Kev

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

We were in it all day. Just couldn't stretch out the score enough to get some comfort as the GWS kept themselves close. Some good dynamic plays out of the centre, with other take them on runs. Became a wrestle and a fight for much of the game. I thought we battled well. GWS have some fast ball movement in them, with kicks to advantage ending in easy goals. Their captain is very good, loved his game. A few times they got lucky with the bounce of the ball. Deflating to lose a close one after being infront most of the game. Loved that some of the newbies goaled. Lindsay has a good footy brain. Need to put more angle on our kicks, too easy to turn when we go straight. Also, need to go quick if they get a chance, appeared scared at times to make an error. I would like to see more of our flair and dare. Perhaps wet conditions made it difficult. Play infront of your man on wet days, don't let the ball get behind you and keep your feet. We played for the 4 quarters. Will be better off for the run. We have comraderie.

At the Saturday training he was in runners (not boots like everyone else), though still participating.

https://mcg.org.au/whats-on/events-calendar/2025/march/afl-round-1---melbourne-v-gws-giants#GeneralAdmissionSeating

Weather report indicates 20% chance of rain at 3pm. Then 60% chance at 6pm. Hoping the rain breaks for us as indicated. The F1 will like it as well.

We've had a good spread of goal kickers in the past, with the mids having to carry some of the load. Hoping we get a functional forward area, where we start converting the many entries, and the forwards get the majority of scores.

Match fit is different to being fit. Those extra and repeat efforts cannot trained for. The advantage to the club with a second up, as compared to first up game.

I think we are good. Our players are super fit and will hit the first quarter with gusto. Running out the game will be the challenge, hoping GWS slow down in the fourth after their scramble in the heat last week. Langford to kick a long bomb from 55 out. Lindsay to lace out Jeffo for his first. AJ to bring the pain to Taylor who has to sit under a bomb. Sharp to run from contest to contest, as well as create overlap. Henderson, haven't seen enough of him to know what he will bring. What a day, new system, many new players, and our Clarry and Petracca with good preseasons. Langdon to run the central rail, end to end, hope a couple of goals will fall his way. Sparrow to dominate (always hopeful). C'mon Chandler, time for a half-forward to kick 3, conditions are made for him. The big boys May and Lever firing, and Max has other options, then exhausting himself (AJ). Time for some entertainment. Go Dees!

Very relaxed session again. All Casey players were out, (joined by the AFL Casey after there meeting), then AFL strolled onto the paddock. The players ran the GW gauntlet with humour and fun. Very few with numbers on, mainly the training singlets. No sight of Jamar. Whelan was helping, first time I'd seen him for a while. Jones spent time with Henderson. BT talking to Richardson in the centre. A couple doing some runs, a group with a soccer ball, others gathering the low ball with a trainer, the rest goal kicking (many joined in later). Last out there, Tracc, Oliver, Henderson and Bowey.

Thought there was not much difference in effect of having already played, and a first up team. Essendon, scramble and long down the line kicks, versus a precise disposal and swarming game, with the good use of space by Hawks.

Interested how a first up, against a already played one round, game goes, especially the first and last quarters

Sharp is faster, good endurance, and better kicking skills than ANB. What we will miss from ANB is that gut running and his leadership qualities.

Wow, no Billings and Henderson to play. Billings missing easy goals in the sim hurt him. Henderson without a preseason or practice match. They must know something! (Possibly the sub) Turner not even an emergency. Too easily pushed off the ball? Great that Jefferson gets a go. Has good hands, enough skills to get the groundball off the packs, and finds separation. Worried about defensive efforts, appears a step (sometimes two) behind. Get involved early, a few sausages, cement your spot. Lace out to him Fritsch, Chandler and Sharp. Rapt for Lindsay and Langford. Go get them. Sharp will be so happy, the new and better ANB. So many to debut, more excitement than anxiety, I hope. Go Dees

JVR can give Max some rest time if needed. Yes injury early on, then could run a wing, play forward or back, or, Tmac to give Petty some forward time.

My thoughts, we could go small. Langford, Lindsay, Billings and Sharp as interchange. Sub Tmac (knows system and gives flexibility)