Kev

When Clarry was boundary running with Campbell, he was belching . Perhaps he had an upset stomach. Wasn't the temperature in the low 20's. I was in the shade most of the time, and comfortable. @Ghostwriter

The weather wasn't too bad. Barely any breeze and the temp was fine during their run.

A few observations. Coaches are working hard. Plenty of instructions, and a variety of new drills that are making them use different skills. Bounces and run, more focus on having opponents, handballs with the players getting in the way of opposition, and opponents (Jones) getting in the way of runners. They are happy and training with skill and high standards McAdams with boots on and kicking goals. Spargo getting closer. Langford likes a goal and can kick them on the run and from a long way out. Fritta doing some training drills and extra running. Salem has already dropped a few kilos. Melky in an orange bib during sims (the only one), and connecting through the middle and then hitting up with some beautiful kicks. Tackling in handball game was ferocious, I worried about them at times. Bowey was in with the backs when in their lines but matched up against Windsor on the wing in the sims. The other wing side had Billings and Langdon. Tracc playing with some flair, his field kicking has also improved. Oliver was trying to dance around opponents but got caught a few times.

They may be going with a high press strategy from the defenders, really locking the ball in when forward/midfield. If so we need the fastest players so as to transition if the other team find some corridors. Also get a feeling we are going to play as a swarm around the contest, a condensed competitive game. Three forwards, four backs and the rest are onballers with lateral spread when we get the ball, and with hard running to the next contest. That exhaustive kind of game where we tire later in quarters or in the 4th. No, they are trying to keep them in a high line up the field during general play. Though I have seen them lead to pockets from the 20 metre area at stoppages. Sometimes a line of hats 20 metres out, suggest no one should be in close to the square. I have also seen them make a square with the hats straight out from the square 10×10 metres, where they want them to lead into, and the deliverer to kick too. No-one to start in it. Yet to see a one on one deep forward, in sims or structures

Stafford primarily trained them to dance around each other (starting from a clumped position), so as to create mismatches and separation. I always thought it was Ringa-ringa-rosi action. He also emphasised the one on one contest, between players. Mainly concerned with talls. Never set himself close to the ball delivery players, always micro managing deep in the 50 area. Big change with Chaplin and all. He brings the mids and forwards together. Can be seen outside the 50 giving direction as well in the 50. When he does one on one, with the players or as an opponent himself, he is more certain as to what he wants. Stafford was a little bit of an encourager. Troy wants separation and smarts, getting fast explosive movement with timing. Great to see him drill the crumbers, two smalls at the feet. Still some leading patterns into the boundary, though could be more about the delivery and not kicking out on the full. Other patterns are straight leads, or off out the back. Some delivery is with angles and some are short hit ups for better percentage shots. Movement is paramount. I think and hope there are more "tricks" to come.

Nathan is very hands on. Always has a ball, though yet to understand the nuances of his midfield coaching. First thoughts are they are going to be direct, quick, flick the ball round, look for breaking the lines, and finish with precision and/or to advantage kicks Radford is listed as an Opposition Strategy and Education coach, and am not sure yet of the input. He hangs out with the mids is the best I can offer at this stage. Goody seems to be with the mids when he is not observing, or instructing as to how he wants the entire structure set up. Bassett, the backline coach is quite animated and heavily involved with his group. Today, Whitford (I think) VFL coach was down with the backs as well, when they separated into their lines. Working on the spread, and release boundary side. Interesting that the coaches are all working together, joining the mids with either the backs or forwards so the connections are enhanced. The place was full today, difficult to observe and get a gist as to what the patterns and coach inputs. Chaplin (forward drills) and Goody (positioning) have changed the system up the most.

The club is invested in Sparrow. He is maturing and probably his best footy is ahead if him. I believe his decision making needs work, as does his handballs. An interesting year ahead for him. Hope he steps up.

I'm with you on that. Windsor was doing well on the wing and loves a goal. I hope it is just a learning situation in case of a need. I understand plenty get the training in a second position.

Sparrow has developed a tank, though would he be able to outrun those who will run all day, or does he have the footy smarts like Hunter had? I believe he will be at the contest, or playing in the half-forward area as a pitch hitter.

