Leaderboard

Didn't stick around for training but was there for a few words from Kate Roffey and Alan Richardson, left after the squad had been warming up for 20 mins or so. According to Richardson, at this stage it looks like Gawn will be playing this week (was very close last week) but they'll give him a few sessions this week and won't make the call until closer to game day. Richardson sounded less positive about Lever's chances for this week, wasn't a definitive 'no' but basically suggested he's not in Gawn's position of being over the ankle concerns he's got. Sounds like he might need another week. (Keen to hear what training he does). Salem still 4 weeks away at least. Brown was close last week but just been experiencing back soreness. Looked pretty good to me in the warmups (Keen to also hear what training he does). Roffey thanked all members and pushed for all those in attendance to get their Melbourne supporting non-member friends and acquaintances to sign up too, so get on board Demonlanders if you haven't already!

Having a go at Brayshaw because he had a quiet game. Goodwin's too soft on his players. We had a bad game, it happens can't stay up for 23 weeks of the season. We will bounce back and I think it will be this week against the Tigs. We should get back Gawn, Brown, Hibberd and Lever back in. Laurie, Harmes, Dunstan and Schache are belting down the door in the VFL so there is pressure for spots. Think of the positives instead of the negatives. WE WILL BOUNCE BACK.

Either or both options to read into are highly worthy IMHO. Love Harmesy in so many ways: * Loyal Red and Blue to the core and living the dream of any die hard MFC supporter (read this if you need any reminding https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/lifelong-melbourne-football-club-fan-james-harmes-fulfils-his-demon-dream-through-draft/news-story/687a68a12ad631327bea0b0842a4c69f ) * Might not be the most talented player on our list, but always has a red hot crack. I think this would put him in good regard with Goody and Max. * Plus I think his skills and athletic ability are better than many give him credit for. I think there's still plenty more to come in the James Harmes story, but amoung other things, I'll always remember him as the player that gathered cleanly at pace, burst clear and nailed the pass to Fritsch that turned the 2021 Grand Final into the first MFC premiership in my lifetime. I get the impression from afar, that he's also a pretty solid character that's elevated himself to achieve within his best abilities from the outer burbs in Melbourne. If he's been through something personal sufficient to keep him play for 2 weeks, then it must have been something pretty significant to hims, so I just think it the perfect time for the MFC faithful to get around him and show him some love. 34 touches for your first game back in a few weeks is a pretty decient effort and I'm personally backing him to show that kind of form and determination when he gets his chance again soon at AFL level.

The most interesting thing Richo said was that the players and Simon were doing the review as he spoke and no, they would not be talking about energy levels. He went on to say they would only talk about things they could control. It seemed to be a veiled reference to the travel load (3 interstaters in 4 weeks) and prompted a question from the crowd about the wisdom of bringing the players home on a red-eye special rather than allowing recovery post match on a 6-day turnaround. Richo said that was how the players wanted it - getting back to family asap and so on. Richo went on to say the review would be focusing on defence and clearances which were lacking last week. Spoke to TMac who is still sore from the knee in the back he copped. Brown moved well, got down low several times to gather marks; Max looked good and seemed untroubled; Lever, too, although said to be in doubt by Richo showed no signs of discomfort running, kicking and walking. TMac and May did not do much - a bit of kick to kick and uncontested marking while I was watching. Trac looked good in some handball exercises moving the ball fast and low and Riv finished off a drill with a nice running goal that caused a few players to make some noise. Expect they will get up to some serious stuff later this week. This was just a loosener.

Spargo absent. Kye Turner and Salem in rehab. I thought I saw Verrall there early, but then he was gone. Viney was working away from the group and ANB joined him for some significant running - looked like a load management exercise to me, so would expect them both to be available. Brown, Lever and Hibberd all trained unhindered with the main group so I would speculate that all three of those are also available to play on Sunday or Monday (despite Richo managing expectations there - still a main training session to come). Gawn a certainty. And lastly, Joel Smith was training!

Talk is cheap Kev.

