waynewussell

I tend to take Chandler for granted. He is very consistent… puts in, reliable contributor with flashes of brilliance. He is developing his leadership skills. Similar in output and application to Sparrow. A successful team needs the glue!

Got there at 10:00, stayed for 90 mins. Thank you to Demonland, Dee Spencer, thirty-one and all contributors for covering the finer details. My observations: I was looking forward to covering the amazing progress of Steven May in his return to full back ... and alas, that didn't happen, and by some suggestions, it might not happen for some time. So, I concentrated on the progress of other backmen present. Petty spent quite a bit of time running. He looked pretty good. When joining in with the main group he was solid without being a standout. Oscar Berry was very effective in reading the play and spoiling the leading forward. He is definitely showing the benefits of a solid block of training. He is a little taller than I thought, has a strong build with a low centre of gravity. He shows confidence in his kicking skills. Ditto for AMW. The other players delight in his ability to defend the in-coming passes to a forward on the lead. He is in my starting 23! Xavier Taylor is a great competitor, is quick to recover and elusive with ball in hand ... he’s progressing well! Christian Salem spent all of his time in rehab while I was there, but doesn't look to have any serious issues. Jed Adams participated in all the drills. Steady without being a standout. Tom McDonald and Daniel Turner were the best of the key backs. I now have both of them in my starting 23. Jake Lever is looking much fitter than last season. He does not seem to be troubled by ankle or foot pain. He still looks in a little discomfort when required to bend down for the ground-ball gather. Moving on to the rest ... Bayley Fritsch is near unbeatable in the lea /get out the back routine. He is set for a very good 2026. Max Heath was outstanding in the air, particularly down back as others have noted. He is a big kick and is the best competition for Max in the ruck due to Campbell's injury. Which brings me to Max ... still a magician in getting either hand to the ball first and directing the play from the ruck contests. Kozzie is superb in everything he does! Jai Culley, Ed Langford, Caleb Windsor & Trent Rivers are consistently among the best on the training track. With some important names still in part or full-time rehab, Koltyn Tholstrup looms as a handy replacement. He has completed almost all of pre-season and he is showing that he has good pace, strength over the ball and improved disposal. Brodie Mihochek and Jack Steele are doing all the positive things we recruited them for... great additions! My final word goes to Matt Jefferson. He was the best of the key forwards today and is showing signs of becoming a much more reliable mark on a fast lead.

You’re not thinking clearly! You’re over emotional on this. The club didn’t ask him to look for a new home, they said that his place wasn’t guaranteed… that he was free to explore his options. I go to all games at the G, so obviously I watched. Let’s deal with facts… in 2026, May is still on our list. He is looking trim, focused and confident. He is an experienced, premiership full back. He was considered one of the best in the business throughout most of his career to date. I choose not to ignore those credentials. At the time of publication I obviously felt he was worthy to be considered for selection! All of this could change rapidly if we take tonight’s news flash into consideration, but I am not backing down on my support for a bloke who has been a very successful member of our defence for several years. In the end the coach and selection committee will make their choice based on the pathway back to success.

I was referring to the inference that he wasn’t fit

I’m pleased to hear that! He is a valued member of our key backs, however, I have May ahead of him (if back to full fitness). I think that choice is rather obvious!

I’m not talking about round 1, I’m predicting a group that are match ready for the first months of the season, taking injury into account if it were to happen.

I have four... May, Lever, Turner & McDonald, with Petty an 'unknown' until concussion issues are fully sorted.

You don't get to training much, do you!

Steven May will play on the best oppo forward for much of the season

Pickering picking 'A' graders is a humorous part of pre-season predictions! It led me to pick an MFC player that he wouldn't have, to compare him to a few that he would have. Goals in the Past Four Seasons: Charlie Cameron 189 Fritsch 170 Gunston 156 Elliott 148 Higgins 148

Viney must have had a relapse! Last week he was running laps at very rapid pace… lots of laps… non stop!

