Harvey Wallbanger

Light recovery session as reported by Ghosty. Absent: Spargo, Brown, Windsor, Campbell Rehabbing: Culley and May running gently together - separate group of Melksham, Tholstrup, Kentfield, McVee and Hore All in good spirits - training at Casey later in the week with Captain's run back at Gosch's on Saturday at 10 am.

If every player in the AFL approached the contest as recklessly as Archer did "on that occasion" you would have multiple concussions each week. No way he should get off.

All 23 plus emergencies - Campbell, TMac and Billings. Initially the Casey boys were doing a light run before their practice match against Coburg tomorrow. They were then joined by the AFL listed boys who will join them. Hopefully Spargs will get a full game in tomorrow. I shared a bench with Brian Taylor, who had the binoculars out. He then joined Alan Richardson and went to the middle of the ground to chat with Nathan Jones. BT didn't escape the Ghostwriter so she can report further on his motivations for attending our Captain's Run - maybe getting clearance for Roaming Brian at some stage?

Well spotted Kev - at risk of using the dreaded "culture" word - one definition of it is "how we do things around here (particularly when you were not aware someone was watching)."

Kozzy seems fine - he will clearly not be happy to miss the first 3 games, but no obvious sulking witnessed.

As GW reported - a very light, fun session. A lot of love for Clarry when he scored. Absent: May, McVee, Spargo, Melksham, Culley Rehab: Hore, Kentfield, Tholstrup See Cal Twomey - bone stress 4-6 weeks for Culley Optional skills at the end and many decided to call it quits given it was 33 degrees.

Now that the AFL list is complete, and the season is about to begin, I don't think we'll see Roy training with the main group again. First Casey match is against North on Sunday 23rd March at 11.05 am - makes it tricky to get to both games!

As reported a light fun session - not even any running, probably because they will do an intraclub tomorrow at Casey. Absent: McVee and Woewodin (just the other 41, no George) Injury/Rehab: Culley in a moon boot, Hore's bandage off, but still just using one hand. JVR and Petty seem fine. Melksham and Spargo did everything and Kolt also joined the drills. Apparently back at Gosch's next Tuesday and for the Captain's Run next Saturday

Hi GW - any reports from Casey today. From the gallery, no sign of JVR?

Great news for us if Lions/Cats is re-scheduled to Round 3 (which sounds likely). Given that Brisbane play on a Sunday in Round 2 the re-scheduled game will probably be on Saturday 29 March at the Gabba. That means we will get the Cats in Round 4 off a six-day break and travel. We also will be coming off six days, but after Gold Coast at the G. A great chance for us to knock the Cats off down there. I don't buy the line that the Cats are traditionally bad off a bye - a bye in Round 3 is different to one in the middle of the season when they exhibited those issues in the past.

With Andy MW and Shane McA now LTI's and having been replaced on our list (by Henderson and Culley) may I politely suggest they don't get listed here any longer? Tragic for both of them of course, but it (a) saddens me when I read their names and (b) exaggerates our injury situation given that we were able to replace them on our list, which is now complete at 43.

Loved the "chipping around discussion" on the pod. From a bit of track-watching, I throw out the following observations: If we intercept the ball on the half-back line (which happened quite a bit on the weekend via May and Lever), it seems the following options are explored: 1. If Windsor, or Bowey are available (or McVee when he is back) the quick overlap handball is given so that the next kick can penetrate the defensive layers set up by the oppo and we enter the forward line at pace, with reduced risk of turnover. It happened a couple of times on Sunday, but I am sure the coaches want more of that. 2. Absent (1) the inboard "45 kick", if safe, is taken to explore what is on in the corridor. 3. Absent (1) or (2), chip or switch the ball laterally or back, which by definition can only occur safely because the oppo forwards have pressed on to block the corridor. 4. From the switch or chip, repeat from the other side of the ground until options (1) or (2) become available. As BinMan said - Demons' supporters will groan when this happens at the G in Round 1. They will be the same supporters who groan when we "bang it long" into the forward line. Re long forward handballs they are always the best option at the centre bounces if we win possession because, with 6/6/6, there are fewer opponents around to intercept the act, unless the half-backs rush up - remember the 2021 GF? Finally, surely the coaches get a mulligan on the weekend - we have trained for three months with JVR as the key target in our forward plans, and he goes off before he can reach a contest.......

