Maldonboy38

I agree about Evans, Fitzy and Barry. These three looked good on Friday when I saw them training. I also noticed how vocal and relaxed Watts was. I actually thought he was demonstrating some decent leadership traits. It is good news about Pederson. For him to improve so much will put constant pressure on all our talls to hold their place (if he can hold his training form, and take it into games.)

On 2013 form, I can't see him in the 2014 best 25 players. His attack on the ball is outstanding. His tackling and defensive pressure is very, very good. His kicking is OK. His decision making is really bad. Very rarely does he take 1st option, and by the time he takes option 2 pr 3, he is pressured or the other options have closed up. His forward of the pack running is good, but his decision making is so poor, he is often having to sprint back to find his now-free player. Clisby ahead of him a the moment, however it is only Terlich's first year. Another preseason may wipe put most of these errors.

Mind training and mental relaxation is a very important in any sense. I am glad MFC are teaching this to the players for life, not just footy. My only worry about this is his wife's training is a PhD in Parapsychic Science from the American Institute of Holistic Theology. Personally I think homeopathy, naturopathy, natural remedies are the way to go and I favour that view of life, but a lot of stuff taught in those "Institutes of holistic medicines" end up being rubbish. If I hear of any MFC player sitting in the ocean at midnight under a full moon, communicating with the universe with the help of dolphins, then I will know that Mrs. Roos may have taken it all a bit too far.

I fully agree with you P-Man about how easy it is to look good during preseason. I have been to a lot of preseason training over the past 5 years and it usually looks clean and sharp, and that is because they are running freely down the oval with no real pressure on. The only different preseason was Neeld's first few sessions where it was fully revealed how AFL-unfit many of our players were. I can still see Blease, Gysberts and Bennell getting yelled at!! Having said that, I honestly do think Evans is an accurate and creative kick on the run. From his first few games before injury messed him up I have admired his basic game, his running and his ability to kick the ball to a space making the recipient run on to it. This could be invaluable when he looks up and sees Hogan, Clark, Dawes, Fitzy etc... running into space. The more i see Evans training well and injury free, the more I see him on our starting 22. But that is very easy t do in December!

Regarding Evans, he looked good but the whole squad was generally sharp. One thing to note is he is an accurate and creative kick on the run. At this stage I have him in my best 25 and am trying to whittle it down from there.

I watched him for some time and was impressed. I didn't get a sense at all of his kicks "floating", but some where put out wide for people to run on to. And I have to politely disagree about him still being skinny. He is not, nor ever will be huge but he is a lot bigger than for the 2013 season. I agree about Trengove; sorry I forgot to mention him. He was sharp and focused today, and looks physically very strong. His awareness and decision making today were first class, but that has never been a weakness for him. His lack of pace remains a worry but I agree he is also my pick for B&F this year. Let's hope.

He has a strange little flick or jerk to his kicking action on both sides of his body that looks clumsy, but his kicks always hit their target. He is very smooth and strong - a natural looking footballer but his kicking action did look odd. However, he was never running and kicking so it might be instruction while his hammy repairs.

