Kev

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Gosch's Paddock 📅 Wednesday, January 29 📍 Gosch's Paddock ⏰ 9:30 AM - 11:45 AM 📅 Wednesday, February 5 📍 Gosch's Paddock ⏰ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Casey Fields 📅 Friday, February 14 📍 Casey Fields ⏰ TBC

I don't think they can stop you from watching from outside the fence line at Casey. Pickett Fence may have an opinion. Open sessions have been advertised. Gosch's Paddock 📅 Wednesday, January 29 📍 Gosch's Paddock ⏰ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Casey Fields 📅 Friday, February 14 📍 Casey Fields ⏰ TBC

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times AFL Some sessions in the new year are returning to Casey Fields and due to the nature of the facility those sessions will be closed to the public, unless otherwise advertised below. Gosch's Paddock 📅 Wednesday, January 29 📍 Gosch's Paddock ⏰ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Casey Fields 📅 Friday, February 14 📍 Casey Fields ⏰ TBC

Really confused about our squad today, wasn't sure who was out there. When I first arrived I only saw Chandler and Koltyn in rehab. Chin was running the boundary, strapped left shoulder, heard him say the injury was in the joint of the shoulder area and could be 3 to 4 weeks. Koltyn did an agility test in boots (failed the test) then into runners and doing some boundary sets. He is looking bigger bodied this time out. The other rehabbers, Tracc, Gawn, Woewodin, Lever, Fullarton, and Jefferson, participated in the warm-up and some non-contact drills, then ran laps when the sims started, and drilled in rehab group. I think Jefferson had a run in the sims. Tmac and McVee in runners on the bike early and then Judd did some jogging away from Gosh's. Spargo still doing his own program. I saw Mentha early on, but couldn't see him later on. Sparrow was in casual gear, and hanging around the tent. No Kentfield or Kossie. Turner was getting some sim time. Had a big collision with Jed Adams, looked in pain spending a couple of minutes on the deck. Walked off to the boundary, waved the trainers away, then the sims finished. Looked like no injury was sustained. Sims were done with fewer turnovers through the middle today. The backs with Adams are Howes did well. Plenty of pressure, spoils and good decisions. Clarrie looking fit, he got very creative out there, taking them on, keeping them guessing and with plenty of involvement. McAdam found space and separation many times, in the forward area. Some of our ball movement was fast, often finding the central corridor after moving the ball around in the arc of the backline. JVR getting his mojo going, attempting pack marks, and demanding the ball with his presence. Fritsch has been working on his defensive skills, saw him attack the ball carriers one after another. Sharp is a difficult match up as he runs hard and can switch up the pace. Just wish he would get more disposals. Langdon was getting a few balls in the forward 50 as he ran the rails. Melksham is doing well, in lots of contests and winning enough of them. Windsor is also running well off the halfback. Love when the ball is in his hands. AMW is playing good consistent footy. Sestan is chasing everyone, again one that doesn't get enough of the ball. Verral needs some confidence, only saw him do a couple of good things. A little more time at Casey I reckon. We were short of numbers today, some run-ons including Noah Yze were with us. Plenty of fans and fun.

From the gallery, looked like Gawny was in main training, though with the yellow (no collision) cap on. It appeared Turner was full training, with Petty going to the backline. A picture of Woewodin, looks like he was training with the group. Only picture of Tracc was with the fans, I assume he is still in rehab.

Langdon had more influence than Billings. With Billings having to keep up, often seen behind him. Sparrow was more dominant than Sharp, who struggled to find space. Where-as Sparrow used the boundary side well , acting as a connector from the backs to the forwards. I am going to reserve my opinion on Lindsay untill I see more of him, given that was the first time he joined the main group on Gosch's.

They were going hard at each other. The sims were in two 15 minute blocks. The second block finished a few minutes early, they gathered and had another 7 minutes at it. I think they were asked to compete, as they would play against an opposition. There was plenty of niggle, between some of them. At the end of the contest they supported each other with a of bump and slap. Some heavy collision occurred, biggest and worrisome was Clarry and May both aerial and front on, into each other. A minute on the deck and up. Heard some calls of, get up. May with a back niggle, Clarry back in. McAdam in a hit, and had a delayed reaction, as he went to ground. Talked with the trainer, did some stretches and got back into it. Tmac appeared to limp after a clash of legs in a tackle. Vines and Laurie also in hard hits. Rehab had, Woey in the light green cap (my guess would be concussion protocols), Fullarton running extensive laps, Tracc and Turner working together early on, Lever and Max. No Jefferson. There were two run-on players. Spargo still in runners and not with the main group. Good to see Melky in full training, did extra laps, the same with Salem. Fritsch in full training now, appears happy. Four wings during the sims had Billings and Langdon matched, and the other side had Sparrow and Sharp. Petty played forward. Adams had to look after the backline as the tall for a few plays and did really well. Johnson is looking good. Lindsay is in full training. He is something of a ball magnet, had plenty of involvement, moves well to space and has a lovely pass. He attempted a few long kicks which didn't come off, fell short. Langford was not as prominent today. McVee looking good, as is AMW, and so are Bowey and Rivers. Kossie had plenty of the ball, though got caught a few times. I think they have given him the licence to do whatever he wants. Mentha did the same thing though shrugged the tackle and delivered a long pass with precision, afterwards he was encouraged to handball when initially tackled. They separated into backs (looking low in numbers) and the forwards with the mids. Chaplin continues to enforce the structures he wants. Many of the forwards are talking and encouraging each other about positioning and what the intention is. Even when a play goes well but not to what Chaplin wants he voices his expectations. JVR was making good leads into small spaces. The smalls working hard to create mismatches and blocks. McAdam playing high forward and being used to deliver. Missed a few hit ups, got intercepted, or made the wrong decision. He is not having any trouble getting the ball.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Casey Fields Monday, January 20 Casey Fields 10:00am - 12:00pm

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Casey Fields Monday, January 20 Casey Fields 10:00am - 12:00pm

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Wednesday, January 15 Gosch's Paddock 10:00am - 12:00pm Wednesday, January 22 Gosch's Paddock 10:00am - 12:00pm

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Wednesday, January 15 Gosch's Paddock 10:00am - 12:00pm Wednesday, January 22 Gosch's Paddock 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heard from a friend of a friend that, Traccs cracked ribs are on the minor side of things. They said, he said, "if it was in season he would be playing next week".

