Kev

He was not with the squad doing the flushing. Turned up later in casual training gear, started pointing and instructing until they gathered with the Administrator staff.

Wow, that’s a big hole to fill. Paramount deal is not allowing the game to be adopted by the majority. When a finals match from last week out of Auckland not being shown free to air, you can see that contracts play a more important place than the grass roots spectators. No new fans, no merchandise sales. Victory are one of the biggest, if not the biggest club and make finals regularly. Last seasons runner-up. They also produce stars for international and Socceross call ups. Something is wrong with their business plan, with such a financial loss. Their open training was good to watch even though a flush run. Miranda the captain on his own program after carrying a niggle to Auckland. Adama Traorè in full training mode today. Thay play the grandfinal against Melbourne City, 31 May 7.40pm kickoff, at AAMI. The Friday game is the only AFL one on in Melbourne this week, a free kick to the A-League.

The sky's parted at the time the MFC players arrived, and stayed drissle free for the entire time. They are in very good spirits, joyful banter and laughter, plenty wrestling each other at the same time of kicking that round thing. Tracc participated in the game, which seemed to have more time than usual. They broke into the goal kicking drills. Most of them taking it seriously, till some young ones jumped the fence and attempted the shot from the "Back of Bourke". The Administrators joined the group at the end of the flush run for a "gather" and some awards.

Training times in for this week. Another main session, Friday at Gosch's. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times TIO Traeger Park 📆 Saturday, May 31 ⏰ 9:30am - 10:15am 📍 TIO Traeger Park 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Pre-Game Captain's Run ✍️ Signing session post-training Gosch's Paddock 📆 Tuesday, May 27 ⏰ 1:45pm - 2:15pm 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Light recovery 📆 Friday, May 30 ⏰ 9:15am - 10:45am 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Main Training 📆 Tuesday, June 3 ⏰ 1:30pm - 2:00pm 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Light Recovery

They have been in the city and around the Yarra for the past 10 days. Usually these cockatoos come into the city when the country side has dried out. My guess is that some consistent rains and they will be back to the bush.

Tracc breaking straight through the front of packs. Defensive mids rotating with a role to stop and pressure their ball carriers, McVee, Rivers and Salo. Max is looking younger all the time, covers the ground, tackles and taps. Fritsch continues with enthusiasm. Kossie was so slippery, he just went to spaces with speed. Turner playing great footy, positioning and reading of the play is great. Who said we cannot kick big scores. Forward line was dangerous, great pressure to hold it in there. Played some tempo footy when Syd was looking to push in the second quarter. We are getting smarter. Bowey is having a great season. We are getting belief and confidence. Lever doing the leadership for the backline. Our defensive lines and structure confused them, our pressure and tacking had them second guessing. The result, fumbles, missed kicks and turnovers. Good coaching, and on-field leadership. We are building.

Beautiful afternoon, the joy, relief and with a sense that they are in it. 35 players in full training. "They know Sydney is never easy", I heard someone say. Quite a few in runners. Viney looks eager and refreshed, not wearing the training singlet. Lindsay was back to AAMI after a short time. Marty is getting close, doing some hard change of directions and in boots. Structured warm-up, then the dodgeball (plenty of camaraderie) with the Admins as ball throwers until those hit joined the throwers. Some of our players with gusto to ping the last standing. Finished with goal kicking. Williams got them all kicking over the mannequins within the 45° and from 35m out. A few kept this, Sharp, Tracc, Chandler and a few others taking it seriously for the entire time. Goody got round to Tracc, Oliver and Lindsay. He also followed them around during the warm-ups. They are a happy lot at the moment.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times MFC invitation as a late post. AFLW Inverloch Recreation Reserve 📆 Monday, May 19 ⏰ 5:00pm - 6:00pm 📍 Inverloch Recreation Reserve, Inverloch 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Come & PLAY clinic 💻 Register: https://forms.office.com/r/6tXAC8pUsN Please fill out this form A post on Microsoft Forms provided by: forms.office.com

Rivers hung out with the mids. When the backs got together, no Trent.

I'd like to add that JVR has looked enthused in previous season. This season he had looked half-hearted at times.

