Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin braved the scorching heat on a public holiday to bring you the following observations from Training.
The set up, is being put up, for an 11.45am post review training session.
32 in the full session.
Rehab: Spargo (runners and singlet), Turner, BBB, and Verrall (looks to be a test).
Hunter doing his own program.
Bowser in the arm sling.
May looks fine.
No McAdam.
As they gathered, they gave Melky a round of applause, he is doing drills with them as well.
Petty is also drilling.
Verrall has not joined the main squad. Looks to be working on his hip, and running laps.
So happy for Melky to be back in full training, the same for Petty.
They are training hard, and the voice levels are high. Plenty of support for each other, hand slapping cheers, and 'that's what we want' calls.
Drills started with running and kicking, then gather and leads, some competitive handball drills, now talls marking and smalls in two groups, low ball gathers, and breaking tackles and lines, in competitive handball.
Sims are on, and Melky is off, running hard sprints.
Plenty of spread and switch, and making overlaps in the midfield, but still delivering to a crowded forward area.
They are now sprinting up and down the paddock, team running.
Langdon putting time into K.Brown with instructions about wing roles.
That looks like the end of the session.
A few stay out.
Tracc, Farris-White, Colt, Billings, Salem, Fullaton, JVR, AMW, kicking goals under supervision of Choco.
Woey, ANB, Laurie, ball handling.
Hore and Viney, kick to kick.
Oliver from the centre kicking to a leading Petty. Oliver now goal kicking.
Last on the track is Melky working with two trainers, direction changes with ball handling.
McAdam is not at training.
They haven't broken into their 'lines' yet.
Woey was looking good, nothing extra from coaches.
We didn't take it on through the middle.
They want them to be quicker and not make errors.
They want the smalls to stand and/or break through tackles.
They are working on Petty's fitness.
Going very slow with Hunter.
Not bringing K.Brown in till he is sure of his role.
Viney and Colt have a thing.
Goody loves Clarry.
McQualter works the recovery session.
They are loading.
Stafford was micro managing.
They didn't move Into their lines.
As a guess, it will be Salem to replace Bowser.
The wingers run into the forwards space pushing the halves into the congestion.
The strategy was during sims, so unsure if Stafford is the designer. He is more about the leading patterns.
General fitness, push them after the 4 day break.
I assume the trainers know how to get the best out of them.
Used the trigger word, sorry for the confusion. I wouldn't know if they are in a 'loading' program.
The trainers worked them hard, sprints after the sim.
A little gusty, but not effecting them.
Most difficult is the hot wind draining them. The water volunteers were working very hard, constantly sprinting to groups as the whistle for the change-up rings out.
Great, moving well, I think still underdone fitness wise. Completed the training with extra runs and sprints.
Must be a temptation to bring Petty in and lock him around the forward goal square.
Appeared happy.
BBB in rehab, no running, mainly stretching and simple ball handling.
Yes, he has looked ready as soon as he started with us.
They must be working on him understanding the roles.
Great that he had a few centre bounces with Clarry in the Casey games. Can only help his development.
Today he was hitting his targets and no fumbling, all the new young ones have improved the standards at training. The only ones showing some rust, were Melk and Farris-White. Sestan was getting plenty and finishing well in the less defenders sims. Jefferson couldn't get into the sims game, looks lost and needs support on where to position himself. Adams blanketed Fritta during sims.
Deep forward looked like Sestans role today. Yet to see him work off the backline, but have seen him as a high half-forward at trainings.
I think they will keep Laurie in as they continually used him as a linking player in the sims, though would love to see Tholstrup in, but could be Woey.
Chandler was quiet but Goody seems to favour him. Billings in for him wouldn't be far fetched.
Spargo out, Salem back, kossie mid/forward.
Fullaton has to be a chance to replace Schache.
Cannot think of anyone else who knows the backline system, and bringing in another green player alongside Howes could throw it out of kilter.
Agree totally about his kicking as a mid, and I really would want him to play on the ball. Who else at this stage can take on the small opposition forwards?
I believe McAdam had a hammy problem a few weeks ago, just after the calf came good, he had always been running short distances in his individual program at the trainings. For him to be absent, was unusual.
AFL indicated McAdam has nerve issues effecting hamstring and will train away from main group as Mon Bon and titan_uranus mentioned.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1085531/hamstring-issue-to-further-delay-melbourne-demons-shane-mcadam-season-start
Jed Adams is ready to go if he gets a call up.
