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Just back from training and having read the posts by others there isn't a lot to add. I've not noticed Jefferson much to date but he was very good today. He marks the ball at his highest point timing his jump really well. He was a lot more involved in the match sims and disposed of it well. It's the first time I've really thought he's shown something in the match sims but I think he'll be good. Schache was disappointing for mine today. I noticed a few skill errors under little pressure and he just seemed a bit off. For mine he's well behind BBB, TMac and JVR. Deakyn Smith didn't do much but he's only just got back into the match sims and like most of the younger players he just wasn't involved. When you report on training sessions it almost goes without saying that blokes like Clarrie, Gus, Trac and the other mature players do well. So I tend to concentrate on the younger players or those who I think might push for selection. The two standouts for me today were Kade Chandler and JJ. Kade was so clean with the ball, I didn't see him fumble once and his disposal by hand or foot was pretty good although like everyone he missed the odd target. JJ was in everything and got leather poisoning. I think I'm like many who really like him but struggle to see exactly where he fits in but on his performance to date during PS he is best 22 and my observation is his best position is midfield. He's clean with the ball, he's brave, he gets it and he makes good quick decisions by hand. I just wonder if we should start to spread the load on Viney, Clarrie and Trac and start to give kids like JJ and Tommy S a bit more prime time mid roles. It would give the top boys a bit of a cop out and it would make the opposition concentrate on more than the big three. Others to impress today were Bowser who I thought was very good, Riv who looks in good form, JVR who continued his good form and for a bit of a smokie, JFW who I reckon is well ahead of where they thought he would be. He's nowhere near senior level but for a young kid who hasn't played any real footy he shows quite a bit, and encouragingly plenty when the ball hits the ground. My boy Olie Sestan did some nice things too but his fitness needs some real development. And for Dazzle, Joel Smith started to do more than just running the boundary with some gentle agility work. The match sims today weren't a fierce as some others I've seen and it was more ball movement today. Players were not finishing forward plays with shots for goal and the tackling wasn't as intense. It was a solid session going for well over 2 hours. JOEBOY'S TRAINING REPORT KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

Sorry to be a bit slow but this is my first chance to post for a couple of days. Not going to add anything to yesterdays training reports as it was a very light session but I did get to a members chat/coaching seminar in Seymour on Monday night. Goody, Choco, Richo and Ooze spoke and answered questions for local members and budding coaches for an hour and a half. The players and coaches did a clinic for the local youngsters right up to under 18's beforehand and with the main oval in Seymour still closed since the flood, the clinic happened at the oval across the road from my place. Didn't know the clinic was there and got a massive surprise to walk out the front door Monday arvo and see Max, Tracc and Clarry running around. I had seen Josh Schache running laps on that oval during the summer break and commented to a fellow local demon that he was the first Melbourne player I had seen running around town since I was a kid worshipping local blokes Russell Richards and Mick O'Sullivan. Just a few weeks later and the whole squad show up. I was more than a little chuffed. So anyway, on to the important stuff, what the coaches said. They said both Max and Grundy will spend time forward but Goody also said Max was knackered at the end last year, he's not young anymore, and they don't think he can play 25 games and still be cherry ripe at the pointy end. Expect to see him "managed" a bit throughout the year. Also talked up Schache"s preseason and improvement in his ruck work, said he'll definitely get opportunities. They also said Clarry and Trac were pretty beat up at the end of last year at hinted at more mid rotation and possibly more bench time to have them cherry ripe for finals. Goody is a massive Petty fan and said he could be one of the great defenders of the game, better than Maysie. He acknowledged that was a huge call but all the coaches were very strong in their praise of Petty. They also said great teams start with a great defence and they believed ours is up there with the best in the comp and that is largely due to the big 3 May, Lever and Petty and they aren't keen to break that up to send Petty forward. They said Van Rooyen will play but not necessarily round 1. Choco was very strong on not only do recruits have to be ready for the rigours of AFL footy but they have to go past the player who has their spot in the team. He said BBB kicked six in match practice last week and TMac is moving really well so there is real competition for KPF spots. It sounded like Hunter was a monty to play round 1 and they see him as best 22. They hinted at something being missing last year. Hunger, intensity, desire, the intangibles were off right from preseason. It was something I noticed in games all last year. Our attack at the man and the ball and our intensity just weren't at 2021 levels. They said it is back this year with interest. Also said their analysis showed we were struggling in the back half last year and we weren't any near what is required to win a premiership and there will be more effort to keep the list fresh. Emphasised it was a delicate balance but they ned to give the young blokes opportunities. So I think we should expect to see more changes week to week than last year which is a good thing. Some of the more coaching related questions gave interesting insights as well. Goody was asked about turning around our culture from what it was when he first arrived and he told a story where a player said to him after they just missed finals in 2020 that the team just didn't have enough players with the will to win. Goody asked him how many he thought had it and he said he thought maybe 12. Goody then asked him how many he thought there was at the club when he first arrived and his answer was 2. Goody said if the 12 of you put in the work and have a massive preseason maybe we'll have 14 by the end of it. Win a few games early and maybe there will be 18 by midseason and 22 by finals. Goody was very big on trying to get everyone on board, inclusion and respect seem to be the major drivers. If players feel wanted, respected and that they have a voice they'll buy into the team first ethos necessary to turn a talented list into a premiership one. I think it was Choco who singled out one of the young fellas who had been at the clinic and had hung around to listen to the coaches afterwards. He asked the young bloke if he was the one who ran 150 metres when the session finished to thank Goody and the other coaches for their time. Choco said they had all been impressed by that and even the players had mentioned it as a Melbourne thing to do. Goody was asked at one point how much he got out of study trips abroad and seminars and the like and he said you never know but hope for a few good insights, but stressed to the upcoming coaches that they don't always cost thousands. He said one of the best he ever did was a $60 internet webinar during covid which I think he said was more for business. It was about valuing and respecting your employees and getting better results, "immersing them in the river." I left feeling the club is in good hands and pretty bullish about the season ahead. Go you bloody demons!

