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Struggled through the last kilometre but did it in 14.50. Have been walking and doing light jogs for three weeks after an otherwise light year. Next time I'll take Saty's scooter.

Enjoy. flash ==> http://six6six.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=46823254&AlbumKey=5SpdKQ html5 ==> http://six6six.smugmug.com/Sports/Training-Wednesday-1712015/n-GRPrK/i-VvkLjxj/A

In the oppressive humidity I went around Princes Park in a touch over 35 mins. Had to stop for a latte, helped a lovely young lady dress some blisters on her ankles and patted a couple of friendly poodles. Then I parked my car.

I did from the corner of Hoddle St and Victoria Parade to Troy Music in Footscray in 59 minutes on my scoot, does that count?

we've all suffered over the years re the dees. It goes without saying. But FFS we're not a club that can afford have too many "passionate" supporters signing up only in the good years.

You're either on or you're not. We are a club not a bandwagon, we need your support sign up now, everyone in my house of 4 is a paid member and that includes the Pie supporting son and the Bluebagger wife

Is it? And you don't have to buy a membership until you desire to (if ever), I know there would be a lot of people waiting to buy memberships but you are baiting and flaming those on here who have already paid up by inferring we are a bunch of losers for paying up to watch a bunch of losers. The fact is that thousands of us, deep down, would never not buy a membership - call it an idiot tax, I don't know. I believe that success is the reward for my support, not the other way around.

Most important players. N.Jones - dominant midfielder and our most important player. L.Dunn - general of the backline and absolute monster. J.Hogan - and I only say Hogan because I have no faith in Dawes. M.Jamar - at best gives mids first use. Big presence. D.Tyson - takes the heat of N.Jones and provides our midfield with class. Players important to our improvement as a side. C.Salem - adds class, toughness and poise around the packs. Actually, Salem adds everything, he is the perfect footballer. J.Viney - important Jack leads the way for our youth, it will be up to Viney to lead the second tier. Jack is that guy. J.Toumpas - should bring that competitive edge, Toumpas will push the next gen of players and he won't let them get ahead of him, screams X-factor. C.Petracca - I only add Petracca because I think - Salem aside - that Petracca is our best chance of developing into a once in a generation player. J.Watts - thown in Watts because I believe J.Watts will rapidly improve this year and beyond. Mentally - and physically - Watts always needed time, this kid will be a star. All in all, I think we have a flag winning list, but these kids will take another 1-2 years, we'll push finals in 2016 and could win a flag as early as 2017.

You'll be watching it whether you're signed up or not... my youngest son and I are both signed up and traveling down to Melbourne from Sydney to watch the opening round (my son's birthday present). The club needs members in order to survive when it is going through rough times, so fair-weather supporters just don't cut it in my book; you're either in for the whole journey or you may as well find another club to follow.

Yes, if we are talking about the Most Important Players then those players are already ones that are playing solid footy, if we are talking about the Most Important Players to Help Us Improve then I would be looking at; 1. a prospective midfield regular who can help Jones, Tyson, Cross, Viney, and Vince and play consistently near their level, 2. a HBF who can be damaging with his skills and run, 3. a small forward who can keep the ball down there and snag a few, 4. a tall forward to help Dawes straighten us up, and 5. another mid to help the aforementioned overworked players if not at their level... 1. [No Player looks ready for this] 2. Lumumba 3. Garlett 4. Hogan 5. Newton Due to their being no midfielder ready to step up to the level of the Jones and co., I will add another mid to help out with Newton, and I think that player could be Bail on a wing through HF in the rotation. 6. Bail.

I most certainly do not want him anywhere near the team. If you can't a kick a football, you can't be play AFL, and he certainly cannot.

