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I just realized I am in a pretty unique situation in this project. I am a MFC member of about 50 years and former Executive Director of the Club, among other roles. I am a Life Governor and member of the Foundation of Mt. Scopus College, with grand children attending the school. I am not a former student, as I went to Melbourne High School, which I am incidentally also a Life member of the MHSOBA ( the old boys association ). I am also a member of the MRC and part owner of racehorses, including one running in the last race at Caulfield this saturday, which I hope doesn't " clam up " ( a hint as to which horse ). I will see if I can engage any of the Committee for some info on Saturday, in the winner's room hopefully, after winning the last race.🤞

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Totally agree. I find the talk of a new game plan confusing. To be fair, it's been kick started by Brad Green's email where he said we would be adopting a new game plan. But what seems to have forgotten is we were trying to implement a new game last year, one that had elements of the pies 2023 method involving fast transition from the back half and a high defensive press. Last season's method was completely different to previous years, which was all about predictability, long kicks down the line to Max or another tall, deep zone defence, control the tempo etc etc. We just didn't have the cattle (too many of our best 22 missed too many games), right players (short a couple of elite kicks), or fitness, to effectively implement it. And even if we did it was always going to take time to retool the very systems based games plan we had drilled into the team since tge 2019 season. We got opened up by other teams in large part because we were trying to implement a more aggressive transition method but constantly turned the ball over. And by doing so exposed what used to be our greatest strength - our zone defence. So often they were caught out of position after a turnover, which is understandable given the structures were different and they often pressed up higher than they used to. And our poor fitness meant we were often exposed defensively by teams employing the pies transition method (basically all teams to a greater or lesser degree) because we couldn't 'defend the ground' on transition or turnover. It's worth noting in that context that for much the same reasons, Collingwood struggled to effectively implement the transition game plan they developed. And missed the finals as a result. So, I'm in total agreement - there'll be tweaks (eg Windsor to half back to generate transition) but not wholesale changes. I see last season as very similar to 2019 where we took the opportunity of a likely down year as a result of injury and sub optimal preseason to retool our method and reset (not to mention, bottom out and grab some high draft picks).

Lily is from Tasmania. I actually told Judd this was brought up in a fan forum (the suggestion Tassie might come a-hunting for both Lily and him). He laughed and said he’d wanna go to Tasmania as much as Lily would wanna go to WA. 😂

The very fact that injuries and kids have been the cards we had to deal with last year are the same reason that I am so bullish about 2025. After a tumultuous end of 2024 and pre off season with so much happening the “crisis” we had to have ( largely create d by journalistic sections of the AFL press, HeraldSun and Channel9 Footy Classified) the Club has emerged in a very fortuitous position. Finishing 14th ( about a win and 2% away from 10th) has enabled a draft pick position of 5 plus a creative prior pick for no. 9 has gifted 2 elite young ball getters with style and skills for the big time to blend with the older refreshed champs and solid good supports plus a dozen 19 to 23 year old very promising youngsters all in early stages of the years of their AFL careers help the blend to my eye that is captivating and hopefully we now play a brand of footy that inspires this combination to scale the dizzy Flag heights of the 2021 heroes with fast fearless and brave standards to match. Off field changes in personnel in Board and Coaching, settlement of club matters, and the promise of a new Committee approach with new life and direction are enticing for our future. Recent Progress in our Training and Administration development also has put a spring into Club steps after a long period of possibilities being dust binned for various reasons. While results ultimately determine progress and success the ground work now being laid is a great response in 3 months lead by interim President Brad Green and the existing Board. There is no doubt some AFL experts and even some of our own fans are writing us off the Top 4 and Premiership contenders list when you analyse seriously there is no reason believe our window has ended. Fortune with injuries and a very comfortable looking fixture will play a part if our dreams are to be realised. I get the feeling we are all reunited and that all feel that there is a great opportunity yo bounce back while we have an exciting and new list of unknown potential. Youth in the early 50’s led our revival and I can’t wait for 2025 to test our tyros and hardened elders in the season upcoming. Check the current odds we are now at and if you are a betting person place a lazy $50 or $100 strategically on some success next year. Good Luck and Go Dees.

