Demonland

REHAB: Lever, Melksham & Sestan

TRAINING: Max, Trac, Viney, JVR, Windsor, Tholstrup, Langdon, TMac, Kozzy, Chandler, Jefferson, Hore, Adams, McVee, Turner, Billings, Clarry, Salem, Lever, Melksham, Howes, Brown, Woewodin, Spargo, Johnson, Kentfield, Lindsay, Langford, Sestan, Petty, Fullarton, Bowey, Campbell, Verrall, McAdam, AMW, Sparrow, Mentha, White,

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Dude please don’t make personal attacks like this or you won’t ever be allowed to post here again. That goes for everyone. Do not personally attack posters on here. Play the ball not the man.

A few new faces joined our veteran Demonland Trackwatchers on a beautiful morning out at Gosch's Paddock for another Preseason Training Session. BLWNBA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I arrived at around 1015 and the squad was already out on the track. The rehab group consisted of XL, McAdam, Melksham, Spargo and Sestan. Lever was also on restricted duties and appeared to be in runners. The main group was doing end-to-end transition work in a simulated match situation. Ball movement was focused on moving the ball from a kick in, into the forward line, with focus on kicking to the advantage of a forward. In this drill it appeared Petty was playing as a forward alongside Luka and Turner, while TMac was a defender. I was unable to really see down the other end from where I was positioned, but Pickett also played as a forward linking player, along side Ricky. Ricky Mentha does some nice things, though there were a few times he was caught as a result of not taking the first option, or getting corralled on the boundary line as a result of attempting to use his pace and quicksteps to get around a defending player. For this exercise it seemed as though Trac was designated as a ‘no-contact’ player and had the high-vis vest adorned. I will say, the intensity was there. But, I thought the ball movement for the most part left a lot to be desired, particularly with the linking possession from the D50 into the centre or onto a wing. There were multiple turnovers, or failure to hit a target, which resulted in an ‘opposition’ score. FWIW, I’m not saying this is a doom and gloom worst preseason ever type of scenario, but I am calling it on the body of work I saw. Similarly, there were numerous kicks into the attacking F50 that went straight to a defender, including several uncontested efforts. In terms of some ‘positives’, Petracca does look very, very fit. His lateral movement was amazing at times, and he was extremely vocal. I‘m not going to make a judgement on what this means for anything post 2025, but undoubtedly his professionalism will get him through next season whatever the outcome. He looks raring to go. Turner did some nice things up forward, including a very nice roving goal from spilt contested mark. I think he’ll be a very handy addition up forward and will continue to impact. Chocco was also issuing some very vocal encouragement to Kenterfield (who, is absolutely massive). Hore could, in all likelihood, easily fulfil a depth role. He had some great moments including a goal saving spoil and fitted in seamlessly next to TMac as a defender. Langford is definitely a big boy. I’m beyond excited to see what he can do. In the full ground exercise he contested multiple marking contests and although he probably should’ve stuck a couple of the marks, he was at least able to ensure that the ball was brought to ground, rather than allowing his opponent to make a contested mark. He seemed to be playing as a marking half-forward and in a few of the plays I saw, seemed to be used as a marking runner from a kick-in. In terms of an early bolter for next year, I think we may see a big uptick in output from Kolt. Geez, he’s got some wheels on him and I was really surprised by his pace and ability to transition the ball. He’s a lot quicker than he looks on tv, and he’s got an uncanny ability to pick up the ball and roll with it. I was somewhat reticent on him, but I was very impressed from what I saw. The second exercise saw the group split into two and move into another contested ball movement exercise. Essentially the ball was brought in from one end of the ‘centre square’ (the exercise only utilised approx 25 x 10 in terms of a simulated centre square), by a ‘random’ player, and then a series of quick handballs were made in attempt to bring the ball to a coach on the other side of the ‘square’. Goodwin and Jones were the two ‘linesman’ for the group I observed. Petracca fully participated in this exercise, including contact, and was extremely vocal. He chased energetically, and once again his lateral movement was on full display. Several times the players were vocally reminded to ‘hunt the ball’ by Goodwin. I left not long after this exercise concluded. I’ll add more if anything pops into my mind, though I acknowledge this lacks a lot of depth like we see from our usual track