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I attended my first ever training session yesterday and the thing that stood out was how tight the boys are with each other. Also i would like to shout out a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the lovely lady who assisted me with lots of inside info the general public doesn't hear. I arrived after getting off the boat completely unorganized however she gave me half dozen playing cards/marker pen and i was able to meet the boys and have them all signed aswell as big Max signing my copy of Inside Footy which he thought was amusing. Ironically i parked outside the Holden Centre( Yes i know... its the enemy) to grab a drink and in walked Bucks for his morning coffee. Before i know it HE starts up a conversation and wanted to know about me...wtf? What a gentleman, and very down to earth individual. Could not have met a more genuine human being. Topped off my morning !!

I'm fully Melbourne now mate. As a youngster I was Collingwood because of my Dad, then at about 10 or 11 I turned to Geelong when I started to really learn footy and also my Mum was a Cats supporter, but never really learnt a lot about them, but now I am all about the Dee's. When Dec was playing really good footy last year it reinvigorated my love for the game (I had lost it in the previous 4-5 years due to personal issues), and because I had watched so many Casey games and had been watching the young Melbourne players develop (Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw etc.) I started watching more MFC games and became fairly invested in them. But when he was picked up, it pushed me over the line. I now know more about this club, its players, its history, its coaches, then I ever knew about anyone else. I can now name every player, their Number, where the majority of them came from, I have been slowly learning the history of this great club, and watch and read every thing I can. Melbourne is my club and I believe will be for now onwards, even if Dec ends up playing for a different team.

My ship's broken so for the first time in 4 years I will be able to watch round 1 from the comfort of my couch. Usually I am sitting in the middle of the ocean on an internet system run by a potato refreshing the page stone cold sober (Which is less than ideal) So suffice to say I am wet with excitement. This game (Excuse the obvious statement) will be well and truly won in the coaches box for me. The past couple years we have come very close to winning and have been felled by the master strokes of Richardson. Not marking up on Riewoldt last year was mind boggling tactic and still to this day I ask how in the hell Hogan kicked 7 in a losing squad. The likes of Membrey, Stevens, Bruce, Riewoldt, Hickey and Carslile will prove to be difficult but they are nothing we haven't seen before. Vince on Roo for me is a good option noting that Vince can get under his skin and will be better on the ground meanwhile I would love to see how they will deal with Viney and Oliver. Oliver is showing potential to be the best student of the 2016 by a country mile and between Viney, Lewis and Oliver I doubt they have enough tagging options to negate those 3...throw in Jones who usually has around 22 disposals and 1 or 2 goals...Oh and Add Dom on top of that. Watts, Hogan, Petracca, Kent, Stretch, all multiple goal kicking potential and for good measure throw in Gawn into that mix. 2 Rucks is the only logical option for this match, Hickey is a good ruck (He is in my supercoach team for a good reason along with Maxxy) and when he comes up against 2 bonefide ruckman, 1 being AA he will tire...Let's not forget we have Watts who can also pinch hit up forward if need be. All these positives things having been said leads me to our backline... I don't really know what to say. T-Mac would really need to have one of those days where he isn't T-Mac and decides to hit targets by his boot and is giving me every reason to believe that his brother will surpass him in the Bluey this year (I know I know, round 1 hasn't even begun). I am really hoping Jetts and Hibberd manage to get up and Melksham has shaken off all his cobwebs from the past 12 months and give us some spice in our backline. I think it'll be a damn tight contest for 3 quarters and I think the game will be decided on a lopsided quarter. For me it's one of those games where it's all won and lost across Half back and the turnover goal count will determine the winner. My predictions. Clarry to run rampant with 30+ Stretch to play a scorcher. 2 Rucks to prove to be vital. Roo to be his usual self and kick 3. Viney to start jumper punches before half time. Me to be drinking VB's for most the arvo and then switching to champagne, or Boxed wine depending on the result. Demons by 19. And 1 girlfriend to remember why she loves me and why she hates the footy season whilst she consistently reminds me to "Shut up, you're scaring the dog, it's just a game" Also. If anyone here is a Sydney sider and knows where a rag tag group of Demons supporters and myself can watch the game around Sydney please let me know! Go Dees.

Buckley might have thought you were from SEEK.

Oh no not contact during a training drill! I hope Hullett was put into the naughty corner because a training spectator deemed it 'reckless.'

