Slartibartfast

I attended my first training session for the year yesterday and whilst it wasn't really a proper training session I did notice that there are two posts positioned about 18 inches inside the normal goal posts providing an even smaller target to kick a goal. I'd imagine it's to sharpen our goal kicking. On Hibberd I read in the paper that he thought he'd done his hammy on Saturday but scans had cleared him. I imagine that's why he's on restricted duties. Having spoken to a couple of people yesterday my impression was that all bar Lever are expected to be fit and available for R1 based on their current injury status. Good news

All out of my price bracket Andy.

First time at training this year for me. There appeared to be two levels of rehab, the more serious one contained KK, May, Jones and Walker. They did heaps of running starting with straight line three quarter pace 100m and 200m runs and at the end they were doing lots of laps. None looked very inconvenienced. Hannan was just walking laps, tried to find out what the issue was but got nothing. The second rehab group was quite big but my guess is that they were just on light duties after Saturday. I'm not sure I'll get all of them but Maynard, Petracca, Viney, Lever, Hibberd, Stretch, Melksham, JKH, AVB, Baker and Nev Jetta. They did lots of handball drills but no running that I saw. The rest of the group did very light duties. Gentle run throughs, a little bit of kicking to leading players and some goal kicking and crumbing snaps. Today was clearly just a gentle "get the legs moving" session after Saturday. Spoke to some of my contacts down there who reiterated what Saty has been saying about rehab but recognized we'd been a bit unfortunate not to have the number of players in full training mainly because it makes doing the drills a bit more problematic. Another positive was that this year all our recruits bar Hore have done the major part of the preseason which will stand them in good stead for the season and is unusual as usually the young guys struggle with the loads and carry injuries from the TAC season.

Free coffee as part of the LAUNCH!

Sponsor announced event this morning. Nice product!

Hannan walking laps.

May, Walker, KK run through a in rehab. Jones much longer run through.

Nev, Tom, Jack, Max

It always disappoints me to see people turn on a player as many here have but I suppose for someone we placed so much hope in and then disappointed us it's an understandable if regrettable reaction. I was one who supported him when he was with us but I'm pleased we traded him. But lets put this Hawthorn business to bed. If Watts had been recruited to Hawthorn he would have been in one of the best cultures the AFL has produced coached by one of the best coaches and captained by one of the best captains. He wouldn't have turned into the player he now is. He wouldn't have had the hopes of a team resting on the shoulders of a teenager. He would have been developed properly and when he came into the team he would have been surrounded by mature players and played in a winning culture playing an appropriate role with appropriate expectations. And if you want an example of Clarkson understanding players strengths and coaching to them just look at Brad Hill. Soft as butter but Clarkson used is attributes. He would have done the same with Watts. For all Watts is being criticised now he played some really good footy for us. He was loyal when he probably shouldn't have been and I'd contend his dumping by us now means he finds footy without his mates just plain boring. Footy has been pretty cruel to Watts. When Watts played his 100th game the AFL media department put on a video of his worst moments. When have they ever done that before for any other player? He has been the subject of more media attention than just about any other player in my memory. He's done some dumb things no doubt and he's soft by AFL standards but he's probably a better human being than many other players and many here who are spitting bile at him. It's time for people to move on and just accepting Jack for the person he is. Sadly it won't happen.

Love your work PD. Like Crompton I don't hold the optimism for Hunt that you do. I think disposal skills, vision and decision making will be paramount this year and whilst Hunt has some elite attributes I think these things will hold him back. Salem or Fritsch take his spot back. Also like KK ahead of Hore who I've only seem briefly in VFL footy so he misses because I know more about KK. Smith finds a spot forward where his kicking and decision making is not such an issue but his athleticism and speed are real assets and I really like Old55's idea of him playing a stopping role on the oppositions intercept marker. Hannan gets the other spot although I'm not sure he'll be ready for round 1. Lewis probably gets it in the short term. Tinkering at the edges I know. As you point out, there is a lot of competition for the last 5 or 6 spots and traditionally a player or two come into the team nobody was expecting. Baker, Sparrow, Bedford, Hore.......

I'm just stunned you knew about it or bothered to watch it. BTW, I haven't. It takes all sorts DS, live and let live. We're all just trying to make a living and it strikes me that the girl is not really hurting anyone.

Jones, Spargo, Harmes, Salem. Viney’s just about my second favourite, and certainly is amongst that group. Odd selections if you’re trying to get a “pecking order”.

TMac, Stretcher, Huntster.