Super disappointing loss to Essendon. They had a plan and executed very well. Brought serious heat and intent and we were hit hard from the start and never recovered. Way too many good players down on form and our backline looked like a bottom 4's with how easily Essendon were able to score. I just hope there was something going on with May because the game from him was unbelievably bad. It's a long season etc but I'm getting a bit over our forwardline set-up. T Mac is so wildly inconsistent, it's hard to fathom. I'd just keep running with Brown, Van Rooyen and Fritsch until Max comes back. Maybe give a small forward from the VFL a run for this game to bring some energy and excitement. Laurie for Spargo. No doubt we'll respond hard as we inevitably do after a performance like that. We should easily account for the Tiges given their outs. I'm more interested in when we come up against North and Hawthorn over the next few weeks. We seem to have this arrogance/complacency against up and coming sides who spring us. Almost as if we just don't have the same motivation levels when coming up against those kinds of sides and the unfortunate thing about it is that Essendon have executed the perfect blueprint on how to play us. And they had some serious outs. We need to lose the arrogance, it kills us. Every game is hard these days and I think our players lack maturity in that regard. Trac and Clarry want to play in the big games, Gus regularly looks like he's having a casual kick in the park with how he treats his possessions. It's not good enough. Next month of footy is important for us to stamp our brand and be ruthless. They talked about that all summer. Show it.

They have invited 10 year members down to Gosch's. Nothing on website training pages. Apparently by email, crowd is building, no players yet, probably 11 am start. I'll report when I get back home. Addit:11.10 players still not out.

Obviously younger and more efficient eyes My one and only training report ever, and i have buggered it

Rehab, Verral, K.Turner, Viney, and Salem. All the rest in full training. Gawn, Hibbo, J. Smith, Farris-White, Lever, BBB. Sorry have to leave. Hopefully someone else here can give a full report.

Don't forget old mate Salem should hopefully be up and about soon/shortly (hopefully?) 6 Flag winners weren't in action against Essendon, i just like saying flag winners every so often to remind myself of 2021

Goody spoke about it on 3AW. The usual cliches (working with management etc.) but did finish with a "we think something's not too far away". https://www.3aw.com.au/simon-goodwin-addresses-kysaiah-pickett-contract-speculation/ Around the 4 minute mark.

First time at training since finals 1987. It wasnt much harder than D Grade Ammo's in the mid 70's, missing the compulsory 2 laps jogging and kick to kick before start. Seemed a good sized crowd there. I didnt notice that much noise on the field. Just appeared to be a professional group going about their business. Spargo was not there that I could see. The players are great with the fans, especially the kids. I was too embarrased to ask for a selfie but hope greatness will rub off on me during the work week. The highlight for me was Hunter kicking a couple of dropkick goals from near the boundary.

Just left what must have been the lowest intensity training I think I have been to anywhere anytime. Probably get more serious later in the week. Gawn was leading the field in run throughs from end to end. But didn't take part in much else from what I saw. Lever looked fine to me but it wasn't exactly a tough session. Brown looked 100% as did most others. In Summary don't take much from today. After being at the hanger on Sunday and the paddock today it is like champagne and river water. Thank god it wasn't raining.

We sat behind the cheer squad rjay and Gus did a lot of work off the ball clearing space for the likes of McVee and Bowey. Numerous times he would give a clever little bump to Ess forwards so May and co could have a free jump at a mark. Ran it out until the end, he was the least of our worries on Saturday. It almost feels like early 2021 where Gus was solely judged on his possession numbers until it was known what his exact role was.

Look at the bright side, at least no Essendon supporters around you 😁

It's a bit nonsensical to combine games from last season and then the next season and anyone can choose stats that suit their agenda. For example, the saints are 8-9 over the same period.... is this cause for concern?

The problem is that a number of our players have history of declaring themselves right to play when they are clearly not. Most recently Hibberd and Lever against West Coast and Brown against Sydney are examples of players who have subsequently missed games by trying to play through injury. Viney and Gawn are both repeat offenders, which is why I would be treading well clear of playing Gawn before round 8. I really don't care what he can add against Richmond or North - as a supposed premiership contender I expect us to win both games with or without him. I do care how he he is travelling in August and September when he will be desperately needed at 100% health and fitness. If that means missing a few games during the year, so be it.