Dude please don’t make personal attacks like this or you won’t ever be allowed to post here again. That goes for everyone. Do not personally attack posters on here. Play the ball not the man.

I was at training today and the reports seem very accurate to me regarding how individual players went. Perhaps one that hasn't been mentioned enough is Clarrie. There have been lots of comments over the preseason saying he's out of condition and carrying too much weight. Well from what I've seen that's not strictly the case. He's not ripped like he was in 2021 but he's still in very good condition and he is working extremely hard and pushing himself to the limit. I reckon that as long as he maintains focus over the Christmas break by the start of the season he'll be really fit. He looks to have got that initial speed back and the ability to find a bit of space in congestion. His disposal today was very good on a day where a lot struggled to hit a target. On that, I reckon today was the first time I've seen them in a true contested situation and hence the disposal skills were down as there was a lot more pressure on the ball carrier. It was good today but it's early in the PS. Secondly, I've been to a lot of PS training sessions over the last few years and every year I read that we are going "more direct" and using the corridor more. I've not noticed any difference in the way we've used the ball in the full field drills so it will be interesting to see. On other players: Langford got caught a couple of times, a good thing I say, better to learn the pace of the game in PS than during the game. He works really hard around the ground. Concerns expressed about his pace don't seem evident and he's building nicely. Sparrow looks a lot more involved than he was last year, he's moving very well and kicking it well. Tmac was, again, very good today. Those thinking he'll play at Casey need to reconsider. I was also impressed with Fullarton today, he was strong and involved and kicked very well. Fritta looked a class above on occasions, strong in the contest an elite with his goal kicking. May had an opportunity to send Tmac into next year at one stage and thankfully made a decision to avoid contact. I reckon Tmac will buy him a bunch of flowers as a thank you! AJ has impressed but he learned a lesson today. In the handball drill he decided that the best option was just to run through Clarrie but he learned that's not all that easy. Lots of smiles and laughs when Clarrie helped him up. I like AJ, looks a ripper bloke and has lots of good attributes. It's a crowded forward line for talls but he's in the conversation. Looking forward to Friday, hope JvR is there, missed today but hopefully nothing in it.

Yeah, the turnover ‘issue’ is interesting. Based on what I saw today, and I say this with some reserved trepidation, is that there’s a quasi-return to the 2021/2022 game style. We seemed to have a lot of emphasis put on the ‘catch and roll’ out of the D50 and we want to put pace on the ball, while going direct to goal. I’d also suspect that we see AJ fulfilling that tall forward role à la BB circa 2021 (not necessarily saying we’ll get the same return, but in a reference to structure). So while I’d say there’s been a return to hunting the footy (see Goody’s comments r.e., ‘hunting the ball’), which in turn has resulted in a high pressure contest, you commentary regarding poor kicks is spot on. Those with poor technique/poor judgement stood out, and that leads into the issue regarding using those players to transition out of the D50. However, I’m cognisant of the artificiality of the scenario and would also note that some of these users will not be in our weekly 22, unless of course there’s mitigating scenarios. Tmac’s ball use was visibly a cut above many today, and his ability to hit a target around the ground is uncanny. The others that impressed today with their use were Turner and Windsor, Tracc also had some very nice passages though I’ve always thought Tracc’s around the ground work is fairly sublime, it’s his entry work and conversion kicking that leaves something to be desired at times. I was a tad disappointed that XL was in the recovery/injured group. Would’ve loved to see him with the ball in the full ground drills. I’m very keen to see him in full flight though, I think we’ve done nicely with the XL/Langford/Kolt/Windsor combo.

1980’s. Team Manager in 1970’s. Member of Club Foundation. Founded a supporters group, started the first club magazine, did some recruiting and other roles over the years. That is a summary.

