Kev

I think we have to reclaim the MCG as our fortress. We make ourselves unbeatable there, and we will be close this season. The session was pretty good. Only a few had the fumbles, though most of the drills were done in a fairly low key manner (80% effort). May be a while till they go hard.

I can see him improving even more. His capacity to lead to unusual spaces, his snaps are getting better and he is primed as one of the first picked, is durable and has some swagger going on. I predict this will be his year. William's is working hard on them getting their set shots right. If Tracc, Vines and Oliver become "dead eyes", watch out, as taking our opportunities will hurt the oppositions. Some appear to flourish under the tutelage of Choco.

A volunteer told me that they will train Wednesday 11th Jan at Gosch's, probably at 9.30 am. He didn't mention today, so I remain sceptical, as he could have been talking about when he is on the track with them. Could easily be at Casey, though I hope not. Today's training was mentioned on the Facebook page. You could give the club a phone call.

Plenty of spectators and supporters there today. Great atmosphere for the first of 2023. Hoping the club informs us of future trainings. They posted on Facebook but not on the website, about this mornings session.

Totally agree, Gawny had to really work to get to the rights spots when in marking duels today, and visa versa for Grundy. Really interesting to watch, the way they would try different tactics such as, make body contact early and push, or hang back a few steps so the other couldn't see them, or dance around from one side to the other, hoping for the advantage. I find all the work that many of the players are doing with each other, is inspiring. Many are passing on knowledge, I can see them talking extensively between drills. We really have a great culture that way. There is also plenty of banter and pseudo aggression as they gee each other up. Support, encouragement and competitiveness. Addit: Seems JVR is learning Fritch's leading patterns (always finding a step ahead, and led into lovely pockets of space with different angles). Both looking very good. Some of Bailey's snaps today were beautiful.

Woewo was doing alright. His kicking still needs some work and I think needs to "do" a bit quicker. A run in the AFL would be useful for him, to see what is required. Jefferson has a good kick on him, some of his goal sense is amazing. Even some of the others are looking, and seeing consistency. Schache seems to be holding his own, as well as keeping low key. Took some nice marks.

He was in rehab prior to Christmas. Mainly working with the rowing machine. Good to see him running.

Howes was getting lots of support and encouragement from the others. There's a good size about him, has excellent disposal skills and gets involved.

Time trial day. Tough day for it given the heat and dryness. Tomlinson killed it, looked like ANB might burn him after he passed him 400 out, Adam was having nothing of it. Jack Viney the other stand out, also got around his players afterwards, and supported Verral who really struggled. Ben Brown was running very well, almost caught Gawny. Grundy was a bit slower than what I expected. A few absentees, Petty, Oliver, Pickett, and Hunter. I wasn't sure if Burgoyne (43) was there. A run on a player with 33 on his back looks like him. Light duties included, May, Harmes, D.Smith and Brayshaw. Poor old J.Smithy, in rehab mainly by himself. Appeared to be lower back/left hip problems. Moniz-wakefield also rehabbing. No kick to Kick, to start, but into drills where they have cross angles and move around each other. First with handballs, then with kicking. They use a variety of movement, with the last formation being schimmys and movement to four points with some defensive pressure. They're into sims with two groups, not much tackling First group start with a scramble kick out of the backline and a coach brings the ball to ground, and they swoop outside the 50 and create a delivery inside the 50. The other group kicks a long ball out of the backline, to the talls competing, which then gets moved back to the forwards. A few of the players rotated through the different styles. Into two groups talls and smalls. The talls do one on one marking, and the smalls tackling each other. The tackiling had some competitive vibe added to it. The goal kicking drills were performed in a completely different way. The alley is formed between the stakes and a body model that is kicked over. One on each side of goal at about 35°. Williams stands behind the model and gives them immediate feedback. Mainly about the ball drop, how straight it is and where the foot contacts the ball. He knew if the kick was goaled or not, even without looking. It was the most accurate kicking I have seen at training. Keep it up Chocco. After the goal kicking, they went to 8 repetitions of about 150 meter runs. The last three to leave were, Tracc, Viney and BBB, using the Williams method and with his feedback to get the set goal kicking right. Good start to 2023, they looked sharp and the noise volume was encouraging. Appeared happy to be back into "it'. Addit: I didn't see Hibbo get attention. My thought was he was back to full training. Hope it is not that niggling calf/achilles. Tough Kent's Training Report

The 11th January is a Wednesday. Monday is the 9th January.

