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Hi everyone! Although a bit blustery, It was a beautiful sunny morning at Gosch's. When I arrived at around 10:00 (apologises to those who live off of the warm up reports of 'kicking the ball around') there were three main training groups: forwards, midfielders and defenders. The group closest to me were the forwards. One notable participant in this group was Clayton Oliver. I honestly wouldn't mind Clarry occasionally resting forward (ala Dangerfield) as he's a fantastic one-on-one player and a lovely kick. Melksham was another player who caught my eye. It looks like he's put on a bit of size during the off-season. While this was happening Viney and Weideman ran laps with the former showing no signs of discomfort. The first drill I saw was the forwards fending off their opponents and snapping for goal. Dion Johnstone an early standout with some sharp twists and turns. Pedders also had a great moment when he was wrapped up by Bayley Fristch and was somehow able to drop the ball to his boot Mitch Hannan style and dribble it into the open goal. I then walked over to the midfielders who were practicing 20-30m passes. I noticed future cult hero Oskar Baker was training in this group. By the way, he's a lovely kick and a good size. I think we'll see him in the side at some point this season. Joel Smith (who doesn't look too far off being a key position player) was another who caught the eye with some bullet passes. When I made it to the defenders, they were in the middle of practicing some one on one drills. Not too much too report here except for the one time Lever (who won 80% of his one on ones) vs Jetta match up. Unsurprisingly, Neville was somehow able to break even against the larger opposition. Nev also took a few moments between drills showing Wagner some tackling tips. Great leadership. Back to the forwards, and they had just started a two vs two keepings off style drill. TMac was a stand out here by being able to chase down Bayley Fristch and directing his partner (I think it was Spargo) where to stand in preparation for a quick opposition handpass. The drill then evolved into one that had more of an emphasis on first beating your man and kicking to the loose player 20m out. Bugg (who by all reports, has had a fantastic pre-season) was a highlight here. I can't remember him losing a contest against his opponent or missing a kick to the clear player. It'll be interesting to see if there's a spot in the team for him as I believe we played our best football last year when he was niggling opposition as a forward. Meanwhile there's some four vs four match simulation style drills with the midfield group. Kudos on Clarry for bursting into clear space, receiving the hand ball and unleashing a 60m torpedo that landed right between the big sticks. All the players then gathered in the middle started prepping a good old fashioned blue team vs white team match simulation with an emphasis on transitioning from the backline to the forward line (play started from the kick in). There was a great moment in the opening 30 seconds with a fantastic contested mark by Lever. This was shortly followed by a brilliant Petracca moment (who largely trained with the midfield group) when he punched the incoming ball straight into the arms of a teammate. Oscar McDonald stood out with his kicking....yes you read correctly and Charlie Spargo popped up inside 50 once or twice where he somehow found the space to take an uncontested mark. One from a beautiful kick from Mitch Hannan. Max Gawn was also in vintage contested marking touch today. At the same time, Smith was in the middle of competing against Cross (who still looks like he could compete for a spot in the round 1 side if he really wanted to) in some one on one drills. A large group of players along with myself then left, leaving what I assume is the AFLX squad to run through some more drills. Feel free to ask any questions regarding some details I may've missed. I'll do my best to fill in the blanks

I love the way people dismiss this without having actually seen the game being played. Sure it's not the real thing, but who cares... it may still be an entertaining event and it will, if nothing else, give us a bit of a look at some of the skills that the likes of Baker, Spargo and Fritch are bringing to the club. I'm no fan of rugby league or union, but the stripped down versions (7's) of their games are very watchable.

So the maggots will run out of puff around round 19, be behind the play most first quarters and struggle to turn up in round 23?

