Go Dees!!

13 minutes ago, Action Jackson said:

Not sure if this works.... but here's the link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ColLYL2jfHH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Thanks, mate. (TOP goal Nibbler!)

9 minutes ago, Action Jackson said:

They have been training. Posted a video on Instagram

Can you post your video here, please Action?

You are all BOG's today for turning up and seeing it through in the bad weather, guys.

Thanks for your efforts!

Thanks for the explanation, folks. Much appreciated!

Go Dees!!

I am just wondering how the AFL signed off on the Luke Jackson trade. Hopefully a fellow Demonlander can enlighten me.

It's been all over the AFL website that Port Adelaide's early mooted offer of their future 1st Round pick & future 2nd Round pick be a part of the potential "Mega Trade" that would've seen JHF get to Port.

However the AFL knocked it back because a club is not allowed to trade it's future 1st Round pick & any of it's future 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Round picks at the same time. Likewise, if a club trades a future 2nd, 3rd or 4th round pick they would have to hang on to their future 1st Round pick. (That's as I understand the rules)

So.....how did we get Fremantle's future 1st Round AND future 2nd Round pick in the deal for Jacko?

74 points.....okay, could've been better.....Harmsey's hammy is a bummer, but all in all - the day could've been worse!

(I can't remember the last time Melbourne supporters were dissatisfied with a 74 point win!) 🤣

Very average performance so far against poor opposition. 

The only positive that can now come from this game is if we manage to get through injury free. 🤞🤞🤞

VERY low percentage entries into forward 50 by Melbourne. 

We are playing like Prima Donnas!

How many Melbourne players are slipping over?......wrong boots?

On paper this should be a massacre.......however we don't usually inflict too many 10 to 15 goal losses on our opposition - no matter how much they are struggling.

This is a chance for the boys to show how ruthless they can really be. I hope they take it!

Anything between a 10 to 15 goal win (& no injuries!) would be acceptable.

(But it will probably work out to less than 5 goals!) 😏

That was a deplorable exhibition of AFL football up to half time. At least after half time our scoring ratio (goals v points) improved. 

A better opposition would've buried us by half time on the basic skill errors we made.

I know 4 points is 4 points etc......but some big improvements are needed in a lot of basic areas.

We almost need a loss to wake some of our guys up and remind them that the execution of basic skills - like taking an uncontested mark instead of dropping it & turning it over - is a minimum requirement to stay in the team!

Very pleased for the Weid.....but he should've kicked 6!

Big chance for the Weid.....I hope he kicks a bag!!!

Go Dees!!!

How has Tom Sparrow done?

It looked like he had hit the gym regularly in the off season.

It sounds like a really good hit out.....even if we have a few "first picked" guys to come back in - hopefully against Carlton next week!

I don't have Kayo.

Who are kicking the goals?

Who is looking the goods (apart from the usual stars)?

Just want the boys to blow out the cobwebs, get a feel for a match against opposition other than themselves........and finish with no injuries!

Thanks to all the track watchers for the reports and video........the cricket season is WAY too long, isn't it?

Bring on AFL 2022!

Go Dees!!

Pure gold, as always, Picket.

Thanks for getting down there the way you do. 👍

10 hours ago, adonski said:

Are you able to link? Can't see this reported anywhere

Unfortunately I don't have a link to it. It was part of the sport report. The vision was of Petty arriving to training on crutches and TMac & Nibbler on the oval, but not taking part with the rest of the group.

Worrying report on Channel 7 news tonight showing Petty on crutches (apparently with a serious calf tear), TMac with a rolled ankle and Nibbler with a knee niggle.

It's never good seeing one of our guys on crutches! 🤞🤞🤞

Thanks Picket...another top report.

Hopefully those injuries are nothing to worry about. 

The boys are sounding fit, enthusiastic and VERY committed. 

Go Dees!!

2 minutes ago, Go Dees!! said:

Yeah, nah......

Nibbler speaks SO well! He is a great communicator. He illustrates the mind set of the group really well.

27 minutes ago, MrReims said:

It's bloody pleasure to hear him speak to the media this year. We have more than a few quality speakers at the club and whilst I can be a bit of a language snob surely clearer communication must make it easier for the leaders of the club to really convey their thoughts to the younger lads and generally fire everyone up and inspire confidence. Rewatched Making their Mark recently and looking at the stunned mullets in the Richmond meetings and inability to really say anything at all apart from the word 'obviously' (which according to 90% of AFL footballers belongs in every single sentence) made me very proud of the likes of ANB, Trac, Lever, Gus and even Gawny despite his self confessed lack of vocabulary. Even our less confident speakers like Oliver seem far more switched on compared to a lot of other players out there.