1) Max Gawn - Jamar and Max have both done full pre-season to date we really need Max to command the number 1 ruck spot 2) Toumpas - Been written off by far too many far too early. Body is right and he is ready to shine. 3) Dom Tyson - Performed better last year than even the most optimistic supporter could have expected. Come on again like that this season and we have one of the best midfielders in the comp. 4) Newton / Mitchie / Pig Dog -one or two of these guys to cement a spot in the side and we really do have competition for midfield rotations 5) Hogan - We don't need a Coleman or Jackovich first season but 40+ goals would be lovely

I know dazzledavey36 from the Demonland/Demonology inter forum games and if he couldn't do 12-13 minutes for a 3k, I'd be surprised. Fifteen minutes is 5 minutes per kilometre pace. I could manage that and I'm 65.Edit: I don't expect to be drafted any time soon.

1: Maximus Gawn- could be anything, number one ruck, having an impact resting forward. Will demand a key defender. The more I look back at his 2014 games the more I realise he is something special 2: Hogan- all good saying let's not put pressure on him, but he is soooo important to our rise up the ladder. Direction, goals, prescence, he changes our game plan. If him and Gawn can earn the 2 best defenders then it allowes Dawes a weaker opponent. 3: Lamumba- Fast ball movement! That is going to be the single biggest factor improving our performance. M.Jones and Bail make me cry when they take a mark and push back 20m, look, wait, look, kick long down the line. Harry's game is exactly what we need. Gives our forwards a chance one out! 4: Viney- I actually think he could be part of our big 3 of Jones, Tyson, Viney this year. In my mind he has the lot. Speed, strength, aggression, skill. When on he is a possession accumulater, a leader, and a game changer. I hope he can follow in Selwoods foot steps, big call as he is the highest of elite. 5: Watts- we improve, he improves. A stronger mid field and faster movement could make all the difference with jack. I watched round 1 the other day and he was sensational. I know it's every possibility he will never become a dominant player, but he has the weapons to do it and i think a 10% improvement in jack watts this year pushes melbourne up towards 8-10th I don't think the performance of any top 5 players in a club is anywhere near as important as the improvement of a bottum 5 through development or replacement of personal, which I think we have done. Have the same naive feeling each year, but I think we could jump right up this year

Living on the other side of the world hasn't stopped me and my family from signing up for 2015. In fact, this is year #10 of being an international member. If you're dedicated enough to have ~650 posts on a forum dedicated to this team, you have to also be dedicated enough to sign up to support them financially. DO IT!

What a spiteful, snide effort. People are dead and you use it for a failed point-scoring exercise. #takealonghardlookinthemirrorclown

The only one I will absolutely rule out is Mike's Top 50.

15mins for 3km is a shocking time for an AFL player and even a 12min 3km for a full time athlete would be very much frowned upon. The elite runners at AFL level should be going around the 3 min km pace and even under but on average I would expecting playes at this level to be running at 3.30-3.45 per km pace

1. Hogan 2. Toumpas 3. Salem 4. Gawn 5. Frost

I'm taking this as most improved from disclosed form. Hogan, Newton and others have virtually none. I'm going with Dean Kent. Then Viv Michie.

Slight tangent - apologies - but a post-xmas house clean has unearthed a 2002 Signature Collection of rare old tawny port with the great man's photo and signature on the label. Must have bought it at the time. Quite sad really when I saw his first and last games wearing the No. 2, and most in between. Back to topic.

i remember when I was younger and writing to the players. I still treasure my hand written letters from Jimmy and glenn lovett and robbo.

Just to add a few things, -you can really see that there are a lot more mids out there with the full ground drills. There just seems to be more guys running and demanding the ball and then delivering. It was good to watch Salem, toumpas, Tyson, viney running and demanding, even harmes and hunt. -garlett moved smoothly and is a very good kick, especially to someone leading straight at him. -Lumumba is in everything and seems to get the ball multiple times in every drill. Has great agility and speed off the mark. Also has very fast hands which I haven't really noticed before. -some easy marks were dropped when some players were on their own. Dawes dropped a chest mark under pressure which should have been hands out. i find this very frustrating. to his credit he used his hands for the rest of the session. -The kicking was actually quite good with a few errors. The Brayshaw errors were on his left foot. A couple in a row. They were also when he seemed to be changing direction and with no momentum. His kicking on the right was pretty good. -I have never seen more players doing extra things when training was finished. It was about half the list. It would be interesting to know whether cross is a direct influence on this. -gawn looks awesome. Was leading out of the goal square in some of the drills and he is completing a lot of running. -I also thought watts looked a bit bigger. -I said before last preseason that I thought pederson needed to lose 4 or 5 kgs and he could then contribute. He looks to be fitter again. -For his size frost is very quick. -Tmac is a running machine and looks to have put on a couple on the upper body. He and frost could become pretty good pillars at the back.

