Gator

Despite his indifferent 2014 I watched a number of last year's games on Foxtel (you know, the few we won plus the two Port games) and I was struck by how good Viney was in most of them. His skills over 35 metres are usually precise and I can't agree with you regarding his speed. While not express, it's above average. Is his body too small ? I wouldn't have thought so. As you say, we'll agree to disagree, but I reckon his doubters should perhaps keep an open mind and at least see how 2015 unfolds.

Viney's biggest challenge isn't the odd skill error, it's becoming an elite runner. Roos, Lyon, Longmire, Hinkley... all of their game-plan's revolve around being elite two-way runners. He still has a long way to go, but he improved his running markedly over summer. I reckon he gets a bit of a bum wrap from some supporters. Saturday was his first hit out for the season and he'll only improve. Dan Hannebery didn't take the next step until he'd played 50 games and entered his 4th year. Viney has played 33 coming into his third. Hannebery is an elite runner, which is Viney's challenge. Unlike Viney, running has always been Hannebery's strength. I reckon he'll have a very good year. Importantly, teammates love playing beside a player like Viney. There's no-one better to run out with than someone who'd kill their Grandmother to get to the footy.

Garland had an excellent 2013, which was the culmination of some solid years developing within the system. In January 2014 he had ankle surgery, which understandably effected his output and he didn't play AFL until round 8. He never recaptured his 2013 form. In the second last game of 2014 he injured his knee and missed the final game, but I'm not sure of the diagnosis. He's been off the pace in the fitness stakes during this preseason, which may have been due to missing most of last year's preseason and injuring his knee in August. He doesn't have a gold pass to our best 22, but I think it's premature to dismiss him and it doesn't acknowledge his recent injury concerns. I think it will take him a while to hit his straps, but injury free with an increased fitness base there's no reason he won't return to the type of form that earned second place in 2013's B&F. He strikes me as in introspective sort of fellow who'll play his best when free of mind. Hopefully he continues to gain confidence over the ensuing weeks. His best is very good and his worst a liability.