watches. DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I attended some of the training session this morning. A lot of ball movement exercises, with Nathan Basset giving a lot of instructions to defenders. Rehab group including Melt, McAdam, and Seston doing some ball movement. GHOSTWRITER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Petts is happy to be a swing man. He likes that he’s useful in both areas of the ground. He has no lingering issues with his foot, it’s totally healed and healed well. He mentioned SpargiPants’s progress. He said “Charles” (that’s what the boys call him) is running at pace and is on a tailored program. Tomorrow is his running day (every Thursday) and so far he’s pulled up well after each session. Petts talked about foot/ankle injuries taking the longest recovery time with (in his opinion) achilles injuries being the “trickiest.” He said Charles is further along in his recovery than we think from just watching him on these whole-team training sessions. BUCK NEKKID'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Anyone who worries about the 3 ‘wantaways’ should get down to training- i have no doubt all 3 are focused, committed and in for a big year. Trac Coaching and leading from the sidelines. The tackle that Clarrie laid (see GW’s post above) and Kossie owning the footy in drills. Fullarton looked really good forward of the ball today and in contested drills - although he was brought down by Howes in one play like a lion about to feast on a gazelle. Also impressing(apart from the usual suspects): Billing’s, Kentfield, Johnson. Aim to use the corridor as first priority in drills. Melk running really fast repeat sets. Sestan also running, grabbed for hammy at one stage. All rehab boys doing agility and ball receiving work. Spargo kicking the ball to them. Seen chatting to Choco - Gary Lyon and Bill Browless’s boy (big lad with a mop of hair that his dad would die to have!) Choco sharpened up KW#34’s kicking at goal with a slight ball drop adjustment and momentum shift and he began toi hit them beautifully. Trac was frustrated with his snapos around the body, and Choco gave him a few gentle Tils and he was back on track again. A nice day for it THIRTY ONE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS My first training session in 30 or 40 years! Last I went, Gerard Healy was still playing for us. That's a while ago! Didn't notice Roo out there. The players look both smaller and bigger than they do on tv. Like Ed Langdon is taller than I thought he was yet others look smaller/lighter. They say the camera adds 5 kilos and I'd believe it. Anyway, I've few comments as it was all new to me. Trac was doing a lot of yelling/leading, Max was hanging back a bit, Vines headed off early with this poop chute issue, Kalani is a stripling but looks a likely sort, Claz is nowhere near as fat as the media would like to have you think (might not be the skinniest either but he looks a lot leaner than he did last season). WHERE DEMONS DARE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Quite a few players out there today on individual programs and training in and out of the main squad. In rehab we had the 5 regulars being McAdam, Lever, Spargo, XL and Sestan doing their thing. While May, Campbell, Melksham, K.Brown doing a lot of boundary running but also involved in lots of the main squad drills. Fritsch and Salem training fully with the main squad which was good to see. Today the group focused a lot more on ball movement and various kicking drills, working the ball from the back pocket diagonally across to the other side of the forward line. I think our players will start to get the hang of the new tactics soon as it looks as though we will be more attacking next season and understandably takes a bit of time to adjust. Last month I was there at training they were doing a lot more running drills, but now they are more focused on ball movement. Fullarton surprised me today, he was involved in quite a few things and outclassed his opponent. One to watch. Trac again continues to impress me and is in for a big year, showing great leadership and very vocal. Turner keeps getting better and better and will do nicely this year as the 2nd key forward to JVR. JVR was a no show today so hopefully he is okay. I was also surprised with Kentfield's speed. He raced Windsor over 80m from the centre square to the boundary line and they drew even going flat out. Gawny is really taking a step back this year and letting others lead the way. You can see he is much more relaxed and will ramp things up closer to next season. There's definitely a vibe in the air that everyone knows their role and is executing it to a good standard. Maybe a bit more maturity in the group. You can sense that whatever came out of the review a few months back is already in play. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Clarry is fit, happy to outrun others in sprints. Getting heavily involved in the sims. They were getting them to make and hit leads over the back and running towards goal. They are hitting each other hard and willingly in the drills. Petty slammed Tracc backwards and onto ground with a don't argue. That got them going hard at each other with plenty of intensity, during one of the handball games. Goody's words, something along, doing like we ask you makes a much better, and easier drill. When doing the drills without shape it led to being caught in tight spaces. When following the correct patterns and structures they moved the ball to the open spaces, and with better completions. Wings in the sims, included Sparrow, Billings, Langers and Woey. Sparrow is running the rails without too much strain, looking trim. McVee was everywhere. I saw him start with ball on the defensive point post, then he finished the play off in the half-forward area inside the 50. Heading to being one of our elites. Petty was used forward and back. Kossie had the different coloured bib on (the linking player), later it was Tracc. Kossie got picked off few times, but got to the contest and impacted after the error. I like his ability to see ahead of himself. Working hard on being a playmaker. Jefferson had a great session, hands are sticky, kicking snaps with confidence, and finding separation out the back. Bowser is our best field kick, hitting some incredibly hard passes. Many are still floating the ball, not Bowser, gets to the ball to the player, flat and direct. Salem is not far behind, with beautiful kicks. Mentha likes to dance with the ball, got caught a few times, love his cheekiness/bravado to take them on. Rivers got picked off a few times as well. They were playing down the corridor, with high reward, high risk sims. Turner is another looking good. Moving fast, getting separation and appears set for a big year. Fritta is also playing well. Very fit, even strong as he cleans the defenders away from the contest. Goaling is a natural, effortless action. Adams and Howes are making a few errors. May is starting plenty of plays off the backline. His fitness is improving. Langford and Kolt (looking bigger), also made a few errors. Turnovers will kill us. JVR was not out there today. Tmac had some strapping on his right shoulder, moving well. Lever, a patella support on his left leg, running with intensity at times. Hard extensive session. They are being put through their paces. SLARTIBARTFAST'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I was at training today and the reports seem very accurate to me regarding how individual players went. Perhaps one that hasn't been mentioned enough is Clarrie. There have been lots of comments over the preseason saying he's out of condition and carrying too much weight. Well from what I've seen that's not strictly the case. He's not ripped like he was in 2021 but he's still in very good condition and he is working extremely hard and pushing himself to the limit. I reckon that as long as he maintains focus over the Christmas break by the start of the season he'll be really fit. He looks to have got that initial speed back and the ability to find a bit of space in congestion. His disposal today was very good on a day where a lot struggled to hit a target. On that, I reckon today was the first time I've seen them in a true contested situation and hence the disposal skills were down as there was a lot more pressure on the ball carrier. It was good today but it's early in the PS. Secondly, I've been to a lot of PS training sessions over the last few years and every year I read that we are going "more direct" and using the corridor more. I've not noticed any difference in the way we've used the ball in the full field drills so it will be interesting to see. On other players: Langford got caught a couple of times, a good thing I say, better to learn the pace of the game in PS than during the game. He works really hard around the ground. Concerns expressed about his pace don't seem evident and he's building nicely. Sparrow looks a lot more involved than he was last year, he's moving very well and kicking it well. Tmac was, again, very good today. Those thinking he'll play at Casey need to reconsider. I was also impressed with Fullarton today, he was strong and involved and kicked very well. Fritta looked a class above on occasions, strong in the contest an elite with his goal kicking. May had an opportunity to send Tmac into next year at one stage and thankfully made a decision to avoid contact. I reckon Tmac will buy him a bunch of flowers as a thank you! AJ has impressed but he learned a lesson today. In the handball drill he decided that the best option was just to run through Clarrie but he learned that's not all that easy. Lots of smiles and laughs when Clarrie helped him up. I like AJ, looks a ripper bloke and has lots of good attributes. It's a crowded forward line for talls but he's in the conversation. Looking forward to Friday, hope JvR is there, missed today but hopefully nothing in it.

