george_on_the_outer

This is typical of what can be done if we had a Comms team that was capable of anything other than taking happy snaps of players whose names we already know..." https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1481945/training-report-young-forwards-fire-in-match-sim

What? No snakes? @picket fence

If we get 10 games for the season out of Ben and TMac each we will have done well.

One thing I forgot to mention was the drill/sim after the match sim. It started again and again on the HBF with the exercise to find a way into attack. It is probably much needed with the emphasis on rebound goals, which happen more often than pack marks in the forward line that the fans love so much. Since half the side was trying to attack, the other half was having to defend, and then they changed the roles around. It was interesting how little of the conventional "switching" happened, but that was typical for the top 4 sides last year. The good sides just have it covered so well, and if sides try to do it, they just get locked in with nowhere to go. Anyhow it was a great spectacle, as each exercise produced different results, sometimes back and forward, sometimes through the middle, sometimes lightning fast down the wings, but the common factor was the running required, both to attack and defend. No room for slouches these days.

Yes but only half the ground. What was poignant was the number of young kids there. The club needs to make these Casey sessions open to build this future fan base in Casey.

Thought it best to start a separate training thread: Training at Casey...what could be more of a simulation of winter football conditions....wet, raining, windy....yep it's the middle of summer, but no sunscreen required. Even @picket fence's slippery mates would have taken the day off and retreated to more habitable locations. Advertised as a match simulation session, it was hard to draw any conclusions or real observations. This was because of the absence of numerous player for whatever reason, or players who were on some sort of restricted programme, or just plain injured. As a consequence, there were numerous Casey listed players filling in, but obviously getting plenty of good experience themselves. On the sidelines, we know about Melksham, and of course no Oliver or Joel Smith. Salem, Billings & Sparrow were just running laps, with Sparrow looking to be the one doing it at full stretch. No sight of Hunter, BBB, McAdam & AMW, while Jefferson walked on and off the field to physio areas. Every year it is a concern when players aren't on the track post Christmas break, and you can utterly guarantee for every week they are not there, you can take a week off the season for them. 11 missing out of a list of 44 isn't good! There was all the usual warm-up's and drills but the match simulation was the most important. But, as said before, what can one take from it with so many sidelined? What could be taken away were things like: TMac playing permanently in the backline. For those that have been around from when he played their last, be prepared for much of the same. Indecisive about where the ball is going, strong marking, but watch out for the kicking. One wonders how he will find a hole to fill with May, Lever, Tomlinson, Turner, Rivers, Bowey, Salem, Adams, Hore & Howe all vying for the back 6 positions. Blake Howes and Disco Turner are going to be putting up their hands fairly soon for a role in the senior defensive structure, and both stood out on multiple times during the sim. But don't discount Adams, who probably is 3rd in line, but having built up considerably in the off-season is showing some real promise with genuine football skills. Interestingly, Judd McVee was playing further up the ground, and found himself taking shots at goal at one point, so maybe the coaches have something more planned for him. Petty was back for the drills, but didn't compete in the sim, likewise Brayshaw, and to a certain extent Gawn, who came back for only a short spell in the sim. Probably to give the backups some time for assessment. In this respect Verrall is streets ahead of Fullarton, and I suspect Fullarton will only find a role as a forward....although we need plenty of those options given the situation at the end of last season. JVR almost took mark of the year reminiscent of the one Michael Roach held on to many, many years ago, but unfortunately he spilled it in the end, but he truly was sitting on top of the pack to attempt to take the ball at waist height. If he connects something similar in the season, he will be taking home the MOTY easily. Pickett spent the whole session in the middle, and like most years, nobody can lay a hand on him. He just dances through traffic when he has no right to do so. And with questions over Oliver, both he and Laurie can expect more opportunity in the engine room. ANB gave a clinic on how to kick to the opposition when under no pressure. So no change there. Rivers was magnificent to watch as he streamed from HB and delivers accurately. Chandler was very involved and seemed to be on the end of numerous chains. But he was also active in contested situations, so maybe a mid-field rotation role might be on the cards in season proper. Woewodin showed glimpses of what may be possible, but with these types of simulations and with tackling and pressure not at the levels of AFL games, it is difficult to judge. Still he looks more and more like his old man, and is obviously benefitting from the training programmes. I know people will ask about the new draftees, but sorry, not much to report. They after all are just starting out and some of the Casey players show more, simply because they are stronger, fitter and accustomed to the speed of the action. Just give them time. And don't expect to see them playing any time soon, unless we hit a huge injury problem. That's all from me but wait for @Six6Six and his photo's to appear, as he was busy with the telphoto lens and should have some great shots of the action

PJ was the recruit of the year. He put everything back on the rails, the football department and the admin and the Board. Turned us back into a football club, properly run. Watch out for North Melbourne in the coming years ( it took us 8 to get back). PJ has done a review of their operations, Clarkson has been brought in as coach and Todd Viney is running their football department. Sound familiar?

