Demonland

Joel Smith looks like he is back training with the main group.

REHAB: Jake Melksham, Taj Woewodin, Luke Dunstan Everyone is in Blue Guernseys so I doubt there will be match SIMs. Probably just regular training considering preseason is officially over.

It’s a beautiful morning at Gosch’s Paddock. REHAB: Jake Melksham (?), Taj Woewodin (?), Luke Dunstan (Hamstring), Fritsch(hip/back??), Salem (Thyroid), Brown (managed) Everyone is in Blue Guernseys so I doubt there will be match SIMs. Probably just regular training considering preseason is officially over. Joel Smith looks like he is back training with the main group. Fritsch and Salem are not training at all. Salem for obvious reasons. Not sure about Fritsch. Split into 3 groups for wam ups. Mids, Backs and Forwards. No surprises except Kozzy & Smith with Forwards. Gus with defence. Mids Trac, Max, Langdon, Clarry, Verral, Grundy, Viney, Sparrow, Farris-White, Howes, Harmes, Jordon, Hunter Forwards TMac, Jefferson, Schache, Van Rooyen, Nibbler, Chandler, Spargo, Laurie, Joel Smith, Kozzy, Sestan, Brown Defenders May, Lever, Brayshaw, Hibberd, Bowey, Tomlinson, Rivers, Adams, Deakyn Smith, Petty, McVee, Daniel Turner, Kye Turner, Moniz-Wakefield Fritsch now walking knee raisers with arms raised in the air with the medicos. Now doing walking lunges whilst twisting side to side when lunging. Dunstan slow/medium jogging along the boundary. Melksham doing the same at a slightly quicker pace. Split into two groups. Mix of forwards, Mids and Defenders in each group. Ben Brown not training just having shots for goal from different angles and distances. Salem now jogging laps. Trac noticed and clapped saying “Go Salo”. Fritsch walking doing leg raisers whilst the trainer is pulling a theraband which is around his waist. He looks to be in mild discomfort. One of the groups is not doing a half ground match SIM sans contact. Players have reversible training jumpers and that are blue on one side and white on the other for easy changing. Fritsch doing side crab walks while the trainer pulls on the Theraband around his waist. The field has been divided length ways down the middle and there are two separate match SIMs ( for want of a better description) without contact with 2 players in yellow vests playing for both teams. Goal is keepings off down the length of the field to kick a goal. I will note that disposal has been very sharp. Trac’s long kicking is like a laser guided missile. In my non-medical opinion Fritsch may have a hip (flexor) issue. Any physios can you confirm that the exercises I poorly described could confirm this? Kye Turner is wearing number 33. New number perhaps? I’ll echo what other have said about Chandler over the preseason he is certainly putting his hand up for a call up. Trainer is throwing the footy at Fritsch to catch it in one hand whilst he is standing/balancing on one leg (the right one). Brown and Taj playing kick to kick on the boundary. Dunstan jogging between a set of cones set up in a zig zag pattern. Full length ground drill starts with a kick to a one on one contest. If the ball spills a player swoops in and 4 players run down the field almost in a line and kick to a contest at the other end and the drill begins again the other direction. Next drill also starts with a kick to a one on one contest deep in the forward line. When the ball spills 4 players run in from different directions (2 in white and 2 in blue). Whoever won the spill would have a quick snap for goal. Brown and Dunstan have hit the gym as has Taj. Boundary throw in simulation drill with small forwards like Spargo, Nibbler and Chandler also involved with the Mids and wingers. Verral getting a lesson in ruck craft from the Master Max. When the ball spills the ball is swooped on and kicked into a contest (forward on forward) in the forward line. Defenders doing a separate drill. Rivers is in the defenders group as is Brayshaw. Salem jogging laps with Reece Conca. Forwards/Mids/Wingers doing a drill with either the wingers kicking from half forward flank or a Mid kicking from CHF into the forward line to a lead again focusing on if the ball isn’t marked then it is swooped on and snapped for goal