DJ's list is sound based on information from training last week. From the weekend, obviously we are still waiting to hear re JVR, and Petty did not play on Sunday for "personal reasons". Given the players have three days off, I suspect we will hear more only on Thursday when they train at Casey. Also looking forward to hearing how Charles Spargo pulled up after his half at Casey. Melksham must be getting close to having a run also....

Thanks GW - any word on training times/places next week?

From the HeraldSun: Few coaches have ridden the “rollercoaster” of emotions across the past five seasons as Goodwin, and AFL 360 viewers will have front row seats to what comes next. Goodwin has agreed to join the show every two weeks, a marked departure from recent years when he chose to do few media appearances other than his mandated ones. “This is important to him,” Lyon said. “He had been through a rollercoaster, professional and probably personal. “I think this is about the coach (as a person), as opposed to the Melbourne Football Club coach. Just to talk about coaching and the pressure and where it can take you in the highest of moments and where it can take you in the darkest of moments. “He knows it is not conditional on appearing on the show; it is unconditional. If you are 13-zip, you are going to be sprinting in here so fast that it is not going to matter, but if you are 4-9, you still have to come in. That is the commitment you have made.” Whateley was excited to see what would unfold for Goodwin and for Melbourne in 2025. “There is a degree of trust that he has shown in us and we value that to the extreme,” Whateley said. “I always think the show has been good about creating a safe environment to come in and tell your story and we will continue that.” Lyon added: “You are not going to come in here and get stitched up … but you are not coming in for an easy ride either.”

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has agreed to document a make-or-break season for the Demons with fortnightly appearances;

There will be plenty of opportunities to get his message across. Goody has committed to appear fortnightly on AFL 360, according to the HS.

And Spargs and Campbell...

Agree re the defence. We'll get a guide to that if AJ travels to Perth and Campbell plays at Casey tomorrow. Can we do that (i.e. sub out Johnson) all year? What if there is an injury early in the game?

Beautiful day - all from our new list present, i.e. including Henderson and Culley. Melky and McVee doing run-throughs, see above re Melky - getting close, Judd said "4 weeks" and that looks believable based on his running. Kolt doing his first running which he was happy about - perhaps optimistic, but perhaps a Round 3 return for him (guessing through Casey because of conditioning required. Windsor in full training, so expect him to play on Sunday. Hore says 3 weeks after the broken hand. Kentfield still very light work. Spargo did not join the main session will play tomorrow in the Casey practice match. Left early, but it was an all team skills session with the Captain's run tomorrow in the West. Campbell left the track early...maybe he also plays Casey tomorrow and not to Perth?

Fullarton and Sestan were both there Kev.

He trained freely with the "early (non-playing) group" today so he is much much closer to having a run. He was not in rehab with the others today. Tomorrow was probably just too early, particularly considering the outcome of his participation in Round Zero last year.

Team Selection: MELBOURNE 2. Jacob Van Rooyen 8. Jake Lever 10. Daniel Turner 13. Clayton Oliver 14. Jack Billings 16. Bailey Laurie 17. Jake Bowey 19. Harvey Langford 20. Xavier Lindsay 21. Matthew Jefferson 22. Blake Howes 24. Trent Rivers 25. Tom McDonald 26. Jed Adams 27. Marty Hore 28. Will Verrall 29. Tom Campbell 30. Harry Sharp 32. Tom Sparrow 33. Tom Fullarton 35. Harrison Petty 36. Kysaiah Pickett** 37. Kade Chandler 38. Oliver Sestan 39. Ricky Mentha Jnr 40. Taj Woewodin 41. Kynan Brown 42. Aidan Johnson 45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield Looks like we nailed the team except AMW is included in the list, but didn't run around today?

Also insert 10 Turner

Why not "Wallbanger"? Too long? - shorten it to "Banger"🙂