kev martin

The club is taking a mini-break following Sunday's match, and will return to training later this week. Sessions below. Gosch's Paddock Tuesday 27 February 8:30am onwards Casey Fields Friday February 23 9:30am onwards https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

So as to serve more of the clubs supporters. Shouldn't they be encouraging more members, and not just those who can afford to get the doors opened for them. At least post the match replay on You Tube or something like this. My only realistic chance to watch the game was to go to pub at 9.30 in the morning, worse for any WA supporters without the pay vision. Some, like me struggle with the cost of living. Seems like you have a gripe against me advocating for equal access for a large percentage of MFC supporters to enjoy the game? Would you get on that bus? My advice to the MFC would be to create a members club room for guesr and visitors as well, where they put a stream of the game on for those unable to attend all non free to air games. My preference would be an alcohol free environment.

You might be able to pick them out of this line up. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/casey-demons/squads/vfl A short chunky at training on Saturday was Charlie Peters.

My issue is the two, three, four tiered social stratification of society and the clubs/groups that reflect this system of inequalities. Why only a pay per view at a ground that is difficult to get too via public transport? Cannot expect much input from those left outside, getting glimpses as they strain to look in.

I didn't get to watch the game today. My worry is the momentum issue that we cannot control. Five goal lead, then they take the momentum. We have no replies to their goals. Why couldn't we close it down, or continue scoring? Was it a lack of ability to read the game or the same old, drink the bath water and believe this is a cruise? I want us to be ruthless and "put them to the sword" when we are in that position. The backline sounded like a bit of a rabble. They will get their act together, they hate getting scored against, and 21. 21 from the opposition is a shellacking, which, I hope won't happen again. Shame the club couldn't stream via their own methods but used a pay for service. Hope they got well reimbursed. Casey is too difficult to get to by public transport. They need to find a way to include all the supporters of the club.

Did anyone notice any changes or influence, McQualter made on the mids?

Tholstrup will be raring to go. Has a point to prove. Would love to see him and Sestan kick plenty.

I imagine he was talking about the second 18 side. Means we should see Salem and Clarry run around in the 4th quarter tomorrow.

I doubt that. Fitting in well at training. Just hasn't done much with a group. Looked ready and drilled well today with the Casey group. The seconds also did more extensive sims, I believe, so they get know each other. The selectors may change their minds given he had no trouble with fitness, but I doubt it. Those young ones get an opportunity with Clarry out.

With Woey getting concussion, it leaves the door open to probably Windsor, but, K.Brown is also knocking. A chance that Rivers also steps into the wing position. Makes for an interesting practice game! Hunter has the skills, but the 'old man' problem, calf strains, is restricting his preparation. We have quite a few old heads and some young that will push by at least round 3 to 4; Salem, TMac, BBB, Fullaton, Petty, McAdams, Turner (10 to 12 weeks), Melksham, Jefferson, Brayshaw, Spargo and AMW. Tough for them to have an interrupted pre-season.

Another no show was Hunter.

Tholstrup occasionally misses his kicks and he can fumble. If enthusiasm, team player, leadership, run your heart out means anything he would be in. Perhaps they want to iron out his weaknesses. Just give him some time to add some perfection.

My prediction is, year of the Sparrow. Hit some great passes, looks fit, appears slim downed, and I reckon, will run through brick walls. Hoping Rivers will also continue his trajectory. When they entered the field, the backline came out together, no Trent. Reckon, Howes will play his postion (linking back flank) tomorrow and Rivers will be pushed into the mids. Windsor has learnt so much in his short time with us. Interesting to see how he goes, I reckon he will be a class above. I really want to see K.Brown. Reminds me of R.Flower body shaoe, very elusive (cannot be tackled), has great vision, uses/changes the angles and has skills. Hope Verrall has got what it takes. Big game for him. Another no show today was Melky

Lovely morning for a run, overcast, no wind, cool temperature. It's a captain's run of 23 players strutting their stuff. It looks like Kossie will be able to play. Interestingly they are giving some first yearers, new and young ones a go at it, Verall, K.brown, Laurie, Windsor, Howes, Chandler, Billings, Schache. They appear switched on in the drills. Goody has implemented a few different scenarios in the no contact sims. Once he called a “power play”. Pushes a backmen forward of the stoppage, gets the wingers to be wide ('will only work if you are very wide') and they take the ball straight down the middle from a backline stoppage. Another drill had them receiving the ball on the inside corridor and hitting into the forward area. I can see us playing with a more open forward area this season, or at least at times and using a bit more strategy during the game, as we change the styles up. Keep them guessing Dee's. Forgot to mention that Brayshaw was also a no show, as well as no, Spargo, Petty and Turner Great to see all the rehab do some sprinting drills and were included in the team drills with the seconds (except McAdam's and Jefferson). Woey wearing the yellow concussion protocol hat. Oliver made his way to most of the Casey players. Those Casey appeared a bit star stuck and Clarry introduced himself, shook hands and encouraged them. Nothing highfalutin about him. The Casey players did the drills well, looks like most of the younger ones. I'm impressed with Tyler Williams, Ryan Valentine, Charlie Muley

No shows. Turner, Spargo, Petty. McAdam's doing own program.