Couple of Preseasons in the gym and a good nutrition plan and he'll be right to go.

https://x.com/ClarkyHeraldSun/status/1866636825282089400https://x.com/ClarkyHeraldSun/status/1866636825282089400 Aidan Johnson spoke with his construction boss the night of the AFL national draft with a euphoric message. He wouldn’t be coming into work at the ABN Group the next day. The former plumber and bush footy star from the Ovens & Murray and Hume leagues had officially become Melbourne’s newest wrecking ball forward when the Demons selected him with pick 68 last month. It was the shock of the second night of the draft. One from the clouds. Only a few years earlier, Johnson was on the tools, kicking bags of goals in the country, and eating sausage rolls for lunch without really considering if he could ever make it to the AFL. But the Demons’ recruiters saw something in the hard-at-it goal kicker this year for Werribee in the VFL. It was his trademark hard edge. His desperation at the footy. The extreme effort at every contest. And a new-found dedication to the game off the field. The penny dropped for Johnson at the end of 2023 when the bruising big man overcame a patella tendon injury and dropped 13kg with the help of Werribee premiership captain Dom Brew and his meat-only diet. There were ice baths every morning and saunas every night to help get into shape. But at a time when AFL clubs are mining the bulk of their teenage talent from Melbourne’s elite private schools, the mature-age Johnson offers something very different. Simply, the 24-year-old is a brute at the ball. Johnson is a man who can help shake-up Melbourne’s forward line and add a distinctly new dynamic because of his athletic and aggressive edge. Recruiters say when the 193cm Johnson launches at the Sherrin and tackles opponents, he throws the kitchen sink at every contest. And he is unafraid to help out in the ruck, which will be music to Max Gawn’s ears. The new Demon knows his robust attack on the ball is his one wood. “I play an aggressive style of footy,” Johnson said. “I like to say I play on the line, or on the verge. “So I just compete. Never stop competing.” When coach Simon Goodwin walked up Johnson’s driveway and rang his doorbell on the night of the draft to welcome him to the Demons, he asked for more of the same in red and blue. Approaching a big year for Melbourne, the bargain-basement pick-up offers Melbourne something it arguably hasn’t got. Jacob Van Rooyen needs some key forward help and the race between Johnson, Daniel Turner and Matthew Jefferson is on. And Johnson is already ready to go for round 1 next season. Across three years playing country footy, Johnson starred for the Brock/Burrum Saints and Lavington Panthers before Covid-19 hit in 2020, shutting the game down in regional areas. But when Cats’ livewire Shaun Mannagh left the Panthers to give his AFL dream a shot at Werribee, he urged Johnson to do the same. So Johnson moved to Melbourne, only to be grounded by knee troubles in 2023 which left him unable to climb up stairs let alone take hangers. He was struggling to walk and hard days working as a plumber wasn’t doing his footy any favours. But through the setbacks and frustrations, he showed reliance and an enormous amount of persistence in the hope of becoming the AFL’s latest mature-age success story. “I was on the tools at the time and I would be walking in the trenches or whatever and my knee would just buckle and collapse,” Johnson said. “I was just always falling over walking around on job sites because my knee was that sore. “That was the darkest time. “I had moved my whole life down to Werribee but I just couldn’t get my knee sorted and I legit thought I wasn’t going to be able to run again because I was just always in this excruciating pain.” In his toughest moments, on the phone calls to his parents and his sister, they urged him to stick at it, even when the knee pain was unbearable. But then he met one of Melbourne’s physios, who shed new light on the patella problem, and with a new training program, the pain began to ease in preparation for the 2024 season. That is when Johnson buddied-up with Brew, the ultra-professional ballwinner currently on trial for a list spot at the Western Bulldogs. So meat pies were out and cans of tinned tuna were in. Every meal was lean meat. He also moved into an office role at work as a construction manager which gave his knee more of a rest. And after shedding 13kg, Johnson starred in the VFL as an aggressive and mobile forward despite rupturing his bicep mid-season. Johnson said meeting Brew and adopting his off-field approach – which included the meticulous diet – was the difference. “That was probably the biggest thing, just seeing how professional he (Brew) is and how he goes about it, and his eating habits,” Johnson said. “I had the typical tradie diet, eating pies and going to takeaway stores for lunch and he is eating tins of tuna and meat kind of thing. “So adopting that sort of lifestyle was the biggest thing that helped me. “So it was ice baths in the morning and saunas at night, the whole kit and caboodle. “I didn’t get offered a contract at Werribee or anything like that. They said you have got to work for it and get your body right and that kicked me into place. “Dom was a bit of a mentor and dropping 13kg helped hugely along with getting off the tools. “So we would go food shopping at the South Melbourne markets together, eating full meat, mince, making bone broth. “It just all happened at once.” This week at Melbourne training Johnson was already making an impression, desperately diving and scrapping for the footy as if his life depended on it. And then after training he has been heading out to car yards looking for some new wheels because he is still driving his boss’s ute. “I owe him a few beers, definitely,” Johnson said. But his circle of friends are ecstatic for the former country footy goal kicker who is ready to ramp up the hard work as practice matches loom next month. As far as he has come, Johnson said he is basically starting his footy journey all over again at Melbourne, with no real expectations on himself to play straight away. But his teammates already know, be careful getting in his way. “I just want to get in and work hard and learn the system,” he said. “I’m not pinpointing anything beyond that, or putting a ceiling on what I can do. “I just want to give it everything and see where things take me.” WHO IS AIDAN JOHNSON? Age: 24 Draft history: Chosen at pick 68 by Melbourne in the 2024 AFL national draft. Height: 193cm Position: Key forward/ruckman From: Werribee, Lavington Panthers, Brock/Burrum Saints 2024 season (VFL) Club: Werribee Games: 20. Goals: 17 2024 VFL premiership player