Agree Red. Unfortunately, it just another example of the creation of a myth that then becomes perpetuated by others. Myth and fact becomes blurred and often the myth becomes accepted by others as fact. Or as the old adage goes, perception becomes accepted as fact. That is the lesson learnt from history. So much of what we accept as fact emanates from myth. The MFC vote was a Tammany Hall exercise pure and simple with a number of MFC power brokers organizing the proxies. The rank and file MFC were completely outplayed on the issue a little like the losers in trades hall battles and the politics of the labour movement. For me what came out of that exercise was the emergence of the MFC as a footy club that was distinct and separate, with its own identity based on its unique history and heritage. Thanks to Joe Gutnick and Brian Dixon, and to the thousands of Demon supporters that would rather see their club die than become something other than what it was. The loss of identity and soul. As individuals, we are what we are. No amount of cosmetic surgery will change what we are. We all have a soul and for many of us, the MFC is part of that soul.

Jack Watts, Trengove, Toumpas and a 2nd round pick.

"The MFC members voted for the merger". I am sick to death of this statement being made in the media. It is used to denigrate the club and members. The truth is that many MFC members were denied a vote on the issue, many were refused entry to the meeting and the vote, if one can call it that, was carried by proxy votes, kept in a safe, for a time they were needed to stack a vote. The people who provided thoses proxies, had absolutely no idea they would be used in a merger vote. They were obtained from people who were given free memberships and told to sign over proxies. To call that a proper vote, on the most contentious issue in the club's history, is nothing short of a disgrace and an insult to the members of the club at the time. I wish someone would make this perfectly clear to the media and get this stopped once and for all. We should not allow this denigration to continue.

Agreed. Bugg's best football of the year coincided with the team's best football of the year between rounds 8 and 14, where he managed 16 scoring shots (7.9) over 6 games, as well as being an effective pest. I doubt he'd be in too many people's best 22 around here, but he was in Goodwin's best 22 when we were up and about last year.

It was John actually. Diamond Jim was his nickname.

You've evidently never watched the womens curling at the olympics!

Viney, Wines, Oliver, Petracca..... my lord, we would absolutely crush teams around the ball. It would be a bloodbath

Jetta needs to come in.

I agree Cards. I think they could make the triangle there work. There could always be a footbridge over punt road of course, or even a tunnel. These things are not impossible. I also agree about parking. Whenever I go to training I have no problem parking over the Anderson Street bridge opposite the Gardens. We also should get the railways to leave the gate opposite Gosch’s paddock from Richmond Station permanently opened. There are more than adequate public transport links by train and tram. As a matter of public policy, we are getting close to banning private cars in the city anyway - or at least a congestion charge (or we should be). Part of this policy should be further encouragement for people to use public transport over cars anyway now that we are at last upgrading our rail system, not before time and admittedly in concept a job half done. City fringe centrally located headquarters there fits this perfectly, and as Jackson says “fits our traditions and future perfectly”. The thought of moving completely out to Waverley leaves me cold I’m afraid. The Casey compromise makes more sense to me.

Base wage this year is 80k for players drafted 40+, 90k for players drafted 1-20. With $4000 match payments and $3000 bonus for ever 5 games played. So pretty much it's close to 200k if you play every game. 3rd, 4th and pretty much until a player establishes themselves are probably the hardest players to know what kind of deal they are on. Minimum is 105k with 4,300 match payment but you'd think clubs would go well above minimum for anyone who's played a few games in the first 2 years. Salary cap is 12.5 million. Which fits with the average wage of just over 300k. Given there's a lot of depth and youth at most clubs who make less than the average I think teams can squeeze in a few big contracts ie. 750k+ and can have a lot of solid players making 400-500. I think where the media reporting and guess work goes wrong is for the players who are allegedly signing deals worth 550, 600, 700 etc. My guess is a lot of those deals are very incentive based and they work out a lot lower than reported.

As good a player as Ollie is I don't see him as a priority. If we have a weakness it is a bit of outside class & that's not him. Pity we didn't pick him up when we had the chance but that horse has long bolted.