It’s a beautiful sunny morning at Gosch’s Paddock and I’ll be bringing you some observations from training. REHAB: Viney, Melksham, Joel Smith, Salem, Woey, Verral No Shows - Steven May & James Harmes Players warming up with kick to kick. Stafford taking the Rucks (Gawn, Grundy, Farris-White) in ruck craft drills. Verral acting as the umpire throwing the ball up. Lever, Petty & Hibberd running laps to warm up. White: Grundy Farris-White Clarry JVR Schache Fritsch Sparrow Howes Hunter Rivers Hibberd Tomlinson AMW Deakyn Smith Laurie Blue: TMac Gawn Lever Bowey Petty Brayshaw Petracca Jordon Viney (no number today) Brown Kozzy Melksham Nibbler Joel Smith Sestan Dunstan Langdon Kye Turner Jefferson Chandler Kozzy Clarry training with the main group. I didn’t notice any strapping on his hand. Interestingly Viney in the rehab group not doing anything. Boys playing a game of soccer. No Steven May No James Harmes Melksham involved in a goal kicking on the run drill. As already reported Lever is back in full training and does not look to be hampered by anything. Running and kicking freely. Looks in great nick. Max also running freely with no apparent lingering effect of his hamstring injury that sidelined him a few weeks ago. Clarry back in full training marking and handballing with no apparent discomfort in his thumb. Melksham and Joel Smith are participating in this no contact full ground drill Viney & Woey doing work on the rowing machine. They’ve broken up into the white versus blue keepings off game with a pink vest on the middle that plays on both teams. Kozzy in pink in one group. Lingers in pink in the other. Spargo now pink. Now Bowey One group keeps changing the pink vest. Lingers still the pink vest in his group. No one ever anywhere near him. Sestan does appear to have one quad bandaged. Moving freely though. Sparrow is a tackling beast. Has put on so much size. Looks like Match Sim is about to start. Clarry is wearing the flouro yellow hat. Assume this is meant to denote no or limited contact and isn’t a fashion statement or screen from the sun. Kozzy just carved his way through traffic with ease and such poise. I’ll eat my hat off his not playing more midfield minutes. Long beautiful kick from Trac off half back to TMac who turns and kicks beautifully to Jefferson on a lead. Disco Turner takes an intercepting screamer in the middle of Gosch’s Paddock. Rivers looks super fit. Hunter is going to be so important for us on the other wing. Constantly with the get, give and go again. He and Lingers on opposite wings is a weapon. Max playing last line of defence. If we kick to Brown in front on a lead so he can mark out in front he will be unstoppable. Hibbo came off second best in a marking contest with Trac and limping with some discomfort to his left leg. TMac, Brown & JVR all look in great nick out on the track. Would not want to be a round 1 selector. Jefferson obviously won’t play for a while but he is an exciting prospect for the forward line. Brayshaw came off and is getting his wrist strapped. He’s back out training now. Some great tackling from Fritsch today. Feel for Tomlinson. Works his guts out but I feel he has moved down the pecking order. Already hard to break into the defence with Petty, May & Lever and with Disco Turner impressing and Jed Adams doing his apprenticeship you feel he might not get the opportunity baring injuries. It’s evident that this year we’ll be bringing the ball back into the guts more rather than always predictably going along the wings and kicking into the forward pocket. Brown, Hibbo, Adams & Moniz-Wakefield no longer participating in match sim and are running half laps at a quick pace. Hibbo’s thigh has been bandaged indicating a corkie. Running with a slight limp. Melksham on the bike and Woey doing weights. Lever also left the match sim and is doing gym work in the makeshift shed. Ben Brown practicing snaps from the boundary. Howes also working out in the outdoor gym now. JVR cleaned up Petty in a contest. I like his mongrel. Petty eventually got up but he felt it as did the spectators nearby. DEELIGHTFULPLAY'S TRAINING REPORT DEESPENCER'S TRAINING REPORT SLARTIBARTFAST'S TRAINING REPORT JOEBOY'S TRAINING REPORT KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