I’ve spoken with the guy and he posts the photos from the MFC website. He never claimed to have taken them himself.

Melbourne CEO Gary Pert has welcomed the announcement of Mount Scopus Memorial College’s intention to develop a new campus. “We welcome the announcement that Mount Scopus Memorial College intend to be our neighbour, building a new campus adjacent to Caulfield Racecourse,” Pert said. “It’s important to clarify that the club and Mount Scopus sites are separate parcels of land, that may result in us being neighbours in the future. “The Melbourne Football Club are currently preparing a business plan that is based on our facility and our two training ovals all being built on the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust land. “We see incredible potential in working alongside the community and community based organisations, including Mount Scopus, to create meaningful synergies and mutual benefits for both communities and to enhance the Glen Eira area.”

The Dees will also play the Kangaroos in a Scratch Match a week or two prior to the Community Series match against the Dockers. The Dees will travel to Rushton Oval in Western Australia to face Fremantle as part of the league’s formal practice matches prior to the 2025 AFL season. The 3:10pm (local) game will consist of four quarters of 20 minutes plus time on, as per the regular home-and-away season. The AAMI Community Series games will be ticketed events, with on-sales scheduled for Wednesday 5 February. Club members with 2025 AFL Premiership Season entry entitlements will have access to free general admission tickets, subject to availability. Sign up now to become a Dees member ahead of 2025. In addition to their official practice match, the Dees will also face North Melbourne prior to their game against Fremantle in an in-formal match simulation. Details of this are still to be confirmed with date, time and location to be determined by the two clubs involved. The match sim will be required to take place between Saturday 15 February and Saturday 22 February.

Perth club recruiters in the outer eyeing our WA talent.

Off to WA ...

I'm pretty sure he takes them from Getty Images.

I don’t believe the sites overlap. Someone close to the school project sent me this.