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

Not surprisingly given the dominant display, we had 6 players in the Team of the Week: Cunningham, Hore and Newman in the forward line. Jakobsson in the backline. O'Dea and Paxman in the midfield. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-02-13/melbourne-dominates-team-of-the-week Paxman scored the maximum for our game in the Coaches Association votes: MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE, Saturday February 10 10. Karen Paxman (Melb) 6. Bianca Jakobsson (Melb) 5. Chelsea Randall (Adel) 4. Elise O'Dea (Melb) 2. Dayna Cox (Adel) 2. Mel Hickey (Melb) 1. Kate Hore (Melb) http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-02-13/perfect-10-for-paxman-in-aflw-votes

Everyone has at some point. It's the nature of the beast. We're the best at constantly bringing it up, though.

Top report DJ - thanks. I, like a few others here, hope Bugg has a cracking season. We play well when he’s in the side. It seems he’s got a point to prove and, importantly, that he’s intent on proving it. Good luck to him.

fab report thanks @Demon Jack if bugg can kick straight he'll be in our best 22 i suspect as we've discussed multiple times on this message board this summer, there's genuine competition these days for those players in that sort of 10-30 on the list spot

I’d put the “falling off a cliff” down to the impact of repeated 6-day breaks on a largely young group playing a high intensity game style.

Great report thanks DJ. REally appreciate your work!

Yep that was her second game of footy. While I'm sure we'd all like to see more 'pure' footballers players like her show the benefits of ex-professional cross-coders in these early years.

Make.It.Happen

And we chose Jurrah as a rookie ahead of Rockliff who we had 'promised' a spot to...... Man, we stuffed up some recruiting......

Yeah, we really need a sarcasm button

If Wines is coming to the Dees you’ll hear it here first. Sometimes trades come to me in my sleep, technically my brain gets the credit for those ones.

I got the impression that Hunt was limited in training pre-Christmas due to some niggle which may have prevented him from being ready or not being rushed/risked for AFLX.

The girls are certainly being talked up as flag favourites. Whilst we have a dominant Voss-Black-Lappin midfield in Paxman-Pearce-O’Dea I think the recruiters have done an excellent job this year. On the weekend we had Kate Hore. 20 possessions (2nd highest on ground behind Paxman), 5 marks and 3 tackles. She only started playing footy last year after coming from a basketball background. Fair to say she has a lot of improvement left. Is just 23 y.o. Ashleigh Guest. Equal 5th highest possession winner for Melbourne with 17, 5 marks and a couple of tackles. Has come across from GWS after playing all seven games last year. Bianca Jakobsson. Also 17 possessions on the weekend including 7 marks and 3 tackles. In order to get Taylor Harris the Blues had to give something good away. In a complicated 4 way deal it would be fair to say we came out well on top giving up Deanna Berry for the former number 3 pick. Tegan Cunningham. Kicked two goals on the weekend on top of one in the opening round and three against the Pies in the practice match. Looks a natural forward with good hands, size, speed and athleticism. Would not surprise to find she wins the AFLW goal kicking this year. Was brought in with the number 22 pick from basketball and could be anything. Erin Hoare. Early days but the leagues tallest player hasn’t looked out of place in her two games so far. Apparently loves a contest and the ruck should only improve with time. Yet to debut is our first pick last year, Eden Zanker whilst Maddie Guerin played in round one. Both are only 18. In summary we have added at least four girls who are already in our top ten players. Not bad for a team that only missed the GF last year by percentage.

So just FYI for everyone whose worried about whatever The club focused on using players who will benefit with a low contested/high speed game but also those who need a lighter work load With the shorter field and shorter game times, it's about 3 or 4 times less of a work load playing this game then doing a full preseason training session (hence the use of 3x 1st year players for example) since those selected will do this in place of 1 days full training Hope that made sense

In an alternate universe.