Beautiful morning for it. They are getting to the stage where there is plenty of push. The drills and sims were done with intensity and voice. There was an extra sim's session, making 4/5 in total for 6 minutes each, with hardly a rest during, as the ball kept moving. Goody was encouraging them to all run the transition hard. Most had to push hard up the field. At times, it looked like our backs ran so hard they were playing as forwards. They were often getting their passes over the backs to the forwards leads. Seems like they are working on creating an open forward line. Some defensive structure to hold the ball in the forward area worked well. By the end, many ended up on the haunches. They have stepped up the tackling in the handball games, they were also encouraging them to break the tackles with fends and steps away from the defender. A bit different from last year, in that they don't separate into their lines (forward, back, mid) very often. Thought Burgoyne did well, got plenty of it by running hard and getting separation, also used his shimmy/step to find clear air. K.Turner was always chasing and couldn't get in it. D.Smith was looking good, beat his opponent a few times and laced the ball to the next player. Moniz-wakefield missed a few hit ups, wasn't alone, as a few of the 1 to 3 year players did the same early in the sims. Jefferson has amazing long arms and his hand are gold. Needs to bulk up, but is looking like a potential. Spargo was in everything. Petracca getting lots of intercepts. Oliver and Kossie the stand outs. Tmac is looking powerful and getting some good acceleration. Lever left early and with no May there, our lack of backline structures made it easy for the forward thrusts. Petty up one end and Tomlinson the other didn’t get much support from the others, especially with the forward push, they were frequently isolated without the usual zoned area. Not sure if the cohesion between the group of best 30 and the rest is great. At one stage, Lever asked judd McVee what his name was in a drill. Hoping it was tongue in cheek. Hunter got hit in the collision with Hibbo who corked his thigh, got it strapped and was running it out. Lachie then smothered a ball off Max's boot with his head. He didn't appear dizzy, but that was the end of the session for him. Maybe getting the concussion tests. Our intensity is causing many niggles early on in our preseason. Talked to a volunteer, he tells me the practice match out at Casey will be curtain raised by the, Casey Demons team versus Richmond VFL.

Kozzy just carved his way through traffic with ease and such poise. I’ll eat my hat off his not playing more midfield minutes.

