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My Collingwood supporting mate has a little Demons sticker on the back of his ute. He just doesn't know it's there.

Got to training about 9:50 & headed off by 11:30. Rehab / Light Drills: • Jed Adams • Kyah Farris-White • Will Varrall • I think i spotted Joel Smith, but could be wrong. The above doing light drills. Andy Moniz-Wakefield & Trent Burgoyne doing seperate laps / runs for the whole session. James Harmes, Angus Brayshaw & Steven May all started with the main group but then progressed to light duties / laps for the remainder of the session. The latter two did the bulk of the session before partnering up for some sideline runs. They all moved fine to me so you would think it's just a conditioning thing. Some key takes: Lever is the voice of the squad. Very vocal & always directing / encouraging. Got to be in serious contention to captian the side when Max's time is up. Petty is in ripping touch. He was the best tall defender out there today, no question. He aint playing forward, well not unless our KPF stocks take a big hit. Kozzie's left foot is all class. Used it a few times out there today & each time it was pure & hitting the target. You can tell he's super confident in his game. Strap yourselves in! Geez we missed T-Mac. He's training really well at the minute & one-grabbing everything. Hand's look really good. Nothing better than seeing Trac leap & mark at the highest point. Thing of beauty. Dunstan know's how to find it. Probably had it the most out there today. But we know he's limited. JVR, well he's ready. Strapping young lad who's just a real workhorse. Competitive af. There's something about Oliver Sestan. From the way he looks, to his build & the way he finds space. Once they get his tank up to the level he'll be one to watch. Oliver & Hunter were back at it today. Neither involved heavily... but they were crook just the other day so. Gus does seem a bit heavy to me. He's never been a specimen, nor will he ever be, but yeah, the rig doesn't look in top shape. He's got time to work that out. Last one, spoke to Choco, asked if there's any injury concerns & he said Nope. The boys looked good today. That's me done. 🔴🔵

Saw what looked to be pretty much the whole list out early in Yarra Park this morning doing an extra fitness session with kettle bells, rowing machine and the like. Didn't stand around and watch as it wasn't exactly footy stuff. For me Gus looks better in person than the training image everyone is talking about but I don't have any further insight. There are still questions about our best midfield mix and fewer sessions in the main group is unfortunately probably not the best prep. Dustin Martin was looking very fit over at Punt rd oval today, and seemed to be a few kgs down from last year. I've caught bits and pieces of the Gosch's sessions over the last couple of weeks. I'd agree that Sestan looks like the most comfortable of the draftees, I'd probably temper expectations for this year given he's pretty raw. You get some good things and some not so good things and I think they will want that gap bridged a bit before he's let loose. Schache has pleasantly surprised me watching how he performs in terms of intensity and tackling during the in-close drills.

You must be new around here

Helped us win 2 flags if you consider the work he puts in with the Women.

