphasis. The work was mostly crisp and clean, with very good intensity and pressure around the ball. As soon as there was any hint of relaxation or a player lost concentration for a split second, he was promptly reminded to maintain "match day intensity". I must have heard one or other of the coaches bellowing this instruction half a dozen times, as well as the players continually urging eachother to greater heights. Great stuff! Regardless of how we fare this year, l'm 100% confident that we will have a very 'honest' team playing for us every week. Anything less and they'll be at Casey. A few individual highlights from my observations: - Jesse is in superb physical nick. Stronger than ever, and extremely quick and agile for a kpp, as shown in a forward entry / ball movement drill. Would love to have seen him have some set shots, but I don't think he had one all session. Can't wait to see him when the real stuff starts! I reckon he'll have a 'blinder'. - Tracc also looks to be in great shape, and has definitely shed a few kgs. His ability to clunk a mark at its highest point is exceptional, as he showed on several occasions today. Endurance is still a work in progress, but I was pleased to see him spend some time working with the mids. He also did maybe 20 mins one-on-one specialist tackling work at the end of the session. - Trenners also spent some time with the mids, as did Vanders. Both looked good. - I thought Frosty's short kicking and reaction time in some intensive drills were pretty good. Let's wait and see how he goes under match conditions, but I saw enough today to be encouraged. - Harmesy was again amongst the front runners, both in sprints and endurance work. - Clarrie and Salem were the last two to leave the track, working on in-tight ground ball control, with Crossy tossing and kicking hard balls in their direction from close range. For the most part they were very sure of hand, but they got very shitty on themselves after even the slightest fumble.

Watts concussion from knock to jaw Hibberd knee grumbling just managing it ANB and JKH hope to be main group Friday, ANB knee and JKH been building his core, ran fastest time ever last week in testing Tyson and Kent early walking laps Hogan the standout today along with Birthday Boy Brayshaw

Yes but nobody gives a flying fark how he kicks them at training, it's what he does on game day that counts.

Thanks Jack. Pleased to read on the MFC website that it's at Gosch's (albeit an 11am start) and not at Casey. This means that I can still fit in training tomorrow, and the necessary 'family things', before heading home to Canberra ... such is my love for the Melbourne Football Club, and in particular, my excitement about its near and longer-term future. Go Dees! Oh dear, I think I've had too much wine!

Good session from what I saw today. Certainly an emphasis on spreading the field in the full ground stuff. The ball will often travel diagonally from one flank to the other. Certainly corridor play is encouraged but getting the ball to space seems to be the main aim. Everyone is encouraged to take the game on and take on the man on the mark after a switch or change of angle kick. The Weed had a nice play out of the back pocket kicking a long diagonal switch and then as the ball came back (the drill moves the ball from one end to the other then back) got deepest and got on the end of a lobbed up kick from the skipper to run in to open goal. He's not perfect by foot but is a good user for a tall and runs good patterns without the ball. Pat McKenna was training with the backs when they split in to positional groups. There seems to be a bit of man love between Rooke and Clarry, I expect those 2 will work closely. Joel Smith was up in the midfield group taking an outside position. Probably just to even up the numbers as well as when half backs take position off the back of stoppages.

This comment reminds me of a mate who when I said "Sad to see Grimesy go" said "he was no f'ing good". I called him a jerk, not because he was wrong but because he said it.

Afl induction day at Etihad for all newly listed AFL players today.

I hope you're right because if this is the case we clearly have another player "jump into calculation". He's not in anyone's "best 22" much so expectations are low. Let me clarify my thoughts. I recently watched the 2011 Melbourne v Essendon game where Jack played and I was reminded of his skill. But putting it in perspective Jordie McKenzie was BOG and got 3 Brownlow votes and Gysberts and Scully were as good or better. Jack is a good footballer but I don't see him as having any special abilities other than his overhead marking which is not much good when you're a midfielder. It's something that will be useful on occasions but you won't be selected for it. Jack isn't quick, in fact I'd argue he's very slow in the first 5 metres where it counts. He can't kick it far. He's not a ball magnet. His aerobic ability is blunted because although he can run all day he can't get there quickly. He's not big and bullocking like AVB. He doesn't have strength over the ball like Petracca. At best he'll be a middle of the road inside mid (he can't be outside because of his pace) and we have lots of them. If he plays he replaces AVB, Tyson, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Lewis, Jones, Harmes, Vince or another mid. So when he plays having him in the team is an incremental benefit/deficit. Measured against those players I don't see many "benefits". That's why I don't see "what he brings" because he is another that we already have. As Saty says he will bring yet more competition for spots but he won't make us a significantly better team.