Jones and Trengove took training this morning, it was planned, the coaching group turned up about 20 minutes from the end, Roosy told me he forgot to set his alarm (I also asked him at the end if he could get the 3k run on Friday advertised, so supporters can watch if they want to). Only Vandenberg wasn't there, neither was Dave Misson so couldn't check why. McKenzie was back and did whole session. Jones gashed his heel with the fin of his board, drove back so Club Doctor could stitch it up. Asked Jack Trengove where his scooter was, he was on crutches, told me he got rid of it as he will be back on his feet soon. Hogan is fine, I asked him, think he is getting sick of it being an issue, said he is just following his program, light day today. Watts is close to full training, said a week or so. Petracca just had a bit of an issue with his knee, strapping there as a precaution, did the session without a problem, said he is glad he is handling the running a lot better, got absolutely smashed over that initial vision by his so called friends and family, laughs about it now. Alex Neal-Bullen is running with no pain in the knee he dislocated. Other chats from the questions that appear here. Jayden Hunt hoping to play half back, gives him time and space to use speed and kicking. Angus Brayshaw reckons his skills were sloppy today, but feels he is improving something each session, did the right thing by praising Daniel Cross for leading the way, he was sitting next to him when I was talking to him, note because there was no extra running today most players rated it either a 6 and a half or 7, Cross said 5. Spoke to both Matt Jones and Cam Pedersen, both just happy to be getting through the sessions, Matt Jones prefers to be under the radar, Pedo has missed only 1 session and Matt Jones not at all, both said they are both feeling the benefits of the diet. Spoke to everybody's favourite Fitzy, same hasn't missed a session, the diet is working really well,, feeling the best he has been. Any questions feel free, pics will be Twitter Demonpk soon.

Just in case anyone runs a 15min 3km they don't want them shamed on twitter

Brett Lee went one better the other day when he said that 63 was becoming the most important number in cricket. Emotional hyperbole.

Looks like a no go thread at the moment. Tensions are very high and I am struggling to follow the vitriolic responses. It is a sad day for all, no matter your beliefs except for those two or three well trained, mindless and godless perpetrators who are on the run. May they soon be dealt with by the French authorities.

You know you are craving footy when you get so excited about training photos. Thanks again.

You've got a bit more hair than me. I didn't have my cap.

It's amazing (but not surprising) that I can't even mention three names without you getting all fan boy offended and throw a few barbs. We don't all attend every single training session on our scooter and pester the players with questions about their injuries and ask them to pose for "gun pics". They are just player X, Y and Z to me. I can't assess players who haven't played a game. It's not fair and it wouldn't be accurate to do so,so. They are excluded. With that in mind, those three are the ones near or at the bottom of the list. If someone like Riley steps it up I'll be thrilled, but I don't greatly fancy the chances of Terlich or McKenzie making me eat humble pie.

Well actually, no. It's not truth that hurts, it's narrow-minded bigotry. #11

I will pop it in the next iteration.

Over 100 and no mention of Col Sylvia, surely this is his year.

Jones Viney Tyson Vince Cross Midfielders are always the most important

Good luck to the kid. http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/former-melbourne-rookie-on-brink-of-college-greatness/

Gone are the days of having skinny outside blokes. ie Morton, Gysberts etc as depth players. If Terlich, McKenzie or Riley get a game they will rip the head off blokes to stay in the team.

The fitness staff are very pleased with King's progress, he is still growing, so they have to be careful pushing him too hard, last year injury wrecked his fitness, so they have had to start again, he has been back in full training for a month or so now and can finish each session without looking like he is about to die, Roos loves building players, he is still only 19, one for the future, they want him playing at around 100k, he is only in the early 90's at the moment

Seems many are linking best players with most important players. Most important for us is not our best, most consistent players as we know we get quality from them, it is those who need to bring their A game week in week out and the new recruits who will carry us forward. Pick any five you like out of Gawn, Toumpas, Kent, Salem, Hogan, JKH, Watts, Brayshaw, Petracca, Frost or Newton. I'm sure I have missed others but you get the idea.