Time is going slow for me, or I want another go at 2022 holidays. Oops A run at Gosch's, 11th January, according to a volunteer.

Gidday old Dee. A volunteer to the MFC training group, told me they will have a "run at Gosch's on the 11th Dec". "Picket fence" told the demonlanders on "training without track watcher's" thread, that the squad is back on the 9th Dec, informed by a channel 7 report. Guesses and trust, as the club does not seem to be very proactive in this area.

Perhaps they are out at Casey, or the volunteer was wrong. I'll have a wonder down to Gosch's, Monday.

One of the volunteers told me, "back at Gosch's on the 11th Jan"

No team training! One demon out on Gosch's at the moment. Mr.May, doing sprints with intervals. Melbourne Storm are in full force, on the oval next to AAMI. Brayshaw has just arrived.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

Bit of a gamble, with having to disappoint the kids. I will post tomorrow morning just before 9.30am if they are out on Gosch's. They could be at Casey or may delay their start of the 2023 campaign till Friday or next week.

My guess is for Wednesday, I'll drop by, and hope a morning run is on at Gosch's. Nothing on the training page from the MFC site.

Home members only, meaning Victory is the away team against Western United on boxing day at AAMI, so Victory supporters can't attend only WU members can attend. The Victory's members can attend v Brisbane, 6th Jan at AAMI, but no daily sales to casual spectators. It will be highly supervised by police and "Marshalls".

I think that is the problem. No comments or dialogue with the fans, whether the club, FFA, or APL. I reckon it is best to get a dialogue happening with all. Rumours, social networks, media are full of opinions. Get the clubs and administrator to communicate two ways with the fans. I believe this simple courtesy would minimised the need of the masses to demonstrate using those outrageous actions. Create an open, transparent administration. Closed makes problems. Why can't we read the "show cause" that Victory sent to FA, or be involved in any other club discussions. Can't see the harm it would do.

Sanctions are in: Victory members cannot go to matches. Other teams members can attend, but no general day tickets will be sold. Active supporter areas will be closed. The FA also suggest these are interim measures and more sanctions will happen post the investigations. https://melbournevictory.com.au/news/club-statement-melbourne-victorys-response-to-football-australias-show-cause-process

I've been looking at the Melbourne Victory's website. They put out a statement and another from the league 5 days ago. Since then nothing. They play the incident by giving nothing, and probably hoping it blows itself away after they learn the sanctions the league may hand to them sometime today. Put the options on the table, give the fans some warning about possible changes to game day and crowd controls. The members are not included in the behind door discussions that must be going on after such disturbing actions in that abandoned match. They will get their sanctions and then inform us of the game day protocols. Lack of dialogue with the grassroots is the problem.

The problem has to be that the APL (Australian Professional Leagues, A-league) sold the grandfinal to Sydney. There was not enough consultation and being gently led down that path. Fans are disturbed and disappointed. The active supporters lost control and surged. Why did the City goalie pick up a flare and throw it back into the Victory's fans seating area. He should have just left the field and let the security deal with it. I am not condoning the actions, but it is best to placate and not incite. Hoping they don't play games without crowds, though unless they change the decision of where the grand is played, more trouble may be brewing. It is the peoples game and not the administrators (especially when decision are not supported by the majority and based on dollars). The APL could do much better popularising the game with more free to air games and as popularity increases so do crowds and money from the broadcasters. They have plenty of juniors playing, it just doesn't to translate into A-league support. Even internationals playing friendly games here get bigger crowds. I don’t think it is the quality of the A-league but how it it sold and presented by the APL. Selling out to Sydney is just another of their poor decision making.

Thanks Swoop, what time was the session?

The glasshouse oval and Gosch's make two. Funds to develop further!