Just about to rock up after 10 hours on the train to Melbourne. Don't think I'll be much good for insights but will add anything that catches my eye! Lingers is back from wherever he was After some light drills, the boys are playing soccer Joel Smith practising some goals, and then rehab group sets up for some agility drills Most boys now doing the three station kicking and grabbing on the run drill Rehabbers doing ground ball / low kick drills Salem walking laps with a trainer Tomlinson disposing well in kicking / full ground drill I second Demonland's comments about Clarry - saw him do some one hand grabs and then handball with his left hand (which was the injured one iirc) Some nice tackles by Jordan and Hibbo (in the group that has Spargs/Kozzie in pink) Burgoyne also did some agile handballs but later got caught Sestan tried a tackle on, then a few moments later got take down in a ripper tackle from JVR Hunter just did some nice running on the wing to link up with Tomlinson Gus shouting for corridor set up but then match sim ended. Might be a sign of more flexibility in game plan this season? Edit: match sim started after minute resetting Schache tries one handed grab while being pinned, Hunter swoops in and grabs the crumb before neat pass out Disco took a nice contested mark but fumbled disposal Chandler did great intercept on Grundy kicking to Hunter Seems like match sim is done - scoreboard reads 115 Blue to 99 White Tommo was great today in both match sim and drills but it's a packed field ahead of him Nothing we don't already know, but gee Bowey is a clean kick Chandler really working in this match sim, had a few good marks where he's run hard to win them Max and Grundy face off, Max successful but Hunter snatches the pass out (Max the only blue) Kyah faces off Petty for a mark and then "goals" (as far as there's such a thing in these match sims) to shouts of delight from some of the boys. Nice to see him coming along! Choco supervising and kicking points haha Trac limping off over to the shed but not sure what caused it - nothing immediately prior that looked like it could cause damage Squad now lined up down the centre on either side, with individuals coming down the centre to kick for goal head on. Heckling on the approach and shouting encouragement after. Didn't go for too long, was using Choco's striped balls I didn't notice Deakyn much but Schache went well in the match sims. Few good marks and nice positioning at times. DEESPENCER'S TRAINING REPORT SLARTIBARTFAST'S TRAINING REPORT JOEBOY'S TRAINING REPORT KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

My first preseason venture out to training today, and I believe there’s going to be major headaches about filling the 2 key forward positions Brown is moving very freely and looks strong TMac is probably the pick of the bunch looking leaner and moving unencumbered JVR is everything you want from a KPP with skills, agility, and ‘attitude’ aplenty Fritsch of course picks himself KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

If we kick to Brown in front on a lead so he can mark out in front he will be unstoppable.

Pretty willing session from what I saw between 10:05 and 11:20. One big full ground drill that seemed to be a mix between 3 cone kicking, some defenders involved and hit up kicks. I couldn’t work out who went where so good on the players getting this one sorted. Otherwise periods of match sim for about 10 minutes at a time mixed in with some high tempo small handball drills. Standouts: Fritsch, playing as a lead up target on team white and just racking it up in the corridor and facilitating nicely. Sparrow, showed an exceptional turn of speed to take the game on and used it well. Tracked back in defence hard. Looks ready for more midfield time Oliver was Oliver. Gawn dominated the air early. Grundy got involved at ground level, he links up in traffic very naturally. Liked the work of JJ on one wing, and Langdon had the better of Hunter on the other. From the young guys Jefferson was really good. You can see the way he reads the play and times his leads. Even showed the ability to push back in to a defender then hit up. Only one mark that I’d even remotely call contested but plenty of others with natural extension towards the ball. Then he makes calm decisions with the ball. Kyah also had a good day. He’s a proper tall ruck so can make an impact at marking contests even if he’s still learning positioning and timing, then he has the athleticism to get back on to the ground ball first. It will be 5 years until we know for sure if he’s any good but early signs are he has the tools. Schache has moments were his tank to present to space really looks the goods and his skills are solid. But he got worried out of a chest mark when 3m clear on a lead and he had a one on one with Gus that was halved but they were side by side competing. Not sure his fatal flaw has improved. Deak Smith had some willing contests but didn’t stand out. McVee throws in some classy moments with a cheeky underground handball and the likes.

Hunter is going to be so important for us on the other wing. Constantly with the get, give and go again. He and Lingers on opposite wings is a weapon.

K Turner switch to JJ. JJ hits corridor kick to Max. Gets the handball, hits Jeffo on the wing, he rolls to Spargo. Spargo plays on, bounces, hits up Dunstan 35 out filling in from midfield. That’s the game plan.