You're way off the mark with the Parish/Morton comparison. I'm a huge Oliver fan but the rose coloureds don't extend to denigrating Parish who is a great young talent and on his way to being an A grader. Pity he's with EFC...

Bit of ancient history here. Yep, Daniher made the call. I spoke to him about it at the SCG in round 5, 2003, following an horrendous final quarter capitulation during which we surrendered a 50 point (or so) three quarter time lead to the Swans. That loss set in place a truly horrible season in 2003 following a belter season in 2002 in which we were unbelievably unlucky not to beat the Crows at the G and get into a preliminary final (Powell was knocked out with his first touch of the ball in the first quarter). I specifically questioned Daniher why we (essentially) let Powell go. I think the MFC offered him a one/two year contract on less money, and the Saints offered him a three year deal on more money. He was angry and he left for the Saints after the trade period - we lost a top player and gained no compensation for it. Daniher stated equivocally that he had no regrets - Powell had no more than one good season in him. He got this one wrong. Our list management was bent way out of shape back then. We had to pay sheep stations to keep Yze and Travis Johnstone because they had great seasons in 2002 (both in the mix in the Brownlow) and, as a result, we lost Woewodin and Powell, both of whom were important players for us and both of whom I would've liked to have seen finish their careers in the red and the blue. A disappointing period, which was then surpassed by even more disappointing periods after 2006. "List management, list management, list management" - Peter Jackson, 2016.

To quote DeeSpencer: "The forwards where doing a drill where Chaplin kicked the ball up to 2 players from about 30 out and they both flew for the mark. Hulett came in from one side and shifted Watts in the air with his body and he landed pretty heavily on his shoulder." Now I'm going to play the pedant here and say that he did not push Watts aside and DeeSpencer certainly did not say any such thing. You will note that both players flew for the mark and that Hulett shifted Watts in the air. I would argue that once you are in the air, there is very little you can do to stop such movement happening as there is nothing for the player to get purchase on, and if Watts was higher in the air than Hulett, then he is going to be tumbled over. Stating that Watts was "pushed aside" makes it sound as though he was beaten in a contest of strength, and going by DeeSpencer's description, nothing could be further from the truth.

Some of the players do swears at training too.

yep...Im getting over the Watts bashing too. I cant believe we're back here to be honest....after all the work Roos did to change the subject

Our defence is now our weakest link.

Montagna not playing round 1. Confirmed by a mate who was at a St Kilda meeting tonight with all the players.

Our line in the sand is our biggest weakness. We have enough talent to smash the saints all over the ground. I hope the players realise that talent is the least that is required.

Yes, Parish has a long career ahead of him. He's an unbelievably busy and smart player, who will really hurt teams once he gets a tank. He reminds me of a young Cousins and a young Crawford.

Anyone see the recent pics of plugger yesterday he almost looks sick he is that skinny

I got there late so I missed the rehab group. Watts hurt his shoulder near the end and didn't finish the session. Looked like a stinger but I guess time will tell. The forwards where doing a drill where Chaplin kicked the ball up to 2 players from about 30 out and they both flew for the mark. Hulett came in from one side and shifted Watts in the air with his body and he landed pretty heavily on his shoulder. Too be honest it looked to be a pretty dangerous drill so I wasn't all the surprised when someone went down. Goodwin spent a long time with Oscar McDonald near the end of the session getting him to spoil Max one on one. He actually did pretty well, made some nice left hand spoils, held his ground and put his body in. Then Goodwin and Oscar were practising rapid fire short kicking on both sides of the body. They've often taken Oscar aside for some agility stuff before, so it seems the senior coach is continuing that theme of getting him moving. He has the skills so he just needs the intensity. Petracca, Brayshaw, Tommy Mc, Kennedy and Oliver did a kicking drill together. Kent provided some energy in the match simulation drills (10 v 7 using the corridor only). When it's on his kicking is a weapon. Hannan still a chance for rd 1 IMO, just offers something different to the rest of those in the half forward mix. Garlett training well, mostly with the main group but also did a few laps at good pace.

It was just announced that Justin Plapp, the Casey coach, will be coaching the Victorian interstate side this year. Huge upside for Plappy, he has done a great job so far with the club and don't be surprised to see him as an AFL Senior coach sometime in the future. I will be going to the practice match vs Port Melbourne on Sunday and will be planning to write a report on the match, highlighting both MFC players and any outstanding Casey listed players.

