Harvey Wallbanger

Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars), McVee, Windor, Kentfield, Mentha Present but not playing: Petracca, Viney, Spargo, Tholstrup, Melksham Starting Blue 18 (+ just 2 interchange): B: Petty, TMac, Lever, Howes, Bowey Salem M: Gawn, Oliver, Langdon, Rivers Wings: Lindsay, Billings F: Sparrow, Fritsch, JVR, Chandler, Turner, Langford Inter: Sharp and McAdam (just these two rotating into the Blue team for the first half. Seems a signal that these twenty are in the mix re Round 1 considering the number absent and injured. McAdam's injury looks serious (2nd stanza) - either knee or ankle, no weight at all as he went straight into the rooms. Both Laurie and AMW were treated for minor knocks but re-entered the game. For three of the stanzas all of the following stayed in white/gray, so I would expect to start with Casey this year: Adams, Hore, Laurie, Verrall, Brown, Johnson, AMW, Sestan, Fullarton, Campbell, Jefferson Woewodin rotated with Lindsay between teams. Other observations later.

According to George's sheet on Page 1 of this thread, the first number noted last year, early in the year, was the second week of March at 48,880. 2nd week of Feb in 2023 was 44,552. Same time in 2022 was 41,562.

41,530.

On Wednesday, at Gosch's training, a large group of players joined the AFL group before training, for a large photo-op. I wasn't close, but I assume they were Casey-listed (or nominated) players. There were certainly enough of them to field a full side for a practice match. Whether AFL listed players play in these VFL matches might be a function of the AFL games' formats - do they allow 28 (or more) players to rotate? - in which case only those that don't get a run might play VFL (might not be many in our case given the high absentee list recently). I would expect the Casey coach also wants to get a look at his own full squad in action to know who his core group will be.

Fullarton played in yesterday's match sim, so just Kentfield, McVee and Tholstrup out for Round 1 (with Kosi of course) and still a big question mark over Charlie Spargo - still no match sim for him yesterday, although encouragingly he took part in other drills, pre match-sim.

Sun protection and Petty was wearing the same type of garment yesterday.

Chandler and Fullarton both participated fully today, so you may remove them from this list.

The Club has now confirmed Salem and Bowey ill today, Viney has rib cartilage damage and Windsor a foot infection (the last two sound minor).

Absent: Salem, Windsor (word is a foot rash going around), Viney, Bowey and Kentfield Train ons: Roy George, no Culley today. Firstly the bad news - McVee went down late, which does look like a bad hammy - towards the end of match sim, as he kicked the ball. Had to be assisted off, writhing and in pain as it occurred. Woey also seems to have a sore shoulder. Mitch Cleary has also reported it. Rehab: As reported Kolt, Melksham (lots of running), Trac - running and multiple marking drills. Spargo participated in all the drills, up until match sim - sat that out. Did not see McAdam in the match-sim. Fullarton, Lever and Chandler back into the match-sim. Observations: In match-sim the game virtually revolved around Langdon - consistent with the new plan. Billings, Lindsay and Sharp playing in the true wing positions. Kosi and Rivers attended most of the centre bounces. A bit of rotation but Petty played back mainly. Seems that the backs will be May, Petty, Lever and perhaps Howes as a small/medium defender. Having said that Salem, Bowey and Windsor were absent today. Sestan being tried down back. Jeffo seemed to be in different positions - hard to know whether it will be him or Johnson up forward. Turner seemed to play both back and forward today.

Now 41,004 - did I hear that Carlton were over 80,000?

Thanks - and our match confirmed in the HS today, but no details of whether it will be broadcast....

I would say McVee, Turner and McAdam have done the 80% (let's see in McAdam trians tomorrow and/or Monday) Lindsay and Chandler now into the 70%s.

Earl Spalding

I agree Kev, and physically he is looking much stronger - just a matter of where he fits in, particularly with Windsor likely to play off half-back, and Bowser and Salem fit, and so many wingers - perhaps the old ANB role for him as he has many similar attributes to Nibbler.

In my view Adams looks better this year - hard to judge by how much until we hit the serious stuff.....

Apparently 11 am on Saturday 23rd - four quarters, but nothing officially yet from the Club....

