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Went to a lunch today and a couple of players were there, Max and Tommy. When asked who they thought would be big improvers this year, Tommy said Bedford and Spargo and Max said Corey Wagner and in fact both the Wagners. Corey was told to put on 5 Kilos and when he got back and had, they said they wanted him in a different role and he had to shed the weight. They enquired how the change in captaincy was perceived by the supporters and were told it was mainly positive, in fact mostly positive.

Is it because we are about to ride a wave of momentum all the way through to September?

People don't realise how deeply troubling a day in Australian history this is. The end of the most key source of syndicated press content because the next generation would rather read opinions from social media influencers than from proper researched and intelligent journalists. AAP was funded by both Rupert and Nine amongst others so was the most unbiased journalism we had. These are the people who keep the b@stards honest. Who's going to do that now. It's a terrible day.

The boys are loving the new training regime, not as much long distance running and more time with the ball. They are used to doing an 8k run and then start training, now they are using the ball a lot more and love it. All players are given a job and they just have to do that, not just stand in a spot, but a specific job and if every player does his job they should perform well as a team. The club is quietly confident about the coming season. I spoke to Richo and told him the supporters are proud of the club for taking the chance with Harley and he was quite surprised at the level of enthusiasm his signing generated, quite happy about it though.

Might actually land in our player's hands for a change.

Very bizarre thread... The season needs to start ASAP

Jesus some on here have short memories. Viney brings the type of hardness that we were begging for during our decade in the wilderness. Is he a complete midfielder? Of course not, but very, very few players are. Is a fit Jack Viney a key member of our best 22? Absolutely, and to suggest that he won't be in the near future is utter crazy talk. He's not a great kick, but neither is Dangerfield and he goes alright. Viney's lateral movement is actually pretty good IMO. Check out the second passage of play from the 2018 semi. Also note who made the desperate futile chase to pressure Gunston's kick in the next passage. Successful finals teams are built around players like Viney.

How can you not love a guy that eats 14 Wheat Bix.

I have quite enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks, as always, to those who provide reports.

I went today and don't have time for a full report nor is it needed given the excellent coverage by others. I can only reiterate the comments on Harley who is fast becoming my favourite player. His skills are exquisite and today he thought he'd show off taking one hand marks - about 6 in a row. His kicking is fantastic, he never fumbles and his vision excellent. Fingers and toes crossed. The really good thing is he seems to be at peace with everything. He's clearly well liked and he's just following the instructions of the rehab staff to the letter. He's quiet but seems to be enjoying it. The only concern today was the non appearance of Salem and the injury to Lockhart. He went to tackle Vanders and immediately went off holding his arm. It was his bicep which was hurting, not a shoulder or elbow so hopefully it's just a corky. He was in everything in match sims and did the injury late. It may well be nothing. As reported Dunkley, Petty, Hannan, Smith, Preuss and Chandler made up rehab. Chandler is still protecting his wrist, Smith did some gentle kicking on his right at one stage but nothing serious, Preuss looks fit and ran without a bandage or limp but was wearing a protective shin guard but did no rucking, Hannan is looking good and Dunkley ran very well. May and Gawn did all the running and every drill so I expect them both to play Friday. It was a surprisingly long session today, about 2 hours and the standard was good and everyone was upbeat.