Gee a training thread turning into a Watts bashing forum. Grow up you lot.

Two players side by side, 5m apart. Ball gets kicked out in front. Players move towards it and together, jump and attempt to mark. Most of the times one player slotted in ahead of the other player and got to the ball first, as far as I could tell there wasn't a designated front or back player. A couple of times elbows or arms went towards head and neck, no real harm done there. Watts and Hulett happened to get together at the ball at the same time. Hulett's about 193cm and 95+kg, Watts looks like 196cm and 90kg. They collided hip and shoulder together, Watts probably had less momentum and less weight and ended up getting shifted as I said. Like a heavy paint tin crashing in to a light paint tin - inertia. As far as I could tell Hulett did nothing wrong. The point of the drill was to attack the contest with strength and body control in the air. Either way, looked like a stinger. After a bit of time on the deck Watts got up, could move his arm, got checked over by the physios and walked off. He might be a little sore but should be able to play for Casey and play through it. If not, then it's more a question of whether it was a worthwhile drill than any concern over Hulett or Watts' actions.

Pedo doesn't need match practice................match practice needs Pedo

Still have no clue how people still think Pedo will play with zero match practice under his belt There is no chance he will play

Gee Pickett, Goodes ticked a few boxes. Two Brownlows, 2 premierships, played as a forward, ruck rover, ruckman, usually performed when it counted. Played 372 games, kicked over 400 goals, 4 AA's. Other than that he struggled.

Hell Yeah (Two Hoodos for the Price of One) Damn. I thought it said two hookers for the price of one... Can I change my vote?

Grundy went to Sydney as a forward, but couldn't cut the mustard. It may be worthwhile having a look at him in defence even though the club may see him more as a forward.

Here's a belated injury update from Misso: Injury update: David Misson The only longer termers (not mentioned) who I can think of are Vanders, JKH and Wags. Not too bad going into Round 1, but match fitness is clearly an issue for a few.

Saty, more care is good but I strongly believe that you play as you train and Hulett wants to impress so good on him. Next time round Watt should put him on his ar4se. As if that would happen.

Ticked over 35K

For whatever reason, I can see them picking Spencer & Weideman and dropping Watts. Rightly or wrongly, being pushed aside by Hulett in a marking contest is exactly the sort of thing that won't go down well with Goodwin. And whatever the drawbacks, which are obvious to many of us, to picking Spencer, they simply won't let it go. And to simulate a true marking contest in the square, they'll need one tall defender in front, one body-to-body and one coming over the back. One-on-one duels in the goal square simply won't happen unless we move the ball about twice as fast as we've done so far.

Wiseblood, the comedown from a substance charged condition can be fraught with danger! Take care my friend! Dees by a piont!

My brother chucked $100 on the Saints when they were still paying $2.20 or something. His rationale is he'll be happy either way (or at least have a consolation prize if we lose). He said if he does it every game and doesn't win a bet it will only cost him $2500 to see a flag. I like his optinism.

Yeah good. Has put on a fair bit of muscle, up to 96 or 97 kgs now. He hurt his ankle last week but it was nothing serious and he should be right for this weeks practice match. Now that he has done a full pre season, he thinks he needs at least another one to really hit his stride. Even though he is the fittest he's ever been, he's natural tank has never been that great and he says he really needs to work on it to be able to be really competitive when playing with the seniors. He's able to fight hard and compete well for the first 75-80% of the match sims etc. but slows down at the end because he loses stamina. I don't know if he'll get a gig this season, but if he manages to be in great form this year, you never know.

I can only assume that you're posting from an asylum. Or one of the great posts.

He may well be the only VFL player to have faced that scrutiny but many more players were more thuggish than Matthews. His prosecution was media motivated and while what he did to Bruns was unacceptable, he was "unlucky" to be made the scapegoat for on-field, off-the-ball violence. Many players from that same era are lucky not to have longer "criminal records" for essentially similar behaviour. In my mind, Matthews does not have a mixed legacy because of this or his other violent acts. He just played the game hard like many others but (in my opinion) better than anyone else in the last 50 years.

Because we wanted to play as close to match rotations as possible with 23 but if 1 or 2 got injured during the match Jack could play. It's not that hard.

