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I went to the training yesterday and I'm sorry i can't give any better reports than whats already been posted as I struggled to actually identify who was who, especially if they didn't have a number on their back - I'm old and the eyesight is not what it used to be! The boys started a bit early than what was advertised, maybe because of the heat. I got there at 0915 and they were already out. It was a stifling hot day and they trained for a solid 2 1/2 hours. It didn't matter if a player was fully fit or in some sort of rehab, they trained for the entire time, whether it was on a bike or running laps, or the main groups. Of all the players there, I REALLY enjoyed watching Mentha. Yes, he made a couple of mistakes but he was silky smooth and ran hard ALL day, despite the heat. If we were to lose Kossi, he would slip straight in. At the autograph session I told him how much I enjoyed watching him train - he was stoked and shook my hand. A delightful young man who I hope gets his chance. After training the boys were knackered, as were most of us in the crowd from just watching them in the heat. It had been advertised on the MFC website that after training the boys would do a signing session. After training an announcement came over the PA for us to line up on the fence at the grounds main entrance, so we all did. EVERY player, despite being exhausted from training, were given pens and signed anything that was put in front of them. They took photos with fans and had a chat as well. I'm sure all they wanted to do was get in the shower or ice bath, but they took the time to look after the fans - they were simply awesome. VERY proud to be a long time member of the MFC.

I was there, but if there's a worse place to watch footy than Casey I haven't found it. There were 5 in the main rehab group, namely Gawn, Petracca, Fullarton, Woewodin and Lever. Laurie was running laps by himself, as was Jefferson. Chandler, as has been reported, had his arm in a sling. Lindsay did a bit of lap running later on. Some of the ''rehab 5'' participated in non contact drills and ball movement at the beginning of training, but when the more intense contest work started they retreated to the boundary and did short kicking to a player being hindered and bumped before they broke away for the short hitup. This was interspersed with lap running. The match sims mainly comprised of getting the ball out of D50 through either the wings, or a 45 kick through the middle. Generally the skills were pretty good, but no team would be training without the odd turnover. Once there was a turnover the forwards were spotted with passes or there were long kicks to advantage. Players swapped from white tops to red and back again. On multiple occasions. And with many wearing caps it's not easy to pick up every player all the time. The players I noticed the most were Viney, who stands out. But he was also very involved. Windsor is used a lot, moves fast and looks confident. He missed the odd target, but looks great and generally uses it well. I like Kynan Brown, but he did make a few poor decisions. But he does enough good stuff to not sweat a few errors. He's a second year player, after-all. And these errors were split seconds kicks in congestion, which was part of the drill. Billings got leather poisoning. He's good when he's dancing with his sister. Mentha surprised me. He looked better than I expected, but did cough it up under pressure. With small forwards it's AFL pressure that makes or breaks them. Too early to tell. Tom McDonald looks very good and dependable down back. Bowey got stacks of it and played in defence. May was the general and intercepted well. Rivers played midfield and looks assured. Oliver is definitely leaner and fitter. He still has his big physique, but it's much closer to normal. Was involved without being dominant. I love the look of Langford. He moves really nicely, marks well and just has that class most left footers possess. He and Rivers spent time on each other. He'll be fine competing against men from day one such is his strength and build. The only other player I wanted to mention was Salem. He was moving really nicely and looked like the 2021 version. He just looks fit and unhampered. Even when he played last year he didn't look right. May used him a lot as that first 20 metre outlet kick from deep defence along with Bowey. I didn't see Pickett and I didn't notice McVee, but he may have been there.

I literally just drove by Ikon Park and yelled out ‘put your knobs away’ - but it wasn’t me, my cars been hacked. I immediately disabled my vehicle, and engaged legal counsel.

Interesting take today from Sam Manure on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, and what his immediate playing future looks like, given he has not been training with the team, and the Bulldogs granting him leave for personal reasons. I do hope everything is okay with Jamarra but let's face it, if he was at Melbourne, Manure would be screaming "CULTURE PROBLEM AT THE CLUB!"

Don’t you just hate it when a hacker gets into your X account and all they do is upload a singular image of your hammer from your mobile phone.

Immediate playing future. That's not a phrase you're ever happy to hear when used in relation to a player in the team you support - particularly one of the team's best players.