Pert, Lamb, Richo, Kelly OD..good crop of admin here on the outer wing Lot of quality in the blue team. Chandler, Dunstan, McVee the only non best 22 starters. Jeffo rolling in too. White has Oliver, Grundy, Hib, JVR but otherwise seems the lesser side and Fritsch Lovely spoil by K Turner on JVR, then recovery and handball out infront of Langdon. AMW closed quickly and disrupted the handball though. More of that from Turner and he’ll get the last list spot K Turner switch to JJ. JJ hits corridor kick to Max. Gets the handball, hits Jeffo on the wing, he rolls to Spargo. Spargo plays on, bounces, hits up Dunstan 35 out filling in from midfield. That’s the game plan. Nasty clash between Hibbo and Hunter after a Tracc marking contest. Hibbo in a bad way He’s up and gingerly walking it off. And jogging back to position. The pig lives! Kyah banana! Young fella kept involved running down the flank, Nibbler kick missed JVR, Kyah pounced, stepped through traffic and nailed the snap from 40 out. Exciting Blue team are dominant forward of centre (having BBB, TMac, Tracc and Pickett) but being held inside d50 at times leading to long bombs. The lack of May and Salem is showing. White a bit the same, but Sparrow long to JVR seems an effective match up. Andy Moniz-Wakefield was filling in on a wing and I think JJ had 15 touches on him, but when he did get around the contest he looked handy. He’s wearing bigger shorts than Eddie Betts Messy low intensity start to this sim. Adams now doing sprints with Hibbo, AMW, BBB who have been pulled out Good stint in that drill from Jeffo, finding space on Disco by timing his leads and leaps. Very very messy period of match sim. Honestly I would’ve called it off and given them a bake. No doubt they’re running on fumes down rotations but there’s a lack of off ball running to create switches and corridor looks. You can’t beat a zone purely by accurate kicks, you need guys moving in and out of gaps. Not sure why the coaches are so keen to keep practicing JVR and Petty crunching in to each other over and over again. Not sure if it was the defensive pressure dropping off but they just finished a much sharper period with far more corridor play. Pretty willing session from what I saw between 10:05 and 11:20. One big full ground drill that seemed to be a mix between 3 cone kicking, some defenders involved and hit up kicks. I couldn’t work out who went where so good on the players getting this one sorted. Otherwise periods of match sim for about 10 minutes at a time mixed in with some high tempo small handball drills. Standouts: Fritsch, playing as a lead up target on team white and just racking it up in the corridor and facilitating nicely. Sparrow, showed an exceptional turn of speed to take the game on and used it well. Tracked back in defence hard. Looks ready for more midfield time Oliver was Oliver. Gawn dominated the air early. Grundy got involved at ground level, he links up in traffic very naturally. Liked the work of JJ on one wing, and Langdon had the better of Hunter on the other. From the young guys Jefferson was really good. You can see the way he reads the play and times his leads. Even showed the ability to push back in to a defender then hit up. Only one mark that I’d even remotely call contested but plenty of others with natural extension towards the ball. Then he makes calm decisions with the ball. Kyah also had a good day. He’s a proper tall ruck so can make an impact at marking contests even if he’s still learning positioning and timing, then he has the athleticism to get back on to the ground ball first. It will be 5 years until we know for sure if he’s any good but early signs are he has the tools. Schache has moments were his tank to present to space really looks the goods and his skills are solid. But he got worried out of a chest mark when 3m clear on a lead and he had a one on one with Gus that was halved but they were side by side competing. Not sure his fatal flaw has improved. Deak Smith had some willing contests but didn’t stand out. McVee throws in some classy moments with a cheeky underground handball and the likes. SLARTIBARTFAST'S TRAINING REPORT JOEBOY'S TRAINING REPORT KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

King labels untried Demon a “walk-up starter” as Grundy still finding feet at Melbourne

He was filling in on a wing and I think JJ had 15 touches on him, but when he did get around the contest he looked handy. He’s wearing bigger shorts than Eddie Betts

Clarry back in full training marking and handballing with no apparent discomfort in his thumb.

Clarry training with the main group. I didn’t notice any strapping on his hand.

Thanks Demonland, Delightful, DdSpencer, Startibart and all posters, another great effort it was like being there.🤘👌👍✅💕

Nothing we don't already know, but gee Bowey is a clean kick

Love the short sharp comments almost like being there thanks to all I do like the longer conciderred ones as well though Go Dees

Some great tackling from Fritsch today.