I went along this morning for about 1.5 hours. I am lucky I checked the MFC website because I was heading to Casey and they changed it at late notice again!! Anyway... the first thing to report is the feel of happiness in the playing group. That sounds lame I know but let me explain. There is always a lot of banter and mucking around regardless of the coach but it was more than general banter. Roos and the coaching staff were interacting with the players with a smile on their face, laughing with them as if the coaches, players and training assistants weren't separate entities -they are all MFC. Very relaxed, very interactive but dead serious once the drills started. A few times Roos stopped things, and the drill participants came around and he spent time explaining positioning and where/when to run. Gawn, Tapscott, McKenzie, Tyson, Garland and Strauss were in a group - I am assuming the rehab group although a few of the younger boys like Georgiou and Salem were with them at the beginning - did run, after run, after run almost for the entire time I was there. Tapscott was really putting in and almost puked at one stage right in front of me. Byrnes, Howe and Bail were with this group also, but later peeled off to jog endless laps at a decent pace. Tyson is a very big boy: huge through the bum, hips and thighs and has dynamic hands. In the one ball drill this group stopped to do, his skills looked as good as anyone on our list. Vince was with this group early but went inside half way through. I wouldn't have thought this prior to training today but there are options for the small forward position. Barry, Kennedy-Harris (JKH from now on) and Byrnes all look set to fight for this position. Barry looked outstanding today - ran well, chucked his body in, and kicked cleanly. I would give him the nod at this stage although JKH looks like he could be a model small forward. Barry's pace might see him on a wing. There was an interesting drill near the beginning of the session. Two players going one-on-one, trying to keep the ball just moving at their feet, but not allowing their opponent to pick it up or get ball-side of the contest. I am guessing it was a core strength drill. Surprisingly, Toumpas was very good at this. Single observations: Clark, Hogan, Fitzy could be formidable as a trio. Strong, able and imposing. Tyson, JKH and Georgiou all have awkward kicking actions. Tyson's knee was bandaged which might explain his, but Georgiou is particular might find his kicking action shows up at AFL level. Salem looks very, very good and has that smooth skill look that reminded me a lot of a young Yze. The Rookie Hunt is lightening fast over the first 10 metres, and then has a power-band a few seconds later when he just burns the grass up. But his kicking was very poor at top speed. Toumpas looks ready to go. If he is still eligible for Rising Star nomination he could give it a good shake. Probably the best trainer on the park that I noticed. Watching Cross in the midfield drills is like a coaching manual on positioning. He is the perfect addition to our midfield. Watts with the ball remains a gem, but in the midfield drills he remained on the exterior of too many contests. He wasn't corrected though and I wonder if that will be his designated role - an outside mid? No Dawes. No Michie. (at least I don't think so) Spencer ran for the first 15 mins then disappeared. Mitch Clark did the full session. Looks good and sharp. When he kicks a ball, it makes a real solid wooomph of a sound. Hogan is like N Jones - they both train as if it is a game. Great to see. Fitzy looks magnificent, was running well, marking everything with one solid grab, and his kicking was very sharp. Howe and Bail look in peak fitness. Bail has put on 3kgs at least and seems very fresh. I hope his head is ok. Evans' moustache is almost as irritating as Dunn's. All over, it was a good, clean, sharp training session. There are obvious differences between past and present coaches but nothing as clear-cut different as it was between Bailey and Neeld. But the relaxed and "happy" nature of the training group was the most notable difference from last year. I know it is one of Roos' mantras that the players love their footy. If today was anything it was evidence that this philosophy is beginning to work its way through the group. And last but not least, as I looked over my right shoulder, who did I discover in a hoodie and dark glasses? A certain Brad Green turned up incognito!!

Good news. Keeping him as a rookie fits exactly right. We have recruited a lot of mid-fielders - experienced with bigger bodies We have also brought in a handful of younger draftees. Our other rookies are a mixed bag. Nev Jetta completes this mixed bag that means we have options for all positions over the ground. Some might not be 100% options but are options none-the-less. Nev has been in the system and has the one thing Roos seems to prize above everything else - grunt/hunger for the contest. Likely to spend most of his time at Casey but you never know.

Very clean mark and great kick. Looks like a great rookie pick up. Few players of that size are great kicks. (Mitch Clark the exception) However, I hate to say it but his highlight reel looks almost identical to Jack Watts' when he dominated the Melbourne schoolboy finals just prior to his draft. Can he produce this against big bodies? I hope they give him a good amount of time to figure this out.

Annoyed. This training was scheduled for Casey Fields only 15 mins from my place. Checked website this morning and it is now at Gosch's Paddock. Hope it goes well for those who can make it.

Roos has stated that it is highly unlikely that any of the recent draftees will play much senior footy, and I am convinced that none of them will play round 1. Now delistings, trades and draft are complete I can see round 1 being something like: Backs: Frawley, Garland, McDonald, Grimes Mids: Gawn, N Jones, Trengove, Tyson, Vince, Cross, Watts, Blease, Evans, Viney Forward: Clark, Hogan, Dawes, Howe Int: Fitzpatrick McKenzie Clisby Sub: Toumpas

GWS recruiting looks like it is specific and focused, but deeply flawed. The only reason I can think of to stockpile so many KPF's, is that they know they are going to lose one/two in a year or two, or they believe one/two aren't going to make it at AFL level. I am unsure about contracts, but I reckon they will release Patton at the end of 2014.