TAHLIA GILLARD. HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY Wow. What a pick !!! Pick 42 in the 2021 draft. Since then she has come a long way. Tahlia has gone on to be a great competitor, key defender, part time ruck and importantly a superstar person off the field. Such great achievements already as a premiership player and recognised as a rising star as well as underage best team honours. She is a definite future leader. Hope she has many many more years in the red and blue. A nice long contract please. Tahls standing tall. 💥 Tahlia Gillard is joint leader of spoils this year with 44 spoils … 2024 equal league highest. 👊 #DemonSpirit https://www.facebook.com/MELBOURNEfc/videos/aflw-round-9-rising-star-nominee-tahlia-gillard-/631905642015319/ https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1656196/wk-3-post-match-interview-tahlia-gillard?videoId=1656196&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1726381496001

no he was hiding behind a picket fence.

The idea of Windsor off half-back seems totally logical to me. With a bigger tank, and more physical maturity and experience (to defend), why wouldn’t we (like Judd McVee) put him somewhere where he can generate attacking play earlier? Wing is essentially a link role, half back is a generator role, and we need that, with speed. I expect his kilometres covered to increase this season, and halfback will allow that - colour me excited.

Great article if-you-can-see-it-you-can-be-it-melbourne-demons-recruit-ricky-mentha-jnr-from-alice-springs-aims-to-inspire He has entered very familiar environment: stayed with May and Pickett last year now living with Viney, overseen by Whelan and playing with his Gippsland captain: XL. Doesn't get much better than that for a draftee! A real compliment to Whelan: "(He) ... as Indigenous welfare development manager and is widely regarded as one of the best in the business". Has to be good for us in Alice that we have a local lad on our list. Ricky and Kozzie will be very popular when we play there next year.

I have two jobs SL, but I’m lucky in that I can mostly choose my own hours and that means I can get to training on a regular basis. I work around Demon Army stuff, matches and training coz I want to and coz I can.

A few observations from this morning (noting I wasn’t there for the whole session). I arrived at around 1015 and the squad was already out on the track. The rehab group consisted of XL, McAdam, Melksham, Spargo and Sestan. Lever was also on restricted duties and appeared to be in runners. The main group was doing end-to-end transition work in a simulated match situation. Ball movement was focused on moving the ball from a kick in, into the forward line, with focus on kicking to the advantage of a forward. In this drill it appeared Petty was playing as a forward alongside Luka and Turner, while TMac was a defender. I was unable to really see down the other end from where I was positioned, but Pickett also played as a forward linking player, along side Ricky. Ricky Mentha does some nice things, though there were a few times he was caught as a result of not taking the first option, or getting corralled on the boundary line as a result of attempting to use his pace and quicksteps to get around a defending player. For this exercise it seemed as though Trac was designated as a ‘no-contact’ player and had the high-vis vest adorned. I will say, the intensity was there. But, I thought the ball movement for the most part left a lot to be desired, particularly with the linking possession from the D50 into the centre or onto a wing. There were multiple turnovers, or failure to hit a target, which resulted in an ‘opposition’ score. FWIW, I’m not saying this is a doom and gloom worst preseason ever type of scenario, but I am calling it on the body of work I saw. Similarly, there were numerous kicks into the attacking F50 that went straight to a defender, including several uncontested efforts. In terms of some ‘positives’, Petracca does look very, very fit. His lateral movement was amazing at times, and he was extremely vocal. I‘m not going to make a judgement on what this means for anything post 2025, but undoubtedly his professionalism will get him through next season whatever the outcome. He looks raring to go. Turner did some nice things up forward, including a very nice roving goal from spilt contested mark. I think he’ll be a very handy addition up forward and will continue to impact. Chocco was also issuing some very vocal encouragement to Kenterfield (who, is absolutely massive). Hore could, in all likelihood, easily fulfil a depth role. He had some great moments including a goal saving spoil and fitted in seamlessly next to TMac as a defender. Langford is definitely a big boy. I’m beyond excited to see what he can do. In the full ground exercise he contested multiple marking contests and although he probably should’ve stuck a couple of the marks, he was at least able to ensure that the ball was brought to ground, rather than allowing his opponent to make a contested mark. He seemed to be playing as a marking half-forward and in a few of the plays I saw, seemed to be used as a marking runner from a kick-in. In terms of an early bolter for next year, I think we may see a big uptick in output from Kolt. Geez, he’s got some wheels on him and I was really surprised by his pace and ability to transition the ball. He’s a lot quicker than he looks on tv, and he’s got an uncanny ability to pick up the ball and roll with it. I was somewhat reticent on him, but I was very impressed from what I saw. The second exercise saw the group split into two and move into another contested ball movement exercise. Essentially the ball was brought in from one end of the ‘centre square’ (the exercise only utilised approx 25 x 10 in terms of a simulated centre square), by a ‘random’ player, and then a series of quick handballs were made in attempt to bring the ball to a coach on the other side of the ‘square’. Goodwin and Jones were the two ‘linesman’ for the group I observed. Petracca fully participated in this exercise, including contact, and was extremely vocal. He chased energetically, and once again his lateral movement was on full display. Several times the players were vocally reminded to ‘hunt the ball’ by Goodwin. I left not long after this exercise concluded. I’ll add more if anything pops into my mind, though I acknowledge this lacks a lot of depth like we see from our usual track watches.