or a better option is kicked/handballed to. There is a lot of congestion and chaos built into the drill. Often the wingers will look for a better option at CHF first before kicking into the forward line. @george_on_the_outer noted that if a lead wasn't found we would be kicking higher and longer/deeper to a contest deep in the forward line than we normally do. He may be able to explain that better. Grundy is training with the forwards on that drill whilst Max, KFW & Verral have joined the defenders drill which appear to be a drill simulating taking the ball out of defence ending with a long kick into the forward line to a contest between Kyah Farris-White and Verral (who are just being used as a tall target to kick to). Max floating around as a tall marking option as the ball comes out of defence. Joel Smith & Jed Adams have joined the rehabbers probably as planned as there might be a contact drill coming up for the first time this session. Match SIM has begun with minimal contact though. Lot of loose players. Not really man on man. More of end to end circle work than a Match SIM. Only seen a few tackles. Todays session is more skill and tactical based without the emphasis on defence or pressure. I would assume that they need to learn some of the game plan without the pressure and then in other sessions bring in the pressure/tackling/defence so that they can practice what they've learned under intense conditions. That's my uneducated guess anyway. In case I’ve never mentioned this before Kozzy is just a magician. He scooped the ball up in a one on one ground contest, broke out of a tackle with a nice don’t argue, kicked beautifully into Chandler on a lead who was spoiled in a marking contest but got the spill and handballed to Kozzy who had continued to gut run down the field and had every right to have a shot for goal on a tight angle but he kicked it in board to a free Trac who snapped truly. I know that Ben Brown and TMac have been in great form and are almost undoubtedly around 1 starters but I can’t see how Van Rooyen doesn’t get a call up either. He is a natural forward with great hands and a superb ground ball game. Can we possibly trial 3 talls again? It didn’t work with Weid in the Mix but Van Rooyen is a different beast. Great conundrum to have. Howes is a very smart clean footballer. Was in trouble on the wing and thought his way out of the situation. Granted there is not really tackling but there was pressure in this drill and he had a player in front of him and to the side with another also coming at him from another direction and no options forward and managed to spot a player backwards and found the option. Got kudos from players and coaches around him. Some of the things that Clarry does just cannot be accurately described. Players now doing run throughs to cool down. They’ve been instructed to go slow and not reach their destination before 17 seconds. The way Schache has been training at every session I have been to and from anecdotal evidence from other trackwatchers and from talking to some players at the player sponsor event it is hard to see him not pushing for selection. Granted he will probably have to prove himself at Casey but I think we will definitely see him at some point in the season. He was targeted when Weid left as like for like but I like what I see from the Schack more than from what I saw from Weid and I had high hopes that Weid would eventually make it. I'm more confident with Schache. Just noticed that TMac has his left elbow strapped. Hasn’t appeared to hampered him. I have mentioned this before in my training observations but I really feel for Tomlinson. He trains his guts out and is always encouraging to the younger blokes and is very vocal on the track. Our defence is a hard one to crack into with the big 3 in May, Petty & Lever and I feel that both the Turners might be ahead of Thommo. I haven't seen enough of the new recruit Adams who has just started to join in to most drills but like Jefferson up forward he will do his apprenticeship this year at Casey. In any event our back stocks run deep. That’s a wrap from me. Oh and did I mention that we trained some very sturdy dwellings all the way down.