Sorry about the late report. Beautiful morning to train. The dew was heavy on the Paddock, making for a bit more caution when handling the ball (some early kicks in the sim were sliders). The physical exertion was good to see. They did plenty of sprints and jogs to warm up. Some of them did extra runs, just for the fun of it without prompting, May comes to mind, the others doing extra, I've forgotten. The noise volume of their chatter, support, instruction, wanting the ball, and joy was of a high level. I really enjoyed that about them today. They trained hard, they ran even harder. Some quick ball movement was beautiful to see. Turner with the backs, Petty forward, alternating with Jonhson, Melky the deep forward. Laurie working in with the mids, in the guts. Looking like he has matured, body looking very strong. JVR is the most animated I've seen him. Very hard running, and my guess is he has to work hard and looks prepared too, in order to get back in, usually appears lackadaisical. Jeffo also had a spring in his approach. I assume they have been told what they need to do, good signs. Goody was very vocal, took most of the sims and gathers/discussion. At one time he was teaching what spacing and body use at the contest, he wants. Some of it included the distance the outside players to have. Loved his energy, contagious, as the players brought the intensity all session. They ran hard chasing and creating that fast ball movement. Sims started either defensive wing, or closer to the forward area, others with finding safe ball from out of the backline. A few attempts at an attacking/central ball of the halfback. Some good, others, turn-over. Kossie in good form, Windsor carving them. Enjoyed when Windsor and Lindsay were opponents, both good. May is instructing the younger backs on many occasions. Tracc had a roll of the ankle, not serious, as he got back out there in no time. Someone mentioned that Windsor also went down, back out there. Perhaps the Gosch's doesn't do well when damp, making for a slippery place to train and/or the surface giving way under foot. The structure seems like as we play, pushing up high for congestion and zoning the release out of the backline.

I click the quote icon, enter the quote area of that file, and delete the parts of the person's writing that is irrelevant to my post.

My belief is everytime you step on a field with a footy and the squad, you should be switched on. Otherwise, it leads to poor body memory patterns and habits, and mental lapses may occur when attempting to perform at high levels. You know, like how we use a bedroom. If it is not primarily used for sleep, then that will effect your quality of sleep as the body knows what is expected of it, those unconscious expectations. Play as you train. I'm not saying have no fun as that helps stay relaxed.

I have to describe the Recovery and Captain's run as something other than a structured, purposeful session. I think they are trying to make more genuine friendships within the group, hoping that gets them helping each other, causing connection. I believe the strategy just hasn't worked. What would you call it? I am nobody, rarely in touch, just giving an impression of the training that others cannot attend. Being in Europe, at least you get an idea of my impressions, and though you may disagree with my assumptions, you are left, maybe a little wiser. What has 1950 got to do with it? What happened in the 1950's? You think most the high achievers at that time, didn't work hard. What is your connection to high level professionals? I know the industries that require you to be a high achiever are cut-throat, all based on outcomes, and easily disposed of.

I'm not sure what you are alluding to about me "picking up"? You mean, thinking that social outings twice a week appears a waste of the players time. What other professional team is using that approach? No I don't attend at Casey, though I have viewed the main trainings when at Gosch's. I am giving my opinion, which are coloured by my experiences in life and observation, I am often wrong. I am more optimistic than you. I reckon we can still beat any team on our day. We have the potential, but the club is not getting the best out of the squad. That's my frustration. Too many of our players have gone backwards in ability or application. (At least we don't hear the rhetoric of culture and brand this season) I see there is something wrong, and voice that. Again, I may be wrong. Would you rather me hold back, because it doesn't suit your agenda? Finding a better balance between whip cracking and treating them as self guiding, would be my approach. As some have told me, " the club nearly own these players". All that control, could lead to much better outcomes on the field. We have missed our opportunity this year. Time for the club to change it up.

I heard someone say that Kentfield has some self-doubt. I hope that drives him to work harder. Sometimes those that are their own toughest critics are the ones that succeed. It was interesting to see that along with Tracc, he makes use of his time constructively in the Recovery runs.

A little problematic, it can appear that Tracc is separate, aloof, from the squad. I'd suggest that he frolics with them, so as to build a sense of comraderie, or a few shoot for goal with him until the soccer finishes. There he is kicking goals by himself, after last years dramas. Are they a united team? Does Tracc have close mates who would rather stick by him, than watch a soccer ball bounce around 30 players, with only a few getting a touch?

"Im very curious. When they do these goal kicking drills, do they have a coach or assistant next to them with an ipad or pen/ paper and recording distance, accuracy, angle." @Jjrogan It is all laissez-faire, they probably don't even turn the cameras on, nor are any of the "tech team" set up during the Recovery or Captain's runs. The coaches wander around aimlessly as well, some have player interactions for a short time or with one or two players, though they usually hang out with each other. They are (Recovery and Captain's) a player led training. The "techs" are definitely there during the main sessions.