Enjoy ==> https://six6six.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=Z69Wbr&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=4&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=2&clickable=1 A further look at Mondays training. Enjoy ==> https://six6six.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=LGwbtW&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=4&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=2&clickable=1 I wasn't there today as it was a closed session. I like to respect the clubs wishes so here are some more from Monday ==>https://six6six.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=q9qfZP&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=3&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=2&clickable=1

I watched that game as well and thought Trengove was noticeably smoother and quicker off the mark. Obviously not express, but you didn't think there was any liability, which is very different to his injury years. When I think of Bartel, and as you know Trengove has often been compared to him, I don't see any overly special traits other than his marking. I wouldn't say Bartel was a "ball magnet", although he averaged 26-28 disposals in his best years, more-so he was a very smart and brave footballer who just did everything very well. Other than speed Bartel had no weakness. I see Trengove in a similar light, although much of his development has been robbed by injury. It will be interesting to see how he goes this year. If his movement is markedly better and he plays 8-10 games it wouldn't surprise me if they gave him another year and from there who knows. Or he may do enough to gain interest from other clubs. You'd just love to see him given a level playing field. A skilful and brave player who just does everything really well get games in the AFL. But if his movement is a liability at this level clearly he's finished.

Just arrived. Jack Watts in rehab with ANB, King, JKH & Hibberd ... main group in lap warm-up

From an anthropologist's perspective, things like the 'brutal boot camp' training or Kokoda treks fill a specific purpose other than 'finding your limits' or any physical development. And obviously It is also not something specific to football or sport. You can go back as far as Machiavelli to find an early example of the reasoning (pardon my paraphrasing) - "Loyalty is driven more by what you owe them, than what they owe you". In his case, it was about tactically keeping yourself in at least some form debt to your allies, so they had an interest in your success to enable repayment. More modern terms might describe it as a manipulation of the 'sunk costs fallacy', where someone wont give up on an investment, a project, or a relationship because they can't face the idea that everything they've already done for it is just a waste. So the ritual could be anything that involves experiencing personal distress, really. Mental even more than physical - any distress that can only be justified by affirming that 'I can do this thing which is otherwise awful, only because being part of the group makes it ok' Our players are completing the same ritual process as was once achieved by bathing in the blood of a freshly sacrificed goat, cutting the ear of a Spartan child, circumcision/FGM, burning a village to the ground, executing POWs, and gang-rape. So, on that count, I would say things have progressed terrifically well. Even in football, it was only 20 years ago that 'massive [censored]-up and group s3x' was the bonding ritual of choice. So I'll take 'simulation of military stress conditions' as a clear winner at this point. As a side note. This sunk-costs ritual of commitment and bonding has the potential to mask genuine unacceptable behaviour (of the types mentioned above, for example), and also massively, horribly backfire once the basis for the bond is torn up. Simply look to Essendon - the things left unchallenged because of the 'bond' to club, and the impact on many players and now most dramatically James Hird himself, once that bond is gone and they find themselves isolated and having to reevaluate all the things they did

2-12 weeks is a fairly open statement.

I am struggling to see the down side!

Lewis looking good, in the full ground activity there wasn't much movement upfield and he waited before pinpointing a 40m pass to the middle. Harmes also looking sharp.

Please, don't go! I'm begging you to stay

It's been discussed time and time again that speed isn't the crucial player attribute some of us think it to be. Footy smarts is a long way in front and JT has oodles of that. I expect him to play frequently this year.

This is an extremely important part to us progressing as a team IMO. For too long our best players have gone missing with the team. Players who keep going when the chips are down are really worth their weight in gold. Viney is somewhat capable of doing this but we need more than just him and as you said, Hunt did so in the awful game. Hunt took me by surprise last year. Hogan, Petracca, Viney et al were all touted as guns. It's great to pick one up from left field. IMO the quickest player I've seen at the club, even moreso than young Davey (maybe).

Monday's open training session is advertised to start at 11.00am. Players can't take their places in the best 22 for granted. There's going to be strong competition among them for a number of spots so the intensity of pre season training will increase. I'm looking forward to reports from those who are lucky enough to have the time to make it there.

I was actually pretty impressed with Spencer's kicking today...hopefully it's something he's been working on which will improve his chances at getting the back-up ruck spot.

Mahoney is suggesting that Dom will be back in the pre-season comp... reports of his demise are premature!

"MELBOURNE midfielder Dom Tyson has suffered a partial dislocation of his patella tendon, but is still expected to feature in the Demons' pre-season campaign. Tyson, 23, sustained the knee injury during a challenging training camp before the Christmas break." http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-01-09/camp-casualty-demon-midfielder-suffers-knee-injury

Well, apart from me, Deeoldfart was standing next to me, and we both heard him say quad and point to it, I assume that if they sent him for a scan it may have revealed something else, he said he was going for a scan to Wayne. He also told me not to worry as it would be 4 to 6 weeks. And I reported exactly what he said to me and Deeoldfart For a (partially) dislocated kneecap, he has no strapping on it, and is walking quite freely, has no qualms about putting weight on it to kick with his left which he has done a couple of times in both sessions I have watched, so I assume it is not as serious as the reporter made out.

Well done on nailing your info once again TK. Building up a good strike rate.

Weren't you the one reporting that it was fine and you heard it from the horses mouth?

Because the club told the journos the truth and not you? There is a reason why the club do tell porkies to any normal supporter Sat..

He is being coached as a mid, there was a little group at the end with Lewis, Clarry, Stretch, Salem and Viney all doing a bit extra when everybody else had left

Trade or delist?

