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Got to training about 9:50 & headed off by 11:30. Rehab / Light Drills: • Jed Adams • Kyah Farris-White • Will Varrall • I think i spotted Joel Smith, but could be wrong. The above doing light drills. Andy Moniz-Wakefield & Trent Burgoyne doing seperate laps / runs for the whole session. James Harmes, Angus Brayshaw & Steven May all started with the main group but then progressed to light duties / laps for the remainder of the session. The latter two did the bulk of the session before partnering up for some sideline runs. They all moved fine to me so you would think it's just a conditioning thing. Some key takes: Lever is the voice of the squad. Very vocal & always directing / encouraging. Got to be in serious contention to captian the side when Max's time is up. Petty is in ripping touch. He was the best tall defender out there today, no question. He aint playing forward, well not unless our KPF stocks take a big hit. Kozzie's left foot is all class. Used it a few times out there today & each time it was pure & hitting the target. You can tell he's super confident in his game. Strap yourselves in! Geez we missed T-Mac. He's training really well at the minute & one-grabbing everything. Hand's look really good. Nothing better than seeing Trac leap & mark at the highest point. Thing of beauty. Dunstan know's how to find it. Probably had it the most out there today. But we know he's limited. JVR, well he's ready. Strapping young lad who's just a real workhorse. Competitive af. There's something about Oliver Sestan. From the way he looks, to his build & the way he finds space. Once they get his tank up to the level he'll be one to watch. Oliver & Hunter were back at it today. Neither involved heavily... but they were crook just the other day so. Gus does seem a bit heavy to me. He's never been a specimen, nor will he ever be, but yeah, the rig doesn't look in top shape. He's got time to work that out. Last one, spoke to Choco, asked if there's any injury concerns & he said Nope. The boys looked good today. That's me done. 🔴🔵

Now that he is left, i feel strangely more comfortable knocking Jackson. But now he is freo player i can say JACKSON IS MILES OFF BEING A GENUINE FORWARD. There are a number of reason why, for example he has no idea about leading patters it would appear. But his biggest issue is he doesn't use his body like a real forward the way Tmac and Fritter do. Doesn't seem able to protect the drop zone and often jumps straight up like the basketballer he is - which might be a factor in why he double grabs so often. He'll no doubt improve his forward craft - he's a kid still after all (and a supremely talented one at that) - but he is well behind the eight ball given those skills are not instinctive. By way of comparison, when i first saw Fritter play for Casey, the thing that jumped out straight away was how well he used his body and how natural a forward he was. Those skills immediately translated to the AFL level.

Love that perfectly timed and weighted little bump (no chance of a free) tmac does to give himself position (and put Grundy out of position). That's forward craft baby.

A mate told me that choco sat with the spectators in the new temporary stands and explained what was happening and how the drones worked. Great PR.

My question is - What happened at training today?

Both in attendance. Great to see

Some training updates in here 👍🏼 https://aflratings.com.au/afl-news-melbourne/

Freo have gone public saying we under-utilized him as a forward and they have the magic beans to turn him in to Tom Lynch. Personally, I think they're dreaming.

Bit of an entree.

There are hot cross buns at Coles, Easter eggs at Woolworths and Werridee teams on Demonland. Must be January.

@Webber Hey R, I finally got around to mounting my Max n Jack set (beautifully framed by @joeboy) in my new (but very old) house. The positioning isn’t ideal but that’s what happens when indelible marks and cracks in the wall dictate where pics are hung. I think they look awesome anyways. 🙂

I am heading to training now, but with my 2 kids, so I will try to add some info later. I am assuming gates are open to go in and watch like the good old pre covid days???

Even if freo don't use him predominately as a forward, surely, as was the case at the dees, that is where he plays when not in the ruck. And given they have Darcy, best case scenario for Jackson is a 50 \50 ruck and forward split (though i guess they could play him as a mid at times). But given Darcy is arguably the best young ruck in the AFL (and is def not a genuine forward - though a much better mark than Jackson), he and Jackson are unlikely to evenly split ruck duties. So Freo fans will have to get used to Jackon as a middling forward who doesn't clunk marks or kick many goals. They might even start pining for Lobb!