Our women's team will crush all before it this year. Our leadership is so superior to any other women's team that the value of experience for all our players will be maximised, as will the habits of the game plan and working as a team. Throw in that it seems we are the fittest AFLW team, and our advantage will just keep growing over the short season. At this point, it would require some combination of bad luck and shameful overconfidence for our women's team to not win this year's premiership. And after last years slip-ups surely they wouldn't get complacent? Surely... As for the men's team. Well, the issue is what is between their ears, not what is between their hips. The talent is there to achieve absolutely anything. But the big variable, the big uncertainty, is just not possible to scutinise from the outside. T'is inscrutable and intangible I say! It simply cannot be scruted or tanged.

I haven't seen both of the interviews, but didn't think that the one with Lily Mithen was cringeworthy by any stretch,.... However the presumption that a woman is needed to interview the AFLW players is something that is cringeworthy. Gender has no bearing on anything associated with the game other than the players on the field. Coaching staff, media, fitness staff for BOTH comps should be based on merit!

The season can’t start quick enough.

http://melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-01-24/aflx-fixture-revealed AFLX – Tournament Two Date: Friday 16 FebruaryTime: 6.40pm AEDTVenue: Etihad StadiumPool A: Carlton, Melbourne and North MelbournePool B: Hawthorn, Essendon and St KildaMatch Order and Timings: 6.40pm – Carlton v Melbourne7.08pm – Hawthorn v Essendon7.36pm – North Melbourne v Carlton8.04pm – Essendon v St Kilda8.32pm – Melbourne v North Melbourne9.00pm – St Kilda v Hawthorn9.33pm – Grand Final UPDATE: Squad announced 13/2/18 UPDATE: Spoiler Alert - We Won!!!

Love Robbo. Always have.

Robbo’s material is meant to be very accessible to all fans and is meant to put a friendly face to the club. He has charm and the fans still hold a great affection toward him; that’s the reason he’s used by the club in an ambassadorial role. There are plenty of avenues for in depth analysis available to footy fans, Robbo (quite intentionally) isn’t one of them.

I’d rather keep the second rounder and maybe throw in Dom Barry as the sweetener.

Crap post.

Let's take it a step further. Can I get some classification as to the role Goodwin plays at the club? Often I see him looking at a board with the players and opponents positions on them, which I find cringe worthy. Shouldn't he know them off by heart? I can't believe he needs to look at a board. Sack him.

I don't see why players can't go to the boundary. Perhaps that may be hard on those lining up for a centre bounce, so perhaps a single run through of water carriers from wing to wing could be allowed when goals are scored.

I popped down briefly. Not a huge amount to report. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing and went about their business. But I was watching Weideman pretty closely as he was doing his run-throughs / sprints in front of me, lead some of the time by Crossy. He's looking a lot fitter and much more 'AFL ready' compared to last year. I saw him at a similar stage last year and thought he really seemed to look quite heavily running across the ground – almost trudging – but today he really glided along and ran swiftly for a big bloke. Wouldn't want to be standing in his way. Obviously he's still got another couple of years before we see the best of him but I think we might see some exciting glimpses this year. He couldn't be too far away from joining the main group as he looked pretty comfortable running at pace.

Fine scooting weather Craft day So after a few warmup drills split into 3 groups Mids stoppage/clearance/tackling Fwds marking/goalkicking/ crumbing and bringing ball to ground Backs marking/one on one/spoiling They have brought in a tackling coach from the Storm for a bit of technique training Other notes We are taking the AFLX seriously, I asked Clarry is an aggressive sod in the tackling drills Nathan Jones completed whole session without a hint of trouble Some blurry pics on here and Insta today or tomorrow Any questions feel free

All clubs are playing, dc. It's done over a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The other Vic clubs are playing on the other nights.

Not so much as in pumped, more eager to see some football as the season nears. If the AFL want to dish this version first up, so be it, could be a fun night out.

how come 4 vic sides are lucky enough to get out of it?

Couldn’t care less about it @Wiseblood. That said, I’ll probably crack a beer, order a pizza and watch it.

Hit the arrows for all the fixtures.

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