The problem is the work experience kids who run our communications haven't returned from school holidays. Same situation as last year when the club site said training at Gosch's only for the people who turned up to find out it was at Casey. How hard is it to update a website? We don't need 50 photos each day, we need information.....try writing something! @Six6Six does a better job with the photos anyway!

Our facilities are NOT more than adequate. We share facilities at AAMI with 3 other codes with multiple teams themselves, and have 4 teams of our own. When you lose two finals by a mere 9 points then having something better than what we have could have been the difference. When players have to drive 45 minutes one way and then another 45 minutes back from Casey and do it multiple times each week, surely that time would be best spent in recovery, training, physio etc. That is what makes the difference between winning and losing at the sharp end. Ours facilities are the worst in the league. There are multiple examples in this thread of what others already have, and what others are planning. Go an look at what Essendon have had at Tullamarine for 20 years to see how far behind we are. It doesn't matter if our own facility is in the middle of a race track. We are the only club in the competition without a home base.

Perhaps @Demonstone could start a "guess the weight" contest..... This bloke always did look a bit skinny, so perhaps weight has nothing to do with playing AFL footy?

The reality, as alluded to in the article, is that because Gosch's is public land, that it will not be developed. The locals will be up in arms in exactly the same way as the stupid proposal we had for Jolimont. In a way, this is good for us, because we will have Gosch's available to use as is, however second rate. What is truly concerning is that Collingwood and Richmond had plans that they had proposed ( even if they won't proceed?)....where were ours?

This article is from over 2 years ago....one does wonder why it has taken so long for the MFC to get involved, instead of all the mucking around with Goschs and the Jolimont proposals during that time? Anyhow it shows artists impressions of what can be done inside the existing track. Note up to 7 sporting fields. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/caulfield-racecourse-unveils-570m-sports-entertainment-precinct-plan-20210413-p57iu8.html

https://themongrelpunt.com/ But if you want the full article, you have to join up and subscribe ($6.60 p.m. but you can unsubscribe)

Excellent article. And written with a good in-depth analysis of what is already known, but without the red-and-blue eyes, that we all have. Makes some excellent points about the Petty forward option and how it affects others, and in fact, the whole team. And also makes a truly relevant point about our wingers, and importantly not using statistics as pure numbers, but points out the relevance of the numbers when compared with Collingwood wingers.

Let's see how long it takes for that information to be available on the Clubs website.......perhaps the work experience kids aren't back in school yet?

Like Jordon, not favoured by being at Melbourne. Behind Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Sparrow, Brayshaw and probably Kossie as well in the middle. That is the only place he has played at Casey, because the fore mentioned don't play there. And please don't come up with the ...."he can play half forward" line. He is too small and too slow, and sits behind a lot of other players currently in the 1sts.

Needs to get fit.

That is long gone…..Now repurposed as Thomas Embling hospital. Houses those in the criminal justice system with psychiatric- mental problems….probably more appropriate for Collingwood.

Trouble is they got $12M nearly 20 years ago to redevelop and now another $30M for further development. We have got nothing because we have been sitting on our hands, or coming up with ludicrous options like Yarra Park.... wasting time.

They used to have one at Craigieburn, but ran out of money/interest long ago and so they left.

It was only a couple of days ago that the club fixture for 2024 was on the website. Just amateur. I know Telstra limit the amount of content which can be uploaded each day, but the fixture was released months ago. If you want real content, updates or just plain information about players, ticketing, training reports etc then Demonland is the place to go. And no-one here gets paid to do all of those things.

This proposal at Caulfield is for an Administration and Training facility. How many people on here have visited ( out of the 70K members ) who have actually visited the MCG offices, the AAMI offices or even attended a training session during the year? Not just at finals time. It is not for the fans,....... it is for the club, the players and the administration. And if it is to be in Caulfield, Port Melbourne or Timbuktu, it has to serve that purpose alone. MCG precinct is DEAD. It was never an option because no matter what site was proposed, there just isn't enough land available.

George says.........Louie, Louie........WAY TO GO!

.....and back. And when you lose two finals matches by a total of 9 points, that could well have been the difference, more so when it is spread across the pre-season and season proper. It adds up to dozens of hours not spent in the gym, physio or on the track that other sides are able to use to prepare their players for the best opportunity.

The AFL have left a huge out for exactly the same incident to be dismissed: "Under the new regulation sent to clubs in a memo on Thursday, a player who leaves the ground in an attempt to smother will be expected to take “all reasonable steps to avoid making contact with their opponent’s head and/or minimise the force of any high contact”. So all Maynard ( and his lawyers) would have to say was he took "all reasonable steps". After all he drew in his arms to avoid hitting Angus with his fists and forearm. And there was little else he could do when airborne that was reasonable........ The next similar case that comes up will have the same outcome. And the AFL will wring their hands, yet do nothing about it yet again. All they had to do was "legislate" that any contact with the head as a result of tackle, bump or smother will result in a penalty.