Agree on Frost and to a lesser extent Wagner. I was not convinced by Frost early doors, particularly given his wayward disposal and also no doubt because he was clearly not a forward. Beyond that he he didn't seem to have a natural game sense. But as the year went on he impressed me more and more. By the end of the year i thought he was one of our more influential players as he was starting to really utilse his obvious athletic gifts, particularly his running and was clearly encouraged to take the game on (great coaching) which he was more and and more confident to do A great example of his value was the goal he set up against the Haws, i think in the third quarter where he took a mark on the wing and then ran around the man on the mark and pumped it long inside 50 (as Brown was opining about how brilliant the Hawks were are getting back and creating their zone defence). With Wagner i had the opposite feeling. he started well and i was really impressed by his kicking, smarts and game sense. looked a pure footballer. But as the year went on his kicking fell away and then after he got a small injury struggled. With a full preseason (only his second pre season at the elite level and given he was playing in Canberra probably his first anywhere near that level) i am quietly confident he might fulfill that early potentiaal. Also most coaches love left footers (as i do) so he might get his chance.

Full ground spread now, very quick movement and the occasional blooper as they are constantly under pressure. Overall, the standard is impressive. Will leave you on this note... we'll talk!

Hulett

31 in main group today currently doing short sprints

Hogan here, no sign of Tyson or Kent just yet

Really informative post up until this point. I'm not sure why you feel the need to rebut a 'fact'. And I'm especially not sure why you're using repeat 200's against Petracca as your evidence. Firstly, repeat 200's is not a test for the kind of 'speed' in which Trengove is lacking/is being criticised for. It's merely a form of threshold training. And being paired with Petracca simply means they're at similar levels of that type of training at this point. Petracca's burst pace/acceleration over 10-20 meters would be significantly quicker than Jack's. That is the type of 'speed' in question.

When you get there adjust your watch back 1 hour for daylight savings, then the date back 30 years.

Thanks Uncle Bitter. I'll write a detailed report on the Spirit of Tasmania when I get back. I know you will be dying to hear about what I get at the duty free shops.

Great to hear. If anyone deserves success Jack does. He could be a real bonus for us this season. Very exciting.

If he kicks 20 I'll be stoked.

I can vouch for that play Saty. It was a glimpse of the Trenners of old, and prompted my observation about his renewed agility in my training report on the day.

I chat to him quite often, ecstatic is an understatement, he feels he getting better every session he gets under his belt. Have always checked how he was going each time I saw him in last 2 years, think he appreciated it Last Thursday there was a play where he received a pass, turned on a sixpence and rifled a low pass down somebody's throat, can't remember who, told him I got it on camera, posted it and he liked it, said it was a great feeling to just play and not worry about his body He knows he is on a one year contract, so has one crack at it, so will give it everything He looks like the player he was a few years ago, as for perceived slowness, during the repeat 200 last Thursday was again running with Trac so both must be 'slow'

I haven't been on these things before but I've done physically demanding things in the past. I'm sceptical when people say they get no benefit. I just wonder if you learn something about yourself that you might not even be aware of or if the experience prepares you for some things. I don't know, I just find it hard to believe a well (human) resourced and competent management group would ok it for little or no benefit. It's not like they wouldn't have other things they'd like to do with the money.

They were trying to find a short term solution to the 2nd key forward/ruck whilst Pedda built his fitness, Dawes recovered from injury etc etc. Also the idea of the combined kicking and decision making skills of Frost, Oscar and Tom McDonald wasn't all that appealing, it should be more so as they get more experience. It was a good way to get Frost some game time at AFL level and hardly a big disruption to his career, plus the team wasn't really any better or worse off from it last year. We still haven't solved the forward/ruck spot but at least we have some other options in Watts, Weed, maybe even Keilty now.

The kid has pure footy IQ, even if he was slow he would still get to the right spots and do the right thing. Really looking forward to seeing him and Hibberd off the HBFs this year.

Enjoy! https://www.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=HC4jRw&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=4&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=1&clickable=1 On review I found a couple of more worth a look https://six6six.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=XJ8fDC&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=3&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=2&clickable=1

Winning flags had more to do with having Franklin, Roughy , Hodge , Rioli, Mitchell, Lewis on the list and then cherrypicking the likes of Gibson , Burgoyne, Lake and Frawley than any trip to kokoda.

I sat next to Kelvin Lawrence at a Debt Demolition Dinner several years ago. He was a lovely kid. There was a silent auction on all of the players' guernseys, the results of which were continually being updated on a big screen that everyone in the room could see. Every single player's guernsey was rapidly escalating in price. Except Kelvin's. His had not attracted one bid. He sat there silently, and gently, watching the progress of the auction. I thought he was going to cry. I turned to him. I said "hey mate - I've heard you're super quick. And talented. You going to play seniors some day?'. He shyly responded 'I really hope so'. I said 'well mate, I believe in you. Make it happen' - and I immediately took out the bidding machine and, with him watching, I put on a bid of 500 bucks for his guernsey. He was no longer last on the leaderboard. Not remotely. I winked at him. It was met with the biggest grin ever - it almost brought a tear to my eye. He never played a senior game for the club and was ultimately delisted. A lovely young fellow. The game at this level is brutal.