I've seen Sharp linking with the backline as well. I imagine they aren't sure where is position is yet. With Windsor heading back (probably), there is a wing position available. Though, Woey, Billings, Rivers, and Brown, could all be in line. Half-forwards are also in the plenty. Chandler, Kolt, Melksham (excellent kicking today), if fit, Spargo, McAdam, and part timers in Tracc and Sparrow. So much pressure for places already. Sharp can run, able to creates separation off the defender, loves getting to the ball, and his disposals are good. I wonder if he has that negating capacity that ANB had. That is a unique skill.

Chandler, Lever, and Petty walking from AAMI with the coaches as I arrive. Some are already on Gosch's, they are getting down to prepping. The sun block, hydration, the Tech in the jersey, and all in runners. Plenty of buzz around for our first full hit up. Yet no balls on the field. The time trials! They are hyped and ready. Those ahead of their times appeared to be, Sparrow, Kolty (maybe flu related), Sharp, and another but cannot recall. They got to sit out when the others did 5 more sets of 120 metre runs close at the end of the training. Kossie is fit and running very well. Goody got round him soon after his run and gave him the warmest of embraces, slaps, and words. Verral struggled, though ended his running with some push. Sestan ran better than other years, a little slow but not struggling. Langford led for some time, looks like a competitor, overrun close to the end. (Between some drills Tracc was getting around him, offering some insights) Great to see Maysie and Melk back. They all got round each other after the running, plenty on their haunches. Great effort all round. Shane McAdams back on the exercise bike. His body shape is good, looks like he has been working out. Lever has increased his workload, with a variety of running drills. My guess is that of Achilles awareness. Fritta is putting in hard runs. My guess is that his goal is being very fit. Xavier Lindsay is on a modified program and is going at about 70% effort. Spargo spent most of his time on the bike. Rumours were spreading that Roy George is being picked up. The drills were a little off. Windy, hot day, with some exhaustive running, I reckon caused some astray kicking and fumbles. Ricky Mentha has good hands, also doesn't do two errors in a row. It was apparent that he puts his head into it, after a mistake. Looks like Kossie, Rivers and Woey are in the mids squad, whereas Windsor and Petty are backmen. I like what Chaplin is doing as a forwards coach. He was getting the smalls to crumb. Two of them would follow the flight of the ball, the talls would bring it down, then the smalls either, handball to their partner who would snap, or they would snap. He was very hands-on at describing the movement patterns he wants from those marking forwards. The backs worked with the mids. They were getting the connections and fast ball movement down the wings. Langdon with leather poisoning and Sparrow running the wings very well, often the last one with the ball. Goody set up a full field structure, getting them to position where he wants them. Looks like a high press, with no one in the forward 50. Some goal kicking from the mids and forwards, as the backs settled down for a chat about structures. Jed Adams had some testing from the trainer, after some sims. Appeared to have a slight limp A good session.

It was reported on Demonland that they are upgrading/working on the surface at Casey field.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times AFL Monday, December 2 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm Wednesday, December 4 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm Friday, December 6 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times AFL Gosch's Paddock Monday, December 2 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm Wednesday, December 4 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm Friday, December 6 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm

"I sense a subtle/carefully planned petulance to Christian’s approach at the moment." @The Jackson FIX Perhaps they weren't at the training. Part of the dialogue though, and the feeling that Tracc is going about it in a "funny" way. I apologise for any inferences to the Mansfield trackers. Go Dees

My guess is, our delivery into the forwards this season will be very different. Chaplin is working with the high forwards and mids, as much as he is with the forwards. Also, looks like they are going to go with the hard running transition game, chase the ball with a swarm, and play a high forward line. Great patterns of delivery can help JVR have a great season, though, last time we did that we got the flubber legs, missed easy kicks, and failed to run out games and quarters, swings and roundabouts. I also think we are trying to work on stopping teams using those dinky kicks, possession games, to slice us up.

Totally agree, someone who has "been there done that", I feel will really help JVR with his confidence and execution. Reshape that rough diamond by giving very personal attention to him. Lyon or Schwarz an hour a week at training may do it.