PLEASE STAY by Paddy Gosch Kozzy Pickett is one of the most promising young players in the league, and there has been much speculation about whether he will stay with the Melbourne Demons, or move interstate to another club. Last year the Demons went through this “Will he, Won’t he” situation with another one of their young guns in Luke Jackson. Subsequently Jackson shunned the Melbourne Football Club's offer and defected back to his home state. Whilst ultimately unhappy with his decision Dee’s fans will remain forever thankful for Jackson’s contribution in the third quarter of the 2021 Grand Final which helped secure the Demon’s their first Premiership in 57 years. Dees fans are once again faced with the prospect of another one of their young guns being lured away from the club. At the time of writing, it is not yet clear what Pickett's decision will be. However, there are a number of factors that could influence his choice. One of the main factors is the success of the Melbourne Football Club. In 2021, the Demons broke their premiership drought, and Pickett was instrumental in the team's finals campaign kicking 2 goals in the Qualifying victory against the Lions and 3 goals in the Preliminary Final against the Cats Despite the Demon's straight sets exit during the 2022 finals series they still finished the season in 2nd place after winning the first 10 games of the season. They are widely regarded as having one of the most talented lists in the league and are tipped by most pundits to finish in the Top 4 once again in 2023. Given Pickett's role in the team's success, it is likely that the Demons will do everything they can to keep him. However, there may be factors outside the club's control that could influence Pickett's decision. One such factor could be the lure of returning West to either his home state of WA or to South Australia where he played a lot of his junior footy. Pickett was born in WA but grew up in the Indigenous community of Ceduna in South Australia and played junior football for West Adelaide. If he were to move to Perth or Adelaide, he would be closer to his family and friends. Another factor that could influence Pickett's decision is the financial aspect of the deal. The Demons have a plethora of star players that they have had to lock away on long term deals and whilst Kozzy is an integral part of any future playing list the clubs out west may be able to offer him a more lucrative contract than the Demons, which could be a tempting proposition for any young player. In terms of what the Demons could expect in return, it is difficult to say. If Pickett were to move to say Port Adelaide, who by all reports are his main suitor, the Demons could potentially receive a trade or draft pick in exchange. The prospect of Port being able to offer adequate compensation is even more grim as they’ve already traded away their future first draft pick for 2023 as part of the Horne-Francis deal. Given Pickett's value to the Demons, it is likely that they would seek a trade that would be beneficial to both parties if he chose to leave. If Pickett were to leave the Demons, the club would undoubtedly miss his contributions. He is a dynamic and explosive player who has the ability to turn a game on its head. His speed, agility, and goal sense make him a valuable asset to any team. Demon fans are salivating at the prospect of Kozzy playing more midfield minutes in season 2023 and depending on the success of this change it could potentially increase his already high value to the Dees and any other prospective suitors. As for how Demons fans would feel if Pickett were to leave, there is no doubt that there would be a sense of disappointment & devastation. Kozzy has quickly become a fan favourite due to his electrifying style of play and his role in the team's premiership season. On the heals of Jackson's decision to leave the club that took a punt on drafting him, losing Kozzy would feel like a double blow. In time, fans would understand that players sometimes need to make decisions that are best for their careers and personal lives. However that does not make up for the sting of a star player leaving. As a Dees fan, I cannot begin to express the immense joy and pride I feel watching him play. His speed, agility, and skill on the field have been nothing short of phenomenal, and he has quickly become one of our most exciting players to watch. Hearing whispers that he may be considering leaving the Demons for another team, I feel like I have to make this passionate plea for him to stay on behalf of all Demon fans. Kozzy, you are more than just a player to us. Your presence on the field brings us joy. You have become a role model to young fans, showing them that hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude can help you achieve great successes. But more than anything, Kozzy, you have become an integral part of the Melbourne Demons family and a cherished member of our community. We have watched you grow and develop as a player, and we have celebrated your triumphs and supported you through your challenges. As a Demons fan, I can say with certainty that we want nothing more than to see you continue to grow and develop with our team. We want to see you raise the premiership cup again, hear you sing the team song, and watch you celebrate with your teammates and fans. So I am begging you, Kozzy, please stay with us. Stay with the team that has nurtured and supported you, the team that has become your home. Stay with the fans who have cheered you on through thick and thin, and who will continue to do so for many years to come. We need you, Kozzy. The Melbourne Football Club needs you. Please don't leave us. Please stay ...