Hulett's approach to the contest was reckless, it was a training drill, it was pure luck he didn't seriously injure Watts As I said he also got Hannan as well

This is my deadpan/sheepish look!!

#Pedomythsareback

The bare minimum is Hibberd for Omac and Watts for Weids if we are to have a slim chance of winning me thinks. I would love to see all of the above back at their best though along with Tim Smith at some stage. We need more speed across the ground and without the likes of Kent, Frosty and Jeffy we look pedestrian slow other than Hunt and Tmac off HB. Tmac shld be instructed not to TRY & hit targets by foot. Needs to give off to other runners early into his run & carry and shld certainly be instructed to never try and switch kick at any point in any match! . Jetta & Hibberd pls. No Omac FCS. Tim Smith would out score any of those you have in the forward line (with the exception of maybe Hulk) if he is fit enough and given enough time to adjust to the tempo of AFL over a 4 to 5 week stint IMO. Although this would also depend on the quality, or lack thereof, of delivery inside 50. Watts is a must inclusion for this reason alone but not the only reason.

Goodwin must be mulling over Pedo V Spencer. The answer would seem to be spencer based on practice matches but fark me it's a big call. Pedo every day for me

And we shouldn't forget the stopping ability of Viney against the league's top mids in 2015.

It's a shame the media have no high horse to complain from. We are all dirtbags nows. Calling someone else a racist just doesn't work anymore . Maybe they will need to form a proper argument based on some sort of logic. Hack scum.

IMO Spencer has given himself every chance of playing R1 alongside Max. He's had a very good preseason and impressive community cup games. I always thought he was ruck insurance, but I'm coming around to thinking that there might be a case for playing him over Pedo. Maybe that's partly because we haven't seen Pedo in the C Cup games. It's certainly one of the more interesting selection dilemmas as we turn into the season proper.

Jones, Vince, Tyson, Watts, Tom McDonald and potentially Spencer are the only players to saddle up in Roos first game as coach 3 years at the same venue. We had talent such as Terlich, Georgiou, Michie, Bail, Matt Jones and Fitzpatrick gracing the field that day. While I'm not overly confident it's not hard to understand our abysmal record against most teams, let alone the Saints at Etihad, with such poor AFL quality players. We're a totally different unit to teams gone by.

Why do posters ask for a thread to end? If you don't like it don't read it. Threads should be allowed to go until they die naturally. If threads are derailed those posts could be removed, why lose the thread. Read the title, "The Bombers Doping Saga - The Fat Lady Sings" Last time I looked the Bombers were a football side in the AFL and 34 players from that side were found guilty of doping offences. Wish as we may that the fat lady starts to sing and then another boil bursts forth more scurrilous information, sorry DMMA long may this thread live, don't like it, move on.

Looked fit and fully involved. Providing a reasonable hit out at Casey I would have him up forward v StKilda. No Weideman or Spencer.

Half-forward turnovers will win or lose the game for us. It showed in the JLT game versus WCE. We butchered the ball going into half forward, and their defense spread too quickly for us after the turnover, leading to being often outnumbered through the middle of the ground, and into their forward 50. In 2016, the Saints beat us this exact way, twice. To use a tennis term - keep the unforced error count low (especially through the middle and into half forward) and we have the personnel and gameplan to beat them. If we do repeat turnovers, the Saints will smash us on the counter attack. Very difficult game to pick, but with Brayshaw, Oliver, Viney and Tyson all fit and firing = the Dees by 8 points.

I would be surprised if there was one AFL coach that would take Parish ahead of Oliver if they could choose one now.

I certainly hope the players don't look at it this way, otherwise we'll never break the hoodoo. Classic MFCSS, though, Ralph. Building yourself up for the loss already to soften the blow. Have some faith, man! No doubt the Saints play it Etihad well and their style of play can cut us apart if we're not on our game, but, I'd like to think we have improved further over the summer and we can bridge that gap better than we have in the past. Our pressure around the ball is terrific and I really do feel as though our midfield, as a whole, is better than theirs. If Maxy can get on top of his Hickey and give us first use then it goes along way to winning the game.

The Hun, meh... Surprised they can count to 50

I hope when we play against WestCoast that Patty picks off a pass from Naitanui and scores a goal. Can just hear the commentary, "Nic Nac, Paddy Mac gifts the Dees a goal". is the door that way?