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IMAGINE by Whispering Jack The Demons made their official return to the training track for 2019 on a sunny Saturday morning at Goschs Paddock with most of the interest initially centred on a small patch of ground in one of the pockets where the rehab group was going through the paces. Some good pieces of news on that score. The rehab group is considerably smaller than it was prior to the Christmas break with Christian Petracca (knee), James Harmes (shoulder), Jayden Hunt (shoulder), Neville Jetta (shoulder), Oscar McDonald (hip) and Tim Smith (foot) all having fully recovered and training with the main group. More good news. The remaining rehabbers were all training at a reasonable level leaving one to think that they all should be right for the opening of the season, with the exception of Jake Lever (knee) who might not be that far away by the end of March. Key midfielders Jack Viney (foot), Angus Brayshaw (back) and Clayton Oliver (shoulders) have been on modified training programmes but appear on target to return to full training in the next month along with Oskar Baker (hamstring, Mitch Hannan (knee), Billy Stretch (toe) and Aaron vandenBerg (shoulder). Nathan Jones was apparently troubled by hamstring tightness and took it easy with a bit of sparring practice and Jake Melksham was the only player missing (possibly because his wife is expecting a child any day now). And after Friday’s shocking news of Tom Mitchell’s broken leg at Hawthorn’s training, the really good news was that nobody ended the session on crutches or in a moon boot. The story going round during the break of a renewal of Tom McDonald’s toe woes was just that - a tale with no substance. There’s a blister on a big toe but mine’s worse than his and it’s not going to stop me from being at the MCG on Saturday 23 March when the season starts with a game against Port Adelaide. So with that game in mind, the attention turned to the blokes who were training their butts off in the warm-up to what promises a tough month or two heading up to the 2019 season. I’ve tried to steer away from all of the media speculation about Melbourne being one of the top three in line for the premiership but the inescapable take away from the session is the observation that the maturing list now runs strong and deep in quality and the club’s recruiting appears to have added icing to the cake. We are light years away from the position we occupied when Dave Misson arrived to find that the club’s fitness and training regime was well below the standards of most AFL clubs. We no longer need to go into raptures about young draftees stepping up to the plate for round one because that simply isn’t going to happen. The younger recruits will all be given plenty of time. However, there are three (perhaps four if you add former Collingwood VFL player Marty Hore) ready-made potential additions to the team who have arrived from other clubs to add strength to Melbourne’s 2019 campaign. The added depth will certainly put pressure on the veterans like Jones and Jordan Lewis - that sort of pressure being another plus for teams that want to go places in this tough competition. The addition of another club’s captain to your list is something that doesn’t happen often so my first observation is that Steven May from the Suns looms as a significant addition to the ranks. That was made clear from my first sighting of him on the track - he cuts a very imposing figure out on the ground and one can’t escape the feeling that his move to Melbourne is one that will be a great one for his career and for the club. Imagine him and Jake Lever as additions to the defensive structure of the side that took part in last year’s finals. Imagine another revitalised former Sun in Kade Kolodjashnij and a fit and re-energised Jayden Hunt and/or Billy Stretch added to that mix tearing down the flanks or the wings. At 206 cm and 109 kg Braydon Preuss is a big man and it’s hard to reconcile why North Melbourne let him go. True, Todd Goldstein had a good season last year and Ben Brown and Majak Daw (before his tragic issues) were considered adequate pinch hitters in the ruck but Preuss is a monster who promises to provide major headaches to opposing clubs that struggle now to counter Max Gawn. With the new rules coming in this season, pity their ruck divisions at centre bounces and pity the defences having to counter resting talls. Speaking of pity, I want to go back to the rehab group for a moment and talk Jack Viney who set the tone for the rest of the players in this group with his steely determination and toughness. Back in the day, it was generally considered that being on the injured list gave players the opportunity to slack off a bit at training. Pity anyone with that view when Jack Viney’s around! Late in the session, he was doing repetitions around the boundary with Brayshaw and Lever and he attacked them with brutality. It was understandable that he was able to beat off the latter but, by the end, he had Angus gasping in his wake. Viney was restricted to only 10 of a possible 25 games due to those nagging foot injuries and was rarely able to play at his best when he was on the field. On that basis, you could almost consider a fully recovered Viney as a “recruit” in 2019. The other players who impressed at training were 2018’s big improver James Harmes and the youngster who could take that improver’s mantle, Bayley Fritsch who seems to be relishing his first full AFL pre season. Then there’s Christian Petracca. I’m looking for him to really break out this year. Imagine that!

The lessons in complacencies have been smattered across the last couple of seasons. You would’ve thought the Collingwood disaster in the final round of 2017 was a huge enough lesson but we continued dropping games against the likes of the Saints, Geelong and Sydney when we should’ve won and the awful spanking from the Hawks. I feel as though the group fully realised the stakes at play when we rolled the Eagles here in Perth last year to book our finals seat. Our blitzing streak right through to the Preliminary final was from a team that was determined to win but ultimately met a team that was even more hell bent on winning and the same team that kicked off our streak. To me, the prelim lesson was the one that will set us up for a real crack at a flag. A fit Lever, the addition of May and a break out season from Weideman will have us fully loaded.