I live out near Casey Fields and let me tell you all the great reasons for the MFC training out here .......... Ummmmmm............ no, can't think of anything. Berwick is nice, Narre Warren North is lovely. But Cranbourne and Hampton Park would make Pia Miller look ugly. Actually I can think of two reasons: 1. I can get to see heaps of pre-season training up close and personal 2. There are heaps of new homes, and many immigrant families who are yet to establish AFL allegiance. The Dees could easily get 8000+members out here if they put the work in, Success on the field would help.

Trengove is my first choice, Blease a close second.

They give me hope, but nothing more. They both have an amazing track record but so did Barassi, so did Ridley and Skilton. MFC is a tough gig. I hold any passion in reserve for now.

Get rid of the collar. Get rid of the stars. Keep the emblem, but place it on the lower front, right or left, of the jumper. The clash jumper we have now is an absolute cracker and the best of any team in the AFL except Freo. Surely MFC know you can actually employ colour consultants (sounds like a [censored] of a job but these people really do exist) to match a blood red with navy blue that won't look pink-ish on the whote clash strip?

Scharenberg. It is unlikely that he will be available at 9 though.

This is all starting to feel very, very strong. I will wait and see how it translates onto the field, but our great club no longer feels like a rabble. It is beginning to feel professional, tight, focused and low key with no star ex-players hanging around. Only one step to go for the whole structure to be in place - the lead assistant who will take over from Roos. At this stage I have a sneaky suspicion it might end up being Rawlings. But for today, our jumper is set for 2014 and I feel good. Well done Bartlett, Jackson and Roos.

I had a long chat to him 2 years ago at a family day at Casey. I had a soft spot for him after this and loved his physicality for a small bloke. Injuries cruelled him and we never got to see a fit and firing Nev. I hope he gets another go somewhere but I doubt it.

Lack of pace is a concern, and he will have to earn his place. But I can't agree with your conclusion that he will struggle to find a position in our best team. There is a touch of class about him, and Roos has already said he is a great decision maker.

"Elite runner" "Elite kick" (I have posted this horrible phrase twice - as punishment I imposed the cone of shame on myself for 1 day) Blease is "blowing up during preseason running" Gawn, Tapscott, Grimes "doing laps with the rehab group" "love the way he goes about it" But my all-time most hated phrase in footy: ..."the boys". Don't know why it gets under my skin but it reminds me of the time when "man" or "bloke" was being replaced with "guy". Do all players have media training that demands of them the use of the collective noun "the boys" whenever they are referring to the team or the list? "The boys did well on the track" "The boys worked really hard" "Credit to the boys".

It is a very different looking midfield from last year and there will definitely be pressure on every position. The in-an-unders, the quick-hands, the outside-runners, the tackler-taggers - we now have multiple options in each of these categories. Probably only N Jones and Tyson are walk up starts. Possibly Watts and Trengove. But I agree with Jumbo Returns above - there are no runs on the board at all yet. We can see a recruiting strategy emerging, but both Bailey and Neeld also had a recruiting strategy and they both took us nowhere. We have a very different looking spread of midfield players but we haven't seen most of them at training, haven't seen a practice match, and haven't seen them in a game yet. Riley is the N Jones type of player Roos loves: McKenzie, Nicholson, Terlich, Jetta are in a similar mold but not all of them can get a game - these players have physical aggression and a dogged spirit. Don't be surprised to see Riley cement a place in the 22 once his leg is healed.

A great article on MFC website interviewing Col Garland. The more I hear from him the more I am impressed. I am seriously thinking he should be considered as captain. He isn't just playing for the Dees he loves the club and wants the club to succeed more than personal success. He has worked through his low confidence and lack of vocal input, and now when he is interviewed I love what he has to say. Consider him for captain? Thoughts?

The best thing to come out of that interview was Roos' understanding of what percentage represents. There is no fuss, just simply spoken truths.