A Herald-Sun article by Chris Cavanagh “DID YOUR NUMBERS COME UP?” (pages 76 & 77 yesterday) examined which club has the strongest draft hand going into the 2023 National Draft. Of course, it’s a long way off till November and the draft picks are dependent upon how each individual team fares in the coming season but the verdict has Melbourne ahead of the pack. Here are the picks each club holds – and why. ADELAIDE Rd 1: Own Rd 2: 1 x linked to North Melbourne, 1 x linked to Gold Coast Rd 3: None Rd 4: None BRISBANE Rd 1: None Rd 2: 1 x linked to Geelong Rd 3: Own, 1 x linked to Geelong Rd 4: 1 x linked to Fremantle CARLTON Rd 1: Own Rd 2: None Rd 3: None Rd 4: Own, 1 x linked to Essendon COLLINGWOOD Rd 1: Own Rd 2: 1 x linked to Carlton Rd 3: None Rd 4: Own ESSENDON R 1: Own Rd 2: Own Rd 3: Own Rd 4: Linked to Sydney FREMANTLE Rd 1: None Rd 2: 1 x linked to North Melbourne Rd 3: 1 x linked to North Melbourne, 1 x linked to Carlton Rd 4: 1 x linked to North Melbourne GEELONG Rd 1: Own Rd 2: None Rd 3: None Rd 4: None GOLD COAST Rd 1: Own Rd 2: 1 x linked to GWS, 1 x linked to Adelaide Rd 3: 1 x linked to Adelaide, 1 x linked to Collingwood Rd 4: Own, 1 x linked to Adelaide, 1 x linked to St Kilda GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY Rd 1: Own, 1 x linked to Richmond Rd 2: None Rd 3: Own Rd 4: Own, 1 x linked to Brisbane HAWTHORN Rd 1: Own Rd 2: 1 x linked to Western Bulldogs Rd 3: 1 x linked to Western Bulldogs Rd 4: None MELBOURNE Rd 1: Own, 1 x linked to Fremantle Rd 2: Own, 1 x linked to Fremantle Rd 3: None Rd 4: None “The Demons hold the best draft hand of any club with four picks in the first two rounds. Not only do they still have their own selections for those rounds, but they also have Fremantle’s as part of the trade that sent young ruckman Luke Jackson to the Dockers. Melbourne’s third-rounder went to the Western Bulldogs in exchange for Lachie Hunter, while their fourth-rounder also found its way to Whitten Oval in a swap for utility Josh Schache.” NORTH MELBOURNE Rd 1: Own, 1 x linked to Port Adelaide Rd 2: None Rd 3: Own, 1 x linked to Melbourne Rd 4: 1 x linked to Hawthorn PORT ADELAIDE NNRd 1: None NNRd 2: 1 x linked 
to Collingwood NNRd 3: 1 x linked 
to Fremantle NNRd 4: Own RICHMOND Rd 1: None Rd 2: Own Rd 3: Own Rd 4: Own ST KILDA Rd 1: Own Rd 2: Own Rd 3: Own Rd 4: None SYDNEY SWANS Rd 1: Own Rd 2: Own, 1 x linked to Hawthorn Rd 3: Own, 1 x linked to Hawthorn Rd 4: None WEST COAST EAGLES Rd 1: Own Rd 2: Own, 1 x linked to Port Adelaide Rd 3: Own, 1 x linked to Port Adelaide Rd 4: Own WESTERN BULLDOGS Rd 1: Own, 1 x linked to Brisbane Rd 2: 1 x linked to Brisbane Rd 3: None Rd 4: Own, 1 x linked to Melbourne, 1 x linked to Geelong

Replacement of someone who has left - a bigger and better job in the USA apparently....

Hope your equally as pleased I am in Brisbane with my premiership 2021 stickers plus my AFLW sticker ( not premiership) all on show. All in good Nick as well. Will continue to fly the flag up North proudly and am keen to add a second flag sticker in 2023 should the Boys salute as I absolutely believe they are capable of with the best list actual and potential I can ever recall.

It's mid Jan and the traffic and topics here on DL seem a bit slow this off season this time of year, so here's a topic for something to do. Having moved down here to the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne from Brisbane last year, it's refreshing to see the number of MFC bumper stickers getting around at the moment and particularly still pleanty of Premiers ones. Gives me something to smile about on the inside when on my morning/afternoon commute.

Thanks Redlegs23, 12345, Bin, Kev and all other posters really enjoy reading the training reports, observations and views has a real good feel to it.!!!!

Some other observations of mine is that I don't see many stickers from the other 'big' Melbourne clubs of Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon or Hawthorn or others around my parts either. Don't even notice many Richmond ones. No doubt this is related to the recient lack of success of the aforementioned teams - long may it continue. Also somewhat pleasing to me is that I see a high number of stickers on grubby tradies utes, implying the team has support from across the social demographic out here and it's not all snow going doctors Jaguars.