Jefferson obviously won’t play for a while but he is an exciting prospect for the forward line.

And jogging back to position. The pig lives!

Sparrow is a tackling beast. Has put on so much size.

Max also running freely with no apparent lingering effect of his hamstring injury that sidelined him a few weeks ago.

Great day all round. It was a low key kind of session which I suppose makes sense from yesterday’s full match sim. The boys are seriously looking fit and they know. To see the boys up close and see the likes of JvR who really is a beast for his age is something to be excited about this year. @Deemania since 56 is right 100%. There was no stand out particular just the team cruising along ticking the boxes. Very jovial out there with Maxy, Melksham, Lever, Petracca the ones always vocal and keeping the group up beat. I apologise I didn't get a chance to see you mate. We got caught up with some supporters near us and got talking to the two official getting around with membership pamphlets. Realistically it wasn't so much a full footy type training but more groups of about 10? rotating through to each drills with some doing stationary kicking drill, and some doing some keepings off down the far wing. Short and sharp and was enough to draw a crowd. They still would have worked up quiet a sweat considering was fairly hot. Was great to catch up with a few local boys such as Spargo, Turner, Schache and Oliver from MB days and James Jordon who's a close friend with my little brother from Yarrawonga. Once they picked me out of the crowd they came and shook hands and was happy to take photos with my young lad. Was great to catch up with these lads and not even a change of ego or arrogance in them since being in the syste.. Still the same country kids as when i knew them back when they were 16 year olds coming through the ranks. Was blown away with how incredibly fit Turner is compared to when was a fat chubby kid coming through the system. Was blown away also with how trimmed Schache is. Leaving no stone unturned and wouldn't surprise if on training form he plays round 1. Got carried away talking to Oliver just talking life in general and about few mutual friends we knew that I completely forgot to ask about his hand 🤦‍♂️ Maxy Gawn is a genuine rock star. Everywhere he went the kids were following him around and hassling the poor guy (in a fun way). Very good with the kids and we're incredibly lucky to have him as our skipper. Few notes on players. Blake Howes: Smooth mover and quite tall then i thought. He was standing next to Turner during the initial warm up and I thought he was a smidge taller? Turner is listed at 194cm. JvR: Has a presence already. Just a big strong lad who'll command that forward 50 in the next few years. I knew he was a big boy but didn't realise how physically imposing he already is. You can certainly build a forward line around this kid. Matt Jefferson: Didn't really see much of him to be honest. Jed Adams: Interesting kicking action but didn't seem to trouble him, in fact he's got a pretty good kick on him with a bit of penetrative to go with. Got a few positive feedback from choco. Deakyn Smith: Very interesting player. He's a smooth mover who's well balanced and is clean below his knees. Quiet poised in the kicking drills and was happy. No idea what position the coaches have in mind for him but he'll be a player of interest for me. Tom Sparrow: A big ball of muscle. Trains at a real intensity and look pretty focused and ready to go. Hoping he takes that next step. Trent Burgoyne: In the stationary kicking near me he didn't even miss a target. Was compased and just neat with his disposal. I think he was a bit surprised that I called him out for a photo and sig for my lad. Asked him abut his chances getting on the list and in his own words.. "Yeah nah should be pretty easy to get a gig." Grundy and Hunter do train at high intensity. Can tell they have come from clubs that demand high performance and these blokes are certainly bringing that to the club. You can't have enough of these guys because it certainly rubs onto the young players. Guys like Lever, Melksham and Rivers are looking incredibly fit. Ball in hand all 3 barely missed a target. Competition for spots will be heating up! Good luck to Goody and the coaches picking round 1 side because there is some genuine talent on display today that will miss out unfortunately. Players mingled with supporters and went out of their own way to take photos with the kids etc. Happy to answer questions.

Out of contract star??? He has a contract. Will have a contract all bloody season, he is a kid. RELAX!

Thanks mate i knew the trains were bad but 10 hours? you come in from Belgrave? how many bus transfers? *sorry just being dumb

Great reporting guys! We've been pretty spoilt in the last few days with coverage!

