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My first MFC training session since early 2018 and it was such a pleasure being out there in the sunshine and fresh air with only Demon supporters in the vicinity. Some early impressions - • Steven May is a monster! I’m ever the optimist and a blue sky junkie but this bloke cuts a very imposing figure out on the ground. His switch to Melbourne is going to be a fantastic career move for him. • Braydon Preuss is an even bigger monster. I think he is going to prove a headache for opposition defenders if he lines up near goal. North will regret letting him go. • Jack Viney - sure he was in the rehab group but even in that situation, he has that steely determination and toughness to be a menace to us mere mortals on the other side of the boundary fence. And marriage has made him even harder if you know what I mean. • Christian Petracca - this man could be the key. I'm looking for him to really break out this year.

Fork the cherry pickers, and their arrogant forken supporters. I also hope Scullys forked and O'meara struggles for the rest of his career. I was at the 87' prelim, the '88 GF and work with several whorethorne supporting flogs. Yeah I've got issues.

How dare they start before 9:30! T Mac is out there and wearing boots. Fully participating at this stage.

Most of the squad heading back now. O Mac, T Smith, Jetta, Harmes, Hunt, Trac, stayed back for some extra work. Vanders running 200s on his own. Looks fine.

A Hawthorn player out of action... Care =0

I got there at 9:05 and they were already training. Didn't see Melksham at all the rest were there. Into rehab was Jones not sure if it was a light day for him or not. Out of rehab O.Mac, Jetta, Petracca, Hunt, T.Smith, Hore and Harmes. It was just a light session based on skills no real contact work or match simulations. Maynard copped a knock to the hip that needed attention but seemed fine afterwards. Clarry will be back on the 4th of Feb the rest can't be too long, Hannan had no strapping to his knee which is a positive.

Throw in Goody and Chaplin to the extras group as well - having just gone for a lap around the tan post-session

Everyone is still trying to work it about Gus. He’s moving fine though, picked up a loose ball off the ground in one of the drills and turned swiftly to pass it to a teammate without hindrance. Now doing some solid paced running with Lever and Viney.

The Chief and family are sponsoring Tom in 2019 and very pleased to hear the chance of him cracking a game are looking good.

Pfft still 69 days to go....that sucks.

Yep, Ryan Burton.... ...but they traded him to Port.

...T Mac 53!

I Spoke to one of the players after training. Today was a light prelude to Monday, just easing the boys back in to it. There was no formal time trial this morning. Nathan Jones was experiencing back related hamstring tightness. He was not sure how hard he could push himself as he had never had a hamstring issue before. Light run throughs and some boxing for him, but he could feel it every time he extended himself. Not ideal for Chunk.

One night I came home a bit drunk with three of them and I've got to say it was like winning Tattslotto. We all got undressed and there were six matching balls.

The Tommy Mac toe, not a pretty sight

Thanks for the training fix guys.

The AFL has stepped in and said that we've got to give other players a chance at winning this years brownlow

There is some risk but I do like the way we are swapping out our high picks for known quantities (Lever/May) who will be automatic, guaranteed and important top 10 players for us. There is bit of the ‘what if’ factor by opting out of the high first round picks and does make draft day a bit dull for us supporters but it does seem the sensible and higher percentage way to go. Lower picks have also had their own stand out/generational players too Danger at pick 10 Rance 18 Fyfe 20 Jono Brown 30 Goodes 43 Scarlett 45 Harvey 47 Swan 58 Hird 79 (although some sort of weird family thing here) And then a couple of favourites. The park footballer who mistakenly wandered onto an AFL ground, Jeremy McGovern at 74 and Dean Kemp, a 2 X Premiership player, AA, B & F, 243 games and Norm Smith medallist at 119! By the time he retires our own Max Gawn (34) may possibly be considered the ruckman of this generation too

I do like this gem. Are Hawthorn reliant on Mitchell much? 30+ disp games for HAW 2017-18: 1x: 6 players 2x: 3x: Isaac Smith 4x: Liam Shiels, Jaeger O'Meara 5x: 6x: 7x: 8x: 9x: 10x: 11x: 12x: 13x: 14x: 15x: 16x: 17x: 18x: 19x: 20x: 21x: 22x: 23x: 24x: 25x: 26x: 27x: 28x: 29x: 30x: 31x: 32x: 33x: 34x: 35x: TOM MITCHELL Courtesy of Twitter user @sirswampthing

Horrible news for Tom, wonderful news for Hawks haters (me included) On a serious note, nothing worse than catastrophic pre season injuries. Wishing him a speedy recovery. At least they still have Scully ?