So does T-Mac an BBB, glad I'm not on the selection panel rd 1

I would also include Jefferson, if he can start getting his hands on the ball. As for Laurie, make or break year. I don't think he is up to it, though would love to be proven wrong. He needs some swagger/confidence, and to get consistency of involvement and impact, at Casey. Tommo (Sparrow), Spargo, JJ and Bowey are ready to go. They know the system, and can now begin some leadership roles. Time for them to have their best years. Taj, Howes, Chandler, and possibly McVee and Turner could all could get a go. Casey will have an interesting year with many on the cusp. Hoping they adapt well to the speed and intensity when/if they get the call up. Sestan and Schache, again, I reckon the call up will be determined by how they perform at Casey and what Goody wants with our forwardline, even if different experiences and ages. Schache also a cover for injuries to our talls and depends on how JVR (if gets a run) goes. Our list is so strong and runs deep. Hoping for Goody to give quite a few of them a run. Tmac, Hibbo, Melksham, Salem, BBB, Harmes, Rivers, Tomlinson and ANB may be making way if they start falling off the pace and skills needed. More confident about Tmac, and Salem to keep their spots.

Even if freo don't use him predominately as a forward, surely, as was the case at the dees, that is where he plays when not in the ruck. And given they have Darcy, best case scenario for Jackson is a 50 \50 ruck and forward split (though i guess they could play him as a mid at times). But given Darcy is arguably the best young ruck in the AFL (and is def not a genuine forward - though a much better mark than Jackson), he and Jackson are unlikely to evenly split ruck duties. So Freo fans will have to get used to Jackon as a middling forward who doesn't clunk marks or kick many goals. They might even start pining for Lobb!

Love that perfectly timed and weighted little bump (no chance of a free) tmac does to give himself position (and put Grundy out of position). That's forward craft baby.

There are hot cross buns at Coles, Easter eggs at Woolworths and Werridee teams on Demonland. Must be January.

I agree. Just thought he had a bit of a disappointing end to last year. I expect him to pick up. Hoping he gets back to being in our top 10, as we need his decision making, poise and kicking skills.

Apparently if you have a lethal dose of vitamin b the mozzies dont bite. Anyway you wont feel it.

Only the visible muscles!

IN THE SENIORS NOT AT CASEY!

Now that he is left, i feel strangely more comfortable knocking Jackson. But now he is freo player i can say JACKSON IS MILES OFF BEING A GENUINE FORWARD. There are a number of reason why, for example he has no idea about leading patters it would appear. But his biggest issue is he doesn't use his body like a real forward the way Tmac and Fritter do. Doesn't seem able to protect the drop zone and often jumps straight up like the basketballer he is - which might be a factor in why he double grabs so often. He'll no doubt improve his forward craft - he's a kid still after all (and a supremely talented one at that) - but he is well behind the eight ball given those skills are not instinctive. By way of comparison, when i first saw Fritter play for Casey, the thing that jumped out straight away was how well he used his body and how natural a forward he was. Those skills immediately translated to the AFL level.

I think the game plan should play to the strengths of your elite players. And our elite players are at the stoppages and behind the ball. Our forwards just need to take their chances. That's not to say tweaks to ball movement shouldn't be pursued. I think the acquisition of Hunter, the selection of Bowey, Salem, even Howes will hopefully have a natural flow towards greater forward efficiency from the chances our mids can make from contest and the chances the backs can create on slingshot.

