stevethemanjordan

Interesting to note that Pendles, Treloar and Adams were back at training with the first to fourth year players over the road today. I think that's an impressive sign from the leaders and for anyone who needs to make a point if they're not best 22. Seeing Viney was a positive, but aside from him there was nobody there that wasn't required back. Someone mentioned Pedo was at the Monday session which was good to see. I believe he's needed to do that over the past couple of years, good to see it's hit home for him. The other one I'd like to see back a bit earlier would be Dean Kent. Have always thought he needs to trim down and work harder on his running. Hopefully we see him back a bit earlier. Both ANB and Salem lead their running groups today which were 4 x 3 minute efforts. Salem was very impressive in the second group leading Harmes and Brayshaw and ANB just looks so comfortable leading the running in group A.

Had to be on Swan street mid-morning so I got down early to have a quick squiz for halfa today. Weideman is actually filling out nicely. He is thicker through the upper body and legs and his arms are now looking bigger. He's got that hulking look already and in another couple of seasons, he'll have some big boy weight to throw around. I'm more patient than a lot of demonlanders regarding Sam given his injury history, but this is the year I expect him to step it up. This will be his second full pre-season. Having said that however, he was on light duties with Viney, Vanders and Tim Smith and he left early. Not sure if there's a niggle or not.

^ Thanks for that. A much better and more accurate compilation of some strengths he possesses.

Player profiles finally update, they must have read my post whinging post hey @Satyriconhome... .. . Delisted players are now gone and it looks like Balic will don the number 24 along with JKH. Kewl. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/Team/players/senior

Either Port will look unbelievably stupid in the way they’ve gone about this trade period or they’ll make many other clubs look stupid for not taking a similar approach by winning a flag. It’s a risky strategy. But they’re going to have to make top 4 minimum to justify the way they’ve gone about things. Probably not the place to post that ^ but I’m amazed at how aggressive they’ve been. They clearly think they’re right in contention for a flag next year. In any case, as others have already expressed, I’m happy for Trengove and hope he lasts longer than a year on their list. As far as AFL footballer stories go, his has been pretty rough and he deserves some individual success.

Not necessarily. But because I've seen him live a number of times this year, it probably doesn't stand out as much to me. I think you're right so far as there's something visibly different about his style. All I know is that he is was easily physical enough at TAC cup level which was a really good sign for someone so late onto the scene. He likes tackling and embraces body contact. The vision against SA above really doesn't showcase any of his talents.

But he didn’t... that was my point.

If there's one thing I've learnt from scouting this year after being a former 'armchair expert', it's that you need to watch a hell of a lot of vision of an individual to form any sort of accurate and informed opinion about their strengths and weaknesses as a player. There are 15-20 players that I watched closely live this year at TAC cup level but I wish I could have seen even more to consolidate some opinions I have on certain individuals. And that's only the football side of things of course. To answer both your posts, I'll again point out a few things about Jack Petruccelle as a player. The vision you're referring to is from a single Vic Metro game that Petruccelle played in and if I'm not mistaken, it was his first and only game at state level. Petruccelle is a former Basketballer-turned-footballer and it was a little over a year ago that he was playing for the Vic Metro under 18's basketball side. Think about that for a minute. This is a bloke who was a full-time basketballer just over a year ago with a very real chance to go to college in the states to pursue his dream. He made a choice half-way through last year after a couple of games with the Knights to pursue footy. Here are two articles you can read about his transition and the impression he made on the coach at the Knights through his performances at TAC level this year. 1 - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/afl-draft-prospect-jack-petruccelle-adds-pace-in-attack-for-tac-cup-club-northern-knights/news-story/2a36d9e6327fa9d92543a8e243c29297 2 - http://www.starweekly.com.au/sports/jack-petruccelle-attacks-new-goal/ Consider now the following: Petruccelle's exposure to these elite footy squads has been extremely limited, yet his improvement due to his raw talent has been monumental at TAC level. This must and will be considered given being an AFL footballer is a full-time profession and his potential is enormous. There were games this year where I saw him do things that nobody else I've watched can do. His speed, agility, contested-marking for his height, ball-handling and awareness in tight spaces (think Petracca), was far and away better than anyone I saw at TAC cup level this year. And what's even more impressive is his ability to go through the midfield and win contested ball and his contested ball numbers at TAC cup level were good, especially for someone who is new to these elite squads. It's a fantastic sign. The knocks on him are of course his kicking, that can't be disputed. What can be argued however, is the measure of how bad his kicking is. And I would argue that it's not as bad as some make out. He is hit and miss at this stage but generally he is very effective around goals. Posters should think about Jayden Hunt when assessing Petruccelle. You've got to look at the upside because there's no doubting he'll slide due to not featuring heavily at state level. Having said all of that about Petruccelle, I am definitely not screaming 'we must draft him', but rather, giving an insight into him as a player, where he has come from and the upside I believe he has given the sheer number of quality attributes he possess and his limited time in the game... [censored] it. I want him at one of our picks in the 30's. The last thing I'd like to leave here is a highlights compilation of Nat Fyfe's game against Vic Country back in his under 18's year. Now based on this footage @durango and @Sydee, I can only assume you'd think he is bog ordinary and would want to stay the hell away?

