DeeSpencer

Pats, Saints, Rams

It's certainly more than the average that we've had. Playing deep in to September and a lot of surgeries will do that. Players consistently in the rehab group last preseason (from what I can recall): Hannan, Weed, T Smith, J Smith, Garlett, Kent, one or both of the young rucks at times, McKenna + Vanders (both rarely sighted outside running), Viney.

Oskar Baker - did 2 hammies in the back end of last year, probably just a slow build up Angus Brayshaw - was in the main group last week but called for the physios a couple of times Mitch Hannan - think he's had knee problems in both years, had an op James Harmes - had a shoulder op, seems to be fine Marty Hore - unsure, but is doing a fair bit in rehab, paired up with Melk Jayden Hunt - had shoulder surgery, doing a fair bit on the track Neville Jetta - had knee and shoulder procedures Jake Lever - knee taking it's time according to Stevo's tweet Oscar McDonald - unsure? Jake Melksham - probably just the ankle he carried in the back end of last year, doing plenty Clayton Oliver - legs look good, obviously hasn't done upper body weights for a while Christian Petracca - had a knee op Tim Smith - unsure Billy Stretch - coming back from stress fracture Aaron vandenBerg - had a shoulder op, out running Jack Viney - had an ankle procedure, doing laps, I expect they'll take him slowly It's a long list and it's way too talented! Lever due to it being a long term injury and Vanders and Viney with their injury histories are the guys I'm worried about. Just a rough guess but I think Baker, Brayshaw, Hore, Hunt, Melksham should be good to go soon based on them doing more ball work from what I saw. Clarry seems fine, will just be a matter of when he can resume contact drills. Jetta and Petracca seem paired up and looked ok. It's not panic stations now but I think we need to have the list back in single figures asap after Christmas and have as many of these guys right to go for the preseason games. If they haven't done enough training to play in the preseason then they're likely playing catch up during the regular season which is a risk of further injuries.

Last report for the day. Tom McDonald had some beautiful salmon coloured boots on.

Tossing or turning whether to go with this in a report because I don't want to be premature, nor do I want to get others overly excited. But I guess it's December so even I can be positive. I'll also say that Josh Wagner is one of the best 5 kicks at training and even the worst kicks hit their targets more times than not in simple drills. That said, here's my big call - James Jordon might be the best kick on the list. He's balanced, has a simple action and has lovely penetration and shape on his kicks. The guys did a drill that required a kick from the wing to land up in front of a forward who was positioned 10m or so inside the boundary. The gusty wind took apart the guys with suspect techniques - Maynard and Tommy Mc kicked floaters and Frost was sending them everywhere, even some of the better kicks were missing short or long. Jordon's kicks were cutting through the breeze and landing in front of the eyes of the forwards.

I think I saw all but Lever, Vanders, Oscar do ball work. Melk and Hore who seem teamed up, as well as Hunt did kick to kick in a triangle. Others with some kick to kick and handball stuff.

They did some longer running. Then boots on to split in to 3 groups for some in tight ground ball and handball drills, then some kicking. A full squad longer kicking drill sorted out the good and bad kicks in swirly conditions. Sparrow kicks it low and hard, more hits than misses. Nietschke is just solid, gets it to where it needs to be. now it’s some gentle match sim. 3 of Weid, Keilty, J Smith/C Wag and T Mc as the forward vs 2 of May, Frost, Petty and Josh Wag. Zoning and leading patterns the aim of the game

Oskar Baker has given the day weights a fair go during his time off. Hasn’t found a good hairdresser yet

Line drills have finished for now and it’s in to some repeat sprints the new players split from the main group, a couple of academy kids joining in, both solid sized lads Bedford and Chandler have gone hat free. Sparrow the backwards visor. Jordon the regular visor. The rest with the white caps, Bradkte the only one going backwards . From the main group Spargo, Fritsch, Wagner, Hibberd and JoelSmith are backwards cap guys

The rehab group: Viney, Lever, Vanders, Tracc, Hannan, Hore, Baker, Melk, Harmes, Bull, Stretch, Hunt, Jetta, Oscar, Brayshaw, Clarry

The highly regarded Melbourne midfield group of games started tomorrow: Gawn, Preuss, Jones, Maynard, Swallow, Fritsch, KK, Bradtke

Consult your updated MFC players list and you’ll be fine

New assistant coach B Vince?!