Strength & Power Coach Melbourne Football Club Melbourne VIC Coaching & Instruction (Sport & Recreation) Full time ABOUT THE CLUB The Melbourne Football Club is the founding Club of the AFL. Our journey started 163 years ago when we wrote the rules of the game and then became the inaugural VFA/VFL/AFL Club and still carries the distinction of being the oldest professional sporting club in the world. Our vision of the future has been shaped by the foundations of our past. A foundation which created the Demon Spirit. ABOUT THE ROLE An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen for a Strength & Power Coach to join our High-Performance Department in 2023. The purpose of this role is to support the development of the physical qualities and athletic competency required to be an elite Melbourne Demons Football player. KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Reporting directly to the Performance Manager, this role will be responsible for developing a strength and power program that gives the Melbourne Football Club’s players the ability to cope with the demands of the game and produce optimal performance. Key areas of responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: Direct, manage and drive the implementation of a highly effective, collaborative, and individualised Strength and Power program. Support the Performance Department by being responsible for the physical development of all players in their preparation for the rigours of training and competition including strength and power development, injury prevention and other key physical performance indicator Coach all sessions related to the strength and power development and ensure high level of coaching and face to face delivery is withheld at all times Assist the delivery of rehabilitation and conditioning programs with a particular focus on running mechanics/re-education, acceleration, and agility technique Support the development of applied research within the department and keep up to date with the latest technologies and innovative practices to enhance individual and team performance Identify and mitigate any potential risks within the program(s). COMPETENCIES, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & KEY ATTRIBUTES: ASCA Level 1 qualification (minimum) Postgraduate studies in Exercise Sport Science (preferred) Proven experience in a similar role Ability to build rapport and trust with both internal and external stakeholders Self-motivated with a commitment to achieving results Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills, time management and planning skills Additional Requirements Be available on match days and other events which may be outside of normal business hours ON OFFER TO YOU This position presents the opportunity to work in a unique environment across both AAMI Park and our newly developed high-performance facility at Casey Fields. We provide a welcoming, safe, and flexible approach to work and provide an environment that benefits from and enables the best from everyone. Our people will thrive within a club that is committed to a creating an environment where we feel proud to belong.

Did you clench before writing this?

The best part about trying to pick our best 22 is that it is very difficult. Shows our depth across many positions and how competition for places should drive the high performance once again the season.

thought he meant "keep an eye on the red (swans)and the blue (carlton)" 🤣

As a kid, Carlton was my second team mainly because I was confused. When we sing "keep an eye on the red and the blue" in our song, I thought Carlton was the blue 😂

I think filming Luke with his mates was a bit much. https://fb.watch/i1WDV3MneB/

Dont forget Tomlinson. He could be in for a big season if finally over his post acl problems. Ben Brown isnt done either. Very strong list.

I wait with great curiosity to see how we tactically use our sub. It’s a move all coaches have to make each and every match now, and without it being forced by injury I fear Goodwin will be easy to read with it. 3/4 time, give a fresh player a quarter to impact. my first guess is chandler or melksham will be given this spot, with a tall (either BB or JVR) given the last quarter off. I really hope the coaching department has put considerable time into the strategy and purpose they’d like it used for to gain the largest benefit. Also, Salem is best 22. And with our depth only getting stronger Casey is going to monster teams all year long. Scary to think if melbourne were to leave harmes or jordon out of the seniors what they would do at Casey.

I’m not sure if this has been posted already but here is Supermacodo’s truly wonderful review of the Grand Final http://mfcdemonblog.blogspot.com/

I would get Sestan folllowing ANB around and training for the next 2 months to get some endurance into him. Actually maybe Tommo our latest time trial champ giving 2023 an even bigger red hot go than normal. My surprise packets for 2023 are : Tommo Spargo Howes Laurie Sestan Schache Taj and JJ. All are IMO due for breakout years and develop quicker than anticipated. Most if all of them if they have the year of surprise ability our depth and improvement will be amazing. Their level of improvement is greater than say ANB or Harmes of their 2022 form or expected level as a recruit. so much to look forward to Dees fans.

Au contraire 640! It shows an undying devotion to the mighty Dees. Do you realise how hard it is to silently barrack for our beloved Dees whilst wearing your Bruce 11 Doull duffel coat?!?!