@djr With JVR, I reckon he is struggling to take the needed next step in his development. He can appear to get down when he misses goals or those easy marks. He drops his head and doesn't go at "it" as hard, for a while. I think he needs a personal motivator or some leaders to get round him, when he misses. Confidence will improve him. Kick a bag full and be clean with his marks, and we have a champion. High with expectations, the pressure is on him this year and my guess, he is feeling it already. Though that is my opinion about JVR, you are right about mongering. Tracc is in a different boat, as he struggled with body and mind, and then his attempt to leave the club. If I was him my strategy would be to keep a low key within the team as I attempt to mend/create bridges, and gain the trust again. Which is how I interpreted his behaviour. Similar to how Clarry went about it last season. Low key, minimal displays of attention seeking behaviour and well down the pecking order. He is back to his extrovert and happy self now. Hoping Tracc is of the same mindset, but of course, you may be right and it is petulance that you observe. If so, then an immaturity pervades him, which will not serve him or the club. I know which interpretation I would prefer, "glass half-full".

I watched Tracc at the last Gosch's training, not closely. Appeared fine to me once he got over a bit of anxiety. My guess about the observations from Mansfield is that he is keeping a low profile. He is an emotional person, and maintaining an outward aloofness will keep those emotions in check. What do those reading a disturbance in him want from him? It really is about how he relates with the other players. He probably has a few relationships to build on and up. To suggest his body language is telling of a disengaged person, with all that he has to mend and deal with, is just speculative and rumour mongering.

That is my thoughts about them as well. The 1 to 4 yrs were setting high standards. The application of basics had been emphasised. Makes it easier for the oldies to slot into, and improve us.

I assume so. On the "new", net post and I think the lights, there are cameras permanently fitted. Put in during the Gosch's upgrade. They used to put drones up, but I think we are covered by the cameras, as I have not seen a drone. There are also plenty of Tech staff at the computer, dealing the trackers out to the players, and other "stuff".

The heat is on and the players didn't take a back step. Goody ran them hard, especially after a sim completion from the back to forward area. They had to sprint back up the field. Tholstrup felt it. JVR was pushing high, though became the last man forward in the non action area. Looked a bit bored, am worried about his training and application. Previous preseasons, he was the aggressive one, only seen him attack it once. Hope it just a bit of being lackadaisical during the early parts of preseason, and he starts getting into it. Some ball movements during the sims were very quick. There was room for a few of them to have multiple bounces down the wing, Windsor and Rivers took my attention. A couple of pressure moments caused them to rush and miss the target. Forgot who the defenders were. Chaplin continues to make his mark on the forwards. We definitely have a “front and centre” more prominent. They are also doing more short passes within the 50 to a dynamic group of leads. Harry Sharp looks a player to me. Well-rounded in his skills. Finding separation and has confidence in his disposals, he was linking out of the halfback area. Johnson looks and moves like Petty. Unsure how Jed Adams is going. Trying to keep it simple, but just not executing well at times? Clarry was being extremely playful out there. Last year he kept his head down, low profile. Now he is back to being stress-free and engaged. Tracc was nervous as he entered the field. Had a longish chat to Goody, then got down to work. Disposals have improved. Fritsch was in boots for the first time. Joined in a couple of sims, outpointed a tall defender with ease and skill. I reckon he is building for a big year. Salem also in boots and in a few sims. He has trimmed down since his first pre-run, and is pushing himself hard in the boundary runs. Lindsay has a mentor in Spargo. Appears to know the routines, and appears well coached through his developing years. Langford, first impression is that of an enforcer. N.Jones had a bib on in the sims. Hasn't lost much, closing speed and surprised a couple of them, then doing beautiful clearing kicks to hit the mark. Leading by example and being humble about it. Put him on the rookie list😄.

I think they did train that day. Two nervous kids and a loud mouth.

In previous years the new draftees have joined in right after the draft. If you love footy and running after that ball, tough to sit on the side. Though, I understand if they give them time to observe some of the drills, set-ups, and routines.

Good chance they (new draftees) will also be down at Gosch's tomorrow.