Kev

I would love to know what their approach to developing this is. Some of it has to be toughen them up and increase their intensity for the 4 quarters, so as to create that whole game winning belief. There must be more to controlling the momentum, especially as the opposition study us and develop their own strategies for handling our midfield power. I really want us to get ruthless, don't give them a chance.

Good that they see the second half fades. Why do we give the opposition the momentum, how did they break us, and why couldn't we answer their goals and stop the run on? Momentum change happened because we drank our bathwater before the job was done. They broke us by, switching, moving quickly through a corridor and finding a loose player in their 50 area. We would panic and try and do too much as individuals. We need to be able to play tempo footy and score with slow down footy. Play a defensive game, where we stop the opposition scoring. Play with some creativity, unstructured, and surprising ways, that aren't predictable. Fight and toughen up earlier on, when the momentum is first shifting against us. Never let the other team score two goals in a row. Fight, be tough, compete for everything, ruthlessness, No congratulations till the 4 points are sealed. Encourage, support each other but keep that half time joy to a minimum.

Our society is full of those who use substances. Pharmaceutical use is widespread, the ones that affect the brain, the alert levels and personality. How many get around on methadone, analgesics, anti-anxieties, and those with unusual side effects such as drowsiness or personality changes. Abuse is a different and difficult aspect to drug use, recreational and medical use still has its detrimental effects. Quite often the substance is performance enhancing or required to have a “normalised life”. Recreational drug use isn't more dangerous or harmful because the abused substance is legal or illegal. The use of illegal substances, I believe, is society creating more damage on the users, and their friends and family. Stop telling other how to live their life and victimising those who don't have strong safety nets. The jails and, those with drug convictions, are full of the lower classes. Sports people have more scrutiny than other entertainers on the substances they take. When I read and interpret drug use in and about the music, art or fashion industries, I see very poor role models for the young. The sporting groups do much more to educate and help the associated issues from drug use and getting better about alcohol use. Why don't the sanctimonious have the same attitude towards performance enhancement of the musicians and artists? Boycott the festival, or TV, till the personalities pass drug tests. (sarcasm). At times in our life, we run around high, and that is the human condition.

No training at Gosch's today.

They haven't posted a time yet. You can follow on their website. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Good chance it is at Casey tomorrow Friday 17th, less chance it is at Gosch’s. The same for Monday 20th. They have been having runs at various parks on Saturday mornings. Yarra Park, perhaps Fawkner or somewhere with a slope. They haven't run the Tan yet. Best chance would be Wednesday 22nd on Gosch's at 9.30. Your guess is as good as any.

D.Turner moves effortlessly across the backline (quite silky), doing the slide or swap as they organise the zone or match ups. Usually taking a central pivot area. Some of his leadership in structuring is not as obvious as Tomlinson, Lever, or May. Hoping he is still apprenticing and will take a more vocal role as required. Would like to see him put on some weight, as he still appears wiry. Doesn't lack courage and you will find him under the ball. When he gets the ball, which I would like to see more of, he uses it conservatively, usually lateral towards the boundary. Always finding his target, he will be interesting if he starts being more attacking as I think he has that in him. Very rarely do I see a howler of a mistake from him.

Is there a place for Harmes as the super-sub? He is able to fill, forward, back, mid, or put the breaks on an opposition player tearing it up. You are right about him trying to do too much and not really finding his niche.

Yes, you are right, when they were getting first use of the ball, Goody didn't change it up and lock Harmes onto them. Perhaps he will end up as depth, if he can't play as I see it, his speciality as a stopper. He seems to get guided to the right places by his opponent, where he takes advantage.

I believe Harmes is a tagger. Not only stops his opponent but plays off him. When that job is needed to be done, he is the best at the club.

Kossie, playing very smart footy, untouchable at times. Max, always smiling and interacting with team-mates, not perfect plays but he makes up for it in leadership role. Improving every session. Viney, running faster then I have seen him. Always supporting the new or young players. Tracc, seems to be on a mission. Striving for perfection. Working to give Sparrow the finer points of the game. Oliver, fitter and faster than I have seen him. Much more animated then previous seasons. Tmac, full preseason under the hood, will be hard to stop. Hunter, love his work. Very smart player, creates space, overlaps and makes beautiful decisions

The numbers of spectators have been down, ever since the training ground kerfufle. We were getting over 100, today around 70. Gee, I think if Tracc laced one of those passes to any of us we probably wouldn't get up, neither alone go again. He really is trying to pinpoint them, Lasers!

J. Smith absent. B. Fritch on an exercise bike. Thought they wound back a bit on the work load today. Could have been due to the morning being hot. I think a few drank a bit before the session, as many had to squat and urinate. Tmac at the 50 meter arc. You really wouldn't want to be rolling around in it! Their concentration in drills was the worst I've seen this season, as plenty of simple drops and misses. When challenged, they did better. Our movement during the handball game is getting better as they run great lines to slice the defenders and break the tackles, though some tackling and herding is great. They are being very supportive of each other, and appear to be having fun. K.Turner played the sims well. Nothing like getting the thumbs up. He ran to space well, read the plays, got involved and made a few take'em-on rebounds out of the backline. JVR plays with a ferocity, though I thought Petty was starting to beat him, but not for long. D.Smith is a bit inconsistent and needs work on his tackling. Spreads well and has a good dance when he gets the ball. Schache has been dropping some marks, when in a contest but in the best position, unlike Max who works hard for the best position and was clutching them. McVee was looking strong and composed when he gets the ball. Lever, May, Oliver, Harmes, Spargo, Brayshaw, Langdon, Jordon, Rivers Sparrow, ANB, Chandler keeping the standards up during sims. Kossie, Tracc, Hunter, and Bowey, the best afield. SLARTIBARTFAST'S TRAINING REPORT

The kaos in drills seems more about creating clear decisions during the drill. They have to search for the correct link There is a method, but players in different tops and lines are running past that aren't involved in the plays of the specific person.