One of the real strengths of Tmac's game is his areobic capasity to work up and down the ground for a big man. As well has his strength and contested work forward of centre, he contributes in other ways. I think he plays a pretty important part structurally comming out of defense as he pushes up between the wing - half back and often provides a reliable outlet option for one of our defenders. Even if he doesn't take clean possession, his size and competitiveness mean he's rarely beaten and at the least usually forces the ball across the boundary and allows us to reset our team defense and players forward of the ball. If he wins the possession, he often uses his strength to break tackles and move the ball forward quickly with long penetrating kicks deep inside 50 for our other forwards to make use of.

Cheers DD agree to disagree. Let's hope Tmac continues his practice form so far ha has revealed in the matches in 2033.

This is interesting (aside from what dimwit posters may say) . Is this a new position and an example of the "soft" cap being expanded or a replacement of someone who has left?

VAN ROOYEN LOOKS READY FOR ROUND 1.

The word Loyalty But in much smaller font underneath it, it says "to Port Powa"

Some training updates in here 👍🏼 https://aflratings.com.au/afl-news-melbourne/

I've waited long enough.. Now give us a report!

A mate told me that choco sat with the spectators in the new temporary stands and explained what was happening and how the drones worked. Great PR.

Ok that's what I was after. Mrs Dw and I are on a payment plan as well and received our membership pack well before Xmas. I suggest you ring the membership team. I had an issue with a 3 game membership that auto renewed and was being billed for, I rang the team and they sorted it straight away and sent a prompt refund. It sounds like something has gone amiss with yours. Phone number: (03) 9652 1111 Email: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 223, East Melbourne, Victoria, 8002 Request a call: Head to the Membership website to request a call back at a time that suits you.

Bit of an entree.

Providing he is fit and showing form he is a lock in. Why is it that some players after a poorer year following an AA grade best season ever in 2021 are subject to a different standard test to others than normal. 90% of Melb fans are aware of Salo's disappointing 2022 season which injury from Round1 affected his form and he played most games under duress (as did some others at the seasons last few games) . He only needs to complete the usual pre season fitness form and practice sessions as required and "not a few more weeks" as predicted almost as a penalty for last year. As if we need a few more weeks confirmation he is in unique good form after 2022 to regain his spot. A few others could be considered as in a similar vein as Christian such as Riv BBB even Gawny Rick Lever and Tmac. That's why we have preseason so long for players to train anew iron out any kinks and possible medical procedures and show how fit and healthy for Round1 they are. If they don't come up in time they should be played at Casey until ready as you say. Salo and others are showing that the 3 months as scheduled should be quite enough for a fit and healthy return in Round1 according to most track watchers at this early stage. Let see as time evolves who makes the deadline!!

We could have a Van and a Laurie arrive at the same time. For all your logistical needs, contact the Melbourne Football Club.

Contracts are contracts. He owes the club nothing other than fulfilment of his contract. The game is brutal and expecting players to do what a club would not - is naive and unfair to someone who literally helped win us a flag not 16 months ago.

B: Lever, May, Bowey HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw C: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter HF: Harmes, McDonald, Neal-Bullen F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, Pickett FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney IC: Grundy, Sparrow, Spargo, Rivers EMG Sestan, Jordon, Brown, Turner

Science. https://www.realclearscience.com/quick_and_clear_science/2019/10/07/painting_zebra_stripes_on_cows_wards_off_biting_flies.html

But they didn't though. Whilst all model of loading is different at each club, the bigger difference at Geelong compared to us last year was that Scott managed his senior players far more better then Goodwin did. Players were managed if they had a niggle whereas the Burgess philosophy (which Griffith obviously used) was to get players to fight through the pain barrier and play through whatever niggles they're carrying. This backfired at a staggering rate. The evidence was right there in the back half of the year. Also, my main argument isn't on the whole loading concept because it is what what it is. It simply didn't work last year. My main argument is coaching reluctance and stubbornness in resting players when needed. This needs a massive tweak this year.