So would opposition clubs I'm sure. Despite the fact that I love reports from training I have no problem with the club not giving away any intel too early to opposition clubs. They won't get much from reading our training reports and if the send out spies then good luck to em but as much as we all want to see the match sims we really shouldn't be providing them video footage on demand.

Kozzy Pickett is one of the most promising young players in the league, and there has been much speculation about whether he will stay with the Melbourne Demons, or move interstate to another club. Last year the Demons went through this “Will he, Won’t he” situation with another one of their young guns in Luke Jackson. Subsequently Jackson shunned the Melbourne Football Club's offer and defected back to his home state. Whilst ultimately unhappy with his decision Dee’s fans will remain forever thankful for Jackson’s contribution in the third quarter of the 2021 Grand Final which helped secure the Demon’s their first Premiership in 57 years. Dees fans are once again faced with the prospect of another one of their young guns being lured away from the club. At the time of writing, it is not yet clear what Pickett's decision will be. However, there are a number of factors that could influence his choice. One of the main factors is the success of the Melbourne Football Club. In 2021, the Demons broke their premiership drought, and Pickett was instrumental in the team's finals campaign kicking 2 goals in the Qualifying victory against the Lions and 3 goals in the Preliminary Final against the Cats Despite the Demon's straight sets exit during the 2022 finals series they still finished the season in 2nd place after winning the first 10 games of the season. They are widely regarded as having one of the most talented lists in the league and are tipped by most pundits to finish in the Top 4 once again in 2023. Given Pickett's role in the team's success, it is likely that the Demons will do everything they can to keep him. However, there may be factors outside the club's control that could influence Pickett's decision. One such factor could be the lure of returning West to either his home state of WA or to South Australia where he played a lot of his junior footy. Pickett was born in WA but grew up in the Indigenous community of Ceduna in South Australia and played junior football for West Adelaide. If he were to move to Perth or Adelaide, he would be closer to his family and friends. Another factor that could influence Pickett's decision is the financial aspect of the deal. The Demons have a plethora of star players that they have had to lock away on long term deals and whilst Kozzy is an integral part of any future playing list the clubs out west may be able to offer him a more lucrative contract than the Demons, which could be a tempting proposition for any young player. In terms of what the Demons could expect in return, it is difficult to say. If Pickett were to move to say Port Adelaide, who by all reports are his main suitor, the Demons could potentially receive a trade or draft pick in exchange. The prospect of Port being able to offer adequate compensation is even more grim as they’ve already traded away their future first draft pick for 2023 as part of the Horne-Francis deal. Given Pickett's value to the Demons, it is likely that they would seek a trade that would be beneficial to both parties if he chose to leave. If Pickett were to leave the Demons, the club would undoubtedly miss his contributions. He is a dynamic and explosive player who has the ability to turn a game on its head. His speed, agility, and goal sense make him a valuable asset to any team. Demon fans are salivating at the prospect of Kozzy playing more midfield minutes in season 2023 and depending on the success of this change it could potentially increase his already high value to the Dees and any other prospective suitors. As for how Demons fans would feel if Pickett were to leave, there is no doubt that there would be a sense of disappointment & devastation. Kozzy has quickly become a fan favourite due to his electrifying style of play and his role in the team's premiership season. On the heals of Jackson's decision to leave the club that took a punt on drafting him, losing Kozzy would feel like a double blow. In time, fans would understand that players sometimes need to make decisions that are best for their careers and personal lives. However that does not make up for the sting of a star player leaving. As a Dees fan, I cannot begin to express the immense joy and pride I feel watching him play. His speed, agility, and skill on the field have been nothing short of phenomenal, and he has quickly become one of our most exciting players to watch. Hearing whispers that he may be considering leaving the Demons for another team, I feel like I have to make this passionate plea for him to stay on behalf of all Demon fans. Kozzy, you are more than just a player to us. Your presence on the field brings us joy. You have become a role model to young fans, showing them that hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude can help you achieve great successes. But more than anything, Kozzy, you have become an integral part of the Melbourne Demons family and a cherished member of our community. We have watched you grow and develop as a player, and we have celebrated your triumphs and supported you through your challenges. As a Demons fan, I can say with certainty that we want nothing more than to see you continue to grow and develop with our team. We want to see you raise the premiership cup again, hear you sing the team song, and watch you celebrate with your teammates and fans. So I am begging you, Kozzy, please stay with us. Stay with the team that has nurtured and supported you, the team that has become your home. Stay with the fans who have cheered you on through thick and thin, and who will continue to do so for many years to come. We need you, Kozzy. The Melbourne Football Club needs you. Please don't leave us. Please stay ...