This. I spoke to Tayla at the B&F on Saturday, she told me she wanted to stay, but it wasn't up to her. Going by Todd Paterson's comments, I take that as Tayla telling me the truth. Regardless, I'm pleased she's staying, and I daresay so is she.

Those expecting a new game plan are likely to be disappointed. I’d say we’ll tweak it but I can’t see wholesale changes.

I don't know that it'll be completely different. Time will tell, will probably have to wait for matches to start. What I've taken from training reports is that there seems to be more clarity about the game plan, about what's expected, and what people's roles are. With that comes more intent and better application. Feels like we lost our way a bit with all that last season - though equally, having key playmakers out/compromised through injury, plus paying a lot of kids, can't have helped.

The training reports this off-season have been hands-down the best ever on DL Well done to you all, too many to point out but you know who you are. They are varied from the trivial to the factual and I love both. After all the negativity and bickering at the end of the season it is great to get back some excitement and positivity THANK YOU TRAINING REPORTERS!

Observations from today: Anyone who worries about the 3 ‘wantaways’ should get down to training- i have no doubt all 3 are focused, committed and in for a big year. Trac Coaching and leading from the sidelines. The tackle that Clarrie laid (see GW’s post above) and Kossie owning the footy in drills. Fullarton looked really good forward of the ball today and in contested drills - although he was brought down by Howes in one play like a lion about to feast on a gazelle. Also impressing(apart from the usual suspects): Billing’s, Kentfield, Johnson. Aim to use the corridor as first priority in drills. Melk running really fast repeat sets. Sestan also running, grabbed for hammy at one stage. All rehab boys doing agility and ball receiving work. Spargo kicking the ball to them. Seen chatting to Choco - Gary Lyon and Bill Browless’s boy (big lad with a mop of hair that his dad would die to have!) Choco sharpened up KW#34’s kicking at goal with a slight ball drop adjustment and momentum shift and he began toi hit them beautifully. Trac was frustrated with his snapos around the body, and Choco gave him a few gentle Tils and he was back on track again. A nice day for it. Happy to answer any questions.

So basically, if we take everyone at their word (though the Hawks haven't had much to say). Tayla wanted to stay. Hawks approached us, promised a high pick. The club were willing but only for a certain number. Cue much back and forth and attempts to do mega trades. These fall through. Hawks won't give what they implied they would. The club refuses to give Tayla up for a packet of chips a la Carlton. Tayla stays. The media put out click-baity headlines about why she wanted to go. Fin.

Mate, we might have been happy to shop her for a first round pick… ”you don’t need clubs like that, !” This is a business and Tayla is a great human being, a Demon flag hero, an excellent athlete and footy player, and I am glad she will be a demon a little while longer.