Gawn and Lever back in full training. 🍆

Why should the general public know, right? Outside of the Club it’s nobody else’s business. Even within the Club there’s some who aren’t privy to the reasons. I don’t know about other clubs but our Club is very successful in keeping things under wraps. Speaks to the trust and respect of everyone involved.

It's actual fact. It's been well documented now that we had at least 7-8 players goes into the finals series completely under injury cloud. I mean, we legit played Petracca with a broken leg...

He won't play

Viney was working with a trainer, one on one. Must be a niggle of some kind, as didn't appear too hampered. Salem also working one on one with a trainer. Did some 200 meter easy boundary runs and some resistance training with the big rubber band, as he dragged his trainer behind him. My guess is, still a way to off full effort. Most of those out there when snapping goals, were nailing them. I think they are building to hit the Tigers hard. Quote from Roffey; A Richmond supporter ask her how they will go Anzac Eve, She implied, I wouldn't want to be Richmond.

If Schache doesn’t play Monday, I think he will 5 days later against the Roos.

We are the highest scoring team this season.

Always one to read into things... it's a nice vote of confidence for the value of James Harmes to the team when marketing are acknowledging him in the VFL...would that be driven via the FD? Or is it more around his personal circumstances?

From what I saw, he looked good. Standing tall, good hands, hopefully he can see a window, and at the main training can push hard.

Ben Brown moved ok as well: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrKQ7SsBI9d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

So I was at a stag do on Saturday which centred around a mate who's a big Dees fan. After going to one pub for some drinks we then went on another place to watch the Dees, not gonna lie it reminded me that no matter how far we've come our mighty Dees still have the great ability to ruin a party! I can't remember much because we got into a fair bit of booze, but we just looked off in all aspects. 2nd to the ball, not enough 2nd, 3rd and 4th efforts, skills not adapting to the conditions (twice we've been undone when the ball and ground is slick). I think what frustrated me was there seemed to be an element of accepting the day as a loss after a while, there didn't seem to be that hunger to come back. Anyway, alcohol (and since then a stomach virus) has managed to wipe away most of the tripe we witnessed. It makes ANZAC eve a massive match for us, it has to be a statement that we are not to be f---ed with.

Very very early days, but teams have caught up to us and have smartened up to our gameplan. The meta shift from control to fast footy is certainly in response to our and Geelong dominance. We were also lucky in '21 as we in hit top form whilst old contenders died off and new contenders were still building. Regardless, our best is still the best, we have an entire season to hit our straps. Everyone was in hysterics being 10-0 last year but frankly, this is just a more realistic position to be in. Learn our lessons now, keep our cards close, and sky is the limit come September.

Tbh the 10-0 run last year papered over so many cracks. We aren’t playing our best at the min but we have showed decent form in most games, not Lions which we were bad but the druggies game I thought was more how good they were. We haven’t had a consistent team yet, and it’s early. Win the next few as we should and find that edge then the second half of the season you tune into finals and hit the last 1/3rd of the year at your best and take on the finals. Our build up in 21 wasn’t flawless.

I just hope he's alright.

Fully expect us to bounce back and beat the tiges convincingly. I'm not buying into the post-loss Demonland hysteria just yet. Dons are playing pretty good footy and missing BB, Gawn and Lever was a huge issue structurally. I hope Tmac gets dropped, he's a downhill skier of the highest order and well past his best. I'd be looking at dropping Spargo too. Stay the course Dee's, its a long season and frankly I'd love to peak in the second half of the season rather than the first.

Possibly among the best threads 'opened' ... I must ask however..... where are the Cheese 'partnerships' ?? Seems an opportunity for a purveyor of fine 'boards' also. Someone is remiss in their perview of corporate allegiances at HQ.. .. pick up that ball..... Also.... what is this strange notion of 'preserving' an opened bottle. The simple rule... you open bottle. You drink bottle... possibly a carry over to the next day... Who are these infidels among us... You want an all-weeker ?...... get a goon bag and be gone !!

Just had a look at the first half on replay tonight and Gus was by far our best defender, the only one who stood up.

McVee had some ordinary disposal but the kid has got a rare timelessness about him. He needs more AFL games to develop. Bowey is struggling to impact games and get involved.