waynewussell

Kennedy showed signs in the second half that he has been showing in training. Beautiful thing that Garlett kicked his regulation three without being noticed much. Gawn proved what everyone is saying, best ruckman in the AFL! Hogan will need to do more if he wants to draw the big contract from MFC!!!!!!!! Jack Watts continues to develop into one of the most important players in the AFL.... catch up Media!!!! VDB does it all. Oliver the next Brayshaw. Game plan looks very good v top opposition. Oscar will not grab a spot until he cleans up contested possession. Salem is everything we predicted. Tyson gets caught lot but geez I love how he gets to the drop! Viney is already one of the best in and unders! Pederson proved why he is our best second ruck option AGAIN!!!! because he always snags one or two as well. Enough for now!

The great thing about that win for me was that Hogan contributed very little!

Disappointed with key backs inability to body-up... Oscar needs to make body contact when trying to spoil. It was always going to be an easy shot for goal, what has he got to lose if he gets pinged for a free? Kennedy has been disappointing, as has Hunt, but I'll cut all of them some slack this early in proceedings. Frost has got his hands on it but disposal and decision making has been untidy. Jetta was good in first quarter but was outsmarted a few times in second. I know this is negative but these are my observations to date. In the second half I would like to see better decision making, less panic!

I have been reading this thread throughout without contributing, but I feel the need to add my two-bobs-worth (apologies to young folk who have NFI what that expression means). Hogan has already extended his contract. He will be an MFC player for at least two more seasons in that time we will be inside the top eight.... IF we continue to improve at the rate we improved in 2015. I keep hearing that Hogan will stay if the team shows that sort of improvement (Finalists!)... that is where I would like to make an important observation/modification... Its not just about the team improving/imposing itself/increasing output ... the upward trend is very dependent on Hogan improving/imposing himself/increasing output. If Hogan kicks 65 goals this season we are going to be in the fight for the top eight at the business end. If he kicks 80 goals in 2017 we will be close to top four. If that happens Hogan will be saying "Where do I sign?". So the future for Hogan at the MFC is very much in Hogan's capable hands. If he doesn't rise to those levels the Team won't rise to those levels. To summarise... If Hogan is as good as we all think the future takes care of itself! Relax fellow Demons, sit back, belt up and enjoy the ride.

Sounds like a serious matter to me... not a FS publicity stunt. I have full respect for GL as a Legend of MFC. Private lives are private. Many of us have made mistakes with relationships and family. I'm not going to cast a stone. The tone of these reports suggest serious personal issues. I choose to step back, without offering an opinion. Gary is an MFC great. We should support him, and his family, as best we can from a distance.

For some reason have liked him from the start. I think it was because of the elite speed he showed when I visited the paddock. Then I heard Shaw (school coach - AFL coach) say that he was a definite smokey to make it when he matured. Next came the late games for Casey in 2015... important goals often late in the game. I tthink he is a good investment and may get a game or two in pre-season trials and possibly a few in the real stuff!

I love SEN! I remember how wonderful it was to get a 24hr sports station way back when. The presenters have come and gone (remember Garry & Billy?). The drive show with The Ox and Marco was my favourite. I could tolerate Morning Glory as it was in 2015. KB is a legend and Harf was impressive in the early afternoon. This is a radical change and I don't know if it is an improvement yet. But one thing is certain... I will continue to be a SEN fan in 2016.

Watched Kennedy throughout yesterday's training and saw no similarity with Toumpas other than he had two legs and was wearing footy boots!

As I said earlier, Tyson was free of all tape (apart from regulation ankle strapping). He took part in all the drills and is looking fit and ready to fire!

This time last year Bernie was running laps, Vandenberg was recovering from a shoulder I think

Signing off from Maroochydore. Great effort by the players to stay out and sign hundreds of autographs after such a exhausting training session. My (new) player to watch in 2016 is Ben Kennedy. The second year group have stepped up a notch, expect big things from Brayshaw, Stretch & Harmes. Kent & Salem appear to be in great form. Special mentions to Viney, Gawn, McDonald, Grimes, Garlett & Garland look to be on track for a very good year!

FireInTheBelly... You're spot-on, big emphasis on fitness last year... Major focus on match-play this year

Last to leave track Kennedy, although Viney is still having kick to kick with kids. Autograph time now!

Light rain throughout the morning, very overcast. Nearly two hours in now... Cross has taken control of group for what looks like warm-down lap.

Pederson marks, plays on, great pass to McDonald senior 15 meters out. VandenBurg to Michie to Gawn (been very impressive with fitness & run) to Stretch - excellent!

Oliver getting more of the ball now, still full of run. The rotations continue regularly between Blue, White & Green. Kennedy & Brayshaw teaming well for Blue. Viney & Stretch for White, (Stretch takes a good mark in front of Salem and goals) The Green team seems to be made up of younger guys mixed with a few Seniors.

80 minutes in having a short break. Kennedy playing very well from centre. Garland steady in defense, hard to get past him. Salem very slick, clever in close. None of the young/new crew looking quite as good as the regulars - Brayshaw, Stretch, Harmes, ahead of Oliver & co, as you would expect. Kennedy certainly fits in well, Bugg has looked up to the AFL mark. Good to see Frost in some of the full ground match play, although he seems to have come off the ground again.

Great run from behind on VandenBurg by Oliver. Weideman playing deep forward v McDonald boys. Pederson good in ruck and play on. Salem kicks long, Weideman flies high, crumb to Kent goal square, off ground GOAL!!!!!

Half ground 9 v 9 now. Gawn to Kent to Garlett for a goal! Great run & carry by Brayshaw. Ben Kennedy doing well.

Dawes and Frost have joined one of the main groups now, still look a bit proppy

Been working hard for over an hour now. Crowd built up to over 200 now. A few of the hardest trainers looking stuffed! Jones tackled Hunt and slung him to the ground before to give him a taste of what it is like with the big boys!

Main group divided into three now for 6 v 4 keeping a off. Tyson, Kent, Pederson & Brayshaw in own group for short kicking. Stretch & Gawn looking rest in their group. Stretch kicking top class.

Main group in half ground simulation now. Quick ball movement some long kicking out of defense. Dunn, Watts & Salem looking good. H and Trengove doing short speed handball on back oval.

Hard tackle on Terlich by Salem in handball drill. Viney, Bugg, Skip, Smith also impressive

Big tackle on Watts from Gawn in handball drill and Watts didn't appreciate it... came back aggressively. stretch & Kent stood out