He is also very team orientated. In his earlier sessions, he would let others get to the ball, or would quickly dish it off to them. It is tough in his precarious position. Lately he has been taking them on and pushing harder to get the ball. The longer he is with us the better he is looking, whereas K.Turner is falling off the pace. Burgoyne is a chance, I reckon.

It was straight kicking, 30 m out. I was explaining more the impression Williams has on him. Usually Joel is a pretty good set shot with a smooth gait.

I was watching Joel get some goal kicking assistance from Williams. The one where you kick in the alley and over a dummy. He miss hit every ball. Perhaps he was still suffering with his infection, but he appeared extremely anxious around Williams. Either he scares him or he overly wants to impress him and creates anxiety. He better get over it, if he wants a job forward.

I think they are going to run the legs off opponents. The forward line may play high and the back flanks may push up. [We need to get our transitioning and reactivity right.] During general play, I can see us pushing a back (River's, Brayshaw) and a forward (ANB, Spargo, Kossie) into the middle, with our ruck's filling the kick away from play. We will open our forward area, for getting the ball over the back, and trust the experienced backs to fill and cover. Pack running and hunting, overwhelm them when we don't have it and spread when we do. I don't think they will change that exhausting type of game plan. They will always ask, how long can the opposition go with them till MFC break it open. There is also a chance Kossie will join Rivers, as both get more starts in the middle. Rivers is looking very strong, and makes a difficult match-up. The stuff that will beat us is still the opponents fast balls and switching. Hopes that our wingers can close that down.

I think the brain trust noticed as well. Increase the intensity, make them accountable, have them hardened up. It will be interesting to see if we go in with the killer instinct (I expect so). As McQueen alludes to, can't wait till the Bulldogs game and to see what we've got and what changes happen. Those second half drop off's killed us. Nearly like watching two different games.

Joking aside, I don't think it is loading. I believe it is a change to their approach. The effects will be a ruthless side, who won't be just going through their paces in matches. I think we will get 4 quarters of effort and their best footy, each game. No more softness and giving the other a chance. They are working on their attitudes and mentality. Loading is about the total physical parameters. Which are also occurring. They will be match ready and will build their season. All just my opinion, based on observations and interpretations.

Could be a bit disconcerting. The training's intensity has been high, they have been going at each other, not recklessly but with some fervour, that have left a few with niggles. They want them tough and ready for battle. Good to see plenty of changes in our approach. Structurally (not too much breaking into fwd, back and mid groups, more specific instructions with goal kicking, more time in sims, greater emphasis on the computer analysis with more people hovering over more screens), types of drills (more kaos and complexity), intensity, increased amount of noise (more regularly and louder than other seasons), assisting and instructing each other (often see them one on one, talking and/or drilling), making a highly competitive environment (many activities seem to be them against us, and they are always pushing each other to go stronger/better/smarter), taking a knee and talking as a group near the end of each sessions (I imagine they discuss the purpose/intention/outcomes and air any other business), running programs at the end and not the beginning of the session. It will be interesting to see what this strategy and our long list can produce, especially in the last rounds and possibly finals. Go Dees. Hoping we don't wear them out, though they have bought into the process and our culture appears strong.

When one on one, his defensive skills are more get the ball first. When he is "on", he is a player that can attract the ball too himself and outmanoeuvres his opponent. I've seen him burn both Sparg's and Chandler. He is a more of a Jetta type player, who would take the fast dangerous, crumbing forward, though match him for pace and guile, more than body him away from the contest. He is competitive and fast. Bowey is probably picked before him. Create consistency in his game at Casey, improve the tackling skills, keep building strength, and if he take his chance when a position pops ups, you never know. He is not too far away. Could see D.Smith match up ok on Bolton types (Richmond small) or the motorbike one from Briissy.

That explains why I didn't notice him later on, thanks for that.

Melky was still on a running type rehab program. Howes was in with the main group. He was mainly on the wing in the sims. I thought he struggled to have involvement.

I thought the handball games showed the intent. Tackles were made and players were expected to break it, fend off, or get a handball out. Many players were completely wrapped up, and some tacklers made repeated efforts. They were very willing and I have not seen them engage so full on. In the sims, it was getting close to full match hits (85%). They were being encouraged to run hard, create turnovers and make it difficult for each other.

A MFC volunteer told me that the practice match out at Casey will be curtain raised by the VFL, Casey versus Richmond. Maybe a start just after 12 midday. AFL, Saturday March 4th, Melbourne v Richmond, Casey Fields, 4.10pm