Looks that way. Oliver is with the second group, as is a few Casey players. The seconds are in red or blue guernseys. Red is what the captain's runners are wearing. In red in the seconds are, Oliver, Farris-White, Jefferson, Salem, Sestan, Hore, Tholstrup, Adams. Seems Casey are in the blue.

Looks a a dress rehearsal Captain's run. 23 out doing drills. Included is, Verall, K. brown, Laurie, Windsor, Howes, Tomlinson, Chandler, Billings, Schache, Rehab include BBB, Fullaton, TMac, AMW, Woey. No Oliver, Salem, Spargo, Brayshaw, McAdams, Jefferson, Adams, Hore, Petty, Tholstrup, Turner or Farris-White. The seconds have now turned up.

Melbourne Rebels look to be going down the gurgler. (AAMI Park occupant.) https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/melbourne-rebels-move-closer-to-folding-with-staff-including-the-ceo-sacked/news-story/4643f8ba6b9e7f4506390a08bf498cad Huge debts, no supporters, board collapsing and in administration. They have a team this season, but require a Government bailout ( $20 million in debt, no funds) to keep going next season. Does this give the MFC some capacity to move our administration staff over to AAMI Park if Rebels collapse? I think they should look at it, as any better facilities seem a way off. At least puts everyone associated with running the club under one roof, for the short term. The move may also help with getting Olympic Park developments, if we go down that path. We would lose any association with the MCC/MCG other than game day arrangements. If we move to a home away from MCG, then that would happen anyway. I reckon it is a good opportunity, at the expense of the Rebels, to take over their offices.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Melbourne will be away on Community Camp from Monday February 12 to Wednesday February 14. Training information will be updated following the camp. Gosch's Paddock Saturday 17 February 9:30am onwards Tuesday 27 February 8:30am onwards Casey Fields Demon Family Series Sunday 18 February 9:30am onwards Friday February 23 Timing TBC

McQualter is much louder. Alot of what he says is about geeing them up. There is some strategic emphasis and he gets them having an intention/purpose, which he constantly calls them to act on, during drills. Yze was 'quietly' going about his business.

Very nice morning for a run around, not too much wind and temperature is perfect. Looks to be about 32 to 34 in full training. The drills were done with skill and precision. Mainly controlled by Taylor Whitford (VFL coach) The occasional reference to the super-bowl appeared. Our new young players lead the way with their skill sets. Windsor, K. Brown, rarely miss, Tholstrup if he slips up, the next action is perfect and the effort he makes is great. Setting great standards. Jefferson has worked well on his tackling, he brought a few down in the sims, taking some marks and getting separation. Sestan doesn't have a defensive game, will need to improve himself through Casey, I reckon. They continue to rotate quite a few through the mids during sims. They split into the lines at one stage, mids (McQualter) had Gus, Viney, Tracc, Windsor, Spargo, K.Brown, Langdon, Laurie, Max, KFW, Sparrow, Taj, Verral. Backs (Chaplin), May, Lever, Adams, McVee, Rivers, Hore, Howes, Bowey, Tomlinson. Forwards (Stafford), JVR, Fritta, Kossie, Billings, Jefferson, ANB, Chandler, Sestan, Tholstrup, Schache. Loved K.Brown's (untouchable), Sparrow's, (field kicking) Viney's (making links), Adam's (holding JVR), May's, (intercepts) and Max's (marking), during the sims today. Sims were run by Goody.

Pickets got some Authorship licence going. Tough act to follow.

They'll get there, be nice. They need our support, it is not a competition. Grateful for any input. Thanks for conveying your mates observations.

Just my observation as the players entered the field, on Wednesday. I am not going to write stuff that fits an agenda. Others watchers at training could have responded to the question about the players group interactions with him, from the Jackson FIX. How is Clarry interacting with the players? An observation is easy to understand, or perhaps I missed stuff. Oliver was one of the first ones out there, and none made a beeline towards him other than Goody. My guess is they wanted his return to be low key, or/and welcomes were done in the sheds.

I thought they were quite subdued. Appeared to be giving him plenty of space. Perhaps they said welcome back, in the sheds. There were some individual chats going on with him. As he was running with Salem they were chatting away.