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Exactly. The MFC declined the offer to run the cafe in AAMI park when we first moved in because it was uneconomic. No passing traffic no nearby housing or offices. Nothing has changed. Social clubs are a complete and utter relic of the 1950's. It came from an age when there was little contact between people with a common interest. Like the cafe, it would be empty for 99% of the time available. The club needs to spend its money on FOOTBALL not superfluous white elephants.

If the match sim footage of him isn’t some weird genius CGI magic, it’s time to get excited!

now you tell us? sheesh

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/700087/training-vision-match-simulation?videoId=700087&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1590559223001 Vanders and Bennell......yes!!

If we don't have a report from Saty, I'm not even sure that training has happened. How do we know these reports aren't made up, just like the moon landing?

Tomlinson pushing out a “Big Hutchy”:

Agree. I have said on here before but i saw him at the g (social distancing not required at the top of the Ponsford that day) destroy us early in his career and thought he was destined for greatness. At the risk of hyperbole i remember one of the purest footballers and best movers i have ever seen. If he stays fit i see him playing as a permanent half forward who will be incredibly difficult to find a good match up for. Terrific overhead, fast, tallish and can easily cover 60 metres with his kicks so a threat from anywhere near the 50 metre arc.

Why is he not allowed to play, if he is fit? I am fascinated that the AFL employees have to know everything about people’s lives Another Bottom Feeder from Barrett

The issue is not so much match ups as structure. Modern defensive units are all built around structure, system (primarily zone - some teams have an aggressive zone other team less so, but all employ some form of zone) and every player playing their role and being totally predictable to their defensive team mates. Synergy is critical, which is why coaches are loathe to make changes to their defensive units. Omac's role is to be the true full back - akin to a goal keeper in soccer. Plays behind the last line where of course usually a big forward also lurks. So takes that player. If his player pushes up the ground (as the big forwards often do) more often than not he will let them go and rely on his teammates to cover them. He then fills that hole behind the line making, 30 or so metres from goal, making a long kick into space ineffective (remember how many goals we gave up out the back in the first half of 2018? - since then we hardly give up any up). He can mop up or if a teammate wins the ball be a switch option, which is why many of his kicks are uncontested. And unlike almost all of his team mates we can rely on him hitting a target with that kick. But if the blues go small then will take whoever plays deep. And yes he might struggle with the speed of a smaller forward but zones work because they block space in the forward half - forcing teams to bomb the ball in and making it very hard for forwards to lead into space. So their speed is negated. The effectiveness of the classic zone was on full display against the Eagles. Their zone forced us to kick high where their defenders could dominate in the air. And to an extent this will always happen with good zones (unless they can be broken through speed of ball movement - as occurred a few times in the match, mainly by them unfortunately). Teams need a true full back. One who plays that role week in, week out. Playing in that position every week. ATM ours is Omac. Sure if his form is not up to it they will look to put someone else in that position but as i say coaches are loathe to change defensive units and it is his spot to lose.

Thanks for the heads up Wadda! We might end up like Europe where it's just 1 long season (early May to late October over there ... Sept through to late June over here - including Morphettville, Doomben & Eagle Farm) The jumps season in Europe is effectively the forerunner (March/April soft tracks) so it's 8 months all up. Our jumps season could fill July & August when the tracks are soft. Just a thought. Listening to Peter Le Grand (Chairman MRC) this arvo on SEN I got the impression that late November for the Caulfield Guineas/Cup carnival over 2 weeks might become a permanent fixture. The Wednesday Caulfield meeting inbetween as well (?) Add in the 3 or 4 G1 races in Perth over December along with the QLD summer carnival (which would include the Magic Millions) and then it's only a month off until the Autumn. Trainers would adjust ... maybe the best horses would run every 4 weeks instead of the 2 week back-up. As a punter the mooted changes to the Caulfield fixture's has high appeal. Group racing rivals the Demons & Test cricket these days. As for Xmas day, put some sport on I say! Especially now where we've been starved of sport for 3 or 4 months. The MVRC might be looking at running the Manikato Stakes day the week before Cox Plate day. And NSW racing will be eyeing off a few dates ... late Nov to match Caulfield? Chasing the good weather makes sense for both States. Lets face it, it's a fairly crammed schedule anyway when factoring in that the Turnbull Stakes Day & the Epsom Hcp/Metro Hcp are held just a week or 2 before the traditional Caulfield dates. 9 weeks of wall-to-wall Group 1 racing spread over the 2 main States instead of 6 weeks might make more appeal for the horse racing enthusiasts (with a few G1 & G2 races in September as a precurser) Sandown having it's own date before Caulfield might lift the profile of that race day too ... of course, Sandown does come under the auspices of the MRC so there's perhaps an ulterior motive as well ?