Category B rookies face enormous challenges if they are ever to make it. I've always believed a person with Australian footballing skills but who is not fully fit has a much better chance of having a successful football career than an athlete who has to learn the skills. There are exceptions and I admire everyone that has a go, whether they make it or not. It makes the stories of success for players not bought up with Aussie Rules, most obviously Jim Stynes, but also Sean Wight, Zac Touhy, Tadgh Kennelly, and even Mason Cox, something we should all admire. However, I suspect Oliver Sestan might have a better chance of success than any recruit initially chosen because of their success as athletes but without any Australian football experience.

The clip needed one more tmac mark. Then Jim stenman would really come into play.

Not too concerned about Koz going anywhere. I believe his girlfriend is a Torres Straight Islander who has been in Naarm for a number of years and has a job she loves with the Koorie Youth Council of Victoria. This together with what he has tattooed on his forearm has me feeling very positive about him staying.

Like others, I would love a full report, but in the meantime looked at the Club’s Training Gallery. Gee, all of them have really put in in the weights room - even the recruits look almost ready to play against men.And Clarry looks like he’s gone to yet another level of strength and commitment.

The question has been raised D-D. Is Casey Fields the new centre for mystical experiences in Aussie rules football? Some Demon supporters believe the miracle of the 2021 premiership had its genesis there deep in the Covid epidemic. As a bolthole for conditioning and team training. Away from the madding crowd. Repeated recent sightings of vipers, men of dissolute appearance with binoculars and now it appears a new religious sect is emerging on the fringe of outer suburbia seem to confirm Casey Fields as a veritable "Gardens of Eden". Perhaps the AFL tempted by the 🍎 should endorse the name change, well at least the property developers wish it so. For further reading go to www.footyalmanac.com.au/footy-as-religion-a-myth-for-all-seasons/

The hallmark of an outstanding captain in our great game is that he can win games by his own efforts or can inspire his team to win games by his leadership. By this standard, Maxie is as good as any captain I have seen since the 50s, including RDB and Robbie. He also possesses the innate ability to gracefully share his unique character with the wider footy community. He is a one off and he is ours. There might have been better pure ruckmen (Farmer) or better goalkickers (Madden) or even better runners (Stynes) than Maxie but none combined all the talents as well as he has. GO DEES

I agree. Hard to say who the best ruck is over say the last 45 odd years. For me Dempsey was just about the best I'd seen. Len Thompson was a gun - super mobile - and Teasdale was dominant the year he won the Brownlow. Simon Madden and Salmon were both fantastic. Peter Moore wasn't too far off that level Stynes wasn't one of the great pure rucks, but his incredible resilience and fitness puts him in the conversation. In the modern era I have Ryder and Goldstein right up there I was always guilty of underrating cox, perhaps because I didn't watch many Eagles games. But he is undoubtedly one of the best rucks of the modern era. As is sandilands, who I probably also underrated. But there is no doubt in my mind. Max is, hands down, the best ruckman I have ever seen play (I never saw polly farmer play). Just look at the comparison with cox, who was probably considered the best ruck of his era. Of the nine categories cox only bests maxy in three (and only one category decisively) - 1.2 more disposals per game, 0.8 more marks per game and 0.2 more goals per game. Maxy has cox covered in six categories. Of those six he has cox covered decisively in four of them. The category that really jumps out is hit outs to advantage, which is surely the most important one when assessing a ruckman. He averages almost twice as many as hit outs to advantage than cox. Incredible. As DEE FENCE noted, maxy gets extra points for his incredible leadership over the last few season, particularly once made captain. Not only is he is the best ruck I have seen, he is the best skipper I have seen at the dees.