Dropping the games last season against the below sides all had reasons not necessarily complacency. Geeong R1 Negative coaching keeping extra man in defence I'm last quarter and a msn short in forward line meant we didn't score from many forward entries. Still should have won with Maxies kick! Hawks R4 Bad day all round in wet Started well but lost contact with Hawks on ballers and were dismantled like many previous occasions in the last decade by Hawks precise teamwork. Tigers R5 Nowhere near as bad as many Dees fans said. Held dangerous Tigers till we kicked first goal in last quarter then floodgates opened. Defence solid but attack inefficient by and large. Pies R 12 After 6 big wins our midfield was comprehensively smashed. Too many players in fir ball together and no outside runners matching up enabling Pies to control the ball Cic a threat all day as well. R14 Port Should Have Won, again forward line impotent but lead of 3 goals withered down in last quarter. Tried our hearts out in a courageous effort. R15 Saints 3 point loss but flattered us really. Probably selection of Harry Petty did not help defence but this was the loss that on ladder was a 2017 repeat. R18 Cats At GHMBA Last quarter lapse and defence going through growing pains.Refusal to put Frost on Hawkins and about a dozen mistakes in the last 10 mins pivotal. Why does Nev get caught against a taller opponent. Coaching issue? 8 more scoring shots!!. R21 Swans Horrific forward work and lack of accuracy again cruelled our chances.Swans smarter but again we were our own worst enemy. 6 more shots! Prelim less said the better see vs Pies for part reason per midfield but bad bad day. So IMO our forward line and coaching game day and selection are more pertinent in 2018 than complacency. Still overall a wonderful end (Prelim excepted) and best season for 18 years.Are now considered a real contender and respect pretty much from all AFL is universal. Expectations are on the agenda but our group seem hungry Motivated and unified ready for the challenge. Supporter base is holding its collective but enormously positive breath for 2019 to finally end the greatest drought currently in the AFL and indeed for the Mighy Demons.

Mines been like this since we beat Geelong in the Finals...

I can't see complacency being an issue. However expectation is high. The question I have and the logic that follows is that we have been on a steady upwards trajectory since PJ and Roos came on board. At some point there will be a dip. Can we go all the way with incremental forward movement towards the flag from here? Can we get that flag before the dip? Or will we take a step back? Will Demonland meltdown if we drop back this year? There are no guarantees in football (as in life). I've heard a number of our supporters say that 2020 is our year, it's when we will be ripe and ready. Maybe, but we're in the so called window now so we need to snag one in the next few seasons. Interesting times ahead and maybe a few meltdowns along the way. Be prepared for the bumps...

Yes he said he'll be back into full trianing 4th of feb

He was such a strong unit the old Chopper. Loved his time at the MFC.

little bit of difference. Flower was like a fast twig. Oliver is like a fast log. I never worried about Ollie like i used to worry about Flower. In fact with Flower for three years i had to cover my eyes. I don't blink in case i miss stuff with Oliver and if you do blink, you will. Your sentiments are great, isn't it sweet............

fans are hard judges with high expectations and are generally ignorant of what issues players have behind closed doors

Was there any toe sucking involved?

One thing they must avoid.... really? Der! no evidence this is remotely in play. we should also avoid playing with funnel web spiders, drinking bleach and dwarf burning. Idiotic piece of summer filler journalism.

Del Santo, one of my least favourite commentators.

I don't think its about complacency, particularly with the personalities we have and the spark from the way we finished the year. It will be can we handle true expectation. We are expected to make finals and expected to be a contender. We will be the hunted most weeks, one of those teams the opposition set themselves for.

We could have fallen off the cliff after the final round heartbreak of 2016 and been the same old Melbourne. Instead we went to another level. I dont believe complacency will be an issue, this is a team of hungry animals.

Oliver is our best player since Flower. Maybe even better.

Nah, joint decision to take pic and put on here

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.

I've started a GetUP petition and written to the minister. I'll fix this. # Free the Pedo.

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

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.

what's a welsh railway station got to do with the price of bread, it?

Don’t feel sorry for Hawthorn one little bit, grub bandwagon supporters... ?

I love Bernie.

Terrible for the young bloke. On the other hand, Hawthorn can eat a .....

Colts 18 chiefs 15 Cowboys 27 Rams 25 Charges 35 Paitriots 20 Eagles 13 Saints 7

Walker has unfortunately gone under the knife for a shoulder issue, should be back next week

Jesse Hogan to realise he hates it at Freo and demand a return to Melbourne. ?

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

Solid body and attacks his training, I expect he’ll play well at VFL level and get a go at some stage of the season. Likes to take guys on at training which has come with some mistakes. I think he’ll be similar to Harmes and have some ups and downs over the early years with decision making errors. If he really can be dangerous as a forward that will increase his chances of playing often early in his career

That's why we will wait until the last minute to use this pick...we don't know what injuries we may get and where we will need coverage.

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

...and sulky puss is gone....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Sucked in Hawthorn. All the best to Tom.

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

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

I just hope that Hawthorn can remain compeditive enough to finish somewhere in the 10th to 13th ladder position. Not compeditive enough to be a realistic chance of making finals, but high enough to cut them out of getting into the cream of the draft. ... a couple of 70 to 100+ beltings along the way wouldn't go a stray though and would absolutely love the MFC to hand them one of those beltings.

He can still handball.

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.

This.