Mind you i'm not completely one eyed, i'm aware the likes of Bont, Sloane, Riewoldt, Hawkins etc etc etc speak extremely well, I just think we have more than our fair share of really switched on footy brains

Yeah, nah......

4 hours ago, picket fence said:

I come from a land down under
Where Demonlanders flow and weather looks like thunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder
You better run, you better take cover.

 

Oh! Do you come from a land down under (oh yeah yeah)
Where women and mens teams get set to plunder oh yeah
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder
You better run, you better take cover.

And so it came to pass that I set out with sunscreen, raincoat, steel capped boots, enough insect repellent to drown an army of flying, stinging insects and a slingshot to ward of any slitheras in sight to come down to the smouldering furnace that was Casey Fields. Was it hot?? It was hotter than when I took 9/26 all those years ago. now with the pleasantries out of the way lets get into the training report. as the above song title suggests the players were indeed hard and strong at work.

MODIFIED DUTIES 

Mitch Brown, and later Jake Lever, and Majak Daw

SKILLS, DRILLS AND MANOUVERS

SET 1A 

players were split into 2 groups in group 1 A Players were inside a marked witches hat configuration of about 40 meters x 40 m and were playing a highly energised game of corridor keepings of. The idea was to take possession and before being tagged select best option and dish of.

SET 1 B

The other group did 3/4 ground match sims but with the added pressure that the coaches after a set play had been executed or a goal scored instead of returning to the centre the ball might be thron back into play from the opposite forward pocked or ball randomly kicked into play from any position on the ground. The idea seemed to be attack when you have the ball but then just as quickly defend resolutely when you haven't got the ball.

SET 2 This drill reminded me of an army of Cybermen running in formation in an absolute Blitzkrieg wave rolling relentlessly with ball in hand creating multiple overlaps and passing to next group of 4 and either handballing back or bypassing the footy to the next wave of players all surging forward it was a tsunami of beautiful free flowing ball  movement with scarcely any errors. Skills were quick and handball and or kicks were precise and effortless. this was done at 100% intensity.

SET 3 Goalkicking practice from every concievable match sim. There were set shots, corner shots, inside out shots, reverse angle shots inside out torpedo punt shots, the only shots missing were Shot glasses full of a delicious beverage or five!

SET 4 Full on match simulations two quarters of 20 minutes many highlights which I will now speak about under player watch

PLAYER WATCH AND ASTUTE OBSERVATIONS FENCE STYLE

TOMMY MAC Just an incredible performance today in drills and also match sims, he kicked at least 3-4 goals and took some very strong marks

CLAYTON OLIVER EXILLERATINGLY BREATHTAKING. just cannot be stopped and does what he likes, at one stage he was tackled by 3 players got a kick away to TRACC who was again prominant , who then got it to JV ditto just as prominant who got it to SPARGY who Goaled

JACOB VAN ROOYEN Wow is this kid gonna be something!! Took 3 pack marks and moved effortlessly in a forward line chock full of class.

FRASER ROSMAN Starting to get some confidence and did a few nice things and runs hard all day was pitted against Ed Langdon

DEAKIN SMITH will play this year runs to good spots and skills are developing niceley

ANDY MONIZ-WAKEFIELD This kid should also play this year, he zipped into play many times showing a great turn of speed and excellent disposal

BEN BROWN. Gee he was impressive, he is much fitter this year and as a forward roams far and wide. takes sticky fingers marks often

JAKE MELKSHAM Just when a few thought he was cooked he trained the house down and kicked some very classy goals and set up well as a forward.

OTHER RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

The players are extremely fit , quick and hungry, skills are at an all time high and every player knows instinctively the style of play required and also set plays in any match situation. There is genuine harmony within the group and the mantra of selfless footy resonates with this scribe. PF

 

Great report Picket! We have all missed your calm, unbiased assessment of how the boys are training. Very glad that you are back from your holidays! 👍

We now have a midfield that easily rivals the most recent unstoppable midfield of Cox/Judd/Kerr/Cousins....but we will go deeper with Gawn/Viney/Oliver/Petracca/Sparrow/Jordan......and you can throw in Brayshaw/Langdon for good measure!

These guys have the chance to be remembered by the AFL community for a long time as being one of the best engine rooms ever!

I hope they achieve it!