Wonderful Report Furious. Sounds as though reviews and some soul searching have elicited some missing items in last years season especially in comparison to 2021, not just the fitness freshness angle that stood out. 2021 was always going to be bloody hard to replicate but that's what making subtle changes to the team helps keep all on their tows. I think their is collective agreement within the A team from last season that we were not as committed and unified as 2021 so it's great to see that this standard is already producing a greater overall standard that will undoubtedly be needed along with some tweaks and I think areas of greater player improvement which will make us a very hard team to beat when the whips are cracking. Fantastic report on Coaches Forum has me absolutely convinced we have taken our medicine last year and are hell bent on success this season. Can't wait to see us out on the G winning those last halves instead of falling short. Go Dees !!! Make 2023 our 14th Flag and rule this extraordinary bloody hard competition again. Love the sound of "The Reigning Premiers" or the written words also!!!

It’s evident that this year we’ll be bringing the ball back into the guts more rather than always predictably going along the wings and kicking into the forward pocket.

Much thanks to Demonland, DeelightfulPlay and DeeSpencer for your match sim reporting. Almost as good as being there.

I love that Taylor has really targeted elite foot skills in his drafting over the last 3 seasons. In my opinion our kicking skills across the board has long been our biggest weakness. Maintaining possession of the ball and hitting targets has never been more important. Turnovers have always hurt in footy of course (because they often result in oppo scores), but if you can't reliably spot up free players under pressure so they can take a mark (as was often the case in the back half of last season) you can't control the tempo of the game or give the defensive zone time to set up behind the ball. Salem out of form and Bowey out of the team really hurt us in this regard last year. Laurie, Bowey, Howes, Deakyn Smith and Jefferson are all excellent kicks. if you add Schache and Hunter, then that is pretty big injection of high level kicking skills over a relatively short period.

Lingers is back from wherever he was After some light drills, the boys are playing soccer

David King was apparently there this morning and will be on SEN “soon” to share his observations.

Ripper of report lads 🔥

Amazing @furious d.. This is the kind of [censored] I love hearing from the coaches, especially when an opportunity to ask questions etc.

Great info furious. Enjoyed your summary with its insights. The feedback I got from the folks in the area was overwhelmingly positive. The players and coaches were engaged with the kids and enjoying the moment. Not all Dees fans either. The goodwill created by the community engagement is enormous. You realise that we have a quality group of players. Talented and with great values. All leaders in their own way. Obviously Max, BBB, Vines, Mayzie and Trac standout but they all seem impressive in the way they present and the behaviours they exhibit. Hopefully we will win another flag in the next year or two but if not I will still get enormous satisfaction in supporting such a strong club that is doing everything right in its quest for success. We have great people on board. We have come a long way baby.

That’s a wrap from me. I’ll compile my posts and add some other observations later. Feel free to ask questions.

Feel for Tomlinson. Works his guts out but I feel he has moved down the pecking order. Already hard to break into the defence with Petty May & Lever and with Disco Turner impressing and Jed Adams doing his apprenticeship you feel he might not get the opportunity baring injuries.

TMac, Brown & JVR all look in great nick out on the track. Would not want to be a round 1 selector.

Kyah banana! Young fella kept involved running down the flank, Nibbler kick missed JVR, Kyah pounced, stepped through traffic and nailed the snap from 40 out. Exciting

Lovely spoil by K Turner on jvr, then recovery and handball out infront of Langdon. AMW closed quickly and disrupted the handball though. More of that from Turner and he’ll get the last list spot

Long beautiful kick from Trac off half back to TMac who turns and kicks beautifully to Jefferson on a lead.

As already reported Lever is back in full training and does not look to be hampered by anything. Running and kicking freely. Looks in great nick.

No bandage today.

Gus shouting for corridor set up but then match sim ended. Might be a sign of more flexibility in game plan this season? Edit: match sim started after minute resetting

White: Grundy Farris-White Clarry JVR Schache Fritsch Sparrow Howes Hunter Rivers Hibberd Tomlinson AMW Deakyn Smith Laurie Blue: TMac Gawn Lever Bowey Petty Brayshaw Petracca Jordon Viney (no number today) Brown Kozzy Melksham Nibbler Joel Smith Sestan Dunstan Langdon Kye Turner Jefferson Chandler Kozzy