No more discussion on private schools…..that is not what this thread is about. Any further posts will be deleted.

Never in doubt! We were right to stick to our guns. There was no point giving her away cheaply. All said and done, she's still #1 all-time for total contested marks and marks i50 in the league. That's not something to under-value in competition where contested marking is still developing. Onwards and upwards! Some quotes from list manager Todd Patterson here: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1263248/tayla-harris-to-stay-at-melbourne-demons-after-shift-in-hawthorn-hawks-negotiations "We worked tirelessly to try to improve our list and assist other clubs' outcomes during this Trade Period. It's unfortunate that things have transpired so publicly, but we sit really comfortably with how we have operated over the last week and a half," Patterson said. "I think the best of Tayla Harris is still to come," Patterson said. "She's one of the most resilient people that I've met and I know that if anybody can come through this and be their best, it's Tayla. I have absolute certainty that, with the quality of people we have, no one is better placed to support her in that."

Turnovers will be the single biggest issue this year. 2021 - 6th worst 2022 - 10th worst 2023 - 1st worst 2024 - 3rd worst If we play a fast transition game and are in the worst 6 for turnover we will have the same result as this year. Its not like they havent been training skills and kicking their entire lives. Some good games, some cringe worthy games. So imo, its not just a matter of who's playing and fit (though that will help) the game plan needs to get uncontested ball into the hands of our better kicks. That means less of some players running past asking for a handball receive amd more of some others.

Riley Bonner confirmed.

What, you are killing our Captain?

he shouldn't have got 3 weeks in the first case thanks to moore for dropping his knees at last moment

Disappointing for Fullarton that he wasn't selected for the Essendon and Freo game where we didn't have a ruck. We got away with it against Essendon in the wet but we were annihilated in the ruck against Freo. Surely he could've provided a better contest than Petty against Freo. Didn't see much of Casey this year but did watch him kick 2 goals along with 25 possessions and 8 marks at Punt Road on Anzac Eve which is a solid day's work for a ruck/forward or a forward/ruck. He must have been close to selection at that stage.

That is very uncalled for Dr. gonzo and very cringe worthy. Perty is very smart and professional and he is working for Us.!!

3 Daveys and 3 whites…

He's a contracted top 5 player in the comp. if they want him, they will have to pay our asking price, or he'll stay a demon, end of story. Why on earth would we accept less than the typical asking price of a super star player? It would clearly be the clubs preference to keep him, that's why we signed him to a long term deal, to grant leverage in exactly this scenario.

If we can win another flag, while clubs like the Dogs, Lions, Suns & Pies have raided the last 5 years highest ranked draftees... Then it will be a monumental effort and would probably supercede the drought breaking flag (Even leaving aside the venue topic) Everything has been and is against us. Probably a pretty uncontroversial opinion Go Dees!!

Or they thought we would cave in. Very happy we didn’t. Welcome back Tayla!

One of the players causing turnovers was Windsor. He closes quickly and is able to get the finger tips to the ball. The reading of the play is a great asset, then he gets the ground ball, drives and steps, and finds a link. He will make a good attacking defender alongside McVee.

Agree. I'd be half the man I am if not for pies and sausage rolls.

I know what you mean, skill errors, especially under pressure, are going to happen. I see them not transitioning well when the turnover occurs. I hope they work hard on that, as well as the skills. At the moment most turnovers lead to easy ball movement by the chasing team. A few like Kossie, put pressure on after they turn it over. Then there are the dropped heads, Adam, Howes, Verrall, Kentfield. I particularly like the players who don't do two in a row, Kolt, Langford to name a couple of young ones, and oldies like May, Chandler, Tracc, with that headset. Langford is very interesting, he just gets on with it, very little apparent stress, from any mistakes. Like he knows there will be mistakes, as you say, and it is the next opportunity that he appears to be looking forward to, Cool Customer.

Well you are a lucky guy having the track watchers reporting for you. Enjoy!!! (by the way I am usually in the same boat re work)

because I have a job and dont receive welfare benefits allowing me the time to attend training to ask a 19 year old if a 20 year old is happy with his missus.