Yes, I get more time to stroll around the great inner city area, and view the training. I am for the Caulfield home, plenty of suburban homes for the players to lodge in, and space for the entire MFC structure. Close to MCG would have been great, but has too many complications, especially getting enough space for us. Out manoeuvred by Pies. Perhaps, the Tigers will get to use Gosch’s as their second oval, since Pies already have Collingwood. Thanks for the call out Harvey.

Perhaps, I see those beautiful long kicks of Sparrow, look through the rose coloured glasses and see something better. Maybe, the inside player has some, just get it away from contest/dump kicks. He did have a bad 2024 though. Thanks Dazzle. He would want to impress early in 2025, if he gets picked, or his spot will go to another.

Viney exhaust himself, and l can lose power and direction with disposals. Oliver gets a bit confused. Take the esay option. Can also bomb his kicks. He is still improving. Langdon loses concentration. Running all game can do that. Sparrow struggles with decision making. Beautiful kick, not the best handballer. Tracc can try too hard, gets the stress, and effects his weapons. In my opinion.

We lost the contested ball stats last season and we didn't adjust our game plan. Watch them hit their target in 2025, definitely a purpose/emphasis at training, "do the basics well". Maybe I will have to eat my words. Good game plans and high fitness, makes it easier to have effective disposals.

I was forming an argument, needed something, "I don't think anyone would argue that we struggled in all phases last year". Unfortunately I starting researching in 2023 stats which flattered our 2024 season. Though I reckon 2024 stats showed some interest and I will double up, given my belief that it is our system/game plan and not the skills, that let's us down.

Clangers against was interesting, meaning plenty of pressure without ball, and a plan to score by causing turnovers. Same in disposals. Good with giving and evading tackles. Had ball, though didn't use well. Without ball the system worked. Good without ball, contests we got beaten and with ball, a bit eachway. We Possessed it but couldn't deliver well. Ok, one and a half out of three. Though definitely not struggling in the 3 phases, which was what I was rebutting, Dr Gonzo "I don't think anyone would argue that we struggled in all phases last year".

The sky is black at night

Oops https://afltables.com/afl/stats/2024s.html Disposals for 7955, 14 had more. Disposals against 8451, 19 had more. Didn't get much of the ball, though stopped the other getting or using it. Clangers for 785, 2 had more. Clangers against, 853, 13 had more. Had plenty of clangers, but so did the other teams. Tackles for, 1337, 2 had more. Tackles against, 1306, 14 had more. Tackled well, Didn't get tackled much. Contested possessions for, 3006, 10 had more. Contested possessions against, 2968, 12 had more. Down in contested possessions, and the other got more. My assessment, did well closing the game, but couldn't get the ball back. When we did get it we did alright. Good with phase of using ball, good in phase of stopping the other, but down in our phase of winning the ball. Which had been our trump for so long. 2 out of 3 phases we were OK.

I don't agree that our on-field problems are due to our skills. Our skills are similar, if not better than other teams (IMO). The small margins that establish domination of a game, is how we apply a strategy. Once we became the hunted club, others worked us out, and as you say "the game has moved forward". Team cohesion is also a big factor in determining success. I think Goody's throw away line was at best an over-simplified analysis, or a team motivator. At worst, a way to shift the blame off the coaches, lowers our expectations, or fugazi. We don't struggle with the phases of the game, we struggle with a game plan that is flexible, and, has gears and options to suit the need at the time (IMO).

Not sure, I am not a statistician. I was presenting an argument to our "struggle in phases". I think the problem was, others set their game against our style. Therefore, our bombs into our forward line didn't work as we couldn't lock the ball down in there. The other team got out quickly or with the short dinky, efficient kicks. The backline intercepts were the same, they were reluctant to kick the ball down the line and had to use the dinky/efficient/fast style to do us. Moving the ball is an interesting aspect. Has to be one that is continually in flux as they adapt to how the game is going, tempo, momentum, not working, predictable, etcetera. I believe the onus was on Goody and the on-field leaders, to read the tea leaves, which is not related to our basic skill level. Making the statement, "We aren't great at any phase of the game", is blame shifting and Goody putting the onus on players. I reckon we have the players the will, but our style and its adapt ability is my assessment of why we didn't make finals. Big year for Goody, if we fail he may not be able to hide.

We were average with clangers. If it is about game style, we became the hunted and teams set themselves against us. Goody has been a great innovator (in my opinion), I can see him doing that again. His problem IMO, is he is slow to adapt the kind of play within a quarter, and gives the momentum to the other team. Proud about his strategies and reluctant/slow at tweeking them, when being beaten. Did we struggle at all phases of the game? I believe we were above average.

I interpreted "great" as sarcasm, not high expectations. So, we are above average at all phases of the game, but not the best? Many have been expressing, doom and gloom about the topic. I think we have been a good side for several seasons, and the shortcomings and our tests, will be in the finals series.

I thought this topic and that no one can argue against the proposition, was click bait, and Goody's line was Fugazi.