What I've learnt thus far… Spread. The first half was the best I’ve seen a Melbourne side attack and spread in a long time. I think watching via the stream it’s difficult to glean how much that 5 goal wind had the capacity to effect kicking skills, but, in the main, I thought we transitioned the footy very well and opened up space and opportunities through spread and hard running. It helps when you’ve got tall targets, as they are the driver in giving the team confidence to move the ball quickly. Salem and Toumpas play far better football when they’re behind the ball. Toumpas is very much a confidence player with a long way to go, but the more he feels he belongs and the more he touches the leather the better he’ll get. He’s poor in a one on one contested situation, but with experience he’ll play to his strengths and hopefully become a reliable distributor. Salem has a harder edge and while he too needs to improve his decision making, we’ve potentially found an elite half-back, who has the capacity to push through the midfield as his career develops. For the first time in a long time I didn’t have apoplexy when Grimes had the footy. It was a break-through for Jack and a much needed boost for his confidence. Hogan is still a little rusty, but when he gets his timing right he’ll impact plenty of quarters. Even a little off his impact is palpable. He has a Neitz-like on-field presence that will greatly benefit the likes of Dawes, Watts and Pedersen. Garlett’s a terrific acquisition and he’ll salivate at the prospect of scouting Hogan-impacted contests. I like Newton. The club is trying to develop him in a more outside role, which threatens to reduce his early numbers. He’s most comfortable inside the contest with his nose over the footy, but they reckon we’re reasonable well off in that regard and want to capitalise on his quality left foot. We’ve already seen enough to know that Garlett, Lamumba, Frost, Newton, and van Demon (thanks to another poster) are going to be quality additions. This will be Watts’ best year for the club. As the third or fourth tall he has the capacity to be a nightmare for the opposition. His frame is clearly the strongest it’s looked, with both upper and lower body strength significantly improved. Thankfully, the midfield experiment is over. I’m looking forward to a 40 goal year. Some will consider this ambitious, however, with a defined role, undoubted footy smarts and superb goal-kicking accuracy, two goals a game isn't setting the bar too high. More importantly, this has to be the type of impact required. Intensity is the key for Jack. Brendan McCartney, in particular, has the ability to bring out the best in him. Matt Jones, McKenzie and Bail are solid servants, but they’re below the quality required to make a charge up the ladder. The club knows this, but their attributes will get them games until the likes of Brayshaw, ANB, Stretch and, of course, Petracca consign them to the past. We know what we’re going to get from the aforementioned and unfortunately it’s sub-optimal. I’d get Brayshaw into the team as quickly as possible. As Greg Chappell once said, the best way to learn how to play test cricket is to play test cricket. He should be over his head knocks and the quicker he’s in the team the better. I’m not as concerned by the abysmal second half as some. 220 disposals in the first half to 110 indicated that when we play with the intensity and to the structures they've trained over summer they can play effective two-way footy. It only takes one player to break down well-rehearsed zones. Combined with reduced intensity or changed personnel at stoppages we saw what can happen. In modern footy momentum can be difficult to withstand. They gave the Dogs a sniff and their tails subsequently went up. It’s a timely reminder to coaches and players as to what we can expect when you stop tackling, running and defending. The coaches would rather the opportunity to dissect this game now than after round 1. Tackling is the one area our better mids need to keep an eye on. Your best 6 should aspire to average at least 4 tackles per game, but preferably 5+. Tyson is a revelation, but he needs to improve his tackling numbers. I’m not as critical with the odd miskick as some, but I do want to see his tackling efforts improve. He’s adept at getting first possession at a stoppages and weaving, feigning, etc. until he gets that quick kick or handball out, but he can also sit back at times waiting to pounce. We are getting bigger and stronger, but we still need to raise the aggression stakes. Notwithstanding the exceedingly poor second half, I've seen enough already over the preseason with recruits, young players, hard running and spread to be quietly optimistic looking to the year ahead. Supporters’ emotions rise and fall too much over a quarter here or a half there. But it’s difficult to be overly critical with what they've had to endure.

Jackson replied to an email I sent him on Monday. I haven't read many posts on this thread; just jumped to the last page a couple of times and answered what was queried. The website was never meant to promote 12 noon, hence the confusion and subsequent apology.

Re the 1 pm training time-slot. From Peter Jackson: "The training session on Monday was delayed from the normal time to 1.00pm because we needed to give the players 3 full days off after the NAB game in accordance with the CBA. They arrived back in Melbourne from Perth at 5.30am and so training was put back from 10.00am. A requirement of the CBA."

Re merchandising, the following explanation is from Peter Jackson: "Gosch’s Paddock is managed by MOPT and is classified an open park. We need a permit to set up Merch stall. Plus the set up costs would be $1,000. Not knowing how many people would be attending, and the inadequate lead time re approval, we didn't go ahead with a stall."

The Vandenberg story isn't dissimilar to Guy Rigoni, who was a ball magnet from Myrtleford. Rigoni debuted at 23 and went on to play 107 games having been a late pick in the ND (77). Vandenberg is also 23.

Clearly the club wanted a strong showing in contests and to implement a more attacking game-plan, but I don't think "winning" was the primary focus. These games are all about trialing. They'll benefit from knowing Frost is a more competent backman than forward.

In Bailey's last two years we won 8.5 wins respectively. Notwithstanding the improvement in all lists from year to year, we have a much better list comparative to the Bailey years. Whether it be the Swans from 93-96, Dees 97-00, or Pies, Hawks and Port in more recent times, with the right talent and on/off-field leadership clubs can make inroads far quicker than expected. Hogan, in particular, will have an impact beyond the conservative evaluations of most. 8 is a bare minimum for me.

With respect, you're the one speaking rubbish. Naturally, depth has been an issue, but more-so elite talent at the pointy end that has the capacity to influence match day results has been dire. Senior players set the tone at a club, not "depth players". Lack of "depth players" may prevent finals appearances, or even a flag, but lack of "star quality" players prevents any kind of success.