GATOR'S TRAINING REPORT There were 4 x 20 minutes quarters between teams Blue and White. It was controlled by AFL umpires. The first two quarters comprised of the probables in Blue versus the possibles in White. Blue included: Gawn, Grundy, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Sparrow, May, Lever, Petty, Rivers, McVee, Langdon, Neal-Bullen, Pickett, Spargo, Brown, McDonald, Bowey, Chandler White: Farris-White, Verrall, Schache, Hunter, Jordon, Hibberd, Dunstan, Harmes, Howes, Jefferson, Laurie, Sestan, Deakyn Smith, Tomlinson, Turner x 2, Woewodin, van Rooyen, Trent Burgoyne, plus 2-3 other Casey top-ups. As you’d expect Blue dominated. At half-time they’d kicked 15 goals to one. At half-time quite a few in Blue swapped to White, including Oliver, Brayshaw, Gawn and the first choice defenders – May, Petty, Lever, Rivers, McVee and Bowey. Harmes, Tomlinson and a few others went from White to Blue. The ‘new’ White got away in the third quarter, while Blue almost pinched it in the last. Final scores for the last two quarters were 41 to 40 White’s way. Ben Brown kicked 3 goals in the first on his way to 5. He’s moving and marking very well. McDonald kicked 3 and was also good. Grundy kicked 2 and handed an easy third to Pickett. Grundy was busy and had a good game, including a nice contested mark for one of his goals. He really gets involved around the stoppages. He seemed a little sore in his leg in the third quarter but he stayed on and completed all 4 quarters, so I’m assuming it’s minor. Spargo was very good and kicked 3 goals. Chandler did well and kicked 2. I wonder if McVee has been earmarked for Salem’s position. He looked very comfortable in the back 6. Both Langdon and Hunter got plenty of it. van Rooyen had a quiet day not helped by Blue’s dominance in the first two quarters. He led well in the second and did take one good contested mark, but also dropped an easy chest mark in the last. He ended the day goalless after missing a very gettable 30 metre shot in the second. Schache was quiet early but kicked 2 goals in the second half and became a target. Viney spent some time on ball but played mainly forward in the first half. He hit the scoreboard and actually played very well from a HFF. Rivers played mainly defence but also started in the centre square a few times, as did Brayshaw. So it looks like they’re going to mix it up. In the first half the preferred centre square setup was Oliver, Petracca, and Sparrow. Jefferson kicked the only goal for White in the first half and ended with 2. He took one excellent contested mark i50 (goal), but also dropped a couple he should have taken. He looks a player. Gawn looked a little rusty but was OK. I would have given Grundy the honours, but they both won their share of hitouts against each other in the second half. They were on the same team in the first half. Gawn spent time forward but was ineffective. For me the three best players were Oliver, Petracca, and Viney, but Spargo, Langdon, Brayshaw, Bowey, Rivers, Grundy, Brown and McDonald all did well. Petracca and Oliver can both extricate themselves from very tight positions. Some of their midfield craft was superb. Both fast, big and powerful. Oliver took a nice contested mark and was completely unhindered by his thumb. It was great to see Petracca mark forty metres out in the last, dead in front, and kick truly. He was also very happy (“Let’s go boys !!!”). This was the most involved I’ve seen Sestan. He took a couple of very strong marks and got quite a lot of it. He also kicked truly from 51 metres out. He’s one of those players with a low centre of gravity. Shortish legs and a long torso in the Daicos and Jesaulenko mould. Quick ball movement was the order of the day. There was a strong wind, so conditions were challenging, but there were also some excellent pieces of play. Lots of turnovers too, as is the hallmark of the modern game. I’m sure van Rooyen will get games and he’s had a great preseason, but he may just be behind Brown and McDonald for round one. Verrall competed well in the ruck. He’s raw but didn’t look out of place. Howes was very busy and mainly used it well. Even though Hunter played the first two quarters for White I’m sure he’s in the best team. Neale-Bullen also played well early. He was playing on a wing. Dunstan pulled a hamstring. Unlike Gawn, who jogged off with his, Dunstan was in pain as he gingerly limped off. Fritsch was a no show but may have been inside. Moniz-Wakefield and Melksham were there but didn’t participate and nor did Joel Smith.

