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As for the rest of the session. Turned up around 10:40 with the players soon to start some pretty decent going match simulation. White v Blue. Rehab boxing: Weideman, J Smith, T Smith Walking back to AAMI: Vanders Walking laps, possibly with a issue or unwell?: Dion Johnstone Running: Viney Match sim was fast paced and aggressive. Loud cheers as Lever timed his back pedal and spoil going with the flight to knock the ball away from Hannan who was loose inside 50. Equally loud cheers from the other side when Kent and Spargo amongst others forced a ball up inside forward 50. Spargo found the ball in space a few times but wasn't as clean with it as I'd have liked. Balic is similar and also has a real art at smothering the ball. After this it was some simple kicking and handballing cone to cone stuff that then resulted in a kick inside 50 to a 1 on 1 contest inside a box that was maybe 15 wide by 10 deep in the hot spot area. Keilty gave Hogan a good test. Hogan was encouraged by Macca to coach the guys who made poor decisions on where to kick, which was a lot of them. The forwards were starting behind (or I guess the defenders were starting in front) and so it takes the forwards and the kickers to be on the same page. Hannan and Jetta had a good battle, with Hannan using his body to keep his ground then mark over the back. Petracca had Frost turned around a lot, which concerns me with Frosty. Frost only takes a few steps to recover but sometimes you don't have it. Clarry at Oscar were similar but Oscar probably kept closer. Bugg, Fristch, Harmes and Tommy Mc then rotated in as did Wagner and Perry on the defensive side. Perry has good instincts and nice closing speed. After some tackling work the forwards and backs did a drill where it was 6 on 6 deep inside 50 and they were working on their zoning. I didn't really like this drill because it involved some big contests in the air with players backing back and other attacking the ball. ANB got a Hannan knee in the glute that had both players sore but able to continue. Wagner had a big spoil with some heavy contact. That said, the defenders worked well with each other and the forwards did a nice job too. The mids were doing boundary throw in work on the wing. Gawn beat King a little too easily for my liking. The drill often resulted in repeat ball ups but I guess that's not uncommon when it was one on one. I would've liked to have seen some cleaner chains of handballs but the counter to that might've been the other side was defending well. It was certainly willing stuff. Baker easily sidestepped Gawn and then did the same thing to Petracca in one series of play. Of the midfield group he's was behind Gawn and towards the middle at best in the running and he's not quite a pure kick of the ball but he looks a natural running with the ball. If we're looking for pace in the midfield group then keep an eye out for him.

Here are a few snaps from training today. Enjoy ==> https://www.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=3NPfw7&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=2&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=1&clickable=1

Sometimes it has to be about the supporters. There are a lot of QLD and nationwide passionate Demons that might not even get a chance to see the team live at all throughout a year. Last year we were receiving daily diary reports for the duration of the training camp of what players were getting up to and that included the weekend. It doesn't have to be a training session on a Saturday for supporters to attend, the club could organise a simple Meet and Greet for a couple of hours.

Absolutely no need for a player to sign with another team before the end of the year. Free agency has been given to the players as a right but they have to earn it, which means finishing your current contract. Hopefully in time the rules change so the entire process is smother and occurs after the year. There's plenty of open space on the sporting calendar in October and November to get it right. Players signing with other clubs before the end of the season is unnecessary and a really bad situation for clubs and fans. The idea that it is 'mature' because it happens in the NRL is stupidity.

Voted love it but more of a like it. Despite our poor years in the Royal Blue it was our jumper when I started following my beloved Dees way back. I've always maintained we must be red and blue. The dark blue with red back is great, a reverse of our traditional jumper would be fine along with the Royal Blue if we must wear one. Just not white

It's great, it's a "throwback" jumper that we'll wear several times a year and if it comes down to it is far prefer to see us in this on GF day than any other clash jumper we've had over the years. It's fantastic the club is listening to supporters, it shows they understand that these things are important, even if they may seem inconsequential

Tom Lynch best free agent available and woyld be every clubs target if he heading back to Victoria

Yes! We're only two games away from a grand final.

great pic, ethan. i'd forgotten they were also clever enough to have navy shorts as well......f'wits

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like when the umpires wear pink?

But were they delivering what was wanted for the firsts? JT9 came back into the firsts and was too slow. Being in the bests at Casey is not always going to reflect what is wanted or needed for a particular role in the MFC team. So the idea of ‘form’ based on how someone goes compared to Casey players is different to ‘form’ based upon how someone goes relative to the AFL role required.