Tough household, PSD. Hope you're holding up OK.

Most important players for MFC in 2015 I would have, in no particular order, as: 1. Tom McDonald - key pillar in defence, if he can keep is man quiet it would be a big impact for the team (both on the scoreboard and mentally). 2. Mark Jamar - with the reports on his fitness, a bigger impact around the ground in addition to his work at stoppages would be great. 3. Nathan Jones - clearly still the most influential midfielder, not to mention el capitan. Hopefully we'll see a few more captains goals! 4. Dom Tyson - Also super important in terms of clearances, like Jones, but links up well and geez we need goal scoring mids... 5. Jesse Hogan / Chris Dawes - not sure which, Dawes probably more effective due to experience and mature body, but Hogan with his talent alongside could be super important. Honorable mentions to Dunn, Vince, Cross and Jetta, who all had big impacts on games last year. Also Lumumba, who's run and carry I'm hoping will translate into more forward entries and meters gained.

I agree with all that rpfc Except Bail Not for me. IMO we have seen his best and it he is not up to it.

As for the 5 most important players, I would not include players who we know will be effective (Jones, Tyson, Vince, Dunn etc), but consider the next 5 to step up to be our most important. They are the ones that will help to fill in the blanks we currently have, creating a more cohesive team; so... Gawn, Hogan, Garlett, La, La, La, La mumba and Watts.

Lumumba, I personally think he will be the recruit of the season.

It was Salem being funny, he was joking...sheesh...re Max King. they are really pushing him fitness wise, they are still building him, natural footballer, is a really good kick, and reads the play well, Jamar is looking after him, pushing him along, a good Roos project Forgot to mention the Pig Dog is back in full training

Oh well good to hear. Was absolutely gobsmacked if that was the case.

Injured leaders took all of training this morning. Jones, Trengrove etc ... Maybe due to "empowerment" and self-driven philosophies, or more likely due to the collective bargaining agreement that can't stop players training if senior coaching staff aren't there. 30 plus degrees for whole session I'd say. Almost 3 hours. As usual, Viney, Cross, and Tyson last to leave the track. As usual, Tom Mc lead them in the 700m 'sprint'. A lot of wind to the freeway end, which as someone else said, may account for the skill errors. JKH and to a lesser extent Gus, aren't clean often enough. Like the sessions pre-Xmas, a lot of focus on switching play, and offensive running. 10 minute full ground scratch match also included. Gus Brayshaw is raw, and I reckon will struggle to get a game for the first half of 2015. His kicking ain't A-grade, and they are also trying to get him used to more contact. Petracca is on modified with a knee I think, is a massive unit, and will play forward with some rotation through the midfield when the heat is off I'd say. Bernie might have tweaked his hammy. Watts did laps basically. Hardly saw Hogan. Nothing much else to say, other than the effort was pretty good on a stinker of a morning.

I think you make a good point but I'm not sure if I agree. I've got no doubt it affected his decision making at times but as you've alluded to, kicking isn't one of his strengths. Reading training reports about Salem it makes you think you've got it or you haven't. 2015 looms as an interesting year for a few players for different reasons.

I think that this Season we will rise 5 to 6 places on the ladder moving up to 11th or 12th. I base this upon the 12 months of development and understanding of the Roos game plan, the importation of a couple more experienced quality players and the development of some of our younger players with 2, 3 and 4 years with the club. The coaching team seems to be far more structured than in the past and this seems to be reflected in the quality of the training, the minimal injuries that we are suffering and fitness levels of the individuals. We all know we need to improve as a team but the real point is that we need to improve more than the teams above us.

Salem for me. Will benefit from another premiership season and will have added some conditioning in preparation for more senior footy.

Salem will be the surprise packet, has it all. Most complete young player we've drafted in a long while.