PICKET FENCE'S TRAINING REPORT Greetings Demonlanders on this Hot as day. Fortunately not only was the temperature hot but the Dees went through a 6 quarter full match sim of which I file the following report. REHAB/ NO SHOWS FRITTA, JOEL SMITH, JAKE M, JED ADAMS (I THINK) SALEM INJURIES ON THE DAY Looked like LUKE DUNSTAN pinged a Hamstring during match sim. MATCH REPORT Initially the teams were more or less Blue Team ( Probable starting 18-23 Round 1) and White Team ( Probable Casey team) A few observations about this Hibbo, Dunstan, Jordan, Shache attacky, Tomlinson started in this team, Grundy and Max both were in the blue team at the start before swapping teams at Half time where we saw Max , Clarry, Gus, Harmes and one or two other regulars from Blue went to white team to even things out. PLAYER WATCH IMPRESSIONS 1 KADE CHANDLER was ON FIRE Today really looked like he wants a spot, playing in the Blue team he was heavily inlvolved in setting up play was electrifying with break away speed dish offs plus he kicked about 3 goals and was very very influential. 2 BBB He is easily the best forward we have currently runs up and down the ground leads hard judges the falling ball in contested marking and just does not miss goals. He would have had another 5 or so today 3 BLAKE HOWES What a cool customer he was today, just seems to have found a nice groove, does most things well and effortlessly and picks correct options I think he will play this year on todays performance 4 JUDD MC VIE Likewise did some very good creative work across half back wing and won his fair share of the ball in both contests and on the outside, a hard runner he is gaining in confidence each time 5 OLIVER SESTON I can now see why we drafted him , in junior footy he wouldhave been just too strong in the air and on the ground and possesses an excellent turn of speed, got caught trying to do too much on a couple of occasions but boy when he matures watch out he is not unlike Ollie Wines! 6 JAKE BOWEY Has all but sown up a hbf position I think he is a better player than Calb Daniels now and his disposal, smart descision making and mop ups are very very good. 7 SPARGY PANTS Has improved his posessions and kicked a couple of goals today and used the ball precisely and with purpose playing in the blues I think if he continues to get around 20 quality possessions he earns his keep this year 8 WILL VERALL What an athletic strong running big man he is. He contested manfully in the ruck took some grabs around the ground, dish ofs were good and his mobility and "Flair" wre very appealing will develop into a player I think . Not disimilarly DISCO TURNER Caught mey eye for the same "Flair" 9 JOSH SHACHE ATTACKY Lots to like about his , for example he took a mark today contested that a Sam Weedeman would have ran under then goaled. Clever unobtrusive but can become dynamic and bob up unexpectedly and kick a few , which he did do today. Not a bad ruckman and gives his best 10 MATT JEFFERSON.Quiet in parts but then takes the Mark of the day ) In contested company and cooly converted against the wind from 45 out on an angle, when he gets it things happen and although he may not play this year gee in 2024 watch out when he gets some confidence and size/weight. Kicked a couple of nice goals today 11 (THE HOLY TRINITY) CLARRY, J.V , TRACC were just phenomenal today just scary phenomenal. 12 LACHY HUNTER Just knows where to run, how to get it, get out on the outside spearing kicks lace out to other players and will be SENSATIONAL for us. Only slight disappiontment was JVR dropped a couple of chest marks and just got caught out of position a little today HIGHLIGHT MAX VS BRODIE G ( AFTER HALF TIME) BOTH were pitted on one another and it was highly entertaining and enlightening, Max is a one hand tap ruckman and Brodie prefers two hands. BOTH are effecteive and both take marks around the ground, use the ball well and are VERY VERY FIT FINALLY GEE WE ARE FIT I MEAN REALLY REALLY FIT, NO OUT OF CONDITION PLAYERS EVIDENT AND ON A DAY LIKE THIS PIONTS TO A SERIOUS ASSAULT ON THE FLAG IN 2023 I BELEIVE!

Unofficial match simulations Thursday, February 23 Geelong v Hawthorn, GMHBA Stadium, 4pm AEDT (4 x 20 min plus time on) Gold Coast v Essendon, Austworld Centre Oval (Carrara), 4pm AEST (5pm AEDT), (6 x 25 min, no time on) Friday, February 24 North Melbourne v Richmond, Arden St, 10am AEDT (4 x 25 mins, 2 x 20 mins, no time on) Carlton v Collingwood, Ikon Park, 11am AEDT (4 x 25 min, no time on) Sydney v Brisbane, Tramway Oval (Moore Park), 12pm AEDT (4 x 25 min, no time on) St Kilda v Melbourne, RSEA Park, 4pm AEDT (6 x 25 min, no time on) Fremantle v Adelaide, Victor George Kailis Oval (Cockburn), 3.30pm AWST (6.30pm AEDT), (6 x 25 min, no time on) West Coast v Port Adelaide, Mineral Resources Park (Perth) 4.40pm AWST (7.40pm AEDT), (4 x 28 min, 2 x 20 min, no time on)

@picket fence is at training today and will be starting a thread shortly.

1. Geelong 2. Brisbane 3. Sydney 4. Melbourne “If they do not finish in the top four, it is a wasted era for them because they are cherry ripe in terms of the most top-end talent in the competition. “Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Bayley Fritsch, Steven May, Jake Lever, Jack Viney – throw Brodie Grundy in there, Lachie Hunter from the Dogs as well and there’s another young kid from WA in Jacob Van Rooyen who is flying. He’ll play just about every game this year. “I think they got the kick up the bum they needed. I think they got a bit carried away. They were flying halfway through last year and undefeated after 10 rounds. “If you look at a lot of the premiership teams, they’ve often made another Grand Final within four years.”

Is Grundy present? He too was missing from Wednesday's session.

Interesting no Fritsch. He must have an injury/niggle and was not rostered off as some posited, myself included, the other day.

As you mentioned they were from December. I have been to 3 or 4 sessions since and there has been the same guy with a massive lens and I don't believe he is associated with the club and I haven't seen the photos show up on any of the sports photo service websites. Therefore I believe he is either a fan and the photos are for his private collection or a sports photography enthusiast or both.