Max gawn is likely to retire with 6-8 All Australian nods, having been All Australian captain in a premiership year, his record reflects an all time great. Cox for me really showed the value of a ruckman who can add almost that extra mid, and started the craze, this is controversial but in terms of pure rucking, i don't even think Cox was the best ruckman in the league at the time, it was the whole package he offered. big Sandi and others were at least as good. Max in my view is the best pure ruckman i've ever seen, and his mobility and impact around the ground put in right in the conversation for the best ruckman ever, full stop

Agree, as Binman mentioned many other factors come into play. As reigning premier and top of the ladder as we were for 12 or so rounds, teams prep and go harder for you. West Coast and North exemplified this last year, both putrid the week before playing the Demons, then both had a red hot go against the Demons, bashing and crashing into us as Langdon ribs unfortunately found out. We had a worse run with injuries and pushed a few players when obviously not ready Salem and Max immediately come to mind. 2023 seems like: - a bigger break after 2022, and we are in better shape, - a few new players who add to our strength in Grundy & Hunter, - better looking draw, - with a slightly modified game plan going forward, - TMac and BbB fitter, JVR stepping up a notch, - hopefully better goalkicking after Choco’s pre season work, - add a slice of luck, - to top it off for this KOZZY thread, he looks in great shape! Demons looking good for a top 4 finish and a crack at the 2023 flag

I've waited long enough.. Now give us a report!

Ah Geelong.......Victoria's Adelaide 🤠

We could have a Van and a Laurie arrive at the same time. For all your logistical needs, contact the Melbourne Football Club.

And like us in 2021, Geelong had a dream run with injury. A lot has changed in footy, but one constant is that injury is the biggest determinant of success.

If any Trackwatchers are heading out Casey way today (Friday) or Monday we’d love a training report Date: Friday 13 January Time: 9.30am Location: Casey Fields Date: Monday 16 January Time: 9:30am Location: Casey Fields *Please note: Training times and locations are subject to change at late notice. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

MELBOURNE HEADLINE MAKER Can the Demons keep Kozzie Pickett? It’s going to be one of the biggest storylines of the coming season. Back to back hauls of 40-plus goals in his second and third seasons highlight his offensive weapons, but his defence and tackling pressure are just as effective. Port Adelaide will come knocking again – if they haven’t already done so – but the Demons are hopeful he sees the prospect of a second premiership medal looming in the future. X-FACTOR It’s hard to believe Jacob van Rooyen didn’t debut last season as Melbourne’s forward line woes remained unresolved. That won’t happen in 2023. He has been earmarked for advancement off the back of Luke Jackson’s departure. The Demons have locked van Rooyen in until 2025, an indication of their keenness. Track watchers have been impressed with the way in which he has attacked the first block of the pre-season. QUESTION MARK Could premiership defender Trent Rivers be tempted to return home to Perth like his great mate Luke Jackson was? He has a year to run on his current deal. Rivers played 18 games last season, but was dropped for a period. At his best, he is a walk-up start, as evidenced by his impact in 2021. UNTAPPED TALENT We’re going to take a punt on Blake Howes. He was the Demons’ pick 39 in the 2021 national draft and while he didn’t get the chance to play a senior game due a stress fracture, he showed some good talent at Casey. The forward looks to have good potential.

They have the same issues as everyone else, Tim Kelly and Clarke two WA boys who they lost

You took the thoughts right outta my head! (Nods to Jim Steinman)

Geelong get a tick on culture but it is their location that gives them an advantage in player retention. Come live by the beach or in the country and real estate way cheaper than Melbourne! They also have a strong footballing region that players are happy to come back home to live.

Well done Andy. Never before have we had so many eager and faithful trackies!! Just watch for the vipers out Casey way we don't need any statues at Casey for another 20/30 years.

It's like a cold sore. Hard to get rid off On this thread topic, as i noted in the Jackosn is leaving thread, after being anguished about Gerard Healy's defection to the Swans i vowed not to get too caught up in players leaving. If they leave they leave. I couldn't be any more ambivalent now about the young ruck who went to Freo last season. I have been pretty successful in not getting upset about players leaving over the subsequent years, but a couple of players have got under my guard. The one that immediately comes to mind is the Wiz. Totally understood why went home and didn't begrudge him one little bit for doing so, but I just loved watching him play so, so much that it was a real wrench when he left. In my top 10 favorite dees players of all time. I fear i'd feel much the same if Kozzie chose to leave. I just love watching him play footy and hope i get to do so week i week out for the rest of his career.