Looks like the whole squad is out there with the exception of Melksham. Haven’t seen him so far. Jones heading back to AAMI after some running, walking and some boxing exercises. Looked like a light load for the skip.

Rehab group with some light ball work includes Gus, Lever, Viney, Hannan, Vanders, Baker, Oliver and Stretch. Jones doing some walking on his own. Trac and Harmes in main group.

Finally a Hawthorn free September. Theres no way they are making the finals without him, he was their entire midfield.

Reminds you of Andy Lovell with darker hair? Hard to tell.

Sucked in Hawthorn. All the best to Tom.

We had one last year and two right now. Why a third?

Admitedly this quote is from Tom’s coach prior to the draft so probably a bit of hyperbole but I do like the bit about speed, power and endurance - “He’s become an animal, an absolute ripper,’’ said SA under-18 coach Tony Bamford, who had no hesitation in selecting Sparrow, 182cm and 81kg, in his AFL under-18 championship-winning side this year. “Tom’s got that rare combination that every club wants — speed, power and endurance. “He’s the type of player who wins the ball on the inside but is so powerful he can get on the outside and really hurt the opposition there. “He is very driven, motivated, diligent and professional. He’ll not only make it as a long-term AFL player but he’ll stand out in his first month of training because of his workrate and toughness.’’

I wish Tom a full recovery, but i shall enjoy watching Whorethorn a man down all year. That jumper has inflicted so much arrogant pain on me over many years....

What finals chances?

:) Probably even more amazed somebody wanted to photograph it...

If you haven’t had enough of a footy fix for this time of the year, here’s Austin Wonaemirri playing today in his 150th game in the NTFL.

excellent, and it's a relief to learn you are not a cross dresser (though i would defend your right to be one if it were the case) ?

Okay so here's the truth - or one of two truths. I use to live in the Kurringal Flats in Darwin. Known as one of the foremost slums of Australia as made famous by A Current Affair. My neighbours would quite often ask me for money, for 'lady in the boat'. It took some months before I realised that they were asking for cash for a box of Coolabah wine. Skuit (or lady in a boat as above) became my name thereafter. Or: I used to live in Cambodia, known as one of the sexpat capitals of the world. I would quite often go to girlie bars, where the female hosts would respond to my outrageous sexual requests by saying that I was ch'goot, or 'crazy' in the Khmer language. It took some months before I realised what they were saying, and then I took on 'skuit' as a transliterated moniker thereafter.

I asked him what he thought of Bernie's statement, answer 'no pressure there' No good on heights, seems to be same height as Neitschke, was walking with him at end of session

Think its good players dont reveal their injuries to questions by supporters. Only provides information for the opposition. Hope the club tells them to be discreet.

Definitely Preuss and Nessie were separated at birth.

Ture, but it certainly didn't hurt them to pick up Luke Hodge with the No.1 pick in 2001 and then Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin and Jordan Lewis with picks 2, 5 and 7 a few years later in 2004. I know the draft has always been a bit hit and miss with no guarantees, but I think there are some stand out/generational players like Riewoldt, Hodge, Judd, Franklin etc that are never going make it out of the top 5 and having picks in thay range gives a club the opportunity to have a crack where others don't.

If Dangerfield and Patrick Cripps had a baby and that baby had a baby with Nat Fyfe and Dustin Martin’s baby, that baby would be Tom Sparrow.

Whatever you think of Hawthorn no one wants to see the best players sidelined no matter who they play for, particularly such a serious injury. Really sad for the bloke.

Nah, sounds like the name of a Greek girl I went out with in high school

Fell sorry for tom but not for the hawks, happy that it will hurt them bad, but not happy about the poor man getting hurt. They are a old team they put everything into the Mitchell and O'Meara trades. Every old power get desperate, them and Geelong are holding on for dear life

Being a crap kick has not stopped Dangerfield from being a jet.

Yes, it will be around mid year when Cyril announces he has the hunger again, and we mosey on in and pick him up!

I love Bernie.

He can still handball.

Plus, Weideman and Preuss are champing at the bit, Hunt is on fire with improved teamplay skills and passing, Stretch is up and about and running, driving the ball ever-forward with pace.

Sounds good. Hopefully you'll report that: 1) Petracca, Harmes, Jetta and Melksham are out of the rehab group. 2) Brayshaw is found alive and well. 3) Viney's cut his honeymoon short and is looking a million bucks on the track. 4) Lever looks a sneaky chance for round 1.

Pedo is playing for Phillip Island (Bulldogs) next year. I will definitely be following his progress as I live close to the footy ground. His family has moved there and Pedo and his wife are hopeful of securing teaching positions on the Island. One of my favourite demons.