I thought that after the Mills incident but his piece in the Player's Voice and what I've heard from people who know him he's not. I think he's just a bloke who make a bad mistake and I think he's truly remorseful. Good luck Tom, hope the business goes gangbusters. Thanks for your efforts at MFC and helping us when we were rubbish.

I understand the scepticism re Spargo. He has weaknesses. He's easily knocked off the ball and one on ones are a real challenge for him given his size. His kicking lacks penetration and is wayward at times. Despite early comments, he's not shown an ability to hold marks overhead (yes, I realize it isn't his job) and he isn't lightning quick. But he has some real attributes. He's a genuine footballer who understands the game and gets involved in the play whether he has the ball or not. When he has the ball he's got terrific awareness as the highlights above show. He's really competitive and a genuine role or "team" player. We are used to smalls having real X factor but what this kid lacks in X factor he makes up for in other footy attributes. The first time I saw him was at Casey in a practice match last year. He started forward and struggled to get into the game but in the second half he was moved to the midfield and was very good. His ability to find the ball and more importantly look to do something with it was noticeable. Spargo will learn his trade forward but will ultimately move into the midfield where he will be very good. The kid was 18 all last year and is a baby in terms of his footy potential at AFL level. I'm predicting a very good future for Charlie.

To track watchers, any comments on Joel Smith? Is he training with the forwards or backs? Or elsewhere.... Any indications of his role. I rate this kid. Strikes me that he just needs the confidence that he can play at the top level. He's an athletic beast, a great size with pace and agility and a fantastic spring. Great swingman possibly. He's had a terrible run with injury in the past and given a good run at it this preseason could be a smokey for most improved and make a real impact.

I was one. I was wrong.

I just don't get what the issue is with Trac. I reckon he had a really good season last year playing a difficult position and contributing consistently. I watched a few games since season end and this week watched the game against Freo in Darwin specifically to watch Billy Stretch. Petracca was very good that game and close to best on. If you watch the two finals games he was influential and his touches are quality and his vision elite. He uses the ball exceptionally well and just needs to overcome the yips in goal kicking to be even better. I doubt the footy department have any of the concerns that are often expressed here about Petracca. He's just finished his third year of playing at this level and doing very well. People's negative comments are based more on their heightened expectations than any failing in Petracca's performance. The kid is a gun.

Any news on Billy Stretch Saty (or anyone)?

Perhaps he doesn't want his personal medical history made public. It amazes me that people just assume we should be informed of the players' situations all the time. Having said that I'd love to know. Viney, Hannan, Brayshaw etc etc. Pity there wasn't a Dave Misson injury update before Christmas.

Firstly, think as I might I can't identify "some very good ideas on tactics and strategies" but I'd be grateful if you could expand on this point. My memory is he tried to introduce the Malthouse kick long down the line, create a stoppage and do it all again. Secondly, I don't think the players resented his appointment. He, by his own admission on Open Mike, said he was given a directive by Cameron Schwab and Chris Connolly to be really hard on the playing group and acted on that instruction. He later said he wished he had followed his own feeling and made his own judgements. Neeld's behaviours ostracised the senior playing group which was his own doing (at the instruction of others if you are to believe him), the players didn't resent him because he replaced Bailey. I agree with the rest of what you said - clearly the fault wasn't all Neeld's, the fact is he was just a very poor coach. Thank heavens for Jackson and all he put into place.

Nicely articulated @binman but we all knew what was happening. STMJ was playing semantics with Saty as Saty was with STMJ. I used to get involved in this oneupmanship for which I now apologize. It really is just plain boring. On a topic related comment, Viney's situation is concerning given his history. Reported as an ankle operation postseason and in the latest from Ben Guthrie it's now turned into a foot issue. I'm hoping for the best but I'm not confident. Waiting for Misso's injury report and looking forward to seeing how many in rehab return to full training post-Christmas.

Californian mountain snake morelike. She was great as Ellie Driver.

I remember watching him in his second season and being very impressed and am therefore pleased we've got him. But the unbridled optimism being shown by Demonlanders should be tempered a little I think. If KK was really as good as is being made out why was he traded? Why were GCS happy to see him go and why wasn't there any competition for his services? I don't know the answers but the fact the questions remain makes me hesitant to go all in on him being a success. It seems to me there is more to the story than just the concussion issues but we may never know. Like the majority, I'm happy with the pickup and think it has lots of upsides but there is a fair chance it will fail otherwise the particular deal wouldn't have been done.

Both parties got what they wanted. What’s the problem.