Before Christmas I was noticing some focus on very precise kicking into the forward line. By precise, they seemed to be focussing on shorter, sharper kicks to direct hit-up leads. Doesn't sound like rocket science, but does suggest a change of emphasis of some sorts. Today there was a clear emphasis on switches from the backline if the obvious 45 degree kick from defence was not on. That could be a strength of ours with the likes of Windsor, Langdon and Sharp. I noted that some times, once the switch was effected, the wingers would head back to Bowser or Windsor back in the corridor. Again - pretty obvious stuff - trying to avoid turnovers in dangerous areas until the corridor kick was safer.

The taller of the two was Noah Yze, and the smaller wasn't the "secret" F/S I was led to believe. I expect Culley, George and Yze all suit up for Casey and we see what happens mid-year, unless there are any developments before Feb 21, when teh final list must be lodged, as mentioned by DistrACTION Jackson.

So the simplest solution (if one was heading in that direction) is an agreed "retirement"?

Oh and Jed Adams got a huge group clap at one stage - we speculated that it may be a training award of some description?

Absent: Tholstrup, Verrall, Kosi, Woewodin and Kentfield. Intel - Kosi having family time. Rehab: Petracca, Lever, Spargo, Melksham, McAdam, Fullarton, Chandler Also present: Train-ons Jai Culley and Roy George plus two young academy/father/sons (sworn to secrecy re the latter) Activities of Chandler and Trac suggest they are very close to resuming full training - both wore the yellow caps when doing drills (no match sim for them). McAdam indicated to one of his teammates that it may be hamstring again - but he did a lot of full speed running, so perhaps precautionary today. Lever to'ed and fro'ed back to AAMI. Didn't do much at all! Spargs still doing straight lie running but indications of a little more movement than in the last two months. Melksham just lots of medium pace running. Low-key session with a bit of match sim in the middle. Petty and TMac still training back. Draftees continue to impress, i.e. Langdon and Lindsay, and don't forget AJ Johnson. Very involved in a lot of the action. Surely all three play against North on the 22nd. A lot of switching in the simulation - fascinated to see who joins Langdon and Windsor, with Sharp, Billings and Lindsay all playing wide roles on the switch. Hopefully the absentee numbers and rehabbers reduce over the next few weeks such that Spargo and Thosltrup are the only "medium-termers" with a question mark over Kentfield of course, due to his pneumonia.

Yes - Wardlaw has done a hamstring. We have the Roos Round 2 at Marvel. Kingy said "you don't want to face the Roos early in the season!"

McVee seemed unhindered in rehab - perhaps precautionary. Tholstrup also not limping or showing any other discomfort - just doing very little. Pure speculation, but perhaps concussion protocols, or illness, or management...not too worried about these two. Chandler's shoulder maybe a couple of weeks away and the timeline on Spargo is unknown...maybe we will get an official injury update this week, particularly with 7 or 8 not training today...

All in attendance today except Luker Kentfield - hasn't been seen for a while? Roy George, Mitch Hardie and (I think) Jai Culley "train-on" players. McVee, Trac, Spargo, Tholstrup, Sparrow, Fullarton, Chandler in rehab. Verrall seemed to be in and out of it. Viney threw his strapping away and joined the main group early. Petty continued to train down back, Disco up forward - interestingly they seem to be trying Sestan down back (and he looked OK). As per other comments, Clayton, Rivers and Windsor looking great through the mid-field in match sim. McAdam (very lively again), Johnson and JVR normally deepest with Fritter playing a lot more upfield - maybe just to get more work into him. Max back to full training and Campbell was making him work. Campbell looking like he will be a capable (if not like-for-like) replacement should he be needed. Still no sign of JVR or Johnson doing any secondary ruck-work (who will it be?). Lever back into the main group and he and May doing their usual thing - TMac also down back - does he fit in with Petty also back? Other random observations - Howes continues to look good, Adams seems to have discovered a bit of spark. Salem used a lot in the yellow vest (overlap) player in the match sim.

A short anecdote which sums up Neale and the Daniher family's efforts. It was around 2014 or 2105 shortly after Neale had been diagnosed with MND. A "Sacked Coaches"" event was held at the Reggio Calabria Club on Brunswick Road. I believe the special guest was Terry Wallace. Proceeds from the event went to the newly formed Fight MND and Neale came to our table and shared with a close friend of his that the cheque was for $2,000. Whilst obviously appreciative of the donation, he said "Gee it's going to be a long, hard road to raise any serious money at this rate". Whilst the beast has not been defeated the rest, as they say, is history. The leadership, effort and organisational skills he has shown are truly remarkable. Hats off Neale.