And that gym will be in Victoria 😜 Kalani’s girlfriend is QLD born and bred but wouldn’t have a problem with relocating to Melbourne. She likes warm weather but likes cold weather just as much since she lurves her a warm tracksuit, in particular, warm tracky daks. Melbourne ticks all those boxes 😂 He signs his name with #34 as a “recent addition” Will it be a permanent addition? We’ll have to wait and see. But a smile and a wink speaks volumes, to me anyways. edit: Kalani is staying at Geoff Porz’s house with Luker and Kolt, although Kolt stays at his girlfriend’s place often. Kalani is happy and comfortable living there. He likes that the other two boys live there as well.

He tried to run through Clarrie in a handball drill today. He learned a lesson. He looked good, Clarrie looked great.

Just noticed this on the club website - VFL | New names at Casey Fields in 2025 New Players Mitch Hardie (Geelong) A strong addition to our midfield, Mitch Hardie comes to us from Geelong, having spent the past two years on their AFL list. Known for his strength around stoppages and in the contest, Mitch is an inside midfielder who can also hit the scoreboard when needed. His vast experience will bring leadership and resilience to the club, making him a key figure in our midfield for the 2024 season. Deakyn Smith (North Melbourne VFL) Returning to the club, Deakyn Smith is back after an outstanding 2023 season where he won the Casey Demons Best and Fairest (B&F) award. A running half-back with the ability to score and contribute offensively, Deakyn is also a formidable one-on-one player. His strong understanding of the club and its culture will no doubt make him an essential player for our defensive line and beyond. We welcome Deakyn back with open arms, and his leadership will be vital in the upcoming season. Jai Culley (West Coast Eagles) A local talent hailing from Langwarrin, Jai Culley joins us after being selected as the first pick in the 2022 mid-season draft by West Coast. Standing at 194cm, Jai is a powerful inside midfielder with excellent stoppage skills and the ability to impact the scoreboard, as demonstrated when he kicked 4 goals in round 6 of the 2023 AFL season. His physical presence in the midfield and his knack for getting the ball in key moments will be an asset to our squad. Re-signings Paddy Cross We are thrilled to announce the re-signing of Paddy Cross, the versatile wingman who can also play midfield and contribute on the scoreboard. After a challenging period of injuries, Paddy is poised for a fresh start this season, and if he enjoys an injury-free pre-season, he could be like a new recruit for the club. His run and carry will be essential to our midfield and wing rotations. Kai Windsor After an exceptional 2023 season, Kai Windsor has re-signed with the club for the 2025 season. Having played 15 games last year, Kai showed immense growth, especially after taking a break from football in the previous two years. Primarily operating on the half-forward line, Kai’s continued development at the VFL level will be a critical factor in the team’s success. We are excited to see him continue to flourish in the upcoming season. New Young Players to Watch Patrick Ireland Patrick Ireland is one to watch for the future, having kicked an impressive 111 goals for Buln Buln in the Ellinbank & District League. Standing at 193cm, Patrick is a mid-sized forward with a knack for finding the ball both on the ground and in the air. His strong hands and great lead, paired with his excellent goal sense, make him a player to watch as he transitions into the higher levels of the game. Tyson Sruk Tyson Sruk joins the Demons after spending time on Carlton's VFL list. Though he didn’t play a VFL game in 2024, Tyson’s impressive performances in the Coates League Grand Final, where he was named Best on Ground, show his potential. A local Rowville player, Tyson is strong across half-back or in midfield and will add depth to the club’s defensive and midfield rotations. Chance Doultree A new recruit from Traralgon in the Gippsland League, Chance Doultree brings a wealth of experience from higher-grade football, with previous stints at Footscray VFL and Norwood SANFL. A speedy half-forward, Chance averaged 23 possessions per game in Traralgon’s premiership season, combining quick pace with a strong sense of goal. We look forward to seeing Chance make an impact on the scoreboard and in forward pressure situations. Looking Forward With these exciting new additions, re-signings, and young stars, the Casey Demons are well-positioned to make a significant impact in the upcoming season. We are eager to see how the fresh talent integrates with the club’s existing squad and what they will bring to the table. The club’s future is bright, and with a mixture of experienced players and dynamic newcomers, we can’t wait for what’s to come.Stay tuned for more updates.