"NSW Rugby League team. Recovery session. Surfing (indoor). Also smiling." @bing181 They are not doing that every week. Probably reward or a change-up. If soccer or a stroll was a once off, or if it made us a better team then I would support it. We are not applying ourselves, fallen far, we have lost a mental edge. Need to continually repeat and repeat, work hard, and make it fun. Adit: the MFC players are doing enough smiling. That's my point. Push them, the likable has not worked, find the middle way.

I'm with you fence. They have no direction. If a few pushed themselves instead I'd be happier. From what I've seen it is a stroll. They aren't doing anything with structure. If it is player guided, they require help. They need to be encouraged to run laps, sprint, and, bring out the handball and short kick targets, tackling dummies, obstacle course, trick shot challenges, a tap the ball on, get creative with a variety of stations that they can choose to use. They are getting better at soccer. I see Storm and Victory train, everytime it has purpose to it.

"Looking forward to Thursdays reports from Gosh’s, hopefully no extra injuries to the boys." @DeeZone They train Friday on Gosch's. 📆 Friday, May 16 ⏰ 9:15am - 10:45am 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Main session

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times 📆 Friday, May 16 ⏰ 9:15am - 10:45am 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Main session 📆 Tuesday, May 20 ⏰ 1:45pm - 2:15pm 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Light recovery

Another beautiful day. The players, appeared in reasonable spirits and light-hearted (some having fun), given the win/loss ratio we have, about 31 on the paddock. Woewodin worked with a trainer doing those change of direction runs, in rehab. Hore still in rehab as well. Lever out there in runners, though with the squad. Melky trained as well, and in runners. They had a structured warm-up, stretching and short runs. A soccer game followed, 15 on 15, most of them didn't touch the ball or do much running. Plenty of squeals when a goal was attempted. They broke for goal kicking practice. Most of them kicking within the 45° angle area and 35 m out. Later, a few moved to the boundary shot. Turner broke out in joy and an exaggerated 50m run, he must have hit an important one through the sticks from the boundary when the others challenged him. Kentfield working hard, drilling with a trainer. Tracc practiced goal kicking for the entire session. Melky and Gawn first to leave.

Time to readjust our training regime. Getting fitness having them train by drilling with ball in hand appears not to get them to a level where they are fitter, faster or stronger. A return to hard sprinting and numerous laps, is the only way to start to prepare for next season. To get in finals we will need to win 11 of the next 14 games. So many things would have to go right to get there. If we lose to Brisbane, then we can only drop 2 more. Time to test those, on the periphery, who haven't had a look yet, Brown, Verral, Culley, Sestan, Mentha and Kentfield. Not all at once, but over the next 7 games. Then play best 22 to finish the season. The tail has wagged the dog. Enough of creating loving relationships between them by having the social gatherings called "Recovery and Captain's," runs. The players just don't apply themselves well enough (especially goal kicking), at these sessions. No more fun and games in the Captain's run. Goal kicking practice needs to have a professional and serious attitude. Too many kicking from the boundary looking for the spectacular and not practising the basics. Give more mid-time in crucial positions, and freedom, to Rivers, Sparrow, Langford, Windsor, Bowey, Tholstrup, and Lindsay. They are our future. If kicking long, we need to get players in front of the pack. JVR will bring the ball down, because he has hands only slightly better than Wiedeman. Tell him to soften those hands at the time of impact. Cannot kick to a marking contest hoping smalls will mark it. Tell them, they should leave it for the talls, and work to crumb it, unless a hit up lead with separation. Freed from desire, with such a disappointing start to this season.

They all came out as a group (Casey MFC, and tomorrow's squad), filing from AAMI. Fairly subdued atmosphere. The weather here is as good as it gets. They gathered to present the family, with the kids who are running through the banner, their attire. Some young ones ran a lap, a few saddled up behind mannequins and kicked for goal. May got around a group of kids who were invited onto the field in the area they banana goals from. He appeared unrestricted but most importantly, happy. The kids were the excited lot. Clarry hanging out with Fritta again, kick to kick with some variations. At the end off training, he could be seen with his arm over the shoulder of another track watcher wandering towards AAMI. Appeared relaxed and happy. JVR having discussions with Goody. The "young ones" headed to the opposite side of the Paddock on the fence and hit bananas and miracle kicks for goal. Jeffo was drilling with JVR as a trainer kicked easy high balls to them, after they ran the change of direction movement. Jeffo is looking more mature everytime I see him. Tracc was kicking well for goal, as was Chandler who seemed to be challenging him. Short session which had meaningless written all over it. I wonder how they will be on a Captain's run when the weather turns miserable. The soccer ball was out, a few used the opportunity to show their Gaelic kicking skills for goal.