Kev

We have been playing in the sun, now to see if we can play in the cold at a high level. This is a tester, set the pecking order. C'mon mids get first use, run in swarms, and deliver some stab passes. The defence is humming along, great structure, with hard running during transition from mids and flankers supporting and nullifying, then the rebound. Still worried that Port may slice us and not give us easy turnovers as they are pretty good at using the ball. The defence will need to close the zone a bit, so as to make it to those one on one's. Love that Salem gets into the team, compliments Hibbo, and gives us that poise and stability. They worked him harder than any of the others last Saturday at training. TMac, seems good when returning to the team, it is his second game back where he slumped last time. Hope he impacts and gets consistency week in week out. The Dee's to play high quality footy, with another blitz in the first quarter. Go Dees.

I don't think they go in thinking they are conceding the clearances. With one less in there, do you mean, there is a good chance of not getting it out? We have some good players in close, and our spread from stoppage with outside runners is an improvement from a few years ago. I reckon our problem with the out-number, is it makes it easier for the opponents to tackle, get a spill then win the ball. We are good at getting first use, and I trust our structures to get the ball out when the game is on the line.

Could be right, though when he plays, JJ is very team orientated. Always first option, role and safe plays. I would expect if he is going, then he would take it on more, and hit the riskier but higher reward plays.

Cannot remember seeing him. That does not mean he wasn't there, as it was a quick run, and they stayed grouped together. The same for Howes, didn't see him. I assume, Howes and Bowey were both there.

Couldn't tell, more of a get the week started, then any form/plan type work.

Salem was very comfortable and appeared happy to be out there. Two AFLW players got some training from Mark William's. Eliza West and another I didn't recognise.

Training well, kicking goals, and working on his process.

Looked good, unhampered.

Viney was mainly having a different warm up than the others, using resistance bands.

It's a section of my home made pizza and salad. Only the staff on the field at the moment. Glimpsing the red training tops,, as they meander to the truck and cover. Music beats start up, they mingle with trainers and coaches, a few doing dinky passes, coaches separate., whistle blows and they gather. Tracc is with them. No sign of Petty. Light duties, Tracc, Viney, Lever, Fritta, Hibbo, BBB. Joined the skill drills. Rehab, TMac, Tomlinson, Spargo, they are in rehab tops and are wearing runners. They have joined in the skilss drills, taken by Williams. Plenty of short kicking (look at the target then the ball, is Chocos advice). Plenty of goal kicking practice under supervision, then their out. No sign of Harmes.

Yes, I am at Gosch's now. Any questions?

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times MFC has posted open training session for today. AFL Training Sessions Date: Monday, May 15 Time: 11.30am - 12pm Location: Gosch's Paddock

Loved our defensive unit. Led by Lever organising them. May's muscles, Bowey's courage, McVee's hustle, Hibbo's reading and endeavour, River's size, speed and attack, Brayshaw's smarts and skill. The defensive structures are amazing, and influential in creating turnovers. As a good team we really make the opponents pay for their errors. Some of our fast down the MCG wings ball movement, was great. We started the game with the forwards leading to the boundary. If we aren't efficient converting opportunities good sides could hurt us. Some of our handballs missed the mark and some put the receiver under pressure. We are also happy to run with the opponents and peel off to a zone as a backman picks up the opponent. We really know our roles and the team communication is working. We have a "buy in' and 'connection" going, that stuff that Goody used to empathise when we were middle of the pack club. Good win, now for a tester against Port. Go Dees.

These two teams (Geelong, Richmond) have players that appear to "dissent" all the time. If they crossed the line, umpire's would call it. It may be to get the supporters going, which in turn can influence the umpires. It could also be cognitive dissonance.

I did not see Harme's at either session.

By the end of his training Salem was still moving well, in his glide along style, though at times he was a bit off the pace.

Didn't see the presser. Watched Petty do a fair bit of goal kicking, and working on his set shot process.

Forward

Joel was possibly the best out there in the sims. Very focused, running well, looking for leads off the opponents blind spots.

No, and his marking seems to be a off.

Second squad still out there. Sim was 7 on 7. A few fundamental mistakes, and Mark Williams was right onto them. Take those marks (Jefferson, Farris-White), hit those passes (D Smith). Plenty of running after the sims, including laps as a pack. Occasionally they are on their haunches. Now some more sims. Sestan is looking fit. Salem is just keeping up, his skills are still great. As they got more work into them the better their skills became. Now they are doing long sprints to finish their session. A few drop off from the sprints and do laps. Five, including Salem finish more sprints. Then everyone is running the boundary. They are back to sprinting, with some dropping of to the laps. Last sprinters are Salem and Adams. Hard working, good session. Impressed with Jed Adams’ development. BBB has been going as hard as any of them. Really like that he is no longer doing his own program.

Salem is out with 14 players not in the game squad, now. Full participation.

Salem is not in the captain's run. Yes, they are with the trainer, mainly lap and short runs. Verall seems to be building a stronger muscular body. Turner starting to do some skills work. Hunter was the most vocal I had heard him. Gus doing some spectaculars.

Squads warming up, on Gosch's. Spargo, Jordan, Bailey and TMac out there. Fritta still doing his own program. JvR looking happy, though keeping to himself a bit. A fair bit of voice in their first drill. Lever's seems to dominate. The banter between the players is also strong, as they niggle each other, and applaud those extra skilled acts. The backline has split from the main group (who are goal kicking), Rivers, May, Lever, Max, D Turner and Hibbo. The first are back into the sheds after 50 minutes. Now the seconds are making their way out onto the paddock.

Trying to put the can of worms back in the pantry.