Bloody smart cars.

I hope that was a tongue in cheek comment (emoji’s are your friend), however, and just in case it wasn’t, you know what they say…’if you want something done properly, do it yourself.’

Great photos. Looks like plenty of support. Doesnt look like a club imploding Tom Morris will be disappointed. Muscle definition seems better than previous years so that seems a positive. Clayton must be the whitest man on the squad. Did he use sun screen all over?

Looks like a finals training!...

Replace Jamarra with Oliver and Western Bulldogs with Melbourne and I reckon the exact same tweet went out last off season

This be what they're talkin' about...

All those fans..... where are the reports?

Thanks Gator, Mr Moose, Demonland and all posters and special comments love the training reports as well, nice to see so many turn out at Casey despite the hot conditions.👏👏👏

Really disappointing to hear about Brown. Out of all the young first and 2nd year players, i had him down for a break out season. Big big fan of young Kynan..

I'd rather get all the mistakes out of the way in pre season so the more mistakes the better.

Think he’s got to worry about Bobbitt’s razor

Typical crude comment asking the GOAT to leave Tony Jones should be stood down.

Oh how I’d love if he were to face and beat Novak. I mean it would be soo awesome.

Should have been school holiday assignments handed out to the kids to write a training report

Interesting comments re Ricky Mentha, I noticed him last week at Gosch’s during the confined space keeping’s off routine. Some of his footwork in heavy traffic was so impressive I had to get the phone out to double check who he was. Very Pickett like, I thought. Still might need a full season in the VFL to be ready to go.

Luke getting his Ikon Park and Icon Nightclub WhatsApp groups mixed up again. Honest mistake.

I went to that game. Loved it. Brought back memories of going there in the 70s and early 80s. (I went to the footy every week in, I think 1979, with a mate who supported the roos. We used to alternate dees and roos games so I saw plenty of games at Arden Street that year). It's on my side of town, so I'm absolutely wrapt the praccy match is at Arden Street. I'm a lock.

Will Varrell..

looks like Skull Murphy from World Championship Wrestling.

Apparently we're off to Arden Street for a praccy match on potentially Saturday 22 February. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1262861/full-schedule-broadcast-details-tickets-on-sale-for-afl-practice-games-and-match-simulations-ahead-of-2025-season The last time we played North at Arden Street in a practice match, we had a bit of a minor pandemic a couple of weeks later....

I love these reports. Please keep them coming. What I struggle with is the idea that players won't make mistakes while training. If that were the case, it would suggest our defensive pressure isn't good enough! So, while I appreciate every training report, I also recognise that if all we ever heard was that the onballers and forwards were dominating, I'd be worried about our defence.

Yes. I didn't notice him much. That said, it seemed to be defensive-centric. Not many forwards stood out.

Thanks Gater. Did McAdem participate in the sim?

I just really wanted to use the thumbs down response for the first time. I feel like Caesar.

I did notice yesterday Vines is growing a rather Todd-like mullet himself, I think soon he’ll need the Todd headband! Complete the look of his old man :)

Magnificent appraisal thanks very much,,from the fishing/surfing ICON at Port Fairy P.F

It's also disappointing that the new draftees don't have their photos on the MFC website against their jumper numbers.

West coast not exactly flying on the old culture front either. Not a peep though

Fantastic…. Stories about other clubs issues are fine by me, can we just fly under the radar for a bit please!

Alex Diminaur wearing red and blue socks. Go Demon!

Normally with the wording of the article it’s always relating to one thing.

If I stopped posting you'd have nothing to complain about.

The problem with Chompers is he thinks he's the funniest person in the room. If Spud was still with us he would absolutely eviscerate Chomp.

PF. Enjoy port fairy. Envious it's 3C where I am, home in 22 days

Why does Djokovic always try and play the victim card? I know it’s that twerp Tony Jones, but show a bit of backbone mate. Stick it right up the muppet.

tennis on one screen, ashes on another, demonland on a third this is why oztraya rules

And go home Djokovic - the sooner the better.

Thank God it only felt like 32.8° when it was actually 33°

That was like watching Occam's razor and confirmation bias arm wrestle.

what a terrible shame.