Kev

The morning was beautiful (sunny, no wind, mild) and the players, most with an easy smile and a lightness about them. No Lever, Hore working with a trainer, Turner rehabbing under supervision. Last year they had Gus (volunteer), give a speech about veterans, this year's build up had no overt special ANZAC call to the players. No structure, no warm-ups, mostly goal kicking after low ball gets (two small groups). All players from AFL and those MFC playing for Casey, intermingled. May looking a little ginger, though got into his boots, did a few small runs. I think he is right to go. Melksham, spent his time over the other side of the Paddock, resting on the boundary line and talking to Nathan. Still a maybe, I reckon. Howes spent his time with the Casey selected players. Fritta did what he did last week, kicking balls with Clarry, he was with the main group as he came out of AAMI. Fullarton out with the main group, mainly goal kicking, but with little interactions with others. Johnson arrived at Gosch's walking in the company of all our coaches. Judd looks ready to go, came out of AAMI with the main group of AFL. These sessions are social, difficult to get a read on things. I wonder if the whole team would make it onto Gosch's if it was a cold, wet, winters day. I am a believer that they could make better use of their gathering, by working on intentions and skills. Half of them seem to like the socials, half seem lost. Thirty minutes and they drift off towards AAMI.

The Captain's run has become a social outing. Out onto Gosch's, AFL playing for Casey and some Casey players, then the MFC AFL, No warm-ups, no structure, a few kick to kick, some kick to groundball gathers. A few lap running some downfield runs. Fritta and Oliver, work together. May running around with low impact movements. Kossie enjoying the camaraderie of other indigenous and their kids. Three juniors were returning the balls on goal kicking, with skill. Tracc, only goal kicking, appears serious. Tholstrup has changed body shape, now top light, looking faster. The emotions seem sober, I assume plenty with self reflection. Glad the Easter egg hunt brought joy to the kids, who shared the paddock with MFC teams.

Make war not love. We need to play the players in their best positions. Viney, Sparrow and Oliver, rest on the bench, not as half-forwards. Goody has a history of sequencing wins. Cannot drop too many more games. We are finding it hard to stay in games, had only small periods with the momentum. Do less role playing and more natural footy. Our confusion, as the game plan is not executed or the wrong system chosen, or a crucial mistake, causes us to scramble and lose structure. We “cannot buy in” if unsure about the structure, especially with the many new faces. Our transition game is rattled by the speed of opposition's movement. McVee and Lever back in, drop Sharp, have Petty forward, drop JVR (to work with Turner in the VFL).

Sombre feel down at Gosch's, some thrills as Max smoothers small players under him. Gathered with kick to kick, on the whistle ran warm up and team runs. Soccer, then goal kicking. McVee ready, Windsor good, Melky wearing number 8, with Petracca, on the outside of the soccer game. Lindsay working the resistance bands, Campbell with rehab. Goody talking to Laurie. Mentha wants a run. Tholstrup looks ready.

They came out in drips and drabs. Mostly seemed paired with another. AJ Henderson, Fullarton, Melksham, Woey, Brown, Turner, Laurie, Sestan, Jeffo running, quite a few in runners. The main group with kick to kick, whistle goes and drills start. The kicking drill executed at a high standard. Walking handball, flick around of the ball. Plenty of team running, though at a subdued speed. Tholstrup and Mentha a chance, as is Windsor. Great to see McVee in with the squad. Lindsay into rehab, testing and personal program. Melky up and running. Culley, and Kentfield filling numbers at the moment.

Gusty wind on the Paddock for the Women. 22 in numbers, Rigoni joined in everything except the full field drill. The new player who was skilled with the ball, bouncing it naturally as she moved. Tayla shoulder had a test in one on one marking drills which turned into a minimal contact, 5 on a few, as she kicked the ball into the drill area. They continued with the high skill of kick into the net. Some other drills in 4 stations, included various kicks and ball collects. They drilled some centre bounces and contested marks.

I thought the mood was serious, business to do, focus quite inner for the group. They were a little late heading out and the expectations were palpable. Sestan, Brown, Fullarton, and Woey on the far side of oval near where Green was hanging out. Kossie and Mentha hanging out, Kossie brought his child out on the grass. Tracc first to see bubs. Good sounds, some near misses, plenty hitting the goal. Melky hanging around goals, on target.

Training in beautiful weather, minimal wind. More construction in the method today, included running then competive game of soccer in two paired teams attempting to get a win over each other. Some kicking for goal around the mannequins, followed by general goal kicking. It was good to see the majority of the Squad. kossie and Mentha have a special relationship, their body language is the mirror. Windsor rolling around barefoot. A few in runners, including Melksham May is main training. Adams looks ready AJ going about it. A few laps and run throughs were also done.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Gosch's Paddock 📆 Tuesday, March 25 ⏰ 2:15pm - 2:45pm 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Light recovery 📆 Friday, March 28 ⏰ 10:00am - 10:30am 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Pre-game captain's run 📆 Monday, March 31 ⏰ 1:45pm - 2:15pm 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Light recovery

22 down at Gosch’s for a skills training run. One in rehab (Taylor), 2 in personal programs (Rigoni). A mixture of high level skills, roll and hit the catcher net, and straight run through ball movement. They performed plenty of set ups, with the ruck tapping to a moving mid. They were not in MFC training gear. The standards were very good. No Paxman, Bannan, Pearce. Kate and Tayla leading, with talk and examples. Wotherspoon and Chaplin working with purpose, Eliza and Goldrick working hard. Pisano working hard, Hanks doing everything well. We have a new young ruck, tap work was good.

The run on a beautiful morning had Casey players on the paddock early. They look very young to me. Then MFC Casey players joined them, followed by MFC. Half of them in runners, soccer ball is out, some doing slow laps, many kicking the miraculous snaps from the boundary. Tracc working hard on his set shot. Max and Tmac talking to each other with some trainers. Lasted for 30 minutes. Another very relaxed, unstructured affair, love and the warm fuzzies. I am not sure what this kind of Captain's run accomplishes. Last season they would work on the game plan, especially walk through the set ups, and some disciplined ball work.

They put several signs out last Thursday week, at the entries to the paddock, even then people were using the field. This one must be a left over from those days, or maybe a CYA (cover your A).

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times This popped up. "Please note: The light recovery sessions and pre-game captain's run sessions which take place at Gosch's Paddock, are now on individualised player schedules. The sessions are short in duration, and not all players will be out on Gosch's Paddock." A few probably don't want to kick a soccer ball around, and may have felt there was better use of their time. It will be interesting to see if that, and to what extent, that happens.

Walking down Walsh St, opposite side of the Yarra from the Paddock, I could hear the boisterousness of the MFC players. Beautiful Autumn day here. Arrived as they did some runs. The players out there, ran well. Looks like we got through the game physically well. Goal kicking looked accurate. Before they started, Williams gave them the run down of what he expects. Ended with many having snaps from the boundary. Bowey has beautiful control. There were four of them not kicking goals, but passing between each other, Howes, Sestan, Laurie and Woey. Melky has slimmed down quite a bit (very top light), cannot be far off. Spargo not being here is concerning, if he played the practice match for Casey, wouldn't he be in the recovery session? (Unless he has his own program)

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Gosch's Paddock 📆 Tuesday, March 18 ⏰ 1:45pm - 2:15pm 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Light recovery 📆 Saturday, March 22 ⏰ 10:00am - 10:30am 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Pre-game captain's run