True. Nothing new here. Just practicing some click bait.

Not really, many supporter on here and social media were quite surprised he came back really early, and some even questioned whether this could put more stress on his foot. Turns out they were right.

Spot on D77. It’s always been on a sat for as long as I can remember so why change it now. It makes no sense and pisses a lot of qld supporters off.

If they play in a grand final, they can wear a hessian sack for all I care!

I think we will get Gaff

Wear it in a classic win next year a la our win against WCE last year and history will start to be rewritten. I mean, we've been wearing our traditional jumper for the last decade during probably the bleakest period in our clubs history. Doesn't mean I want to see us do away with our traditional strip.

OMac is progressing nicely. He seems to suffer here because he is not what he expected to be. So ******* what. Not everyone can be, or needs to be, a backline gorilla, an intercept maestro or a slingshot. Steady and effective will do for me. He gets to a contest, he is learning how to position himself to advantage at the contest, he regularly outmarks his opponent and has the potential to make good choices. Just a young, developing player for the future.

G'day all! First post in a while but I was around the vicinity this morning before work and dropped into training for the first 40 minutes or so. It's the first time I've managed to get a session this pre-season, so I was excited to see how the new recruits look in red and blue. I arrived at Gosch's at the same time as the lads and was surprised with their first warm up exercise. It appeared to be a variation of musical chairs where the players would run in a circle and would be required to place themselves in groups of 5-6 at certain points. Those left out would then be required to do a series of push-ups. Plenty of laughter out there. Joel Smith running laps. It'll be interesting to see if he factors in our best 22 this season. Vaned berg, Weideman, McKenna and Smith were those who I noticed in rehab. Standard stretches, jogging, and some handball activities followed. A late Tom McDonald then arrives and joins the boys to the shouts of "Tommy!" Players then continue their warm up with a standard kicking drill. Nothing too flash, but I'm delighted to see that one of the players closest to me is Jake Lever. Like nearly every other player in the history of game, I'm stunned to observe how good he looks in the Demon colours. Although he lacks a bit of muscle when compared to Sam Frost (who looks like he could snap Bailey Fritsch in half with a snap of his fingers) who happened to be standing next to him, I've read plenty of encouraging reports that he's been quite vocal on the track. Some sprinting exercises then followed. Our 2km champions Bugg, ANB and T.Mac all leading the way. No surprises here. Also, just saw the number 4 guernsey being worn by James Harmes. That one is still taking some getting used to. Unfortunately, that was about all I was able to see before I had to leave. Hopefully someone was able to pick up a few more details I'll try and come down again of the boys are training later in the week.

Just left training, was there for 90 mins, Petracca was a standout for mine, strong, great skills, moving well set for a big year. Gawn looks great, running well. Lever, taller and leaner than I thought. New draftees fitting in well. Salem strong in running also.

Carlton and North in one night? I hope we'll be wearing our clash strip:

I'd put him away for Finals

As a Brisbane-based supporter, very disappointed with this. Not bagging the club as being hopeless or anything, but as others have said, this has been scheduled for the Saturday morning each of the last 3-4 years and been a big success with 300-400 attending and plenty of local media exposure. We drive up every year and my two young boys love it, being one of the highlights of the year. They've been asking me for weeks when it'll be and are now very confused. I appreciate the footy department comes first but scheduling it for Friday instead of the traditional Saturday is actually worse than not having one at all and just claiming the week is a closed one. I see there's plenty of Demonlanders taking the pi$$ and seeing no issue. That's a complete lack of understanding of how successful the Saturday sessions have been in the past and the exposure the Dees have been able to have with young kids , local media and the general footy community up here. Really feels like an own-goal.

I was smiling when I typed it Wise, but I can excuse you for not seeing that from where you are.

hmmm

i like the inverted option too, but i think they wanted something lighter again for even less clash. a more acceptable compromise than predominate white (/silver) my major gripe was the long list of clubs they claim it will be used for in away games. many of these are not real clashes.

