Demonland

OLIVER BUILD CONTINUES AS RECRUIT MIXES WITH STAR MIDS Clayton Oliver continued to train away from Melbourne’s main group on Wednesday as the Demons superstar ramps back up to full fitness. Oliver initially took part in centre bounces drills with Max Gawn prior to main training kicking off before the triple All-Australian did some light individual ball drills with assistant coach Andrew McQualter. With chief executive Gary Pert, footy boss Alan Richardson and list manager Tim Lamb all watching on at Gosch’s Paddock, Oliver then joined some other Demons in the rehab group including recruit Tom Fullarton and Christian Salem for other light ball work and run-throughs. Fellow recruit Shane McAdam, Lachie Hunter and Ben Brown were also restricted to light duties away from the main group, while Tom McDonald didn’t appear to be training at all. Oliver and Salem later ran around the boundary together in runners before Oliver did laps by himself, with the 26-year old active for the entire session. There was a clear focus on running, building his fitness and general ball touch as Oliver, who appeared to be in good physical condition and generally moved well, gets back up to speed. But some four weeks out from the AFL’s Opening Round, there’s still no update on when Oliver will be reintegrated with the rest of his teammates in full training. Elsewhere, new Demon Jack Billings took part in centre bounce drills with the rest of Melbourne’s midfield, led by Christian Petracca and Jack Viney. Alex Neal-Bullen and Tom Sparrow were also training with the on-ballers. Josh Schache and rookie-listed Kyah Farris-White were the only other Melbourne players doing ruck drills alongside Max Gawn with the midfield.

I don't think we will have much of a choice to be honest. JVR needs support. We can't have teams double teaming him with only Fritsch and a bevy of small forwards. Schache is good on a lead and if he gets out the back of an opponent but if he is one on one with a strong defender he gets ragdolled.

Do I look like I work at Foot Locker. 😜

He has wonderful evasion skills but does occasionally get caught trying to do too much but we he does weave in and out of play he looks silky and has excellent foot skills. With Hunter likely not to be available at the start of the season he has certainly put his hand up but until I see him under match conditions with an opposition it is hard to see exactly where he is at.

Hearing some Dons are rated above the ton.

JVR, Kolt and Trac remain on the field doing goal kicking practice.

Now it’s stumps. Viney remains in the middle of Gosch’s with McQualter and Sparrow, Laurie, Woey and K Brown doing one on one drills from a loose ball in the ruck.

Clarry back to AAMI after another marathon running session.

Petty heading back to AAMI 🤞

Spoke too soon. Boots are off and runners are on so I guess they are ramping up the running loads now heading into the season.

And that’s stumps folks. I mostly just talked about the rehabbers with a few other observations of matchups and who is training in which lines. Happy to talk individuals so ask away.

lol. Blame @WalkingCivilWar she started the thread.

Rucks and Rovers mentioned before now doing a tap drill (Rucks one at a time jumping into a bag held by Stafford) and tap to one of 3 rovers without an opponent.

Jefferson off to the sheds and on the bike.

Defenders and wings doing a separate drill - May, McVee, Rivers, Lever, k Brown, Howes, Windsor, Langdon, Adams, Bowey, Tomlinson, Hore.

Forwards doing some goal kicking Chin, Kolt, Kozzy, JVR, Fritsch, Sestan Shows just how decimated our tall forward line is. Schache of course is an option but for this drill he is practicing his ruck craft. As mentioned earlier it is interesting that Kozzy was not with the "mids" group practicing the receiving from ruck taps. Understand that he will mostly play forward but I was hoping he was earmarked for more midfield minutes based on the past few weeks at training on a Wednesday. Assume he will still attend some centre bounces most likely at the beginnings of quarters.

Some ruck tap drills in the middle with 3 ruckman taking turns Max, KFW & Schache tapping to Viney, Trac, Nibbler, Brayshaw, Sparrow, Billings, Laurie, Wowey on at a time. This gives a good indication of who is in the midfield mix for Round 0. Other potential currently in rehab are Oliver and Salem but perhaps not Round 0.

Our forward line 😬

Tight calf apparently for TMac 😱

Goal kicking drills now. Variety of snaps, set shots and on the run.

Daniel Turner is also in the rehab group today.

Chin with a beautiful kick for goal from a set shot hard up on the boundary.

Schache getting a lot of the ball as a key forward. Nibbler, Billings, Woey have hit him up on a lead with some beautiful passing.