Kev

Rehab, Verral, K.Turner, Viney, and Salem. All the rest in full training. Gawn, Hibbo, J. Smith, Farris-White, Lever, BBB. Sorry have to leave. Hopefully someone else here can give a full report.

They have invited 10 year members down to Gosch's. Nothing on website training pages. Apparently by email, crowd is building, no players yet, probably 11 am start. I'll report when I get back home. Addit:11.10 players still not out.

I would like to see Brayshaw play a high half forward role, replacing Spargo. BBB to replace Petty at forward. I think the Petty up forward has not worked out. Petty to play only as a backman, looked confused when forward, and not taking marks. The only swing players I think are Gawn, Rivers, TMac, and maybe Grundy. Lever (River), Hibbo (Brayshaw) and Petty (Tomlinson out) to help May and the two young ones (Bowey, McVee). Sparrow, Bowey, close to being dropped. In: Lever, Hibbo, BBB Out: Spargo, TMac and Tomlinson

Just finished watching the game. AFL live was very late in posting it. My thoughts are we were a bit off. Some players were fumbley and had trouble getting into the game. Langdon, McVee, Bowey, May, Chandler, Sparrow, Rivers, TMac, Tomlinson, JJ, Fritta, ANB, Kossie (more than half the team). Some looked tired and lazy. The Dons match ups, worked well. We play our best game when we hold the ball in our 50 area, the backs can then push high and so create multiple entries. Didn't see much of that. Essendon were much cleaner/harder/smarter, able to make quicker decisions that came off, and moved the ball well to mark in their 50. We played from behind and let them have control of the play. We didn't always lift our eyes when kicking into attack, so turnovers/intercepts and not being able to kick to advantage, hurt us. There were a lot of selfish plays, where it looked like “I will do it alone”. (Fritta, Melksham, Pickett). Our connection/support/ talk was lacking, and we couldn't read or execute the moment. The zoning, as well as getting to the fall of the ball, didn't work. We will have a few sore players, and the 10-day break has come at the right time.

Don't have a double header with a local team in the second game. Otherwise, those from their cosy homes won't attend the first game, the players play in a half empty stadium. The fans from the first game will have trouble getting tickets as the locals snap up tickets or have membership access.

I noticed an area that a few were using to park their cars on game day, free and unrestricted time. Could also be used for parking close to Gosch's. Access is from Punt road, when driving north, just past the yarra. It's under the freeway.

I was trying to make the point, about non-Vic states getting a live broadcast of all their teams. I would assume it is not just on gather weekend, but all season.

Really! The four or five games, when not a home game or not broadcast on FTA, I could pay what, $300 for a stream service. When I have to watch my spending, it seems a bit extravagant. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-12/one-million-in-poverty-nsw-gap-worsening-sydney/102206262 Assume the same in Vic, as 90% of the benefits/profits of a wealthy society go to the already wealthy top 10% Lobby groups and media, have really stuffed us, by skewing legislation and public opinion towards a mean hearted, selfish society.

No, away team.

Gather round "free to air" (FTA) broadcast. Looks like QLD, WA, NSW, get to watch their teams on FTA. VIC get to watch; Adelaide v Carlton, Richmond v Sydney, Port v Bulldogs, Giants v Hawthorn, on free to air. Not Collingwood v Saints, or Melbourne v Essendon. if they are pushing all into one state, why don't they maximise the exposure of VIC teams on FTA? They give the other States access on FTA on all their teams, even SA. At least I get the replay on AFL live the next day.

Four players at the Easter party. Lever, walking around without any limp or restrictions. BBB and Viney, and then Melksham, whose kid led the rest to those chocky's. Sign him up, has competitiveness written all over him. A kid, with number 5 on his back came a close second. Good atmosphere, 30 kids, some admin, trainers, partners, and a table of nibbles. The players left fairly quickly, probably to get into the days footy preparation and routine.

Looks like an in club easter party for players, down at Gosch's. It may start at 12. Easter eggs all over half the paddock, with plenty of the players and staff's, family around.

Seeing Geelong chasing was enjoyable while it happened. C'mon Hawks, fight your way back in it.

Newcombe is not too bad. Breust is good.

I like watching Geelong having to chase. I see their best game when frontrunners. Nervous, spiteful, errors, and a born to rule syndrome (entitled).

Chanel 7 maximising advert time, so we don't get a clear look at the centre bounce. Or, is it the replay that goes into the ball up time and the hope that the small box in the bottom right corner will suffice for a few seconds.

Yep Viney is. Comes from a family that is the fabric of AFL. All his life he must have eaten, slept and dreamed footy. He is the one that knows when the game is on the line, and I have seen him get us over the line and turn the momentum, from a very early age. These ones had extraordinary skill levels. Viney may over estimate his ability at times, but footy IQ, he has it in spades.

We are getting our inside 50's efficient, and great how we lock it in there. Forwards are working up field and supporting the backs. We are good at winning the crucial moments. Great pressure, defence and tackling. The core players know each other's game, allows them to connect, have confidence, play to strengths and to get out of trouble. Our set shots are more accurate, thanks coaches. We are breaking the lines with our running, hanballs, supportive play, and the 20/30 meter handballs. Seems we are playing in front and getting to the ball first. JVR's fitness looks fine. Tmac getting to the right area without BBB there, creating one on one's with less pack formations and more space. Hope they keep giving Petty some time up forward. Loving our second halves, no fade outs or complacency so far. We seem super fit, well done trainers. Getting plenty of junk time/time on goals. Oliver running end to end, super fit. Unlike Collingwood, who say they are still building, we are there and can now focus on the finer aspects of the game. Max in the coaches box with a pen, getting plenty of learnings, which can help his on field leadership qualities.

Watching the replay off the "AFL live" app, now. I can cast it to the TV (the web site doesn't allow casting). They put it on under 24 hrs from the end of the game. [Too cold and wet for me to head to pub viewing yesterday. Plus, I don't particularly like being around people on their drug (alcohol), I usually end up being the mate of the inebriated, who doesn't give me space or continues to want my time during play. Then there is the grog bravado's, who fill the place with noise and energy, ok if you are one of them. Ostracised, and bored if not on that "high" and building level. Sometimes no alternatives.] Single person household, so the subscriptions to stream or package, a bit too costly for me living within my financial means. The app replays all the games.

I assume he must have been able to complete full training Thursday, and Tuesday training was just a recovery stretch and walk. I also guess, any imaging of the injury must have not shown any hot spots. If that training pattern is repeated, how will Hibbo keep fitness without a full workload? Achilles problems are a fluctuating injury and he has been managing it for a few years now. Could also be the selectors are playing games, but why, when West are forced to choose from the underdeveloped players.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times The above link for when the MFC post open trainings. They haven't been posting lately. I have been using guess work. At the moment the pattern seems. Monday or Tuesday (if a Sunday game) on Gosch's, sometime after 9.30am. Last Tuesday they trained at 11.00 am. Then they have their main training out at Casey, Thursday 9.30am, or on Wednesday if the game is on Friday. They will do a captains run on Gosch's at 9.30am, the day before gameday, if playing in Melbourne. Goodluck Billy.

Seemed happy to be back into his regular routine and hanging out with AMW, and the rest of them. At one stage he was dancing around and shadow boxing the stations post, ala Tim Cahill (soccer world cup).

No sightings of him!

Lever's problem did look minor. BBB in runners, moving without obvious restrictions, probably just his individual program, which he has been on for a while now. Gawn looked a bit forlorned (I think he likes the company) running by himself at about 60% effort, but he was getting the kilometres done.

No, didn’t see him.