You could pull highlights of ONE game from any player within the AFL and find it underwhelming. It’s ONE game man. I just can’t understand how posters form a definitive view after watching highlights from a single game. A highlights package that includes many games is a different story. But the vision of Petruccelle is from a single game and a game in which he was pretty quiet. I suggest having a google around if you want to know why his raw talent is rated so highly.

Lol @ posters with no idea.

His AFL quality attributes are common knowledge amongst those that have followed/watched him in the flesh this year. I can only assume that you, like others, have formed your opinion from the vision of one Vic Metro game that’s floating around which of course in isolation is quite underwhelming. If not, then it’s me that’s baffled. Because I rate your football knowledge and I know you’d rate his ability.

It’s as if people have forgotten that we haven’t made the 8 since 06 and have also been the laughing stock of the competition for the best part of a decade. We will EARN a favourable draw by performing week in, week out. Until then, stfu.

Yes, so it falls on them that they got it wrong no?

Interesting. But answer me this: If the above was the case, why on earth would the medicos have given Jack the green light to play knowing that he was doing so in pain, and therefore at risk of developing a stress reaction or even fracture? It seems mind bogglingly stupid if you ask me.

You’re ill.

That comment makes zero sense. There's an entire media/social media team employed by the club on a full-time basis. It's a pretty simple thing to update. It looks very ordinary and only adds to what is already a fairly vanilla website compared to other clubs. I just looked at Collingwood's and they've updated theirs. Pretty easy.

No guarantees. The ball is well and truly in his court.

Don't quit your day job sat-man.

I will admit, I am in constant frustration of the lack of clarity our club shows regarding most injuries, but especially this one. I always thought that there'd be no way he'd come back as early as he did and it'd be stupid and risky if he did.. Others assured me that it'd be fine. I've still got no idea if the latest foot injury is related to the first one. Does anyone know? Why can't they just say what the [censored] is up? Why so coy. "A sore" spot doesn't cut it for me.

Out of our potential round 1 backline group, O-Mac will be the only one I'll be worrying about. It was all there in my post the first time.

Define the type of intelligence you're referring to? When people say he's intelligent, I'm imaging it's because he 'thinks' about more than only being an 'AFL footballer'. In a similar vein to Jack Watts. I can see he has a passion to work, empower and help people outside of football and his interviews have always been more interesting to listen to than someone like Dom Tyson's or James Frawley's. So yeh, he thinks a bit more and expresses himself more clearly. But to be a successful coach at AFL level, you need to possess a quality that I've never really seen from him. Ruthlessness. I don't think I ever saw him play with any ruthlessness whatsoever. Minimal aggression, intent or desire to scrap. I always viewed the way he played as someone who was almost apologetic. Apologetic to the opposition. It was weird. And unfortunately for him it was probably compounded by the fact that he was playing in a side that was being beaten from pillar to post most weeks. I agree with @jnrmac in that I remember far more forgettable moments from him as a player compared to positive ones. And given the current group of players we've assembled and the 'type' of list and players we want at the club, I can't really see why the club would employ an ex-player who was boarderline 22 before he did his knee and who lacks ruthlessness to his game. Just my view. Garland is a nice bloke, loyal and all that fluff stuff, but as Peter Jackson said about Jack Watts the other day, he's just not a ruthless guy.

The addition of both Lever this year and Hibberd last year has and will completely transform our backline from an obvious weakness to now a strength. O-Mac will now be the only player I’ll worry about. But with another pre-season and further development to his skills and body I’ll feel a little bit better. Lever, Hibberd and Jetta make our backline group sound very strong.

I certainly hope not.. (He has a coaching role with the women’s side).

^ Frost has too many fundamental flaws to his game imo. Ball handling, decision making, kicking. General football smarts. He is an athlete and I’m not a fan of them unless they have sound footy specific attributes. They’re always experiment players and more often than not, they don’t work out. I’d like to see Dec get a run around on the NAB games next year to see what he’s got.

Day off ^ ?