Thanks to all the track watchers. I was there as early as Berry and left 90 minutes later. The reports above have been comprehensive and I have little to add... I enjoyed the competitive forward lead to a pass, and midfielder trying to hit the target. For me, Roo and Fritsch were head and shoulders as forwards. Roo hits the ball at pace, with strength, and is showing signs of stickier fingers this year. Steele and Kolt were the best of the kickers in this activity... the former at 100% or close to it. Jefferson and Kalani were clever getting out the back, as others have pointed out, but neither have the hustle and bustle of JVR It was good to see McAdam able to do more than run laps. He is progressing! May will be an important player again in 2026. He is getting fitter every session and rumours of his demise are exaggerated Langdon was a standout today Don't think we will see Melksham or Viney in round 1 McDonald continues to be the most consistent spoiler in 1 on 2 'defend the lead' activity Heath is looking more competitive in the aerial contests and more confident in belonging Sharp is the fastest hammy patient I have ever witnessed!

I had a chat to Steven and mentioned your sentiments. he said that's OK, cause he strongly dislikes you!

Simply making a comparison with his condition in the final weeks of the 2025 season, which I will stand by

Forgot to mention… either Jiath has had a short, short cut or those dreads were glued on!

Max H is a bit raw at this stage. He certainly is imposing physically, but when it comes to ruck craft, Tom Campbell is streets ahead for mine!

Watched training for an hour this morning… I’m now finding this stage of preparation slightly boring! I’m ready for real competition, not ‘dancing with your sister’ stuff! No offence to sisters intended, nor to players or coaches. It was a busy hour. Three competitive activities going on at the same time, groups of players rotated through these, so I propped myself up on the fence and waited for them to come to me! Observations; Windsor, Kossie, Culley and Salem were standouts for me. Windsor has developed his tackling to compliment his pace. Good to see May and Lever looking fit. Latrelle and Ricky Mentha in everything. The emphasis in everything they do is on quick ball movement. The intensity is up. Disposals do not always hit the target, but the movement is lightning fast. The ‘defenders’ are always outnumbered. I look forward to seeing our players perform with real pressure from a competitive opposition. Viney ran and ran and ran at a good clip throughout. Agree with others that Sharp didn’t look two months away from rejoining regular training. I thought Kentfield and Jefferson looked good in the competitive drills. Lindsay looks stronger in the legs and hips.

quod erat demonstrandum

... and yet "delusional" Goodwin coached us to our first premiership in 57 years, in a coaching period that also saw us win a VFL and AFLW premiership. I refer to it as Goodwin's perspicacious period!

Further observations from today's session... McAdam is still running with a slight limp, but what a lot of running he is doing! Today he broke away for some short kicking and he looked comfortable. Tholstrup is looking fit and was a strong body in breakaway from the centre sims. Heath seemed to struggle with his kicking for goal today, surprisingly, Lever was hitting 75% of his shots. May is getting back to some fitness and is moving a little better than in the latter stages of this season. He is getting back some of the swagger. A fully fit May would be a huge bonus going into 2026. Matthews is recovering well from his op and, purely from my observation, should be joining sims activity after the Christmas break. Campbell is benefitting from an uninterrupted preseason. He may be more than a Max backup in 2026.

On training form, I list the following as visible improvers, not in any order... AJ, Langford, Windsor, Culley and Kentfield This group makes us better... Jiath, AMW, Mihocek, L. Pickett, Steele Another positive factor... Lever is fit. Without further serious injury, I am confident we will at least break even in 2026, which would be an improvement on the previous two seasons.

We were treated to some of the 'magic' Trelly moves as his group worked through some repeat shots at goal, and later some lead up work infront of us. He is lightning, full of confidence, evasive and a sure ball handler. I didn't notice Onley today, but X Taylor has blossomed somewhat since his first hit out. He showed finesse when bursting from defence, was reasonably accurate with his shots for goal and chirpy in general, as he blends into the group dynamic.

Yes, we had a short chat with Harvey, my friend asked if he had grown since last year. He said he wasn't sure... "maybe a centimetre or two". I snapped those pics and posted them before to give some indication of Langford's size compared to Lingers. He is definitely taller than listed. I told him he better stop growing or they will have him in the ruck next!

AJ is looking good. He seems to have gained a little polish, particularly with his kicking for goal. He is fit and takes some good marks in leading and contesting sims.