Nothing serious... he came back on to the field not long after.

Just seen a headline to save one of Victorias iconic clubs. Port Melbourne. Food for thaught.

Couldn’t see the vid that a few posters were referring to but found this - https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstMelb/status/1265553564635668480

The club did when they first moved there, and it was one of the reasons that they did. At the time I was told that 5000 families were moving into Casey every year. With the average family having 2 kids, than meant 10,000 kids each and every year. This is a nightmare for schools i.e. building them to accommodate such a big influx every year...you probably need new primary school and 1 new high school every year while that rate of population increase is happening. And that is why the Club was running "Read like a Demon" and various school programmes. Get the kids interested before the age of 10. Get them barracking for the local club...now named the Casey Demons....all that is needed is some success to truly lock them in.

The video was just one instance but he made time stand still. His balance and poise were amazing I hope for his career and our football enjoyment he can play and thrill us all.

I’m also crossing all my proximities!

There are 2 certainties in life. 1. OMAC plays round 2. 2. ANB plays round 2.

Well the good news its nearly June and we are only 1 game from top place.....

Anyone want to take a stab at what the penalty will be?

Met a mate in that cafe. It was jumping. Probably full of filth employees bludging but it was certainly turning a dollar. I suspect social clubs, like pubs have been hit by drink driving laws, but I think they have a place as long as they are part of a home base which should include a club museum along with admin offices. Having seen the Hawks museum, and the Bombers and the Pies halls of fame I can vouch for the fact they are very evocative and have real appeal to diehards. It's a shame we have nothing like that. Even Fitzroy has a space at Docklands given over to old Lions memorabilia. Those who attended Gutnick's fund raiser back in '96 would remember the Demons memorabilia in the old change rooms where that event took place. It was wonderful old stuff that is otherwise unseen. I reckon a home base, with a museum cum Hall of Fame, training and office base and social event spaces would still work, especially in the vicinity of the MCG because it is so well served by public transport. It would also give the players a sense of their place in history. Imagine story boards about the great unexpected victory of 1926, the arrival of Checker, the achievements of Bluey in the Battle of Britain as well as on the field, the other blokes lost in war, the Red Fox story board, the extraordinary achievement of two triple premierships, the indigenous Demons, the Northey and Daniher revivals...there is so much material to work with to make a brilliant museum and Hall of Fame that would be an enormous drawcard. That is a long winded way of saying I respectfully disagree.

Why? It’s a police matter. Nothing happened during an AFL Game Why is the AFL central to all this? They really have tentacles everywhere and far too many Journalists

All being well, this could be one of the biggest recruiting coups in many a long year! All extremities crossed.

No reason (except money, of course) why we can't have facilities at both Casey and Goschs. Three story admin, gym and 2/3 lane pool at car park F next to AAMI. Resize and resurface Goschs oval to MCG size. Use grass area between for additional training, such as warm ups, rehab, sprints. Where would the money come from? Does community engagement need to be a factor in funding? How can this be addressed? Casey already has ovals, pool, running track. Does it need better gym and indoor hanger? I'm not sure as I haven't been there. Would be keen to hear from posters that know the facilities. But should that area be earmarked for sports and development, it's possible that a post COVID state govt would look at community projects that promote health and engagement for locals. No reason why it can't be available for the public when not used by MFC A compact Gosches facility for in-season. Spacious Casey for preseason, bye weeks and when needed during the season.

Liken what I'm reading.

Hannan is a definite in for me. Would Vanders and/or Bennell be good to go? Have watched the 2018 finals v Geelong and Hawthorn in the last week and Hannan and Vanders are so important to the structure.

Without getting too far ahead of myself we could end up playing there in October (perhaps with some type of home crowd).