Get this in the right thread: Petracca left knee soreness, looked like he jarred it. Given a good look over by the physios then limped back to AAMI (by himself). Hopefully not major but I think he’d be on light duties for the training camp. Nice early victim of the media buzz after the training the house down article was written yesterday

Yes DD..we know you don't care. I have no doubt you'll post to this effect a 100 times more in any number of threads. Some however do. Those that undestand this appreciate the nuances. They'll appreciate we have always referenced the Red and Blue even should we have gowned up in prissy white or disco silver. I for one prefer even this rendition. It still screams MELBOURNE. I like that. Those that dont care, id actually wonder what elements about anything are sacrosanct ? Whilst it's about winning its about winning as MELBOURNE and recognisably so. Thats how a culture is built....not as non descripts. The poll should have an option. ' im ok with it , its better than none red and blue' Go Dees

Yeh but you don’t know Goody or speak with him.

Phew.

BBP, how could it clash with Carlton, we are in the white shorts?

No coach in the league picks purely on fitness and form. That's simple fact. Goodwin did it numerous times himself last season when he brought back players who weren't fit enough yet (ie. Joel Smith) or ignored those at VFL level who were in terrific form (ie. Kennedy). Every team have players who are treated a little differently to others - the stars are rushed back, while those who have a line through their name are constantly overlooked, regardless of how well they are playing or training. Goodwin will select the side he wants each week. Mostly it will be on fitness and form but to suggest that will be the only thing is a little silly.

They would know already. List management is prepared years ahead now. If they are still chasing him, they either have enough "cap" in hand, or they think they can get away with a brown paper Visy bag. Sloane would be very nice, although I think we might target Gaff if players such as Billy Stretch dont come on this year. We still need outside running power, who can get plenty of touches.

Poll should have option ' it's OK only because it's better than the white'

Just wait until Hoges puts off talks until 'the end of the year'

Yet Trengove and Kennedy were getting BOG most weeks and were constantly ignored.. Goingby Plapps reviews these 2 were always playing their role and in form. So realistically your theory about Goodwin rewarding guys who are in form every week is wrong. Kennedy should have at least been given a go and rewarded for form. Joel Smith had 13 weeks off and came straight back into the AFL side, after a week at Casey.. it was a bizarre and stupid decision. He looked completely out of his depth. The decision to keep Weideman in the side early on the year while Pedo was in hot form is another mind boggling decision. Sorry, but Goody and the selection committee need to be on their toes this year, as last year some decision were quiet questionable.

Please, Joel Smith was/is highly rated by the FD, he looked ready to go at training Speaking to the players (which I do), Goodwin means it, it's not hot air, you will be fit, in form and playing your role to a high standard That's why training is impressing the non regular watchers, every player knows they have to be in team Rd 1 or it is going to be a long season Goodwin now has the depth of talent to do this If you want to go the other way Frost's form slipped alarmingly, he was dropped

Definite sour grapes. They had no issues with recruiting Betts, Gibbs or Thompson.

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster. Remembered my password tonight, so I'll be having a solid crack at posting this year

I would say the red back is my favourite of the clash jumpers. Royal blue now second.

It is so much better than the white jumper it's not even funny. Well it is now that it's gone. I'll always prefer the traditional colours, but if we must have alternatives this is great. Does anyone know if we will be having the Zurich logo blended into the jumper? Looks like sh*t with the blue square...

No injuries

interesting that our current home guernsey AND our main away guernsey are BOTH historically HOME guernseys. a pretty good result when all said and done

I ate some humble pie with this kid last year and he definitely has improved. I hope the trend continues!

B: JETTA, OMCDONALD, LEWIS HB: HIBBERD, LEVER, HUNT C: PETRACCA, OLIVER, TYSON HF: MELKSHAM, T.MCDONALD, NEAL-BULLEN F: GARLETT, HOGAN, HANNAN FOLL: GAWN, JONES, VINEY IC: VINCE, SALEM, BRAYSHAW, HARMES EMERG: MAYNARD, FROST, PEDERSEN

okay, i'll have a crack: jones - starting centre square tyson - starting centre square while viney is injured, otherwise probably the first rotation in there petracca - half forward / first square rotation oliver - starting centre square salem - wing / first square rotation brayshaw - second square rotation harmes - wing / half forward stretch - depth...wing / occasional square rotation maynard - depth...third square rotation baker - depth...wing lewis - wing / defense / occasional square rotation vince - wing / defense, and i personally wouldn't consider him a square rotation hogan - forward with maybe an occasional burst on ball anb - second square rotation bugg - forward, occasional square rotation melksham - forward, occasional square rotation hannan - forward, occasional square rotation and obviously once viney is fit and firing he's an auto start

The girl at the counter?

Reports of this blokes demise premature, did whole session today

Petracca as mentioned