Once again Demonland Trackwatchers were in attendance at the first preseason training session for the week at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations. WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Looks like very close to 100% attendance. Kelani is back. Same group in rehab. REHAB: Spargo, Lever, Lindsay, Brown & McAdam. Haven’t laid eyes on Fritsch or AMW yet. Fritsch sighted. One unknown mature standing with Goody. Noticing Nathan Bassett much more today. He is taking the main, full group ball movement activity, with Goody looking on. Bassett barking instructions constantly. Obvious from watching training these early days; we are very fit and transferring the ball with speed (and often, but not always, precision). However, until they start real, full ground match sim, it's a bit like dancing with your sister! Apart from communicating who is not there, and who is in rehab, and who may have picked up a niggle, it's now difficult to be enlightening about projections regarding our progress in 2025. All I can say is that Langford plays round 1 and he improves us. Johnson is putting pressure on key Talls (forwards) with his intensity and athleticism. Tracc is back bigger than before, Clayton is on course to burst back into eye-catching, high disposal, mid-dominance. McDonald is fitter than he has been for a couple of years and Campbell is a legit, road-tested Max-back-up option! DEESPENCER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Match sim. Lovely mark on the lead by Dees CHF Harry Petty. (they’re playing with a backline of Judd and Windsor most of the key backs are rolling through a forward line). Jed Adams nice run and receive on the next piece of play. Bad Harry Sharp turnover kicking to Bowser. Clarry and Tracc racking them up. Bowser and Salo the 2 man backline now. Moving fast with lots of diagonal stuff which is good to see. Not always connecting to the forwards - nice Kalani intercept and spoil there - but Riv, Viney, Koss have all run the ball through the middle. Kolt, Kalani and the new boys jogging laps. Main group just doing end to end lane work with 2 vests v 3 cones at each end and a 2v1 defenders in the middle to link up. Really simple but fundamental running and decision making. Now with 2 footies so it’s getting all multi ball. DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I attended some of the training session. Very impressed with with the quick balling moving drill conducted by Choco. Choco was saying keep your eyes open at all times. Petty was training with forwards today, which suggests that he may be a swing man. DISTRACTION JACKSON'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS When I first got there they were completing a drill in a diamond shape using the whole ground and running in twos. They were all running incredibly hard and really pushing each other, plus Choco really getting vocal. Seem to be Incorporating match day type running as opposed to just running laps to build fitness. Milkshake running laps and looks to be in some discomfort. Ended up on the bike so must have some type of niggle. Hand balling drill focused on shutting down ball movement once the whistle goes. Lots of celebration when it gets shutdown Watching Trac’s power from 10m away is incredible. He burst through three potential tacklers and gave a big cheer once through. Windsor grabbed at his calf after one of the drills…. Made me panic but seems ok and finished the rest of training. Lindsay just keeps running and running. Looks a highly likely type and can’t wait until he’s in full training mode. Kynan Brown also moved into running about halfway through and he just motored along at a decent click for ages. Langford is an absolute beast of a boy, but didn't get to see too much of him unfortunately. Bailey Laurie’s kicking is elite. Hoping he can have a breakout year… Petty playing as a forward in the match sim to start. Adams runs hard to get a handball from May and then hits his 30m kick. I am holding out hope he will eventually take over form May as a key defender. May get a game this year if desperately needed, but I think 2026 will be when he really starts to ramp up. Kozzy turns it over and Chappy was not happy. Chappy also giving some pretty stern words to Ricky Mentha. Chappy is very vocal and looked to be getting a bit [censored] off at times. Assuming the new game plan he is trying to implement is taking some time as would be expected. Scrappy kick from Langford and petty picks it off his bootlaces and snaps a goal. It’s pretty willing in the match sim. Some genuine slaps of the body happening out there. Skills have been so-so, would’ve liked a bit better but the defensive intensity is really good. Again, hard for me to tell given I don't get down very often. Kalani White showed great courage in getting across to make a spoil. Can imagine it would be intimidating for a 17 year old! He also slotted a few nice goals and looks really athletic. Don’t think Bowey missed a kick the whole session. Think he is ready for a big year. Good thing it’s a pretty full list out there. Really just Lever, Spargo, Lindsay, McAdam and Melk not in full training. Kolt finished training early… hopefully nothing too serious but he was walking back to AAMI park with a trainer as I was leaving. Trac was smiling a lot and very vocal ... SIDESHOW BOB'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Spent about 45 mins there for the first time in many a season. Very impressed with the quality of training and ball movement - picking a starting 22 is going to be tough work on the selection committee Was surprised about the size of Lindsay - he is definitely bigger than I was expecting - ripped and should slot straight in. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Basset, and Jones (Goody observing) had a sim/structural drill going, tackling included, going in at about 60% commitment. It seemed to be about getting the ball out from a stoppage in the backline with kick, when the ball gets locked in by congestion. The other side of the field had Chaplin and, I think Whitford, doing something similar, with the emphasis being locking the ball in. Basset was very vocal, he emphasised that the corridor was sacrosanct, 'give them the boundary'. Langford struggled with the shorts kicks, and decision-making a couple of times. His long kicks were more successful. Campbell moved and handled the ball fairly well for a big man. Good fun watching Viney and Tracc compete against each other. They had some stoppages for the mids, taken by Jones. Two mids on one opposition, crumbing off the rucks, Gawn, Verrall and Campbell. One mid would block, as the other gets a free run to collect the tap. I am yet to see the tall forwards do any ruck work. The forwards all practised set kicking from about 45 metres out, taken by Choco. The backs, with Bassett, practised the basic releases. The full sims were done with plenty of skill, fast ball movement, and a sparse forward line. They had an extensive, intensive session, building well. Jefferson is going well! Has put on bulk around the hips. Looks taller than last season. Getting involved in the sims. Listening to and executing the instructions. This morning he was working hard, getting off the blindside of defenders, and in constant movement. Didn't get many passes to him, continued to offer options. His handball and field kicking have also improved, has great hands. Has a reliable set shot. The tackling effort is still lacking, or it maybe that he cannot read defensiveness well. Starts a step behind and doesn't straight line with gusto, though can zone defend reasonably well. During drills he is as clean as anyone. Looking happy. Must be a chance to get a start this year. They have been simming and drilling in very congested areas. A marked change from early last season. When they structure up with a crowded forward line, the instructions I have heard have been, 'look and kick it to where the leading forwrd wants it'. A few of the sims when crowded had them putting the ball infront of JVR who wanted it above the pack for a strong specky attempt, hit the pack, and have a front and centre ready. Big change is that the crumbers are being drilled, working together, and making sure that someone is there at the crumb (hard running). Chandler reads it well. Kossie's snaps are a beautiful thing to see, so very consistent. They haven't given up on the kind of bomb it in theory.