Enjoyed the session, but they started late - not sure why but suspect they did the Tan or some other drill as their warm-up was short before getting into a bit of kraft and then match sim. My BOG from the match sim was Jack Viney - in everything and was ultra impressive getting his hands free of two tacklers for the give to Fritter who nailed the goal. Not far behind was Steven May who took a couple of well-timed intercept pack marks. Based on what we saw, he will play this week down in Tassie. Gawn may play down in Tassie as well, although he isn't quite at full steam yet - sluggish off the mark in run throughs. But he still was fit enough to take Bradtke in match sim and he nailed a nice set shot from 50m and then followed up a bit later (not in match sim) by barrelling a torp from the centre square. By the way, Bradtke has really stepped up in the past few weeks. He's still got a long way to go, but there's finally some signs. Most of the session I spent idolising the exquisite skills of Harley, who was snagging everything in the rehab group. He's still months away from playing but previously he looked decades away. Also impressive in rehab was Jimmy Hannan who was nailing set shots from 60m out. He's champing at the bit to get back and must be super close to rejoining the main group along with Chandler. Petty was still being nursed along and sadly won't be playing anywhere round one. And given I had him as a Rd 1 cert, I'm afraid to say Joel Smith is also a week or two away from resuming. He's still kicking primarily with his left foot because of his right-foot cut and I wish someone had used this time on the side to show him how to ball-drop on the left-side. Back to match sim, Trac and Olly impressed as always and Lockhart looks the real deal back in defence now and Harmesy also is providing run from down back and set up a nice goal for his team because he kept moving. Jacko, Weid and Spargo were quiet, but Kossie did a couple of magical things laced with a couple of fumbles. Sauce got plenty of ball as did JJ, the latter of whom tried a 50m safe switch that only went 45m and was intercepted by Fritter. But Sauce, JJ, Dunkley (who was rehabbing) and maybe even Swallow are all looking way better than last year, the difference is that with so few injuries, they are going to have to be redhot in the magoos before they get a game. And of course with birthday boy Vanders back and Jones super keen to impress as a forward, there's just no room for development players at the moment. Hopefully someone else can report on Salem's whereabout - surely not watching a replay of Arsenal's FA Cup win!

Fixed

l think Visser's 'holding your breath' course should be a compulsory part of any mfc membership package. God knows we could have used it watching some of the decision making and kicking last season eg frost and a few others

Mark Visser... While it seems weird can only be a good thing at our club. The man is a world leader in breath techniques and breath holding and staying calm under pressure and his training course has been undertaken by plenty of the WSL big wave gurus and WSL competitors including one very recent trainee, the GOAT, Robert Kelly Slater.

If viney and VDB gets going it will be a

I presume going some work around breath holding (remember Tracc and his hypoxic blackout last year?) and mindset work, which is what Hendy does now. He has previously worked with the Saints as well.

Thanks Andy, good photos. Good to see the boys enjoying themselves.

This thread is a liability.

Sack Goodwin.

We're in flag mode now, we need to know if we're up to it or not and if not why not. We need to put WC at full strength to the sword on their own dung heap and not have to see them again until the last weeks of the season. If we can't do it we need to work out why and fix it. Too many times we've fallen at this hurdle in big finals. It's time to rectify that.

Bunnings are now running out of 240 grade sandpaper. This is starting to get out of hand. By the weekend I’m going to have to decide between taking a dump and stripping back an old work bench I picked up on gumtree.

When I was a teenager I did 15 regularly. 5 lots of 3 Weet-Bix bowls. Bit of sugar and a good serving of milk. It was important to have the biscuits wet but not too soggy... Anyway, back to the footy

The quickest way to lose any kind of organic engagement is to make it too 'corporate' or start adding sponsors and adds to it. Not to mention if you're heading back to the office to add watermarks and get videos edited you lose the instant nature of using social media, which is the whole point of using it in the first place.

Well said I'm actually laughing at some of the comments on here from some who shouldn't surprise. They forget how important he is when fit and the impact he has. No more important player in the 2018 finals who stood up when needed. He's played that way bleeding for the jumper since Round 1, 2013 I anticipate if the clear run he's had this pre season continues he will prove a lot of people wrong.

No disrespect to Simon for starting this discussion, but I can't believe we are giving time and air to this negative article by Cameron Rose who calls himself an expert and even says himself he will argue with anyone who doesn't agree with him. I had to look up this Roar to see where this opinion piece came from, having never read this AFL site. He's a Richmond supporter. I think we can ignore his opinions now.

