Kev

They were all over the place, Xavier, Junction and Casey. FIFA games are no longer played at AAMI. Last one was on the 8th, I think. I expect/assume that their facilities at AAMI are now available to use.

You're welcome. Helps me get out for those morning walks, via the Yarra and the Botanical. I enjoy that, and the storms young players were having some fullish sims. Beautiful day down here in Melbourne. I thought, maybe the club has changed up its training routine, as it prepares for a finals assault. I will have a sqizz at Gosch's again, Thursday morning.

The team are not at Gosch's.

Just realised that they play, Sunday. Good chance they will out on Gosch's tomorrow (Tuesday) at around 11.30 am, for a recovery and review session. Then Thursday 9.30 am at Casey, for the main training. Maybe a Captain's run, on Saturday morning at Gosch's, 9.30 am.

Do you have the same run down for a ruck contest? There is a lot of body work on each other, prior to the ball being put into play. "18.3.3 Permitted Contact A Player may use their hip, shoulder, chest, arms or open hands provided that the football is no more than five metres away" https://www.afl.com.au/about-afl/laws-of-the-game So my interpretation, you cannot instigate any contact unless within 5 meters of the ball. Clarry should ask the umps, why do they block me though the ball hasn't been brought into play. Tomlinson got freed against, in a shocker when playing for Casey. He tracked the ball back and spoilt, but got a feather on the hand of an opponent who had a good position on the ball to be marked. His sole intention was to spoil.

I don't know the rules well. It seems a really arbitrary rule. It is incongruent to the sheparding rule of being able to effect the player within 5 meters of the ball. Although players are constantly "picked", away from the ball and before the ball is in play. "Under the Laws of Australian Football, a player can shepherd an opposition player when the ball is within five metres, with the exception of contests where players contest the ball in the air, i.e. marking contests and ruck contests, or when the ball is not in play. Players cannot shepherd in marking and ruck contests." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherding_(Australian_rules_football) "inconsistently applied, and free kicks are paid only against blatant shepherds by a player whose eyes are not on the ball." https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/7152925#google_vignette I've seen them train to get between their own player and opponent, in order to give protection. There seems a fine line of holding your space and taking the others space.

The team is not at Gosch's. I wonder where they are.

I'll wonder down to Gosch's tomorrow morning.

Been thinking about our game. I reckon the most damaging problem we have, is that our disposals often put the intended player under pressure, or the ball not to their advantage. Love the way they all want the ball, but sometimes, they shouldn't call for it or give it. We need more angle in our runs, a bit more shimmy and step when we get it, more precision in the delivery. If we get better at breaking lines and finding a variety of corridors to go through (a bomb doesn't always have to be down the line), we would be a much better attacking side. When the pressure is applied we hack it up. Our capacity to create stoppages is great, but we need more flair, and to make better use of the spaces and freedom, which helps in more precise execution.

Could be, but it didn't escalate to any kind of aggression. I took it in reasonable way, and tried to retort with some wit. I just don't understand why winning isn't enough, and the division needs to be even more highlighted. Aren't they happy enough with a win? A derogatory comment was also made by a 9yr boy, out of the blue. Learning well from the grown ups, and no instruction as to how to be a "good winner". Only felt unedged as I made my way into the dark areas of the night.

I was the same, Carlton fans around me were enjoying the game. It was my walk home when they rubbed in their win. Why does a group take it out on a lone walker? There was abuse towards our Demon Army after the siren.

It was a good win by Carlton. We nearly got them with our 4th quarter surge (other than the first 8 minutes). Great pressure game. I just question why people who "give it" to the loser, aren't finding enough joy in winning, and need some boost through provoking those with hurt. Is that a generational thing, or that they thrive on division? I have never given it to anyone unless provoked, and really don't expect to be handed it.

They were the most ungracious supporters on my walk home. I sat above the Demon Army. There were a few blues wanting to fight them, pointing, abusing (I think), the security step in and the bad people run away. Imagine if Tracc's kick goes through, maybe I wouldn't get home. The constant calls by Le blue, for htb, throws, in the back amazed me, considering how we tackled well and didn't get reward. Also looked like plenty of scragging against our players. Forward area marking goes astray with Petty out. When we mark we are a better team. May and Lever have something going. Need Max firing when playing with Grundy. Viney in and under everything. Cannot let the other team get goals from their kick ins. Something to work on, I guess. Not too unhappy, though would have like to be still winning on the "G". Again, no sportsmanship from the winners, entitled lot and lacking any humility.

Feels like the showers has stopped. At least for the moment.

Give me CBD and surrounds anytime. My main concern, and the cause of our inequality is the corporate and political classes. Thier self interest is so scarry, especially on a dark night in the alleys of those boutique, alcohol fuelled areas. The poor have to battle all the institutions of oppression. Call the security and off they hop. The wealthy are the institutions. They made them to serve their purpose. I have no recall when faced by the horror of people playing the, better than the other card, and their detachment from "being here".

Best of many things. Art, eating, festivals, day trips, walking around the parks, rivers and creeks, visually beautiful, architectural highlights, could keep going. Why do the poor and struggling people disturb your experience so much?

When the pressure was high against us last week, we folded. Hope they did some restructuring and have a plan when they come at us. A six day break with travel, is not optimal. Though, being back on the "G" is. Tracca and Vines to flourish. Clarry, back with quick and clean hands, backline support and hopefully has some goals assist with a few class kicks. Wonder what the mids look like, especially where Brayshaw plays. Some perfect ball movement and hitting the mark, would be great to see, as we polish our game. Go Dees.

You could be right. I don't know the original starting time. I'll take it as a 7.30 pm start.

Just heard the commentators (Gee v Cooly) talk about the game tomorrow. They will extend the starting time by 5 minutes. So a 7.35 pm start for us. They will screen FIFA, on all screens (including the big ones), until our match starts. When we start, the small screens will show FIFA (if necessary) and the big ones will be with our game.

What is the website URL?

They (MFC v Blue) might have to delay, if extra time and penalties happen. A normal game goes for 2 hrs, extra time about 40 minutes (two 15 min halves), and penalties must be another 10. If that happens, our game won't start till 8 pm. Matildas kick off at 5 pm. Could be a late night.

I looked at game day info. It states, "the Ponsford Stand level 4 will be closed." https://www.melbournefc.com.au/matches/4965#match-information If they expect 70 000, then why have the top of the Ponsford closed?

Melbourne will face Carlton in its first of two practice matches for the 2023 pre-season fixture, Saturday 12th August at IKON Park. The match-simulation will be made up of four 18-minute quarters, the first bounce scheduled for 12pm with gates open from 11am. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1399469/aflw-returns-practice-match-info Anyone else going, make the most out of the Saturday games. See what the off season has produced for the AFLW demons, then head to the MCG for Matilda's kick off 5 pm, and then the Men. https://7news.com.au/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup/afl-makes-extraordinary-move-to-show-matildas-clash-with-france-on-big-screen-at-the-mcg-c-11543834 "The AFL has made the surprise decision to show the blockbuster FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final between the Matildas and France on the MCG big screen before Carlton’s huge clash with Melbourne on Saturday night."

He will be happy as well. All those laps he ran, mostly by himself. At times, it didn't appear easy for him. Occasionally joining the main group, then returning to full rehab at the next training run. The niggle just wouldn't go.

No-one on Gosch's this morning. It is a rugby ground at the moment.