The Melbourne Racing Club has agreed to sell a $195 million parcel of land at Caulfield Racecourse to Mount Scopus Memorial College for the Jewish private school to build a new campus. The MRC’s decision to sell the 7.5-hectare site will clear the racing club of its $165 million debt, and could have implications for the Melbourne Football Club’s proposal to build a $100 million training and administration base at the racecourse. The tract of land being sold to Mount Scopus runs the length of the western precinct of the racecourse – from Station Street along Kambrook and Booran roads to Glen Eira College. The land was previously used for stables and training facilities, but has remained largely unused since horse training stopped at Caulfield in 2021. MRC chairman John Kanga said the club had been negotiating with the college, which intended to build a new campus on the site, for more than 12 months and had engaged consultant Ernst & Young as part of a review process. He said the deal, expected to be settled within two years, had bipartisan support. “It will benefit not only the school and its students, but also have a positive impact on local residents and the broader community,” he said. The 75-year-old Mount Scopus Memorial College operates three campuses – in Burwood, Caulfield South and St Kilda – but has been searching for a new super-site closer to the city’s Jewish heartland. In June, The Age reported the school was looking to strike a land-swap deal with the state government to relocate its three campuses to the Caulfield Hospital site. The school transports about 1000 students from the Caulfield area to Burwood each day, costing parents thousands of dollars each year. A source familiar with the land deal, but not authorised to speak about the school’s plans, said the racecourse deal would eliminate the college’s need for the hospital site. Kanga said the MRC’s ability to clear its debt was not only a win for the club but also the racing industry, which was suffering from a significant downturn in wagering turnover. “As everyone is aware, I have only been club chairman since October and have been highly critical of the $165 million debt incurred by the former committee and executive team,” Kanga said. “This sale will completely clear that debt, reducing risk and stabilising the club’s financial position.” Kanga said the new MRC committee would reverse the policies of the previous committee by continuing to race at Sandown, shelving a costly, and what he considers “unnecessary”, plan to build a new Caulfield grandstand, and moving the Caulfield mounting yard back to what he sees as its “rightful position” in front of the grandstand. Two sources with knowledge of the Mount Scopus agreement, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said the school campus project would complicate Melbourne Football Club’s plan to build their long-awaited home base at Caulfield. The AFL club would require state government and Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust approval to proceed, because the training ovals would be built on Crown land inside the track. This masthead reported in October that the Demons would need to raise $70 million from governments, the Melbourne Cricket Club and private investors to bridge a funding gap for the project, which would end a 20-year search for a central, purpose-built headquarters. The Demons would also use cash reserves from profits and launch a fundraising campaign, although they would not draw on their future fund. Melbourne Football Club’s contested election will be decided on December 17, when the club hopes former MCC chairman Steven Smith will be elected to the board and take over as president at the end of next year. CEO Gary Pert, who will finish in that role at Christmas, is continuing as a consultant on the Caulfield Racecourse project while the business case is being prepared. Mount Scopus Memorial College’s 2023 financial report revealed it had $51 million in property, plant and equipment. The MRC’s plans to wipe its debt comes as the Victoria Racing Club, which runs Flemington, reels from losing $70 million across the past four years. The club that hosts the Melbourne Cup last week axed up to 40 jobs as it moves to rein in years of spiralling debt. It borrowed heavily to open a $128 million grandstand in October 2018. Moonee Valley is pushing on with plans to reshape its track and build a new grandstand after next year’s Cox Plate, which would form part of a total project cost between $200 million and $250 million. The Valley posted a $12.4 million loss in the past financial year, but poured money into construction of its Moonee Valley Park project – an investment that was expected to reap greater dividends when completed properties were sold in following years.