44 and 45 training with the forwards. As is 40 16, 32 with the mids. And 31 23 and 27 starting life down back. 3 is with the backs. As is Guy Walker

C wags is in the 40 one of the academy kids is running laps with Hannan. I’d be lucky to find the other 2 yet alone know who is who

Denver, LaRams, Chiefs

Yarra Park is still the dream. Otherwise I remain convinced a partnership with one of the leading Private schools is worth exploring. High quality ovals - tick Inner/middle suburban or even ‘heartland’ location - tick Either existing or a desire for gym/pool/indoor facilities This press release from Xavier shows you how serious they are about strengthening and promoting their footy program. It’s obviously very important to the schools PR efforts. Surely one of the schools out there would welcome a partnership with an AFL club, giving them credibility and access to the elite environment. Id be calling Melbourne Grammar immediately and asking if they want to build a facility with us at their Port Melbourne training fields. Leverage Steve May and Toby Bedford for an Indigenous angle, that will get the AFL and Goverments involved. Tie it in with Fisherman’s Bend residential development. Easy!

Obviously depends on what and where but ownership is surely the best result. The club needs assets to secure its future. According to the annual report we had 49 million revenue last year. Sold the Leighoak for 7 million to give us cash assets of 10 million and non current assets of 12 million. Reads to me like we need to get that 20+ million (hopefully more with government grants and fundraising) invested in to making money for us. A facility that saves the money we currently spend leasing AAMI Park and mcg office space and makes money leasing the associated spaces has to be the plan.

Certainly adjusted for height

22: 48 drops to his knees to win a ground ball handball, then follows up and bangs the ball forward in traffic 24: 58 - quick centre clearance handball to a free team mate 26:05 - bangs a torp up the line 33:15 - fumbles, then dishes a quick handball, gets around the back to get the handball back and gets his kick smothered, regathers to rush another kick 30m or so forward 33: 58 - reads the play well and quickly gets on to a wayward kick, gathers cleanly and fires a nice handball back to a team mate 34:50 - no possessions here but makes good position to receive a handball and also quickly covers back on a turnover 35:28 - handball gets smothered on the boundary line 35:50 gets beat easily for the clearance by his opponent, no body contact 36:35 - again positions on the back of the play to receive a handball, spears a kick 20m to hit an open forward The last play was his best for the quarter. Looked to me like a guy who probably was still adjusting to the pace of the game and given Dandy were a fierce pressure side and it was a Grand Final that probably makes sense. Clearly not as physically developed as most kids, you can see he doesn't have the upper body definition or run in the legs. But there's some speed and he reads the play to receive the ball. If his last kick of the quarter was deliberate and indicative of what he can do instead of just more of a fluke then I can see why we liked that.

Scharenberg, Langdon and Howe are a pretty good mid sized marking trio. It might’ve been they were preferred to Hore. Pies might also have been keen this year but waiting for a later pick or rookie pick. I wonder what his plans were if not drafted by this year. Continuing on with the Pies VFL for another year would’ve been a strong show of loyalty

Not blaming you! It appears to be an atypical surname that’s going to cause confusion. TrengRove like

Jordon on the club site, on his social media and on various draft profiles. Jordan on the AFL site. Confusing. Expect it’s -on

I like his overhead ability, grabs a few big marks for a medium or even smaller sized player (whatever 184cm is these days). Looks to kick on both feet and releases team mates in to space with his hands. Might not have the tricks to be a star but doesn't seem to be much wrong with his game either.

Going to be a struggle for some to spell his name correctly! I love a country kid with a pure kick. From Jason Taylor's comments I'm not sure he's really targeted for any particular position, maybe more of a gamble on some skills and athleticism. 20th December, would have to be closest to youngest player in the draft.