My read of Patterson's comments in that article is the Hawks' renegged on early discussions to put up pick 14 as part of the deal. When asked whether pick 14 was ever put on the table by Hawthorn, Patterson replied: "There were some preliminary, informal discussions which were directly related to some of the decisions we made early in the Trade Period. "We thought there was going to be an outcome that lined up with our strategy. That shifted at a point in time during the Trade Period. Once it opened, it became evident that was no longer the case." Hawthorn declined to comment when approached by AFL.com.au on Wednesday.

I think the way we use Windsor off half back will be pretty similar to how the Giants use Lachie Whitfield.

I think Howes and Adam are on the edge of experiencing the blues. Expectations, uncertainty, knowledge of what it takes, living up to that, and the associated anxiety. Adams (though hasn't had a game at AFL level) looks great at times, powerful and confident, expressing leadership qualities and then he has drops in confidence. Howes has regularly been having errors of handling and disposal in sims and drills. He is moving very smoothly and getting opportunities with the ball. I wonder, what is going on? Hope, as you say the coaches get around them and are clear in explaining roles and what they need to work on.

Clarry is fit, happy to outrun others in sprints. Getting heavily involved in the sims. They were getting them to make and hit leads over the back and running towards goal. They are hitting each other hard and willingly in the drills. Petty slammed Tracc backwards and onto ground with a don't argue. That got them going hard at each other with plenty of intensity, during one of the handball games. Goody's words, something along, doing like we ask you makes a much better, and easier drill. When doing the drills without shape it led to being caught in tight spaces. When following the correct patterns and structures they moved the ball to the open spaces, and with better completions. Wings in the sims, included Sparrow, Billings, Langers and Woey. Sparrow is running the rails without too much strain, looking trim. McVee was everywhere. I saw him start with ball on the defensive point post, then he finished the play off in the half-forward area inside the 50. Heading to being one of our elites. Petty was used forward and back. Kossie had the different coloured bib on (the linking player), later it was Tracc. Kossie got picked off few times, but got to the contest and impacted after the error. I like his ability to see ahead of himself. Working hard on being a playmaker. Jefferson had a great session, hands are sticky, kicking snaps with confidence, and finding separation out the back. Bowser is our best field kick, hitting some incredibly hard passes. Many are still floating the ball, not Bowser, gets the ball to the player, flat and direct. Salem is not far behind, with beautiful kicks. Mentha likes to dance with the ball, got caught a few times, love his cheekiness/bravado to take them on. Rivers got picked off a few times as well. They were playing down the corridor, with high reward, high risk sims. Turner is another looking good. Moving fast, getting separation and appears set for a big year. Fritta is also playing well. Very fit, even strong as he cleans the defenders away from the contest. Goaling is a natural, effortless action. Adams and Howes are making a few errors. May is starting plenty of plays off the backline. His fitness is improving. Langford and Kolt (looking bigger), also made a few errors. Turnovers will kill us. JVR was not out there today. Tmac had some strapping on his right shoulder, moving well. Lever, a patella support on his left leg, running with intensity at times. Hard extensive session. They are being put through their paces.

It’s definitely a case of orange vest = player in focus. Kozzie’s been training well all along but geez he was killing it while wearing the orange vest. The way he moves… it’s a joy to watch. You can almost feel his confidence rising to an even higher level. On the subject of confidence, Shane’s confidence is building more and more with each session. He’s really come out of himself. His uncle Jeremiah was there along with another family member which made him really happy. They’re visiting from Fitzroy Crossing where Shane is from. Uncle Jeremiah said I should visit sometime. I got sunstroke just thinking about it. 🥵