I recall that win we had against WC in Perrh back in 2017 when we were serverly undermanned with our on ball brigade and a gut busting effort from Jack Viney won us so much ball at the stoppages and around the ground through shear grunt work that kept us in the game until Pederson and T Mac's last quarter, last minute heroics finally got us over the line over there. I don't mind that kind of one dimensionalisim - just keep forging on forward. When he is fit, Jack is an absolute bull and particularly if we have a midfield of other fit bulls like Trac, Oliver, Brayshaw, AVB, Jones, Harems etc, there will be no stopping them.

What? Took it like a boss when nearly any other player would have been down for minutes.

We all saw the impact Viney had in the 2018 finals after missing most of the season. I have full confidence he'll get back to his best this year. He just needs to fix up his disposal and set shots on goal.

Good news here.. Mark Stevens @Stevo7AFL Steven May on track to play this week in Tassie. Dees fully expect him to make trip, setting up Round 1 appearance @7NewsMelbourne

I actually like this as a topic. The idea that we have too many similar type players is true... That's what happens when you can't spend the big bucks on rangey superstars like other clubs do. The idea that Viney gets squeezed out is nonsense though. Oliver is a similar type (slow, in and under) but he'd start in the middle of any club in the land. Viney's not at that level of course, but when he's not hurt (which hasn't happened in a couple of seasons) he's great at what he does. Yes it's true we need more run, better handball receive types... but that doesn't mean the extractors don't have a place, and Jack's one of our best.

But where is Demonland???? Should be in the picture ( and Daisy to please Uncle Bitters )

Can somebody spare some dunny paper please? 5 supermarkets later and nothing.

GOOD NEWS FOR BENNELL Look who's training with the 'main group': Cursed gun takes big step

The training jumper is a ripper. If we were ever forced to get a new jumper this is the only one I'd accept as a replacement. Having said that they'd have to pry the current one from my cold dead hands.

Isn't nice how we all get along on here? A difference of opinion is fine and understandable on such a forum, but petulance belongs in the schoolyard.

Thank you. And the winner is ....

I might me imagining it, but the muscle definition of the players seems much more obvious this year compared with previous. Not for everyone, such as the younger players, but generally speaking the playing group seems to be more muscular than before. I know this doesn't necessarily equate to fitness but it's nevertheless impressive. I remember a few years ago (probably the Bailey era) comparing our squad with some other teams and we looked positively puny. Not any more.

'Carnage' is the effect and worthy of praise for the effort, but not the correct mindset. I'd rather say that AVB's commitment to the footy for the sake of the team is first rate, reliable and executed with aplomb! We don't want him to become a marque of green snot goblin attrition or disfavour - although his first responsibility to the Club is to put opponents down on the ground whilst winning possession cleanly - and every time. I am looking forward, instead, to the opponent(s) '...nullification...' with all the plurality that he can muster.

Ethically sourced, macrobiotic and artisanal food served by men with long, well groomed beards ,no doubt , if you frequent this establishment.

While Hore provides a good intercept mark, Lockhart seems to be more creative and damaging with his disposal. I'm guessing this is where we want to change our game in 2020. This is what I have picked up from my limited exposure so far.

HB told me at the family day he is going for round 3. He looked like he was serious. one of the most gifted players ever.

It gets up my frock when the players we love to watch go through a bad patch and get slagged off here. Tmac Gus and Viney in particular. I wish more posters would hold their bottle and see a couple of real games before looking for problems. Every other team would love these players to be available.

Harley Bennell warming up with the main group! He’s going at about half pace or just above in warm up sprints.

Even the best can get cleaned up when they're open. Just ask Brereton.

People are really shook up by this Roar article. A fully fit Jack Viney is a gun. He’s done a full pre-season for the first time in years and was excellent against Adelaide in the one match we’ve played. A player like Viney in the midfield rotation is a strength of our list, not a liability.

If I was Sydney Stack I would be looking over my shoulder this season. He got a half fit Jack... I reckon Jack may have a long memory.

A healthy Jack Viney isn't slow. He'll have to do the occasional tagging role and even take a rotation through half forward at times but if he can play some consecutive games at full health no one will be saying he's slow.