Maybe theyre listening to us Macca and the Cox Plate will actually be run on Xmas Day, but theyre just waiting for the right time to announce it possibly.. Nice win at Sale this morning by another Night of Thunder 1st starter Cherry Tortoni for Patrick Payne and Billy Egan who incidentally have a winning strike rate of 25% at the moment. Thats 2 in a row Night of Thunder 1st starters, taking into consideration the strong win by Winning Weather at Morphettville on Sat. These horses are starting to hit our shores, watch out for them.

Vanders with ball in hand? Nice!!

100% agree. Turns a near certain loss into a possibility. Probably be the one year we escape a trip to Geelong seeing as though the marquee teams will be playing there as a once off.

I still think (my opinion) the clubs (MFC in this instance) will mark any sessions at Gosch's, even after restrictions have been lifted, as closed sessions. While they can train at Casey where they can bar entrance they will continue to train there. Eventually they will have to go back to Gosch's so that they can utilise the facilities at AAMI Park in tandem with footy training on Gosch's. Once this happens I still believe they will be closed sessions. Unfortunately all our trackwatchers are in the high risk category. We might need to recruit some young bloods.

It was in 1964 at least - where you are stuck.

Any F to Air is considered prime time ie 3.30pm in Sunday is a good time better than 1 pm or 6pm

One advantage the AFL has going with the "make it up as you go" fixture is they might be able to be more flexible with how they create the draw through the year. If a team starts to show some excitement and entertainment they could be bumped into higher exposure timeslots. This should 100% be an aim for us to be pushing into the minds of Seven and the AFL to get us into those prime time slots by the end of the year.

Not that nice that's our once in 5 year home game against Geelong with no gate ir coterie income. 2021-25 all back down to the cattery

It's a still photograph ?

Chairman Dan could get his Chinese mates to whip us up a new island base as part of their Honorable investment into the Great Peoples Republic of Danistan. Im told they have some recent experience making islands.

I’m tipping some of the players enjoyed being in isolation and having time away from Petracca.

In the absence of having Demonlanders on the ground I'm using these faux training report threads to document what is happening with any information we get.

You missed the best part of the video in your summary, praha. "Beats Gawn for contested ball, beats Langdon in contested ball, Beats clarry for contested ball".

Ah your delving into territory well covered here, does the club have a naturally negative culture born out of the club or the fans? I think you may be going a little far with the spies idea but there are a lot of people predisposed to the worst possible outcome. Hate to say it but it is rather difficult to avoid when you've been following the Dees for a while. Carlton is a good first up team, they are improved (so we shouldn't be taking them lightly), but really with the team we have available we should be winning. I can't help but feel that winning this year will depend on mental strength as much as ability, who will be able to adapt to the new normal quicker? How do you lift players when there is no atmosphere to get people "up"? I would love nothing more than to see us come out of the blocks and smash the blues away.

Plus the Happy Gilmore quote.

Summary for anyone that can't watch the video: "Nice nice nice. Goooood one. Nice [insert player name]. Nice nice. [sneaky jab at Langdon or Clarry]. Nice nice. Good skills. Nice."

I want to be excited, but I'm a little bit meh.

Maybe Goody needs to put his stamp on it?

The decision to play Spargo and Bedford against West Coast was just appalling. Neither provides any defensive pressure, neither wins their own football and West Coast would not have a wasted a second of time thinking about them. We were at least one key forward short in that game, as well as someone to make Hurn and co accountable. Our inside 50 entries are often poor and the midfield need to work on this, but the structure of our forward line is simply unacceptable. We were the highest scoring team in the competition in 2018, now we struggle to kick a goal more than 10% of the time we go inside forward 50. How many times do our players bring the ball forward and have nobody to kick to because they are all clustered together. Finding a big bodied forward who can make a contest is our number one priority, and sadly Weideman is not the answer.

What a cop out of a response. We did well in the pre season. Imagine hearing someone at Hawthorn say that. Anyone who did would be immediately spoken to. And an insult to supports when he said, 'sometimes you do bomb it in" Yes josh, we can tell the difference between a occasional long forward entry and someone bombing it in and we are not refering to the former of the two cases. Pack your bags or do better.