Kev

He will play, given he wanted to play Friday (according to some interviews). My question, will he break down while out there. Hope he doesn't, but is he listening to his body? His rehab seemed to be go hard, work his way through it, by pushing.

I believe they have changed that this season. We used to win by playing one great quarter, now we are usually pushing for the whole game. I agree about it being a close one. Who will stand up in the last?

Thanks for those beats. A couple of things: Talk is cheap, do do do. I would rather be at the "G" Monday, than anywhere else. De Goey is being sent to J'Berg. Arabs and Chinese are good for Melbourne. Can't wait for the return of the General (Oliver) to assist the Commander (Tracc). Go Oliver's army, bring "it", and the swarm.

Collingwood seem to want to choose when they "go" or not. If they play that kind of arrogant game plan, we will easily beat them. Especially without De Goey effecting the midfield battle. I expect them to be "going", and we have to be "going" with them. If they get a good lead we will be done. This year we are better at playing for the 4 quarters. We've lost the capacity to put several goals on in short periods regularly (can't rely on a good burst) . If we sustain our pressure, effort and complete the fundamentals well for the 4 quarters, then we go a long way to beating them. My question is, can the Woods play a hard fought 4 quarter game, as I think we can? Go Dees

What a big game. Really looking forward to it. It is a setting the pecking order game. Can we play close to perfect or at least smart footy. If not that, then hard, desperate footy for 4 quarters will do. Can't give them many turnovers as Colly's will make us pay because they can go very fast to their offensive transition. Third game in Melbourne and at the MCG, plenty of time to freshen up, get routine, and stability. Which should help, mind and body be right. C'mon Dees perform on the big stage. I remember when this was our "finals" type match for us in the season. We have come so far. Now to get it done, build our confidence, and set us up for a good year.

Thought it was a good win. Kept our nose infront all night. Responded well after the Blue's got a run on. The quick runs from the a slinging backline were great. A better handball game than last week. A couple of series were right on the edge, and ended up breaking the line and leading to effective inside 50 marks. We looked a quicker team. After the scrutiny Carlton faced by the media, I thought they may have made it a closer game. They were desperate at times, and we handled their pressure. We managed the tempo better than other recent games (still a work in progress) and played the switch several times as well. Didn't give junk time goals, though the last 4 minutes of game looked a bit unsteady when we were trying to ice it. They fumbled a fair bit in the first half, then we started playing to their level. Happy we lifted in the last quarter. Max marking the ball, really helps us.

We are fine, clear night, spent the week in Melbourne, on prime time MCG. They want to turn the season back our way. Fight Dees, help each other, 1 percenters, swarm, play smart, get some tempo, hold our marks, convert our opportunities, and don't turnover in a handball panic. Go Dees

Underperforming players, Chandler, Spargo, McVee, even Langdon. Shake them up, best 23 isn't set yet, put a fire under them, perform, execute, or back to the 2nds for a week. Get JJ to take'em on, and see if he can do the spectacular instead of the team first.

Thank you Sped, great reading, balanced, easy to read and uplifting. Please post more of these well considered, and gentle thoughts. How lucky those kids of yours are, if your parenting approach is anything like what you have offered. Keep the beautiful communication and I assume the parenting work up.

I was told he was there. Lewis said he saw Verrall in a photo, head shaven. Missed that, good chance he turned up late to rehab, was incognito doing the main training, or made his way down for the celebrations

Missed that, good chance he turned up late to rehab, was incognito doing the main training, or made his way down for the celebrations.

No sign if him. That is two weeks, on the Monday's, in a row.

It was the Demon Army, thanking them for getting so close to winning, as well as thanking all the hard working staff for the behind the scenes actions. More importantly it was the acknowledgement of, and coming together with, our first nations peoples. I get the feeling they aren't taking it as serious as some spectators. They were jovial today, and I imagine they are keeping their spirits up, and working on the deficiencies.

Could be tendon related/strain. They will flair after a heavy work load. I understand they take longer to heal, 4 to 6 weeks. I think we have to wait till Oliver starts sprinting, with a work load of greater than 30 minutes. Didn't appeared hampered when training. I also watched him on Saturday afternoon. He was covering a fair bit of distance, moving over at least 3/4 of the paddock, but never sprinting.

They didn't form into their lines.

National Reconciliation Week. The young first nation fella's came down and did a performance. A few of the MFC players joined in, as the fella's paired up with a player. All the staff members were there, enjoying a barbecue put on by the Demon Army. Quite a few of the AFLW players also turned up. I think their preseason may start tonight?

They did two drills, both very close. One taken by Mark William's. Kicking and hanballing short distances. His encouragement is still ringing in my ears. Fast hands, be perfect, watch the ball down onto your foot. The other one was all handballs. They had to go quick because of the numerous balls in play. On one end of the formation, they were on their knees, flicking the ball up, after it hit the ground ahead of them. Good call Layzie

Yep, though it is only a short session. He is also doing small distance ball handling with Moniz-Wakefield, after all the other players have left for the sheds. I saw him feel for the back of his hammy early in the warm up. Like a test, but didn't do it again during the session.

Oliver with the main group, as is Grundy. Those doing there own warm ups include, Tmac, Spargo, Hibbo, Friitta, BBB, and J.Smith. All in runners except BBB. Rehab, is K.Turner. Spargo, BBB, J.Smith, and Tmac, join the main group. Now, Hibbo has joined. Schache, with the main group. Petty, is doing his own program. They have put a barbecue on for staff, the kids and I assume anyone else.

We don't play a tempo style game. When we get the ball, it seems we go, go, go. Makes it physically demanding for the players, given how hard we two-way run by being a good transition team. Need to play smart when we have the ball, search for the best, or at least, an unpredictable corridor. Pass the ball round a bit, if an angle off the line isn't clear, then stretch the opponents. When they find space, then go fast. Otherwise, we just go into the walls, as our runners are closed down and pressured by being outnumbered. That forces us to panic with the into 50 arc delivery, and allows the opposition defenders to easily pick the leads. They need to be better at creating space, getting overlaps, finding gears (slow, medium and fast), and forming a swarm.

AFL Training Sessions MFC National Reconciliation Week Open Training Date: Monday, May 29, 2023 Time: 11.30am - 12pm Location: Gosch's Paddock Posted on: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

Disappointed in our forward line delivery. Our strategy seems to be bomb it in, hope for a mark (no one is getting to the drop of the ball, hitting the pack from the side, or they compete againsteach other). They can't be hoping for a front and centre small, as there isn't anyone positioned well enough, or our smalls are also competing for the the mark. No change of angles off the line, or switching. That over handballing, as well as balls to players under pressure, I don't get it! The runners need to be moving to space not to the congestion. Gee, we didn't use the space the MCG offers very well. Nearly stole it again, but our process and structures to finish off close games is not good enough. Why not play the entire game with the sought of endeavour they show, when it is ten minutes to go. Our defensive structures keep us close, though difficult, when ineffective when we had the ball, and Waly was getting multiple entries, causing them to struggle.

Noticed Oliver on Gosch's as I walked into the game today. Clayton was running and kicking with a trainer. Working his way all over the paddock. Good signs I reckon.